Imperfect People in love with a Perfect God

Probiotics and keeping your kids well. Our experience

I have been so impressed with the amazing power of probiotics in our family in keeping us well.

You may have heard about probiotics in correlation with digestion. And while it is true that they help regulate your digestive track they do much more than just that.

Yes it’s the good bacteria in yogurt but we take it in a tablet form getting MUCH more of these good guys in our system. We have been taking a daily probiotic for about a year and a half now and I can’t help but notice…we sure haven’t seen our doctors office in a while!

Probiotics can provide multiple benefits for your immune system. When probiotics are abundant in your body, it’s harder for bacteria that cause illness to get a foothold. Some also keep you healthy by making bacteriocins, which suppress the growth of harmful bacteria.-Dr. Oz

4-probiotics-live-everywhere (Source)
About two years ago our youngest daughter had a double ear infection. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic and sent us home.

I guess that is standard procedure but I was a little disappointed she was prescribed the SAME antibiotic that gave her a horrible rash only 6 months before that!
When we got home from the doctor I was very hesitant to give her the antibiotic so I did some homework to see if there was anything else I could do first. What I found was very interesting.

The word “antibiotic” at its root meaning translates “no life” And I’m sure you don’t need me telling you “probiotic” means pro life. If that weren’t enough to raise a few eyebrows, what about the countless side effects caused by antibiotics including the NEED for a probiotic?? What in the world?

Essentially we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies. We need more of the good to fight off the bad. The good guys and the bad fighting each other in our body (I’m sure that’s how they describe it in the medical textbooks.)

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(source)

Yes antibiotics have their place, and we haven’t completely sworn them off but in my humble opinion they are prescribed WAYYYYY too much. The best defense is a good offense so I decided to try what probiotics could do for our family.

Back to the ear infection story…I ultimatley decided to start giving my daughter a probiotic and treat her ear infection with garlic drops. Yes garlic drops. I got the idea from keeper of the home but essentially you just heat olive oil and fresh chopped garlic on the stove until it is warm but not too hot. Then simply put a few drops in each ear 3 times a day. Her ear infection was completely gone in 24 hours without a drop of the prescribed antibiotic. I continued the drops for about 3 days and both our girls have had a probiotic pretty much every day since (over 2 years ago). That was the last time we have had an ear infection OR a sick visit to the doctor.

Did you catch that!!? That means no waiting in a crowded waiting room, no co-pays, no trips to the pharmacy and more time feeling WELL!!

I was so impressed at how quickly the natural remedy worked I was hooked! I loaded up my “natural medicine cabinet” And have been fascinated with natural remedies since.

The one thing I have learned over anything else is how amazingly beneficial it is to take a daily probiotic.

When the stomach flu hit our school so bad the teacher sent him a note….we had one tummy ache, for one afternoon, and that was it.
When our kids shared drinks with a child who we later realized had “hand foot and mouth disease”…nothing.
When ALL of their friends they play with on a regular basis had the flu, we just had a little runny nose.

I’m not nieve enough to think they make our kids made of steel but I can’t help but notice they sure seem to keep their immunity up!

I recently had what I thought to be the start of a UTI. I loaded up on probiotics and cranberry juice, two days later, no more symptoms.

If you decide to give it a try I suggest taking them daily not just when you feel sick. The idea is to keep the immunity wall up instead of trying to build it when you are under attack.

What kind should you get?

We have tried several kinds but I have been the most happy with Kyo-dophilus from luckyvitamin.com. (Lucky vitamin is VERY affordable. I love them for all my hippy remedies).

Kyo-dophilus also comes in several adult options and our kids LOVE the children’s chewable variety. They call them “marshmallow vitamins” and I even offer them as a treat! Bribe them with vitamins…that’s what i’m talking about.

I like this kind because, from what I have researched, they seem to remain the most stable and actually make its way down to do it’s job instead of many varieties that can be destroyed as soon as they are injested due to stomach acid and body temperatures.

Every time I hear people talk about getting on antibiotics I want to shout knowing that often there is a better way!

We are so thankful for our daily pro-biotic. What are your thoughts of pro-biotics? Have you had any experience good or bad?

9 New Year life challenges with a free download!

It is so wild how we can just “do” life with no plan. You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, how crazy am I to think we can build the life we want without a plan!??

I’m all about living with intentions. The idea of looking back on my life and having no idea what I have done with it makes me sweat and determined to do better than that.

All that being said I am also NOT, by nature, a planner. But it doesn’t take long to learn when you aim at nothing, you hit it every time.

Realizing that life is too important to waste without a plan, we have come up with a series of “9 New Year life challenges” made up of very basic questions to help even the worst non-planners develop a script for their life. These questions will help you determine what you feel is important in life and ways to MAKE YOUR GOALS HAPPEN.

I listed out the challenge questions with details below on how I am using them. If you would like to do this on your own feel free to click on the picture below to print out your own list of just the questions.
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Priorities challenge:
What are my top 7 priorities? In order of importance
Put this list up in an area you can see on a regular basis (on the fridge or bathroom mirror for example). The decisions that we make throughout the year will be based on keeping these priorities in order.

Friendship Challenge:
Who do we want to invest our time with more this year?
For us this meant putting a once a month dinner date on the calendar. This dinner date will usually involve inviting another couple over to our home for dinner.
We are also making a point to be more involved with a couple older than us. There is soooo much to be learned from those that have already “been there and done that” investing in a couple who already has grown children helps us learn so much about how we can live life better today.

Financial Challenge:

What is one (or more) habit(s) we can develop to be wiser with our money? These goals may be different for everyone. I HIGHLY recommend Dave Ramsey’s Total money makeover. There is a series of baby steps toward financial freedom. We are currently on baby step 7. His system has changed our life. I wrote a whole post on Dave Ramsey Stuff. If you are not currently following his principles it may be the single best thing you can do for you and your future in the new year.

Marriage Challenge:
Do we Pray together? Do we have a regular date night? Do we regularly ask each other, “How can i help you?”
Even though I am super cheap and don’t always like to pay for babysitters I have found the absolute best way for us to stay in love is to have date nights and/or just time alone..without kids. We love them, we really do but having time away really recharges your marriage. Be sure to check out 17 Cheap (and romantic date ideas).

Children Challenge:
What character traits do we want our children to have and how can we help develop them? What areas do our children need help to grow? What is the example we are setting for them?
My challenge is to have a character word of the month that we will discuss as often as possible throughout the month. Honesty, Respect, etc. Our school and church both have character words so that makes it easy to choose. If you would like to incorporate this in your family here is a great resource.
I am also going to better implement our chore chart by setting a timer on my phone to go off everyday at “clean up time.”

Ministry Challenge:
Who will know Jesus because of me? How will we be connected in our community?
For me, this year my ministry challenge is to FOCUS. Deciding where God wants me to be for this season of life and making the best use of my time talent and treasure in this ONE area instead of spreading my self thin in several areas.

Health Challenge:
How much will we exercise weekly? How much sleep will we get? What will we eat?
My personal challenge is to exercise more. I have found a kick butt video from Julian Michales on Amazon Prime that will do just the trick. I like working out in my living room where if I don’t hold for quite as long as I am supposed to know one can see (confession is good for the soul).

Learning Challenge:
What would I like to learn more about this year and how can I incorporate this into my schedule? Do I have an area of expertise I can use to help teach others?
Our book club has already picked out our reading schedule for the new year and my goal is to ACTUALLY READ each book….baby steps. I’m also excited about teaching a few more gardening classes this year at our local tech school.

IMPLEMENTATION Challenge:
Setting Goals without a plan are just wishes. So how can I realistically work each of these goals into my life?

For me this is getting better about scheduling my day the night before. And setting weekly goals/plans on Sunday nights.

In the upcoming months when you find yourself living intentionally and your plans are turning into reality please share on social media with #hashtag INTENTIONAL LIVING and I would love it if you tag me @imperfectpple

Cheers to a new year lived with INTENTION! Let’s do this!

What if Mary had said no?

I love the Christmas Manger scene. Sitting so pretty on most mantles at Christmas it’s a beautiful reminder of the miraculous day.

As a mom I can’t help but stare a little longer at Mary. I am imagining all that she might be thinking. Not only right there at the manger but at the very beginning when the Angel said she would have the baby.

What if Mary had said no?

Have you ever considered this?

Mary who is engaged to be married is being told by an angel that she is to carry the Lord’s son. There are about a million things she can be worried about.

Not only is she facing possible execution, her fiancé leaving her, and ridicule… In the unlikely event that everyone believes her I think it would be totally valid for her to think: What about me and my plans? I am about to get married!! I don’t want to have to alter the wedding dress! I like being a regular girl, everyone is going to ask me tons of questions! I really am too busy for all this right now! God can you find someone else?

Can you imagine this in today culture? What with all our “plans and schedules” I’m afraid we would just be too busy for such a task!

But instead of any of these excuses she says:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be with me just as you say.”

I think Mary “got” something that we often just don’t comprehend.

It wasn’t about her.

She had the amazing privilege to be the mother of Jesus because she was willing to be “the Lord’s servant.”

This is HUGE

And her self sacrificing doesn’t end there. Imagine you have agreed to carry God’s baby and it comes time for you to deliver. I don’t know but I’m thinking maybe an angel comes and offers a big palace for me to deliver and it is a totally pain free child birth complete with people fanning me and feeding me grapes.

But as we know from the story she has to make a long journey on a donkey only to find there is NO ROOM for them at the inn and she has no choice but to deliver Jesus in a manger.

You would think Mary would be shouting,
“UMM HELLO HAVING GOD’S SON HERE??? Can someone ELSE sleep in the manger for crying out loud?!!”

Yet Mary knew this wasn’t about her…it was ALL about Jesus.

Every piece of her story, her pain, and even her frustration was all part of the beautiful story that we still remember today and will remember for generations to come. I wonder what parts of our lives, are weaving together to ultimately be part of a bigger story?

The best we can ever hope for in this life is a supporting role to the most amazing lead character that ever was or ever will be…Jesus. So many of us are fighting to further our own little kingdom. We are wrapped up in making our name famous, when if we could understand it’s not about us: It’s about Jesus.

While I certainly believe Mary was the one God choose but what if, for example, she had said no. She would have been free to do live her own little “important” life not to be inconvenienced with the fear of being stoned and shaming her fiancé and family. Yet her own little plans and agenda would have died with her generations ago and we would never even know her name.

Making His name famous, furthering His kingdom, and doing HIS work. His name is the only one that will last through the generations. Why is it so hard for us to realize this?

I can get so caught up in my “own little kingdom” Am I listening for God’s direction?

Mary was truly the Lord’s servant. She put her own plans, fears, and excuses to the side. None of that matters when the God of the universe has other plans.

Jesus loving Elf on the shelf modeling acts of service

This is our first year with an “elf on the shelf”

I never thought of myself as an “elf kinda mom” but we have had SOOO much fun with this little elf…I’d probably have an elf even if I didn’t have kids. But seriously.

On the first night she (ours is a girl) came to visit I was looking on pintrest for all the creative ideas our little elf could do but my husband suggested why not let our elf be a little different than the rest.
Frosty Sugar Socks (yes that is her name) left this note on the first night of her visit:

We thought Frosty could help set an example for our girls and still have fun in the process. Every morning they wake up they can’t wait to see what Frosty has been up to!

Here are a few examples:

The one in the lego’s she left a note that said “When you play make sure you share and be kind to your friends”

Our girls LOVE seeing what she has been up to every morning! There are so many possibilities!

We are having so much fun. Do you have an elf at your home? What is your favorite thing he/she has done so far?

Do what is right in your own eyes….really?

There is the crazy bible story that takes place in Judges that is seriously “stranger than fiction” (Judges 19-21) I’m listening to the current sermon series on this by Andy Stanley and it it blows my mind how stinking relevant it is to our day and time. I just can’t get over it!

But here is the gist:

In those days there was no king in Israel; each person did what they thought to be right Judges 21:25

They were living in a day and time where there was no King in the land who they depended on for moral authority. So people were left to themselves to govern what was right or wrong in their own eyes.

They all lived by the philosophy of, “Do what feels good, No consequences” Hmmm seem at all like a culture we live in today?

Today popular songs on iTunes have lyrics like:

I crashed my car into the bridge.
I don’t care, I love it.

Commercials for upcoming shows have a couple in the bed together with no clothes and the man asks, “What’s your name again?” And the audience laughs.

God is pushed out of our schools, our government, and in many homes.

Do what you want it’s all fun and games…no consequences. This is what our culture is preaching. But does it look like it is working?

The average US household credit card debt stands at $15,216
The majority of marriages end in divorce
U.S. teen pregnancy and birth rates are nearly double Canada’s, at least four times those of France and Germany, and more than eight times that of Japan.
Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our Nation, exacting over $600 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and healthcare source

I don’t know about you but I think having a “KING” doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. Yes we have a president but…it doesn’t really count as the same type of KING. Nobody likes to be told what to do but I think it’s pretty obvious having no rules (God) is not a good alternative.

God gave us the Bible not just as a rule book because he wants us to stay in line, but because He loves us too much to let us live in the mass chaos of a nation that does what is right in our own eyes. And too much of a gentleman to force his rules on us.

Would we be okay with no traffic laws? Would I be okay letting my kids eat lollipops every night for dinner? NO

Then why in the world have we come to a point where we are so pretentious we think we know better than the God that put us here?

Father forgive us for what we have become…lead us back to ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Where we realize our place and are thankful for your leadership.

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All changes start with the (wo)man in the mirror so today I am realizing my own eyes are not only not very good at, but not even capable of determining what is best for me. Father you are in control…not me. The quicker I get this whole, “You are God and I am not thing down.” The better off we will all be.

Teaser: Right In The Eye from North Point Online on Vimeo.

10 things I wish I could tell all single ladies (well all women really)

I lead a college girls bible study. They are beautiful and precious young girls. As we met last week I couldn’t help but remember these ladies are all someone’s daughter. Now that we have our own two girls I know what that kind of love is like.

Then I thought of our heavenly father And how much he loves every girl, all of his daughters! Daughters of the one true King!

But we, as women, forget this. We think we are not good enough.

We live in a sick and twisted culture. Sex and relationships are cheap, easy, and we pretend like there are no strings attached. Casual sex is laughed off on sitcoms and movies. Photo-shoped images of “perfect” women are all over websites and magazines. Women are left confused. We end up jumping through hoops trying to be the prettiest, dress the best, or say and do the right things to catch a man’s eye.

If I could tell all young women (well all women actually) a few things, it would be this:

1) You are the daughter of a KING. I believe that makes you a princess. With great care and intention the creator of the stars, flowers, rain, and the moon also made you. Nothing was a mistake. Everything about you is a work of art.

2) Yes even you
To everyone who read #1 and thought, well that doesn’t apply to me. Yes it does.

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3) Imagine yourself as a rare and precious jewel..because well you are. When it comes to dating, ask yourself, “Does this guy deserve a date with a rare and precious jewel?” Does he treat you like you are a daughter of God? Do not underestimate your worth!

4)Are you the person you are looking for…is looking for?
Do you act like you believe you are royalty? Most of my single friends say they want a man who is a spiritual leader. One who is seeking after Christ even more than he is seeking her. The only problem is they are looking for him in a bar while they are sloppy drunk. A spiritual leader is looking for a girl who is also seeking God.
A woman’s heart should be so close to God that man has to seek God to find her.

5)Help a guy out
We know from research (and from asking any guy) that men are visual. Marketing knows this well by putting half naked women to sell their product. Dressing modestly not only makes you appear more respectful, it also helps the guys who are trying to guard their eyes. I know as women we think nothing of a low cut shirt or barley there shorts but men think about it…a LOT. Help them to keep their mind’s pure and help yourself by leaving something to the imagination.

6) Be careful about making marriage/relationships your idol
If you find yourself doing things you wouldn’t normally do or questioning what you always thought was wrong, then you have an idol. Ladies, PLEASE realize your worth in Christ before you try to let a guy define your worth for you.

7) He can’t be all things. From an early age we are taught a man will bring us our, “happily ever after.” Not only is that untrue, it is unfair. No man can carry that kind of burden. You should get your fulfillment in Christ. He is the ONLY thing that will TRULY complete you (i.e. my favorite story EVER in the bible) Finding the right guy can compliment you but not complete you (sorry Jerry McGuire).

8) It’s more than “just sex” Culture tells us that sex is just physical. Yet everyone who has had sex outside of marriage is left with emotional scars and we wonder why it turned out to be way more than just physical. Everyone pretends like it doesn’t hurt but we are designed to become one with just one. Deep down we all know it is more than just physical. This is why it would be better to be beat up than raped.

God tells us that sex outside of marriage is different than any other sin. Not because he judges harder or loves you any less but because He knows how deeply it scars.

1Corinthians 6:18 There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as
much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we
must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids  commitment and intimacy,
leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become
 one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies
that were made for God-given and  God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another. Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you
is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God
owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.

9)“Try it before you buy it” is ridiculous.
I would like to buy a billboard in every major city that says this:
Sex does not require practice.

100 out of 100 people would rather hear from their future spouse , “Here is all of me, for all of you” instead of “I am a sex expert”

Sex is fragile and powerful. Just like a fire, it is beautiful in my fireplace, where it belongs. but in the middle of my living room it is destructive and leaves permanent damage.

10)If you have made bad choices in the past, today is a new day. Start today KNOWING the FACT that in Christ you have a clean slate. You can have a fresh start. Psalm 103:12 says just as far as the east is from the west he has separated us from our sin. You DON’T have to be who you used to be. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17. Leave that old person behind and be who God created you to be.

Whether you think this is old fashioned. whether you think this is good for me but not for you, that’s ok, but the outcome and consequences are always the same. It’s not a matter of preference, it’s a matter of design.

You were designed for something so much greater than what our culture has told you. You are a work of art, formed to show the love of Christ, a relentless, unconditional selfless love to your perfect mate. One person. Protect your heart and your body. You deserve to experience love the way God intended.

Please check out my inspiration for much of this and arguablly one of the best sermons series ever below.
New Rules for Love Sex and Dating by Andy Stanley

It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.K???

On our ride home the other day our 5 year old started singing, “YMCK” complete with the (wrong) hand motions.

Like any good parent I realize the significance and importance of teaching our children the CORRECT way to sing this disco classic lest you be the crazy person at wedding receptions doing it wrong. So I jumped in, “No it’s actually, “YMCA, like this see?”

I expected, “oh well clearly, you are older, wiser, and such an incredible dancer (ok maybe not that part) then you surly know the correct version of the song, thanks oh wise mother of mine for your guidance.” …or something like that.

But instead she was INSISTENT that it was Y.M.C.K. Now several days later she is still 100% sure her version is correct. Happy to sing the song incorrectly while dancing across the living room floor.

It occurred to me…this is so me and God. Time and time again I say, “no my life should look like this God” I can think of times in my past especially when I was young when I thought:

I SHOULD have got that job GOD!!
Me and this guy should have worked out!!
I don’t want to move Or I want to move.
I know what is best!!!

And I can see God, knowing the correct way my life should go, knowing what is best and how crazy my life would be if I “sang the wrong lyrics” Just smiling…Yes honey that’s one way to “sing” but I know the best way.

I bet I seem a little ridiculous when I am insistent I know what is best. I have a limited vantage point, limited resources, brain power etc etc…. yet in my stubbornness I can STILL become convinced my way is best.

There have been many times where I have cried, and fought it, yet God’s way won out in the end. I don’t know why I am ever surprised but His way is ALWAYS better, ALWAYS perfect, and ALWAYS necessary.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2

Today she sang “homie” instead of “holy” to her seeds family worship CD I’m not gonna lie I thought it was kinda funny but, I should probably correct her before her sunday school teacher starts asking her to rap.

Just like the song lyrics our father knows SO MUCH better than we do. He is fully capable and fully aware of what is best for your life, we just have to let go of our way (it’s usually wrong anyway) and trust in His.

In defense of Miley and other teen stars

I spent the last week trying to ignore the Miley Cyrus circus at the VMA’s. But everywhere I look or listen there she is.

(Picture source)
A crazy awful performance that left everyone appalled. Just like in the 80’s when Madonna danced around in a wedding outfit singing “like a virgin” Just like when Brittney spears performed half awake shortly before shaving her head.

(Brittany picture source) (Madonna picture source)

I try to stay away from controversy but I can’t help but notice…when did everyone become so insanely tremendously Judgmental??!!

As a society we ~~want~~ EXPECT these starts to be:

Pretty but not over the top
Talented but not vain
They should be “moral” but we all define that differently
Skinny but not too skinny
Heaven forbid if they get fat
Perfect bod, perfect makeup, and dress

If they mess up any of the above it will be on 10 magazine covers, 200 gossip sites, millions of facebook updates and the topic of the morning talk shows.

If I had that kind of pressure at the age of 20, I think I would shave my head too.

Now hear me out. I am not saying this is a cop out. I wish everyone in the spot light new the gravity of their behavior as young minds try to model them. But unfortunately fame doesn’t come with instructions and I’m not sure anyone would obey them anyway.

There are girls Miley’s age dancing scantly at bars on any given weekend Miley just has a MUCH larger audience. They are both just looking for love and attention in the wrong places.

Can we extend some love and acceptance knowing that she is made for so much more?? Who am I to point out her not so fabulous performance? Yes I thought it was awful but she has 2 of the top 10 hits on itunes so people can’t be that appalled.

Here’s the deal, we all do stupid things (especially at 20 years old). I want to be friends with Miley, Brittany, and “you fill in the blank star”. And tell them they are LOVED. They are made with great purpose. and they are worth more than cheap attention.

The buzz of this performance will soon pass but I hope she hears the message of love over hate. While we certainly don’t like her performance we love her as a human being. She is still God’s little princess made perfectly imperfect Her value in the world’s eyes is so temperamental and fleeting. I pray someone close to her will show her her amazing and priceless worth in God’s eyes knowing she is a precious jewel meant for so much more than what the world offers.

I wannabe a weirdo

We are all subject to peer pressure whether we admit it or not. But when your peers are doing some questionable things its time to go against the grain. Here is a snapshot of our typical “normal” peer in America:

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, at least 8 million Americans are at least one month behind on their mortgage payments at this point.

Average household debt in the United States has now reached a level of 136% of average household income. In China, average household debt is only 17% of average household income.

Back in 1965, only one out of every 50 Americans was on Medicaid. Today,one out of every 6 Americans is on Medicaid.

The average US household credit card debt stands at $15,216

Average mortgage debt: $148,443

Average student loan debt: $32,054 (source)

Of all countries, the United States has the highest rate of obesity. From 13% obesity in 1962, to 35.7% in 2010 (source)

55 percent of all marriages result in divorce. (source)

Research indicates that people who live together prior to getting married are more likely to have marriages that end in divorce. ” The Boston Herald

The average American spends 2.7 hours a day watching TV (source)

“More than ever before, work dominates people’s lives in this country” –Joanne B. Ciulla,

One-third of children age 8 – 17 believe their parent has been always or often worried or stressed out about things during the past month.

If the average “normal” American is financially upside down, unhealthy, overworked, in a bad relationship and stressed out…then I don’t think being normal sounds so fun.

Craig Groschel wrote a book (I highly recommend) called “Weird because normal isn’t working” that states, “when people describe his family as weird, he finds comfort.” I couldn’t agree more.

The bible tells us: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. John 15:19

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first”.-Jesus

Living differently sometimes results in criticism. Going with the crowd can be so easy that being “weird” requires seeking correct guidance and it isn’t always the easiest route. I don’t want our family to be a statistic. I want us to be…well…weird.

I want to be so WEIRD I save up to buy things and delay gratification instead of buying on credit.

I want to such a WEIRDO that I could stand living with less if it means I can have less stress and more time with my family.

I want to be the WEIRD family that guards the media that comes into our home.

I want to be so WEIRD that I eat food whose ingredients I can pronounce.

I want so be so WEIRD that I take INTENTIONAL time with my husband so we can still be in love years after the, “I do.”

And I want so be criticized for saying NO to something good so I can say YES to something great.

What do you think about all this weird talk. Are you a weirdo too?

How the poor can give great riches

Embarrassingly enough until a few months ago I didn’t really know anyone who was poor. I couldn’t give you a single name of someone who was on food stamps and I used to think it was all their fault somehow anyway.

When we had extra stuff I would donate to any organization that would conveniently take it off my hands. This is not wrong…but I knew something was missing. Jesus doesn’t just suggest caring for the poor if we are rich or have tons of free time, He commands it (over 100 times actually).

Writing a check or dumping a bunch of stuff off is still very good, but seeing a face, knowing a story, sharing a burden, and getting involved in a life…is a TOTAL GAME CHANGER.

Our family has had the pleasure of getting involved in our local homeless ministry. It started out just by cleaning and organizing but it has grown to more be a blessing more than I could ever imagine.

My eyes have been opened to SOOOO stinking much. There are people living in poverty all around us no matter where you live. We picture homeless as people living in a box on the street but in reality many are living wherever they can find a roof for the night.

The thing is..when you are poor the roof you probably find is a home filled with drugs, violence or both. How do you get a job if you don’t have a place to shower, or nice clothes to wear, or even a computer? How do you get a good enough job if you don’t have an education? How do you get kids to daycare if you don’t have a car? How do afford day care if you don’t have a job? The mountain is just too high to climb.

If you are poor you don’t know anyone with anything EXTRA to help you out and you certainly don’t know anyone with any means to help you get a better life for yourself.

And that is where it occurred to me there is a problem.

I went to church one Sunday morning and couldn’t help notice all the expensive cars in the parking lot and fancy way people were dressed (including me) and I felt a serious weight on my chest. I had never noticed it before until I knew a mom with two kids who didn’t know where they would sleep that night.

Making over $30,000 a year puts me in the top 18% of the worlds wealthiest people. Not only am I rich with money but I am FILTHY rich with resources. I know business owners that can offer jobs, I know people who have extra cars, we have an extra room, I can help provide transportation, childcare, and even wash a load of clothes!

I feel like my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of people I (embarrassingly enough) never even noticed before. I was missing so much! Yes there are people out there that just want hand outs but that is just a stereo-type. There are LOTS of people who just need to know someone who can help.

I have no idea why I was born into such a wonderful family and have always had everything I need and why some are born into poverty but I understand now why Jesus said:

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48

My encouragement to you is to get involved with a local ministry and truly get to know someone that the world considers “poor.”

“Am I afraid?? I am much more afraid of being comfortable”-Katie Davis

Yes it is uncomfortable at first…yes I was worried for my safety at first But I have yet to meet someone I would consider dangerous. I have only met beautiful people who just need a little help.

How to get involved: Almost every city large or small has some type of ministry to the poor and or homeless. The hardest part is calling to see how you can help. Practical needs are taking kids to the park, helping prepare meals, and mostly just getting to know them. Every person has a unique story and every person in need is made in God’s image just as much as you and I. You will be amazed at what God can do when status walls are broken down.

Here is what you can expect to happen: Your needs become so-much-less, your complaints become zero and the part that will change your life forever is when you get to help put the hope back into a hopeless situation.

Imperfect People in love with a perfect God