Water

Living in the desert definitely has it's drawbacks. Everyone keeps telling us that if we don't drink enough water we will get dehydrated. Headaches, lethargy, and fainting are common signs of dehydration. I'm not a huge water drinker so this is bad news for me.

I was lying in bed the other day with a slamming headache (yeah, yeah, I know!). Vince was working next to me (do your husband's work in their beds too? It's so weird!) listening to iTunes on his computer. A popular Christian song came on that I've heard a million times before by Tenth Avenue North called "Love is Here." I was half listening when I heard these lyrics:

Come to the water
You who thirst
And you'll thirst no more

Here's the progression of thoughts that I had:

I'm spiritually thirsty.
You're thirsty because you're not drinking enough water.
I'm not doing the things I know I need to do to get filled up.
You're not drinking the water that's available to you.
You're having spiritual side-effects from dehydration.
God, forgive me for not drinking your water.
Forgive me for looking to other things to fill me up and quench my thirst.
Please change me!

I wonder if you can relate.

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Who Are You?

Do you ever feel like your husband is your roommate? Are you like me and sometimes have to read your husband's blog to find out what's going on in his life? Maybe your main form of communication with him is by email, the phone or twitter. Or maybe you don't talk at all.

Between Vince's travel schedule, out-of-town visitors, baseball, dance, meetings, launch team stuff, and life in general we barely have time to talk. When we do finally get the chance to sit down by ourselves it's either too late and I'm exhausted or there is so much to talk about that we end up not talking about anything (I hate when that happens!!!).

Years ago a marriage counselor told us that we should spend 30 minutes of uninterrupted couple time together each day. For some reason that seemed easier to do before we moved here.

I've heard enough from the experts to know that you have to be proactive in making your marriage a priority. You should go on weekly date nights, go away together for an overnight or two each year, and plan uninterrupted daily time too.

A few weeks ago I surprised Vince with an overnight trip to a hotel on the Strip. We saw a show, went out to dinner, etc. It was awesome! The only problem was that once we got home the busyness and chaos of our lives returned.

Being married to a church planter is tough at times. Starting a new church is exhausting. We're pulled in a million different directions.

So here's where you fit in: How do you keep your marriage a priority? What do you do to work against the chaos of life? What are some lessons you've learned? Please share some practical tips and suggestions in the comment section. We could all use your advice!

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To Work Or Not To Work...That Is The Question

I haven't worked outside of the house since 2001. I'm the type of girl who is content to never work again. So I found it strange when I got the idea to find a part-time job.

When we moved to Virginia Beach in 1997 to start Forefront I worked full-time. We didn't have kids and I really enjoyed working. My son was born in 1999 and I continued to work part-time until I got pregnant with my daughter in 2001. I've been a stay-at-home mom ever since.

Now that I'm unpacked and settled in, I'm getting antsy. The kids are in school all day. It's not like I'm bored; my days are jam-packed. I think the issue is people. I feel like I would get to meet people more easily if I got a job. When you're stuck with people at work it's easy to build relationships.

Here's the problem: I only want to work while the kids are in school, no nights or weekends. The odds of someone hiring me is slim, but I've decided to go for it anyway. I'm only applying at my favorite places to shop: Ann Taylor Loft, Target, Kohl's, Bath and Body Works and Old Navy. My background is administrative, but I figured that it would be hard to get a part-time job in an office.

Please pray for me! I'm still not even sure this is a good idea.

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Sanctified

I'm not a fan of religious sounding words. I grew up in a Catholic church and never understood the vernacular. When I hear words like, "Sanctified" I cringe a little because I assume that no one understands and that non-Christians are scared to death!

I'm in the middle of a Beth Moore study called, "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place." I did this study years ago, but she revised it so I thought I'd give it another shot.

Today's study is centered around "Sanctification". The idea of sanctification (in case you don't know) is that as Christians we are set-apart from the world. In John 17:13-21 Jesus talks about Christians being sanctified, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (verses 15-18)

This study has given me a lot to think about, especially in light of living in Las Vegas. The idea that I live in the world, but that I'm not of the world, can be challenging for me. Life in Las Vegas is different than any other place I've lived; everything here is glamorized and flashing in neon.

I'm going to shut up and let Beth do the rest of the talking..

"We are the light of the world! We cannot hide our lampstands under the bushels of spiritual monasteries. Yet we cannot let the darkness rub off on us. How do we accomplish such a balance? The answer is found in Matthew 10:16: 'I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.'

God never called us to naivete. He called us to integrity. There is a very big difference between the two. The biblical concept of integrity emphasizes mature innocence, not childlike ignorance. Like Paul, we must be aware of what is out there before we walk into the middle of it. Like Paul, we must recognize situations that demand an extra degree of consecration, preparation, and protection.

Sanctification is not about long hair and abstinence. It is about purity-purity maintained in the midst of an impure world. Understand this vital precept: Maintaining purity in ministry is the result of nothing less than deliberate devotion. For those really fulfilling their calling of evangelism and ministry, purity is neither easy nor accidental. We must guard our minds and put on our armor. A war rages out there. And we are Satan's favorite prisoner."

She ends the lesson with some very good questions. Take a minute and think these through:

1. What do you deliberately avoid for the sake of purity?

2. How do others know you are set apart to God?

3. If you have children, what habits toward purity are you helping instill in them?

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