Jaylan, my eight year old, complained about not feeling well on a night he had baseball practice. My husband insisted Jaylan attend practice anyway and sit in the dugout. Jaylan asked me why he had to attend practice and I told him because his father said so. His reply to me was, "Mama, if you’re a grown-up and Papa is a grown-up, why do you have to listen to him? He’s not your granddaddy!" Hmmm…I am a grownup huh? I compared my initial thoughts to Eve as the serpent convinced her not to listen to God regarding eating the fruit - could I be so easily deceived? The Holy Spirit refused my carnal thoughts and offered an awesome teaching opportunity; Jaylan wasn’t the only student (smile). I began to share God’s order for the home with my probing son - God first, husband second, and wife third. I explained how two people could not be in charge and even tried to get him to visit his future with desires for his wife to support his decisions. Jaylan said he would listen to his wife. Smart man, yet his focus at that moment was to get out of baseball practice. As it turned out, Jaylan had a slight fever and was allowed to stay home after his father and I discussed the change of plans. Jaylan was satisfied and so was I, given I didn’t agree with my husband from the beginning. Being obedient to God and submitting to my husband was more important than proving my case. Obedience has so many benefits! Being a strong- willed, independent woman can be a nightmare in a marriage, yet God’s way is always better and He will always win. I have to check myself often (in the area of submission) because my actions affect my husband, my marriage, my walk, my home environment, my children, and my children’s children - children live what they learn.
1 Peter 3:5 (NIV)
For this is the way the holy women of the past, who put their hope in God, used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands.
Prayer of Thanks
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this day! Thank you for waking me up this morning and I know I didn't do a thing to deserve it. Thank you for your grace and mercy on my life and my family. Thank you, Lord for being Lord of Lord and King of Kings. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for the blood you shed. Thank you for my home. Thank you for my family and the bread we break together. Thank you for heat! Thank you for clean water! Thank you for the beds we sleep in. Thank you for our finances whatever they may be. Thank you for being our sufficiency! Thank you for the clothes we have and a choice of what to wear. Thank you for who you are - Almighty God! Thank you for wisdom and knowledge in raising YOUR children. Thank you for allowing your love to flow through me with my husband. Thank you for keeping my mouth shut when needed. Thank you for the ability to be. Thank you for your Holy Spirit transforming me day by day to be more like you. Thank you, Lord for your love, patience, and understanding. Help me to show the same to my family and those I come in contact with today. Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy on me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
Thank you for this day! Thank you for waking me up this morning and I know I didn't do a thing to deserve it. Thank you for your grace and mercy on my life and my family. Thank you, Lord for being Lord of Lord and King of Kings. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for the blood you shed. Thank you for my home. Thank you for my family and the bread we break together. Thank you for heat! Thank you for clean water! Thank you for the beds we sleep in. Thank you for our finances whatever they may be. Thank you for being our sufficiency! Thank you for the clothes we have and a choice of what to wear. Thank you for who you are - Almighty God! Thank you for wisdom and knowledge in raising YOUR children. Thank you for allowing your love to flow through me with my husband. Thank you for keeping my mouth shut when needed. Thank you for the ability to be. Thank you for your Holy Spirit transforming me day by day to be more like you. Thank you, Lord for your love, patience, and understanding. Help me to show the same to my family and those I come in contact with today. Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy on me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
When The Bell Sounds
While in the military, I stood duty called a watch, which is basically guarding and protecting a designated area (post) requiring extra security. The watchstander does not leave the designated post, under any circumstances, until properly relieved and they are held accountable for anything that happens on their watch. On a USN ship, one way to know your watch is over is by listening for the ship's bell, which sounds off a series of rings according to the hour of the day.
Mothers are also watchstanders and we stand a 24-hour high security watch. We have been ordered by our Commanding Officer, God, to guard and protect the children of the world - children in our home, school, neighborhood, church, community, children we know and don’t know. Our watch includes every child in our sight. Mothers on watch can't be biased - we must watch each child with the same level of responsibility and importance. We are held accountable for the nurturing and safety of God’s children. We have been designated an official watchstander and we must not leave our post until the ship’s bell rings. A very special watchstander heard the ship’s bell this past weekend. It's quite ironic, yet her name was Bell (named after my grandmother) and she was laid to rest Friday. Bell was a watchstander sent personally to me by God. She watched my firstborn the first three years of his life, and watched my youngest for his first two years. Yes, Bell’s passing has given the term watch a deeper meaning.
As our world faces an epidemic of child neglect and all forms of abuse, mothers joining together on this watch can make a difference in the world. When Mothers understand the seriousness and impact of our watch, young children will not be left unattended, left in unsafe environments, or in the care of those not designated an official watchstander. When is your watch over? When the bell sounds and you have been properly relieved by The Commanding Officer. Let's be prepared to stand boldly before God and report the children on our watch are safe and secure! What's happening on your watch?
Luke 21:36 (NIV)
"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Mothers are also watchstanders and we stand a 24-hour high security watch. We have been ordered by our Commanding Officer, God, to guard and protect the children of the world - children in our home, school, neighborhood, church, community, children we know and don’t know. Our watch includes every child in our sight. Mothers on watch can't be biased - we must watch each child with the same level of responsibility and importance. We are held accountable for the nurturing and safety of God’s children. We have been designated an official watchstander and we must not leave our post until the ship’s bell rings. A very special watchstander heard the ship’s bell this past weekend. It's quite ironic, yet her name was Bell (named after my grandmother) and she was laid to rest Friday. Bell was a watchstander sent personally to me by God. She watched my firstborn the first three years of his life, and watched my youngest for his first two years. Yes, Bell’s passing has given the term watch a deeper meaning.
As our world faces an epidemic of child neglect and all forms of abuse, mothers joining together on this watch can make a difference in the world. When Mothers understand the seriousness and impact of our watch, young children will not be left unattended, left in unsafe environments, or in the care of those not designated an official watchstander. When is your watch over? When the bell sounds and you have been properly relieved by The Commanding Officer. Let's be prepared to stand boldly before God and report the children on our watch are safe and secure! What's happening on your watch?
Luke 21:36 (NIV)
"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Spare The Rod
My husband and I have been blessed with well-behaved children. We’re quick to give God the glory because we know they are who they are by the grace of God. It’s been a while since either of our sons has been ‘touched’ in regards to discipline. Taking away privileges and other forms of punishment has sufficed, yet recently we’ve noticed our eleven year old being a little more forgetful than usual and covering up his mishaps. I guess this is called deceit huh? No mother likes to attach a negative word to her child, yet I must call it what it is. My husband and I had a long discussion about our son and as difficult as it was for both of us to “touch” our child after so long, we knew there was nothing else to discuss. It hurt me and it hurt my husband more because he delivered the pain, yet it would hurt our son more if we were not obedient to the Word of God in regards to disciplining our son - we knew he needed to be touched. Our obedience to God’s Word and the lack of is a cost to others – not only in the home, yet outside the home as well. As our son quickly approaches the demanding teenage years and then adulthood, there is no room for disobedience on our part. I must obey God and raise my child in the admonition of the Lord without compromise. Parents have one shot at raising a child and the blueprint, The Word, is not up for discussion. All children are different and the “rod” must be chosen according to the child. I only received the physical rod once as a child, yet my younger sister had a personal relationship with the rod (smile). I say this to say, it is extremely important to be Spirit-led in disciplining God’s children. The following morning, my sweet eleven year old gave us a big hug as he does every morning with his sweet morning smile. The pain of punishment lasts a short while, yet the results are for a lifetime.
Just A Mother
My husband, Kevin, has been dressing our children for church for years. It’s not because he’s such a wonderful husband, although he is, yet I believe it’s because he doesn’t care for the way I dress them. Fine with me! This past Sunday, as he did his thing, I imagined myself completely removed from my family and yes; my family would get along just fine without me. Although my role in the home is vital, I am not so significant that I can’t be replaced and I do nothing so important that someone else can’t do. When I think about how the sun rises each morning, the shining stars and moon, the unseen blowing wind, and the changing seasons, who am I to think I’m so significant? My life is just a vapor soon to vanish away. How I use my vapor is what is significant!
As a mother, I often ask myself if I’m satisfied being ‘ just a mother’ or do I need another status and other stuff to define me? Do I feel I have so much to offer that I should be doing more than raising the children God put in my care? Do I value my family enough to spend time learning to manage, organize, and create a loving home environment? If I can learn to love being just a mother and genuinely love with the love of Jesus, I will have accomplished an immeasurable task. Children learn more from a mother’s actions than from anyone’s talk – our influence is inconceivable and we are unquestionably our child’s first teacher. Am I using my vanishing vapor to make a difference in my child’s life? In my home? Am I using my vapor to try to change the world or am I making a change in my little corner of the world? Am I using my vapor to bring God glory or am I bringing glory to myself? When my vapor vanishes, did I make an impact being just a mother?
James 4:14 (NKJV)
“…whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
As a mother, I often ask myself if I’m satisfied being ‘ just a mother’ or do I need another status and other stuff to define me? Do I feel I have so much to offer that I should be doing more than raising the children God put in my care? Do I value my family enough to spend time learning to manage, organize, and create a loving home environment? If I can learn to love being just a mother and genuinely love with the love of Jesus, I will have accomplished an immeasurable task. Children learn more from a mother’s actions than from anyone’s talk – our influence is inconceivable and we are unquestionably our child’s first teacher. Am I using my vanishing vapor to make a difference in my child’s life? In my home? Am I using my vapor to try to change the world or am I making a change in my little corner of the world? Am I using my vapor to bring God glory or am I bringing glory to myself? When my vapor vanishes, did I make an impact being just a mother?
James 4:14 (NKJV)
“…whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
Sour Milk
Although my two sons are home educated, they attend school once a week. I look forward to that day and having the house to myself for a few hours. Last week when I dropped the boys off, I could hardly wait to get home and enjoy my favorite breakfast, which is a bowl of Rice Krispies and a scrambled egg-white sandwich. Well, as I sat down to have my first spoonful of cereal, I noticed a smell from my bowl – the milk was sour. I continued smelling the milk hoping it wasn’t too sour to ruin my moment of pleasure. My mother called while I was evaluating the milk and I immediately regressed to a small child and whined and complained about my sour milk - I just wanted to enjoy a simple bowl of cereal. “Get some more,” she said. Sure, that would have been a simple fix, yet I had emptied the box of Rice Krispies and no other cereal would have satisfied my desire. I was frustrated, yet sat down with my cold egg sandwich and embarrassingly thanked the Lord for my meal. The Lord showed me how I almost let a little sour milk topped with my sour attitude ruin the day. He told me to look around and I was reminded of the many blessings surrounding me – a warm home (to enjoy alone), furniture to sit on, and pictures of my loving husband, children, and living parents. He went a little further and reminded me of my ability to prepare my own meal, the ability to smell the sour milk, and even the ability to inhale and exhale. I didn’t even want to eat after this experience, yet praised God for His grace and mercy on my selfish life. At that moment, it didn’t matter if I never received another blessing or taste another sip of milk; I had more than enough to praise God for the rest of my life! It’s funny how simple inconveniences and troubles of life can hide the many glorious blessings around us. This usually happens when we are full of self and take our eyes off Jesus. I thank God for my abundant blessings and my sour milk experience.
Phil 4:11 (NIV) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Phil 4:11 (NIV) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Check The Calendar!
Are you feeling irritable and just a little on edge? Check that calendar! One day we can be mild mannered and the next day we feel like crying because someone stepped on our toe. Hormones can take a toll on a woman’s mind and before you know it, we’re out of control and can SNAP! I felt a little edgy this morning and just didn’t want to be bothered, so I checked the calendar and sure enough…I’m a week away from the wonderful visit of The Curse! I know, I know…it’s not a curse and should be considered a beautiful thing, yet I don’t feel so beautiful during that time (smile). I decided to exercise a little and I immediately felt better. I drank my soy drink and that helped a lot also. Sometimes, if we take care of ourselves a little better, we don’t have to deal with that other person within us that enjoys creeping up when we least expect!
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