Today we had a friend join us for lunch. It's the first time someone outside the family has been at our house for a meal in a long time. I never noticed that my children didn't have the best table manners, until today. My three year old was in and out of her chair, ate her noodles with her fingers, held them above her head, tore her sandwich apart, sucked her noodles (loudly), burped, talked with her mouth full.....and I've never been prouder!
Now, I'm not pleased with the lack of manners, which usually don't stand out until you're looking at them from someone else's perspective. What I am proud of, is the fact that while all this is going on, she's rattling off scripture verses!! Our friend even commented that my daughter probably knew more of them than she did.
I told my husband about lunch time and that I thought we needed to crack down a little on table manners. He is certain that God is loving our daughter just the way she is.
So, if you're coming to our house for a meal, be prepared! You won't witness the best table manners, but you will see a three year old being a great witness!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Fodder for prayer
Yesterday the girls and I were in the very slow line waiting to check out in the very big store. We had plenty of time to try not to look at the gossip rags all around us. Oh my, so many people, so many stories, some maybe true, most likely not. My oldest asked me again about the things she was seeing. She did learn a new word--paralyzed. She even pronounced it correctly so I guess they are good for something!! Anyway, I tried to pray for those around us in the store instead of being tempted to look at the headlines. God gave me a different idea.
Psalm 15:1-3 says "Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, "
Isn't our main concern supposed to be the lost? I'm pretty sure every person involved in the making of these particular types of magazine are lost, otherwise they wouldn't be making the magazine! The verses above describe these people. Instead of ignoring them, this time I saw them as fodder for prayer! I began to pray for every person that had anything to do with the making of the magazine, including the unfortunate people who were the targets.
Some people don't take prayer very seriously, but it's our way of communicating with the Lord, what else could be more powerful?
Psalm 15:1-3 says "Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, "
Isn't our main concern supposed to be the lost? I'm pretty sure every person involved in the making of these particular types of magazine are lost, otherwise they wouldn't be making the magazine! The verses above describe these people. Instead of ignoring them, this time I saw them as fodder for prayer! I began to pray for every person that had anything to do with the making of the magazine, including the unfortunate people who were the targets.
Some people don't take prayer very seriously, but it's our way of communicating with the Lord, what else could be more powerful?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Things That Make You Go Hmm....
A list of the things that make me go hmm.... lately:
1. People would rather have false hope than know the truth and have real hope
2. People would rather have a large bank account, house and vehicle than make their family's eternal destination their priority.
3. People care more about what their clothes look like on Sunday, than what their soul looks like all week.
4. People care more about how much they do in comparison with others, than doing all things as unto the Lord.
5. People are unhappy with what they have, until they're asked to give it away.
The main connection between these things is the fact that so many people are concerned with what society thinks of them.
Colossians 3:23 clears it all up for us--"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
1. People would rather have false hope than know the truth and have real hope
2. People would rather have a large bank account, house and vehicle than make their family's eternal destination their priority.
3. People care more about what their clothes look like on Sunday, than what their soul looks like all week.
4. People care more about how much they do in comparison with others, than doing all things as unto the Lord.
5. People are unhappy with what they have, until they're asked to give it away.
The main connection between these things is the fact that so many people are concerned with what society thinks of them.
Colossians 3:23 clears it all up for us--"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Don't Forget Who Else Is Here!
Did you ever hear something that really hit home with you, something you thought you already knew? That happened to me today.
We started off the day as usual; chores, breakfast, prayer, devotions, singing, school.
The day went pretty well. I got a little frustrated a couple times. Youngest daughter didn't always behave the best way she knows how. Oldest daughter didn't always show respect and do her best. But, no one "lost it". We've had better days, we've had worse days. I was trying to bring out the best in all of us. I felt like we should be behaving better than we were. I couldn't understand why we weren't more peace-filled and joyful.
When we took a break I decided to check out a new website I found that deals with character building. Then I read one of the blogs that I read regularly, then I ended up on a blog I had never visited before. This is where God reached out and smacked me. Did you ever get a 2x4 upside your head? I got one today!
The post was about remembering to include God in your day. Duh, right? He's already with us, isn't He? I talk to Him all day, everyday. What I realized as I read this is, that as much as I love Him and devote my whole being to Him, I was forgetting that He is right here with me. I was taking responsibility for everyone's behavior, attitudes and words instead of giving it all to God. The woman who wrote the post talks about having a chair set aside for God at the table while they do schoolwork. Her daughter climbs up on His lap. (isn't that a fabulous visual?)
After I read her whole post I was so excited! I know He is always with me, but to think of Him as another person in the room, around the table.....wow. Why and when did I stop doing that in the first place? How did I end up thinking I could somehow control how we all act? That's not my job.
Tomorrow morning, before our chores, breakfast, prayer, devotions, singing, school, I will be doing the most important thing---inviting God to spend the day with us. And we will remember that He is right here in the room with us. I bet things will be different! I'll let you know! :-)
We started off the day as usual; chores, breakfast, prayer, devotions, singing, school.
The day went pretty well. I got a little frustrated a couple times. Youngest daughter didn't always behave the best way she knows how. Oldest daughter didn't always show respect and do her best. But, no one "lost it". We've had better days, we've had worse days. I was trying to bring out the best in all of us. I felt like we should be behaving better than we were. I couldn't understand why we weren't more peace-filled and joyful.
When we took a break I decided to check out a new website I found that deals with character building. Then I read one of the blogs that I read regularly, then I ended up on a blog I had never visited before. This is where God reached out and smacked me. Did you ever get a 2x4 upside your head? I got one today!
The post was about remembering to include God in your day. Duh, right? He's already with us, isn't He? I talk to Him all day, everyday. What I realized as I read this is, that as much as I love Him and devote my whole being to Him, I was forgetting that He is right here with me. I was taking responsibility for everyone's behavior, attitudes and words instead of giving it all to God. The woman who wrote the post talks about having a chair set aside for God at the table while they do schoolwork. Her daughter climbs up on His lap. (isn't that a fabulous visual?)
After I read her whole post I was so excited! I know He is always with me, but to think of Him as another person in the room, around the table.....wow. Why and when did I stop doing that in the first place? How did I end up thinking I could somehow control how we all act? That's not my job.
Tomorrow morning, before our chores, breakfast, prayer, devotions, singing, school, I will be doing the most important thing---inviting God to spend the day with us. And we will remember that He is right here in the room with us. I bet things will be different! I'll let you know! :-)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Time and Place
Today I'm thinking about the fact that so many people leave Christ out of everything. I admit I was one of these people for most of my life. I haven't always been a Jesus freak. For a long time I thought there was a time and a place for "God talk". Even after I was saved, I was hesitant to give credit where credit is due.
Raising children changes things. Raising children to take full hold of their heritage, as children of the Lord, changes things. I can't teach them the importance of a relationship with Christ, giving God the glory, praying at all times, God as Creator, Jesus as Savior, the Bible as life manual, Godly character, etc, etc, etc; and then say "oh,yea, some people will be uncomfortable if you mention God, so..there is a time and a place to bring him up". I can't do that, and I won't do that.
Thankfully God has handled that, too. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 gives me license to "loose the lips" and talk about my favorite thing CONSTANTLY!!!! And to teach my girls the same thing. The Bible says in these verses: "Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Any questions? If so, refer to Ephesians 6:18--"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
The Bible doesn't just give me permission, but requires that I talk, think, pray, display Christ ALL the time! Not just when society tells me it's appropriate, but ALL the time. And it also requires me to teach my girls to do the same. I thank God that they will never have to spend a day of their lives without Him. If we are obedient to God's word, and teach our children to be obedient to it also, then this lifestyle won't seem so strange and impossible to so many people. The more they hear "God talk", the more likely they'll be to join in.
Raising children changes things. Raising children to take full hold of their heritage, as children of the Lord, changes things. I can't teach them the importance of a relationship with Christ, giving God the glory, praying at all times, God as Creator, Jesus as Savior, the Bible as life manual, Godly character, etc, etc, etc; and then say "oh,yea, some people will be uncomfortable if you mention God, so..there is a time and a place to bring him up". I can't do that, and I won't do that.
Thankfully God has handled that, too. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 gives me license to "loose the lips" and talk about my favorite thing CONSTANTLY!!!! And to teach my girls the same thing. The Bible says in these verses: "Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Any questions? If so, refer to Ephesians 6:18--"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
The Bible doesn't just give me permission, but requires that I talk, think, pray, display Christ ALL the time! Not just when society tells me it's appropriate, but ALL the time. And it also requires me to teach my girls to do the same. I thank God that they will never have to spend a day of their lives without Him. If we are obedient to God's word, and teach our children to be obedient to it also, then this lifestyle won't seem so strange and impossible to so many people. The more they hear "God talk", the more likely they'll be to join in.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Something to Think About
October is here! It's my favorite month of all the months. The weather is perfect, the trees are absolutely beautiful, it gets dark earlier (no more cries of "but it's still light out, do we have to go to bed?"), it's the month I was born in. So many reasons to love it!
The one negative aspect is that it's the month the devil is worshipped more than usual--halloween. All month long there are advertisements, decorations, and sales promoting the holiday. Everywhere you go there are ghosts and goblins and witches and scary pumpkins and costumes and candy. People plan parties, prepare tricks, purchase treats for passing out on trick or treat night. Businesses gear up to make the most of the season by hosting zoo boos or spooky corn mazes. People talk about what costume they'll wear, what their children will wear.
Every year people ask my children if they're going trick or treating, or what they're dressing up as. Every year I reply "we don't do halloween". Every year someone tries to convince me it's just harmless fun.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says "Avoid every kind of evil".
I could list scripture after scripture that makes it clear a Christian has no business "doing halloween". Read Galatians, Ephesians, Thessalonians, just to name a few books.
There is nothing in the bible that could lead a person to think halloween is just harmless fun. If you love Jesus and call yourself a Christian and think it's okay to take part in halloween, don't take my word for it--investigate it yourself. A carnal Christian will make excuses and live to please themselves. A born again Christian loves the truth and lives to please Christ.
Would Christ party with satan?
The one negative aspect is that it's the month the devil is worshipped more than usual--halloween. All month long there are advertisements, decorations, and sales promoting the holiday. Everywhere you go there are ghosts and goblins and witches and scary pumpkins and costumes and candy. People plan parties, prepare tricks, purchase treats for passing out on trick or treat night. Businesses gear up to make the most of the season by hosting zoo boos or spooky corn mazes. People talk about what costume they'll wear, what their children will wear.
Every year people ask my children if they're going trick or treating, or what they're dressing up as. Every year I reply "we don't do halloween". Every year someone tries to convince me it's just harmless fun.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says "Avoid every kind of evil".
I could list scripture after scripture that makes it clear a Christian has no business "doing halloween". Read Galatians, Ephesians, Thessalonians, just to name a few books.
There is nothing in the bible that could lead a person to think halloween is just harmless fun. If you love Jesus and call yourself a Christian and think it's okay to take part in halloween, don't take my word for it--investigate it yourself. A carnal Christian will make excuses and live to please themselves. A born again Christian loves the truth and lives to please Christ.
Would Christ party with satan?
Friday, October 2, 2009
Bring Him Back
The more educating I do, the less educated I feel.
Have you ever felt that way? The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know?
We've been doing a unit study on Christopher Columbus this week. I've learned so much about him, his life, geography, history.....I can't believe how much I didn't know! I also can't believe what I wasn't taught when I was a child in public school--one of the reasons Columbus wanted to discover new lands was to spread the Gospel! Did you know that? Did you know that in addition to the spanish flag, whenever he landed in a new land he stuck a cross in the ground?
I find it interesting to be a Jesus loving parent raising children to be Jesus lovers, when I wasn't raised this way. I feel like a pilgrim in the wilderness sometimes, without an example to follow. I pray for wisdom and discernment to handle alot of the situations that come up. I don't have the example of my parents to follow, none of my friends were in Jesus loving families--that I knew of. I attended public school. I didn't know Jesus when I was growing up.
I long for a mentor, a woman who has traveled this road. I feel like there is so much I don't know because Christ was removed from my education. I'm learning, along with my girls, the role Christ played in everything that has ever happened. It's frustrating, and sometimes I feel more than a little cheated, that I spent so much of my life without Jesus.
Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Without God, there would be nothing. How dare we remove Him from our lives and education?
It breaks my heart, so I can only imagine what it does to God, that He has been left out of (even removed from) the world. We have to put Him back where He belongs. Put Him back in your children's education. Be a mentor to pilgrims raising children for Christ, who weren't raised that way themselves. People have told me they could never homeschool. The longer we do it, I wonder how you could not. Your children have to know the truth of Christ's involvement in so much of our history, not to mention the whole creation/evolution issue. Will you bring Him back?
Have you ever felt that way? The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know?
We've been doing a unit study on Christopher Columbus this week. I've learned so much about him, his life, geography, history.....I can't believe how much I didn't know! I also can't believe what I wasn't taught when I was a child in public school--one of the reasons Columbus wanted to discover new lands was to spread the Gospel! Did you know that? Did you know that in addition to the spanish flag, whenever he landed in a new land he stuck a cross in the ground?
I find it interesting to be a Jesus loving parent raising children to be Jesus lovers, when I wasn't raised this way. I feel like a pilgrim in the wilderness sometimes, without an example to follow. I pray for wisdom and discernment to handle alot of the situations that come up. I don't have the example of my parents to follow, none of my friends were in Jesus loving families--that I knew of. I attended public school. I didn't know Jesus when I was growing up.
I long for a mentor, a woman who has traveled this road. I feel like there is so much I don't know because Christ was removed from my education. I'm learning, along with my girls, the role Christ played in everything that has ever happened. It's frustrating, and sometimes I feel more than a little cheated, that I spent so much of my life without Jesus.
Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Without God, there would be nothing. How dare we remove Him from our lives and education?
It breaks my heart, so I can only imagine what it does to God, that He has been left out of (even removed from) the world. We have to put Him back where He belongs. Put Him back in your children's education. Be a mentor to pilgrims raising children for Christ, who weren't raised that way themselves. People have told me they could never homeschool. The longer we do it, I wonder how you could not. Your children have to know the truth of Christ's involvement in so much of our history, not to mention the whole creation/evolution issue. Will you bring Him back?
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