Valentine's Day

So I did something a little different this Valentine's Day for Joey, which we actually celebrated on Monday afternoon instead of Sunday. I got this wonderful idea from my friend Monica. She did this a while back for her husband and it proved successful.

I asked 7 of Joey's friends to write a few sentences or a small paragraph on how he has displayed a certain fruit of the spirit in his life and in their relationship. I assigned each of them a random fruit of the spirit and hoped that everyone would participate. I wanted to write on love and faithfulness. As everyone sent me their's back, I printed each one out and put them into separate envelopes.

The same day I received two back and within a few days all of his friends had responded. Throughout the day on Monday I would give him an envelope to open. At first he said this was embarrassing. He doesn't like people doting on him and him being the center of attention. But as the day went on he found himself asking, "So when do I get to open another one?" It was fun seeing the excitement on his face when he read what other's had said and then to see who it was from. I had asked friends from high school to present day friends, including his boss.

I wanted this to be a source of encouragement for him. It was a reminder to me also that I needed to be more forthcoming in my encouragement and praise of others and not always wait for special moments. People like to hear that they are special and it could very well brighten someone's discouraging day to hear someone speak blessings to them, either in person, over the phone, or in a card.

Here is what some of Joey's friends had to say:

"Joey, you truly are a peacemaker. I appreciate your heart for unity without sacrificing truth. I have never known someone easier to get along with and harder to offend than you and this brings a spirit of peace to every situation you are in. I believe that the reason for this is that you are more concerned about others than yourself. I appreciate this quality in your life. I miss you man."

"Vines dictionary has one and a half pages for good and goodness. The phrase that I found that I think sums it up best is," True goodness can only flow out of a life right with God and yielded to Him." That is Joey. He has a heart for God and it shows. I know that he truly cares for my family, praying for us and being one of the few friends I have here in Texas. If I ever needed him for something I know he would do his best to help me."

"Joey is often kind, doing things for others. There are lots of examples of this in his life. The family that was helped at Christmas is one. The way he's always ready to serve Bonnie (Pregnancy Resource Center director) is another. I'm sure there are many things he does in his day to day life that we don't know about. It's his way of being kind. One way that stands out the most is Joey's compassionate attitude towards the unborn, children, and big families. Joey doesn't just talk the talk, he walks it when it comes to these folks. He will always go the extra mile when it comes to being kind to them or advocating for them. Babies, children, and big families will always have a friend in Joey."

I did not post them all, but everyone's comments were sweet and touched him deeply. Try this idea sometime for your husband. If not for Valentine's Day, maybe for his birthday. I know it will encourage him.

Mother's Version of 1 Corinthians 13

I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon and sing, "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor-but if I don't have love I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.

I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking dinner and checking my voicemail. I can fix the best cookies and Kool-aide in the neighborhood and I can tell a sick child's temperature by the touch of my finger-but if I don't have love I am nothing.

Love is patient while watching and praying by the front window when it's thirty minutes past curfew.

Love is kind when my teen says, "I hate you!"

Love does not envy my neighbors' swimming pool or their brand new mini van, but trusts the Lord to provide every need.

Love does not brag when other parents share their disappointments or insecurities, but rejoices when other families succeed.

Love doesn't boast when I've multi-tasked all day long and my husband can't do more than one thing at a time.

Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?"

Love does not immediately seek after glory when we see talent in our children, but encourages them to get training and make wise choices.

Love is not easily angered when my 15 year old acts like the world revolves around her.

Love does not delight in evil (is not self-righteous) when I remind my 17 year old that he's going 80 in a 55 mph speed zone, but rejoices in the truth.

Love does not give up hope when I have been praying for the salvation of one of my children.

Love always protects our children's self-esteem and spirit even while doling out discipline.

-Nancy Campbell-
http://www.aboverubies.org

What I'm Learning

We are going through a parenting study on DVD in Sunday School by Chip Ingram. We will start our fourth session tomorrow. I think I can speak for the whole class when I say we have all been encouraged.

Some of the points he discusses I feel like we are good at such as quality family time, affection, praying often with our children. Other aspects need some work. We need to be more consistent, demanding instant obedience. We have tried hard for the last several weeks. It is sooo hard because honestly I get tired of spanking Libby. I feel awful when I have to. It breaks my heart, but I know it's for her benefit and her good.

How will she ever grow up to obey her Heavenly Father whom she hasn't seen if she can't obey her earthly parents whom she does see? Children will have an easier time obeying the still small voice of the Lord if they learn to obey yours at a young age.

Joey has been praying for the Lord to help him be consistent with family devotions. The nights we are at home, we have been doing them. We are reading through John in small portions that Libby can handle. Joey discusses the portion with us in a way she can understand. We sing several songs together. Not just kid songs, but songs with a story. She loves to sing Amazing Grace, Jesus Paid It All, and Victory in Jesus. She knows the verses by heart. Some of her other favorites are Do Lord, The Lord's Army, and If You're Happy and You Know It. We share requests. Joey prays and then Libby wants to pray.

We purchased "The Jesus Storybook Bible" by Sally Loyd-Jones. Her husband is Martin Loyd-Jones, one of the great modern day theologians. In my opinion it's the best Bible story book for kids. Each story points back to Christ. We also use that as part of our devotion time.

We are striving as a family to incorporate more doctrinal truth and teachable moments as we go about our day.

Like Chip Ingram said, sex, language, and violence is easy to spot in movies and TV. But where we are subtly pulled in is when a woman from a bad marriage becomes involved with a man from a bad marriage and somehow we find ourselves rooting for them. He said a teachable moment there would be to stop the movie or turn the TV off and talk to your older kids why that is not ok and how that lifestyle doesn't honor the Lord. Instead of letting things like that slide, take time to address them.

You can do that with little ones too. When another child in Wal-Mart is talking disrespectfully to her mother or throwing a fit, take time to address the situation. Tell them Jesus wants us to talk sweet to our parents and that it pleases Him when we are kind to others. Find teachable moments. They are there.

Sooooo, that is what we are learning to do. I have failed. I will continue to fail. I am praying for wisdom. We have one shot on this parenting journey. I don't want to mess it up. Other things you might can blame on someone else. You can't blame your parenting mishaps on someone else.

If you feel like you have failed. You aren't alone. There is forgiveness and restoration from the Lord. Pray. Ask for wisdom and start today making a difference in your home. Your children's souls are at stake.

Clean Sweep Part 3

I hope to make this the last of the "Clean Sweep" series. I don't want to get bogged down in the nitty gritty details of organizing because I might lose all of the few readers I have:D)

From pantry cabinets, to bookshelves, to your dreaded junk drawer...there is always something to be organized it seems. Bad news: your organizing will never stop. Good news: it will come closer to staying that way if you have a good system of organizing the stuff.

I will touch on a few more points and then call it quits.

Before I had two kids, my son's room was then the guest bedroom and his closet held all the extra stuff that wouldn't fit into ours. Crafts supplies, sewing supplies, batteries, teaching CD's/tapes, games, etc. are still at the top of his closet neatly tucked away into small Rubbermaid type containers with lids. Each box is marked on the front with the appropriate items contained in there. We have a container for batteries, craft paint, sermons on CD, small type games such as several decks of card, skip bo, hand held Yahtzee, etc., sewing supplies, and a miscellaneous box that might contain odds and ends that aren't junk but there's not enough of it to have its own box. I have a small three drawer system that sits on top of the filing cabinet also located in the closet, that contains my craft ribbon, school supplies (markers, glue, crayons, and scissors), and the last drawer contains pictures that I want to keep but don't necessarily want to put into albums, i.e. extra portrait pictures from a studio, doubles, etc.

I love those bins and drawer sets. Everything is tucked neatly away and you can label it which also ensures you will put the things into its proper location.

Because I am short on kitchen drawers...three to be exact is all I have...I don't have the luxury of a junk drawer so all my things have to have a place or I would go crazy.

So start this week organizing your junk drawer and make homes for those things. You can probably purchase cheap containers at the Dollar Store if you're short on budget.

Hope this post helped some of you. It's not as extensive as I would have liked but you all know me...I can get wordy sometimes...ok all the time.

Until next time, happy organizing.

Alligator Mouth

"But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be." James 3:8-10

We were discussing the tongue in Sunday School this morning. I know my tongue can get me into trouble sometimes. I can be pretty forthright, sarcastic, blunt, and the list goes on and on. I can be gentle, but when the situation calls for speaking truth in love, then I am your woman. But sometimes I don't realize that my words can come across being judgemental and condemning. Please know that is not my heart at all. I am working on this.

Sometimes we forget that our tongue can hurt, cut, offend, tear, curse. Out of it can also flow bitterness, unforgiveness, crudeness, foul language, destruction.

The same tongue can produce kindness, blessing, encouragement, thanksgiving, love, peace.

How can the same tongue produce such opposite language and attitudes?

Because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34).

We speak what is in our heart. Period.

If hatred and ugliness is in our heart, then that's what comes out of our mouth.

If love and kindness are present, then that's what comes out.

You know it really comes down to an issue of self-control. I have heard some people control their foul language around certain groups of people (women, kids, church people) and let it loose around others. If they can control it, then they can get rid of it. If we all would think before we speak, then it would save us all a lot of theatrical apologies later as Anne Shirley would say.

With our tongue people bless God and then walk out of the doors of the church building cursing Him with their language. It ought not to be. It a reflection of our heart.

What a bad testimony our tongue can be. Gossip seems to be mainstream in our society even among Christians. I myself can be guilty of that as well. Where you draw the line I don't know. Gossip can be truth, but it doesn't give us the right to speak it to others all in the name of prayer. You have heard people speak a "prayer request" all in the name of gossip. Unless you have been given permission by that person to share personal things, then it should be kept to yourselves. I tell you I am guilty about sharing things with others that I have no business sharing. My intentions are pure and my motives are right, but should I be saying it? I don't know.

I could keep going on and on about this. So much truth can be spoken on this issue.

What do you think? Where do you draw the line between gossip and sharing requests and burdens of others? I have a hard time with this. I would love input.

Musings From The Kitchen Table/Longings for Heaven

*As I sit here at my kitchen table still suffering the effects of last week's cold that has now gone into my ears, *hint*, ear infection, I began thinking that when I'm in heaven, I will never be sick again. I usually get the typical cold every year and every couple of years, the flu sets in. I can't imagine never taking an antibiotic or nasal spray again!!

*When I sit down for a meal, I am always worried about every bite that goes into my mouth, ok maybe not when I eat steamed broccoli, but when I want to enjoy a balanced meal topped off with dessert, my first thought is, "What's the scale going to look like tomorrow?" There are things I don't/won't eat because of fear of gaining weight. My fear stems from previously being overweight (highest weight was 223 pounds) and not wanting to walk that road again. It's a legitimate fear, but it can become idolatry. I hate focusing so much of my energy on weight. In heaven I will be able to sit AND eat at the banqueting table with Jesus and NEVER have to worry about gaining a single pound. What freedom and pleasure!!

*I get tired of telling my loved ones bye when we have visited them.

*Friends will never have issues between each other.

*NO FEAR about anything

*Your kids will never be sick

*No anxiety

*No depression

My heart is longing for heaven today and hope yours is too!!

Keepin It Real Part 1

I've been wanting to write this post for a while, but just haven't had the time to collect my thoughts. For those of you that know me you know that I am pretty transparent. The Lord and I have walked some pretty rough roads together. I want to use the valley's I've walked through to bring Him glory so I'm sharing this with you in hopes that someone who reads this might have hope.



Depression is real. Anxiety is real.



My first real battle began in the winter of 2002 after a bout with the flu. (I say real because as a teenager I would have short bouts of depression that never lasted long and was usually over something stupid.) I had it (the flu) three times within a month's time. The dizziness associated with it remained even after I had recovered from the flu. It wouldn't go away. Fear and worry began to overtake me. Months later my body began to fail because of the heavy stress I had placed on it. I began to have weird symptoms that at times I couldn't even explain. By the summer of 2003 I was bad.



I had my first MRI in June of 2003 to rule out a possible brain tumor. Obviously it was negative or you would have heard about it. I continued going to my family doctor looking for answers. The only help he offered were multiple anti-depressants. I tried four all to no avail. I was even on Xanax for a time just to be able to settle down for any length of time. Fear of dependency caused me to go off of it.



Most nights were absolutely horrible. Joey was awakened most nights by me asking him to pray over me just so I could have some peace. Sometimes it worked sometimes it wouldn't. I feared I was going die and that fear kept me in bondage for nearly two years.



I suffered multiple panic attacks which landed me in the clinic on one occasion for an EKG. I thought I was having a heart attack. I feared public places and large crowds of people. I remember walking into Wal-mart with Joey one night only to have to turn around and walk back out because of fear something bad was going to happen to me.



Some of the symptoms I experienced were rapid heart rate, shaking of my hands, feeling detached from my body, tingling on the side of my face, pain in my jaw from clenching my teeth so often, feelings of insanity, and intense fear and worry are just to name a few. Some of them I can't put a name to.



I was without hope. I cried every day for two years. Nothing was worked. I probably spent more time in the Word during that time than I had in my entire life and there were days that I would read it and close it and nothing changed. It would encourage me for a moment and then I was back to square one. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was grasping for anything and everything that would work. I researched everything I could on anxiety. I wanted to know I wasn't alone and that I wasn't crazy. The symptoms were real.



My journey led me to the FemCentre. This place was recommended to me by a friend who went primarily for infertility. Her and her husband had tried for ten years to have a second child all to no avail. Within months she conceived. Since I was grasping I called the next day. Money was an issue for us, but then again it wasn't. Joey said we would do what it took to pay for it if it helped. My first visit was over $300 but I left encouraged for the first time in nearly two years.



Their protocol for me consisted of radically changing my diet, putting me on several supplements including some homeopathic remedies and a referral to a nutritionist and an acupuncturist. My journey to healing had begun.



I began to notice some improvement in about 4-6 weeks. The change was slow, but I continued going to Emily (the nutritionist and acupuncturist). In addition to the other supplements I was taking, she put me on a specially formulated Chinese herb made just for me. Tasted like dookie, but I gagged it down. I was symptom free after about 7-8 months of treatment. I also lost 63 pounds in the process, all without surgery or meds. I did continue with the acupuncture treatments for infertility, of which was successful, but that's another post.



I have been symptom free since 2004. I am not taking any medication other than a couple of supplements. God has been so gracious and long suffering as it took me a while to trust Him. He was faithful and His mercies new every morning. His grace was sufficient when I was weak.



There is hope. As long as you're alive there is hope. With Christ there is hope. I don't think I would have made it through without my husband either. He was my rock. My prayer warrior. My constant. He would always tell me, "Jennifer, God is bigger than this. Trust Him." When I wanted to die. Christ was there. When I didn't think it would get better. Christ was there. He was my ever present help in my time of trouble.



Looking back I don't know how I ever made it through those years of intense suffering (it seemed that way at least to me), but I did and am better because of it. The Lord allows times of suffering in our lives to bring us forth as gold and to give Him glory. I now have more compassion on those who suffer with anxiety and depression. It is real. I have been able to comfort those with the comfort I have received from the Lord as 1 Cor. 1 says.

Stay tuned for my next post on my most recent bout with PPD (post partum depression).

Heaviness of Heart

Today my heart is heavy. Well, it's been heavy for a few days but I just haven't had the energy to blog about it. There is just so much junk going on around us that sometimes you wonder in your flesh where the Lord is during times of heartache and tragedy. He's still on the throne I know, but it's hard to convey that to people walking through the hardship.

My prayers have been somewhat bleak lately ,if you will, as I have sought the Lord on behalf of those struggling with marriage issues, the loss of a child, sickness, loss of a job, health related concerns...some within my own family. Let me tell you it's spiritually and emotionally draining and can be physically depending on the level of ministry you are willing to undergo for those in need.

My prayers are also one of thanksgiving as well as I thank the Lord for His bountiful provision, His protection, His health, a rock solid marriage, and many more blessings bestowed on our family. There are times when I know we've had our share of junk so I praise the Lord today for a reprieve in the valley.

I came across this verse twice today so I guess I will share it in hopes that it will offer encouragement.

"He hold victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones." Proverbs 2:7-8

Our God sees and knows all that is going around us and yet He is not taken off guard by any of it. We can rest in His promises that He will take care of us and that this too shall pass.

Also, this verse struck me as I read it.

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

Now I know this verse means physically poor, but what about those who are poor in spirit and are crying out for hope, for encouragement, for prayer, for physical needs to be met, for someone who cares? Are there times when we shut our ears to their cries?

We are too busy, too drained ourselves emotionally or physically, too prideful, too apathetic to care.

What a time to reach out and minister to those who are hurting, believer or not. Sometimes ministry calls for getting in the trenches and getting dirty, hurt, tired, spent. Other times we can pray, encourage through calls or cards, send a meal, offer to help meet a physical need even if the recipient didn't know they had a need...we just saw it and met it without them asking.

I am telling you it blesses others to know God's people care and are willing to "work" and get involved in their personal lives by doing sometimes simple things. Ask, take notice, be aware of what's going on and do what you can to help.

You will wonder where those people are when you yourselves are walking through a dark valley of your own. Let's be Christ to those around us who are struggling and hurting and let us ask the Lord how we may play a part in blessing them.

And finally pray. Pray for these needs. God knows the specifics...it's our duty to pray.

God's Promptings

How many times have we sensed the Holy Spirit prompting up to pursue someone and we simply had good intentions to follow up, but let it fall through the cracks?

I know it has happened to me before. Why? Maybe a lack of what to do or say or how to approach them.

The Lord normally doesn't put people on our hearts for no reason, but desires us to pray and seek a way(s) to reach out and pursue them.

This scenario happened yesterday to Joey when, during his quiet time, the Lord put a particular individual on his heart that he went to youth group with. This guy had definitely gotten off on the wrong path and wasn't walking with the Lord. He had been in prison for multiple DWI's. Joey told me about the prompting and I told him I would pray and ask the Lord to show him something specific that he needed to do. So, yesterday during his lunch break he tracked this guy down (he knew where he worked) and showed up and invited him to lunch. They went to Dairy Queen and over lunch this guy shared his heart with Joey and what had been going on with him and what God had been doing in his life. He is back in church and going to AA. Joey tried to encourage him and listen to him share his struggles/victories. He doesn't know why God led him to do it or why He prompted him to pursue this guy, but he didn't want to let it go. The guy gave Joey all of his numbers where he could be reached and invited him to go fishing with him sometime.

Joey may never know why, but only God knows what fruit will become of their meeting. Maybe the guy just needed a bit of encouragement; someone to show they cared; someone to reach out the love of Christ to him when the world has turned its back on him.

If the Lord puts someone on your heart, don't neglect the prompting. Pray and ask Him to show you a very specific way that you need to reach out. Could be a card of encouragement, a phone call, a lunch date, a gift of some sort, intercessory prayer on their behalf or something else specific. This person could be a believer or not one at all. The logistics in how you minister might be different if they know the Lord, but the point is don't ignore the Holy Spirit. Don't let shyness, pride, or busyness get in the way of ministering to someone. Tell them the Lord laid them on your heart and what the Lord showed you to do. You will be blessed and I guarantee will come away more encouraged than the recipient.

Convicted Read

I am always blessed by Kerry Hasenbalg's wisdom and admonishement and this particular post did it for me. I was convicted and encouraged and wanted to share it with my readers. I know if you continue reading you will be encouraged too. If you can sit down and read several chapters in a really good book then you can read this post. No guilt intended :) I admit I am guilty of doing what she describes in her post and sometimes I need a strong rebuke instead of gentle chiding to remind me that I fall so short. Hope it blesses and encourages you. "Lord, change my heart O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart O God. May I be like You."

Honoring God at Christmas

"They act so pious! They come to the temple and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act as a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. 3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.‘Why aren’t you impressed?We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. " Isaiah 58:2-4


As Christmas is approaching, it seems that many Christian households are again seeking to know how to honor God and set tradition examples for their children to follow. Very often the holiday traditions we learned when we were young are the ones we continue to practice to this day. I am really impressed when I see Christian families seeking to serve and give to the needy more than having the holiday season focused on just the receiving of gifts. This is a good example.

But what I believe the Lord has really placed on my heart this year is something I have never thought much about in connection to the holiday season. It is based on the discussion recorded in Isaiah 58 between God and His people about what kind of holiday celebration actually pleases the Lord. And it begins first with an indictment of their false piety. Thinking they are honoring God but in fact dishonoring Him with their lack of genuine love for others.

So, if you are still reading, I am going to ask you to join me in searching your hearts to see how you might be dishonoring the Lord and how to begin honoring the Lord truly. First let us ask God to show us how we are pretending to love Him (fooling ourselves even) and yet continuing to oppress those we have power over? And second to show us how we have a quarreling spirit against the people God has placed in our lives.

Because if we really want to please God and want Him to be close to us, then we have no choice but to know and repent of these things hiding in our hearts. The houses, the churches, the workplace, and the fellowship circles of most Christians is filled with “secret” contempt for one another. And it is so terribly displeasing to the Lord and it keeping God’s mercy and power far from us! In this section of Isaiah, it talks about how the Lord refuses to answer the prayers of His people because of these hidden things. I don’t know about you, but I desperately want God to answer my prayers. If you have things you need God to help you with then please join me as we ask ourselves, who have we cut off in our hearts because of petty offenses? Who have we spoken ill of and justified in our hearts for doing so? Who’s reputations have we harmed that are part of our own God-ordained environments…our churches, our offices, our homes, our fellowships. How are we pretending in public that they are our “friends” but still continue to think and speak ill of them to those closest to us?

And why are we doing this? Primarily we do this because we think we are better! Well, we are not! Most likely, somewhere along the line, we have offended others similarly and we don’t even realize it. We think these people should be more honoring to us, but how honoring are we to them really. Perhaps we have unspoken expectations of them that they have not met. Let’s get some perspective…who’s expectations have we not met? Our parents? Our spouse’s? Our co-worker’s? Our boss’s? Our friends? If we desire mercy, we must first give mercy, right?!
Most often when I am offended, I chose not to go to the person directly and address the issue as the Lord has asked His people to do in the book of Matthew. And I am ashamed to say that I am too often willing to speak about it to others and not to that person directly. Venting is not Biblical! It is so wrong; and this does not honor God at all - and what's more it is harmful to our lives, our souls, and our relationship to God.

What about if we are sharing the situation because we are seeking godly counsel about the situation;, is it OK to talk about it in these cases? Well, it is critically important to understand your own motive in sharing with another. First, make sure you are only talking to someone who is willing to speak to your sin first and still expects you to go to that person directly if you are not the one entirely at fault! Christians rarely talk about their own sin…yet we love talking about the sins of others though, don’t we?! We are so unwilling to address how the real issue is that our pride has been offended. Often our anger towards others is based on our setting these others up to honor us (which is idolatry…us being the intended idol) and them being upset because they fail to meet our expectations of them. Often it is because we are angry that they can get away with their sin (which is jealousy because we want to get away with ours as well). And often it is because their personality or way of acting simply annoys us (this too is often jealousy - because we usually don’t like people with our similar giftings because we feel replaced by them…and we think we can fulfill the role better than them).

So, if we are unwilling to see our sin of pride and yet continue to praise the Lord while holding on to our secret contempt towards our brethren, then this is what makes us true hypocrites! We look pious with our hands raised in church or by serving the needy, all the while we harbor resentment and justify it in our hearts! This is hypocrisy. But until we are willing to see that we are hypocrites, we will not change and we will lack God's full blessing in the things we care about. God detests these things just as He detested them with the Israelites.

Are you a pretender too? You are if you are holding a grudge against your brother or sister! And as for people over whom you have power such as workers or those with less wordly influence, do you honor them the same as you would your own flesh? No matter how much we give to the Poor and needy, just like Paul said, it means nothing if we refuse to really LOVE!

Please dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, forgive and love. Speak the truth to men as to God. Do not be afraid to see your own sin…because this why Jesus died, to remove all the sin that we give to Him in confession. Go do something very, very kind to the one whom you have been offended by. Honor them; honor their reputation. Because someday God will make sure the same is done for you when you don’t deserve it either! It is Christmas after all! We want to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas right?! Unless we love through forgiveness and being humble and honest with our brethren, all our other Christmas traditions really do not honor God and it profits our souls nothing! So, let’s all stop pretending to honor God and begin really honoring God! For this will give the One whose Birthday we are celebrating after all - a Very Merry Christmas! And I promise that what you will find is that your soul will be merry as well!

Home Destroyers Part 2

This the second part of the e-newsletter sent by Nancy Campbell. Take what is for you, but don't feel condemnation. That certainly is not her intention. She shares what God puts on her heart so may what is meant for you bless and encourage you. I know I need help guarding my tongue all the time and I KNOW I need to turn off the flow at times. May the Lord remind me when it's time!!


Jeremiah 4:22 RSV, "For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. "

Today we continue talking about things that destroy the home.

FOOLISHNESS
Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."

What does it mean to be foolish? Simply, it means to do it my way rather than God's way. God's way, although different to my way always ends in blessing. My way, although it may look good, always ends in destruction.

If we are not building our home, we are pulling it down. How do we pull it down?

1. We pull it down by vacating the home.God wants the mother in the home--nurturing, nourishing and training her children. We can't do everything successfully. We either build up a business (usually someone else's business) or we build up our home. God has given us a full time job to tend our little flock. God gives a warning to the mother shepherdess when He says in Zechariah 11:17, "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock!" Notice that this Scripture has an exclamation mark!

2. We pull it down by our words.Negative words. Critical words. Reactive words. Spiteful words. Angry words. And on it goes.

We build our home with words or we destroy our home with words!

When God allowed Satan to get at his servant Job, he smote him with terrible boils from the top of his head to the sole of his feet Job was in agony and pain. Instead of encouraging him, Job's wife said, "Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God, and die." Job replied, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:9-10)

Do you speak as one of the foolish women, or one of the wise?

Sometimes it may not be negative words. It may be wasteful words. Proverbs 15:2 says, "The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. " Often we speak unnecessary words when we should keep out mouths shut. I am always challenged by Proverbs 10:19, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." The more we blab on about anything and everything, the more opportunity there is to sin with our mouth. The NLT makes it clearer, "Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!"

3. We pull it down by spending frivolously and unwisely.The foolish woman buys according to her whims and what takes her fancy. She buys groceries without thought for nutrition or without reading the ingredients. She fills her cupboards with devitalized packaged foods instead of cooking from scratch. She purchases unnecessary "things" to fill her home which could be used for wiser needs.

Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man (or woman) spendeth it up." The foolish woman spends more than her husband can afford. The wise woman lives frugally within her means. I often have to remind my new adopted daughters that we don't have to eat what we want whenever we want. We must learn to live thriftily rather than extravagantly.

4. We pull it down by wasting.Many women not only waste time but waste products. They throw out everything. It is not wise to be a hoarder and clutter up your home, but there are many things that can be re-used to save re-spending.

Many mothers allow their children to pick at their food and leave it on their plate without teaching them to eat what is in front of them. Good food is thrown in the trash. This is wasteful.

May God deliver us from being in the "foolish women category" that pulls down their home.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER: "Father, please touch my lips with coals from off the altar. I don't want to speak negative words. Fill my mouth with encouraging and life-giving words that will build up my husband and my children. Amen."


AFFIRMATION: Building up my home with uplifting words, To do anything else is utterly absurd!

Perspecitve Makes All The Difference

Every creature of God is given something that could be called an "inconvenience" depending on your perspective. The elephant his trunk, the turtle his shell, a man's phlegmatic (laid back, lost to the world) personality, a women's height, etc. What seems like an obvious mistake God must have made, which of course He never does, was thought out before the foundation of the world. Sometimes in our flesh don't we wonder why He created things the way He did and with purpose He had in mind when He did?

I have often asked God why He created me with such a perfectionistic, Type A, over-achiever personality. "Wouldn't it be better Lord if I was more shy, laid back (I can be at times believe it or not,) sloppy, and unconcerned?" "Surely I wouldn't care as much what people think and wouldn't be constantly pulling my foot out of my mouth." Right? Can God possibly use someone that fits the first description? "God, can you use me in spite of what seems like an obvious glitch in my personality?" According to Psalm 139, "He created my inmost being." Guess what? That's my personality, my makeup, my individuality...who I am. You or I can't change it (I've tried) and try as you might to fight against it (doesn't work) you are who you are!!

The Lord calls all "kinds" to use for His purposes; Type A's, Type B's, cholerics, phlegmatics, the unorganized, the lets-label-and-have-a-bin-for-everything kind of people, the short, the skinny, the overweight woman, the feisty red head. Aren't we all part of the body and don't we need each other? Who do you call when you need a project done fast and done right? The organized Type A's. Who do the project people call when they are stressed out and about to be admitted? The Type B's so they can encourage them and say, "Hey, don't stress, it will get done...chill!" Or will it get done, lol!?!

The Lord God made you and me EXACTLY the way He wanted and with a very determined purpose in mind. He can use you... warts and all. Believe me, if He can use me, He can use you if you would be willing to fall under His leadership in your life. Instead of griping and complaining about the way we are, let us thank the Lord today for His work in our life. I do like the old saying,

Lord, grant me the grace to accept the things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference.

With His help, we can change those things about ourselves that can be changed (using kind words, thoughtfulness, hard working, dependability, weight etc.), but let's be content with what we can't (height, face shape, body shape, Type A vs. Type B.) All things do really work together for our good and His glory! Let's praise Him for that today. I will end this by telling you a story.

Gladys Aylward, the missionary woman to China has often told of two great sorrows she had as a child. One, that while all her friends had beautiful golden hair, hers was black. The other that while her friends were still growing, she stopped. She was about four feet ten inches tall. But when as last she reached the country to which God had called her to be a missionary, she stood on the wharf in Shanghai and looked around at the people to whom He had called her.
"Every single one of them," she said, "had black hair. And every single one of them had stopped growing when I did. And I said, 'Lord God, You know what you're doing!'"

Wear the Right Clothes

This isn't exactly my first real post, but I wanted to post a segment of this article. I subscribe to the Above Rubies e-newsletter and received this a few days ago and it really blessed me. How often do we continue wearing the same "old clothes" of selfishness, greed, attitudes of complaining and grumbling, sour spirits, etc.? The Bible calls us to "throw those things off" and put on our new wardrobe, which is far lovelier! Hope you enjoy this and I promise to post in a few days something the Lord showed in my my quiet time last week.

Ephesians 2:22-24, "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which was corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness."

When you were born again by the Spirit of God, you received a new wardrobe. It is a very expensive wardrobe, paid for by the precious blood of Christ. You have so many beautiful garments hanging in this wardrobe. You have lovely dresses of love, joy, peace, long suffering gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

You have delightful garments of tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, forbearance and forgiveness. (Colossians 3:12-17). The strange thing is that although we have this expensive wardrobe, we don't always bother to wear the clothes. We are so used to our old shabby clothes of the flesh. We feel more comfortable in them. They feel familiar, so we stick with them instead of trying out our new wardrobe. To put on a beautiful dress of gentleness or patience can seem foreign because we are not used to wearing them. But they belong to you! They are yours! Imagine if your husband purchased a very special and pricey dress for you. You couldn't believe how posh it was. But you never wore it. You thought it was too good for you. How would your husband feel when he paid so much for it and wanted to be proud of you wearing it?I wonder how God feels when He gives us this glorious wardrobe, purchased at an enormous price, and we never wear the garments? He gives them to us but He doesn't put them on us. He tells us to PUT THEM ON. "Put on the new man ..."

I love the J. B. Phillip's translation which says, "Fling off the dirty clothes of the old way of living ... And put on the clean fresh clothes of the new life ..." Make sure you put on a new garment each morning. Have you had a lousy night with the baby waking all night? Are you going through a fiery ordeal? Put on the garment of praise. (Isaiah 61:1-3).

Let me tell you a secret. You won't feel like putting it on. You'd much rather put on your dirty old dress of grumbling and complaining. But do it by faith. Don't worry about your feelings. Put on your praise garment. Start praising and thanking the Lord. As you do it by faith, you will actually wear it.You can change garments as you need them throughout the day.

Are the children getting on your nerves? You feel your anger rising. Quick! Change into your garment of long-suffering or patience. Put it on by faith. Thank the Lord for His patience which is in you because He lives in you. Are you starting to shout and yell because everything is getting on top of you? Put on the garment of gentleness. Thank the Lord for His gentle spirit which lives in you. This is the new man. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He lives in you now. All these beautiful garments belong to you. They are yours. All you have to do is put them on by faith! Strip of your old shabby garments. Wear your new ones each day. Live in them. Let Christ live His beautiful life through you.