Logan is not a morning person. And he's really not a Monday morning person. Everyone usually loses all patience with him because he doesn't get around very well in the mornings and would prefer to stay snuggled up at home and not have to face the day. Once we reach the school, I park rather than go through the drop off line because it takes him a good 5 min to say his goodbyes and muster up the energy to get out of car. This morning was no exception. We park and head down the sidewalk towards the front door and if you can picture this, his head and shoulders are slumped over as he's dragging his backpack along the ground behind him. It's a pitiful sight really! I don't even want to know what everyone is thinking who watches him. But there awaits the best teacher who has morning duty, and this morning she begins to cheer for him, "You can do it Logan! I know you can! You can do it!" She continues with her cheering as he's walking towards her until he cracks a smile and proceeds through the door. She was just being a little silly and trying to liven the mood but I was chuckling by this point and I thought isn't this how we all are sometimes??? Sometimes, I know I would really rather stay home, snuggled up and not have to face the giants of the day. Sometimes, I'd really rather not have to walk through a set of doors that we face in front of us. Is this just me??? This morning, though, God reminded me that like Logan's teacher, this is how He is with us. We may not want to face a particular circumstance in front of us, but God is saying "You can do it! I know you can! I am with you!" In fact, the Word tell us we have a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.
"Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we better get on with it! ... Never quit!
We're in training. God is doing what's best for us and He is training us to live God's holy best. It pays off - for it's the well trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Run for it!" (Heb 12: 1,11,12 MSG)
You and I can keep on going, running the race before us, facing what lies ahead, with FULL confidence that God has our back in this and we have the victory! All those who have gone before us know the reward that awaits us if we don't quit and they're cheering us on. You and I will cheer one another on. This training will mature and perfect our faith so that we're not lacking anything. We don't have to walk with our heads slumped over, dragging our stuff behind us, but rather shoulders back and head held high because You, O Lord, are the lifter of my head! Keep pressing on! You can do it!
Monday, September 22, 2014
Saturday, May 10, 2014
For all our Mothers~
Mother's Day...
Dan begins a few days before trying to pick up hints or send the kids in to ask questions on what I might want for a present or for dinner that day. There are always homemade cards, a gift, and a lunch they do their best to prepare without me, but for the sake of the meal and my kitchen I always opt to go in and assist in the craziness! Lol They make it such a special day. This year they've taken on the task to clean my car so that it sparkles and shines! That my friends is worth everything in itself!
We wouldn't know how hard mothering would be... How rewarding it would be. I was so young and clueless 21 years ago when they handed me that baby girl and sent us home the next day as if we really knew what we were doing. We didnt even have a pet first and we were supposed to know what to do??? God bless her, she was our guinea pig and it was all about trial and error. I'm so thankful children are resilient and God covers our mistakes and shortcomings. Mothering encompasses blessings, milestones, numerous celebrations, homemade cards and presents for special occasions, flowers - both real and those made from tissue paper, stretch marks, gray hairs, scars, burnt meals, sleepless nights, endless activities, and so much more... And we'd do it all over again every day of the week and twice on Sundays. We say things that sound just like our mothers. We muddle through messy things, have to humbly ask for forgiveness, and hope at the end of the day they truely know how much they are loved. We point them towards Jesus, watch them surrender their lives to Him, and stand teary-eyed as they leave the nest for a great adventure to become all God created them to be. We've watched them fall, make mistakes, and dusted them off reassuring them God takes all things and works them together for good.
To those of you who Mother other's children and love them as your own... whether by marriage, or in your classrooms, or in your families, or your neighborhoods... you are priceless. You are imprinting these children forever and helping to shape them. You leave a lasting impression on them. They will love you forever!
My heart is drawn towards moms in hard places, wanting the same things for her children that I want for mine. For moms struggling wanting their children healthy, their needs met, and bright futures. For moms who make the hardest and bravest decision of all to give their child for someone else to raise in hopes that all these things come true for them. I'm so grateful for Malea's birth mother and the selfless decision she made in a country where her opportunities were so limited. I believe she's so brave and I always pray the Lord tenderly shows her somehow that this child is safe and loved.
Eve was the "Crown of Creation". Created with all of the beautiful and tender characteristics of God. Women are so special to Him. He used them in the most pivitol places tucked all throughout scripture. Know that you are loved and highly favored!
To all of the mothers, I salute you all and applaud you with a standing ovation. Keep pressing on towards the prize with your eyes fixed on Jesus. You are changing the world and shaping the next generation!! To the ones before us who trained us and equipped us just as the scriptures said, we are so grateful. I'm blessed with the most amazing mom, mother in law, and grandmothers, all who love the Lord and live a life of faith so committed to their families. I love you dearly. I am thankful for the example you've shown your children and your grandchildren. We all rise and call you Blessed!
Happy Mother's Day! Put your feet up and enjoy a quiet moment, because the next day all the craziness begins again! :)
Dan begins a few days before trying to pick up hints or send the kids in to ask questions on what I might want for a present or for dinner that day. There are always homemade cards, a gift, and a lunch they do their best to prepare without me, but for the sake of the meal and my kitchen I always opt to go in and assist in the craziness! Lol They make it such a special day. This year they've taken on the task to clean my car so that it sparkles and shines! That my friends is worth everything in itself!
We wouldn't know how hard mothering would be... How rewarding it would be. I was so young and clueless 21 years ago when they handed me that baby girl and sent us home the next day as if we really knew what we were doing. We didnt even have a pet first and we were supposed to know what to do??? God bless her, she was our guinea pig and it was all about trial and error. I'm so thankful children are resilient and God covers our mistakes and shortcomings. Mothering encompasses blessings, milestones, numerous celebrations, homemade cards and presents for special occasions, flowers - both real and those made from tissue paper, stretch marks, gray hairs, scars, burnt meals, sleepless nights, endless activities, and so much more... And we'd do it all over again every day of the week and twice on Sundays. We say things that sound just like our mothers. We muddle through messy things, have to humbly ask for forgiveness, and hope at the end of the day they truely know how much they are loved. We point them towards Jesus, watch them surrender their lives to Him, and stand teary-eyed as they leave the nest for a great adventure to become all God created them to be. We've watched them fall, make mistakes, and dusted them off reassuring them God takes all things and works them together for good.
To those of you who Mother other's children and love them as your own... whether by marriage, or in your classrooms, or in your families, or your neighborhoods... you are priceless. You are imprinting these children forever and helping to shape them. You leave a lasting impression on them. They will love you forever!
My heart is drawn towards moms in hard places, wanting the same things for her children that I want for mine. For moms struggling wanting their children healthy, their needs met, and bright futures. For moms who make the hardest and bravest decision of all to give their child for someone else to raise in hopes that all these things come true for them. I'm so grateful for Malea's birth mother and the selfless decision she made in a country where her opportunities were so limited. I believe she's so brave and I always pray the Lord tenderly shows her somehow that this child is safe and loved.
Eve was the "Crown of Creation". Created with all of the beautiful and tender characteristics of God. Women are so special to Him. He used them in the most pivitol places tucked all throughout scripture. Know that you are loved and highly favored!
To all of the mothers, I salute you all and applaud you with a standing ovation. Keep pressing on towards the prize with your eyes fixed on Jesus. You are changing the world and shaping the next generation!! To the ones before us who trained us and equipped us just as the scriptures said, we are so grateful. I'm blessed with the most amazing mom, mother in law, and grandmothers, all who love the Lord and live a life of faith so committed to their families. I love you dearly. I am thankful for the example you've shown your children and your grandchildren. We all rise and call you Blessed!
Happy Mother's Day! Put your feet up and enjoy a quiet moment, because the next day all the craziness begins again! :)
Monday, January 13, 2014
Repetition
We've been working a lot on Malea's speech. With quite a bit of work she has picked up several new words soaking things up like a sponge. There are a few, though, that she repeats like a parrot ALL day long. Continuously throughout the day she's rolling through these 3 words in order, practicing them incessantly and wanting you to chime in. We get so tickled at her! What we love is that she has understanding of what they mean compared to the ones she'll repeat when asked to. This morning as she was rolling through them I was taken back at the goodness of God and the blessing she is.
It made me think of a conversation I was having yesterday about the importance of repetition. We use repetition with Malea to teach her and it's effective because what she's learned is IN her. She can let it roll on command. In the same way, God uses repetition with us because it's effective. He's wanting us to "get it." He'll repeat Himself often to me so that I'm sure to grasp what He's saying. He wants to know that it's IN me. Not just the head knowledge of it, but the understanding of it. Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Meditate doesn't mean just thinking on it... but rather murmuring it to yourself. Murmur on it day and night...repeating it to yourself day and night...so that you may be careful to do everything written in it, so that we'll be prosperous and successful! The Word is LIFE to us. When we meditate on it and repeat it to ourselves it produces life in us! It drives out fear, rejection, insecurity, doubt, guilt, and every other dart from the enemy!
In my chaotic life I have to repeat stuff over and over or write it down to make note of it, otherwise it's gets lost in a great abyss! My kids and husband know this well! I have to be deliberate in repeating the Word over and over because I want that to be what I believe and hold fast to. Then that will be what rolls off my tongue when the enemy comes to try and get me to doubt who God is or who I am in Him! Let's meditate on the Word and drown out the voice of the enemy!!
It made me think of a conversation I was having yesterday about the importance of repetition. We use repetition with Malea to teach her and it's effective because what she's learned is IN her. She can let it roll on command. In the same way, God uses repetition with us because it's effective. He's wanting us to "get it." He'll repeat Himself often to me so that I'm sure to grasp what He's saying. He wants to know that it's IN me. Not just the head knowledge of it, but the understanding of it. Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Meditate doesn't mean just thinking on it... but rather murmuring it to yourself. Murmur on it day and night...repeating it to yourself day and night...so that you may be careful to do everything written in it, so that we'll be prosperous and successful! The Word is LIFE to us. When we meditate on it and repeat it to ourselves it produces life in us! It drives out fear, rejection, insecurity, doubt, guilt, and every other dart from the enemy!
In my chaotic life I have to repeat stuff over and over or write it down to make note of it, otherwise it's gets lost in a great abyss! My kids and husband know this well! I have to be deliberate in repeating the Word over and over because I want that to be what I believe and hold fast to. Then that will be what rolls off my tongue when the enemy comes to try and get me to doubt who God is or who I am in Him! Let's meditate on the Word and drown out the voice of the enemy!!
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