If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love--I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love--my children learn of cleanliness, not godliness. Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is present through trials. Love reprimands, reproves and is responsive. As a mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is.......LOVE.
Good one to post somewhere in your house to remind yourself everyday of what's the most important thing we can give our kids, especially if you're having one of "those" days.
As mothers, our plates are so full with all the things that must be accomplished in a day. We have to work, have appointments, errands to run, a daily schedule to follow, etc. I don't know about you, but I'm certainly guilty of rushing my kids out the door, or telling them we'll do something they want to do LATER because I'm just so busy. My patience has worn thin many a day. But who am I really disappointed with? Myself. If I had just planned things better, gotten up earlier, did this or that, I wouldn't be snapping at the kids, right? That sets the tone for the day-disappointment and frustration with who? myself. But who gets the brunt of it? the kids (and sometimes my poor husband). As mothers, we carry a big weight around-a weight of responsibility. We want to be the perfect mom perfect house, perfect kids, home-cooked healthy meals, homemade costumes, playful, patient, calm, loving, and supportive, etc. You get the picture, right-the Beaver's mom. In reality, we can't do this all on our own. We have good intentions, yes, but we're human with human weaknesses. We need God's help to give us strength and to help us overcome these areas. Michelle Duggar describes her defining frustrating prayer this way: " Father, I don't want my children to remember me as a mama who was constantly fussing at them and raising my voice at them. I want them to remember me as a joyful and happy mama who loves being with them. God, please help me in those difficult moments to have the right response to the anger I feel welling up inside me." Isn't that the prayer of all moms? God answered her prayer and showed her a better way to handle these situations. She is still struggling with that issue, because she's human, but she's reminded of the damaging effects that anger has on the kids and so she continues to work at it. I think that's as honest as they come. That pretty much sums up my situation exactly. Stumble, feel bad, apologize to the kids, then stumble again, a continuous cycle, and I wonder what my kids are learning from me exactly. Now, I've never seen Michelle yell at her kids on their TV show, but it's nice to see that there's hope for moms like me-but she didn't overcome instantly. She had to work at it. It's a daily struggle that she goes to God in prayer with and He helps her. We have to do the same thing. Don't beat yourself up because you fall or have a bad day. Go to God, talk with your kids, apologize (yes, apologize) be honest with them about your struggle, then go on. Your kids know you're not perfect. But if they know you keep picking yourself up, that you're seeking God for help with it, it's hope for them, too, when they face their own struggles. When they see you improving and overcoming, it'll encourage them as well.
Though the following was Michelle's answer and it may indeed help you, I encourage you to seek God for yourself and let Him guide you for the answer to your own personal situation-He may have a different answer for you. A soft answer turns away wrath; but grievous words stir up strife. (scripture reference) I'm not going to bicker, not going to nag, not going to ask the kids ten times to do something. I'm going to lovingly say it once, and if they don't obey, then I'll quickly correct them in love, encourage them in a soft voice to do what's right, and then move on. I'm going to use a soft, low voice, no matter what. If they don't listen, I'll follow through with correction, but even then, I'll stay calm and speak softly.
Believe me, this sounds impossible to me right now. I see my inadequacies and failures, BUT, our God is a God of impossibilities. Is anything too hard for the Lord? So, I will put my trust in the Lord and let Him make the change in me. All He requires is a willing heart, right? He is the potter, I am the clay. Who says the potter cannot knock out all the bubbles that are causing imperfections in my pot and mold me into something beautiful. Who am I to say it's not possible. If God saved you, forgave your sins, healed your broken heart, filled you with His Holy Spirit and set you on a new course in life, can't he shape you into a wonderful mom, too? He can do ANYTHING! All we have to do is trust and believe. You trust Him with your soul, your family, your finances, your healing, your marriage, why not this? It doesn't matter what your family background is or what things you experienced as a child, you are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of your parents/caregivers. You may never have experienced the love of a parent and don't know how to love a child. He can heal you of those hidden hurts, the low self-confidence and fears and replace them with understanding, loving kindness, gentleness, patience, etc. He can mold you into something beautiful, something after His own heart. Isn't that what we all want to have-a clean heart, a right spirit. I challenge you-Give it all to Jesus and watch what He will do with your life.
If you're my age (40ish), I'm sure you remember Candace Cameron from the television series Full House. I'm sure you're also aware that her brother, Kirk Cameron, is one of the best-known christian actors in Hollywood. As I was browsing the net, I found this testimony and thought it really made a point. How many of us judge ourselves by what we see going on around us? There's so much evil in the world, so many doing such horribly disgusting things, so many with seemingly no morals or values at all and we say to ourselves, "I'm not THAT bad...at least I'm not doing what THEIR doing." We consider ourselves to be good people. No, we're not perfect, but we try to follow the golden rule and hey, we're only human, right? Well, like Candace mentioned in a separate video: when a sheep is viewed against a background of green grass, it looks strikingly white, but when a sheep is put next to a cotton-white sheet hanging on a clothesline, you see how dirty the sheep really is. It's the background that you hold it against that determines how white the sheep really is. There's a scene in the movie, Left Behind:Tribulation Force where a man doesn't think he's a sinner, but Kirk Cameron's character shows him just what God's word says a sinner is and he realizes he is one, after all. When we line ourselves up with God's word, the Bible, the holy scriptures, and really examine our lives, and our secret sins, we realize that we have come short, that we indeed have sinned and are guilty of violating God's laws. We, too, are in need of a Savior to forgive us, set us free and help us to live for Him. What you're doing may not seem as bad as what someone else is doing, but sin is still sin. Have you lied before, even once? You're a liar. Have you stole something, even something small? You're a thief. Have you lusted after a woman/man that you've seen? You're an adulterer. The Bible says even if a man looks at a woman to lust after her, he's already committed adultery with her in his heart. A liar and a murderer are both sinners and neither will have any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ. (Eph. 5:5) (Rev. 21:8) We've ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God. We ALL need Jesus to forgive us of our sins. God hates the sin, but he loves the sinner. That's why He sent Jesus-to give us a way out. He provided the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He wants to take all the pain, all the hurt, all the guilt that you have and He'll wipe it all away. In His eyes, you will be a new creature. All we have to do is ask Him. Accept the gift God's given to us. Ask Jesus to forgive you and come into your heart and make you a new person. Like the woman in the Bible, who was a harlot, Jesus said to those who would've stoned her to death for being caught in the act of adultery, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." No one did and they walked away. But what did Jesus do then? He said "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" and Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:1-11 KJV) What an awesome gift! How can we ever repay Him for what He's given for us?
So, who are we trying to impress? Who's approval are we really looking for? Does it really matter that other people seem to be getting away with things or that they've turned their backs on God yet seem to be thriving? It'll only be for a season. God is the final judge. We're all going to stand before God one day and be judged for all we've done. What will you say then as your defense? So-in-so did it so I thought I could too? It wasn't that bad of a sin? The Bible says in Phil. 2:12, that we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Take it seriously. Read and Know what God wants for yourself. It doesn't matter what someone else does, all that matters is what God says about it. No matter how long you've been serving the Lord or what title you hold in church, we are all human and we need to choose to serve Jesus everyday and stay spirit-filled and stay in communication with God or sin can easily "beset" us too and we'll lose out on Heaven and wonder how that could've happened when we were "good, christian people".
Candace's testimony really spoke to me and I hope it helped you too. No matter how good a person we think we are, we always need to make sure our lives are lining up with God's word-with His commandments and how He says we should live our lives. We make that choice everyday-to listen to God or give in to the temptations of this world. Keep in prayer and reading your Bible daily, examine your self and say "God, show me if there be any sin in me." so you can deal with it and become pleasing in God's sight-He's the only one who's opinion really matters in the end. How white will your garment be?
If you're a mom, you know who she is...you've seen her family's show on TLC and you probably have formed your own opinion about her... too many kids, crazy, sheltering her kids, out-of-touch with the real world, misguided, brainwashing her kids, etc. To me, she's a great role model. Now, that doesn't mean I want to have 19 kids. To me, she is an inspiration because of the love she has for God and the way she's chosen to live her life as a wife and mother. We all wish we could have the ideal christian home where peace and harmony always abound, where everyone knows they're loved and cherished, where old-fashioned moral christian values are taught and most importantly modeled for us in the lives of our parents. While I may not share her religious beliefs in their entirety, (I believe she is a baptist and I am not), I do agree with her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and am very inspired by the way she and her husband are choosing to raise their children. This couple has endured much criticism about their large, christian family but I am inspired by the fact that through all the adversity and ill-will sometimes shown to them in chat rooms, facebook, and various media outlets, they continue on and haven't compromised. They are on TV in the hopes that others will be inspired to look to Jesus Christ for their answer as well. They strive to keep God #1 in their individual and family's lives and teach their children the importance of doing that also. Even when faced with adversity and grief, they want their show to continue taping through those times in the hopes that it will inspire someone else who is going through a similar trial to look to Jesus for their hope. I believe that is why their show has been so successful while other reality shows about exceptional families may have burned out with some of those families actually becoming dysfunctional. They do not compromise their beliefs just to be popular. They stay true to what they believe no matter what others may think of them. I have to say, as much as people criticize this family, I don't think anyone could meet Michelle in person and leave without having a great respect for her.
I hope this testimony inspires both young and old to want to know God for yourself, to be a testimony to those you meet and to stand strong in your christian beliefs no matter what opposition you may face...to strive to have that peace in your heart that emanates from Michelle, to strive to be a better wife and mother...to be the kind of woman that God wants you to be, not what the world does. When it all comes down at the end of our time here on earth, who's opinion will matter the most to us...the world's or God's?
(This went longer than planned, sorry.)
Since the time we were born, I believe we all wanted to be like someone we trusted, someone we looked up to, whether it was a parent, teacher, or someone who became a mentor to us. Something about them made you aspire to be like them. As we grew older, we felt the pull to be like everyone else and felt uncool if we didn't "measure up". We all want to be accepted. I know I certainly felt that way, especially in my junior high years. It was at that time, that I started to feel that being different was a bad thing. People talked behind my back, snickered when I walked by them in the hall, and blatantly made fun of me. Why? Because I was different. I looked different, acted different and for a time, I was mad about it. It didn't seem fair. It was the most difficult period of my life up to that point. I learned during that time, that I had to make my own decision about what I was going to believe. It wasn't enough just to go to church with my parents and follow their rules, I had to choose to serve God for myself, no matter what others did. I could sit in my seat every Sun. and Wed. and have the message go in one ear and out the other or I could listen and apply God's word to my own life. When I did, I decided that having Jesus in my heart was worth all the pain of being laughed at at school. Jesus was more important and He would see me through. His love for me, the sacrifice He made for me was greater than anything I would ever go through here on earth. How could I not accept such love? I found encouragement and strength in christian friends, family and youth leaders who really inspired me to stand and fight. We encouraged and prayed for one another and I am so grateful to God for them to this day. It was during that time, that I really found out who I was. I learned that we all had our own personal battles to fight and choices to make but that Jesus could help us if we just asked Him to. He could bring us through any storm we faced if we would just keep our eyes on Him.
Yes, you may be different, we're all different in one way or another. But, don't be ashamed to be different. We all have something special to offer God. We all have something He can use to help others. You know, as I got older, I fell away from serving God and so did some of my friends. I got my eyes on what I wanted and didn't trust God to give it to me in His perfect timing, instead, I tried to get it on my own. I went through a lot before I made my way back home. I felt the world pulling me. Things that I knew were wrong didn't seem so wrong anymore and I started to compromise my beliefs. I began to lose sight of who I was, my friends even noticed the change in me-I almost let go (as the song says) but then I began to feel God drawing me. I would remember lessons taught in Sunday School as a child or something I'd heard over the pulpit, or a song and something started drawing me back. I knew I needed to get my life back on track and really, totally serve God again. Again, I had to make a choice. Life is full of choices, isn't it? You need to decide what you're going to stand for and do it with all your heart, soul and mind. And when trials come and you feel like you're all alone, look to Jesus. There are people all over the world serving the Lord. You are not alone. If all your friends and family backslide and lose their faith, will you still stand for Jesus? Sometimes we need to take a good hard look at ourselves. Do you love God enough to serve Him whatever may come? If you find yourself offended by something, causing doubt to begin to take root, are you going to let that keep you from making Heaven your home? Is that little thing more important than Jesus and all He's done for you? What will you say to Him when you stand before Him face to face and see the love radiating from Him-"They hurt me, they wronged me, so I walked away from you." He'll say, "I'm sorry, I never knew you.". Is it worth it? Do you want that pain and anger more than you want God? Don't let anything come between you and your Savior. Get back to God, start really praying and pour yourself out to Him, get back to the altar. He loves you more than anything in this world and He's calling you to come, come and surrender it all to Him. Let Him take away all your pain and hurt and replace it with hope and peace and a sound mind. I encourage you today to start praying and getting into your Bible, start reading it with a new zeal, with a desire to really know God and to have Him know you. When you have that personal relationship with God, no one will be able to separate you from God. No one! God Bless you.
This song is called, "Far Above All Else, I Must Be Saved"
It's missing the lyrics, but they go like this:
More than eternity, more than success
If I must choose to own one thing, I'll take Jesus over the rest
For if I should attain the goal, to gain this world and all it holds
But then, if I should lose my soul, then I have lost it all.
And even though the souls of those that I love and hold so dear
More than others, I must make my own salvation sure
For if I to others show the way
And then I become just a castaway
But this price I can't afford to pay
My soul is worth it all
Chorus:
Far above all else, I must be saved
Far above all else, I must be saved
Lord, whatever you have to do to me,
Don't let me be lost for eternity
Far above all else, I must be saved
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.
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!
