Have you ever had one of these moments?

Have you ever caught yourself behaving like your mom or saying something to your kids you swore you'd never ever say when you had your own kids?  Lately, it's felt like that around our house.  My husband and I are parents to three beautiful kids, ages 14, 10, & 6.  Each one has had their moments of testing us, but currently it's the middle one.  I know I must have gone through this with my older son and we all survived, but now it seems new all over again.  This morning, it was an inappropriate Youtube video that got us going, then it quickly spread to "lolly-gagging" as I would call it and not getting ready for school.  (I'm sure all you moms of pre-teens can relate.)  It ended with voices raised and a very ugly attitude.  Now, my son is a beautiful, tender-hearted, christian boy and on the whole, I am so proud of him.  But this attitude thing has got to go.  So, what's the best way to get at the root of the problem?  Pray.  God knows my son and He knows me.  He knows how to parent better than anyone.  He knows the best way to get to the heart of the matter-our hearts.  We just don't want our kids to be well-behaved robots, we want their hearts to be in the right place, don't we?  We want kids who have a heart for God and know how to make wise decisions and choices in their lives, by looking to God for their help.  What better way to show them that, than by going to God ourselves at times of decision in our own lives.  Parenting is not being perfect all the time.  None of us are.  Our kids don't need a perfect Mom and Dad, they need honest ones.  They need a Mom that's not afraid to say "Hey, I messed up and I'm so sorry about that, but  I love you and God is going to help me to change.  You are so precious to me and you deserve my best.  Thank you for being patient with me and  for loving me."  Whether you see your kids everyday or you haven't seen them in years, your children need you.  If there's a step-mother or step-father in their lives, they still need YOU.  Don't compare yourself to someone else and get discouraged.  They need YOU.  You are their flesh and blood, you will always have a special place in their hearts that no one can fill but you alone.  They may be confused at times and throw hurtful words at you, but there's a part of them that will always be longing for a relationship with you. We all make mistakes with our kids, not one of us is perfect.  Just continue to love them and go to God in prayer.  He will show you the way.  He can heal the broken hearts and make you whole again, you and your kids.  You are not a failure.   He can make something beautiful out of the broken pieces of your life.  You CAN make it...with God's help.

    

Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?

Good Morning All,

Short post today.  I was just thinking this morning, of how great our God is.  He has done so much for me.  He brought me up in a christian home, planted me in a holy ghost filled, full-gospel, old-time bible-believing church where the word of God is taught faithfully over the platform and ministers to the very depths of my soul. He has delivered me from the guilt of my past.  He has set my feet on a solid rock and He has set me free to worship Him.  I am so happy to be a part of the family of God.  Whatever God is doing in this end day, I want to be a part of it.  I want God to use me in whatever way He sees fit to be able to reach others for Christ, to help minister his love to someone else in need.  

You know, this world can be so distracting with its trials and if we're not careful we'll take our eyes off of God, our savior, our deliverer and see only the waves of confusion and fear that plague our world in this time of economic crisis and political upheaval.  BUT, we need to remember that we serve a MIGHTY God who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask!  If we are serving Him and walking with Him in our daily lives, then He is going to protect us from all this turmoil.  He will keep you from all harm.  None of this will come near us.  Situations happen and yes, we can feel the pinch of it, but don't take your eyes off of Jesus!  He is our source, our strength and our very present help in time of need.  He is a miracle-working God.  Do you really trust God?  When you take time to think about all the things He has done for you throughout your life and where He's brought you from, isn't He an amazing God?  

How many times in the old testament did God meet the needs of the Israelites...He delivered them from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, yet when they got to the Red Sea and saw no escape from it, what happened to their faith in God?  It sank.  They began to fear and complain.  And when the Lord delivered them so miraculously from it by dividing the sea and letting them walk right through it on dry ground and then drowning all the Egyptians who pursued them, what did they do as soon as they began to hunger in the desert?  Murmur and complain and doubt God.  Time and time again they did that.  What a discouraging thing that must've been for God to hear arising from their camp after all the things He had done for them.  It was never enough for them. Surely they would have faith after the first thing He did, but still they complained and doubted God. 

What has God done for you?  Do you have needs in your life that seem unsurmountable?  Is the world telling you that there's no way, it's impossible?  Nothing is impossible with God!  We serve a supernatural God.  He is NOT LIMITED by the things of this world.  Instead of giving into your fear and doubt, why not look at all He has done for you already and encourage your faith today.  We serve a mighty God and He can do ANYTHING!  Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will see the victory come in your life.  This is just one more battle of many we will experience in life.  Trials come to test our faith.  Will you pass the test?  Once you pass, the blessings will begin to flow for you, like they did for Abraham.  SO, hang on to Jesus today.  Read your Bible, and take time to thank the Lord for all His many blessings to your life already and let your faith begin to arise. Victory Ahead!

No Weapon Shall Prosper

Good Morning all,
Isaiah 54: 17 reads like this: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."
When you read this whole chapter you see that it's talking about someone who has felt ashamed or even humiliated.  Perhaps you've felt like God has turned his eyes from you and left you to fend for yourself, alone.  He hasn't.  He's telling us in this passage of scripture to make room, your barrenness is over. Your feelings of being a failure, weakness and forsakenness will soon be over. God will return you to your former glory.  "Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.." (verse 4) 

Sometimes we come to a place where we feel we have disappointed everyone, let everyone down, maybe even ourselves.  Perhaps people once had high hopes for us but somehow along the way, we got distracted or took a wrong turn. Perhaps the dreams we had once seem unattainable.  Perhaps life just didn't turn out the way we planned and we feel lost to figure out what way to turn next.  This whole chapter is for you.  If you've returned to God after losing your way, you don't have to be ashamed of your past any longer. You don't have to keep living in the past, consistently being reminded of previous mistakes.  That's not you anymore.   "In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (verse 14)

And then it says in verse 2-3 to begin to prepare.  Preparation is an act of faith and like any act of faith it takes action. You need to begin to do something to exercise your faith.  "Englarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited."

So, I encourage you to read this whole chapter and read the next one, too.  Take it to heart and begin to apply it to your life. Begin to exercise your faith.  Lay claim on the promises of God.  They are for YOU.  Not just everyone else, but for YOU.  "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus".  Don't let the devil keep reminding you of your past.  Rebuke him.  You are a new creature now-born again.  That old man is behind you.  God CAN still use you and cause your life to bring glory to Him.  In verse 17 it says, "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."  You can claim that heritage. 
I hope this has encouraged and blessed you.

Lead Me, Cause I Can't Do This Alone

Though this video is from a man's perspective, I think women can apply it to their lives, too.  We all need to put our trust in Jesus- to ask Him to lead us and guide us through every situation we face because we all can feel alone sometimes and uncertain of our direction-especially in our roles of spouses and parents.  We have a big responsibility to fulfill and sometimes we feel helpless on how to do it well.  What to do when things don't go the way we planned.  But if we put our trust in Him, and keep our minds stayed on Him, He will lead us and keep us through the uncertainties of life. He will give us wisdom and direction on how He wants us to live.  He will be the potter who can mold us and shape us into His image, putting the past behind and creating us anew.  But only through Him, we can't do it on our own, we need Him.  We need Him to lead us in His ways.  Just lead me oh, Lord.  

Do we have what it takes?

                                                                                
I remember when my oldest child was born, my first thoughts were "Here is this child who is totally dependent on his father and I for everything..Will he be able to trust in us the way I trusted in my own parents to meet my every need?"  I'm sure I'm not alone here.  "Here is this helpless life that we've been given...do we have what it takes to raise him to know Christ and to be able to stand against all the opposition he will have to face in this world?"  It all seemed so overwhelming at the time.

How quickly the years have gone by and it's hard to comprehend that in just a few short years, my son will be thrust out into the world having to make his own choices and begin his future as a man.  Where has the time gone?  As I sit here today, I wonder if we've given him what he'll need..have we laid a strong enough foundation for him to stand when the storms of life come?

You know, I think we all question our ability to raise our kids right.  We may not have all the answers but we serve a God who does.  I sincerely believe that if we earnestly pray and seek God about it, He will give us direction and wisdom on how to teach and guide our children.  When my son began asking questions about God, I felt inadequate to answer him and it caused me to go to my knees in prayer.  I want to pray as a fellow christian mother once prayed, "Lord, let them have a desire to serve You and let them be established in Your word; let their roots go down deep so they can stand when the storms come.  Protect them from the snares of this world. Shelter them under your wing."   In this world, we know our children will face temptation.  What's unfortunate is that parents have come to accept it as "normal" for their children to experiment with the temptations of sex, drugs/alcohol, even spiritualism and we've come to think that it's a "phase" they will grow out of.  I don't believe that. "They have to try things", people say. I did not have to try drugs to know they could kill me.  Why even let them be exposed to such things.  In the Bible, did the good shepherd allow his sheep to wander off with the wolves for a time, trusting that they would find their way back on their own.  NO!  He went running after them to rescue them from certain death. His fear was that they would be devoured, that the enemy would destroy them.  He loved them enough to go out and try to save them.  Did he sit by and do nothing when they got too close to the edge? I heard a story recently, of a young teen who wanted to experiment with witchcraft because her friends made it look "cool and fun".  When the parent talked to a minister's wife about it, she was told it was just a phase that the girl would grow out of.  I don't believe we can tell our kids that fire is dangerous and then just let them play around with it.  There are some things you just don't mess with.

I just want to encourage you as parents to go to God with your concerns about your children.  Each one is different and special in His eyes and He loves them more than you and I ever could, and He's entrusted them to you.  Maybe you can't be with them 24/7, like you'd like to be, but you can pray.  Prayer is our greatest weapon.   He alone knows their hearts and their silent struggles.  It may take time and vigilant prayer, but I know if we seek Him, He will give us the wisdom and opportunity to speak a word of truth to them, to plant/water a seed for Him in their lives, to help guide our children, no matter how old they are.  I believe if our kids can keep their focus on the Lord, keep their mind set on Him, be determined to stand and go to Him in prayer continually, I know they can make it.  They do not have to become ensnared in this world.  They can stay clear of it. Parents-Don't let your guard down.  Be vigilant. Watch who they hang around with, what they're reading and watching, even what the schools are teaching them.  I encourage you to speak up and don't be afraid to say something.  Remember, they're watching us, looking for someone to follow...someone who will be that example to them of how to live this life.  Let that someone be you- Let them see Jesus in you.  That's a daily struggle for all of us as we're all well aware of our own weaknesses.  But let that be your inspiration to pick yourself up and fight another day.  It'll be worth it all when we see Jesus. Keep up the fight of faith.  God Bless You.

     

God Will Do It Again!

Hey there,
I woke up this morning with this song on my mind and I hope it encourages you today.  Whatever situation that you're facing, no matter how impossible it looks, or how long you've been dealing with it, I want to encourage you to not give up.  Our God is greater than any situation we face. He is the master of the winds and He can calm the storm.  He can do the impossible.  When everyone around you is telling you to throw in the towel, don't you give up!  Put your trust in Jesus and He will work it out for you.  And He'll do it in a way you and I could've never imagined. He's got a plan and if we just keep trusting Him, we'll see it all fall into place. We may not know how or when, but He will do it.  In our own minds, sometimes we try to figure out how it could happen or what we, in ourselves, could do to solve it.  But God's ways are not our ways.  We just have to give it to Him and leave it with Him.  Don't keep worrying about it and letting it consume our thoughts all the time.  Just rest in His promises and keep praising God.  When the situation creeps into your mind and fear starts to come again, just go to His word and start reading of how faithful He is and the promises He's made to those who are serving Him. He's kept you this far hasn't He? Hasn't he always been faithful to you before, so there's no need to worry and fret.  He will work it out again.  Have a great weekend (I won't be blogging tomorrow as it's Sunday.)  I look forward to meeting you back here again on Monday to continue our study on how to get a meek and quiet spirit.  Until then, God Bless You and I hope you enjoy this song.
Tammy

How to have a Meek and Quiet Spirit-Part 2

Yesterday, I began a study on what it means to have a meek and quiet spirit.  You're welcome to read along with me from a book by Teri Maxwell entitled, Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit.  While I don't homeschool my children, I am interested in learning how to have a meek and quiet spirit, especially with my children.  I hope you'll join me.

So, what do the words "meek" and "quiet" mean?  Meek is defined by Webster's 1858 Dictionary as mild of temper, soft, gentle, not easily provoked or irritated.  Quiet is defined as peaceable, not turbulent, not giving offense, mild, meek and contented.  I did not see the word weak in there at all, which is a connotation I always associated with these words.  In reality, I think it requires an inner strength.

I Peter 3:4 of the KJV Bible says, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  
Matthew 11:29 says, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. So, we see Jesus is meek.  Then, this is certainly something we should strive to be.  When you first envisioned yourself having children, how did you see yourself interacting with them?  Is it different than your day-to-day reality?  If you're like me, it probably is, unfortunately.  We don't always behave towards our children the way we had hoped we would.  Oh, we love them, and we start off each day saying, today will be different; I'll do things right today.  But within the first few minutes, we've already failed and we are left discouraged again.

So, what are the obstacles that keep us from having a meek and quiet spirit?  Let's look at some of those...Did your children wake up fighting with each other?  Is there a bed unmade that should have been made long ago? Is the sink full of dishes from last night? Is your husband unappreciative of all you do?  Did the alarm clock wake you up as soon as it seems you went to sleep?  Are you preoccupied with other personal or financial issues?  Most meek and quiet spirit robbers fall into the categories of fear, disorganization and anger.  I believe the Lord offers us great hope in helping us to overcome these obstacles.  "With God all things are possible", right?   I hope you'll continue to read along with me and see how we, too, can learn  practical, real-life ways to obtain this in our own lives.