I love books and reading. Anyone close to me knows that fact. I never thought I would come to the point in which I would have to MAKE myself pick up a book and read.
These days I am seriously tired. Tired from what, you may say. Life is hard. The day to day upkeep of the home, juggling being a mama, homeschool mama, children's minister, wife, sister, child of the King....and the list goes on. But I must keep my focus. My focus must be Jesus so that He can lead me in my daily endeavors. I desire to bring glory to His Name!
As I told you earlier in the year, I would be reading "Desperate" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson. I finished it up some weeks ago. It was a wonderful read. If you have not read it, I encourage you to read it. When I read the title I did NOT THINK I was a Desperate mom, but I in fact am.
If you are looking for a book that really reads your mail as a Mom, this is the book.
I love how Sarah Mae writes first. That is how I feel at this stage in motherhood, but Sally follows up with such wisdom that comes only from a woman who has been there done that. It is a booked PACKED with wisdom.
I have read several books in between but they are health books. They were very good reads.
I am now reading "Lead Your Family Like Jesus" by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer. I bought the book after I heard them 2 days in a row on Focus on the Family. I will give you an update once I am finished.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
By His Grace
As I think about my children and what I want them to become one day, I desire for them to be people who LOVE the Lord with their entire being and share Him with each person they come in contact with. I desire for them to love others as Jesus did, be a reflection of Him at all costs.
But you see, the problem with that is: I am their mom. I love Jesus fully but not so fully. I am an imperfect being who makes many mistakes so therefore my children will pick up my weaknesses as well as my strengths. They will live out the way my husband and I train them now. We have to train and discipline now with the future in mind. But we are flawed humans, so we MUST rely on the Father to do the ultimate work in their hearts and lives. I am only the tool that God allows to direct my children in the way they should go.
I do not desire for my children to be well behaved and responsible, but not have Jesus. I do not desire for them to marry the right person, have the perfect job, but not have Jesus. I want Him to be first and foremost in theirs lives.
Don't get me wrong, I want my children to have nice things, enjoy live, but more than that I want them to have Jesus because that is where true contentment is found.
So, my challenge today: Are you training your children with methods that create "behavior modification?" Meaning you do things that will change their behavior for a desired result. OR Are you training your children in a way that reaches the heart and leads them to Jesus? When we train the hearts of our children then, we will see true results. It is then that they realize they cannot live apart from Christ and will desire to follow Him completely.
But you see, the problem with that is: I am their mom. I love Jesus fully but not so fully. I am an imperfect being who makes many mistakes so therefore my children will pick up my weaknesses as well as my strengths. They will live out the way my husband and I train them now. We have to train and discipline now with the future in mind. But we are flawed humans, so we MUST rely on the Father to do the ultimate work in their hearts and lives. I am only the tool that God allows to direct my children in the way they should go.
I do not desire for my children to be well behaved and responsible, but not have Jesus. I do not desire for them to marry the right person, have the perfect job, but not have Jesus. I want Him to be first and foremost in theirs lives.
Don't get me wrong, I want my children to have nice things, enjoy live, but more than that I want them to have Jesus because that is where true contentment is found.
So, my challenge today: Are you training your children with methods that create "behavior modification?" Meaning you do things that will change their behavior for a desired result. OR Are you training your children in a way that reaches the heart and leads them to Jesus? When we train the hearts of our children then, we will see true results. It is then that they realize they cannot live apart from Christ and will desire to follow Him completely.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The Harvest is Plentiful
This week in my Good Morning Girls Bible study, our challenge was to "Choose one way to show Jesus' love in action to a "neighbor" around you this week.
Our Memory Verse was: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Luke 10:2 (NIV)
S: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." Luke 10:2-3
O:
He says to GO! He does not say Go if you feel like it or if the time is right, etc. BUT to GO!
He says that we are being sent out like lambs among wolves. We will not always be accepted because of our hope in the Lord. We need to arm ourselves for battle. We need not give up because others come against us. We are told to Go! and it says nothing about go until it gets too hard and then give up.
As I was so wonderfully reminded last week, God will provide for our every need. That is not just talking about finanial, but spiritually and mentally. He will meet our emotional needs and help us get through the opposition.
P: Lord, I pray that You would prick the hearts of people who do not know you. I pray that you would prick the hearts of people who are not involved in Kingdom work. Lord, soften their hearts and help them realize that true fulfillment comes when they are in direct allignment of Your will. Help us all to be strong when we face opposition for Your Name-sake and help us to remember You said GO! and that we must stay strong no matter how hard it is. You are our source for all things. In Christ Name. Amen.
What is God nudging to you to do today for His Kingdom? Remember, His Word says GO!
Our Memory Verse was: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Luke 10:2 (NIV)
S: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." Luke 10:2-3
O:
- The harvest is plentiful
- The workers are few
- Ask the Lord to send out workers
- Go!
- We are being sent out like lambs among wolves
He says to GO! He does not say Go if you feel like it or if the time is right, etc. BUT to GO!
He says that we are being sent out like lambs among wolves. We will not always be accepted because of our hope in the Lord. We need to arm ourselves for battle. We need not give up because others come against us. We are told to Go! and it says nothing about go until it gets too hard and then give up.
As I was so wonderfully reminded last week, God will provide for our every need. That is not just talking about finanial, but spiritually and mentally. He will meet our emotional needs and help us get through the opposition.
P: Lord, I pray that You would prick the hearts of people who do not know you. I pray that you would prick the hearts of people who are not involved in Kingdom work. Lord, soften their hearts and help them realize that true fulfillment comes when they are in direct allignment of Your will. Help us all to be strong when we face opposition for Your Name-sake and help us to remember You said GO! and that we must stay strong no matter how hard it is. You are our source for all things. In Christ Name. Amen.
What is God nudging to you to do today for His Kingdom? Remember, His Word says GO!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Microphone
We have an alarm system in our home and a few a weeks ago our front door flew open with the wind and set the alarm system off. It was in the middle of the day and I knew exactly what it was and that no one was breaking into our home.
It took me longer than usual to get to the keypad to punch in the code. Because it took me so long, the lady came over the speaker in our hallway to talk to me. She wanted to be sure that we were ok...and of course we were. She even had the security company call me later just to check on us.
After we finished up our little conversation in the hallway, I kept feeling like someone was listening in on us. I guess it sort of made me uneasy just knowing that someone could hear us if they chose to. I knew they are not, but it was still in the back of my mind. I kept catching myself being very careful of what I said and the kind of attitude I had with the kids. I even told the kids, "you better stop because the lady in the hall can hear you."
We had had a very stressful morning (Monday morning) and it was sort of crazy in our home at the time. I was finding myself being short with the kids and in turn they were even more irritated with me.
At the end of the day, as I reflected: I thought about how in life we are someone we are not when we are in front of people. We put on a good "show" and really live a lie. Sometimes we are super sweet to our kids in front of people when we would bite their head off at home if that were to happen.
I know! I have caught myself doing that very same thing.
Why do we do that?
Because we are human and we are tired Mamas. We are imperfect beings in need of a perfect Savior. We cannot be at our best 24/7, but we sure can rely on the Father to strengthen us and guide us. We can ask our Father to forgive us and ask our children to forgive us as well. We can go back and make things right.
I should not have told my children to stop because the lady could hear them. I should have said to stop because God can hear and He is not pleased with that. (He was not pleased with my behavior either!)
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
I am so glad we serve a God who loves us dispite our imperfections. AND that our children are usually pretty quick to forgive.
It took me longer than usual to get to the keypad to punch in the code. Because it took me so long, the lady came over the speaker in our hallway to talk to me. She wanted to be sure that we were ok...and of course we were. She even had the security company call me later just to check on us.
After we finished up our little conversation in the hallway, I kept feeling like someone was listening in on us. I guess it sort of made me uneasy just knowing that someone could hear us if they chose to. I knew they are not, but it was still in the back of my mind. I kept catching myself being very careful of what I said and the kind of attitude I had with the kids. I even told the kids, "you better stop because the lady in the hall can hear you."
We had had a very stressful morning (Monday morning) and it was sort of crazy in our home at the time. I was finding myself being short with the kids and in turn they were even more irritated with me.
At the end of the day, as I reflected: I thought about how in life we are someone we are not when we are in front of people. We put on a good "show" and really live a lie. Sometimes we are super sweet to our kids in front of people when we would bite their head off at home if that were to happen.
I know! I have caught myself doing that very same thing.
Why do we do that?
Because we are human and we are tired Mamas. We are imperfect beings in need of a perfect Savior. We cannot be at our best 24/7, but we sure can rely on the Father to strengthen us and guide us. We can ask our Father to forgive us and ask our children to forgive us as well. We can go back and make things right.
I should not have told my children to stop because the lady could hear them. I should have said to stop because God can hear and He is not pleased with that. (He was not pleased with my behavior either!)
But to make it all worse, my daughter heard ME and started using MY attitude and tone.
What if I would have chosen to be patient and kind throught the stress.....
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
I am so glad we serve a God who loves us dispite our imperfections. AND that our children are usually pretty quick to forgive.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
GMG: Jesus Meets my Every Need
We are back in session for our 2nd Good Morning Girls (GMG) Bible Study of the year. We are studying Luke 9-16: Living and Leading Like Jesus. I am so happy to be back in session. I did not join a group last session and studies on my own, but regretted it. This session I am in a group with other homeschool moms from many different places. I am super excited to share this journey with them. I find that I learn so much more sharing the study of Scripture with others.
I will be sharing at least one day a week from my Luke study. If you are not familiar with the GMG Bible study method, they use the SOAP method.
S: Scripture / O: Observation / A: Application / P:Prayer
S:
He told them, "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." Luke 9:3-5
O:
I do not need to worry about the how and way because Jesus guides me step by step and He has the way figure out. All I need to do is faithfully obey. He has made the provision and will give all that is needed to complete the task. It doesn't matter who rejects, I am to be faithful to the call and not let that stop me.
P:
Lord, I pray that I would be faithful to Your call no matter how hard it may seem. Let me always bring glory to Your Name. Amen.
I will be sharing at least one day a week from my Luke study. If you are not familiar with the GMG Bible study method, they use the SOAP method.
S: Scripture / O: Observation / A: Application / P:Prayer
S:
He told them, "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." Luke 9:3-5
O:
- We should not worry about the things we need-Jesus is our source, our provision and meets our every NEED.
- He gives us instructions on what He wants us to do and all we have to do is listen and obey.
- "Shaking the dust off" would show that the disciples were not responsible for how the people responded to their message. Neither am I responsible if I have carefully and truthfully presented Christ, but our message is rejected. Like the disciples, we must move on to others whom God desires to reach. (Life Application Bible)
I do not need to worry about the how and way because Jesus guides me step by step and He has the way figure out. All I need to do is faithfully obey. He has made the provision and will give all that is needed to complete the task. It doesn't matter who rejects, I am to be faithful to the call and not let that stop me.
P:
Lord, I pray that I would be faithful to Your call no matter how hard it may seem. Let me always bring glory to Your Name. Amen.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I'm Back
I never intended to take a break from blogging for nearly 2 months, but it happened. I simply needed a break. I was at the point of burn-out and I could feel it strong.
It has been a great year so far and God is doing amazing things in my life and the life of my family. I can surely say I am not the person I was January 1st and that is a good thing. I know that God is up to something good!
I will be blogging on Tuesday and Thursday each week. I hope you will join me.
It has been a great year so far and God is doing amazing things in my life and the life of my family. I can surely say I am not the person I was January 1st and that is a good thing. I know that God is up to something good!
I will be blogging on Tuesday and Thursday each week. I hope you will join me.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Resources in Review
Since I have been so sporatic in posting due to our church relocating to a much larger facility, I will post all of my resouces here in one post to make it easy. I had intended to post them back to back but that did not happen so I kind of need this.
1. The pure Word of God. A daily intake.
2. Write in my Gratitude Journal. This is easy. I simply list 3 things a day. I'm also in the process of making a Gratitude Wall (in the thinking stages of exactly how I want to do it).
3. iChoose 2 Love my Life: 52 Week Guide to intentional/purposeful living.
4. Luke Bible Study with Good Morning Girls (current Bible Study, this will change several time this year). I love GMG because I can dig deep and you can allow God to give me revelation. To me this is a HUGE plus. I am passionate about people learning to APPLY the Word to their lives and this study does just that.
5. Siesta 2013: I will be memorizing 2 Scriptures a month using my handy little notecard holder. This is a big part of our homeschool already so this is sort of a continuation of that. I am posting my Scripture every 2 weeks for accountability on the website I ordered my notecards from.
6. I will read numerous books this year. I will be starting Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson. I will be starting that at the end of January. I am not EXACTLY sure what other books I will read this year. I will post some of those as well.
7. I am in a Bible Study on Friday mornings and I am not sure what we will be doing this year. I have missed the last 2 weeks due to church relocation, but will be there this week. Excited to get started back with this great group of ladies.
***I thought I put this to post Tuesday morning, but did not...so it's running a day late and I did find out that our Bible study group will be doing iChoose 2 Love my Life. YAH!
1. The pure Word of God. A daily intake.
2. Write in my Gratitude Journal. This is easy. I simply list 3 things a day. I'm also in the process of making a Gratitude Wall (in the thinking stages of exactly how I want to do it).
3. iChoose 2 Love my Life: 52 Week Guide to intentional/purposeful living.
4. Luke Bible Study with Good Morning Girls (current Bible Study, this will change several time this year). I love GMG because I can dig deep and you can allow God to give me revelation. To me this is a HUGE plus. I am passionate about people learning to APPLY the Word to their lives and this study does just that.
5. Siesta 2013: I will be memorizing 2 Scriptures a month using my handy little notecard holder. This is a big part of our homeschool already so this is sort of a continuation of that. I am posting my Scripture every 2 weeks for accountability on the website I ordered my notecards from.
6. I will read numerous books this year. I will be starting Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson. I will be starting that at the end of January. I am not EXACTLY sure what other books I will read this year. I will post some of those as well.
7. I am in a Bible Study on Friday mornings and I am not sure what we will be doing this year. I have missed the last 2 weeks due to church relocation, but will be there this week. Excited to get started back with this great group of ladies.
***I thought I put this to post Tuesday morning, but did not...so it's running a day late and I did find out that our Bible study group will be doing iChoose 2 Love my Life. YAH!
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