It's so simple.
It requires surrender.
The decision is made and then the action follows.
I'm talking about faith.
Once you decide you believe in God, you take the step to follow Him. You surrender. Recognize you are a sinner. You are in need a Savior. Committing yourself to Him.
Most of the time, we hesitate to surrender all at once. It's like we give Him this piece and then that. Maybe we even think, 'let me give Him this part of my life and I'll see how He does.'
It humors me, only because I speak from experience. This feeling and I go way back, I know it personally. Before I turned over all of my life, I had to be involved in every detail. Like micromanaging my own life! It makes me exhausted now to think about it. Running around trying to be in charge of everything, whew. Where was my faith? Did I seriously think I could do a better job with my life and everyone in it?
I have always had the knowledge in my head. Growing up in church and with a Christian family, I had been taught. Until I made that faith my own, I couldn't possibly know all the plans God had for me. Even now, I don't know all the future holds, but I trust in the One who holds it.
God has proven Himself faithful to me. I have trusted Him with every detail of my life. I am confident that He will prove to be the same trustworthy God in your life.
Be encouraged, God's plans are far bigger and better than you can dream or imagine.
Ask God to take you, every single detail.
Life may not be easier, but there is a peace that you will not be able to explain.
When you feel the need to control life's circumstances, pray.
Ask God to take care of it instead.
Then, take a deep breath and exhale.
Call on Him. Trust Him. He will give you what you need each day.
Give up and give it all to Him. He's big enough.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NRSV
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
m
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Parenting......
(Disclaimer....I am not an doctor, family counselor, or expert of any kind. I am just a parent.)
Parenting is very difficult. I'm not going to lie. I can think of no other job on earth that has the ability to take you from the heights of joy to the depths of sorrow or heartbreak......sometimes in the same minute!
Brian and I have tried to be intentional parents. We began consistently discipling our kids when they were very young. Sometimes we do well. Sometimes we mess up. We talk to our kids a whole lot, even when they were tiny. We always explain, probably way more than necessary. My grandmother, Maureen, used to tell me, 'You are talking your kids to death!'
One thing I have told our kids regularly is, 'I am not your friend, I am your mother.' This might seem harsh, but we sincerely believe it is our responsibility to parent our kids, not befriend them.
Parenting in the noun form is defined as 'a person who brings up and cares for another.' Parent is also a verb meaning 'to be or act as the parent of.' Parenting is a verb, it requires action!
My daughter and I have been talking quite a bit lately. I love this. I'm still working hard to be the non-freaker outer kind of mom. (I did learn a valuable lesson from veteran mom, Shelly Miles, early on not to gulp the oxygen out of the room when confronted with one of the tough ones.) We talk about anything she wants, even the hard stuff. Sometimes, I don't have the answers. That's ok. I want her to know that it's important to ask the questions. It is great to have this kind of relationship, but it hasn't happened overnight. We have spent Katie's 15 years of life not only parenting, listening and loving; but also correcting, disciplining and guiding. It's our privilege as her parents to have the opportunity to speak truth into her life; even when its uncomfortable.
We don't want to be her friend. I think of friends as peers or people who like to hang out together, but family....they know everything there is to know about you and love you anyway!
The parent-child relationship is somewhat designed to end in a way. Once kids grow to be adults, maybe even parents of their own kids, the parent-child relationship takes on a different form. This relationship is like no other. I like to think of parenting as raising adults. Everything they need to know about being an adult comes from us!
Parenting takes strength. Some days my heart breaks for what my kids hear, see and feel. I don't want them to go through it! Especially during these turbulent teenage years. The world is cold. People are mean. We can't cushion every fall. We can't dry every tear. We can't rescue them from every hurt. We can be there with a band-aid and a hug. We can offer Kleenex and a kiss. We can throw a life preserver. This is what we do.
It's our job to help navigate, especially through the tough stuff. Sometimes it seems like the kid might drown, but then, just in time, she grabs the ring. She's going to have to do some swimming, but you help pull her in. And if you're me, you are talking her to death while reeling.
I'm sure you have great parenting advice. I write from the little bit of experience I have with the 2 entrusted to us. Whatever your experience, encourage someone. Did I mention, parenting is hard? Not one of us has all the answers. We need each other.
Listen, love and pray. Not necessarily in that order.
m
Proverbs 1:8-9 NLT
My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.
Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Parenting is very difficult. I'm not going to lie. I can think of no other job on earth that has the ability to take you from the heights of joy to the depths of sorrow or heartbreak......sometimes in the same minute!
Brian and I have tried to be intentional parents. We began consistently discipling our kids when they were very young. Sometimes we do well. Sometimes we mess up. We talk to our kids a whole lot, even when they were tiny. We always explain, probably way more than necessary. My grandmother, Maureen, used to tell me, 'You are talking your kids to death!'
One thing I have told our kids regularly is, 'I am not your friend, I am your mother.' This might seem harsh, but we sincerely believe it is our responsibility to parent our kids, not befriend them.
Parenting in the noun form is defined as 'a person who brings up and cares for another.' Parent is also a verb meaning 'to be or act as the parent of.' Parenting is a verb, it requires action!
My daughter and I have been talking quite a bit lately. I love this. I'm still working hard to be the non-freaker outer kind of mom. (I did learn a valuable lesson from veteran mom, Shelly Miles, early on not to gulp the oxygen out of the room when confronted with one of the tough ones.) We talk about anything she wants, even the hard stuff. Sometimes, I don't have the answers. That's ok. I want her to know that it's important to ask the questions. It is great to have this kind of relationship, but it hasn't happened overnight. We have spent Katie's 15 years of life not only parenting, listening and loving; but also correcting, disciplining and guiding. It's our privilege as her parents to have the opportunity to speak truth into her life; even when its uncomfortable.
We don't want to be her friend. I think of friends as peers or people who like to hang out together, but family....they know everything there is to know about you and love you anyway!
The parent-child relationship is somewhat designed to end in a way. Once kids grow to be adults, maybe even parents of their own kids, the parent-child relationship takes on a different form. This relationship is like no other. I like to think of parenting as raising adults. Everything they need to know about being an adult comes from us!
Parenting takes strength. Some days my heart breaks for what my kids hear, see and feel. I don't want them to go through it! Especially during these turbulent teenage years. The world is cold. People are mean. We can't cushion every fall. We can't dry every tear. We can't rescue them from every hurt. We can be there with a band-aid and a hug. We can offer Kleenex and a kiss. We can throw a life preserver. This is what we do.
It's our job to help navigate, especially through the tough stuff. Sometimes it seems like the kid might drown, but then, just in time, she grabs the ring. She's going to have to do some swimming, but you help pull her in. And if you're me, you are talking her to death while reeling.
I'm sure you have great parenting advice. I write from the little bit of experience I have with the 2 entrusted to us. Whatever your experience, encourage someone. Did I mention, parenting is hard? Not one of us has all the answers. We need each other.
Listen, love and pray. Not necessarily in that order.
m
Proverbs 1:8-9 NLT
My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.
Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Friday, September 9, 2011
Who's Driving?
As the mother of a 15 year old, I'm sitting in the passenger seat quite a bit lately. I don't really like it. I like to be in control. I'm sure God is teaching me a lesson.
As I am reading the Bible today, I came across this scripture:
'Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?" ' Matthew 16:24-26 MSG
Timely wisdom for a student driver's mom. As we drive along, I am constantly giving instruction. 'Stay in the middle of the lane, slow down, use your turn signal, brake, brake, BRAKE!' There are many teachable moments. Katie is a good listener, but she is a teenager, so sometimes she does kinda think she knows everything!
How are you doing with letting Jesus be the driver? I know from personal experience, it's a struggle to let Him lead. When we try to control situations, manipulate them to go in the direction we want them to, we end up making a huge mess. We want to stay in control because it's all about us. Did you ever consider that He knows more than we can possibly know about every circumstance?
Remember the story of Abraham and Sarah. Sarah tried to manipulate the circumstances and provide an heir to Abraham. God already had a plan for Isaac to be born as Abraham's son. He didn't need Sarah to step in. (You can read this story in Genesis 16.) Sarah ended up making a mess.
Believe me, God's provision is greater than we can ever imagine!
' "I don't think the way you think. The way I work is not the way you work." God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." ' Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG
Before you jump in and navigate your way through life, ask Him to lead.
Let Him be the driver. His directions are the best.
m
As I am reading the Bible today, I came across this scripture:
'Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?" ' Matthew 16:24-26 MSG
Timely wisdom for a student driver's mom. As we drive along, I am constantly giving instruction. 'Stay in the middle of the lane, slow down, use your turn signal, brake, brake, BRAKE!' There are many teachable moments. Katie is a good listener, but she is a teenager, so sometimes she does kinda think she knows everything!
How are you doing with letting Jesus be the driver? I know from personal experience, it's a struggle to let Him lead. When we try to control situations, manipulate them to go in the direction we want them to, we end up making a huge mess. We want to stay in control because it's all about us. Did you ever consider that He knows more than we can possibly know about every circumstance?
Remember the story of Abraham and Sarah. Sarah tried to manipulate the circumstances and provide an heir to Abraham. God already had a plan for Isaac to be born as Abraham's son. He didn't need Sarah to step in. (You can read this story in Genesis 16.) Sarah ended up making a mess.
Believe me, God's provision is greater than we can ever imagine!
' "I don't think the way you think. The way I work is not the way you work." God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." ' Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG
Before you jump in and navigate your way through life, ask Him to lead.
Let Him be the driver. His directions are the best.
m
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Words
I've done it.
You've done it.
I think it's pretty safe to say everyone has had this experience. You say something to someone and even while you are speaking the words, you wish you could hit the backspace or delete. If only you could somehow grab the text and shove it back!
Words are powerful. Once they are out of your mouth or written down, you can't take them back. Those words will forever spin in the head and heart of the listener. They become like a broken record or tape recorder, repeating over and over.
My son, Peyton, and I were talking recently and he reminded me of the adage, 'sticks and stones can break my bones, but words could never hurt me!'
Then he said, "Mom, that is NOT true!" He's right.
Emotions get the best of us. We are stressed out and too busy. Something doesn't go our way. We feel the need to defend ourselves or our family. These are all excuses why we use unkind words. There's really no good reason.
As Christians, we should be filled with Christ. Therefore, when we are squeezed or shoved or stressed out, what comes pouring out of us should be a Christlike response. In order to do this, we have to be daily walking with Him. Daily reading His Word. Daily praying. Daily asking Him to fill us with His love.
When God wants to place emphasis on a subject in the Bible, He repeats it for us. This is how we know we need to pay attention to these things. As you read the following passages, be encouraged. You can be filled with His words every day, so when life bumps you, you spill out what's inside.
Psalm 12:6
"God’s words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven." MSG
Matthew 12:37
"Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” MSG
Romans 10:8
"The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us." MSG
Colossians 3:16
"Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives." MSG
Hebrews 4:12-13
"God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what." MSG
James 1:21-24
"So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like." NLT
There are many more passages of scripture about the power of words. Look them up, read them. Allow the truth of God's powerful words to saturate your heart and life.
Speak love.
m
You've done it.
I think it's pretty safe to say everyone has had this experience. You say something to someone and even while you are speaking the words, you wish you could hit the backspace or delete. If only you could somehow grab the text and shove it back!
Words are powerful. Once they are out of your mouth or written down, you can't take them back. Those words will forever spin in the head and heart of the listener. They become like a broken record or tape recorder, repeating over and over.
My son, Peyton, and I were talking recently and he reminded me of the adage, 'sticks and stones can break my bones, but words could never hurt me!'
Then he said, "Mom, that is NOT true!" He's right.
Emotions get the best of us. We are stressed out and too busy. Something doesn't go our way. We feel the need to defend ourselves or our family. These are all excuses why we use unkind words. There's really no good reason.
As Christians, we should be filled with Christ. Therefore, when we are squeezed or shoved or stressed out, what comes pouring out of us should be a Christlike response. In order to do this, we have to be daily walking with Him. Daily reading His Word. Daily praying. Daily asking Him to fill us with His love.
When God wants to place emphasis on a subject in the Bible, He repeats it for us. This is how we know we need to pay attention to these things. As you read the following passages, be encouraged. You can be filled with His words every day, so when life bumps you, you spill out what's inside.
Psalm 12:6
"God’s words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven." MSG
Matthew 12:37
"Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” MSG
Romans 10:8
"The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us." MSG
Colossians 3:16
"Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives." MSG
Hebrews 4:12-13
"God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what." MSG
James 1:21-24
"So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like." NLT
There are many more passages of scripture about the power of words. Look them up, read them. Allow the truth of God's powerful words to saturate your heart and life.
Speak love.
m
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Peach Pit
Going to the grocery store with my son, Peyton, is always an adventure. He usually talks me in to buying more produce than we can eat in a week. This week, it was peaches. He just wanted to try some of that 'hairy fruit.' Peaches came home with us.
Today, Peyton carefully cut open one of the 'hairy fruits' with a knife. As he cautiously peeled away the skin, he commented how pretty the peach was and how delicious it looked. But when he cut down the center and cracked it open, he found what he thought was a rather disgusting sight. "Mom," he called out, "is this supposed to look all moldy and rough?" I laughed and explained to him that inside the beautiful, delicious looking fruit is a pit, a jagged and bumpy looking seed that is not really all that pretty. It was one of those teachable moments, so I took advantage of his interest! We continued the conversation relating how people look and how God sees us. Some are beautiful, polished and well presented on the outside, or maybe we look rugged and disheveled, sort of like produce that has outlived its shelf life. Whatever our condition on the outside, be encouraged. It's God's desire to grow the seed inside of you into something beautiful!
The Message 1 Thessalonians 4:7
"God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and
beautiful--as beautiful on the inside as the outside."
If you allow Him to, God will take the raw, rough seed of your life and grow beautiful fruit. The magnificent thing about this growing seed, is that you want to share it. The fruit of your faith will be admired, more seeds will be sown adding more souls for His harvest.
Be beautiful fruit!
m
Today, Peyton carefully cut open one of the 'hairy fruits' with a knife. As he cautiously peeled away the skin, he commented how pretty the peach was and how delicious it looked. But when he cut down the center and cracked it open, he found what he thought was a rather disgusting sight. "Mom," he called out, "is this supposed to look all moldy and rough?" I laughed and explained to him that inside the beautiful, delicious looking fruit is a pit, a jagged and bumpy looking seed that is not really all that pretty. It was one of those teachable moments, so I took advantage of his interest! We continued the conversation relating how people look and how God sees us. Some are beautiful, polished and well presented on the outside, or maybe we look rugged and disheveled, sort of like produce that has outlived its shelf life. Whatever our condition on the outside, be encouraged. It's God's desire to grow the seed inside of you into something beautiful!
The Message 1 Thessalonians 4:7
"God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and
beautiful--as beautiful on the inside as the outside."
If you allow Him to, God will take the raw, rough seed of your life and grow beautiful fruit. The magnificent thing about this growing seed, is that you want to share it. The fruit of your faith will be admired, more seeds will be sown adding more souls for His harvest.
Be beautiful fruit!
m
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
What and Why?!
I am the very last person I would ever think of to write a BLOG! I don't really feel I have an interesting life or much to say about that. I do, however, love to encourage the 'little' families that are in my life. And so, to that end, here I go.
We started a few years ago. Just having a few people, now and again, to our home for dinner. Mostly families with 'littles'. (I call them littles because they are pre-school age.) I realized it then. People really don't do that very much anymore. It's like we are all so concerned with having nice things and how they all look, nice and neat and everything in its place. I am that way. I like order. But, that tendency was getting in the way of ministry and meeting people's needs. I had to let it go. We live in our house. There is no way around it. We live there, but we also love to have friends over. Love to visit with people. Every time we would invite someone, a little more of that OCD tendency to keep everything neat fell away. Now, I just say, 'come on in, we live here.' I love it.
With our visits increasing, several of my friends have asked me to write a book. These people just love me more than most and for whatever reason believe I have some skills. I love them for it. My husband and I have a very, very, busy life, full-time ministry, 2 teenagers, which we are now homeschooling, and jobs. Our life is crazy, just like most of yours. We don't have all the answers. We have made a lot of mistakes. We are Christians. We point to Jesus. This is all we know to do.
FINALLY, I am getting to the point. This is my attempt to encourage those in my life who seek to walk with Jesus.
We all need a little nudge.
Here it is.
I am using our life's verse as the heading for this blog. We have it written on our bathroom mirror. It is in the forefront of our minds and hearts. God has a plan. We need to follow it. I love the verses that follows Jeremiah 29:11 as well, because that plan requires action on our part.
'When you call on Me, when you come and pray to Me, I'll listen. When you come looking for Me, you'll find Me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.' --the Message
Awesome. He has a plan. I will find and follow Him. I would love for you to join me.
m
We started a few years ago. Just having a few people, now and again, to our home for dinner. Mostly families with 'littles'. (I call them littles because they are pre-school age.) I realized it then. People really don't do that very much anymore. It's like we are all so concerned with having nice things and how they all look, nice and neat and everything in its place. I am that way. I like order. But, that tendency was getting in the way of ministry and meeting people's needs. I had to let it go. We live in our house. There is no way around it. We live there, but we also love to have friends over. Love to visit with people. Every time we would invite someone, a little more of that OCD tendency to keep everything neat fell away. Now, I just say, 'come on in, we live here.' I love it.
With our visits increasing, several of my friends have asked me to write a book. These people just love me more than most and for whatever reason believe I have some skills. I love them for it. My husband and I have a very, very, busy life, full-time ministry, 2 teenagers, which we are now homeschooling, and jobs. Our life is crazy, just like most of yours. We don't have all the answers. We have made a lot of mistakes. We are Christians. We point to Jesus. This is all we know to do.
FINALLY, I am getting to the point. This is my attempt to encourage those in my life who seek to walk with Jesus.
We all need a little nudge.
Here it is.
I am using our life's verse as the heading for this blog. We have it written on our bathroom mirror. It is in the forefront of our minds and hearts. God has a plan. We need to follow it. I love the verses that follows Jeremiah 29:11 as well, because that plan requires action on our part.
'When you call on Me, when you come and pray to Me, I'll listen. When you come looking for Me, you'll find Me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.' --the Message
Awesome. He has a plan. I will find and follow Him. I would love for you to join me.
m
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