I love when my kids call me "Mama." The older ones have already stopped, but my little guy, who is 3, still lets it slip from time to time.
I have had a bit of a sleep deprivation period over the last week. My husband, Neil, had surgery on his shoulder last week and the first few nights I got very little sleep taking care of him. I don't mind that at all, I'm here for him 110%. The sleep deprivation gets to me after a while though. On night five, Tucker, my 4 year old gets up at 2 in the morning with a nightmare, then gets up at 4 and vomits all over the floor, thankfully the hardwood, not the carpet. Now I'm thinking we are going to have to deal with a stomach flu on top of the shoulder recovery AND when you have little kids they share everything, including germs!!!!!! Needless to say, I was not in a positive state of mind, I envisioned cleaning up puke for a week, all the extra laundry, then of course me getting the virus and you know when the mom gets sick, there is no time for rest, especially not now.
During the cleaning up, around 4:30 in the morning, my 3 year old, Cade, decides to join the party. I place Tucker on the couch with a "puke bucket" and Cade joins me in my bed, which I'm not a fan of, but too tired to fight it. Out of the blue, he says "I love you, Mama" and my heart melts. I then turn to my husband and tell him how blessed I am and those little reminders out of my little angels' mouth makes everything I do worth every minute. It was funny because Neil couldn't believe I could say how blessed I was at a moment like that. Only having Jesus indwelling in me, that I can have peace at a moment like that. Trust me, it doesn't always happen. I'm not always the most patient, especially with a lack of sleep. Thankfully Tucker did not have a virus, just something he ate, I guess.
I pray that God will remind me frequently of all He has given me, most importantly the gift of Salvation. Isaiah 30:15 "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." So I will rest in the serenity of my loving Father's arms.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
A New Beginning
My oldest son, Little Neil, started at a new school today. It is a new school for him, but it is going back home for my husband, Big Neil. He attended, graduated and also taught at this school for 17 years, so he definitely has history there. My son is in the 1st grade and he is very outgoing and makes friends very easily so I have no worries there, but for some reason I cried my eyes out. Not sure why, maybe it was the uneasiness I saw in his little eyes.
I was reminded in Sunday School yesterday of Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I know my little guy is taken care of better by God then anyone else.
Little Neil asked Jesus in his heart when he was 4 years old and has since then been fully aware that he is a follower of Christ. One of the most special things I witnessed was when his youngest brother was not feeling well and while he was napping, I came across Neil, who was maybe 5 at the time, praying right outside the closed bedroom door of where Cade was sleeping. It was soooooo precious and I'll never forget it. Lately he has had quite a fascination with our pastor. He always wants to make sure we say hi to him whenever we can. He has also stated that he would like to one day become a pastor just like pastor Tim (our pastor). If God calls him to be a pastor, I hope he follows through, but whatever he chooses to do, I know my God will be there to comfort, protect, heal, discipline, correct, teach and guide him on his journey.
Little Neil, as well as all my children, is such a special blessing from God. He has chosen me to care for His children and I pray that I will continue to raise my kids in God's Word and His ways. His ways are so different from this world and He is so different from what this world would have us believe of Him. The only way to know how God wants you to live your life is by living by His word, the Bible, which we as Americans can freely read whenever we want. So lets not take advantage of that freedom and remember to read our Guide to life, His precious Holy Word, the Bible.
I kind of felt like breaking out in song right there, hee!hee! you know the one, The B-I-B-L-E, yeah that's the book for me, I stand upon the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E, BIBLE!!!!!!!!! So true right? ;)
I was reminded in Sunday School yesterday of Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I know my little guy is taken care of better by God then anyone else.
Little Neil asked Jesus in his heart when he was 4 years old and has since then been fully aware that he is a follower of Christ. One of the most special things I witnessed was when his youngest brother was not feeling well and while he was napping, I came across Neil, who was maybe 5 at the time, praying right outside the closed bedroom door of where Cade was sleeping. It was soooooo precious and I'll never forget it. Lately he has had quite a fascination with our pastor. He always wants to make sure we say hi to him whenever we can. He has also stated that he would like to one day become a pastor just like pastor Tim (our pastor). If God calls him to be a pastor, I hope he follows through, but whatever he chooses to do, I know my God will be there to comfort, protect, heal, discipline, correct, teach and guide him on his journey.
Little Neil, as well as all my children, is such a special blessing from God. He has chosen me to care for His children and I pray that I will continue to raise my kids in God's Word and His ways. His ways are so different from this world and He is so different from what this world would have us believe of Him. The only way to know how God wants you to live your life is by living by His word, the Bible, which we as Americans can freely read whenever we want. So lets not take advantage of that freedom and remember to read our Guide to life, His precious Holy Word, the Bible.
I kind of felt like breaking out in song right there, hee!hee! you know the one, The B-I-B-L-E, yeah that's the book for me, I stand upon the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E, BIBLE!!!!!!!!! So true right? ;)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
"Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow"
A nice young college girl shared this on her facebook page. It is so true. It made me have tears in my eyes. I sometimes lose hope for our future generations. This reminded me that there is always hope out there for the next generation because Jesus was, is and always will be.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
My struggles with my outer image!!!!
I guess we all have our areas of improvements when it comes to serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I might as well just throw one of mine out there, mainly because it has been staring me in the face all day as a huge piece of cake. Not just any cake, one of my hubby's best cakes. It starts as just an ordinary rich chocolate cake then it is soaked with caramel and sweetened condensed milk right when it comes out of the oven. After it cools, he then adds cool whip and crushed butterfinger...............oh my, oh my!!!!!!
You are probably wondering how this leads into one of my weak areas in my walk with Jesus. I have a love/hate relationship with my body just like so many other women out there. Today as I was pondering eating a piece of that cake (actually struggling and fighting with the urges, not really pondering) I came across a Victoria Secret mail flyer. If that wont make you quit thinking about eating, what will? After seeing the super skinny, probably air-brushed beauty, I didn't want to eat a piece of spinach, let alone cake. So you see, this can become a real issue with me focusing not on what is on the inside but on the outside. Don't get me wrong, we need to be healthy and exercise and take care of the body God has given us, but it has to be for the right reasons. My reasons are not always, actually hardly ever for the right reasons.
This is a constant prayer and a constant thought I have. I know there are so many women that can relate to this, especially after having children. It seems no matter the size I am, I'm not happy with it. I have bad days and good days with this. I'm hoping to have more good than bad in the future.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
You are probably wondering how this leads into one of my weak areas in my walk with Jesus. I have a love/hate relationship with my body just like so many other women out there. Today as I was pondering eating a piece of that cake (actually struggling and fighting with the urges, not really pondering) I came across a Victoria Secret mail flyer. If that wont make you quit thinking about eating, what will? After seeing the super skinny, probably air-brushed beauty, I didn't want to eat a piece of spinach, let alone cake. So you see, this can become a real issue with me focusing not on what is on the inside but on the outside. Don't get me wrong, we need to be healthy and exercise and take care of the body God has given us, but it has to be for the right reasons. My reasons are not always, actually hardly ever for the right reasons.
This is a constant prayer and a constant thought I have. I know there are so many women that can relate to this, especially after having children. It seems no matter the size I am, I'm not happy with it. I have bad days and good days with this. I'm hoping to have more good than bad in the future.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
Saturday, December 3, 2011
All or none!!!!!
I have been reading in 1st John over the past few days. It is reminding me that as a follower of Christ, I'm incapable of making my life a practice of sinning, because God's life is in me according to 1 John 3:9. So I often wonder about people who claim to be followers of Jesus but have no issues at all living with repetitive sin in their lives. It is so sad to me and my heart breaks for them because I wonder about their salvation. Of course God and that person only knows, but I know the Bible and you have to be ALL IN or none.
I'm definitely not saying I never sin, but when I do, it crushes me. I am so full of grief that I have sinned against my Savior and I try everyday to do better. I hope this post doesn't come through as being judgemental, I just hope that people aren't somehow fooled by the devil about their salvation. I pray for those people, maybe they are saved and are not enjoying God's full peace by obeying His word.
Please comment on this issue. It seems there are so many Christians out there that show no light for Jesus. How can I make people see less of me and more of Jesus is the question I want to remember to ask myself each morning?
"No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him." 1 John 3:6
I'm definitely not saying I never sin, but when I do, it crushes me. I am so full of grief that I have sinned against my Savior and I try everyday to do better. I hope this post doesn't come through as being judgemental, I just hope that people aren't somehow fooled by the devil about their salvation. I pray for those people, maybe they are saved and are not enjoying God's full peace by obeying His word.
Please comment on this issue. It seems there are so many Christians out there that show no light for Jesus. How can I make people see less of me and more of Jesus is the question I want to remember to ask myself each morning?
"No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him." 1 John 3:6
Friday, December 2, 2011
Who am I like?
I am currently going through a daily Bible which starts in January and has an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading and a Psalm and a Proverb for each day of the year. I can't believe I'm already in December, WOW!!!
As I was reading in Daniel this morning, I started thinking about who I would compare myself to in the Bible. Have you ever thought about this? Daniel was of course my first thought and then I thought about Thomas and the times in my life when I doubted. I never doubted Christ dying on the cross and the creation of the world done in only a week and the Bible, but my salvation I have doubted at times. I had a difficult time comparing my works with my salvation, which could drive anyone crazy because none of us can work our way to Heaven. I know now in my life I am absolutely sure Heaven is my home and I can't wait to see Jesus face to face. I would love to have a heart like David, not quite there yet though. How about wisdom like Solomon? Oh my, I'm a long way from there. All the courageous men and women, there are so many, but Esther came to mind, maybe because she is a woman. She risked her life for her God as well as many others did. I pray that if and when a time ever comes that my life is on the line for God, that I stand up for my Savior.
It is fun to compare yourself to people of the Bible. We forget sometimes that they were real people just like you and me. As I was thinking about all these people who are like you and me, I realized how God has comforted me by giving me this one theme in His Word, that no man is perfect and "....all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24. Even a man after God's own heart falls short. Phew!!!!!! I don't know about you, but that releases some stress in my life.
If you know Christ as your personal savior, aren't you glad to have a God who doesn't require anything at all from you. He doesn't need you but wants you. I know myself and my faults and ask God frequently why me? "Lord, I know me and I'm falling way short of Your glory, but thank You for loving me anyway." I pray that your delight and my delight in Jesus is just a little farther down the road today and that we will continue to grow in our love for Him.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ---to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11
As I was reading in Daniel this morning, I started thinking about who I would compare myself to in the Bible. Have you ever thought about this? Daniel was of course my first thought and then I thought about Thomas and the times in my life when I doubted. I never doubted Christ dying on the cross and the creation of the world done in only a week and the Bible, but my salvation I have doubted at times. I had a difficult time comparing my works with my salvation, which could drive anyone crazy because none of us can work our way to Heaven. I know now in my life I am absolutely sure Heaven is my home and I can't wait to see Jesus face to face. I would love to have a heart like David, not quite there yet though. How about wisdom like Solomon? Oh my, I'm a long way from there. All the courageous men and women, there are so many, but Esther came to mind, maybe because she is a woman. She risked her life for her God as well as many others did. I pray that if and when a time ever comes that my life is on the line for God, that I stand up for my Savior.
It is fun to compare yourself to people of the Bible. We forget sometimes that they were real people just like you and me. As I was thinking about all these people who are like you and me, I realized how God has comforted me by giving me this one theme in His Word, that no man is perfect and "....all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24. Even a man after God's own heart falls short. Phew!!!!!! I don't know about you, but that releases some stress in my life.
If you know Christ as your personal savior, aren't you glad to have a God who doesn't require anything at all from you. He doesn't need you but wants you. I know myself and my faults and ask God frequently why me? "Lord, I know me and I'm falling way short of Your glory, but thank You for loving me anyway." I pray that your delight and my delight in Jesus is just a little farther down the road today and that we will continue to grow in our love for Him.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ---to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Starting Point
I'm thinking today is a new day. The starting point from where my delight for Jesus will grow each day. Currently I'm a stay-at-home mom who recently has had trouble getting motivated to do much of anything. Don't get me wrong, I try to be lazy, but it doesn't always work out having two very active little boys at home, ages 4 and almost 3. I also have a 7 year old boy in 1st grade and 2 step-daughters, one a sophomore in high school and the other a sophomore in college. Life is busy!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want the busyness of life to get in the way of my growth in Jesus. I pray about this frequently and lately my major prayer has been for my love for Jesus to grow and for me to be in such awe of Him that I desire for His relationship more than any thing else. So for some odd reason, God has told me to create a blog and make your life even busier, ha!ha! Funny how God works sometimes. I have been saying "no" for a long time, but I think it's time to give in.
I'm sure if you are a mom who wants to love Jesus more, you can relate to the busyness of life getting in the way. Does that make us less of a Christian? Does God still love us? Guilt associated with these questions sometimes get to me. I'm trying to come to the conclusion that it's not about me, but all about Him. Considering that Jesus, my Savior, who died on the cross for me and anyone else who chooses to believe, why do I not love Him like I should? Why do I not desire Him like I should? Why do I not tell the world like I should?
A little background on me. I grew up as a daughter of an alcoholic mother and a father who dabbled in drugs and alcohol. I believe with all my heart today that God gave me athletic ability to give me discipline in life, because my parents did not. I attended college where I obtained a bachelor's degree in middle childhood education. In those college years when I was 19 years old, I came to know Jesus at a women of faith conference in January of 2000. I married my husband in May of 2001 and we are still very happily married. I was a teacher for 5 years and became a stay-at-home mom after my second son was born in 2007. My three sons were born in the years 2004, 07 and 08, so I think I was pregnant or nursing for 5 years straight and on top of that my girls were very active in school and I rarely missed a function, busy, busy, busy!!!!! The summer of 2010, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and I have not felt the same since. My doctor says my levels are great, if so, why do I feel so lazy? Maybe I'm just lazy. Maybe its time to stop relying on the docs and rely on the ultimate Healer. I'm not sure where this blog is going to take me or who would even be interested. I am sure however that God has called me to do something and I will follow through.
I am leaving today with my favorite Bible verse of the moment (it seems to change frequently)
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
I'm sure if you are a mom who wants to love Jesus more, you can relate to the busyness of life getting in the way. Does that make us less of a Christian? Does God still love us? Guilt associated with these questions sometimes get to me. I'm trying to come to the conclusion that it's not about me, but all about Him. Considering that Jesus, my Savior, who died on the cross for me and anyone else who chooses to believe, why do I not love Him like I should? Why do I not desire Him like I should? Why do I not tell the world like I should?
A little background on me. I grew up as a daughter of an alcoholic mother and a father who dabbled in drugs and alcohol. I believe with all my heart today that God gave me athletic ability to give me discipline in life, because my parents did not. I attended college where I obtained a bachelor's degree in middle childhood education. In those college years when I was 19 years old, I came to know Jesus at a women of faith conference in January of 2000. I married my husband in May of 2001 and we are still very happily married. I was a teacher for 5 years and became a stay-at-home mom after my second son was born in 2007. My three sons were born in the years 2004, 07 and 08, so I think I was pregnant or nursing for 5 years straight and on top of that my girls were very active in school and I rarely missed a function, busy, busy, busy!!!!! The summer of 2010, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and I have not felt the same since. My doctor says my levels are great, if so, why do I feel so lazy? Maybe I'm just lazy. Maybe its time to stop relying on the docs and rely on the ultimate Healer. I'm not sure where this blog is going to take me or who would even be interested. I am sure however that God has called me to do something and I will follow through.
I am leaving today with my favorite Bible verse of the moment (it seems to change frequently)
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
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