Sayonara, Adios, Au Revoir, Sampai jumpa…for now.

So, Nate thinks it’s funny that I’m going to blog about not blogging. Whateva, brotha!

If you would recall…HERE…I had a lot to do this year. As I have been complaining about for…eh…the last two months… I have a lot to do and the list keeps growing. In addition to the original “list,” I’ve since added being more “frugal aware” and hoping to get some preschool activities down for Ms. Lily in the upcoming weeks and months.

Let us recall “The List” and see how far we have come (Keep in mind, this was supposed to start in December 2009:

1. Simply, start working out at least 5 out of 7 days. No. I’m still as weak and floppy as on December 1, 2009. I’ve worked out about 3 times in 2 months. Today being one of those.
2. Drink more water. Sort of. I have drank more water, but one glass every two or three days doesn’t suffice.
3. Eat less sugar. …right. This one made me LAUGH OUT LOUD!
4. By April 2010, resume training for my second-degree black belt. Still time, but must get with numero uno or Joe Grosso will kick my bumbino! And then I will throw up and feed the cat-titos. 5. Run the CASA 8K on June 12, 2010. Again, see #1 and #4.
6. Spend at least 6 months out of 2010 not pregnant, nursing, and/or both. Not there yet…looking to start this one in April. However, God may have different plans.
7. Spend more time studying scripture. I have done this but see down below.
8. Find a church family. We may be on our way. We have been attending a church for around 2 months and we are currently involved in an inquirers class that should last the next 3 or 4 months. We’ll see.
9. Pray more as a family. We are doing this, but it still needs some work.

10. Spend at least one night a month with my husband without babies. (Not enough, but a start.) I honestly think we may be doing OK on this one.

Now, to why I am going on a hiatus. I have around two slots of time out of my day everyday. One of those time slots is at 5:00 in the morning…which actually makes those times slots one and not two since I have the most comfortable bed in the world at 5AM. I have some pretty big goals that are going to take up the majority of that time. I plan to do a complete reading of the entire Bible over the next 6 months. During this time frame, I thought it would be a good idea to take a break from blogging and complete the reading as well as get myself ready for Tae Kwon Do and the 8K. I believe I may do an update occasionally on this progress but take a break from reading and commenting. I probably will have those days when I just feel like I must write...it's in our blood isn't it?! I feel these other things are a little more important right now. I know since I am in such high demand all the time, you may need to contact me. Find my email on my blogger profile or check me out on Facebook.

I’ll miss reading your blogs. If you have a REALLY good one, one you need some fiery back up on…email me so I can check it out!

Where Can I Serve God?

It wasn’t long ago I was writing about Losing Michelle… And it wasn’t long ago I was Finding Michelle either. I believe I find myself still caught in this battle. The battle is a cultural and spiritual battle. It is the battle of what I have been indoctrinated with against the biblical vision we have for our family. We are fighting this battle as a family against the tide of our society. Luckily, we have been so blessed to find a body of believers to worship with on Sundays. I told you about when I first met them HERE. The godliness in this church is astounding compared to the many, many churches we have visited for the past six years. So with this battle we have been fighting for so many years, God has blessed us with support and guidance and discipleship.

Here I am a mother of two beautiful babies, a wife to a wonderful husband, and a child of God trying to find His ways. Being so blessed, I sometimes find myself so confused. I want to blame the culture. I want to blame feminism. I want to blame someone or something. But it all comes back to me. It comes back to me learning to let go of the world I was taught to love and embrace. It comes back to me learning that only God can satisfy my hunger and thirst for something more. It is God! It is God that I thirst for! It is God that I long to be with!

God wants us to die to self so that we can serve others. We search for ministries in our community…when a woman’s ministry is in her own home. Where I am right now is where God wants me to serve Him. By serving those in my home, I will serve God.

Proverbs 31

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Skate Church...Cowboys welcomed!

Just the other day, Nate asked me if I had seen the “Cowboy Church” just off the highway. I was not sure exactly what he was talking about; we often read the church signs posted within every mile here in the south and I had not seen one referring to cowboys. He clarified, “No, it’s The Cowboy Church, cowboys welcomed.” Mmm-Kay. I couldn’t help but recall The Cowboy Church when our local paper featured an article on Skate Church.

I must say this really raises some questions for me. Here in the south, contemporary services have been frowned upon for years by the older generations. At one time, I did not really have a problem with contemporary services. In all honesty, I enjoyed the atmosphere, especially relaxing in my favorite jeans while I listened to a speaker and had refreshments. As time has gone on, I have really noticed how many of these services have trailed away from the true purpose of “church.” The message is being lost and the focus is about drawing the world in by looking like the world. It seems a lot of Christian churches are becoming more in tune with social sciences than biblical teaching.

Let’s go back to Skate Church. I have absolutely no problem with skaters. I wish I could do it myself. But how do you build a ministry around skating? On the website, I see a pretty fair message on a daily devotional and the About Us tab makes a lot of sense. The building the kids use for skating belongs to the church and there is a pro shop inside for the skaters to get parts if needed. I am really trying to be open-minded, but I can’t help but think of Jesus in the synagogue being so angry. “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13) When we are in a time of fellowship with other believers that we call “church,” shouldn’t we be worshipping? Shouldn’t these young boys and girls be spending the two hours in God’s Word instead of skating for an hour and a half and having a “short message” presented? How are we teaching our young people to live godly lives and to make God part of your day all day?

I am completely for reaching out and missions, but I don’t believe Jesus changed the synagogues or His message to reach those in the world. His sheep knew then and still know His voice. I have never been to Skate Church so I can’t make a pointed judgment. I just don’t understand why we have to tell cowboys their welcome to come to church and why church has to be changed to fit your desires. Missions to me are more about going into the world to find His sheep and pull them out, not make our place of worship like the world.

In all honesty, shouldn’t we all be spending a little less time skating, (or blogging or watching TV or whatever) and a little more time in God’s Word and praying?