She stood alone on the stage. The room dark around her, spotlight focused on her. She has the honor of portraying Mary in our Christmas Eve program at church. But not the Mary we normally see. Her hair isn't covered with a blue shawl and she isn't holding a baby. There are no shepherds or cute little girls dressed as angels gathered around her. She stands alone.
In our program, Mary has returned to the stable, where she comes to remember the place it all began. And she remembers the questions she had as the baby Jesus entered the world and was entrusted into her and Joseph's care. She wondered, as many mothers have done throughout the ages, what she would do with that baby. What would she do with Jesus?
The question doesn't stop there. It turns, as it should, to us. What will we do with Jesus?
As I consider the world we live in, it seems that many people who can accept the idea that a God created the earth. They can see how there is "someone" higher up than they on this chain of control. And there are others who can accept the idea of a "spirit," or heavenly being, who moves throughout the earth. But Jesus. That's more troublesome for many.
Who was He? A good teacher? A kind and loving man? Or God come to earth ... a king who stepped down from His throne to move among His people. The Son of God who chose to lay down His life as the only sacrifice worthy to cover the stain of my sin.
I know what I believe. I believe that accepting Jesus as Lord is the ONLY way to God. It was through His sacrifice on the cross that I can have a relationship with God here on this earth and in eternity. And it all started in a stable. With a baby. Named Jesus.
On this chilly Christmas Eve morning, I consider the day ahead. My day will start early with a few last-minute shopping stops. Then wrapping those gifts. In the afternoon and early evening, I have the joy of singing in our three Christmas Eve services (we had 2 last night). There will be some cleaning to get ready for dinner with family. I have a lot to get ready for.
But this day could go on in its busyness and I could miss the most important thing. I could get my home cleaned, the last presents bought, the table set and the tree adorned with beautifully wrapped gifts. But it will be a shame if I don't prepare my heart to fully understand and celebrate the meaning of Christmas.
Where it all started. In a stable. With a baby. Named Jesus.
What will you do with Jesus this Christmas?
Love,
Glynnis
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
This morning, I have the honor of being interviewed on the WBCL Radio Network based in Indiana. Welcome to any listeners who have found my blog as a result of that interview.
I'll be talking about working from home, based on my experiences working at home for the past 8 years for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and starting three home-based businesses with my husband.
One way to make money at home is by telecommuting. That simply means you are employed by a company, but you office at home. This is what I do for Proverbs 31. If you currently work in an office, and want to be home full or part time, the best recommendation is to put together a proposal for your current employer showing how you could work at home, and how it will save the company money. Please don't tell how it will benefit you. That's a given. Your job is to show in very practical ways, how it will benefit your company.
If you would like to work for another company, or get a job from scratch, there are legitimate telecommuting jobs available. Most of these you will find on the Internet, because they will involve some computer work.
A few red flags about telecommuting.
1. Never pay to apply for a job. You might have some expenses once hired, like equipment, but a legitimate company won't charge you to apply.
2. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Period.
In telecommuting, you will need a fantastic resume. This is very important because you most likely won't have the opportunity for a face-to-face interview. You will probably have a phone interview, but you'll be presenting yourself on paper for the most part.
There are some honest websites where you pay to receive job listings. Here are two:
http://www.teleworkrecruiting.com/
http://www.tjobs.com/
Here are some places you can find free listings of telecommuting jobs:
http://cwahm.com/wordpress/ (Christian Work at Home Moms)
http://www.wahm.com/
http://www.workaholics4hire.com/
http://www.guru.com/
http://www.moneymakingmommy.com/
Direct sales companies like Mary Kay are great ways to start making money from home by running your own business. If you want to find a direct sales opportunity that's a good fit for you, here's a great directory:
http://internetbasedmoms.com/direct-sales/
The Direct Selling Association website can also give you some good suggestions:
http://www.dsa.org/
Look at their member directory.
Finally, you can find telecommuting jobs on a normal job search website like http://www.monster.com/ or http://phoenix.craigslist.org/
Finding work at home is possible. May God bless you and direct your path if you believe this is for you.
If you are interested in buying my book, I sell it on my own website: http://www.roselanecottage.com/book1.html or you can always buy it at http://www.proverbs31.org/ or any book website.
In His Love,
Glynnis
I'll be talking about working from home, based on my experiences working at home for the past 8 years for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and starting three home-based businesses with my husband.
One way to make money at home is by telecommuting. That simply means you are employed by a company, but you office at home. This is what I do for Proverbs 31. If you currently work in an office, and want to be home full or part time, the best recommendation is to put together a proposal for your current employer showing how you could work at home, and how it will save the company money. Please don't tell how it will benefit you. That's a given. Your job is to show in very practical ways, how it will benefit your company.
If you would like to work for another company, or get a job from scratch, there are legitimate telecommuting jobs available. Most of these you will find on the Internet, because they will involve some computer work.
A few red flags about telecommuting.
1. Never pay to apply for a job. You might have some expenses once hired, like equipment, but a legitimate company won't charge you to apply.
2. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Period.
In telecommuting, you will need a fantastic resume. This is very important because you most likely won't have the opportunity for a face-to-face interview. You will probably have a phone interview, but you'll be presenting yourself on paper for the most part.
There are some honest websites where you pay to receive job listings. Here are two:
http://www.teleworkrecruiting.com/
http://www.tjobs.com/
Here are some places you can find free listings of telecommuting jobs:
http://cwahm.com/wordpress/ (Christian Work at Home Moms)
http://www.wahm.com/
http://www.workaholics4hire.com/
http://www.guru.com/
http://www.moneymakingmommy.com/
Direct sales companies like Mary Kay are great ways to start making money from home by running your own business. If you want to find a direct sales opportunity that's a good fit for you, here's a great directory:
http://internetbasedmoms.com/direct-sales/
The Direct Selling Association website can also give you some good suggestions:
http://www.dsa.org/
Look at their member directory.
Finally, you can find telecommuting jobs on a normal job search website like http://www.monster.com/ or http://phoenix.craigslist.org/
Finding work at home is possible. May God bless you and direct your path if you believe this is for you.
If you are interested in buying my book, I sell it on my own website: http://www.roselanecottage.com/book1.html or you can always buy it at http://www.proverbs31.org/ or any book website.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Saturday, December 13, 2008
There's one question I don't like this time of year. It's "Are you ready for Christmas?" What does that mean? Do I have all my Christmas gifts purchased? No. Do I have my Christmas menu planned? No. Do my kids have special outfits for Christmas Eve services? No. Are my Christmas cards mailed? No.
I guess some folks would say I'm far from being "ready." It didn't help that I got sick this week.
There's nothing like a head cold to put you in a fog. And being in a fog in the month of December is not the best place to be. Especially when your precious children are enjoying the countdown to Christmas and you know exactly how many presents you have purchased, and that number is FAR below where it should be. But that's where I've been this past week.
But instead of stressing out about all I still need to do, I'm trying to learn something from my mistakes of Christmas 2006 & 2007. Those weren't Christmas' to write about. I was very stressed out, especially about all I didn't do.
Some time in the midst of last December, I read my friend Renee Swope's experience about finding Jesus' presence in the midst of the stress. I was undone. I remember sitting at my desk and just sobbing because I had missed Jesus' presence that Christmas (and the one before) It wasn't that He was missing - I was.
With my personality, stress has the potential to turn me into a machine. I don't collapse under stress, I get hardened. I get focused on my mission, and when that happens, mercy and patience evaporate. I stop noticing the little things - which are usually the most important. Like a child whose face shuts down because her feelings have just been hurt when I didn't stop what I was doing to be fully present with her. Yep, I have the potential to power right over those "little" things.
I sensed this state coming on last week (before the cold) and it was as if I stood outside myself and looked within. The picture wasn't pretty. I saw the stirring up of annoyance and I didn't like what I saw at all.
It was as if God put up a series of stop signs for me. The first was that look at my heart, somewhat how Ebenezer Scrooge got to see himself in the "Christmas Story."
The second was a Christmas wish that was shared on a writing group. Camille Cannon Eide wrote that her wish was for a new heart. She wrote, "Not the blood pumping kind, but the kind of heart that hungers for God with an unbearable ache, a heart that breaks over lost souls, a heart that only sees people the way God sees them. A pure heart too blinded by grace to criticize, too saddened by sin to contemplate it."
(Read more from Camille here: http://www.camillecannon.blogspot.com/)
Wow! That's what I want for Christmas too.
Finally God used this head cold to slow me down. I don't think God intentionally made me sick, but I think He didn't want to waste it.
So while I'm not "ready" for Christmas according to my own self-imposed expectations, my heart is much more ready than it's been the past two years. And that is a very good place to be.
Instead of shopping today, I'll be sitting at my son's wrestling tournament. And this afternoon I'll be cheering my daughter on in soccer. And throughout the entire weekend, it's my prayer to be resting in Jesus' presence. I'm trusting God to help me get everything else done, and if it doesn't get done, oh well. At least I won't have missed the most important thing this year: Jesus.
Love,
Glynnis
P.S. Friday reveal: Last week I weighed in but didn't post my weight. It had actually dropped to 159.5. In celebration I went and ate Chinese food buffet. (will I ever learn???) This week it went back up to 161. After a month of watching everything that went in my mouth, I just got tired of it. Which is why I've stopped before. Thank you for allowing me to be transparent here. Knowing I'll be posting my weight is a great motivator.
I guess some folks would say I'm far from being "ready." It didn't help that I got sick this week.
There's nothing like a head cold to put you in a fog. And being in a fog in the month of December is not the best place to be. Especially when your precious children are enjoying the countdown to Christmas and you know exactly how many presents you have purchased, and that number is FAR below where it should be. But that's where I've been this past week.
But instead of stressing out about all I still need to do, I'm trying to learn something from my mistakes of Christmas 2006 & 2007. Those weren't Christmas' to write about. I was very stressed out, especially about all I didn't do.
Some time in the midst of last December, I read my friend Renee Swope's experience about finding Jesus' presence in the midst of the stress. I was undone. I remember sitting at my desk and just sobbing because I had missed Jesus' presence that Christmas (and the one before) It wasn't that He was missing - I was.
With my personality, stress has the potential to turn me into a machine. I don't collapse under stress, I get hardened. I get focused on my mission, and when that happens, mercy and patience evaporate. I stop noticing the little things - which are usually the most important. Like a child whose face shuts down because her feelings have just been hurt when I didn't stop what I was doing to be fully present with her. Yep, I have the potential to power right over those "little" things.
I sensed this state coming on last week (before the cold) and it was as if I stood outside myself and looked within. The picture wasn't pretty. I saw the stirring up of annoyance and I didn't like what I saw at all.
It was as if God put up a series of stop signs for me. The first was that look at my heart, somewhat how Ebenezer Scrooge got to see himself in the "Christmas Story."
The second was a Christmas wish that was shared on a writing group. Camille Cannon Eide wrote that her wish was for a new heart. She wrote, "Not the blood pumping kind, but the kind of heart that hungers for God with an unbearable ache, a heart that breaks over lost souls, a heart that only sees people the way God sees them. A pure heart too blinded by grace to criticize, too saddened by sin to contemplate it."
(Read more from Camille here: http://www.camillecannon.blogspot.com/)
Wow! That's what I want for Christmas too.
Finally God used this head cold to slow me down. I don't think God intentionally made me sick, but I think He didn't want to waste it.
So while I'm not "ready" for Christmas according to my own self-imposed expectations, my heart is much more ready than it's been the past two years. And that is a very good place to be.
Instead of shopping today, I'll be sitting at my son's wrestling tournament. And this afternoon I'll be cheering my daughter on in soccer. And throughout the entire weekend, it's my prayer to be resting in Jesus' presence. I'm trusting God to help me get everything else done, and if it doesn't get done, oh well. At least I won't have missed the most important thing this year: Jesus.
Love,
Glynnis
P.S. Friday reveal: Last week I weighed in but didn't post my weight. It had actually dropped to 159.5. In celebration I went and ate Chinese food buffet. (will I ever learn???) This week it went back up to 161. After a month of watching everything that went in my mouth, I just got tired of it. Which is why I've stopped before. Thank you for allowing me to be transparent here. Knowing I'll be posting my weight is a great motivator.
Friday, December 5, 2008
A warm welcome to any readers from my friend Karen Ehman's blog. Karen is sponsoring a Christmas give-away and today I'm her featured guest. If you want to participate in her giveaway, visit her blog. I'll be giving away a beautiful set of decorative file folders, so you might win!
I wanted to share a discussion I had with my 17-year-old son Josh a few days ago. He's got a girlfriend, who share remain nameless in this blog. I'm in the very early stages of navigating this new position of being the boyfriend's mom, and have already made my share of blunders. So mum is the word.
Anyway, hopefully she won't read this. But Josh called me over to the computer the other day to show me a necklace he'd like to buy for her. It was a lovely silver heart with some small diamonds in it. I commented on how beautiful it was, and how I was positive any girl would like it.
But later when we were alone, and after I had reflected on the idea of a diamond necklace, I asked Josh how long he had been dating this young lady. He told me two months. Now remember, this is new territory for me, so I'm still learned what I should and shouldn't say. But I couldn't seem to keep my opinion inside me. So I said, "Josh, I think two months is a little early to be giving a girl diamonds."
"Mom," he replied. In that tone of voice that implies that he knows so much more than me, and is way ahead of me in this thinking. "Those aren't really diamonds."
Fake diamonds? You can't give a girl fake diamonds!
By now my son was thoroughly confused. and asked me the question that stumped me, "Why not?"
Why not? hmmm. Why not? You just can't. That's why. Let me think about it. hmmm. You just can't.
This is why men can't understand women. There aren't always neat little answers to the simple questions they ask. The sooner my son learns that the better.
So now my son is stumped and so am I. Am I wrong? I think I'm right about the "no diamonds at 2 months thing" but I'm wondering about the fake diamonds thing.
If you have any wise words for this mom-of-the-boyfriend, I'd love to hear them.
Hope you have a less confusing day than I've had!
Love,
Glynnis
I wanted to share a discussion I had with my 17-year-old son Josh a few days ago. He's got a girlfriend, who share remain nameless in this blog. I'm in the very early stages of navigating this new position of being the boyfriend's mom, and have already made my share of blunders. So mum is the word.
Anyway, hopefully she won't read this. But Josh called me over to the computer the other day to show me a necklace he'd like to buy for her. It was a lovely silver heart with some small diamonds in it. I commented on how beautiful it was, and how I was positive any girl would like it.
But later when we were alone, and after I had reflected on the idea of a diamond necklace, I asked Josh how long he had been dating this young lady. He told me two months. Now remember, this is new territory for me, so I'm still learned what I should and shouldn't say. But I couldn't seem to keep my opinion inside me. So I said, "Josh, I think two months is a little early to be giving a girl diamonds."
"Mom," he replied. In that tone of voice that implies that he knows so much more than me, and is way ahead of me in this thinking. "Those aren't really diamonds."
Fake diamonds? You can't give a girl fake diamonds!
By now my son was thoroughly confused. and asked me the question that stumped me, "Why not?"
Why not? hmmm. Why not? You just can't. That's why. Let me think about it. hmmm. You just can't.
This is why men can't understand women. There aren't always neat little answers to the simple questions they ask. The sooner my son learns that the better.
So now my son is stumped and so am I. Am I wrong? I think I'm right about the "no diamonds at 2 months thing" but I'm wondering about the fake diamonds thing.
If you have any wise words for this mom-of-the-boyfriend, I'd love to hear them.
Hope you have a less confusing day than I've had!
Love,
Glynnis
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A few years ago, my family took one of those dream vacations to Hawaii. Everything was amazing. We always save money on vacations by preparing our own breakfasts and lunches, and this trip was no exception.
I love visiting the grocery stores in other places, especially the bakery, because there is always something wonderful and new to me. We visited the Big Island and stayed in the Kailua-Kona area, and made our traditional trip to the grocery store. In that bakery I discovered a loaf of banana bread and picked it up for breakfast. It was very heavy, and the next morning we discovered it was dense and sweet. (sigh) It was amazing.
I was determined to find a recipe for this delight and found one. That's what I'm going to share with you today - the BEST banana bread ever. Really. I'm not joking. Try it and let me know. I've got a loaf baking right now in my oven. And in an hour I will confirm once again it is the best banana bread ever.
From "Island Cooks" Kona Inn Banana Bread - makes one loaf
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup softened butter (not margarine)
3 ripe bananas (1- 1/2 cups)
2 eggs, well beaten
1-1/4 cups cake flour (I use regular flour and it works)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With an electric beater cream together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add bananas and eggs, beating until well mixed. Sift together dry ingredients THREE times and blend with the banana mixture until just blended. Don't over mix. Pour into a lightly greased 5" x 9" x 3" loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour, until firm in the center and the edges begin to come away from the pan.
That's it. Enjoy!
Glynnis
I love visiting the grocery stores in other places, especially the bakery, because there is always something wonderful and new to me. We visited the Big Island and stayed in the Kailua-Kona area, and made our traditional trip to the grocery store. In that bakery I discovered a loaf of banana bread and picked it up for breakfast. It was very heavy, and the next morning we discovered it was dense and sweet. (sigh) It was amazing.
I was determined to find a recipe for this delight and found one. That's what I'm going to share with you today - the BEST banana bread ever. Really. I'm not joking. Try it and let me know. I've got a loaf baking right now in my oven. And in an hour I will confirm once again it is the best banana bread ever.
From "Island Cooks" Kona Inn Banana Bread - makes one loaf
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup softened butter (not margarine)
3 ripe bananas (1- 1/2 cups)
2 eggs, well beaten
1-1/4 cups cake flour (I use regular flour and it works)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With an electric beater cream together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add bananas and eggs, beating until well mixed. Sift together dry ingredients THREE times and blend with the banana mixture until just blended. Don't over mix. Pour into a lightly greased 5" x 9" x 3" loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour, until firm in the center and the edges begin to come away from the pan.
That's it. Enjoy!
Glynnis
Monday, December 1, 2008
It wasn't until a few weeks ago that the movie "Twilight" even hit my radar screen. My kids never read the books so I was completely unaware of the phenomenon. But a good friend and her 14-year-old daughter read them, and attended the midnight showing of the movie a few weeks ago. My friend is an awesome mom, and read the books with her daughter so they could discuss the themes presented. High five to her.
My friend gave me a run down of the movie, and it sounded interesting. When my 13-year-old daughter heard about it, she was very interested in the movie, and all she could talk about was "Twilight."
As a side note, if you are a new reader to my blog, you won't know that this daughter (and her sister) were born in Africa, and she doesn't think or act like an American teenager. But a tender young woman's heart beats inside her none-the-less.
So when we had some time last Friday, my sister Liz and I took our daughters to see "Twilight."
Before I tell you my comments, I want to make it clear that I am in no way recommending the book or the movie. I just have some observations.
I can see why this book, and subsequently the movie, has struck a chord with young girls. It is a story that in many ways parallels the amazing story of God's love. While it has no biblical message whatsoever, it strums the strings God put in our hearts that He was meant to play. Twilight the book/movie speaks of an eternal being who loves a human girl so much that he sacrifices his desires to protect and save her. Now, I realize that's a great simplification of the story line, but it's close.
What young girl's heart doesn't long for that type of devotion? So many girls grow up seeking that type of adoration from boys, and become disillusioned when they discover the man of their dreams has flaws. Yet the dream lives on in their hearts. That dream stays there, buried under years of disappointments, rejection and pain. Sometimes buried so deep that a woman forgets that she once longed for love. But it never goes away because God put it there.
What my daughters will learn is there is an Eternal Being who loved her so much that He sacrificed Himself to save her. And that even now, He stands on vigil to protect her, with an army of angels at His command. And that He adores her beyond measure. And that she can love Him back and live with Him eternally.
Instead of Twilight, I might name that story, The Bright Morning Star. For that's who it's about: Jesus.
If your daughter reads the books or sees the movie, it could be the makings of a great conversation. It's interesting how God can use the most interesting ways to communicate His love. We just need eyes to see.
Love,
Glynnis
My friend gave me a run down of the movie, and it sounded interesting. When my 13-year-old daughter heard about it, she was very interested in the movie, and all she could talk about was "Twilight."
As a side note, if you are a new reader to my blog, you won't know that this daughter (and her sister) were born in Africa, and she doesn't think or act like an American teenager. But a tender young woman's heart beats inside her none-the-less.
So when we had some time last Friday, my sister Liz and I took our daughters to see "Twilight."
Before I tell you my comments, I want to make it clear that I am in no way recommending the book or the movie. I just have some observations.
I can see why this book, and subsequently the movie, has struck a chord with young girls. It is a story that in many ways parallels the amazing story of God's love. While it has no biblical message whatsoever, it strums the strings God put in our hearts that He was meant to play. Twilight the book/movie speaks of an eternal being who loves a human girl so much that he sacrifices his desires to protect and save her. Now, I realize that's a great simplification of the story line, but it's close.
What young girl's heart doesn't long for that type of devotion? So many girls grow up seeking that type of adoration from boys, and become disillusioned when they discover the man of their dreams has flaws. Yet the dream lives on in their hearts. That dream stays there, buried under years of disappointments, rejection and pain. Sometimes buried so deep that a woman forgets that she once longed for love. But it never goes away because God put it there.
What my daughters will learn is there is an Eternal Being who loved her so much that He sacrificed Himself to save her. And that even now, He stands on vigil to protect her, with an army of angels at His command. And that He adores her beyond measure. And that she can love Him back and live with Him eternally.
Instead of Twilight, I might name that story, The Bright Morning Star. For that's who it's about: Jesus.
If your daughter reads the books or sees the movie, it could be the makings of a great conversation. It's interesting how God can use the most interesting ways to communicate His love. We just need eyes to see.
Love,
Glynnis
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