You have got to go over to Mamma Knucker Hatch and see the adorable picture of her daughter Hope. Guarenteed to make you smile, maybe even laugh out loud.

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. Proverbs 15:28

Like Tricia this past weekend Family Confrence spoke to me also. I agree with Tricia about the need in my own life for more purposful scripture memory so when I need it is just a heartbeat away. Sure I have a lot of scriptures that I have memorized over the years but I am not purposeful at all about it. When I need one or when one speaks to my heart I memorize it. But it could be weeks or months before a new one comes around. And do I still remember where they all are? hmmm...maybe a general whereabouts.

So I take Tricia's challenge to learn a new verse a week, this week's being Proverbs 15:28. I like Jamie and Beth (the blog lurkers) want my 'conversation to be with grace, seasoned with salt' Col 4:6 I want to be able to discern a conversation and know what if anything to say. Sometimes the hardest part is keeping my mouth shut ;o)

The Organizing Junkie is passing on a great offer. Just until the end of the day Lylah is offering a free e-book from her life coach series. I ordered the one on Becoming a Mentoring Woman. I hope you all take advantage of her generosity.

Sometimes I need a little encouragment like this. Way to go moms! Pause the music below on the right and enjoy.

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Last night I was reading in Practicing Hospitality about being trustworthy enough to offer hospitality. These questions really made me think:
*Am I eager to open my home to unplanned guests for an extend visit - even at inconvenient times?
*Am I projecting to others that my home is available as a place of refuge?
*Am I willing to maintain a confidence when shocking news is shared with me?
*Am I open to crossing intergenerational lines to extend biblical hospitality?
*Am I patient to wait for my guest to open the contents of her heart?
*Am I more concerned about what my guest wants to discuss than what I want to communicate?
*Am I a clean vessel that the Holy Spirit can use to affirm the Lord's work in the lives of others?
Other questions in the chapter that spoke to me were
*Am I willing to receive unwarranted criticism?
*Am I willing to experience weariness or emotional fatigue from offering hospitality?
*Am I willing to wear the physical and emotional bruises that are associated with opening my heart to others?

What the Lord showed me through this chapter is that He is not just talking about having people into my home, but into my heart. I have to admit that I had to answer "no" to several of these questions. I am not willing and sometimes not able to open my heart and home to others. I want God to grow me in this area. I want to be available and willing.

I am reading The Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney and it is a wonderful little book. With only 85 pages I thought it would be a great encouragment to finish qickly. Ever since Ella came home I have stuggled to find time to read...anyway...

Last night I read chapter 3 titles Breaking the Rules of Legalism, how the cross rescues you from the performance trap. It talked about the difference between justification and sanctification. How we are immeadiatley justified in Christ. There is nothing more that we can do to deserve salvation at that point. No good works or acts of service to make the Lord love us any more than He already does. Sanctification however is the process of making us more like Christ. Although there is nothing we can do to earn God's approval there are things that we do to become more like Him. Examples being bible reading, meditation, prayer, fasting, fellowship with beleivers, service...
It came to me how from the outside of a persons heart all those disciples are good, needed and right. But depending on where one's heart is you could be doing things all for the wrong motives and end up a leagalist.

I know that I have been there at times in my life and slip back into the false comfort time to time of feeling like I have something to do with my salvation. Sometimes I even hide under the false doctrine of 'working out my salvation'.

It really made me realize that my salvation is my own. That really it is just me and God. No works, no service, no act of righteousness. All else is stripped away on the day of judgment. "Did you know my Son?" That is it. Yes, all the other pleases the Lord, but it doesn't do one thing for my salvation. It makes me feel very n*ked and bare. Yet how simple.

Check out Sovereign Grace for a great sale on books and music CDs where you can find other books by CJ Mahaney.

Thank you
Lisa for nominating me for the 'Excellent Blog' award. I really don't think it is all that excellent but I really have enjoyed doing it.