April 25, 2012
Hello! Today I am posting over at Joli blog! I hope that you'll stop by.
4.25.2012
4.16.2012
The One About the Time my Kid Disobeyed Me
April 16, 2012
The other day, Brant was doing something and I told him to stop because "X, Y, & Z" was going to happen if he didn't.
Well, what do you think happened?
If you guessed that he immediately obeyed me and stopped doing what he wasn't supposed to be doing and avoided "X, Y, & Z" from happening, then you would absolutely be 100% WRONG! {gasp} Shocking. I know.
So, I was reminding him of all the times where I had predicted unfortunate outcomes with a warning to stop certain behaviors in the past. In typical fashion, he began to- uh um- banter back and forth with me about how I am not ALWAYS right. Just then, Karli stepped in and advised him to "just agree with Mom and move on". To which I replied, "OH REALLY!!!!!"
Um. Yeah. Let's just say that did not go over so well.
It sparked one my infamous rants about how Yes! I Want them to Obey me, But, I Want them to do so with a Willing Heart!
A. Willing. Heart.
Isn't that what God wants from all of us? Obedience; born from our desire to please Him.
Friends, it's not enough to walk around spewing forth God's word. It's not enough to pretend to be holy. It's not enough to do something or not do something because we feel that we have to. No. God wants our hearts. But he wants our hearts Raw. Tender. Compliant. Eager. Intentional. Voluntary. Open. Thirsty.
Let's remind ourselves today that God wants All of us. Let us lay our hearts and will at His Feet. We do this by Trusting Him. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you', says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future:''"
We can often foresee things that will produce good and things that will bring harm to our children in their lives. There are times that we just want them to have confidence in our judgement, even though they don't understand the bigger picture. They haven't had the experiences that we have lived through. Their minds cannot comprehend certain aspects of human life and chain of events. Sometimes, my kids question me, and my answer is simply, "Because I said so." There are times when I can back up my request with reasons, but, other times, I just need my children to trust me. I need them to know that I love them above all things on this earth. {After God, of course.} I need them to know that I want more for them than I ever could have dreamed for myself.
If my tiny mind, my limited ability, can guide my children well, what does that say about my Father who is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient?
God calls us to some scary places. Places where we don't want to go. Places where we can easily give a thousand excuses as to why we have no business there, or why we don't have the earthly means to get there. We need to remind ourselves, and often, that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called! And just like with our own children as we see them being responsible with a certain charge set before them, we will increase their range of privilege. We give them more access. God will also do so for us. I am sure my daughter does not love to unload the dishwasher every day. But, when I see that she works hard, takes initiative to get the task done without being reminded to do so, then I will want to allow her to go here, do that, buy her the thing she has had her eye on for a while. Her obedience, her willing obedience, is rewarded. Always.
Maybe you're content where you are. But, think of where God could take you if you choose to step out of your comfort zone and step into what God has been whispering into the pit of your stomach. We all know that feeling that makes us twitch, the one that makes us want to be anywhere but in that moment of conviction. That conversation we have in our minds about how this cannot be the voice of God because there is no way we can move. Not now, at least. We plan on being obedient, later. We, I, need to trust God. I need to quit stalling. Take a baby step. After all, practice makes better. Just obey.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
The other day, Brant was doing something and I told him to stop because "X, Y, & Z" was going to happen if he didn't.
Well, what do you think happened?
If you guessed that he immediately obeyed me and stopped doing what he wasn't supposed to be doing and avoided "X, Y, & Z" from happening, then you would absolutely be 100% WRONG! {gasp} Shocking. I know.
So, I was reminding him of all the times where I had predicted unfortunate outcomes with a warning to stop certain behaviors in the past. In typical fashion, he began to- uh um- banter back and forth with me about how I am not ALWAYS right. Just then, Karli stepped in and advised him to "just agree with Mom and move on". To which I replied, "OH REALLY!!!!!"
Um. Yeah. Let's just say that did not go over so well.
It sparked one my infamous rants about how Yes! I Want them to Obey me, But, I Want them to do so with a Willing Heart!
A. Willing. Heart.
Isn't that what God wants from all of us? Obedience; born from our desire to please Him.
Friends, it's not enough to walk around spewing forth God's word. It's not enough to pretend to be holy. It's not enough to do something or not do something because we feel that we have to. No. God wants our hearts. But he wants our hearts Raw. Tender. Compliant. Eager. Intentional. Voluntary. Open. Thirsty.
Let's remind ourselves today that God wants All of us. Let us lay our hearts and will at His Feet. We do this by Trusting Him. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you', says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future:''"
We can often foresee things that will produce good and things that will bring harm to our children in their lives. There are times that we just want them to have confidence in our judgement, even though they don't understand the bigger picture. They haven't had the experiences that we have lived through. Their minds cannot comprehend certain aspects of human life and chain of events. Sometimes, my kids question me, and my answer is simply, "Because I said so." There are times when I can back up my request with reasons, but, other times, I just need my children to trust me. I need them to know that I love them above all things on this earth. {After God, of course.} I need them to know that I want more for them than I ever could have dreamed for myself.
If my tiny mind, my limited ability, can guide my children well, what does that say about my Father who is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient?
God calls us to some scary places. Places where we don't want to go. Places where we can easily give a thousand excuses as to why we have no business there, or why we don't have the earthly means to get there. We need to remind ourselves, and often, that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called! And just like with our own children as we see them being responsible with a certain charge set before them, we will increase their range of privilege. We give them more access. God will also do so for us. I am sure my daughter does not love to unload the dishwasher every day. But, when I see that she works hard, takes initiative to get the task done without being reminded to do so, then I will want to allow her to go here, do that, buy her the thing she has had her eye on for a while. Her obedience, her willing obedience, is rewarded. Always.
Maybe you're content where you are. But, think of where God could take you if you choose to step out of your comfort zone and step into what God has been whispering into the pit of your stomach. We all know that feeling that makes us twitch, the one that makes us want to be anywhere but in that moment of conviction. That conversation we have in our minds about how this cannot be the voice of God because there is no way we can move. Not now, at least. We plan on being obedient, later. We, I, need to trust God. I need to quit stalling. Take a baby step. After all, practice makes better. Just obey.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
4.12.2012
Psalm 27
April 12, 2012
I just wanted to share with you one of my "Bible Favorites". I have clung to this chapter since I was a teenager. I pray that this will encourage and assure someone who needs to be reminded today.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, the the Lord will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 27
I just wanted to share with you one of my "Bible Favorites". I have clung to this chapter since I was a teenager. I pray that this will encourage and assure someone who needs to be reminded today.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, the the Lord will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 27
4.10.2012
Forgive Me?
April 10, 2012
Forgiveness. There's so much talk about that word.
"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."
"Forgive and forget."
"You can forgive, but you can't forget."
We've heard it all.
But. Have you ever thought about being the one on the Forgiven end of the cliche?
Sure. We're all aware that Christ died to forgive our sins.
But, how often do we treat that statement as another cliche?
I can promise you, Forgiveness was NOT something Christ did for Himself!
He did not need to give Himself a gift.
He gave Himself as a gift!
Christ knew every sin.
Every. Sin.
And He paid the price because of what I was going to do.
What you were going to do.
Not only for those who accept His gift. His forgiveness.
But even for those who reject it. Who mock it. Who dispute it. Who fight against it.
All sin of the past, present, and future!
All of it.
How could He do what He did?
Why?
For me, too?
But I am nobody.
Insignificant.
Oh, but His eyes see something totally different than mine do.
He does not see me {or you} as insignificant at all.
I imagine that when He looks at us, it's probably similar to the way we look at our own babies.
I have absolutely carried a screaming banshee of a toddler out of many a store and still was able to overlook the offense and love that baby. It didn't matter that my child had a moment of pure meltdown. I know that there is so much more to him than his failures. I see the potential and the goodness. I can easily overlook all that might make him unlovable, and love everything else. And to me, he is the opposite of insignificant!
If only I could grasp the concept of being lovable.
Why else would He be willing to die such a gruesome, horrible, barbaric death?
I take my eyes off of the cross far too often.
I need to realize that I am who God says I am and not who the world thinks I am.
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;" Psalm 103:11-13
Forgiveness. There's so much talk about that word.
"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."
"Forgive and forget."
"You can forgive, but you can't forget."
We've heard it all.
But. Have you ever thought about being the one on the Forgiven end of the cliche?
Sure. We're all aware that Christ died to forgive our sins.
But, how often do we treat that statement as another cliche?
I can promise you, Forgiveness was NOT something Christ did for Himself!
He did not need to give Himself a gift.
He gave Himself as a gift!
Christ knew every sin.
Every. Sin.
And He paid the price because of what I was going to do.
What you were going to do.
Not only for those who accept His gift. His forgiveness.
But even for those who reject it. Who mock it. Who dispute it. Who fight against it.
All sin of the past, present, and future!
All of it.
How could He do what He did?
Why?
For me, too?
But I am nobody.
Insignificant.
Oh, but His eyes see something totally different than mine do.
He does not see me {or you} as insignificant at all.
I imagine that when He looks at us, it's probably similar to the way we look at our own babies.
I have absolutely carried a screaming banshee of a toddler out of many a store and still was able to overlook the offense and love that baby. It didn't matter that my child had a moment of pure meltdown. I know that there is so much more to him than his failures. I see the potential and the goodness. I can easily overlook all that might make him unlovable, and love everything else. And to me, he is the opposite of insignificant!
If only I could grasp the concept of being lovable.
Why else would He be willing to die such a gruesome, horrible, barbaric death?
I take my eyes off of the cross far too often.
I need to realize that I am who God says I am and not who the world thinks I am.
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;" Psalm 103:11-13
4.04.2012
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