Crank It Up!

Let’s be honest. Sometimes as a mom you want to scream at your kids. You want to tell them how ungrateful they are being, how they need to get along with their siblings, stop complaining, be respectful, use kind words, keep their hands to themselves, clean up their own mess, etc. These are all good things that we should tell our kids, but if I’m honest…in my moments of deep frustration I want to snatch up ‘em and just yell the truth at them. As if that is what God is calling me to do…

Well, I know it’s not.  I would only end up saying things that I regret or in a way that I would regret…I would end me apologizing to my kids and feeling horrible for losing it and setting such a bad example. So, when those times come when I feel like I want to shout from the rooftops…I do…but in a healthy way….

I crank up the music and start dancing and praising God. Seriously, the kids join in and we all end up having our own Jam Fest in the living room…or in the car. If the truth be told, I needed to “get it out”. I needed to let go of my own junk, refocus on Jesus, and “press on” in the joy to which HE is calling me.

In those moments when I decide to “shout to the Lord” or make a joyful noise, I am exchanging the lie of the enemy (that yelling at my kids will somehow force them into submission and make me feel better all at the same time) for the truth of God (his grace is sufficient for my weakness and words aptly spoken are like apples of gold).

So fellow momma’ in Christ, let’s take the “no yelling, start praising” challenge together. Let’s choose to exhibit self-control and look to the Lord for our joy and strength as opposed to unleashing the ugly on our kids. They are watching our example. If your kids are yelling a lot…guess who they may be getting it from?

It is NEVER too late to change that. When we are feeling at our wits end, let’s crank it up and choose praise.

Prayer:

God, you are perfect and holy in all your ways. May we exhibit your Holy Spirit control when we are feeling pressed on all sides by our kids, our circumstances, or the storms of life. May our worship be sincere. May you be our rock of safety and our refuge for peace in the midst of life’s frustrating and challenging moments. May we press in to you, and choose not lean on our own understanding or justify our own sin. May we set YOU before us so that we will not be shaken.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

Ready to Jam? Click on the link below:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mandisa+overcomer&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=1717B535536ADFE200FE1717B535536ADFE200FE

Sleep Deprived & Juggling Kids

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. 
-Psalm 33:11

The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen." - Isaiah 14:24

Today I drove home after a very long and tiring week in the hospital. My four year old son had major reconstructive bladder surgery due to a birth defect he was born with. With my children napping in the back of the van, my mind began to wander thinking of the path we were now on. How my son, for the next 10 days will pee in a bag and be in pain periodically from the bladder spasms. 

For a split moment I felt bad for my son. For my family. Our week had been exhausting emotionally and physically. Sleep deprived and juggling three kids as my wonderful husband holds down two jobs. It was in that moment that the Lord whispered in my ear that HE has it all under control and that it was all worth it.

Worth it? Yeah there were many ministry opportunities throughout our stay.  Times we had an opportunity to share the love of Christ. Times we could pray for our nurses. Times we could refresh those in the medical profession that give endlessly and many times without thanks. 

I know HE has a plan. My eyes only see how it affects my little Jack and his body. But HIS plan is bigger than that. HE wants those nurses to know his son Jesus. HE longs for me to rely on HIS strength in those moments I want to give up. HE wants me to express gratitude, to our surgeon, in a way that looks different from the average Joe. 

And so I accept the plan HE has for us. As uncomfortable as it gets sometimes...I own it. I will keep my eyes open for those moments HE puts before me where HIS character can shine through. 

Worth it? Yeah it's definitely worth it. HIS purpose and plan is a beautiful thing...a thing I am humbled to be a part of. 

Lord we thank you for ministry opportunities that stretch us and grow our faith. Prick our hearts for the lost. Allow us to realize that your plan is so much more than what meets the eye. Help us to see our kids as tools you use to share Truth with others. Show me how to be good example to my children as I walk in the light. 
 

Follow Me

“Therefore I urge to imitate me.” 1 Corinthians 4:16

My husband and I have been working with the youth at our church lately. We are excited to be a part of the lives of these young men and women. However, as we work with them we are noticing that although many of them have been going to church since they were young, not many of them know how to read and interpret the Bible for themselves; not many of them are sure of their salvation; not many of them know what the Bible says on key issues of their day.

On the other hand, what I love about working with these young ladies (and my husband working with the guys) is that their hearts and minds are open to the truth. More than that, they are curious about my personal story—particularly about how I met my husband and what our dating relationship looked like. At the heart of the issue, they not only want to know what the Bible says, but what it actually looks like when it is being lived out in the life of a believer. They want to know and see what I have done right, but I also find it tremendously valuable to share with them what I have done wrong and how I have learned from my mistakes.

I heard on the radio lately that Jesus spoke to the people in simple, relatable parables (stories) so that they could understand the deep Biblical truths he was teaching them. Whether your children are young or old, I would encourage you to share with them your story (age appropriate, of course) of salvation your successes, and your failures. I also encourage you to read the Bible with your children. Invest in a translation that is suited for their age, help them navigate through the books, chapters, and verses, and ask them questions to make sure they understand what they are reading. Most importantly, let’s live lives worth imitating, so as Paul said we can confidently encourage them to imitate us as we imitate Christ.

As I strive to disciple my own children and the girls I teach at church, I am challenged to be more accessible. I want to invite these girls over for dinner (or while I am making dinner) so that they can see up close what it is like to juggle the responsibilities of home, what it looks like to love my children, and my husband…what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ in the ordinary and extraordinary of everyday. I need to examine my life so that I can confidently say, “Follow Me!”

 Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for providing the ultimate example of how to live a life surrendered to the Father. Thank you for teaching us in simple stories that we can understand. Thank you for your Word that is so transparent and honest in its display of the men and women who sought to follow you. We have the privilege of learning from their godly examples and their mistakes. Help us to live transparent, honest lives of integrity that we can allow others to “read”. Help us disciple our children in a way that points them to you.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Challenge:

When I was little, I always thought my mom was perfect, and that I was the only one who struggled with sin and making right choices. As I got older, I often thought, “Boy, I wish she would have shared that with me. I would have listened more if I knew she was talking from experience.”

1.       So…What areas of your life can you share with your kids to help them grow in their knowledge of the Lord? Help them see how God has transformed (and continues to transform) your life.

2.       Do you need to change the music you listen to, the books you read, or the TV shows you watch so that your example is one they can see and follow? I often find that as believers we are pretty good at listening to Christian radio or reading Christian books, but we often allow ourselves to be entertained by a lot of junk on TV…especially “reality” shows where we watch other people sin and seem to enjoy it. Just a thought…J