Coffee Talk

Even More 2006 Reflections

Well, we’ve made it to June 2006 in my personal Bible study journal. I’ll start choosing a few random ramblings to share with you and continue to reminisce by including photos from that same time period. Who knows, we may even be able to wrap this up this week.

]]> 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” – I realized today that I have been struggling between two tensions in my ministry. 1.) I often feel inadequate and shallow because I am not a “Bible teacher” as much as a storyteller. (Greeks/Wisdom) 2.) I have been wanting to see the power of God fall and the presence of God show up when I speak. (Jews/Signs) Dear Jesus, Please forgive me for looking beyond the work You did on the cross and resurrection as enough. Not only when I speak, but also in my family. In my ministry, rather than look for signs or impressive teaching I should keep the focus on Your ability to forgive sins, set free, bring newness of life and hope for tomorrow and eternity. In my family, rather than focus on works, I should always bring the answer back to You alone, the forgiveness of sins and power over the threat of death to the abundant life You have planned for us. Holy Spirit, please remind me and adjust me when I start looking anywhere else but to the cross! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

James 1:14-17 – “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shallow due to change.” I needed to be reminded that we are more prone to sin when we aren’t satisfied with what God has given us or provided or promised us. We think there is something more or better or sooner, even, and so we go after that. We are drawn away by our own desires and this usually leads us to sin, rather than be content and believe that God gives every good and perfect gift and trust Him that not only is that enough but it really is also the best.

Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” – Although, there are many excellent shows on television that appear acceptable for me, as a Christ-follower, to watch, I need to be more prayerfully discerning. I love the show, “24,” but I’m concerned about the effect the violence may have on my heart. Because we see so much violence on TV and hear about so much of it on the nightly news, it no longer touches us like it should. We become detached from the fact that these bad things are happening to people! God’s children! We should be broken-hearted.

2 Chronicles 7:1 – “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” – When they dedicated the temple they offered thousands of sacrifices and then the glory, the presence, filled the temple. When we offer the sacrifice of praise, the glorious presence of the Lord invades my heart and life. I didn’t make up that connection. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” It is a sacrifice to praise, to lay down my busy schedule, my “feelings,” my inhibitions to offer praise. And I should offer Him my best, the beginning of my day and my first response to every situation, just like Solomon offered the best animals, not the mamed or lame. The reward is the glorious presence of God, for goodness sakes. Why do I hesitate for even a minute?

Luke 6:45 – “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” – I feel so badly for what I said to Steve. Why do I always say things that I know I’ll regret later? My problem is, I can be “good” for months and not blurt out what I’m thinking, only to, in a moment of weakness, eventually say it. At that point, what was good in even having self-control for any length of time. The damage was done, only later. Perhaps, it all goes back to “thinking.” I must start by being more careful with the thoughts I’m thinking, knowing that eventually they’ll come out of my mouth. With that in mind, when I catch myself thinking thoughts that I know I would regret if they ever came out in the open, or if I ever said them out loud, I need to do business with them right then until they don’t come back again. I need to repent, nail them to the cross and bring resurrection life through Scriptures that are filled with life.

Proverbs 27:7 – “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” This verse defines the answer I’m so often asked in interviews, “How come your life turned out so differently than the typical child star?” I believe it is because the emptiness in my soul was filled with Jesus, I was not enticed by the sweet things the world had to offer. But to someone without Christ, they will often consume bitter things just to temporarily stave off the gnawing ache of emptiness. I’m so grateful for God’s grace to fill my heart so completely from the time I was a little girl.

Well, it looks like we are going to need one last journal entry to wrap up 2006. Doesn’t it just blow your mind that the Ancient of Days wants to speak to us so personally through His eternal Word today?!

Last of the 2006 Reflections

Finally, we’ve reached the end of my personal 2006 Bible study journal. Next week I’ll catch you up on what’s been happening these last few weeks while I’ve been look in the rear-view mirror.

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Proverbs 27:11 – “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad.” Solomon was probably the best dad ever in regards to wisely teaching his son everything he needed to know. But apparently, that wasn’t enough. His life and actions spoke louder than his words and his son ended up following hi example rather than his teaching. His son looked to his peers for wisdom and rejected the wisdom of his elders. Where was the breakdown between the wise and concerned father who taught and the holy and engaged father who walked beside in upright relationship? This is a sobering reminder that teaching is not enough.

1 Kings 12:8 – “But he (Rehoboam) rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.” What a great verse for anyone, but especially young people. This verse will preach! By Rehoboam listening to his friends, rather than respecting and receiving the wisdom of his elders, he lost the whole kingdom. Tragic, irrevocable mistake.

John 16:7-8 – “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 14:26 – “ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all tings that I said to you.” I must step out of Tucker’s life as the main voice in his ear. I must remember that it is to his advantage that I do this. I must trust that when I walk away, and die to this place of priority in his life, the Holy Spirit is willing and able to step in to convict, teach, and lead him. If I remain the dominant voice in his life he will never learn to listen for the still, small voice of the Spirit.

Psalm 15:7- 8– I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart (literally kidneys) also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” This verse tells me that God will instruct us in, at least, two distinct ways. He, by His Holy Spirit will give us counsel and directions. But He also tell sus to go with our gut instinct when we are in the dark about what to do. I believe the second verse explains when and why this is a safe thing to do.

Psalm 33:13-15 – The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.” When my mom and I were driving through Vermont we were, once again, struck with the unfathomable awesomeness and bigness of God. Just to think that inside each house we passed there were people and families with dreams and challenges. Multiply this across the globe and it is mind-boggling. Later that night I read this Scripture which brought the fear of the Lord. He sees all the sons of men individually and considers them!

Ephesians 3:16-21 – “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; the you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” THIS is my hope for 2008. My desire to know God’s love that passes knowledge is intrinsically intertwined with my desire to share the power of that love encounter with others. I don’t think they can be separated.

Surprising Kim

A couple of weeks ago I was running on the treadmill at our local fitness center. I was listening to my iPod but I look up at the television to catch a picture of Kim Fields. “Good Morning, Texas” was advertising that she would be a guest on the show the next morning. When I got back home I called my manager and asked him to call the producer of the show to get a message to Kim for me since she recently moved from L.A. to NYC and I didn’t have any of her new information.

]]> The producers asked if I would be willing to come down to the studio the next morning and surprise Kim on the air. I thought it would be a really fun idea. So the next morning I drove to the studio, hid out in the make-up room until Kim was on the set and then walked onto the stage at the end of her interview.

I never could have imagined her wonderful response. She started crying and jumping up and down and fanning her face and laughing and hugging and it was so much fun! I immediately planted a kiss on her big belly where baby “Sebastian” is growing. It was so very good to see her. There’s just nothing like old friends!

Kim was on the show to promote a fabulous play she is touring with and starring in called, “Control Issues: We All Got ‘Em.” The writer and director, LaTerras R. Whitfield, was also on the show, as well as one of the other stars, Darrin DeWitt Henson. You may recognize him from the ShowTime show, “Soul Food,” or the current movie, “Stomp the Yard.”

Kim had to run off to rehearsal and I was on my way to my Thursday morning Bible study so we traded numbers, took a few snapshots, and promised to spend as much time together as possible while she was in town. I had to leave town the next day but Kim set tickets aside for me to see her play the following Wednesday evening. I brought my dear friend, Priscilla, with me and we both thoroughly enjoyed the play. I highly recommend you visit the director’s website to see if it is coming to a city near you. You will love it.

The next day, I met Kim for lunch and spent the whole afternoon catching up and then did a tiny bit of shopping. Kim’s baby is due in May and she looks even more beautiful than ever. And that is saying a lot! By the way, Nancy had her second baby at the end of December. Yes, we are all growing up, but we will forever be childhood friends at heart.

What Do You Say?

Yesterday, a close friend of mine’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. When she called I just didn’t know what to say and I so desperately wanted to say the right thing and not say the wrong thing or not not say something I should say. I’ve never been through anything like this personally. And I’ve walked through enough things to know that you don’t know what you don’t know and you certainly don’t know like someone who knows so don’t pretend to know.

]]> So after I hung up the phone I did four things. I went directly into my walk-in closet and prayed. I know that sounds so godly but the truth is, because I love this friend so much, it felt like I had been kicked in the stomach with this news and I needed to get away and get alone and just be doubled over with the Lord.

I didn’t know what to say to my friend but not having the words didn’t limit me with the Lord. I could pour my heart out to Him and He understood. I could pray with words that failed and then I could groan when even those words failed. I could bring this extended family that I know so little, yet love so deeply due to the mystery of friendship, before Him and He knows each one of them intimately. All I knew to do was ask that He hear the cry of my heart to answer the cry of their hearts even though I don’t know the particulars of their secret soul-tears.

Even though I know God knows, I want to know, too. I want to know how to pray specifically. I love that about God. Yes, we can groan before Him and the Holy Spirit will listen to our yearnings and deliver the messages we’ve attempted to express in our heart-broken English to the Father. But He is also a detail God and He loves it when we ask Him for specifics so He can show Himself intimate and personal in His bigness.

So the next thing I did was get on the Internet and learn as much as I could learn about this kind of cancer. I want to fight this battle in prayer with my friends. To do that, it helps to know what we’re up against. It would be foolish to go to war without knowing your enemy and having a strategy to win.

I not only want to know how to pray but I do want to know what to say. So the next thing I did was call another friend of mine from California who had just left my house the day before. We’ve been friends for over 25 years and yet, due to a God set-up, this trip drew us closer together than ever before. Who knew I would need her again so soon? While she was here we spent some time talking about the personal journey I have been on these past few months. She informed me that I had boarded “The Truth Train.” She’s been on this train many times in her life, most recently when she walked beside her best friend through cancer and to the gates of Heaven.

I asked her what kind of friend she would have wanted to walk beside her as she walked beside her friend. What can I say to bring comfort? When will I know when to simply be quiet and listen? How will I know when to be there for her and how will I know when to just be here for her? I received the following email last night filled with such gentle wisdom that I wanted to share the whole thing with you.

Hi Lisa,

Yesterday after you called I had to go to the hospital, a friend of mine's daughter had a baby that was stillborn...drama. Which brings me to your friend. You know, Lisa, it is funny that you are trying to feel your way through some things, and so many of us would like to not feel so much.

The thing about cancer is everyone has a story of somebody that they have heard of that...those stories are of no comfort and nobody wants to hear them. This is your friend’s mom's story. I will call her Linda. Linda is Linda. Linda is not a lady with cancer. Cancer is just a small part of her existence. It may be so that this diagnosis will mean that she will be gone sooner than later, but there is so much of her that has nothing to do with cancer. Mostly that she brought your friend up, and what a significant part she has played in her life and who she is today.

If I were you, I would keep reminding your friend that we don't know what tomorrow holds, but today...Linda is here. Hopefully like you with your mother, Linda has built a relationship with her daughter that will contain this new information, but will not be defined by it.

You and your friend are close and everything will go on just like it did before the diagnosis. Now, she will share all there is about her mom with you and all you can do is listen and give advice as if you were talking about your mom. None of us know what is right to do or say. The waters are unchartered. Just like the baby today, who knows what to say when a mother holds a dead infant and tries to make sense of her pregnancy and loss. You know...we can't see the end of the road but your friend will be fine.

Another thing, nobody wants to be a statistic of any kind. We all want our story to be about us. Linda's story is written, you just get to read it a page at a time. I would encourage your friend not to skip any pages and absolutely not to read the end first! Each day is precious. We will all die. We just don't know what day.

Isn't it strange how you were put into your friend’s life to be with her during this time? God chose you to be a comfort and confidante to her. I know you will be just what she needs. I love you. By the way, the Truth Train doesn't travel on tracks so hang on. I will write more if I think of things that helped me.

Always, your friend.
XOXOXO
PS-The fact that you are calm and not dramatic sounds perfect to me. I love that in people. There is quite enough chaos during illness, calm and not overly emotional is good.

The last thing I did was send my current favorite CD and a card to my friend and her mother. This CD, “Sing Over Me,” has been the soundtrack of my life while I’m on the “Truth Train.” It is a collection of gentle, tender reminders of worship. I want to be with my friend and her mother on this journey but the fact is, that will not be possible for the majority of it. I can be there in spirit, I can carry them in my heart, we can meet before the Throne in prayer but, physically, I will be here and they will be there.

If I were there I would want to hold them and encourage them and just sit there and be with them in the stillness of not knowing. And yet, even if I could, my touch would be so limited. At best, I can embrace from the outside-in. God can hold us from the inside-out.

The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. My prayer is that as these dear ones whom I love so much listen and enter into the atmosphere of worship on this CD that they will experience everything I long to say from the very incarnation of the perfect Word.

I share this journal entry with you today knowing that, like my friend’s email said, everyone knows someone who has a story or is living the story where cancer has become a major character in this chapter of their lives. I still don’t know what to say but I will say it anyway. Jesus is the Word of Life who became flesh for us that we might be able to touch Him and receive His touch. We are to become like Jesus in all things. Let’s risk wrapping our hearts in words so that we, perhaps especially in our humanity, may walk beside our friends able to hold hands on our journeys.

Busy Teacher’s Guide to Prayer

Calling all Teacher friends! I am writing a new book entitled, “The Busy Teacher’s Guide to Prayer.” Yea, I know, what am I doing writing a teacher’s book? Good question! I’ve asked myself the same thing. I don’t know if you are very familiar with my other two books in this series, “The Busy Mom’s and The Busy Grandma’s Guide to Prayer.” The basic premise is taking 120 prayer focuses in six different categories in order to pray for six things each weekday for a month.

]]> Off the top of my head, not being a teacher or having any idea what a teacher needs prayer for, these are the six categories and examples of prayer focuses I’ve come up with so far.

Teacher (eg; Patience, Wisdom, Creativity…)
Students (eg; Desire to Learn, Focus, Confidence, etc…)
School (eg; School Board, Finances, Safety, etc…)
Faculty (eg; Fellow Teachers, Principal, Teacher Aids, etc…)
Department of Education (Funding, Textbooks, Laws, etc…)
Other Learning Opportunities (Homeschoolers, Private Schools, Field Trips, etc…)

This is where I need your help. Can you think of any other categories that would have 20 individual things to pray for under it? Within these categories I’ve listed can you help me come up with at least 20 prayer focuses?

I’m going to start writing this book next week so if you have any time between now and then to be thinking about this and get back to me I would really appreciate it! You can use the email form on this website by clicking the link below. I’m not being humble when I say I can not do this without you and my other teacher friends!

Email Link

P.S. Please forward this link to as many teachers as you think might be interested in helping. Thanks.

P.S.S. I’ve already received enough responses to learn that “Parents” needs to be a category all by itself. So, I will definitely add that. Please send as many prayer focuses for each category as you can think of. Thanks again!

New Scrapbook Pages

Instead of writing a journal entry this week, I used the time to scan some new scrapbook pages for the website. So, this week’s Coffee Talk is in pictures. Hey, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? I hope you enjoy the stroll with me down memory lane. This was what my life looked like in 1996!

1996 Cauble Family Scrapbook Album – click here

Favorite Blogs

Let me just start out by admitting that, yes, it is Saturday afternoon and I am being picked up from the hotel in 30 minutes to go to the convention center where I will be speaking for the fifth time in two days at the incredible “Hearts at Home” convention and that means that since I have not yet written a journal entry for this week that I’m going to have to punt - again. (I will be writing a more thorough explanation of why I’ve been such a terribly unreliable “Coffee Talker” in an upcoming journal entry.)

]]> So…what I would like to do is connect you to some of my favorite blogs. I’ve already introduced you to my friend, Sarah. (Just today I met a lady who told me how much she loves Sarah and her beautifully written blog.) For those of you who haven’t had the privilege, you will definitely want to click on her blog link below. You will adore her as much as I do.

In The Midst of It

I’ve also introduced you to my other blogging friend, and Bible Study DVD co-star, Dee Dee. I just spent the last 30 minutes catching up with her adorable family by reading her delightfully funny blog. I know you’ll love her, too.

It Coulda Been Worse

Did you know that Beth Moore has a blog? A real one, too. Not some assistant promoting her ministry kind of thing. No, this is a blog about a proud grandma (and a few other lesser things.) Her quietly talented and infinitely sweet daughter, Amanda, (the mother of said wonder baby) has done a masterful job of designing, writing and administrating this sight. They say that the mother sets the tone for the home. Well, Amanda establishes the kind of genuine environment at this blog that says “welcome to my home.”

LPM Blog

Finally, the mother of all bloggerss, “BooMama.” I list her last because she is so famous in the blogging community and because once you visit her site you will not have time to return to this journal entry. First of all, you will be lost in the hall of archives reading her past blogs. Then, she has links to all the best blogs. Trust her opinion and explore the wonderful world of blogs listed under her “Good Reads” section.

BooMama

I hope after you visit all these incredible sites that you it will be easier to forgive me for not brewing up a cup of fresh “Coffee Talk” this week. (Again.) Thanks for your friendship, even during the lean months.

Sabbatical

At long last, I finally have a few minutes to talk a little bit about why I’ve been so flaky with my journal entries lately. For you, my faithful friends, who meet me regularly for a cup of “Coffee Talk” you know these last few months have been crazy busy. The insanity really peaked last fall when I was writing two books at the same time, speaking on the weekends, and trying to get my family started out right for the school year. As you’ve probably noticed, I haven’t been able to recover as quickly as in the past. I feel like I’ve been playing catch-up ever since.

]]> Let me back up a bit. Not only was my schedule out of whack last fall but God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to use that season of my life to do an emotional and spiritual makeover in my heart at the same time. I’m fairly certain it wasn’t coincidental. It takes a lot for me to crack under pressure. Since I’m pretty sure that brokenness was the goal, God allowed the stress to come at me from all sides to breakthrough my strength so that He could reach the most protected parts of my heart. He started a deep work that still feels like it is in the beginning stages.

Toward the end of 2006 I felt like the Lord was calling me to a Sabbatical. At first I thought it meant that I wasn’t to write a book in 2007, other than “The Busy Teacher’s Guide to Prayer” which was due in the spring. (Which really boiled down to a 7-month writing sabbatical.) Over time, He revealed the depth of His plan. First He made it clear that it was to be a full year off from writing – from May 2007 to May 2008.

Then, out of the blue, (yea right!) my publisher asked me to reconsider writing the Teacher Prayer book. They wanted another title but I suggested that we shelf the idea of another book altogether until after God was finished with whatever He was up to in my life. They sensitively and graciously agreed. Which means my sabbatical has come sooner that I even imagined. I am free from all book commitments! Praise the Lord.

Last fall, the Lord gave me the passage from Ephesians 3:16-21 as my focus for this sovereign work of grace that has begun. I have personalized it for myself and say it every day this way,

“According to the riches of God’s glory, I am strengthened with might through His Spirit in my inner man. Christ dwells in my heart and I am rooted and grounded in His love. I comprehend with all of the saints what is the length and width and depth and height of His love that passes knowledge. I am filled with all the fullness of God! God is doing exceedingly, abundantly above all that I can ask or think according to His power that works in me. To Him be the glory in me, the church and my family to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

That is my goal…to know, really know and experience, the love of Christ. Another key verse for this season is Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” As I slow down from busyness and stuff, albeit good stuff, I am redirecting that time and energy into being instead of doing. My focus these next 13 months is on relationships. I want to know myself better, go places in my heart that I have been too afraid to approach up until now. I also want to know my family and friends more intimately and be able to have the love of Christ flow through me to the people I am called to serve and encourage, namely you!

This takes time, hence, the sabbatical. Which brings me back to you. I still plan to journal but not as regularly and consistently. As I have time and as the Lord stirs things in my heart and life that I put down on paper (or a Word doc) I will be excited to share them with you. On the weeks when I’m too busy being and don’t feel like doing then I will post an archived journal entry from the last six years. Hopefully, they will still be new to you, or at least feel new.

My goal is to be more consistent with my monthly E-letter but I can’t even guarantee that. I just promise to be true to whatever pace God is working and hopefully that will mean keeping up regular communication with you in some form or another over this next year. Who knows, God may start speaking so fast that I have more to write about than ever and my journal entries won’t slow down at all. I really don’t know.

But if I slow way down, just know that I will miss our weekly “talks” and that when I do have something to say you will be the first to know and I will be full of excitement to share it with you. Please pray that God will complete the work He has started in me and that I will have the courage to go as deep as He desires. I have a feeling that my life and ministry won’t even look the same when this heart work is done. I am filled with holy expectation for what is ahead. I hope you will still be here waiting for me. I miss you already.

MOPS Convention

As I wrote in last week’s journal entry, occasionally I will be reposting archived journal entries instead of writing a fresh one. I have a lot that I already want to share with you from this week but I’ll need to wait to write about it. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy or re-enjoy this cup of “Coffee Talk.”

]]> September 30, 2005 - MOPS Convention

What an awesome convention and what a wonderful organization. If you are not familiar with the ministry of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) you must take a moment and learn more about them at their website www.mops.org, especially if you are a mother of a preschooler. You will definitively want to join a group near you. They are so good at encouraging, training and equipping young moms (and old moms with young kids.) :)

Each year they hold an international convention. This year it was only fifteen minutes from my house in Grapevine, Texas at the gorgeous Gaylord Texan hotel. Staying there was, in and of itself, a real treat for our whole family. What an amazing facility!

We have been preparing for this convention for months because the MOPS organization wanted to have a real, fast-paced, talk-show format style program. I was asked to speak at one of the general sessions and I felt impressed to choose the subject of guilt. I so wanted to persuade these young moms that we all feel like failures most of the time, they are not alone. Among other things, I encouraged them to take that guilt and use it as a reminder to pray for their children. We should certainly do the best job we can, go to conventions, read books, etc., but ultimately, we can only do so much from the outside-in. Only God can touch their hearts from the inside-out and He loves to do that as a response to our prayers.

I was very nervous about this session for many reasons. First of all, because I’ve never felt led to do an entire teaching on the theme of guilt. It was also incredibly intimidating to share the platform alongside such anointed speakers as the president of MOPS, Elisa Morgan. She is just downright adorable! You could almost forget that there is a dynamo inside that tiny body. Elisa was a pro at navigating every detail. Besides, she’s really fun to hang out with – and so real!

Another speaker I think I could enjoy being friends with is Julie Barnhill. She is hysterical! Her book, “She’s Gonna Blow” is a must for every mother. If you struggle with anger (and what mother doesn’t) you must check out her website, surf around, laugh a lot, and order her books.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear Sarah Groves sing much, but what I did get to enjoy was delightful! I also missed one of my all-time favorite worship leader’s, Kim Hill. I caught a bit of Out of Eden and, of course, the ever-popular, Al Denson, but for the most part I was holed up in my hotel room, alternately, panicking and praying.

I had the delightful opportunity of meeting Dr. Kevin Leman. What a funny – and wise – man. He told me he fell in love with me the moment I mentioned that I like The Waffle House and the movie, “Three Amigos.” The feeling was mutual the moment I caught a peek of his hot pink socks and discovered his best friend’s name is “Moonhead.”

I took advantage of the opportunity to ask him his advice on rearing teenagers and he taught me something fascinating about birth order. I mentioned to him that I had read his ground-breaking book on birth order and that my children fit the descriptions perfectly but in the wrong order. Without hesitating he asked, “So, which one of you is a perfectionist, you or your husband?” I replied, “Oh, definitely my husband.” He answered, “Well, there you have it. Your first born learned early on that he wasn’t going to be able to live up to the standard so he relinquished the first-born role to the second-born (or boss), he took the baby (or clown) position and the youngest assumed the middle-child, (peacemaker ) role.” Wow, that’s dead on! I can’t wait to order more of his books.

The highlight, and the most stressful, part of the convention was my bonus session on Creative Correction. I basically had the same material but I presented it in a completely new way.

I showed DVD vignettes from the Bible study, and shared home movies and personal photos of my kids, we gave away tons of free books and acted out corny skits. Steve, Tucker, Haven and Clancy were a huge part of the program and they were awesome! The ladies loved them.

We made Cauble family history, too. With Steve on the piano, Tucker on the guitar, Haven on drums and Clancy on the bass, I sang and led worship. It was sooooo much fun. I was popping with pride for my talented and adorable family.

I don’t know if it was the unrelenting schedule, the emotional stress, the hours of signing books at the booth, or the fact that I was fighting a cold the whole time but it has taken me a week to recover from last weekend. But it was well worth it. My MomTime friends helped Steve run the exhibit booth so I got to hang out with them, my children joined us in ministry, we got to stay in a beautiful hotel, (we even ran into Joel Osteen and his family who had evacuated from Houston because of Hurricane Rita) and I do believe the Lord took our best offering and anointed it to touch a group of the sweetest ladies you would ever want to meet – mothers of preschoolers!

A Modest Proposal

October 14, 2005

Haven celebrated her 14th birthday this week with a fabulous party. Tucker’s math tutor, Mrs. Betzhold, and her husband, Steve, started a new business called “Driveway In.” They brought over a huge movie screen, set it up in our backyard and showed “The Sandlot” to a group of over 70 teenagers! It was so much fun. We even had a snack bar with plenty of popcorn, licorice, Tootsie pops, candy bars and Airheads.

Tomorrow, Haven will be competing in her first speech meet. I am so proud of the speech that she wrote that I just had to share it with you.

]]> A Modest Proposal
By Haven Cauble

As a girl, I love fashion. I am not sure what it is about going to the mall and buying that perfect outfit, but I know I love it. One of my favorite types of clothing that is coming back is the old 50’s style. I think it is because it’s unique, but not so over the top as say, the 60’s or 70’s.

What’s ironic is that the tight sweaters that we see everywhere today were considered too revealing back then. Just as in the 1920s, the bathing suits they wore covered what today shorts and a t-shirt would cover. If we saw that bathing suit today we would call it prudish but back then it was considered scandalous.

Now, that got me thinking, what is modesty to us? And the reality is we don’t really have a fixed definition for modesty, because it is always changing. The earliest definition we have, from Webster’s Dictionary 1828 says, “Modesty is synomous with chastity or purity of manners.” It goes on to say, “Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence. The richest gem in the diadem of their honor”

Contrast that with Encarta 2005’s definition that says modesty is, “Reserved in appearance, manner, and speech, especially in relation to sexual matters” In less than 200 years the definition of modesty has gone from the highest of virtues to simply being reserved in relation to sexual matters.

At this rate I can only imagine what the definition will be like in another 100 years. Judging from the digression of the 1920’s bathing suits to today’s bathing suits -hey, there is more cotton in an Aspirin bottle!

This idea of showing skin is as old as the sun. For that matter it’s as old as sin, I find it more than coincidental that when sin first entered the world, man and woman’s first instinct was to cover their naked skin.
It seems to be progressively getting worse; spiraling down lower and lower. I mean how much farther can you go? Personally, I don’t really want to see some people walking around in the nude.

Sadly, it appears that fashion designers are targeting teens. They know teens are notorious for not wanting to blend in. They see that teens want to be remembered and often times “pushing the limit” is controversial and creates publicity. I think everyone, not just teens, wants be a trendsetter, not yesterday’s clearance fashion.

Some teens may not see this as a problem because right now, we as students are the ones pushing the limits. But soon our children will be the ones pushing the limits and we’re the ones who’ll be trying to stop them understanding that research and marketing companies thrive on selling products to teens through sex. Advertisers understand that showing skin grabs people’s attention and helps make products memorable.

Think about the term, “skin is in,” that sells so much today. Now, that has got to be hard on guys because they are visual beings. You don’t see the fashion industry using sex to sell guy’s clothing quite as much because women tend to look deeper than physical appearance. But men are all about the physical features and are easily distracted from the face and personality by simply revealing a little skin.

It is not only in America that we have this problem, either. Women in general are fashion victims, any age, but across the world 10-35 is the average. It is also across most cultures, particularly from Europe, since we get most of our fashion trends from there. Now this world-wide culture fad could change when people begin to value more than physical appearance, particularly women’s appearances.

It is also making little girls grow up too fast. Wouldn’t you rather want your daughters be playing with dolls and playing dress up to look like their mom when they are 10 years old instead of playing with make-up and dressing like Brittney Spears?

So if this problem is going from bad to worse, what can we do to stop it? If you took every culture apart and went down to the core, you would see that it begins with the family. It should begin in the home with the moms and dads teaching their children the power of self-respect and modesty, showing that values can be communicated by what you wear. They need to model it in for their sons and daughters so when their kids grow up they will uphold those values and also teach it to their kids.

Some might say it’s only the Christian worldview that holds these fashions to be inappropriate but I believe that any good father or mother wants their daughter to be appreciated for more than just physical appearances. They want their daughter to dress like a woman, not a woman of the night.

The truth is, with the exception of entertainment business, much of society recognizes and praises modesty. For example, if you dress modest and look sharp into a job interview, you have a better chance of getting hired more than a girl who comes in scantily dressed. Good common sense says modesty is the best for all who live by it.

An alternative to this is a true understanding of fashion. One can be trendy without being trashy. That is important to remember because what you wear communicates what you value and what you want others to value in you.

Here’s an idea, when you go to the mall have your good girl friends help you pick clothes and if it doesn’t really look modest, you’d want them to say to tell you. You could also get a close guy friend’s perspective on what you’re wearing. He may tell you something about what you’re wearing that would never have crossed your mind, but it would have crossed a guy’s.

We as teens have more power than we give ourselves credit for We can draw a line, we can stop buying immodest clothing. If this downward spiral of immodesty is not stopped when and where will it end? Most likely it won’t lead back to the 1920s bathing suits, and there won’t be much left for the imagination. And how much fun would it be to go to the mall when there are no clothes on the mannequins anymore?

Proverbs 31 for Me in Mommy Book

November 12, 2005

I really should be packing right now. Clancy and I must leave at 4:30 in the morning to fly to Florida where we will hop on the Girl’s Getaway Cruise where I will be speaking. (I will take lots of pictures and tell you all about it next week.)

Actually, even more than packing, I should be working on the latest edit for my “Taking Care of the ME in Mommy” book. I have three more chapters and all of the “Rest Stops” to tidy up so I can send it to the publisher tonight.

I got a bit sidetracked. I was working on the chapter for Working Moms (I know all moms work, don’t send me an email.) I was asking the Lord for some direction from His Word regarding this particular chapter and I felt Him whisper to my spirit to look at Proverbs 31. I don’t know why, but I just always had the Proverbs 31 woman in the “Stay At Home Mom” box. As I read this very familiar passage from this fresh perspective it was fun to see that she was very definitely a homemaker but she certainly was also a working woman.

]]> This is when I got sidetracked. I began to notice how many things she did that I am writing about in my new book. I started playing a little game. I looked through the Table of Contents and began connecting subjects from my book with verses in this passage. I was shocked at how amazingly similar they were. Let me show you what I mean. Here are the subjects I cover in my book:

Nurturing Your Spirit
Prayer
Bible Study
Praise
Journaling
Sabbath
Taking Care of Yourself
Beauty/Pampering
Eating Healthy
Exercise
Girded Thoughts
Keep Learning
Hobbies
Fun/Laughter
Organization
Housekeeping
Cooking
Finances
Working Moms/At Home Biz
Friends
Marriage
Ask for Help

Other than Journaling, Sabbath and Girded Thoughts, I was able to find a connection for every chapter. Here’s what I mean:

Proverbs 31 (NLT)

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. (She takes care of her marriage.)
12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life. (There is no greater help she can offer him than praying for him daily.)
13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. (She takes time for hobbies.)
14 She is like a merchant’s ship; she brings her food from afar. (She feeds her family healthy food.)
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. (She finds time to prepare meals for her family and she is organized.)
16 She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. (She is good with finances.)
17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. (She exercises regularly.)
18 She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. (She should take better care of herself and get the rest she needs.)
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. (This girl likes her hobbies.)
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. (She knows how to give help, hopefully she also knows the importance of asking for help.)
21 She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. (She likes to shop.)
22 She quilts her own bedspreads. (Maybe she’s doing this with some good friends, like a quilting bee before its time.)She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth. (She likes to feel and look beautiful.)
23 Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders. (I bet she keeps her mind ever-growing so she can converse intelligently with her husband.)
24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. (She owns her own business)
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. (She understands the importance of laughter)
26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. (If her words are wise and kind then I’m sure she is in the Word daily.)
27 She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness. (She is a diligent housekeeper.)
28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (She is a woman who breathes in the Spirit and her life reflects that.)
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. (She is a worshiping woman.)
31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Isn’t that cool? Now, every time I read this passage I feel intimidated; so, before you go there, too, let me assure you that this book I’m writing is not about how you can do it all and be the amazing “Super(Proverbs31)Woman!” Trust me, this book is going to be full of realistic tips on how to make these desirable traits a bit easier to accomplish and also the importance of taking time for ourselves so we can be the amazing women, and subsequently, amazing moms God created us to be. I promise I’ll look out for the mom race. Trust me.

I really better get back to work so I can pack. Bon Voyage!

July 19, 2001

I wonder if we’ve made a terrible mistake - I mean by starting our trip in Sisters, Oregon. How is anyplace else going to compare? Every day has been jam-packed with new and exciting adventures. All while gazing at the kind of beauty that if beheld a moment too long would become blurry from the tears that threaten to spring up against your will. Yep, I think we could have made a strategic error.

]]> I actually need to begin today’s journal entry with last night. After I wrote to you, we all went outside and laid under the blankets and under the stars. We saw Mars, The Milky Way, The Summer Cross, a couple of dozen satellites and a few shooting stars that I will never forget. The highlight was catching one shooting star intersect another one and keep on going as it crossed the entire sky. We forced ourselves to go inside sometime after midnight with the consolation that we would do this again real soon and spend the whole night next time.

Steve and I put the kids to bed and then we stayed up another hour just reading through so many of the emails that you have sent. I was so touched by your encouragement, suggestions for visiting your hometown and the fresh understanding that we really were making new friends all over the world. It may surprise you to know that I’m not normally a particularly emotional person. But I felt myself getting downright sentimental thinking about how much care went into your emails. Thank you very much for that.

Okay, enough of this mushy stuff. There’s too much to tell you about today’s adventures before I get too sleepy to type. We started the day with another fabulous breakfast lovingly prepared for us by our friends, Sheila and Bill. Their girls, Rebecca, Rachel and Marissa played a quick game of “Killer Croquet” with our kids before loading up the guns and ammo in the SUV for some target practice out in the woods.

My children had never shot a real gun before and were psyched, especially Tucker. After shooting off a couple of rounds from a 22, knocking down some tin cans, shattering a couple of bottles and hitting a bulls-eye by a hair, you could just see the testosterone coursing through his veins. We couldn’t get him to settle down for hours. Bill blamed it on “the smell of gunpowder through the nostrils being like a drug”.

The climax was getting to fire a 9mm pistol. Bill set up a box with the word “Allied” written across the side. I guess I was shooting like a girl because he coaxed me, “Shoot like someone’s trying to get your children.” That’s all it took, I proceeded to shoot the “L” out of that box!

The girls had to go to the bathroom and were not convinced to go find a bush in the woods so we cleaned up and headed to the Metolius River to feed the trout (and find a real bathroom). We all caught Golden Stoneflies and threw them to the fish under the bridge at Camp Sherman. They hopped up right out of the water and caught them. How cool is that?

Tucker still had not come down from his gunpowder high so we decided it was time to head back to the RV for a nap. Maybe that would calm him down. But first we made a quick stop at the headwaters of the Metolius where the water suddenly appears out of nowhere from the rocks to become a river. This was fascinating to the adults but the kids couldn’t be bothered by this natural phenomenon. They had found a chipmunk and a friend who offered a bag of food to feed Chip and Dale.

After a painfully quick nap we headed over to our friends, Don and Brenda’s, house for dinner. They host the church youth group most Wednesday evenings so I had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with the young people, answering questions about my life and how my heavenly Father helped me through my own teen years.

In the meantime Tucker, Haven and Clancy got to pet baby horses, ride bareback for the first time, go four-wheeling, ride in the back of a pick-up truck and learn to fly-fish in their stocked pond. Tucker asked if he could just stay there for the rest of the trip and write his own book, “Finding God at the Jacobson’s House.”

July 20, 2001

Such a big day and I’m too tired to do it justice. Bill took Tucker and me running the McKenzie River. He launched the boat around 3:00 in the afternoon and tossed the car keys to “Big Ed’s” mother who drove the SUV down the highway to await us at the end of the run.

]]> We set off down the river until it was time to set the anchor and fish. Talk about a fishy day! Tucker couldn’t cast the line without a fish jumping onto it. I even caught a few. Our goal was to catch six rainbow trout, big enough for dinner. We passed that goal by the second fishing spot so we started throwing them back in after that.

We came to another fishing spot, which Bill referred to as “The Glory Hole.” But we changed the name to “Ichabod” because it was obvious that the glory had departed - nothing was biting.

We ran a few light rapids and, our favorite, wave trains until it was time for dinner. We pulled the boat over to the edge and Tucker and I built a fire while Bill cleaned the fish. Yuck! He then dipped them in his special spice mix and cooked them in butter over the fire.

He brought a can of beans but forgot the can opener. Tucker came to the rescue with his handy-dandy Swiss Army knife. We all had a hand at trying to figure out how to use it but between the three of us we were able to pry it enough to get the beans out and cook them next to the fish.

We sat around the fire beside the edge of the river eating our trout while Bill told us stories from his favorite operas and Tucker whittled a boat from a piece of wood. I was shocked to hear Tucker later say that this was his favorite part of the whole day. Much too soon it was time to pack up camp and continue heading down the river.

Now for the fly-fishing. This was my favorite part. Bill taught me how but he was very annoying. Every time he cast the line, he caught a fish. And I was the one who was supposed to be fishing! He finally had to stop teaching me so that I would have a chance. I finally caught a momma fish and a baby fish. It was thrilling. I think I could really get into this. For me, it had very little to do with the catching of the fish as much as the art of pursuing them. I would like to learn more someday.

But this day was quickly coming to a close so we headed back down river until we got to the spot where “Big Ed’s” momma had dropped off the car. Tucker and I waited by the tied up boat while Bill walked down the road to retrieve the car.

He came back empty-handed. Earlier he had accidentally thrown “Momma Ed” all of the car keys, included the electronic key Bob used to open the car door. We were locked out of the car with the keys inside and we were standing in the pitch black on the side of the road.

My cell phone was dead and Bill couldn’t get any reception on his. So he took the oar out of the boat, the one that had broken earlier in the day, (sorry I’m sleepy and forgetting some of the details from the day) and he used it to smash in the back window. I felt terrible about this but it sure did add an exciting ending to an exciting day!

Sabbatical From Writing

“Dear friends, I am taking a sabbatical from writing for awhile. Please read through some of my archived “Coffee Talks” and don’t miss out on the journal entries from the “Family Dream” trip around America. Thanks for understanding and for your prayers during this time of being still and seeking to know Jesus with deeper intimacy.”

Blessings,
Lisa

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