Are you moving strong…or, still stuck?

Are you ready…or, are you a bit reluctant?

Busting at the seams to kick off your New Year…or, are you just sick at the thought of yet another year?

Reaching your resolutions…or…are they already a bust?

Are there things that you would really like to see changed by January 2013? TODAY is the day to make that commitment! If you sincerely want to see change, you have to begin today!

Sunday was a MILESTONE. Did you miss it? It is not too late! Pull away for a bit today. Set your resolutions. Set reachable resolutions.

1. Start with an honest evaluation!

Where are you?
Are you where you want to be?
What do you want?
What do you need?
What is it going to take to get where you want to be?
Are there things that you want to see changed?

Don’t get locked into the same old, same old repetive behaviours. Don’t get stuck in the same old rut. If we are not moving forward, reaching for resolutions, goals, and dreams, we are not living the life that Christ died to give us. Where are you now?

2. Set goals!

Today, set a goal! It is your NEXT STEP. You may not be able to get where you want to go TODAY…or this week…or this month…or even this year. However, don’t let that keep you stuck in a rut!

Today, look at where you want to go. Get a vision! Can you reach it? Do you believe that you can? Well, set goals, steps, to get there. Don’t think it is possible? Well, ask yourself–what IS possible? What do you think you CAN DO? Let’s set goals to get moving toward that! Don’t let yourself get stuck! Set goals that will make your proud!

Test your goals all along the way– is it….

• Small–Small enough to reach with ONE STEP? Baby steps?
• Clear–Can you see how to get there or is it still FUZZY? Make sure it is FOCUSED!
• Purposeful–We must have PURPOSE or otherwise we will fail, fade out, give in to excuses, get distracted, quit, go astray, procrastinate, get off track and misdirected, and GET STUCK!
• Actionable–A goal that you CAN and WILL dare to take action, massive action, to accomplish NOW. Not a wish. Something that you are READY TO DO.
• Specific–What, why, and by when? Describe it? Be specific about what you want, why you want it, when you want it done! BE SPECIFIC–the more specific the more likely you will be to reach it!
• Definable–It isn’t a goal unless you can define what you want. Otherwise, it is just a WISH.
• Definitive–Get an idea of when you can accomplish it! Set a deadline! No more maybe’s or someday’s. Let’s set a date! Let’s set a deadline of when you can do THIS!
• Reachable, doable, attainable–No more self-sabotage! Self-sabotage is when we set a goal that we KNOW is just impossible from where we are. We let ourselves down. Then, we get into a place where we don’t believe ourselves any more. Don’t self-sabotage! Set goals that are just out of reach and get moving toward them. You can attain it! You can do it! You can reach it!
• Realistic–No more pie in the sky goals! Slow down and get realistic! Otherwise, your goals and resolutions will frustrate you and discourage you. You will LOSE your motivation! Let’s set smaller, REAL goals.
• Measurable–Be EXACT and VERY SPECIFIC about what you want! You need to be able to measure it. Otherwise, you won’t know what is neeeded. Also, you will never know when you have got there!
• WRITTEN–Write it out! Write it out TODAY! “Goals not in writing are just wishes.” Brain dump! Get those goals out of your head and onto paper! Put them on your calendar. Plan it out–with LOTS OF MARGIN! Put them into your to-do’s each day. Focus on each task until done!

3. Get MOVING!

So many people never even try to reach for their resolutions, goals and dreams.

• They immediately discard them.
• They don’t slow down to truly SET THEM.
• They trip up and quit.
• They can’t seem to work them in.
• And, many never get going because they never take that first step.

I have been asking God to show me when I am not moving forward in an area, to help me know that first step, and to give me the power to get moving. That first step is the key! In fact, my preacher said this weekend that the hardest part of working out is “to tie your tennis shoes.” Why? It is that FIRST STEP!

My dear friend, what is that FIRST STEP?

I know it can be scary. I know it can be intimidating. But, today, ask God to show you those areas where you have not been moving forward–building a godly marriage, quiet times, ministering to the hearts of your children, getting out of debt, building a business of your own, getting fit and healthy, getting your home decluttered, etc. Ask Him to show you what He wants for you to do and to show you that first step so you can get up and get moving–He will! Ask him to empower you and give you everything you need as you step out. My sweet friend, HE WILL! Just get started with that first step! GET MOVING!

My dear friend, you have a NEW year ahead of you! It is time for a NEW BEGINNING! Dare to set your resolutions this year. Don’t let this year slip by. You CAN do it! Set those resolutions. Set goals to take you step-by-step toward your resolutions. Keep them before you. MOVE OUT! Celebrate your victories all along the way! You will reach your resolutions one step at a time–what is your step today?

Need more help? Don’t miss our retreat! Reach Your Resolutions with me! Learn more here!

On this trip, I was able to check off three, yes three, of my biggies on “My Bucket List.” It was a spectacular trip! And, it was more than just the trip or the place, God was speaking to my heart the whole way. In fact, He is still teaching me lessons from Italy and we have been home a week! Just today, He taught me another lesson as I opened my laptop! REALLY! Well, stick with me….

Before I left for Italy, I was on stress overload. I was hoping that Italy would be my “catch-up” time. Well, OBVIOUSLY I had never travelled abroad, much less to Italy. Ha! Italy was perfect for my stress overload. I was forced to getaway, refresh, renew, unplug, and make sweet memories. It was incredible. In fact, I am forever changed from my trip to Italy–more on that in a bit.

BUT! I got NOTHING done.

Nothing.

All of those outlines, the research, and preparation are still there in my iPad–untouched…COMPLETELY. I didn’t get to work on any of my editing, writing, and definitely not any of my websites and web projects that are long, long, long overdue. Oh, let’s open up that iPad and give you a complete glimpse inside–I didn’t even get to watch the long list of movies and TV shows or read any of the new books on my Kindle app that I downloaded for the long flight.

Nope! I was as unplugged as I guess I could handle without getting stressed out–there was a period of 48 hours that I had NO INTERNET, NO EMAIL, NO TEXTING that was beginning to test me and I am so glad it was the last 48 hours of the trip.

Unplugged.

Well, except for only a few emergency emails and updates on Facebook so my family would not worry (and so they could kind of “take the trip” with me through photographs). Just those things ate up my battery charge for the day and the internet time I was allotted.

This was SO good for me!

I needed this getaway. It was just perfect! I got the perfect amount of rest, the perfect amount of romance (Well, I could always stand more of that but this was VENICE so you can imagine that I am just a romance-addict if I wanted more!!!), the perfect amount of going, the perfect amount of socialization (and new awesome friends!), the perfect amount of planning, the perfect amount of exercise, and even the perfect amount of Italian food, even Gelato (REALLY–I lost 7.5lbs!!).

Of course, that life-changing lesson that I mentioned earlier is what was really perfect and right on time.

Go back to when that lesson began. Right before the trip, I was on stress overload. Not really because of my calendar, which has been a problem before but I am always watching out for this one. Not really because of my mind, which has a tendency to take things way too serious and get way too analytical for my own good. It was not even because I was not managing stress well. It was all of the STUFF hitting me.

I did well. Looking back, I am amazed that I am not sitting in the corner somewhere rocking myself. That month before the trip was one of my all-time most stressful months ever. If you look at the list of life-stressers, I had almost all of them going on in the course of one month. SCARY! But, the hardest part was not all of the change, letting go, keeping on moving forward, feeling mushy (ALL OF THE TIME), it was the little things that just kept on pushing me when I was needing to get a grip on my totally new normal!

Have the little things? Of course!

That is what I noticed just a few minutes ago when I turned on the computer for the day. Well, first let me go back to my lesson…

Again, before the trip, I think the stress could best be pictured as a hurricane. Growing up in South Mississippi, I KNOW hurricanes. The devastation can come from the hurricane as a whole, but normally it is the little things that bring the most devastation–the floods, the tornadoes, the hail, the winds. In fact, when you are smack-dab-in-the-middle of the hurricane, things can seem very peaceful.

This is where I was as my husband began Law School, my daughter got married and moved to South Dakota with her husband (GO AIR FORCE!), our house was hit by a storm (still have the tree on the house), and on and on (this does not touch the list of things going on that month). It was not any of the big things that were stressing me out. I am very accustomed to life and having to roll with the flow. What was wearing away at me was all of the “life clutter” that was wearing away at me. The little things. The little crisis situations. The melt-downs (not by me or those I would expect). The constant push and pull. The messes everywhere SEEMING to need me to fix them.

Feel my pain?

Felt this yourself?

They were the things that were stressing me out.

I could not clearly see what was really bothering me in the midst of the storm. I just gave it all to the Lord. I know that is always the best thing to do, but it was a bit different. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t know what else TO DO. I knew that He would take care of everything and give me a peace that He had given sooo many other times before. And, He did. Well, along with a big lesson that I am not going to forget very easily.

Ready for that lesson?

If I want to live the life of my dreams, I am going to have to get rid of the little distractions, annoyances, stresses that are stealing away time, energy, focus, and clarity.

Things went on without me. This means two things:

1. If I can cut out as much as possible, I will have more time, energy, focus, and clarity to truly step up to the call God has for me.

2. These little things are stealing away more than just my calling, they are stealing away MY LIFE.

God has already been asking me for MONTHS to evaluate all that I do in the light of whether it is really important, vital, eternal. He has been asking me whether my options were trash, trinkets, or treasures. I have been getting that lesson down deep into the “crooks and crannies” of my heart and mind. The problem was in how to clean up things so that I don’t have so many distractions and little stresses. THAT is the part of the lesson that I want to share with you.

IF we are going to be able to work with focus, clarity, and intention, we MUST get rid of these crazy stresses in our lives–the little things. Oh! We might think that we can handle them, but can we? Really?

Do we find ourselves always stressed out?

Do we always feel pushed, pulled, about to fall apart?

Do we wonder where our time is going ALL THE TIME?

Do we wonder why we are not getting around to those things to do that help us reach for our dreams?

Do we wonder why we cannot seem to live the life that we THOUGHT we could live?

The trip to Italy gave me a clarity that I have been needing for a while. I know that I cannot control the changes that come in my life. I know that seasons will come and seasons will go–I embrace that! I know that there are always going to be choices that have to be made. I am good with all of that. However, sometimes I find myself almost drowning with the life clutter and I cannot even see it for what it is. This was one of those times.

So for today, my action steps for today are:

1. Relax. Do first things first–MY FIRST THINGS! IF there is time, energy, and clarity of mind left over, THEN I will allow someone else’s FIRST THINGS into my day. If not, I will take time for ME–quiet time, time for a walk, time for a jog, time for the gym, time to bake, time to scrapbook, time for romance, or even time for a nap. Those are the things that fill me up again and give me MORE to give out tomorrow. They MUST come before crisis situations, shiny objects, melt-downs, and, definitely, BUSYNESS!

2. No more allowing the constant crisis situations to rule my schedule. (!!!!) Do you know that NOTHING absolutely HAD TO HAVE ME while I I was in Italy? NOTHING. I have got to remember what Harold says all of the time, “Someone else’s crisis does not mean that it is MY emergency.” If I want to be able to really get things done, I am going to have to keep my eyes on the mark and not get distracted so easily!

3. People DO NOT have to have ME. (Sobering huh?) Sometimes the very best thing for them is running into that wall. They NEED to come to that place that I have come sooo often–where only God will do. That is my greatest secret to success. THAT is what I really want to teach others with my websites, my blogs, my books, my teachings, and even my social networks. He IS the best teacher, the best mentor, the best comforter, the best shepherd. There will be times that He will use me. However, I can rest, relax, and pull away without fear that life on the planet will unravel without me. HELLO!

4. Yes. I CAN turn off the computer for more than one day–not answering emails as they come in! TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH–but the 48 hours of being blacked-out showed me that life does go on without me and I can always say I am sorry–however, I cannot get back what really matters if I miss it! No. I will not go out of business just because I go out of town or take a break. (My systems like my shopping cart, autoresponders, and WordPress are made for things like this!) I think that my biggest thing to do right now is to regularly UNPLUG. When I do, if there are things that blow up and go crazy, then THOSE are things that I need to troubleshoot so I can find systems or maybe even help/helpers that will fill that void regularly–who knows, maybe even daily. What WOULD it be like if I could simplify to such a level that I can really stick to only the things that really matter? Just HOW productive COULD I BE??? Hummm….

5. All of those offers on the internet (or mail) are not what I need TODAY or probably any time soon. And, enough is enough! I can unsubscribe from all of this extra email, miss a few webinars, and de-stress! I can also save up my money and invest it into what I really need NEXT. Noble thought, huh?

Yes. This trip had an incredible impact in my life. It is SO worth every penny we spent going away. It is SO worth the time we spent preparing to go. It taught me a life-lesson that is already impacting every area of my life–to UNPLUG.

Just UNPLUG!

I will be unplugging more and more so I can live the life of my dreams because TODAY IS THE DAY!

What are YOUR action steps today?

What will you do today so you can truly live the life of your dreams–TODAY????

This show is a continuation of the show by the same title from last month. In this power-packed show, Cindy will continue in our study through Proverbs 31 on the topic of Be a Blessing. She will dig into ways that we are a blessing to our husbands and families as we step up to the call to become a godly woman. Don’t miss this one! It is going to be a super study!

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This week Cindy will continue in our study through Proverbs 31. She will dig into ways that we are a blessing to our husbands and families as we step up to the call to become a godly woman. Don’t miss this one! It is going to be a super study!

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Tea…What comes to your mind?

As I think back over the years since that first cup of tea, I think beyond the various types of tea…the beautiful tea rooms and homes that have welcomed me for the ritual…the unique cups and teapots, each with its own story…all those details blur. But, one thing brings me back to “tea” over and over again…relationships! Relationships forged over moments shared over a cup of tea. Sweet, sweet memories that forge forever relationships.

My very first memories of tea were on the front porch, truly Southern Style with Iced Sweet Tea. There was never a meal served or a family gathering without plenty of Iced Sweet Tea. Just visiting Mamaw, I could always expect a big, tall glass of Sweet Lemon Tea whether we were working in her kitchen or swinging on the front porch enjoying her flowers and sweet conversation.

My very first cup of hot tea was typical Southern Style as well. At the end of my first year of homeschooling, I spent a wonderful day with a dear fellow homeschooler. We were preparing dresses for her to hand-smock for her youngest little girl. Her precious pre-teen came in mid-afternoon to ask if we would care for any tea. Being the TRUE Southerner that never passes up a great cup of tea, I said, “Sure!” She went on preparing tea, as was usual in her home. When she brought it out, I had to ask for directions on how to “take tea.” That moment my true love for tea was born!

Since that moment, I have developed a true passion for ANYTHING to do with tea of ANY kind! I love the different types of tea. I love the books that all share little tidbits about the fine art of tea. I love collectables that each have a story to make them more and more endearing. I love the recipes for goodies that make a nice addition to ANY day. I love the versatility of tea for all ages, all settings, all occasions. Want to see me in pure bliss? Take me to a tea room! But, most of all, I love the many sweet, sweet relationships and precious memories that have been forged over cups of tea, both hot and cold!

Tea truly meets us right where we are. If we love to collect antiques, we can’t help but to fall in love with the little dainties that are hidden away in all of the antique stores around. If we are looking for a healthy treat, none can be greater than tea! If we want to take a moment away with our children to build relationships and memories, tea is a must! If we want a perfect touch to a holiday, tea makes the day. If we want a theme for a party, tea always step forward with its touch of femininity. If we just want to minister to a friend or relative, tea ministers to their belly while “we” pour forth into their heart!

My prayer is that you will see the beauty, grace, encouragement, tradition, and fun that is awaiting you. I pray that you will find that touch of tea. I pray that you will make sweet memories with those you love the most, over a cup of tea.

So, my friend, do you hear the call beckoning to you? Take a moment, pour a hot steamy cup and come apart with me…

…it is time to make a memory over a cup of tea!

With Love, Cindy

“You prepare a table before me…my cup runs over.”
Psalms 23: 5 Amplified Bible

Ready for Tea? Let Cindy Help! Grab her best-selling book, A CUP OF TEA. Includes her easy recipes and fresh ideas for your tea-time!

A Cup of Tea

Ready for a cup of tea? Do you just LOVE tea?? This NEW book was a blast for Cindy to write. She wrote this book as a gift to Elisabeth, her daughter so she would have all of the “Family” recipes and ideas that have been part of their family traditions. Now, this is available for you and your family as well! If you are intrigued by tea and want to bring the tradition into your home, this is your book. If you want lots of recipes and ideas for tea time or even a tea unit study, this book is just what you are looking for. Even if you are looking for that perfect gift idea, this is one that you will find perfect for anyone, any age, at any time of the year.

It was a normal day, just like so many others, but my life was changed. In fact, it was a conversation similar to so many throughout my life…just girl talk in the kitchen over meal preparation. Who would imagine that it would change my life and lead me toward my life call? Who would imagine that it would put together all of the pieces to my jumbled-up life?

Mamaw Alma Lee Rushton was my husband’s grandmother. I remember the first day I met her. We had an instant bond. It was amazing. Not long after Harold and I became officially “connected at the hip” as my dad called it, I remember one conversation with her where she shared that I was everything that she had prayed Harold would marry. Those words of vision touched me to the depths of my soul. Oh! He was everything that I had prayed to marry. He was my Prince Charming. He was my Knight in Shining Armor…or Izod, who is particular about those details in HOT Mississippi? ha!

When Mamaw spoke, she spoke vision…instruction…inspiration…and a deep passion for Godly womanhood. Her opinions meant so much to me. Her insight was always biblical. Her instruction was patient and kind. I clung to her words. They were steeped in a love for God, a love for family, and a deep love for me.

So, imagine the day that my life changed. We were busy in the kitchen preparing one of those good old summer meals. Family meals in our families meant that all of the family favorites were part of the menu. The funny thing, this day had ALL of the favorites. Looking back, the entire time was so special that it was beyond a regular day. This day would go down in our family history as pivotal. It changed my life and in turn changed our whole family.

Being a godly woman is so important. Sure, we are born to be women. But, godliness is a choice. The choices are made in little things and big things all along the way. Those things influence not just our own lives, but those around us, those we all touch, and those in generations yet to come. We are women with great influence. Our greatest influence cannot be planned. Our greatest influence will happen when we least expect it.

Going back to that special day…

The kitchen was bustling and yummy smelling. Mamaw was her usual sweet, rosy-cheeked, and upbeat self. I was a bit weary. We were back home in our home-town because Harold’s dad was having a triple by-pass. Mamaw was in deep prayer for her son, but you saw only her intense faith in God and not even one moment of fear, worry, or doubt. The kids were tickled to be running around Mamaw’s yard playing and chasing her “critters” outside. Harold was enjoying time with his grandfather. It was the typical picture of what things were like when we went “home” to see our family.

I was soooo excited, in spite of my concern for Harold’s father. I had just received a nice package filled with beautiful slick copies of the magazine which was featuring one of my articles for the first time in a magazine. In spite of the difficult circumstances, I was elated to get to give Mamaw her own copy of my first article in a magazine. It was my treat to give her that day. I was hoping it would brighten her day. I had NO idea that it would lead to a pivotal moment in my life.

She was in awe! She stood there with big alligator tears in her eyes as she beheld the magazine. Seeing my name there on the glossy page was a total delight to her. Just months before we had stood in that kitchen having a very interesting conversation that was the “back story” for what was going on that day. Actually, so many of those special days in that kitchen were the catalysts behind that very special day.

I remember time-after-time sitting there or helping her with her chores while she just poured forth into my life. She would talk about little things like tips for sewing or cooking or homemaking. She would talk about even more challenging things like disciplining the children and being a godly wife. She would also talk about life-changing things like my relationship with God and how to live an authentic and intentional Christian life. While the conversations were never planned, they were milestones in my life–big and small. I don’t know how many of you just crave for a Titus Two mentor, but as a young wife I just wished that God would send someone to be a Titus Two mentor into my life. Little did I know that it was through those God put in my life to influence me. There could never be anyone who could teach me to love my husband and children like their very own grandmother. No one else could teach me to love my home and the ministry within my home like the grandmother who’s home called us “home” from so many miles away. Her influence was perfect training. Isn’t that how God does it?

I loved time with her. Every time I was around Mamaw, I came away with so much wisdom. Many times, I took a notebook and jotted down tips and ideas while we talked. They were GOODIES! GEMS!

It was not long until I became the secretary for our local smocking guild (heirloom sewing group). I was responsible for producing the newsletter for our members. For those who know me, you would not be surprised that I simply COULD NOT stand to have the page only include the details for the meeting. There was SO MUCH WHITE SPACE! I thought that sewing tips were an adorable embellishment for our newsletter. I loved tips so much that I thought it would be fun to include them each month in my newsletter. They made it all fun. Of course, most of my tips came from learning at Mamaw’s side. I got so many great ideas from her that I decided to pay for her membership to the guild so she could get the newsletter. She LOVED it! Actually, she loved it so much she passed it around to all of her friends.

I had no idea until one day I went to see her and she asked me to go by the local paper to ask our editor to put the tips in the paper. My response was probably the very same response you might would have, “Mamaw, BUT I AM NOT A WRITER.” She gave me a quick list of reasons why the paper “needed” my tips. All I can say is that I knew not to mess with her! ha! I went to the paper to just ask. I was completely convinced that they would laugh me out the door and that THEY would silence Mamaw’s crazy idea once and for all. Well, it didn’t go that way. Mamaw was right. They not only wanted my tips, but they wanted for me to begin my own column. Every week after that I had a column. I always tell everyone that I fell into it backwards. I think Mamaw shoved me! ha! Either way, God used her belief in me to give that nudge in a direction that would have NEVER been one I would have even thought to pursue.

Now, fast forward with me. I had moved away. My column had grown. I loved it. But, I still did not have a vision for what God was about to do. In fact, I had no idea what God wanted for me to do with my life. I knew He wanted for me to be a godly wife and mother. But, I wondered what He had meant by calling me into ministry. He had been so specific at several times of my life. I could not put the pieces together. I had kept right on moving forward, being faithful in all that I KNEW I was to be doing each and every day. But, I just could not see how all of the pieces came together. It was really unsettling. Well, that is where this story gets good! I have told you already about my first magazine article and how I was about to surprise Mamaw with her own copy of it. But there was more to the back story.

One of the reasons Mamaw had wanted the tips put in the paper was that she was keeping a notebook filled with my goodies and did not want to miss even one. Her notebook was filled with all of those articles, my recipes that I would copy and share with her, all of my letters sent from Alabama, all of the cards I sent her, pictures of our family, etc. It was her “Cindy” notebook. Now, I do want for you to know that I was married to her grandson. I was an “inlaw.” He was not even her only grandchild. She had a beautiful family filled with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But, she valued my writing and I was just a Dental Hygienist–NOT A WRITER!! She valued my writing so much that she KEPT it all. What is even more touching was that she had set up a PLACE to keep everything. That takes great effort. She not only kept it, but she invested in a nice, big notebook and sheet protectors to guard every piece like it was a great treasure. She kept things that would have been long forgotten, long lost. But, she kept them because they were dear to her. They were dear to her because I was dear to her. Do you think she ever knew how that one commitment would change my life?

Well, now let’s go on to that precious day. I had been writing my heart out for my sweet little column. I fell in love with writing. It was like having a nice afternoon tea with friends. I could pull back as my little ones played or slept in and pour myself a cup of tea and just share my heart. Sometimes it was tips. Other times it was my excitement for being a wife and mother. Every article was a piece of my heart. I simply loved writing! It became my favorite hobby. Who would have figured it? Mamaw???

That day was very special. As we look back, it was the last day I would see her and spend time with her. Only one short week later, she passed away. Her death was a sweet, yet very difficult time for us. Never before had I seen a true Proverbs 31 woman pass away. Yet, in her death every word spoken about her was declaring Proverbs 31 over and over. She was the one! Well, one of that beautiful crowd!

To me, looking back, I know that day was a gift from God. It was to go down in my story as a pivotal moment. I have never been the same since.

Remember I mentioned going through those years enjoying my calling as a wife and mother, yet having a void there in my life. I was a Christian. I was a committed Christian. I loved womanhood. But, there was a void. It just was not coming together. I wondered many times if I had somehow missed my calling along the way. Very often, I would get a bit frustrated that I did not use my single years to pursue ministry and missions. I could not figure out how I would use my gifts and talents to pursue my purpose. I was just confused.

That last day with Mamaw was precious. I was so excited to give her that beautiful copy of my article in a REAL magazine. I knew it would be a delight to her. But, I had no idea exactly how much of a delight. I don’t know, maybe things don’t always “click” with me. I had heard her talk about her “Cindy” notebook. I had even started writing for the newspaper because she wanted to be sure that no one kept HER COPY of my articles. But, until I gave her that gorgeous magazine, I had not SEEN the “Cindy” notebook. WOW! She pulled it out. It was a treasure to her. I could tell. I stood there with big tears in my eyes. Her commitment to protect my work as a treaure to her was overwhelming. She really LOVED my writing. She really TREASURED my writing. It was more than important. It was a treasure! You don’t just “keep” things like this. It was intentional. It was a priority. It spoke volumes to me.

No one, not even myself, had kept EVERYTHING with such a passionate love for me. Sure, my mom kept so many things. But, I don’t think she had even kept those articles. In fact, *I* had not even kept them all! UGH! Mamaw did not miss even one of them. They were all there. Kept for future generations. Precious. Guarded. An investment into ME and those who will come after me.

I stood there looking at the notebook. I was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness, but there was more. You could see it in Mamaw’s eyes. She truly LOVED and ADORED my writing. It meant so much to her. I had never thought about my words being valuable, much less loved or needed. They never seemed to be too great in school. Well, in school, actually I always felt that they did not measure up. They never seemed good enough. My teachers never really gave me outright encouragement in those areas. Sure, they made me editor of the school paper. Of course, I thought that was to torment me! (ha!) They were very hard on my writing. I could not understand it. The last thing I wanted when I came out of school was to write anything for the rest of my life. Funny how God changes things, huh?

There was something that was rising up in my heart as I stood there looking at that notebook and Mamaw’s excitement over the magazine. I could feel all of the pieces in my life coming together as I stood in that room with her. It was more than pivotal. It was life-changing.

She took a few moments to read the article. She was “buzzing” as she did. She LOVED it! I felt a pride inside that was just precious! I respected her sooo much that I wanted to please her. This was a beautiful gift for her that day.

As she finished reading the article, she said something that would point the way for the next thing AND would change my life entirely. She, very matter of factly, said, “Cindy! You HAVE GOT TO write a book!” My immediate response was almost exactly the same as my response in that room to her challenge to write for the newspaper, “Mamaw, BUT I AM NOT A WRITER.” Can you imagine her sweet face in heaven as she looks down upon me today after I have written over 100 books, thousands of articles, and taught thousands of workshops in the last 15 years? Just funny!

The most precious part of that afternoon in that sweet Southern kitchen was what followed. She told me that I could easily take my articles and put them together into a book. She was not a writer. How did she have SUCH vision? She continued to talk to me about sticking to my priorities. She told me that I was a good wife and mom. She told me how proud she was of our family life and our family. She shared with me her one prayer request that God had answered for her–that all of her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren would be saved and serve God all of their lives (all of us were saved and serving God in ministry!). She literally passed the torch to me that day. It was a spiritual mantle that she placed upon me in that sweet Southern kitchen. I wear it today. It is my passion. It is the call. It is my life purpose–to help those in our culture get back to God’s design for the godly home. The pieces all came together that day.

We had our biggest dinner ever that day with Mamaw. It was her last one to cook. But, I was full before the blessing was ever asked and one bite was taken. She had poured forth more that day through her spirit than she had cooked up in that kitchen in all of the years of her marriage!

She believed in me. She had faith that I would pick up the torch and carry on the legacy for generations yet to come. She saw something in me that I did not even see in myself. She delighted in something in me that I did not even know was there.

I wonder today who WE could touch like this? Is there someone we could just believe in? Is there someone we could just enjoy and delight in? Is there someone who’s life just might be different if we would invest in them? I am talking about the little things and the big things. I am talking about the moments we least expect. I am talking about being ALL THERE even in the kitchen LIKE we would be in a pulpit! That is where the legacy is built. That is where the legacy is passed on to future generations. And, it might only take a notebook!

Tired? Weary? Confused? Have NO idea which way to go?

STOP!

Stop, beloved. Pull back. Don’t do a thing. Don’t talk. Don’t change things around. Don’t make any decisions-yet. Simply STOP.

There are times that our enemy finds a weapon that takes us by surprise. The time will come. What do you do? You learn from Jesus. You study Him. You learn from Him. You learn to walk out His ways. They ALWAYS work.

It does not make any difference what weapon the enemy uses, the same tactics work against him. You don’t even have to read a big manual to get a huge plan. You just have to read THE MANUAL. Oh, let me help you find the most powerful tactic, the one that all of the others hinge upon. Turn to James 4:7…

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” KJV

Resist the devil. What does that mean?

Well, if you will begin to search for ways resist him, you are in for a treat. There are many ways: get in the Word, get the Word into you, speak the Word, pray, fast, plug in with other believers to take the giants, step up to the call, plus many, many more. Oh! Talk about shutting down the enemy! He can do nothing but run. I could write a book on all of those, but, today I want to talk about one tactic that will stop the enemy in his tracks. Ready? This is a good one!

STOP!

You will never look at a stop sign or a stop light the same again. You know what stop means there–no rolling through it, stopping after the line does not count, you must stop! Stop means STOP! Sit still for a moment. Don’t GO.

Yes, want to resist the enemy? STOP!

Oh! You knew this didn’t you? Or, are you like me? This is the LAST THING you will do when you are getting tired and weary and the enemy is closing in with for the kill. Want is a true confession–I do not struggle with murdering, stealing, lying, coveting, adultery. BUT, the one thing God convicts me over and over about in the 10 commandments is REST–aka, STOP. He has to MAKE ME come to a place of rest. I must have been a horrid infant and toddler. There is something in me that just resists this. I would rather HELP God. I love to tidy up all of the things around me BEFORE I will come to that quiet place to get away with God. I love to finish up all of the “things” I can think of so I can “relax and rest” without distraction. HELLO! See the problem? Relate with the problem?

God means that WHEN we are tired and weary, we just STOP.
God means that WHEN we are feeling the enemy surrounding us on every angle, we just STOP.

How many times do I have to see this principle in the Bible before it becomes my immediate response? How many situations big and small do I face before this is my INSTANT reaction. How long do I study and train until this is my instant reaction? When will it become “muscle memory?”

Oh! I am dreadfully human. My first response is never to STOP. Oh, don’t look pious. Don’t judge me. I suspect it would not be all over the Bible if we didn’t all struggle here. I also suspect that God would not put it on the cute placard (The 10 Commandments) if he didn’t want to be very clear and mince no words. I also suspect that He wouldn’t have used so many examples in the life of Christ.

Remember Mark 6:31? Here it is:

“He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while,” because so many people were coming and going that they didn’t even have time to eat.”

Were they doing anything wrong? No, we don’t wait to pull back until all is in a mess. This is the sure-fire way to STOP THE MESS BEFORE IT HAPPENS. Or, at minimum, be ready for the attack so you never get in the messes that so many of us fall into because we are ambushed.

Even our military retreats.

It is not always the tactic, but how often do the good soldiers sense a big battle looming, see it coming, and they pull back to get ready for a strong, swift, hard attack. Retreating is a key to victory. Retreating gives them time to “access the situation” and get “intelligence.” It gives them time to get support on their side so they can go forward with a decisive victory. Retreating helps the good soldier to fight the good fight.

Now, this is essential if we are to take on the enemy in God’s way, if we are going to fight the GOOD FIGHT. Of course, if we refuse to do this, we cannot fight the good fight. Instead, we are either devoured by the enemy because we sit still  or we step out in the flesh and just fight, strive, walk in the works of the flesh. We HELP the enemy. What a waste of time. What a devastating impact on the world. We fail in the mission. We have casualties.In fact, the greatest casualty may be ourselves.

God has called us to be a warrior. In a culture that has a “quitter” mentality (watched CNN or MSNBC lately), it is easy to develop a lifestyle and mentality that insures that the enemy can take us and use us for friendly fire unless we get training and regularly resist the enemy.

What does this mean? Maybe you are not a “military mom” or you have not had a hubby on the front lines against real life bad guys. Maybe you have not been placed on the frontline to see the enemy face-to-face and been forced to learn how to fight the good fight–you must fight the good fight if you are going to be a mighty warrior, otherwise, you will be a casualty. Maybe you have got out there on the front line once or a bunch only to go back with wounds that are difficult to mend. You sit disabled. You have settled for defeat.

No more! Rise up mighty warrior!

We MUST learn how to be a mighty warrior. We MUST learn and practice ALL of the tactics regularly so they are in “muscle memory” when the enemy comes against us. AND…the enemy WILL come against you and I. It is not about being a good girl and staying out of trouble. If you think that is how tough times are dished out, I want to know what you have done for God lately?  No, the enemy rages against God’s people, the ones who are busy doing what HE says, even more. Just think, who is on the battle lines for our country today? The ones in active service or the ones who are not serving at this time?  Who gets the enemy’s blows?

The enemy is cunning. He is malicious. He will attack where you least expect it. So, you must fight. You cannot hide. You cannot “take it” and it all go away. You certainly cannot afford to shut your mouth and take it. Too much is at risk.

But, how do you fight and what do you do for a fast blow that makes the enemy flee? Glad we got here…

One of the ways is to STOP.

Stop. Sit down. Pull back. Get filled back up. Hear the Commander. Get your plan. Get ready to do EVERYTHING HE SAYS.

Just in case you are still doubting that the good guys get hit or you are presuming that being tired and weary, pressed and pushed only comes with something YOU DO, or better yet what someone else must have done, just look at Jesus. Jesus got weary!

“So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down [to rest] by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (about noon).” John 4:6  (Amplified Version)

JESUS got weary! JESUS! Pardon the grammar, THAT BE JESUS!!! God, Incarnate.

So, what do YOU do when you get weary? Tired? I don’t know about you, but as for me, this is what it looks like if I am not careful:

I get a little tired…
I get a little pushed and pressed….
I look at my planner—at all of the “stuff” I have YET to do…
I get a little distressed (well, a lot!)…
I get in a frenzy…
I work even harder, only in MANY different directions…
Then, I begin to battle exhaustion…that just makes me more tired and irritable…
Inevitably, at this point things start to BREAK all around me…others call with their to-do’s…my children begin to squabble…and the planner falls on the ground SPILLING all of my “stuff” I have yet to do…
Then, I begin to get in a frenzy…nothing works out…more stuff breaks…more demands on my time…
Oh, then…the fit! More work! All of it compounds! I feel depressed! Then, it is all doom and gloom!
The enemy has me where he wants me and comes in for the kill!

What about you? What are we to do? Go back to John 4: 6…Jesus, when He got tired on His journey, HE SAT DOWN!

When  Jesus was on His journey, He DID get tired! He did have struggles. He did have people who rose up against Him, even to crucify Him. He was betrayed by his dear friend who was WITH HIM. Did He ever take any mis-steps? Well, look at Scripture. Scripture says that He ONLY did the Father’s will. Yet, we see time after time that people rose against Him and what God told Him to do. Even His own mother missed it twice! But, He only did the will of His Father.

Sure He got tired. Sure He got weary. But, even then, He did the Father’s will. He sat down, pulled away. He stopped!

Come apart. That means STOP. Resist the devil. Pull apart to be with the Heavenly Father. Spend some time with Jesus. Learn from Him (Matthew 11: 28-30). He shows us how to STRIVE LAWFULLY (2 Timothy 2: 3-5). That means he tells us how to “fight” with the winning plan. He has called us to fight the good fight. He wants for us to be mighty warriors.

BUT! We must STOP!

Now, that is revolutionary for me! How about you?

I always thought that if you were a good girl, you don’t get a spanking. I thought that you don’t get “hit” if you are a good girl. Isn’t there something that would make “God hit you?” Well, first, this is just the reason that we need to STOP. We need to know who our enemy is. For some crazy reason if we get “hit” by surprise as we are going along, we always think two things:

1. God has hit us.
2. God hits us because we are trying to do what He tells us.

Ever thought that? Well, if you say no, you are either lying or you have gotten this principle down. However, Scripture tells us that we will always be think this thought. Why? Because the enemy is always there when the battle starts (he is the culprit) and one of his tactics is to accuse. He is always accusing. He accuses God before us. He accuses us before God. He accuses us before others. He accuses others before us. He accuses us before us. We may cast down the thought the moment it comes, but it was there. How long does it stay. This is the difference in our power when the enemy hits. If we think that God has hit us, we will “sit down and try to behave,” but we won’t fight. That is not what I mean by STOP. That means we quit. We are not called to quit. We are called to be mighty warriors who are always on a victory parade. We are called and equipped to be overcomers. If we don’t know what we are, whose we are, and who our enemy is, we will lose the battle every time. The enemy would love to keep us there. However, God is calling us to be aware of what is going on and what will happen. He wants for us to know how to fight the good fight. This is why it is key to STOP when things hit you.

Yes, there are times that God will oppose you if you are off track. He will put you in “time-out.” He will sit you on the bench or send you to your room so you can get yourself together and be ready to obey Him. BUT! When you are hit, if you are godly, the “hits” don’t come from God. God disciplines. He never hits. He trains. He never slaps you around. He corrects. He never accuses, condemns, or handles you harshly.

If you do not STOP, tune in to the Heavenly Father, how will you know whether you are being “hit” or “disciplined?” This is essential. How else can you know who is responsible for the “jarring” in your life? How else can you get the answer and the directive on what you are to do to get through the situation?

Now you are with me! Say it!

STOP!!!!

We stop. We do NOTHING. We say NOTHING. We move on NOTHING.

We retreat–pull back, re-fill, re-fuel, re-pack. We retreat to assess the situation–to get the facts, to get counsel, to get a rock-solid strategy, to get a good view of the battlefield. We retreat to call in the resources and get them ready for the fight–our armor, our supplies, our support.

If we miss the retreat, we are fools. It is the key to a fast, strong, decisive victory.

Jesus modeled the lifestyle of the perfect Teacher. From the first of His ministry until His ascension, we see how He handled the enemies that rose against Him. He never stepped out without solitude, time alone with His Father. He showed us in His life how to handle the enemy when he comes forth–resist him and he flees! He showed how to be ready for all of life’s circumstances from daily demands to death on a cross. He used His weapons to prepare for times of warfare and smack-dab-in-the-middle of the frontal assault. He modeled it beautifully for us.

So, what do we do? We learn from Jesus. We learn to STOP. We learn from Jesus how to pull back, rest and refill! We learn how to be a good soldier. We learn how to fight the good fight. So, mighty warrior, when the enemy begins to circle about, what are you going to do? Say it with me…

STOP!