God can do ALL things...

Last week my son came to me with amazement in his eyes and wanted to share with me this huge secret knowledge that he was so clever to discover. With a proud look on his face he said, "mom...did you know that God CAN'T do everything??"  Of course I was waiting for the punch line with a non-belief look on my face. He said, "mom, God CAN'T do everything because God CAN'T sin!!"  I chuckled thinking how bright my child felt for discovering this truth. Lol!

My kids hear me say over and over that there is nothing impossible with God and that He can do ALL things. 

For  with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37 KJV)   

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

 My sweet, compliant, never rock the boat,  never questioning (sarcasm inserted) child had come up with some sort of a glitch, so He thought.  He was definitely feeling accomplished!  Little smarty pants! 

While there are some that never question the perfect character of God it's easy to sometimes forget that not everyone is on the same page. Not even my kids. They have been questioning a lot the Truths of His Word and I see them pulling pieces together in their minds to bring about their own faith in Him.  Exciting and scary all in one. 

There aren't many times that I have doubted that God could do something but there have been several times I wondered whether or not He would do it. You see while God will never choose to sin He can choose or not choose to do other things in our lives. Does that mean He isn't capable??? I don't believe He is capable of sin but I do believe He is capable and powerful enough to do ALL things that glorify and edify himself for the people on this Earth to see His greatness and want to know Him as a result. That's hard to grasp on somedays, as an adult, and as a child.  When things don't go as we thought or as we planned we think God hasn't been enough. We doubt that He really can do ALL things. But does that match the Truth of His Word?  Of course it doesn't. So what does that mean? Can God not do all things??  Just because God decided His plan was better than ours doesn't mean He isn't powerful enough to do something. It just means His plan is better than ours. He sees the whole masterpiece while we see only a small portion of the puzzle.  Does that mean we will understand it all? No it doesn't! Will we ever understand? Maybe not! Do we stop believing? I pray we won't ever stop believing and trusting the One who knit us together for His good!! 

This morning I read this verse.... 

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV)

The Lord reminded me that all though it may feel like His promises seem slow, HE is still on the His throne and whatever may look impossible before me is possible for Him. It may not look how i thought it would but He will be faithful to fulfill His promises!!! 

How often do we forget???

The Lord has been hammering me! Each time I turn around it seems the same lessons keep reappearing. I know this must mean the Lord is trying to drill them through my thick skull! And obviously I have a thick skull!!

I studied James at the beginning of this year with my small group and now I am on it again with my 11th and 12th grade Sunday School girls. I am also studying Nehemiah and reading the book Unglued. Plus we do the Jesus Calling book with the kids. I know, I'll admit it, I'm a lil ADD! I can't stay focused on just one thing. I get a little antsy! Lol! I say all that to say in some strange way, they have all intertwined and continue to break my heart (in a good way though). I continue to see so much more of me that needs to be weeded out. In James, God is digging in my soul to help me to understand mercy and love for others. In Nehemiah He wants me to see others the way He sees them and be broken for them. In Unglued I am learning just how unglued from Truth my emotions can be and of course in Jesus Calling, He continues to draw me unto Himself!! Hammered!!!!!

I have really been troubled over my reaction to situations that are out of my control. I can say that I don't always react in the loving way that God would have me to. I tend to let my frustration and anger step in especially with my kids. Does this ever happen to you? Please say I'm not the only crazy mom out there!?!?!

For instance, I have one child that is super slow at just about everything they do. If they have to take a shower and lay out clothes for the next day that could take up to two hours. Now, in my mind a normal person should be able to do that in about 20 minutes, so you can imagine when it takes two hours that it seems to run poison through my veins that turns me in to the Incredible Hulk or something. I turn green and begin to scream!! (Well, maybe not the green part, LOL). Or maybe it is knowing there is a school project due and they have five days to complete it and the day before they are begging for help because they haven't even begun the project. How about this one, they will ask a question that two seconds prior I answered in complete and full sentences using paragraph form. I begin to react on how dumb they must be for not just listening to me! Or maybe its that situation where you know you have to be somewhere at a certain time and it's seems every child in the house thinks they have a million minutes to get ready! Ugh!!

I'm not sure if you are following me or not but my reactions STINK!!! I'm not good at it, at all!! And no matter how much I know about His Word and the response I should be making in love it isn't always happening! It seems to be a failing cycle but one I intend to break with the Lords help!!

Yesterday was a perfect example. I think sometimes we learn/copy/mimic reactions from those around us. Can I get an amen?   Great example of how important it is the company we keep.  Because someone else reacts a certain way we tend to react that way as well. I caught myself yesterday.  As I watched one person choose to to behave in the wrong way this in turn spurred a reaction from another.  I saw one persons reaction to another's sin and I jumped on the bandwagon. My reaction could have been different, it could have been to lovingly speak Truth in this persons life but it wasn't. The end result was remorse and feeling awful! Sometimes seeing someone else react the way you always do puts things in perspective. It is sometimes easier to point out someone else's sin than it is our own (but that is a whole nother devotion).  What hurts most is realizing as you watch it unfold you are guilty of that same reaction.  You then begin to understand the damage you are doing to the ones you least want to do it to.

James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says, anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--will be blessed in what he does."

Woe is me!!! I don't want to forget what God is teaching me! I don't want to forget what He is saying! I don't want to not do what He ask of me!! I want to live in His promise of freedom and blessings! My response to questions, statements, projects done the night before, time management, and other get under my skin moments must not get the best of me. I must remember that the Lord desires me not to forget to love in these moments of correction or just simple calm response times. I have to not forget! Not forget what He has taught me!

He has been asking me to respond in love and not react in frustration or anger! He has been asking me to love them more even to the point of having faith in areas that require risk! He has been telling me to trust His Way and believe His promises!

Respond in love! Faith to Love Them More! Trust His Way! Believe His Promises!

That's a lot to not forget especially in my chaotic short attention span world! I pray that if you struggle with any of these issues that you will be encouraged that you are not alone. The Lord desires for us to walk a little closer to Him while He weeds out the junk that doesn't belong! We hear you Lord, help us to remember!!

The Road Less Traveled....sacrifice and love

This morning in the shower my heart was troubled over the many people in this world that we over look.  I am speaking of those children with out any homes or families to call their forever parents and siblings.  I'm speaking of those orphans that do not have the love and support of people around them to encourage them and steer them to a Godly life or to tell them of how Christ paid their ultimate price of death so that they too could live eternally.  I'm speaking of all those around us day in and day out that need to be noticed, that are hurting inside yet they fake a smile everyday.  I'm speaking of those that just need someone to flash them a smile or give them that encouraging word that they are going to make it.  My heart breaks over and over as I realize just how much we over look each and every day.  Oh that God would break our hearts to action!

As I was washing my hair my mind began to envision a lone dark road that was very much less traveled.  Two cars have collided together and children are laying on the road side near death.  You know that it could be an hour or more before another car passes by.  What do you do?  Obviously, there is NO question....you pull over as fast as you possibly can, you call 911, and you begin to help any one that you can.  You don't think about it, you don't wonder

if you are qualified, or think you have nothing to offer...YOU HELP!  By what ever means you have you offer yourself and your time as a sacrifice to these people. 

The Lord was reminding me that this must be my attitude when I see hurting and lonely people, children without families, teens without guidance, and adults that are searching.  I can't wonder if someone else will come along, if I am suitable, or if they really need me; I have to help.  I must dial the 911 to heaven, calling unto the Lord on their behalf, I must meet them where they are, even if it's in sin, and I must tell them to seek the great Healer and Physician, encouraging them that the Lord is faithful and hears their cries.  I must be the mother or the friend that they do not have because just as those two cars were on the road less traveled many of those around us are on that same road feeling defeated and alone.

Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

There are so many that need the Lord, that need a family, that need healing, that need a friend, that need salvation, that need a hug or a word of encouragement.  So many do not have this.  And what do we do, we pass them by without even taking notice.  We move on with our busy lives waving at those children near death on the side of the road and oh yes we hate it for them but we DO nothing.  We think someone else will come along, someone more qualified, someone that has more knowledge, more time, and more money.  Oh this is where I am breaking as the Lord reveals more and more to me of how selfish I have been.

As I drove my kids to school this morning we opened up our Jesus Calling for kids and began to read.  What a timely word from the Lord.  He always seems to confirm what He puts in my heart over and over through His word.  How grateful I am that He speaks to me.

 

Romans 12:1 "Since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him.  Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him.  This is the spiritual way for you to worship."

 

Sacrifice!!  What??  Who does that?  Who sacrifices the better and bigger side of the sandwich?  Who sacrifices the front seat of the car?  Who sacrifices the bigger cup of chocolate milk, or the favorite spot on the couch and the remote?  Who sacrifices a game that a friend/sibling wants to play first instead of what we want?  Those are obviously things my kids struggle with but let's talk on adult level.  Who sacrifices buying Starbucks everyday to be able to sponsor a child through Compassion International?  Who sacrifices their time with CASA to be able to advocate for a child that has been taken from their biological family?  Who sees the man on the side of the road and buys them dinner without judging if they are legit or not?  Who sees the coworker going through a tough time and prays with them each day?  Who sees the hurting wife and mother that thinks she just can't take one more minute?   Who compliments that one person everyone else gripes about getting on their nerves?  These are the least of these!  These are the ones we must sacrifice for! 

Is it a sacrifice? Of course it is!  Is it hard!  You bet it is!  Does it require us to think less of what we want and need and more of others! You are darn right it does!  Have I mastered this???  Heck NO!  But I know that because the Lord is making me aware.....I AM RESPONSIBLE!!!!  We all are!! 

The Bible tells us over and over what is expected.  And the greatest command is LOVE.  Love requires you to act! It's a verb! It's action! It's something we do, not just something we say!  What are we DOING today to love those around us?  To LOVE THEM MORE than ourselves!!  Be encouraged, that the One who created you, loves you and has sacrificed for you, even to the point of death!  What a blessing to be loved so much!!  May we loves other as He loves us!!

"Go Flow" Girl and Emotional Madness...

Ok, the last few days has just about been cut throat in some areas. It seems I have had to deal with more confrontation than I care to stand. I am seeing God work and I am still letting my emotions take over.  The emotional madness is driving me plum nuts...Ugh!!  I know the Lord is giving me opportunity to stand in situations that I have never been able to stand before. My personality is very laid back.  I am a go with the flow kinda girl most of the time but I am leaning that even being a "go flow" girl there are times when we have to stand up and be bold for what is right. I am not sure quiet how to deal with these situations and my fear, anger, and frustration seem to get the best of me instead of letting His love handle it all. I'm still trying to learn when my raw emotions come on how I am suppose to stand firm yet love all at the same time. It is almost more than I can bear. I am seeing it almost on a daily basis and the evident battle has been going for months on end now. I keep questioning what the Lord is really trying to teach me and prepare me for. These past several months seem like a torturing hole that I have been in. I keep wondering when I will reach the surface, how long it will take, if I will survive, and how will I get there. 

Yesterday I bought the book "Unglued" by Lysa TerKuerst thinking it would be a good read for our Atlantis vacation next week. Already on page 23 this morning, and I am literally thinking the Lord had her write this book for me and specifically for it to be released at this time. It is so completely and utterly amazing how God shows up right on time. I have voiced to many of my friends and my husband that I have felt the Lord has wanted me to stand in times of confrontation and frustration for the right but I haven't really known how to control the emotions, what my words should be or how to stand along the way. Just in the first few pages of this book I am realizing that His Word is all I have ever needed. Duh!! My example is Him. My guide is His Word. And my answer is the Cross. 

I know that in all things the Lord works for the good of those that love Him, who have been called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28) Why I think I must be the exception is beyond me. Regretfully it is due to my impatience for a faster and easier, not rock the boat sort of result but, nonetheless the Lord knows it takes time. Time to chip away the imperfections.  And His timing is perfect. So as each day passes and I am bombarded with life, bad situations, hard situations, tummy turning confrontations, and situations that I can't fix, I am praying the Lord will give me wisdom in my weakness.  I am praying that my emotional madness and my 'go flow' personality can be molded to His likeness.  That my perspective will be His and that my words and actions honor His Holy Name. In the mean time, pray for me, be patient with me, and if you catch me in the flesh of a situation gone mad please, go easy on me! I truly desire to walk in His way! Prayerfully, I encourage you that if you are like me, there is hope! He is our hope! We will make it!! Love you my friends!!

Fairy Tales Gone Realistic

My mind has information, problem solving, deep thoughts, and unanswered questions all swirling around at once. I wonder how I can even see straight when times like this come along. I know the Lord desires for me to SEE clearly what He has for me and sometimes writing it down helps me to unravel the intertwined words, feelings, and truths that are so engrossed into my heart. 

I have been studying Nehemiah and I am loving seeing his true heart for people. I saw this book on the shelf several months ago and it caught my attention. My initial interst was because a friend expressed her love for studying this book of the Bible and knew I too would love it. The next thing that drew me in was as soon as I turned open the pages I saw little foreign country faces staring into my eyes and Kelly Minter's (the author) words of encouragement to follow what the Lord breaks our hearts for. I was runnning to the check out counter at this point.

For some time now the Lord has broken my heart for children. Thankfully the Lord has allowed me opportunity to love on many. With each passing day He gives me opportunity, some days I fail miserably and other days I am so excited and eager to love on one more for His Glory! I am learning with each step just how much my God loves me and just how gracious He is!

Nehemiah has been tough to get through. His example is a tough act to follow. He never lost his focus on what the Lord called him to do. He never lost focus of His love for people while carrying out his task of service to the Lord. I wonder how many times I do that on a daily basis?   The Lord shares His desires for me and I make a mess of it.  The Lord has blessed me with three children although regularly I lose sight of the fact that my job is to teach them His ways yet also to love them more even when they are not acting according to what I have taught them. Challenging?? I think yes!!

Let me give you an example. We decided to take the kids to Splash Kingdom and an over night stay in Dallas with a school shopping trip the next day. To my displeasure it did not go as I had planned. You know how us women do, we get a plan mapped out in our heads and it looks just perfect. If our husbands are involved it has a romantic feel and if our kids are involved everyone behaves with such spiritual wisdom and love that abounds. Yea, yea, right!?!? That is fairy tale life and obviously I don't live there!!

Marc, had a busy week at the office and at the last minute had to cancel going with us. Number one dislike! I had also envisioned getting a new car on this trip as we have been searching online for several months and there were several in Dallas that had caught our eye and I was ready! But with no hubby there, a new car was not on the agenda! Dislike number two!

We got a late start and for the life of me I could not find a prescription of medicine that I just bought on Monday. I combed the house, went to Marc's office to check the bags of trash he had hauled off. Dislike number three and four!! Going through trash with the aroma of rotten meals from two days prior is not my idea of a good time! Yuck!!! I think I scrubbed my hands three times after that. Still no medicine! Ugh!!

We went on to Splash Kingdom. My middle child is one that is the talker in our family. Sometimes I think that is a good thing and other times he drives me slap crazy! He asks a million unanswerable questions and is super curious about the things I know nothing about or things I have not ever even begun to think about. His conversations can be so informational that my brain wants to explode and a part of me wants to scream "CAN YOU PLEASE SHUT UP?" (I wont say for sure but that may have come out of my mouth, especially in the heart of road construction traffic) I know that sounds harsh and I love my son immensely he just is a little too much sometimes, if you know what I mean? Not to mention the brotherly love that is in the form of slaps, pushes, and shoves, condescending remarks, and sarcasm. And that didn't just come from one child. Dislike number five!! I'm sure your thinking "What a great family, personal note...don't ever let my kids set foot in their house, friend them on facebook or have their cel phone numbers"!

Upon arrival and despite the craziness the kids were super pumped and just excited to be outside and in the water. I found us a place to call base and laid on the lounging chair for a few minutes people watching. Can I just say that some people are weird!? I guess we all are weird in some kind of way but I'm thinking some lack common sense, normal hygiene, and the TV show "what not to wear" could have had a hay day. Wow!! I'll spare you the details of a few incidents but trust me when I say GAG! Dislike number six!! I text Marc telling him all about the fun he was missing and he pleaded with me not to send pics. Lol! I assured him I wouldn't because I didn't want to remember either. :-/

As the day went on my kids got meaner and meaner. You know what I'm talking about? You ever had one of those days? I kept trying to remind myself to respond in love and firmness. It seemed that was not working so consequences had to come. Dislike number seven! Don't you just hate having to discipline your kids when it is suppose to be a fun time?

Needless to say my focus of being a loving and Bible teaching mother was going out the window. I was beginning to focus on the tasks at hand instead of the souls at risk. It was no longer about a time to love them more but a time to make them pay for the torture they were putting me through. Please tell me I am not the only one that has been there?!?!

That isn't the end of my dislikes but I don't want to harp on the negative (or dig a deeper hole of the poor pattern of my family). The trip had it's downfalls and I was epic in failure with my focus on myself and my fairy tale plan. As I sat this morning reading through more of Nehemiah's life I couldn't help but think of the example he was for many. Even when life continued to throw curve balls at him he kept his eyes on the Lord and his focus on the hearts of the people. Why is that so difficult for us? For me????

The word cornerstone has come up several times in my reading of the Word over the last few weeks. I looked up the meaning...something that is essential, indispensable, or basic; a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building; a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection. Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, of our beliefs, of the Truth. He is the rock that all should build upon and that everything centers around. We can't love and teach our children with out Him as our cornerstone. We can't love others for His Glory without Him as our cornerstone. We can't invest in the tasks the Lord has called us to unless He is our cornerstone. Nehemiah knew what this meant.
 Nehemiah was called to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem at a time when others did not want this to take place. The Lord also spoke to Nehemiah's heart in not only restoring the walls but the people. The Lord wanted the people to come back to their homes so that Jerusalem could be at it's original state. I know Nehemiah had some major dislikes lurking around in his mind but He chose not to let them get the best of him. He chose to keep His focus on the One and Only, the cornerstone, and love and care for the people for His Glory. Not an example I can say I always follow but one in which I desperately want to be held acclaimed to.

Our little trip intended for fun and excitement ended mostly being a bag of dislikes for me. Which in turn showed my kids and a friend what a mess my heart was. The cornerstone that should have been the place I stood on became something I just jumped from. I had let my outside circumstance/dislikes/realities cloud my view of what mattered most, the people around me. My reactions, my response, showed my feet were not planted on that stone but kicking fitfully back and forth in the water of the lazy river at Splash Kingdom. My focus was not on the human hearts but on the little fairy tale plan in my head of a perfect trip.

Be encouraged, if the Lord places us in situations of dislikes or a fairy tale gone realistic then our job is to keep our focus because His goal is to bring Glory to himself. So today, I climb back up on the cornerstone and fix my eyes upon Him. Praying my dislikes are not a stumbling block for the human hearts that surround me!

Proverbs 4:25 "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you."

Who are we devoted to?

May 7th, 2012 Over the last few months I would say our family has had some choices to make of where we stood on some matters. It has not been an easy undertaking. "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when your lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4 I'm learning the reality of these scriptures in my life at this moment. This has been underlined for probably ten years in my Bible and I have always taken it to heart in teaching my children. But over the last few months I am now seeing just how desperately important these scriptures are. The world is screaming for the attention and devotion of all of us but especially our children. My youngest will turn ten tomorrow and my heart breaks as I see the evil he will have to overcome. It isn't enough to know the right things but it must be apart of our everyday lives. It must start in the lives of us parents. We can not just give our children things to live with or by, but we must give them HIM to live for. OUR hearts have to be surrendered and captured by the Almighty King if we desire for our children to live a surrendered and devoted life. Too many times we tell our children "do what I say" and never think about the actions WE take. We must wake up and realize our actions will speak much louder than our words! It isn't the Sunday school teacher or the teacher's at school responsibility to steer our children to a right relationship with the Lord...It is our responsibility. I was convicted yesterday as I sat in church and heard Bro Vic once again speak on devotion. Who are we devoted to? The world? God? I left having to apologize to my children for my actions not lining up with my words. Ouch!!

Fluttering for Freedom

Sunday night at 2am, I was awakened to an odd ruffling and fluttering noise. I thought at first the dogs were up and shaking their beds between their teeth, having a little play time. Then I thought maybe they were just scratching and swirling their collars around their necks, as we have had a battle with flees. I would think I was drifting back to sleep and I would hear the sound again. What in the world? I finally realized the noise was not coming from the dog's room. It was coming from the kitchen. I thought oh no I hope there isn't a rodent in my kitchen. I slowly walked into the kitchen and flipped the light on quickly. As I did a bird begins to fly in front of me and across the kitchen. Obviously it startled me and I tried to figure out a plan to get it out of the house. My brain wasn't fully awake and I just wanted to sleep. I didn't know how in the world to get it out and for some reason I was scared every time it decided to fly around. What I did notice was the bird was tired and weary. A few times it landed in the window seal of our breakfast area desperately looking to escape it's captivity. It was so tired from trying to figure out how to get through the glass it would just lay there with it's wings sprawled out devastated from the severe frantic impulse to be free. After a few minutes of watching and not knowing how to intervene I woke up Marc. He wasn't thrilled and together we devised a plan and was able to sweep the bird right out the window.

I tossed and turned trying to get back to sleep and the Lord was on me. He said to me there was application here but all I wanted to do was SLEEP. After finally getting to sleep, I struggled to get out of bed at 6am to get kids ready for school. The Lord was still whispering, application.

Mondays are grocery days at our house. It is time to restock the pantry for the week. I was busy with my list in hand and my head down going through each isle at the ever dreaded WalMart. I looked up and a women approached me with a line of "had I tried this certain product and did I want a catalogue". I was caught off guard a bit as I was in my zone. As I was turning the corner to the next isle the Lord whispered to me "what would life be like if everyone were so bold and would speak of ME like they spoke of their favorite product, or their favorite hobby, favorite job, or favorite anything for that matter? Would there be any tired people around desperately trying to free themselves from captivity or would their longing be fulfilled due to the numerous amount of open mouths proclaiming the Good News? Would they know of the freedom they have in Me because of the boldness of someones love for their Savior?"

Ouch! So many times I walk through my day with my head down not looking to share my Jesus with that desperate soul, that frantic bird searching for freedom. I am too busy to share my favorite with someone because I am on a grocery mission...a family to feed, and sleep to be had. 

I wonder...Is it because money isn't involved? You know we all do strange things when money is a factor. Is it from fear of rejection? Is it that we aren't madly in love with our maker? Is it because we don't want to look silly in the middle of a store or parking lot or odd place where most people don't share the Lord? Why don't we share the most precious gift ever with all we come in contact with? Why it is we won't help those little birds find freedom?  Actually, what we as Christians have to offer is more valuable than money. It is a matter of life and death. It is a matter of eternity.

Encouraging you today to keep your head up.  Listen for the fluttering around you and let the Lord lead you to be bold for the ones that need to be set free by His amazing grace.  There are many fluttering for freedom.