Tuesdays Truth: Love Them More

You may have already realized this but the reoccurring theme to my post lately has been...LOVE! Well, I am slow and I guess that is why it takes God telling me and showing me in a million different ways a lesson that needs to be learned.

Our new motto...Love Them More!! I shared with my kids that I had not been such a great example of this but I was vowing to be better with His strength. I wanted them to be on the same page and asked them to vow to do the same.

This new motto may sound a bit selfish but my purpose is not to love more by out doing; a top that attitude is not at all what I am going for. My goal is to love them more than myself, to love them the way Jesus would. That will require dying to self and not giving into the temptation of the "it's all about me" world we live in.  And "them", that encompases all that I come into contact with and even those that I don't.  I would say that is quiet a tall order, but none the less what God would have us to do.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:2

Wow!! We can't top that! But His command says that should be our goal. That should be what we strive for. Intentions just won't cut it. We have to live on purpose! Live with a goal in mind, looking for those opportunities that await and those people that are right in front of us to love more! To love more than ourselves! 

The sad part is we can't do this unless we have the love of the Father living in us!  We can't share what we don't have.  If we are not living daily in His presence then we can not share His love.  Oh, that we may know Him personally and walk with Him daily.

Challenging you today to "Love Them More"!! Encouraging you that with Him all things are possible! Live with purpose!!  Live loving them more!!

Responding in Love

God has been teaching me through the struggles of my preteen just how sinful I am. Man, that stinks! I always thought that it was my job to teach my child not for them to teach me! A typical day is for God to show me just one more sin that needs to be removed from my life.  So thankful He is molding me!

I am learning so much on how my reaction or response to a problem or life in general affects the learning of my children. So, last night after a fish fry dinner we went to the Yogurt Bar to celebrate our dear friend Ryker graduating from college.  Our goal was to spend some quality time with him chatting it up.  He has been an amazing example and friend to my kids.  We all filled up our bowls while I kept reminding the boys they would be eating every bite of what was put in that bowl and to not get so much that they couldn't eat it. We sat down to enjoy some chat time and of course here is where the drama began.  My middle child, oldest, and myself all crammed in on one side of the table.  Seating was tight and the kids were not happy they had to sit so close. We are to the point that my preteen is thinking she is a little too cool to sit by her pesky brother.  And yes, he pestered her by putting his legs as far apart as he could to make less room. It quickly turned to a lil push, a lil shove, and a lil punch, and a lil grab! OMGoodness I think my children have lost their minds and their love some days.  Fight, Fight, Fight, were the words I thought I heard people yelling!!  (just kidding not really, but it sure felt like all eyes were on us)  Here comes "Mom Referee" to the rescue in the middle of Yogurt bar!  A stern word ended the brawl but the attitudes had now settled in.

This morning doing our "God time" I was talking to them of their behavior and pointed out that our responses to others are important and that our love is shown through those responses. I told them that even though sometimes someone makes us angry or we really want to retaliate because of their meanness that doesn't make it right. Putting others before ourselves is key. My lovely preteen says, "well you would have responded the same way mom, if he would have done that to you!" Yikes!! I denied that completely but when they all got out of the car the Lord spoke to my heart and said "they have learned those responses from you, Kim."  Maybe not the pushing and shoving part, I think I have out grown that, but I think I still inhabit the "I want my way attitude."

My mind goes back to My Savior and all the ridicule, the beatings, the burdens of others, the gruesome road to Calvary that he endured!! YET...HE..DID..NOT...retaliate!!!! He kept his cool, He didn't try to defend His point of view, His didn't proclaim the people were wrong over and over to make Himself right, He didn't push or shove, or punch, or say a harsh word!! He didn't run the other way because this was not what he wanted!  He put all of us before that!! Before Himself!! Why oh why is it so difficult for us to not see that His example of love is perfect and blameless. Why can we not love as He loves??

"Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in darkness; he does not know where he is going , because the darkness has blinded him." 1 John 2:9-11

God I pray for the blinders to fall from my eyes, for my response to others to be in love, for 'my way' to not be important any longer, for you to be glorified and honored by the way that I respond, for your name to be lifted high.  Oh God that others may see You in the way that I love them.

Be encouraged today that though we all make a mess of life sometimes, He forgives, He still loves, and He is still ready to walk with us.  Loving someone else without having to be right, without saying a harsh word when they have hurt us, without wanting our way, is not an easy task.  But if we are walking in His light we will be victorious!  Praying today that we will not hate but LOVE!!

Tuesdays Truth-Distractions to Motivation

Distraction...a person or thing that prevents concentration. How many times have you been cruising along in life and BAMMM, a snake bites? It hurts so bad you can hardly stand it and you know you are about to die at any moment. You feel the pain to the very core and the actual bite marks are so sensitive you can hear the flesh screaming at you. What ever you were thinking or doing before has long escaped any shred of your memory and the newness of the attack has seized your mind. What once was an agenda is now a forgotten to do. What once was your heart felt passion is now a picture in the distant clouds. No plan, no vision, no where to go just a heart so deeply wounded with pain.

Many of us have had this experience. Some of us have these experiences each and every day. Our boss comes in to tell us our work load is now doubled, the school calls to inform us of behavioral problems with our child, our close friend informs us she is moving away, our mom has been diagnosed with cancer, and the list could go on. It's those things in life that stop us dead in our tracts and can sometimes paralyze us from life. We go into zombie mode, where we simply walk about doing something but really doing nothing. Our faith driven life that should be motivated by our desire and love for the Lord turns into a mere donut; running in circles is the picture of our walk. We consume ourselves with ourselves and our hurt, and that forbidden path of destruction awaits. These distraction become so weight bearing upon our souls that every ounce of joy is ripped from within us.

So what do we do? How do we over come? Let me first preface by saying God may allow those distractions to come into our lives to draw us closer to Him or draw some one else that is watching closer to Him. I believe God can use those distractions and make something very beautiful out of something horrific. The Bible say that He can work ALL things for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)  Sad thing is I have seen this ring true in so many lives of those around me and even in my own life but when distractions come I sometimes fail to believe those truths for myself. I quickly let the pain take over and turn to worry and heartbreak. Like Peter, I turn my eyes to the storm and forget to look to Him. Lord, forgive me!

What about you? What do you do when distractions strike? How do your respond? Does Zombie mode settle in? Do you forget your passion? Do you forget your purpose?

Now, I am not saying that life isn't going to catch us off guard or that we will never have disappointment, or trials, or terrible things that happen. What I am trying to get us to see is that when those things happen our response is crucial.  We must recognize that even though God may use those distractions for good, Satan is battling for them to reek havoc in our lives, to steer us off course, to DISTRACT us from what once was our mission.  Recognizing Satan's agenda is the first step in conquering him.  It will require much courage but the One who requires it will supply it.  We must prevent zombie mode and let the distractions in our lives turn to our motivation to love and serve Him more.  There will always be that lady at work that rubs you the wrong way, the problem at home whether it be with your spouse, kids, or money, there will always be a flat tire when you least expect it, or a broken drier; Satan can use any means to push you off course.  Remember at those very moments that God can also be calling you to move a step closer to Him.  Use those distractions in your life and make them your eternal motivation!

OCD, Selfishness, or Brotherly Love, That Is The Question?

We had set out at the beginning of the year to learn a verse a week. I have been extremely convicted that just having heard God's Word is not enough for me or my children. We need to memorize it and practice it. 

More than a fair share of times I have talked about and told my kids to love others before themselves. We have had the verse from Romans on our dry erase board for longer than a couple months. We have practiced saying it and talked about what it means and how we can live it out loud for others to see.  I refused to move on until fruit had come from this verse...

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

My initial purpose in choosing this verse was so that my children would love each other and think of each other before themselves. I had grown very weary of listening to them bicker over who had the remote first, or who had been playing the iPad too long, or who was going to sit in which seat in the car, or who could put their foot in the extra bar stool...really?? Really??  It was these little things that had been driving me crazy and I wanted my children to know God had a Word for them. Little, did I know God also had a Word for me. I guess I should know by now that when I want God to teach someone else He always teaches me first. Uggghh!!

So in my desire for my children to love each other more than themselves I have learned something about me. I am a tinge OCD in some matters, okay maybe more than a tinge but I am working on it. LOL! I like to have my way a lot and I believe my children have definitely picked up on this rotten habit of mine and turned it into their own. Sometimes I may have no explanation for my rhyme or reason other than I just want my way. For example, my kids have several chores. Among them they are expected to clean their bathrooms and their rooms. I'm talking toilet, tubs, floors, dust, vacuum...the works.  I can't tell you how many times I have ranted and raved over how they were not doing their job to my satisfaction or how I would have done it differently and more efficiently.  I get angry and lots of times have gone behind them and done the job over. This has not been beneficial in teaching my kids anything except a poor sense of value. It has also taught them to only be satisfied with their own way, just as I was only satisfied with my way. It hasn't taught them to love and be devoted to anyone but themselves just as I have done. Oh, Lord, why must you keep showing me where I mess up?

On a sweeter note, I recieved confirmation that my desire to teach them Truth has not turned void.

Yesterday I picked up the boys from school and began to talk to them about their day. They told me of the fun stuff they had going on and the big kickball game that is so poplular this time of year at school. My mind was prompted to remind them to pray for one of their friends whose baby sister had been very sick. I wasn't even sure if they were really listening. I never miss an opportunity to spew Jesus on my kids. I talk non stop about Him. So it wasn't this serious conversation where I was sitting them down to give them instruction of the word and prayer. It was just one of those moments I remembered of someone else besides myself and was intent on putting precious baby, Scarlett, in our prayers. We quickly moved on to another subject and was gearing up for baseball practice and gymnastics with Madi. I dropped the boys off at my husbands office for him to take to ball practice and Madi and I went on to run errands and to the gym.

Later that night I received a FB notification that someone had posted on my wall. I read that post and tears came to my eyes. My son, Mackenson, had gone to practice and purposefully went to Scarlett's mom to tell her he hoped she was better soon.

HE WAS LISTENING! He put in to practice all on his own something we have been talking about for months. Loving someone else, thinking of them before thinking of self! Praise the Lord that even tho I have messed up many times my son has seen and heard the Truth and is living out loud what he has learned.

My encouragement today is for all you moms and dads that are diligently trying to teach your children of His Ways.  Even if you have OCD tendencies like myslef about matters and mess up a lot there is still hope. God can use our mess ups and make the best fixer upper in the world.  Yes, those little ones are listening!  Someone else is watching! And our example is worth weight in gold!  But we must not let our failures determine our reactions for the next go around.  We must make those failures our determination to walk a better path.  Will we let our OCD tendencies and selfish ways strike out our love for others?  Or will we think first of someone else's needs and wants before our own? 

Praying today that we love as He loves!

Tuesdays Truth...Not One Minute Wasted

The world will not stop and our true God-ordained ministries will not end when
we take time to let God make us healthier and better equipped...Beth Moore

This quote has been one that I have often come back to in the last several years
of my life.  It helps me to remember that God is still working on me and that He
is preparing for me something far more grand than I can fathom.  He is using a
chipping away method, that although painful at times, rushing the process will
only make it worse; I will not be adequately equipped nor responsible enough to
handle the task at hand.  Yes I do wonder at times all of what His plans are and
what all I will have to endure or trudge through to get to the place where I am
ready for His next step.  What I am learning of the process, this method, is
that our beauty is NOT just in the finished product.  It isn't just at the end
of our lives when we have completed our purpose or conquered our goals.  It
isn't just in the next step He has for me.  It's more than a bucket list and
sculpture formed.  It is in the process that God is seen by others and
during the chipping away that we can shine for Him. 

Us parents tend to go nuts over every stage of our child's learning and life. 
We love it when they smile for the first time, when they say their first word,
take their first step, read their first book, complete their first year of
school, play their first sport, and so on.  Its beauty to us to watch our kids
grow.  It is the same for the Lord.  He loves to see us mature in Him.  And He
knows with that maturity there will come more responsibility. More
responsibility for His ministry to be done.

Yes there will be certain things that we are not ready to see or handle at
different points of our walk.  But the appropriate time will come just like the
appropriate time to drive, vote, or even marry.  Sometimes we try to jump ahead
of ourselves, we try to grow up too fast.  It seems that's our culture, always
wanting more of what we aren't ready for or we don't need.  Instead of living in
the moment where God placed us, we tend to want something different, something
more.  Sometimes the learning process for us may not be fun.  But, each step is
important and requires the one before.  All pieces of the puzzle are necessary
to be complete.  The more we allow God to grow us the more opportunities we will
have to be used by Him.

Just wanted to encourage you today that even though you may not see the finished
product or know His Big Plan or Purpose for your life; as you are going along is
when He truly desires for you to shine your light for Him.  Not one minute is wasted when you let Him mold you and make you into what He desires you to be.  In this you will be more equipped for
what lies ahead and your God-ordained ministry will be living proof of the life
you live in Him.