"As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle and patient."
Colossians 3:12
This verse becomes exponentially hard to do when you have multiple children in your house. Today my 8 year old has hidden the TV remote from the 5 year old because the little one has learned how to use it and the 8 year doesn't want her to change his show. Well now we can't find the remote!! And the fighting has ensued!! AND we only have 2 children! Today with the, what I am sure is mild chaos compared to house holds with several more children than us, I have had wondered how we are going to homeschool these children?!?! I will not lie, I am not in general very patient, yet God calls us to live in Peace and Harmony (Ephesians 4:3).
So what do we do when the frenzy is almost more than we can take? How in the World do we live in Peace and Harmony with fighting Siblings? I must admit as soon as I read this verse this morning, I had a good laugh. God always knows exactly the right words at the right time to bring light and wisdom to a situation. Here we are again, that we need to be in His word everyday if we are to raise these young Neanderthals up in His love, knowledge and grace. In addition, we need to be memorizing scripture, because the Holy Spirit will be Faithful to bring it to mind at the exact right time. Write it on your walls!! I often have a sticky note at my desk at work with scripture that God has put on my heart to memorize. We can do this, not only for ourselves, but our children too. Have a weekly family verse that will be a focus for our children. Lastly, for myself I know I need to take a breath. I need to remember that the little irritations are not life altering and I need to remember the bigger picture.
Prayer:
Lord,
Help me to be loving, sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle and patient today with my children. Such a tall order I know that cannot do this on my own. But I do know that if I can show them your love, they will shine your light. Your word instructs that a gentle answer deflects anger and harsh words make tempers flare. Help me to have your word in my heart that I would not sin against you, and that I would lead my children to you. Help me to lead by example and not by my own desires.
Amen
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
I'm not sure, Lord.
"When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even much more will be required." Luke 12:48
I think we often think of money when we read this scripture but today when I read it, I thought about my kids.
We all remember back to before we had kids and daydreaming about how awesome it would be to have a new baby and we could hardly wait. Of course we would not trade our children for anything but let's face it, there are days when it is so difficult we are not sure how we will make it through the day. Perhaps we have all felt in the madness of screaming kids, laundry up to our eyeballs and a house that looks like a bomb exploded, "God I'm not sure I am up for this!"
For those who know me, you know my oldest child has severe food, drug and environmental allergies. Most of the time our days are easy and we live just like every other family because now we are adjusted. But there are days when I am not really sure what God was thinking choosing me to be his mom. Being a nurse most would think I would be the obvious choice, but there have been times I have confided to my husband that I am not sure that God made the right choice. Then I laugh because He is God and I am... well... me. I recently went to the New Mexico home school conference and many times I heard, "God knew exactly what he was doing when he put your child with you." I know this to be true but I worry as all moms do, am I gonna totally ruin this kid?!
The charge in this scripture can be completely overwhelming. When we are given children, we are given the greatest blessings of our lives. And it is very true that the greatest accomplishments are the things we have to work hardest for. We are naive when we hold our newborns in our arms and even when people tell us how hard it will be, we don't listen. And praise GOD, we don't listen because look back and see all the blessings we would have missed!! And if you are like me, you now see a much better view of God's love for you.
So how do we face the charge in Luke 12:48 head on and not get overwhelmed in the day to day weight of it all? 1 Peter 5:9-10- "Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sister all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation."
First, you are not alone. Moms everywhere are going through, and thinking and feeling all the same things you are. Next, be encouraged that God will restore you and support you and encourage you! I think however this needs to be a little more participatory on your part. If you are sitting at home every day, this is not good. You need to get out. Maybe you need to find a group of moms who encourage and support you and then when the roles are reversed, you support and encourage them. Then you bring new young moms under your wing and help them along too. If you are not a part of a church family, you need to be. We will find in life that some of our closest "family" is not by blood at all and many of these people we meet at church. Church is where you get your batteries recharged and where we hear encouraging words from our Lord. If we are not spending time with the Lord, we are missing the peaceful rest that only He provides. Which leads me to my last point, and as a mother is the hardest, we need to spend time with the Lord daily. Daily we need to sit at His feet in quiet and hear a word from Him. He always supplies what we need for the day!
Prayer:
Lord,
I know you gave me my child/children each for a specific reason and I am the best person to be his/her mom. I will admit there are many days I am not sure what that looks like or how in world we are going to get them to what you have called them to. BUT I know you are God and you are Good. I know that you love my child/children so much more than I do and I will daily seek you and your will for their lives. Give me what I need daily to be their mom and to raise them in your love and your knowledge. Help me to show them who you are.
Amen
I think we often think of money when we read this scripture but today when I read it, I thought about my kids.
We all remember back to before we had kids and daydreaming about how awesome it would be to have a new baby and we could hardly wait. Of course we would not trade our children for anything but let's face it, there are days when it is so difficult we are not sure how we will make it through the day. Perhaps we have all felt in the madness of screaming kids, laundry up to our eyeballs and a house that looks like a bomb exploded, "God I'm not sure I am up for this!"
For those who know me, you know my oldest child has severe food, drug and environmental allergies. Most of the time our days are easy and we live just like every other family because now we are adjusted. But there are days when I am not really sure what God was thinking choosing me to be his mom. Being a nurse most would think I would be the obvious choice, but there have been times I have confided to my husband that I am not sure that God made the right choice. Then I laugh because He is God and I am... well... me. I recently went to the New Mexico home school conference and many times I heard, "God knew exactly what he was doing when he put your child with you." I know this to be true but I worry as all moms do, am I gonna totally ruin this kid?!
The charge in this scripture can be completely overwhelming. When we are given children, we are given the greatest blessings of our lives. And it is very true that the greatest accomplishments are the things we have to work hardest for. We are naive when we hold our newborns in our arms and even when people tell us how hard it will be, we don't listen. And praise GOD, we don't listen because look back and see all the blessings we would have missed!! And if you are like me, you now see a much better view of God's love for you.
So how do we face the charge in Luke 12:48 head on and not get overwhelmed in the day to day weight of it all? 1 Peter 5:9-10- "Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sister all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation."
First, you are not alone. Moms everywhere are going through, and thinking and feeling all the same things you are. Next, be encouraged that God will restore you and support you and encourage you! I think however this needs to be a little more participatory on your part. If you are sitting at home every day, this is not good. You need to get out. Maybe you need to find a group of moms who encourage and support you and then when the roles are reversed, you support and encourage them. Then you bring new young moms under your wing and help them along too. If you are not a part of a church family, you need to be. We will find in life that some of our closest "family" is not by blood at all and many of these people we meet at church. Church is where you get your batteries recharged and where we hear encouraging words from our Lord. If we are not spending time with the Lord, we are missing the peaceful rest that only He provides. Which leads me to my last point, and as a mother is the hardest, we need to spend time with the Lord daily. Daily we need to sit at His feet in quiet and hear a word from Him. He always supplies what we need for the day!
Prayer:
Lord,
I know you gave me my child/children each for a specific reason and I am the best person to be his/her mom. I will admit there are many days I am not sure what that looks like or how in world we are going to get them to what you have called them to. BUT I know you are God and you are Good. I know that you love my child/children so much more than I do and I will daily seek you and your will for their lives. Give me what I need daily to be their mom and to raise them in your love and your knowledge. Help me to show them who you are.
Amen
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Did God Really Say?
Genesis 3:1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?"
I decided for my first daily devotional I would tackle a topic all moms face on a daily basis, the lies the enemy puts in our heads. As we prepare to begin the homeschool journey, I seem to hear this lie more frequently from the enemy, "Did God really say you are to homeschool these children?" And I find myself increasingly afraid about how we are going to do this. I am sure that there are many homeschooling moms who are several years in and feeling worn out and feeling bombarded by the lies just like this newbee, who has not even started!
Maybe you are not a homeschooling mom but you are facing the lies everyday as well, "Did God really say_________?" Fill in the blank! Fear and all the what ifs can leave us defenseless and that is what the enemy wants. We however do not have to let him do this to us. As my handsome 8 year old son has to quoted to me several times in the last week "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7. (Don't you just love when the Lord speaks through your children?) And our pastor reminded us last Sunday "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7. I think humility is really the key here! I can NEVER teach these children in my own power. When we come humbly before the Lord and let Him lead, I believe there is nothing we can't accomplish! And with the Lord beside us, it often turns out much better than we ever anticipated.
Prayer:
Lord,
As I begin my day with my children, I know there will be challenges. Bind the enemy from my mind and my home. I know that you have changed my life and you bring, power, love and self-discipline where I cannot. I have heard you clearly and I know you will help me. Thank you for my children and the charge you have put upon my life as a mom.
Amen
Maybe you are not a homeschooling mom but you are facing the lies everyday as well, "Did God really say_________?" Fill in the blank! Fear and all the what ifs can leave us defenseless and that is what the enemy wants. We however do not have to let him do this to us. As my handsome 8 year old son has to quoted to me several times in the last week "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7. (Don't you just love when the Lord speaks through your children?) And our pastor reminded us last Sunday "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7. I think humility is really the key here! I can NEVER teach these children in my own power. When we come humbly before the Lord and let Him lead, I believe there is nothing we can't accomplish! And with the Lord beside us, it often turns out much better than we ever anticipated.
Prayer:
Lord,
As I begin my day with my children, I know there will be challenges. Bind the enemy from my mind and my home. I know that you have changed my life and you bring, power, love and self-discipline where I cannot. I have heard you clearly and I know you will help me. Thank you for my children and the charge you have put upon my life as a mom.
Amen
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