Hot Topic ~ Infidelity

Hello Ladies!

Let's talk.

Here's a hot topic for us...

Infidelity.

In light of the recent news about Arnold and Maria and his failings in their marriage...what do you think?

Would you forgive and continue in your marriage?

At what point do you draw the line and say, I'm done.

Or, how do you walk out forgiveness?

My heart aches for those of you that have actually faced this form of betrayal. I believe it is one of the deepest hurts a woman can bear.

I pray that if it is you, you would find wholeness and healing in the arms of the Lord. He loves you. He is the answer to our brokeness.

So...without judgement or condemnation of how any woman would handle such a thing...how do you feel about it personally?

Let's chat about it...comment here or on FB.

Much love,
Sue

Looking for your "Twilight" input...

I would love for you to answer a few questions for me. Feel free to answer them anonymously if you like...but I will be posting all of them unless you specifically ask me not to.

I realize this is a hot button topic among many Christians, I do not want this to become an argument, I want information and input.

Feel free to copy and paste the questions into your comment and answer them that way:

1. Have you seen the movie "Twilight" or read any of the books? If yes, did you enjoy it?

2. AND...if you did enjoy it, have you felt a need to keep your love for the series a secret from your Christian friends?

3. Have your children seen the movie or read the books? If no was it because you didn't allow them to see it?

4. Do you feel they are acceptable for Christians to see and read? Explain.

5. Do you feel they have "teachable" moments or qualities in them? If yes, explain.

6. Any other thoughts about the Twilight series....

Thank you!!!!!

EDITED to add:

Thank you so much for all your input!!! Keep it coming :)

Hot Topics ~ Jon and Kate

I admit it, I do not watch Jon and Kate + 8. Of course I've heard about them, I'm an avid news watcher and their mixed up lives have been all over the news lately.

Last night I was on Twitter reading tweets from Iran. (Yes, this is what I do in my down time.) And I noticed that Jon and Kate were trending #2, so I figured that something must be going on. I clicked on the trend and read what people were saying about them. It is amazing to me how these 10 lives have affected so many people.

I really did not want to watch the impending news of their divorce, I knew it was going to be very sad and upsetting. But then people kept tweeting about this woman's dirty feet and I started to get curious- how dirty can Kate's feet really be???

So I changed the channel from Mark's war stories show and saw the last 15 minutes of the program (he begrudgingly let me!).

We both sat there and watched this couple explain to millions of viewers that they were divorcing. They each shared all the silly little cliche's that people do when they have nothing else to say, for instance:"things will work out, we'll get through this", "change is hard but it's good - right?" And so on and so on.

It was awful. I was so sad about what a mess their lives were, and watching them in the past-playing with the kids- just amplified this, so much so that I forgot to even look at her feet.

In 15 minutes I gathered that these are obviously two very deeply wounded people who don't have a clue what being married is really all about. And I'm sure that the lights of Hollywood have dimmed the truth that they may have known at one time.

It seems I've heard that they were Christians??? Not sure, but I thought someone told me that once, but I don't see the evidence of two people bulding their lives on the proper foundation so I wonder. Like I said, I have never seen the show before so I can't comment on that.

But I will say that if Mark and I were sitting down with them to talk about their marriage, we would say the same thing that we have said to countless other couples facing an impending divorce....

The marriage problems are not the problem, they are a symptom of a greater problem. The real problem here is Jon's individual relationship with the Lord and Kate's individual relationship with the Lord.

If you deal with the symptoms, you'll never get to the real problem and you will repeat this cycle in your life...in many different ways....until you address the actual cause of all this pain.

It's kind of like having two broken legs and putting a bandaid on your knee. It won't help you walk. Your legs are broken! Deal with the broken part and then you can walk.

This couple is broken. There is only One that is truly equipped to "fix" them. He can and wants to heal these shattered lives.

And of course, we would say: "Stop the show, deal with your lives." Did the show cause the divorce- NO. But it's certainly not helping. The TV show exposed what was in their hearts. That's what pressure does, it squeezes out the true motives and agendas that are inside of us and exposes our hearts. The good, the bad and the dirty feet-out there for all the world to see.

I believe that if this couple would humble themselves before the Lord, they would start their healing. They need individual healing first and then healing of the marriage.

I pray this happens.

What do you think??

Hot Topics~The Church of Oprah

Let me start by saying...I am NOT against Oprah. However, I, as a Christian who believes the Word of God to be Holy and wholly true, I must take notice at what is being said and know how to battle this mindset.

We cannot as Christians just respond with a, "Oh I don't watch Oprah and never will."

If you do, you have totally missed the point.
She is just a voice for this movement. A very powerful voice.

She is also a wonderful humanitarian and does incredible good things for others, I respect that in her. No matter what her motives, she is a good person.

BUT, this is a dangerous teaching that is sweeping the globe right now and we should not bury our heads in the sand. We should pay attention and know how to address this issue with the truth.

It breaks my heart to see how Oprah has misunderstood the Lord's jealousy, and to see Christians hungry for this message just grieves me.

My challenge to you is....leave a comment with input about how to deal with this God's way. What would you say to someone hearing this?

Remember, it's the kindness and love of God that draws men to repentance.

Rom 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? KJV

It is love that she's offering, it's just not the One who IS love.

~Hot Topics~ Willow Creek Repents

Hi Girls,

I came across an article and I would love to chat about it with you. I think it's relevant to our day and important for us to look at.
You can read the article in it's entirety HERE.

In a nutshell, it is a study on the effectiveness of the many programs of the mega-church style churches.

“Participation is a big deal. We believe the more people participating in these
sets of activities, with higher levels of frequency, it will produce disciples
of Christ.” This has been Willow’s philosophy of ministry in a nutshell. The
church creates programs/activities. People participate in these activities. The
outcome is spiritual maturity. In a moment of stinging honesty Hawkins says, “I
know it might sound crazy but that’s how we do it in churches. We measure levels
of participation.”

Through this study, they have come to realize that they have been wrong.

Bill Hybels said:

Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would
really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came
back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that
much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying
out for.

He goes on to confess:

We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of
faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching
people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should
have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how
to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

I can say that I am thrilled they have come to this conclusion!

Revelations 3:15-17
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor
hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17
Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and
do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —
NKJV

This may be a little toe stepping, but I'm willing to take the risk that all of us need reminding of this- including me!

I believe that it is time for Christians to stop playing the church game.

Are we living for Him or just joining a country club?

This world is not going to get any brighter ASIDE from the light that you and I shed by the Lord inside of us.

It's time to live this thing. Really live for Him. No more walking the fence, thinking we're fine if we attend church on Sundays. He doesn't want to be part of our life, He wants to BE our life- because He IS life!

What do you think?

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~Hot Topics~ One Way or many ways?

I had heard about this show but never saw it myself.
I know that some of you love Oprah and I do too. I think she is a wonderful humanitarian, incredibly smart and so much fun to watch.
However, I would have to disagree with her on this point.

This is an example of the way that a great majority of our world thinks today.



Whew! That gets my heart beating fast!

I don't know when this was taped and it possible that this is no longer her opinion- I don't know.
BUT my point is.... MANY people DO feel this way now.

How are we living and speaking to these people?
Are they seeing the truth of Jesus is our lives?

This is a huge challenge to me lately.
I don't want to walk this planet aimlessly.
I want to show forth the goodness and truth of my Great God.

What about you? Are you convinced yourself that there is one way or do you think there could be many ways to reach "God?"

Maybe these will help:

1 Tim 2:4-7 5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time.
NIV

John 14:66
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
NIV

I enjoy watching some of the talk shows for women. But I am also very careful to make sure that my faith is not being weakened by what is being said.
I don't care WHO says it...if it disagrees with what the Word of God says...it's wrong!

Be alert girls, satan would love to trip us up and get us off track "just a little" by the things we hear on TV.
Just for the record...
* Godly submission is holy!
* Your kids DO need discipline.
* Being a wife and mother is an honor to the Lord.

Ok, off the soapbox...(for now)....

~Hot Topics~ Weapons of Mass Destruction

Grab your coffee- we've got things to discuss.

They couldn't find them in Iraq, but I see evidence of them in my own life far too often.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

NIV

There is no hiding these in Syria...they pop up when I am least expecting it and they destroy the peace, love and joy that God truly wants me (US) to have.

These are weapons so stealth and powerful that I can be thrown right off track in the matter of minutes when I ALLOW them to be effective in my life.

Let's look at a few WMD's that the enemy uses to cause destruction in my life...

and as ~HOT TOPICS~ goes- it is then your turn to interject your input on this subject.

*COMPLAINING

I can get myself in such a rut with complaining. I think of it as a "gateway" sin...it just opens the door to other rotten attitudes.

Phil 2:14-17
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. NIV

It destroys my peace and is linked hand in hand with-

*UNTHANKFULNESS

UGH! This one is especially dangerous. Our hearts can be set off track so quickly by not continuing to be thankful for ALL that the Lord has done.

Heb 12:28-29
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." NIV

When I read blogs like Heather’s I realize that I have so much to be thankful for. She is walking through this difficult time with grace and not letting the cancer dictate her daily attitude and love for her God.

*CRITICISM

Matt 7:3-53

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. NIV

That pretty much says it all.
Who am I to put someone else down when I've got this telephone pole in my own eye!

*WORRY/FEAR

I can get myself in a frenzy getting worried about something that may or may not ever happen? Anybody else??

You start thinking about something and before you know it, your heart is pounding and you start reacting to a situation that has not even happened!

Psalm 91 has helped me tremendously in this. Here is a portion of it:

Ps 91:9-11
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge — 10 then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your way NIV

*PRIDE

Prov 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall. NIV

Need I say more?

*ANGER

The Word of God says it best:

Prov 29:11
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger,but a wise man keeps himself under control. NIV

Eph 4:26-27

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. NIV

James 1:19-21
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. NIV

Anger in and of itself is not sinful, but what we do with it can quickly become sin and destroy the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts.

Left to ourselves, these weapons will destroy us- thankfully, we have not been left to ourselves!!

2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV

Once again- He's the answer!
Don't you just love HIM!

He loves us far too much to leave us victims to these WMD's- He's made a way of escape and it is right into His loving arms. The key lies in our knowledge (and belief) of Him and His truth.

Let's bring this all together with this:

Gal 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV

Truth is so beautiful!

Hot Topics~What Teens Want Most

A recent study done on teenagers by the AP and MTV brought some interesting results.

Here is a quote:
When asked what one thing makes them most happy, 20 percent mentioned spending time with family — more than anything else.

About three-quarters — 73 percent — said their relationship with their parents makes them happy. After family, it was relationships with friends that people mentioned most.

Also confirming existing research, Twenge says, is the finding that children of divorced parents are somewhat less likely to be happy.

Among 13-17 year olds, 64 percent of those with parents still together said they wake up happy, compared to 47 percent of those with divorced parents.

And who were their heroes:
Oprah Winfrey? Michael Jordan? Hillary Clinton? Tiger Woods? All those names came up when people were asked about heroes.

Of public figures, Martin Luther King, Jr. got the most mentions.

But nearly half mentioned one of their parents, with mothers ranking higher (29 percent) than fathers (21 percent.)

Ladies, we are a huge influence in our kids life!

This is confirmed through the answers of these teenagers.

This study encourages and challenges me.

What am I doing with this influence?

Am I spending enough time with my kids?

Psalms 127:3-5
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from Him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
NIV

Our children are a reward from the Lord!

As a parent, I can tend to feel condemned for the wrong things that I do and the ways I feel that I fail my children. However, I believe we all need to focus more on the positive influence and opportunity that God has given us with the children He has blessed us with.

Let’s use this influence to help them become all that God has intended them to be.
My prayer for myself as a mother is that God would help me to guide my children in the direction He has for their life.

I challenge myself and you to spend more time with each of our kids and use the influence God gave us for His glory in their lives!

Now your turn, what do you think about this study?

Hot Topics

I have always wanted to do a talk show like The View, but from a Christian point of View. My girlfriend and I did a couple mock talkshows for our ladies ministry called, “The Way We See It” and had a blast. We even invited guests like “Mertha Stewart” and “Super Ninny” (aka Super Nanny).

You seemed to really enjoy the Victoria Beckham post, so, I’m thinking that I am going to start doing Hot Topics on Praise and Coffee. I think that we all have a lot to say about things and we need a good outlet to get our point of VIEW out don’t you think??? Maybe some producer will pick this up and I’ll be calling you to be guests on the show! : P

Today’s topics: Hollywood’s Young Starlets
You can’t turn on a news channel without hearing about the young Starlets gone astray these days. Lindsay, Brittany, Paris….the list goes on.
My heart breaks for these young girls, they are so lost and in need of a Savior.


Eph 4:17-19
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
NIV

This is a good description of where they are now, but how did they get there?
We don’t really know the whole story in their lives, but they’re real drama is that they don’t have a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord would fill every hurt and need that they have. He would show them healthy boundaries and give them hope for tomorrow.

I am so sad for these young girls who are struggling to find out who they are and what their purpose is. They obviously haven’t found the love of God, so they flounder in front of the world and the world is not kind to them in the process.

Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
NIV

I think the word LOST best describes the state that these kids are in.

So, we should pray for them. Yes.
However, I don’t believe that means that we also stand idly by and let them dictate the culture to our children.
We talk to our kids about it. We teach them what God’s Word says.
We help our daughters/sons avoid these pitfalls by teaching them that they are created by God for a purpose.

To know Him and make Him known.
I just love Him and His love has so radically changed my life, that I want these hurting people to know that love too!
Dont' you?!

Love,
Sue

Victoria Beckham

(Got your attention on that title didn't I!)

I must confess.
Lauren was sick this week and while I was rocking her those long hours, I mindlessly watched the dumbest show that I’ve seen in a long time.
It was the one about Victoria Beckham coming to America.
To say the least, I was unimpressed.

Ok, I’ll be nice.

As the show follows her very self-centered life of house hunting and how to look pouty for the paparazzi, I picked up on one of her favorite sayings,

“MAJOR”…which she pronounces “may-juh”.

She uses it to describe most everything and even stated it by itself sometimes.

I kept thinking about that word and how it makes me think about the Lord. (That may seem like a stretch to some of you- but it's how my mind works!)

Here’s what the dictionary says:
Major (adjective):
greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest

Major (noun):
one that is superior in rank, importance, size, or performance

I think I know a God like that.
It’s my God, He’s MAJOR!

Ps 7:17
17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
NIV

Ps 18:13
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
NIV

Ps 47:2
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High,
the great King over all the earth!
NIV

Rev 4:11
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
NIV

Rev 15:4
4 Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."
NIV

The show left me quite unimpressed with VB, and sad for her really. I pray that she would find Him and His love because she seems to live quite an empty existence.

I hope that she and all of us consider what/who really is major.