I've got a heavy heart this morning, and a mouth void of words. It's weird when that happens, your soul is so overwhelmed with emotions, that when you attempt to put words to them but nothing is there. So I'm sitting staring at a blinking cursor and wondering...maybe this post is just healing for me, maybe it will speak to your soul too....only the Lord knows.
Lately I find myself telling hurting friends the same thing,
"I have no words."
It's not intelligent, they aren't going to be transformed by some super spiritual epiphany I'm imparting their way with that phrase. But I am being real. I'm letting them know their hurts are very real, their struggle is intense, and it's burdened my soul immensely...and I've got nothing. No wise word, no true word, no trustworthy word....I have no words. But, my God does. His words stands firm. It is truth. It is powerful, living and active and will accomplish what is sent forth to accomplish. I can not tell you the amount of tears that have poured from my eyes in prayer on behalf of friends, family and even complete strangers. But God does.
In my youth, I remember wondering why older Christians seemed so joy-less. I remember looking around and thinking "I won't be like that when I'm their age....no way...to much to be joyful about just because of who my God is."
Perspective sure does change over the years doesn't it? Grace abounds for the sinner and if we are vigilant, and keep our hearts in His word, we are grounded in truth and not consumed by lies. We are set free as Galatians 5:1 tells us because it "was for freedom that Christ set us free." What a marvelous truth.
I mentioned yesterday that my family is going through a trial right now. We are in the midst of something that has already been life changing. We may be out of the ordinary, but often as we navigate through situations in life we ask the Lord, "What do we need to learn from this? How should we be changed because of this?"
Well, one of the things the Lord has been speaking to my heart is that it is absolutely okay to not have words in any given situation.
You know, there are enough hardships and hurts in the world without hurtful words being heaped on one another during tough situations. Sometimes, you may think you are encouraging others, but you aren't...surely it's best to pray over every word you speak especially to the hurting.
The accusations, the judgements, and the holier than thou comments condemning the ones in the midst of the pain are just sometimes too much. The ones hurting often may smile and laugh, but the very last thing we need to be as believers are others full of judgements attempting to have just the perfect 'spiritual words' for a friend.
S. T. O. P.
Just be real and ask yourself, what would I want from them if the situation were reversed? I would go so far as to say, I guarantee all we really want is prayer. God moves, acts, provides and guides.
I know personally, when I actually confide a hurt in a friend, I just want to know they will faithfully pray. That's all. I've got three tried and true friends that I know put my family and I before the Lord with no judgement, no ulterior motives....they just love God and because they love God they love my family and I, and they put us at His feet.
That truth also strips me of words.
The truth is that life is hard, there are many reasons to let go of our joy, to focus on the fallen world around us and allow that to consume us...and therefore our lives will tend to be characterized by bitterness and hurt as opposed to joy and freedom.
When we chose to abide in Christ we find this truth to be our foundation, "Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16
See dear friends, having no words is okay...it acknowledges a God who is bigger than all of us, especially our own selves. A God who speaks healing and truth to our souls...and meets our deepest needs...and God who speaks to our hurts where no man can.
It may seem silly, but the older I get the more purposeful I want to be with my words, and I would rather be silent than use words that destroy others. I would rather be the one in the shadow simply praying and trusting for my friend, than up in the middle of their business and risk offending the weak and hurting. I'd rather offer His words of life, truth and encouragement than my words of error, condemnation or judgement (if not properly checked).
Next time you have the opportunity to share in the trial of a friend, don't look for words that make you feel or look good, rather seek the Giver of all good and true words, and ask Him to communicate His love, grace and mercy through you.
Remember, we have been called by HIS name.
8.19.2014
8.18.2014
The Gospel in Legos
Saturday night I walked into our six year old's bedroom to discover that at some point throughout the day there had obviously been a Lego explosion because Legos were everywhere. I mean it was not safe to talk through that room, because stepping on a Lego embeds that Lego into your foot and causes more pain than one could ever imagine coming from a child's toy.
It was a daunting clean up, even to me, at my age. So I can only imagine what it looked like to him. It must have seemed insurmountable. However, we told Sweet E, he had to clean up after his shower before he went to bed, and he had been looking forward to a sleepover with his brother all day.
So after getting his jammies on he quickly went to work on cleaning his room, he was motivated. After about 15 minutes he began to lose steam. He came into my room and said, "Mom I can only do half...it is crazy in there, Legos are all over."
I honestly was thankful at that point because he had been self controlled, had not thrown a fit (we are raising children here and they tend to throw fits when they are young) and just seemed pretty grown up with his comment.
"Let me see baby" and I followed him into his room.
I was surprised, he had done a lot, well more than half and he had done a good job. He was putting legos where they belonged and other toys in their places as well.
So I bent down and looked at his little eyes and said, "Eli...I'm going to help. I'm going to pick up the remainder of the Legos, but you are responsible for putting away all the other toys in their spot."
He looked at me and said, "thank you Mommy."
So we began working together, and in the quietness of cleanup, I glanced at him and softly asked...
"Eli, did Mommy make this mess?"
"No, I did."
"Eli, should Mommy have to clean this up?"
"No, I should, but it is hard."
"Eli do you know what grace is?"
"Yeah it's Jesus."
"Yeah, it is son, it is Jesus Christ, living and dying and rising again to offer us forgiveness of our sins, when we do not deserve it."
"Hey Mommy, Satan needs grace.."
"Well Eli, the point is..Mommy is giving you grace right now, you do not deserve for me to clean up your crazy mess, I didn't do it, it's not my responsibility, but I'm going to help because I love you."
"Thanks Mommy, I like grace."
"Yes baby, I'm so grateful for it too, and we all need it do you know why?"
"Because we are all sinners? Especially Satan."
"Especially us, baby....we all need it, remember God's word? 'For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.' Romans 3:23"
As I was able to sit on the floor of my baby's room and clean up legos I began to praise the Lord for His provision and grace. He is a God who is merciful and gracious and patient. That He would use me, a sinner in need of so much grace and forgiveness myself, in the life of a 6 year old, and grant me words to connect cleaning up legos to His provision of forgiveness of sins...which is our greatest need no matter who we are. I am humbled. Our God is a faithful God.
Over the course of the last 10 days or so, my family has entered into a trial. It's not fun, it's uneasy and uncertain. It's frustrating because we have done nothing wrong. We are in fact the innocent ones, but it seems in our society that we are no longer innocent until proven guilty, but perhaps it is guilty until proven innocent. It's unfortunate. It's disheartening and it makes it very easy to lose faith in men or any man made institution.
Which is okay, because we do not place our hope in man. Our Father, provider of all our needs, the One who met our deepest need at Calvary with His only Son, is where our hope lies. He has provided for our deepest need, how will He not provide for this need? Our God is good.
It's absolutely wonderful because I personally feel like a lego explosion has gone off inside of my mind. There are tiny pieces of this mess all over the place, and it's impossible to walk through my mind without getting hurt. Sin hurts. It never brings relief or healing, and when it's the sin of others directed at you, it's even more hurtful. This little lego explosion I chose to clean up that wasn't mine, is just like what's going on now.
This trial we are going through isn't the Lord's He didn't do anything, He doesn't have to deal with the mess or pick up the pieces...and yet...
Friends, this is my God, in the midst of the trials and uncertainties of life, I am resting in the One who created it all. He rules it, He reigns, He's got this. Not because I deserve His favor or comfort, but simply because of who He is, I have trusted in Him, and my life is in His hand.
He is quietly walking into the Lego minefield of my mind, gently picking up the pieces and lovingly assuring me that He is right there with me, every piece and step of the way because of Who He is.
He whispers to my soul sweet words...truth....that can reach to the depth of the human soul as nothing else can and penetrate the worry with peace that surpasses all understanding because it comes from the Divine, Holy, Creator, Loving Father who wooed me to the cross, exposed my sin and saved me with His Son.
God speaks life: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
It was a daunting clean up, even to me, at my age. So I can only imagine what it looked like to him. It must have seemed insurmountable. However, we told Sweet E, he had to clean up after his shower before he went to bed, and he had been looking forward to a sleepover with his brother all day.
So after getting his jammies on he quickly went to work on cleaning his room, he was motivated. After about 15 minutes he began to lose steam. He came into my room and said, "Mom I can only do half...it is crazy in there, Legos are all over."
I honestly was thankful at that point because he had been self controlled, had not thrown a fit (we are raising children here and they tend to throw fits when they are young) and just seemed pretty grown up with his comment.
"Let me see baby" and I followed him into his room.
I was surprised, he had done a lot, well more than half and he had done a good job. He was putting legos where they belonged and other toys in their places as well.
So I bent down and looked at his little eyes and said, "Eli...I'm going to help. I'm going to pick up the remainder of the Legos, but you are responsible for putting away all the other toys in their spot."
He looked at me and said, "thank you Mommy."
So we began working together, and in the quietness of cleanup, I glanced at him and softly asked...
"Eli, did Mommy make this mess?"
"No, I did."
"Eli, should Mommy have to clean this up?"
"No, I should, but it is hard."
"Eli do you know what grace is?"
"Yeah it's Jesus."
"Yeah, it is son, it is Jesus Christ, living and dying and rising again to offer us forgiveness of our sins, when we do not deserve it."
"Hey Mommy, Satan needs grace.."
"Well Eli, the point is..Mommy is giving you grace right now, you do not deserve for me to clean up your crazy mess, I didn't do it, it's not my responsibility, but I'm going to help because I love you."
"Thanks Mommy, I like grace."
"Yes baby, I'm so grateful for it too, and we all need it do you know why?"
"Because we are all sinners? Especially Satan."
"Especially us, baby....we all need it, remember God's word? 'For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.' Romans 3:23"
As I was able to sit on the floor of my baby's room and clean up legos I began to praise the Lord for His provision and grace. He is a God who is merciful and gracious and patient. That He would use me, a sinner in need of so much grace and forgiveness myself, in the life of a 6 year old, and grant me words to connect cleaning up legos to His provision of forgiveness of sins...which is our greatest need no matter who we are. I am humbled. Our God is a faithful God.
Over the course of the last 10 days or so, my family has entered into a trial. It's not fun, it's uneasy and uncertain. It's frustrating because we have done nothing wrong. We are in fact the innocent ones, but it seems in our society that we are no longer innocent until proven guilty, but perhaps it is guilty until proven innocent. It's unfortunate. It's disheartening and it makes it very easy to lose faith in men or any man made institution.
Which is okay, because we do not place our hope in man. Our Father, provider of all our needs, the One who met our deepest need at Calvary with His only Son, is where our hope lies. He has provided for our deepest need, how will He not provide for this need? Our God is good.
It's absolutely wonderful because I personally feel like a lego explosion has gone off inside of my mind. There are tiny pieces of this mess all over the place, and it's impossible to walk through my mind without getting hurt. Sin hurts. It never brings relief or healing, and when it's the sin of others directed at you, it's even more hurtful. This little lego explosion I chose to clean up that wasn't mine, is just like what's going on now.
This trial we are going through isn't the Lord's He didn't do anything, He doesn't have to deal with the mess or pick up the pieces...and yet...
Psalm 121
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
Friends, this is my God, in the midst of the trials and uncertainties of life, I am resting in the One who created it all. He rules it, He reigns, He's got this. Not because I deserve His favor or comfort, but simply because of who He is, I have trusted in Him, and my life is in His hand.
He is quietly walking into the Lego minefield of my mind, gently picking up the pieces and lovingly assuring me that He is right there with me, every piece and step of the way because of Who He is.
He whispers to my soul sweet words...truth....that can reach to the depth of the human soul as nothing else can and penetrate the worry with peace that surpasses all understanding because it comes from the Divine, Holy, Creator, Loving Father who wooed me to the cross, exposed my sin and saved me with His Son.
God speaks life: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
6.19.2014
Foam Rollers and a Veggie Tales Bible
I'm a runner. I'm slower than most and faster than some. I run because I love it. It's peaceful and quiet and nothing but me, my Lord and my music. Most runs are morning runs and I am very blessed to see the sunrise as I run.
Sometime in May, I messed my back up. It went into crazy spasm mode and wouldn't stop. It would ease up a bit and then I'd run...and then spasm again and ease up....a vicious cycle for a runner (well really for anyone).
I know that part of the problem was my lack of commitment to stretching post workout. I would generally come home from a run, stretch a little and then gear up for my day of teaching our three energetic boys.
Enter the FOAM ROLLER.
Yes, that's right, and if you've rolled your muscles before when you read that you probably read it with delight. The foam roller is amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. In fact, so much so that I've decided I now have "foam roller induced ADD." Every time I walk into a room and see my roller I basically stop what I'm doing and start rolling. It's just that helpful.
So you may be wondering what type did I get? Did I just run to Target and grab something off the shelf? Did I get the cheapest one? The cutest one? How did I decide...why is it that I just can't stop rolling. It is not the cuteness, or price, or anything else. Rather it is the benefits of rolling that makes it nearly impossible to not do.
I should probably back up my story a bit and share that I had several friends and fellow runners suggested I start rolling. However, my sweet best friend said, "come to my house and I will teach you. I will watch you and see what you are doing wrong and help you learn to do it right to prevent injury." Did I mention that I love my best friend?
So I went, and learned and tried it and now... I'm fighting foam roller ADD all day, because I've got stuff to do. I need to accomplish things. Seriously, I can not roll all day long..
This afternoon as I finished rolling for the 4th time today, I began to think about how the roller "calls" to me when I see it, I've been laughing at myself for days and how often I use this thing I was once so afraid of. This crazy foam roller that once scared me and seemed overwhelming and daunting so it stayed far away from my mind now captivates a fair amount of my time.
The Lord whispered softly to my heart as I was chuckling at myself. "Don't I beckon you like that? My word sits, perfect, holy, pure...waiting...powerful and true...ready."
And the beauty of my God is that not only is He exactly right, why am I not more fervently seeking Him? Why do I not have "reading the word induced ADD?" I can walk into a room see my bible, and turn and walk out..often without thinking, 'maybe I should just sit awhile and 'roll' through some pages.'
But as the Lord lovingly whispered to my soul this afternoon, it was pure sweetness. No condemnation because "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 Rather it was the sound of the loving Father, drawing me near, answering my prayers to "restore a steadfast spirit within me" (Ps 51:10) and showing me yet again, He does make all things new, He is the Perfecter of my faith and He is the Source. He is the Vine and the Vinedresser, who both grows and prunes for His glory.
I wonder, like my best friend, who lovingly gave of her time, to teach, assess and demonstrate how to utilize the foam roller, have you found a friend in Christ who will teach you His word, demonstrate living it out and will come along side you in love and help you assess your heart that you would be continuing to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Have you found that, as good as fellowship with believers is here on earth that your Heavenly Father longs to draw you into intimacy with Him through His word, Prayer and His Holy Spirit working inside of you? Have you relied on Him to whisper to your soul His transforming truth that penetrates to the soul for eternal transformation?
I would challenge you dear reader, next time you are seeking more of God to quiet your heart before Him and just listen. He is there. Right there. Whispering to your soul, in peace and grace and without condemnation to speak life into your soul.
Can I encourage you with this dear friend, when you feel as if you are far from God or your quiet time isn't what it should be, or even if it is and consistent yet you still feel 'off' cry out to God, cry along with David, "Create in my a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. Keep asking, keep waiting, don't give up...we have a God who does not give up on us. He pursues us, and we need His grace to pursue Him.
Sometime in May, I messed my back up. It went into crazy spasm mode and wouldn't stop. It would ease up a bit and then I'd run...and then spasm again and ease up....a vicious cycle for a runner (well really for anyone).
I know that part of the problem was my lack of commitment to stretching post workout. I would generally come home from a run, stretch a little and then gear up for my day of teaching our three energetic boys.
Enter the FOAM ROLLER.
Yes, that's right, and if you've rolled your muscles before when you read that you probably read it with delight. The foam roller is amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. In fact, so much so that I've decided I now have "foam roller induced ADD." Every time I walk into a room and see my roller I basically stop what I'm doing and start rolling. It's just that helpful.
So you may be wondering what type did I get? Did I just run to Target and grab something off the shelf? Did I get the cheapest one? The cutest one? How did I decide...why is it that I just can't stop rolling. It is not the cuteness, or price, or anything else. Rather it is the benefits of rolling that makes it nearly impossible to not do.
I should probably back up my story a bit and share that I had several friends and fellow runners suggested I start rolling. However, my sweet best friend said, "come to my house and I will teach you. I will watch you and see what you are doing wrong and help you learn to do it right to prevent injury." Did I mention that I love my best friend?
So I went, and learned and tried it and now... I'm fighting foam roller ADD all day, because I've got stuff to do. I need to accomplish things. Seriously, I can not roll all day long..
This afternoon as I finished rolling for the 4th time today, I began to think about how the roller "calls" to me when I see it, I've been laughing at myself for days and how often I use this thing I was once so afraid of. This crazy foam roller that once scared me and seemed overwhelming and daunting so it stayed far away from my mind now captivates a fair amount of my time.
The Lord whispered softly to my heart as I was chuckling at myself. "Don't I beckon you like that? My word sits, perfect, holy, pure...waiting...powerful and true...ready."
And the beauty of my God is that not only is He exactly right, why am I not more fervently seeking Him? Why do I not have "reading the word induced ADD?" I can walk into a room see my bible, and turn and walk out..often without thinking, 'maybe I should just sit awhile and 'roll' through some pages.'
(yes this is the Bible I was reading...and yes it's my sons' Veggie Tales Bible...
the blessing of children and a God who pursues my heart)
I wonder, like my best friend, who lovingly gave of her time, to teach, assess and demonstrate how to utilize the foam roller, have you found a friend in Christ who will teach you His word, demonstrate living it out and will come along side you in love and help you assess your heart that you would be continuing to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Have you found that, as good as fellowship with believers is here on earth that your Heavenly Father longs to draw you into intimacy with Him through His word, Prayer and His Holy Spirit working inside of you? Have you relied on Him to whisper to your soul His transforming truth that penetrates to the soul for eternal transformation?
I would challenge you dear reader, next time you are seeking more of God to quiet your heart before Him and just listen. He is there. Right there. Whispering to your soul, in peace and grace and without condemnation to speak life into your soul.
Can I encourage you with this dear friend, when you feel as if you are far from God or your quiet time isn't what it should be, or even if it is and consistent yet you still feel 'off' cry out to God, cry along with David, "Create in my a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. Keep asking, keep waiting, don't give up...we have a God who does not give up on us. He pursues us, and we need His grace to pursue Him.
5.28.2014
Oh the fun of Chore Sticks
Last summer I was inspired by my frister (friend and sister in law) to create "chore sticks" for our boys. We started it with the boys as an incentive to teach them that hard work really can pay off. Literally.
Basically at our house we have three boys and they have standard chores each week such as, making their beds, picking up their room each night before bed, taking the trash out, setting the table and cleaning the basement when they mess it up. These chores generally earn them $1 each week.
So what are chore sticks? They are craft sticks that have chores and dollar (or in our case mostly cents) values assigned to them.
It is a way for our children to earn more than the specified allowance when they are trying to save for something special. But it has turned into so much more than just chores.
Basically, we sat the boys down and explained that chores around the house are a family responsibility. This house we have and all that is in it, has been entrusted to us by the Lord and so we need to be good stewards of all things, which means taking care of things and keeping them up. We also wanted our boys to learn a valuable life lesson...that sometimes there is no limit on your income, if you want to work harder you can earn more, if you don't work at all you don't earn anything.
But then of course, we had to balance this new found source of income with grace and truth and developing a servants heart in our boys. So, when we sat the boys down and explained that with chores sticks as an option each week, the only limit they have in terms of how much money they can earn is themselves...and yet executing chores is a vital part of keeping our home and family running smoothly, and there are times when chore sticks can be chosen and done, simply to serve one another.
To do so, you can choose a chore and just quietly do it without mentioning it to collect the amount, or it can be done and a parent can be told, so no one duplicates the chore, but with the child specifying they would not like to be paid.
For the year we've been doing them, we've tweaked many things, taught through many scriptures with regard to money management and serving others, and tithing. We've also been extremely blessed....we have seen the Lord develop servanthood within our boys, particularly the older two. I can't count the times, my older two have said, "no I don't want to be paid for that I just want to do it for our family." or "I'd like to do this just to earn money to give to the homeless or the kids we support through church." or simply, "I want to put this in the offering at church"
We do limit how much they can do most of the time, but every once in a while, I will dump the entire container out and say...have at it boys....clean the house and there will be no limit. Today was one of those days, I've pulled my back out and can not clean the house as I need to, and so the boys got to work. My oldest got to the point after $6 of chores where he said he was working just to serve our family, and the others quickly followed.
So today, I was able to speak to the boys about 'bonuses' a life lesson worth learning early on. It was neat because as I told them sometimes depending on your job you can earn a bonus, it's a little extra every now and then that is not expected but earned and today because they were all so good, so cheerful and helpful, I gave them a 10% bonus...if they could calculate and define what 10% was.
They did, and it was fun..because at the end, again, another child said, "I'd like to give my extra 10% to the Lord...can you take it to your offering box with you Mom?"
I am blessed and for sure, it's the little things like craft sticks turned chore sticks that open the doors wide open for life lessons. Teaching our kids about serving, working, rewards, and even a little extra math lesson (for the math nerd in me).
Basically at our house we have three boys and they have standard chores each week such as, making their beds, picking up their room each night before bed, taking the trash out, setting the table and cleaning the basement when they mess it up. These chores generally earn them $1 each week.
So what are chore sticks? They are craft sticks that have chores and dollar (or in our case mostly cents) values assigned to them.
It is a way for our children to earn more than the specified allowance when they are trying to save for something special. But it has turned into so much more than just chores.
Basically, we sat the boys down and explained that chores around the house are a family responsibility. This house we have and all that is in it, has been entrusted to us by the Lord and so we need to be good stewards of all things, which means taking care of things and keeping them up. We also wanted our boys to learn a valuable life lesson...that sometimes there is no limit on your income, if you want to work harder you can earn more, if you don't work at all you don't earn anything.
But then of course, we had to balance this new found source of income with grace and truth and developing a servants heart in our boys. So, when we sat the boys down and explained that with chores sticks as an option each week, the only limit they have in terms of how much money they can earn is themselves...and yet executing chores is a vital part of keeping our home and family running smoothly, and there are times when chore sticks can be chosen and done, simply to serve one another.
To do so, you can choose a chore and just quietly do it without mentioning it to collect the amount, or it can be done and a parent can be told, so no one duplicates the chore, but with the child specifying they would not like to be paid.
For the year we've been doing them, we've tweaked many things, taught through many scriptures with regard to money management and serving others, and tithing. We've also been extremely blessed....we have seen the Lord develop servanthood within our boys, particularly the older two. I can't count the times, my older two have said, "no I don't want to be paid for that I just want to do it for our family." or "I'd like to do this just to earn money to give to the homeless or the kids we support through church." or simply, "I want to put this in the offering at church"
We do limit how much they can do most of the time, but every once in a while, I will dump the entire container out and say...have at it boys....clean the house and there will be no limit. Today was one of those days, I've pulled my back out and can not clean the house as I need to, and so the boys got to work. My oldest got to the point after $6 of chores where he said he was working just to serve our family, and the others quickly followed.
So today, I was able to speak to the boys about 'bonuses' a life lesson worth learning early on. It was neat because as I told them sometimes depending on your job you can earn a bonus, it's a little extra every now and then that is not expected but earned and today because they were all so good, so cheerful and helpful, I gave them a 10% bonus...if they could calculate and define what 10% was.
They did, and it was fun..because at the end, again, another child said, "I'd like to give my extra 10% to the Lord...can you take it to your offering box with you Mom?"
I am blessed and for sure, it's the little things like craft sticks turned chore sticks that open the doors wide open for life lessons. Teaching our kids about serving, working, rewards, and even a little extra math lesson (for the math nerd in me).
4.10.2014
Hurled with Restraint
This morning, I was able to sneak in a few moments to read some more of a book I am halfway through right now. It's A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, now I usually don't recommend a book until I complete it, but I can't recommend this enough at the halfway point!! I'm at an interesting place in the book, a place where there is content I did not expect nor even know my heart desperately needed. So I'm sitting here at my computer humbled and blessed. I am thankful for the commitment of fellow believers to write what the Lord has taught them. I'm in the middle of writing my own first book and it is tough. Much more work than I anticipated and one thing I am learning I am very grateful for being blessed by so many good books throughout my life because finishing a book is no easy task...yet many do and I am thankful.
So lately as I've been having my own struggle to get focused on finishing my book, and most of the struggle to finish is internal. I've got thoughts of doubt, condemnation, and frustration. It's not true for everyone, but for me, I am my own worst critic. So this morning as I walked through the pages of this book, I came to this:
"The steps of a man are established by the LORD; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand." Psalm 37:23-24
Reading these verses this morning they literally were so full of life it was as if they jumped off the page, and wrapped themselves around my heart.
I emphasized "when" because it's a guarantee,in fact in the original language another word for it is 'certainly.' When I fall. I'm going to fail the Lord, I'm going to make a mess out of the blessings He gives me. It will happen. I do not want it to happen, but I'm not perfect. My head knows that, my heart knows it, and yet...there is pride...that deeply rooted pride that sneaks in through even the smallest of circumstances that whispers, "you aren't as bad as her" "you've got this" "you deserve better" "at least your kids don't act like that" "you are a much better mom because..." "you're more mature than her because...." And the lists go on.
We can know in our minds and our hearts that we are that bad, but our actions have to follow suit. They've got to line up with what our mouths profess to believe...it's that whole reality of James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." Living out the Word is tough, and sometimes I'll be honest...my actions might do what appears right but inside I am battling with my heart to have the grace, mercy and love of my Lord. I want that.
I want my heart to be rooted and established in His word and grounded in His love, that simply because He has blessed me I will be a blessing (Gen 12:2). I'm not even talking about tangible blessings...I'm talking about the mercy and grace of Christ on the cross crucified for me. So amazing it's almost unbelievable and yet it is TRUTH.
So, He tells me I will fall, but He says "he shall not be hurled headlong." I will fall and fail and stumble...and yet He is holding my hand and will not allow me to be hurled (cast down or thrown down) because He is holding onto me. As I read "hurled headlong" I had the image of an intense throw. I mean when you hurl something you are putting all your might into that throw. So does this world, and sin, and Satan. All that is against us doesn't always come as stealthily as pride sometimes does. Mostly it hurls attacks at us. Hurl means to throw something with force. We are forcefully thrown about in our battle against sin. Yet we will not be hurled without restraint, as our Loving Heavenly Father holds our hands, and keeps us from going headlong.
All the battles that rage within me are comforted and stilled by the Price of Peace and His powerful word. I am not hurled headlong, and though I may be forcefully attacked (by sin, shame, doubt, condemnation, frustration...whatever it may be), I am never out of His hand. He is my guide, holding my hand and establishing my steps. And as we are hurled about by the battle against sin, we are confident that the war itself has been won by One much greater than ourselves. He paid the price that although we are hurled about in this life, we can rest in the truth that His Sovereign grip of grace is firmly on our lives. He restrains the hurling. We will not be hurled headlong, He hold our hands.
Lord, how we need You to order the steps of our hearts to align with Your word...please work that out in our lives today. Amen!
So lately as I've been having my own struggle to get focused on finishing my book, and most of the struggle to finish is internal. I've got thoughts of doubt, condemnation, and frustration. It's not true for everyone, but for me, I am my own worst critic. So this morning as I walked through the pages of this book, I came to this:
"The steps of a man are established by the LORD; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand." Psalm 37:23-24
Reading these verses this morning they literally were so full of life it was as if they jumped off the page, and wrapped themselves around my heart.
I emphasized "when" because it's a guarantee,in fact in the original language another word for it is 'certainly.' When I fall. I'm going to fail the Lord, I'm going to make a mess out of the blessings He gives me. It will happen. I do not want it to happen, but I'm not perfect. My head knows that, my heart knows it, and yet...there is pride...that deeply rooted pride that sneaks in through even the smallest of circumstances that whispers, "you aren't as bad as her" "you've got this" "you deserve better" "at least your kids don't act like that" "you are a much better mom because..." "you're more mature than her because...." And the lists go on.
We can know in our minds and our hearts that we are that bad, but our actions have to follow suit. They've got to line up with what our mouths profess to believe...it's that whole reality of James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." Living out the Word is tough, and sometimes I'll be honest...my actions might do what appears right but inside I am battling with my heart to have the grace, mercy and love of my Lord. I want that.
I want my heart to be rooted and established in His word and grounded in His love, that simply because He has blessed me I will be a blessing (Gen 12:2). I'm not even talking about tangible blessings...I'm talking about the mercy and grace of Christ on the cross crucified for me. So amazing it's almost unbelievable and yet it is TRUTH.
So, He tells me I will fall, but He says "he shall not be hurled headlong." I will fall and fail and stumble...and yet He is holding my hand and will not allow me to be hurled (cast down or thrown down) because He is holding onto me. As I read "hurled headlong" I had the image of an intense throw. I mean when you hurl something you are putting all your might into that throw. So does this world, and sin, and Satan. All that is against us doesn't always come as stealthily as pride sometimes does. Mostly it hurls attacks at us. Hurl means to throw something with force. We are forcefully thrown about in our battle against sin. Yet we will not be hurled without restraint, as our Loving Heavenly Father holds our hands, and keeps us from going headlong.
All the battles that rage within me are comforted and stilled by the Price of Peace and His powerful word. I am not hurled headlong, and though I may be forcefully attacked (by sin, shame, doubt, condemnation, frustration...whatever it may be), I am never out of His hand. He is my guide, holding my hand and establishing my steps. And as we are hurled about by the battle against sin, we are confident that the war itself has been won by One much greater than ourselves. He paid the price that although we are hurled about in this life, we can rest in the truth that His Sovereign grip of grace is firmly on our lives. He restrains the hurling. We will not be hurled headlong, He hold our hands.
Lord, how we need You to order the steps of our hearts to align with Your word...please work that out in our lives today. Amen!
2.05.2014
I Confess: I'm the Clean Home Mom
Lately my newsfeeds are filled with articles about messy homes and the women who have them, not being judged and how they are living life and won't feel guilty about having a messy home because it means their house is lived in.
Well, I must confess. I'm that clean home mom. Yup. You can drop by my house any hour of the day and chances are....it'll be relatively clean, if not really clean.
My kids are living life. They are playing non-stop, they are getting homeschooled, they are creating and making messes and breaking things, spilling things, dropping things, throwing things, and building things. They are all over all the time. They eat without ceasing and leave trails of evidence even with my best efforts to teach cleanliness. All the while, I'm 'managing' my home, pursuing my writing dreams, teach classes at our co-op, studying, training for a half marathon, cooking, helping my husband recover from knee surgery...and I'm still cleaning.
You see, I'm doing the cleaning for two people...and only one physically resides in my home.
I'm that one. I'm the one who lives here and experiences the messes daily. But I'm also the one who feels peaceful when things are in order. I enjoy clean counter-tops, although they aren't always ready to be eaten off of. I enjoy a clean floor, or dusted furniture. I like to wake up to clean dishes in the dishwasher instead of dirty ones. I like empty laundry baskets, instead of full ones.
All those things done mean that I've had to ability to do them. I've been blessed with the health to be able to walk through a home and care for a family that an amazing God has provided. I get to wash the never ending loads of dirty clothes for three amazing boys that He has entrusted me with. I get to iron the wrinkly shirts of a husband who works with all his heart to provide for our amazing little family.
The other person I clean for is the Lord. Yes, I'm sure that sounds like a cliche but that's okay, because the Lord worked something amazing in my heart the first few years of parenting that has given me a fresh perspective on keeping our home clean.
Bottom line, I'm somewhat type-A, in fact I had a friend once say "You're type A+" I like order and cleanliness and so when I started having kids and staying home I figured it would be a cinch to keep the house clean, I mean I'm home so I've got all the time in the world.....
Have you ever heard that saying, "You're the perfect parent until you become one?"
Well. Reality kicked in when our oldest was 20 months old and we welcomed our second son. Then just 30 months later we welcomed another.
I used to allow frustration with things being out of order navigate my mood. Chaos and clutter don't mesh well with type-A. But the Lord in His kindness began to speak to my heart about the messes and the peace I felt from having a clean home. Just because things are physically in order in your home, doesn't mean they are spiritually in order in your heart. If having a clean home has become an idol then the value you ascribe to the clean home will supercede the value you ascribe to God. Our God is our provider, the giver of all gifts. He is the One who grants the ability to clean.
He provides the messes to clean and the ones who cause the mess. He is the One who made me, and gave me the personality that I have. So He is the One I must trust to marry my personality with His word to live a life that expresses His grace and love to those around me. He does all of it for a purpose.
As my kids entered the toddler years and I felt all I did was walk from one mess to another to tidy up, the Lord began to set me free from myself and my need to clean as a way to create a peaceful environment, and lead me towards trusting in Him to create the peace in our home. As Phil 4:7 says, "the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
See then I was cleaning to create peace, now I clean as an act of gratefulness to the unseen resident of our home. The Prince of Peace. The Lord. The one who owns it all.
Well, I must confess. I'm that clean home mom. Yup. You can drop by my house any hour of the day and chances are....it'll be relatively clean, if not really clean.
My kids are living life. They are playing non-stop, they are getting homeschooled, they are creating and making messes and breaking things, spilling things, dropping things, throwing things, and building things. They are all over all the time. They eat without ceasing and leave trails of evidence even with my best efforts to teach cleanliness. All the while, I'm 'managing' my home, pursuing my writing dreams, teach classes at our co-op, studying, training for a half marathon, cooking, helping my husband recover from knee surgery...and I'm still cleaning.
You see, I'm doing the cleaning for two people...and only one physically resides in my home.
I'm that one. I'm the one who lives here and experiences the messes daily. But I'm also the one who feels peaceful when things are in order. I enjoy clean counter-tops, although they aren't always ready to be eaten off of. I enjoy a clean floor, or dusted furniture. I like to wake up to clean dishes in the dishwasher instead of dirty ones. I like empty laundry baskets, instead of full ones.
All those things done mean that I've had to ability to do them. I've been blessed with the health to be able to walk through a home and care for a family that an amazing God has provided. I get to wash the never ending loads of dirty clothes for three amazing boys that He has entrusted me with. I get to iron the wrinkly shirts of a husband who works with all his heart to provide for our amazing little family.
The other person I clean for is the Lord. Yes, I'm sure that sounds like a cliche but that's okay, because the Lord worked something amazing in my heart the first few years of parenting that has given me a fresh perspective on keeping our home clean.
Bottom line, I'm somewhat type-A, in fact I had a friend once say "You're type A+" I like order and cleanliness and so when I started having kids and staying home I figured it would be a cinch to keep the house clean, I mean I'm home so I've got all the time in the world.....
Have you ever heard that saying, "You're the perfect parent until you become one?"
Well. Reality kicked in when our oldest was 20 months old and we welcomed our second son. Then just 30 months later we welcomed another.
I used to allow frustration with things being out of order navigate my mood. Chaos and clutter don't mesh well with type-A. But the Lord in His kindness began to speak to my heart about the messes and the peace I felt from having a clean home. Just because things are physically in order in your home, doesn't mean they are spiritually in order in your heart. If having a clean home has become an idol then the value you ascribe to the clean home will supercede the value you ascribe to God. Our God is our provider, the giver of all gifts. He is the One who grants the ability to clean.
He provides the messes to clean and the ones who cause the mess. He is the One who made me, and gave me the personality that I have. So He is the One I must trust to marry my personality with His word to live a life that expresses His grace and love to those around me. He does all of it for a purpose.
As my kids entered the toddler years and I felt all I did was walk from one mess to another to tidy up, the Lord began to set me free from myself and my need to clean as a way to create a peaceful environment, and lead me towards trusting in Him to create the peace in our home. As Phil 4:7 says, "the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
See then I was cleaning to create peace, now I clean as an act of gratefulness to the unseen resident of our home. The Prince of Peace. The Lord. The one who owns it all.
"For every beast of the forest is Mine,
The cattle on a thousand hills.
The cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird of the mountains,
And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
For the world is Mine, and all it contains."
And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
For the world is Mine, and all it contains."
Psalm 50:10-12
We receive our mail here, and we pay the mortgage note, utilities and taxes...but it's all God's. He is like the landlord, and we are the renters. My heart has transitioned from Type-A about cleaning to Type G. Grateful. Grateful for the three little warriors I've got living their lives in this place making the messes that I get to clean. The messes that as they age, they are learning to be responsible for and clean up so they can grow into mature responsible men one day.
So chances are, when you drop by my house it'll be clean. Not because I'm better than anyone. Not because my kids aren't living life. Not because I'm a control freak and can't handle things out of order. Simply because I want to live my life with an attitude of gratitude for the One who has done more for me than I could ever do for anyone else. I want to use what He has put into our care for Him, I want everything we have to be ready for Him to pick up and direct.
And if you have me over to your house and it's a mess...I won't care. Remember in the Word it says:
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17
and
"One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind." Romans 14:5
I keep our home clean because of what the Lord has impressed on my heart, not because it looks good for others. When I see others with clean homes or others with 'messy' homes I am reminded of how infinite our God is in His creation. We are all unique. Which means though we possess similarities we are all different, and Praise Him for it!!
So as a clean home mom, I'd ask....don't come to my house and feel weird because it is clean and please don't think for a second you need to clean to have me over simply because my house is clean.
1.16.2014
Seemingly Mismatched
So I'm sitting in the waiting room waiting for my name to be called. My husband is in surgery. He is having his ACL replaced and some cartilage repaired from an accident a few weeks ago.
I've got a book on kindle and I'm speeding through it. It's amazing what can happen when a stay at home, homeschooling mom of three young boys has semi quiet uninterrupted time.
So in the quietness of the waiting as the rap music ringtone blares naturally everyone turns around to see who it belongs too. Funny thing the ringtone didn't match it's owner.
Not. At. All.
And I as I mulled over the seemingly mismatched woman and her ringtone, The Lord in his grace quietly spoke to my heart. "Do your words, excitement and appreciation about and for Jesus seem mismatched to some?"
Ouch. You see I'm in love with the story of David. How God chose him instead of his brothers, how beautiful 1 Samuel 16:7. "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
I am grateful beyond words that our Lord looks at the heart. Mine is deceitful above all else (Jeremiah tells us that)...but I do know that something powerful resides there. That is my heart where Christ sent His spirit to dwell and teach, correct, instruct and remind of His word and His goodness and grace.
I want my outside to match my inside. I know that I've asked Christ in my heart and so I know that have has been abundantly poured out upon my life, will be abundantly poured out on me each day and will one day take me home to Him. None of which I deserve. All of which is a free gift of God and He says
So when I say I want my outside to match my inside. I want my life to be lived as a conduit of grace
I'll never forget one evening my husband and I decided to be brave and take our three young boys out to eat. At the time they were 2, 4 and 6. It's always a risk. To be honest parents can't control their kids. Not really. All we can do it guide them to making good decisions and correct them when they make bad ones. So going out to dinner with three young boys who have been taught to behave could go two ways: good or bad. This particular evening went amazing. So much so that at the end of our meal a gentleman in his 80's came over and said "I would like to give each one of you boys a quarter. I've been watching you and you are all being so well behaved."
That man with his small kind act extended grace to us whether he knew it nor not. As a tired mother of three young boys sometimes you need to hear that they are decent kids.
That man didn't know how much I needed that encouragement that day. And he could've looked at me and thought "those well behaved kids don't match that frazzled mother." But instead he extended grace.
That's what I want to do. I want to live with the grace of God overflowing to others because He has certainly poured it upon me abundantly.
I want the grace I extend to come close to matching the grace I've received.
And as I thought through this in the semi quiet waiting room I began to smile. Maybe that ringtone does match that lady and good for her for having the confidence to choose it. After all it wasn't obscene and who am I to say it doesn't match her.
1.08.2014
First Backpack
So, yesterday I posted about an ongoing service project our family has decided to adopt this year. We are trying to create backpacks with goodies for the homeless around our county for $20 or less or a little more if needed.
This is a small project that we want to do simply because we feel it's something small that can make a huge impact on lives. The lives of those who will receive it, and possibly an even larger impact on the three small lives who are giving.
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Today after completing our school for the day, I loaded up the boys and we set our for the local thrift store. We found an amazing backpack. It was hard canvas with a rubber bottom and shoulder and back straps!! I was so excited. Not to mention it was only $2.50. So we picked it up, and I fought the urge to buy more, because we want to take this one at a time, because we need to learn the best way to do this to maximize what we can give.
So, on to the dollar store for some snacks and hopefully other hygiene items and things. We did not have as good luck as the dollar store as at the thrift store. We picked up primarily snacks and hygiene items, but couldn't find hats and gloves. We had hoped to come under budget and possibly find a blanket to include in light of this Polar Vortex that has come to town.
Needless to say, after striking out at the dollar store, we ran to my trusty chain retail store of choice. Found a hat and gloves which ate up the remainder of our $20 limit. In fact, our oldest was doing the math and adding up our expenses (see....homeschooling is actually life schooling too) and realized we were about to go $1.25 over, so he offered up his very own money.
A few things I learned today.
First if you want to include blankets, Ikea has something really warm and inexpensive. It's a fleece throw for under $2.00. If you live near an Ikea, and you are wanting to do this project, go stock up...grab 5. Five fleece blankets would only be $10. That's a deal. My kids each have their own and trust me they are warm.
Second, hats and gloves are not as easily found as I thought. Perhaps this will be an item I would like to shop for on an ongoing basis, buying as I see a good sale.
Third, maybe it would be better to shop for one item at a time, like go hunting for good backpacks...store them and as we stock up on other items, then stuff the backpacks and have them ready to hand out.
Now, when Daddy gets home and sees the finished projects the kids are so excited to go find someone to bless.
This morning during our devotion time at the start of school, I had the privelage to talk with the boys through a verse in Matthew 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’"
We talked about how each of these homeless people that we will encounter was made in the image of God and each person has a story and a purpose. Each person needs to know that they are loved, regardless of where they live, what they look like or how they identify themselves.
We give because Jesus has given it all for us.
Let me encourage you friend, don't be shy about giving. Bottom line, you can't mess up giving. You can't out give God and there are no rules. Go and give. Bless others, because even if you look around and feel like you have far less than those around you, there are always people with even less.
PS. Lest I leave my 'baby' out...he was so busy snacking he simply took on the role of Supervisor during backpack stuffing time.
.JPG)
This is a small project that we want to do simply because we feel it's something small that can make a huge impact on lives. The lives of those who will receive it, and possibly an even larger impact on the three small lives who are giving.
Today after completing our school for the day, I loaded up the boys and we set our for the local thrift store. We found an amazing backpack. It was hard canvas with a rubber bottom and shoulder and back straps!! I was so excited. Not to mention it was only $2.50. So we picked it up, and I fought the urge to buy more, because we want to take this one at a time, because we need to learn the best way to do this to maximize what we can give.
So, on to the dollar store for some snacks and hopefully other hygiene items and things. We did not have as good luck as the dollar store as at the thrift store. We picked up primarily snacks and hygiene items, but couldn't find hats and gloves. We had hoped to come under budget and possibly find a blanket to include in light of this Polar Vortex that has come to town.
Needless to say, after striking out at the dollar store, we ran to my trusty chain retail store of choice. Found a hat and gloves which ate up the remainder of our $20 limit. In fact, our oldest was doing the math and adding up our expenses (see....homeschooling is actually life schooling too) and realized we were about to go $1.25 over, so he offered up his very own money.
A few things I learned today.
First if you want to include blankets, Ikea has something really warm and inexpensive. It's a fleece throw for under $2.00. If you live near an Ikea, and you are wanting to do this project, go stock up...grab 5. Five fleece blankets would only be $10. That's a deal. My kids each have their own and trust me they are warm.
Second, hats and gloves are not as easily found as I thought. Perhaps this will be an item I would like to shop for on an ongoing basis, buying as I see a good sale.
Third, maybe it would be better to shop for one item at a time, like go hunting for good backpacks...store them and as we stock up on other items, then stuff the backpacks and have them ready to hand out.
Now, when Daddy gets home and sees the finished projects the kids are so excited to go find someone to bless.
This morning during our devotion time at the start of school, I had the privelage to talk with the boys through a verse in Matthew 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’"
We talked about how each of these homeless people that we will encounter was made in the image of God and each person has a story and a purpose. Each person needs to know that they are loved, regardless of where they live, what they look like or how they identify themselves.
We give because Jesus has given it all for us.
Let me encourage you friend, don't be shy about giving. Bottom line, you can't mess up giving. You can't out give God and there are no rules. Go and give. Bless others, because even if you look around and feel like you have far less than those around you, there are always people with even less.
PS. Lest I leave my 'baby' out...he was so busy snacking he simply took on the role of Supervisor during backpack stuffing time.
1.07.2014
Family Service Project: 2014
Last week, we talked through goal setting for the new year with our boys. One specific thing we talked through was service projects that our family could do. Small tangible things that would impact our boys and impact our community. We are only one family, so we are starting small. The idea we have came from a YouTube video we watched together as a family. We can't take any credit for the idea and we think it's a wonderful way for families to impact the community they live in.
Our boys have always been sensitive towards homeless people and my husband and I have always tried to stash cash to hand out as we encounter homeless or needy people throughout our town.
Well, after watching this video and asking our boys what they would like to do to serve others this year, they all suggested helping homeless people in our county. We showed this video to our boys and they were so excited!
So we've set a goal of how many backpacks we would like to hand out over the year. It's going to take time and preparation. We are going to hunt for some inexpensive backpacks and fill them with some or all of the items on the list in the video. The gist of the video is filling a backpack with hygiene items, food items and other items that are helpful or hard to find on the streets for the homeless.
Please take the time to watch the video. It is only three minutes. The video is a short compilation of what one couple does and provides a website from where they got the idea. It will give you an idea of how easy it is to put together a care package for a homeless person in our area. You can keep the backpack in your car ready to hand out as you encounter people around your town. It may seem small or it may seem like a sacrifice to put together a $20 backpack. Either way, it will make an impact. People will be blessed by what you give.
If you are interested in getting involved with our family doing this, contact me. I'd love to chat with you about how you can help.
**Please note, I am not trying to 'steal' anyone's idea, just following the example of others giving to make a difference. This backpack idea is not mine originally.
Our boys have always been sensitive towards homeless people and my husband and I have always tried to stash cash to hand out as we encounter homeless or needy people throughout our town.
Well, after watching this video and asking our boys what they would like to do to serve others this year, they all suggested helping homeless people in our county. We showed this video to our boys and they were so excited!
So we've set a goal of how many backpacks we would like to hand out over the year. It's going to take time and preparation. We are going to hunt for some inexpensive backpacks and fill them with some or all of the items on the list in the video. The gist of the video is filling a backpack with hygiene items, food items and other items that are helpful or hard to find on the streets for the homeless.
Please take the time to watch the video. It is only three minutes. The video is a short compilation of what one couple does and provides a website from where they got the idea. It will give you an idea of how easy it is to put together a care package for a homeless person in our area. You can keep the backpack in your car ready to hand out as you encounter people around your town. It may seem small or it may seem like a sacrifice to put together a $20 backpack. Either way, it will make an impact. People will be blessed by what you give.
If you are interested in getting involved with our family doing this, contact me. I'd love to chat with you about how you can help.
**Please note, I am not trying to 'steal' anyone's idea, just following the example of others giving to make a difference. This backpack idea is not mine originally.
1.03.2014
Unexpected Answers
New Year, new changes. Bit by bit. That's how it's going down in our house. We are just taking it one step at a time.
On New Year's Eve Day we sat our boys down, and taught them about goal setting. We talked through what our goals were, personal, professional and spiritual. Honestly it was a really neat idea my husband came up with. We had finished eating lunch and he just started the conversation and we went around the table asking each child what they wanted to learn about, change, or achieve. When you have a nine, seven and five year old you get some really cool responses.
One thing I wanted to do was put ideas into action. So yesterday since we are still on Christmas vacation from school, I made a list. Our older boys are growing up and it's a transitional point in their lives, they need some encouragement embracing maturity (don't we all at times really?). So one idea I had was to re-do their rooms. Nothing major, just updating furniture, rearranging and removing the toddler era toys and making their rooms more grown-up.
Well, we've got three boys and buying new furniture isn't something we do everyday. So we started with our seven year old because his birthday is this month. I sat each of the kids down and talked to them about growing up, and gaining more responsibility and freedom. What that entails and how they have to earn certain privileges by proving they are responsible and stepping up around the house to show us they can handle things.
As I was making my list of all the things I wanted to get done in the first three months of the year, I began to realize, some where pretty inexpensive while others were not. So my specific to-do list yesterday included the less expensive options, and a lot of prayer. I began praying asking the Lord to guide us to what He had for our boys. Specifically our oldest. It may sound silly, but I prayed and asked the Lord, "for a good deal on furniture for Joseph or even maybe if someone has a free set to pass on."
Well, I've got a sister in Christ that loves to deal hunt as I do, and she lives locally. She finds amazing deals sometimes so I sent her a text asking if she had over the holidays seen any good deals on a headboard.
A few hours later, and several bags of toys to be donated and rearranging two bedrooms of furniture, I got a text with an offer for a free headboard.
I mean, are you serious Lord?
See, sometimes I ask God for things, and in the back of my mind I might be thinking they are "pie in the sky" and a "Long-shot." So I don't even know that while asking I really expect to see the fulfillment of what I asked for. Now I am not preaching "name it and claim it." Not by any means.
What I'm suggesting is that in the busyness of our everyday, sometimes we pray without expectation. We whisper a prayer here and there, and sometimes we even pour out our hearts to God begging for action. But over time, our hearts grow stagnant. As if we know God will do what He wants to do when He wants to do it, and so yes we are praying, but no we are often not expecting.
Wrong.
"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22
I am not suggesting the Lord will give you everything you ask for. To be honest, we need to shout a Hallelujah that He does not give us everything we ask for! But we can be confident that when we pray, He hears us, He provides for us, He loves us, and He answers us.
He answers things sometimes in the exact way we prayed, sometimes in the exact opposite of what we prayed. But our God is a faithful God who loves His children dearly and knows our needs before we even ask, He knows our wants before we present them to Him. And at every moment He gives us exactly what we need.
So, yesterday...I had the parenting privilege to explain to my boys that the Lord knew my request even though I had spoken it to no one other than Him, and He chose to grant that. He blessed us. Not because of who I am, they are or my husband is. But simply because of who He is.
This is our God, “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Exodus 15:11
You may be wondering why I am blogging about free bedroom furniture. You know what? It's not about the gifts, it's about the Giver! Our God is gracious, and He cares about every little detail.
Sometimes in the dailyness of life we can forget that. But God. He comes unto the mundane and shows us Himself. He is who He is, and He is majestic.
Can I encourage you today to ask the Lord to guide you in praying expectantly? Put those 'pie in the sky' requests before Him, He knows they are there anyway, you may as well lay them before Him, and watch and wait. Our God is a mighty God who is able to do exceedingly more than we can even ask or imagine. Cover your to-dos with prayer. Cover your day with prayer. Then work diligently and ask God to guide. He will.
Then, let me encourage you to share...give Him praise even when it may seem small, or you may wonder if people will think you are crazy. It's okay. It may be small, and people may think you're crazy. But the Lord won't. Nothing is too small or too great for our God and He alone is worthy of Praise!
**so go ahead, Praise the Lord, and if you wanna share with me, leave me a comment, I will gladly praise Him with you!**
On New Year's Eve Day we sat our boys down, and taught them about goal setting. We talked through what our goals were, personal, professional and spiritual. Honestly it was a really neat idea my husband came up with. We had finished eating lunch and he just started the conversation and we went around the table asking each child what they wanted to learn about, change, or achieve. When you have a nine, seven and five year old you get some really cool responses.
One thing I wanted to do was put ideas into action. So yesterday since we are still on Christmas vacation from school, I made a list. Our older boys are growing up and it's a transitional point in their lives, they need some encouragement embracing maturity (don't we all at times really?). So one idea I had was to re-do their rooms. Nothing major, just updating furniture, rearranging and removing the toddler era toys and making their rooms more grown-up.
Well, we've got three boys and buying new furniture isn't something we do everyday. So we started with our seven year old because his birthday is this month. I sat each of the kids down and talked to them about growing up, and gaining more responsibility and freedom. What that entails and how they have to earn certain privileges by proving they are responsible and stepping up around the house to show us they can handle things.
As I was making my list of all the things I wanted to get done in the first three months of the year, I began to realize, some where pretty inexpensive while others were not. So my specific to-do list yesterday included the less expensive options, and a lot of prayer. I began praying asking the Lord to guide us to what He had for our boys. Specifically our oldest. It may sound silly, but I prayed and asked the Lord, "for a good deal on furniture for Joseph or even maybe if someone has a free set to pass on."
Well, I've got a sister in Christ that loves to deal hunt as I do, and she lives locally. She finds amazing deals sometimes so I sent her a text asking if she had over the holidays seen any good deals on a headboard.
A few hours later, and several bags of toys to be donated and rearranging two bedrooms of furniture, I got a text with an offer for a free headboard.
I mean, are you serious Lord?
See, sometimes I ask God for things, and in the back of my mind I might be thinking they are "pie in the sky" and a "Long-shot." So I don't even know that while asking I really expect to see the fulfillment of what I asked for. Now I am not preaching "name it and claim it." Not by any means.
What I'm suggesting is that in the busyness of our everyday, sometimes we pray without expectation. We whisper a prayer here and there, and sometimes we even pour out our hearts to God begging for action. But over time, our hearts grow stagnant. As if we know God will do what He wants to do when He wants to do it, and so yes we are praying, but no we are often not expecting.
Wrong.
"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22
I am not suggesting the Lord will give you everything you ask for. To be honest, we need to shout a Hallelujah that He does not give us everything we ask for! But we can be confident that when we pray, He hears us, He provides for us, He loves us, and He answers us.
He answers things sometimes in the exact way we prayed, sometimes in the exact opposite of what we prayed. But our God is a faithful God who loves His children dearly and knows our needs before we even ask, He knows our wants before we present them to Him. And at every moment He gives us exactly what we need.
So, yesterday...I had the parenting privilege to explain to my boys that the Lord knew my request even though I had spoken it to no one other than Him, and He chose to grant that. He blessed us. Not because of who I am, they are or my husband is. But simply because of who He is.
This is our God, “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Exodus 15:11
You may be wondering why I am blogging about free bedroom furniture. You know what? It's not about the gifts, it's about the Giver! Our God is gracious, and He cares about every little detail.
Sometimes in the dailyness of life we can forget that. But God. He comes unto the mundane and shows us Himself. He is who He is, and He is majestic.
Can I encourage you today to ask the Lord to guide you in praying expectantly? Put those 'pie in the sky' requests before Him, He knows they are there anyway, you may as well lay them before Him, and watch and wait. Our God is a mighty God who is able to do exceedingly more than we can even ask or imagine. Cover your to-dos with prayer. Cover your day with prayer. Then work diligently and ask God to guide. He will.
Then, let me encourage you to share...give Him praise even when it may seem small, or you may wonder if people will think you are crazy. It's okay. It may be small, and people may think you're crazy. But the Lord won't. Nothing is too small or too great for our God and He alone is worthy of Praise!
**so go ahead, Praise the Lord, and if you wanna share with me, leave me a comment, I will gladly praise Him with you!**
12.31.2013
Breaking Down News Years Resolutions
You know those epiphany moments? Where you have such a revelation and you realize you just aren't going to be the same again. Something changes inside you and you just get to a place where you realize where you are is done. You don't need to be there anymore. In fact, sometimes you realize you've been there long enough maybe even too long and it is beyond time to truly embrace the next season?
It's like realizing, you are that mom. The one with older kids. The words "bouncer seat" and "stroller" are no long part of your vocabulary and you aren't discussing which brand of diapers worked best for which child or where the best deal is on Huggies. Or which formula worked best for your kid or how long you nursed each child.
That baby phase is, dare I say, over. Letting go of the baby stage means that not only my kids have to continue to grow up, but so do I.
I guess maybe growing up can be daunting. When you're a kid it's some mystical achievement. I honestly think kids look at adults with different eyes than adults do. I have no idea what my kids think I do, but they have said on occasion, "I can't wait to grow up and I can do whatever I want whenever I want."
As we are seeing 2013 come to a close, something the Lord has blessed us with is the confirmation that our family is complete for now. God has graciously granted us three healthy, challenging young boys. Our 'baby' is five. Reading, sleeping through the night and learning and gaining independence each day. Our oldest is approaching ten. These are all milestones to be so grateful for, and we truly are. So now we move on to a new year, looking forward to 2014 and what will be.
My current stage then is older kids, not teenagers, but not infants and toddlers. No longer am I that young mom who has no clue what she's doing, I'm that 10 year vet that can let things slide because more than likely they will pass and our kids will be fine, if not better, from whatever 'trama' they believe is life ending at the moment. I'm that sinner saved by grace nearly two decades ago that realizes grace is all that matters, it holds us together and keeps us in Christ. I need it more than I know and I need to freely give it more than I do because I have a Savior who gave it freely to me an undeserving sinner.
This weekend I had the privilege to take a break. For the first time since my oldest son was born nearly ten years ago, I left my kids for more than 24 hours. I packed my bag and flew 1000 miles away to spend the weekend with my sister and her family. Leaving my kids home with Daddy for three days. It was hard because I missed them, but not as hard as I thought because I was able to love on my nephews without distraction for three full days!
The Lord also afforded me a lot of time to reflect, which was honestly really cool as we welcome a new year. I began to think on my boys. Each one of them is so unique and so talented. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. It's my job to help them cultivate their strengths and identify their weaknesses. I think the biggest epiphany I had was that they are not nearly as young as I still feel they are, and that helping them identify and embrace their weaknesses so they can work through them, accept them and then focus on their strengths is not bad parenting. In fact, it may be quite the opposite.
After all, doesn't the Lord refine us bit by bit? Revealing the areas we need to turn over to Him so He can reveal Christ in us for His glory? He takes our weaknesses our messes and our frailties and shows Himself powerful and gracious in their place!
He walks us to the next stage of life with Power and Grace that engulfs our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus through the power of His Word. He is the Grace Giver who grants us peace and holds our hands as we close a chapter and open another.
"And the LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you." Deuteronomy 7:22
I love this verse and it is such a comfort and encouragement in life. Simply put the Lord could've easily, with a word eliminated complete nations before the Israelite people. Then the land would have been clear and ready for their occupation. But God. In His wisdom He knew, if he would have eliminated the nations all at once the wild beasts would have taken over and grown too numerous for them to contain. Therefore He took care of the nations little by little.
He walks us through growing up, little by little. Because He knows us, He knows our frame, He created each of us with strengths and weaknesses. Both are gifts. Both are to be used by Him.
So He leads us little by little, and as our family starts a New Year, His mercies are New and Fresh. He guides our path, and changes our course. It may not be the path we would have chosen or the course we planned, but it's "the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:23
I want to encourage you dear friend, as you begin your new year, set goals and make resolutions, but give yourself grace. Take your larger goals and resolutions and follow God's example, break them down into little steps. Give yourself the grace to achieve them bit by bit following each little step God has for you and your family. When you look back in another year, if you follow Him little by little, you will be amazed at how far you've gone.
It's like realizing, you are that mom. The one with older kids. The words "bouncer seat" and "stroller" are no long part of your vocabulary and you aren't discussing which brand of diapers worked best for which child or where the best deal is on Huggies. Or which formula worked best for your kid or how long you nursed each child.
That baby phase is, dare I say, over. Letting go of the baby stage means that not only my kids have to continue to grow up, but so do I.
I guess maybe growing up can be daunting. When you're a kid it's some mystical achievement. I honestly think kids look at adults with different eyes than adults do. I have no idea what my kids think I do, but they have said on occasion, "I can't wait to grow up and I can do whatever I want whenever I want."
As we are seeing 2013 come to a close, something the Lord has blessed us with is the confirmation that our family is complete for now. God has graciously granted us three healthy, challenging young boys. Our 'baby' is five. Reading, sleeping through the night and learning and gaining independence each day. Our oldest is approaching ten. These are all milestones to be so grateful for, and we truly are. So now we move on to a new year, looking forward to 2014 and what will be.
My current stage then is older kids, not teenagers, but not infants and toddlers. No longer am I that young mom who has no clue what she's doing, I'm that 10 year vet that can let things slide because more than likely they will pass and our kids will be fine, if not better, from whatever 'trama' they believe is life ending at the moment. I'm that sinner saved by grace nearly two decades ago that realizes grace is all that matters, it holds us together and keeps us in Christ. I need it more than I know and I need to freely give it more than I do because I have a Savior who gave it freely to me an undeserving sinner.
This weekend I had the privilege to take a break. For the first time since my oldest son was born nearly ten years ago, I left my kids for more than 24 hours. I packed my bag and flew 1000 miles away to spend the weekend with my sister and her family. Leaving my kids home with Daddy for three days. It was hard because I missed them, but not as hard as I thought because I was able to love on my nephews without distraction for three full days!
The Lord also afforded me a lot of time to reflect, which was honestly really cool as we welcome a new year. I began to think on my boys. Each one of them is so unique and so talented. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. It's my job to help them cultivate their strengths and identify their weaknesses. I think the biggest epiphany I had was that they are not nearly as young as I still feel they are, and that helping them identify and embrace their weaknesses so they can work through them, accept them and then focus on their strengths is not bad parenting. In fact, it may be quite the opposite.
After all, doesn't the Lord refine us bit by bit? Revealing the areas we need to turn over to Him so He can reveal Christ in us for His glory? He takes our weaknesses our messes and our frailties and shows Himself powerful and gracious in their place!
He walks us to the next stage of life with Power and Grace that engulfs our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus through the power of His Word. He is the Grace Giver who grants us peace and holds our hands as we close a chapter and open another.
"And the LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you." Deuteronomy 7:22
I love this verse and it is such a comfort and encouragement in life. Simply put the Lord could've easily, with a word eliminated complete nations before the Israelite people. Then the land would have been clear and ready for their occupation. But God. In His wisdom He knew, if he would have eliminated the nations all at once the wild beasts would have taken over and grown too numerous for them to contain. Therefore He took care of the nations little by little.
He walks us through growing up, little by little. Because He knows us, He knows our frame, He created each of us with strengths and weaknesses. Both are gifts. Both are to be used by Him.
So He leads us little by little, and as our family starts a New Year, His mercies are New and Fresh. He guides our path, and changes our course. It may not be the path we would have chosen or the course we planned, but it's "the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:23
I want to encourage you dear friend, as you begin your new year, set goals and make resolutions, but give yourself grace. Take your larger goals and resolutions and follow God's example, break them down into little steps. Give yourself the grace to achieve them bit by bit following each little step God has for you and your family. When you look back in another year, if you follow Him little by little, you will be amazed at how far you've gone.
11.26.2013
An Unexpected School Vacation
So last week the kids got an unexpected break from school. Four full days off. Yup, no fall break or special holiday here. I got sick. I'm not sure if I had the flu because I never took the test, but I'm pretty sure I had the flu I had a fever for three days and couldn't even get out of the bed for two straight days.
I have boys. I do not have any cutesy domesticated girls who can cook or take care of mom when mom goes down. Monday morning, I ran my six miles and just before starting school I started to feel yucky...by 2:30...forget it, homeschooling mama down. I crawled into the bed, and I didn't get up until the next evening sometime. And even that was a challenge.
Last week was interesting. My oldest is only nine. He stepped right up and made breakfast and lunch for his five and seven year old brothers. He tried to defuse any tense situations between them, and carried around the iPad so I could "text" him if I needed anything. He brought me ice packs, Gatorade and saltines. He even tried to help me out of bed a few times. I didn't eat for three days, not sure exactly what the kids ate...but the Halloween candy was in tact so they must have found real food.
So this morning, as rain continuously falls outside and it's dreary and pretty cold here in the south, we are about to start school. Yup. Every. Day. This. Week.
Just before school this morning I decided to have some 'me time.' So guess what I did? I brought the shop vac in from the garage and vacuumed the laundry room, behind the dryer and all the baseboards even the lint trap in the dryer.
Yeah, I'm 35. That may sound boring and 'over the hill' to some. But as I was vacuuming my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. Really. I know it may sound a little silly. But what I began to think of, is here is this 35 year old woman, walking around in my body. My mind doesn't feel that old, and honestly my body doesn't either most of the time. But I'm a wife now, for the past eleven years. And a mom too, for the past nine years. Those titles may sound daunting to some, boring to others or exciting to a few. But the truth is, those titles define my life and were given to me by my Lord.
He chose me, not just to be His child and to serve Him, but He picked me out to be my husband's wife. The one who gets to grow old with him, embrace all his quirks and love him anyway. That's what I get to do. He picked me to be the mother to three boys. Three boys just barely four years apart. Three intelligent, energetic and challenging boys.
So even in the mundane and seemingly disgusting job of vacuuming the laundry room, I can be grateful for many things. The health and ability to vacuum, a house to vacuum, a vacuum that works, the ability to homeschool and teach our children how God is in all of life, the husband who supports me even in my craziest endeavors, the boys who although they boys they stepped up last week and did the best they could. The reflection of a 35 year old woman who enjoys vacuuming looking back at me because life is a gift from God.
We have so many, many things to be thankful for, we often overlook the smallest of details. Yet, I believe it is there in the smallest of things that we find the most profound provision of our Lord. He goes after the small, the mundane all the seemingly insignificant areas of our lives and fights for us. He fights for our hearts and lives to Honor Him. He doesn't give up, He doesn't let go. He relentlessly pursues us. Not because we deserve it or are worthy, but just because that is Who He Is.
I am amazed at our God how He fights for us. He wages war against the evil one on our behalf, in fact Christ lives to make intercession for us. Our Savior prays for us. Really? I mean here is our Lord seated in Heaven, and praying for us. For you. For me. We do not know what He prays, but we can be assured it is in line with God's will and it will honor God. We can trust the One who prays, that the prayers are for us.
So, this month has spurred a season of thanks, and my newsfeeds are overflowing with my sweet friends expressing their thankfulness. I am encouraged every time I log onto a social media site. All around me, I am reading the thankfulness of others. I think it is wonderful!!! Absolutely fantastic to testify to God about how thankful we are. I love it, but I also fervently believe that thankfulness is a characteristic of a believer, "in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Last week, I needed to ask God to draw the thankfulness out for the mundane. For sure, laying in bed day after day with no strength and three young kids, and my husband was so busy at work he couldn't take time off. It was just the kids and I. It's hard to be thankful during tougher times. But I've seen the Lord work in our lives, if we find one thing to be thankful for and express it, more thankfulness follows. Sometimes we just need to take that first step.
How about you? In this 'season of thanks' are you struggling in your heart to offer thanks for the seemingly mundane? For the little moments when the Lord powerfully speaks truth into your heart revealing what you need to thank Him for, even if you don't feel like it?
Are you leading your kids in a lifestyle of thankfulness? Are you showing them in God's word that we are to be thankful, it does honor God and we can be thankful no matter how small or insignificant?
Take that first step, thank God for something small. All the littles add up and that's what life is made of. Little details, one by one, filtered through the loving hands of the Almighty, fitted just for each one of us to bring Him glory.
I have boys. I do not have any cutesy domesticated girls who can cook or take care of mom when mom goes down. Monday morning, I ran my six miles and just before starting school I started to feel yucky...by 2:30...forget it, homeschooling mama down. I crawled into the bed, and I didn't get up until the next evening sometime. And even that was a challenge.
Last week was interesting. My oldest is only nine. He stepped right up and made breakfast and lunch for his five and seven year old brothers. He tried to defuse any tense situations between them, and carried around the iPad so I could "text" him if I needed anything. He brought me ice packs, Gatorade and saltines. He even tried to help me out of bed a few times. I didn't eat for three days, not sure exactly what the kids ate...but the Halloween candy was in tact so they must have found real food.
So this morning, as rain continuously falls outside and it's dreary and pretty cold here in the south, we are about to start school. Yup. Every. Day. This. Week.
Just before school this morning I decided to have some 'me time.' So guess what I did? I brought the shop vac in from the garage and vacuumed the laundry room, behind the dryer and all the baseboards even the lint trap in the dryer.
Yeah, I'm 35. That may sound boring and 'over the hill' to some. But as I was vacuuming my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. Really. I know it may sound a little silly. But what I began to think of, is here is this 35 year old woman, walking around in my body. My mind doesn't feel that old, and honestly my body doesn't either most of the time. But I'm a wife now, for the past eleven years. And a mom too, for the past nine years. Those titles may sound daunting to some, boring to others or exciting to a few. But the truth is, those titles define my life and were given to me by my Lord.
He chose me, not just to be His child and to serve Him, but He picked me out to be my husband's wife. The one who gets to grow old with him, embrace all his quirks and love him anyway. That's what I get to do. He picked me to be the mother to three boys. Three boys just barely four years apart. Three intelligent, energetic and challenging boys.
So even in the mundane and seemingly disgusting job of vacuuming the laundry room, I can be grateful for many things. The health and ability to vacuum, a house to vacuum, a vacuum that works, the ability to homeschool and teach our children how God is in all of life, the husband who supports me even in my craziest endeavors, the boys who although they boys they stepped up last week and did the best they could. The reflection of a 35 year old woman who enjoys vacuuming looking back at me because life is a gift from God.
We have so many, many things to be thankful for, we often overlook the smallest of details. Yet, I believe it is there in the smallest of things that we find the most profound provision of our Lord. He goes after the small, the mundane all the seemingly insignificant areas of our lives and fights for us. He fights for our hearts and lives to Honor Him. He doesn't give up, He doesn't let go. He relentlessly pursues us. Not because we deserve it or are worthy, but just because that is Who He Is.
I am amazed at our God how He fights for us. He wages war against the evil one on our behalf, in fact Christ lives to make intercession for us. Our Savior prays for us. Really? I mean here is our Lord seated in Heaven, and praying for us. For you. For me. We do not know what He prays, but we can be assured it is in line with God's will and it will honor God. We can trust the One who prays, that the prayers are for us.
So, this month has spurred a season of thanks, and my newsfeeds are overflowing with my sweet friends expressing their thankfulness. I am encouraged every time I log onto a social media site. All around me, I am reading the thankfulness of others. I think it is wonderful!!! Absolutely fantastic to testify to God about how thankful we are. I love it, but I also fervently believe that thankfulness is a characteristic of a believer, "in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Last week, I needed to ask God to draw the thankfulness out for the mundane. For sure, laying in bed day after day with no strength and three young kids, and my husband was so busy at work he couldn't take time off. It was just the kids and I. It's hard to be thankful during tougher times. But I've seen the Lord work in our lives, if we find one thing to be thankful for and express it, more thankfulness follows. Sometimes we just need to take that first step.
How about you? In this 'season of thanks' are you struggling in your heart to offer thanks for the seemingly mundane? For the little moments when the Lord powerfully speaks truth into your heart revealing what you need to thank Him for, even if you don't feel like it?
Are you leading your kids in a lifestyle of thankfulness? Are you showing them in God's word that we are to be thankful, it does honor God and we can be thankful no matter how small or insignificant?
Take that first step, thank God for something small. All the littles add up and that's what life is made of. Little details, one by one, filtered through the loving hands of the Almighty, fitted just for each one of us to bring Him glory.
11.11.2013
What's Running got to do with Parenting?
This weekend I had the opportunity to run in my second race. It was much different than my first, untimed, Color Vibe run. This was a timed 14 mile relay where I ran with three other ladies. We were running to benefit a local organization that provides support to the Autism community where I live.
This issue is very important to my heart because I have a nephew who is Autistic. He is now twelve years old, and has been living with Autism for over ten years. He is amazing. Not because he is Autistic, but simply because of his spirit. He has a tenderness and love about him that is sweet to the soul.
So, I'm not going sugar coat this. The relay was hard. Which to be honest, I thought it wouldn't be. My portion was only 3.35 miles, and I'm in the middle of training for a half marathon right now, so my longest run is 8 miles. I figured I could knock out my lap in under 30 minutes and then go run another with my friend who was next, so I could get the miles in to keep my training schedule up.
Guess what? There was three insane hills. I train on flat ground primarily to prevent reinjuring my hamstring.
Hills take endurance. Endurance is earned.
Earned only by hard work, discipline and commitment.
As I started down the second hill, thinking it may not be that bad....I got to the bottom and began the ascent. The 1/4 mile ascent. Yeah, it was tough, and I kept my eyes on my feet and just kept going.
My mind began to wonder, I began to think about my nephew. Here I was mentally complaining about a hill, and daily Stephen has challenges. I began to think on the things he can't do, and quickly thanked God for the ability to run this challenging hill.
Then I began to think about my sister in law. She is always saying that she wished she had my motivation and discipline. But she does. She parents Stephen with endurance. She's earned that endurance. She has an unwavering commitment to her son. She pursues therapy for him, she fights for him. She's been doing this for over ten years.
I ran that hill in maybe a few minutes, and at the top I had some relief. She has no relief.
Running is hard, running long distance takes time and commitment. It is mentally taxing.
I think parenting and running have a lot in common. It takes commitment, you can't run a marathon tomorrow because you decided to today. You have to physically prepare. You also have to mentally prepare. There comes a point in your training where the mental aspect of the running is almost more of a challenge than the physical part.
Just like parenting. You have to prepare your mind to stay the course despite all the 'bumps' in the road. You've got to have endurance. You don't get endurance for free. It comes at a cost. If you want godly children that "walk in a manner worthy of the gospel" (Phil 1:27) then it will interrupt your life, it will require your time, it will wear on your nerves, it will humble you in public, it will require self control in your own life at home and in public.
My friend and I who were so gung-ho about running two laps to get distance in both needed a break. But we did it, we got the motivation. My second lap was slower than my first. There wasn't the pressure of the team depending on me to get there, it was a 'volunteer' lap. But I found that as I ran with a friend, I had accountability and encouragement right there.
Just like in parenting. We need our spouses to be an encouragement to us in this. We need other moms to come alongside us and let us know our kids are not the only kids in the world who challenge authority and test boundaries. We need community to speak truth into our hearts so that endurance is nourished properly.
I want to parent with endurance. God given, Christ centered and grace filled endurance that leads my boys to Jesus, their Creator so that one day, they will parent their own with an even stronger endurance. See, my boys do what I do. They do what my husband does. In fact, yesterday in the store, I did something my mom did when I was growing up. They imitate us. It's a scary truth.
I want my life to point to Christ, that as they imitate me, they will find their Savior.
This issue is very important to my heart because I have a nephew who is Autistic. He is now twelve years old, and has been living with Autism for over ten years. He is amazing. Not because he is Autistic, but simply because of his spirit. He has a tenderness and love about him that is sweet to the soul.
So, I'm not going sugar coat this. The relay was hard. Which to be honest, I thought it wouldn't be. My portion was only 3.35 miles, and I'm in the middle of training for a half marathon right now, so my longest run is 8 miles. I figured I could knock out my lap in under 30 minutes and then go run another with my friend who was next, so I could get the miles in to keep my training schedule up.
Guess what? There was three insane hills. I train on flat ground primarily to prevent reinjuring my hamstring.
Hills take endurance. Endurance is earned.
Earned only by hard work, discipline and commitment.
As I started down the second hill, thinking it may not be that bad....I got to the bottom and began the ascent. The 1/4 mile ascent. Yeah, it was tough, and I kept my eyes on my feet and just kept going.
My mind began to wonder, I began to think about my nephew. Here I was mentally complaining about a hill, and daily Stephen has challenges. I began to think on the things he can't do, and quickly thanked God for the ability to run this challenging hill.
(my favorite snapshot of the day, LOVE this boy)
Then I began to think about my sister in law. She is always saying that she wished she had my motivation and discipline. But she does. She parents Stephen with endurance. She's earned that endurance. She has an unwavering commitment to her son. She pursues therapy for him, she fights for him. She's been doing this for over ten years.
I ran that hill in maybe a few minutes, and at the top I had some relief. She has no relief.
Running is hard, running long distance takes time and commitment. It is mentally taxing.
I think parenting and running have a lot in common. It takes commitment, you can't run a marathon tomorrow because you decided to today. You have to physically prepare. You also have to mentally prepare. There comes a point in your training where the mental aspect of the running is almost more of a challenge than the physical part.
Just like parenting. You have to prepare your mind to stay the course despite all the 'bumps' in the road. You've got to have endurance. You don't get endurance for free. It comes at a cost. If you want godly children that "walk in a manner worthy of the gospel" (Phil 1:27) then it will interrupt your life, it will require your time, it will wear on your nerves, it will humble you in public, it will require self control in your own life at home and in public.
My friend and I who were so gung-ho about running two laps to get distance in both needed a break. But we did it, we got the motivation. My second lap was slower than my first. There wasn't the pressure of the team depending on me to get there, it was a 'volunteer' lap. But I found that as I ran with a friend, I had accountability and encouragement right there.
Just like in parenting. We need our spouses to be an encouragement to us in this. We need other moms to come alongside us and let us know our kids are not the only kids in the world who challenge authority and test boundaries. We need community to speak truth into our hearts so that endurance is nourished properly.
I want to parent with endurance. God given, Christ centered and grace filled endurance that leads my boys to Jesus, their Creator so that one day, they will parent their own with an even stronger endurance. See, my boys do what I do. They do what my husband does. In fact, yesterday in the store, I did something my mom did when I was growing up. They imitate us. It's a scary truth.
I want my life to point to Christ, that as they imitate me, they will find their Savior.
(this is our youngest, stretching after each lap I did, because I do,
not because he ran, but because his mommy did)
10.31.2013
Pumpkins Still Need Carving, Even Five Years Later
This morning, my youngest walked into my room and said, "Hey mom, it's halloween today." Ahh, yes it is. I forgot. Then as I began to think about halloween, because we let our kids participate..but we don't get into all the craziness of it, I began thinking...I have three pumpkins to carve...and today is the day! Then, I remembered, 5 years ago, the Lord gave us a really special day together as we 'carved' pumpkins. I thought I'd update that blog and share with you...I pray you are blessed by it.
(the following is my 'halloween' blog from '08,
the above is my sweet 5 year old with three pumpkins ready to be carved)
So here sits this 16 pound pumpkin on my kitchen counter for the last two weeks....every time I look at it, it's begging the question..."what am I going to do with this crazy huge pumpkin?" So today, as my spouse was out of town and we've already passed halloween... and I do not bake pies...I thought..alright here goes...I vaguely remembered from my childhood how nasty the inside was of a pumpkin and how slimy the seeds were...but I've got boys so they should enjoy it. We got started...rather I got started my two oldest boys sat at the counter and watched...it was tough. Seriously the pumpkin was hard to cut into. Finally I got to the inside and it wasn't nearly as disgusting looking as I thought it would be. So I instantly thought...ah this should be easy. Well...it wasn't too bad at first, we started digging out the slimy seeds, and yes they loved it...we collected them, because I wash them and bake them for a snack.
We're elbow deep in pumpkin seeds and goo and the Lord reminds me of something I had heard, I think while at the Seminary. People are like Pumpkins! So I asked my oldest...I said, "can Mommy tell you about how pumpkins and people are similar?" He said yes...and I told him, we are like the pumpkins and Jesus is like the carver...when we ask Him into our hearts...He comes in...and He takes all the yucky stuff out and replaces it with His light...just like we take all the yucky stuff out of a pumpkin and put a candle into it to make it shine. Okay...he's 4 he wasn't overly impressed....but all day I kept thinking about that...and even now I as I'm reflecting on it...you know...it was TOUGH to cut into that pumpkin. Just like me.
I'm tough to "cut into" I'm stubborn, I have to learn lessons over and over...I'd be arrogant to even say that there are certain things I've got "whipped" because I know that uttering those words opens me to the possibility of failing..."let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall" 1 Cor 10:12 Okay...so I've been recently struggling with my attitude with my kids.... I absolutely love them...I mean I would do anything for them, I want them to love Jesus so bad it hurts....I want them to be God-fearing, God-honoring leaders in His church...but I've just been really struggling with them lately...okay I've got an almost 3 year old who will not obey...the words "strong-willed" do not hold a candle to his behavior...and my almost 5 year old seems to be just down right mean to get attention...all the while this precious 4 month old just wants some love from Mommy. Going in 3 different directions is not easy... it's tough and gets tougher everyday. Parenting is tough.
And as I was teaching my son about pumpkins and how they parallel our lives and our relationship with Jesus..I just kept praying...God SHOW me Yourself...I NEED you to change me and give me the love and the strength because I am overwhelmed...I've been begging God to speak to me from His word...I need that so intensely I just can't give up....I won't give up....because I know in ALL things God is teaching me...He's working out sanctification in my life to His greater glory...and there are days when I just feel so callous and so tough to cut into (like that pumpkin) I feel like not even God's word can get through because I'm such a sinner...and then I read "Arise, cry aloud in the night, at the beginning of the night watches; pour out your heart like water before the presence of the LORD." Lamentations 2:19...I thought, I I can do that because I just need HIM!!!
2 Timothy again... "...and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3:6-7 How my heart longs for a steadfast immovable spirit as in Psalm 51:10...how desperately I need to have His love increase and overflow within me as in 1 Thes 3:12, and how fervent I must be about praying without ceasing 1 thes 5:17.
So this morning as I was carving out that pumpkin every time I would scrap away a layer of the "yucky stuff" I'd think I was almost done...and I'd dump out what I had scraped off only to reveal a little bit more that needed to be scraped off.....this adventure I'm on...following after Christ, is like that...every time God refines my heart and scraps off a little more of the yucky stuff that has to go for His glory to shine bright...it reveals a little more that needs to go....and what I noticed was this...sometimes I could scrap really hard and sometimes I could scrap gently...it just depended on how nasty the yucky stuff was....so I guess I'm more like a pumpkin than I thought....and how thankful Iam that Jesus is the Master carver and I know He has a perfect image of what He is making me into...not some haphazard drawing of an unskilled artist...Praise God!
10.22.2013
Which Doormat are You?
This morning, I found myself again in the battle of, "I am NOT a doormat." I AM a believer in Christ. I do love my Lord, I believe in returning good for evil, I believe that I should do what is right and do my best to live at peace with all men.
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I'll be honest, I'm a California girl through and through, and shortly after the Lord saved me, He began dealing with my arrogance of the culture I had been raised in. I would say what I thought when I thought it, after all, that was honesty. It's a different culture where I was raised, if you didn't like someone, you just told them...and that was 'okay.' Not everyone has to be friends, it was respected. Differences were embraced, almost idolized in the culture I grew up in.
The arrogance isn't a mentality of "I'm better than you so there." But rather, "I am who I am and you have to accept it or move on cause I don't care anyway."
But the Lord graciously began to work in my heart showing me (some things more quickly than others) that yes I am who I am, but part of who I am is sinful and needed a loving Savior to transform the depths of my soul. Not to fit a societal mold...but to be more like Christ.
I believe that part of the boldness that comes with that upbringing, led me into years of passivity as a believer. Now, I am NOT saying that being passive is bad, it can be right depending on the situation.
What I am being set free from is the misconception that all Christians should be doormats. We should not silently sit by in fear of acting in our society because of a deeply rooted fear of man, or for any other reason for that matter.
There will be times when God calls us to act.
When He does we must obey.
God called Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. He didn't just sit there in the middle of the desert waiting for the Lord to bring them to him. Rather, in the strength God provided, Moses acted mightily.
God called Joseph to be in a position of authority in Egypt during a famine. Joseph did not sit in prison idly. No, seeing the opportunity for release he took it.
God called Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles (and Praise His Name, for I am one!). Paul didn't just stay in Damascus waiting for the Lord to drop some Gentiles in his lap. He went throughout the known world spreading the gospel of Christ to the gentiles.
I'm learning that although there are times when I most definitely could be perceived as a doormat, that label is okay if in receiving it I am honoring the Lord in what He has called me to do. I am also learning that there are times when I am called to speak out. When I am called to stand up for something because if I don't I may not be being a good steward of what the Lord has entrusted to my care.
Through the past six years that the Lord has been impressing this truth on my heart, He has shown me over and over that speaking up means speaking words tempered with grace and love.
Ephesians 4:15 says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
If I am in fact to speak words that give grace to those who hear me, my first position has to be one of fervent prayer. In fact, speaking the truth in love requires a tremendous amount of prayer.
We can trust in our Father to grant us the words we need when and as we need them. The Lord spoke to Moses in Exodus, and this has always encouraged my soul, "The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:10-12.
Sometimes the Lord calls us to speak up, and sometimes the Lord calls us to be silent. Again in Exodus 14:14, we are encouraged by, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
The key I've found is discernment. Speaking when He wants us to and what He wants us to.
Guess what? I'm not the only one who struggles with this, it's as old as the writer of James reflecting on the ability to control the tongue. That man is perfect if he can do so. James 3:2, "We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check."
So, maybe instead of being the silent doormat consistently, I can choose to be the doormat the exudes grace to those who walk across me....
.jpg)
I'll be honest, I'm a California girl through and through, and shortly after the Lord saved me, He began dealing with my arrogance of the culture I had been raised in. I would say what I thought when I thought it, after all, that was honesty. It's a different culture where I was raised, if you didn't like someone, you just told them...and that was 'okay.' Not everyone has to be friends, it was respected. Differences were embraced, almost idolized in the culture I grew up in.
The arrogance isn't a mentality of "I'm better than you so there." But rather, "I am who I am and you have to accept it or move on cause I don't care anyway."
But the Lord graciously began to work in my heart showing me (some things more quickly than others) that yes I am who I am, but part of who I am is sinful and needed a loving Savior to transform the depths of my soul. Not to fit a societal mold...but to be more like Christ.
I believe that part of the boldness that comes with that upbringing, led me into years of passivity as a believer. Now, I am NOT saying that being passive is bad, it can be right depending on the situation.
What I am being set free from is the misconception that all Christians should be doormats. We should not silently sit by in fear of acting in our society because of a deeply rooted fear of man, or for any other reason for that matter.
There will be times when God calls us to act.
When He does we must obey.
God called Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. He didn't just sit there in the middle of the desert waiting for the Lord to bring them to him. Rather, in the strength God provided, Moses acted mightily.
God called Joseph to be in a position of authority in Egypt during a famine. Joseph did not sit in prison idly. No, seeing the opportunity for release he took it.
God called Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles (and Praise His Name, for I am one!). Paul didn't just stay in Damascus waiting for the Lord to drop some Gentiles in his lap. He went throughout the known world spreading the gospel of Christ to the gentiles.
I'm learning that although there are times when I most definitely could be perceived as a doormat, that label is okay if in receiving it I am honoring the Lord in what He has called me to do. I am also learning that there are times when I am called to speak out. When I am called to stand up for something because if I don't I may not be being a good steward of what the Lord has entrusted to my care.
Through the past six years that the Lord has been impressing this truth on my heart, He has shown me over and over that speaking up means speaking words tempered with grace and love.
Ephesians 4:15 says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
If I am in fact to speak words that give grace to those who hear me, my first position has to be one of fervent prayer. In fact, speaking the truth in love requires a tremendous amount of prayer.
We can trust in our Father to grant us the words we need when and as we need them. The Lord spoke to Moses in Exodus, and this has always encouraged my soul, "The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:10-12.
Sometimes the Lord calls us to speak up, and sometimes the Lord calls us to be silent. Again in Exodus 14:14, we are encouraged by, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
The key I've found is discernment. Speaking when He wants us to and what He wants us to.
Guess what? I'm not the only one who struggles with this, it's as old as the writer of James reflecting on the ability to control the tongue. That man is perfect if he can do so. James 3:2, "We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check."
So, maybe instead of being the silent doormat consistently, I can choose to be the doormat the exudes grace to those who walk across me....
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