Monday, July 27, 2009

What I can do for You...

Is never really what I want to do for You (I mean me).

I don't have a lot of time... I have 3 small children and I'm trying to be a "helpmate" to my Honey... I often lament over not having the time to do anything "special" for the Lord. One day as I was mulling over the list of things I can't do for the Lord like:

I can't go downtown and feed the homeless. I can't write a book telling all my wisdom (tongue in cheek). I can't start (lead) a bible study. I can't go over seas and do missions. AND on and on this list could go.

The Lord spoke to my heart and said there are MANY things I CAN do FOR HIM that I overlook daily.

I have a niece who is a single mom with an 8mo. old that needs someone to watch Him for little to nothing. WWJD? I could make a few meals for the lady down the street who just had knee surgery. WWJD? I have a friend going through a divorce leaving no extra money who needs someone to watch her children when she goes to the Dr. WWJD? I KNOW this list could go forever because there are countless ways to show the Love of Christ, but the point is these are things that I don't want to do. They are things that take sacrifice and have little earthly reward. So, again I see the true state of my heart. Which is "deceitfully wicked above all things."

What the Lord wants us to do everyday is look for the people that need help (REAL HELP) and do something for them to show that He loves them and cares for them. Then we will be doing something "special" for Jesus.

Complaining

I guess the biggest thing that I struggle with is my tongue... Proverbs says death and life are in the power of the tongue and as I have become a wife and mother I have seen the truth of this statement. I probably wouldn't have the time or space here for all the lessons God has tried to teach me through interactions with my children. There are times though when this space helps me meditate on something He has shown me, like a diary of sorts.

Today in my devotional I read Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and HARMLESS, children of God without fault."
I am known as a person who says whats on my mind. In a past life this was considered a virtue. Now, it's really a curse in so many ways. One of my favorite passages about wives is I Peter 3:4 where it says that "a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price." Proverbs has a lot to say about the tongue but on of my favorites that applies to motherhood is Prov 31:26 "...in her tongue is the LAW of kindness." I used to say well that's just who I am, (God forbid) I would even say this is the way He made me, BUT I have since come to see how much of what we learn in scripture has to be applied to our lives with a very healthy dose of Self-control.

It's funny because I think about how much I try to be Christlike to people I barely know or pass by on the street all the while I treat my family terribly. I would never treat stranger the way I treat my children. Although they can sometimes bring out the absolute worst in us it was not intended to be that way. We are supposed to exhibit the attributes of Christ to our family first and then our brothers and sisters in Christ. Why is it that I treat them the worst could it be that I have misunderstood the teachings of my Savior?! Have I misunderstood what Good Works He was talking about. Am I focused on the outside acts or on God changing me from the inside.

Back to the verse I read today... I complain about everything, I whine and complain and then I wonder why my kids do the same thing. I'm so thankful for the word picture that God gives me through my children. I may never get it if it weren't for seeing my children and then seeing myself the way God must see me. I love them so much and I try so hard to do what is best for them, but they don't want whats best and they complain.

I could go on for a while, but I won't I will just work on not complaining and disputing. I will work on having self-control and not making excuses for myself. I will work on not expecting perfection from others and mediocre from myself. I will work on "Rejoicing always" and being thankful in all things. I want to be blameless and harmless (to my family especially), and it may take a lifetime, but I am going to work on it everyday.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Thankful...

I'm so thankful to be home. I'm thankful for a husband who sees my purpose in being at home. Sometimes I take it for granted, but this last week has brought this thought to the forefront of my mind. There are reasons too numerous to count, but the one at the top of my list this week is being at home with sick kids... My youngest son who is one came down with a BAD case of Strep... Now I'm not saying that I love being at home with sick kids. It's actually about the worst thing ever, BUT when my children are sick all they want is Mommy. I can't imagine not being there to take care of them, to hold them, to soothe away the tears. Since this is my profession I don't have to worry about how long I'm home from work or losing income... All I have to do is take care of my children just the way I can remember wishing my working Mom could take care of me when I was sick... This hard week also makes me so much more thankful for the weeks that go by without trouble... I love being at home with my children. I love my husband and I love being there to support him. I love not missing anything about my kids growing up. I love watching them learn new things. I love being home everyday and I'm so thankful.

You've changed

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