A Clean Slate... again and again!

Have you decided to start a new chapter in your life this new year? I am so thankful God gives us a clean slate again and again... As 1 Corinthians 13 says, "Love keeps no records of wrongs!" As I think of the new year beginning, I look on the past year as well. I am reminded of the post from January 1st of last year and think it is fitting to repost:



As a new year begins, we all want to start over with a clean slate. Forget about the things in the past year that we screwed up on. It is time to create a new record, a new way of living. On the new year, we each resolve to change all the areas that need improvement. If only all the things we have done wrong over the past year could actually be wiped clean and forgotten!!

If you are like me, sometimes it is hard to press toward new and better goals for the haunting of all the things I have done wrong. At times, it is so much easier to look at all the areas in life where I have failed. Yes the last year has had many great strides in my personal, professional, and spiritual life... but for some reason, the failures are what stay impressed at the forefront of my memory.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah. I love the way The Message just spits it out in such plain English:

"...you're my servant. I made you, shaped you: You're my servant... I'll never forget you.I've wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings. There's nothing left of your sins. Come back to me, come back. I've redeemed you." -Isaiah 44:21-22

Oh how wonderful to think that my slate has been wiped clean!! All I have to do is ask. Jesus has redeemed me and I can start over any time I need to. He is right there creating a clean slate for me to start walking in the right direction.

Yes, I have messed up many times over the past year. I could write you a list right there on that little chalkboard... but...LOOK... it has already been wiped clean!!! Let's take the clean slate God has given us today and begin writing a story to be proud of. God bless you this new year!

Ooops! Forgive me!

 Do you ever forget something and remember when it is too late? Do you have every intention of staying consistent and somehow end up failing without even realizing it? Guess what?!?! You aren't alone. Well, you may have felt alone if you showed up for the SHINE PJ Party tonight!

I am soooo sorry if I let any of you down tonight. I am being real and honest, because that is part of what SHINE is all about. We are here to be REAL with one another and the reality of the situation is that I just became distracted with my day and forgot about the post until now! I had not even made the video yet! And honestly, I feel horrible!

So what can we gain from this spiritually? Hmmm... isn't it interesting that our next portion of The Lord's Prayer is, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." So, I could simply ask you to forgive me and remind you that if you want God to ever forgive you, you have to forgive me. But, I don't think that is what Jesus was wanting us to get from that part of the prayer.

Matthew 7:12 says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." I think this goes hand in hand with this section of the prayer. It is almost like a reverse request... as you forgive us Lord, help us remember how we should forgive others.

How many times am I quick to judge someone's intensions? How often do I hold something against someone who has irritated me, got under my skin, or maybe hurt me (intentionally or not)?

Yes, I hope you all will forgive me for not posting our video tonight. But, I know my wonderful Heavenly Father already has. HE IS SO GOOD! I figure you all were sick of seeing my face every Saturday night anyway.. you probably needed the break! See, GOD IS SO GOOD!! :O)

Here is a thought, someone shouldn't have to ask for your forgiveness in order for you to forgive them. The Lord's Prayer was a daily prayer. We should be daily forgiving the trespasses of those around us as an action of love and gratefulness for the forgiveness God has given us.

So, here I am being REAL with you... don't feel so bad if you mess up... just remember to be as gracious with those around you as God is with you!

What to Wear? The Daily Saga

It doesn't matter how full my closet is, it seems like every morning I enter the same saga...WHAT TO WEAR? Maybe part of the problem is that I have too many blouses hanging in my closet, or not enough pants to have variety. It might be because I feel too fat, or look too slouchy. Whatever the reason, it seems the "what to wear" dilemma  faces me most every morning.

How many mornings have you left out the door with a pile of clothes on the end of your bed that you spent 30 minutes putting on and taking off only to find you have NOTHING to wear? I know you all aren't like that. Some of you are decisive and can rattle off your entire wardrobe "menu", and others of you, one I can think of in particular (smiles, cause you know who you are), that will pull out whatever is clean and hanging in front of your eyes. No matter what, our wardrobe in generally important to us all. From the jewelry we wear to the shoes on our feet... we take great care to look good. I don't know many ladies who don't WANT to look good.

I received a promise verse at the She Speaks training that I went to a few weeks ago. My goal is to memorize it, and you would think I would have/ could have done that by now.. but anyway. I have been chewing on this verse for a while now and it just hit me tonight how much I spend on my physical wardrobe in comparison to my spiritual one.

The verse was Colossians 3:11-12, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

What am I wearing? Mercy? Kindness? Humility? Gentleness? Patience? Forgiveness? I must say, I don't look in the mirror every morning looking to see if those things are in the right place like I do my wardrobe. Are they looking good on me? Or a little sloppy? Am I accessorizing kindness by handing the  lady at the drive-thru an extra $5 so she can buy her lunch? Am I adorning my hands with gentleness by tenderly kissing my sleeping children on the foreheads? Am I sliding my feet into humility as I let the man behind me in the grocery store go first because he looks like he has had a bad day? Am I throwing forgiveness over my shoulder and stuffing all the hurt into God's designer bag to carry for me?

If only, I made it a habit to spend the same amount of time, put the same amount of care, invest the same amount of money into putting on these spiritual clothes!

Are you having trouble figuring out what to wear spiritually? It shouldn't be a saga, it should be a delight. You know, I think every little girl wants to be a model at some point in her life, but very few of us have the ability (or the beauty) to do so.. but we can all still be models. Be a model for God. Walk down the runway of life with your head held high and strutting the beautiful clothing from the ultimate designer. Talking about BRAND NAME!!!

When you wake up in the morning, clothe yourself with more than just those trendy, or comfy clothes hanging in your closet. Put on your tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Then, look in the mirror and see the shining star God has made you to be. Strut your stuff girl! God is watching, and so is someone who needs to see Him through you!