Happy Valentine’s Day

So how was your Valentine's Day? Did you get some roses? Or some chocolate candy? Or enjoy a special dinner out with your valentine? I did get some roses and candy, but the special dinner just didn't happen. My husband is traveling today, so we tried to go out this weekend. It didn't happen. We did manage to watch the movie RED, so that was some sweet time together. We'll have to have a special dinner out sometime soon.

I decided to make a special meal for our children tonight. Nothing fancy, just spaghetti and meatballs-their favorite. Since Steve is gone, we'd have our dinner, eat some chocolate cake and celebrate our family. The day started off well. Steve got everything ready and headed to the airport. I started on my errands and making a list for the grocery store. Then the school called. The little man was sick.

My daughter had softball practice and the little man was supposed to have baseball practice tonight as well. It became apparent that this day was not going to happen as planned. Normally I would just throw in the towel and say forget it. Not tonight- We had meatball sandwiches and ate leftover cake! We did it together and it was sweet. Our children know that we love each other and that we love them. That's a pretty good Valentine's Day if you ask me.

I hope you know that you are loved too. If no one told you today, then let God tell you. Check out these scripture verses and walk in God's love-the best kind.

Psalm 103:17-18, John 3:16, Jeremiah 31:3, John 15:9, Colossians 3:12

Subtle Differences

Last night along with millions of other people I watched Super Bowl XLV. I love the whole pre-game show and even the pre-pre-game show with all the back stories on the players. It’s a fun day for me. My husband ran out to get some burgers about 30 minutes before the game started, so I watched the pre-game show by myself. When he returned I said, “I think she sang the national anthem wrong.” It seemed so subtle to me that I wasn’t 100% sure at first. My husband thought I was just caught up in the moment, because I love that stuff. It makes me smile…all the pomp and circumstance before the big game. Unfortunately for Christina Aguilera the whole world knows today that I wasn’t mistaken. She did mess up the words to the national anthem. Honestly I felt bad for her all day today. That’s a lot of pressure and whole lot of people watching you sing live. However, it keeps occurring to me how uncertain I was if the words were wrong.

Last week in my Bible study discussion group we had a similar moment. We were reviewing David’s life and the steps he took that led to him committing adultery and murder. At the end everyone said God was mad at King David. But was he? Is that what it really says in 2 Samuel 11:27?

“After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

God wasn’t mad at King David. He was displeased with David’s actions. The choices he made displeased God. It’s a subtle, but very important difference to know. I make bad choices all the time that dishonor God. It’s easy to think in the conviction and consequences of those decisions that God doesn’t like me. But that’s not true. God loves me, all the time, no matter what. He loves you too and that doesn’t change.

One Word

Over the last few weeks I've been reading about people choosing their one word for the year. This idea intrigued me. If you read this post, you'll see I don't necessarily do very well with New Year's resolutions. However, the thought of having one word for the year got my attention. Then like a surprise present I found this website! Check it out, my one word. Click on the media tab and listen to Pastor Mike Ashcraft's sermon at the beginning of this year. He explains the whole thought process behind the one word and gives some great examples from his one word experiences. He talks about the one word being the funnel or scope that you see everything through this year. That's pretty cool and doable for me.

So my one word for this year is Surrender. Surrender is how I will weigh decisions this year regarding family, ministry, health, finances and my relationships. I will be asking myself questions like, "Does this choice surrender my desires to Christ?", or "Am I working this out on my own, or did I surrender to God's timing and plans for me?" I chose "surrender" a couple of weeks ago. Since then I've been praying about a scripture to capture my heart with this word. Philippians 1: 20-21 says,

"For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. "NLT

Paul is actually speaking these words while in prison, so they seem a little harsh. But in the context of my one word, surrender, I want to be bold this year in my choices. Choosing to surrender and die to my choices, my desires and selfishness will be truly living-living for Christ.

What do you think? What is your one word? Do share!

Snowy Day Reflections

"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised." That's Proverbs 31:30 and it's what was on my mind when I woke up this morning. No kidding.

When I went to bed last night there was a snowy blizzard falling down around us. A rare treat for the South and it was incredibly beautiful to watch. I've never seen that much snow falling that fast. School was already closed for today and we couldn't wait to get up and play outside. There was a cold blanket of white across the yard just waiting to be run through.

We got up, put on our warmest clothes, gloves and boots and headed out to make a snowman. Much to our dismay, the snow that was so inviting last night was now covered with a thin layer of ice. Each step we took was like breaking through glass. We tried to make a snow angel instead. You couldn't move your arms or legs for the ice. We'd been deceived. The snow was pretty to look at, but the ice made it hard to enjoy.

That's a good illustration of what Proverbs 31:30 is talking about. It's easy to look the part, to be fun and inviting. I dress like I'm fine; I smile like I'm fine; heck, I'll even tell you I'm fine. The truth is sometimes I'm not. Life is hard and challenging. But I desperately want to be the woman who fears the Lord. I want to be the woman who follows hard after God, obeys His Word and loves His people. It's a daily choice and it's so much easier than being deceptive and fleeting.

Finishing Well

Happy 2011! I know I'm a little behind, but I've been mulling this over for awhile now. The New Year always brings about thoughts of commitments, plans and resolutions? Do you make any? Do you keep them?

I used to make resolutions…at least in my mind I did. Very seldom did I keep them though. You know the ones, like lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more, stop yelling, read more, pray often, etc, etc, etc. Somehow I always manage to lose steam with my well intentioned plans for a new year. (Thus my mulling and pondering over the last few days.) How will the year 2011 be different? It's not that I don't want to succeed, but I think my approach has been flawed.

Recently I heard Dennis Miller, the comedian, say, "My resolutions are to get fat and smoke, because I know I can do that." That's funny, but his logic rings true to me. Most all of the resolutions I've made have been things that I could do, at least that's what I thought. The truth is that I've not kept them because I've not been able to exercise control. This year I want it to be different. I want to finish well.

As I've prayed over the New Year this past week, God kept bringing this verse to my mind. Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." The flaw for me in failing to keep my resolutions has been in not having accountability, not having wise counselors to encourage me. As the verse says, it takes many advisers. This year instead of making my mental list and keeping it to myself, I'm sharing it with my family and prayer team. The key is that these people love God, love me and get where I am. They're not afraid to be honest with me.

If you struggle with keeping your resolutions and finishing well, then find someone to keep you accountable. Ask God to give you someone who loves Him and you unconditionally. Then wait and see who He brings. I met some of my closest companions on the phone, on a ball field and standing in line at a restaurant. You'll be amazed at what happens when you commit your plans to God.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Turners.

Blog Birthday Winners

So I'm running a little late on this announcement! For those who know me, that's no surprise I'm sure. Congratulations to winners. Here they are:

Forgotten God by Francis Chan-Fran H.
$15 iTunes Card-Ann C.
Potluck Club Book-Rhonda F.

Please e-mail me your address so that I can get these to you quickly at turnerbm@bellsouth.net! Thanks to everyone who participated and signed up to receive updates via e-mail.

Also, later this week I'll be doing my first ever blog interview. I can't wait to tell you all about a new ministry I learned about this past week. Stay tuned and stay in the Word.