The Fuzzball Chronicles: the Life and Times of Curly Mommy

Someone dear to me said, "Wisdom, pray for wisdom." I started searching, and this is what I found: Isaiah 11 A Green Shoot from Jesse's Stump A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse's stump, from his roots a budding Branch. The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God. Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay. He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land. In this passage Isaiah is speaking of Jesus, the Messiah. The same Spirit that g...

I have a jumble of thoughts tonight, so I will just share a little on each of them. Empty Nest The baby birds are gone now. It is amazing how quickly they grew up. I'm so glad I'm not a mother bird. I don't think I could handle an empty nest after only three weeks of motherhood. MOPS Year End Tonight K and I went to the end of the year banquet for our MOPS group. Our Council Coordinator spoke about the book What Every Mom Needs . She did an excellent job. K gave me the book last year, but I've have never read it. After hearing the CC talk, I think I'll take a look at it. It has some good stuff in it. Oh, I won a $15 Target gift card. I also received a small potted plant and a $20 AMC gift card as a thank you for being a table leader. Confession I must make a confession now. I think confessing in such a public manner will force me to deal with this little problem. I've resolved to do better, but I need the accountability afforded by admitting it to everyone who ...

And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 (NLT) The footnote from this verse in The Life Recovery Bible says the following: To be "set free" is to know the truth--the truth about ourself and about Jesus our liberator. The truth is this: We are a slave to sin and powerless to manage our life effectively. With God's truth as a standard for our moral inventory, we can recognize and confess our needs and struggles, our sins and addiction. As we confess these to God, to ourself, and to at least one other person, we share the truth about our life. When we turn our broken life over to God, who alone can make us whole, we are again acknowledging the truth. These different applications of the truth can combine to set us free from sinful habits, chemical dependencies, and emotional bondage.

This morning I turned on my CD player. I needed music to clean the kitchen by. Switchfoot's album, The Beautiful Letdown, was in the changer. Yardboy gave it to me as a gift when I was miserable in my pregnancy with Little Man. I used to listen to it all the time, but not so much lately. This morning one of the songs meant much more to me than it ever did. I think it is because I am actively seeking God for change in my life. I want to be more than just okay. More Than Fine When I wake in the morning I want to blow into pieces I want more than just okay, more than just okay When I'm up with the sunshine I want more than just a good time I want more than just okay, more than just okay I'm not givin' up, givin' up now I'm not givin' up, not backing down More than fine, more than bent on getting by More than fine, more than just okay When I'm lit with sunrise I want more than just the blue skies I want more than just okay, more than okay More than oceans ...

Have you ever stood at the edge of the ocean and watched the waves come in? God's love is like the waves-- constant, steady, sure. He says His mercies are new every morning. Every day we get a new wave of His mercy, grace, and love. by: Holley Gerth *** Lamentations 3:22-24 (The Message) God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.

Everyone knows this part of the Serenity Prayer. Here is the entire prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: * God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. * As you can see, I couldn't resist the Seinfeld reference. :) *

We sang this song in Worship today. I first heard it when I was pregnant with Little Man and it meant so much to me then. Today, I am taking it as a challenge. I Dare You to Move by Switchfoot Welcome to the planet Welcome to existence Everyone's here Everyone's here Everybody's watching you now Everybody waits for you now What happens next? What happens next? I dare you to move I dare you to move I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor I dare you to move I dare you to move Like today never happened Today never happened before Welcome to the fallout Welcome to resistance The tension is here The tension is here Between who you are and who you could be Between how it is and how it should be I dare you to move I dare you to move I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor I dare you to move I dare you to move Like today never happened Today never happened Maybe redemption has stories to tell Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell Where can you run to escape from yours...

The telephone is the lifeline of stay-at-home moms. It is the singlemost important tool that we use to fight loneliness, frustration, and depression. It helps us stay connected to the adult world. The telephone can also be a trap, a gossip trap. I am ashamed to say that I have fallen into this trap on countless occasions. I am now clawing my way out and I don't want to fall back in. No more gossip. I must stop. Friends, I am telling you in hopes that you will help keep me accountable. Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. I wanted to find a couple of verses about gossip, but my search yielded 49 verses . Wow. It looks like God has a lot to say about gossip.

It has always been difficult for me to talk about my relationship with God. I tend to get very self-conscious. I wonder if I am offending the listener. What if they don't believe? What if I embarass myself? I have to get over this, so here it is. I have been on my journey with Jesus since I asked him to be my savior at six years old. Sometimes the road was as smooth as silk. Other times it was it was very rough. I've had times when I sought God with all of my heart, and times when I all but denounced Him. I found that I was a miserable woman when I wasn't living for God. I know things may not always be great, but I also know that God can get me through anything life (or death) throws at me. I have to be a believer. I don't have a choice. Without God I am a pitiful excuse for a woman. Friday and Saturday I went to a women's conference at a local church. The praise and worship was amazing. The speakers delivered inspired messages. God did amazing things in me. Extrava...

My parents and brother gave me a Bible for my 29th birthday. It is side by side New International Version and The Message. I read this today and it was amazing! Matthew 5:1-12 (New International Version) The Beatitudes 1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying: 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of...