Not only that, but some of your coworkers use every opportunity to “introduce” you to different products. It would wear me out!

Advertise Like the Pros

Instead, our environment is full of bright, beautiful, and clever images and messages about all kinds of products and services. These messages attract us and we then seek out these products and services and open our wallets.

Why don’t we do the same thing? Ultimately we hope our friends, family and acquaintances will seek out Jesus and open their hearts. Shouldn’t we seek to attract them toward God?

These people you are seeking to reach may not believe that God exists; or they believe God is a distant and uncaring God; or they believe the earth was seeded by aliens; or they have some other belief such as a pagan religion.

Ideas to Share the Message of God’s Love Using a Beautiful and Gentle Approach

Photo by Craftsy.com

Create inspirational note cards. Put a Bible or other inspirational quote on the top, bottom or side of the notes. Have a friend who knows calligraphy write the quotes (or learn calligraphy yourself). You can also use a fancy font in your wordprocessing program. Draw or doodle a design. Use cute photos of kittens, puppies, babies, flowers, etc.

Make copies of the notes. A copy shop or Staples print department can provide this service. Take these and write encouraging notes on them and mail them out, or leave them on a coworker’s desk. The Bible quote will be on the periphery of the card and it will be less likely to repel your friends.

Photo by Flickr Bigbirdz

I AM able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. – excerpt Jesus Calling, Sarah Young

In the thick of the valley experiences that life often throws at us, logical discourse and reason often become our greatest allies. We give them access to our inner most thoughts and emotions–our deepest fears and desires–all while granting them permission to light the way and see us through to the other side. We listen, attentively, as reason gives rise to self-reliance which then gives rise to independence and the beginnings of faith’s demise. Make no mistake. Reason not only challenges faith, if left unchecked it will kill faith at its source which is the word of God. Reason opposes the word of God and therefore opposes faith.

Faith lives in each of us evolving as we live through the highs and lows of life. In good times, faith comes easy to many of us. After all, what’s not to be thankful for? Jobs. Money. Health. Shelter. Clothing. We have all we could ask for at our fingertips, readily available to us when we need them. At times like these faith, in the form of praise and adoration for the Father, swims in our hearts and springs from our lips. We dance on the cloud 9′s of life uninhibited and free. But what do we do when the tides suddenly change? What happens when the rising waters stun, overwhelm and submerge us?

Photo by Flickr Tim Green

Reason dictates that at difficult times like these faith should take a backseat as we attempt to navigate our way to safety; but the word of God proposes this:

In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. – Ephesians 6:17

When everything around us seems to go berserk, we are implored to fight the good fight of faith–to use the word of God as a weapon. The bible is not comprised of fairy tales or feel good stories that we recite to assuage our children’s pleas for bedtime excitement. The word of God is alive and full of power and when it is spoken in faith, it changes the very atmosphere of any situation.

Faith is not predicated on emotion…ever. God is the same God yesterday, today and always. This means when you get an unfavorable report from the doctors or suffer a devastating circumstance, God’s promise that all things work together for your good is unchanged. Faith is something we must grab hold of and refuse to let its power, its ability to breath life into our situation, slip through our fingers.

Reason says that faith is irrelevant. God says that faith is a weapon. Which report will you believe?

Sometimes I think as adults we do the same thing with God, but we aren’t playing hide and seek. We’re just afraid to know the truth about ourselves.

Afraid You Can’t Keep Your New Year Promises?

Since we’re saved by faith and not by works, are New Year’s resolutions important? Maybe some of us wish they weren’t important because we’ve  failed so many times already. To survive we sometimes just keep moving. We look away from our faults and do what we have to. We put blinders on and hope everyone else can’t see our faults either. We create distractions for ourselves. Then late December comes around and people begin telling us their New Year promises. Should we?

It’s impossible to believe it isn’t important for us to ask God to help us be better people, better parents, better workers, better anything. After all, we want God to use us for good! There’s not a biblical mandate to do this at a certain time of year. But it’s as good a time as any. Why not now?

Bible Verses to Help

Here are some verses from the Bible that shed light on this topic.

Matthew 19:26

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Yes you can keep your promises. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

Be sure to ask Him what to promise, and wait as He ministers to you in a still small voice or in thunder and lightning!

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.’” Isn’t that comforting! I love this verse.

There is a plan! Ask Him about this plan. Ask Him to open your eyes to the truth about what He wants for you this year. Ask Him to silence the voices from your past echoing discouraging words in your soul about who you are–you will know those voices because they’re the ones that extinguish your courage. There is only one voice you want and He will speak in your spirit.God is an encourager. What He says to you will give you courage and mental energy for the tasks ahead.

John 14:12

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

So you see, His plans include something big. Believe this as you ask Him where to start!

1 John 4:18

“…perfect love casts out fear…” Don’t be afraid. You can do it! Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Writing Down the Resolutions

Work with God on your list for one day or two weeks, whatever it takes. Write them down and pray over your list. Think about your list throughout the day and be in prayer, with your mind open to possibilities. Scratch some off, add different ones. Soon the process will be finished and you will just know.

Consider framing the resolutions and hanging them where others can see (if you have supportive people in your life), or just in the bathroom or on the refrigerator so you are reminded daily.

Daydream about success! Review and reflect at the end of the year!

I hope that the new year brings you blessings and courage.

Photo Credit by MJ Photography

The soft glow of Christmas lights illuminates the tall tree in the corner, casting hues of merriment on all that is near. Under the tree, neatly wrapped gifts cause excitement and anticipation of what is to come.

But what of the gift that came so long ago? The gift of a Savior wrapped as a baby in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger?

For some, the greatest gift of all remains unopened. The gift of salvation, the promise of eternal life, the offer of unconditional love…rejected.

Others receive salvation but fail to embrace the entire gift. The “accessories” included in the package are overlooked or neglected. The stockings full of benefits to a life in Christ are left hanging. Hope remains broken. Joy is scorned. Healing is discounted. Peace is dismissed. Wisdom is rejected. Grace is misunderstood.

At the end of a long day, often this mama’s hands feel empty, with nothing left to give. And sometimes this heart is heavy, weighed down by tasks left undone and burdens that come throughout the course of the day.

The Giver of good gifts is waiting to fill what has been depleted, strengthen what has been weakened, and breathe life into this weary soul.

Photo Credit ShutterShots Photography

As we give out, He gives in, pouring in streams of love and grace and power to finish our journey well. He desires to make whole what the world has left fragmented. He desires to make us complete, mending our broken places, healing our wounds.

You see, this season of giving requires that we also receive.

Jesus came that we might have life eternal and that we might experience life to the fullest every day. (John 3:16, John 10:10).

As we share the love of Christ in our giving to our families and others, and as we show our gratitude in our giving to God, let us also remember to receive from the One who gave first, the One who gave all for us that we might live.

Photo Credit Faust Family Photos

Let us respond with open arms and receptive hearts to His stockings full of grace and boxes of mercy. His benefits have been sacrificially offered. Tucked quietly in our response is our gift back to Him: the gift of receiving all that has been given.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Merry Christmas to all!

Photo by Flickr AddyG

Ever feel like people notice what you do more than your non-Christian acquaintances? The light of God through us illuminates everything, including our faults. People are often more critical of Christians because we claim to be, well Christians. The implication is we’re better.

There are lights everywhere during the holiday season. Sometimes they’re overdone, but sometimes just the right amount of light makes a place magical. But what does it mean to be a light? Jesus said, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14

Christmas Lights

Back in my hometown, Meriden, Connecticut, there’s a fantastic display of Christmas lights to delight children from one to 92! You can walk or drive through Hubbard Park. Anyone coming off of the interstate will see the lights. But during other times of the year, no one would even see the park as they drive by at night. The lights on trees and metal sculptures of reindeer and other Christmas characters reflect on Mirror Lake and cast beautiful beams and shadows on the snow.

Mirror Lake and Hubbard Park cannot be hid during Christmas time unless there’s a black out. At our church one of the favorite kids’ songs is “This Little Light of Mine.” The most animated part of the song is when the kids uncover their light: “Hide it under a bushel NO!”

Can We Hide Our Light?

Photo by Smabs Sputzer

The kids’ song implies we can choose to hide it. But Jesus said a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Claiming the name of Christ is like standing on a hill. You will be noticed. Your good and bad attitudes will show. Your good and bad habits will show.

Yikes!

Jesus said we are the light of the world. I get the feeling there isn’t a light switch. The creator of the universe chose to become one of us for a time. The perfect One lived in an imperfect human body. Was it risky? Is He taking a risk making our so imperfect selves His light in the world? You bet!

So How Can We Make Our Lights Shine on Good Stuff

It’s not a terrible thing for non-Christians to see we aren’t perfect. Sometimes we get a superiority complex and temporarily forget we’re saved by grace and not by works. Not giving us a light switch might be God’s way of reminding us of that. It promotes humility!

So we know we are not saved by our works — so what are works for then? I suspect that’s what Christ wants to illuminate. When we do His work, we are reflecting His love to others. That’s not just working in community services or helping in the soup kitchen. It’s how we respond to bad times; how we treat the offending driver; how we act when something really awful happens; how we conduct business; how we behave when we don’t agree; when we forgive; when we’re thankful; when we encourage.

Here’s a big one–how we treat our own family members shows God’s love. Our works can be our attitude. Are we sorrowful Christians or joyful Christians? Do we moan “Oh, my! I’m sure the end is near!” Or do we exclaim joyfully like my adopted Romanian daughter, “I’m hope Jesus come soon!”

So, don’t look for the light switch when you’re at your worst. You won’t find it. Instead turn your face toward Jesus and ask for more grace. He’ll never say no.

With the holidays upon us, messages of giving thanks and remembering the reason for the season are not hard to find. But how do we clothe ourselves with gratitude and keep our faith secure in a time when financial pressures loom, tragedies still happen, and greed threatens to take over?

Television commercials tell us we need more and prompt our children to beg for new toys and the latest video games. Pictures of Santa’s sleigh buckling under a heavy load and images of his red velvet bag filled to overflowing attempt to confirm the idea that Christmas really is about getting everything on our list. Even our giving can become burdensome if we are giving to compete, impress or satisfy feelings of guilt.

Sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas are a few weeks with the potential to set the course for our last holiday of the season and determine how we finish the year. If our focus is wrong and our hearts are set on things that shouldn’t matter, we can quickly become overwhelmed and stressed. But if we filter the season’s activities through a lens of gratitude and purposefully use our days to strengthen and build our faith, these few weeks can make an astounding difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.

Photo by Flickr Vistamommy

Why are Gratitude and Faith Important?

Gratitude takes the focus off of what we don’t have and reminds us of the blessings already present. Faith causes us to see good even when life hands us bad. Gratitude helps us appreciate the small things and replaces stress and worry with peace and contentment. Both gratitude and faith take our eyes off of ourselves and direct our attention to God and others.

Gratitude by definition is the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful. On this journey through life that includes unfulfilled expectations and dreams that don’t always come true, feelings of thankfulness are not usually our natural response. It is easy to forget to be grateful when our bank account is overdrawn or our gas tank is empty. With our vision clouded by the external and temporary, it can be difficult to see and know and feel gratitude. And often we cannot fully embrace gratitude until something happens that shakes us to our foundation and opens our eyes to what really matters.

A New Perspective

Seven years ago I was scheduled to deliver my third child on December 13. Eight weeks before this anticipated day I was diagnosed with melanoma. Without faith, my story may have had a different ending. God in His mercy and grace walked me and baby #3 victoriously through to the other side, but something happened to me along the way.

My perspective changed. My heart became grateful.

Faith gave me the courage to thank God for healing and provision before I could see it and gratitude lifted the dark clouds that threatened to destroy my hope.

Finding What Matters Most

No longer was I concerned with all the mistakes I had made; I was overwhelmed by God’s forgiveness. No longer was I mindful of all the things I did not have; I was humbled by God’s goodness and abundance of blessings already present. Buying and receiving the most expensive and perfect gifts that Christmas seemed less important. Instead, gifts I had already been given began to take on new meaning and significance.

A Reason to Celebrate

Each day is a reason to celebrate and be thankful. Every breath is a gift. Every moment holds something to be cherished.

Gratitude centers. It brings us home to a place we were created to exist. A place where hearts are opened and the truest of  gifts received.

Is there something clouding your vision today? Something causing stress and worry? Ask God to show you the gifts you’ve already been given. By faith, unwrap the presents your Father picked out just for you and let gratitude be your response.

“…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:20.

Photo by Flickr Mufan6

I’ll never forget the day my daughter told me that when she was 11 years old she thought a particular female church member was actually God. I was horrified that such a misunderstanding of the concept of who God is could happen!  I had daily family devotions in my home, and we attended church regularly. Besides that, my children participated in their religious classes; and my daughter is very bright.

As parents we’re told that our children will develop their concept of God based on their relationship with us and with other significant people in their lives. But we never consider that they’ll actually think a particular adult is God!

You Are a Spiritual Role Model

We really have no idea how much of an impact we might have on our own children or other children in the church. It’s an awesome responsibility to know that we can either reflect God’s love or misrepresent His character to children or those less experienced in the faith. By walking into the church, we are role models whether we are intentional about it or not.

Spiritual Role Models and Imitation

Before my wedding day, I remember telling my minister husband to be that he really shouldn’t chew on a toothpick in front of the little boys who looked up to him. I was concerned they might choke on a toothpick. It was too late though. When we went through the candid photos the wedding photographer took, there’s a picture of three little boys, all under five, with toothpicks in their mouths! The picture still makes me smile because it demonstrates how the boys wanted to imitate my husband. Of course toothpick chewing is trivial when compared to spiritual characteristics.

Paul actually tells us to imitate the faithful. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12 Imitation seems to be innate or natural to us. Children especially seem to be natural imitators and learn almost everything through imitation.

Photo by Flickr Hpebley3

Four Ways We Are Spiritual Role Models

1. Our position makes us spiritual role models. Are we official church leaders? Arewe adults? Are we older teens? Ministers? A minister’s spouse? Someone’s friend? We might simply be perceived as having position because we help out on the platform, or speak up during witnessing time, or tell a children’s story.
2. When we go through a difficult time we are role models because everyone is watching us. They want to see how we will respond to loss, strain, rejection, or sickness. Then later, we are role models as we bring comfort to those going through similar trials. 2 Cor. 1:4 …who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. Myrtle tells an inspiring story about how during a difficult time others influenced her little boy’s commitment to God through compassionate acts.
3. We are spiritual role models when we admit we are wrong. There is nothing more powerful than teaching this through our lives. If we never demonstrate this, we are missing out on one of the most convincing ways to show that we truly believe God unconditionally loves.
4. Most importantly, we are spiritual role models every time we interact with a child. Make every aspect of that interaction count. Listen with every ounce of awareness you can muster, smile, and respond prayerfully. You can take Jen Ferguson’s advice on creating a strong legacy of faith for your own children.

Whatever we do, we can’t get away from the fact that someone is looking up to us. We are role models. The big question is what kind of role model am I?

Jesus Is Calling iPhone/Droid Devotional App

If your bible-enthusiast is constantly on go or uses her (or his) mobile device for just about every and anything, why not get them a gift that really nourishes the soul? This app gives you a complete, digital version of the Jesus Calling book by best selling author Sarah Young.  You can read daily devotions, create and save notes, search topics/scripture passages and  you can even share what you read through Facebook and Twitter! Retail $9.99.

Itty Bitty Book Light

It’s no secret that many people like to study the bible right before going to bed. Few things put the mind and heart at ease like reading a much needed scripture passage at the end of the day. If this sounds like someone you know, then the Itty Bitty Night Light is the perfect way to light up their day! It’s quiet, adjustable and has no glare. Retail $31.95

Battle Field of the Mind Devotional

A must-read and a must-have for anyone looking to gain greater insight into the word of God and how to apply it to their lives. Based on the best-selling book by Joyce Meyer, this 100-day devotional will inspire readers with of hope for those suffering from anger, confusion, condemnation, fear, or doubt. Retail $17.00

Scan Marker – All-in-One Digital Highlighter

A must-own for the person who loves to carry around a bible but still likes the ease and comfort of modern technology. With the scanmarker, you can highlight your favorite scripture passage, daily devotional or journal entry and immediately have it pasted into a word document or other application. It’s that easy! Retail $79.99

Word of Promise Dramatized Audio Bible Series

Is your bible enthusiast a fan of Lou Gossett Jr., Richard Dreyfus, Jim Caviezel, Jason Alexander, Marisa Tomei or Gary Sinise? The Word of Promise is an audio Bible, dramatized by an all-star cast of actors, state of art technology and sound effects. This audio series will bring bible characters to life and is a great gift for the young or the old. Retail $22.99 – $92.99

Photo by Flickr alancleaver_2000

I’ll never forget that night. It was New Year’s Eve. I didn’t have personal days, vacations or holidays. If I didn’t work, I didn’t get paid. So here I was on New Year’s around 11:00 p.m., delivering my work. The building that housed 100 businesses was dark and abandoned. I dropped off my stack of transcribed reports and little cassettes, and picked up the new batch. It was creepy and frightening alone in the long hallways and empty parking lot.

Originally, I remember thinking that working from home would be ideal. I had this Bible verse in mind: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Eccl. 9:10.

I didn’t do too badly with life balance when I had a daycare in my home. Children arrived and left on time. It wasn’t the type of work that carried over except for a bit of planning.

But when I started to do transcription and data entry at home, my boss was ruthless! I worked 60 to 80 hours a week without overtime pay. My children began to think typing was an addiction I needed to be cured of. Sure, I was “home,” but being glued to a computer doesn’t exactly equate to quality family time!

That was years ago. I’ve freelanced as an in-house personal chef, tutor; and presently work as a copywriter and article writer. I’m doing much better than I used to with life-work balance, but I have a long way to go. Unfortunately, I learned to create boundaries around my faith and private life too late for it to benefit my children.

Here are some guidelines that may help you:

Ask Your Boss for Reasonable Time Off

Do you require your sole employee to work hours you would never want your children to be subjected to? That is key. How do you want people to treat your children? Our heavenly Father cares too. Do balance the “do it with all your might” verse with this: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:20 We belong to God and need to take good care of what belongs to Him. Wouldn’t you agree?

Like I protested years ago, you may be thinking, “but if I don’t work, I don’t get paid!” A lot of new entrepreneurs make the same mistake. They don’t take into consideration taxes, social security and vacations. Careful planning can make all the difference.

Ask Your Boss for a Raise

Photo by iStock Photo

If you aren’t earning enough to make life balance, consider increasing fees. Tap into free and inexpensive resources like SBA counselors or local small business development centers. They can be godsends in helping us work out sane business plans that include time off and competitive, reasonable fees. You may end up with new ideas. Brainstorm with other work at home people.

Some Ideas that Might Help Your Work/Life Balance

• Start a fitness program with your family. Physical activity helps to balance our minds, and counteracts sedentary work. If you do it this way instead of solo, it doubles as family time!
• Get your family involved in your home based business!
• Make simple meals that help you slow down. A hearty Soup and whole grain bread can go a long way.
• Or take some tips from Tonya Staab on meal planning for a hectic week.

With Christ All Things are Possible

Perhaps the best idea is to trust God to provide balance if we commit to His priorities. He has provided a very much needed day of rest, and counsels us to come unto Him if we are weary and heavy laden (Matt 11:28). Ps. 127:2 is a good reminder too: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

Please share your ideas for balancing life when working from home!

As a first-timer, I didn’t really know what to expect.  I had been to youth conferences as a teenager, but had never been to a conference that was devoted to women.  My friend Crystal came with me, and as we sat in our chairs in the arena, we had no idea of what was in store for us.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed every speaker or performer that walked on to the Women of Faith Imagine stage.  Speakers included Sheila Walsh, Dr. Henry Cloud, Luci Swindoll, Lisa Harper, and Angie Smith.  We saw inspired drama from Nicole Johnson, heard beautiful music from the Women of Faith worship team, Mary Mary, and Natalie Grant.  We also saw one of my favorite comedians, Tim Hawkins.  He had the whole crowd rolling with hilarious jokes and his classic parody songs.

Each speaker was so transparent when they shared with the audience.  Sheila Walsh shared about a near breakdown that put her in a mental institution, where she had a larger-than-life encounter with God.  Dramatist Nicole Johnson described how her parents’ divorce shaped her heart and her life, and described how God restores the broken pieces of our lives.  And though blogger Angie Smith’s story of the loss of her daughter Audrey is one that I’ve followed for a long time, it was so much more emotional to hear her speak about it in person.

Each speaker opened my eyes to the awesome nature of God.  I was reminded of so many instances of my life where He has taken broken things and made them into something new.  I was reminded of all the blessings He has given me.  I was also shown that He can do so much more than my heart and mind can even begin to imagine.

So would I recommend going to a Women of Faith event?  The answer is yes!  Your heart will be touched, your spirit will feel refreshed, and you’ll have a list of books and cds you want to purchase after the weekend is over.  This is a 2-day event, so grab a hotel room with your favorite ladies and spend some time soaking up what God has for you.

There’s still time to attend an event this year in some cities across the US.  Check out the list of events that are remaining this year.  No events coming up near you?  There is also a list of events planned for next year.  Grab your tickets today and look forward to an event that is sure to speak to your heart and open your eyes to just how awesome God is.

Photo by Stock.xchg (Naneki)

Where Are You on the Halloween Spectrum?

Many Christians see Halloween as a black-and-white situation.  The day has roots that date back to the ancient Celtics who believed that on the eve of the new year, the line between the spiritual realm and physical realm became blurred.  As such, they offered burnt sacrifices to Celtic deities and attempted to use the spirits to help predict future fortune.  Sounds like nothing a Christian would want to dabble in, yes?

As a Christian, I would agree and say that I would not be one to participate in ancient Celtic rituals.  But is this the meaning of Halloween now as we participate in the donning of costumes and treat bags, as we gather as neighbors and delight children by indulging them with candy?

Photo by Stock.xchng (Spiders)

Don’t get me wrong, I know that there are celebrations of evil that take place on Halloween.  I know that there are people that go to ostentatious lengths to scare others and to evoke reactions of horror, fear, and gruesomeness.  But on some level, does this not happen every day that we live in this world?

Participation in the Gray

Ultimately, whether or not and how you celebrate on Halloween is between you and God.  What is right for one person may not be right for another.  What one must avoid, may be freely given to another.  We must press into God through our relationship with Him in order to discern what is appropriate for us and for those around us.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes this:

“So why do you condemn another believer?  Why do you look down on another believer?  Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”  Romans 14: 10-13

One family may decide that they are unable to be a light for Christ within any part of a Halloween celebration.  Another family may discern that they can best be a witness for Christ by celebrating with their neighborhood.  If you are having trouble deciding where you are on the spectrum, I find that it is helpful to try on a variety of ideas so to help me gauge where the Holy Spirit is leading me.

Photo by Stock.xchg (Creative 11)

Being a Light in Any Situation

If you decide to take part in a celebration on/around Halloween, here are some ideas that might help you bring Christ’s light into any situation:

• Host a Halloween/Autumn Festival at your house or local park:  By planning the activities, you can establish the environment and the content of the celebration.  You can also specify the ground rules (i.e. no scary costumes, please).
• Invite friends/neighbors to a church festival:  Many local churches will have fall celebrations that promote the ideas and values of the Christian church.  You can call ahead of time to determine exactly what will be taking place at the celebration and get a feel for the general atmosphere of the event.
• Trick-or-Treating in safe places:  Establish safe houses in your neighborhood that which you know there will be minimal or no scary decorations.  Take your kids around to those houses only.
• Fill Tummies and Hearts:  Offer a small token to children (like a pocket cross) that represents your faith, in addition to a sweet treat, when they ring your doorbell.

Wherever you fall on the spectrum, may your light shine bright for Christ, on Halloween, and every other day.

And yet, the Bible offers another perspective.  In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul shares how he has asked the Lord three times to remove “a thorn in his side” that continues to torment him.  It is a weakness in his body or in his spirit that saps his strength.  God doesn’t respond to Paul’s request by plucking out said thorn.  Instead, He tells Paul this:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  (2 Corinthians 12: 9)

God says the opposite of what the world says about weakness. While the world says weakness is bad, God says that it is good simply because His power can shine through our inabilities and our struggles.  No matter the areas in which we fall short, God can make up the difference with His strength, empowering us to be the people that He has created us to be.

God’s Strength is Our Gift

Instead of trying to hide our weakness from the world, we can bring them openly to God so that He might take our weaknesses and transform them with His power.  Truthfully, our weaknesses keep us humble and can continually draw us closer to God so that we might remain in a relationship with Him.  He wants to equip us with His love, His strength, His peace, and His grace.  When we rely on Him, He makes possible what we would normally deem impossible. What a witness to the world to the power of God when we accomplish something beyond our expectations, beyond the world’s expectations!

We tap into the power of God by pressing into His heart.  He sustains us with His loving words and He directs our paths when we come sit at His feet and ask Him what He would have us do to serve Him.

In my life, this has manifested itself in my new career choice.  I have quit all my paying

Photo by iStockPhoto

jobs in order to devote my time to women’s ministry.  Part of my women’s ministry is to stand up in front of the group and lead a class based on curriculum that I have written.  The fact is that I could write the curriculum on my own, but getting up in front of a group and speaking?  That is well beyond my natural talents.

God calls me up on the stage and empowers me to speak His words even when my voice feels shaky and I’m not entirely sure of how it’s going to come together.  If I always felt 100% certain I could do this, I would have the tendency to rely on myself instead of my Savior.  I would have the tendency to formulate my own agenda instead of seeking His.  I would have the tendency to take the glory for myself instead of giving it to God.

Have you been able to admit your weaknesses and let His power work through you?

photo source

Photo by Flickr RKeefer

…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

What are some ways we might be keeping children from Jesus? Do we discourage children’s faith development, or nurture it? Some children think big, and adults have a tendency to want to temper that–for good reason. Children’s ideas sometimes need a strong dose of reality. Without that, they may attempt their idea and get discouraged.

There are children who are afraid to express their ideas. We can temper children’s creative ideas without  putting out the flame; and we can encourage others to express themselves.

These early needs to put their faith into action are important to nurture. They need our input, whether we are parents, relatives or church members.

How to Temper Big Ideas

When my youngest was eight years old, he wanted to copy (write by hand) a chapter of a devotional book he felt was special, and deliver copies to neighbors. Looking back I wish I had thought to suggest photocopies. Instead I told him it would take too long. Of course I was thinking about how long it took for him to do his homework. He looked discouraged and dropped the idea.

I still wonder what great experiences he might have had if I had allowed his enthusiasm to have an outlet that day. (He’s a minister now and is coordinating a very dynamic children’s ministry in an inner city area.)

Here are some suggestions for dealing with the big ideas I hear most often:

• Your daughter just saw a theater production and wants to put on a big play to reach lots of people for Christ. A great idea, put perhaps a little outside of her reach. So, work with her to create something smaller. For example, help her investigate the price of renting the hall, and ask how far into the future it is booked. Then have her add up her allowance and figure out how long it would take to save up that much money. At some point she will recognize the limitations. That’s the perfect time to talk to her about alternatives like creating a small production for your church, for her classroom, or for a family gathering.
• Your son heard missionaries speak. Now he wants to fly into a difficult area to help and bring supplies. He needs to understand that missionaries have to graduate first. Maybe he can gather the needed material from church members and neighbors, and raise the money needed to ship the items. With this new interest, a gift of books with missionary stories would encourage him to continue thinking about his ideas. Some organizations coordinate short  2 to 3 week mission trips for families or teens. This is a good time to look into those possibilities and plan.
• Your daughter just heard about the homeless and read Isaiah 58:7: “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?…” Now she wants you to take in all the homeless people in town and feed them. She has even figured out where everyone can sleep. Listen intently and encourage her compassion. There are many ways that children can help the homeless. Schedule a visit to the nearest ministry to the homeless in your community to find out how she can help. Safety is an important issue, and you can help her understand that some of the homeless people have serious problems that your family is not equipped to deal with.

Encouraging Quiet Children to Express their Ideas

How can we encourage the quieter children to feel free to express their creativity? There are some who are afraid that their ideas are silly and won’t talk about them. The best way to encourage children to talk is to be careful what you say to the children who are expressing their ideas. Tell kids you know they have wonderful ideas and you want to hear them. If you are still unable to draw them out, plan some activities they can participate in. Here are some ideas:

• Coordinate a nursing home ministry where children can sing, play instruments, give out crafts or pictures to people, or give hugs.
• Bake bread and pass out small loaves to neighbors. Attach labels with Bible promises.
• Adopt a missionary family and send care packages.
• Coordinate a group of children to help an elderly neighbor.

And don’t forget to pray with the children as you plan with them!

I was in the middle of a training class when the instructor received a message from a co-worker that a plane hit the Twin Towers. How could a pilot fly into one of the tallest structures in the city? When the second plane hit the other tower, we froze.

I think back to that moment. I remember the lump that lodged in my throat, the nausea that burned in my stomach and the room-spinning panic that set in when I remembered my family worked there and in the surrounding areas. My Dad, brothers, a pregnant sister and my brother-in-law, not to mention my friends. Were they safe? Did they survive? Would I survive, if they didn’t?

“He leads me beside still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my soul.” ~ excerpt Psalm 23

More than anything else,  my soul (mind, will and emotions) needed to be refreshed and restored. Restore means to “bring back into existence” or to “bring back to an original state or condition.” I was alive and functional, but inside I felt hollow, numb and paralyzed. I wish I had the wherewithal to pray–I didn’t. But healing and comfort wrapped its arms around me. The warmth of peace and hope washed over me bringing silence to the angst in my heart and whispering calm to the raging storm brewing in my mind. Even though I couldn’t reach up, the Father reached down and touched me–restored me–kept me.

Do you remember where you were on 9/11?

It would be about 8 hours before I heard from someone in my family, announcing that everyone was accounted for. Some were trapped in train stations instead of tower rubble because alarm clocks malfunctioned. Others found themselves at doctors offices for sudden muscle pain that inexplicably went away. Even though my pregnant sister and husband had to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to safety, they were alive.

It would be another 2 hours before I could openly weep for the safety of my family and for the devastation and loss that rocked the city I grew up in. Emotions of pain, relief, peace and pride swirled within me. In that moment, I understood that no matter how far-reaching the effects of devastation, loss and pain, God’s arms of grace, healing and restoration were–and is–wide open to all who need Him.

“I used to think that being a Christian was like living by a bunch of rules and that I couldn’t do anything fun without sinning but I was wrong. I like this app cause it’s as if God has written it straight to me <3.”

~ Sariah Cochran, 12

Shock. Joy. Pride. These are the first things I felt when I read my daughter’s words. I had just downloaded the app, handed my daughter my iPhone and asked her to tell me what she thought. I was ill-prepared for the affect the Live Loved app would have on her. In just a few minutes, she caught hold to a truth so many of us struggle with as adults: that God truly loves us and wants the best for us. She felt as though the words in the devotional were written just for her. You know what I did then? I got to reading and it’s been such a tremendous blessing.

Live Loved, a new devotional iPhone app based on Max Lucado’s book by the same name, ushers you right into the arms of wisdom and allows you to grasp biblical truths in simple, profound ways. With unique devotional reflections and scripture verses, the Live Loved iPhone app is a great way for Moms, dads and families to connect.

Written for every day of the year, the Live Loved iPhone app is simple and easy to use. When you open the app, it automatically takes you to that day’s devotion which is a great way to start or end your day.

Live Loved iPhone App Giveaway

The Live Loved iPhone app retails for $9.99 at the App Store. We’re giving away FIVE (5) promotional codes to get the Live Loved App for free! Want to give the Live Loved iPhone app a trial run? Visit the Live Loved app page, and try the Lite version–you’ll be glad you did!

Want to Win Your Own Copy? (Make sure we have your email address)

• Tell us why you’d like to read Max Lucado’s Live Loved or what’s your favorite Max Lucado book
• Leave your comment below and viola, you’re in the running to win 1 of the 5 free download codes.

Extra Entry (make sure we have your email address)

• Subscribe to the Blissfully Domestic Newsletter

Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST August, 31, 2011 to be eligible for entry. Winners will be drawn by random draw from eligible entries. So, tell us your thoughts and feel free to share with your friends!

Read more about Max Lucado.

In James 1: 2-3, he writes:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Even the thought of being in the midst of some sort of trial does nothing to elicit any kind of happiness-related emotion.  Honestly, my first emotional responses are more closely linked with words such as “pain”, “anxiety”, and “fear.”  And perhaps right there is the point:  Happiness is an emotion, a physical response to external stimuli.  Joy, however, is a choice, an attitude from within, with which we approach the circumstances that make up the ebb and flow of our lives.

How Can I Choose Joy?

If I were to make a list of things that make me happy, I might write down the following:

• My children made it through a whole day without fighting — on the last day of summer.
• My car miraculously stopped making that eerie rattling noise – the day before I was planning on taking it into the shop.
• My bills are paid, there is food in the pantry, the air conditioner in the house still works, etc…

The truth is, these are all tangible, stuff-of-earth things.  All of those things that elicit happiness can just as easily elicit frustration, anger, and impatience if the scenarios played out contrary to the way I had originally hoped.  In all honesty, there are a lot worse trials and tribulations than the ones listed above that can come knocking on our door.  In the face of such situations, I don’t think that God ever expects us to be happy about enduring them. When Jesus arrived to the home of Mary and Martha and they exclaimed that their brother Lazarus was dead, we did not see Jesus break out in laughter.  What did he do?  He wept.

Finding joy in the midst of heartache, frustration, and fear-inspiring circumstances is not about putting on a happy face.  Finding joy in a situation does not mean denying our emotions.  Finding joy is finding a way to trust that God is in the details of what is happening to our loved ones or to us.  Finding joy is allowing God to reveal Himself and His teaching.  While happiness is focused on the temporal, joy focuses on the eternal. Embracing joy in the face of affliction is the practice of believing that God can bring restoration, healing, and hope out of every situation that we encounter.

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. — Henri Nouwen

Photo source here

You ever have one of those days where even though it’s warm and sunny outside somehow it’s overcast, cold, and empty on your insides? Life sweeps you into its whirlwind of blogging, cooking, working or some other “ing,” and often times leaves you feeling drained, overwhelmed and unfulfilled. You find yourself wishing for someone—anyone–to whisper into the ears of your soul: “I love you. You matter and yes, you’re still my favorite.”

Jesus Calling, a new devotional iPhone app based on Sarah Young’s book by the same name, can help you transcend the hustle and bustle of your day and bring you right into the arms of grace. With unique devotional reflections and scripture verses, the Jesus Calling iPhone app is a great way for Moms to slow down, breathe and take a moment to revel in newness, joy and acceptance.

Written for every day of the year, the Jesus Calling iPhone app is simple and easy to use. When you open the app, it automatically takes you to that day’s devotion which is a great way to start or end your day. You can also share all or part of the devotion with friends or family via links to Facebook and Twitter. The Jesus Calling iPhone app is a great way to encourage, uplift or keep you connected with the arms of your faith. It’s like getting a hug for your soul when you need it most.

Jesus Calling iPhone App Giveaway

The Jesus Calling iPhone app retails for $9.99 at the App Store. We’re giving away FIVE (5) promotional codes to get the Jesus Calling App for free! Want to give the Jesus Calling iPhone app a trial run? Visit the Jesus Calling app page, you’ll be glad you did!

Want to Win Your Own Copy? (Make sure we have your email address)

• Tell us why you’d like to read Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling or what’s your favorite Sarah Young book
• Leave your comment below and viola, you’re in the running to win 1 of the 5 free download codes.

Extra Entry (make sure we have your email address)

• Subscribe to the Blissfully Domestic Newsletter

Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST August, 28, 2011 to be eligible for entry. Winners will be drawn by random draw from eligible entries. So, tell us your thoughts and feel free to share with your friends!

For more information on Sarah Young, visit her on Facebook.

The last few weeks I’ve been reading through 1 and 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament of the Bible.  Each new king of Judah is introduced with either “He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight” or “He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight.”  Before I come upon a new king’s name, I automatically tense:  Will this be a good king or a bad king?

What pierces my soul over and over again is how some of the sons of the kings that follow God wholeheartedly are the ones that do the most evil in the LORD’s sight.  I think to myself, “How can this be?”  What does it take to impart our faith into the hearts of our children?

Leaving a Rich Faith Legacy

What are some ways that we can impart our own faith, morals, and values to our children?  With all the media and other outside influences that vie to sway our children toward this way or that, how can we give them a firm foundation on which to base their own decisions?

• Be an example. Most of us have heard the popular saying that “Actions speak louder than words.”  This is true in faith matters as well.  If you are telling your children that they don’t have to worry about doing well on a test after they have studied, and yet they constantly see you stressing out about paying the bills after you get home from work, they get the sense that it must be okay to worry about some things and not others.  None of us will ever be perfect embodiments of practicing what we preach, but we can be mindful of what we say and do around our children.
• Don’t be the only example. Faith seems to grow richer when we see how a variety of people put it to use in their lives.  We hear a multitude of personal and biblical stories that give us pieces of what the full picture of faith.  Attending church, Sunday school classes, or even home-based meetings with the intention of faith-building give your children (and you) more exposure to the components that make faith real, alive, and purposeful.
• Allow for questions and concede you don’t know all the answers. There are many things in the Bible that I do not understand, but if I decide not to read it to my children because I’m afraid I won’t be able to answer their questions, I rob them of an incredible resource that is the basis of our faith.  I want to empower them to find answers in the scripture and ask God to help them understand how to interpret them in their personal lives.
• Share your stories. Children always love a good story.  When they are struggling with an issue that you have dealt with in the past, share how you handled it.  Even if you didn’t handle it well in the past, share how those consequences affected you.  Share what you would have done if you could have done it over.

There are a myriad of ways to leave a rich faith legacy.  What have you implemented in your family?

Photo source here

In Romans, Paul writes: “Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality”  (Romans 12: 12-13, NLT).  Peter even goes so far as to tell us to “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9, NIV).

As introverts, how can we practice hospitality graciously?

Redefining Expectations of Hospitality

Sometimes we have such preconceived notions of what we are supposed to do that we get overwhelmed and then end up doing nothing at all.  However, if we take a moment, step back and see what it is that God expects in the situation, we might find ourselves actually enjoying the service to which He has called us.

• Hospitality does not have to be defined by our personality type. The truth is that God made us the way we are, but this does not give us license to clam up and shut people out, especially when those are people in need.  God gives us the strength, courage, and resources to do the jobs that He has called us to do, even if these jobs don’t necessarily jive with how we normally operate.  All we have to do is ask for His help and allow Him to work through us.  There is the famous saying: “God doesn’t call the equipped.  He equips the called.”
• Hospitality does not have to be defined in numbers. Hospitality is not about how many you serve at one time or how many you serve over a lifetime.  Getting caught up in the numbers often overwhelms me because somehow, in the back of my mind, it means always having huge parties or welcoming in every person off the street.  But if I can break it down to just this — God is asking me to serve these people in this moment – I can embrace the opportunity for what it is.
• Hospitality does not have to be defined by the space in which you serve. Hospitality doesn’t always mean that you must serve out of your home.  Hospitality can be serving out of your heart.  The point of hospitality is to help meet another person’s needs, be it emotional, spiritual, or physical.  Hospitality can be lending a listening ear, taking someone out for coffee, or helping them with a task.

The gift of hospitality can manifest itself in a myriad of different ways and take on multiple forms.  As we embrace God’s call to be open and to serve others, we can set aside our own ideas of what hospitality must mean in the world’s view and instead, see the way God asks us to serve the people He brings to us, introvert or not.

Photo source here

People are fragile like flowers.

“But Brian, you’re a very likeable person. People usually like you!” I said this to a young man who was discouraged. He looked down ashamed and said, “not after I’m done preaching to them.–they don’t want to have anything to do with me after that!”

We Sometimes Alienate People

Brian is like many new Christians–zealous and ready to speak out for his Lord. But he’s making the same mistake that most of us make when we begin our walk. We look at the end of our journey and forget about the time before it. We take the aha moment when we knew God cared about us and present that to everyone we come in contact with.

We feel guilty if we have a conversation without mentioning Jesus. We try to scare people into heaven with fears of serious earthly consequences and eternal judgment. We try to correct erroneous assumptions as soon as we hear it. As a result, we alienate people.

So What’s the Answer?

So what’s the problem with our thinking and how can we fix it? I’m pretty sure that we can find the answer in the New Testament ministry of Jesus. He didn’t just get up one day and start talking to crowds of people. He waited until people wanted to hear what He had to say first. He went around healing, comforting and encouraging people. People trusted Him. Word got out and crowds began to follow Him. He veiled fearful things in parables to help the hearers absorb it. His parables were in the language of the people and not in the jargon of His inner circle.

How can we apply these principles to our personal ministry? Maybe it’s as simple as following the golden rule, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…” Matthew 7:12.

Being Like Jesus–Meeting Basic Needs First

Here are some things that are universal needs that we can respect in others:

1. We need to be heard. Listen more than you speak. Let the other person know that you care. Nod your head, make eye contact, respond in small ways to show you are listening. (“You must have been very sad when that happened.”) Listening will do wonders. First, you will learn what the person is thinking, what they understand and don’t understand about the gospel and about life. You will learn about the beauty of the person. You may begin to see the individual with love as Jesus does. The person will respect you and feel comforted because you listened.
2. We need to be loved. Chances are now that you understand where the person is at, you may realize they aren’t ready for the famous invitation to salvation. Pray before you speak. Try to remember how you made friends before becoming a Christian. It’s a heart tie you’re trying to make. Working in God’s garden takes time. Right now you’re God’s eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet. People will feel God’s love through you first.
3. We need to feel safe. By listening without judgment and without trying to correct the individual we give them a taste of God’s acceptance. When we use their language rather than the language of church, they feel safer understand better, and don’t feel judged.

Of course Jesus also went around helping too. Lend a hand whenever you’re able.

A Lifelong Journey

People are all different. Pray you can cooperate with the Holy Spirit with each individual case. In some cases, it will be a lifelong prayer and you may never see the results here on earth. With some, you will see a flower and fruit.

It’s an exciting adventure and much more rich than what you see in evangelistic films that always end in the invitation to salvation. That moment is like a flower in full bloom. Only the Holy Spirit knows when that moment has arrived. You wouldn’t want to take a rose bud and try to make it a flower by pulling on the petals. You would ruin the flower.

Take good care of God’s seedlings, maturing plants and flower buds and you will eventually have a garden ripe for the harvest.

Jesus as a Squeegee?

As a very fallible human being, I have to ask God for forgiveness all the time.  Because He is loving and gracious, He heeds my requests and wipes my heart clean when I bow before Him and confess.  He removes my sins as far “as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12, NLT). And yet, more often than not, these sins are still as plain as day to me.  God may see me as white as snow, completely purified, but when I see myself, I still see the long list of sins that I have committed.

Imagine the shower doors completely speckled with water droplets.  I squeegee one shower door, removing all trace of water and scum, making it completely transparent.  I then switch the doors and for a moment and the uncleaned door is directly behind the cleaned one.  No longer does my first door look immaculate at all – I can only see the water and scum on the second door.  It is as if I never cleaned anything.  All the dirt and scum and water are still there.

In reality, the door really is clean, but I cannot perceive this because I’m seeing the first door only against the backdrop of the second. This second door represents my long memory of what I have done wrong.  The first door represents how Jesus sees me after I have confessed.  Am I willing to move forward, forgetting what has passed, to view myself as Jesus does?

The Benefits of Seeing Through Jesus’ Eyes

The truth is this: by keeping my own record of my wrongs, I miss out on the fullness of His forgiveness.  I continually choose to carry around with me guilt that is no longer needed.  I make my life significantly harder because as I lug around these sins, I feel my self-worth slink lower and lower.  My confidence fades and I have less energy in which to do the work His has asked me to do.  He has laid out the tools I will need to carry out His will, but my hands are too full of guilt, regret, and shame to pick them up. I simply cannot carry both.

From now on, I want to choose to see myself as He sees me.  I will believe that my sins really are gone and when I commit another one (because this will happen), I will choose to see His forgiveness and love.  There is always this choice, everyday, and I wonder why I would deliberately choose to carry something with me that God delivered me from two thousand years ago.   Everyday, I will choose to put down the unnecessary baggage and pick up only those things that bring new life.  Everyday, I will be grateful for His cleansing.

Photo source here

MS Clipart

As believers and ambassadors of God’s kingdom we know that we–the body of Christ–are the arms of God on the earth. We, all of us, are God’s shakers, movers and doers. We’re not the ones who retreat in fear when hardship sinks its stinging claws into our lives. We’re not the ones who remain silent when those around us cry out in agony and despair. We are the people of God, who are called by His name; we humble ourselves and turn away from the things that are displeasing in the eyes of the Lord.

You know what’s one of the most displeasing things in the eyes of God? When we fail to love and see others as Christ loves and sees us. We displease the Father by our unwillingness to love those who need it most because we feel they deserve it the least. Who’s they?

They’re the ones who’ve hurt us, lied on us, treated us unkindly, used us and even abandoned us. They’re the ones who’ve pushed our buttons and throbbed the veins on the sides of our heads. In truth, we don’t like them–and we’re okay with that. The Father, on the other hand, is not.

You’ve heard it said, “love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I say to you, love your enemies; bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you. If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven.

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you’re nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends. – Matthew 5:43,45,46

Jesus has issued a challenge to His body: love those who deserve it the least. Why? Because they’re also the ones who need it the most. People who are hurt, hurt others. They mistreat the people around them because somewhere along the line, someone mistreated them. If we return evil for evil, we continue the cycle of emotional destitution and bitterness thereby bringing us into immediate partnership with the adversary.

As members of the body of Christ, we are not at liberty to hate those who hate us–the world does that. We are in the world, but not of it. We are called to live by different standards–Godly standards. Let’s be honest: this is NOT going to be easy. It will hurt. You will cry. You will get angry. But you will persevere because the Father who lives inside you, can and will strengthen you.

Forgiveness and love go hand in hand. It doesn’t happen all at once but through prayer, faith, and putting love into action, you will be able to love your enemies and you’ll be better for it too.

You know that quote that goes something like this:  “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans?”  I think He’s been laughing for the past seven years now…

What would my life would be like if I had two very compliant, not-very-opinionated, laid-back girls that didn’t challenge me or my parenting ideals?  What if God had given me my made-to-order, perfect little children that I so desperately wanted?

Growing Pains

Confession:  I used to look down on all those parents whose kid would have a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. I would pass by with a dirty look on my face, thinking: “That will never happen to me.”

Now that this has happened to me more times than I can count, I pass by with a sympathetic smile and a look in my eyes that conveys the sentiment that I have so been there.  God has used the difficulties that I have had with my own children to break my judgment of others.  He’s turned my snobbery into empathy.   Had He not, my heart would have been encased in pride and my personality pungent with arrogance.  Because He loves me as much as He does, He was not going to let me stay rife with these qualities.  Instead, using the precious children that He gave me, He helped me grow beyond myself, increasing my dependence on Him, and letting go of this false sense of superiority that I carried within.

Loving Unconditionally

I have always been the type of person that lives to please. Because of this, I could not understand why my children did not innately want to please me.  Delusional, I know, but the entire experience of raising them has helped me to learn about unconditional love.  I have learned to love them at all times, even when I am not liking their behavior.  And in knowing that it is possible for me to love them through it all, I realize that I might be loved by others in that way as well.

Checking my Motives

In James, chapter 4, he lays it out like this:  “Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” (verses 2b-3)

See, I had asked for kids that were a bit easier, but my motives were impure.  I simply wanted them to be perfect so that I would be seen as perfect.  God wanted me to lay down the “image” so that I could parent with a focus on them.  Once I started to put away the fear of how people perceived me, I could pay attention to their needs, the state of their hearts, and what strategies would work for them.

God doesn’t always follow the plan we set out for our lives, but I’m starting to be thankful for that.  Often what I think I want is just the opposite of what I actually need.  I am learning that with Him leading me, I can grow more fully into the person that He has created me to be.

Photo source here

Yes.

Hiding God’s Word in My Heart

There have been many times in my life that I have been grateful that God’s words reside in my heart.  Having some passages from the Bible memorized has allowed me to cling to His goodness in the midst of trials and trouble.

It is not that all is right with the world again as I recite God’s Word, but there is a greater sense of peace and hope than had I continued to stew in my own worry.

Can I Really Memorize Scripture?

The truth is, even if the mere thought of memorizing scripture makes you cringe and invokes images of endless studying for high school AP History exams, there are little ways in which you can bring His Word into your life.  Sure, you can spend hours pouring over the Bible, but if that isn’t your style, have no fear – there are other ways to root God’s Word into your heart.

• ~ Drop by Target and pick up a pack of your favorite index cards.  Are there specific topics that you feel God’s Word could offer you some much needed support or clarity?  You can search by keyword  (i.e. God’s love) on www.biblegateway.com or look in the concordance in the back of your Bible.  This article also provides specific verses that relate to topics such as faith, children, love, and forgiveness.  When you find verses that resonate with your heart, write them down on multiple index cards. Display them around your house in places that you see every day.  Whenever you see the cards, read them aloud.
• ~ If sticking index cards around your house just isn’t your bag, make voice memos on your smart phone.  Every time you go use your phone (okay, maybe not every time), play your bible verse voice memo, saying the words aloud with it.
• Listen to Christian music. Many songs are based on scripture or have scriptures woven into them.  It’s always easier for me to memorize something with a tune (even if I don’t have a good voice).  For example, the band Kutless did a remix of the song “I Lift My Eyes Up,” which is essentially Psalm 121.  Click here to view a YouTube video of the song.
• ~ Bum memory verses off your kids. Do your children attend Sunday school classes?  Many of the children’s lessons have memory verses attached to them. Help your kids practice their memory verse by working together.  Let the child hold the verse, while you try to recall it from memory.  Then, you keep the verse and ask your child to recall it.  Keep switching back and forth until you’ve both gotten it.
• ~ Repeat your verse over and over while you are doing rather mundane tasks (i.e. washing the dishes, cleaning the floors, folding laundry, etc.)
• ~ Keep a journal of each verse that you have learned (or are currently learning).  Once you stop repeating the verses, they can sometimes float out of your head.  You can use the journal to refresh your memory.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of tips and tools, but it is a good way to get started on the journey of memorizing scripture.  No matter how you do it, it will be of great help to you on your spiritual journey.

Photo source here.

“Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”  That’s what a popular bumper sticker tells us.  I agree; I am just a sinner saved by the grace of God.  As a Christian, I now represent Him on this earth.  For me, the knowledge that I am an ambassador of a holy and perfect God is often a HUGE burden because I feel I am such a flawed individual, and yet, Jesus Christ covers my sins with His sinless perfection.

I grew up in a church where perfection seemed to be the goal, or at least I saw it that way.  My family started regularly attending church when I was 8 years old, a very foreign concept to all of us at first.  We were not your average church family.  My friends mostly came from families that had been in church “all their lives;” their parents had been married for a long time and usually only to each other; these kids frowned upon alcohol consumption and smokers; they did not know anyone who used foul language – and would probably cover their mouths with their hands and go, “aaaaaawwwww!!” if they even just heard someone say dumb or stupid.

I was different:  I had only recently even heard the real story of Jesus Christ; my parents were divorced and remarried; my biological father and many of the members of my step family continued to drink and smoke, and some even used drugs.  Although I never used the words myself, I already knew what a lot of not-so-nice words and phrases meant.  I wanted more than anything to be like THEM:  the pure, clean, innocent kids.  I wanted to be perfect, too.

Of course, you can guess that I found out all too soon that even those perfect Christian families had their own skeletons in their closets, or even if they didn’t, there was a whole different set of complications that sometimes came from striving to live righteously before God, namely self-righteousness and hypocrisy.  However, with my childish understanding, I tried very hard to be good, and I failed often. Perhaps because of the harshness of the preaching I heard or just my immature interpretation of it, I felt the weight of God’s wrath and judgment upon me.  It seemed that I could not please people and God enough.

My family desired to have a Christian home, but it was slow progress.  My parents, I think, felt a need to atone for their lives prior to knowing Christ – for the bad marriages, the children who were now step-siblings and half-siblings, and other mistakes of their non-Christian past. They worked hard to be perfect too; however, all actions have consequences, even those committed before one has surrendered to God’s will. In fact, many of those bad circumstances were what drove us to our knees to acknowledge we needed God’s help.

Through my childhood misconceptions, I have learned that the Christian life is not a journey to perfection but a journey of progression. As we learn more about God’s character through His Word and live to seek His glory, the more our own actions will fall into line with what He wants for us and less with focusing on our own appearance.  I am looking for a balance between pleasing God and yet accepting God’s grace.

Why do you think some Christians feel pressure to appear perfect?  I would like to share more of my journey and study in my next article.  Until then, please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences about this subject.