Two brothers visited the United States with their spouses. The older brother set up shop, had a family, and settled down. He became a student of the culture and he and his family devoured it. They learned the language, forgot their old outdated customs even changing their way of dress. Soon they blended and he applied for a green card.
The younger brother remembered it was only a temporary situation. He settled enough to have a family but, always spoke of their true home to his children. After all they had never been there. Not, only did he speak of it to his children but, to people around him. The connection to his homeland was so strong within him it could not be snuffed out by anyone. Being around him was to breath in the younger brothers culture. Unlike his older brother he never forgot his current residence was only temporary. He knew he would one day be going home.
The amazing thing about the idea of the kingdom of God is that it doesn't just exist after we die. It exist now, today. We as Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God. I have to admit somedays I am like the older brother breathing in the culture changing my ways to fit the world around me. Other days I am like the younger one focusing on the eternal kingdom. But, to be able to do that all the time we have to have the mind set of "Thy Kingdom Come".
A simple word search in the book of Matthew shows the word kingdom 53 times. I'm thinking this is a concept we should be getting our heads around. The thought that our body was made for the moment but our hearts and souls for eternity. Part of living for an imperishable kingdom is breathing in our own "culture". Do we even know our own culture? Most of all, are we afraid to live it out?
The best place to start is in God's word. If you want to know God's customs and ways of doing things seek him out. Then, let's not be afraid to live it out. Remember you are a daughter of the king.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Oh, the Horror
My baby, my little sweet girl as been neglected. By of all people, her parents. She has....ringworm. Oh, the horror. I feel like I need a bath just writing it down. It makes me feel so dirty. It is comparable to telling people you have lice. We have no clue were she got it from. What's worse it's all over her tush which is why we let it go so long. We were treating it as diaper rash. I can see it right now, me in the doctors office with the doctor questioning my ability to parent a child, let alone four. We are trying natural and over the counter remedies. We will see.
It's amazing how God can take anything and teach a lesson from it. I can't help but to think if there are little sins in my life that I wouldn't tell anybody until it got so out of control I had no choice. For example how often would you share something like..."Today I yelled and yelled at my kids until the youngest one cried and the older ones just shut down completely." Something we as mothers would probably not share, even with a close friend. But, if someone else told us that and then asked you to pray with them would you maybe think yourself the better parent? Or would you relate and admire her boldness to expose her own flaws? Sin is eventually exposed,if to no one else, our children.
TODAY MY PRAYER IS THAT GOD WOULDN'T EXPOSE ME, BUT MOLD ME.
By the way any of you way knowledgeable moms know any natural remedies for Ringworm, please send it my way!!!!!!
It's amazing how God can take anything and teach a lesson from it. I can't help but to think if there are little sins in my life that I wouldn't tell anybody until it got so out of control I had no choice. For example how often would you share something like..."Today I yelled and yelled at my kids until the youngest one cried and the older ones just shut down completely." Something we as mothers would probably not share, even with a close friend. But, if someone else told us that and then asked you to pray with them would you maybe think yourself the better parent? Or would you relate and admire her boldness to expose her own flaws? Sin is eventually exposed,if to no one else, our children.
TODAY MY PRAYER IS THAT GOD WOULDN'T EXPOSE ME, BUT MOLD ME.
By the way any of you way knowledgeable moms know any natural remedies for Ringworm, please send it my way!!!!!!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Hallowed be Thy Name
My kids and I have been memorizing and studing the Lord's Prayer in school. It is a beautiful prayer and I thought I would go over it in my blog too because I have been getting so much out of it. Memorizing any scripture is awesome. God's word will never return void. I learned the prayer in a public school, if you can believe that. I had an old school teacher that said we were going to recite it everyday and there was nothing anybody could do to stop her. I still hear the Lord's Prayer in that old ladies voice when I say it out loud. God bless her. I'm sure she has gone on to be with the Lord. Now it is our turn to pass it on.
The first two lines in the Lord's Prayer are "Our Father in heaven, allowed be your name." Matt 6:9. This can be a little humbling. I mean, how many of us go to the Lord with our want list when we pray. Sounding something like this, "God, you know me and I have such a limited time for you. Please take care of little Jojo and Mary. Also, please change my husband you know he needs it. Also, whatever else it is I'm suppose to be praying about for my friend from church. Amen"
In verse eight of chapter six, in Matthew, the last thing Jesus says is God knows what we need before we ask and the first thing he starts out with in prayer is praise to God. Maybe, we make the mistake of forgetting that he is always with us, so if we aren't keeping him up to date on our lives we think he won't know. In the last chapter in Matthew, last verse Jesus says, "..and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Starting out with praise in our prayer time reminds us that He is God and we are not. I grew up in the Pentecostal Holiness church. I once heard a praise and worship leader describe his idea of what took place with congregational worship. A usual service would first play up beat music or "praise" and then slower more chorus type music "worship". He viewed "praise" as entering the outer court and "worship" as entering into the holy of holies. I think this is a beautiful way to be reminded that through Jesus we are welcomed into God's very presence. A place that before his sacrifice on the cross, only few went. If this is the only thing you thank God for in your prayer time. Your good.
If you have trouble getting started in this area open your Bible and take a look at the Psalms.
Psalms 27:1,4&5
The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the
LORD
all the days of my life
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
David wanted to always be in God's presence. You can see as you read on that through praise, he worked out his struggles being confident that God was in his day to day affairs.
For in the day if trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his
tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Sincere praise changes our view of God and his role in our lives.
The first two lines in the Lord's Prayer are "Our Father in heaven, allowed be your name." Matt 6:9. This can be a little humbling. I mean, how many of us go to the Lord with our want list when we pray. Sounding something like this, "God, you know me and I have such a limited time for you. Please take care of little Jojo and Mary. Also, please change my husband you know he needs it. Also, whatever else it is I'm suppose to be praying about for my friend from church. Amen"
In verse eight of chapter six, in Matthew, the last thing Jesus says is God knows what we need before we ask and the first thing he starts out with in prayer is praise to God. Maybe, we make the mistake of forgetting that he is always with us, so if we aren't keeping him up to date on our lives we think he won't know. In the last chapter in Matthew, last verse Jesus says, "..and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Starting out with praise in our prayer time reminds us that He is God and we are not. I grew up in the Pentecostal Holiness church. I once heard a praise and worship leader describe his idea of what took place with congregational worship. A usual service would first play up beat music or "praise" and then slower more chorus type music "worship". He viewed "praise" as entering the outer court and "worship" as entering into the holy of holies. I think this is a beautiful way to be reminded that through Jesus we are welcomed into God's very presence. A place that before his sacrifice on the cross, only few went. If this is the only thing you thank God for in your prayer time. Your good.
If you have trouble getting started in this area open your Bible and take a look at the Psalms.
Psalms 27:1,4&5
The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the
LORD
all the days of my life
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
David wanted to always be in God's presence. You can see as you read on that through praise, he worked out his struggles being confident that God was in his day to day affairs.
For in the day if trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his
tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Sincere praise changes our view of God and his role in our lives.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Live, Laugh, Love
I was going to start this post with, it's early in the morning, I have a cup of coffee in hand, and the house is quiet. That is how I planned to sit and write on my blog this morning. However, the baby woke up, it's 8 o'clock and the others are playing there DS enjoying a little break from school. I do have a warm coffee though. It's the little things that please us.
Having kids makes us enjoy the little things. The essentials we'll say. For example: sleeping, going to the bathroom,taking showers. Maybe the "essentials" is why people are willing to pay five dollars for a cup of coffee. You know, the truth is, I wouldn't change it. True, I would like more showers, but now I truly am thankful for them and if left in there long enough, miss the craziness of it all. Or at the very least feel sorry for leaving my husband alone with the natives.
Kids are great and they add such a dynamic to a household that one can never dream of before hand. In putting some thought into this, I came up with a list of ten things I never thought I would hear myself say before kids.
1. When is the last time I showered?
2. When is the last time you showered?
3. Is it okay to wear to Wal-Mart what I slept in last night?
4. I think I have adjusted to the smell.
5. Never, never put something from your nose in mommy's mouth or anybody else.
6. I love you, but back up from me for a few seconds while mommy counts.
7. I never even imagined that I would ask for a description of bodily fluids. Although, this does come in handy during sick season.
8. Are you sure you want them to spend the night? I know you are the grandparent but, it's a lot of work.
9. What's in your mouth? Should we call poison control?
10. Yes, she is growling. We are trying to teach her not to do that.
It is a great time of life. After all, a cheerful heart does the soul good like a medicine. When I loose the ability to laugh then I become out of focus. If there is something you've said you never imagined either, let me know.
Having kids makes us enjoy the little things. The essentials we'll say. For example: sleeping, going to the bathroom,taking showers. Maybe the "essentials" is why people are willing to pay five dollars for a cup of coffee. You know, the truth is, I wouldn't change it. True, I would like more showers, but now I truly am thankful for them and if left in there long enough, miss the craziness of it all. Or at the very least feel sorry for leaving my husband alone with the natives.
Kids are great and they add such a dynamic to a household that one can never dream of before hand. In putting some thought into this, I came up with a list of ten things I never thought I would hear myself say before kids.
1. When is the last time I showered?
2. When is the last time you showered?
3. Is it okay to wear to Wal-Mart what I slept in last night?
4. I think I have adjusted to the smell.
5. Never, never put something from your nose in mommy's mouth or anybody else.
6. I love you, but back up from me for a few seconds while mommy counts.
7. I never even imagined that I would ask for a description of bodily fluids. Although, this does come in handy during sick season.
8. Are you sure you want them to spend the night? I know you are the grandparent but, it's a lot of work.
9. What's in your mouth? Should we call poison control?
10. Yes, she is growling. We are trying to teach her not to do that.
It is a great time of life. After all, a cheerful heart does the soul good like a medicine. When I loose the ability to laugh then I become out of focus. If there is something you've said you never imagined either, let me know.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Ordinary Days Extraordinary Moms Surrogate Mom Trisha Taylor Interiew
This interview with Trisha was a true delight. Trisha is a homeschooling mommy to four. She is also a fellow blogger at oklahomataylors.blogspot.com. When I heard she had been a surrogate I knew I wanted to interview her for Crazy Days Of Mommyhood. I know you all will enjoy listening to her too.
Quicktime Player
Quicktime Player
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Recycled Encouragement
I posted a blog about a month back "I Don't Want to Be Famous Anymore." I mentioned someone that had encouraged me before we had kids. The Lord laid it on my heart to contact her and let her know what she had meant to me and my philosophies on motherhood. I have not talked to this person in about four years. I went to the Lord again in prayer wondering if I heard right. It is always easier to appreciate someone from afar, then to tell them and hear something like "Who are you again?" I mean, who wants to know that? The person I admired could not even recall my name. I didn't.
I set out to track down a number, e-mail, or something. I thought I remembered something about getting a number, but again it had been awhile. I made a week attempt to ask someone on Facebook for info. Predictable, I heard nothing. To which I assumed I had tried and God would most certainly be satisfied. To the contrary, I was cleaning and rearranging our homeschool area and opened a file that had been collecting dust for about a year or so. In it contained a church bulletin with her number, address, and e-mail. Okay, God okay. Arrogantly, I assumed she must really need my encouragement right now.
I ended up calling her. She was very gracious and glad I called. She asked for all my information. One day this week I received a family picture and newsletter from her. When I took out the picture and saw the family of nine, I got it. You see, they were about the age we are now when we first met them. There oldest is now 21. It was another life time ago when we were young newlyweds and thought homeschooling and large families were a little cooky. We are now cooky ourselves, homeschooling our brood of four. I looked at the photo and was encouraged to know the children I am raising today, will one day be the adult that through Gods grace, I can admire in the future. I needed that because as you may have read it has been a little crazy lately. I am so thankful that God continued to press me to obedience.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
WOW, My First Audio Blog!!!!!!
Hey, I am so excited to post my first audio blog today. I look forward to this being the first of many. We all know extraordinary moms living our their ordinary days in such an amazing way for Christ. This is one way I can highlight them to encourage all of you. So keep checking back for more interviews.
I interviewed my mother, Brenda Young. She is a 56 year old wife, mother, daughter and artist that has recently moved in with her aging parents. She is a Life Casting artist that has created pieces for well known ministries and is currently working on pieces for some nonprofit agencies in the Oklahoma City area.
In true form of Crazy Days of Mommyhood we bribed the children to be quiet while we figured out modern technology. So, if you hear children in the back ground every once in a while it's because I'm a mom, and that's the way it goes.
Quicktime player
I interviewed my mother, Brenda Young. She is a 56 year old wife, mother, daughter and artist that has recently moved in with her aging parents. She is a Life Casting artist that has created pieces for well known ministries and is currently working on pieces for some nonprofit agencies in the Oklahoma City area.
In true form of Crazy Days of Mommyhood we bribed the children to be quiet while we figured out modern technology. So, if you hear children in the back ground every once in a while it's because I'm a mom, and that's the way it goes.
Quicktime player
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Count Me In
Sometimes I let the everydayness of life carry me away to the point of neglecting my time with the Lord. Spending time in prayer and focus on Jesus and his hand print in my life.
My husband and I sat down together on the couch one day this week after he had gotten home from work. I have to admit I have been pressuring him for a little more "face time". After running out of things to say he asked, "So, what has your quiet time been like lately?" A question he has never asked me in our almost 14 years of marriage. I panicked a little. I thought maybe he had noticed.
"Why do you ask?" was my most holiest of replies. A little self conscious thinking I must have applied to much pressure for "face time" being convicted for two things at once.
I said to myself and him what most of us say. "Yeah, I need to do that." I hadn't been making that connection with God and at the moment my soul needed it. A day or so later I received an IM from a friend that asked me to pray and on top of that, requested me to read a certain scripture too. I said I would, because after all isn't that what a "good Christian" would say? The Holy Spirit had used my husband and a friend to hold me accountable. Accountable to the point that it brought me to the Lord in prayer and repentance. I started that prayer praying for someone else but ending it in seeking forgiveness for myself.
We need accountability. We need to have it and give it to others. If we are creating for ourselves comfortable relationships were nobody is challenged and no one is moving forward in our walk with the Lord than we become stagnet Christians. We live in a world were everyone goes unchallenged. The Bible says over and over again to encourage each other. Col 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.
We cannot serve our families as mothers on an empty tank. My purpose this week is to know Him better and encourage others to do the same with me. So, What's your quiet time been like lately?
My husband and I sat down together on the couch one day this week after he had gotten home from work. I have to admit I have been pressuring him for a little more "face time". After running out of things to say he asked, "So, what has your quiet time been like lately?" A question he has never asked me in our almost 14 years of marriage. I panicked a little. I thought maybe he had noticed.
"Why do you ask?" was my most holiest of replies. A little self conscious thinking I must have applied to much pressure for "face time" being convicted for two things at once.
I said to myself and him what most of us say. "Yeah, I need to do that." I hadn't been making that connection with God and at the moment my soul needed it. A day or so later I received an IM from a friend that asked me to pray and on top of that, requested me to read a certain scripture too. I said I would, because after all isn't that what a "good Christian" would say? The Holy Spirit had used my husband and a friend to hold me accountable. Accountable to the point that it brought me to the Lord in prayer and repentance. I started that prayer praying for someone else but ending it in seeking forgiveness for myself.
We need accountability. We need to have it and give it to others. If we are creating for ourselves comfortable relationships were nobody is challenged and no one is moving forward in our walk with the Lord than we become stagnet Christians. We live in a world were everyone goes unchallenged. The Bible says over and over again to encourage each other. Col 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.
We cannot serve our families as mothers on an empty tank. My purpose this week is to know Him better and encourage others to do the same with me. So, What's your quiet time been like lately?
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