Dear 20-year-old Self

My husband always says he would never go back in time to change things because he is who he is today because of the joys and trials he's faced. I, too, am a product of not just genetics and environment, but of the circumstances that have come my way. I still wish I could change things in my past and honestly could provide my 20-year-old self with some wisdom. Since I can't, I am hoping my sweet 20-something friends and my children will heed what's here, and save themselves a whole lot of hassle...

Dear 20-year-old Self,

First of all, I just want to tell you that when you look in the mirror, you are gorgeous. I know what you're thinking, but you are NOT fat, you are NOT ugly and you are filled with potential. You are unique! Song of Solomon has it right: "You are beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you." (4:7).

While you should enjoy the sun, understand that exposure to it causes one of the nastiest cancers there is - malignant melanoma. Please use caution. Do not get sunburned. You have a genetic disposition to it. And, it causes age spots and wrinkles that you're going to be surprised with around age 40.

Speaking of age 40, that's also about the time you'll need reading glasses to see anything up close. It's truly frustrating when you can't read the tiny print in your Bible and have to get a new one with ginormous letters. You might want to just start off with that one, because you'll even have trouble reading all those notes you wrote in the margins of things you didn't want to forget. Write big.

Make it a habit to eat right now. Yes, that means portion control and good food groups - not just chocolate and fried foods. If you get in that habit now, you're good to go in the future.

Don't be so afraid. Take some risks. Yes, you'll fail repeatedly, but you'll have plenty of successes, too. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Phil 4:13) Don't be so worried about people's approval. Just make sure you're pleasing the Lord.

When you have kids (and you will - two amazing ones) don't be in a such a hurry for them to grow up. Enjoy every single moment of their little growing years. They will move out around age 18 and rarely make it back home. You are borrowing them from God for that short period of time, so really soak it in. By the way, do NOT get that Playstation for them. More time in front of a screen is not what they need, trust me. And pray and read the Bible to them more.

Have fun with your grandparents. Their lives intersect with yours briefly. And they are so much fun. Really learn from and listen to them. Save all the letters from your grandma about gardening. You could really use them later.

I know you don't like to cook, but try anyways. You're husband will thank you later.

And speaking of him - yes, it's Brad, relax - pray for him without ceasing. Wait till you see what he does for Jesus! It will blow your mind. And he ages really well. :) By the way, that thing I just typed is called an emoticon and it's a smiley.

Seek countless opportunities to serve. The opportunities to learn and pray are endless and right in front of you, but if you don't look for the places to serve, you could miss them. The world does not revolve around you.

Save your money. You're going to want to spend it and you're going to wonder at many times on this journey how you could ever possibly save, but do it. Even if it's just a little. And for crying out loud, TITHE! Do not wait until you think you can do it. Do it immediately. You will be blessed beyond measure and it will help in that whole saving process.

Don't compromise your beliefs. You know what is truth, because you've read it in Scripture. The world is going to try to convince you otherwise, but stick to the Word. So much peace and abundant life there. You think Madonna's bad? Just wait to you see Lady Gaga. Yes, that's her name. Seriously. Stop laughing.

You think your memory is bad now,  you just wait. You'll take lots of pictures, so that will help. Your husband will insist that you've been to the Milwaukee Zoo in 1994. Be sure to take pictures of that, because you have no proof and it disappears into the abyss.

Emphasize cursive to your kids. Make them practice. It starts to disappear in the 2000s to the point that your children's generation will not be able to read it. Make sure your kids can.

Don't waste your time watching "Lost" (a TV show in the future). Trust me, you can use that time so much more efficiently elsewhere.

Take time every morning for devotions. I know you are not a morning person, but every day will go better if you start it with Scripture and prayer.

When you find something you really like, get two of them if you can. It never fails that when it wears out, you'll wish you had an extra.

Never let the devil get a foothold. He will try your whole life.To get you to be upset with the little things to destroy friendships. As soon as you feel that negativity, give it to God and remember what is important - love, love, love.

Remember to have fun. God has given, and will continue to give, you so very much. Enjoy it all and be sure to thank Him for every bit of it.

That's all for now. I don't have time to tell you about cellphones, Facebook and flat screen TVs. You will love all three, but keep it in perspective and use them wisely.

By the way, God loves you so very much. Loves you, loves you, loves you. You are never alone. Make good choices.

In Christ who died for you ~ 48-year-old You

Now That He Has Your Attention

Recently, presidential candidate Michele Bachman made a comment that got a few folks riled up. She indicated that God was using natural disasters to get the attention of the politicians and the American public. She said, "I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'"

She was later asked on CBS's Face The Nation if she believed God used the weather to get people's attention. She made a comment about not being ashamed to say she believed in God and then said she made the above comment as a "metaphor." Since a metaphor is a comparison, I'm not quite sure what exactly she was comparing. It seems her metaphor comment was a cop out.

I quite like the comment Bachman made about God trying to get our attention, because I have no doubt God sometimes uses natural disaster to send messages to us. He did it several times in the Bible. In Exodus, He sent plagues that included a hail storm. In Jonah, He sent a storm on the seas to get the prophet's attention, In 1 Kings, Elijah tells of a drought sent by God. In Matthew, an earthquake occurs when God in the flesh of His Son, Jesus Christ, is crucified on the cross. Of course we also have Scripture talking of Satan using nature at his disposal, too, as in the book of Job. So, who then, is responsible for an earthquake in Virginia, a hurricane up the East coast, a drought in Texas, flooding from a tropical storm in Pennsylvania, tornadoes in Alabama or Minnesota and devasting spring flooding in Minot, N.D?

Could just be that's the way the earth spins, as I hear many folks say. But it could also be our Father. Let's face it, America is not making all the best choices in the world. Culture is taking us in directions away from Scripture: fornication, adultery, murder in abortion and homosexuality to name a few, the last two supported by our own president. The Bible isn't vague on these subjects. It's quite clear. But some folks don't seem to care what the Bible says. Paul warned this would happen in 2 Timothy 4:3 where it says, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." We got a few folks with itchy ears these days.

Whether God used the weather to send a message or not, it's certainly driving people to their knees. I'm hopeful while praying, many are doing a self-examination, asking themselves if the life they are living is in accordance with what God demands of us. And if changes need to be made based on that examination, are we making them?

We need to direct our attention back to the Word to find out if we are in obedience to Him and turn our lives around to be in accordance with it, even if it's not politically correct.

My husband and I are currently facilitating a class called "The Truth Project" which focuses on Biblical truths in all areas of culture. When participating in this class you realize how many lies people today are believing. How Satan is twisting God's beautiful Word and tempting so many to fall for these lies. The American people are being duped and falling for it. If people realized they were being bamboozled by Satan, would they turn from these sins? In 2 Timothy 4:4 Paul says during this "itching ear" period, people will turn away from the truth and turn to myths. What is the truth? Well, according to Jesus Christ, He is. (John 14:6) And Christ, John 1:14 says, is the Word made flesh. Therefore, the Word is truth.

Isn't it about time we started obeying it?

If God is using natural disasters to get our attention, well, folks, I've had enough. And I certainly hope you have, too. He's certainly got my attention. Turn back to the Truth. Do we really what to chance it and see what else might be thrown our way?

To Whom Are You Accountable?

I was a whipping post last week. The old saying "People shoot the messenger" is dead on, as I was getting quite the beating for delivering a few messages. In several instances last week, I felt called by our Father to "stand in the gap" between the world and Scripture and provide some Godly counsel to friends. Fully armed with the Bible and fully confident that God was doing the nudging, I went in with my whole heart sharing what He asked me to say.

What I hadn't counted on was that perhaps those friends didn't necessarily want to hear it. The reactions weren't ones of "Wow, that's exactly what I needed to hear!" but rather more along the lines of "Mind your own business." I was surprised and took personally the rejection of the messages.

Not going to God with the "What's up with this?" I instead vented to my husband. He responded with some Godly counsel of his own. He said, "To whom are you accountable?"

That silenced my pity party. I had forgotten who those messages were from. I had spoken exactly as the Father instructed and delivered it with the love and grace He's shown me over and over again. That doesn't guarantee God's message is welcomed with open arms. I had to be reminded of the many times Christ spoke and was pushed out of town to the point of hanging on a cross outside of one. Or Paul spoke and was flogged or stoned. I was grateful for that reminder from my husband.

I can honestly say even after his reminder, I was persuaded to never deliver another such message because of the hurt feelings I was nursing. That's when another friend, who is in my Christian accountability group, spoke up and said, "Isn't that exactly what Satan was hoping you'd do?"

This is not new information to me, but it sure is nice to have Christian brothers and sisters remind us of it when we face the very persecution Christ warned us about. The world hates hearing the truth and will hate us for repeating it, whether God told us to say it or not.

Have you ever seen the T-shirt slogan, "I'm the Christian the devil warned you about?" Yeah, well that's me. I'm armed with the Word and fully prepared to share it. Or how about that other T-shirt that shows a person getting out of bed and Satan is saying, "Oh, crap, she's up!"

It took a couple days and it took a few shed tears, but world ... I'm up.