Unanswered Prayer

Recently I have received gut wrenchingly painful emails from women who are suffering in broken and troubled marriages and a season of unanswered prayers. I tell my children often, "God is always watching, he is always listening and he cares for you". I pray that one day when "mommy" isn't there to comfort their hurts that this truth will be so ingrained in their minds, that they will always sense the ultimate comforter there with them.

On Monday in my quiet time I read Psalm 121, which says: "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber."

Dear reader, if you are struggling with unanswered prayers - please know that God does not slumber. He is still in control. He will not let your foot slip. Please persevere in prayer.

I've attached this song by Casting Crowns titled "I Will Praise You In This Storm". As you listen - if you need to cry, cry. If you need to pray, pray. If you need to praise the Lord, praise Him. Ultimately, if you are carrying a burden - drop it right here and now into God's lap. Jesus says he is our great shepherd and we are his sheep - we are not donkeys. We were not created to carry heavy burdens. So leave your burdens with Jesus and praise him. The darkness will lift as you praise him.

Lyrics to I Will Praise You In The Storm

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say
“Amen”, and it’s still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper
through the rain“I’m with you”

And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
And takes away.

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are

No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side

And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper
through the rain“I’m with you”

And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth


So I say with confidence to you dear reader, "God is always watching, God is always listening, he does not slumber, He cares for you." Persevere in Prayer.


Walk with the King!

And The Winner Is...

I have two winners to announce. First let's do Sally Clarkson's new book "Dancing With My Father." The winner is... Sarah A. (Sarah, please email me - you didn't leave your email address with your entry - please contact me within the next 48 hours to win. Thanks and Congrats!)

Secondly, thank you so much to all who took the time to answer the Music or No Music post! The verdict is in.

Based on your votes, I will no longer have the music play automatically when you open Women Living Well. BUT there were quite a few of you who enjoy it (as do I!) - so for you - I left the playlist up and you can hit play on it when you want to hear it.

Thanks again for your input! I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful women who love Jesus and take the time to stop by here everyday. It was humbling to hear so many kind words. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and say -live well and keep...

Walking with the King!

Please Help - Music or No Music?

I need some help. I have gotten negative and positive feedback on the "playlist music" that automatically plays when my blog opens. I love it - but I've had enough negative feedback to believe I should ask my readers. So here's the vote.

Music or no music? What do you think? Is it a distraction? Do you turn it off as soon as you arrive on the site? OR are you someone who lets it play and you enjoy it?

If I have more postive than negative feedback - the music stays. If I have more negative than positive feedback - the music goes! So I need your input!

Thanks for the help!

Walk with the King!

Do You Have a Dream?

Word Filled Wednesday: Proverbs 31:16 "She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard."

Today is week eight of our Proverbs 31 series. This woman is truly amazing! The thing that stands out to me most is her work ethic. She labors with all her energy to benefit her family as an early riser, eager worker, and smart shopper. Today's character trait is a summation of all of these.

In verse 16 we see:
1. She considers a field. She is not rash to jump into things. She is patient, cautious and prayerful. She sees a field and can imagine what it could become - she is a visionary! I love that about her - she is creative!

2. She buys the field! No matter how you translate this - this is a business deal. She buys the field. Rather than spending the family's extra money on frivolous pleasures for herself she wisely invests in something that will benefit the family.

3. She plants a vineyard - Once again we see her work ethic. Planting a vineyard is not an easy task. She works hard and as a result her family benefits! At harvest time they will have plentiful fruit and drink.

Do you have a dream? Do you have a talent you wish you could use to contribute to your families' finances? Follow the Proverbs 31 woman's plan.

1. Consider - take time to pray about this. Ask God if this is the right season of life to invest time and money into this dream? Will this pull you away from your family or benefit your family?

2. Buy - most likely resources will be necessary for your dream to take place. You may have to buy materials, renovate a room in your home or purchase new clothing. What ever it is - be wise. Be prudent with your family's money.

3. Plant - here's where the rubber meets the road. You must work hard to accomplish your dream. It won't happen overnight. It will take day in and day out over sight and care. They'll be setbacks and frustrations. You must persevere to reap the fruit of your labor.

I feel like I experienced this verse when I considered starting Women Living Well. This blog was a dream in 2008. From January until August I prayed - should I or should I not start a website. Was this some silly idea I was coming up with or was this a work God had created me to do? I consulted my husband and together we considered the time factor. Do I have the time? Is this the right season of life? What is my purpose? One big benefit was that I could do this ministry from home - unlike the ministry I was doing at the time.

We knew I had the passion - but time is a commodity that we value highly! Could I really "squeeze" it in and still accomplish our other family goals? Together my husband and I decided "yes" this was a dream placed in my heart from God.

Once I had considered the dream and the time factor - it was time to "buy". Buy the domain Womenlivingwell.org, a blog design and a few other items.

Now I am in the planting part. Daily I have to work to see the dream take shape.

I don't make a penny from this website and I don't ever intend to. But I know of many talented moms who are able to sew, craft, bake or create amazing things with their hands. I want to encourage you to not shy away from your dreams. From my own experience, I would say that I believe God places those dreams in your heart.

Every woman from the corner diner waitress to the Corporate CEO has a dream in her heart. We all have common dreams placed in our hearts by God - to be the best wives, moms and homemakers we can be. But after that we each have unique talents and gifts. When the talent and timing match the dream (and your husband is in full support which you will find out during the "consideration" time) I believe God is in it.

Right now in this season of life it may not be the time to invest time or finances in your dream. But pray and wait and when the timing is right - do it like the Proverbs 31 woman - to the glory of God!

Walk with the King!

Tasty Tuesday: Baked Egg Casserole

Today's recipe is a favorite of mine. If you have a baby you can know this is the meal I am bringing (or my Hawaiian Meatloaf). I like to bring it along with fruit salad and muffins. It's so simple because you prepare it the night before and then can cook it in the morning and voila - you have a meal!

Baked Egg Casserole Ingredients:

6 slices of buttered white bread

1 lb. fully cooked bacon

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup of milk

1 dozen eggs

Place the 6 slices of buttered bread in a 9x13 pan. Then sprinkle the cheese over the bread. Break up the bacon and spread it over the cheese.

In a bowl beat the eggs and milk. Then pour it over the bacon. Put it into the fridge overnight. In the morning bake it in a 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes or until it doesn't jiggle.

Enjoy! I am participating in Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Dining With Debbie , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and Tuesdays at the Table recipe exchanges. For more blogger recipes go to these links.

Walk with the King!

You Have Two Feet, Get It Yourself!

So we've all heard the list of priorities we should have - God first, your husband second, your children third, your home fourth and your ministry last.

But how can we practically put our husband above the needs of our children, home, and ministry?

Consider this scenario - a woman invites over a couple families for dinner. She has been cooking and cleaning all day and by the time the guests arrive she is nearly exhausted but she has a second wind from all the excitement.

She wants to be a good hostess so as people take a seat in the living room she begins to offer drinks. She gets some drinks for the children. She pours some drinks for her friends and as she serves it to them her husband says "Honey, can I have an ice tea?" She thinks WHAT? I'm slaving here in the kitchen, you sit there on the couch visiting and you have the audacity to ask me for a drink? So there in front of everyone she answers "you have two feet, get one yourself." Everyone laughs including her husband (he's so embarrassed what choice does he have) he gets himself a drink, helps her in the kitchen because he realizes she's a bit stressed, and the night goes on. She thinks - I was right and plus it worked - he got the point and started helping a bit!

What happened there? Who came first in this scenario? the children , the friends and the man she makes love to - dead last. Worse, she humiliated him when it would have only taken 15 seconds more to pour him a drink.

If she truly needed help, what could she have done? She could have said "sure, but could you come with me into the kitchen a second?" Once they were alone in the kitchen she could privately say, "I need help - I'm a little overwhelmed."

Opportunities to make our husband a priority present themselves everyday. Here's some practical ways I practice this in my own life:

1. When I am going to the store, I ask him if there's anything he needs while I am there.

2. When I make the grocery list I consider what his favorites are (not just the children's)and be sure to make them.

3. When I bake a dessert or dish to take to a gathering with only women, he gets the first serving. So if you see a hole cut out of a cake I bring - you'll know why!

4. At gatherings, I always get his drink for him. At home I offer him drinks regularly too. It's a guesture I enjoy extending to him to show my love.

5. I respect his thoughts and opinions above anyone else's.

In Proverbs 31:28 we see the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman rising up and praising his wife. Does your husband rise up and praise you? Could it be that he does not because he doesn't feel like he is your first priority?

We should not serve our husband to receive praise but rather to please God. God created you and your husband to be one flesh (Matt. 19:5). Your relationship should be a priority above all others! We should question ourselves - do we seek praise more from our friends and co-workers or from our husband? Your husband's opinion should matter most - don't give your husband your leftovers - give him the best of you! And consider delivering him a drink with a kiss tonight!

Walk with the King!

I am participating in Marriage Mondays over at Come Have a Peace.

I Don't Want to Go Into Heaven Gasping

Yesterday I did a book review on Sally Clarkson's newly released book Dancing With My Father. And then I came across this video that goes with it! So I thought I'd pass it on! I love the part where she says "I don't want to go into heaven gasping and straining, I want to experience the fullness of God's joy here on this earth."

I also failed to mention that at the end of each chapter is a group of Bible study questions that can be used for personal study or for a group discussion.

If you would like to enter to win a copy of this book - I am giving one away here. Just click over and leave a comment in the comments section. You have until next Friday, February 26th.


Walk with the King!

Book Review and Giveaway: Dancing With My Father by Sally Clarkson

I read my first book by Sally Clarkson 4 years ago and immediately fell in love with her. I have recommended her book The Mission of Motherhood here on the blog, the message board and to many friends over the years. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that she has a blog over at I Take Joy. After connecting with her there, she gave me this awesome opportunity to not only review her newly released book but also give one away to one of my lucky readers!

I have so enjoyed her new book Dancing With My Father. In it Sally shows how God leads us into a life of grace and joy when we surrender to him and allow him to take the lead in the dance of life. "When dancers attempt to turn in different directions, there is no beauty, no synchronizing of movement. But when they learn to read each other's movements and move as one body, there is beauty, a grace and a skill of step that grants the joy of unity and elegance to the dance."pg.81

Do you ever feel out of step with God? Like your expectations of marriage or parenting have disappointed you and the joy you once had as a new Christian is faltering? As a homeschooling mom of 4 (3 are now grown) and a missionary who faced many hardships - Sally openly shares her heartaches and struggles that all women face.

"Joy is not found in performing for people or in doing all the right things for God. Nor is joy in the absence of difficulties or problems. Joy is found in the presence of God in the midst of all circumstances, in delighting in the life he has given."pg.39

Do you ever just feel like you will be happy when...when you are married, when you have a baby, when your babies are out of diapers, when your husband makes more money, when, when, when... Sally openly shares "Not realizing it, I had built values in my heart and a foundation for a kingdom that was pretty much dependent on this world and on people rather than on God...I was reaching for all the things I thought would bring me joy instead of reaching for the true source of joy - God himself. Psalm 16:11 says, "In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever."Pg.55

Sally gently beckons you as the reader to drop your burdens, place your hands in your heavenly father's hands and allow Him to take the lead. It is so hard for women to put our burdens down and let God carry them for us. We want to do and fix everything to make this world just right. But God never intended for us to do a solo dance. He stands waiting each day in the morning for us to come to him in his word and prayer so that he can take the lead. Will you join the dance? One day we will see our heavenly father face to face - and trust me you WILL dance for joy!


If you are struggling in your walk with God and in finding joy on this fallen earth, I believe Sally's book will be a huge inspiration and encouragement to you.

To enter to win a copy of this book wonderful book just leave a comment below and I will randomly choose a winner on Friday, February 26th!

Walk with the King!

What Does Your Home Say About You?

Romans 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made"

When I look out my window at the 20 inches of snow sparkling in the sunlight, I am in awe of the Creator I serve. Yesterday as I took the trashcan to the curb - I paused for a moment - looked up in the sky as large snow flakes fell on my face and just took it in. I enjoyed the feeling of the cold fresh air and the sunshine on my cheeks and it compelled me to stop in my tracks and praise God right there spontaneously! Creation speaks volumes about my God!

In the same way, your home is an expression of you. Do you decorate with lots of pillows, flowers, candles or knickknacks? Do you like the sleek modern look or the country woodsy look? Are you a bargain shopper who picks things up at garage sales or a world traveler who picks things up in every country you visit to display? There's no right or wrong here - it's all simply an expression of you and your family.

Are clothes draped over chairs and newspapers strewn out across the floor or is there a place for everything and everything in its place? For a while, many of my upstairs decorations said Fisher Price on them! And the legos were a kitchen staple as I cooked dinner with little ones around my feet. And in our old home, much of the decorations were an expression of my husband's taste - as he knew more what he wanted than I did when we first were decorating our home.

I have a friend, Jinka, who has released her inner artist and has made the interior of her home fabulous by using scripture and hymns. She calls them "Proclamations!" You must see this!

Jinka writes: "I love to paint and decorate and wanted to find a way to add a really personal touch to the rooms of my home. I believe a woman's home is an extension of who she is. I had a desire to create spaces that were warm, welcoming and a blessing. I didn't want our home to feel stuffy and formal. My desire is for friends and family to come in, relax and feel replenished."

I remember reading Deut. 6:6-9 where the children of the Lord were admonished to keep God's commands in their hearts, teach them to their children, meditate on them always and write them on the doorposts of their house! It clicked and I ran with it- taking it literally as a way to bless my home and all who enter here. I believe words have power and placing these banners over my doorposts and in rooms set a tone over our home. They are wonderful, welcoming reminders.

For our 6th wedding anniversary, I surprised my husband with a complete bedroom and master bath makeover. It was like an episode of the TV show "While You Were Out." When he left on Monday morning for a week long fly fishing trip our room was beige. I immediately went to work creating a romantic retreat for us. I encourage the idea that couples really should treat their bedrooms as sanctuaries. It should be a place where the 2 of you can close out the world, re-connect and be replenished.




I used the words to a worship song, the song we danced to on our wedding day, as a border over our bedroom. My husband was completely blown away when he came home! He loved it. To this day it is a constant reminder of the Lord who brought us together and the irreplaceable love we share and cherish. Sometimes, even if we are just reading before drifting off to sleep he'll look over and say "I love our room." You know what? I do too!"

We have all been made in the image of our awesome creator. And we all have interior places in which we live. Look around you right now, what does your home say about you? We represent a God of beauty and order. Bring that to life in your own home today.

Walk with the King!

The Proverbs 31 Woman Rises Very Early

Word Filled Wednesday: Proverbs 31:15 "She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls."

Today is week seven of our Proverbs 31 series. Thus far we see that she is a treasure to her husband because she is trustworthy, a woman of action, she works with eager hands and is a great shopper! In verse 15 we see a new character trait. She rises VERY early!

For all the night owls, I want to clarify in advance - I am not saying that all godly women rise early. I'm saying the Proverbs 31 woman rises early. Later in Proverbs 31:18 we'll see that her lamp does not go out at night - so she stays up late working too.

But since in this passage, she rises early, that is today's topic of the blog post. Why does the Proverbs 31 woman rise early?

1. To provide food for her family.

2. To provide portions for her servant girls.

The word portions in this passage actually means work. She rises early to feed her family and delegate the days work that needs to be done. You may say "I don't have servant girls!" - my sentiments exactly! But let me suggest that your washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, and vacuum are just a few modern day servants that lighten our work load tremendously compared to Biblical times.

What are the benefits to rising early?

1. Time with God. You can be alone - just you and God in peace and quiet. This is my most precious time of day.

***Tip for those with little ones who disrupt this golden time.*** Starting at the age of 3, I trained my children to stay in their rooms until there was a 7 on their digital clock. I covered the last two numbers of the clock with masking tape and wrote the number 7 on it. Then I told them to wait until they saw matching number 7's. They are allowed to play and read in their rooms just not come out until there is a 7. Training them to do this has been a huge blessing to this mama. I have enjoyed this quiet hour for 3 years now with nearly no interruptions. They know what is expected and they do it.

2. Time alone for planning. The Proverbs 31 woman delegated the days work. She knew what needed to be done and she owned her role as the manager of her home. I like to use the morning quietness to think clearly and write a list of what I need to get done that day.

3. Time for making breakfast, packing lunches and even some dinner preps. The priority of providing food for her family got the Proverbs 31 woman out of bed in the morning!

4. Time for family devotions. We try to read the Bible while we eat breakfast each morning. It's a great way to prepare everyone's hearts for the day.

5. And for me, it's my time to post my daily blog!

How to discipline yourself to rise early:

1. Determine what time you plan to rise and make it the same 6 days a week.

2. Get to bed early - at least 7 hours before your wake time.

3. Pray and ask God to help you rise early.

4. Get up!

If you are in a season of life where you are nursing a baby or caring for a sick family member - please do not let this blog post put guilt on you. There are seasons of life where we are not able to rise early. God never commands that we do. Rather we see the example of the Proverbs 31 woman as a goal to attain.

Are mornings hectic and chaotic in your home? You can change that by rising earlier. Rising early can change the entire course of your day and will bless your family.

Walk With The King!

Tasty Tuesday: Fried Ice Cream

This is my friend Marlene's recipe and it is OH SO GOOD!!! She made it last weekend and I just happened to have my camera in my purse - so I took a picture and wanted to share the recipe with you all! It's really simple!

Fried Ice Cream:

5 Cups Frosted Flakes, slightly crushed
5 T. Butter, melted
2 T. cinnamon
1/2 Gal. vanilla ice cream

Mix together frosted flakes, butter and cinnamon. Reserve 1/2 of the mixture and set aside. Spread out crumb mixture in the bottom of the 9x13 pan. Put it in the freezer.

Whip the ice cream in the mixer until soft. Spread it over the crumb mixture. Top it with the reserve crumb mixture. Freeze until firm.

Serve with your choice of toppings: Honey (my first choice!), chocolate syrup, whip cream or crushed strawberries.

Enjoy! I am participating in Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Dining With Debbie , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and Tuesdays at the Table recipe exchanges. For more blogger recipes go to these links.

Walk with the King!

Divorce Is Not An Option

I am participating in Marriage Mondays over at Come Have a Peace and today's post over there coincides with my post. The title is Icy Conditions. If you are facing Icy Conditions today in your marriage - you must read her post for practical ways to warm up your marriage.

Walk with the King!

Getting Organized With Buckets

So we are into the new home and I am trying desperately to get organized! I saw a really fun idea on the website Creative Organizing. She uses buckets to organize everything from art supplies, to shower and cleaning products, remote controls and more! Here's some of her pictures!

Don't you love her ribbon and tags! Adorable!

Here is my attempt to copy her idea. In the home schooling room, I have buckets with the kid's names on them. I plan to put their school supplies in there (as soon as I figure out which box I put them in lol!).

I have 4 bathrooms in the new home so I got four buckets and they are not all filled with all the correct items yet (again - hoping to find that box soon too lol!) - but you get the idea. I put one beneath each bathroom sink.


Now I am on a mission to find buckets because my closets need to get into tip top shape too! I expect to be able to find lots of cute ones in stores this spring! I also need to buy some ribbons and tags! Maybe once I complete this project, I'll show you pictures again - but I was so excited I wanted to share it with you all now! If you are looking for an organizing idea - this one is buckets of fun!

Walk with the King!

Giveaway: Win 1 of 3 $25 Target Gift Cards

For those of you who have been visiting the new Women Living Well Message Board you may have already heard - there's a Giveaway happening over there!

Back in January, this site's certified Fitness Trainer Clare, offered her expertise and accountability to women everywhere! (to see original post go here) She has been faithfully giving women advice to help them through different stages of building "Healthy Habits in 2010".

Some of you have been working out hard. Others came out of the gate strong but then life happened and discipline fell by the wayside. Others of you may have been too intimidated to ever join.

So here is everyone's opportunity to join again!

Starting this Saturday, Clare will do her regular post on the message board under the heading HEALTH. (It will read: Week 6 Check In)

These are the questions you must answer for the check in:

How many days (out of your goal) did you workout?:

Pounds lost this week/in total:

Clothing Check: (are things fitting better, looser, etc?)

Challenge: (did you do the challenge)

Any additional comments

If you login in weekly, for the next 6 check-ins - you will be entered to win 1 of THREE $25 Target Gift Cards we are offering! This is not a contest to see who can lose the most weight, do the most number of workouts or challenges -but rather a reward for those who are disciplined enough to stick with your workouts till Spring!

Why are we doing this giveaway? Because we truly believe that a woman's health and walk with God are connected. We must take care of our bodies so we have the energy and strength to care for our husbands, children, home and others outside the home who are needy. Target has a vast array of health products from workout clothes, to weights, balls, water bottles and workout videos. If you don't have a Target nearby, they have a large on-line store. So it's the perfect fit for our giveaway!

So here is your opportunity to join us for the discussion of building "healthy habits in 2010" while at the same time finding accountability and support!

Ecclesiastes 4:9,10a says "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down his friend can help him up."

We hope to see you there THIS Saturday on the message board joining us! You are not alone, we are cheering for you! If you have fallen off the bandwagon - we are here to help you up!

Walk with the King!

Shop to the Glory of God

Word Filled Wednesday: Proverbs 31:14 "She is like the merchant ships bringing her food from afar."

Today is week six of our Proverbs 31 series. What an amazing woman she is! She is a treasure to her husband because she is fully trustworthy, a woman of action and she works hard with eager hands. In verse 14 we see a new character trait. She takes her shopping seriously! This is my kind of girl!

In verse 14, the Proverbs 31 woman is compared to a merchant ship. What was a merchant ship? It was a ship that brought in all different kinds of cargo to the port. It would have included dyes, fabrics, spices, oils, foods and pottery.

The Proverbs 31 woman did not have a refrigerator so she would have had to travel to the market daily and sometimes she would have to go a long way to get all of the things she needed for the day. She was willing to go the distance because of her love and care for her husband and children.

If someone was describing your style of shopping how would they describe you? Are you like a merchant ship? Are you willing to go to great heights to find the best, most cost effective and healthiest ingredients for your family? Do you work hard at your shopping? Are you more into convenience foods that are fast or are you willing to cook from scratch? Do you take special care to get a good price on your goods or do you stop at the nearest corner store and just get something quick?

Let me say for the record - shopping is hard work (especially with little ones in tow). I know how much planning, time and energy goes into it. If we are going to be like the Proverbs 31 woman we are going to have to be willing to turn mundane shopping into a creative expression of love for our families.

The questions I asked above are questions I am asking myself. I shop at Aldi bi-weekly to save money, I shop the ads and shop clearance racks first when I'm looking for clothes. But I am not the best at couponing - that takes some extra organization. I cook nearly every meal in the home but rarely completely from scratch. Most of my Tasty Tuesday recipes are simple. I have a couple close friends who cook from scratch - from homemade bread to homemade sauces, salad dressings, and desserts. I admire their willingness to work hard in the kitchen.

Feeding our family fulfills a basic need. It's necessary. Are we doing it to the glory of God? Or are we too tired to cook the family a good meal? If we are - our priorities are not in order. This is a basic need our family has. Strive to excel in it! And shop to the glory of God!

Walk with the King!