Relationships

Awhile back I was reading a book, and it was talking about relationships. We also had a Father's Day message once, and one of the points was "communication with children" and how that is so important....

The author of the book said that when it comes time to die, people don't usually gather their THINGS around them...They gather their LOVED ONES around them.

Nothing is as important as relationships! This really got me to thinking.... I don't want to wait till death and then realize I failed at the most important things of all....relationship with God...and then relationships with others in loving them and helping them to know God...

In fact, that's what the 2 greatest commandments are all about, right? Loving God...and loving others! :)

This should be our focus in life...Relationships...especially with family. :)

LIFF...and the Strong-willed Child

Dealing with a strong willed child is really difficult.....

I found this post I made awhile back, and although I've mentioned some of this before, I think I'll share again and add some more. :)

-------------------------------------------------------

One thing the Lord is teaching me is to be more "positive" instead of "negative.

The other thing is what I call "LIFF"......

1.Loving (showing it with quality time, hugs/touch, gifts, service,
genuine admiration and praise)

2.In Control (not yelling or slapping, etc....without anger)

3.Fair (not giving spankings or punishments that seem overly harsh to the child)

4.Firm and consistent (This one is a very difficult thing to do with a strong-willed child...but oh so important!)

Another thing I'm learning is to let the child have "time-out" to cool down before I talk to him/discipline him. Lately I've been letting the child come to me when they're ready for their discipline....unless it gets to be way too long....That way they have a little time for the Lord to work on their hearts and help them to truly be sorry first, rather than angry.

"Negative discipline" will do no good if it doesn't produce a change of heart. And I think some children will NEVER have a change of heart, no matter how hard the discipline is unless the KNOW they are loved. That's why "positive discipline" is also so very important. By that I mean....genuine PRAISE...and lots of it!

I may be wrong about this, but I've found that strong-willed children need to know that their parents are "hurt" by their sin. If they are not "perceiving" your love and your sorrow, you may not be able to change their behavior no matter how hard your discipline is. A parent may love his child, but if the child is not PERCEIVING it, it will do no good. You must do the 5 love languages continually and even MORE until you know that he knows that he is loved. :) And once again, I emphasize genuine praise.

Many children will be "bad" just to get their parent's attention. They crave it so much....and will be "bad" if they are not being praised for what they do "right".

By the way, this is the way to produce lambs instead of "kids". :)

Psalm 1...and Prospering

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

This has had me thinking....

O.K.....

I said, "Lord, you know I love to meditate in scripture day and night...So WHY doesn't it seem like I'm "prospering" in everything I do?"

Sometimes I feel like a "total failure" as a Mom...

Then the Lord told me that I was going to have to take this promise by faith. It may not seem like I am prospering. But surely someday I will see that we were going "two steps forward, one step back"...but that actually we were inching forward and prospering...

Also....even though everything may "fall apart", God will put it all back together in the end and make us stronger for it all....Surely whatever happens in my life, if I keep Christ and His Word ever before me, I AM PROSPERING spiritually...and that is a wonderful thought! :)

II Pet. 3:14

Another verse on peace that spoke to my heart yesterday was from II Pet. 3:14...

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in PEACE, without spot, and blameless."

It just "hit" me the two things mentioned here....We are to be diligent to maintain these two things in our Christian lives....

1. Not sinning....and not having anything in our lives that others, even our husbands and children, could "blame" us for....(To me this especially implies really being diligent to work on those areas in our lives that they have seen are not right.)

2.Having a peaceful, restful, quiet heart before God.... (I guess this implies a simple trust in Him although everything around us may be "topsy-turvy".....A simple trust that brings a peaceful heart even though the spiritual battle is raging.)

I Thess. 5:23

"And the very God of PEACE sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thess. 5:23

I keep coming across these verses about peace. :) This one says that God is a God of
PEACE.....

and I am to be like Him...

I am to be AT PEACE...in and through everything!

The God of PEACE is the One who is sanctifiying us and making us holy. In fact, peace IS A PART of holiness, isn't it?

In this verse we are also reminded that sanctification involves our spirit as well as our soul and body. It's not just what we do; it's also our attitudes, our inner spirit and what is in our heart.

I pray God will indeed work within us a "peaceful spirit" so that we will be preserved BLAMELESS.

I guess if we don't really have a "peaceful heart"...if we are constantly anxious, that we are not very blameless, huh?

May God grant each of us today that inner PEACE! Amen!

Promises for Deliverance of Fear

Several years back on my 49th birthday, I was meditating a lot on REALLY coming to a place where I would no longer be anxious or worried about anything. That would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

Why does it seem to be a "mother's sin"?

Why can't I just TOTALLY TRUST God?

I Cor. 6:20 came to mind..."For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your SPIRIT which are God's." My spirit needs to be at peace...

"If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For THEN shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt NOT FEAR." Job 11:13

I guess it's still all about repentance and seeking God....

Verse 18 also says, "And thou shalt be secure, because there is HOPE; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy REST in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee AFRAID."

I've always looked at this verse in terms of "digging into the Word"....that's where I'll find "rest and safety". Then I shall not be afraid. :)

If I SEEK Him...If I put away wickedness...If I DIG....then I shall NOT FEAR!

That's a wonderful promise! :)

Truly KNOWING Him and His sovereignty is the secret to having this sort of
peace, I know. So I must keep pressing on!

Peace in the Midst of Storm

One a sister wrote these words which I found to be quite helpful. :)

"Peace doesn't mean the waves must stop beating against the rocks... peace is having your nest in the rocks and the waves are still beating up against your little nitch in the rocks, but you are able to just sit there with your eggs in that nest and not fear the bashings and crashings. You don't jump out and fly around squawking and panicking that your eggs are going to get wet or be washed out of the nest. You just sit there, knowing that the Lord will protect your eggs and nest... and nothing will touch you or your eggs, unless the Lord allows it. And if He allows it, you still don't need to panic, since He is all knowing and all powerful and will not fail your trust to do what is best, no matter how He goes about it."

A Wonderful Promise

Deut. 30:6 "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of THY SEED to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."

Acts 20:24

"But none of these things move me, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF, so that I might FINISH MY COURSE with JOY, and the MINISTRY, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the GRACE of God." Acts 20:24

This verse "hit" me today. My ministry is my DH and children. I need to keep on keepin' on, doing this "ministry" with JOY.....and showing forth the GRACE of God to them. If I can live with them in peace, considering their needs above my own, being patient and kind, opening my mouth only with wisdom.....then they will SEE God's GRACE in my life. This is my prayer today! Amen!

Phil. 2:12

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phil. 2:12

I notice here that Paul is praising the Philippians before he gives them an admonition. He is praising them for obeying even when he isn't present. I think we need to apply this to how we treat our children....praising them....especially before we give them a command....and also when they obey when we aren't around. Paul should be our "example".

Phil. 2:1

This is how I apply this passage to my life today... --------------------------------------------------------------------

"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Phil. 2:1

If I want to FEEL this....having comfort and love from Christ...

If I want to be filled with the Spirit and have fellowship with Him...

If I want mercy shown to me...

Christ says to make HIM joyful by being of the SAME MIND with others,( and I guess that means especially my husband!)

Love what HE loves! Look at him and his thoughts and opinions as more important than my own. Be of one accord...be "co-spirited"...

Wow! "This is convicting, Lord!"

Luke 11:33-36

33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

LORD, let me be a candle here in my home! May I be a bright and shining light to my husband and children by being positive, by praising, by serving my husband once again with the strength that You supply, by surrendering to You by being surrendered to HIM. May I find JOY in reverencing You, by reverencing Him.

34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

LORD, I give off "spiritual light", YOUR light, when I am no longer spiritually blind...when my eyes have been opened...when I have been given spiritual SIGHT.

But..."The light of the body is the eye." Are you saying, Lord, that the dimness or brightness of my "candle" is gauged by what kind of "eye" I have?...There are two kinds of eyes - a single eye and an evil eye.

Lord, You said, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, coveteousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

Lord, what is an evil eye? Deut. 28:54ff says that those with an evil eye will eat their loved ones. They are concerned only for themselves. Prov. 23:6-7 says that one with an evil eye says, "Eat and drink...but his heart is not with thee." He has no love for others really; he is concerned only about himself. In Mt. 20:15, the one with the evil eye is jealous, selfish, and concerned about himself.

So the evil eye must be the BIG "I" and "SELF" of ones' heart and DUPLICITY (the hypocritical deception of seeming to love God and others but in reality caring only for SELF.) SINGLENESS of heart is freedom from this duplicity. To have a SINGLE EYE is to be "abandoned to Christ" - being entirely HIS - being fully surrendered to Him in relationship to others with RIGHT ATTITUDES. Surely the HEART is what You are talking about here - HEART ATTITUDES. Wow! I need to think about this - especially the "attitude of reverence"!

What does it mean to reverence my husband? It means fear! It means that I should be AFRAID not to obey him (because God says I should obey).....afraid not to support him in his ideas (even if they might seem hurtful or unwise)...AFRAID to try to run the "show" here...Afraid to take matters into my own hands.The dictionary says that reverence is a "feeling of deep respect, love, and awe."

But Lord, HOW can I have a deep respect for him when I don't feel it at times? Thinking that his ideas are wonderful is sometimes hard to do. :) But having reverence for him is Your Command, isn't it? Maybe reverence is like love. We are commanded to DO IT by our actions and our words, and the "feelings" will follow. Yes, that must be it! :)

If I KNOW that what he decides is really what YOU DECIDE and want for us, THEN I can reverence him. You are a sovereign God, and You will work through his decisions (and even his mistakes) for MY GOOD!

So...even if some of his decisions in my mind seem unwise, I must remember Phil. 2:3b-"...but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other BETTER than themselves." Thinking my ideas are best is only a matter of pride, and I must remind myself of the bad effects that have taken place in the long run in some of my children's lives because of my pride. And I must remember some of the "good effects" because I "let go". Even though some of his decisions seem unwise, just as Abraham's was, surely You will protect us just as You protected Sarah IF I reverence Him. And it's possible that You will even change his mind. :) Really it is all a matter of FAITH IN YOU!

Lord, give me a deep respect for my husband! Let me KNOW that you are guiding him in his decisions for our family. Let me KNOW that we are ultimately "protected" as long as I trust in You by trusting HIM. Amen!

Back to the verse...If my eye is single towards You, (if my attitudes are right), then my whole body will be full of light. (I will be full of the Holy Spirit of God.) Only then...

Also, I wonder if this verse has anything to do with Oswald Chambers words? He says, "The tiniest thing we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit (i.e. wrong attitudes) is quite sufficient to account for spiritual muddle, and all the thinking we like to spend on it will never make it clear. Spiritual muddle is only made plain by obedience. Immediately we obey, we discern (i.e. when the eye is single, the body is full of light)...When the natural power of VISION is devoted to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the power of perceiving God's will and the whole life is kept in SIMPLICITY." (parentheses and emphasis mine)

LORD, when I asked my husband about the "evil eye", he implied that a man with an "evil eye" will respond wickedly in his heart when he sees something. If he sees a beautiful lady, his heart will respond with lust; if he sees a $100 bill lying on the ground, his heart will respond with coveteousness; if he sees a famous person being honored, his heart will respond with envy. It all boils down to SELFishness. It reminds me of the verse in II Pet. 2:14-"Having eyes full of ADULTERY, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an HEART they have exercised with coveteous practices, cursed children."

When the eye is evil - when the heart is wrong, the whole body is full of darkness. The whole man is full of sin until God gives him a new heart, a "SINGLE EYE" - a surrendered life!

This reminds reminds me of Al Martin's two little booklets and Your words in Jer. 24:7-"And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."

Yes, You have done this for me, and I give thanks! But Lord, I find that the whole of the Christian life is a constant "battle" for surrender. It's a continual struggle to have right attitudes that only the Spirit within me can win. I guess that's why You said,

35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

I know I have light because of the "Great Exchange" has taken place. (My sin on Christ - His righteousness on me) (Term coined by Dr. John Piper) You have saved me! I delight in Your Word and in communion with You, and You have given me a surrendered heart. BUT...when I don't continually STAY fully surrendered with right attitudes at all times, the light within me becomes darkness, especially to my husband and children. And if my attitudes are wrong towards my dear husband, my children do not hear a word I say!

36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give light.

If the WHOLE body is FULL of LIGHT, having no part dark, (no bad attitudes), then my candle will not FLICKER. It will be a candle shining brightly for my children!

Ah, Lord, You close here with the positive, and I have a promise from Your Word which gives me encouragement and HOPE from Ps. 18:28 - "For THOU wilt light my candle: the LORD my God WILL enlighten my darkness! " Amen!

Testimony From Psalm 23

"I shall not want."

Many years ago I wrote these words:

"But my God shall supply ALL your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

Lord, You have always given me everything I really needed in the past, and You shall do so in the future. You have not promised me a life free from suffering, but until the day of my death, You shall give me all that I really NEED. All I REALLY need is You!

My dear husband has found a buyer for our trailer, and he thinks we're going SOMEWHERE - not sure exactly where, but probably to the mission field. I feel a little bit like Abraham and Sarah this morning. At times it seems so utterly impossible since I'm sick, but I must remember that You are the God who works above and beyond what we are able to ask or think. In Your time and in Your way, You shall supply everything that I need. I fall into Your arms of love this morning, not knowing where I'm going or how I'm going to get there or how I will be able to survive if I don't have special food and supplements, etc. Maybe You shall indeed heal me, and then I shall not need SPECIAL provisions. Or maybe You shall provide these things for me in some miraculous way. Or perhaps You shall take me HOME. May I be content and happy and joyful in whatever You choose."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We thought the mission field was God's plan, and maybe it is for LATER. I guess God THEN just wanted me to be WILLING. At the time, I honestly wasn't sure I would be alive today...but God HAS provided all I needed...and more! Praise His name!

Then I wrote again years later:

Today, since my DH has been without a job for over a year and our unemployment is running out...and our "inheritance money" is quickly slipping away, this verse comes to me again. Somehow God will supply all my NEED. Remembering the past gives me hope for the future. Today I also think of my babies and THEIR needs. Their needs are MY needs, and this verse still says, "I SHALL not want (lack anything I (they) really NEED.) God knows their physical, emotional, and spiritual NEEDS. Some of these I can do nothing about, but I can pray and God will provide the "missing pieces" and "heal the hurts" and somehow provide the resources they really need in order to grow up into Him. Particularly today I have a need for help in knowing how to "school" these babies who just don't "get it"...and I hold onto this verse "I SHALL not want", for surely God will PROVIDE some answers and encourage my heart once again!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

And He has. We passed many of these "hurdles",by God's grace.

Always...we can trust God to help us in raising these children. Amen!

I Cor. 15:58

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, UNMOVABLE, always ABOUNDING in the WORK of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour in NOT IN VAIN in the Lord." I Cor.15:58

This verse really spoke to my heart this morning! Sometimes I just want to quit. Being a mother is so difficult at times, isn't it? But God tells me here that my work is not in vain. This is so encouraging! Every little word given as I am led by the Spirit will not return void. God will use it in the hearts of my precious children.

Mt.. 11:28

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Mt. 11:28

This verse has been a blessing to me again and again. It probably has been a blessing to you as well, huh? Several years back I read Marilyn Howshall's book entitled "Wisdom's Way of Learning" in which she explained her approach to "Lifestyle Learning." This was one of the key verses in her book as she explained exactly how I felt with homeschooling. Totally burned-out! I was definitely "heavy laden", and this verse was such a special promise as I sought to lay everything in the Master's hands....There was indeed "freedom and rest" as the Lord began to let the "educational expectations and chains" fall away.

I think we can apply this verse to our lives in many ways....in many different areas, but you know what I think Jesus was mainly talking about here?

SIN!

Until a person feels a heavy burden for sin, how can they be saved? Have you ever had that "heavy burden" like Christian did in the story of Pilgrim's Progress? When the burden for sin is "heavy", Christ will indeed bring that blessed peace and rest and take away the burden and give us true salvation if we ask Him to! Amen!

Eph. 4:3

"ENDEAVORING to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph. 4:3

Wow! This is SO difficult at times! So many kids with so many ages and
personalities, likes and dislikes and a husband, too.... makes this a challenge. :)
But I am commanded to make/KEEP peace.

It does take ENDEAVORING....to make effort....to do this, huh? :)

"Unity" means "oneness...".

"Bond" can mean "UNITING PRINCIPLE"

"Peace" means "to join". I thought that was an interesting definition!!!!

"Peace" also means "...one, peace, quietness, rest + set at one again."

So we could say we are to make a real effort in our homes to bring about and keep "oneness", not by our own will power, but by the Spirit, in the uniting principle of complete joining together in quietness and rest and/or in restoring this state within the home.

How do we go about doing this?

First of all, we must be gentle, patient and non-demanding. We must consider others' needs before our own. We must reverence our husband and encourage him so that he will lead out with love.

I think LOVE is the real "key". If we love and know how to show that love to one another through the 5 "love gifts", there is going to be much more peace within the home.

We really need to meditate on the word "endeavoring"...and seek to endeavor to keep the unity in the home by the grace of God. This is part of our vocation as wives/mothers.

Eph. 4:1-3

We are to walk in our vocation as wives/mothers with lowliness, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING, FORBEARING one another in love. Eph. 4:2

I've always loved a definition of meekness from the Vines Expository Dictionary:

"It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us a good, and therefore without disputing or resisting...Meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all."

And the definition of "forbearing" from Strong's includes "... PUT UP WITH, bear with, endure, forbear, suffer."

TO PUT UP WITH! :)

What does that bring to your mind? Living with an imperfect DH and kids is not an easy thing to do, is it? PUTTING UP with them and what they do sometimes isn't easy is it? Yet this is to be how we are to live our VOCATION as wives and
mothers! It says so in Eph. 4:1-3. :)

I am reminded that Col. 3:13 says, "FORBEARING one another, and FORGIVING one another..." The two go hand-in-hand. And for the most part this just means "acceptance". For the same DH and kids do the same irritating things over and over and over, and we must forgive them and love them! :)

Sometimes it's hard to forgive, especially if there is no apology... but I have found this to be helpful. If we can take the "hurt" and go outside and find a place to bury it there with God...and then "forgive in advance", it will be easier to deal with. I remind myself at times that someday in heaven there WILL be an apology, and maybe even before. So if I can just forgive "in advance", it's forgiven and I can go on. :)

And then...remembering that Christ forgives us helps, too...for we certainly keep "flubbing up", and He is so patient. Knowing that we MUST forgive or we won't be forgiven helps us, too, to "lay it all at His feet" and just forgive. :)

I like the Strong's definition of "longsuffering", too...."With long (ENDURING) temper; i.e. leniently, patiently." That says it all, doesn't it? An ENDURING TEMPER.....I guess that means we should come to the place where we just don't get mad or upset anymore about the same irritating things they continue to do. :)

I guess that's when we truly begin to walk in holiness, huh?

Col. 1:11-12 and an OLD Meditation

Col. 1:11-12...

STRENGTHENED with ALL MIGHT...

What are the results of being strengthened with all might?

Verse 11 says... "unto all PATIENCE...and LONGSUFFERING with
JOYFULNESS; GIVING THANKS...."

So the results of being strengthened by His Spirit are:

1. Patience

2. Longsuffering with joyfulness

3. Giving thanks

How did I apply this to my life?

Well, yesterday I was experiencing and facing once again one of those unsurmountable "family frustrations". You know, the kind of thing that simply "drives you crazy", trying to know just WHAT you are suppose to be doing as a good wife and mother in the face of opposition. Honestly, yesterday I was ready to just QUIT...for the "millionth" time. LOL!

Anyway, this verse once again reminds me that part of the reason for the
"struggle" is so that I'll develop PATIENCE. But I am also reminded that in my LONG SUFFERING, that I am to be JOYFUL. "Oh, yes, Lord! I forgot. I'm suppose to be joyful! Sort of failed that one, but I'm determined today to be just that!" :)

The last thing is GIVING THANKS! Yes, giving thanks for the frustrations....Yes, even the frustrations that make me want to scream! If I handle them properly by the power of the Spirit, then patience will rule my life. As I've mentioned before, the Lord had impressed me awhile back to start my day each day with at least 3 things to be thankful for. It sure has made a difference in my attitude. What are your 3 things you are thankful for today? Mine are:

1.Thankful that I woke up today with more HOPE :)

2.Thankful that DH said we could try a different schedule here...and praying it will work much better! :)

3.Thankful that my daughter said she'll do something I really want her to do :)

God, My Counselor

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, COUNSELOR, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Is. 9:6

Read this verse this morning and the title COUNSELOR really stood out to me....

I'm so glad God is my COUNSELOR!

Hebrew word #3289 means "to advise; refl. to deliberate or resolve:....counsel, determine,...guide, purpose..."

In raising all these 7 kids, I'm constantly in need of COUNSEL, and HE is my COUNSELOR. His Word gives me the answers, although I often have to DIG for them. :)

"Thy testimonies also are my DELIGHT and my COUNSELORS." Ps. 119:24

Phil. 1:4

"Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy."

Had to stop and think about this one this morning. Paul LOVED the Philippians. They were his spiritual children, and since he didn't have any flesh and blood children, his prayers for his spiritual children were probably much like mine are for my babies. My babies, of course are not babies anymore, and the older they get, the more intense the prayers get at times, it seems. :)

He says here that they were in "every prayer" of his. Wow! Well, that's kinda the way it is here with my children. They are ALWAYS in my daily prayers...and I'd say in almost every prayer, unless it is just a quick prayer about a specific thing. With 7 children I stay very busy with various prayer needs in my children's lives....always! :)

He says here that he makes requests with JOY! Wow! I'm meditating on that one. The joy comes with the love....Yes, my children have given me much joy, but they sometimes bring pain as well. The JOY comes at times with tears...and in knowing that God is in control...and that this promise is true:

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." Is. 54:13

II Chron. 1:10

"Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? I Chron. 1:10

I feel like Solomon who said this. I truly need WISDOM to know how to lead my people (my children).

Gal.6:9

This verse keeps coming back to me over and over again...

"Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."

As a mom, I continually need to hear and meditate on this one! :)

Passing On the Faith

We had a sermon today about passing on the faith to our children...

My Children said the best part was my DH's comment at the end. :) I was thankful for his comment. :) He basically said that in order to pass on the faith to our children that they need to SEE that GOD is REAL in our lives.

Another Encouraging Verse for Mothers :)

II Chron. 15:7 "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded."

Dan. 12:3

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Dan. 12:3

I've always liked this verse...

We have a "beautiful" job as mothers....turning our children to righteousness...

More From Psalm 23

Psalm 23

1a The LORD is my shepherd.

WHO is our shepherd? The LORD! The One who made heaven and earth and all that is therein...the One who loves us more than anyone does…the One who loves us perfectly and before whose sovereign WILL we bow, saying, "Not my will, but thine be done…You are LORD! I am Yours, and You are mine!"

The Lord IS my shepherd!

Yes, He IS our shepherd IF indeed He is our LORD…And if is He is our LORD, we will follow him like a little sheep. It is not a MAYBE, but in truth and reality He IS my shepherd!

The Lord is MY shepherd!

For each one of us, if we are His little sheep, He is our PERSONAL shepherd. He speaks to us all, and yet He gives to each of us His personal, undivided and full attention! Praise be to His name that we can each say, You are MY shepherd!

The Lord is my SHEPHERD!

In Strong's Concordance the words for "shepherd" are "to tend a flock…to rule…to associate with (as a FRIEND,…companion, keep company with…feed…"

Because He is our shepherd, He "keeps company" with us! He is our BEST FRIEND at all times…He rules us and feeds us from His Word.

I find extreme comfort in Is. 40:11:

"He shall FEED his flock like a shepherd (Feeding from His Word! ) : he shall GATHER the LAMBS with his arm, (That's me and you, if we truly know Him ) , and CARRY them in HIS BOSOM."(A perfect place of safety! ) What PEACE and comfort!

I am thinking here this morning not only about the LORD being MY shepherd…but also how I am the shepherd of MY "little flock" (my babies). As my LORD physically, emotionally, and spiritually feeds me, so I am to feed my babies in all these ways as well. As my LORD rules me in love, so I am called to rule by love. As my LORD is my best companion and friend, so I am to be my child's best earthly companion and friend. As my LORD, the good shepherd GIVETH his life for the sheep, so I am called to do the same…somehow, even in my illness, by His grace. As my LORD lovingly protects me, so I am to protect my little ones, but sometimes He lets me go astray for awhile and learn the hard way….and I must do the same with my little lambs even though "letting go" is SO hard to do and hurts so much.

There is so much in the word "shepherd"! The Lord brings to mind the words from the song:

"Saviour, like a shepherd, LEAD us, Much we need thy tender care."

I continually "bump up" against big questions and need GUIDANCE, and I run to my shepherd! I hope you do, too!

1) Which treatment/supplements should I pursue?
2) How should I deal with this child today?
3) Which materials, approaches should I use to teach each of these precious children TODAY? (For yesterday's plan is no longer "working"!)

The SHEPHERD sometimes changes the course for us from month to month, week to week…even sometimes day to day. We must keep our eyes on the shepherd so that we can go over the hill with Him and not be left behind!

I love these words from W.M.Thornson, P.D. in "The Land and the Book"! I want to be like the sheep he talks about at first, don't you? He writes,

"Some sheep always keep near the shepherd and are his special favorites. Each of them has a name, to which it answers joyfully, and the kind shepherd is ever distributing to such, choice portions which he gathers for that purpose. These are the contented and happy ones. They are in no danger of getting lost or into mischief, nor do wild beasts or thieves come near them. The great body, however, are mere worldlings, intent upon their mere pleasures or selfish interests. They run from bush to bush, searching for variety or delicacies, and only now and then lift their heads to see where the shepherd is…"

Let's stay CLOSE to the SHEPHERD!

Thoughts on Prov. 31:27

Idleness means "indolence".

The definition of this word from the Webster's 1828 dictionary I thought was very interesting...

"Indolence"..."Habitual idleness; indisposition to labor; laziness; inaction or want of exertions of body or MIND, proceeding from love of ease or aversion to toil...."

I read a chapter last night from Elizabeth George's book...and I think I'd have to disagree with her.

She spoke on Prov. 31:27... "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."

It seemed as if she was saying that we should constantly be busy... I felt totally in a "whirl" by the time I finished reading her chapter...and "stressed out" just reading her thoughts! :)

I don't think we should be lazy...and I think we should do our work and keep our houses neat and clean and always be busy doing constructive things, but I thought it was interesting that the definition also includes the "mind". Just because we are not up sweeping floors and washing walls all day long does not mean that we are lazy. Reading and meditating on scripture, sharing good things with others.... can be a good thing....and I don't think this is "idleness", but I think some people might think so. I know some people who are always on the go....and rarely take a moment to relax..or to meditate much at all.


All things in moderation... :)

Thoughts by Elizabeth George

It's called, "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. Have ya'll read it?

One thing she said was that she now makes it a point to never make a decision about anything without praying about it first. If someone asks her, "Can you do this or that?", she says she will pray about it. This has kept her from making wrong decisions and or "over-booking herself". Thought this was a very good idea!

She also has a chapter about serving.. Her question is "Will you make your husband your career?" Tough question!

She asks her husband every day:

"What can I do for you today?"
"What can I do to help you make better use of your time today?"

I'm meditating on all this. :)

Spiritual Warfare For Our Families

"Who through FAITH subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: ..." Heb. 11:33-35a

The underlined parts really got my attention today!

I'm thinking here especially about waging "spiritual warfare" for our families. It is done by faith.....Even though we are weak, we can be strong through Christ and His power in our lives to pray and wage this "spiritual warfare"! We can turn back the demonic influences (the aliens) through prayer, and we can obtain those promises from the Word of God.

It especially "hit" me that "women received their dead (spiritually dead??? as well) raised to life! How encouraging!

I wonder why it says "women"???? Do you think it's because women are naturally more emotional and "receiving their dead back to life" is usually a more demonstrative thing for them? Do you think because women are usually more emotional that this leads them to weep and pray for their loved ones sometimes more fervently than the men would do? After all, for many women the close bond with each of their children through babyhood, through nursing, through homeschooling, etc. really creates a very deep bond...many times deeper than what could be created with the father.

A Mother's Sin...Worry...Must Be Overcome

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of STRONG HOLDS;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" II Cor. 10:4-5

Worry is a "stronghold" that needs to be "pulled down".

I must....I simply must take these "thoughts"...and lay them on the altar this morning. I laid the stones on the driveway....one for each of my dear children
and one for my husband, too. I must lay them in God's hands and let Him watch over them. :)

Then I read Andrew Murray on holiness... "Obedience is the path to holiness.
Do not only pray for light and strength but act. ..It is sad that so many
Christians...have never realized the place of supreme importance that obedience has in the Christian life."

"In a certain sense I may even will a thing but lack the energy or self-sacrifice or power that will motivate me to do it. Thinking is easier than willing, and willing is easier than doing. ACTION ALONE proves whether the object of my interest has complete mastery over me. God wants His will done. This alone is obedience."

Wow! This means I must today ACT....and quit worrying... :)

It is sin..... And Jesus gives me a COMMAND...

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Prayer For My Children

Yesterday I opened my Bible to I Chron. 29 and read...

A prayer of David's.....

"And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes...."

I pray that prayer for my children today, too.