"we have never to struggle to get into Christ...we are not told to get there, for we are there; but we are told to stay where we have been placed."
abide in me and I in you -- a command coupled with a promise.
"all temptation is primarily to look within; to take our eyes off the Lord and to take account of appearances."
"the devil is a skillful liar - lying not only in word but gesture and deed...believe God, no matter how convincing satan's arguments appear."
Holiness - given over wholly to God; reserved exclusively to the Lord
"Lord, i give myself to Thee with this desire alone, to know and walk in the path thou hast ordained."
"i do not consecrate myself to be a missionary or a preacher; i consecrate myself to God to do His will where i am, be it in school, office or kitchen or wherever He may, in His wisdom, send me. whatever He ordains for me is sure to be the very best, for nothing but good can come to those who are wholly His."
"may we always be possessed by the consciousness that we are not our own."
16 June 2010
we have some learning to do...
"i grew last night. look at me next to caroline - i weigh one inch older than her." -- eli
amy q #2
where do you go for support/encouragement when being a mom is challenging?
literally - sometimes i go to my bed and take a nap. sometimes i go to the park and run. sometimes i go to the spectrum on wynnton road and get a big cup of coke or dr. pepper for .79 (.85 once tax is added). when it's really challenging i go to baskin robbins and get a cappucino blast.
less literally (but still pretty literal) - i go to my dining room table and i sit down with The One who believes most in my abilities as a mom and with His word. i let Him tell me that He has given me everything i need for life and godliness (and everything i need to be the mom He's called me to be)...and that it's ok for me to be weak - because He IS strong. i pour out my heart like water to the one who can handle it - i tell Him how very frustrated i am and how very hard this mothering deal seems to be...i am reminded that He gently leads those that have young...that His grace is sufficient and that He is enough. i confess my mistakes - my harsh words or tones, my impatience, my reactions that were less than Christ-like. i ask for forgiveness.
sometimes i tune into the prayer room at ihop.org or put in a favorite cd and worship. taking my eyes off of me and putting them on Him always seems to help.
where else do i go? to my faithful husband who is so gracious and understanding. i spill it out on him. i go to my friends who i know are dealing with similar challenges - i go to the friends who i know will pray for me and encourage me (God has blessed me with some wonderful moms to share life with - moms who do not waive off challenges or dismiss them as "no big deal"...moms who don't make excuses for sinfulness and ungodly behavior but who are striving to be holy as He is holy).
(when i'm at my best in the middle of a challenging moment i stay calm and prayerful...we peacefully figure out a solution...or i at least send them upstairs to watch a video while i compose my spirit and gain back some self-control. at my worst, i say terrible things in my head and make lots of ridiculous noises - "grrrs..." and "aggghs..." i say dumb things like "if only you would have listened..." or "why didn't you obey?!" i say things that i then have to ask their forgiveness for. they are so gracious to forgive, as is He.)
literally - sometimes i go to my bed and take a nap. sometimes i go to the park and run. sometimes i go to the spectrum on wynnton road and get a big cup of coke or dr. pepper for .79 (.85 once tax is added). when it's really challenging i go to baskin robbins and get a cappucino blast.
less literally (but still pretty literal) - i go to my dining room table and i sit down with The One who believes most in my abilities as a mom and with His word. i let Him tell me that He has given me everything i need for life and godliness (and everything i need to be the mom He's called me to be)...and that it's ok for me to be weak - because He IS strong. i pour out my heart like water to the one who can handle it - i tell Him how very frustrated i am and how very hard this mothering deal seems to be...i am reminded that He gently leads those that have young...that His grace is sufficient and that He is enough. i confess my mistakes - my harsh words or tones, my impatience, my reactions that were less than Christ-like. i ask for forgiveness.
sometimes i tune into the prayer room at ihop.org or put in a favorite cd and worship. taking my eyes off of me and putting them on Him always seems to help.
where else do i go? to my faithful husband who is so gracious and understanding. i spill it out on him. i go to my friends who i know are dealing with similar challenges - i go to the friends who i know will pray for me and encourage me (God has blessed me with some wonderful moms to share life with - moms who do not waive off challenges or dismiss them as "no big deal"...moms who don't make excuses for sinfulness and ungodly behavior but who are striving to be holy as He is holy).
(when i'm at my best in the middle of a challenging moment i stay calm and prayerful...we peacefully figure out a solution...or i at least send them upstairs to watch a video while i compose my spirit and gain back some self-control. at my worst, i say terrible things in my head and make lots of ridiculous noises - "grrrs..." and "aggghs..." i say dumb things like "if only you would have listened..." or "why didn't you obey?!" i say things that i then have to ask their forgiveness for. they are so gracious to forgive, as is He.)
14 June 2010
daily dose of swedish fish
my eyes are having a hard time staying fixed on Him. they keep wandering to others...and, inevitably, i don't measure up - at least in my estimation i don't measure up. i fear this blog is just one more thing in my life that i hold up in comparison to others... and i end up thinking "it's not as cool...it's not as meaningful...others don't like it as much....i don't have anything worth sharing..." facebook. children. friendships. love for others. service to others. kindness. compassion. homeschooling. i'm not measuring up. TRUTH be loud. lies be silent!
my heart is unsettled. i'm just not quite myself. the things i've dealt with so intensely in the past have resurfaced. i hate it. not that i thought i was done....but i sort of thought i was done.
His divine nod of approval IS sufficient....and, i say this as humbly as i know how, i believe He is giving me His divine nod of approval. He's giving so many His divine nod of approval. why do i not rest in His nod? THE thing that is enough, isn't enough for me today. i'm so sorry, Daddy.
oh that i would avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations and seek only God's commendation. that i would REJOICE in the strengths of others - rather than setting myself up against them. when a friend gives another friend a huge compliment, be glad that you have such awesome friends! don't think "if she's the most fun mom then i must not be." ridiculous.
we've talked about this. be done. set your heart on things above, not on earthly things. fix your eyes on Him, the author and perfector of your faith (the author and perfector of you!). whatever you do, do it with all your heart - serving the Lord, not men.
in other news: i'm enjoying swedish fish these days and counting the days until nick returns from Bogota (6).
my heart is unsettled. i'm just not quite myself. the things i've dealt with so intensely in the past have resurfaced. i hate it. not that i thought i was done....but i sort of thought i was done.
His divine nod of approval IS sufficient....and, i say this as humbly as i know how, i believe He is giving me His divine nod of approval. He's giving so many His divine nod of approval. why do i not rest in His nod? THE thing that is enough, isn't enough for me today. i'm so sorry, Daddy.
oh that i would avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations and seek only God's commendation. that i would REJOICE in the strengths of others - rather than setting myself up against them. when a friend gives another friend a huge compliment, be glad that you have such awesome friends! don't think "if she's the most fun mom then i must not be." ridiculous.
we've talked about this. be done. set your heart on things above, not on earthly things. fix your eyes on Him, the author and perfector of your faith (the author and perfector of you!). whatever you do, do it with all your heart - serving the Lord, not men.
in other news: i'm enjoying swedish fish these days and counting the days until nick returns from Bogota (6).
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