28: A nice respectable number, isn't it?

Just so you know, there's a giveaway below!!

Hi friends - I'm feeling f-i-i-ine today because today is my birthday! I still love birthdays - even though this one was a bit harder to swallow. I'm definitely a full blown member of the closer to 30 club now.

But I'm okay with that...I think.

I have already been quite blessed today - my dear hubby got the kids up and fed them breakfast. Today he bought me lunch and tonight I don't have to cook!! Now that's a happy day!

Most of all though I'm excited because my purity talk is finally coming together. I speak to high schoolers at an area youth group this Sunday. Honestly - this talk has been much more difficult to put together than I thought it would be.

It's not that I haven't put effort into it and it's not that I don't have ideas - it's that I was having the hardest time organizing my thoughts into something meaningful. I am so passionate about this topic and know that the Lord can use this talk to change lives on Sunday.

I am praying that He works mightily in the lives of these teens! I get entirely excited when I think about how much He loves them and has a plan for them!! I just pray that I won't get in the way - that He will use me to speak to them.

Last night everything fell into place. Yesterday I was working all afternoon on the talk and literally it was going nowhere...FAST. I was feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. Clint came home for lunch to find a very lack luster and tearful wife.

Lovely I know.

Being the wise man that he is - he told me to take a power nap, he kissed me goodbye and then about 5 minutes later came back with a Grande White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks!! That definitely improved my mood!

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Later that night Clint sat down with me and really helped me organize the talk and because of his help, I'm happy to report that my talk is finally at a much, much better place.

Now I need to start saying it out loud to make sure it all flows and is falls approx. in the right time frame. Praise God for His provision and for my dear man!

I still have some work to do before Sunday so I would most appreciate your prayers. I truly believe that Satan knows that this talk has potential to change lives and that's the last thing he wants. So he's tried hard to discourage me.

He's not going to win though because I have Almighty God on my side!!

I'm so grateful to my Jesus for being ever faithful! As I was doing today's lesson from Beth Moore "Daniel," it fit so perfectly with what I'm going to be talking about. What a birthday present from the Lord!!

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We serve such a personal, personal God! I love Him!

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Because it's my birthday - I want to give away 2 books that have truly changed my life! I pray they will also change yours.

Lysa's book has helped me to live in expectation of seeing Christ in the everyday. This book has also encouraged me to say YES to Him in the small and big ways. Literally - my life has been changed!! It's an awesome book!!!

(for more from Lysa - click on her book)


Oh the "Uncommon Woman!"

I just love this book and I still have much to digest from it. In this book, Susie has challenged and inspired me to be a woman of strong character. To be a safe person - not one who talks about other people but who prays for those that I might be struggling with. To see others and myself the way Christ sees us, as His beloved - full of worth and value!

It's a must read! (Again just click on the book to get to Susie's blog.)

There will be at least 2 winners...maybe more I'm just not sure yet! So I guess we'll all be surprised, huh?! To win, you must leave me a comment (of course)! :) I'll announce the winner on Monday - so you have until Sunday at noon to comment!

Thanks friends!