Run Your Race

Words cannot describe how excited I am for the Broad Street Run tomorrow! This is a goal that I've had for a while, like years.
It's time for me to Run My Race! And while I'm running mine, I want to encourage you to

Run Your Race

When running long distances, you have to stay in a groove. Sometimes, that groove will be disrupted. A red light, a detour, personal thoughts, a cramp, fatigue - many things can contribute to loosing your groove.

During these 10 miles, I know there will be times when I lose my groove and will have to re-focus. I will fixate my eyes on something and keep them there until it gets closer and closer. I pay attention to how I'm running - my breathing, my stride, my pace.

Whether your running in the natural or spiritual, stay in a groove. If your groove is disrupted, re-focus and get back in your groove. When you have been running for a long time and still cannot see the finish line, re-focus. Persevere through a cramp. Endure through fatigue. Walk if you have to! Keep moving and Run Your Race.

(SN: Personally, I don't like to walk during a run, but once I had to and that enabled me to finish. I had to realize that walking isn't what deters me from my goal. Stopping does. Walking is allowing my body to rest when needed and helps keep me in the race. If I ignore my body's call for rest, I put myself in a position to potentially have to stop forever.)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1

If you would like to send me Facebook cheers (thanks Nike+) during the run tomorrow, go to our page @ facebook.com/teambowens and LIKE the latest Nike post. I'll hear your "cheer" while I'm running down Broad. 

1 Week!

This is it! The last week until the Broad Street Run. This is why I've been training for the past 8 weeks.
My plan: A couple short to medium runs this week. Take it easy & trust in the training I've already completed.

We spend time training so that we are confident and ready to succeed on race day.

We spend time in the Word so that we are confident and ready to succeed in carrying out God's will on any given day.

Thank you for taking this ride with me! I appreciate everyone who "cheers" me on via Facebook during my runs. I'd love to hear your cheers on the morning of May 5th while I'm running down Broad Street. 

I'll be sure to post pix...

But the Fruit

You may have not realized it before, but the scripture in Galatians 5:22-23 speaks of FRUIT. Although a list of nine is provided, the Word very clearly says, "But the fruit..." and no plurality is noted. Like all of God's inspired Word, fruit is left singular for a reason.

I thank God for my church home; this topic has been discussed before. While the topic is not new to me, the devotion that I read yesterday explained the fruit in a new way.

I love that God is infinite and therefore His Word is infinite which means that He can use many people to share His Word in an infinite number of ways.

I dig the way that Dr. O.S. Hawkins broke this down...check it out: 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. — Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) Fruit is the delectable product of that which is created by the inner life of the vine. On the eve of the Crucifixion, the Lord Jesus put it thus: “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 15:4). Earlier on a Galilean hillside, He had said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20). The fruit we bear as believers is evidence of His abiding on the throne of our lives. At first glance, there appears to be a grammatical error in this verse. Note carefully: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . .” The truth is that the fruit of the Spirit is love. Love, period. The nine fruits listed here are a cluster describing the evidence of the life of Christ within us. The fruit is singular here because it is the outcropping of one’s life within. The fruit represents what we are rather than what we do. Here we are reintroduced to the principle of being before doing. What we do is determined by who, or whose, we really are! The fruit described in Galatians is a triad: three clusters with three fruits each. They are reflected in a countenance that is obvious, conduct that is orderly, and a character that is obedient.

2 Weeks

I'm starting to get nervous. 
2 weeks to go (really 1 week & 2 days).

My worse nightmare is that I'll have to go to the bathroom like right before I start running.

Second, my right knee has been acting "eh" on my long runs.
When these thoughts arise, I focus on the end of the race. This time in 2 weeks, I will have finished.


This week I want to share how lovely it is when I see other runners - especially on my long runs. It makes me move a little quicker and a little more gracefully. And I'm always ready to encourage with a smile, a nod, a "hey" and sometimes all three!

Isn't that the walk of a believer? (Or should I say the race of a believer.)
It's encouraging when you see - or find - other believers in your midst. It makes you smile, it makes you stand a little taller, it comforts you. It's mutually encouraging. Most likely, the farewell ends with a "God Bless You!" Those are great interactions.

On a random note: I wanted to share a great pic that my son's friend's mom snapped for us at the end of their lacrosse game. We rarely get pix of our entire family so this pic truly blesses me every time I see it. & my mom hopped in, too!

My Sweetheart, Me, my Mom, Kaelin, Laila, Immanuel and Jaelie

You Gotta Hear This

Y'all know Jimmy & Karen are my peoples! Ha, ha...

Well, maybe you didn't, but know you do. I listened to this podcast the other day & it has stayed on my mind. I wanted to share because this is great stuff to be aware of. 

Although married people are the main demographic, this message is for any woman or man who wants to communicate with a future spouse or the opposite sex in general, which will probably happen daily. 

Positive Communication | Marriage Today | Jimmy Evans from MarriageToday on Vimeo.

Jimmy Evans discusses common problems spouses have when communicating with each other and practical skills for achieving successful communication in marriage.

3 Weeks Quickly Turned to 2

SMH.

I know I am not the busiest woman on this planet,

but sometimes...man...I feel like I could be her.

Quick Update:
I DID IT! And yes, I am hype about it. 
Last week, my goal was to step it up a notch and go for 9 miles. As I planned out my route, it ended up being 10 miles. So I did it.
I will always remember how I felt when I heard the Nike+ lady say, "10 miles completed."
A goal had officially been accomplished. I had to immediately thank God because I know that He gave me the strength, the perseverance, the endurance - everything I needed to complete "the race".

I hurt my knee, though - *sad face*.
In retrospect, perhaps I should have done 9 miles. In my excitement, which came from a good place, I may have jumped the gun a bit. I accomplished the goal, but with an unwanted consequence. Had I stuck to my plan - 10 miles in 2 Weeks to go - maybe my knee would have been fine.
Patience. Wait on God. We can want to do things - good things that aren't bad - but if it's not in the will of God, there may be unwanted consequences.

Good does not always equal God, but God always equals Good.

So today marks 2 weeks until the Broad Street Run. I rested my knee for a good part of last week. I'll get back on the road this week. I'm looking forward to it.

My 10 miler

4 Weeks: 2 Thoughts

Yesterday, I ran 8 miles. That was a first. I never thought I would ever or could ever run 8 miles, but I did. God created us in His image. With Him, there is no limit to what we can do. Our minds box us in. When we keep our minds on things above & allow God to use us for His glory, His infiniteness is manifested through us. As long as you're alive, it is possible for you to do things you never thought you could. 

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside "the sin which doth so easily beset us."

The NIV translates that as "the sin that so easily entangles."

The MSG says "no parasitic sins."

NLT calls it "the sin that so easily trips us up."

When I read this, I think of my sin. I don't want my sin to easily beset me, or entangle me, or trip me up or suck me dry like a parasite.

Then God showed me that this is applicable to all sins! Not just my sins, but other people's sins that purposely or inadvertently end up affecting me. I need to lay them all aside. I need to throw them all off. All of those sins have the ability to hinder me in my race.

How do I throw off other people's sin? Forgiveness.

...later that evening: & look what God shares with me on forgiveness today.

Lil Ppl Dictionary Entry

Samerican  (noun)  \ sa mair eh can \

 1 : a person exhibiting behavior similar to a certain Samaritan who is found in Luke 10:30-35

Example of how Samerican can be used

 - Part of Kid's Prayer: "...and God, please help us to be lights so that we can be good Samericans..."

Origin of Samerican

   Laila - 6 years old

5 Weeks

"Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses..." Hebrews 12:1a

God gives us a command: Run the Race. 

He tells us how to run: with Patience (Endurance, Perseverance)

Before that He tells us how to prepare for the race: Lay Aside Every Weight & the Sin that so easily Besets us (Torments or Plagues us)

But 1st, He gives us a support system: a Great Cloud of Witnesses

This great cloud of witnesses was recognized in Hebrews 11. The major commonality that bonds the great cloud is FAITH. They all had Faith in God - in who He is, in what He says and in what He can do. 

Through our FAITH in God, we can do whatever He calls us to do and know that those who walked in faith before us are cheering us on. Let's be honest, sometimes the things we are called to do don't seem very easy or even possible.

In my 5th week of training, I will be running 7 or 8 miles. For long distance runners, that's nothing. For me, that's like, "Whoa!" I am a tiny bit intimidated by the thought of running 7 miles. I have fleeting thoughts that tell me I can't do it. But when I think about those who have done it before me, the people who tell me I can do it and my family who I told I would do it, I am immediately encouraged to go do it.

There is encouragement in knowing that normal people have succeeded in doing courageous things before you. And even more support knowing that those people are excited about you being successful also! You are encompassed by a great cloud of witnesses! Witnesses of God's amazing glory! Witnesses of how God can use any willing vessel! Witnesses who are witnessing what God is using YOU to do for the Kingdom!

Are you hype?! I am, lol! Let's Go...
I'm gonna get these 7 miles. What are YOU gonna do?

(I happened to be listening to this while I was writing.)

6 Weeks

I hit a bump this week.
I ran yesterday, March 27th, but my last run before that was on March 19th. An entire week had gone by without me running and that was not the plan. Besides "winter in spring" affecting my runs (I do not dig running in the cold - gotta get over that), I had to chill because I was not properly rehydrating myself.

Patience, Perseverance and Endurance are great. So are cars, but without the proper fuel, they are not as great as they can be.

Having an excitement and a zeal to do God's Work - Kingdom Work - will only get us so far. We have to be equipped and we have to re-up daily. If we don't actually spend time with our Father through prayer and through reading His Word, we will not have the energy to sustain the mighty work that He has for us. We will be put in a position where there is no other option but to chill and get in His presence for refueling.

Do not be discouraged if you find yourself here. I have been there and I'm sure almost every other follower of Christ has been there, too - multiple times. When you do notice that it has been awhile since you've really sought His presence and have really dug into His Word, push reset. God's awesome grace allows us to do that.

It may sound something like, "Father, I'm really sorry that I have not been seeking you like I should. Please forgive me, Lord, and help me to see the time that you give me to seek your face."

If time is an issue, take 5 minutes to spend uninterrupted time with God. He will honor that time. Use a timer if you have to, it's cool! Add more minutes as you can. This is a great way to get back on track. This is advice that someone gave me and it works.

I have beaten myself up for not taking the proper time to refuel by being in my Father's presence. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ and walk by the Spirit not after the flesh (Rom 8:1). The time I wasted beating myself up could have been spent getting back on track!

Speaking of tracks...I will be doing a better job of rehydrating myself after runs so that my Patience, Perseverance and Endurance can flourish!

7 Weeks

...let us run with patience...

Hebrews 12:1

At one time, this phrase seemed contradictory to me. Since I know that God's Word is flawless, I had to study.

Run
to go faster than a walk; specifically: to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step

Patient
1. bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2. manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3. not hasty or impetuous
4. steadfast despite opposition


The definition for patient that says "not hasty" is how I got confused. Running is fast. Patient is slow. But as we can see, patient is defined in other ways - other ways that extraordinarily compliment running a race.

Your race is a marathon. It is long. It is arduous. It is life on earth.
It requires patience, bearing pains and trials calmly and without complaint, forbearing when provoked or strained and steadfastness in the face of opposition.

A marathon runner's body may feel like quitting after 13 miles, but his patience allows him to remain steadfast. He has a goal and a prize to capture.

You may feel like quitting, but allow patience, which is the fruit of the spirit, to help you stay devoted to and focused on the prize that awaits you at the end - Eternal Life with Christ!

As I ran in the rain the other day, the strong wind accompanying it made me think about turning around many times. Those thoughts were erased by the thought of me finishing what I had started and the feeling of tackling my goal despite opposition. I pushed on. Midway through my run, the rain subsided and eventually stopped. The winds became an inviting breeze. And, like a cherry on top, the sun started to shine.

Keep running your race. When the trials come, and they will, focus on your stride and glide through them. When people or situations try to put you on a different path, remain steady and keep to the path that God laid out for you. It may be pouring now and the wind is slowing you down while you're body is screaming STOP. Don't Quit. Slow down, but don't quit. Be patient and wait for the Sun to shine. You have a prize to claim and there are people waiting to see you cross the finish line!

Joy Ike

You know that when I hear something lovely to my ears I must share! I had the pleasure of seeing Joy Ike in concert a couple weeks ago and it was GREAT (for lack of a better word). I bought her latest cd & the fam & I have been jamming to it ever since.


Check out the vid below...I'm sure you'll dig it. And then check her out at JoyIke.com.

 

*I love the album artwork. Guess what? She created that, too!

Harlem Shake

I know, I know...I don't really wanna see another Harlem Shake video unless there was some serious thought put into it and it's worth using 30 seconds of my life to watch it. This one caught my attention because who would've thought that an iOS device could Harlem Shake, too...

created by Filippo Bigarella

8 Weeks

The countdown begins...

I believe I have blogged before about my aspirations to do the Broad Street Run. Last year it didn't happen because all the slots filled up in like 5 minutes!

This year it didn't happen because they did a lottery style sign-up. *sigh*

BUT...randomly (or not so randomly because I do know that my steps are ordered), I find myself with an entry into  - dun, da, dah - The Broad Street Run!

The run is on May 5th, which leaves me 8 weeks to train for a 10 mile run. I am excited and nervous at the same time. The longest I have ever ran is a little over 5 miles.

My determination to conquer this goal tells me that I will do these 10 miles. Period.

One of the reasons that I love running is because of how it illustrates the Christian journey. Paul tells us to run with patience the race that is set before us. Another translation says to run with perseverance. Another says to run with endurance.

Patience.

Perseverance.

Endurance.

Let's unpack these words and that scripture for the next 8 weeks.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

Chapters

A new chapter.

That little phrase says big things. That's currently what I'm experiencing. I'm sure you have experienced it many times throughout your life. It's inevitable, really. 

Manny, Kaelin, Laila & Jaelie. They are growing fast.

Our chapters create a unique book. We've read the books of Job, Ruth, Daniel and others.
Well, someone is reading the book of YOU!
The bible is filled with regular people living their lives, believing in an awesome God and allowing Him to use them in His plan. 

That's you - a regular person living your life, believing in an awesome God and allowing Him to use you in His plan! It's me, too. 

And that is the essence of this blog - Virtuous Journey. A place where those chapters can be shared.

At this point in my book, I am working full-time after three years of being out of the workforce. That's where my time has gone. That's why my last post was January 21st. I have started this post a gajillion times before finally finishing. *sigh* BUT HERE IT IS! So...

Things change; God stays the same. We get weary; God remains strong. We're fickle; He's faithful.

This should be an interesting year! I have more to share, but - you know - my time is limited. I'll be back...

Art of MBB

This isn't the first time you've read me raving about my Sweet♥ and his amazing God-given gift to be an awesome artist! Now he has a store where you can purchase prints. Before I show-off some of his art, I'll show off a piece of his heart.

He makes wonderful text art, too. = )

And now, here are some things he's been working on:

Lil Ppl Dictionary Entry

Floss  (noun)  \ floss \

 1 : string that can be used for your teeth or your eyebrows

Example of how Floss can be used

 - Mom is flossing her teeth in the morning

 - Kid: "Mom, can't you do your own eyebrows?"

 - Mom: "What are you talking about?"

 - Kid: "Isn't that the same string the lady used for your eyebrows yesterday?"
 - Yesterday, the little people were with me when I got my eyebrows threaded.

Origin of Floss for teeth & brows

   Laila - 6 years old

Can You Stand the Rain?

Jesus asked this question years before New Edition asked. 

As Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), He left us with a choice.

Do Them or Do Them Not.

Wise or Foolish.

The Rock or Sand.

Fall Not or Fall. 

One thing remains the same regardless of the choice you make:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house...

(verse 25 & 27)

There it is. No one will go through life on earth without experiencing the rains, floods and winds of life.  They will beat on you and at times it will seem as if their primary purpose is to knock you down. 

Your foundation is the key. 

When you hear the sayings of Jesus Christ, Do Them and you will be like a Wise man who builds his house on The Rock: when the crazy weather comes, your house will Fall Not.

If when you hear the saying of Jesus and Do Them Not, then you will be like a Foolish man who builds his house on the Sand: when the crazy weather comes, your house will Fall. (And Jesus made the point of saying that it will be a great fall.)

The Choice Is Yours. (no Black Sheep *wink*)

Say...do you dig Lego Blocks?? Ha, random, I know. If so...click keep reading.

3 & a 1/2

This blog was born in June of 2009, which makes it 3 1/2 years strong! I didn't even realize that until this post.

THANK YOU...

that's a big thank you to YOU for walking with me on this Virtuous Journey!

2013. Wow. I'm feeling that Great Things are in store for this year & that's on the strength of the Great God that I serve. 2012 was truly a "set-up" year as I underwent some real character building experiences. 2012 was a heavy weight that I could not lift in the first quarter, but by the 4th I was able to do enough reps to build solid muscle. Now, in 2013, I'm stronger than ever - by the Grace of God! 2012 set me up to withstand anything & succeed in everything that comes my way in 2013 and beyond. 

http://themadeshop.goodsie.com/2013-linear-calendar

I spotted this calendar during my Flipboard travels and I was intrigued. This is definitely an interesting calendar layout and it grasped my attention...for longer than I anticipated. I think it's simplicity shows just how quickly an entire year can pass. This calendar, if it were hanging on your wall, would show you your whole year at a glance. If you X'd off the days that go by, it would seem to take forever, but soon you'd see that there aren't that many days left. Hmm...

That's life. A vapor. Who is to say that you will even see all those days on that calendar? Hmm...

So today, and everyday that God allows us to see, let's live it for Him in a way that is pleasing to Him. Sure, there will be attitudes, violence, trials & tribulations - all the things that this fallen world has to offer. But ultimately, there's Jesus Christ, who died a horrendous death on a cross so that we don't have to pay the penalty for sin which is eternal separation from the Father. Jesus' death is worth withstanding anything these calendar days throw at you because in the end you will be in a glorious, peaceful, "the-bestest-greatest-thing-you-can-imagine-and-it's-better-than-that" place called Heaven. That's where the Father is and where anyone would want to spend eternity. The only other choice for eternity is hell.  

A closer pic. Pretty decent, right?

Nike x Doernbecher

I ♥ Nike. I do.

Here is another reason to love this innovative brand.





Doernbecher Children's Hospital, an integral part of Oregon Health & Science University, provides cancer treatment, specialized neurology care, heart surgery and care in various other pediatric specialties. In 2004, A Doernbecher board member, who also works at Nike, proposed that the two work together and the collaboration has been magical. Nike designers pair up with kids who have battled or are battling serious medical conditions to create shoes. Kid's are known for their creativity and so is Nike which makes this a beautiful marriage that should last a lifetime.

In 2005, the program's inaugural year, $145,000 was raised for the hospital. Since then, the Doernbecher Freestyle shoes have raised over $5 million for the hospital and its patients - even uninsured patients. Nice.

Visit ohsu.edu to read more about Doernbecher Freestyle and meet the 2012 designers!

Check out nike.com for some BTS of the 2012 Freestyle process.

Keep Reading to see last year's kicks.

No Worries

So why do you worry about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field,

which today is,

and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30

This is awesome, right? Today, I am going to be "O me of big faith." Since God takes care of the flowers, I am going to trust that He will most definitely take care of my family and me because we are His children. 

Be an "O you of big faith" today. 

Without You

Shekinah Glory Ministry is an awesome ministry that will without a doubt usher you into God's presence. The latest album is called "Surrender" and, just like all their other albums, you can play it from beginning to end and truly have a wonderful worship experience!

I always have a bunch of favorites from each cd. Here's what I find myself playing the most from the new project, "Surrender."

It's the truth, I - we - can do nothing apart from Jesus Christ!

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

The Family Force 5 Christmas Pageant

You know the fam and I are always looking for new music. I was digging one day and came across a Christmas jewel.

My Sweetheart isn't thrilled with the normal Christmas classics that I look forward to hearing this time of year. When I heard this, I knew he would dig it! The whole fam digs it! Check it out...

You can check out the rest of the album on iTunes. Nice, fresh Christmas music. (if YouTube doesn't let the vid play, click on the link to hear the song.)

I Need Rest

With my new schedule, I find myself wanting to take quick breaks. A break to rest my brain, to do something fun, to do nothing at all or whatever I (key word) want to do. Whenever I find a rare free moment, I've been playing one of two favorite games on my iPhone: Scramble With Friends or Bejeweled. 

Now, I have another issue.

With my new schedule, I find that I haven't been reading the Word like I want to or like I should. Bigger than that, I haven't been spending quiet time with my Father like I want to or like I should. 

As much as that bothered me, I still chose to spend rare free moments on my phone playing games. 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

God chastened me while I was playing my games!

Where In The World...

...is Carmen Sandiego? 

Ha, ha...flashback for all you gumshoes! Lately, you may be wondering Where In The World Is LaToya Bowens!  

I'm in my skin - when I jump out, you jump in. My dad used to say that all the time when I was a kid. Now that I'm a parent, of course I find myself saying the same silly phrase to my little people. 

Actually, I am right in the middle of CHANGE. It's a tough place to be, but with my Father in heaven I have the strength to endure.

On this leg of my Virtuous Journey, I'm back in the workforce with a new job! I'm loving the new experience God has provided.  As a family, we are adjusting to new schedules and routines. God is showing me a lot and teaching me even more. Since I haven't posted in so long, I have tons to talk about, but I won't bombard you, lol! Just check back regularly...I'll be posting often again, Lord willing!

And for you gumshoes who heard the song in your head as soon as you read the words...

Four Letter Words

Busy.
Not quite what you were thinking, but it can have a similar consequence. Those other words shouldn't be in our vocabulary. James tells us that sweet and bitter shouldn't come from the same fountain. God is not pleased with bitter.
Jesus tells us that it's ok to rest at his feet instead of busily making sure our house is clean enough for him to enter. Hmm...
As a wife and mom, that is hard to balance at times. There are so many things that need to get done. We want our homes to be presentable to everyone who enters. At the same time, we are very much aware of how vital our private time with God is to our existence - for our good and the good of the family.
Ha...this is why my last post was 10 days ago!
We want to do it all! I think that is possible when we allow God to guide our every move - we will do exactly what He has planned for us.

Here's a pictage of my "busy" 10 days...

Fun with lil people - babysitting our homie on the right

Keep reading for more pix...

Keep Swimming

It's been 10 days since I've been able to post. This leg of my virtuous journey has been a test of endurance.

I'm reminded of Dory's contagious chant, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..."

Finding Nemo - one of my faves!

If you just sighed and nodded your head, just keep swimming - or running (for us humans)! Even if you have to do one of those fast walks where you're not walking, but you're not quite jogging either - Keep Going! 

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to run with patience the race that is set before us. Run with patience. Run with patience?

1. Keep going, calmly. Run elegantly. Run purposefully. A long distance runner can't sprint the whole way. Wisdom is used to know when to speed up and when to slow down, but the running doesn't stop.

2. The race set before you, your virtuous journey, requires patience. It requires tenacity, persistence, endurance. It requires a determination to finish. 

Are you going to finish? Yes, you are!

Thank God for His Holy Spirit that empowers us to finish the race. 

Almighty God, you have all power and strength! I thank you that I can be strengthened in You and in the power of Your might. It is comforting and freeing to know that when I am weak your strength is more than sufficient to keep me running the race you designed for me. You are awesome, Lord, and your love is amazing. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Generational Blessings

We hear a lot about generational curses. They are real and are consequences of sin that...suck, really.
The good thing is they are breakable, thanks to Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Then, there are generational blessings! This is awesome, really, because what you do today can have a tremendous positive affect on generations that you won't even live to see. The blessings of Abraham are a prime example of that. He didn't live to see all the blessings, but God is faithful and He does what He says He's going to do!

Jaelie, me and Laila at the Virtuous Movement Tea Party Launch

In the first 14 verses of Deuteronomy 28, God tells of the blessings that will come on us and overtake us if we hearken diligently to His voice and observe and obey all of His commandments. One part of the list says "Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body."

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

To ensure the blessings continue to flow through the fruit of my body and their bodies and so on, I must continuously share God with them - who He is, what He has done, how He did it, why He did it, etc.

It's an honor to share such an awesome God with my little people!

For our girls, it is never too early to begin molding them into Godly Virtuous Women! Every word that comes out of my mouth and every action that comes from my body must teach them the ways of a Virtuous Woman. Yes, it really is that deep. It is imperative.

See more pix from the Virtuous Movement launch on facebook.com/virtuousmovement

Really?

God had me switch up the "Really?" for this week. He was like, "This need to be said." So I'm saying it.

Vote Now!

Help my Sweet♥'s design get printed on a shirt so everyone can rock it & smile.

Here's how you can help:

1. Click here to go to the voting page.
2. If you're not a Threadless Tees member, they will prompt you to sign up through Facebook or by using your email address. *Side Note: I know, I know, you just want to vote. You don't want to sign up for anything, I can dig it. But please sign up to vote...it won't take too much of your time AND if you let us know that you actually voted (commenting would be cool, too), there may be something special waiting for you...
3. Once you're signed in, click 5 to vote!

Done.

Check out the A.B. Snowman design process. (A.B. stands for abominable, by the way *wink*)

Pen skills.

Photoshop color skills.

This is how it will look on a tee if YOU vote! Vote Now!

DaySpring Notebooks

During back-to-school shopping last year, my mom bought our then 3rd grade son some DaySpring notebooks that feature bible scriptures and modern phrases that summarize them. I meant to post them then, but I didn't. The pic below are not his, lol; she was thoughtful enough to buy some for me, too!

iDig these and was excited when I saw them. I was even more excited that Kaelin was not ashamed to take them to school and use them. Honestly, I think I was more concerned about him receiving any negative responses than he was.
SN: God is always using our little people to convict me. Here I am wondering if he will be ok using them in school and he has the boldness not to care what people think! I pray that attitude about God sticks with him. 

The notebooks also have a QR code on the back for free desktop & mobile backgrounds.

Who doesn't dig free stuff?

Here are a few of this year's designs: 

They stepped up the inside of the composition books. There are helpful insights about life that are supported by scripture. That's decent. It's cool to see companies supporting youth who follow Christ.

These are available online through DaySpring, but we got ours from good ol' Walmart.