Red cloak no more...

Between photography, playdates, the kids, building the fence, and gardening..I have been too busy for God.  My bible study has been at best 15 minutes.  I have had to ask the Lord to forgive me, for being too busy for Him.  He has purposes for me each day and I let my busy mind get in the way.

I have been wanting to write about this since I wrote my testimony, but I have been so busy. God has given me this life for a purpose. My testimony doesn't end at salvation, that's where my new life begins. One of the things He had in store for me is healing.  

He took my broken, wounded, lost self and rescued me. He picked up the pieces that my self destructive behavior left behind.  He healed my raw wounds that impurity engraved in my heart. Those scars are still there, but my Lord brought me to a place of healing and redemption. This is exactly what Satan doesn't want.  When we receive healing from Christ, we make the devil sorry he ever messed with us.  I want the devil to be sorry that he ever tempted people to do the bad things to me. Sorry that he ever planted those seeds of insecurity. Because from those horrible moments grew healing and surrender that eventually produced joy that only can come from Christ. 

I love the song lyrics, "I remember why I'm healed, to surrender and believe, and fall down on my knees.."

Guilt and shame are two things that Satan still hangs on to through this process.  When an old song comes on the radio that makes memories flash back, or when I reunite with an old friend that knew me before I was a Christian.  I have done several photo sessions for people who knew a very ugly side of me.  Satan loves to throw past things in my face, and try to take away my joy.  

I won't let him do this to me anymore. Hey, isn't that what Christ came to do? He came to heal us, so that we don't have to walk around broken and punishing ourselves anymore! 

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

I was watching Beth Moore on Life Today this week, and she was talking about this very thing.  If you read Psalm 147, 

"How good it is to sing praises to our God,
   how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

   The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
   he gathers the exiles of Israel. 
  He heals the brokenhearted   
   and binds up their wounds.  
  He determines the number of the stars   
  and calls them each by name. 
   Great is our Lord and mighty in power;   
    his understanding has no limit." (emphasis added)

The Israelites were in exile due to their own sin. They had worship other idols, and were broken due to their own doing.  In verse three it shows, that the Lord gathers us up, heals our broken hearts, and binds up our wounds, even when it's our own fault. We can stop wearing guilt and shame like a scarlet cloak.  

I have received healing in many areas, butChrist is not finished with me yet, because I know there are things in my life He needs to deal with. But I can praise God instead of feeling guilt and shame. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Jesus, keep me near the cross and help me to never forget.  I love you and I thank you!

Happy Birthday to me!!! 5 years!

The Easter season is among us. I love Easter. It is one of my favorite seasons of the year; second to Christmas. Christmas is important because God came down to earth; that's a pretty big deal.  But Easter... Easter is just as significant. If Jesus would have came to earth, and that's it, we would be lost sinners whose God lived on earth, period. Jesus didn't just come to earth and live. He came to earth to live a sinless life. Pause for a moment. Sinless life. Do you believe that? The majority of the population does not.  If you do not believe that Jesus lived a perfect life, then we are hopeless headed for a perishing eternity. God is love (1 John 4), but God is just. The just word rubs people the wrong way, but it shouldn't. God is perfect, God is holy, righteous.... So, God cannot have fellowship with anything imperfect, unholy, etc. From the beginning of time sacrifice has always been a requirement for the payment of sin. Example, in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned, they were given animal skin to cover themselves once they knew they were naked.  An animal had to die in order for them to have covering.  Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life was our sacrifice. He had to be perfect, because if not, then it would be like me or you dying for mankind. Thank the Lord that He was obedient, and He remained sinless until death.  It doesn't end there though. He didn't just die.  If he would have came to earth, lived, and died, then he would be like most other religious leaders. Dead. Jesus did something only God can do. Only a God who created life could raise Jesus from the dead.  That victory over sin allows us to be covered in the blood of the true spotless lamb, Jesus Christ. This was a once for all deed, (that's why we don't do animal sacrifice anymore) however, one must choose to accept this gift in order to receive it. "You must confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the grave and you will be saved." Romans 10:9

The Easter season is so special to me and always revives my thankfulness for salvation, because my "salvation birthday" is right before Easter; March 6, 2007. That's right, I have been a Christian for FIVE years! Happy Birthday to me! I have never really given my testimony before. I gave a brief "interview" type testimony for the children at our church a year ago. I feel that in celebration of my 5 year birthday I should give an extended testimony of what the Lord has done in my life.

I was raised Catholic. We attended regularly, and was on my way to being confirmed.  However, at age 14 I started attending the Baptist church.  Around this time I began to make decisions about relationships, and how I conducted myself that were based upon feelings. These decisions lead me to "feel" the church was judgmental and hypocritical and I did not want to be a part of it. By the age of 17, these decisions began to catch up with me. I was depressed, and in one year I lost 20 pounds. I felt guilty and for a while refrained from this negative behavior, and started going to a bible study with my best friend. (I was attempting to gain God's favor by my works).

 One week at this bible study we were talking about forgiving others. I thought, awe man, I don't need this. I am so forgiving. It was pretty easy for me to forgive at this point, because when I was at such a low and needed to be forgiven by so many, it was pretty easy to forgive others. I made it through the whole session thinking, Ok...when will this be over so we can sing... When they passed out index cards for everyone to write the name down of the person they need to forgive.  The leader allowed people to share (who fell so lead to). One lady shared about how she was molested, and said it was her own cousin. Immediately my mind jumped to when I was 8. My cousin had done the same to thing to me. My heart started beating so hard I could HEAR it! When this event happened in my life, I thought I was just a bad girl. I knew I shouldn't have done it, and I felt guilty, so I didn't say a word. I never saw that cousin, so I thought if I just never said anything it would go away.  Well, I was wrong.  That secret grew like a cancer inside of me until I lived every day in guilt. I had ulcers all in my mouth for years.  I thought about how bad I was all the time.  And even when little things would happen that most kids would brush off, I would let it weigh on my shoulders like I was the scum of the earth. We moved away, and that feeling went away and I really just forgot about the event. Until that night at bible study. I told my best friend and my mom about what happened. 
 I dont remember whose name I wrote down, but with the Lord's strength I have forgiven my cousin. 

Ever since I was born I have always loved attention. I am an "attention-getter". I'm extroverted. I have watched home videos of my parents "trying" to video my little brother, but I'm jumping in the camera making up ridiculous excuses why they need to be videoing me instead. It's embedded in my nature. When I was a teenager, I really loved getting boys attention. So much, that when my mom actually allowed me to have a boyfriend, she quickly grounded me from having boyfriends, because I changed them like I changed my underpants. When I was 15 I liked a boy and my parents would not let me date him. So, I dated other boys, but always had that boy in the back of my mind. When I was old enough "to do what I wanted"I decided to date this boy. I thought that he was going to be "the one". The one to fill that void. The one to give me the attention I needed. When that didn't work out, I didn't know what to do. So, I did what I did best. I jumped into the next best relationship I could find. That one didn't work out either. In the midst of all this being tossed to and fro, God was working. Hallelujah what a Savior!


While I was in one of those relationships, and I visited Starkville, MS.  I ran into someone I knew from my past. We reintroduced ourselves, and I introduced my boyfriend at the time, and we went our separate ways.  To give a back story about this fellow, He became a Christian at the age 15. He was a goodie too shoes from what I remember, and I didn't know what he was doing hanging out at one of these places, but like I said, God was working. Don't get me wrong, I do not believe that it's God's will for us to sin. However, God was using this situation for good.  After that entire my life spiraled even further down. In 7 months I made even worse decisions, was kicked out of my parent's house, moved back in, got engaged to someone who was making equally as bad decisions as I, and unengaged.  Over the summer that nice fellow from MS and I began to date and by the time school started back we were in a serious relationship.  My partying and drinking had reached it's all time high after the last break-up, and carried into the new relationship. 
We realized quickly that our relationship was explosive while we were drinking. The third explosion was a mile marker in our relationship.  After running through the streets of Starkville, attempting to run back to Birmingham, I remember stopping, sitting on the sidewalk in front this old plantation home. The nice Mississippi fellow, Lance, began to cry. He told me how this is not what God wants him to be doing. Wow, that was sobering. Lance had convictions that I had never heard of. At that moment in our relationship, we decided that we would have to break up or change our ways. We chose to change our ways; no more partying for us. The Holy Spirit was working in my life. He began to show me how my life was not one that honored God. He began to show me that I was a sinner, and no matter how good or nice I could be, I still needed a savior.  Lance showed me that everything I thought I knew about Christianity was based on opinion and an earthy worldview.  Every time he would correct me, he would show me scripture. If any of you know me, you'll know that I hate being wrong.  So, I decided to study this thing for myself, that way I could win some of these arguments. 


I bought a journal to keep notes, because it got a bit overwhelming. The other day I dug out that old journal and in the inside of the cover, I wrote special verses that I memorized. My very first bible verse that I memorize was "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God, and the word was God." John 1:1. (I know now that it is talking about Jesus, however, at the time I thought it was talking about God's word)  Here are a few of the others...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are you not even the tax collectors doing that?" Matthew 5:46

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Pro 31:30

One of my favorite passages was/is... Romans 12:9-21

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Romans 3:22

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Col 3:2

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all." Romans 8:31

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39 

"if we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit." Gal 5:25

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. " Eph 1:17

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Ps 118:24

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction for righteousness. " 2 Time 3:!6

"She opens her mouth with wisdom; and her tongue is the law of kindness." PRovers 31:26

"Open your eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of you law. " Ps 119:18

"I will sing a new song unto you, O God; upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten string will I sing praise unto you." Ps 144:9

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. " Ps 119:105

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. " Ps 51:10

"They word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against you. " Ps 119:11

"Go e therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19a

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul, and with all your strength. "

If you notice a lot of these verses have to do with studying God's word. I needed God's word. In 6 months the Lord showed me a lot about who He is, and what salvation is. It was March 6th, 2007. I just left Starkville, and was on my way to Chelsea. I knew in my heart of hearts that I had never confessed Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I knew I believed in God, I knew that I believed in His son; but through God's word, I learned that even demons believe in God. 

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! (Jas 2:18-19)

 So, I knew that there was a "faithful" believing that was require in order for salvation.  However, I was embarrassed, I thought to myself, "I'm 20 years old, most people do this when they are a child." I called Lance and told him, and He urged me to pray. I prayed that morning on I-59 N near the Mercedes plant. At that moment, I became a Christian. I asked Jesus to save me from my sin, and that I realize that I cannot earn that salvation. His death and resurrection paid my sin debt, nothing else.  

At the moment life became clear. A lot like the allergy medicine commercials. One of my favorite verses are... 

"That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" Eph 4:14

God used a bad time in Lance's life to allow us to enter into our relationship.  God quickly used to Lance to encourage me and show me that there is a savior who can fill every void we have. God's word transformed our relationship, and ultimately I gained a relationship with the Lord! I have such a strong love for God's word. 


I love how the Lord gives exactly what we need. Having a relationship with the Lord fills that need for attention, however, He gave me a man who shows me the attention that I need. He loves me, He respects me, and He looks at me like I'm a child of God.   

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Heb 4:12 

Now that I am a Christian, life isn't perfect. I still have temptations, this Spring weather makes me really want a cigarette; August 3, 2011 was 5 years smoke-free!  However, I have a purpose and a Lord who is there for me through it all.  I have God's promises to hold fast to in times of trouble.I am free. I am a new creation, like a butterfly. 
I have hope. 
Without Christ, without the hope of eternity, what do we have?  I was absolutely hopeless before March 6, 2007.  

My Valentines

I love how the Lord uses difficult situations to draw us closer to himself.  These situations have allowed me to gain a different perspective about life.  We have been blessed beyond measure, and I am so thankful for what the Lord has done for me, and what he is doing in my life.  Today is Valentine's day and I can't help but think of my #1 love. Sounds corny, I know. But seriously, God loves me when I don't love him. God loves me when I'm unlovable. God loves me enough to sacrifice His own son for my sinful self. God loves me! What I love so much, is that I have found everything I'll ever need in Christ alone, so when trials come, I can rest in that truth. 


Since I've moved back to Birmingham, I have run into many people from my past. That brings back lots of memories for me.  Satan just loves that!  I am thankful that there is no shame or guilt in Christ! I can lay my past down at the feet of Jesus, and I am free!

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Psalm 97:11-12 - "Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name." 

Isaiah 55:12 - "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV

Philippians 4:19And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:37-39No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

My husband and friend is my second love.

I love my husband because...

1. He makes the coffee pot every night.

I just have to say...knowing how to make my coffee is like a love language! He  makes the coffee pot each night, and it's always perfect.  On Sunday mornings, he even makes me a cup and brings it to me in bed. Of course, he makes just right, lots of hazelnut creamer with just a pinch of sugar. 

2. He works very hard for our family.

When we first were married he was the Mechanical Engineer for The University of Southern Mississippi. We also had a lawn care business on the side. I loved to ride along with him in the evenings. I would also take our dog, Marlee, with us. Now that he is in the corporate world, he has many pressures at work. I am so thankful that he is able to leave those stresses at work.  

3. He loves me.

Lance knows my yuckiness and loves me anyway. Even when I let the trash can stink, or let a dishcloth sour in the sink, or put too many onions in our dinner, or leave my doors unlock on my car, ..... He loves me unconditionally. 

4. He hates to tell me 'no'.

He loves to buy things for me...actually he loves it a bit too much. I have to be careful with what I say, because if I say I like it or want it, then he feels like he has to buy it. He loves to shower me with gifts!

5. He has integrity. 

No matter the circumstances. He leads our family in the way of integrity. Even if the consequences will not be what we want. He never makes excuses for sinful behavior. He calls things what they are. I love him for that. We we first were dating, this very thing helped him lead me to the Lord. 

6. He loves to sing. 

I am not musically inclined, even a little bit, but I love to sing. I especially love to sing to the Lord.  We spend a lot of time in the car, and I just love our "concerts". We will play it loud and sing "our parts"! 

Refocusing my eyes...

Well when I started writing this blog it was with a completely different mind set.  I have been reading Unchristian by David Kinnaman, and I had been thinking about how the church has hypocritical.  I need to a better job of not acting like I have "all together"and being more authentic. As you know, I have two kids, and I can't pump out a blog and then post. I have to work on it pieces until I am finished.  I woke up early one more last week and was nearly finished. Only it didn't save. I was so upset. Thankfully, it was because God wasn't finished with me. I'll write about that later! 


I have bitten off quite a lot. Without sounding like I'm patting myself on the back, I just want to say I'm memorizing, reading, and studying. I am so excited about several of those commitments right now, when  I do have a free moment its hard for me to decide which one to do. It's easy to be excited about things like this when being lead by the spirit. The Lord has just pumped me with some Holy Spirit "energy" these past few weeks. However, Monday and Tuesday of this were especially "bubble bursting", this lead to a pretty bummed out Wednesday.  This was something I wrote that day,

"I woke up heavy-hearted today. This is ironic to me, since I am memorizing James and the first thing he addresses is to count it joy! So today, I've been repeating James words to comfort my heart. "

Without even thinking of these occurrences, I asked Lance to pray for me, I said, "For about 3 days it has been extremely hard to want to memorize scripture. In fact, I didn't even learn 1 new verse.  My bible study was especially difficult, and I found it hard to put anymore thought into other than answering the questions."  Lance brought it to my attention that I have been worrying.  He said, "Worrying makes everything worse...you aren't doing anything while you are worrying, the worrying takes all your energy, then you are left still not wanting to do anything."  As country as it sounds, he hit the nail on the head.

This reminds me of Peter and Jesus walking on water.  Peter had faith and trusted Jesus as he stepped onto the water.  Peter walked on water as his eyes were fixed on Jesus.  Once he remember the waves and felt the wind, he took his eyes away, and focused on the fierce storm.  He lost faith and trust in Jesus as he feared the storm. Peter began to sink.  Peter was able to walk on water with Jesus' power, and when he feared the storm, he began to sink.  

Dear Lord, I have taken back my trust. I am more afraid of the storm than in what you can do. I know that I can hide in you, because you are working all things together for my good. Even if this situation doesn't turn out the way I want, I know that you will hold my hand through it. You will supply all my needs. I love you Lord. 

I worried so much that I was worn out!  I was functioning on my own, without the power from God.  Essentially, I was zapping my out strength. Most of the time, our house is filled with joy and laughter; Noah is the silliest little boy I know (I might be a little bias). However, when doubt and fear enter our worlds, then joy escapes.

The world may make moms feel like our job is insignificant, but it is the most important job on this earth.  Noah and Anna's first experience and witness to what faith and trust looks like is in our home.  The Lord is able to mighty things even in my house; Am I going to keep my eyes on him? Or look at the storm coming our way?

I want to be an abiding Mother...

So I'm standing in the kitchen feeding Anna, while Noah is playing basketball in the living room. Noah was suppose to eat lunch 45 minutes ago, but we got home a little late from bible study. We only have one highchair, so Noah has to wait for Anna to eat lunch before he can eat his.  He is trying to get inside of Anna's bouncy seat (which he weighs too much for). I must mention that Noah is playing basketball with not only a basketball, but with a kickball, football, and a bouncy ball. For some reason, he keeps making this awful sound...its like a yell, but its more of a grunt.  He makes this sound when he is unhappy. I try to tell him that this sound is not nice, and try to verbalize his needs. 

When I think about the mom I want to be, my mind often goes to the movies I see on tv. With the mom standing in the kitchen with an apron on. By the way, I never wear an apron... I don't really have issues with getting food on my clothes, but the "perfect" mom in my head always has an apron on. There are cookies baked, and she talks in a cheerful and joyful voice. She is full of joy and encourages her children. Her children are happy and well behaved. This reminds of someone...the virtuous woman of proverbs: 
"She watches over the ways of her household, 
      And does not eat the bread of idleness.
       ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
      Her husband also, and he praises her:
       ²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
      But you excel them all.”
       ³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
      But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. "

Proverbs 31:10-31

In my world... I'm standing in a kitchen, which looks a whole lot like my dream kitchen: clean and welcoming. However, I don't have baked goods, everyone isn't walking around smiling and talking in a cheerful voice. My children are screaming, disobeying... I have a 21 month old and 6 month old. We are still learning how to obey.   My husband called my son a "poo poo butt" one day while changing his diaper. Noah insists on repeating that even though he knows that is not a nice thing to say.  It seems like Noah is always in "trouble" and things are always hectic! This is not the picture I have in my mind of the atmosphere I want for my home. 

A lot of times I sit back and say, "One day...when my kids aren't toddlers and babies anymore.." When the issues aren't climbing on the fireplace or getting in Anna's bouncy seat. Then my home will look like I want it to. Then it occurred to me, I'm a mom now. God has called me to be a woman/mother who fears the Lord in all I do NOW. These very moments that I have are going to shape my children. It will shape who they are now, who they will become, and the atmosphere of my home and family in the future. So if what I want my attitude as a mom, and my atmosphere of my home to be that of the virtuous woman in proverbs, then why do I walk around so defeated? Frustrated? Negative? I feel like I am always getting into a rush, and I say things to Noah that I wish I didn't, because I'm frustrated with the situation.  I think the answer is because I am trying to do everything on my own. I am living in the moment. I think I hit survival mode a lot, because there is so much on my plate. When I am in survival mode, then I do what comes naturally to me. That should tell me what I am doing wrong.  Naturally, I'm not going to be the mom that I want to be. Naturally, I'm going to do the things I do not want to do. 

I don't want to live by my nature any longer. I want to live by the spirit. Even though I am a believer, and a child of God, I don't wake up each morning filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the spirit takes the effort of abiding in the Lord daily. When I spend time with the Lord through prayer and through His word, then I can be filled the spirit. This will overflow into my attitude; Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." If I am abiding in Him, then the fruits should be evidence in my life. If I want to be the mother God wants me to be, I have to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  That is so encouraging to me, because now I can be an intentional mom, I can prepared for what's coming next, I won't let my emotions get the best of me.  When Noah is disobedient I can gain wisdom from God verses going on my emotions.  It gives me joy, because often times I walk around my house in a "funk".  I think about how much I would love a break from the kids. When I am being an intentional mom, I want to be around them. Now, I know that it's never going to be the "perfect" atmosphere, and I'll never be the "perfect" mom. However, I know that God has more joy for me and my family. Our preacher talked about abiding this sunday.  The only way I can tap into that joy is by abiding.

Ann Voskamp, I love her site. I follow her blog and enjoy the freebies that she gives.  One of the freebies that she gives is 

A Parenting Manifesto of Joy. On this it says things, like... 

"Today, I will make our house a home of prayer." 

"Today, I will no emergencies". If I am intentional and letting God make my schedule for me, I can avoid emergencies and rushing.   

I love this.." Today, when stress mounts, I will dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan with my intervention with verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choice to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling." This is great! When I am overwhelmed with frustration and when I want to throw my hands up, I can fight feeling with feeling. I find something I am thankful for! I heard something the other day that real struck me. I notice that my husband has had a lot more thanksgiving in his praying lately, and I mentioned that to him. He said someone told him, "What if today you only had the things that you thanked God for yesterday." That really hit home, because I feel like I'm thankful. However, I feel like I am ungrateful more than I'm thankful. I feel like the reason for that is because I'm busy. What is so sad is that I am busy with things that God has blessed me with! He blesses me with so many privileges, and instead of turning it around to thanksgiving, they become idols. So, being thankful is such a wonderful tool we have to stress management. 

    I like number 5, it says, "Speak words that only strong words....grace words...all other words are death words." We have to be so careful what we say. I need to be intentional in my word choice. My words are powerful, most times our words are how we train our children; so our words should be grace words. Our words are shaping our children.  

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."                   John 15:1-4

 (turn mixpod off at the bottom of the page)