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Exfoliate Your Life-NEW & IMPROVED!

MAYBE IT’S TURNING 40, I really don’t know.  In my twenties, I noticed clothing & hair styles.  Now, in my early forties, I notice skin.  How clear is her complexion?  How many wrinkles does she have?  Does she look older than me? Or, worse does she look younger than me?

Years ago, I gave it up in one word… GENETICS.  It’s not Beauty Products!  It’s just plain old genetics… you play the cards you are dealt… what your mama looks like, you will look like.

Now, I still take care of my skin… I appropriately cleanse and moisturize.  But, the one thing I did this year was that word none of us knew before 1998… I EXFOLIATE. 

To EXFOLIATE is “to wash your face in such a manner as to remove old dead skin cells”…so that fresh & renewed skin can show through and say, “World, look , I’m 29! I am young..ignore those neck wrinkles!”

 

What do I mean by all this?  I’ll tell you that I do notice-my skin seems clearer & cleaner and generally feels better. I wonder… 

 HOW DO YOU “EXFOLIATE YOUR LIFE”?

  • Wash your face..…Cleanse yourself of any (and all) hidden sin and plain old “you know what you are doing is wrong” stuff. Forgive where you need to forgive, confess when you need to confess.This applies to people and God. ONLY heavenly soap can do the trick. (I John 1:9)

  • Exfoliate.…this is the next step of the process. Some exfoliating products can actually hurt your face the first time you use them. Why? Because there are little granules in the product DESIGNED to do just that…hurt you to heal you. Those rough granules smooth the dead skin away. 

    How can that apply to our lives?  What things is God using in my life to “exfoliate” my life? These things hurt-they sting. Yet,my faith is a whole lot smoother when He’s done. (Isa. 43:19)

  • Moisturize.… My skin needs moisture. My favorite products are those that “keep on moisturizing even while you sleep”.  Isn’t that amazing? My soul needs moisture. No dry, crispy faith for me! But, it needs water…living water. (The Book of John!) Water that keeps on flowing and bubbling up over in my soul. I not only need (but must have to survive) that constant reapplication of His Word. For me, every morning and every evening. This product actually delivers!

TONIGHT,as your prepare for bed and “do your routine”, I pray it brings blessing. As the soap cleanses, as deadness is washed away, and refreshment comes ONLY from Him, I pray God makes this ritual worshipful. 

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How to Take a Sick Day (OR WEEK!)

Feverish? Achy? Stuffy Head?

We understand. Colds, flu, & that accompanying crabbiness at your house, too?

GIVE YOURSELF FREEDOM TO SURVIVE & SEE THIS SIMPLICITY AS WORSHIP.

Our prayer can become  “Help me Jesus care for this sick person with FRESH humility!”

HERE’S MY A SPIRITUAL DECONGESTANT! 🙂

  • 1. Realize GOD is in control...sadly, we are not.

  • 2. Know that you CAN survive this day (whether it’s you who are ill or all your kids!) The sun will set.

  • 3. Come to a point where you really can see YOUR own need for a day to be either alone with GOD or Quantity time (which is “Quality”) with your kids!

This DAY may you be blessed by HIS POWER & HIS GENTLENESS, so you can hug, cuddle, rock, and serve a sick person…with a

FULL heart!


Love to You in JESUS,

Tristie

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BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

BLESSINGS ON YOU! It’s been an amazing full & good day for us enjoying church , building friendships with some new international students and time with our family. I’m tired, but the the the thought of tomorrow makes me a bit more weary….or something? A tad “weepy”?

TOMORROW. That’s right. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

I’m an unusual mom (maybe older is the best word choice!). I LOVE my kids growing up, becoming new people, and knowing them better. I delight in new experiences with different friends & new school supplies! There is just something about fresh crayons, the smell of pencils, and having an “assigned” place to sit in life-at least for 9 months.

The start of school begins regularity in life, for most of us. (If you are currently single or currently without children, just file this away! ) A set schedule-a time to depart and a time to return. The parents can set schedules for school, after school activities. and sports. I’ve thoroughly LOVED  getting my first semester  organized (nearly as much as possible in our line of work) and REVELING in the feeling of “administration”. It’s not one of my spiritual gifts, so to grow in this area is groovy.  The trick for me is to realize a set schedule is a TOOL , not an IDOL.

As Elisabeth Elliot infers in KEEP A QUIET HEART (one of my life books), I need to welcome “interruptions, delays, and inconveniences” as God’s Greatest Tools for me. An air-tight schedule is not my goal. Being surprised is part of being ALIVE! I have thought and prayed hard for this year….what would I dream of happening?

Here’s my Multiple Choice Exam:

A. THAT I PRAY MORE

B. THAT I LISTEN MORE

C. THAT I OBEY GOD’S WORD.

D. ALL OF THE ABOVE

I CHOOSE D.

May all of the above be true -in me- and FLOW COMPLETELY & UNHINDERED INTO THE LIVES OF MY MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE-MY HUSBAND & MY CHILDREN.

MAY YOU ENJOY THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL…FULL OF WONDER THAT GOD GAVE YOU CHILDREN AND FULL OF THANKS THAT HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING!