When We Learn to Disconnect

Through observing people, I have really noticed the way technology has seemed to take over the lives of so many of our world. Whether through TV watching, Facebook/ Instagram scanning, or just surfing through the web, we are all becoming robots. 

Often times, the first things we do is reach for the phone or computer to check it as we wake up. We want to know the very latest or respond as quickly as we can. Other times, as soon as we sit down, we turn on the TV, even for background noise. I have been guilty of some of this myself. 

But it can also be so frustrating when you have company and people are staring at their phones. If you go to a restaurant, it's easy to notice how people at the tables are not conversing but busy on their phones as well. This idol we can't live without is becoming a source we need to really step back and consider. It's scary to think how addicting it is becoming to so many lives as we allow it to take over every aspect. 

It's been a learning process for me as I've had to slowly let go of things like Facebook. I've used it for the Unspeakable Joy Exchanges, which has been a great tool to get the word out. However, even my short time on there re-activating my account leads me to begin scanning everything, even just to get caught up. 

When's the last time we spent time with pure silence? When is the last time we could say that we were bored? Why do we constantly need time to have our minds controlled by technology? Are we being active enough to step beyond media to real-relationships, real-time, and real-important news? Do we really need to use the argument that we don't have time for God?

I have been guilty of shushing my children so I could "look something up" or check the latest statuses. Most of the time, those statuses aren't even important, particularly when it's someone's meal picture they've shared or their latest workout selfie. What is important is to step away and observe the every day without the technology. 

We don't watch TV during the week in our home. On the weekends, we enjoy a movie night on Saturday night. There are things I am working on for myself with media and using it less as an outlet for those moments of quiet that happen. 

I enjoy writing and blogging. It's been a great tool for me to get my words out there that I feel are necessary to share. Nonetheless, I have decided to take a major break from blogging for awhile as well as other forms of cutting back. I've decided that I will not check my phone often for texts but be more proactive in only sending them as necessary, mostly at the end of the day. I want to enjoy the day and be bored. I want to have moments where I can sit and watch the birds of the air. I want my children to have a mom who's active in their lives and not too busy looking at things online. It's time we take back our lives from this overpowering tool and find ways to use it less. 

I will miss sharing my posts on here for awhile. Thank you to those who have been supportive of my blogging and willing to encourage my writing. For now though, I am learning to live more in the moment and this is part of what I must give up in the process. 

Continue to live joyfully, my friends! I look forward to staying in touch through other ways for the time being. God bless!

Letting Go of Yesterday

As a child, I was bullied all through grade school and into high school. I had some horrific experiences of mean girls doing terrible things to me. The thing was that I was a very shy person. I often kept to myself and was the girl on the playground reading a book. I would cry coming home from school, burying my face into my pillow.

I remember in sixth grade when the lunch bell rang. It was raining outside but our room was located on the second floor. As I proceeded on my way to lunch in a building located downstairs, a girl who had for years tormented me pushed my petite body down the hard, metal stairs. I flew with speed until I reached the bottom and stood to run off to another place with my very bruised back.

After this experience, I changed schools to another one after the administration failed to do anything. Over the course of the next few years, the bullying did not end. I changed schools a few times to escape the mean girls but the bullying often followed.

When I reached my junior year of high school, things began to change for me. I took my sadness and aggression and returned it for meanness to others. My weaknesses and sins changed me to reach popularity on a level only through my careless actions. I treated others the way I was treated sometimes and not how I wanted to be treated. And it only made my feelings of acceptance in this world worse.

A friend and I would sneak off campus before school and chug down some alcohol. After school, we would attend parties and drink with the kids our age along with their older siblings. I took my savings account and emptied it on immodest clothing meant to make myself more attractive for this popular gain. But the bullying never stopped.

At this time, I attended a very wealthy, "Christian" school in town as my parents were hoping it'd be a good place for me. When I say wealthy, I mean that the kids there drove expensive cars and had super expensive clothing. I was 16, still had no driver's license yet, and either rode to school on a bus or was dropped off in my folks 1980s Subaru. Now, in reality, there is nothing wrong with these things. But being in this place, I never really fit in.

I remember one day when my mom gave me a brand new pair of Asics running shoes. As I got to school, a girl pointed me out and laughed with a group of people at how my shoes were "so ugly that they were not in style." I wanted to crawl into a hole and never emerge.

Another time, I remember taking a test in a class that was being subbed by our very principal. A boy passed a picture and very inappropriate wording about my body parts over to me. In return, I responded with cuss words. The principal intercepted the note and I was the only one who got in trouble.

As I got called into his office, the principal took his can of pencils and threw them at me. He then proceeded to tell me that since my family wasn't wealthy and that I wasn't Dutch, I wasn't much. This school was made up of wealthy, Dutch people from our community. It wasn't very Christian at all.

My parents were enraged and went to meet with the principal. He told them the very same comments. After that, my parents pulled me away from school and decided to finish out my high school years through independent study.

Things began to look up after that time. I strongly grew in my relationship with the Lord. I slowly let go of the cutting of my arms, the cigarette smoking, the drinking of large amounts of  alcohol, and groups of popular kids smoking weed. I re-committed my heart to Him and changed my ways back to the girl I started out to be at the beginning but stronger. I didn't want to be apart of that worldly life anymore. I wanted something more and this included a life seeking Jesus.

I used to think that people would judge me by the mistakes I made in my past. I used to believe that when they found out I did things like smoked pot or sliced my wrists, their opinions would change of me. They wouldn't find me as this rock solid Christian because of my many mistakes in my past.

But then it dawned on me. Only Jesus is that rock that is solid. When God laid the foundation of this earth, He created Jesus as the rock. The rest of us make up the specks of dirt scattered among the Earth. Our lives our messy and none of us have clean hands or pasts. We all make mistakes. I have since embraced that I am a reckless Christian seeking Jesus' mercy and grace.

Part of the journey of my faith included some hard times as necessary moments to get to where I am now. It's part of the growing process. God never promises for things to be easy. He never says that He doesn't give us more than we can handle. But rather, our sufferings produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-5). Our pains and sufferings mold us into a better version of ourselves with more compassion and strength.

We don't have to hold on to our past. We don't have to live worrying about how we were then, yesterday, or even two hours ago. The moment is now and we can press forward with Jesus as our foundation. Let's live in this moment here and now!

Be thou My Vision

Psalm 105:1-5 
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; 
make known among the nations what he has done. 
Sing to him, sing praise to him; 
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Give in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 
Look to the Lord and his strength; 
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 

There are days that pass by us with worry, fear, fatigue, and doubt. We struggle with knowing how we will make it through when we've been hit with various dilemmas that often make it hard to keep our focus. When we topple in news stories, a falling apart world, along with the struggles we witness of our friends and neighbors, we find that it's hard to know how to hold on.

But it's possible.

We must start our day with the word and put forth our every effort to live life giving praises to the King. We can rejoice in our Savior bringing the good news to the world and proclaim it to the nations. God does so many wonderful things for us each day that we just need to seek them out. Just like the psalmist David writes, "Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always."

Instead of focusing on the bad things happening, when we turn our negativity to a positive mindset along with giving the day over to the Lord, He will sustain us. When we lay everything out at our Savior's feet, our spirits will be lifted. We can meet with Him anytime... anywhere. He is always ready for us.

Remember God's promises to us in the Bible when the going gets tough. Consider seeking His face more and more. And when we face opposition, praise His name and think of the words to this song.

Be Thou My Vision
by Dallan Forgail

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Don't Try So Hard!

As someone who loves real time, quality relationships, I struggle when I get ignored. I love to encourage, sending letters/cards to others. I love to make time for others even if it means less sleep on my end which is already something I unreasonably get with six children and one on the way. But relationships matter and people matter to me. 

When people shut me out or stop responding to me, it's a huge letdown. I tend to want to keep trying at a relationship, building it with them even when they don't seem to care.

Something that really hurts deep down inside of me is when I feel like I don't matter. I feel like their non-response is their way of not even noticing my existence. When people don't seem to even find a second to respond to a simple word of anything I try to say or do, it hurts.

Every once in awhile, I get a wake up call when I am reminded that maybe they don't want to have a relationship with me. I know others are busy and things happen with life. But I have to remember that I can't try so hard. I have to give the situation over to God and let Him handle it. I've done my part and I will be there for that person should they change their mind. 

Until then, God takes my hurts and pain as He whispers to me, "Listen my child. I am here. I have never left you. I have never forsaken you. I am jealous for you. Yet, you don't always have the time for me. Return to me, oh my daughter. You have not been forgotten." 

"Yes, Lord! I am listening. I have been careless of my time spent with you. You are the most important relationship. You are the one I need to put all my focus on. Everything with everyone else will fall into place as it should be. Perhaps, it's necessary for me to step back and give them space. I will let go of them. And I will turn my focus back to You." 

So, when you feel doubt rising inside of you or that maybe things aren't working out with your friendship with another, remember to give yourself a break. Think about how much effort you've put into your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Remember the times you ignored Him. Just as He has forgiven you, forgive others for their mistakes too. And be patient! It may be part of the plan. 

Unspeakable Joy Exchange Round Three Giveaway

This is a giveaway that I am hosting as a bonus to bless someone who has donated to the adoption, signed up for the exchange, and shared about the event on social media.

 I am so thankful to you for your donations, support, prayers, and willingness to get this out through word-of-mouth. Because of your generosity, this is for you.

One winner will be chosen after the exchange has closed through Giveaway Tools. If you are here by accident and have not completed the things mentioned in the first line, go back to here to get started:

http://unspeakablejoymovement.blogspot.com/2015/07/unspeakable-joy-exchange-round-three.html

TO ENTER: All you have to do is enter your email address so you can be contacted if you are the winner. And then you may enter this giveaway daily through August 7th. Thank you again for your support to the Caudle family.

The prize for this giveaway is a one time gift box from Fair Trade Friday. The women from Mercy House are self employed through the things they create and design. These boxes that are purchased go to help support these women and their families. Just like the name, it's a fair trade. What you end up receiving will be a variety of items made by these women through hard work. If you would like to know more, please go to these sites: http://fairtradefriday.club/ and http://shop.mercyhousekenya.org/product/fair-trade-friday-gift-box

Good luck and don't forget to come back here tomorrow to enter again! The winner will be randomly selected after the close of the giveaway on August 7th.

Entry-Form

Unspeakable Joy Exchange Round Three-Caudle Family (CLOSED)

The adoption process is a BIG one. It's one that requires a lot of upfront costs and a season of long wait times. There are people like the Caudle family who desire to grow their family through the adoption process. But they need our help with some of those upfront costs. And you can make it possible for them to bring Deklan home. Below is a summary of how this round of the Unspeakable Joy Exchange will work along with the story of this amazing family.

Clinton and Natalie Caudle, along with their children Macy and Owen, are in the process of adopting a little boy with special needs from China. His name is Deklan and he has won their hearts a million times over. They have completed the pre-approval paperwork and are working through the home study process now. Here is the link to their blog with the latest happenings:  http://www.fromchinatohome.com/

Adoption is very expensive and there are a lot of upfront costs. Christ calls us together to help others with the resources we've been blessed with and I feel like we can really come together and help this family out with the adoption funds. 

So here's the plan. Donate $5-10, or more depending on how much you feel led to give. Where do you donate? Go to: http://www.fromchinatohome.com/ Scroll to the bottom right of the page and find the section that says, "Donate." You can also send a Paypal amount to them at: ndwcaudle@hotmail.com 

Are you able to pass on that Starbucks coffee today to help bless another family in TREMENDOUS ways? Let's do this, friends! Let's come together as a community and help this sweet family out.


After you have donated, please send the following information to me on this form:


Name:
Address:
Email Address:
Instagram/Facebook/ Or Any Other Social Media Info:
Favorite Bible Verse:
Home Décor:
Favorite Colors:
Hobbies:
Favorite Snack:
Any Other Info About Yourself You'd Like To Share:
Prayer Requests:
Do You Mind Shipping Internationally? Y/N

***What is this exchange and why am I sending you this information? This is so you can be paired up with another Sister in Christ. You will send them a package in the mail and they will send one to you. It's a fun way to not only help the family above but also get to know another believer from around the world/U.S. You are also welcome to email me the above info to unspeakablejoymccoy@gmail.com. Here's more info about it below***


You have until August 7, 2015 to sign up for the Exchange. With the information you receive about your sister in Christ, you will send them some fun surprises in the mail based on the info they shared with you that would bless them. This time's challenge is to send your exchange sister: something with their favorite color, a Fall item (it's just around the corner), and the last item of your choice. (Ideas: something with their favorite Bible verse, journal, Starbucks/iTunes gift card, scarf, book, coffee mug, washi tape, picture frame, jewelry, snack, lip gloss, an item that goes with their home décor, you name it!). Perhaps, you are a creative person. Feel free to make them something handmade. The sky's the limit!

There are 3 items total you will be mailing to them (or more/less depending on how you'd like to do this- please use this as a guideline to help you or be as creative as you want to be), and they need to go out NLT September 1, 2015. This does not need to be an expensive exchange. The minimum does need to be about $15.

Here are the steps for this exchange:


Step 1:
Donate to the Caudle family at: ndwcaudle@hotmail.com  (send Paypal for whatever amount you'd like to donate) or: http://www.fromchinatohome.com/ Look at the bottom of the page and find Donate. You have two options, one for Paypal and the other for Pure Charity.
Remember, you cannot participate in the exchange until you have donated. This is the purpose behind the fun! :) We are helping to bless this family in whatever way we can.


Step 2:
Sign up for the exchange through this form by clicking here or going to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1t8uRB7aBAtQ9orLbx-z92n82_JDMEMfiXfCpdZ4svi8/viewform

Or you can email me the above info to unspeakablejoymccoy@gmail.com

Step 3:
Pray for the Caudle family!!! Get the word out about the exchange through your social media sites. Even if you do not intend to participate, we need to get the word out for their support. They really want to bring their son home. So share away!!!

Step 4:
You will receive your exchange sister's name/info NLT August 15, 2015. I am generally quick with getting that info out. But in the event that something happens, you will have that info by that date above. Be sure to check your email for the info. If you do not receive it by that date, please let me know. I may not have received your info for the exchange. After you've received your sister's info, pray for her the next couple of weeks. Feel free to send her an email and introduce yourself. If you have a social media account, find her there.

Step 5:
Get the package together over these couple of weeks. Feel free to use this as a guideline as to what to send them:

1. Item of your choice
2. A Fall Item
3. Item with their favorite color.

Step 6:
Mail the package by: September 1, 2015. I am trying something different with this round. I am asking that you send me your tracking number once you've mailed it (unspeakablejoymccoy@gmail.com). I want to insure that everyone receives their package. If I do not receive your tracking number, I will contact you. If you do not receive something from your exchange sister, please let me know. I don't want anyone to walk away from this exchange empty-handed.

Step 7:
If you have an Instagram account, please share what you are sending to (all wrapped up) or receiving from your sister. Include the hashtag #unspeakablejoyexchange2015 This helps those in future rounds to know what to expect.

Step 8:

Finally, share about this exchange with your friends and family. The more we have involved, the merrier.

PLEASE NOTE: Even if you will not be able to donate at this time, please feel free to send the Caudle family an encouraging note to their email (ndwcaudle@hotmail.com). Keep them in your prayers. Even more, please share this with others. My prayer is that we can help this family out with donations, prayers, and word of mouth!

INSTAGRAM PEOPLE: Are you on Instagram? Here's where I need your help. To draw attention to this exchange, I am hosting a giveaway. My screen name is carebearmccoy (go find me). Look for the Chic Fil A giveaway post. To enter the $25 Chic Fil A gift card giveaway, I need you to:
1.)Follow Me (to keep up with future Unspeakable Joy Exchanges)
2.) Like My Giveaway Post
3.) Tag Two Friends Below the Post
4.) And Share the Giveaway Picture on your Instagram account. Invite your friends to join the exchange. Please include the hashtag #unspeakablejoygiveaway1

This giveaway ends on August 7th. One lucky winner will be chosen at random after August 7th! :-)

FINAL BONUS:
NOW... If you have donated, submitted the info for the exchange, and shared about this with family/friends through email or social media, you are eligible to enter into a giveaway for a box of gifts from Fair Trade Friday (worth $45). Whoop! Whoop! Fair Trade Friday helps to employ women in Kenya through the Mercy House so they can provide for their children. They make a variety of beautiful fair trade items that empower women. (http://fairtradefriday.club/) If you are the winner, you will receive a one-time gift box filled with a variety of items.

Follow this link to the giveaway page to enter. You can enter in daily until the exchange closes and a winner will be chosen at random by Giveaway Tools. Go Here Now...:

http://unspeakablejoymovement.blogspot.com/2015/07/unspeakable-joy-exchange-round-three_26.html

When We Value Others Above Ourselves

There is a time where we often come across people who are wealthy and live accordingly. Just like many towns do, there are different wealth statuses among the people. I live in an area of Georgia where the people are definitely not hurting for money. We have our different parts of town that make it not all prosperous. But when I go places, I often see people with fancy cars, nice clothing, and perfect hair. The lawns are well manicured and people hire out for most of the dirty work around their homes.

This is supposed to be the Bible belt of America. 

Now having a lot of money doesn't make a person a bad one. But when the world around us is hurting, why are we living so abundantly?

It's easy for a person to get the green eye for what others have while we want to keep up with the Joneses. You see them doing well thinking life must be so grand. In our eyes, they don't have to worry about a thing but live with that feeling of always winning, always looking the best, and always feeling successful. As Americans, we strive to get more and more of whatever we can to gain that status. Sometimes, it's in hope to feel better, be happier, and suffer less. 

But what if our story is not meant to be lived longing for material wealth and gain? What if our story is meant to be completed by the Author and not by what we so desire in this world? For many of us, even with pay raises, we still find ourselves living paycheck to paycheck. But what if living with less and living more to help others is a better gain?  Where is the direction of our hearts going when we find ourselves longing for new stuff all of the time? Do we really end up using everything that we even have? 

These are questions for us all to be examining ourselves with often as we go to make each purchase. We should be thinking more about what God is calling us to do with the money He has blessed us with so wonderfully. It's time we help each other stand accountable to our purchases and think of what we might be able to do with our money instead. 

I read some statistics about poverty here in America that are shocking. While it appears that many people have it together, a lot of our country doesn't even have enough to eat. According to feedingamerica.org, in 2013, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 33.3 million adults and 15.8 million children. In other words, 14 percent of households (17.5 million households) were food insecure. Even more surprising is that there were eight states that were significantly higher in food insecurity, one being Georgia at 16.6% of households. 

So while many in my area are living lavish lives, there are families in other areas struggling to eat. Even more, there is a large amount of people living homeless lives. According to endhomelessness.org, in January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States. About 9 percent of homeless people- 49,933- are veterans, the very people who fought for the freedoms for our country. Now I don't know about you, but these are alarming facts. And this is just what is happening on our own land. 

Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. 

Think about other parts of the world and how people are suffering. The poverty in South America is very high (31.8% of people) with the highest rates being in Columbia, Bolivia, and Venezuela. In Bolivia, 60% of the people live in poor conditions with only 86% having access to running water. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_South_America)

In Africa, disease and lack of human resources such as water contribute to the continent's poverty levels. "In 2006, 34 of the 50 nations on the UN list of least developed countries are in Africa. In many nations, GDP per capita is less than US$5200 per year, with the vast majority of the population living on much less. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Africa). 

Why do we live so abundantly when we are called as Christians to help the poor? 

Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

I am as guilty as anyone who has tried to keep up with the Joneses. I'll see things wanting to have it right away. My eyes get big and I tell myself, "I MUST HAVE THIS NOW!" 

Yet, I am constantly cleaning and going through stuff to get rid of in my home. I feel like I am fairly good about things compared to a lot of people in that I don't go overboard with clothing or shoes for myself or my children. But I still feel like we have an abundance that is a bit much, especially when what I spent could have been used to help another person. 

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

What are some ways that you can think of to help others out? How can God use your story to help for the good of others? What kinds of things can you give up out of convenience to bless another? 

One big satisfaction in my life is being able to host this Unspeakable Joy Exchange. God laid it on my heart one night to begin a fun way to help others fund-raise for various needs. We have a new one beginning this week that I am hoping will bless another family (keep your eyes open for when it starts). Please join me in prayer as I prepare for the organization of it. And please pray that as a community, we can all come together to help another out.