Filtering

The boys and I finished Fahrenheit 451 yesterday.  It was a strange book, but really good.  It made us think and discuss.  It was written against censorship and for free speech.  But our conversation took us more towards personal responsibility and filtering what comes into our home. 

Psalm 101:3 says, "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes, I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall no fasten its grip on me." 

As individuals and as a family, we have chosen to censor the things that come into our home via television, music choices, internet, etc.  We do not forbid these forms of expression, but we filter what we allow into our home.  Television is used for DVD's and good movies.  It does not come on before 7:00 at night and usually not until 8 or 9.  We do use Netflix, but we have it set to PG-13 and below only and even then, all shows must  be passed by Mom and Dad.  It is our responsibility and right to  guard our children's hearts and minds.  Theater movies are checked out on "Plugged In" by Focus on the Family.  We encourage only the reading of godly books, or books that we can discuss and hold up against Scripture.  Music and its musicians must be godly and praiseworthy.  Internet is for research.  Our teenagers do have facebook, but it as well as texts are monitored by Mom and Dad.  Mostly, we trust our kids at this stage of the game (almost 18) to be godly in all forms of communication. 

We have taught and are teaching our children to be discerning, not because of legalism, but because we want to glorify God in all things.  That starts with guarding our hearts and minds.

Proverbs 4:16 says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life."

Godly living begins with godly input.  The day should begin and end with Scripture and there should be a heavy dose in the middle!  Praise and prayer throughout each day will keep your mind on Jesus.

Check out Philippians 4:8.

Hint for the Day: For younger children, "NO" is the best answer.  For older children, instead of "You can't"  try "Why do you think you shouldn't?"  This will give them the ability to begin to ask those questions and discern for themselves what they will do before their God.

Inadequacy

It's a Monday!!  I was behind before my feet even hit the floor this morning at 6:30.  My lists are long, the needs are many, and I can't do it all!  I feel inadequacy bending me over.  But God reminds me, "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, our adequacy is from God." ( 2 Corinthians 3:5)  At which point, I fall to my knees and cry out, "Help!"  I pick up my Bible, remind myself that the Creator God of the Universe is in control, on His throne, and loves me (even me!)
I ask Him to plan my day, lead my way, and help me to do it with a smile. 

Is everything perfect from there?  Well, no.  I am human!  I grump at my husband when he comes through the door with another demand (more like a reminder of things not yet done - inadequacy yells!)  I rush through school with the twins, and then, RELIEF, great relief, the actiity that was to take up most of the afternoon has been cancelled!  God does hear my cry!!!  I take a breath, apologize to my husband, sit down and read to the boys.

Inadequate?  You bet!  But my God is adequate for all stresses, all days, all demands, and He makes me adequate for His work for each day.  Thank you Lord that You know me, my frustrations, my bounds, my inadequacies, and that You provide by being my completeness.  I will trust in You this day.

Hint for Today:  Do the next thing next.  When you are overwhelmed, depressed, tired, unable, don't look at the whole just do the next thing next.  When our kids are faced with a large, overwhelming task we ask them, "How do you eat an elephant?"  The answer: "One bite at a time!"  Take the next step, finish the next task, and take time to praise God in the midst. 

Are You Listening?

I can't decide what to write today.  As I thumb through Scripture, I feel as if I am standing in front of a fire hydrant!  There is so much.  So much Love.  So much truth.  So much instruction.  So much God!

I have highlighted through much of Scripture the words that tell of God's character, so these words catch my eye.  He is gentle and kind, His thoughts and ways are higher than my thoughts and ways, His righteousness upholds Him, He hears when we call, He will accomplish that which He desires. He has with us a covenant of peace.  We have a futrue and a hope.  He is the Redeemer, the Holy One.He has great compassion.  We will not be put to shame.  He is our husband. The list is endless. God is there.  He loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. 

So often I set my eyes on the things of this world, the troubles, the frustrations, the busyness, the doubts. Where my thoughts go, so go I!! I choose this day to think upon God's Word, His promises, His love.  I will dwell on praise to our God.  I will sing unto Him.  I will trust Him and be content to allow Him to be Lord over all of my life.  Okay, I may worry a little about what ot fix for dinner, but I will be thankful that I have a choice!

Practical Hint for the day:  Waking up and deciding what to make for breakfast day in and day out can be frustrating.  My husband works from home and doesn't like cold cereal.  Boys are off to classes early.  Mom is not too awake.  So I made a list:  Oatmeal on Monday, french toast on Tuesday; scrambled eggs on Wednesday, pancakes on thursday, fried eggs on Friday, breakfast burritos on Saturday, and omelets on Sunday.  I can do that!  But lists are not my master and I can change things up if I am in a rare mood for the exotic or in a dull mood for more oatmeal!!

In the midst 2 (too!)

It is definitely an "In the midst day"!  It is one of those days where just getting out of bed is a chore.  The weather is cold, and my body does not like cold weather!  I woke up at 5:00 in severe pain after spending hours earlier in the night fighting a stomachache from the medicines.  Finally, took more medicine at 6:30, and am again fighting a nauseous stomach.  Yuck!  But, my day will not be based on feelings (physical or emotional), but rather on God's promises.

I am fused five levels in my lower back.  The latest report said no more swimming.  Swimming was flairing everything up!  My tendency is to think that every day forward will be like today.  I can get into a pattern of thinking and praying, "God, I can't do this everyday for the rest of my life or for 20 more years or for another week!"  But, God is faithful and true.  He only promises us the moment.  He is Lord of the future as well as the past and the present and I will choose to live in the moment.  He reminds me of Matthew 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

God told Moses that His name is, "I am".  That is in the present.  Not "I was", or "I will be".  He is enough now in the present and I will praise Him for every breath, for every step, and for every opportunity to serve my family and Him.

Choose with me today to look to Him for all comfort, to praise Him with all your heart, and to live to find joy in each moment.

A friend said that my blog needed to have some practical advice for women.  So here is the Practical advice for today:  Whether there be one in  your family or ten, glasses tend to pile up at the sink.  Buy a clorful, fun, plastic placemat and label different pictures or draw circles and label the circles with the names of each family member.  Set it next to the sink.  Each morning put a glass on each spot.  That is their glass for the day.  When not in use it is to be placed on the mat.  Voila!  Not nearly as many glasses will appear in your sink to be washed!  We have an extra spot or two for visitors. 

In the midst

Our God is so good; so faithful and true.

I love the word "but" throughout Scripture.  Over and over again in Psalms we see David crying out to God, feeling that God has left Him, or that the situation is dire and then we see the "but".  But God...

I found it in Isaiah 64:8 yesterday.  Isaiah confesses the sins of his people in verses 6-7, "There is no one who calls on Your name...For you have hidden your face from us..."  Then verse 8 "But now, O LORD, You are our Father,We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand."  Essentially, Isaiah is saying, "Even though we messed up and can't be good, You are our Father.  You love us with a Father's love.  Your love is covenantal and committed.  Therefore, I submit to your molding, your making, your training.  I trust You, God, in the midst."

I read in Jeremiah this morning about God telling Jeremiah to tell His people that they are to go into the land of Babylon and build houses, and plant, and give their sons and daughters in marriage.  God tells them that He has a plan and a purpose for this time, for this heartache.  He would be there in their midst and bless the land where He put them.  The Israelites are in grief over the loss of their land, the uprooting of their families, the hardship of the journey, the loss of their temple and, therefore, their heritage and manner of worship.  All things familiar has been stripped away.  But God is there.  He tells them to seek Him and He would be found...in the midst. (Jeremiah 29)

Are you in the midst?  The midst of troubles, sin, sickness, grief, change, or loss?  God is there.  Pslam 94:19 says, "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul."  God is there. Think on the circumstances, but know that God is in the midst and He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Today we think of love.  I love my boys. I gave gift certificates for Dairy Queen and the local yogurt shop to the boys in their cards.  I included a colorful plastic spoon to eat it with!!  I love my husband; I gave him a card with our special saying and signed with my private nickname that he gave me 27 years ago!  Love is giving.  How do I know?  "God so loved the world that He gave..."  What did He give?  He gave that which was most precious to Him - His Son.  Love is giving sacrificially and covenantly. Jesus's death initiated a new covenant between God and those who would believe - a covenant based on love and forgiveness, not on law and judgment!!

Love is not an emotion changing with every thought and deed, but rather it is commitment, covenant, and sacrifice. There are times that I don't really like what one of my boys or husband does, but that does not change my love.  Love is forever - unconditional.  God is love. (1 John 4:16) If you want to understand love - seek God!

Grace and holy living

I have been thinking about the balance between grace and holy living lately.  Does grace erase holy living or holy living usurp grace? As Paul would say, "May it never be!"  So God gave me a word picture.  When we accept Christ as Savior we are a new creation.  We are able to soar above life's circumstances.  Holy living is the experience of a trapeze artist.  Each choice is a strong hold on the bar. We swing effortlessly from bar to bar as long as we are making holy and right choices. 

Grace comes into play when we mess up - there is a net below!!  We do not fall on hard tile, never to get back up again.  Grace provides a net, because God knows that we are but dust (Psalm 103). 
With that picture in mind, read Psalm 37:23-24: "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way.  When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand." Jesus is our net!!

Grace is the beginning of our relationship with God, but it also sustains us in that relationship. Without grace, holy living is legalism and we find ourselves on the hard tile with no hope of soaring in the joy and freedom that God created us for.

As a parent, you get to be that example of holy living and grace to your children.  Lead them to the cross, teach them to soar with a spirit of praise and as an example of holy living, but be that net of grace, of protection and mercy and forgiveness and love when they fall.  When they experience this as children, they will be able to rest and trust in their God as adults.