Welp, here I am again friends and family. It's summer and the last time I blogged we were all sad because we had lost my grandpa. Now we are in the middle of trying to sell a house in a horrible market. Never a dull moment. When it's a trying day I have these crazy thoughts like, "The house isn't selling, the baby has been crying his head off, and why can't I loose this last 15lbs?" I know it's horrible.
A few weeks ago I went through this awesome time with the Lord. I felt moved to fast for a week. I fasted from food, screens, and I also put away the scale. It was so liberating. I actually set aside time to be with the Lord. The pressure to check my e-mail was, I'll be honest, mostly gone. I wasn't sure how it would be because I had never fasted before. I feel very American when I say, I was afraid of being hungry. I saw early on that it was about God being my sustenance for everything and that alone was satisfying.
While fasting, I did this little study on some women in the Bible. It was uplifting and encouraging in many ways. I think I may highlight some of them over the next few weeks. I wondered if they ever had thoughts of screaming babies, houses not selling and weight not lost. Maybe they did, but you know very few times does it give an abundance of physical descriptions if any. Which is what we mommies tend to get caught up on. I'm wondering even now how much mental energy I've wasted on this.
Let me tell you about Joanna. She is mentioned in Luke 8:3 as a follower of Jesus and the wife of the man that ran Herod's household. It says Herod. The man that sentenced Jesus to death. Do you get how outrageous that is, that this women would follow and support financially someone that could cause conflict in her own home, possible costing her husband his job? That is someone that is so focused on Jesus that nothing else matters. Wow. She refused to be defined by anything because the draw of the Messiah was too much.
It moves me and I hope it moves you too. I mean, if during my fast I realized it was about having communion with the Holy Spirit and him being my sustenance, then what has changed in the past few weeks? Why would I be going back to the same behaviors, the same mental patterns? Worrying about this and that and if God is really listening. That time that I set aside to be with the Lord was doing no favor to the Lord. It is I that need him. It is my sinful nature that needs his redemption and sanctification. Joanna and the other women that followed Jesus got that. They got it.
Yes, babies will still cry, houses will be sold and bought, and the lbs will come and go, but God.......and that is were I have to stop my blog tonight. But God...Lord......Jesus......Holy Spirit....Messiah.....He is enough.
Showing posts with label Guide Me Lord QUICK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guide Me Lord QUICK. Show all posts
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Legacy Of Discipline
As I have been going through my week praying about "legacy" and how that would apply to discipline wouldn't you know one of my own little chicks pulls a big doozy. I honestly thought about not posting or choosing another subject. I mean how can I encourage other moms about something it feels at this moment, I'm not great at myself? Isn't that what the devil wants us to believe? That we are no good as parents let alone disciplinarians. However, I can't change that this is still my focus for our family. To live a life of legacy, something worth passing on to the next generation.
When I was first married with out kids. We attended a church with many young families. Knowing we would one day have children, we couldn't help to observe them. To our benefit every Sunday there was two families that sat close to us that was most entertaining for a young couple.
The First family had six kids and they all sat perfectly in service like little angels. The other family had three kids with one that was everywhere. He would sit on the floor, climb under the seats, and mess with other peoples feet, Bible, or whatever. All the while his mom looking on and admiring his spirit as one that shouldn't be tamed. As young marrieds of course we wanted to have offspring like the first family. To be honest I think they ended up somewhere in between the two. Although, taming does often take place.
My hope was that one day I would have children that were not naughty. I didn't think about character or the heart of the child. I just didn't want a child crawling under a pew and bothering other people and let's face it, with a child that wasn't naughty they wouldn't bother me either. Alas, we learned in order for a legacy to take place a discipline of the heart must. Our children are future adults and character must be cultivated.
I can't tell you in this short blog exactly how and what to do to discipline your children. This week alone, there have been moments when I myself am at a loss and seek the Lord in earnest prayer for guidance. What I do know is that consistency is key.
In Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the
land...
If we are not consistent with our children we cannot expect our children to be in a word tamed. Obedience is a heart condition that takes discipline from parents to be obedient to God's word. If we are only disciplining our childrens' action and not their hearts character will not develop. In doing both we bring God's word to light in the legacy of discipline we live as a family.
I do like technical advice as well from a Godly perspective I'm going to attach several links for you to further research and pray over.
LINKS
Raising Godly Tomatoes
Shepherd Press
Family Life
Focus On The Family
Blessings on you and your family as you search out God's wisdom in the legacy your family would leave in this world.
When I was first married with out kids. We attended a church with many young families. Knowing we would one day have children, we couldn't help to observe them. To our benefit every Sunday there was two families that sat close to us that was most entertaining for a young couple.
The First family had six kids and they all sat perfectly in service like little angels. The other family had three kids with one that was everywhere. He would sit on the floor, climb under the seats, and mess with other peoples feet, Bible, or whatever. All the while his mom looking on and admiring his spirit as one that shouldn't be tamed. As young marrieds of course we wanted to have offspring like the first family. To be honest I think they ended up somewhere in between the two. Although, taming does often take place.
My hope was that one day I would have children that were not naughty. I didn't think about character or the heart of the child. I just didn't want a child crawling under a pew and bothering other people and let's face it, with a child that wasn't naughty they wouldn't bother me either. Alas, we learned in order for a legacy to take place a discipline of the heart must. Our children are future adults and character must be cultivated.
I can't tell you in this short blog exactly how and what to do to discipline your children. This week alone, there have been moments when I myself am at a loss and seek the Lord in earnest prayer for guidance. What I do know is that consistency is key.
In Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the
land...
If we are not consistent with our children we cannot expect our children to be in a word tamed. Obedience is a heart condition that takes discipline from parents to be obedient to God's word. If we are only disciplining our childrens' action and not their hearts character will not develop. In doing both we bring God's word to light in the legacy of discipline we live as a family.
I do like technical advice as well from a Godly perspective I'm going to attach several links for you to further research and pray over.
LINKS
Raising Godly Tomatoes
Shepherd Press
Family Life
Focus On The Family
Blessings on you and your family as you search out God's wisdom in the legacy your family would leave in this world.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Living a legacy
The word "legacy" means something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past: My husband's Grandma and Grandpa DeSpain were the best at passing on the stories of faith. They would tell stories of great grandparents and their love of the Lord. His grandma would say to us every time we left their home with our children, "Be careful. You have a million dollars worth of livestock in there." Just recently when we were leaving she stumbled over the words. She had a hard time remembering what she had always said. My husband filled in the words for her, " We have a million dollars worth of livestock grandma. We are going to be very careful." Although this wasn't one of the stories that she would tell that was steeped in the passion she had for the Lord it was a way for her to communicate her love for us over and over again so that all of us, even our children, were able to repeat it back to her.
In Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land...
Voddie Baucham Jr said in his book Family Driven Faith
"You and I are living in an age and in a culture that is tearing at the very fabric of Christian community. How many of us look at our teenaged sons and daughters and know they are not with us? How many if us lay our heads on the pillow at night and know that as soon as our kids leave te house they are probably going to leave the faith as well? All of the statistics point to children leaving when they go to college, but my experience and my conversations with Christian parents leads me to believe that the problem manifest itself much earlier."
"There are many worthwhile pursuites in this world, but few of them rise to the level of training our children to follow the Lord and keep His commandments. I desperately want my sons and daughters to walk with God, and I am willing to do whatever it takes, whatever the Bible says I must do in order to be used by God as a means to that end."
Living and leaving a legacy for our kids, I am convinced, has slipped as our priority, but never the less is our duty. So, what is a "legacy"? In short, it is taking on the responsibility to live out and pass on the Christan faith in such a way that it would be engraved onto our children's hearts and minds in hopes that they would stand steadfast against this world and pass on to the next generations a love for Jesus Christ and his statutes.
I'm excited about this topic and I am going to continue this topic in my next blog, hope you’ll join me.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Okay, Okay I've Been Away Awhile
Okay, okay so I've been away awhile. I honestly had contemplated not writing on my blog anymore. I mean, after all, isn't the world filled with enough talking heads, story tellers, and blog writers. Aren't I just flooded out by the crowd? "Go big or go home," is today's slogan. I'm pregnant, tired, and dealing with all of life's going ons. So, why even try?
And yet.......God persists on my heart.
I had ladies ask when I was going to post another blog or I would read an article about blogging and it's affect on others. Now I'm reading the book Twelve Extraordinary Women by John Mac Arthur.
I was reminded of this verse:
Hebrews 11:39-40
These were all commanded for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Go big or go home, is not God's calling card. It's the world's. God's is faithfulness to the call. Faithfulness to the point that we believe in the vision God has given us more than seeing the results.
That in a nutshell is what Crazy Days of Mommyhood is about. Faithfulness to the roll of mommyhood and a celebration of the mommies that heed this roll and take it serious. Mommyhood is a thankless roll. The little people we love and care for are not going to produce anything big and grandiose today besides maybe messes. We care for them whatever the age because we keep the vision that God in his time will make perfect.
So...I will blog, not sure of what a little blog writing can do in the sight of eternity, but I enjoy it and the Lord has laid it on my heart to do it. I encourage the rest of you to be faithful at the little things as well as big and do what the Lord is nudging you to do.
copyright 2009
And yet.......God persists on my heart.
I had ladies ask when I was going to post another blog or I would read an article about blogging and it's affect on others. Now I'm reading the book Twelve Extraordinary Women by John Mac Arthur.
I was reminded of this verse:
Hebrews 11:39-40
These were all commanded for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Go big or go home, is not God's calling card. It's the world's. God's is faithfulness to the call. Faithfulness to the point that we believe in the vision God has given us more than seeing the results.
That in a nutshell is what Crazy Days of Mommyhood is about. Faithfulness to the roll of mommyhood and a celebration of the mommies that heed this roll and take it serious. Mommyhood is a thankless roll. The little people we love and care for are not going to produce anything big and grandiose today besides maybe messes. We care for them whatever the age because we keep the vision that God in his time will make perfect.
So...I will blog, not sure of what a little blog writing can do in the sight of eternity, but I enjoy it and the Lord has laid it on my heart to do it. I encourage the rest of you to be faithful at the little things as well as big and do what the Lord is nudging you to do.
copyright 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
It has been awhile since I picked up on this passage. It is all so beautiful and thought provoking, convicting and uplifting all at the same time. I once heard a Dr. Dobson interview with John Elderedge. Elderedge had worked at Focus On The Family with Dr. Dobson for sometime before quitting and writing Wild At Heart. Dobson told Elderedge that he noticed a significant growth in him and asked what it was. His reply to him I will never forget. He said, " I just got tired of living off of yesterdays manna."
Wow! How profound! It has been years since I heard that and still, it sticks with me.
Exodus 16:24
Each morning everyone gathered as much as he
needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
God wants to take care of our everyday physical and spiritual needs.
I grow concerned for our Christian moms and families that believe that a constant connection to our Lord and Savior is not a vital need in our Christian walk. How can we point our children to a Jesus we ourselves only know in a distant way? God providing manna for the Israelites is an excellent example of our need for the sustenance that only He has to offer.
Exodus 16:19-20
Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.
We were made for companionship with the Lord. He wants to be our daily bread. He wants to give us Himself everyday. It is amazing how often I am willing to live off of yesterdays smelly manna.
When we have our spiritual life in tune with Jesus the physical is more easily conquered. If we rely on Him everyday and problems occur, then we are going to go to the one we go to already. If we are calling on our mamma, our sister, or our friends everyday then that will be our go to in our weakness as well. All these people may be a great support system, but they will never be a anchor in a storm.
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Psalms 32:6-7
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I want to encourage you as mothers and women to pray in every and all occasions. You are someone that can affect the future for the Lord. There is an old saying that says, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." We can affect the kingdom of God without leaving our homes. "A righteous man's prayers availith much." Seek God for His daily bread and become the woman God meant for you to be changing yourself and the children you serve.
copyright 2009
Wow! How profound! It has been years since I heard that and still, it sticks with me.
Exodus 16:24
Each morning everyone gathered as much as he
needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
God wants to take care of our everyday physical and spiritual needs.
I grow concerned for our Christian moms and families that believe that a constant connection to our Lord and Savior is not a vital need in our Christian walk. How can we point our children to a Jesus we ourselves only know in a distant way? God providing manna for the Israelites is an excellent example of our need for the sustenance that only He has to offer.
Exodus 16:19-20
Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.
We were made for companionship with the Lord. He wants to be our daily bread. He wants to give us Himself everyday. It is amazing how often I am willing to live off of yesterdays smelly manna.
When we have our spiritual life in tune with Jesus the physical is more easily conquered. If we rely on Him everyday and problems occur, then we are going to go to the one we go to already. If we are calling on our mamma, our sister, or our friends everyday then that will be our go to in our weakness as well. All these people may be a great support system, but they will never be a anchor in a storm.
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Psalms 32:6-7
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I want to encourage you as mothers and women to pray in every and all occasions. You are someone that can affect the future for the Lord. There is an old saying that says, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." We can affect the kingdom of God without leaving our homes. "A righteous man's prayers availith much." Seek God for His daily bread and become the woman God meant for you to be changing yourself and the children you serve.
copyright 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven
This was a hard one. How do you talk about God's will. It is a great thing when you are benefiting from God's blessing. But, how about when you are going through a time of suffering. We then question God's will in our lives. It is as though we believe we deserve his blessings and nothing else. This state of mind can be confusing causing us to stumble and believe that we are somehow out of God's will if any suffering at all takes place.
My heart was drawn to the thought that Jesus followed God's will unto death. I came upon a fellow blogger who I thought wrote most eloquently what was in my heart. He had taken a trip to the Holy Land and was brought face to face with the place Jesus was obedient to God's will.
"In the garden I reflected on the fact that by the time Jesus arose from his knees and surrendered to the kiss of betrayal and the soldier's military might -- Jesus had settled the matter of the cross in his heart. The will of that Father had become the will of the Son. It was here that Jesus accepted the Father's will and faithfully chose the way of suffering.
In choosing the will of the Father -- his atoning death on the cross Jesus agonized in prayer. Luke's gospel specifically mentions Jesus' "anguish" or "agony" (using the Greek word agonia, which can also mean "struggle"). In the other Gospels Jesus explains that He is "deeply grieved, even to death" (Mark 14:34; Matt 26:38). Those gospels also show Jesus as praying more than once before He was ready to accept the Father's will. His prayer time at Gethsemane was anything but peaceful and serene.
Throughout this journey through the last days of Jesus on earth we will see and feel the struggles, the agony and the humble surrender of our Savior. In this way we experience a deeper appreciation for the complexity of Christ's nature as both God and man. In Gethsemane, perhaps more than in any other scene of the Gospels, we see the fully human Jesus, the One who "in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
I am blessed by this reminder that Jesus understands when we are tested, when we are weak, when we aren't sure we want God's will for our lives. I am encouraged to know that Jesus knows our every weakness, and He is there to help us in our time of trial."
fullydevoted.blogspot.com
God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven means God's will is complete. It has eternal ramifications. The benefit of God's will being accomplished is that glory focused on God through both thanksgiving and suffering.
Thank you Jesus!!
My heart was drawn to the thought that Jesus followed God's will unto death. I came upon a fellow blogger who I thought wrote most eloquently what was in my heart. He had taken a trip to the Holy Land and was brought face to face with the place Jesus was obedient to God's will.
"In the garden I reflected on the fact that by the time Jesus arose from his knees and surrendered to the kiss of betrayal and the soldier's military might -- Jesus had settled the matter of the cross in his heart. The will of that Father had become the will of the Son. It was here that Jesus accepted the Father's will and faithfully chose the way of suffering.
In choosing the will of the Father -- his atoning death on the cross Jesus agonized in prayer. Luke's gospel specifically mentions Jesus' "anguish" or "agony" (using the Greek word agonia, which can also mean "struggle"). In the other Gospels Jesus explains that He is "deeply grieved, even to death" (Mark 14:34; Matt 26:38). Those gospels also show Jesus as praying more than once before He was ready to accept the Father's will. His prayer time at Gethsemane was anything but peaceful and serene.
Throughout this journey through the last days of Jesus on earth we will see and feel the struggles, the agony and the humble surrender of our Savior. In this way we experience a deeper appreciation for the complexity of Christ's nature as both God and man. In Gethsemane, perhaps more than in any other scene of the Gospels, we see the fully human Jesus, the One who "in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
I am blessed by this reminder that Jesus understands when we are tested, when we are weak, when we aren't sure we want God's will for our lives. I am encouraged to know that Jesus knows our every weakness, and He is there to help us in our time of trial."
fullydevoted.blogspot.com
God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven means God's will is complete. It has eternal ramifications. The benefit of God's will being accomplished is that glory focused on God through both thanksgiving and suffering.
Thank you Jesus!!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Your Kingdom Come
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.
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 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.
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?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine Shmalentines
I did not wake up this morning to doves overhead or a little naked baby hanging in the air with his arrow. I woke up to one child with a hurt knee, possible requiring a small surgery and a sick toddler. I recalled a question my daughter had asked me earlier this week she asked, "What did you want to be when you grew up when you were a little mommy?"
To which I quickly replied, "I wanted to be a mommy."
She thought and asked, "Did you know that you wouldn't be paid for that job?"
My husband and I heard the question and we just looked at each other with a shrug and little laugh.
But, it's true mothers aren't paid. We could agree on something cute like, we get paid in hugs and kisses. But, then we would also agree on days like today when "sick" is going around the house, I don't particularly want a kiss and I'm pretty sure I do not even want a hug. I would rather be paid in actual dollars. Not boogers and viruses. That way, maybe I could go on a date with my husband and cupid wouldn't even have to come. The excitement of eating at a table for two would be enough.
I used to think in the early days of motherhood, "Lord, Do you see me here!? I am struggling! Send someone to help. FAST! An angel, a friend, even a stranger will do."
The Lord brought these verses to my heart in those early days.
Psalms 27:13-14
I am still confidant of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
At the beginning of this chapter David says if my parents leave me, if everyone is gone. I will wait and trust in His goodness. I was encouraged and a little convicted by this. In the Bible I see a steadfastness in times of trouble. I'm reminded of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they said "If we live or if we die. We will not bow down."
Time has passed since my oldest were little and I still do not look forward to stomach viruses and colds. Valentines Days that go by with little fanfare will never be fun. After all I'm still a girl. However, this is my job and I will stand and see the goodness that the Lord will provide in and through my children. I will choose to be strong and wait to see His goodness in the lives of my children. Being a mom isn't easy. I do love the kisses and hugs but, I do it because I'm investing in something that counts. We as women will put all the time and hard work into college and then our career. Why wouldn't we give the same to motherhood? Our families deserve. Even though we are not getting paid we are still making an investment in our children and ultimately the Kingdom of God.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Help Wanted
It seems I hear of someone we know losing a job at least, once a week. It can be very scary. The loss of control that we feel can be overwhelming. My parents where in real estate during the 80’s, when we had the last recession. Real estate was a horrible business to be in at the time. It got so bad we eventually lived in a house without electricity for a time. When I think of the possibility of my husband going without a job I almost go into a panic. The thought of my children living in a house without utilities. What would I do? How did my mother handle it?
We ended up living with my grandparents for a season. As a child I didn’t care. It seemed like somewhat of an adventure. My grandparents had some land and a trampoline and I thought it was a great arrangement . Looking back now I see that it was a memorable experience because my great-grandmother was also living with my grandma. I’m sure all the adults didn’t think it was so great. However, for a short period of time we all had the blessing of living with four generations under one roof. Not very many people can say that in this day in age.
I had thought about writing ideas for saving money and cutting corners during a job loss or pay cut. I’m opting for words of encouragement. It is in times of crisis we need to remind each other who we are in Christ. We need this daily, sometimes hourly, and moment by moment even. Let times of trial remind us, that this world is temporary.
We have a place prepared for us that loss of jobs, illness, and strife cannot enter into. Until that time Jesus wants us to know we can still trust him.
So, what can we as women, wives, and mothers do to help.
1. Stand in the gap. During a time of hardship for our husbands. We need to stand in the gap of prayer. Go to the father on their behalf in prayer. In the book of Nehemiah the walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed. Nehemiah calls out to the Lord, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.” 1:10 He called out to the Lord in prayer before anything else. He made a plan during a time of rebuilding so that the city was not available to further destruction. At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve as guards by night and workman by day.” Neither I nor my brothers nor men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when we went for water.” 4:22, 23 They were always on guard. They wanted their city protected. We can do the same for others helping make them stronger in their weakened state by being vigilant and standing in the gap. Prayer should be our first weapon of defense.
2. Be his helper. Gen 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable.” In my Bible it says one of the things Eve is best known for, is completing the human pair. During hards times what can you do to help? Can you help answer hard questions to the kids? Is there someone or something that is usually difficult for him that you could be a buffer from? When things are difficult pray and watch for ways to complete him and be a help meet.
3. Trust God. My favorite verses about trusting the Lord are in Psalms Some trust in chariots some trust in horses, but we trust in the name if the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 20:7,8. No one likes change. Remember we serve a God that never changes. He can be trusted. If your husband comes to you and says he has an idea for big career change that he has been praying about, trust him. Trust that your husband can make the right decision. There has been times when I have trusted in chariots and horses in my life. Let us use this time to remind ourselves that we can rise up and stand firm.
My prayers go out for all of you that are suffering from job loses during this time. It may not be the plan you had, but who knows maybe your children will look back at this time 20 years from now and count themselves blessed.
We ended up living with my grandparents for a season. As a child I didn’t care. It seemed like somewhat of an adventure. My grandparents had some land and a trampoline and I thought it was a great arrangement . Looking back now I see that it was a memorable experience because my great-grandmother was also living with my grandma. I’m sure all the adults didn’t think it was so great. However, for a short period of time we all had the blessing of living with four generations under one roof. Not very many people can say that in this day in age.
I had thought about writing ideas for saving money and cutting corners during a job loss or pay cut. I’m opting for words of encouragement. It is in times of crisis we need to remind each other who we are in Christ. We need this daily, sometimes hourly, and moment by moment even. Let times of trial remind us, that this world is temporary.
We have a place prepared for us that loss of jobs, illness, and strife cannot enter into. Until that time Jesus wants us to know we can still trust him.
So, what can we as women, wives, and mothers do to help.
1. Stand in the gap. During a time of hardship for our husbands. We need to stand in the gap of prayer. Go to the father on their behalf in prayer. In the book of Nehemiah the walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed. Nehemiah calls out to the Lord, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.” 1:10 He called out to the Lord in prayer before anything else. He made a plan during a time of rebuilding so that the city was not available to further destruction. At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve as guards by night and workman by day.” Neither I nor my brothers nor men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when we went for water.” 4:22, 23 They were always on guard. They wanted their city protected. We can do the same for others helping make them stronger in their weakened state by being vigilant and standing in the gap. Prayer should be our first weapon of defense.
2. Be his helper. Gen 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable.” In my Bible it says one of the things Eve is best known for, is completing the human pair. During hards times what can you do to help? Can you help answer hard questions to the kids? Is there someone or something that is usually difficult for him that you could be a buffer from? When things are difficult pray and watch for ways to complete him and be a help meet.
3. Trust God. My favorite verses about trusting the Lord are in Psalms Some trust in chariots some trust in horses, but we trust in the name if the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 20:7,8. No one likes change. Remember we serve a God that never changes. He can be trusted. If your husband comes to you and says he has an idea for big career change that he has been praying about, trust him. Trust that your husband can make the right decision. There has been times when I have trusted in chariots and horses in my life. Let us use this time to remind ourselves that we can rise up and stand firm.
My prayers go out for all of you that are suffering from job loses during this time. It may not be the plan you had, but who knows maybe your children will look back at this time 20 years from now and count themselves blessed.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
PeePee Pants in the Morning
This morning I was reading about the Titus 2 women and then wondered over to Proverbs 31 women also. I sometimes have a hard time connecting, it seems like such a tall order at 7:00 in the morning. When my laundry is behind, I need to get the kids moving toward school, and I am positive that my baby is going to have to be completely changed out of peepee cloths because her diaper has probably leaked again. Then, I hope it's just peepee. Anyway, so then I remember a conversation my sister and I had about how I don't have to hang my head in shame before God. He didn't love me first to manipulate me into being a supermom. He just wants to love me and then love others through me as a result of that. Including my kids and husband. That doesn't seem like such a hard thing. Peepee pants or not.
Fireproof
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
Num 14:6-9
Today I was listening to an interview with the producer of "Fireproof". The Interviewer was pushing him to see if a "Fireproof 2" was going to come out next after such success with the first one. The producers reply was that he didn't know and wanted to wait on God. What struck me the most was that he said, "We are not going to go ahead of God, or work behind him. We are going to wait on his timing."
How awesome is that. Not being fearful of waiting on God. But, then moving when he says go. I read this passage about Joshua and Caleb and it convicts me. I mean these Israelite s had it in their hands and they were fearful because it was too big for them. But, these two young men would go against them all and say,Yes, we can. What God has for us is good we just have to trust him.
My prayer tonight is that I would trust him and wait on or act on what he says is good with the same intensity as Joshua and Caleb.
Num 14:6-9
Today I was listening to an interview with the producer of "Fireproof". The Interviewer was pushing him to see if a "Fireproof 2" was going to come out next after such success with the first one. The producers reply was that he didn't know and wanted to wait on God. What struck me the most was that he said, "We are not going to go ahead of God, or work behind him. We are going to wait on his timing."
How awesome is that. Not being fearful of waiting on God. But, then moving when he says go. I read this passage about Joshua and Caleb and it convicts me. I mean these Israelite s had it in their hands and they were fearful because it was too big for them. But, these two young men would go against them all and say,Yes, we can. What God has for us is good we just have to trust him.
My prayer tonight is that I would trust him and wait on or act on what he says is good with the same intensity as Joshua and Caleb.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)