Ya Gotta Love Beth Moore

I have always wanted to be good at journaling. But I'm not. I start and then I stop and then I lose the journal. And then I find it 2 years later and throw it away. I am drawn to cute notebooks and stationary but then it just takes up space in our already cluttered house.

When we first brought home the twins every day was a challenge. I would wake up in the morning and I felt like I had to mentally plan out my battle plan of surviving 4 small children. I needed a pick me up, a morning OOMPH to get me going and I knew what I really needed was Gods Word. So I started looking for a good morning devotional but nothing really caught my eye.

I stumbled upon this devotional and I instantly thought it would be a good match. It's a devotional and journal in one which is exactly what I was looking for. The devotions are just 2 pages but insightful and thought provoking. They include scripture and point you to areas to read in your own Bible. It was perfect. Lo and behold it was written by the southern queen of bible study Ms. Beth Moore. Ya Gotta Love Beth Moore!

It's been a few weeks and I am really enjoying it. Its based on her book Get Out of That Pit and really focuses on Psalms 40. I love that it really emphasizes how God will provide for us and that our struggles are not in vain.

Most importantly it is biblically sound and its the perfect way to start your day as a busy mama.

Always,
Jesi

I got nothing

Ya'll I got nothing to say...

I tried, I started but the words just werent flowing. My head is all in shambles because I am ready for Rob to come home. The next month is crazy busy and it's really hard to make firm plans when you have no earthly idea when your spouse might be home.

It's days like this that I really don't love the Army.

On a sweeter note, I picked up a great book to start with two great friends. The book is called Behind Those Eyes by Lisa Whittle. I will be writing about it more as I get started with it. If you are interested there is a link to the authors blog on my sidebar.

Have a great Thursday and a great weekend! Maybe I will come back Monday with some more inspirational thoughts...and a date for Homecoming! Well, probably not but a girl can dream.
Always,

Vision

I started my morning like I start every morning. I turn on my desk lamp and I open up Internet Explorer. I check my email and then I head to my blog. I click down my list of favorites and check for updates. NO, I don’t have a reader and I don’t really want one. I love clicking on each and every one of my favorites with the glimmer of hope that there will be an update. I LOVE updates…I love blogs…I pink puffy HEART them all.

So this morning, I clicked on one of my favorite favorites here and YAY! An update waiting just for me. I started reading this post and got farther into it, and farther in, a twinkle of envy over the experience I was reading about and THEN BLAM! My friend Andi won an AWARD for her writing based on this post at a writing conference. How amazingly awesome is that? I am SO happy for her; it actually made me smile in glee. And then I sent her a comment about how she had to read and critique and edit my book with her award winning eyeballs.

Tis True, the book is still underway. I presented my BFF and accountability partner with a copy last Friday. It’s tough for me to share it. My heart is all wrapped up in its writings and I am not the biggest fan of rejection. So far, she likes it…so it’s all good in the hood. And anyways, I am reminded OVER and OVER and OVER again the purpose God gifted me with for that book. His purpose with that book is for me to help one person. So if I have to publish it myself at Kinko’s and sell it here on my own little blog (or give it away) and it never sees a Best Sellers list or the bright lights of Barnes and Nobles (my personal heaven) BUT it helps just ONE SINGLE PERSON, opens their eyes to Christ’s love and provides them a sense of comfort and companionship and understanding, it’s purpose will be fulfilled.

Speaking of, I would like to present you with my book’s title. It’s in my heart, it’s in my head and I love it. My Book… “Military Mommy, Finding Faith and Surviving Motherhood when Daddy’s Deployed” That’s it. That’s the title. What do you think? Eerily similar to my header? Yep. It’s been there for awhile but that is what I want to write about. I want a woman to pick up my book because she is terrified of what she is about to endure, open its pages, cry her head off, laugh until she cries again, and then sit in awe of God’s love for her. I want it to change her life. I want it to make her happy, to provide her with His joy and I want it to challenge her, to make her question herself so that she can be the best she could ever be, BETTER than she ever imagined. I want her to take a journey like mine, not MY journey, but like mine. I want her to enter her deployment with dread, hanging on for dear life, fingernails dragging as she tries to hold onto her normal and THEN when it’s all over, I want her to look back and see her deployment as one of the GREATEST BLESSINGS of her life.

Because it happened to me…it’s still happening. I never in a million years thought I would look back at this year and love it. I missed my husband, I cried, I threw temper tantrums, I lost my temper and I got frustrated with my monster but I LOVED it. And I wouldn’t change it for a moment. God’s hand was in this deployment; he grabbed me in the murk and drew me close. He protected me. And He is opening up a vision over my life that I never even imagined. He has given me a vision to help people. To show them the way back to Him. He has given me a vision of me speaking to a group of women about this book. LIL OL ME. And I believe it, because I believe in Him.

He is good. All the time. Even in deployments. He is Awesome.

Always,

3 Weeks Left with this Stinkin Deployment!
We are 94% DONE!

Stay tuned loyal secret readers. Tomorrow I will tell you all about my second interview with the ministry opportunity.

What's on my nightstand?

Inspired to get moving in the Faith Department yet?

This is what I am currently reading to keep me going.

The Power of a Praying Wife
Started it last night and L-O-V-E it! It leads you through 30 days of praying for your husband in all areas of his life, his work, his dreams, his heart, etc. etc. etc. If you are a woman who struggles with that verse, you know the one, a man should love his wife and a wife should RESPECT her husband this could be a challenge for you. BUT if you read the next book I promise you will feel better about it. The only thing that was off for me is that the first chapter is definitely written like you are reading because your marriage is in serious trouble. Nope, not here. I have the most amazing husband and our marriage is AWESOME. I just want to give him the gift of daily prayer and oh yeah, God told me to do it!

For Women Only
An inside look at the human man’s brain, his inner thought life and the struggles he faces day by day just because he is wired as a man. That’s right, there is a lot of information in here like what he REALLY thinks about sex, your body, and that cute girl walking down the street. Scary, yes. Thought provoking, definitely. This book will show you how best to show your husband love in the way that he needs it most. I am almost done with it but I really like it so far! There is also a discussion guide that I plan on going through.

Every Thought Captive
This is a great read if you struggle with negative thoughts, shame, guilt, etc. etc. all the thoughts that hold us women captive and hold us back from truly experiencing God’s grace. I am just a little bit into it but I do like it so far.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Yes, yes, a book on childrens sleep habits. I like this book because it reassured me that I was not a terrible mother, contrary I was being a good mother by establishing healthy sleep habits for the monkey. He is going to bed NO LATER than 8:30PM and I am not feeding him in the middle of the night anymore. We did have a few nights of crying to break an early 11:30PM waking habit (established when he wanted to come cuddle with Daddy and how could I say NO to that?) but KNOCK ON WOOD he is sleeping better for the past few days.

I hope that you will be inspired to pick up a book and read it! It is much more refreshing to your spirit and your soul than flipping on the TV again! If you need the background noise of the TV and you have digital cable there is a channel in the 900’s that plays contemporary Christian music, I have been trying to decrease my Food Network, Bravo watching and substitute it with music for the soul!

What's on your nightstand?
Always,