On the first morning back to school after Christmas vacation my husband and I had a conversation that I vaguely remember. He was in the bathroom getting dressed to head out early as usual, bright eyed and bushy tailed.
I was still in bed wrapped in the warmth of my blankets refusing to get up. I was not awake and
definitely not fully aware of my surroundings. After the fact and after several cups of coffee, I had
flashbacks of our little talk and pieced together the facts just like the jigsaw puzzle currently under
construction on our table…piece by piece.
He told me that we were separating, not in a courthouse, but in the bathroom. He stated I had until the end of January to move my stuff off of his side of the bathroom counter completely. (Notice that he gave me plenty of time and I might add that he was smiling the whole time he mentioned the split) He attempted to describe my items which were currently residing on his side of the counter.
He pointed out a cup or two, a bottle of perfume and my jewelry hanging on a “tree” as he called it. He saw it all very black and white, no gray. My stuff needed to go! The only place I wanted to go was back to sleep!
Our conversation and his plan for bathroom separation reminded me of a truth that has followed me
around like a blinking sign for the past few weeks. It too is black and white, no gray! Christian radio, television, our Sunday school lessons, and my own Bible reading all have ended up the same…Put God first!
Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore boiled it all the way down to “DO LIFE WITH GOD.” I got to thinking… If we do life with God, the future, the present, the finances, the jobs, the relationships, the extra five pounds that we need to lose after the holidays, will all work out.
Now, maybe everything does not work out the way we want it or the way we had planned, but if we “Do life with God” and put Him first, we will be okay! If HE is not first, whatever IS will destroy us! I may should repeat that so I can hear it again myself. If Jesus is not first, whatever IS will destroy us. There is no gray there! He is a jealous God and loves us so much to let us go without a fight!
I realized last week while jotting all of this down in my journal like I had discovered a new buried
treasure that more than anything else, I want to “Do life with God.” That includes the good days, the
bad days, and the mundane days. It is also the greatest desire I have for my children. I always wish them well, pray for them, encourage them, and all of that good motherly stuff. Now, I have simplified my motherly desires. I pray that they will “Do life with God.” I mean all of it...homework, friends, sports, food choices, music choices, and their many future plans and dreams.
I believe this is all based on scripture.
The phrase “Love the Lord” appears 17 times in the Bible. In Matthew 22:37, the disciples asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. He said “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your might.” That is doing life with God! I am in. Are you?
Monday, January 12, 2015
New Year
Christmas week ended here with hot cocoa and lots of Hallmark movies, and we ushered in the New
Year with a bang! I actually stayed awake until midnight for the first time in years. We feasted on
delicious black eyed peas and cornbread the first day of 2015. Our usual outdoor activities ceased
because the weather was yucky. By that night, something happened here. The Happy New Year was not happy anymore!
In plain language, everyone in this house was tired of each other and a bad mood. We all were salty!
My daughter has taught me the word “salty.” My husband argues with her and says that “salty” is a
word is used to describe a rough and tough team. She argues back attempting to convince him that the new “salty” describes a mood or person.
I side with her; therefore, my crew of six was “salty” and it was not fun! I laid down Thursday night and thought: Who am I and who are these people I live with? Do I even know them or like them? Do I even like myself right now? It was just bad blah! (Anyone else ever think this?)
Friday morning my husband returned to work. One kid and one dog transported themselves into bed
with me when they heard him leave. I quietly snuck out of my covers without waking them up about
7:00 to have my coffee and quiet time. I knew that we did not need another bad day with negativity
hanging over our little homestead like a dark cloud. The way I saw it, it was up to me to get right before I got anyone up and expected for them to be right! That may be my new motherhood motto.
When I sat down in my hubby’s chair I did not know where to start. I prayed for my family and mostly for myself to know how to deal with the moods, personalities, and needs all present and sometimes out of control under this one roof. I pleaded with the Lord to help us all get along and to encourage each other. I moaned and groaned in prayer and asked the Lord what I needed to do.
All of a sudden, it dawned on me that for some time, I had totally forgotten to pray God’s Word out loud and to specifically pray for each of us, applying a scripture to each need. DUH!
There is something very powerful about speaking God’s Word back to Him in agreement. You
acknowledge that you do not have a clue, but that you know His promises are true! (To do this you
need a Bible and a tool to use to find a verse on a specific topic…google works too!)
An amazing thing happened to me that morning last week. I prayed God’s Word out loud and related it to specific situations in my life and to my loved one’s lives. I was instantly reminded that God is totally and absolutely involved. I had my hope and peace back. I found my Stormie Omartian books. She has a remarkable way of turning God’s word into prayer. I marked a prayer for myself and each family member. When one by one my kids came down the hallway, I was not sick and tired of them anymore.
Praise God!
This year I need more organization, time at the gym, time management, and etc. The list could go on
and on. What I really need more of is prayer and to pray God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11 says “So will My
word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty.”
Join me this week and pray!
God’s Word does not return void!
Year with a bang! I actually stayed awake until midnight for the first time in years. We feasted on
delicious black eyed peas and cornbread the first day of 2015. Our usual outdoor activities ceased
because the weather was yucky. By that night, something happened here. The Happy New Year was not happy anymore!
In plain language, everyone in this house was tired of each other and a bad mood. We all were salty!
My daughter has taught me the word “salty.” My husband argues with her and says that “salty” is a
word is used to describe a rough and tough team. She argues back attempting to convince him that the new “salty” describes a mood or person.
I side with her; therefore, my crew of six was “salty” and it was not fun! I laid down Thursday night and thought: Who am I and who are these people I live with? Do I even know them or like them? Do I even like myself right now? It was just bad blah! (Anyone else ever think this?)
Friday morning my husband returned to work. One kid and one dog transported themselves into bed
with me when they heard him leave. I quietly snuck out of my covers without waking them up about
7:00 to have my coffee and quiet time. I knew that we did not need another bad day with negativity
hanging over our little homestead like a dark cloud. The way I saw it, it was up to me to get right before I got anyone up and expected for them to be right! That may be my new motherhood motto.
When I sat down in my hubby’s chair I did not know where to start. I prayed for my family and mostly for myself to know how to deal with the moods, personalities, and needs all present and sometimes out of control under this one roof. I pleaded with the Lord to help us all get along and to encourage each other. I moaned and groaned in prayer and asked the Lord what I needed to do.
All of a sudden, it dawned on me that for some time, I had totally forgotten to pray God’s Word out loud and to specifically pray for each of us, applying a scripture to each need. DUH!
There is something very powerful about speaking God’s Word back to Him in agreement. You
acknowledge that you do not have a clue, but that you know His promises are true! (To do this you
need a Bible and a tool to use to find a verse on a specific topic…google works too!)
An amazing thing happened to me that morning last week. I prayed God’s Word out loud and related it to specific situations in my life and to my loved one’s lives. I was instantly reminded that God is totally and absolutely involved. I had my hope and peace back. I found my Stormie Omartian books. She has a remarkable way of turning God’s word into prayer. I marked a prayer for myself and each family member. When one by one my kids came down the hallway, I was not sick and tired of them anymore.
Praise God!
This year I need more organization, time at the gym, time management, and etc. The list could go on
and on. What I really need more of is prayer and to pray God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11 says “So will My
word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty.”
Join me this week and pray!
God’s Word does not return void!
Pick Me
I vividly remember when I was in third grade and saw George Strait at the Palestine Convention Center. I think I have written about it before. I made my way up the front by the stage and wanted for him to pick me and shake my hand. I am sure I was in Jordache jeans and French braids. I cannot remember if ropers were out yet or not.
Oh George, All I could think was PICK me! He did pick me and he shook my hand. I hung it out of the tub and refused to wash it for a week I know. How could I wash it? I was one of the ones he picked for a handshake. It was a huge moment in my life, or I sure thought it was.
I did not always get picked as a kid though. Often on the playground when we lined up for basketball, kickball, or for talent shows, I was one of the last ones picked. I was okay at everything, but not a star in anything. Know what I mean? For basketball, I would stand up tall and think…pick me! If it was dancing day in the talent show, I would get ready for a plié and try to look graceful with a smile. I was silent as the team captains made their first picks, but in my heart, I was screaming out…pick me! When I did get chosen, I played it cool, but inside there was a real wave of relief that came over me. I was happy, happy, happy to be picked, to be chosen. I did often get picked as a kid and nearly even made basketball All Stars one year. It was a close one. I ended up as a non-traveling, non-uniform wearing alternate.
If we are honest, this desire to be one picked or the chosen one does not really end with childhood,
does it? The “Pick Me” syndrome continues on past the days of cheerleading tryouts, prom dates, class favorite votes, and UIL competitions. It just turns into employee of the month, the one who gets the biggest pat on the back, the one who gets the promotion, and the one who gets asked to help plan the event. Although maturity often brings security, even in our grown up clothes and grown up cars, we still silently sometimes sit in a crowd and think…pick me!
I began reading the Christmas story in Luke 2 last week and discovered a truth that relates to everyone, I mean every single person living on this earth! I personally am not going to let this truth slip away just because I put the tree up and move on past studying the birth of Jesus in my quiet time. I am taking the truth with me into 2015.
In Luke 2:11, the Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and said “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Reread it and focus on the ALL PEOPLE part of it!
You see, we do not have to desire to be the one picked on the playground or in the conference room,
we have already been picked! We are already chosen. I am the reason Jesus was born and died on the cross. You are the reason Jesus was born and died on the cross!
There is no reason to raise your hand and think…pick me in the life anymore. Dear one, you have
already been picked! You are loved, chosen, accepted, and redeemed.
Oh George, All I could think was PICK me! He did pick me and he shook my hand. I hung it out of the tub and refused to wash it for a week I know. How could I wash it? I was one of the ones he picked for a handshake. It was a huge moment in my life, or I sure thought it was.
I did not always get picked as a kid though. Often on the playground when we lined up for basketball, kickball, or for talent shows, I was one of the last ones picked. I was okay at everything, but not a star in anything. Know what I mean? For basketball, I would stand up tall and think…pick me! If it was dancing day in the talent show, I would get ready for a plié and try to look graceful with a smile. I was silent as the team captains made their first picks, but in my heart, I was screaming out…pick me! When I did get chosen, I played it cool, but inside there was a real wave of relief that came over me. I was happy, happy, happy to be picked, to be chosen. I did often get picked as a kid and nearly even made basketball All Stars one year. It was a close one. I ended up as a non-traveling, non-uniform wearing alternate.
If we are honest, this desire to be one picked or the chosen one does not really end with childhood,
does it? The “Pick Me” syndrome continues on past the days of cheerleading tryouts, prom dates, class favorite votes, and UIL competitions. It just turns into employee of the month, the one who gets the biggest pat on the back, the one who gets the promotion, and the one who gets asked to help plan the event. Although maturity often brings security, even in our grown up clothes and grown up cars, we still silently sometimes sit in a crowd and think…pick me!
I began reading the Christmas story in Luke 2 last week and discovered a truth that relates to everyone, I mean every single person living on this earth! I personally am not going to let this truth slip away just because I put the tree up and move on past studying the birth of Jesus in my quiet time. I am taking the truth with me into 2015.
In Luke 2:11, the Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and said “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Reread it and focus on the ALL PEOPLE part of it!
You see, we do not have to desire to be the one picked on the playground or in the conference room,
we have already been picked! We are already chosen. I am the reason Jesus was born and died on the cross. You are the reason Jesus was born and died on the cross!
There is no reason to raise your hand and think…pick me in the life anymore. Dear one, you have
already been picked! You are loved, chosen, accepted, and redeemed.
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