Who is Your Neighbor?

As my husband and I were busy in the yard this week, Greg stopped to speak to a guy who was working with the local cable company on our street.  In that conversation I was expecting to hear “It’s a Small World” playing from the passing traffic.

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It turns out the guy and Greg had several overlapping similarities.  The exciting part was how he came to Christ.  It started with, “I had this neighbor…”  The neighbor for years, invited him to their home, to their church, to special events.  The neighbor took him, books, and CD’s and DVD’s all pertaining to Christ. He finally trusted Christ with his neighbors persistance.

Great Story, but how does this relate to ParakaleoMoms?

As a child, I was like that man.  I had a neighbor who invited me often.  To her church.  To her home. To her Christian schools activities.  And one night, as a young child, I spent the night with my neighbor, Michelle.

Michelle asked me if I knew I would go to heaven when I died.  In her “younger than me understanding,” she shared the gospel and I accepted Christ as my Savior.  That “spend the night,” changed my life. It changed my eternity.

Again, so how does that story relate to ParakaleoMoms?

As moms, we are constantly evaluating who we should allow our children to play with, run with, spend time with.  This is a hard question to answer.  We don’t want their influence and lack of values and morals to corrupt our babies.

We use logic or “spiritual” processors to say, “they are too young to be exposed to the ‘Ways of the world.’”

My brothers and I were probably considered the menace of the neighborhood too!  Yet, the Wright family had room in their lives for us.  They didn’t see four naughty wide opened kids running through the neighborhood.  They saw us as their mission field in their backyard.

They invited us to play in their yard when it was pretty, or in their above ground pool when it was hot.  They invited us in to have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and to make the worlds best yellow cake and chocolate icing on rainy days.  They even called in my youngest brother (who would quietly wait on their front porch while they had dinner) to eat their leftovers.

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The Wrights invited us to church and to Awanas.  They told us about Jesus.

This family was the instrument that God used to bring our entire family to Christ.


Jesus tells us in Luke 10: 25 - 37 to follow the example of a good neighbor by showing mercy.  In short He said, "Go and do likewise."

So who is your neighbor?  Is there room in your yard, your pool, or your kitchen for another family? Should you invite them to your church? Should you tell them about Christ?

Ask God to show you which neighbor you should reach out to.

I am eternally grateful my childhood neighbors who had room for one more ragamuffin!

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                       - by Joannie

How Do You Do It?

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11: 28-30


Have you ever had someone say to you, “I just don’t know how you do it”? When that happens to me I wonder if they are seeing the same thing I am. What are they talking about? I am stumbling and learning my way through this thing called life just like every other mom. No matter how organized I am it doesn’t change that my kids are still little individual human beings with their own ideas of how things should go and that idea usually conflicts with mine. No matter how much sleep I get they still exhaust me. I cry with my kids, laugh with them, yell at them and when they have forgotten whom they are talking to, they occasionally yell at me.

As a mom there are days where I can feel so weary and burdened, my load feels too heavy. I know I am not the only one that has mornings where I wake-up knowing what the day has in store for me and wishes I could hide under the covers. But mom doesn’t get to call in sick so I roll out of bed, put my big girl panties on and ready myself for the day. On days like that, I am praying for God’s help before I lift my head off the pillow.

The truth is I am not some extra special woman that has the ability to do things that others can’t. But there is, inside of me, someone who is extra special and that is Jesus. He deserves all the credit for anything that I do that gets an “I don’t know how you do it.” All I do is draw on His strength because in my own I am a mess of weakness that just wants to stay hidden under the covers.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus is telling us how to ‘do it’ whatever ‘it’ maybe. He tells us to take up his yoke. In order for me to take up His yoke, it means I am going to have to set aside my own. Picture with me two oxen separately yoked and ready to pull their own loads. I don’t know much about yoking oxen together but it seems to me that it would be rather difficult to have two separate yokes on, connected to two separate loads. So in order to take His yoke upon me, which we also learned in this verse, is easy with a light burden, I am going to have to set aside my own load. I don’t know about you but my load can be very heavy so I am all for a lighter burden.

So what happens to my load? Does it just sit there collecting dust as I forget all about it? That’s very unlikely, burdens have a way of reminding you they are there, especially the little ones that walk and talk and pull on the back of your shirt when they need something. And before anyone gets their panties in a bunch that I just called their child a burden, a burden does not mean a nuisance or a pest, it is simply a load that you carry, a difficult load. I would say that children fall into that category, a blessing, yet a load, and at times, difficult. Now look at what Jesus tells us in this verse once we have taken His yoke upon us. He says to learn all about me. As we learn all about Jesus we are going to learn better how to deal with our load or burden and realize that we are not alone in dealing with it. We have the super power of all super powers yoked up with us ready to help.

Jesus loves you more than you can even fathom. He is on your side. He is doing more than cheering you on…He is with you putting his muscle into it. He will walk with you through your mess, sometimes He will carry you, He will hug you, but mostly He will love you. He is strong and mighty. There is no one I would rather be yoked up with.

I encourage you this week to take some time to learn about Jesus. What is He teaching you about Himself? Is it how much He loves you, His patience, His understanding, His devotion, His forgiveness? Whatever it is, take the time to yoke up with Him and learn all about Him.

by Courtney


Click on this link for Tenth Avenue North, By Your Side http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU

Answering His Call

The phone call started out something like this, “Honey, I just did something very stupid, and you have every right to be upset with me. But we are all fine, and I really felt the Lord was calling me to do it.” Never a good way to start out a conversation, but I knew how bad my story was going to sound to my husband. Gotta love how Rick calmly just asked what happened, despite what was probably running through his mind after my abrupt confession.



I had just run out to the grocery store to grab a few sale items, and as we were leaving, a woman walked up to the minivan in front of me and struck up an animated conversation with the driver. I patiently waited for several minutes until cars began pulling up behind me, when I gently tapped on my horn to get things moving. The van pulled away, and I politely waved to the woman in a ‘no hard feelings’ kind of way. She looked very troubled and began talking to me through the window.




She asked for directions to a nearby intersection, and I pointed out how she was to get there. She then explained that she was pregnant (which was clear to see) and had fallen asleep on the bus and missed her stop. It was about 90 degrees out, and her stop was 2 miles away. She asked for a ride and then said something along the lines of “Lord, Jesus, please give me some help”.


Here is where I do something rather unwise and completely out of character. I looked in the backseat at my girls, back at the cars lining up behind me, and then back at the woman. I knew I wasn’t going to say no, despite the risks -which my husband would later lovingly warn me of as he walked through possible scenarios of how this could have gone down. This woman needed help, called upon the Lord for it, and He gave my heart a very clear direction that this is what I was supposed to do. (I will be honest that I sized her up and decided I could take her, if it came to that.) I almost could not believe the words coming out of my mouth as I said “Okay, get in.” Even as I leaned over and unlocked the door, I had this urge to be like "Ummm... nevermind!" and drive away pedal to the metal.




As we drove the 2 miles to Lucy’s destination, she began talking to me about her life, the difficulties with the baby’s father, the surprise of this pregnancy, etc. I listened (and watched her hands very carefully, ready to go into attacking mother bear mode at any moment) and prayed silently about what the Lord would have me share with this woman.... and that He would keep us safe... and that my husband would not freak on me when I told him about this later.




Once we arrived, I asked her if I could pray with her. She was very thankful and said yes. I began praying and found myself saying something like “Lord, may Lucy only put into her body what would nourish this baby”. I was horrified at my own words! I certainly had not planned or thought to say that, and I was immediately concerned at how she would react to what could have been taken as an accusation that she was doing drugs. After I closed the prayer, I looked up into her eyes, and she began to cry and say thank you over and over. She told me I had no idea how much she needed that specific prayer. (Thank you Father for your Holy Spirit!)



We parted ways, and I thanked the Lord for His protection and for allowing me to be used by Him and not miss out on this opportunity to be His servant. He gave me a divine appointment where He called me to be obedient, place the protection of my family in His hands, and be used in this woman’s life. And while I gave my husband my word I would never give a stranger a ride again, we both realized through this experience that the Lord still calls us from time to time to step out of our comfort zones and wants us to serve Him beyond our roles as wife and mommy. I desire to keep my eyes, mind, and heart open to serving Him whenever He calls and set an example for my children to do the same.



Prayer- Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to always be ready to obey and to serve you, realizing that every time I step outside of my door, you may have a divine appointment waiting for me. In the midst of my busy day, please help me to look for opportunities to help a neighbor in need and set a godly example for my children. Please place your hand of protection upon my family that my focus may be on you and your will knowing that you go before me and surround me. May I be a tool in your hands. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.


For Meditation and Action:
Has the Lord called you to step out of your comfort zone and help a stranger in need?
How can you practically and safely get your children involved in serving the community around you?
Begin to look for ways to serve Him outside of your home and model for your children what it looks like to love your neighbor.

Out of Gas

Hi! My name is Teresa, and I am delighted to be a contributor to Parakaleo. I am married to my wonderful high school sweetheart, Rod; we have two awesome and beautiful boys that keep us on our toes and on our knees (praying for wisdom)—Michael (4 years) and Jeremiah (7 months). Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I was a middle school teacher. Before that, I went to law school—so needless to say, God has taken me on a very interesting spiritual journey. He has changed my course several times, but each time he has proven that His plan is always better than mine...even if it is extremely uncomfortable for a moment—or a few moments. My latest call is to homeschooling, an adventure I was once wary of, but now I am extremely excited about educating my own children. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me and my family, and the things He will reveal to me as I continue to seek his will for my life and submit to his plans. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)

Ice cold water: it was the only thing coming out of my tap. It had been one of those days with the kids when I thought to myself, “If I can just make it to bedtime, then I can…(you fill in the blank: clean the house, veg out on the couch, read something just for fun, talk to my husband in complete sentences—completely uninterrupted by children).” Yet it was bedtime, and my husband had just announced that we had no hot water…not even a little bit. So the thought occurred to me, I’ll go old school…I will heat the water on the stove and mix it with the freezing water from the tap, and wholla: warm water. Except, I turned on the stove and the pilot clicked and clicked and clicked, but it produced no flames. Well, it quickly dawned on me that our gas tank was empty. Needless to say, bedtime was going to be delayed a bit as we all headed to grandma and papa’s house for hot showers. On top of that, the gas company politely informed me that it would be 5-7 business days before they could come fill our underground gas tank. It appears I was not the only one who had run out of gas.

The truth is I knew better. God had been so gracious to remind me in His still, small voice many times before to go outside and check the gas gauge. But I had politely told God, “Thank you for the reminder. I will be sure to do that as soon as I finish (you fill in the blank again: wiping up this mess, putting away these clothes, feeding my hungry baby, etc.). Well, he had shown me grace time and time again, and we had hot water for many days…until the tank was completely dry.

How often are we like that in our spiritual lives? We run around wearing our many hats (wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend, etc.) and we let the busyness of this life drown out our quiet time with the Lord. We have all heard the saying, “Miss a devotional one day and you can tell the difference. Miss your devotional for a few days and everyone else can too.” By all means, this quiet time with the Lord was never meant to be legalistic-- another check on our everlasting to-do list. Rather God beckons us to spend time with him because he loves; because he knows we need him. Because he knows that this life without Him is just too hard and we will find ourselves feeling empty. Ever have one of those days when you just feel like you have nothing else to give? I have! When those times come, I hear God’s still, small voice beckoning me to come away with him and be his love. To remember that he is my first love, and without him I will be like the gas tank in my yard…empty.

The remedy is so simple. Let’s commit this day to run away with God daily. Instead of letting busyness consume us, let us intentionally drown out the noise of this life. You see? I needed much more than hot water, I needed living water, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 (NIV)

Dear God, thank you for loving me so much and for desiring to spend time with me. Help me to remember that you are my first love and that you hold all things together in my life. With you I can do all things, but without you, I will continue to be frustrated, overwhelmed, and empty. Please still the voices of distraction that seek to draw me away from you and help me make the time to run away with you each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Application:

How often do we think we need other things more than time with Jesus, only to find out that we traded our peace for something temporal? Consider the course of your day. What are some things that tend to distract you from having a quiet time (TV, housework, fifteen more minutes of sleep, Facebook, smart phones, etc.)? How can you trade in those things for a truly relaxing and refreshing quiet time?

Verses to consider:

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men; for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107: 8-9 (NIV)

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

By law or by love

Maggie
Hello girls. I’m Maggie. Gods greatest ongoing work in my life has been to teach me what it means to be part of a family.

Born in Poland and raised in Sweden by a single mom and moving every 4 years, He has now graciously planted me in the midst of a loving family where I can be a mom only because I’ve experienced being a loved daughter. My husband, my two little boys and my mother-in-law, are the ones I spend my love and energy on with joy. My God is the One who is behind it all.

It’s 10:17 pm when I walk to the fridge for a snack. It’s half-filled and reminds me that I really should not go another day without a trip to the store. The table I purchased yesterday is half put together in the middle of my kitchen and the washer is running my darks with two more loads waiting to go right after.

I scan the shelves in my open fridge. Sweet or salty, something heavy or light?

I think about my week as I decide.

PJ has been out of town since Monday, boys had soccer but I missed one day of schooling them. I went to Atlanta for the day and managed to still bring snacks to bible study but I really didn’t follow up well with a girl that just received the Lord recently and I haven’t kept up well with my sisters and my friends in Florida and I just simply have to finish that book I’m reading before I get kicked out of the book club!

As I’m shortening the expiration dates on my perishables in the fridge, I consider.

If this was my last meal ever, what would I choose? The question was so unexpected I knew it was God. The parallel was striking. If I could only do one thing during my week, what would I choose to do? The answer was clear as day; first and foremost I would train my boys in the ways of God by home schooling and pouring Gods word into them. That’s my hearts desire and that’s where I find Gods purpose for me in this season of life.

Suddenly I realized why I have been so short tempered with them and frustrated during school. I spread myself too thin with trying to do every other area of life a little more perfect and it leaves me with little energy left for what’s most important. And it hasn’t even been anything evil, just a lot of good things that has kept me busy.

I remembered the quote I read somewhere; “If the enemy can’t stop me from doing good things, he will make me busy doing good things”, so as to distract me from that which is most important and where Gods power flows (in me fulfilling His agenda, not my own) Remember, satan is a deceiver appearing as the angel of light.

I have to constantly apply wisdom and question myself why I’m doing what I’m doing. Even during home schooling, there is a choice to make; if I choose academics at the cost of love because I’m so determined for them to “get it” and I loose my temper, I have sinned against God! I’ve chosen to get a desired, “good” result by the love of law instead of by the law of love. It has to be done by the law of love or I’m sinning against God, no matter if the desired task has been achieved. It can be by the “good” and worthy things that the enemy will try to tempt us.

Again, if I could only give my boys One thing today, what would I choose to give them? Love above anything else, right? Soon as I realign my focus, the frustration melts away and I can say, “let’s try completing this task in a little bit”, instead of demanding it. Nothing should be as important as my main goal: to receive Gods love and give it away to my children. Not even academics as good and important as that is, because the great commandment comes before the great commission. That means even discipling my children is secondary to simply loving them.

When I strip it down to the bare minimum, I feel the burden lift. It’s so simple!

 ^“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” 1Cor.13:8-11 NKJ

So I’ll disappoint a few friends, skip a get together here and there and won’t have my house all perfect. But I’m hoping to give my children that which they most need; a peaceful home with two parents who love each other and enjoy life together. “Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such there is no law”.

As for my nighttime craving, I grabbed half a jar of salty/sour Polish Dill out of my fridge, which I finished at about midnight when I went to bed, leaving my laundry halfway done because I truly didn’t care. I was at peace with God.

Questions
Have you asked God what your main focus should be in this season of life? Are you doing “good” things that are keeping you from the “best” thing?

When do you get so task oriented that you sin against love?

Failure is Not an Option

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Am I failure?" "What am I doing as a Mom?" "I can't do this anymore...it's just too hard." Many days I feel so ill-equipped as I take steps forward in parenting. Parakaleo, was pushed into existence partly because a friend shared with me that same hurt..."I feel like a failure as a mom." It resonated deep within my heart because I, too, have struggled with that thought. I felt so encouraged  knowing I'm not alone. Some days my boys are so challenging, and I can feel tired and defeated before the day has hardly begun. Often I look at my life and see myself struggling as a mom, and yet I neglect to recognize that the Lord causes it all to work together for my good (Romans 8:28). It seems there is always a lesson uncovered in each uncomfortable situation in my life. I just have to make sure my eyes are open and my heart is ready to receive it.

We have been given this amazing opportunity to raise up the next generation for Christ.  With this we have a huge target on our back from an enemy who wants to stump the process. Naturally, as women, we are thinkers...it's at the core of who we are. We think, think, and then think again. Knowing this, Satan whispers lies to us, causing us to veer off course. I once heard a pastor say that when you continually analyze a situation it causes you to be paralyzed from the work God is calling you to do. Thoughts of unworthiness cause us to push pause on the ministry God is doing in our lives. Will we stumble as moms? Yes. But it's what we do after we have fallen that even our grandkids will remember and be encouraged by later.  The Bible tells us not to lose heart, for that in due time we will reap a reward if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9).

As I struggle, the Lord gently reminds me to rely on His strength and wisdom daily.  Each day I must be willing to spend time with the Lord, and fight the battle of my flesh, when I want to turn my attention elsewhere. Christ will give me the strength to press on when my spirit is weak. What a small deposit for such a large return on my day. He sees when I hunger earthly encouragement and can't seem to find it. My maker knows me intimately (Psalm 139) and the exact words I long to hear. He whispers sweet words of encouragement on those days I question my calling. I am learning. Aren't we all?

I can relate in Exodus 4 to the story of how Moses questioned his calling. He gave excuses in his weakness instead of asking for direction from the One who owns the master plan. I have questioned God's plan for my life and wondered why me? God loves it when we admit our weakness because it allows Him to show up big on our behalf (2 Corinthians 12:10). The Lord was preparing Moses for battle with every experience he had. 

Exodus 17:11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

Don't be discouraged...press on...you are not a failure. Ladies, raise your hands high towards heaven for strength in order to win this battle we call faith.

Challenge: What does 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 say to you? What has been your biggest challenge as a mom? What lesson did the Lord teach you through that circumstance?

Feel free to leave comments sharing how you overcame difficult challenges faced.

The Rating Scale

Hi! I am Joannie.The Army coined the phrase, "The toughest job you'll ever love!" I believe this is very applicable to parenting also. I am keenly aware of my imperfections in parenting, but it doesn't negate the love of my calling!! It is hard to believe after 24 years marriage and 21 years of parenting, we are still learning. We are still trying to figure out what each child needs. Still trusting God loves them more than we ever could. Still believing He wants me to grow through this adventure of parenting. My husband Greg and I have learned much through the years together. We truly enjoy each season of our marriage, including raising children, and serving in ministry. Our three children are at very different stages of life from middle school, to starting college, to graduating college and planning a wedding. I have no idea what adventure the Lord has in store for the day, but I trust who is at the helm directing a perfect plan for His ultimate glory. I look forward to sharing with you what God is teaching me through the wonderful privilege of parenting.

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Our middle child, is our only boy. Drew was created with a joy for structure and schedules and rules. He thrives on what is exact. He understands boundaries and he strives for perfection. These qualities often lead him to anxiety filled moments, of: being on time, making perfect grades, fully following every direction given. Consequently, he is often timid.

Due to these “anxieties” his world seems withdrawn. It has been more safe for him, to tuck himself in his room than chance being with friends, who just might invite him to “live on the edge” (specifically do something unplanned, or what he might consider not within the boundaries.)

Our man child is now 19. Almost two months ago, we left him in another state, 2,000 miles from our home to attend the largest four year college in that state.

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His anxieties have become mine. Will he do OK? Did I prepare him? Is the entire college “scene” going to stress him out? (After all, we practically had to force him to commit to a school because he was so concerned he wouldn’t pick the “perfect” one.)

Since he has been there, he has called a bit more frequently than I was accustomed to. I have enjoyed listening to him while he is walking to and from classes. However, when I’ve called him, he seems busy with friends in the background, or on his way to meet some guys for lacrosse or basketball.

Last night, I chose to text him. Not texting him like I do with my girlfriends, with all the details on “pages” of texts. Rather, the short “cool” texting that was written for his generation. Filled with abbreviations and dropped vowels and grammatical mistakes. The texts began with me asking him, “Asleep? Busy?” From there he told me he had been asked to serve in a leadership role in his dorm. He seemed happy about that. I congratulated him. His responses took longer than his usual. My final text told him I was falling asleep, I loved him, and am proud of him. I finished the text with the question, ”How would you rate college so far?”

Our family has the tradition of rating everything. We rate restaurants, school days, clothing, vacations, movies, etc. 10 is always the best with 1 the lowest. Meals range from 6s to 9.3s while school and activities sometime rack in a low 3 or high 9.5.

I was asleep before my man child could send his response.

I woke to his text this morning. “Love you! College def 10!”

For my guy who loves life organized, for my man who struggles to be courageous, and tends to be timid…

God has answered our prayers. I celebrate this text, with God’s fingerprints all over it!!

I love Drew! To me…Drew is def 10!!


ENCOURAGEMENT – Rather than asking the Lord to change characteristics about your child ask Him to show you how to best encourage your child to use those characteristics for His glory.