What Does Motherhood Mean?

Motherhood is not all roses.  No mother is perfect.  But God made us, knows our flaws, and He made us mothers.  He has entrusted our children to us... to love them, comfort them, laugh with them, correct them, encourage and help them, and to grow them in the Lord.  Sometimes this feels like a tall order.  Sometimes I feel like I fail miserably.  But God is so faithful and merciful.  And my kids are more gracious than I deserve.  I am thankful.


Motherhood means cleaning up throw-up at 2:00 a.m.  It means doing load number 5 of laundry today because the boys were being boys, and nothing stays clean for very long.  It means reading the same book to my child that I've already read 50 times.... Just because he loves it.  It means wearing holes through the knees of my jeans because all that my boys want is for me to be on the floor playing animals and superheroes with them.  It means crawling into a blanket fort, a space much too small to be comfortable, because it is the coolest "top secret" place EVER! :) It means putting my child in time-out for the 10th time today because I want him to learn right from wrong.  It means keeping my cool so I can lovingly explain, yet again, why he is in time-out.  And it means being humble, asking forgiveness when I do it wrong.  It means being okay with very little privacy as small fingers reach through the crack underneath the bathroom floor, and I hear, "Mom? Moooom....." even though they really have nothing to say.  They just want to be near... Motherhood means laughing at the jokes my 6-year-old tries to create, even when they make absolutely no sense.  It means getting off the phone, the iPad, the computer... to just be there. Sometimes it means being a referee between the siblings all day long.  It means a messy kitchen and clothes as I try to let them help cook.  It means snuggles and giggles just because.
It means many tears will be shed.  Some for the times I know I fail.  Some for the times I see my children fail.... And all I can do is let them.


Motherhood entails so very many things.  In the end, this is my goal:  To love them deeply, to share Jesus unceasingly.


Being a mother is a gift, not just an obligation.  This world has begun to view it quite distortedly.  Let's rise up together and be the mothers God has called us to be.  Let us commit to putting away the business that can wait so that our children have mothers who are there for them.... so that our children know they are cherished and loved.

Being a Mary

Luke 10:38-42

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

How easy it is to hit the floor running.  We have a go, go, go, mentality so often.  But what good is it if we do not sit at the feet of Jesus?  

"Be still and know that I am God."  

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."  

To dig into His Word on a regular basis; to kneel in prayer and sing praise in sweet communion with the Creator of Heaven and Earth - It's the most important thing we can do.  The rest, the 'good works', will fall into place if our hearts are where they're supposed to be. 

I want to sit with Jesus and know Him intimately.  How much greater my life will be if each day is spent with him.

A Beautiful Legacy

Kari Renee Bouchie Luoma

            Kari was one of the most beautiful people I have ever known.  Memories flood my mind.  Christmas and Thanksgiving get-togethers at Grandma’s house, New Year’s Eve at my parent’s place, sleepovers in her bear-filled bedroom, birthday parties, wedding showers, walking around Target, coloring pretty pictures, sitting at the piano together, singing in the car as we drove around town, long conversations, and so many more… they are memories I will cherish forever.  I was beyond blessed to grow up knowing her in such a special way! 

            I was blessed to watch her graduate from college and receive her diploma.  I was blessed to serve as her personal attendant at her wedding, and blessed to have her as mine for my wedding.  When I was pregnant with my first child I spent many weeks on strict bed rest.  Kari came and spent a day with me.  She brought me a purse she had knitted and painted my nails.  She pampered me with love. 

            If I were to choose one word to describe Kari it would be: loving.

            Kari loved to sing and she loved to laugh!  Whether it was something silly, serious, or a burst of praise to the Lord, she always had a song.  Kari was full of joy.  She had a great laugh that would pull you in.  Oftentimes she’d laugh so hard she’d cry.  She was so much fun!  I can just imagine her singing and dancing with the angels in heaven! 

            Kari loved kids! She had a passion for all the little ones she worked with at church over the years, the girls she counseled at camp, and the neighborhood kids around her.  The last time we talked, about two weeks before she died, we were talking about Vacation Bible School.  She was telling me about the summer she had a little mini VBS at her house with five kids from her neighborhood, and how fun it was.  Kids brought her joy.  Kari wanted to be a mom so badly and was really excited about the adoption process that they were in.  But now, she’ll be my baby’s mommy in heaven.  And that is a special thought to me!

            Kari loved her family!  She bubbled over with love and excitement at getting to be with her loved ones.  You’d walk in and she would hurry over with a huge smile on her face and her arms up in the air ready to give you the biggest hug!  You could count on it. The last year of Grandma Vivian’s life Kari spent a weekend every month with her.  What a gift!  She cared so much about people….

Kari loved Jeremiah!  They have a beautiful love that will never die.  Jeremiah is a gift to our family.  Kari and I never had a conversation that didn’t include something sweet about her wonderful husband.  Their wedding was beautiful.  Jeremiah was the luckiest man that day! 

            Most of all, Kari loved God.  Through everything - heart surgery, brain cancer, losing her dad, etc… Kari persevered.  While shedding a tear was pretty normal for her tender heart, she would find the good in any situation.  She clung to the Lord and praised His name.  She loved Him dearly and she knew who she was in Christ – a daughter of the King, His beloved, His child, His servant.  There was never a phone call that ended without her asking how she could pray for me; Never a conversation that didn’t include what the Lord was doing in our lives.  Kari was inspiring!  She leaves behind an amazing testimony and legacy!  The last post she made on Facebook spoke amazingly of who she was.  She wrote this: 

            If you’re looking for God’s will for your life check out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

            16 Be joyful always;

            17 Pray continually;

            18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

            My beautiful Kari, I can just imagine you hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  Thank you for serving the Lord, loving others unconditionally, and persevering in this life.  Thank you for your big Care-Bear hugs and smiles that never ceased to brighten my day.  I will miss you so very, very much.  But the next time I see you will be a wonderful joyous day before the Lord.  I love you…..

                                                                        Love, Kelsey

A Heart With No Defect

It's been a while since I've blogged.  Life gets busy and I forget to do it, I suppose.  Well, it has been a growing new year for me!  I began reading through a one-year Bible.  Right now I'm in Leviticus in the Old Testament.  There are many rules and guidelines (many of which were set up for sanitary reasons) that encompass this particular book.  Many have to do with the sacrifices given to God.  It makes me very thankful for what Jesus did on the cross.  No longer are we held to the same rules.  Jesus was the final and ultimate sacrifice! We're free from the old law!  Yeah!  :)   

Once again I prayed this morning that my heart would be soft and receive whatever God wanted to show me.  He gave me a neat picture as I read, once again, about what the is an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord.  It must be a male animal with no defects.  That's the gist of it anyway.  We don't sacrifice animals now because we have Jesus, but as I read "with no defects" it pricked something in my heart.  We give sacrifices to the Lord all the time.... our time, our money, our resources, our gifts.... but what is the status of our heart when we give these gifts?

Psalm 51:16 p- 17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." 

Mark 12:33 "To love him with all you heart, all your your understanding, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Does my heart have no defect?  I'm NOT talking about being sinless.  When we give to the Lord it should be out of joy!  Not because "we're supposed to".  What is my motivation for giving?  Is it because my heart overflows with love for this amazing God - the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the great I Am - and I can think of no other thing I'd rather do than serve Him?  There should be no condemnation or guilt trip pushing us to give and serve.  

2 Corinthians 9:7  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

I want a heart that has no defect.  God poured out everything for me in love.  Can I do any less?

Love Enough to Be Rejected

Matthew 10:37-39 "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, your are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

What pedestal do I place those I love upon? God is most important. If I can not love Him more than mere humans, what kind of love for the Savior do I really have? 
Never fear to tell those you love about the Truth. Rejection from them for a time is far more wonderful than to never see them come to the Lord and know their fate lies in ruins. Love them enough to have them despise you. Plant a seed of hope even if it seems to be spewed back in your face.
Do not fear for the words you need.  God promises to supply in the time.  You only need to be faithful to him.

Do Not Be A Stumbling Block

Luke 17:1-3 "Jesus said to his disciples, 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves.' ..." (NIV)

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another.  Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (NIV)

1 John 2:10 "Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble." (NLT)

We are told that we are set free from bondage of the old law because of what Christ did once and for all on the cross.  Eating an idol-sacrificed piece of meat is not sinful.  Having one drink of wine is not sinful.  Galations 5:1 says that we are free and we are not to entangle ourselves in a yoke of slavery because of the old law any longer.  However,

1 Corinthians 8:9 "But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." (NLT)

Do not judge others because they have not fully accepted the freedoms from the old law.  If they have a conscience that says they should not do something and you entice them to do it because you think it doesn't matter, then you have sinned and you have caused them to stumble.

Trust in God, Not Mortal Men

Psalm 146
"Praise the Lord.  

Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
  

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  He upholds the cause of the oppressed the Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.  

The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.  

Praise the Lord."

John 12:43

"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Where do I put my trust and hope?  Where do I find my worth?  From God alone.  He is the God who was, who is, and who is still to come.  There is nothing he does not know and I can put my trust fully in him.  He calls me beautiful and holy.  I am a daughter of the King.  My worth is in the Lord and how grateful I am for that!  Look to the Lord for the praise you need.  Seek out His will to know if you are doing well.  For only He can satisfy.  His opinion is worth for more than we can hope.  Man's opinion is worth so little.  

Father, help me to cling to you.  All that I am and all that I do should be for you and you alone.  Remind me of who I am in you.  Let my discouragement go by the wayside.  You are true, just and loving.  I praise you!

Daughter of Eve, Heir of Christ

Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  And then there is the encouragement.  I do not answer to a dead god or to a priest who doesn't understand or who plots my destruction because I am not holy enough.  Hebrews 4:14-16 "...let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Someday I will give an account for what I have done in this life.  Nothing will come as a surprise to God.  I lay bare before him.  My heart is open.  Nothing I do can cover up.  Adam and Eve tried to hide and put makeshift clothing over their bodies as though it would keep the Lord at a distance.  Can I learn from their mistakes?

A daughter of Eve, but an heir of Christ.  That is what I am.  

I have been adopted into the family of Christ and that is where I must reside.  My life, body, mind, everything that makes up this child - it belongs to God.  HIS WORD.  That is where I find out who I am.  It's the place I can go to seek out the answer to life's hardest struggles.  It's the place I can always be assured of God's passion for my life.  How beautiful it is to know the truth.

He Holds

Lord, draw close to me.... Hold me, 
that I may not pull away.  

I am yours, Father.  No other place for me but in your arms.  Gazing heavenward.  

Seeking your Scriptures.  

Let there be nothing in me to hinder Your work.  Use me, mold me, guide me.  

Your love is amazing....

Holy, devoted, unrelenting pursuit.

My heart sings a new song!  

Speak truth into me. No lies from the devil.

                        Thank you for not forgetting...

Living as if We're Dying

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

I am not half way through this book yet, and have found two lovely points being made.

Olivia asked her pastor what he thought she could do to make the remaining months of her life worth something.  They came to a consensus rather quickly.  Father Tim's final thought... "In the space of precisely seven minutes, which he reckoned to be the full length of her visit, he had been told a terrible truth, discovered the answer to prayer, helped someone find a ministry, and been unutterably refreshed in his own spirit.  Perhaps, he thought, we should all live as if we were dying."

...

Cynthia read aloud from a book of lectures by Oswald Chambers, " 'Faith by its very nature must be tried,' he says.  Do you agree?"
"Absolutely!" Tim replied.
"I've never been one for physical exercise," she said, "but what God does with our faith must be something like workouts.  He sees to it that our faith gets pushed and pulled, stretched, and pounded, taken to its limits so its limits can expand... if it doesn't get exercised," she said thoughtfully, "it becomes like a weak muscle that fails us when we need it."
"Would you agree that we must be willing to thank God for every trial of our faith, no matter how severe, for the greater strength it produces?"

...

In Colossians 4 and Ephesians 5 we are told to make the most of every opportunity.  In 1 Thessalonians 5 we are told to, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect."

1 Samuel 12:24 "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone."

Do I live with a fervent desire to serve the Almighty?  Do I live as though I only have 6 months left?  My tomorrow is not guaranteed.  I want to live for him wholeheartedly.  I want to share Jesus with those around me.  Lord, help my will to align with yours.  Keep me heavenly minded.  May my hands be yours.  Use me in ways I can not fathom, Father.  Glory be to Your Name.

A Chosen People

1 Peter 2:9-10  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Psalm 139:13-14  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

Ephesians 2:8-10  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

I am God's child, dearly loved and beautifully created.  He has a plan for me!  There is nothing in me that is not from Him.  I am chosen in Him.  Praise God!

Father, I am willing.  Please show me how I fit into your plan.  Give me wisdom and discernment in this walk of life.

Inexpressible and Glorious Joy

1 Peter 1:3-4  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade..."


1 Peter 1:8-9  "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."


1 Peter 1:13  "...set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."


Where does joy come from?  True joy.  Not just the happy giddy feeling you get when something wonderful happens.  Joy that can overcome when darkness crowds in.  Joy that fills the heart when nothing else seems right in this life.  I want that joy.

Jesus.

And it's not that we should look to Him to feel better.  He is our only hope.  We are to cling to God.  For we are loved with an agape, sovereign, God-love that can never be replicated.  A love that we will never fully understand. 

Overwhelming feelings and questions of:  What can I do?  Will I ever be enough?  How do I make it?  They are answered only through Jesus Christ.  He is the only way to have hope and true joy.  In James 5 it says to pray if we are in trouble and to sing songs of praise if we are happy.  There is no patting ourselves on the back when things go well.  The Lord gives and he takes away.  There is nothing we possess that is not from Him, the Most High - The giver of Life.  

When life gets hard and it feels like there is nothing to possibly give thanks for, then look UP!  Refocus.  If we are eternally minded as we should be, then there is always a reason to give thanks!  (Colossians 3:2
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.")  The free gift of salvation through Jesus, and the gift of being able to serve Him and walk with Him is enough reason to have us jumping up and down from the roof tops shouting out, "I AM BLESSED!  My God, YOU are SOOOO Good!"

Nehemiah 8:10  "The joy of the Lord is your strength!"

A Time to Plant, A Time to Uproot

My wonderful four year old and I made a countdown caterpillar today.  It is a countdown to when we head back "home" to see all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.  We can hardly wait!


Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and and time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot..."

Eight months ago our family moved four states away from what had been our home for our entire lives.  It has been a big adjustment for everyone!  As I read this verse today it hit me in a new way.  We had a long season of planting and investing into our home, church, and life up North.  But the Lord said it was time to uproot.  I like to think of it more as transplanting actually.

He replanted us in a new, somewhat intimidating, place.  Now, it is our job to grow.  He feeds and waters us with His word,  guides us with his light, and is an ever present and attentive gardener.

Many positive things have happened since moving here:
1.  I began writing this blog which the Lord has used to show me things I don't think I would have seen otherwise.  Hopefully there has been growth and maturity in my walk!
2.  We've had a lot more time just as a family since we moved here knowing only one other couple.  It has forced us to create family memories that may not have happened otherwise.
3.  Daddy and Little Man have started having "Man Mornings" a couple of Saturdays each month. So special!  Highly recommend!  It changes Little Man's whole demeanor and brightens him up.
4.  Since our schedule has slowed down so much, it has fostered time for Mommy and Little Man to work on Bible verse memorization and morning devotions in his 'Jesus Storybook Bible'.
5.  There have been sacrifices made on both my husband's and my end in order to have a happier and healthier family.  It's helped us to be more selfless and loving.
6.  With not having my mom to lean on for the difficult days of parenting (while the husband is at work), it has forced me to push through those times with more reliance on God.  The Lord has taught me a greater level of patience and grace with my children.  And I think I am becoming a better mom.
7.  Stepping out of the comfort bubble to make new friends has been challenging, but sooo good for me.  It's really easy to get comfortable and not deviate from your circles of friends, church, etc....  If we do ever move back "home" I will be a lot more conscientiousness of new comers to church and just reaching out in general.

Thank you, Lord, for this time of growing.  It can be so lonely and hard some days, but you are ever faithful! You are growing me, stretching me, and polishing me in ways I never knew you would.  Being refined can only bring me closer to you.  Deepen my faith, Father.  I want to know you more.

Living Anticipating Christ

Revelation 21:4  "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

What a glorious time to look forward to!  My grandma was a wonderful woman.  She often talked about this verse.  She went to be with Jesus almost six years ago.  Her anticipation, excitement, and joy in going to meet her Maker face to face was so evident.     

Her favorite song was 'In The Garden':

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses . . .

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

He speaks and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that he gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing . . .

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

We are told in the book of John that Jesus is preparing a place for us.  It's going to be a place like none other.  To see the Lord and to commune with Him is hard to imagine, but I can not wait!


This time on earth is but a blink of an eye.  Am I living every possible moment for HIS glory???  Am I offering the very least that I can possibly offer - to love Him completely and wholeheartedly?  Is my life laid down and surrendered to Him?


Matthew 22:37  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Romans 6:13  

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness."

Judging Others

Judging.

    What a slippery slope.  I love what Beth Moore has to say.  If I could take the four pages that cover this out of her study on James and just retype them I would probably be better off.  But for the sake of time and room I will highlight just a few areas.

The royal law:  Love your neighbor as yourself.

James 4:11-12  "Brothers, do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it.  When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?"


(Beth)  "The Greek term translated "slander" in the NIV also means 'criticize' (HCSB) and 'speak against' (NASB).  The original word doesn't leave us room to excuse ourselves because what we said was simply the truth.  To James, if it was said critically or against another person, it was sin." 

I know for myself - and I'm sure many others - it is WAY too easy to say something that is slightly judgmental or unkind and then to tag on the line, "It's just the truth."  Sound familiar?  Ouch.  Romans tells us we condemn ourselves when we judge others and that we are without excuse.  It then says, "We know that God's judgement on those who do such things is based on the truth."  This speaks volumes to me.  We humans are so full of flesh.  Our judgments are based on our experiences, our hormones, the 'truth' that we want to hear, and the 'truth' that we are encouraged to believe.  Only God knows a person's heart.  He alone can judge based on truth.  We are better off to leave the judging of the person up to God.


Matthew 7:1-2  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."


(Beth)  "Humanly speaking, a fine line can squiggle between wise discernment and sinful judging.  We need discernment in the worst way... True discernment breeds wisdom.  Sinful judgment breeds a condemning spirit."

1 Corinthians 2:15  "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment."

(Beth)  "People who walk in the Spirit judge 'things'.  Not people."


I think it's important to take a brief pause and make it clear that black and white sin can be judged.  God gives us clear instructions about what is an abomination to Him and what truly grieves Him.  We should call sin, sin.  However, you are judging the sin as sin - not the person as sin.  When slandering (criticizing) someone because of something they have done I truly don't believe it is of the Lord.  You criticize them rather than the sin.  The sin is what grieves the Lord.


James 4:11-12  "Brothers, do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it.  When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?"

Mercy Triumphs.

Resentment Should Cease

James 1:19-20  "...be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."  

As I sit and consider James' words, digging deeper with Beth Moore's study, I am convicted.

I pick up my pen to list the areas this last week where anger took hold.  Past moments were drudged up;  Current situations were taken hold of.
I then consider which ones I felt justified in as though I had a right to be angry.

Regret.... 

Righteous anger is only attainable by God.  My heart appears so dark as I look to the inward mirror - a reflector I rarely take out to use in depth.  What will I see?  Who wants to go there?
God does.  His perfect work in us will not be made complete with anger dwelling deep.
In my own life I have found that anger usually comes from lacking something.  It is easily fueled by a lack of forgiveness, a lack of understanding, a lack of humility, a lack of patience... on and on the list goes.

Psalm 37:8  "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret  - it leads only to evil."

Ephesians 4:31  "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

Colossians 3:8  "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these:  anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

I look up the definition of malice.  New light is shed for me.  Malice: noun - 1. desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness.  Anger is a form of malice according to Ephesians.  I may not wish bodily harm on someone, but what about the need to make them feel regret or the need for them to have some type of punishment?  They should have to pay for what they did!  Vengeance is the Lord's - not ours.

Romans 12:19  "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord"

How about the need for an apology?  How much better to forgive without that requirement!  If you say you forgive because they say they're sorry, how much benefit is that to you?  If you can not say in your heart that you forgive them until the apology is given, then I would dare to say forgiveness has not happened at all.  Forgive: verb - 1. to cease to feel resentment against.  When I think of a situation and resentment or anger starts to come up, then true forgiveness has not happened.  It is an act of the heart, not the mouth.


Lord, help me to truly forgive just as you forgave me.  Oh, how thankful I am that you chose to first forgive and pay the penalty for my sin and that you did not wait to hear me say I'm sorry.  Do your perfect work in me, Father!  May I have love and mercy always.  Keep me from falling into the ugly pit of unforgiveness.  

God's Decrees

You shall have 

no other gods 

before me.

As I read in 1 Kings chpt 9 I am amazed.  He is ever so stern!  I can see how, if you don't look at the big picture of who God is and why and when he does certain things throughout the Bible, someone might read this and think He is not a God of grace.  (vs. 6-9) "But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.  Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples... because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them - that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them."  God's commandment of "you shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3) is serious.  He meant business when he wrote that on the stone tablets for Moses to bring down to his people!  There's no messing around with that - and for good reason!

If you look at Sodom and Gomorrah and the terrible, godless people they had become, there's no doubt why God has rules for us.  He isn't just wanting us to obey him and bow down like cowards because he's a control freak.  God KNOWS what happens when people walk away from him and his decrees.  Sorrow and despair, anger, corruption, jealousy etc.... take over the hearts of his people - which is exactly what Satan delights in - and destroys them.  Hope is nowhere to be found.... except through HIM!  Our good is His intention.

Over and over again throughout the Bible, God gave 2nd and 3rd chances to people.  I am grateful for the grace that God gives.  His patience is amazing and his love is unwavering.  God is "...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)  I want to be humble before my King.  I never want to forget that what I have and who I am is nothing without Him.  

Moms

Happy Mother's Day 

to the most beautiful and wonderful 

Mommy and Mother-in-law!!!!

I love you both very much!

By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

        "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

                  and certain of what we do not see.  

       This is what the ancients were commended for.  

    

    By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

    By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.  By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.  And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

....
    By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
    By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him with the same promise.
....
    By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had received the promises though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
    By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.  
    By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
    By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
    By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
....
    I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
....
    These were all commended for their faith...."

Mother's Day

My Mama is someone special.  

She's my best friend. 

     Until recently, we lived not too far apart.  When things were hard with the kids I knew I could call her and she'd drive over to spend the day with us.

     I never worried about not being welcomed at her house.  Games, talks, crafts, and yummy little snacks...  One another's company was the best thing a day could bring.  Target trips for no reason at all - I miss these things that miles now separate.


     When I was little there was always a hug for a sad face, a band aid for the scraped knee, a book to be read as we snuggled in the rocking chair... trips to McDonald's, a Mommy day date, Dairy Queen treats, and Camping at Norway Beach... and those special notes left for me ending in xoxo just to say she loved me.  So many special memories.

     Whether sleepy or just curled up in her lap, a favorite song was usually sung; one she wrote for her babies, and I now sing to mine...

"I love you, I love you, I love you, I do.  You're Mommy's sweet baby, I love you I do.  Oh you're my little sweet heart, you're my little girl.  I love you, I love you, I do."

     My little boys already have such fond memories.  Kisses, hugs, kisses, hugs, and still more kisses - never enough of those!  Picnics outside, silly "I'm thinking of something..." games, playing animals in the lego zoo she built with matching colored pieces...

and those stories!   

Snuggled up in Grandma's room - there unfold the most interesting tales 

of the nature trail, animals, and adventures at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  

My little boy could sit for hours and listen to her stories.  

Back and forth, back and forth they go 

with giggling and whispering floating from the doorway... 

I have the best Mama and

My boys have the best Grandma...

...I am thankful.