Fresh from our Family Ministry reGroup (here at Group) with Dr. Brian Haynes, author of Shift: What it takes to finally reach families today.

Here are some ideas we brainstormed for helping parents easily write Scripture on their kids' hearts weekly:

* Write a verse on a chalkboard weekly that sits at the breakfast table (Brian's family does this).

* Print a verse and post it on the fridge for the week.

* Write on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker.

* Put it on a 3X5 card and put it on your car's dashboard.

* Save it weekly as your family's computer's screensaver.

* Text it to your kids.

* Put a note in their lunchbox.

* Use the "Talking Tom" app to have them say it and the app repeats it.

* Play it as music in your car.

What else would you add?

So my other two aha moments on the cruise (I mentioned one in my last blog posting). We rented a beater car from Tony off the side of the road on Grand Turks Island. And when we stopped for lunch, we had an amazing conversation with a restaurant owner (we were the only customers). She poured out her heart to my husband and me (he's an IT guy who's also a trained counselor). We were able to minister to her and I have to tell you that was the most meaningful moment on the entire cruise. It made me want more. In fact, I said to Ray that we could go on counseling missions just to let people talk to him!

The other thing is that I got assaulted by cruise staff to buy really expensive stuff to "cleanse toxins" from my body. I tried to explain to them that it was an issue of conscience that I didn't want to spend loads of money to "prioritize my health." I just kept thinking of a man from Africa who recently asked me to come do some training and I told him I couldn't afford it. How could I buy this stuff and not afford to minister to his leaders and kids? (I've been in touch with him since returning.)

So the outcome? As soon as I got back, I talked to Dave Thornton who leads our LifeTree Adventures (part Indiana Jones/part Mother Teresa), and said "sign me up." When I travel (with an exception here and there), I want to make a difference--not just get waited on!

So I'm planning to go on the LifeTree Adventure trips to deliver Operation Kid-2-Kid items to children in the Dominican Republic (Nov 5-12, 2011) and Costa Rica (March 10-17, 2012). Want to join me? Dave says my job will be to "love on" fellow travelers and children. I can't wait!

Check it out at www.lifetreeadventures.com

My husband and I just got back from a cruise. And, yes, we had a great, relaxing, wonderful time. That said, I also had three "aha" moments or God sightings that weren't courtesy of the cruise line.

The first one: So the last day I'm waiting in line for breakfast (after being pampered and waited on all week). And things are taking a little longer than usual. Okay, by the time I got back to our table, Ray was almost finished. And the line just kept passing me as I stood there and waited and waited and waited.

Then I got a little choked up. Not a lot...just a little.

And I thought...Really? Really? This is what chokes me up? It was a big aha moment. If that's what upsets me in life then God help me!

And I realized that we rise or fall to the level of luxury or deprivation we allow in our lives. I think it would be so easy to become so pampered that every little irritation becomes a big thing--and my flesh craves falling to that level. I had a "come to Jesus" moment where I decided that's not who I want to be. I'd rather rise to a deeper level of doing without so I learn to persevere and put up with hardship. That's where real living is. I don't think that's what the cruise line had planned for me, but it is what God had planned.

What about you? Are you rising or falling right now?

Previously, I posted that I wasn't able to come up with a word for my New Year's Resolution. So God was faithful to deliver the word to me---OPEN!

Soon after that blog, Group laid off 26 people and reorganized our business structure. The emotions of going through that and saying goodbye to much-loved co-workers was gut-wrenching. I totally agree with the business decisions; it's just hard to see people hurting, as you know.

Soon after the layoff, I duginto my new responsibilities. Needless to say: I have a LOT to learn! But thank God for an amazing team of people who have positive can-do attitudes and really know their jobs well.

I have a feeling I'm going to be stretched beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine. I've been asking God to help me be open to all the new ways of doing things, new responsibilities, and new people.

I love that God knows what's best for me--even when I don't. I'm open to what he has in store in 2011!

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions; they just seem to heap more guilt and a sense of failure on me when I don't achieve them. That's not really something I need--ever.

But last year, I heard about choosing one word as a goal for the year. I liked that. And I chose accomplishment. And as I look back on the year, I do have a sense of accomplishment--and that feels good! I think I probably accomplished more at work than I did in my personal life, but I'll still take it.

So this year, I've grappled with what my word should be. And I've thought of all kinds of words and can't land on one: finish, grace, learning, power in weakness (that's three), and more. I've stressed more about my one word than I really want to. So I'm letting it go. It shouldn't be this hard. And I'm back to no New Year's resolutions.

That doesn't mean I won't pursue growth or change; it just means I'll do it like I always do--one day at a time--with ups and downs along the way, but no overarching goal to shine a spotlight on my failures. Maybe then my word really is grace (oh, here I go again....let it go...let it go!)

How do you approach New Year's resolutions?