All to You...

Caleb with Lincoln Brewster

Tonight our county fair was blessed with an amazing concert by Lincoln Brewster. It was the first time our fair has had a Christian artist perform in the grand stands. Many people have been praying for years for this to happen and it was such a blessing. Thank you Franklin County Fair Board!!

Tonight Lincoln sang a song called All to You, it is a powerful song.

You called me Lord
You know my name
I'm standing out
I'm not ashamed
No, no

I've searched and came up empty
This world has nothing for me
You are my one and only

I'm living my life for You
And I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back, from every part
I'm giving it all to You

You are the Lord of all I am
And, I'll never be the same again
I've searched and came up empty
This world has nothing for me
You are my one and only

I'm living my life for You
And I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back, from every part
I'm giving it all to You

I'm living my life for You
And I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back, from every part
I'm giving it all to You

I'm living my life for You
And I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back, from every part
I'm giving it all to You

I'm giving it all to You
Take all of me
I'm giving it all to You
Take all of me

I'm giving it all to You
Take all of me
I'm giving it all to You
Take all of me

As he was signing this tonight I had a special time with God and I got to really thinking about the words, Giving it all to You, Take all of me. I was singing it along with him and using it as a prayer. What does it mean to give it all to You? What does it mean to ask Him to take all of me? Can I do it, can I give God ALL of me? That includes everything, my attitudes, my family, my thoughts, my money, my life...none of it is mine; it all belongs to Him. When I offer Him all of me, does that mean that I give Him everyday, every minute and every second of me? Do I get to keep any for just me? I need to hold nothing back and give it All to Him!

Giving it all to God can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. It should be exciting, because God is waiting to take us on an amazing journey. When we give it all to Him, life will never be the same! Make this your daily prayer, give it All to Him...

You can't outgive God...

This week my husband and son are attending a Homeschool Symposium at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX. The story behind the man who founded the school is an inspiring story. In one of the buildings hangs this tapestry:

Not How Much of Mine Money Do I Give to God. 

But How Much of God's Money Do I Keep for Myself.

R.G. LeTourneau was a man who was blessed with great wealth. He however, did not see this as his money, but rather God's. He lived on only 10% of his income, giving the remaining 90% back to God. 

He is also quoted as saying; "I shovel it out and God shovels it back, but God has a bigger shovel." This quote is appropriate for a man who is known for producing earth moving machines. He literally was shoveling it out! R.G. LeTourneau left behind quite a legacy; he invented nearly 300 machines,he founded missionary efforts in Liberia, Africa and Peru, South America and he founded LeTourneau University (a school that is unapologetically Christian).

I don't know that we are ready to start living off of 10% of our income, but we can look to this man's example and adjust some things in how we live. 

We need to remember that all we have comes from God.  

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

If every good and perfect gift is from God, we need to remember not to hang on so tightly to the things of this world. We don't want to be like a toddler who picks up a toy and yells, "Mine!"

Wants vs. Needs

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19


When shopping we need to ask ourselves is this really a need or is it just a want. This is a tough one because we can justify our purchases. If I'm buying clothes I can say I NEED a few new shirts. That may be true, but do I NEED 10 or do I NEED designer clothes? When buying a car, do I NEED a brand new one with all the latest gadgets, or would a used car work just as good?


You can't out give God! Try it and see for yourself!

My husband and I are currently teaching through a book by Randy Alcorn that addresses this very topic. It is called Money, Possessions and Eternity. If you are looking for a book to read this summer, I highly recommend this one. It is full of God's word and applies it beautifully to our lives.

You ready to jump...

"I do it myself!" says a toddler trying to put on his shoes for the first time.

"Daddy, catch me!" says a child as he jumps into the pool. He waits until daddy has his arms stretched out and then without hesitation jumps.

Who are we more like, the child who says "I do it myself!" or the child who says "Daddy, catch me?" Are we telling God to leave us alone or are we trusting Him with our lives. God did not design us to do it ourselves, yet too often we try to do it alone. Life is much more exciting when we trust God and take that leap of faith.

God wants us to trust Him, He has amazing plans in store for us! Sometimes we just have to jump. Putting our plans in God's hands is pretty exciting. The verse I have clung to since I became a Christian is Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Lately God has been helping me to look at this verse in a new light. I am about a year away from two very significant events; my youngest child graduating and my oldest getting married. God is telling me this verse applies to their lives too! As our son goes off to college at a yet to be determined (but most likely far away) school, God has plans for him. As our daughter gets married, God has plans for her. God has plans for our middle daughter as well; mostly likely involving a foreign country! 

Am I able to let go? As my kids once again say "I do it myself!"; am I able to believe that they can do it themselves. Can I trust that as they leave my nest they will be jumping into God's arms saying, "Daddy, catch me!" Did I model my faith enough for them? Did they see me jumping into God's arms enough? And as my kids start the next phase of their lives will I be jumping into God's arms myself?

The answers to those questions has to be yes. Yes, because God is the center of my life and I have leaned on Him as these kids have grown up. I have seen my kids jump and land safely in God's will. God says He has plans to prosper and not harm them, so how can I not trust that? Will it always be easy for them, no. Life will throw them just enough trials to keep them on their knees. It is hard to watch one of your kids struggle, but awesome at the same time to watch God work in them through that struggle.

So, what is God telling you to let go of? Is He asking you to jump? I promise He will catch you and that is an exciting thing!