A Thankful Heart

This has been a wonderful day. We started our day with homemade biscuits just like my mom used to make, then cleaned up the house with my husband directing our small army to keep working. Next threw up our Thanksgiving decoration around the house ( ok almost missed it, but better late than never!) and then worked together to make our Thanksgiving meal. After that, we worked on our Thankful Tree, a paper tree that we tape to the wall and cover with colored construction paper leaves. Before we stick the the leaves on the tree, we write things that we are thankful for on them, as an exercise in reviewing God's blessings to us this year. It was a very restful day to just be together and enjoy each other's company.

As I sat around the table at dinner with the nine people that are my greatest gifts in this life, I was reminded again that the Lord has been so kind and gracious to our family. I want to always acknowledge that "every good and perfect gift comes from above!" Every blessing is straight from His hand. He has filled our lives with indescribable riches.

While all those gifts are so wonderful, Christ Himself is truly my greatest treasure. What would husband and children and friends and material possessions be without the Lord Jesus. As Stephen Curtis Chapman said so well in one of his older songs, "Jesus is LIFE...the air I'm breathing, why my heart is beating, everything I'm needing...Jesus is life!"

Pondering Jesus gives me a very thankful heart, indeed!

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Thankful for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is one of my most favorite holidays. It's not just the yummy food, (though the scale may tell a different story in a couple of weeks!), but I am glad that we still have a day set aside in our country that originally was to be a day of prayer and thanksgiving to God. And while the commercialization of every holiday is a reality in our country, Christians can get past that and enjoy a day of remembering God's great blessings. Certainly we want to do that every day!

With that said, one thing in particular that I'm thankful for today is the comfort that Christ brings to the heart of the Christian. It really is true that this life is full of trouble. Over the last year many friends my age suffered devastating physical trials. Cancer and strokes and accidents strike when no one expects them. Then there are the overwhelming financial burdens that have come to families because of our ailing economy. Last spring there were 6 families in our Bible study that were facing a loss of employment. Various other trials, big and little, happen daily that overtake us and leave us feeling as if someone has just punched us in the stomach. Pain and anxiety are real, and we cannot escape them in this life.

But those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus have a refuge from the troubles of this world. He says to all, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28,29) Circumstances often remain difficult, yet in the midst of it the Christian can cast all his care on the Lord and experience peace, comfort, and rest. No one else can set a troubled heart at ease. I have experienced this personally, and I am so thankful that the Lord cares for us in this way. He sits as the Sovereign of the universe, and He alone has the power to change our circumstances. At the same time, He is wise, and if He chooses to let our trial continue on, then we can trust that in His lovingkindness and wisdom, He is accomplishing His purposes in our lives by the best means possible. He can fill our hearts with hope, and help us to carry on, even rejoicing in Him. How kind and gracious is the Lord!

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Heavy On My Heart

When I compare the trials that I have personally experienced in my lifetime with the grave difficulties that I have watched many friends endure, I realize that I have not really been tested in the area of suffering. Nevertheless, when a trial overtakes someone that is precious to me, the pain of watching them suffer hangs heavy over my heart as well.

For the last week I have had a very heavy heart for a dear friend and her family. On October 30, my friend Connie suddenly and unexpectedly suffered a severe seizure that lasted for 30 minutes. She was rushed to the ER that night, and a week later she lies in a hospital bed unable to speak or move. She is a wife and mother (to six children all still at home, ages 18 months to 18), and to all who know her, she is a light for Jesus Christ. Connie was one of my dearest friends in the church where my husband pastored for many years, and I have many memories of her encouraging words to me, her loving example, and her sacrificial service to whomever God brought across her path. In fact, the last time I saw her was when our family stayed in her home for three days.

Connie's doctors up to this point have said that her condition is the result of nerve damage at the base of the brain and that it is untreatable and irreversible. However, she was moved last night to a different hospital, and her new doctor is pursuing other meds and tests in an effort to come up with answers.

There are so many people who love Connie and are praying for a miracle for her, her husband Jeff, and their six children. I share all of this with you to ask you to pray along with us. We serve a great God who made our bodies, and has the power to heal and sustain life. Yesterday, as I was struggling with the gravity of what has happened to these friends of ours, my daughter came into the kitchen and handed me a post-it note with a Bible reference on it. We had been praying throughout the week, and she was encouraged by a verse she found. It was Job 42:2 which says, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." That is our God! He can do immeasurably beyond all that we ask or think, all to the praise of His glorious grace. Please pray for Connie!

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Homeschooling With Babies and Toddlers

(This is our 15th year of homeschooling and we have always had toddlers and babies underfoot while our schooling was going on during the day. Since I am often asked about how to be Mom and Teacher at the same time, I thought I would post my answer here...)

Expect Interruptions:
If you have small children in your home, they will provide many distractions to your schooling. But remember that they still need you to be their Mommy and some interruptions are necessary and important. It is a mistake to constantly shoo them away to go play without specific direction, and to do so teaches them that what you're doing with the older children is more important than they are. Having them on a routine of naps, structured playtimes, etc. will help minimize the unnecessary distractions, and create an ordered environment in your home. The discipline and training of your children is important and shouldn't be seen as a distraction. Your academic progress will be of little value if you don't take the time to take care of their spiritual needs.

A Sweet Attitude:
It is important that you not enter into homeschooling naively. There are elements of stress and difficulty that will be part of your day. Attempting to homeschool, care for little ones and keep the house somewhat under control is a daunting task, but not an impossible one. The way you respond in those stressful times will set the tone for your home during the day. If you are irritable and impatient, sarcastic and unreasonable, your children will most likely respond with resentment and rebellion. If you are this way, there is hope in the Lord! Homeschooling may be the perfect intense sanctification booster you need!!! He is committed to making you more like Christ, and wants you to submit to and participate in this plan. Make it your daily prayer to have the same graciousness, gentleness, and loving forbearance toward your family that God extends to you moment by moment in Christ. Be known as a mother who is genuinely encouraging, a sweet servant, and excited about being an agent of grace in the life of your husband and children. Also, guard your lips against complaining to your husband at the end of the day. If homeschooling is the decision you and your husband have made, remember that you have a BIG God, and He has all the grace you need.

Keep It Simple:
Over the years we have seen the value of mainly focusing on the "3 R's" (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic) when our children were young. Once they are able to read, the scope of independent learning greatly expands, and they are able to investigate many things that Mom may not have time to take on. Also, as they grow older, our goal is to give them curriculum that is self-teaching, so they aren't so dependent on Mom to teach every lesson of every subject.

Persevere!
Anyone who wants to train their children to eat their vegetables doesn't give up after one try. In the same way, settling into a feasible homeschool routine will take time, flexibility, and hard work, especially with small children in the house. Continue to pray, get input, and ask questions of those who have walked the road ahead of you.

Practical Tips:
Regular naps: Little ones do require rest during the day. Training them to go down for a nap will help avoid having to deal with a cranky, inconsolable baby or toddler. Naptime will also provide some quiet focused time to work on more difficult subjects with your older children.

Scheduled play times: You can teach your little ones to play contentedly in their crib (or room with a gate) with a few well-chosen books and toys for 30-45 minutes. We started with 5-10 minutes and used a kitchen timer. They learned to wait for the "ding" and we slowly increased the time.

Book time: We did the same thing on the couch with a few favorite picture books.Snack time: Sometimes mid-morning when the older children would be around the kitchen table with their books, the baby would join us and enjoy some Cheerios in the high chair.

Older/younger partners: If you have older children, assign them to take turns having a playtime with the baby or toddler.

Quiet busy work: When we read a book aloud, we sometimes all gather around the table with drawing supplies ad coloring books for the younger ones. You will be amazed how much your younger ones will gain just by being around while the older ones are learning.

Start early: From our first year of homeschooling, when I had a kindergartner, a 3 yr. old, a 2 yr. old, and a newborn, I discovered that if I started our studies as early as possible, even with all the interruptions factored in, that we would usually accomplish a reasonable amount as the morning progressed. Being prepared the night before is important. I usually try to set bowls, spoons, and cups out before I go to bed. And I almost never cook on school days. Instead we usually have fruit, cereal, instant oatmeal, bagels, or muffins (made ahead of time). To make a big mess in the kitchen will delay getting on to our work.

Take breaks: Everyone is happier at our house when I alternate intense study time with activities that provide a break (and that even the little ones can participate in). For example a morning schedule may be: Math, English, quick clean up in bedrooms, spelling , read-aloud history, a walk outside, Bible time, Science, etc.

Recharge your heart: Post a favorite verse near your kitchen window or on your bathroom mirror to remind you of your source of help when the day begins to dissolve into conflict or chaos. My favorite is:

Hebrews 4:14-16:
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannnot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

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The Word Is Alive

For the last two weeks our pastor has spent part of his Sunday morning message talking about the power of the Word of God to transform lives. He has his story of how he set out to prove to his brother that the Bible was nonsense, and so he picked it up and begin to read it. Just a few chapters of reading the Gospel of John and his heart was pierced through with the truth of who Jesus Christ was. Though he had spent all of his life up until that point living for himself and not caring, suddenly his eyes were opened by the words that he read. He was consumed by the thought that he was a sinner in great need of a Savior --the only Savior, Jesus Christ!

I have experienced the power of the Word in my own life. October 7th, 1985 was one of those never-to-be-forgotten experiences. It was on that day 23 years ago that the Living Word pierced through my darkness to show me that Jesus was the Light of the World. My self-righteous shell was no match for the Word that sliced to my heart like a knife, exposing my sin and making me see that I needed the Lord...His mercy and forgiveness and His grace at work in my life!

There have been times over the years that I felt so burdened from a million little trivial stresses that cloud the day. Sometimes there are BIG stresses, and sometimes it is just a tired, idle mind that gets loose and wanders off to ponder irrational things that COULD happen. At times the weight almost feels physical. It drives me to the Word, though, and there I always find peace and rest. Sometimes I am met with rebuke for a bad attitude or a lack of love, or anger toward my children. But in the end there is always balm for the necessary surgery, and I can truly feel my heart at ease, resting in Christ, and in His loving care for me.

Playing in the background of my mind (as I've thought about the power of the Word of God) is Casting Crown's song called "The Word is Alive" from their most recent album "The Altar and the Door". I love the words...

The Word Is Alive

Looking out from His throne, the Father of light and of men
Chose to make himself known and show us the way back to Him
Speaking wisdom and truth into the hearts of peasants and kings
He began to unveil the Word that would change the course of all things
With eyes wide open, all would see
The Word is alive
And it cuts like a sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid
Breathing life into all who believe
The Word is alive
And the world and its glories wil fade
But His truth it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The Word is alive

Simple strokes on a page
Eternity's secrets revealed
Carried on from age to age
It speaks Truth to us even still
And as the rain falls from Heaven
Feeds the earth before it returns
Lord, let Your Word fall on us and
Bring forth the fruit You deserve

With eyes wide open
Let us see
The Word is alive
His Word is alive

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Go See "Fireproof"!

My husband and I had the treat of getting away for a date tonight, and we got to see the new movie "Fireproof". It is made by the same people that made "Facing the Giants", and has the same bold proclamation that Christ is the answer to all problems, and in this case, marriage problems. It will really grab you by the emotions, so bring some tissues along. This movie does a great job portraying the change that can come to a life that seeks Christ, and the impact that change will have on all those around. I loved it, and highly recommend that you go see it!
Click the Fireproof movie poster above to go to their website and see the official trailer.

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In Our Trials

Recently I had the privilege of hearing Mark Talbot speak on suffering. I really appreciated what he had to say about one of the amazing things that God accomplishes in our trials...

"By being joyful in faith, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer, we witness to a redemption that is yet to be completed. And thus we display to a watching world that the normal travails that humans undergo in this world (including even things such as the loss of our health, the loss of our life work, the loss of our loved ones, or even the impending loss of our very lives) do not need to lead to cursing or despair. We display that our hope lies elsewhere and thus the eyes of the watching world are lifted off of us to look with us to the return of a glorious Savior!"

He also reminded us that we are not to expect our life here to be our "best days". Though I've experienced many days of blessing, better days, by far, not even worthy of comparison, are coming when we see Jesus face to face! These trials make us give up our improper optimism about finding ultimate joy and satisfaction in this life, and instead force us to find our hope, peace, rest, deep-seated joy and satisfaction in the Lord Jesus Christ ALONE. Those who seek all that in Him will never be disappointed!

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Goodbye, Summer

I always feel a bit sad when August winds down, and the busy preparations for the coming school year take the place of vacation days with no pressing schedule. I look back at the ambitious list of projects that I intended to do this summer, and laugh. The list remains undone, because more important things, like playing with my children and giving them a fun summer, took precedence. Oh, well.
One day my busy household will be quiet and the children will probably be grown and gone. I don't yearn for that day, though the days now can be tiring and long at times. But I am committed to enjoy this time now, as these days will pass, and can never be retrieved. Maybe then I will get the garage cleaned out. Who knows.

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Q and A: Finding Time for the Word

"As a mother of small children, I often feel defeated about my times of reading the Bible. It is difficult to find interruption-free times to study the word as I would like. With eight children in your home, how do you find time to concentrate on the word? Any tips?"

(I am asked this question often -- twice last week -- so I thought I would post it here.)

First, let me say that Satan would use anything to try and discourage us, and render us ineffective for the Lord. I have often struggled with feelings of "it's not enough" when I did fit in time in the word. Or, I felt that there should be a more elaborate structure to it, and since that rarely happened, I was just defeated and guilty. Instead of being encouraged by what I did read, I was discouraged, because the time was cut short by interruptions, or I dwelt on my inconsistency. That is simply an attack of the enemy! I have felt that way for many years, and have been so glad that my husband reminded me to just be thankful and choose to rejoice in the Lord and the time that I did have in His word!

When you have little children in your home, their waking hours can be so busy and often intense with discipline. I had to remind myself often when they were all little that their training, instruction, and care has to be the priority of my time when they were up, and if there wasn't hours of focused study time that was ok for this season.

I also learned that I had to work really hard to use the time when they were asleep to get in the word. (I always used a schedule with my children for naps, meals, etc. from their first day, because it was so helpful.) But I spent many "seasons" either pregnant or nursing a newborn and it was hard at times to get up before they did. During those times, I relied greatly on the teaching at church that I heard 3 times a week, and the little bits of time here and there to read and meditate on the word.

Of course, I am not advocating that you give up on reading your Bible because you can go to church, just to really try to take something away with you from all the teaching that you do get. And keep trying to figure out a time each day to pray and read the Word. Nothing ever worked for me for very long. I am still to this day having to periodically start over, and make a new plan when the old plan is no longer working. And that is ok! It's life. Sometimes I would just leave my Bible open on the kitchen counter and keep going by for little "snacks"! At other times, I would write one verse on a note card and put it in a place where I would see it often, like the kitchen window.

It helps to ease the frustration (of little time for intense study) for me by remembering that for most of history since Christ came, believers didn't even have their own Bibles and the only time they had to interact with the word was in their public gatherings. So they cherished what they did have and worked to apply it to their lives. Not that we should ever excuse ourselves if we choose to neglect the word, but for me, I am comforted to know that the Lord isn't standing by with a clipboard to keep track of my quiet times, and their length! That helps me when my children interrupt me or much of a sermon is lost to pew training. I just keep praying for the Lord to make me patient and gracious, to impact my heart with His word, and to help me not lose sight of the fact that these years are over in a flash!

I am actually able to get up earlier than everyone else now to spend time reading the Bible. Click here to see a post on my blog from a few months ago that tells what I'm doing now in my quiet times.

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Ponderings From a Feverish Head

Spending a few days sick in bed has an amazing way of changing your perspective. I have always been blessed with good health, and have been physically able to care for my family for almost 20 years now with no limitations. The few times over the years that I have been sick makes me remember what a great blessing it is to do the simplest things like walking around, having a clear head to think and make little decisions, and having stable body temperature. It has been good to be reminded of these things this week as I lost the fight against that nasty virus that has been going around.

Sickness also reminds me that we are completely dependent on the Lord, and shouldn't presume upon Him for any future plans. As it says in James, we must say "Lord willing" about the things we make plans to do, since we never know what a new day might bring. Catching this virus made us miss our spring break trip to my sister's house, which made for many opportunities to talk with our children about God's wise and loving sovereignty over the events of all of our days.

Interesting timing...I have been reading in John 11 this week about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. What an encouraging, yet convicting and challenging thought that Jesus was in control of the timing of Lazurus sickness, death, and resurrection. Imagine the anguish of the sisters as Lazarus grew worse and worse. A message had been sent to Jesus about his condition, and they waited, hoping the Lord would come. But think about how hopeless they must have felt once Lazarus died. What is more final than death? If they had known that Jesus delayed two days longer after he got the message, I can imagine that they would have even become angry!

But when Jesus did finally arrive, He showed that He is Lord over time, sickness, death, and our lack of faith in Him! He had a reason for all of it, namely "so that the Son of God may be glorified by it" (11:4)! His words to Martha are life changing, and are for us to ponder and embrace in every big trial and little irritation,

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

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Bread from Heaven

In John 6, Jesus says that He is the Bread of Life, a statement about himself that preceded His first miracle. After the miracle of feeding the 5,000 with a little boy's lunch, there was a group of people following Him just because of the food He provided. This was in a time when just finding enough food for each day was such a focus of life. Yet, the Savior responded to these "followers" by exhorting them to not labor for such temporal things as food. He said to pursue the eternal things, namely belief in the one whom God had sent. But they continued to push Him for more "bread from heaven" and so He said,"I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

Jesus was talking to the people about eternal life and finding true satisfaction. Neither can ever be found in anyone or anything else. We are to find our satisfaction in Christ alone.

While we may not spend our existence just finding our next meal, it is easy in our time to chase after a myriad of temporal pleasures and things that will never satisfy for eternity. Pursuing houses, furniture, jobs, relationships, position, a savings account, entertainment, hobbies, a retirement plan, or a college degree will never bring to our lives the true joy and fulfillment that is in Christ. Not that any of those things are wrong in themselves, but Jesus is to be our highest pursuit! "Taste and see that He is good"!

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The Word and Wisdom for Parenting

My husband and I have been parents for 18 years now, and I still stand amazed by the power that the Scriptures hold to bring about change in our lives. There have been countless times that we have been anxious and burdened over our children and as we have turned to the Scriptures we have always found the wisdom, comfort, and instruction that we need. Parenting requires great wisdom, and with every passing year I am more aware that I do not have the wisdom to raise my children on my own. But God does! And He promises it to those who ask Him for it.

The book of Proverbs is a good place to start in the search for wisdom. Every parent should become well acquainted with it, for it is the ultimate manual for imparting wisdom to anyone that will read it and heed it! We need it, and so do our children.

Proverbs 23:15, 16, 24, and 25 says, “My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.”

The writer of Proverbs was reminding his son that wise children are a source of great joy to their parents. I’m sure we all long for the day, when we can say of our children, “God has given them a heart of wisdom!” We want them to be “wise unto salvation” or righteous as this verse states it. We pray that our children will be known for godly wisdom in their thinking, in their actions, and in their words.

Proverbs draws a sharp contrast between two kinds of people in the world. There are those that are wise, and those that are foolish. The children produced by our homes will either be wise or foolish, and will accordingly bring their parents…


joy, blessing, delight and happiness, OR shame, sorrow, grief, and bitterness

Proverbs 10:1- “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.”

Proverbs 17:21- “He who begets a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.”

Proverbs 17:25- “A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.”

So, how do children gain a heart of wisdom? First, through the teaching of the Word of God. If we want wise children, we must teach them the wisdom of God. We must teach them God’s Word. If they leave your home with nothing else, give them a love for and knowledge of the Bible.

Once again Proverbs is full of passages that talk of a mother and a father imparting the wisdom of God to their children.

Proverbs 6:2-23: “My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you walk about they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life…”

The wise instructions of parents are to be the constant companion of our children. They should adorn themselves with them when they dress for the day, take them with them to bed, listen to them as they awaken and go through the day. The wisdom of God will be a lamp and a light to our children, a source of guidance for wise living.

Many people have come up with elaborate ways to teach the Bible to their children, but we prefer a simple approach. We gather around the dinner table, read a book of the Bible out loud, and talk about it briefly. This has yielded great fruit in all of our lives. With our smallest ones we go through a simple Bible story book.

As you are exposing your children to the Bible, you must have a focus on introducing them to the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 5:39 that the Scriptures bear witness of Him. He is the perfect embodiment of all wisdom. Colossians 2 says that in “Christ…are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Another way that our children will gain a heart of wisdom is through observing the example of godly parents. Not only are mothers to teach their children the Scriptures, but they are to daily show their children how wise it is to walk in the ways of the Lord. Pray that God would make your life a beautiful and attractive example for your children to follow.Teach them what the Bible says about being honest and kind, gracious and giving, but then make sure you treat them with all those same character qualities, especially when they are undeserving and fighting against you. Teach them the Scriptures about humility and forgiveness, and then when you sin against them, confess it to them and ask their forgiveness. Children are never fooled by a parent who doesn’t live by the same standard that they teach. Ask God to make you able to say with the apostle Paul, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

I heard someone say once that good parenting means walking close to the Lord, and keeping your children close enough to you that it rubs off on them. Of course that will only happen if you spend time with them. That must be a priority in your life if you would influence them for Christ.

When you think about all that is involved in being a godly parent, I hope you will have a heart full of hope and joy and not be overwhelmed. To teach our children the Word of God and then live it out before them is indeed a weighty task! In fact, it is beyond our strength, but the Lord has not left us alone in our inability and inadequacy.

Remember:

The Lord will enable us to do His will, through the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:13 tells us that “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

The Lord will equip us to do His will, through the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

The Lord will empower us to do His will through prayer. Paul set the example for us when He prayed for the Ephesians. Ephesians 3:14-16 says, “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”

The Lord will encourage us to do His will, through other believers. Hebrews 10:24, and 25 says “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” God has put other believers in your life to be a source of encouragement for you.

May the Lord raise up a generation of wise children and graciously use us, imperfect and unworthy vessels, as His instruments!

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Questions to End the War of Words

Paul David Tripp's book War of Words has been a favorite of mine for many years now. Ever since the first time I read it, I haven't been able to escape Tripp's challenge to let my speech be "an agent of grace in the lives of those around me." Of course, like many struggles against sin, there's a cycle of victory and then defeat, and the need to repent and keep striving, with the Spirit's enabling.

Recently I started reading this book out loud to our children, and I'm so thankful to have it's influence around again to help us work on loving, gracious speech. At the end of the first chapter, Tripp includes a list of wonderfully convicting questions to help evaluate our progress. Here's a few:

1. Does your talk with others lead to biblical problem solving?
2. Does your talk have a "stand together" or a "me against him/her/them" posture?
3. Do your words encourage others to be open and honest about their thoughts and feelings?
4. Are you approachable and teachable or defensive and self-protective when talking with others?
5. Is your communication healthy in the principal relationships in your life?
6. Does your talk encourage faith and personal spiritual growth in those around you?
7. Do you talk with others to develop relationships with them, or do you only talk to solve problems during times of trouble?
8. Do you speak humble and honest wods of confession when you sin and words of sincere forgiveness when others sin against you?
9. Do your words reflect a willingness to serve others or a demand that they serve you?
10. As you face the struggles of talk, do you do so with a recognition of the gospel--God's forgiveness, his enabling grace, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit?

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Superhero???!! What??

I was sitting at my dining room table this morning, during a very stressful hour of our homeschool day, trying to have a sweet attitude and at the same time keep everyone working. It was one of those scenes that makes me sometimes look around for the hidden camera. On one knee was the 2 year old, snuggled against my neck with his thumb in his mouth, and understandably grumpy because of a fever. My 11 year old appeared with an English lesson, a distressed look on her face, and a plea for help, and took the other knee. She really had no choice, as both chairs on either side of me were already taken. On my right was my 6 year old who was slumped in his chair with the handwriting workbook before him that was to blame for wrecking a carefree day of Playmobile guys and make-believe battles. The chair to my left was occupied by my 9 year old, who was hurrying through her work with the hope that today was a computer day, and she would have the first turn.

In the back of my mind was the thought that my three teen-agers were somewhere upstairs with a list of assignments that were hopefully being accomplished. I would need to track them down and make sure, but that would have to wait for a few more minutes, because the needs in the dining room were great. The scene came to an exciting climax as one child swung the toddler's special blanket across the table to him, and in the process knocked over a large glass of water, soaking the books and papers collected there. We all jumped up in an uproar. I ran for a towel, and the responsible child ran out of the room crying!

At that moment, I suddenly had a flashback to a conversation last night with a friend about the stresses and challenges, yet blessings of homeschooling. She had jokingly called me a "superhero" for homeschooling all these kids for all these years. But here I stood in my dining room with water dripping off the table, and the furrowed brow/tight-lipped expression on my face proving that I was anything but a superhero! I wanted to run out of the room crying!

I hope the imagined hidden camera kept rolling, because the hour of stress ended. We all had lunch, the sick toddler went down for a nap, everyone finished their work and I even got to take a quick shower. But there were things of even greater significance that happened around here this week. Had my children been anywhere else, we would all have missed many blessings. There were glimpses here and there, as we went through our days together, of the work that God is doing in their hearts. I got to be around to see it, and to just enjoy time with my children.

There were so many opportunities to talk to them about the Lord. Woven in and around the stressful scenes, (and believe me, they are really less frequent than when I had 6 kids and the oldest was 9!) were many conversations that let me into their world. We talked of finding ultimate joy in Christ alone, about the connection between submission to parents now and submission to authorities later, and about the need to love one another.

There were times this week that I came face to face with my children's sin. It was not a pretty sight! But what a mercy that God exposes their sin, so that they can repent, and we can try to help them learn and grow. God also used my kids to show me a view of my own heart through different conflicts, as I fell to sins of pride, selfishness, and lack of love. It is very humbling to ask forgiveness of my children, but also very necessary. But God is gracious, and my children are forgiving.

We also learned some really interesting things together. I love to see their faces light up when they discover something new. Or see them finally obey and complete an assignment, even though they have no interest in it, and didn't enjoy it. I'll take that as a blessing!

So, when I put the challenges, irritations, and tiring work on one side of the scale, and the joys of all God is doing in the lives of my children on the other side, the latter far outweighs the former! These fleeting days with my children will soon be passed, and no sacrifice is too great while I still have the opportunity. What a privileged position it is to be a mom!

It's been a good day.

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Comforting Words for Little Sheep

John chapter 10 is full to bursting with words of comfort and assurance from the Good Shepherd to all of us who are His little sheep.

First, the portrait painted of our Shepherd, here, shows Jesus Christ to be the one and only entrance into the fold of eternal life. He shows that He is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11), because He laid down His life for the sheep, He holds them securely in His hand, he leads them, going before them, and speaking to them, as He calls each one by name. The Good Shepherd protects them from harm, and provides them with food, water, and rest. He gives His flock life, ABUNDANT LIFE! And while He is Life to all who would follow Him, anyone else claiming to deliver eternal life is actually intending to steal, kill, and destroy those who follow them.

Second, the sheep can't help but follow the Good Shepherd. He has paid with His own life to bring each one into the fold, and they know that He can be trusted. His presence with them assures them that they will not be lost as they travel from their safe fold to pasture lands. When the wolves attack, He will be protection to them. His words soothe their hearts as He speaks to them, addressing each one intimately. They trust His promise of provision and rest, and they know that where He is taking them is for their ultimate good, their abundant good!
My favorite verses from this passage:
John 10:27-29: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternl life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
I will go through my day today with the comfort of knowing that I am resting safely in the hands of my Good Shepherd! What a wonderful place to be!

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Let the Idols Bow Down

Did any of you see the amazing sight that I saw last night at the end of "Idol Gives Back"? I couldn't quite believe my eyes and ears, but the show ended with all the "idols" on stage dressed in white with white confetti fluttering down around them and a choir in blue robes behind them. And they were singing "Shout to the Lord", one of my favorite praise songs that we sing at our church! I didn't see any of the show that came before that closing song, but walked in at that sight and was astounded.
I had to chuckle at the amazing show of God's sovereignty as the most watched, googled, gossipped about and listened to Hollywood wannabees got on a stage and sang, "Lord there is none like you!" Ok, so they did change the first words, "my Jesus" to "my shepherd" but still the very fact that they sang the words they did amazes me. Let the rocks cry out and praise Him....and the idols, too!
Click here to see it.

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Note to Self

Ok, self, some things to remember today.....

1. Don't chafe when there are endless serving opportunities at home today. Praise God that He would not only save you, but that He would give you something meaningful to do for Him. Laundry, meals, baths, endless talks, discipline, basketball games, birthday parties, hugs and kisses, dirty dishes- all equal a great opportunity to love your husband and children so that you will more aptly represent Christ to them.

2. Celebrate the little moments that are here today and gone tomorrow. This life of busy days with children is quickly fleeting. Make sure you live today toward your family in such a way that tomorrow you will have no regrets. Smile at the children, kiss the baby's cute toes, play with them, sincerely congratulate the 6 year old on the intricate Lego Starwars Imperial Dropship that he just made, and don't complain about being tired from all your work.

3. Regularly survey your life and thank the Lord for how He has so incredibly blessed you. You tend to forget some of those blessings when everyone is crying and the cereal bowl just got dumped on your lap. It will give perspective to a stressful day if you will remember how great a salvation you've been given, what precious people are in your life to love and be loved by, and what a significant life you have an opportunity to live as one redeemed by Christ.

Ok, now get back to the happy chaos!

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Christ Our Crucified Creator

The first chapter of John's gospel paints a beautiful protrait of Christ in His humility and gracious love. Verse 4 of chapter 1 describes Jesus as the Creator of the world: "All things came into being by Him and apart from Him nothing has come into being that has come into being." Then in verse 10, He is referenced as the Creator again: "He was in the world and the world was made by Him..." But then the passage goes on to describe the response of man to the Creator as He walked among them. "And the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."

Picture the Creator, the Son of God taking on flesh and blood, becoming a man and visiting the world that He had spoken into existence! He had sent advanced notice that He was coming. There had been many prophecies from His spokesmen concerning His arrival, and then the messenger of the King running ahead crying, "Prepare the way for the Lord!"

And yet, no grand reception welcomed Him. He was a stranger to the world. His own people had no place in their hearts for Him. They ignored the proofs of His messiahship, rejected Him, hated Him, and then crucified the One who had made them. Still, their Creator hung there dying on the cross in the place of all those who would turn from their sin and receive, embrace, and believe in Him.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (verse 12)

What humility! The Lord of Heaven set aside His glory to come to Earth and die a criminal's death at the hands of His creation! And what amazing love that He would do all of that to save the ones that He had set His affection on before the foundation of the world was laid. As Chris Tomlin says, "How can I keep from singing Your praise! I can never get enough! How amazing is your love!!!"

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Weary In The Trenches

When I look back to the days when I only had small children, I remember that at times I felt like a weary soldier fighting in the trenches of a battle zone, not sure who would still be standing when the smoke cleared! The conflicts seemed so intense, and the mental and physical exhaustion of caring for small children was often overwhelming. (Of course it wasn't always like that. Thankfully the Lord weaves the challenges together with unspeakable joys, and I am thankful for every day of the last 18 years of motherhood! It is a great and humbling privilege to be entrusted with children to raise up for the Lord. With that said...) Every day of training was done simply in faith, having not lived long enough to find out what spiritual fruit looked like in the lives of my children, and if I would ever see any.

My thoughts were turned back to those days recently as I was studying about Paul's exhortation to Timothy to be a good soldier of Christ. Paul urged Timothy to be aware that a spiritual battle is always going on, and that a good soldier will be on the alert and engaged in the conflict, always watching lest he become entangled in civilian affairs and rendered useless in the battle.

For those of us entrusted with children, we've been given a divine mission to point little souls back to their Creator. It is a daunting task, and when the conflicts are intensified by fatigue and our own sin, it is really easy to forget about the spiritual battle that we are in. We are not just changing diapers, and wiping up that millionth spill, and looking for that lost shoe. But it is Divine Duty to care for and love and build a relationship with our children, so that we will have a platform from which to give them the Gospel.

Unfortunately, I sometimes forget that when everyone is crying or the bedtime routine is unnecessarily drawn out, or I'm simply distracted by the busyness of life. Praise God for His Word that grabs us by the shoulders and points us back in the right direction when we are straying off the path!

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A New Approach

A few months back I was at a place where I needed to start something new in my Bible reading and study time. So a friend and I decided to read the Gospel of John as we study through parts of it in a discipleship workbook. But, instead of the approach I've always taken, (reading a chapter a day until I'm done with the whole book) I have taken a different approach. I have been reading the same chapter every day for 7 days, and I am learning so much! Throughout the week I also read the notes from my JMacArthur study Bible, and try to jot down just one main thought each day to meditate on. Spending 7 days on each chapter allows me to really live with the content, and helps me notice and ponder things that I always missed before by covering a greater number of verses in a shorter amount of time. It has been a rich way to take in the Word and meditate on it through out the day.

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"How Can I Ever Fight Against Him?"

Our pastor reminded us recently to look back to the cross when we find ourselves facing the choice to submit to or fight against the Lord in a difficult situation. He was actually preaching about the roles of men and women in marriage. Often a woman will reject the teaching of the Scriptures on submitting to/respecting her husband, because she feels that his sinful mistreatment of her makes him undeserving. A man, in a similar way, will give up on choosing to love a woman that belittles him and treats him in a dishonoring way. While these responses are the natural human response, they are not the right response.

Instead, the believer has been given the power in Christ to actually love as Christ loved. With the power of the Holy Spirit at work in her life a Christian woman can actully submit to and follow the leadership of an unreasonable, even hateful husband. And dependent on his Savior, a husband can have the grace to tenderly love a woman that fights against him.

How? Looking back to the cross will motivate us to love others as Christ loved us. We will remember that when we despised God and mocked His Son and cared nothing for all the kindness He had shown us and were ungrateful for the gifts He'd given, even then Jesus suffered and died FOR US!

How can we ever fight against a Savior so gracious and kind??!! How can we not obey His commands when He has forgiven us every affront?

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Long Days, Short Years

Baby Blues is my favorite cartoon. My family thinks the mom in that strip, Wanda, even looks like a caricature of me, and she and I have had much in common for many years now.Today my kids, who love to read the funnies, made sure to show me Baby Blues, because they knew I would appreciate it.

The first frame said, "The days are long" and it showed the overly eager mom peering into the baby's mouth wondering if the first little tooth would ever appear. The second frame said, "But the years are short."   Fast forward in time and the same mom is now showing the dad the bill from the orthodontist for braces for the same child! The dad's response: "Already??!!?"

That is how it feels to be a parent. One minute it seems you're waiting in great anticipation for those "1st" events, but before you can even believe it, that same baby is adult size and making plans to go out into the world to make a life of her own. It really does go by so fast!

But the idea of "long days, yet short years" resonated with me for another reason. Many times I find myself focused on how LONG a particular day seems because of the conflict and opposition that is a very real part of raising children. To begin with, parenting is simply hard work, and sometimes continues around the clock. Meeting the constant physical needs and striving to engage children in the spiritual dimension can be exhausting. But then factor into that equation a child that is not responsive, but resistant, and in fact openly rebellious against your instruction or parental wisdom, and the day seems to slowly drag by.

There are so many wrong ways to respond to the opposition, and I'm sure I have been guilty of all of them at one time or another. The tension and stress can tempt me to become angry, lose my joy, withhold affection, become self-righteous, despair, focus on their sinfulness, and forget the power of God to change them and me! Choosing any of these responses just complicates their sin with my own.

But "the years are short"! And I don't want to wake up one day and realize that my house is empty, the eternal souls given into our care for a short season are gone, and I wasted my opportunity.

So aside from repenting when I have responded wrongly to my children's opposition, I am asking the Lord to help me pursue love. It is a pursuit that makes me get on my knees and pray for the Holy Spirit to work in my heart and give me the grace to do it. It is not natural, but can be done by God's supernatural enabling.

There are a couple of passages from the Bible that I've found very helpful when the conflict is intense. Colossians 3:12-14 is an all-time favorite: "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

And, I love the convicting truth of I Corinthians 13:4-8a: "Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek it's own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

May the Lord help us to love especially during the long days, with an eye to the future as the years are short.
*****
BTW, if you are also a Baby Blues fan, you can visit their site by clicking here.

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How I Came To Live For Him

I am a Christian, and for many years now, I have been a follower of Jesus Christ. All those years ago, the Lord showed His mercy by sending someone to tell me that I was a sinner who deserved the wrath of God. That was the bad news, though I knew it immediately to be true.

Thankfully, they also told me the Good News. That same God, who was as merciful as He was just, had made a way for me to be forgiven of all the sin I had committed against Him. There still had to be a payment for my sins, though, but God Himself had given His only Son, whom He loved greatly to take the punishment in my place. The Son of God, Jesus Christ had come into the world over 2,000 years ago to live a sinless life, be rejected by His own people, and die a hideous death on a Roman cross, all to pay for my sins. And His sacrifice, being perfect, would be accepted by the Father on my behalf. He took all my sin on Him, though He had never done anything wrong, and gave me His righteous standing before God, though I had done nothing deserving of God's favor.

God opened my mind to His truth, and made me His Child. I acknowledged my sin against Him, my pride, disobedience, ungratefulness, my rejection of His commandments, my unloving ways toward other people, and my apathy toward all that He had done for me. I saw that Jesus Christ was indeed the one sent by God to be the Savior of the world, and suddenly I loved Him! All that He had suffered for me, all that He had done to give me a joyful life of peace here, and eternal life after I died--these thoughts flooded my heart with such a sense of hope and gratitude and love!

My life was changed so radically then. I was no longer at home here, though my life has been filled with wonderful blessings like a loving husband, precious children, many dear friends, and significant things to do here. But, I am on my way to another place. It is hard for most of us to really ever even think about Heaven. We are too comfortable with the life we have here. But the One who shed His own blood is preparing a place for me in His presence, and I long to be there with Him.

Meanwhile, I look forward that day when I will see Jesus face to face. He has many lessons to teach me that will help me be ready to meet Him, and much to do here to see His name proclaimed and exalted through my life. He is teaching me to love in all the relationships that are in my life, and most of my thoughts recorded here relate to my role as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and believer in Jesus Christ.

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Training Children For the Long Haul

Years ago, when we only had small children, I remember complaining to my husband after a particularly rough day. My entire day had been spent dealing with our children's disobedience and I was worn out and frustrated. He listened patiently, then put his arm around me and congratulated me for spending my day wisely! Then he reminded me that we were in this for the long haul, and to be patient and not give up.

When the Bible says "train" up a child, we need to make sure we realize what train means. It means practicing over and over against resistance until something becomes part of your nature. That is what God is calling us to do with our children. It will not be accomplished in a day, or a month, or a year, but is something you must engage in until your children leave your home and enter the adult world. Now, it is reasonable to long to see some fruit from your labors before they leave, but just keep in mind that it is a long process. I know that many times today, even after many years of being a mom, I still feel overwhelmed and exhausted and discouraged, but now I am enjoying fruit in my older children that the Lord is producing in their lives, and I wouldn't trade that for any less stressful, or more restful, or irritation-free life. It is worth everything we go through!

Also, remember why we do what we do. We are giving our lives away to train and love these children all day long because it is what God commands us to do, not because of the fruit we see in their lives. I've had some moms say that they gave up on training their kids because it didn't work. But the Lord doesn't give us that out. We are to keep on obeying Him and leave the fruit production in His hands. He will grant fruit whenever He deems best, and we have to continue on in faith and trust Him. Work as if it all depends on you, but PRAY for your children, remembering that ultimately it all depends on His work in their hearts. You have every reason to expect fruit, though, because He says that His Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish His purpose. (Isaiah 55:11) Keep giving your children His Word, and keep striving to obey it yourself. God doesn't usually give a divine zap out of nowhere to change the hearts of people. He uses His Word, and people who bring His Word to needy hearts. He wants to use you.

Let's say you are faithful to this task until your children reach adulthood, and then they openly rebel and reject everything you have tried to impart to them. Was it still the right thing to do? I say absolutely YES! You will have a clear conscience that you tried to obey the Lord, and you will have gained great sanctification along the way. Also your children will have been given the keys to abundant life here and eternal life afterward. Keep pressing on!

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