Now that we've gotten our lists done and analyzed where our priorities truly lie, we should pray about where we want our priorities to be and how we can change to make that happen.
First, let's start with God. I believe with my whole heart that He should be #1 in our lives. But what does that mean? If we are viewing our time spent with Him as the only way we show He is a priority, do we have to be monks to make Him a priority? I don't think so, because I don't think that the amount of time I spend with a person is the only factor that shows where they stand on my priority list. For example: if time was the only thing that showed where my husband is on my priority list, he'd be down lower than the children on the list. But I do things for him throughout the day to show him I love him. So therefore, I make him a priority even when we aren't together. Being faithful in the house to do the jobs I have to do are showing him that I love him.
So back to God. Do you know Him? Do you know that He created the world. Do you know that He created us to be with Him? Do you know that He is a God who participates in our lives, that He loves us more than we could ever imagine? Do you know that it wasn't His plan that there would be evil in the world? He created the world perfect.
But we, the human race, distanced ourselves from God when we chose to walk our own way, when we said to ourselves, we know better than God. Sin separated us from God. And nothing we can do will remove that sin debt from us.
But God sent His Son, Jesus to pay that debt for us, and so we are free because He died for us. He was totally God and totally man. Because He was totally God he was perfect and because He was totally man He was able to die for us. He went willingly to the cross for us because remember why He created us... He created us to have a relationship with Him. So He, in going to the cross, gave us another chance.
When we believe that Jesus alone paid the price for our sins and there is nothing we can do on our own or even to help Him, then we have eternal life. That eternal life starts now and is eternal (it lasts forever).
There is a video that describes this completely, and to give credit where credit is due, I'm putting their link in here. I'm not one for a lot of rapping, but this one I understand and he uses powerful sentences and words to share this story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K48-Li7lIfA
So now, if you've already trusted Christ as your Savior, what do you do to make Him a priority? Well, to be honest, it's not hard and yet it's very hard. It's simple relying on Him to help you through the day. It's cleaning the toilet, or wiping a snotty nose for Him and for His glory. As they told us at Dare2Share, "Ad majorem dei gloriam inque hominum salutem" - which means "for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humanity". I don't know what all was on the Jesuits' minds when they said these words, but I feel that it reminds me to do whatever I do to the glory of God.
Am I working on the computer to the glory of God? Are the things I'm partaking in there to the glory of God? Are the shows I'm watching on TV for His glory as well? When I'm thinking about Him and serving Him throughout the day, then I am prioritizing Him. How can I do that more fully? We'll keep this on the discussion table, but if you have any ideas about this, let me know. I think discussion is good for helping us to encourage one another to love and good works.
Steph
Showing posts with label God's Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Word. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
My weekend
I thought I'd share how God has been working in my heart through the weekend.
This weekend, my husband and I, took the youth group to Dare2Share. A wonderful lady came to stay with our younger 5 and the kids love her. It's almost like having Grandma come over. All of her grandchildren live in different states or countries, so she seems to enjoy being with them as well.
As we've been preparing for Dare2Share, I have not been as excited as I should have. For me, it's because I know I need to share what I believe, but I don't like doing it, unless I know the other person wants to know.
John 6:68 "Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
If there was a fire in a building, I would be telling people. If there was a lion in the streets, I would warn whoever would listen. Why when I know the One who has the words of eternal life, why am I afraid to tell people? What am I afraid of?
We're studying Jeremiah in Sunday School. I think I need to hear these words as well. Jeremiah 1:17 (the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah) "Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them."
As we were practicing out at a middle school near the conference, the kids came up and told me. "This is too hard, I just want to go back to my school and tell my friends. That will be easier." I asked them, "Will it? Will it be easier for you to experience rejection from someone you see every day? or is it easier to tell a stranger, because if they reject you, you won't feel the sting of it for very long." I told them that if they choose this journey of sharing their faith, it will break their hearts. It will be painful, but soooo worth it. It will cause growth in them that will be more than they can comprehend. It's worth it.
As Greg Stier says, "Awkward is awesome!" but really, is it? Not to me. I don't want to do it. The thing is, I think I need to get over that first hump. That first time. If I do it once then it will be easier the next time.
Lord, break my heart. Help me see this world through your eyes. Help me to see that they are lost and headed for an eternity without Christ and that eternity is terrible. Give me wisdom and the words to say. Help me to share You with others. May I be your willing servant.
This weekend, my husband and I, took the youth group to Dare2Share. A wonderful lady came to stay with our younger 5 and the kids love her. It's almost like having Grandma come over. All of her grandchildren live in different states or countries, so she seems to enjoy being with them as well.
As we've been preparing for Dare2Share, I have not been as excited as I should have. For me, it's because I know I need to share what I believe, but I don't like doing it, unless I know the other person wants to know.
John 6:68 "Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
If there was a fire in a building, I would be telling people. If there was a lion in the streets, I would warn whoever would listen. Why when I know the One who has the words of eternal life, why am I afraid to tell people? What am I afraid of?
We're studying Jeremiah in Sunday School. I think I need to hear these words as well. Jeremiah 1:17 (the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah) "Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them."
As we were practicing out at a middle school near the conference, the kids came up and told me. "This is too hard, I just want to go back to my school and tell my friends. That will be easier." I asked them, "Will it? Will it be easier for you to experience rejection from someone you see every day? or is it easier to tell a stranger, because if they reject you, you won't feel the sting of it for very long." I told them that if they choose this journey of sharing their faith, it will break their hearts. It will be painful, but soooo worth it. It will cause growth in them that will be more than they can comprehend. It's worth it.
As Greg Stier says, "Awkward is awesome!" but really, is it? Not to me. I don't want to do it. The thing is, I think I need to get over that first hump. That first time. If I do it once then it will be easier the next time.
Lord, break my heart. Help me see this world through your eyes. Help me to see that they are lost and headed for an eternity without Christ and that eternity is terrible. Give me wisdom and the words to say. Help me to share You with others. May I be your willing servant.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Train up a child
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs22:6
I have been struggling, as parents often do, to figure out how to handle certain situations that come up during the day. Our pastor has taught us that he believes the above verse is talking about training up a child in their way, the way that is most meaningful to them.
Now you may have found that your children are as different as night and day, and I'm here to tell you that even with seven, they are all different. Some of them have areas that they are similar to a sibling, and yet they are not the same as that sibling. Even twins, they say, are different.
I have been struggling with some of the children lately. Let me tell you, it's driven me to pray more for certain someones that actually test my patience on a daily basis. I will tell you their personalities and some of our goals for them so you can have an idea about what is going on.
Child A is quiet and shy and from the time he was little was nervous about getting into new situations. He waited until something was familair before he would enter in. Afraid of getting laughed at, he usually says very little. And even when a buddy, (someone he considers his "best" friend) asks him to go do something, he says no. He doesn't like to work outside with Dad much, but would rather be inside helping Mom. He is a responsible helper.
Child B is out-going and friendly and consequently says things he shouldn't. He likes to play and can be quite rough. He also doesn't like to say he's sorry or apologize. Admitting guilt is hard for him. He loves to help but on his own terms. He loves working with Dad and would rather be out there than inside caring for his house chores. He is a smart kid, but when he falls behind he gets discouraged and isn't motivated to stay on task. After that, it's a snowball effect and he's way behind in everything.
Sounds a bit like Jacob and Esau to me. Child A is sensitive and not as smart education wise, but he cares for people and it shows. Child B could make a great leader someday, but needs to learn submission before that will really happen.
How do we handle things with these? Our goals for Child A are we want him to become familiar with the work Dad does and we want him to have friends. What situations can we put him into that will help him to become the man he needs to be? Our goals for Child B are we want him to be the leader he can become and to use his "smarts" for God's glory. Diligence is probably something lacking in his life.
So we have a situation that I've mentioned before in my blog. Dad takes two days out of the week and works a tree-clearing job. He does it on his own and has no employees. Therefore, for safety's sake, we thought he should have one of the older boys with him. Child A was given no option. He's going. Dad can only take one and Child A has one day where he is only watching one or two younger siblings at home while the others and I are out at a Bible study and piano. Child B is behind in schoolwork, so was given this ultimatum, if you want to work with Dad, you have to be caught up in your schoolwork in order to go, otherwise on Saturday, a different sibling will go with him.
I think this is training them in the way they should go. It's not the same for both of them. One is restricted and the other is told he's going. I must qualify this and say that when they go they will be paid for their work.
I was super nervous about making Child A go. He's been twice and always comes back with a positive demeanor. Yes, he's tired and sore. But that means that he is working for his wage and doing his job. Child B says he can't wait to get out there and build some muscles. Child B hopefully, will remember that going is dependent on him getting some work done at home. Back to Child A, when he found out that Child B may go and help, he was a bit disappointed. I questioned him on this and it came out that he was enjoying some alone time with Dad. So Child B may not be able to go on the same day as Child A. Dad doesn't need two new helpers at the same time anyway, just one.
I know that I'm not the only one who struggles with how to handle things that come up. Teens are a new one for me as we are just getting to that phase. But God knows and He's the best parent to ask and He's filled His word with lots of information for us to use. May we be searching there more than any other place to find the words of truth about how to raise our precious little ones to His honor and glory.
Steph
Friday, February 3, 2012
Husbands and wives
A couple of days ago in our Bible study, we were discussing the struggles of how to manage our children and the subject of husbands came up. So I looked up all the instructions to wives concerning their husbands and these are the verses that I found. I only searched wives, but probably could do a search on women and maybe find another one or two.
1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
These are the commands and only the ones to the wives. We are responsible for ourselves and not our husbands. Our job is to be the helper and this we find in Genesis 3, or is it Genesis 2. We are not doormats and some would say these verses would be commanding us to be, but rather, the next one under in authority. We are in essence the Vice President of our family.
Things are delegated to us and we do them without asking the "President" necessarily. But when decisions come, the VP and the President should discuss things to make sound decisions for the family. They should pray about them together and individually, but if it comes to a difference of opinion between the husband/President and the wife/VP, the husband would rule as it were in this case.
It's funny that it sounds so terrible to us women. But when we're walking with the Lord and walking in the Spirit, this is such a great place to be. My mom's favorite thing to say, when things were tough and there were lots of decisions to make, "I'm glad I'm the wife." The unity that God desires in a marriage comes when we're choosing to walk in His way. We can't say that we want that unity and then choose to make up our own rules about how that might best take place.
Practically, what does this mean? Say, my husband has a different idea about how to spend some extra cash, he is leader, it's his perrogative. (If he is acting in his God-given role, he would probably at least discuss it with his wife, but we're talking about us, not them). I cringe when I hear of wives giving their husbands an allowance. If he has asked for help and this is the arrangement, then so be it. That's fine. I'm not sure I would call it an allowance, can't think of anything else to use though. :)
When my husband seems bent on choosing something that I definitely think would not be good, what do I do? I think then we need to take a step back and consider...what's the worst thing that could happen? that he'd be wrong?!?! That's not too terrible. What if we went my way and I was wrong? But I think there is a place for a quiet word (we are helpers) to ask them to consider another view. But once that's stated, we step back and wait and maybe pray. Maybe pray - ridiculous that it would be possible that maybe we wouldn't pray, but that's sometimes the true perspective we have. For we really should be praying before we even share that quiet word.
Sometimes our husbands need a clue about how much we need their help. For instance, I'm struggling with one of our children right now. He's not cooperating and choosing to do things that aren't in his boundaries to do until school is over. Say my husband comes home and turns on the TV and/or rushes about getting ready to go to the next thing. If I try to talk with him and he seems distant, sometimes I can just put my hand on his arm and quietly say, "Honey, when you get a minute I have something that I really need to talk with you about." Inevitably there will be a moment soon that he will give me so that I can share my concerns.
Ladies, our husbands have the greater responsibility in leading a family. Let's do everything we can to support them in their job, and you know what? I think we'll find that our own job is easier because of it. The struggle is worth the end result.
Because He alone is worthy,
Steph
1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
These are the commands and only the ones to the wives. We are responsible for ourselves and not our husbands. Our job is to be the helper and this we find in Genesis 3, or is it Genesis 2. We are not doormats and some would say these verses would be commanding us to be, but rather, the next one under in authority. We are in essence the Vice President of our family.
Things are delegated to us and we do them without asking the "President" necessarily. But when decisions come, the VP and the President should discuss things to make sound decisions for the family. They should pray about them together and individually, but if it comes to a difference of opinion between the husband/President and the wife/VP, the husband would rule as it were in this case.
It's funny that it sounds so terrible to us women. But when we're walking with the Lord and walking in the Spirit, this is such a great place to be. My mom's favorite thing to say, when things were tough and there were lots of decisions to make, "I'm glad I'm the wife." The unity that God desires in a marriage comes when we're choosing to walk in His way. We can't say that we want that unity and then choose to make up our own rules about how that might best take place.
Practically, what does this mean? Say, my husband has a different idea about how to spend some extra cash, he is leader, it's his perrogative. (If he is acting in his God-given role, he would probably at least discuss it with his wife, but we're talking about us, not them). I cringe when I hear of wives giving their husbands an allowance. If he has asked for help and this is the arrangement, then so be it. That's fine. I'm not sure I would call it an allowance, can't think of anything else to use though. :)
When my husband seems bent on choosing something that I definitely think would not be good, what do I do? I think then we need to take a step back and consider...what's the worst thing that could happen? that he'd be wrong?!?! That's not too terrible. What if we went my way and I was wrong? But I think there is a place for a quiet word (we are helpers) to ask them to consider another view. But once that's stated, we step back and wait and maybe pray. Maybe pray - ridiculous that it would be possible that maybe we wouldn't pray, but that's sometimes the true perspective we have. For we really should be praying before we even share that quiet word.
Sometimes our husbands need a clue about how much we need their help. For instance, I'm struggling with one of our children right now. He's not cooperating and choosing to do things that aren't in his boundaries to do until school is over. Say my husband comes home and turns on the TV and/or rushes about getting ready to go to the next thing. If I try to talk with him and he seems distant, sometimes I can just put my hand on his arm and quietly say, "Honey, when you get a minute I have something that I really need to talk with you about." Inevitably there will be a moment soon that he will give me so that I can share my concerns.
Ladies, our husbands have the greater responsibility in leading a family. Let's do everything we can to support them in their job, and you know what? I think we'll find that our own job is easier because of it. The struggle is worth the end result.
Because He alone is worthy,
Steph
Friday, January 27, 2012
Quiet time and the blessings of it
A friend posted on her blog about the benefits of quiet time in her house. Now, maybe a lot of you are thinking of devotional time. But in this case, I am not talking about that. Well, I sort of am. You'll see as we go along here what I mean.
I wake up in the morning around 5:30 and get breakfast and rush to help my husband get out the door. We eat breakfast as a family at 6:00 so I'm busy trying to get breakfast ready and his lunch made before he leaves. Obviously we get his lunch made the night before, but gathering it together and getting it in the cooler is part of my way of serving him. If I don't get to it before he does, he's fine with that. I just find joy in getting it done before he gets to the kitchen.
As soon as Dad walks out the door, I start printing off the day's schedules for each one from my on-line school planner that I've mentioned before. The kids are doing dishes, getting showers, cleaning rooms and we're all hustling to be done before the first child arrives at around 7:20.
Then school has started and it's piano and "Are you where you are supposed to be on the schedule?" "Oh, it's my turn to watch kids." And on and on. Snack comes at 10:00, but with 9 little ones, snack time is over and still I haven't had my snack, unless I'm on top of things and get snack ready before I call the little ones.
So by noon, I'm lagging, just a little tired, but I know that just around the corner is QT (or quiet time). Everyone goes to a corner and reads usually. One of the older boys (today it's Jones) takes the baby and plays quietly with him in my room till baby falls asleep and then Jones will put him in the crib at the end of my bed. Sharpie is writing a book and working on that today. Waterman is probably reading. Bugaboo is reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. Tank is working on some schoolwork he let slide this a.m, usually that's not allowed but today I'm letting him. Jules is hopefully looking at books in her bed and Tractorman is probably sound asleep as last I checked his thumb was in his mouth, eyes droopy and blanket tucked firmly in hand. This despite the fact that after lunch he told me "I'm big now." meaning "I don't need a nap."
Gently I reminded him that it's not called 'naptime' anymore, but quiet time and the only reason he's in his bed is because that is his quiet place and his big brothers are more than likely on their bed, though only two can be in that room. We don't have enough rooms in this house for each to have their own. If we did, each would be in their own room.
So around 12:45 I rush them through lunch dishes and send them to their places. Sometimes I have to go upstairs and remind them that it's quiet time, therefore loud noises coming from upstairs are not allowed during this time. Sometimes I hear some fairly loud thuds. :)
And then, then... what fun! I sit down at the kitchen table and open my Bible and my study book I'm working on and dig in. I find it such a joy. Usually by lunch time I'm a little snappy, just trying to make it. Today it was 12:08 and I'm griping at the kids to hurry up with the dishes. But then I looked at the clock and said, "O.k you DO have till 12:45, so you need to be done by then." I don't want to wait, but it's so much more peaceful to have quiet reign in this house, even for only one hour and 15 minutes. Because yes, they do read or sleep till 2:00.
And then, it's back to chaos, but my mind is re-focused to where it needs to be and I'm ready for the second part of my day. Yes, I'm not spending my devotional time early in the morning, but I did forget to say that one of the reasons Daddy wants us to eat together is because we spend time reading God's word together right before he leaves. So I get some morsels at breakfast and some after lunch.
The days I don't make time for quiet time are usually chaotic and I don't handle them well. I don't view these as God punishing me, but my mind has not been drawn back to the truths that God is bigger than all that I am going through. When I let my mind be filled with thoughts of Him, nothing can be too hard for me.
Thank you, Lord, for Your Word and it's refreshment to my heart. A friend asked on Facebook "The psalmist refers to God as "my joy and my delight". (Ps 34:4) What does that mean to you? What does it look like?" That is what it looks like in a small way.
Steph
I wake up in the morning around 5:30 and get breakfast and rush to help my husband get out the door. We eat breakfast as a family at 6:00 so I'm busy trying to get breakfast ready and his lunch made before he leaves. Obviously we get his lunch made the night before, but gathering it together and getting it in the cooler is part of my way of serving him. If I don't get to it before he does, he's fine with that. I just find joy in getting it done before he gets to the kitchen.
As soon as Dad walks out the door, I start printing off the day's schedules for each one from my on-line school planner that I've mentioned before. The kids are doing dishes, getting showers, cleaning rooms and we're all hustling to be done before the first child arrives at around 7:20.
Then school has started and it's piano and "Are you where you are supposed to be on the schedule?" "Oh, it's my turn to watch kids." And on and on. Snack comes at 10:00, but with 9 little ones, snack time is over and still I haven't had my snack, unless I'm on top of things and get snack ready before I call the little ones.
So by noon, I'm lagging, just a little tired, but I know that just around the corner is QT (or quiet time). Everyone goes to a corner and reads usually. One of the older boys (today it's Jones) takes the baby and plays quietly with him in my room till baby falls asleep and then Jones will put him in the crib at the end of my bed. Sharpie is writing a book and working on that today. Waterman is probably reading. Bugaboo is reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. Tank is working on some schoolwork he let slide this a.m, usually that's not allowed but today I'm letting him. Jules is hopefully looking at books in her bed and Tractorman is probably sound asleep as last I checked his thumb was in his mouth, eyes droopy and blanket tucked firmly in hand. This despite the fact that after lunch he told me "I'm big now." meaning "I don't need a nap."
Gently I reminded him that it's not called 'naptime' anymore, but quiet time and the only reason he's in his bed is because that is his quiet place and his big brothers are more than likely on their bed, though only two can be in that room. We don't have enough rooms in this house for each to have their own. If we did, each would be in their own room.
So around 12:45 I rush them through lunch dishes and send them to their places. Sometimes I have to go upstairs and remind them that it's quiet time, therefore loud noises coming from upstairs are not allowed during this time. Sometimes I hear some fairly loud thuds. :)
And then, then... what fun! I sit down at the kitchen table and open my Bible and my study book I'm working on and dig in. I find it such a joy. Usually by lunch time I'm a little snappy, just trying to make it. Today it was 12:08 and I'm griping at the kids to hurry up with the dishes. But then I looked at the clock and said, "O.k you DO have till 12:45, so you need to be done by then." I don't want to wait, but it's so much more peaceful to have quiet reign in this house, even for only one hour and 15 minutes. Because yes, they do read or sleep till 2:00.
And then, it's back to chaos, but my mind is re-focused to where it needs to be and I'm ready for the second part of my day. Yes, I'm not spending my devotional time early in the morning, but I did forget to say that one of the reasons Daddy wants us to eat together is because we spend time reading God's word together right before he leaves. So I get some morsels at breakfast and some after lunch.
The days I don't make time for quiet time are usually chaotic and I don't handle them well. I don't view these as God punishing me, but my mind has not been drawn back to the truths that God is bigger than all that I am going through. When I let my mind be filled with thoughts of Him, nothing can be too hard for me.
Thank you, Lord, for Your Word and it's refreshment to my heart. A friend asked on Facebook "The psalmist refers to God as "my joy and my delight". (Ps 34:4) What does that mean to you? What does it look like?" That is what it looks like in a small way.
Steph
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sermons and their part in my life.
Yesterday we had a couple of great sermons. Not that that is unusual at our church. Our pastor shares the Word faithfully and usually it connects in some way or another to my life, or what I am studying.
Because our annual meeting is coming up soon, our pastor usually goes over the leadership qualities necessary for deacons and elders to help us in selecting the offices necessary for the year.
I have always felt that though I will not be an elder or deacon that these qualities are things that I should aspire to do. A couple of things stood out to me yesterday. We were reading from I Timothy 3.
The first thing was the words "with all dignity". An elder should keep his children under control with all dignity. Hmm. Those words are rather thought provoking to me. I think there are two ways that I can keep my children under control that aren't with dignity - when I am ordering them around and a dictator, and when I'm yelling at them because I'm stressed out. Neither of these ways sound very dignified to me.
I need to be careful that I am dignified even in my training the children. One thing that helps is to be consistent in dealing out discipline for disobedience. Currently in this house, an effective form of discipline is to take away five minutes of computer time for each infraction. This is generally dealing with forgetfulness, not blatant disobedience, but it works well for the older ones and for the younger ones as well. Also it helps with attitude checks.
The other thing that stood out to me was the need to manage our house well. Obviously because we do a lot of construction the challenge may be a bit bigger for us, but we can be faithful to quit a bit early and clean up. Also, I usually send the kids out to play while I get some housework or schoolwork accomplished, but I fail to go and make sure that the things are put away until it's dark and rather too late.
I'm so thankful for a pastor that challenges me to walk the walk. I don't think he was thinking specifically of me when he was speaking yesterday, but God was, and He is using it in my life.
Steph
Because our annual meeting is coming up soon, our pastor usually goes over the leadership qualities necessary for deacons and elders to help us in selecting the offices necessary for the year.
I have always felt that though I will not be an elder or deacon that these qualities are things that I should aspire to do. A couple of things stood out to me yesterday. We were reading from I Timothy 3.
The first thing was the words "with all dignity". An elder should keep his children under control with all dignity. Hmm. Those words are rather thought provoking to me. I think there are two ways that I can keep my children under control that aren't with dignity - when I am ordering them around and a dictator, and when I'm yelling at them because I'm stressed out. Neither of these ways sound very dignified to me.
I need to be careful that I am dignified even in my training the children. One thing that helps is to be consistent in dealing out discipline for disobedience. Currently in this house, an effective form of discipline is to take away five minutes of computer time for each infraction. This is generally dealing with forgetfulness, not blatant disobedience, but it works well for the older ones and for the younger ones as well. Also it helps with attitude checks.
The other thing that stood out to me was the need to manage our house well. Obviously because we do a lot of construction the challenge may be a bit bigger for us, but we can be faithful to quit a bit early and clean up. Also, I usually send the kids out to play while I get some housework or schoolwork accomplished, but I fail to go and make sure that the things are put away until it's dark and rather too late.
I'm so thankful for a pastor that challenges me to walk the walk. I don't think he was thinking specifically of me when he was speaking yesterday, but God was, and He is using it in my life.
Steph
Monday, April 12, 2010
Things I'm learning
I had a very full weekend this weekend. The best part was that I was able to get almost everything done (my brick walk outside still needs more sand before I can lay the rest of the bricks). But also I learned so much from the studies we had in God's word. I was very excited about that.
Youth group: First, my husband led the youth in a devotional that I loved. It meant a lot to me. He read from 2 Timothy 2. Toward the end Paul tells Timothy that we have a choice about what kind of a vessel we will be. He says that there are vessels of gold, silver, wood or clay. The gold and silver are vessels of honor and the wood and clay are of dishonor. Paul tells Timothy that by choosing to put away striving about words and idle babblings and not straying from the truth we can be vessels of honor. It's a choice that we are given. My favorite part of those verses was that we could be vessels of honor if we put away those things from our lives, "sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. I want to be a vessel useful for the Master.
Sunday School: Our Beth Moore study "Living Beyond Yourself" was very good. It was about patience. God brings irritating people into our lives to help rub off the rough spots in our lives. So when I'm irritated with my children, I can praise Him for the work He is doing in my life. Also it seems from 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 that God can be working death in my life ( that is rubbing off the rough spots) and life in someone else (i.e. a new believer). That was exciting to me, because it's worth it. I will gladly go through the fire, to draw off impurities from my life and to bring life to another.
Church: Hebrews 2:17-18 - Surely I've seen this before, but it's amazing how something can be so new. Actually, it shouldn't be a surprise to us, because God's Word is alive - amazing, yes - a surprise, no. Jesus had to be made like us. Why? (so that) He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest. How? (because) He suffered and is able to aid those who are tempted. It was very exciting to me to see this clearly marked out in Scripture. For some reason it just touched me yesterday.
When we seek Him first, His Word comes alive to us and that is what I've been experiencing this weekend.
Youth group: First, my husband led the youth in a devotional that I loved. It meant a lot to me. He read from 2 Timothy 2. Toward the end Paul tells Timothy that we have a choice about what kind of a vessel we will be. He says that there are vessels of gold, silver, wood or clay. The gold and silver are vessels of honor and the wood and clay are of dishonor. Paul tells Timothy that by choosing to put away striving about words and idle babblings and not straying from the truth we can be vessels of honor. It's a choice that we are given. My favorite part of those verses was that we could be vessels of honor if we put away those things from our lives, "sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. I want to be a vessel useful for the Master.
Sunday School: Our Beth Moore study "Living Beyond Yourself" was very good. It was about patience. God brings irritating people into our lives to help rub off the rough spots in our lives. So when I'm irritated with my children, I can praise Him for the work He is doing in my life. Also it seems from 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 that God can be working death in my life ( that is rubbing off the rough spots) and life in someone else (i.e. a new believer). That was exciting to me, because it's worth it. I will gladly go through the fire, to draw off impurities from my life and to bring life to another.
Church: Hebrews 2:17-18 - Surely I've seen this before, but it's amazing how something can be so new. Actually, it shouldn't be a surprise to us, because God's Word is alive - amazing, yes - a surprise, no. Jesus had to be made like us. Why? (so that) He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest. How? (because) He suffered and is able to aid those who are tempted. It was very exciting to me to see this clearly marked out in Scripture. For some reason it just touched me yesterday.
When we seek Him first, His Word comes alive to us and that is what I've been experiencing this weekend.
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