“Mommy, can I have some candy?”, Peyton asks.
I reply “Not right now, it’s almost time for dinner.”
“Daddy, can I have some candy?”, he turns and asks his Dad, looking for a “yes”.
This is Peyton’s new idea of getting what he wants! He will continuing asking anyone who is there hoping he’ll find the answer he’s looking for. Lately we haven’t been allowing it and it earns him a much unwanted timeout!
What he doesn’t understand yet is that Mom and Dad have a reason for their answers! He doesn’t understand that too much candy isn’t good for him; that we know he’d love to go outside but 2 minutes into it he’ll cry because his hands are too cold; that if he eats right before bedtime, he doesn’t sleep well at night; etc. Although he may be upset at the time for our answer, we know what’s best for him.
I think of all the things I thought I knew when I was younger. How upset I would get when I didn’t get what I wanted. I grew a great respect for my Dad and the decisions he made because I could often look back and realize he was right! He usually didn’t even have to say much when I did wrong because I already knew, already felt guilty, and I believe he considered it a lesson learned. It was a quiet, humble, wise strength that I respected. Randy’s grandfather has this same strength about him and I admire him for it. It is often my prayer that Randy and I can have this same way of parenting.
Everyone can think of these times in their past or present. A time when as a child we went to our parent (or parent-figure) for an answer we wanted or when a child has come to us. It’s easy to look at it in these terms and see the different answers we give and the reasons for them. Why is it so hard then to see it so easily in Godly terms?
“I sought the Lord and He answered me…” Psalm 34:4
When we go to our Father with a request, we tend to always go seeking a “yes”. Having an answer doesn’t mean the Lord has granted you with what you asked. God’s answers also include “No”, “Wait”, and “Trust”. God’s answer may be an explanation, a refusal, a promise, or a condition. It is simply Him giving attention to our request. Too often we don’t see what we’ve asked for and we get irritated with God. “Where is He and why is He ignoring me now?”, “HELLO GOD! Are you there?…maybe I should give up…”, “Aggghhh! Just forget it God, apparently you’re too busy for little me!“, we turn away kicking and screaming just like my 4 year old does to me!
“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Hebrews 10:35
You need to learn to appreciate your hardships more than you do. They are what makes you grow and mature and develop Godly character. God allows us to go through tough times to increase our faith in Him. To allow us to see that He will never leave us or forsake us.
“All the commandments which I command you this day you shall be watchful to do, that you may live and multiply…you shall earnestly remember all the way which the Lord your God led you…in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your mind and heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not…that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:1-3
We cannot live by all the things we seem to live by, we need to look to God to be our strength and our Provider. He wants only what is best for us and He knows what we need and when we need it.
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! …He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30: 18-21
The Lord is waiting to for someone to be good to. He is looking for the person who’s eyes are fixed on Him, who is expecting His favor, His love, His joy even during the trials and hard times in life. If we constantly keep our eyes on our Teacher, God promises “that your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.”
“The Lord upholds all those [of His own] who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down. The eyes of all wait for You and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.” Psalm 145: 14-19
When we are falling we are to keep our eyes on God, focus on and praise Him. Learn to wait on Him with expectancy by thanking Him that the answer is on the way. If we keep our hearts in the right place He promises that in due season, when the time is right He will reward us and bring us the desires of our hearts. Our deep innermost desires, too deep for words (Romans 8:26) NOT our casual wishes.
“I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands.” Psalm 31:14,15
Trust is a firm reliance on the integrity, ability, etc., of a person or thing; confident expectation; responsibility; care.
Confident means having strong belief or full assurance; sure.
We need to trust God and remain confident that His timing is right. When waiting on God and waiting for an answer we need to remain at peace, putting things in His hands, it is then that we will be rewarded. If we are in need and we lean on Him for our support, it is then that we can see his wondrous works. He will bring us to the point to where we know it was not by our own works that brought us to prosper but by His hand and because of His unfailing, never ending love.
“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him” Psalm 37:7
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved.” Psalm 62:1,2
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Our Christmas Tree
The kids were with Dad and the house was quiet and I found myself admiring our Christmas tree. There’s so much to be told within it’s branches, the outline of our lives. I’m one of those people who likes ornaments that have meaning. I always loved decorating the Christmas tree with my mom and as we pulled out each ornament, there was always a memory or story behind it.
I look at ours now and it’s the first year we don’t have any room for “balls” or “fillers”. There’s “Our First Christmas Together 2003” from the year we started dating and a Chinese crested dog for our first dog, Punk, who is no longer with us. We also have a boxer for Boomer, our dog who died last Christmas. Callie has her own ornament that looks like her. Cardinals which represent the memory of my BL Nan. A red church I gave my Grammy. We have a few “Our First Christmas 2005” from the year we were married and “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments for Peyton and Jayden. We traced their hands last year and decorated mittens and this year we all colored wooden ornaments. Last year we added a gray kitten for Meeka. There’s an icicle with a snowmen on top that my Aunt Joni put on a gift for me a few years ago and one of my favorites, a wooden nativity scene my mom gave us from her new church. A fire truck Uncle Landon gave Peyton two years ago and a mother/daughter ornament I got after Christmas when Jayden was born. So far this year we’ve added a black bear, for the camping trip when the bear came too close and a snowman with Marino’s name and this years date for the year we started sponsoring him. This is only a few examples, there are very many more!
Our tree hasn’t always been so full of these special ornaments. We used to have balls and bows and even ribbon. As the year’s have passed we’ve taken them away and this is the first year they didn’t make it out of the box! There’s something so special about a Christmas tree. I love our ornaments, all representing a special memory or person we hold close to our hearts.
I have realized how closely our lives resemble a Christmas tree. In the beginning we had a small tree I set up with mostly balls and bows, it was a beautiful start but it didn’t have all the meaning and memory. Two Christmas’s later, Randy and I were married and truly setting out on our lives together and each year since we’ve added the special ornaments and taken off the empty, meaningless ones. Take time to read Colossians 3, it tells us about living as those made alive in Christ.
Verses 5-8 represent the balls and bows in our lives and orders us to take them off:
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immortality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry…You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Verses 6-13 represent the special, keepsake ornaments and tells us to put them on:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another…”
Verse 14 represent the lights we need to turn on that spread throughout our tree and light it up bringing it to its full splendor:
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Verse 15 represents the angel or star on top of our tree that completes it:“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Verses 16-17 brings together the moment we step back and look at our tree:
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed , do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I wish you all a “tree full of special ornaments”, lit up with love and topped with an angel of peace. As you admire your tree, may you remember the true meaning of Christmas by sharing God’s love and His truth, praising Him for the life He brings!
Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year!
I look at ours now and it’s the first year we don’t have any room for “balls” or “fillers”. There’s “Our First Christmas Together 2003” from the year we started dating and a Chinese crested dog for our first dog, Punk, who is no longer with us. We also have a boxer for Boomer, our dog who died last Christmas. Callie has her own ornament that looks like her. Cardinals which represent the memory of my BL Nan. A red church I gave my Grammy. We have a few “Our First Christmas 2005” from the year we were married and “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments for Peyton and Jayden. We traced their hands last year and decorated mittens and this year we all colored wooden ornaments. Last year we added a gray kitten for Meeka. There’s an icicle with a snowmen on top that my Aunt Joni put on a gift for me a few years ago and one of my favorites, a wooden nativity scene my mom gave us from her new church. A fire truck Uncle Landon gave Peyton two years ago and a mother/daughter ornament I got after Christmas when Jayden was born. So far this year we’ve added a black bear, for the camping trip when the bear came too close and a snowman with Marino’s name and this years date for the year we started sponsoring him. This is only a few examples, there are very many more!
Our tree hasn’t always been so full of these special ornaments. We used to have balls and bows and even ribbon. As the year’s have passed we’ve taken them away and this is the first year they didn’t make it out of the box! There’s something so special about a Christmas tree. I love our ornaments, all representing a special memory or person we hold close to our hearts.
I have realized how closely our lives resemble a Christmas tree. In the beginning we had a small tree I set up with mostly balls and bows, it was a beautiful start but it didn’t have all the meaning and memory. Two Christmas’s later, Randy and I were married and truly setting out on our lives together and each year since we’ve added the special ornaments and taken off the empty, meaningless ones. Take time to read Colossians 3, it tells us about living as those made alive in Christ.
Verses 5-8 represent the balls and bows in our lives and orders us to take them off:
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immortality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry…You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Verses 6-13 represent the special, keepsake ornaments and tells us to put them on:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another…”
Verse 14 represent the lights we need to turn on that spread throughout our tree and light it up bringing it to its full splendor:
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Verse 15 represents the angel or star on top of our tree that completes it:“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Verses 16-17 brings together the moment we step back and look at our tree:
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed , do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I wish you all a “tree full of special ornaments”, lit up with love and topped with an angel of peace. As you admire your tree, may you remember the true meaning of Christmas by sharing God’s love and His truth, praising Him for the life He brings!
Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Santa's Watching You
Santa has sent us an elf, an “Elf on the Shelf”. The elf comes in a box along with a book to describe this tradition. Your elf sits up high and watches to see if you’re being naughty or nice, then during the night he flies to the North Pole to tell Santa how you were that day. When he returns, he finds a new place to sit, and this continues until Christmas. Finally on Christmas night he flies home with Santa until he’ll reappear next holiday season. Part of the magic is that you get to name your elf. You name him, write it in the back of your book and the magic begins. You may not touch your elf though or the magic disappears. This is a cute tradition that is basically an easy way to tell your children “Santa’s elf is watching you!”.
I had never heard of such a things until we got one in the mail. We opened our package, read the book, and named our elf. Peyton named our elf “Tapey” but they were less than impressed that they couldn’t touch him. We sat the elf, in his box, up on the shelf, and when the children woke the next morning the elf had came out of his box and was sitting on a nearby shelf, the fun began! Now they were excited and believed that this elf was really from Santa! It has been fun finding new places to sit the elf and watching the kids look for him and laugh when they finally find him. The best part about the elf is how well behaved the kids have become! They are normally good kids, just have the typical sibling fights and normal 2 and 4 year old fits, but since “Tapey” arrived they’ve been on their best behavior! It’s too bad he has to go home with Santa because I’d really like to have him around more often!
----------------------------------------------------------
The holidays come around and “Santa’s watching you” becomes a regular phrase in any home with children. Such a simple thing many of us have grown up with. Kids have a tendency to try their best to be good when they think Santa is watching them. Which brings me to the question, is this how you’re living out your life?
How is your behavior when you think no one is watching? How do you handle difficult, stressful, upsetting situations when alone compared to when someone is around? Are you consistent in your good behavior? The truth is our Father is always watching us. He sees what we do behind closed doors, He never takes time off, or walks away for a moment, He is always with us.
Think about this: You’re at home when something makes you angry (children, spouse, bad news, etc.) and you find yourself in a tantrum (too often we associate this word with kids but, yes, even adults have these!). You’re yelling, screaming, throwing things, think of the last time you’ve acted out like this, we all have at some point, and put yourself in that moment. During this time, what would happen if your pastor knocked on your door? I can guarantee you would straighten up real quick! How often does the rush of getting ready for church get you in a bad mood? Is the family who walks in the front door of the church the same family that just got out of the car?! There are many more examples, but my point here is that when we act like this we are acting to please people. God does not reward “good behavior” done when the behavior is to look good in front of someone else.
We need to be on our best behavior at all times because we want to be God-pleasers. We should be consistently making choices to rise above the negative things and be a better person to please our Father. Don’t make excuses for it, you aren’t “just an angry/emotional person”, you’re life isn’t just too hard….there’s no way around it. In every situation when you feel that anger rising up inside of you, at that moment, you have a choice: give in to it and feel it or rise above it and leave it powerless. I know sometimes the problems seem too overwhelming, or you may be so used to getting angry you aren’t sure how to act otherwise but God is there for you. He’s waiting for you to reach to Him for help and He is faithful. If you know of nothing else to do in that moment you find yourself having to make a choice, PRAY! Pray until the emotion subsides and don’t stop until it does.
Let’s all take a step of faith to be on our best behavior at all times. God watches us at all times and He’s there for you at all times. Let’s go back to how we were as children who thought Santa could see us everywhere! If we do this with honest hearts God will reward us with His blessings and gifts, just as Santa did!
“And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].” 2 Thessalonians 3:18
I had never heard of such a things until we got one in the mail. We opened our package, read the book, and named our elf. Peyton named our elf “Tapey” but they were less than impressed that they couldn’t touch him. We sat the elf, in his box, up on the shelf, and when the children woke the next morning the elf had came out of his box and was sitting on a nearby shelf, the fun began! Now they were excited and believed that this elf was really from Santa! It has been fun finding new places to sit the elf and watching the kids look for him and laugh when they finally find him. The best part about the elf is how well behaved the kids have become! They are normally good kids, just have the typical sibling fights and normal 2 and 4 year old fits, but since “Tapey” arrived they’ve been on their best behavior! It’s too bad he has to go home with Santa because I’d really like to have him around more often!
----------------------------------------------------------
The holidays come around and “Santa’s watching you” becomes a regular phrase in any home with children. Such a simple thing many of us have grown up with. Kids have a tendency to try their best to be good when they think Santa is watching them. Which brings me to the question, is this how you’re living out your life?
How is your behavior when you think no one is watching? How do you handle difficult, stressful, upsetting situations when alone compared to when someone is around? Are you consistent in your good behavior? The truth is our Father is always watching us. He sees what we do behind closed doors, He never takes time off, or walks away for a moment, He is always with us.
Think about this: You’re at home when something makes you angry (children, spouse, bad news, etc.) and you find yourself in a tantrum (too often we associate this word with kids but, yes, even adults have these!). You’re yelling, screaming, throwing things, think of the last time you’ve acted out like this, we all have at some point, and put yourself in that moment. During this time, what would happen if your pastor knocked on your door? I can guarantee you would straighten up real quick! How often does the rush of getting ready for church get you in a bad mood? Is the family who walks in the front door of the church the same family that just got out of the car?! There are many more examples, but my point here is that when we act like this we are acting to please people. God does not reward “good behavior” done when the behavior is to look good in front of someone else.
We need to be on our best behavior at all times because we want to be God-pleasers. We should be consistently making choices to rise above the negative things and be a better person to please our Father. Don’t make excuses for it, you aren’t “just an angry/emotional person”, you’re life isn’t just too hard….there’s no way around it. In every situation when you feel that anger rising up inside of you, at that moment, you have a choice: give in to it and feel it or rise above it and leave it powerless. I know sometimes the problems seem too overwhelming, or you may be so used to getting angry you aren’t sure how to act otherwise but God is there for you. He’s waiting for you to reach to Him for help and He is faithful. If you know of nothing else to do in that moment you find yourself having to make a choice, PRAY! Pray until the emotion subsides and don’t stop until it does.
Let’s all take a step of faith to be on our best behavior at all times. God watches us at all times and He’s there for you at all times. Let’s go back to how we were as children who thought Santa could see us everywhere! If we do this with honest hearts God will reward us with His blessings and gifts, just as Santa did!
“And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].” 2 Thessalonians 3:18
Monday, December 6, 2010
Lip Prints
I had a favorite tube of lipstick. It was the perfect shade and one I was comfortable with, a light pink that gave me some color but wasn’t too noticeable. It didn’t “kiss away” or smudge. Once it was becoming impossible to scrape anymore out of the tube it was time to buy a new one. To my surprise they didn’t have the right color! They had a similar one, so I bought it hoping it would work. It didn’t and in fact it didn’t even look like I had put any on. Next time at the store I went about picking a new color. I thought since it was winter, maybe I’d go with a darker shade, but I’m not one for dark lipstick. I found an almost dark color that I thought would work, it was a wine color, not too pink, not too red, just nicely in between. The first time I put it on, I took it right back off immediately! This was not for me! It was possible I was being self conscience since I wasn’t used to a darker shade, so I got a second opinion. Randy thought it looked nice so I decided to give it another try.
On day 2 of this lipstick trial we attended a Christmas dinner…
As I was leaving the kid’s at Gram and Pap’s I kissed them goodbye as I always do. Unlike others, this time they had lip prints on their cheeks! It made me think of my childhood and how my Mom used to always do this to me (she still does sometimes and I have gone hours before noticing!).
At dinner, I ordered my drink, took a sip, and looked at my straw….I was that mother!! I was the mother who left a lipstick stain on her straw! I aged 20 years in that moment!
I’ve been wearing the lipstick now for a few days and as uncomforting as it was in the beginning, it’s starting to grow on me. I like the color now and I just may keep it. I have to admit though, my favorite thing about it is leaving “lips” on my babies!
What kind of impression is our faith leaving behind? Some of us have what seems like a beautiful faith but never let it rub off or leave an impression on anyone around us. We keep enough faith that it works for us but is never noticeable to the ones around us. We hold on to the same level of faith and try to keep scraping out as much as possible. Some of us get so comfortable in our faith it becomes ineffective.
We need to have a faith that reaches out to others. One that keeps growing and renewing day by day. Our faith should be seen in our acts and in our deeds. We should be walking in and stepping out in faith every day. This may be uncomfortable at first, but we need to trust God, He will not fail us! Just like my new shade keeps leaving lip prints behind, our faith should be leaving heart prints behind. Acts of faith that show others God’s unconditional, unfailing, never ending, LOVE!
“Let us consider and give attentive, continuous, care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up love and helpful deeds and noble activities.“ Hebrews 10:24
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
On day 2 of this lipstick trial we attended a Christmas dinner…
As I was leaving the kid’s at Gram and Pap’s I kissed them goodbye as I always do. Unlike others, this time they had lip prints on their cheeks! It made me think of my childhood and how my Mom used to always do this to me (she still does sometimes and I have gone hours before noticing!).
At dinner, I ordered my drink, took a sip, and looked at my straw….I was that mother!! I was the mother who left a lipstick stain on her straw! I aged 20 years in that moment!
I’ve been wearing the lipstick now for a few days and as uncomforting as it was in the beginning, it’s starting to grow on me. I like the color now and I just may keep it. I have to admit though, my favorite thing about it is leaving “lips” on my babies!
What kind of impression is our faith leaving behind? Some of us have what seems like a beautiful faith but never let it rub off or leave an impression on anyone around us. We keep enough faith that it works for us but is never noticeable to the ones around us. We hold on to the same level of faith and try to keep scraping out as much as possible. Some of us get so comfortable in our faith it becomes ineffective.
We need to have a faith that reaches out to others. One that keeps growing and renewing day by day. Our faith should be seen in our acts and in our deeds. We should be walking in and stepping out in faith every day. This may be uncomfortable at first, but we need to trust God, He will not fail us! Just like my new shade keeps leaving lip prints behind, our faith should be leaving heart prints behind. Acts of faith that show others God’s unconditional, unfailing, never ending, LOVE!
“Let us consider and give attentive, continuous, care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up love and helpful deeds and noble activities.“ Hebrews 10:24
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)