Related Resources A Different Dream for My Child by Jolene Philo Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents by Susanne Scheppmann The Mom I Want to Be by T. Suzanne Eller Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Character Chart and CD by Renee Swope

Do you ever wonder how God's peace, perspective and purpose will find its way into your busy life? We know how you feel. So, we created "Everyday Life" as an extension of our radio and magazine ministry to encourage you in the many roles and relationships you have. You'll find articles and resources under each topic. So, pull up a cozy chair and stay for a while. And let us know what God is doing in your everyday life, we'd love to hear from you!

This Month's Feature Articles:

Take a peek inside Lysa's new book "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl."

Feeling Totally Inadequate
By Lysa TerKeurst

Satan delights in our feelings of inadequacy. He wants to help us stay there. He wants us to go to Bible study, learn the deep truths of God, leave all encouraged, and then come home and have a complete meltdown over ninety-seven brownies that didn't make the bake sale cut.

He wants us to entertain a very dangerous thought: "Why doesn't Jesus work for me?" When I let my brain run away with this line of thinking, I start wondering why Jesus didn't step in and help me remember the "no nuts" detail before it was too late. I mean, Jesus is quite capable of doing that, right? He is big and mighty, capable of moving mountains. Surely He could have stopped me from adding nuts and ruining those brownies. Maybe He just didn't care enough to stop me.
You see, if Satan can get us asking these kinds of questions, then we can easily justify distancing ourselves from God, once more reducing our relationship with Him to items on a checklist. I prayed. I gave. I served. I did my duty. Now, I hope God does His part and keeps blessing my life.

But "Why doesn't Jesus work for me?" is never the right question. Instead, when circumstances shift and we feel like we fall short, we should ask, "How can I see Jesus even in this?"
The only way I can ask myself this question is when I pull back from whatever situation I'm facing and separate my circumstance from my identity.

My circumstance in this case was supposed to be a wonderful and productive bake sale contribution that helped the school and made me feel accomplished. But my circumstance shifted, as circumstances so often do. It became a brownie mishap in which I redefined myself as a failing mom.

Ever been there?

Now let's state what is true. Despite my feelings, my identity stayed the same. I am a loving mom. I am a giving person. I am a woman who takes her responsibilities seriously.

But, when my circumstances got entangled with not measuring up, I redefined my identity by thinking thoughts like, "I am an irresponsible failure who constantly lets her kids down." This is a lie that leads me right where Satan wants me.
Becoming more than a good Bible study girl means I separate my shortcomings from my identity and let Jesus be the only measure of my worth. Separating the circumstance from my identity allows me to see the circumstance for what it is - a mistake. It doesn't mean I'm a failure as a mom; it means I was slightly disorganized about double checking the bake sale details. Instead of using my mistake as a club to beat myself up, I can choose to see it as a call to action.

Lysa TerKeurst is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and is the author of twelve books (including a Gold Medallion finalist and a People's Choice Award finalist) and numerous magazine articles. She has told her remarkable life story on national television and radio, including /Oprah/ and /Good Morning America/. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and five children.
Click here to buy "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl"

More Holiday Tips from Julie Sanders

Primarily From Your Pantry
Easy Holiday Recipes

Main Dish ~ Cincinnati Chili with Spaghetti (Fresh items: ground beef, onion, cheddar cheese)
1 lb. ground beef
2 med. Onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic (or 1 t. garlic powder to taste)
1 T. vinegar
1 T. A-1 or similar sauce
2 T. chili powder
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground allspice
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. salt
1 pint (2 c.) water
1 - 8 oz. can tomato paste
2 bay leaves
Brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Drain. To keep off the holiday pounds, "wash" it lightly in hot water and drain to remove excess fat. Add all other ingredients (not cheese) and cook low and slow for at least 3 hours, uncovered. Serve this over spaghetti noodles. Top with cheese. Yield: About 8-10.

Muffins ~ Holiday Spice Muffins with apple butter (Fresh item: none)
Mix together:
One box of spice cake mix
One 16 oz. can pumpkin
1/2 cup water
Blend well. No cupcake papers? Cut wax paper squares and use those, or spray muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 16-19 minutes, until they spring back lightly. Open a jar of apple butter from your pantry to serve. Feel guilty that it's so easy? Sprinkle a few nuts on top, and the guilt will pass. Yield: 1 dozen.

Dessert ~Pumpkin Cobbler (Fresh items: 3 eggs, margarine)
1 large 29 oz. can of pumpkin
1 - 12 oz. can evaporated milk
3/4 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
2 t. vanilla
1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
Fresh items:
3 eggs
1/2 c. (one stick) of margarine, melted
Mix all ingredients except the cake mix and margarine. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the cake mix over the mixture. Drizzle melted margarine over the dry cake mix. (You can also combine the cake mix and margarine first and then crumble on top.) Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes. Serve with cool whip. Yield: 12 servings.