Pick ME, Pick ME

I picked up Cosmo
I read the print
I saw the pictures
I got their hint.

I’ll never be good enough
On my own
Because I'll need surgery, make-up
Men or money – I moan!

I read the surveys
And memorized the facts
I can quickly tell you
Of everything I lack.

I lack good thighs
I need fuller lips
My love life’s a disaster
But they’ve got ten great tips.

I read Glamour
I marveled at the pics
I want to look like a model
But I’ve got too much to fix.

There’s no hope
My mind screams today
In a still quiet whisper
I hear Someone say . . .

You are who you are, child
And I’m proud to say
I made you Myself
In a unique and special way.

Now, hold your head high
Look others straight in the eye
Be the best you can be, and
Quit listening to the world’s lies.

Cosmo, Glamour, and Seventeen
Are not the books to read
They’ll always leave you wanting more
Because of the lies they feed.

If you want to be a star
And shine, oh, so bright
Come to Me, my child
I’m the Way, the Truth, the Light!

Remember, I’m the Master Creator
And I’ve made no junk
Let go of the worlds’ expectations
To get out of your funk.

Put down the magazines
And pick up My Book
Then others will surely stop
And take a second look.

Yes, come to My Book
My dressing room
There you’ll find all you need
There love for yourself will bloom.

Loving Me is critical
Loving yourself is key
It’s Me you need and want, my child
Pick ME, pick ME.

The Fish are Happy

Things have been so crazy around here that our poor aquariums did not get their biweekly cleaning. Don’t ask me when they were last cleaned, because I couldn’t tell you!

I did notice that the fish seemed lethargic, sluggish and sad the more deprived and neglected their living environment became. I can actually say the same about myself. The more disorderly, disarrayed, and dysfunctional my living quarters become the more it negatively influences the rest of my life.

Maybe you notice the same in your spiritual life – the more apathetic, withdrawn and callous you become about your spiritual being the more it negatively influences the rest of your life.

My fish taught me that clean and orderly environments do make a huge difference to our outlook on life. Let’s make this Monday the day we clean up our aquariums, homes and spiritual lives so we’ll have brighter outlooks on life. A clean spiritual home will help us be energetic, peaceful, and perky!

Who knew there were amazing lessons waiting to be learned from fish!

Facial Blemishes and God

The past couple of weeks have been extremely stressful. Pressures and worries have built up on every front of my little world. Don’t you just love the saying, “When it rains, it pours.” Such is life.

However, it’s one thing to feel the pressures on the inside, but when they start popping to the outside through facial blemishes – ooooh, that’s not so good. I was experiencing such the ugly phenomenon. Stress pimples. Urgh!

Thankfully, I’ve had years of skin care training as I use to teach classes. I knew how to handle this. I babied my skin, made sure I was following ever step properly, and making sure my face was clean at all times. But these stubborn pimples were NOT budging. They were not even shrinking!

In desperate need of relief (I was fixing to be in front of a bunch of women), I borrowed a different cleanser from a friend. My goodness, I think this made the problem worse. If you know about skin care, you know any change in skin care products can make the situation worse at first. What was I thinking?

But I was still in DESPERATE need to be cleansed and free of these blemishes. Time was running out, so I went to the local supermarket and bought some super-duper heavy-duty acne free cleanser and toner.

Forget being gentle! I was going to scrub these bumps off. I cleansed as harshly as I could and decided to just douse my face in the toner. In my half-crazed mind I thought, that should do it.

By the next day, my face was on fire. By evening my skin felt like leather. I had fried my face trying to get rid of the blemishes. As the days went by, my face began to peel. It was horrible!

NOTE: DO NOT EVER TRY THIS! Stick with your normal cleansing routine.

What I learned about God and life from this experience: (I've had a lot of thinking time as I was hiding out.)

We all have blemishes and/or sins – they just seem bigger when they are ours.
We can try to hide our blemishes – however, we know they are still there.
We try drastic measures to feel cleansed – alcohol, drugs, money, relationships.
Using the wrong product for cleansing does make the blemish worse.
God is the only cleanser who will alleviate all blemishes.
Our responsibility is to come to HIM for cleansing – daily.
God’s cleansing program might not seem like it is working – but it is.
Cleansing is a process.


Amazing you can learn from your blemishes.

Housekeeping

I’ve put off cleaning up my sons room since he moved out for college. Seriously, here’s proof. Everything piled on top of his bed and that’s how it has been for months. (showing off my housekeeping skills, eeks!) Please somebody tell me they can relate!!

I’ve procrastinated because cleaning meant I had to deal with the reality that he is growing up. Every time I'd walk in his room, I'd notice the markings outside his closet door where he marked his growth. For years he felt like he’d never grow tall like his friends. (Sorry, I had to record this for me - the sappy sentimental mom.) Look how much he grew in 2004. I swear most of that happened the week he was at camp.













Finally, last weekend was different. The rooms mess had to go. It had to be cleaned.

Enough was enough.

Hubby and I had a big date to Home Depot – woo hoo! Do you hear a little sarcasm in my voice? OOps - so sorry! However, hubs had to work that night so Linds and I got busy. We were fortunate our neighbor came over and decided to help. Then about 30 minutes into the job, some special friends called and invited us all to "On the Border". So, we took a break and went. Now, that's the way I like to work.

When we came back to reality and got busy painting, neighbor was fixing to paint over the markings on the door and she stopped.

“Alene, are you sure you want me to paint over these? Look at them!”

Me – sad and teary eyes, “No, but we need to. I took pictures earlier.”

While my daughter is cracking up laughing, I was choking back tears! Neighbor slowly (it seemed like the slowest slow-mo ever!) and ever so methodically rolled Pottery Red paint (or Barnyard Red as Linds calls it) over those cute, adorable, filty, and priceless markings.

Right there - in the moment - precious memories covered up by a layer of paint.

Once I got over the shock, I (the girls found other fun things to do - imagine that?) got busy. It actually took me all weekend, but check it out! (I swear the walls match - bad photography - I do much better on people! ha)

These three guitars are so special. The one on the right was my daddy’s guitar. In the middle we have my son’s first guitar. (the guitar was as big as he was when he first started playing) And on the left side is my first guitar.

Ah yes, a clean room ready and waiting for my son to move back in to. Actually, there’s not much chance of that happening. He loves where he is. I love where he is too . . . growing up with such a passion for the Lord.

So, we have a room for visitors now. You want to come over?

Amazingly, if you come quickly the room might still be clean.

Makeover Monday - What TO Wear

My daughter and I enjoy watching “What Not to Wear” together. She commented the other evening, “Mom, we should start dressing reee-ally bad. Then maybe we could be on that show.”

I’m beginning to think she is on to something. Oh my, I do need help!

I understand wearing your right colors helps you look healthier, thinner (woo hoo) and bright-eyed.

I understand that horizontal stripes make you look thicker, where vertical stripes are more slimming.

I understand you want to wear clothes that are comfortable and fit so you aren’t always adjusting and picking at them.

There is a lot I get, but what I don’t get is – what in the world do you wear when you are to be videoed or on TV? I’ve read some articles recently and it seems camera’s have their own set of rules. You would know. Urgh! This is most unnerving.

This coming Thursday, a friend and I will do a noon show on local television to promote the upcoming Living the Life Conference here in Corpus Christi. Oh man, have I told you how I hate cameras?

I am hearing Luke 12:22-23 in my head at the moment where Jesus said to his disciples:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.”

I guess I shouldn’t worry about these little things, after all Jesus said NOT to. However, where are Stacy London and Clinton Kelly when you need them? I wouldn’t give this a second thought if they could show me what TO wear. Yes, it would be totally cool to have somebody dress me and groom me.



We should all have someone like Piper Palin in our life making sure we always look our best. This is too precious.







Do you have any helpful suggestions? Do’s? Don’ts? Are you by chance a Stacy or Clinton wanna-be? I’ll be your guinea pig!

I’d be most amazed if you’d help me out!

Makeover Monday's

Have you ever had one of those moments where the minute something leaves your mouth you WISH you could take it back? It wasn’t supposed to come out the way it did – cutting and hurtful.

You can take back a lot of things, but unfortunately your words are not one of them. The minute they leave your lips they are either building up or tearing down others.

I had a couple of instances this weekend where words came out wrong. Oh, IF ONLY I could take them back. Of course, that’s impossible so what do I do now?

Today, I will focus on my heart. For out of my heart came those words. This week I’ll spend some time readjusting my heart and focusing on my lips.

Think about your words. Do they help, hinder, or hurt? If so, maybe you need a heart examination like me.

Or maybe your words encourage, uplift and inspire? Then be intentional in blessing and praising others.

It’s such a short distance from your heart to your lips, but that distance leaves such an incredible impact on others.

Lord, readjust my heart. Fill my lips with praise and encouragement.

I could use some Pink Praise lip color. Anyone want to invent that?

Makeover Monday's

I have to admit that I took this test.

I swore the last time I took a personality test, I wouldn’t take anymore. I have taken almost every test out there and I'm still the same ol' me. But a friend sent me this link and I just HAD to take it. I couldn't resist!

In case you are wondering, I'm still the same me. Shucks - I so wanted to be something or someone different. Remember Popeye's catchphrase "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam?" Yes, I am what I am, by the grace of God. You are who you are, by the grace of God.

However, like me, are you left wanting something different, something you don’t have? Maybe you wish for someone else’s personality, clothes, house, job, ministry or attitude.

What I'm learning through this process is that wanting what I do not have leaves me empty every time.

Paul learned how to be content with his circumstances, his past, his finances, his ministry and his personality. Philippians 4 The Message puts it this way:

I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Lord, make me over today. Let me be content with my past, my present and all that I am. In You, I yam what I yam. Amen.

Makeover Monday's

Summer’s here! I love it. It’s warm days, cool breezes, fun and sun.

Living here on the coast is a treat. For me, lazy days relaxing at the beach and pool top my list of all time most relaxing things to do. Add friends to that and it is a taste of heaven.

As we begin to enjoy the summer season, please remember your sunscreen. Look for moisturizers and foundations with the added SPF. Take all precautions to protect your skin.

I spent years lifeguarding, literally frying my skin. Remember those days? I’d go out for 8-10 hours in the sun and use baby oil to bake in. Thankfully, we know so much more now about how the sun damages our skin and is harmful to our body.

As you’re basking in the sun this summer and applying sunscreen of SPF 15 or above, ask yourself how are you protecting your spiritual body?

Just as the sun can dry out and damage our skin, worldly influences can harm our spiritual bodies. Take precautions and moisturize your spiritual self with God’s word daily.

Moisturize daily in God's anointed word and be amazed at the sunshine in your soul.

One Army Wife

I haven’t been addicted to a weekly show since “Dallas”. That pretty much dates me, I’m sure. But there is a show “Army Wives” that comes on Lifetime on Sunday evenings and I love it.

It takes me back to the days of being an Army wife and the protocol that went along with the territory. Since I’ve been watching that show opportunities have come up for me to speak and write on some of my experiences. Looking back on my years as an Army Officer’s Wife, I don’t know whether to cringe or laugh hysterically. I find myself doing a little of both, as well as thanking God that my hubby didn’t walk out on me in his frustration.

Just to give you an idea of what God was working with when He began to make me over here are a few snapshots. It’s not pretty. It all screams bad attitude!

- getting so many tickets in Germany that the Commander threatened to take my husbands license away (who ever heard of such?)

- bribing the German politzie not to give me a ticket so the Commander wouldn’t take my husbands license away (bribing the law?)

- answering others with “I don’t have to do that, I didn’t sign the line to be in the military.” (ATTITUDE)

- meeting another Commander and having hubby squeeze my hand so hard so I wouldn’t say anything because he had reprimanded my husband for not following “proper” protocol to save five people who’s boat had sunk in the worse storm of the century in 1993 (didn't he need to hear what I had to say about his attitude)

- failing to stop on base and sign in visitors (ok – just stupidity)

- being pulled over on base by four patrol cars for not signing in visitors (embarrassing the children who were in the car)

- having guns drawn on me for the obvious stated events (back to bribing?)

- you get the picture . . .

There is something encouraging about looking back at years gone by. You see the growth and changes you’ve made. You see the bad attitudes that have softened, the stubborn issues you’ve let die and wild hearts that have been mellowed. I was and am a mess. Thankfully, God is still working on me.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

I am being made over each and every day. I’m so thankful for that, but it seems I’m more apt to become a new creation when my old self is exposed in public. ha

Makeover Monday's

Have you ever had someone just show up at your house before the crack of dawn? Well, I have. I am sure I terrified the visitor as I was such a sight. Seriously, I looked a fright. No eyes, ruddy complexion, and bags from not enough sleep. Yep, I’m sure they were wishing they had called ahead.

Growing up I remember my grandmother had two rules of thumb: 1. As soon as you get up in the morning, make your bed. 2. As soon as you become conscience, get dressed.

There truly are benefits to getting dressed and straightening the room as soon as you get up. But what about my favorite things to do; drag myself to my holy of holies (the kitchen table) in my pj’s and visit with God until He wakens my soul. Of course, a pot of coffee by my side surely helps.

Thinking back, do you think my grandmother had a good idea? Maybe I should make myself presentable not only for company, but for God as well. You would feel sorry for God if you saw the way I came to meet with Him sometimes. Hair is a rats nest. PJ's are torn. Breath is definitely not the best. Thankfully though, He takes me however I come. Hallelujah!!

He says, “Come!” He doesn’t care if you’re made up, clean faced and shaven – just come. He doesn’t mind your curlers, frizz, bathrobes or slippers – just come.

What is your favorite way to meet the Lord?

Makeover Monday's

For those of you hopping over from Makeover Monday’s, welcome! Today, I can’t help but copy a devotional I wrote earlier because it fits the theme of makeovers.

Do you ever feel unnoticed? Maybe you feel unattractive or just plain Jane? You’ve tried shopping for clothes and sporting a new hair style; however, they only content you for a while. If you are looking for a permanent change, you must learn to see yourself as God sees you. He sees you as "a bridegroom dressed for his wedding, like a bride dressed in jewels." Isa. 61:10b

God sees you as a radiant bride. He sees a smile on your face and oodles of love in your heart. You must look to God to change the way you see yourself. Transformation happens when your eyes are on Him and not yourself.

The challenge is keeping your eyes on Him daily to find the radiance of the bride deep within your soul. If you have helpful ideas, let's hear them. You can use a helpful tip every now and then to help you stay fixed on the Lord, right?

Remember always, you are beautiful!