tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56806629102620780572024-03-14T02:16:15.518-04:00Speak When Spoken ThroughEncouragement for Mom's from a Mom in the trenches.Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-90476141213614662822013-09-30T11:50:00.000-04:002013-09-30T11:50:01.528-04:00"Serendipity" It's more than a word...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever met someone who always, always sharpens and encourages you with each encounter? Think about what a difficult thing that is-to be both edified and convicted-without feeling beaten down or over-inflated. It can't be easy, and yet, my friend Sharon Sloan is a master at this delicate, beautiful balancing act. I wish each of you could know her, spend time with her, be hosted by her. I promise it would refresh your soul. Watch this brief video introduction:</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="334" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/74985483" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/74985483">Serendipity intro</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7304812">Whitney Capps</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot tell you how excited I am for Sharon. She lives the message of this book, and not just in the planned, hosted, open-your-home kind of way. She lives a life of welcome and hospitality. I could type and type all the things I love about her, but why don't I just let you hear from this dear woman:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"Seek to show hospitality."</b> ~ Romans 12:13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank
you to my truly sweet and thoughtful friend, Whitney, for inviting me over to
her place in Bloggityville today! I am truly honored to guest post here! Thank
you, Whitney!!! And to all of you visiting today, please be sure to enter to
win a free SerenDIPity book at the close of this post!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">{HOSPITALITY.}
Does the thought of opening your home excite you or paralyze you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all
in varying situations and seasons of our lives, so being hospitable and opening
our homes to others may look different for each of us at any given time.
Whether it is a simple act of offering someone a cup of cold water or
entertaining a large group of people, being hospitable reflects a part of the
heart of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hospitality
can seem so complicated, so overwhelming, so stressful and even so unnecessary
in our lives today. The heart of entertaining seems to be waning in this world
of social media, where, if we are not disciplined and resolved, most of our
social interaction can be in front of a computer or smart phone screen instead
of face-to-face<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.<b><i>
<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout
scripture, God demonstrates the importance of hospitality. He wants us to be
hospitable towards. Even just taking a quick look at Romans 12:13 in the
Parallel Bible, we see the earnestness of His heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NKJV – “…given to hospitality”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NIV – “Practice hospitality.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NLT – “Always be eager to practice
hospitality.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ESV – “…seek to show hospitality”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">HCS – “pursue hospitality”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">AMP – “pursue the practice of hospitality”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our busy and
technology-driven lives contribute to our lack of personal fellowship one with
another. Opening our homes and inviting others in for coffee, snacks, a meal or
a party can easily slip off our heart’s and calendar’s radar screens. But I
believe we are called and commanded to be hospitable in whatever form the Lord
chooses. <b><i>“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do,
but encourage one another..” ~ Hebrews 10:25 <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hospitality seeks
to minister. It says, ‘This home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my
Master. I am His servant and I use it as He desires.’ Hospitality does not try
to impress, but to serve.” - </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karen Burton Mains<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">SerenDIPity ~ Celebrating Dips, Faith & Friendship</i>, I share the
simple <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why-to</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how-to</i> of hospitality. Specifically, I
invite you to host your very own SerenDIPity – a unique and fun dip party that
gathers family and friends together for fellowship, food and laughter!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This fun and practical <i>why to </i>and <i>how
to </i>book will help you:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Open up your home and heart through
hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Creatively prepare and execute your
own SerenDIPity party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Set the stage for fun, friends, and
fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Learn the ins and outs of hosting
fun contests and giveaways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Prepare savory and sweet dips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Know what to do after the party and
how to reach out with SerenDIPity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Know what the Bible says about
hospitality and fellowship.<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/products/">To purchase the book, you can click here!</a><span style="color: black;"> It is available in paperback, Kindle,
Nook and PDF! </span><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/what-people-are-saying/">Read what people are saying about SerenDIPity by
clicking here!</a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While you are at it,
grab a spoon and dip into some free resources!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/serenddipitys-5-days-of-presentation/">Click here and just enter your name to receive
five days of dip presentation ideas by our family and friends!</a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/free-printables/">Click here for some free hostess-helpful
printables!</a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/dollops-of-scripture/">And my favorite -- Dollops of Scripture!</a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/sharonsloan7777/serendipity-~-celebrating-dips-faith-friendships-~/">And of course, you can Pinterest along with
SerenDIPity by clicking here!</a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cherrydip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cherrydip.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;">Leave a comment
below telling us your greatest joy or your greatest fear of opening your home
in hospitality!! We will pick a winner in a few days who will receive a </span><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/">SerenDIPity book</a><span style="color: black;">!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a DIPlightful
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>“When you have eaten and are satisfied, </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>praise the Lord your God…” </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Deuteronomy 8:10</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
See! I told you. Don't you just L.O.V.E. her?! My fall and holiday season is going to be so much for fun and meaningful. I'm going to be using my dollops of Scripture over and over again when I'm stressing about all the hostessing that will be happening. I want my heart AND home to say welcome. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in our giveaway!</div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-82474657331455519732013-08-15T00:37:00.001-04:002013-08-15T10:58:45.237-04:00They reach millions, but touch one at a time...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://proverbs31.org/give/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Will you help us go to her?" height="200" src="http://proverbs31.org/images/august-ask-give-button.png" width="200" /></a>
She was a naive newlywed with a sweet, totally unrealistic dream hidden deep in her heart. She knew that dream needed to be brought into the light. It needed breath and space and hope to grow. So she did what all dreamers do, she searched the Internet. In the quiet and secret of her home office, away from her uber practical husband, she found out about a conference for women who want to be speakers. It was in Charlotte in June of 2003. It was too expensive. It would be too far away. It was too outside her comfort zone. But something or more likely Someone moved in her heart and dared her to say "yes."<br />
<br />
She was happy to say "yes" knowing her husband would say "no." At least she could say she submitted to God and him. Maybe she'd be off the hook. With fear and trembling, she asked. She acknowledged the risk and the cost. She supposed it was silly. She waited for him to agree it was a bad idea. He said he'd pray about it.<br />
<br />
He (both he and He) said "yes." She agreed to register for She Speaks 2003.<br />
<br />
Fast forward ten years. She just came home from She Speaks 2013. A decade later. That sweet, totally unrealistic dream has become a vibrant, totally unbelievable ministry. She doesn't reach millions or even thousands. She raises four boys. She loves her husband. She clean her home. She changes diapers. She travels, speaks and occasionally writes. But she does ministry in ways that lets her soul sing, and let's her feel God's pleasure.<br />
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She has been changed by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Women in love with Jesus poured into her life and whispered,<br />
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"Say 'yes' to God and watch what He will do with your obedience."<br />
"Don't be discouraged in the dailiness of motherhood; ministry will come in time."<br />
"Serve others well and build the Kingdom faithfully. The rest will take care of itself."<br />
"We believe in the rough, raw gifting we see in you, but keep improving. Keep learning."<br />
"Minister in your weakness; let God use those rough spaces to show His grace to others."<br />
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She listened. She treasured these things in her heart. She came to love these women, the women they serve together and this ministry. "She" is me.<br />
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I have been changed by Proverbs 31. I have been changed in an intimate, profound way by Lysa, Renee, Karen, Micca, Sharon, Lynn, Wendy B., Suzie, Wendy P., Tracie, Amy, Melissa, Barb, Terri, Nicki, Sam, Glynnis, Lisa and countless others. I don't brag that I know them in real life. Truth is, you know them in real life too if you are a part of Proverbs 31. These beautiful, broken women are the fleshed-out version of what you read, hear and see.<br />
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They pour themselves out daily in countless ways that no one ever sees. God multiplies their obedience to reach women in countries around the world. And mysteriously, miraculously they let me partner with them.<br />
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It will be one of the chief joys of my life reaching women around the world through Proverbs 31. Telling Mom's to persevere. Teaching women how to treasure the Word. Asking wives to forgive the unforgivable. Encouraging women to honor God in the workplace. Inviting women to meet Jesus in a real and personal way.<br />
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I believe I can say honestly, joining us would bless you. Real life ministry happens here. Wanna join us? We'd be honored to work alongside you.<br />
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Watch this brief video to see some of the specific ways and places ministry happens:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/71781011" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/71781011">Partner with Us Today</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/proverbs31ministries">Proverbs 31 Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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If you'd like to join us here's the link to learn more: <a href="http://proverbs31.org/give/" target="_blank">http://proverbs31.org/give/</a>.<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-28063596200068061682013-06-24T01:09:00.001-04:002013-06-24T01:19:09.344-04:00Encouragement for todayToday is Monday. I want to write something profound and meaningful. But I can't. I'm sorry. Tomorrow I'll be accompanying my boys to our church's camp. My first born baby is spending the night ALL WEEK. I am so pumped for him, but oh my heavens. This is shockingly surreal. First day of kindergarten surreal. I mean I knew this day was coming. I've been awaiting and dreading this day for, well, ever. I'm simultaneously celebrating and grieving.<br />
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He's so ready, and he's going to do great. I am just not sure my heart's ready for not having him here at home with me for a week. We are a family of six. Five just doesn't feel right anymore. I've been away from him before. But Mama's don't you know that when you are at home and it's bedtime you want your babies at home in their beds. Amen?<br />
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And yet I can't wait to help him get his bunk set up and his suitcase unpacked. It will be thrilling to hear his camp stories on Friday. I can imagine him singing his heart out to Jesus, running Keen-footed with all the boys, and playing awesome night games.<br />
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I've only been a Mom for seven years, but I am learning this is the hard tension of motherhood. It's always there in some permutation. It's the tension between guilt and satisfaction, being firm or being fun, being playful or being productive.<br />
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I want to throw a Pinterest birthday party, but I only have time to pull of Chuck. E. Cheese. A stranger in the grocery store comments on the good behavior of my boys. Only minutes later, I'm squeezing the cheeks of one of those "well behaved" boys, our noses only inches apart, in a fit of nearly lethal frustration because he was blatantly disrespectful.<br />
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I think for me that's part of the extreme exhaustion of motherhood. I am constantly trying to keep my emotions in check, balancing what's real, reasonable and right against what's easy, emotional and exaggerated.<br />
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Now a good blog post written by a better Mom would have a practical suggestion on how to deal. I'm not that Mom, blogger or girl. I don't know if on a good day I'd have the answer, but certainly not on the day I'm dropping off my seven-year-old at overnight camp. So help, sweet friends. Someone want to jump down this hole with me? You don't even have to have the answer, just keep me company or distracted-for like a week.<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-40303155414024492412013-04-22T23:45:00.001-04:002013-04-22T23:45:06.115-04:00God-sized Dreamer?If you're here from Holley's world, welcome. If not, you so, so, so need to know my friend <a href="http://holleygerth.com/" target="_blank">Holley</a>. She's ah.mazing. If you're new, let me start...<br />
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Hi, I'm Whitney. I've been told I over commit and under deliver. How's that for an introduction? Don't you just <i>so </i>want to be my friend?<br />
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I have plenty of flaws, but a lack of transparency isn't one of them. So, there you go. That's me. Big dreamer. Not so big doer. When I have been given this feedback, I've had to receive it honestly and with grace. It's true.<br />
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Now before you judge me for deflecting, I am seriously working on this weakness in my life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I think I'm making strides. So don't go gettin' all mad at me, but I kind of think a lot of us dreamers fall into this category. Do you?<br />
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Dreamers are a funny bunch. We see the future ridiculously clearly. It's so real. It's so fun. I can camp out there for such a length of time that you'd start to wonder if I'm not a little delusional. In some ways, I guess I am. I can live like my dreams <i>are </i>real.<br />
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This symptom is even more exaggerated for the God-sized dreamer. I have a holy confidence that my all-powerful God is fully capable to make this dream a reality.<br />
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So I spend a lot of time savoring what will be.<br />
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I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what I do to get there.<br />
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I don't suffer from analysis paralysis; I suffer from analysis anemia. It's weak, and I'm tired. So I go take a nap.<br />
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I've tried to muster up the energy and fortitude to overcome this weakness. I just couldn't figure out <i>how</i>. That's another problem with dreamers. A lot of us see the big picture, but we're not sure how to draw it. I can see the intricacy of the image, but those same details can overwhelm me. It's part of the blessing and the curse of being a dreamer.<br />
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If you've ever felt stuck by the magnitude of where you want to go, and (say it out loud) where you think God wants to take you, my sweet friend <a href="http://holleygerth.com/" target="_blank">Holley</a>'s book is for you! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Made-God-Sized-Dream-Opening/dp/080072061X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366687836&sr=8-1&keywords=God+sized+dream" target="_blank">"You Were Made For A God-Sized Dream</a>" is profoundly simplistic, universally personal and beautifully soul-nurturing. <br />
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Reading it felt like Holley was in my head AND my dreams. She knows the secret thoughts that I whisper only to myself. She knows the things that thrill my heart. She knows the things shame me. She knows the things that make me shrink back in fear. Better than all that, she knows the uber practical ways to get me over myself and moving forward.<br />
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I promise you, you'll feel the same way. She writes in a way that is insanely personal, but so profound I am certain I'm not the only one feeling this way. You'll love it! Truly!<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-29995688299760852302013-04-18T02:37:00.001-04:002013-04-18T02:37:55.346-04:00My Mom's Living Legacy<br />
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Who has impacted your faith? Perhaps a friend, sister, your mother or grandmother, a mentor or pastor’s wife? Honor her with a <a href="https://www.proverbs31.org/donate/"><span class="s1">$20 donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries</span></a> today. We'll send her a beautiful Legacy card and list her name on the front page of our website in May! And through your donation in honor of her faith, you'll help us reach and strengthen the faith of millions of women around the world each day. <a href="https://www.proverbs31.org/donate/"><span class="s1">Click here</span></a> to find out more.</div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-9071439417958895232013-02-04T10:44:00.001-05:002013-02-04T10:46:23.532-05:00A shocking admission from right to choose proponentsThis is a fantastic article from Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., regarding the Boy Scouts of America. It's a shocking assessment of the real issue in the "right-to-choose" agenda. I am shocked and disheartened. Moms, we must tell the heartbreaking story of these unborn victims.<br />
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I highly recommend reading Dr. Mohler regularly. It is critical that we stay informed and vocal!<br />
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So What if Abortion Ends a Life? Rare Candor from the Culture of Death</h1>
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Friday, February 1, 2013</div>
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<a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/files/2013/01/92041086.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #eb7b02; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26028" height="199" src="http://www.albertmohler.com/files/2013/01/92041086-300x199.jpg" style="border: none; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 6px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a>Is an unborn baby “a life worth sacrificing?” The question is horrifying, but the argument was all too real. In a recent article, Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon.com conceded what the pro-life movement has contended all along — that from the moment of conception the unborn child is undeniably a human life. And yet, Williams argues that this unborn human life must be terminated if a woman desires an abortion. The child is a life, but, in her grotesque view, “a life worth sacrificing.”</div>
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The abortion rights movement has always had a problem with language. The average American still hears the world “abortion” with some degree of moral revulsion. Activists did not need sophisticated marketing analysis to understand that much. Early on, the abortion rights movement shifted its public argument to the language of choice — a woman’s “right to choose.”</div>
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But to choose what? No legal revolution was necessary in order for a woman to have the right to carry her unborn child to birth. What was demanded was the right to choose to kill the unborn child. This is the moral reality that was clouded and camouflaged by the “pro-choice” language.<span id="more-26026" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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RELATED POSTS</h2>
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<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/01/20/abortion-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-the-culture-of-death-finds-a-voice/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #363636; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link: “Abortion is as American as Apple Pie” — The Culture of Death Finds a Voice">“Abortion is as American as Apple Pie” — The Culture of Death Finds a Voice</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/09/23/the-real-face-of-abortion-choosing-death-rather-than-life/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #363636; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link: The Real Face of Abortion–Choosing Death Rather Than Life">The Real Face of Abortion–Choosing Death Rather Than Life</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2007/04/19/the-recovery-of-life-in-a-culture-of-death/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #363636; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link: The Recovery Of Life In A Culture Of Death">The Recovery Of Life In A Culture Of Death</a> (Audio)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2004/04/09/the-culture-of-death-is-losing-its-grip/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #363636; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link: The Culture of Death is Losing Its Grip">The Culture of Death is Losing Its Grip</a></li>
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In recent weeks leaders of Planned Parenthood disclosed that they are moving away from the pro-choice language because it just isn’t working. Mary Elizabeth Williams agrees, saying that the change is “long overdue.” She argues that the pro-abortion movement has fallen prey to the “sneaky, dirty tricks” of the pro-life movement — a movement she says has controlled the life issue for too long.</div>
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Then, in chilling candor, Williams proceeds to affirm that every single unborn child is a human life. But, her argument is not pro-life. Far from it.</div>
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In her words:</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“When we on the pro-choice side get cagey around the life question, it makes us illogically contradictory. I have friends who have referred to their abortions in terms of “scraping out a bunch of cells” and then a few years later were exultant over the pregnancies that they unhesitatingly described in terms of “the baby” and “this kid.” I know women who have been relieved at their abortions and grieved over their miscarriages. Why can’t we agree that how they felt about their pregnancies was vastly different, but that it’s pretty silly to pretend that what was growing inside of them wasn’t the same? Fetuses aren’t selective like that. They don’t qualify as human life only if they’re intended to be born.”</span></div>
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Williams skewers the “pro-choice” evasion. The fetus <em>is</em> a human life, she asserts — <em>every</em> fetus, wanted or unwanted by its mother, planned or unplanned as a pregnancy. She even affirms that life begins at conception. But, she quickly argues, the fact that the unborn child is a human life doesn’t mean that it should not be aborted.</div>
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She explains:</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Here’s the complicated reality in which we live: All life is not equal. That’s a difficult thing for liberals like me to talk about, lest we wind up looking like death-panel-loving, kill-your-grandma-and-your-precious-baby storm troopers. Yet a fetus can be a human life without having the same rights as the woman in whose body it resides. She’s the boss. Her life and what is right for her circumstances and her health should automatically trump the rights of the non-autonomous entity inside of her. Always.”</span></div>
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So the mother and the child are both fully human, fully alive, and fully recognized as human life. But the mother can abort that human life within her for any reason or for no stated reason at all. Williams argues that the mother is an autonomous agent, whereas the unborn child is not.</div>
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In premeditated candor Mary Elizabeth Williams declares that the unborn child is a human life, but not a human life worthy of respect or protection. As Williams insists, “<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I would put the life of a mother over the life of a fetus every single time — even if I still need to acknowledge my conviction that the fetus is indeed a life.”</span></div>
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She candidly calls the unborn child a human life, and then ends her argument with this — ”a life worth sacrificing.”</div>
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The Culture of Death is rarely so candid, but this is the undisguised logic behind the case for abortion rights. The unborn human baby is just “a life worth sacrificing.”</div>
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Read it and weep.</div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-43199215291472831832012-12-15T14:04:00.003-05:002012-12-15T14:04:37.684-05:00We're having a green Christmas...If you are joining me from Glynnis' sweet and simple Christmas, welcome. I'm so glad you dropped by. We are hunkered down at home with a couple of sick kids. We are choosing to see it as a blessing. Our calendar just became unusually clear for this time of year. (I mean no one wants to hang out when your kids are a little green, and not in the festive, Christmas-y kind of way!)<br />
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So whatever you are doing today, I pray it is filled with sweet, simple Christmas blessings. If it feels frantic rather than festive, see my post from earlier this week. Sometimes the chaos reminds us of that first Christmas. If that's true then, the Capps household is enjoying a VERY authentic Christmas this year.<br />
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Merry hugs to you all!<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-4177945811812762912012-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:002012-12-04T06:00:12.259-05:00Cherishing the Chaos of Christmas<br />
Less than comfortable accommodations. Noisy roommates with not so great hygiene. A delivery that didn't arrive as expected. Uninvited guests. Maybe God purposed the chaos of the first Christmas knowing that Christmas ever after would be just as chaotic. If you are joining me from <a href="http://www.karenehman.com/" target="_blank">Karen Ehman</a>'s "12 Days of Christmas Giveaway," welcome! If not, hop over there for a chance to win some incredible gifts for Christmas. But come right back. You'll want to see the rest of the pictures from our family's Christmas tradition.<br />
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As I told Karen, I'm learning to cherish the chaos of Christmas. Each year I resolve to avoid it, and yet chaos seems as much a part of Christmas as scattered glitter, strewn pine needles and Fort Knox toy packaging. Based on Mary's experience, birthed by God Himself, should I wonder at the chaos of my own little corner of Christmas? In our noisy Bethlehem, I often feel like a chorus of some sort shouts overhead. From time to time the smell of poop wafts through the air. Weird and unexpected gifts find their way to my home. And to be honest sometimes I feel like I'm living with wild animals.<br />
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And yet it's all still magical and new and blessed. At least that's how I choose to see it.<br />
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I kind of bet Mary made a similar choice. When I get to heaven, I want to have a girl's night out with that chick. Of all the women in Scripture, Mary is the queen of cherishing the chaotic and unexpected. I mean, an angel appears to her in the middle of the night and tells her she's prego. (And I thought peeing on a stick was eventful.) Her response according to Luke 1 is, "how will this be?" Come on girlfriends would those have been the first words out of your mouth? Really? Then he goes on to tell her that God is going to be her baby-Daddy. Can you imagine? I think I would have asked him if he could stop by my Daddy's bedroom before he leaves and share this news with him.<br />
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I can't wait to get Mary's perspective on that night and the nights that followed. She worships. She treasures. She ponders. She welcomes. She chooses. I can learn a thing from this first mother of Christmas. So I'm trying to make the wise choice-the choice to cherish.<br />
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In comparison to all Mary chose to overlook, my Bethlehem isn't so chaotic.<br />
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Now, if you'd like to see pics from our Christmas dinner out with the boys:<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-84547388980711835662012-11-26T23:28:00.001-05:002012-11-26T23:31:01.776-05:00"Mom, 2012 has been a short year"This blog post is brought to you by my oldest son, Cooper. We were driving home from my parent's house. My Mom had cooked us dinner since I had worked all day. (Moms who work outside the home, how do you do it?) Anyway, we left after dark. So on the way home we got to see our first Christmas lights of the season. We all began talking about Christmas, how it's almost here, what we are looking forward to, what is our favorite memory. Just sweet, family chit chat.<br />
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From the back seat Coop chimes in, "Mom, 2012 has been a short year, hasn't it?" I just said, "It seems like it buddy." I considered explaining the nuances of experience and reality, calendaring, you know basic time and space continuum kind of stuff cause I'm just deep like that. Not really. But as I started to correct him, I thought how right he is. 2012 has been a short year.<br />
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Babies have a way of compressing time. Tate is nearing his first birthday on December 20th. I literally don't know how that's possible. He is the happiest, sweetest baby we've had. (I know they are all sweet. Don't judge me.) I'm sorry but an infant who slept through the night his first night at home gets a pass. The kid NEVER cries.<br />
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When you can mark a year by pediatric orthopedic appointments, time compresses. Dylan broke two limbs in 2012-a leg and an arm. In separate freak accidents. Disney get major points for saving our vacation! When your kid can't walk they let you push him through the handicap line to wait patiently and briefly for your turn. We were in the company of many families who reminded us to be grateful for just a broken leg, so I won't dare exaggerate our minor inconvenience. But when your 5-year-old thinks he's not going to get to ride anything and Disney saves the day it's a big deal for this Momma.<br />
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When you spend the first half of the year praying, stressing, surrendering (and doing it all again) over an overwhelming ministry opportunity, the year compresses. God opened the door for me to deliver the Sunday morning keynote address at Proverbs 31's annual She Speaks conference. I spent the last half of the year in shock that it was real. The CEO drove my brother and a couple of my BEST friends 4 hours one way to Charlotte to hear me. He's never heard me speak live. There may have been 600 women in the room, but as I recall it was jus the two of us. He was proud; I was humbled. I want him to be proud more than I want to breathe. It was a good day. I love what God has called me to do. When I speak I feel God's pleasure. It's my "I was made to do this" moment. Being a wife and mom takes A LOT of Jesus. I don't necessarily soar; it doesn't always (or regularly) feel like a gifting. <br />
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Speaking of, when you are raising four boys 7 and under, time compresses. I can't have a 7 year-old; old people have 7 year-olds. It's the hardest job I've ever loved. This year we potty-trained, breast-fed, bottle-fed, learned to read, learned to forgive, learned to crawl, rode bikes, broke limbs, broke toys, tried new foods, got sick, got well, prayed, met Jesus, went to camp, went camping, won awards, got spankings, got forgiveness, and a few other things.<br />
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2012 has indeed been a full but short year.<br />
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As I start to crack the pages of 2013 I do wonder if God could indeed have greater things in store. He has been unbelievably almost unbearably good to us. I don't know if this feeble heart could handle greater. I'm excited to see...<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-74536533157085981032012-08-08T00:01:00.001-04:002012-08-08T00:01:56.845-04:00How to process She Speaks 2012...<br />
How do we process all we learned and all God did at this year's She Speaks? Here's my plan and my advice.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/47144706" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-5823672095737807202011-12-07T00:04:00.001-05:002011-12-07T01:18:31.116-05:00The unlikely MomWelcome friends of Karen Ehman. If you didn't come here from there go <a href="http://www.karenehman.com/" target="_blank">there</a> NOW. She's doing this awesome Christmas carnival and you can win some fantastic stuff!<br />
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If Karen is introducing us, hey, I'm Whitney. Thanks for popping by. I'm a Mom. When I used to introduce myself to people I'd start with that and then list a mini-resume to try and beef it up a bit. I want you to like me and be kind of impressed. Because I'm a pretty anemic Mom. I felt like my resume needed a little shine. Six years later, I'm good with being a Mom. Most days that singular job is more than I can pull off.<br />
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I didn't expect to like it much less love it-being a Mom. I knew that by some divine intervention I would love my children; I prayed I would like them. Because in general I don't really like kids. I think I have the spiritual gift of disciplining other people's children. Anybody else? If you've ever finished this sentence in your head, "what he really needs is a good..." you know what I'm talking about. No? Just me? Okay, please, please, please still be my friend.<br />
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So anyway, I knew I'd love my kids, but the dailiness of actually being a Mom, I wasn't' sure I'd like that.<br />
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This doesn't come naturally to me. I've seen natural Mom's. I had one. I hang out with a whole sorority of natural Mom's almost every day. For me, being a Mom (at least a good one, a Biblical one) takes a whole lot of Jesus. You know?<br />
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I forget until after noon to change my toddler's diaper-his OVERNIGHT diaper! We eat fast food a lot. My boys play their DS at the table when we go out to dinner. I've been called out by more than one of them for "not talking nice to Daddy." Seriously, do you feel so much better about yourself? (Subscribe now; I'm a daily dose of mommy-feel good!)<br />
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I have endured more sanctification in the last six years than I think I had in the ten prior. Nothing reveals my overabundance of flesh like three little boys. Motherhood doesn't hide a multitude of sins, in my case it highlights them. Where I should offer grace, a short fuse flares. Where they should hear gentleness, a snarky comment flies.<br />
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It would be so easy to stay focused on all my frailties. The list is so, so long. But as I sit here, counting contractions and awaiting the birth of our fourth son in six years I am filled to overflowing with joy, anticipation and sick cocktail of indigestion and back labor. For all the difficulties of motherhood, it is inexplicably wonderful. There are a million reasons why but for me it is summed up in Hebrews 11:1.<br />
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"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."<br />
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In motherhood, God graces me with the ability to see the things hoped for-transformation, sanctification, mercies new everyday. I can see my boys years from now walking out their faith. I see a day when I don't lose my temper. I can see days when I'll inherit daughters. I can see fruits of the Spirit harvested in my children by their Dad's faithful family devotions.<br />
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Yes I love motherhood, but not because I'm a good Mom. I serve an always good God.<br />
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Tate, I promise to love you as lavishly as I can. I promise to always seek forgiveness of my sins even if it means making confession to you. I promise to show you how abundantly God redeems. I promise to help you be the man your Dad is. I promise to make sure you know this world does not revolve around you. I promise to help you know more than just Bible stories, but the God of the Bible. I promise I'll probably break like a thousand promises but I will love you forever. Just forgive me if there are moments (brief moments) when I don't like you so much. Just keeping' it real...<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-28588856719249677812011-10-31T09:35:00.003-04:002011-10-31T09:35:40.325-04:00What if bible stories aren't enough?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Nearly 70% of church-raised high school graduates are walking away from their faith and the church after entering the college campus.</b></div>
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Let me put a face on that statistical reality. I will soon have four boys, Cooper, Dylan, Ryder and Tate. (Tate should make his arrival in mid to late December.) If this statistic holds true, two of my boys, possibly three, will abandon their faith after they leave our home.<br />
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It will be tossed aside like old cleats, high school trophies, too-small clothes-outgrown and unnecessary.<br />
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Think about it in terms of the children in your family. How will your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews fair? What about the kids in youth group or in nursery and children's church for that matter? Etch their faces in your minds. Time is moving faster, children maturing earlier and our culture becoming more and more antagonistic to Christ-followers.<br />
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I read statistics like this one and think, "not my kids." My kids will be different.<br />
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I've talked with parents whose children have walked away. Their kids knew the stories too. Their kids were shuffled to Sunday School, weeknight church programs, youth camps and bible studies. They played the sword drills. They could recite the right answers.<br />
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These were the kids the surveyed; the study conducted by a major evangelical denomination. These young adults were inside our church culture, raised in church-saturated homes. They weren't on the periphery. They <i>are </i>my kids, and probably yours too.<br />
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So what happens?<br />
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I'm still trying to master potty training and "please and thank you," so clearly I don't have the answers. But as I pray through this sobering reality God is whispering that not having all the answers doesn't mean I can ignore the question.<br />
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So what if bible stories aren't enough?<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" />Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-22757150396217417682011-09-06T22:05:00.003-04:002011-09-06T23:02:19.573-04:00One of the reasons I'm a theology geek...I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a naive but optimistic college freshman attending my first day of class. I had signed up for Christian Ethics, 9 am Monday morning. I was anxious to study any theology class at my "Christian" college. My professor was young and engaging. He introduced himself and said,<br /><br />"I hope none of you came to class hoping to have me blindly affirm all the things 'your Pastor' told you in church. We won't just regurgitate things we've heard preached from the pulpit. I expect you to take Scripture and prove your position. This isn't about bible stories, but applying Scripture to the gray areas of life and ethics."<br /><br />He had me. I was exhilarated! This was going to be awesome! All of that quickly dissipated as he continued, however. Over the next 20-30 minutes he began to critique and criticize conservative evangelical theology. Those of us who dared challenge him, he would ridicule and belittle. I left completely deflated and more than intimidated. I now knew why no other freshmen had signed up for this class.<br /><br />Over the course of that semester, I was tested in harder ways than I had ever been before or have been since. He was critical, argumentative, condescending and unbiblical.<br /><br />It wasn't easy, but I survived. I didn't get through it because I was always prepared or always right. I didn't always speak in love. I said things I had to go back and retract. I spoke in haste rather than in Truth. There were times I was motivated to correct a wrong rather than protect the Truth. <div><br /></div><div>I survived because I had a Dad who taught me to love the Word, not just the stories but the theology. I survived because despite my pride, which was often too present, I had been taught to love the Truth more than I loved my opinions. I had been taught to love Truth more than I loved being right. I had been taught that God didn't need me to defend Him, but He invites me to "stand firm" not for my glory but for His own. I had been taught these things by my favorite professor, my Dad, Dr. Alan Posey.</div><div><br /></div><div>I talked to my Dad almost every day as I studied the Word, wrote papers and prepared my oral defense. He was a sounding board and a Truth-teller. I treasured his advice and counsel. He is a man who is zealous for the glory of God and the veracity of Scripture. He is wise <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> knowledgable. (And I quickly discovered the value of both.) He is gracious, patient and tender. The Sword is always safe in His hands. I am glad I am his daughter and his student.</div><div><br /></div><div>I learned a lot during that fall semester 1996, but it wasn't in the classroom. It was in the hard stuff of Scripture under the shepherding of my ever-patient Dad. </div><div><br /></div><div>This experience was one of those watermark moments in my life. It shaped me then and is shaping me now. More on that later...<br /><div><br /></div><div><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-80153299755552373542011-08-29T12:06:00.002-04:002011-08-29T13:24:25.402-04:00Back from Back-to-School HiatusHello friends. I'm back after taking off the month of August. With two of my babies in school, I needed to be readily available for them. Dylan is going to Pre-K for half a day with a noon pick up. Cooper is in 1st grade; I pick him up at 3:00. It feels in some ways like I spent the last month in my car. (Oh you mother's of teens, how do you do it?!) While entertaining a very active 2-year-old Ryder, home alone for the first time in his life, I've ben a busy gal. I had neglected to appreciate how much entertainment for Ryder and help for me Cooper and Dylan had been. Needless to say, we have all missed them.
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<br />We are all adjusting to this new season of life, and I have learned as much if not more than they have in the first few weeks of school. Motherhood is course with regular exams, isn't it? I am so excited to share some news with you about some of the things God is teaching me. I'll be tackling a huge project here in the coming months, and I'll need some faithful, fearless participants. Come back soon for an update! I'm so excited I can't type fast enough. God is up to some big stuff!
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<br />Hugs,
<br />Whit
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<br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-46780627637888926702011-08-07T21:02:00.002-04:002011-08-07T21:15:02.587-04:00Twas the night before school...Hello bloggy friends. Whit here. Sorry some of you have been looking for the final session of our "Because I Said So" summer series. I lost my flip (camera) which is sort of critical for uploading video. Dorky. Scatterbrained. Preggers mother of three. But the lost coin has been found! We'll be up and running tomorrow so check back then.<br /><br />But for now, I am preparing to get up WAY earlier than I have all summer long to get two, count them, TWO boys ready for school. Dylan our chivalrous, charismatic four-year old heads off to Providence with big brother Cooper. Coop's entering first grade, and he is beyond ready. When did I age into a mother of, gasp!, two school-aged children? <br /><br />And in case you missed it, we are preggers with number four. We also found out two weeks ago it's BOY number four. I'll post more on that later. I can't decide. Are we doing such a fine job that we've been entrusted with another, OR, is God giving us one more shot to finally get it right? I'm not sure I want to know the answer.<br /><br />It takes a lot of Jesus for me to be a good Mom. Maybe He knew I needed a lot more sanctifying. That's the more likely reason.<br /><br />Night, night. <br /><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-84007191157544238352011-07-09T22:17:00.004-04:002011-07-09T22:20:48.707-04:00"Because I Said So" - Session 5Hey friends! It's Whit. I hope you guys are doing well. I can't wait to hear from you this week. This week's lesson is rather long. You may want to watch it in two sittings. This one stepped all over my toes and feelings. Forgive me in advance, but I hope the Spirit does some good work in each of us.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26161339?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="549" height="309" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/26161339">BISS Session 5</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7304812">Whitney Capps</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-33007294426905427222011-06-27T23:35:00.002-04:002011-06-27T23:42:23.375-04:00"Because I Said So" Session 4Dearest friend,<br /><br />I hope you are enjoying our summer journey. Please share this study with friends. Because each lesson is independent they can join at anytime, catch up at their leisure or just take in a lesson or two. I'd love to grow our little fellowship here. <br /><br />There have been some questions about our assignments. The assignments are repeated week to week, and are the same for every week. My hope is that the Spirit will help you glean personal applications that are rich and worth mining for. I can't wait to hear from you.<br /><br />For this weeks lesson share which of the areas you love the Lord with best-your heart, your soul, your mind, your might or your strength. Further, which area needs to be developed?<br /><br />By the way, I am serving at our church's Kids camp this week. I will be out of the loop, so no lesson this week. I'll be back on Wednesday of next week with our next lesson! Can't wait!<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25352835?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="549" height="309" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/25352835">"Because I Said So" - Session 4</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7304812">Whitney Capps</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-32558240216127098102011-06-17T09:43:00.003-04:002011-06-17T09:51:57.359-04:00"Because I Said So" Session 3Hello dear friends.<br /><br />I hope you all are doing well. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this week's lesson. When I started this study I truly expected God to stretch my heart and actions related to obedience. I'm learning that obedience is a healthy and natural by-product of passion for the glory of God. How about you?<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25109014?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="549" height="309" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/25109014">"Because I Said So" Session 3</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7304812">Whitney Capps</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-55156189627424034692011-06-12T00:19:00.003-04:002011-06-12T00:31:09.274-04:00"Because I Said So" Weekly Assignments<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Ladies,</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I have wonderful news! We have nearly 80 women joining together for this summer's study. Because new friends are joining us everyday I decided to post this link so that you (and others) can download our weekly assignments anytime.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Feel free to follow this link: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(49, 49, 49); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="https://files.me.com/wpcapps/5it4gm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">https://files.me.com/wpcapps/5it4gm</span></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#313131;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;">If for whatever reason this link doesn't work, email me. I'll send you the link personally.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#313131;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-40453970448828273762011-06-11T20:27:00.001-04:002011-06-11T20:29:16.522-04:00"Because I Said So" - Session 2Here is Session 2. For those of you who emailed me this week asking to join the study, I will be sending out the assignments later this evening. While at the beach our network went out so I was off-line most of the week. Thank you for your patience. I can't wait to hear what God is revealing to each of you!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24899663" width="549" height="309" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/24899663">BISS Session 2</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7304812">Whitney Capps</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-32257689861512681632011-06-03T21:25:00.004-04:002011-06-03T22:25:23.995-04:00"Because I Said So" Session 1Dear friends,<br /><br />As you may or may not know, I am leading a summer bible study called "Because I Said So." The study will look at the call of God for obedience and a few of His subsequent commands. <br /><br />This study will:<br />-provide insight on why obedience is a hallmark of an intimate relationship with the Lord<br />-offer context on the larger call of obedience<br />-unpack some of the major areas of obedience that unlock keys for spiritual fruit<br /><br />If you're a part of the group already, welcome! If you're just hearing about this...it's not too late. Our sessions will be uploaded weekly. Leave your email address in the comments below, and I will email you the weekly assignments that correspond to each session.<br /><br />Thrilled to journey along side each of you. I long to be not just a hearer of the Word, but a doer as well!<br /><br />P.S.About the video-<br />1. Sorry about the background. I'm a shade above "corpse;" I really should know better than to stand in front of a bone-colored wall!<br />2. I desperately needed a haircut. The weird (and annoying) flip is gone as of today.<br />3. We are evolving in our video technique. We'll work out the kinks as we go!<br />4. Grace, grace, grace!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24627545?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="549" height="309" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/24627545">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7304812">Whitney Capps</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-89448466892864503512011-05-16T21:04:00.001-04:002011-05-16T21:04:51.950-04:00Teaching them to obey...<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fRs5tD7tPJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-92031673783729352212011-04-11T17:12:00.000-04:002011-04-11T17:12:31.827-04:00My one thing...<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SHwXCp2OBiw?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-19990501327158204642011-01-04T22:56:00.005-05:002011-01-04T22:59:08.759-05:00A Yeah God Day<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YM9R4FBH9T4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YM9R4FBH9T4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5680662910262078057.post-90060640225361457662010-11-17T14:50:00.004-05:002010-11-19T12:47:51.213-05:00Condemnation or Conviction?A few ramblings for today...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2mgpQOyBMLY?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2mgpQOyBMLY?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p><br /></p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/whitneysiggie2copy.jpg" /></p>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823076031407137727noreply@blogger.com4