"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
We raise our hands in praise today for God's goodness. We were short of paying for the books that we had printed for this year's shows. Our tax return covered a huge portion, but we were short by $1000. We decided not to tell anyone else, but to ask and wait upon the Lord. George Mueller was our example as he prayed and waited upon God to feed his orphans in England. (If you haven't read his biography, you should. It is amazing.) Anyway, the deadline was approaching - the end of March. We stopped between shows in GA at Tracy's office there. His two bosses also met that week. These two men of God had decided a week before to give Tracy mileage money from Texas to GA! It amounted to just what we needed! Thank you sweet friends!
God also filled me up with friendship as I got to visit with two amazing women! They are my husband's bosses' wives and we met 20 years ago at seminary, but we live in three different places. I walked away rejoicing at my God's provision.
Hint of the day: Look to God for your needs. He cares for you. He has provided cowboy boots and groceries, a computer and a car. Take your needs to God and then remember to praise Him and thank Him for His goodness. We keep a journal of God's provision in our lives, so that we don't forget His goodness. Don't forget to point out to your kids God's provision. That will build their trust in Him.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
ACT AS IF
"Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God."
1 Peter 2:16
God's word is clear. If you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then you are saved; you are a princess - a daughter of the King of Kings; you are fearfully and wonderfully made; you are no longer in bondage to sin and shame. But let's face it, even though that is truth, we sometimes don't feel that it is and we even go so far as to not believing that these things are true.
The "Act as if" principle simple says that when you don't feel these truths, act as if they are true and pretty soon your emotions will follow. A friend of mine was in a tough custody battle. Her day in court came and she took on the position of the abused wife. Her head was lowered, her body language showed her defeat. Then she remembered that we had prayed just that morning that she would remember that she was a princess. She lifted up her head, looked everyone in the eye, and stood her ground against false accusations and won the case! She was so excited that she had acted out the truth instead of the old lies.
Another time my two prospective daughters-in-law were going to be spending some time with us. My mother had often told me that it was a good thing that I had boys because I would make a terrible mother to girls. I had nightmares the first night they were there and called my friend who is a Christian counselor. She taught me the "Act as if" principle. So, I acted as if I was the best soon to be mother-in-law ever! We had a blast! We made things, and shopped, and talked, and cooked, and had a great time. When they were ready to leave, I knew that I was going to be the best mother-in-law ever! I had replaced a lie with the truth.
So, if you are not feeling your princess status this morning, get up and get going and act as if you are a princess - royalty! This does not mean snotty and demanding, by the way! Just worthy, loved, appreciated, and cared for!
Hint for the day: Your brothers and sisters in Christ (including husbands and children) are also princes and princesses. Remember to treat them with that respect even when they are not acting that way. Their reaction over time will be to act as the royalty that they are also! Respect demands respect.
1 Peter 2:16
God's word is clear. If you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then you are saved; you are a princess - a daughter of the King of Kings; you are fearfully and wonderfully made; you are no longer in bondage to sin and shame. But let's face it, even though that is truth, we sometimes don't feel that it is and we even go so far as to not believing that these things are true.
The "Act as if" principle simple says that when you don't feel these truths, act as if they are true and pretty soon your emotions will follow. A friend of mine was in a tough custody battle. Her day in court came and she took on the position of the abused wife. Her head was lowered, her body language showed her defeat. Then she remembered that we had prayed just that morning that she would remember that she was a princess. She lifted up her head, looked everyone in the eye, and stood her ground against false accusations and won the case! She was so excited that she had acted out the truth instead of the old lies.
Another time my two prospective daughters-in-law were going to be spending some time with us. My mother had often told me that it was a good thing that I had boys because I would make a terrible mother to girls. I had nightmares the first night they were there and called my friend who is a Christian counselor. She taught me the "Act as if" principle. So, I acted as if I was the best soon to be mother-in-law ever! We had a blast! We made things, and shopped, and talked, and cooked, and had a great time. When they were ready to leave, I knew that I was going to be the best mother-in-law ever! I had replaced a lie with the truth.
So, if you are not feeling your princess status this morning, get up and get going and act as if you are a princess - royalty! This does not mean snotty and demanding, by the way! Just worthy, loved, appreciated, and cared for!
Hint for the day: Your brothers and sisters in Christ (including husbands and children) are also princes and princesses. Remember to treat them with that respect even when they are not acting that way. Their reaction over time will be to act as the royalty that they are also! Respect demands respect.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
God's Rest
"So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." Hebrews 4:9
"Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
There is a rest to come - heaven! But there is also the ability to rest here and now in spite of the circumstances. In the midst of raising kids, going to the office, taking care of older parents, meeting the needs of the family, and occassionally finding time for yourself, there is rest. Rest is an easyness of heart. It is quieting the mind and soul and meditating on Jesus and the word. Rest comes with praise and with relinquishment of those things that we cannot change, but that we just put into God's hands.
Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."
If God, who is everlasting, has it under control then my worry and busyness is not going to help, but may hinder. "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. Another version says, "Cease striving..." Allow yourself times of rest. That may be at 5:00 in the morning or 12:00 at night. Elizabeth Wesley, mother of ten, found rest by sitting at the table and putting her apron over her head! The kids knew that the apron meant that mom was praying and they needed to be quiet.
Still your mind that God may steal your heart!
Hint for the Day: When our kids were younger and we were homeschooling we had an enforced rest period for one hour after lunch each day. The little ones napped, the toddlers looked at books or did puzzles, the older ones could play quietly in their rooms, and mom went to her room to rest, read, soak, or get dressed and put on her make-up! When we regrouped afterwards, we were refreshed and ready to deal with each other again. Even your kids need a break from siblings. The days that the rest time didn't happen, there were more fights, more complaining, and I know I was more tired and irritable. Rest - a daily need.
"Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
There is a rest to come - heaven! But there is also the ability to rest here and now in spite of the circumstances. In the midst of raising kids, going to the office, taking care of older parents, meeting the needs of the family, and occassionally finding time for yourself, there is rest. Rest is an easyness of heart. It is quieting the mind and soul and meditating on Jesus and the word. Rest comes with praise and with relinquishment of those things that we cannot change, but that we just put into God's hands.
Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."
If God, who is everlasting, has it under control then my worry and busyness is not going to help, but may hinder. "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. Another version says, "Cease striving..." Allow yourself times of rest. That may be at 5:00 in the morning or 12:00 at night. Elizabeth Wesley, mother of ten, found rest by sitting at the table and putting her apron over her head! The kids knew that the apron meant that mom was praying and they needed to be quiet.
Still your mind that God may steal your heart!
Hint for the Day: When our kids were younger and we were homeschooling we had an enforced rest period for one hour after lunch each day. The little ones napped, the toddlers looked at books or did puzzles, the older ones could play quietly in their rooms, and mom went to her room to rest, read, soak, or get dressed and put on her make-up! When we regrouped afterwards, we were refreshed and ready to deal with each other again. Even your kids need a break from siblings. The days that the rest time didn't happen, there were more fights, more complaining, and I know I was more tired and irritable. Rest - a daily need.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Jesus wept
"Jesus wept." John 11:35
"When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.'" John 11:43
These verses changed my life! I had learned that depression was the way to handle life's circumstances when life was overwhelming or chaotic or sad. Then I saw that Jesus wept, but He didn't stay there! The next 8 verses tell of Him getting up and raising LazarusI!
It is okay to be sad, to grieve, to be overwhelmed, and to weep. Jesus did. But it is not okay to wallow in the grief or sadness. As time passes, we are to get up and be about the Father's business.
I used to think that Philippians 3:13-14 ("...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...") meant that I couldn't take the time to deal with the hurts of the past and present, but that I was to just keep looking forward. I was learning that one cannot go forward, until one has dealt with the past and then put it behind. Repressing the hurt or anger only leads to destruction, depression, and even death. It is okay to weep!
A friend told me that forgetting and reaching were active verbs. In other words we are to be about the business of putting the past behind and we are to be about the business of reaching forward. She described a big bonfire. That fire is our past. We may be crawling away, walking away, or running away, but we need to be actively moving away. It is a process. Sometimes that process comes with weeping and groaning and, hopefully, lots of prayer.
Then, when the weeping is over, the fire can no longer burn us, and we can reach for the hope of the cross and eternal life. A Christian who smiles and glazes over anything that would be sad is fake and will eventually reap the consequences of burying their feelings. A Christian who weeps, who lays prostrate before God in anguish, and then rises to victory and effectiveness will reap joy.
Are you in a season of weeping? If you are, that's okay, just don't stay there. Remember, Jesus wept, but then He got up and raised Lazarus from the dead!
Hint for the Day: If you are dealing with bitterness, anger, or grief, give yourself time. These emotions take a lot of energy. It is okay if you cannot function up to your normal level during these times. Make meals easy, don't over commit, and give yourself extra time to be in the word and on your knees. Tomorrow will come with rejoicing and praise. Go to Jesus, He is there and He understands.
"When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.'" John 11:43
These verses changed my life! I had learned that depression was the way to handle life's circumstances when life was overwhelming or chaotic or sad. Then I saw that Jesus wept, but He didn't stay there! The next 8 verses tell of Him getting up and raising LazarusI!
It is okay to be sad, to grieve, to be overwhelmed, and to weep. Jesus did. But it is not okay to wallow in the grief or sadness. As time passes, we are to get up and be about the Father's business.
I used to think that Philippians 3:13-14 ("...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...") meant that I couldn't take the time to deal with the hurts of the past and present, but that I was to just keep looking forward. I was learning that one cannot go forward, until one has dealt with the past and then put it behind. Repressing the hurt or anger only leads to destruction, depression, and even death. It is okay to weep!
A friend told me that forgetting and reaching were active verbs. In other words we are to be about the business of putting the past behind and we are to be about the business of reaching forward. She described a big bonfire. That fire is our past. We may be crawling away, walking away, or running away, but we need to be actively moving away. It is a process. Sometimes that process comes with weeping and groaning and, hopefully, lots of prayer.
Then, when the weeping is over, the fire can no longer burn us, and we can reach for the hope of the cross and eternal life. A Christian who smiles and glazes over anything that would be sad is fake and will eventually reap the consequences of burying their feelings. A Christian who weeps, who lays prostrate before God in anguish, and then rises to victory and effectiveness will reap joy.
Are you in a season of weeping? If you are, that's okay, just don't stay there. Remember, Jesus wept, but then He got up and raised Lazarus from the dead!
Hint for the Day: If you are dealing with bitterness, anger, or grief, give yourself time. These emotions take a lot of energy. It is okay if you cannot function up to your normal level during these times. Make meals easy, don't over commit, and give yourself extra time to be in the word and on your knees. Tomorrow will come with rejoicing and praise. Go to Jesus, He is there and He understands.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Emotions: The engine or the caboose
"Therefore humble yourselves, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
When our emotions are raging or weeping or ecstatic we are to humble ourselves before God. That humbling is putting our emotions in the correct perspective. If we allow our emotions to be our train engine, then our reactions and decisions will be born out of the emotion of the moment, not godly truth and counsel. Emotions are not wrong. God had emotions and we are made in His image. But how we handle our emotions will separate us from the immature.
A mature Christian always lays his/her emotions before the truth of God's word and chooses to stand on that truth. My emotions were locked away for many years. Before I could allow God to have my whole heart, I had to let the walls down around my heart so that He could get to it. Then I was able to let Him heal and claim my heart. I was able to do this based on God's truth: "...He cares for you." I had read enough Scripture, had been in His presence, and had seen Him work in my life enough to know that I could trust God with my heart.
When I want to follow my emotions now, I first seek God's truth. Then, as I stand on that truth, He brings my emotions into line. Oh yeah, I can still be emotional, but my emotions are the caboose of God's truth, not the engine. This keeps them in perspective. Even if I don't feel like praising, God is still worthy of praise. As I begin to praise, my emotions come along and finally I am singing with a whole heart before my King.
Hint of the Day: Some kids need help naming and recognizing emotions. You can show them a page of cartoon faces showing different emotions and ask them to point out how they are feeling. Or you can show them the page and have them try to put the emotion with the face. We also act out emotions at an unemotional time pretending that we are mad, angry, scared, happy, excited, etc. This will make them more comfortable with their emotions and make them better writers someday! Also, don't be afraid to show raw emotion around your children. Just explain to them that that was how you were feeling, but that God's word says "..." and that is how you will choose to act in that circumstance. Ffr instance, your friend hurts you and you are angry. Be angry, but sin not. Stomp and storm and say, "I am so angry." But then let the kids see you pray for your friend, buy your friend a gift, and make up with that friend. This will give them a role model to follow when they are angry rather than stuffing the feelings or acting out the emotion.
When our emotions are raging or weeping or ecstatic we are to humble ourselves before God. That humbling is putting our emotions in the correct perspective. If we allow our emotions to be our train engine, then our reactions and decisions will be born out of the emotion of the moment, not godly truth and counsel. Emotions are not wrong. God had emotions and we are made in His image. But how we handle our emotions will separate us from the immature.
A mature Christian always lays his/her emotions before the truth of God's word and chooses to stand on that truth. My emotions were locked away for many years. Before I could allow God to have my whole heart, I had to let the walls down around my heart so that He could get to it. Then I was able to let Him heal and claim my heart. I was able to do this based on God's truth: "...He cares for you." I had read enough Scripture, had been in His presence, and had seen Him work in my life enough to know that I could trust God with my heart.
When I want to follow my emotions now, I first seek God's truth. Then, as I stand on that truth, He brings my emotions into line. Oh yeah, I can still be emotional, but my emotions are the caboose of God's truth, not the engine. This keeps them in perspective. Even if I don't feel like praising, God is still worthy of praise. As I begin to praise, my emotions come along and finally I am singing with a whole heart before my King.
Hint of the Day: Some kids need help naming and recognizing emotions. You can show them a page of cartoon faces showing different emotions and ask them to point out how they are feeling. Or you can show them the page and have them try to put the emotion with the face. We also act out emotions at an unemotional time pretending that we are mad, angry, scared, happy, excited, etc. This will make them more comfortable with their emotions and make them better writers someday! Also, don't be afraid to show raw emotion around your children. Just explain to them that that was how you were feeling, but that God's word says "..." and that is how you will choose to act in that circumstance. Ffr instance, your friend hurts you and you are angry. Be angry, but sin not. Stomp and storm and say, "I am so angry." But then let the kids see you pray for your friend, buy your friend a gift, and make up with that friend. This will give them a role model to follow when they are angry rather than stuffing the feelings or acting out the emotion.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Anger
"Be angry, and yet do not sin..." Eph. 4:26
I spoke on raising Godly children this past weekend and the issue of anger always comes up. Anger is not a sin. It is an emotion. God was angry with His people when they worshipped idols. We are made in His image and therefore, we get angry. But! What we do with that anger is our choice and sometimes that choice is sinful. Anger is a signal that something is wrong. That your needs are not being met. That you are not feeling loved or affirmed or appreciated.
When a child (and some adults) feel angry they need a physical release. We always suggest running, shooting baskets, or hitting a pillow. Let your child know that it is never okay to scream, yell, or hit or kick another person.
Once the physical release has calmed them down, then it is time to talk. The talk must be respectful and healthy. The communication must be honest and working towards a solution, not blaming, accusing, or name calling.
When anger is handled in this way, then it dissipates. When feelings are stuffed, they just build up and the next time they are angry, all the stuffed anger comes out as well. Then there is an explosion!!!
Hint of the Day: Keep your own anger under control by being filled up with the Word of God through prayer and praise. Speak honestly to someone when you are angry. And always end the communication with hugs.
I spoke on raising Godly children this past weekend and the issue of anger always comes up. Anger is not a sin. It is an emotion. God was angry with His people when they worshipped idols. We are made in His image and therefore, we get angry. But! What we do with that anger is our choice and sometimes that choice is sinful. Anger is a signal that something is wrong. That your needs are not being met. That you are not feeling loved or affirmed or appreciated.
When a child (and some adults) feel angry they need a physical release. We always suggest running, shooting baskets, or hitting a pillow. Let your child know that it is never okay to scream, yell, or hit or kick another person.
Once the physical release has calmed them down, then it is time to talk. The talk must be respectful and healthy. The communication must be honest and working towards a solution, not blaming, accusing, or name calling.
When anger is handled in this way, then it dissipates. When feelings are stuffed, they just build up and the next time they are angry, all the stuffed anger comes out as well. Then there is an explosion!!!
Hint of the Day: Keep your own anger under control by being filled up with the Word of God through prayer and praise. Speak honestly to someone when you are angry. And always end the communication with hugs.
Friday, March 16, 2012
God answers prayer
"So God heard their groaning; and god remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
Exodus 2:24
Think about it: God heard thte Israelites over in Goshen, Egypt and prepared Moses in Midian to lead them out of slavery. The next chapter is the burning bush call in Moses' life to go and be God's hand to the people of God. I don't think the people in Egypt saw that one coming! God is so great and is infinite wisdom and His ways are not our ways and His thoughts not out thoughts! ( Isaiah55:8)
Think about it: An amazing God had a plan from before time began and before sin entered the world to send His only Son and allow Him to die for us. People prayed for thousands of years for salvation, for rescue. God heard and answered.
Think about it: This same amazing God reached down into a family and called me to His throne room. He allowed me to dance before Him. He saved me and loved me with an everlasting love. Wow!
Think about it: He heard your prayer and called you home. He loves you and delights in you and forgives you. Amazing!
Hint of the Day: Teach your children to prayer by example. Be in a constant state of praise and prayer throughout the day. Practice the Presence of God always; dwell in His courtroom. the kids will see and learn!
Exodus 2:24
Think about it: God heard thte Israelites over in Goshen, Egypt and prepared Moses in Midian to lead them out of slavery. The next chapter is the burning bush call in Moses' life to go and be God's hand to the people of God. I don't think the people in Egypt saw that one coming! God is so great and is infinite wisdom and His ways are not our ways and His thoughts not out thoughts! ( Isaiah55:8)
Think about it: An amazing God had a plan from before time began and before sin entered the world to send His only Son and allow Him to die for us. People prayed for thousands of years for salvation, for rescue. God heard and answered.
Think about it: This same amazing God reached down into a family and called me to His throne room. He allowed me to dance before Him. He saved me and loved me with an everlasting love. Wow!
Think about it: He heard your prayer and called you home. He loves you and delights in you and forgives you. Amazing!
Hint of the Day: Teach your children to prayer by example. Be in a constant state of praise and prayer throughout the day. Practice the Presence of God always; dwell in His courtroom. the kids will see and learn!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Desire God or His gifts?
Boy, that question has caught me a couple of times! This goes along with yesterday’s post of yielding. Am I seeking God for a relationship – the good, the bad, and the ugly (in my limited scope), or am I seeking a holy Santa Claus that will give me what I want?
Sometimes, I hate to admit it, but I want what I want. I beg God for what I think is best. But when I back away, calm down, and let Him be God, then what I get is always better!
When I yield my rights and desires to an omnipotent, caring, loving God, I am rewarded with Him. And that’s enough!
What about you? Are you yielding up those things in your life that you complain about? Body image, singleness, sickness, grief, busyness, etc. to your Father Who Cares for You? Try it! You will experience sweet release!
Hint for the Day: My boys thought that sweets were the best thing ever! They wanted it all the time. Of course we said, “No,” some of the time. They had a week where they really complained about this. So, we decided to teach them that Mom and Dad know best. When they came down for breakfast the table was full of ice cream, candy, chocolate milk, etc. They thought they were in heaven. We let them have all they wanted. Lunch time came and we again put the sweets out. They weren’t quite as excited this time, but indulged anyway. By mid-afternoon, they were dragging! Dinner was the same, and they all begged for “real” food. We finally gave in and made them something nutritious. For quiet time that night we discussed asking God for what we needed, rather than what we wanted and how we can trust God even when we don’t get what we want!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Yielding
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6
Yield. That’s a hard concept. I know what I want. But what if it is not what God wants? I have to yield up my desires to God for what He knows is best for my children even if what is best for them is heartache and struggles. I want one son to get to go to Howard Payne University, a private Christian college. I want him to get to play soccer. But I also know that God does not want us to get into debt. If God does not supply money for this college, then he will live at home and go to the local state university. God will have something there for him. It may be ministry, it may be friends, or it may be a job. I don’t know. In my limited understanding, HPU looks like a better environment for Him.
I have a choice. I can manipulate the circumstances. I can and will pound the gates of heaven for him. But, ultimately, I must decide to yield to God’s better plan, even when I don’t understand.
Great heartache came into one of our children’s lives a few years ago. This came not from sin on his part but from sinful choices by another. I have struggled with the why? I have prayed for deep and lasting healing for my son and for all of us. But God didn’t do what I wanted Him to. God let me down. Do I begin to not trust almighty God who is good? Do I quit praying? No. I yield to Him knowing that He sees the big picture; that He is preparing my children for heavenly assignments by growing their trust and character here and now; that prayer does move the heart of God, but that God is sovereign. He has the right to say, “No.” I just don’t like it! I want to stomp my foot and throw a tantrum. I will instead yield.
Hint for the day: Teach your children when they are young that they can ask questions, but that you have the right to answer, “Yes, no, or not now.” Show them with a hug that you love them no matter what the answer is. This will lay the ground work for their relationship with God. He will answer, “Yes, no, or not now,” but He always loves them. Give a reason if you can for your answer. Kids need to know the why’s when possible. Sometimes, though the answer is, "Because I know what is best for you and even though you don’t understand, you will have to trust me.” This prepares them to accept God’s answers and bigger plan.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Remember
"When I remember you on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy."
Psalm 63:6-7
It is important to remember. We should remember God's goodness, His salvation, His works in the Bible, his work in our lives. Why should we remember? Because our God never changes! If He was once good, He is forever good. Our circumstances may be bleak, our outlook may be downcast, but our God is still good! When we remember, we can look up past the moment and hope for tomorrow. We can remember God's love and move into a spirit of praise and prayer that will again bring us near to God. He is always there. He always care. We must remember and return to Him.
I spoke with a beautiful Christian woman yesterday who is a grandmother. She says that she doesn't have her grandkids put away the toys at her house when they leave to go home. That allows her to remember each joyful moment with them as she puts each toy away. She remembers the laughter and fun that they had while playing with each toy.
I don't know about you, but sometimes my memory isn't so good! I get caught in the moment and forget yesterday. So, I journal. I write down all the good things that God is doing. Then when I need to remember, I can go to my journal and praise Him for His goodness!
Hint for the day: It is important for our kids to remember God's goodness also. Try to speak often of things that God has done in your lives. When we made a tough move from Texas to Florida when our kids were in elementary school, we had them make a newsletter of the move. They told how they had seen God's hand in preparing us for the move and even in the move itself. Then they told of the new place and the hope they had of making friends there and waiting to see what God was going to do. He was active in their lives. They remembered what He had done and were willing to bet that He would again be part of their new home.
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy."
Psalm 63:6-7
It is important to remember. We should remember God's goodness, His salvation, His works in the Bible, his work in our lives. Why should we remember? Because our God never changes! If He was once good, He is forever good. Our circumstances may be bleak, our outlook may be downcast, but our God is still good! When we remember, we can look up past the moment and hope for tomorrow. We can remember God's love and move into a spirit of praise and prayer that will again bring us near to God. He is always there. He always care. We must remember and return to Him.
I spoke with a beautiful Christian woman yesterday who is a grandmother. She says that she doesn't have her grandkids put away the toys at her house when they leave to go home. That allows her to remember each joyful moment with them as she puts each toy away. She remembers the laughter and fun that they had while playing with each toy.
I don't know about you, but sometimes my memory isn't so good! I get caught in the moment and forget yesterday. So, I journal. I write down all the good things that God is doing. Then when I need to remember, I can go to my journal and praise Him for His goodness!
Hint for the day: It is important for our kids to remember God's goodness also. Try to speak often of things that God has done in your lives. When we made a tough move from Texas to Florida when our kids were in elementary school, we had them make a newsletter of the move. They told how they had seen God's hand in preparing us for the move and even in the move itself. Then they told of the new place and the hope they had of making friends there and waiting to see what God was going to do. He was active in their lives. They remembered what He had done and were willing to bet that He would again be part of their new home.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monotony
First of all, I do wish to thank Rooms To Go and Verizon for responding to my emails and blog about their sponsorship of GBC. Both seemed sincere about being taken off of the advertising list of ABC's anti-Christian show. We really appreciate their attention to this matter!
We just got back from a homeschool conference in Colorado. We did finally get to see some mountains, but there was a whole lot of grassland in southern CO! But even in the mundane (about two hills and very few trees from San Angelo, TX through Amarillo to Denver) there was beauty. Tracy saw two or three coyotes. (I was sleeping!) The clouds and sky were ever changing and beautiful. And the farms and occassional small town broke up the monotony.
Sometimes I feel that life is monotonous. You know the routine: meals, laundry, ironing, chauffeuring kids to events, etc. And sometimes, I just get plain bored! But, when I look around and enjoy the moments, the people, the sky and all of nature and remember to praise my Father in Heaven for all the monotonous things in my life, my day takes on a new tone.
I am a people watcher, and we are a funny bunch! I was given the privilege to speak at the conference on Raising Exceptional Children: From Geniuses to Those with Learning Disabilities. We can get so caught up in our children's "issues" that we forget to enjoy them. Try giving someone in your life an extra smile today. Don't respond to them, but rather engage them. Don't expect their standard reaction and try to do something nice and out of the ordinary for someone today.
Hint for the day: When I am ironing, I pray for the person whose shirt is on the ironing board. When I am cleaning bathrooms, I try to praise God for children that make a mess! Try it. Try singing as you do the dishes, praising as you dust the furniture, and praying for each member of the family as you set their plate at the table. A monotonous task will become joyfilled!!!
We just got back from a homeschool conference in Colorado. We did finally get to see some mountains, but there was a whole lot of grassland in southern CO! But even in the mundane (about two hills and very few trees from San Angelo, TX through Amarillo to Denver) there was beauty. Tracy saw two or three coyotes. (I was sleeping!) The clouds and sky were ever changing and beautiful. And the farms and occassional small town broke up the monotony.
Sometimes I feel that life is monotonous. You know the routine: meals, laundry, ironing, chauffeuring kids to events, etc. And sometimes, I just get plain bored! But, when I look around and enjoy the moments, the people, the sky and all of nature and remember to praise my Father in Heaven for all the monotonous things in my life, my day takes on a new tone.
I am a people watcher, and we are a funny bunch! I was given the privilege to speak at the conference on Raising Exceptional Children: From Geniuses to Those with Learning Disabilities. We can get so caught up in our children's "issues" that we forget to enjoy them. Try giving someone in your life an extra smile today. Don't respond to them, but rather engage them. Don't expect their standard reaction and try to do something nice and out of the ordinary for someone today.
Hint for the day: When I am ironing, I pray for the person whose shirt is on the ironing board. When I am cleaning bathrooms, I try to praise God for children that make a mess! Try it. Try singing as you do the dishes, praising as you dust the furniture, and praying for each member of the family as you set their plate at the table. A monotonous task will become joyfilled!!!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Unbelievable? What should we do?
"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm. Stand firm therefore..." Eph. 6:13-14
Are you battle ready! Have you sat at the feet of Jesus, walked daily in His Word and in fellowship? I hope so because the day has come to stand firm.
That's right. It is totally unbelievable, but ABC is getting ready to air a program called GCB. That stand for Great Christian Bitches. No, I am not kidding. And the content is blasphemous, disrespectful, and ludicrous.
Am I surprised? No. God's Word warns us in 2 Timothy, "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of gdliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
I am shocked, just not surprised. So, we are called to stand. Wal-mart has pulled out. Thank them. Write or email ABC and the sponsors of this show and let them know that you will boycott their products. Yes, that requires sacrifice (We will change our phone from Verizon). But we must let the media know that their is a large number of Christians still in this country and that we will not tolerate such abuse. Here is a list of sponsors: Verizon, Concast SFinity, Rooms to Go, SC Johnson, Conagra Foods for Chef Boyardee, PepsiCo.
It is time to stand. So start on your knees, go to your feet, then hold your ground. We are to respond in love, not hate, but we are to stand.
Hint for the day: Children ages 3 and up can learn the verse of Ephesians 6:10 and following. Add actions to the words and teach your children the armor of God. Sing "I'm in the Lord's Army." Teach God's love, but also His justice. We will do battle and we will win!!!
Are you battle ready! Have you sat at the feet of Jesus, walked daily in His Word and in fellowship? I hope so because the day has come to stand firm.
That's right. It is totally unbelievable, but ABC is getting ready to air a program called GCB. That stand for Great Christian Bitches. No, I am not kidding. And the content is blasphemous, disrespectful, and ludicrous.
Am I surprised? No. God's Word warns us in 2 Timothy, "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of gdliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
I am shocked, just not surprised. So, we are called to stand. Wal-mart has pulled out. Thank them. Write or email ABC and the sponsors of this show and let them know that you will boycott their products. Yes, that requires sacrifice (We will change our phone from Verizon). But we must let the media know that their is a large number of Christians still in this country and that we will not tolerate such abuse. Here is a list of sponsors: Verizon, Concast SFinity, Rooms to Go, SC Johnson, Conagra Foods for Chef Boyardee, PepsiCo.
It is time to stand. So start on your knees, go to your feet, then hold your ground. We are to respond in love, not hate, but we are to stand.
Hint for the day: Children ages 3 and up can learn the verse of Ephesians 6:10 and following. Add actions to the words and teach your children the armor of God. Sing "I'm in the Lord's Army." Teach God's love, but also His justice. We will do battle and we will win!!!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Quiet and Gentle Heart
"Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a wened child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me."
Psalm 131:2
I strived for years to have that gentle and quiet spirit that 1 Peter 3:4 speaks of. Even though I didn't talk until I was 5 years old, my Dad was fond of saying, "She hasn't shut up since!" I don't need a microphone on the ball field or in a gymnasium. I love laughter, conversation, friendship, and shouting out loud praises to my God. When I sing, I sing with gusto! I began to put my perosnality before the Lord several years ago and ask Him to change me. He confirmed in my heart that He made me just like I am and that that is okay!
I tell people that God made each of us a tool to be used by Him. If He made you a hand tool, be sure you are in the Master's hand. If God made you a power tool, then be sure you are plugged into Him as your source!
Another metaphor that I have heard is that some of us are french horns and some of us are trumpets. French horns let the air blow around for awhile inside and when it come out it is nice and mellow. Trumpets just blare thngs out as they come in! But let's face it, trumpets have the melody line more often!!!
Whether you are a hand tool or a power tool, a french horn or a trumpet, you can cultivate and have a quiet and gentle spirit within you. That spirit comes from sitting with Jesus, being in the word, and trusting our amazing God with the big and little things of your heart. Personality aside, God has begun a work of putting a quiet spirit inside of me. I find it peaceful, restful, and exhilerating all at the same time. When I take my troubles to God, lean against His breast in rest and trust and try to just be still, He fills me up with love and joy.
I may always be a trumpet, but I am in tune with the Songwriter!
Hint for the Day: Kids come in all shapes and sizes with many different personalities. Instead of trying to make your child an image of yourself, let them explore who God created them to be. Let them try different activities - to fail or not to fail. The fruit is in the trying. Until age 12 we let our boys dabble in a lot of different activites. At 12, we encouraged them to find one or two to excel at. As they began to do this, they realized that they were not 'behind" others who had done that activity since they were 2. God has led them into areas where they could excel.
Like a wened child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me."
Psalm 131:2
I strived for years to have that gentle and quiet spirit that 1 Peter 3:4 speaks of. Even though I didn't talk until I was 5 years old, my Dad was fond of saying, "She hasn't shut up since!" I don't need a microphone on the ball field or in a gymnasium. I love laughter, conversation, friendship, and shouting out loud praises to my God. When I sing, I sing with gusto! I began to put my perosnality before the Lord several years ago and ask Him to change me. He confirmed in my heart that He made me just like I am and that that is okay!
I tell people that God made each of us a tool to be used by Him. If He made you a hand tool, be sure you are in the Master's hand. If God made you a power tool, then be sure you are plugged into Him as your source!
Another metaphor that I have heard is that some of us are french horns and some of us are trumpets. French horns let the air blow around for awhile inside and when it come out it is nice and mellow. Trumpets just blare thngs out as they come in! But let's face it, trumpets have the melody line more often!!!
Whether you are a hand tool or a power tool, a french horn or a trumpet, you can cultivate and have a quiet and gentle spirit within you. That spirit comes from sitting with Jesus, being in the word, and trusting our amazing God with the big and little things of your heart. Personality aside, God has begun a work of putting a quiet spirit inside of me. I find it peaceful, restful, and exhilerating all at the same time. When I take my troubles to God, lean against His breast in rest and trust and try to just be still, He fills me up with love and joy.
I may always be a trumpet, but I am in tune with the Songwriter!
Hint for the Day: Kids come in all shapes and sizes with many different personalities. Instead of trying to make your child an image of yourself, let them explore who God created them to be. Let them try different activities - to fail or not to fail. The fruit is in the trying. Until age 12 we let our boys dabble in a lot of different activites. At 12, we encouraged them to find one or two to excel at. As they began to do this, they realized that they were not 'behind" others who had done that activity since they were 2. God has led them into areas where they could excel.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Choices
From the moment of cognition until the day we die, we make choices. What to wear, who to have a relationships with, what to do, when to wake up, when to go to bed, the list is endless. But with choices come responsibility. With responsibility comes maturity. As a wife and mom it is sometimes easier to make choices for my husband and children, but by doing so, I rob them of a chance to grow. Growing includes making mistakes. Making mistakes is a privilege of making choices. and from our mistakes we can learn valuable lessons.
One of my twins would like to attend a Christian college. Of course the cost is high. We are praying for scholarships! But the choice will have to ultimately be his. We don't encourage the boys to get into a lot of debt for college. (They each must pay their own way.) His other option is a local state university where he can live at home, but he will miss out on playing soccer since they don't have a soccer team. He will miss out on a Christian education surrounded by other Christian young people.
I faced the same decision when I graduated from high school. I was accepted to Trinity University in Chicago, had scholarships lined up and was ready to go. I was not given a choice, but was told that I would attend the local junior college where I could play softball under the coach for the PanAm Games and be on a full scholarship. I was very disappointed. But God was in control! It was the toughest year of my life with some poor decisions on my part and some unfortunate circumstances. After the first semester we realized that my shoulder was too hurt to play ball. In the meantime, my parents had moved to Brownwood, TX where Howard Payne University, a Christian college, was located. I moved down with them and got in at HPU where I met my wonderful husband of 27 years. Even though I was not allowed to make a decision, God was still in control and He honored my desire to obey my father.
I made the choice to obey my dad and learned that God is in control over all things. If I had made a different decision, my life would have been much different!
Hint for the Day: When your children are small, let them make decisions whenever you can. But make them small and make sure that you can live with the choices! For example, offer him/her two shirts (either of which would be appropriate). Let them decide. Don't tell them they can wear whatever they want unless you don't mind taking them to the grocery store in camo pants and a ballerina tutu over a t-shirt! My sister made that mistake once and took her son to Krogers in his pajamas with his underpants on the outside! He was being a super hero!!!
One of my twins would like to attend a Christian college. Of course the cost is high. We are praying for scholarships! But the choice will have to ultimately be his. We don't encourage the boys to get into a lot of debt for college. (They each must pay their own way.) His other option is a local state university where he can live at home, but he will miss out on playing soccer since they don't have a soccer team. He will miss out on a Christian education surrounded by other Christian young people.
I faced the same decision when I graduated from high school. I was accepted to Trinity University in Chicago, had scholarships lined up and was ready to go. I was not given a choice, but was told that I would attend the local junior college where I could play softball under the coach for the PanAm Games and be on a full scholarship. I was very disappointed. But God was in control! It was the toughest year of my life with some poor decisions on my part and some unfortunate circumstances. After the first semester we realized that my shoulder was too hurt to play ball. In the meantime, my parents had moved to Brownwood, TX where Howard Payne University, a Christian college, was located. I moved down with them and got in at HPU where I met my wonderful husband of 27 years. Even though I was not allowed to make a decision, God was still in control and He honored my desire to obey my father.
I made the choice to obey my dad and learned that God is in control over all things. If I had made a different decision, my life would have been much different!
Hint for the Day: When your children are small, let them make decisions whenever you can. But make them small and make sure that you can live with the choices! For example, offer him/her two shirts (either of which would be appropriate). Let them decide. Don't tell them they can wear whatever they want unless you don't mind taking them to the grocery store in camo pants and a ballerina tutu over a t-shirt! My sister made that mistake once and took her son to Krogers in his pajamas with his underpants on the outside! He was being a super hero!!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
God's Provision
"For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills." Ps. 50:10
We have often prayed, "God, You own a thousand cattles on a thousand hills, please butcher one and send me the money for ___________!" We are only jesting, but the principle is true: God owns everything! I do not believe or teach that God will give me anything I want if I just have enough faith, or if I just claim it. My salvation is based on Jesus, and only Jesus. My relationship with God is sealed. I am His. But, I do believe that "...my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." God knows when a true need arises and if we are walking with Him and depending on Him, then He will meet those needs. He is the King of Kings! You have a rich Daddy in Heaven. You are His princess!
We have been in the ministry for about 20 of our married years. We raised 5 boys on a church staff member's salary. Yes, sometimes we wondered how we were going to pay for braces, college, etc... But we taught our children good financial and work principles and have waited on God to provide in His timing. I think that is the tough part - waiting.
When we were in seminary, living in a 600 sq. ft. apartment with 3 children, God answered many prayers of provision. Husband Tracy was without a job for 9 months and my 2 day a week Mom's Day Out job barely covered groceries. We had a garage sale and made $1 more than we needed to pay our house payment in ND where we had been unable to sell. But mostly, I remember my 3 year old Nathan praying for cowboy boots. One day someone gave us a bag of clothes that their kids had outgrown and not only were there cowboy boots, but they were Nathan's size! That grew his faith by leaps and bounds.
This morning we woke up to find an email that congratulated one of the boys on being a recipient for a scholarship. Wow! That will really help. Thank you, God! Yes, it had to have come from God's hand. This was a Best Buy scholarship; that's national! And God blessed my son with it! Wow!!
Hint for the Day: Remember out loud and often with your children the times that you have seen God's hand in your provision. This will teach them to look to God. It will also give your family an attitude of praise. When we remember what God has done it bolsters our faith to what God can do. If your faith could use a kick today, stop and remember God's goodness - in spiritual and in material gifts.
If you have older children a great resource for discussion is Principles Under Scrutiny by Christian Financial Concepts. This booklooks at economic issues from a Christian world view. Each topic is two pages. We added it to our economics course for high school.
We have often prayed, "God, You own a thousand cattles on a thousand hills, please butcher one and send me the money for ___________!" We are only jesting, but the principle is true: God owns everything! I do not believe or teach that God will give me anything I want if I just have enough faith, or if I just claim it. My salvation is based on Jesus, and only Jesus. My relationship with God is sealed. I am His. But, I do believe that "...my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." God knows when a true need arises and if we are walking with Him and depending on Him, then He will meet those needs. He is the King of Kings! You have a rich Daddy in Heaven. You are His princess!
We have been in the ministry for about 20 of our married years. We raised 5 boys on a church staff member's salary. Yes, sometimes we wondered how we were going to pay for braces, college, etc... But we taught our children good financial and work principles and have waited on God to provide in His timing. I think that is the tough part - waiting.
When we were in seminary, living in a 600 sq. ft. apartment with 3 children, God answered many prayers of provision. Husband Tracy was without a job for 9 months and my 2 day a week Mom's Day Out job barely covered groceries. We had a garage sale and made $1 more than we needed to pay our house payment in ND where we had been unable to sell. But mostly, I remember my 3 year old Nathan praying for cowboy boots. One day someone gave us a bag of clothes that their kids had outgrown and not only were there cowboy boots, but they were Nathan's size! That grew his faith by leaps and bounds.
This morning we woke up to find an email that congratulated one of the boys on being a recipient for a scholarship. Wow! That will really help. Thank you, God! Yes, it had to have come from God's hand. This was a Best Buy scholarship; that's national! And God blessed my son with it! Wow!!
Hint for the Day: Remember out loud and often with your children the times that you have seen God's hand in your provision. This will teach them to look to God. It will also give your family an attitude of praise. When we remember what God has done it bolsters our faith to what God can do. If your faith could use a kick today, stop and remember God's goodness - in spiritual and in material gifts.
If you have older children a great resource for discussion is Principles Under Scrutiny by Christian Financial Concepts. This booklooks at economic issues from a Christian world view. Each topic is two pages. We added it to our economics course for high school.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Two for One
You get two for one today because I didn't get around to blogging yesterday.
"Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Twins! Double pediatric costs, two cribs, two car seats. and I thought it was hard when they were born almost 18 years ago. Now it's double college applications, two sets of scholarship applications, two colleges requiring papers and information! But oh, twice the joy! It is so great to look at these two young men and see how God has prepared each of them uniquely and differently to follow Him in their desires and dreams. God has truly put His desires in their hearts and they wish to serve God. Lucas is heading to college to pursue a degree in aviation. He wants to be a missionary pilot. Ethan is heading to college to play soccer! Okay, he hopes to get a degree along the way in either computer technology or coaching. But mostly, he wants to play soccer. He was invited to play on a college team yesterday and we are very proud of him.
The last post was about judging, or not judging. When we realize that God puts His desires in each of our hearts and that they are unique and custom-made for each of us, then we are not as apt to judge. God put a desire in my heart many years ago to be a wife and a mom. 27 years into that endeavor, I look back and realize that was God's desire for me. I feel complete and content. It has been amazing! I loved every minute of being a mom (Well, maybe not the middle of the night throw up parties!) But almost every minute!
Now He is putting a new desire within me. A desire to mentor young ladies and teach them to follow their God in His unique call to them and their families. I can't do this in a spirit of judgment, because each person has come from a different background, has different goals, and a different personality. God has led me along the way to becoming a better listener and a better questioner. I will need both these skills as I go. God always equips us with the tools to accomplish what He asks of us. Hebrews 13: 20-21 says, "Now the God of peace... equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight..." He gets us going in the right direction, equips us, and works within us all along the way. What a mighty God!
So what are your desires? What are your dreams? If you are a Christian and walking with Jesus, you can know that God gave these to you and will help you accomplish them to His glory.
Hint for the day: As a parent it is important to know your child's learning style. Take them for a walk. When you get home tell them to tell you about their walk. Listen to their words. If they talk about what they saw, they are visual learners. If they talk about what they heard, they are audio learners, ifthey talk about what they did, they are kinesthetic learners. And, if they couldn't be quiet on the walk, they are probably oral learners. We all have a combination of these learning styles, but usually one is dominant. Once you decide the learning style, watch your child over the following week and see if that is consistent. You might even set up some "tests". Ask them if they would rather help you make dinner (kinesthetic) or open the refrigerator ad tell you all the colors that they can see (visual). Would they rather tell you about a story they heard (oral), listen to a story (audio), or read a story (visual). Once you figureout their primary learning style, you can begin to teach them their school work in that pattern. An oral or kinesthetic child will best learn spelling by dancing around the table yelling it out at the top of their lungs or bounding on a ball to a tune while singing them. An audio learning will do best if you repeat the spelling to them in a song or a verse and the visual child can write the word and draw a picture to go along with it.
"Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Twins! Double pediatric costs, two cribs, two car seats. and I thought it was hard when they were born almost 18 years ago. Now it's double college applications, two sets of scholarship applications, two colleges requiring papers and information! But oh, twice the joy! It is so great to look at these two young men and see how God has prepared each of them uniquely and differently to follow Him in their desires and dreams. God has truly put His desires in their hearts and they wish to serve God. Lucas is heading to college to pursue a degree in aviation. He wants to be a missionary pilot. Ethan is heading to college to play soccer! Okay, he hopes to get a degree along the way in either computer technology or coaching. But mostly, he wants to play soccer. He was invited to play on a college team yesterday and we are very proud of him.
The last post was about judging, or not judging. When we realize that God puts His desires in each of our hearts and that they are unique and custom-made for each of us, then we are not as apt to judge. God put a desire in my heart many years ago to be a wife and a mom. 27 years into that endeavor, I look back and realize that was God's desire for me. I feel complete and content. It has been amazing! I loved every minute of being a mom (Well, maybe not the middle of the night throw up parties!) But almost every minute!
Now He is putting a new desire within me. A desire to mentor young ladies and teach them to follow their God in His unique call to them and their families. I can't do this in a spirit of judgment, because each person has come from a different background, has different goals, and a different personality. God has led me along the way to becoming a better listener and a better questioner. I will need both these skills as I go. God always equips us with the tools to accomplish what He asks of us. Hebrews 13: 20-21 says, "Now the God of peace... equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight..." He gets us going in the right direction, equips us, and works within us all along the way. What a mighty God!
So what are your desires? What are your dreams? If you are a Christian and walking with Jesus, you can know that God gave these to you and will help you accomplish them to His glory.
Hint for the day: As a parent it is important to know your child's learning style. Take them for a walk. When you get home tell them to tell you about their walk. Listen to their words. If they talk about what they saw, they are visual learners. If they talk about what they heard, they are audio learners, ifthey talk about what they did, they are kinesthetic learners. And, if they couldn't be quiet on the walk, they are probably oral learners. We all have a combination of these learning styles, but usually one is dominant. Once you decide the learning style, watch your child over the following week and see if that is consistent. You might even set up some "tests". Ask them if they would rather help you make dinner (kinesthetic) or open the refrigerator ad tell you all the colors that they can see (visual). Would they rather tell you about a story they heard (oral), listen to a story (audio), or read a story (visual). Once you figureout their primary learning style, you can begin to teach them their school work in that pattern. An oral or kinesthetic child will best learn spelling by dancing around the table yelling it out at the top of their lungs or bounding on a ball to a tune while singing them. An audio learning will do best if you repeat the spelling to them in a song or a verse and the visual child can write the word and draw a picture to go along with it.
Judging
Aren’t you glad that God made us all so different? He sure had a sense of humor when he made me! Some of us have freckles, some have dark skin, and some light. Some of us are extroverts and others are introverts. Some laugh easily and sing a lot; others are quiet and shy. Some of us need words of affirmation, and others just need a look of approval or a touch of love.
The comments that I get after I speak are always interesting and reveals that we all have different needs. I recently facilitated a panel of couples on marriage for our local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. I explained that I was facilitating instead of being on the panel because there was no way that my husband would ever want to get up in front of a group of beautiful young ladies and talk about his marriage. When I asked him he said that he would rather eat glass. (Now, in all honesty, my sweet husband would have jumped at helping to set up, to clean up or to cook, but he is not an up-in-front-of-groups person.) We went on and had a great panel. The couples gave out lots of advice, answered lots of questions, and shared their own struggles and victories through Christ. Afterwards a young lady came up to me and very timidly asked if it bothered me that my husband did not want to come and be on the panel. I had just mentioned this in passing and there was a whole lot of other and, in my opinion, more pertinent information. I was surprised that she had picked up on this particular issue. We spoke for a few minutes and I found out that her husband has the same personality and spiritual gift of service that my husband has. This frustrates her, because she loves people and groups and speaking and going and doing. I assured her that God made us differently and that is okay!
Another time when I spoke at a women’s group about parenting, two moms came up to me afterwards. Now remember, they had just sat through the same class. The first one says to me, “Thank you, God really used you to confirm our decision to homeschool.” The second lady then came up and said, “Thank you so much, now I know that homeschooling is definitely not for me!”
We are all different and that is good. If we were all the same we wouldn’t need each other! As Christians we sometimes judge one another on matters that really just come from our differences. Things like dress, hair styles, how we celebrate different holidays, how we worship, and what translation of the Bible we use. 1 Corinthians 4:6b says, “…so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” We are to agree on the principle matters of doctrine, but rejoice in our differences of personality, choices, dreams, and desires. As long as what you do is for God’s glory and you do it with all your heart, then others are not to judge. (Romans 14:1-10) We are to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) and remember that “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
In this spirit, we are pleased to now offer our Practical Proverbs for Older Students and our Practical Proverbs for Younger Students in both New American Standard and in King James Version. The wording may be different, but the message is the same! Jesus is Lord; He saves; God loves us; we are free from condemnation and shame; and we have a home in heaven! Whichever version you prefer, read it! Get to know your God; He is waiting to remind you how much He loves you.
Hint of the day: I think that I am in need of a hint today!!! How many directins can a mom go at one time? Just one! So, when things keep piling up faster than you dig out from under, just keep doing the next thing next. And, try doing it with a smile! (Not easy and sometimes impossible! - but a good goal)
Hint of the day: I think that I am in need of a hint today!!! How many directins can a mom go at one time? Just one! So, when things keep piling up faster than you dig out from under, just keep doing the next thing next. And, try doing it with a smile! (Not easy and sometimes impossible! - but a good goal)
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