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May 26

Don’t You Love the Story Behind the Music? Then Sings My Soul Book Review

In Then Sings My Soul, Book 3 by Robert Morgan he once again provides historical context behind some of the most beloved and sung hymns in church history. If you have ever wondered what the author may have meant when he penned the words to Victory in Jesus, you learn his daily battle and the victory he gained.

In volume 3, Morgan elaborates in further detail on the history & tragedy behind one of my all time favorite hymns, It is Well With My Soul. However, the history behind How Great Thou Art surprised me and reminded me how God uses all circumstances and all people.Tim Spencer was the author of Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild, Wild Women who traveled with Roy Rogers. Throughout his time on the road, his devoted wife continued to write him notes of encouragement while he was away and one night reading those letters and a Gideon Bible in a hotel room he trusted Jesus as his Savior. In 1949 his son gave him a copy of of the song How Great Thou Art by Stuart Hine. Spencer would help it become one of the most beloved and well known hymns of our time.

The chorus goes, Then Sings My Soul My Savior God to Thee, How Great Thou Art. This song is what gave me inspiration to write this blog Tiddlywinks www.michelewilbert.com. I feel God’s pleasure and my soul sings when I do that thing that God has designed me to do and all I can say is How Great Thou Art. After learning of Spencer’s life, I can’t help wonder if his new found understanding of God and using his gift of song, he felt God’s pleasure as he sung this song and couldn’t contain himself, but say How Great Thou Art.

If you are like me and enjoy hearing the rich stories, difficult circumstance and joy from which the songs of our faith were written, you will love hearing all of this history behind some of the most classical hymns.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Apr 14

pause

A Reason to Pause

“It’s a good east coast rain,”  I tell my husband for the few minutes it just down pours, trees sway.

I love the quiet of rain, that noise it makes hitting the roof, and then the occasional sound of the car that swooshes by, tires going through a puddle.

It’s so infrequent here where I live in California. We don’t keep umbrellas in cars.   We don’t really watch the weather to know if we should pack one, it’s that rare.

Sometimes it just rains for a few minutes and dries up and the sun comes out. I used to wish for those days living back east when it could rain for a week straight. Here where it really never rains, we pray for rain.

Our gardens need it.  Our reservoirs need it.  Our hearts need it.

So on a day like yesterday when it rained all day, I welcomed it.  You are excited for the pause it creates in your day, the permission to change your plans and stay indoors and maybe even stay in your pjs all day, just because you can and so I did. I think my soul needed it as much as my busy schedule did. The gentle quietness it brings, the slowing down, the excuse to not have to do the “to do” list. Instead it was building forts, drinking hot chocolate, and reading books with my son.

The rain it did what it does best and washed away the dirt on the sidewalk, the pollen from the trees and the flowers drunk in deep and well, so did I. This washing away I needed too. It flooded my head with ideas that have been stuck. It flooded my heart with gratitude for the pause, being allowed to use a comma in your day.  It didn’t stop the deadlines, due dates or commitments, but it was the ahh, I needed that kind of day.  You know the days you know you just needed to rest in Him, quiet your heart and just slow down?

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation come from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”  Psalm 62:1-2

There is mud waiting for us and puddles to be jumped in, but yesterday well, rain was a good reason to pause.

Do you ever wish you could just put a comma in your day and slow down? Why don’t we just pause more often?

I’m linking up at The Better Mom today. Come by and say hi.

Mar 20

pushingthrough
2 Comments

Pushing Through

In January we ran into Lowe’s to get a few things to fix our sprinklers and saw a great big, yellow CLEARANCE sign which is like a bright flashing light to me.  Does anyone else remember the flashing blue light specials at K-mart or am I dating myself?  So, OF COURSE I had to go over and check it out.  I found bags of tulip bulbs for $.25 and some of them were even starting to sprout a little green stem already. A master gardener may have advised that it was too late in the season to plant tulips and this was a terrible waste. This frugal mother of a boy that loves to play in the dirt saw priceless hours of digging to his heart’s delight for only $1.00  Who cares if they ever bloom! We’ll have fun digging and if we get a few blooms, bonus!   I scooped up 4 bags of a different variety of tulips and checked out.

The three of us with our shovels in hand started digging. If you have ever dug in the dirt with a child, you know how this goes.  Scoop out the dirt in the hole deep enough for the bulb and then the child fills it back up. Scoop it out again and plop a bulb in quick and cover it back up with dirt, then my son digs it back up again with a huge smile on his face. Bring in the watering can and we had a bigger mess and more fun.  Already well worth the dollar spent!  He played hide and go seek with the bulbs and once they were all buried, my husband and I  just laughed.  Well, we’ll know where we planted them all if they bloom!

The unseasonably warm winter here in California made for perfect growing weather for these little bulbs.  Just 3 weeks later we started to see small evidence that a few may actually be growing or was it a weed? We needed to wait a few more days and then could it be? Yep,  it was definitely the beginning!

Isn’t that just how God works sometimes, underneath where we can’t see it and it feels like nothing is happening? Just when we have about given up, He gives us a little hope or  perhaps a glimpse that he is working.   Maybe not all at once like we expect, but in small ways reminding us He’s faithful and present  in the midst of our struggle.

The lyrics in the David Crowder Band song Wholly Yours say,

“but a certain sign of grace is this,

from the broken earth, flowers come up,

pushing through the dirt…”

It is often the struggle through the dirt and mess that something beautiful comes. Do you have prayers that feel like they have gone unanswered? Do you wonder if God is really at work? I do too, but I know even when I can’t see what is happening, I know God is at work and more often than not, it is my own heart He is changing. Just like that little bulb pushing up through the dirt, He uses our struggle to make something beautiful in us, if only we wouldn’t give up when life gets hard. I’m sure when you look back at your most difficult circumstances now, you see the beauty you may have missed in the middle of it.

What are you pushing through in your life? Are you able to let God get you through it?

Looking for more encouragement? Head over to the The Better Mom and Women Living Well and say hi!

Feb 1

chubbyhandspray
11 Comments

What Chubby Hands Can Teach You

His chubby little hands folded together, head down, his little voice mumbling sounds in a whisper. He peeks up on occasion to watch.  If one of us is not there, he yells Daaaaad or Mammaaa loud for us to come too. He knows we gather all together to pray and give thanks. When we say amen, he claps and cheers enthusiastically. We teared up the first time he did it and it seemed like a cute moment to capture in a baby book, but God is using these moments to capture my heart.

Inside my belly before he was born, we wondered how we would teach him important life lessons like kindness, compassion, and gratefulness. We prayed God would give him a tender heart for those things and us wisdom to know how to shape his character. Now 18 months later, he is teaching us.

If he’s eating & I bring out something else to eat, he pauses and folds his hands. At a restaurant every time the waiter refills a glass or brings more bread, he pauses and wants to pray. Sometimes just because he will fold his hands and tell me to pray. At nap time we’re thanking God for what we did in the morning and asking for grace for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, we’re thanking God for fun at the park and sometimes for me to be patient.  God is using this precious life to remind me to just slow down and be grateful even for the days that there is no nap time and life is crazy. Isn’t this what God wants us to do, just take him along in our day and just talk to him?

He’s reminding me that God answered our prayer that we prayed when he was in my belly but God is also using our son to shape my character.

We can have index cards mounted on mirrors to remind us to pray, sticky notes on our dashboards, or we can see chubby little hands folded to remind us to pray!

Thank you Lord for chubby hands to remind me to just bring everything to you!

Jan 16

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Stained Glass Hearts Book Review

In Patsy Clairmont’s book “Stained Glass Hearts”  Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective, she asks the question,”What if God has a plan for this brokenness? What if He wants to use these jagged, disjointed fragments of our lives to turn them into a colorful story?”  Her authenticity and realness shine through as she describes brokenness through the window of her own life experience and how God’s redemptive love put the pieces back together much like a stained glass window.

If you have read anything else from Patsy or heard her speak, the book contains her well-known charm and wit, but as she draws upon her own life’s circumstances it allows her to take you to the deep hurt places of her heart and examine your own. She points the reader to God’s word for truth and healing. Knowing that our creative God uses all different places of beauty for us to see our Creator, she provides the reader with additional study through suggested music listening, art, meaningful quotes, scripture reading and sample prayers.

This book is best read a chapter at a time and not all in one swallow in order to process, reflect on the additional study suggestions and really take in what she suggests.  It is best for those going through hardship and brokenness, but one to have on the shelf for when the storms do hit.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jan 7

5 Ways to Keep Your Goals in 2012

5 Ways to Keep Your Goals in 2012

It’s day 7 into the new year. Almost a full week. You may have started a new morning routine only to get to Tuesday and you forgot you had a doctor’s appointment and didn’t quite get your work out in.  Is it all over? Do you throw the towel in and forget all about your goals?

It’s not about the resolution. It’s not about beating yourself up and trying harder next time. You’re not a failure destined to never change anything in your life.

I said I would contain the clutter. You should see my family room. Yesterday my little one decided not to take a nap and the afternoon felt like it unraveled and then scattered across my family room floor along with puzzle pieces, trucks and Tupperware.

My husband came home a few minutes early and took my son to run errands. Normally, I would just use the time to clean, pick up and get dinner ready. I stopped myself and decided to go to the gym. I spent a whole hour that I could have cleaned, organized and checked off a bunch of to-dos.  I did something for myself that helped me contain the clutter in my heart.  The toys were still scattered but my mind wasn’t.  I didn’t beat myself up that the house wasn’t in complete order. Tomorrow is a new day.

Here are 5 Ways to Help You Keep Your Goals in 2012:

  • Write it down and put it somewhere you look everyday (your mirror, your refrigerator or your car)
  • Commit it to God in prayer. Ask for help, strength and in my case willpower to back away from the chocolate!
  • Try to do whatever “it” is at the same time everyday and it becomes a habit.
  • Ask your husband or friend to be an accountability partner to encourage you in your goal.
  • GRACE!! Give yourself lots of it! Start again tomorrow. It’s ok.

Making goals is a great way to be intentional about making sure you do things.  However, don’t let them become how you measure your worth, determine if you’re a good mom or be the driving force for your day. It doesn’t leave room for you to hear God speak into your day that a friend just needs you to listen to the news the doctor gave her. It doesn’t leave room for the toddler who just needs to snuggle and read one more book. Make goals, keep them and give yourself grace to start again tomorrow.

Do you feel like you’ve blown it this week? Which of the 5 Ways to Keep Your Goals can you try this week?

Jan 3

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On resolutions, goals & habits

 

It’s day 3 into the new year and it still has the fresh, new feeling about it.  There is expectancy, hope for change and renewed commitment to do or not to do. In my 20′s I spent more time figuring out the best New Year’s Eve plans instead of considering the Best Year Plan. I didn’t slow down or reflect long enough on the highlights of my year.  I put so much emphasis on the big event of ringing in the new year and before I knew it, I was back at work in my normal routine with maybe a resolution but no plan.

One year a friend and I spent time new year’s eve afternoon quietly reflecting on the past year. I took to paper and penned my hopes and goals for the year.  At the end of the year, I reflected back on that list and was amazed that many of the things I had hoped to do, not do, or change had become new habits. I expanded each year since in how I approach this and now look forward to the time.

It’s a time for me to quiet my heart, forget about my daily to do list, to pray and give God the new year.  I think back on highlights, sweet memories, and hardships. Reflecting on God’s grace, his provision and faithfulness always makes me grateful. I also use the time to set goals. I’m definitely a list maker and goal setter. If I write it down, I am more likely to do it. Here are the categories I use:

Spiritual

Marriage

Family

Health/Physical

Role as Mom

Financial

Business

Time & Talent

Myself

Books to Read

Something New to Try

I can honestly say that since I started doing this over 10 years ago, there are many things that have become lifelong habits even something as simple as drinking more water .  There are many more that I’m still working on and  that will probably make my list next year.  However, each year as I become more specific with how I will accomplish and measure success I’m finding I can be more intentional about my year. One of our family goals was to take our son camping for his first birthday. If we hadn’t written it down, we might have been more likely to say we’re too busy or too crazy  to try to take a one year old camping.  We did it and had so much fun, made great memories and started a family tradition.

Books to read is new on my list this year.  I’m an avid reader so I never thought to put that on my list.  If you’re a reader like me though, you have about 3 books on your night stand you plan to read, a few more on your desk and you always seem to pick up a few when you go to the library and then all the great books you hear about on your favorite blogs and websites.  This year I want to be more intentional about some books that I definitely want to get read so I made a list.

I know that lists don’t work for everyone’s personality. I also know that I may make plans and God has other things in store for our family and we are good with that.  It’s just a good way for me to keep myself accountable as I look over the list monthly and another way for me to grow.

Have you made any resolutions? Made a list of goals?  Started any new habits? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you plan for 2012.

Jan 1

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2012: Tiddlywinks officially launches!

Welcome to the launch of Tiddlywinks!  A place to create, encourage and hope!

The start of a new year always feels like that brand new notebook with a clean, fresh page.  I’m always anxious about not wanting to write on that very first page unless it’s just right.  Like everything in life sometimes you just have to start somewhere and not wait until it’s perfect.

That’s definitely my weakness, not wanting to do something until I have it all figured out.  Well I don’t have this all figured out, but I knew it’s what I needed to do. So then why Tiddlywinks?

Bored end of summer days, restless for adventure my brother and I would go to mom, “We’re bored.”

She always answered, “Well, I’m sure I can find more chores for you to do.”

“No mom, I mean it, I’m really bored.”  Then she would tell us to go play tiddlywinks with man-hole covers. Her silly way of telling us to go use our imagination and find something constructive and fun to do.

So this is my space to use my imagination and create.  Me playing tiddlywinks.

When I am doing what God created me to do it feels as though my soul sings! Do you know that feeling? Do you have that one thing that when you do it, you know undoubtedly you were born to do?  Word, images, stories, books, pen and paper, creative projects yes these are things that make me come alive and then it happens, my soul sings.

So this is the space for my soul to sing, to create in a way I hope brings glory to God for the gifts he has given.  Maybe it will offer you some encouragement or hope or give you the inspiration  you need to go do the thing that makes your soul sing!

This year I hope you set out to find and do what makes your soul sing! I hope you’ll stop by from time to time and tell me what is making your soul sing!
What’s your first step?  What are the things you love to do?  

Oct 4

books
1 Comment

Simple Ways to Save Money

Simple Ways to Save Money

Use your library card!

I love the library. You can rent movies and books on tape.  You can check out music. Our local library sells past issues of magazines for .$50.  This is a great way to support your local library and not pay $5 for a magazine. I recently stumbled upon a great blog called The Great Read. She features something she calls Beautifully Balanced Collections from the library. She pairs together something to read, listen to, watch and cook. It will get your creative juices flowing and make you pull out that library card. She’s inspiring!

Save energy! 
We cut our monthly bill in half!  We contacted our electric utility provider and found out what the peak hours were in our area.  We try to run the dishwasher and do our laundry during non-peak times. We also adjusted our pool pump to run during non-peak times.  There always exceptions when you have a toddler and days when dirty laundry can’t wait. However, it is a great excuse to be able to say it was past 10 a.m. so it would cost too much to vacuum!

Eat in!
I can hear you, “But I don’t feel like cooking!”  Yes, we all have those days that’s why I try my best to plan ahead so it’s easy.  I once a month cook and put basics in my freezer so I can piece together a healthy meal.  If you don’t have time to once a month cook, make friends with the crock pot.  There are so many great healthy recipes out there and it always makes more than you need so you can invite friends over or bring a meal to someone.

Consignment Sales!
Our local area has a bi-annual consignment sale for children’s items.  When I was pregnant we spent $164.00 and bought brand new never used and barely used items that if we would have purchased brand new would have cost us over $1000. These are wonderful places to find clothes, books and toys too.  These are also great places to sell your gently used items if you don’t have someone to pass them on to or don’t need for another child.

Don’t say I can’t afford that! Coupon smart!
I used to think, “I can’t afford that brand of shampoo or food product. “ Now I realize I can often buy the better brand cheaper than what I usually pay for the cheap brand. Use sites like http://www.saveathomemommy.com/ and moneysavingmom.com.  They do the hard work of figuring out the deals. I just have my Sunday coupons organized, search these sites, and make my list for the week. I’ll be doing a whole day devoted to this later this month.

Starting to save money in lots of places on your budget at once can seem overwhelming.  Pick just one or two of these this week and it will give you the momentum you need to get started. Set a goal for something you want to save towards: an emergency fund, a date night with your husband or a vacation.  If your financial situation calls for drastic measures, I’d love to suggest you check out www.daveramsey.com.

This week be a saving grace to your family and save money!
What are some things you do to save money for your family? I’d love to hear your ideas!

Oct 2

sunflower
1 Comment

Grace Full

When I would stumble over my own feet (I was 5″7′ by fifth grade) or clumsily drop something, my mom would tease that I should have been named grace because then maybe I would have been more graceful. I seemed to always manage to trip, stove a toe or cause some accident of sorts.  Had I only known then that I truly am grace FULL.

Full of grace given by my family who knows my shortcomings and loves anyways.

Full of grace given by friends who are far away yet when we pick up the phone no time is lost. They love in spite of months going by without speaking.

Full of grace by my husband who knows the deep ugliness of my heart and still sees beauty, that loves when I am unkind and short, who extends unconditional grace by believing the very best.

Full of grace by my savior who laid down his life so I might live GRACE FULL.

Today who can you extend grace to that may not deserve it, but needs it?  Maybe you need reminded today that you are GRACE FULL.

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