When Love Knocks at Your Door

I love my front door!  The hardware previous owners attached to the door of the District Superintendent's Parsonage where I live and love warms my heart!

Precious people have walked through that door. Ravi Zacharias, Presidents of our denomination, International workers from most every continent,  and many grandchildren have knocked that knocker or rang the doorbell.

Do you see the hearts? Do you feel the love? I pray whoever walks through my doors or yours know a love that greets them like a splash of serenity. Our homes should be safe havens of rest from the restlessness of this world. Our houses and our hearts should be a place where Jesus resides and His Love is felt by every passing stranger.

When your family walks through your door, do they feel the love? Or do they enter with dread knowing  altercations await inside. Decide to make your home a house of love today. Have a family meeting and make that decision together as a family. You all want it. Do it.

Jesus said "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20

May Jesus enter your home and your heart today. May your guests and family feel His love!

Dad, Your Little Girl Needs You

Without a word, this picture speaks to my heart. Our sweet little grandbaby Lillian Kate, born 5 weeks early, holding her daddy's hand.

 I imagine this is the first of many father/daughter hand holding occasions. Sweet Lily will hold her daddy's hand on walks and talks and fishing trips. During thunderstorms she'll run to her daddy for comfort and dance with him in delight through summer mud puddles. They'll hold hands and play ring around the rosey and skip to my lou! He'll hold her hand at the edge of the pool encouraging that first jump into the water and he'll dread letting go as she takes off on that first bike ride. Her dad will pat her hand walking down the aisle on her wedding day, and if the Lord allows she'll  pat Sam's at his death  (as I held my father's hand when he breathed his last and God took my daddy's hand from me). Hands are precious to God.

Being a little girl's daddy is a big responsibility because a father holds his little girl's heart in his hands. She isn't a baseball or a fly fishing rod, so be tender. Don't toss your daughter's heart to and fro because:

She'll watch her daddy to learn what God is like.

She'll look to her daddy to learn how a husband treats a wife.

She'll look to her daddy for her own self-esteem. 

Fathering little girls is scary business, Dads, but remember that God is holding your hand and He says 

 "For I am the Lord, your God, 

who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 

Do not fear; I will help you."
Isaiah 41:13

 Call on Him and you will find Him helping you through all the joys and sorrows of your little girl's life.

With joy I welcome sweet little Lillian Kate into our arms and family. 

You are blessed, my 9th grandchild,

 for you are loved by many even before we kiss your lovely Lily face. 

Most important, 

you are loved by God, 

Who created you. 

You will hear of Jesus's love early in your life.

For that I am thankful.

 I know mommy and daddy already told you the wonderful news that

  you have a Savior who died so you might live.   

 Be blessed, my grandgirl. 

Love Jesus. 

He is holding your hands and 

He'll never let you go.

Grandchildren are sweet splashes of serenity to my soul,

Words Matter: What we say, pray, and write can change our families! Book Review

The words we say serve or suffocate our spouses, our children, and our world. It's time to change the way we talk to each other.

I gave a five star review to Words Matter — What we say, pray, and write can change our families! I wish I could have given a TEN! This is a must-read for every family.

In a world where bad language and disrespect screams on the air waves and highways of life, I wonder how we can change this behavior. Janet Lynn Mitchell tells us in her must-read book, Words Matter — What we say, pray, and write can change our families!

Packed with Scripture teaching God's Word how we should communicate, Words Matter is a parenting and marriage book that belongs in every home and read by every person. Mitchell addresses how we should respond with words when a child lies, is rude, or inappropriate with their language. Learn how to teach your child to apologize and break the habit of making excuses and blaming. Teach manners. Stop the bullying!

If every person would read this book, it would not only change the family, it would change the world. I know it changed me. I will keep it close by as a ready reference because Words Matter and what we say, pray, and write can change our families!

If the world would speak the way God teaches, what a splash of serenity we would be to each other! Let's change the way we talk. It begins with me and you.

For more information, see Janet's website www.JanetlynnMitchell.com or check it out on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Words-Matter-What-change-families-ebook/dp/B009JQLD34/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355321117&sr=1-4&keywords=Janet+Lynn+Mitchell

Merry Christmas!

Changing the Tide of the Divorce Swell

It is finished. Last night one last time I proofread my new book We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can. When the endorsements are gathered, it will go to press. I close my book confident that I am not the greatest writer, but I wrote to the best of my ability for the glory of God and in obedience to God.

Idiots—I don't like that word either.  But with the divorce rate at around 50 percent for Christians as well as non-Christians there are a lot of people walking around thinking they married idiots. They divorce and remarry and it isn't long before they smack their heads and realize, "Ugh, this person is an idiot too!"

Why did I write about idiots? We All Married Idiots was inspired years ago when I had an argument with my Dan. Frustrated and angry I thought, I must have been an idiot to marry that idiot. Forgive me Lord and readers for my sin and my humanness. If you've never thought such a thing, I salute you. Keep it up!

Why did I write about marriage? My heart breaks for broken homes and the effects divorce has on our children and our world. If this book can keep one marriage together, then my goal has been reached. If it keeps one person from running to a lawyer and turns them to God, then it is a best seller. If one couple determines to make nice instead of make mean in the middle of an argument or just day-to-day life, then their children's little eyes, little ears, and little minds will be spared pain. If this is the book that changes the tide of the divorce swell and married couples begin loving instead of loathing, then this book can change the world.

Two idiots living together equals a marriage. In my 41 years with Dan, God taught me lessons I wish I had known in the early years. So, now I share those insights with you. Enjoy, laugh, be convicted, change, stay together.

Praying marriages will know daily splashes of serenity,