Overwhelmed...it is the word that first comes to my mind when things aren't going well, or I'm having a rough day. My emotions often get the best of me and the battle for Truth in my mind is like waging war. In all honesty, I feel like I fail more times then I succeed. I find myself letting those emotions rule my heart and my thoughts and let Truth get swallowed up by them. Empty, broken, and depleted are words that often describe my feelings after I succumb to the overwhelming feeling. And the truth is, as a believer, I should never feel this way.
I am currently reading a book called Loving the Little Years (highly recommend), and in it, Rachel (the author), talks about how she often used that very same word and decided she had to eradicate from her vocabulary. Why? Because as a Christian, we should never be overwhelmed. The definition of the word itself goes against everything a Christian is called to be. Merriam Webster describes it as, "to overpower in thought or feeling". That means, when I say I am overwhelmed, I am in essence saying that whatever it is that is overwhelming me has overpowered me. Whether it be emotions, tasks, mothering, cleaning, to-do lists, you name it...none should ever overwhelm us as believers. How? He has given us His daily sufficient grace! And it is that grace that equips and enables us to walk every moment of every day, in the good and the rough.
I was so encouraged and challenged by what Rachel has done, by removing that word and idea from her mind all together, that I too am seeking to do the same. When I am tempted to believe that I am overwhelmed, I will remember Truth, and that I have just the grace I need, to get through it all, every moment of every day...until He calls me home.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
3 Months, 3 Lessons
It has almost been three months since little Brayden was born, my how time flies! I think I have learned more about myself in the last three months then I have in many many years. When people told me being a mom would sanctify you, I never imagined how much. God graciously eases you into that work of "mommy sanctification" during pregnancy and I am certain it won't end until I leave this earth. Being a mom is, aside from being a wife, the most wonderful privilege in the world, and yet at the same time, it is the hardest thing I have ever been called to.
In the past three months I have learned so many things, but I thought I would sum them up into three.
I Can't Do This Alone
Each day I am called to be a mom, is another day that I realize how dependent upon the Lord I truly am for EVERYTHING. I need His daily sufficient and sustaining grace to empower me and enable me to fulfill this calling each moment. When I try and do it "alone", I find myself discouraged and weak. But the moment that I cry out to Jesus and ask for His help and His grace, I am renewed and empowered to press on, for His glory.
Every Day is a Gift
I've touched on this before, but I tend to look to the future often and not live in the moment. Being a mom is a constant reminder that TODAY is a gift and TODAY is to be my focus. Seeing Brayden's smile, or hearing his little coos are sweet reminders from the Lord to cherish the little things in life and to be thankful for today, for we aren't promised tomorrow. May we be found having been faithful today.
Be Thankful, I'm Blessed
To know that I am a wife and a mom leaves me speechless at times. It has been a prayer that I prayed for years that has been answered. Desires that God put in my heart long ago have been fulfilled and I am beyond grateful. I am called to daily reflect on God's goodness to me, and to be thankful, for I truly am blessed.
I love my job :)!
In the past three months I have learned so many things, but I thought I would sum them up into three.
I Can't Do This Alone
Each day I am called to be a mom, is another day that I realize how dependent upon the Lord I truly am for EVERYTHING. I need His daily sufficient and sustaining grace to empower me and enable me to fulfill this calling each moment. When I try and do it "alone", I find myself discouraged and weak. But the moment that I cry out to Jesus and ask for His help and His grace, I am renewed and empowered to press on, for His glory.
Every Day is a Gift
I've touched on this before, but I tend to look to the future often and not live in the moment. Being a mom is a constant reminder that TODAY is a gift and TODAY is to be my focus. Seeing Brayden's smile, or hearing his little coos are sweet reminders from the Lord to cherish the little things in life and to be thankful for today, for we aren't promised tomorrow. May we be found having been faithful today.
Be Thankful, I'm Blessed
To know that I am a wife and a mom leaves me speechless at times. It has been a prayer that I prayed for years that has been answered. Desires that God put in my heart long ago have been fulfilled and I am beyond grateful. I am called to daily reflect on God's goodness to me, and to be thankful, for I truly am blessed.
I love my job :)!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Leading Little Ones to Jesus
I've never desired for the salvation of a single soul in my life as much as for my sons. As I look down at his sweet little face, I am burdened with a deep need for constant prayer on behalf of His salvation. And although I know that it is but the grace and mercy of God alone that can rescue Him, it is my fervent prayer and desire that I might be a tool in the Lord's hand to draw Him to the foot of the cross.
It is hard to look at your precious little baby and remember that within them lies the root of every sin; to see them as totally depraved. But that is the Truth and the reality of what Scripture teaches. They are conceived in, an born in iniquity. Their hearts are full of wickedness and evil. And apart from the grace of God, they will fulfill every desire of their flesh leading them to utter destruction.
But what do we do as parents? Is there a guarantee that if I "train" my child up in the admonition and fear of the Lord that he or she will be saved? Unfortunately no, that is not a promise. BUT it is a principle. We serve a GOOD and faithful God who blesses His children far beyond comprehension. He blesses obedience. We can be certain that if we are obedient to His commands that are laid out for us as parents, that we can trust that in His sovereign plan everything will work out for our good and His glory. And prayerfully that will include the salvation of our children. His Word is clear...
THE GOAL OF PARENTING IS A CHILD'S SALVATION, THAT GOD WOULD CHANGE THEIR HEART!
Children MUST be made to obey because depravity exists. Proverbs 29:15 says, "The rod and reproof give wisdom, and the child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother". "Discipline, correction, the rod is biblical. The key is the children must be made to obey by suffering painful consequences when they don't. They must be made to honor and respect their parents so that they're punished not only for disobedience but for disrespect, and dishonor. Consequences for disobedience." (John MacArthur) We do this because we are seeking to bring our kids to a place of righteousness. We are desiring to guide their hearts to Christ. Children must have an enforced conformity to God and His Truth in their heart and life. You are to break their self-will, to show them the heinousness of their sin, and to teach them that that sin is an offense towards God. And teach them that only our loving God is the one who can change their heart. Every moment is a teachable moment, life is a classroom of grace towards Jesus.
I was recently listening to a sermon by John MacArthur (The Fulfilled Family: God's Pattern for Parents Part 1 and 2) and he gave some very practical and wise things to do found in the Word of God in Deuteronomy 6, a chapter on family instruction.
Teach Your Child...
1. To Recognize God and His Sovereignty (Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.")
2. Obedience to God and His Word (Deuteronomy 6:6 "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ")
3. To Follow Your Example of Christ (Deuteronomy 6:7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.")
4. By Continually, Constantly Reminding them of God, His Sovereignty, His Love, and to Love Him, to Fear Him, and to Follow your Example (Deuteronomy 6:8-9 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." )
5. Warn them of the World (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 "And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget theLord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.")
Be faithful to these things, and stay on your knees knowing God is faithful.
It is hard to look at your precious little baby and remember that within them lies the root of every sin; to see them as totally depraved. But that is the Truth and the reality of what Scripture teaches. They are conceived in, an born in iniquity. Their hearts are full of wickedness and evil. And apart from the grace of God, they will fulfill every desire of their flesh leading them to utter destruction.
But what do we do as parents? Is there a guarantee that if I "train" my child up in the admonition and fear of the Lord that he or she will be saved? Unfortunately no, that is not a promise. BUT it is a principle. We serve a GOOD and faithful God who blesses His children far beyond comprehension. He blesses obedience. We can be certain that if we are obedient to His commands that are laid out for us as parents, that we can trust that in His sovereign plan everything will work out for our good and His glory. And prayerfully that will include the salvation of our children. His Word is clear...
THE GOAL OF PARENTING IS A CHILD'S SALVATION, THAT GOD WOULD CHANGE THEIR HEART!
Children MUST be made to obey because depravity exists. Proverbs 29:15 says, "The rod and reproof give wisdom, and the child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother". "Discipline, correction, the rod is biblical. The key is the children must be made to obey by suffering painful consequences when they don't. They must be made to honor and respect their parents so that they're punished not only for disobedience but for disrespect, and dishonor. Consequences for disobedience." (John MacArthur) We do this because we are seeking to bring our kids to a place of righteousness. We are desiring to guide their hearts to Christ. Children must have an enforced conformity to God and His Truth in their heart and life. You are to break their self-will, to show them the heinousness of their sin, and to teach them that that sin is an offense towards God. And teach them that only our loving God is the one who can change their heart. Every moment is a teachable moment, life is a classroom of grace towards Jesus.
I was recently listening to a sermon by John MacArthur (The Fulfilled Family: God's Pattern for Parents Part 1 and 2) and he gave some very practical and wise things to do found in the Word of God in Deuteronomy 6, a chapter on family instruction.
Teach Your Child...
1. To Recognize God and His Sovereignty (Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.")
2. Obedience to God and His Word (Deuteronomy 6:6 "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ")
3. To Follow Your Example of Christ (Deuteronomy 6:7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.")
4. By Continually, Constantly Reminding them of God, His Sovereignty, His Love, and to Love Him, to Fear Him, and to Follow your Example (Deuteronomy 6:8-9 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." )
5. Warn them of the World (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 "And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget theLord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.")
Be faithful to these things, and stay on your knees knowing God is faithful.
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