So, I woke up this morning with "the knowing" in my belly. Then, reflected on all the mornings that I felt so similar....the first day of Jr. High school, the day after all the cheerleaders had been elected in 9th grade, the day after I got my first car, the first day of college, the day after I got engaged, the first day of our marriage, the morning after A was born & J & B, and today. Yesterday, we received an offer on our home and today we wait for their response after our counter. I feel so "in the knowing" combined with such anticipation for tomorrow. What will God bring our way? Then in this reflection, I've come to remember how God is always "in the knowing." Its so hard to grasp how he can meet me in my moment and be in the next one at the same time. However, after settling into this concept, I can feel such relief and peace. It is there where the Lord of all creation brings His sovereignty to light. Its all I can do but wait, wait on the Lord.
Oh, Father God, help me to wait. Help me to wait on you and your timing and your blessing. Help me in my impatience. Help me where I loose faith and trust in you. Cover me in your blood of righteousness and full sight. Cover me in your love and embrace me so that I feel comforted and protected. Help me to be a help to my husband and encourage him in these decisions. Bring us together in unity over our choices. Holy Spirit unite us in direction. Lord you are above all else.
Amen
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Power of Three
I have to preface this all with the fact that God's power is never limited to blessing a family with three children, nor in having any at all. This is only a description of where the Lord has taken me in having three kids.
So, I have this image given to me last night as I was lying in bed. This overwhelming feeling came over me, which doesn't happen often. I just really felt as if I were standing in front of the Lord's throne with Christ at His right hand, and me holding a huge platter stacked with my daily junk...laundry, our new home to build, our home to sell, J being potty trained, my family's health, prayer for the lost and newly found, a garage sale, new jeans I want, homeschooling...you get the idea. The next thing I know, is that I dropped the platter right in front of me and it exploded, shooting and shattering these things everywhere. God's eyes lit up with delight, as he said, "My precious daughter. I'm so glad to have your entire being. All of this junk has cluttered your view of me. Now you can see me just as I have always seen you."
I then realized that He had to allow me to load my plate so full, to the point of me not being able to handle it all on my own, to then be able to let it all go and have him carry it all for me. As I look back on my life, thus far, I don't see my plate ever being this weighted. I believe that what topped it off was the blessing of three children. Before any one of them were born, I woke up every morning with total serenity; whether that be going to work after a day of high school, finishing a final exam through college, managing my wedding, starting a career, or delivering three babies. All seemed to be good and enough. Now, my days are so packed with life, beginning at 5:30am and ending at 11:00pm. I actually can't do a load of laundry without praying for the Lord's strength and blessing over it. I can't lift a finger without asking for His hand to go first. This is a good place, but nevertheless, a place of pure humility and helplessness. What a great place for God to put us all. I pray to stay here, even when life slows and things are "controllable."
What a blessing it is to be a mom of three. Their precious lives have moved mine to a new dimension of life.
So, I have this image given to me last night as I was lying in bed. This overwhelming feeling came over me, which doesn't happen often. I just really felt as if I were standing in front of the Lord's throne with Christ at His right hand, and me holding a huge platter stacked with my daily junk...laundry, our new home to build, our home to sell, J being potty trained, my family's health, prayer for the lost and newly found, a garage sale, new jeans I want, homeschooling...you get the idea. The next thing I know, is that I dropped the platter right in front of me and it exploded, shooting and shattering these things everywhere. God's eyes lit up with delight, as he said, "My precious daughter. I'm so glad to have your entire being. All of this junk has cluttered your view of me. Now you can see me just as I have always seen you."
I then realized that He had to allow me to load my plate so full, to the point of me not being able to handle it all on my own, to then be able to let it all go and have him carry it all for me. As I look back on my life, thus far, I don't see my plate ever being this weighted. I believe that what topped it off was the blessing of three children. Before any one of them were born, I woke up every morning with total serenity; whether that be going to work after a day of high school, finishing a final exam through college, managing my wedding, starting a career, or delivering three babies. All seemed to be good and enough. Now, my days are so packed with life, beginning at 5:30am and ending at 11:00pm. I actually can't do a load of laundry without praying for the Lord's strength and blessing over it. I can't lift a finger without asking for His hand to go first. This is a good place, but nevertheless, a place of pure humility and helplessness. What a great place for God to put us all. I pray to stay here, even when life slows and things are "controllable."
What a blessing it is to be a mom of three. Their precious lives have moved mine to a new dimension of life.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Starting Over in Grace
So, I've really been out of commission for awhile now. Really, in no mood to blog. I've felt like the last month-and-a-half has been such a blur. My life has been turned upside down with "stuff." Christmas was fun, but so full of chaos that Christ was lost for me. I don't even think that I opened the Word the entire week of Christmas. We packed, we traveled, we visited, we packed again, we traveled again, we did laundry, we hosted parties and we did more laundry. All the business just flowed right in to 2008. All was good and all was fun, but empty. I really missed Gods voice. I really missed me paying attention. So, 2008 keeps rolling, but I hit a wall last week when I surpassed an incredible women's Bible study just so that I could spend a day at home. It was weird...turning down something so good, just for time. It made me realize how the church can become a point of pressure (self-inflicted). I woke up to realize that there really can be too much of a good thing. However, even with that wake up call, God sat me on my bootie today by allowing an upset stomach and a huge headache. Where are my priorities? Where am I spending my time? Where are my thoughts focused? As you can see, this day has been devoted to reflection, in hopes that I get back into the swing of things and back to what really matters.
Lord, let me focus on you and your Kingdom. Let this overflow in my life's matters. Let your love penetrate others through my life and family.
Lord, let me focus on you and your Kingdom. Let this overflow in my life's matters. Let your love penetrate others through my life and family.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Jeans
In these matter of moments until we reach eternity, can someone tell me where to find a great pair of jeans?!!!! I'm about to go crazy! I really do have a silly problem. I go to find a pair of jeans...BAM!...in luck....I'm in the dressing room and found the perfect pair....take them home....wear them for an hour....they begin to fall off. I'm beside myself with two new pairs in my closet and they don't fit.
Oh the little blessings in life. They can be such torment.
Can I just share with you the history of this silly muck that I'm stuck in...
The history of denim,
the 18th century in the eighteenth century as trade, slave labour, and cotton plantations increased, workers wore jean cloth because the material was very strong and it did not wear out easily.
the 19th century: the California gold rush the gold miners wanted clothes that were strong and did not tear easily.in 1853, Leob Strauss started a wholesale business, supplying clothes. Strauss later changed his name from leob to levi.
the 1930's: westerns cowboys - who often wore jeans in the movies-became very popular.
the 1940's: war; fewer jeans were made during the time of world war 2, but they were introduced to the world by American soldiers, who sometimes wore them when they were off duty. after the war, rival companies, like wrangler and lee, began to compete with levi for a share of the international market.
the 1950's: rebels in the 1950's, denim became popular with young people. It was the symbol of the teenage rebel in TV programmes and movies ( James dean in the 1955movie rebel without a cause). some schools in the unbanned students from wearing denim.
the 1960-70's: hippies & the cold war; different styles of jeans were made, to match the 60's fashions:embroidered jeans, painted jeans, psychedelic jeans...in many non-western countries, jeans became a symbol of' western decadence' and were very hard to get.
I think that I'm going back to pants...starting a revolution!
Oh the little blessings in life. They can be such torment.
Can I just share with you the history of this silly muck that I'm stuck in...
The history of denim,
the 18th century in the eighteenth century as trade, slave labour, and cotton plantations increased, workers wore jean cloth because the material was very strong and it did not wear out easily.
the 19th century: the California gold rush the gold miners wanted clothes that were strong and did not tear easily.in 1853, Leob Strauss started a wholesale business, supplying clothes. Strauss later changed his name from leob to levi.
the 1930's: westerns cowboys - who often wore jeans in the movies-became very popular.
the 1940's: war; fewer jeans were made during the time of world war 2, but they were introduced to the world by American soldiers, who sometimes wore them when they were off duty. after the war, rival companies, like wrangler and lee, began to compete with levi for a share of the international market.
the 1950's: rebels in the 1950's, denim became popular with young people. It was the symbol of the teenage rebel in TV programmes and movies ( James dean in the 1955movie rebel without a cause). some schools in the unbanned students from wearing denim.
the 1960-70's: hippies & the cold war; different styles of jeans were made, to match the 60's fashions:embroidered jeans, painted jeans, psychedelic jeans...in many non-western countries, jeans became a symbol of' western decadence' and were very hard to get.
I think that I'm going back to pants...starting a revolution!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
90 Minutes in Heaven
So, I've been missing for a few weeks now...and I've found myself. I'm really not much of a reader, but my mom told me that I just had to read this book. "90 Minutes in Heaven" has consumed my evenings; and therefore, I have missed out on blogging. Anyway, I'm back, a changed person. "90 Minutes in Heaven" has changed my way of thought on life, as it should. Don Piper wrote this book to take account of his actual death and return to earth. Unbelievable! I really recommend it!
Thanks mom.
Thanks mom.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Praying Scripture for our Children
As parents, particularly fathers, it is important that we pray for our children constantly. It is likewise important to train them up to be responsible followers of Christ in every area of their lives. However, the Enemy realizes the importance of prayer and knows if he can keep us busy not to pray for our children, he has opportunities to work his way into their lives. Below is a prayer that was given to me by my mother after I had my first child. She received this written prayer and began to pray through scripture during the exact same season of my life that God became not only my savior, but also the Lord of my life. I believe that through her prayers, the Lord changed the jaded path I was on and brought me closer to His heart. I encourage you to keep this with you and pray this prayer daily that our children will know our heavenly Father and will experience all of the power they can through knowing Jesus and relying on the Holy Spirit.
Dear Father,
I thank You for my children today, because they are a blessing from You (Psalm 127:3). I pray that You will give me wisdom to train them up in the way they should go, so that when they are old they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Since I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You that I am saved, as well as my household (Acts 16:31). I pray that my children will not forget Your teachings, but that they will let their heart keep Your commandments, for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to them.
May they not let kindness and truth leave them, but bind them around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts. Then they will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:1-4). May their hearts be open to receive Your wisdom and instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity, so that they may have prudence, knowledge, and discretion (Proverbs 1:2-4). May they be eager to listen to Your instruction, so that they will live securely and be at ease from the dread of evil (Proverbs 1:33). May they not reject Your discipline, or loathe Your reproof, but receive it as from a loving Father (Proverbs 3:11-12). As they hear and accept Godly instruction, I thank You that their steps will not be impeded, and they will not stumble (Proverbs 4:10-12).
In the name of Jesus, I bind the spirits of rebellion, foolishness, and stubbornness far from them, so that they will give attention to words of wisdom, and incline their ears to wise sayings. May they not let them depart from their sight, but may they keep them in the midst of their hearts, so that they will be life to them, and health to their whole body. May they learn to watch over their hearts with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:20-23).
May they observe the commandments of their father, and not forsake the teaching of their mother; may they bind them continually on their hearts, and tie them around their necks. Then, when they walk about, they will guide them; and when they sleep, they will watch over them; and when they wake, they will talk with them (Proverbs 10:1). May they heed instruction and be wise and make their father glad (Proverbs 13:20). May they quickly leave the presence of fools so that they will discern words of knowledge (Proverbs 14:7). In the name of Jesus, I bind the spirits of laziness, negligence, carelessness and complacency far from them, so that they will be diligent and rich, with no sorrow added to it (Proverbs 10:4,22). Since I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, (II Corinthians 5:21) I thank You that my children will be delivered (Proverbs 11:21) and that since I fear You, they will have refuge (Proverbs 14:26). I also thank You for the angels that watch over them constantly, who continually behold Your face (Matthew 18:10). Since my children are taught of You, I thank you that their peace will be great (Isaiah 54:13).
Father, I pray that You will remind me regularly to teach Your Word to my children, talking of it when I sit in my house, and when I walk along the road, and when I lie down, and when I rise up, so that their days my be multiplied (Deuteronomy 11:19,21). As I correct my children, I thank You that they will give me comfort and delight, and that they will never bring shame to their mother (Proverbs 22:15). I pray that You will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear you always (Jeremiah 32:39).
Thank You Father, that they shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity, since they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord, and their descendants with them. Thank You also that Your loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear You, and Your righteousness to my children’s children, to those who keep Your covenant, and who remember Your precepts to do them (Psalm 103:17-18).
Father I pray that since the promise of the Holy Spirit is for me and my children as well (Acts 2:39) that they will desire and seek to receive this wonderful blessing. I pray that their ways will be pleasing to You so that even their enemies will be at peace with them (Proverbs 16:7). May they fear You and hold fast to the highway of upright, so that they will be kept from the evil (Proverbs 16:6,17). May they be prudent and see the evil, so that they can hide themselves (Proverbs 22:3). Thank You, though, that You have not given them a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).
I pray for an understanding and compassionate spirit towards my children, that I can truly perceive each concern they have, and encourage them and give them wise counsel. May I never provoke them to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). And may they continue to abide in Your grace. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
Dear Father,
I thank You for my children today, because they are a blessing from You (Psalm 127:3). I pray that You will give me wisdom to train them up in the way they should go, so that when they are old they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Since I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You that I am saved, as well as my household (Acts 16:31). I pray that my children will not forget Your teachings, but that they will let their heart keep Your commandments, for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to them.
May they not let kindness and truth leave them, but bind them around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts. Then they will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:1-4). May their hearts be open to receive Your wisdom and instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity, so that they may have prudence, knowledge, and discretion (Proverbs 1:2-4). May they be eager to listen to Your instruction, so that they will live securely and be at ease from the dread of evil (Proverbs 1:33). May they not reject Your discipline, or loathe Your reproof, but receive it as from a loving Father (Proverbs 3:11-12). As they hear and accept Godly instruction, I thank You that their steps will not be impeded, and they will not stumble (Proverbs 4:10-12).
In the name of Jesus, I bind the spirits of rebellion, foolishness, and stubbornness far from them, so that they will give attention to words of wisdom, and incline their ears to wise sayings. May they not let them depart from their sight, but may they keep them in the midst of their hearts, so that they will be life to them, and health to their whole body. May they learn to watch over their hearts with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:20-23).
May they observe the commandments of their father, and not forsake the teaching of their mother; may they bind them continually on their hearts, and tie them around their necks. Then, when they walk about, they will guide them; and when they sleep, they will watch over them; and when they wake, they will talk with them (Proverbs 10:1). May they heed instruction and be wise and make their father glad (Proverbs 13:20). May they quickly leave the presence of fools so that they will discern words of knowledge (Proverbs 14:7). In the name of Jesus, I bind the spirits of laziness, negligence, carelessness and complacency far from them, so that they will be diligent and rich, with no sorrow added to it (Proverbs 10:4,22). Since I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, (II Corinthians 5:21) I thank You that my children will be delivered (Proverbs 11:21) and that since I fear You, they will have refuge (Proverbs 14:26). I also thank You for the angels that watch over them constantly, who continually behold Your face (Matthew 18:10). Since my children are taught of You, I thank you that their peace will be great (Isaiah 54:13).
Father, I pray that You will remind me regularly to teach Your Word to my children, talking of it when I sit in my house, and when I walk along the road, and when I lie down, and when I rise up, so that their days my be multiplied (Deuteronomy 11:19,21). As I correct my children, I thank You that they will give me comfort and delight, and that they will never bring shame to their mother (Proverbs 22:15). I pray that You will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear you always (Jeremiah 32:39).
Thank You Father, that they shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity, since they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord, and their descendants with them. Thank You also that Your loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear You, and Your righteousness to my children’s children, to those who keep Your covenant, and who remember Your precepts to do them (Psalm 103:17-18).
Father I pray that since the promise of the Holy Spirit is for me and my children as well (Acts 2:39) that they will desire and seek to receive this wonderful blessing. I pray that their ways will be pleasing to You so that even their enemies will be at peace with them (Proverbs 16:7). May they fear You and hold fast to the highway of upright, so that they will be kept from the evil (Proverbs 16:6,17). May they be prudent and see the evil, so that they can hide themselves (Proverbs 22:3). Thank You, though, that You have not given them a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).
I pray for an understanding and compassionate spirit towards my children, that I can truly perceive each concern they have, and encourage them and give them wise counsel. May I never provoke them to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). And may they continue to abide in Your grace. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Surrender
I'm giving you my heart, and all that is within
I lay it all down for the sake of you my King
I'm giving you my dreams, I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride for the promise of new life
And I surrender all to you, all to you
And I surrender all to you, all to you
I'm singing You this song, I'm waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear, I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You for the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy, even sharing in Your pain
I lay it all down for the sake of you my King
I'm giving you my dreams, I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride for the promise of new life
And I surrender all to you, all to you
And I surrender all to you, all to you
I'm singing You this song, I'm waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear, I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You for the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy, even sharing in Your pain
What amazing words Lincoln Brewster writes in his song Surrender. They are so powerful. How is it that others can so often put my heart's emotions into words so precisely and I struggle with how to spell 'refrigerator?' Is it an o or and e - I never can remember? I so often feel like I can't say what I mean or mean what I say. However, I know when I'm standing in church reading/ singing these words, my heart longs to believe them, to live them, to allow them to change my path. My dreams, my rights, my pride...all such sticky subjects and not ones so easily given up to my Lord. But oh when I do! What a release! What a peace that I'm given in exchange!
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