by tascha |
Sundays are a little hectic. Usually I try not to schedule or allow anything that might take away from any calmness that might be found in getting ready for church services and praying for our Pastor. Thus, I did not get my post typed out yesterday for day 7.
But the Lord did speak to me…. {smiles}
one of the faces that makes my heart HAPPY!
There were several things that I wrote down in my notes from the messages yesterday. I want to share one with you.
The source of our strength… in those weak days {or any day!} is the Lord. A verse that popped in my mind was from Nehemiah where it says: the joy of the Lord is your strength.
I think this thought originated with what the preacher was saying {and I think he actually spoke of that verse}, but honestly, there are times my mind is triggered by something and I start having my own little service in my head for a few minutes… with verses and thoughts ministering to me… inside my head… {am I strange? does this happen to anyone else?}.
Regardless of where it originated, this thought encouraged me:
I often would think of this phrase in that verse in the context of
“God’s joy in my heart will give me the strength to face the day….”
But what if another way to think of it is equally true?
“When I do things that bring God joy,
I receive the strength I need to carry on.”
And this thought made me wonder about what I might do that brings God joy!!
Thinking about the parent/child relationship, I know my own children bring my heart joy when they
obey….
or when they
do right even when their friends do not…
or when they
just say the love me and give a hug… out-of-the-blue….
Is it possible those things bring my Heavenly Father joy, too?
Thus giving me strength to keep on going.
Thinking about the friend/lover relationship, I know my husband brings joy to my heart when he speaks up on my behalf…. {maybe I could speak of the Lord’s goodness}
when he tells me how much I mean to him {in prayer, I can praise God for who He is… simply because I know He loves me}
How about you!?
What sort of things do you think might bring Joy to the Lord in your life?
When you do those things, do you find that strength results? I know I do!
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by tascha |
You know the saying “Life is what happens after you make plans.”?
That was my day today. I had plans to “farm the kids out” {not really, just asked a trusted, sweet lady to keep them for the day}… so I could concentrate on some truly necessary things in our home that keep getting pushed further and further into {not onto, that would imply I’m still entertaining thoughts of them. haha} the back burner.
And then, last night, I heard a racking, hoarse cough coming from the girls’ room. I knew right away which one it was… my baby girl. Her congestion had finally settled, hard, right in her chest.
She woke up coughing… and crying, which made it worse. And made my momma-heart hurt.
But even amid the fatigue, the Lord gave me strength and brought certain things to my remembrance to help me help her. We got her coughing calmed down, and she went back to sleep for several hours… then it was time to get her sisters up for school.
A little while later, the baby’s nasal drainage caused his tummy to not appreciate his breakfast… {but he jumped right back up to being his normal, happy little self… and we are all cleaned and disinfected. hehe}
All this to paint a backdrop for this one thought:
...[God’s] strength is made perfect in [my] weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 [added]
While this has been a far cry from my “worst day ever,” life happened to bring me a day far different than I had planned. And because I know HIM... I can rest in His strength when days just don’t turn out the way I wanted.
edited: {not saying I always do rest in this strength, just that I can… and it is blessed}
I pray you can also find rest in His strength when life happens… after you make those plans {smiles}.
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by tascha
Do you know when your children just really need some extra rest?
The fussiness, crankiness, general irritability–that just screams at you, “Please put me in my bed and let my body rest!”
|
| yep, that’s a pouty face… |
Some days, my spirit is like that. The children’s fussiness grates on my nerves; the mess that accompanies 6 people in a small space… clothing, toys, school papers, mis-matched socks, lost cups [found days later], remnants of “teachable moments” {let’s see how well you can put your own clothing away. hehe}, etc.; and then they all want to eat-3 times a day… all work together to make my soul weary. And yet, I am not to be weary in well-doing.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:7-9.
And I realize that…I am trying to do good… in my own strength {again}.
{I am reaping weakness… because I am sowing in my own strength}
Come unto me…and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me… ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28,29
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by tascha |
One of the passages I read this morning was in Luke 6… where the Lord Jesus says:
Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? …why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? … Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. [select from verses 39-42]
Usually I hear this passage preached or spoken of as a reason for “not judging” your brother… And I like this quote I have seen recently: “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.” which implies that we all sin, because we do!… but there ARE appropriate times and places to give judgment.
And I don’t think I’m going where you think I’m going… { 🙂 }.
I am turning the tables on myself here.
Often, I find myself disciplining my children… for acting: just-like-me!
Not – how I acted when I was a child {that’s another post!}, but how I acted… – yesterday.
I see the mote in my brother’s [child’s] eye but NOT in my own, until it has driven me crazy… in my child’s life!
Recently, and again this morning, I have purposed to asking God to help me see the beam/mote/problem in my own life before the same thing in my children causes me frustrations.
Because- while I can punish them for doing wrong and teach them about what is appropriate and kind, etc. {as I should!} -until I actually acknowledge [that’s the hardest part] and change these situations in my own life, all the teaching and disciplining and punishing will be counter-productive!
And then the Lord gives grace and wisdom for me to deal with the same in my children’s lives. {It is always a lesson in patience.}
{Being a mother is one of the
most rewarding things I have ever done,
but it is also quite humbling! 🙂 }
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by tascha |
I read recently where someone was saying that [one of] the problems with the church is that she is not teaching us about how to “work.” One commenter dubbed it the “doctrine of vocation.”
Here is a quote which nearly sums the article:
“Christianity is given (sold?) to us, in the main, as a life of evangelism, morality and church activities. [yet] Our lives are made up of finely drawn details. Each day is full of countless ones. We do all these ‘little’ things at home, at work, and in the marketplace and they just don’t get a lot of sermon time.” [you can read its entirety here]
{And I believe this man is honestly speaking from a sincere heart. This is no attack on him or his thoughts. I do not even know him!}
This got me to thinking… and wondering:
Are we supposed to learn how to “act Christian” at work?
Is there a different way to express our faith in the workplace as opposed to in church on Sunday?
…and that made me be still… to listen and know.
It is almost cliche among Christians {especially those who are faithful to church and church activities} to say: Let Christ have preeminence…
{this is the first verse that popped in my head after reading the blog post: Colossians 1:18, And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence}
It seems to be often preached: Put Jesus first… and you will have peace, you will know joy, life will have meaning, etc.
Often, both phrases are used interchangeably.
But they are not the same.
And I am not actually supposed to put Jesus first.
I am to put Him only.
Preeminence implies that nothing else can compare.
There is no list for Him to be “first” on because He IS “the list.”
In the beginning of my Christian journey, He was the “first one” that I reached for/called out to in certain situations… but because He is always enough, then I ended up realizing that He is the only anything that I need in any situation. We’re all learning.
The problem, as I find in the Bible, is not that the church does not meet this supposed need of teaching us how to live in our different compartments: church, work, play, with friends, with family, in a store, in a restaurant, at a church function as opposed to a work function, with church friends as opposed to unsaved colleagues,etc.
The problem is that: WE LIVE IN COMPARTMENTS.
If I could just realize {and convey through example and testimony} that Christ is to simply be my life… I would see how He permeates [fills] every aspect
… without special training or doctrines.
Further reading in that same passage reveals:
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;….by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him… whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:18-20. {He is the fulness of all things… in heaven or on earth.} [emphasis mine]
and further still…
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled… through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:If ye continue in the faith … and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, …even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known …the glory of this mystery… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, … whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.Colossians 1:21-29 [selected, emphasis mine]
If I remember correctly, Paul, though a traveling missionary… worked. He had a “vocation” outside of being a minister of the Gospel. And yet, when speaking of Christ, Paul never mentions anything apart from Jesus is the fulness… of… well, of life.
Jesus is the fulness of life–all life.
He is not just the fulness of going to church or of witnessing or of having family devotions.
If the Spirit whispers within me to speak to a perfect stranger about the Gospel, Jesus is being the fulness “in the store.” If I realize that I have not given a true effort in a particular area of my secular job, then I know that I have not allowed Jesus to be the fulness in my “vocation.”
When I rest in His strength and find joy in His contentment, He becomes the fulness of any area/compartment I may have in my life.
Thus, Jesus becomes my life; and I do not need to blame my church for not teaching me how to live in my compartments.
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by tascha
 |
| “after” – this makes my heart sing. |
Sometimes, it is frustrating to realize just how much like a little child {my children, no less!} I act.
When they are asked to complete a very simple chore: please take the toys off of the bookshelves, because you know they do not belong there [this is purely for my own sanity]; their first response is: but I can’t reach… whatever toy on whatever shelf… excuses.
[SOMEONE put it there! and it wasn’t Mommy!!]
{yes. this happened just a few minutes ago… :)}
And then I think about simple tasks my Heavenly Father asks of me… write a kind note to a hurting church member, take a few extra steps and say HI to a visitor in church, let me {HIM} help you love your family as you want to… as is your heart’s desire.
… and I say, but LORD! I just can’t do that! for whatever reason. {I don’t have their address, I feel awkward talking to strangers, sometimes it’s hard to let God move in my heart….}
I forget what I tell my own children: Just say yes, ma’am and do what you can; show me you are trying to obey, and ask for my help and Mommy will help with the rest…
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| “before”–’nuff said! |
Is not God better than that?
and I am reminded of:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened…If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:8 & 11
Yes, Lord.
That is all the response He asks.
So, today, I wrote a note… and I am going to ask God to help me show my family how much I love them! And for tomorrow… we’ll just see what tomorrow brings!
one other passage came to mind:
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me
… for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9 & 10
The bookshelf pictures were from about 2 weeks ago… I did a major decluttering and re-shelving of books. When little fingers think the bookshelves are playgrounds, nothing is safe! Most of the messiness is moved and ‘rearranged’ books. The “after” picture is almost what it looked like again this morning after we removed several layers of toys… SO happy! I took pictures to PROVE that they CAN look nice 🙂 with all the books on the shelves and “in their home.”
by tascha |
For nearly 2 weeks I have posted each day of things the Lord has shown me either from personal Bible reading to in the simple day-to-day of being at home with my children.
Today, I have read several familiar passages {as was in my scheduled reading} and 1 of my usual “daily devotionals” and there has not been one particular thought or lesson that has made itself shareable. Several previous posts have been brought to mind though. {:) -ever learning:
~ [being a more faithful witness of His Love] ~ [personal responsibility] ~ [how I can have strength] ~ [seeing my own faults in my children’s needs] ~ [learning to live as His child from my own children] ~ to name a few}
Often the Lord shows me things that simply are not meant for me to share with the world, because my desire for this blog is to not be divisive. I do realize there are some who do not agree with 100% of what I share, but my prayer is that nothing I write can be taken and turned on the Lord to say: Look, she claims to be following Jesus and yet she is constantly having other Christians criticize or rebuke her for this or that. That makes my testimony of no effect for God’s glory.
Some things the Lord shows me personally are quite controversial, such as with dress standards or music our family will listen to or even how I plan to vote…I have personal, God-directed, husband-approving {yes, that is important to me!}, philosophies and opinions about all of those areas.
And there are blogs out there where the blogger’s simple desire to to share everything… and that’s fine!
But that is not my blog’s purpose. I strive to only speak of how God is changing my own heart.
Some posts I hesitate to publish because I am uncertain of the reaction, and I must be sensitive to my family’s place of influence in our church. I do not want to come across as pointing a finger at anyone. The “followers” number often fluctuates and I wonder… was it something I wrote or did they just really not understand what this blog was about when they first started following? [I don’t actually write to grow a “following,” but I do notice those things.] Most of my posts are first read by my husband. A few posts have been read by close, Godly friends before I hit “publish.”
One verse in my reading today that perhaps prompted these thoughts was in Proverbs 13:10- Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised there is wisdom.
While I wish to speak only truth, and I strive to do it in love, I also wish to do so with a visible humility so as to avoid contention due to my personage.
My heart’s desire is to not come across as someone who gushes that she has found all the answers because even though the principles I do find and share come from Scripture, I will never have ALL the answers [and neither will you 🙂 ].
And aside from
salvation, there is much of our life as Christians that is simply to be governed by the two great commands Jesus shared in Matthew. I wrote a little about that on
{day 1}. But I do praise the Lord that I know where to FIND the answer to anything I need.I suppose that is it for today. I was
still... the Lord showed me things I have already written about that need more attention in my own life.
And He reminded me of my need to be peaceable and show humility in all things I write.
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by tascha |
Sunday’s and today’s “be still and know” posts both come from the messages yesterday.
Last evening the preacher spoke from Psalm 119:33-40 about several attitudes of King David that caused him to have such a close relationship with God.
Amid the points such as: be teachable, desire understanding, bend your ear towards listening to God, and others…. the point that I suppose stood out the most to me was the last one.
Coming from verse 40: Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness…
and focusing in on the word quicken, he went on to give an example of it…
**At the end of music camp where where his granddaughter attended this past summer, he and his wife went to here the grand performance that would close the 2 weeks. Not really knowing what to expect, they were pleasantly greeted with beautiful music well-performed by dedicated teenagers.
What impressed the evening on him most was the obvious love and enthusiasm the conductor had! He described him as taking the wand and pointing vigorously at the different sections and waving it up and down and all over to direct the various instruments in their different parts of the music. The way he was gesturing to convey what he meant left me tired. {lol} To think of a man moving with such vigor for an entire symphony is exhausting. He had an evident joy for the music… for leading the orchestra. And the students played with equal enthusiasm to the point they were not still but moving and swaying with the music during the entire performance.**
This… this obvious enthusiasm and excitement was used to describe the word: quicken.
And David used quicken to describe how he wanted to live righteousness-with enthusiasm!
And it got me to thinking…. about my children {of course!}. How it brings an unspeakable joy and thrill to my heart when my children are happy to see me.
But I think especially of those few months as small babes when they cannot express their joy verbally… and their whole little, tiny bodies express it for them. Their arms wave, their faces nearly split from smiling, their little legs just pump like they are trying to push themselves into orbit { 🙂 }.
My heart melts, and I just enjoy holding them.
When I have obvious [meaning others notice it] enthusiasm for whatever I am doing …simply BECAUSE I am serving the Lord… could that not bring God a little bit of a “parent thrill”?
I realize that I am giving God my finite emotions, but we know that God joys in knowing His children obey His word, desire to serve Him, have His joy… and He patterned the Christian relationship after “father & child” for a reason.
Maybe He wanted us to have the opportunity to know more about Him as we teach and train children for His glory.
And today, I am trying to be enthusiastic about some housework I need to get done! { 😉 }
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