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!
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 takesaction. 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.
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.
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.
