Little Girl Lost

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

She smiled and laughed as most little girls do.  She played with dolls and toys and friends and to everyone else she appeared to be happy.  But inside this little girl was sadness.  Her mommy and daddy were always fighting and the drug abuse had gotten out of control.  So at age 5 this little girl was told she was going to go live with her Grandparents because her Mommy and Daddy needed help...  

For the next two years she lived with her grandparents. Her grandparents did the best they could, but no one could replace her parents, as messed up as they were.  During this time her parents had gotten a divorce...  At age 7 her parents had completed their drug rehabilitation and she was able to move in with her mom.  Although everyone thought moving back in with her was the best idea, this is when the child saw and experienced things no child should ever see or experience.  

During these years the little girl got to see and spend time with her daddy and his new wife and children.  Eventually the new wife came to know the Lord and starting praying for all of them.  Soon the little girls Daddy got saved too.  

I will spare you all the details of the pain and poor decisions this child made as a teen and adult later in life.  But what I will point out to you is this, this child was prayed for.  People reached out to her.  Family and friends and strangers took the time to share the gospel with this child.  This child was me... and I am writing this blog as a living testimony that you are praying to a very real and personal God and prayers are being answered.    

You see, many people didn’t like me because I was covering up my hurting with hardness.  I was your enemy and your persecutor.  I was someone who you wouldn’t have naturally wanted to get close to (Bring anyone to mind)?  Only Christ in people can love the unlovable.  It takes effort on our behalf to reach out to those who may not be so desirable and pray for them...  because of those prayers and people reaching outside of their comfort zone, my life was changed forever and so were many generations to come...

My challenge to you: Who has God placed in your life who has persecuted you?  Who in your children's  lives can you take the time to love who may not be so lovable?  Whose life can you change for generations to come?

My prayer: Lord Jesus open our eyes to see others as you do.  Help us to love the unlovable, serve the undesirable, and pray fervently for the salvation of the lost. 

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.

Matthew 25:40

Gratitude Must Be Taught & Practiced

Be anxious for nothing but in everything 

by prayer and petition with thanksgiving 

make your requests known to God, and 

the peace of God, which surpasses all 

understanding will guard your 

hearts and minds in 

Christ Jesus. 

- Philippians 4:6

This morning I went to my monthly mom's Bible study and was challenged about cultivating a heart of gratitude. Always around Thanksgiving we all verbally state what we are thankful for and even encourage others to as well, BUT what about the rest of the year? 

The speaker shared some really great points...

-Thankfulness is a WEAPON against the things that steal our peace.

-Thanksgiving multiplies JOY.

-Gratitude must be taught and practiced. It is a discipline!

-Every moment can be sacred if you are looking closely and paying attention.

-Instead of keeping a record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5), why not keep a record of rights?

- Start a GRATITUDE JOURNAL & have your kids do one too!

Our speaker shared how on her phone, she has a running record (in her "notes" section) of things she is grateful for. Each day she adds more things to it & can go back and read things from previous days. 

LOVE this! My week has been really rough. I want to have an attitude of gratitude instead of asking, "Why me?" The Lord gives me so many blessings each day, but my mind can zero in on those challenging things bringing me down. I loose focus.  

What are some things you can do to cultivate this with your family?

How about having a moment of PRAISE each night @ dinner and allow each family member to praise the Lord for something?

Is gratitude being taught and caught in your home?

"Blessings" by Guest Blogger Alicia

My name is Alicia and I was asked to guest blog for this week. I am married to my husband, Alex, and we have a one year old named, Lexie.

Have you ever just sat at the end of your day and just really truly “counted your blessings?” As I was driving home the other day, I thought of all the blessings I had received so far that day. First, I got to spend some alone time with my dad. Second, my mom babysat for my daughter so I could volunteer at a city jamboree. What a blessing!! Then, I later found out, my daughter had bumped her head pretty hard at my mom’s house. So, I took her to a walk in clinic that my husband works at. The doctor saw her at no charge!!! Such a blessing!!! The doctor found her to be just fine J Another blessing!! I could write about many more for just that one day. But, my point is: Do we ever stop to really think about all of our blessings? And, do we remember to thank God for them?? There are so many people God has put in our paths each day to bless us. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)

As a mom, I want to be able to share these blessings with my daughter as she grows up. I want her to know that we aren’t  “lucky,” we are blessed! All of the material things and non-material things we receive are blessings from our Heavenly Father. My point is that I want my children to know that God is the one who gives us all of our blessings. More importantly, God wants us to be blessed. Everything we receive is a gift from Him. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17) A friend of mine had suggested getting a notebook and start writing down all of your blessings each day, week, etc. Then, you will be able to share some of them with your own children. I would like to even get her to do that very same thing as she gets older. Or, get a special box, write them down and put them in there. At a later date, look at them and share with your child. You will be amazed at all the blessings you can continue to add to it. 

 

Also, I want to be able to teach her how to bless others. I want her to have that experience to know what it is like first-hand to bless someone. I feel that, as moms, we need to set the example. We need to show our little ones that when we do something for someone, we are “blessing” them. I don’t want her to be boastful and brag about how we blessed this person or that; I want her to do these things in a humble manner. I want her to know that God wants us to bless others just as he blesses us. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 28:2)

So, ladies, I encourage you to take a moment this week and reflect on all of your blessings you have in your life. If possible, write them down in a journal or put them in a special box. Spend a few quiet moments to thank God for each one of them.

Have a blessed week ladies!