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.

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.

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!!!

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!!!

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.

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!!!

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.