Once again, it has been a while since I have blogged about anything. Life gets so busy, and I barely remember what happened 5 minutes prior...as a parent, you know how it gets..as a Mom you don't remember what it was ever like before kids. I hear younger girls talk about a good book they have recently read, or "running" in the mall for a quick buy, or going to see a new movie that was recently released.... And I giggle to myself. My good books are children's bible stories, my "run" in the mall for a quick buy would entail riding the train, wasting quarters on rides that barely move, and walking by the trampoline that cost 20 dollars a shot while dragging 3 kids by the hair explaining that daddy would kill me if I spent 60 bucks for 5 mins of fun :) and that good movie, maybe one day... But I wouldn't change it for a million dollars.
Also, (is that even a transition word to start a new paragraph???) as a parent, you are probably used to hearing a child say Mommy 1000 times. Our home sounds a little like this... mommy, I am hungry. Mommy, I want my breakfast. Mommy, is it ready yet. Mommy, my drink spilled! Mommy, I need a different shirt on. Mommy, I want a snack. Mommy, I need to go potty. Mommy, I need to wash my hands. Mommy, where is my train. Mommy, get him off of me! Mommy, can we go outside. Mommy, where are you? Mommy, mommy, where is Mommy? There are times when I feel suffocated. Times when I want to go hide in a closet and pray they don't find me. Times when I wonder why I chose to stay home. Times when I have more anxiety over hearing Mommy, than I would if they called me something different....
The other day, I had heard "Mommy" to a point where I was breaking. My hair had syrup in it, my shirt was stretched out from where Preston reached for me, I was hot, and I turn around and Sydney says, "mommy, Preston pulled my hair!" This is where I pause...... In the middle of almost crying because I had honestly had more than I could take, it was like Jesus whispered..... Why don't you need me like that? I literally stopped and said, I hear you.... And I wasn't talking to my children.... My children rely on me for everything. I know they are capable of helping themselves most of the time, but they still come to me for the final approval. They need me for things as simple as going upstairs to fetch a toy. Simple simple things. One day, they will grow up and not realize they need me. Not call on me for their simple things and maybe not even their big things.... I will be heartbroken, and miss them.... Just like God misses me...
What if.... What if I went to my heavenly father as often as my children come to me? What if I shouted, oh Jesus, help me.... As often as they ask me? It was as if Jesus whispered , I miss you, why don't you need me? Oh, Jesus, I need you desperately. I wouldn't feel so anxious or overwhelmed, I would realize my blessings and guide my children in the direction of obedience..... I wouldn't want to hide or want to change my name....
It was as if he whispered..... I am still right here, even when you abandon me, I am patiently waiting for you to need me like they need you...
Thank you, Jesus. Your reminders are always on time...
Three little Monkeys
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Thankful for Good Friday
It has been a while since I have written a blog... Life gets so busy. I am usually spending most of my days refereeing a fight, kissing a boo boo and putting a bandaid on a non-existent scratch, picking up toys, cleaning spilled milk, scraping dried food off the wall, pulling children off of the counters, out of the refrigerator, closing snack drawers, coloring, playing with play dough, making a course for a bike ride or a power wheels ride, throwing baseballs, or catching basketballs before they roll in the road... That is just a glimpse of the first few hours of the day...BUT on today, Good Friday, I am making time to blog...
Good Friday isn't just a day everyone has off from school or work for a 3 day weekend... It isn't a day to catch all of the good sales at the Mall. Good Friday is the day that The Lord, Jesus Christ SUFFERED on the Cross for OUR Sins. As the day goes on, you can wonder what happened at each time, and how did Jesus feel as he was Bearing OUR Sins.... You should take some time to think.... have you accepted him as your savior? Or have you tried to take the thought out of your mind when it crosses it???
From Matthew 27-28
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
MY FAVORITE PART is Matthew 28- JESUS HAS RISEN!
This, I am thankful for. I am thankful as I lay in the bed with my 3 children knowing that he bears their sin as well. What have we done to deserve this? We have done nothing... What CAN WE DO to be thankful for this? SO MUCH. My first way of Praising him and thanking him is by teaching my Children the truth. Teaching them that Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. Back in August, Cole accepted him as his savior, and I am prayerful that Sydney is well on her way. She loves to talk about Jesus and what he did for us. She is all confused why we celebrate a Big Crazy looking bunny when Easter is about Jesus. So thankful she has that foundation.... And Preston, he loves to pray and with any question asked to him, he is pretty sure the right answer is always JESUS! And he is so right! Jesus is ALWAYS the right answer!
HAPPY EASTER!
Good Friday isn't just a day everyone has off from school or work for a 3 day weekend... It isn't a day to catch all of the good sales at the Mall. Good Friday is the day that The Lord, Jesus Christ SUFFERED on the Cross for OUR Sins. As the day goes on, you can wonder what happened at each time, and how did Jesus feel as he was Bearing OUR Sins.... You should take some time to think.... have you accepted him as your savior? Or have you tried to take the thought out of your mind when it crosses it???
From Matthew 27-28
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[d]47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Burial of Jesus
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 28
Jesus Has Risen
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”MY FAVORITE PART is Matthew 28- JESUS HAS RISEN!
This, I am thankful for. I am thankful as I lay in the bed with my 3 children knowing that he bears their sin as well. What have we done to deserve this? We have done nothing... What CAN WE DO to be thankful for this? SO MUCH. My first way of Praising him and thanking him is by teaching my Children the truth. Teaching them that Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. Back in August, Cole accepted him as his savior, and I am prayerful that Sydney is well on her way. She loves to talk about Jesus and what he did for us. She is all confused why we celebrate a Big Crazy looking bunny when Easter is about Jesus. So thankful she has that foundation.... And Preston, he loves to pray and with any question asked to him, he is pretty sure the right answer is always JESUS! And he is so right! Jesus is ALWAYS the right answer!
HAPPY EASTER!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
A Prayerful Life...
I wish there was a voice option on this blog. I love hearing my children talking, especially when it is something so special....
At the beginning of the year, I wrote down more goals. I think resolutions are made to break, so I have goals with set guidelines. One of my goals this year was to make my prayer life more meaningful and impactful. As I was deciding how I would do this, I prayed about it. Smart huh?
So, that next Sunday at Church, Preacher Upchurch preached about Jabez and the Prayer of Jabez. I have heard this story a few times and had actually tried remembering to pray it, but never would more than a few days. Since one of my goals was to have a better prayer life, I thought what a great way to start.
Another goal of mine was to help my children have a better prayer life. Cole has always been a faithful prayer warrior. His prayers are always powerful and pleasing to hear. Sydney still says the Now I lay me prayer and tries to skip a few lines to get to the amen. Then she sings Praise and Worship songs with her version of how it should go. My favorite is, "Go tell it on the Mountain, over the hills and every Wheeerrreee, Go tell it on the Mountain, that Jesus Christ is 4! Preston, loves to pray because I will say it first, and then he will say it after me. Sometimes though, he tries to "surprise" me by skipping ahead and gives me big eyes to say, hey! I bet you are proud of me... Then he smiles real big.
So, the other night I was trying to decide, How do I teach my children to Pray BIG when sometimes I fail at praying BIG??? Then it came to me! Teach them the prayer of Jabez. You can never be to young to ask God to Bless you, Bless you Indeed!
For those who don't know what the Prayer of Jabez is, here is a little synopsis. (I got this from http://www.allaboutprayer.org/prayer-of-jabez.htm)
The Prayer of Jabez comes from the Bible. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, we read: "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." The prayer is composed of four parts. First, Jabez asks God to bless him. Second, he asks God to enlarge his territory or increase his responsibility. Third, he prays that God will be with him and stay close. Lastly, Jabez asks that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain.
Prayer of Jabez: Why is it important?The Prayer of Jabez reveals that Jabez understands what many people do not -- there is only one God and He should be the center of our work God wants to bless every life. But, we must first make the choice to invite God into our life and ask for His blessings. Jabez wants to succeed and increase his sphere of influence for God. The specific sphere of influence is not important. What is important is that when we want to reach for goals and accomplishments that we have God on our side. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." It is critical to understand and practice this in a close relationship with God. Further, it is equally important to stay close to God and rely on His continued support and guidance throughout life. Jabez clearly knows and prays specifically to the One who can protect him from evil and pain -- God. At the end of the verse it is clear that God approved of this faithful prayer by granting it. It is also important to see that Jabez was passionate in his plea to God: "He cried out to the God of Israel." God wants to hear that we need Him through passionate prayer.
I decided to start off and make it simple for the kids to understand. The say, Dear Lord, enlarge my territory and bless me, bless me indeed..... Cole, in such a mature way, says it and means it with all of his heart. Sydney has a hard time pronouncing territory, and as soon as she says it, she ask me what her territory is.... She is exactly like me. She has to know the reason behind everything before she agrees to do it. And my sweet Preston. I love to hear him say it. He tries his best. He says LOWD, bess me bess me deed. Pan my ter... ory. Amen. Love you Jesus, Inks. :) What a blessing it is. I just keep thinking how important it is to teach them more than, Now I lay me. I think it shouldn't matter their age. If you can teach them to words, the meaning will come...
Chad and I feel such a responsibility to raise our children to be God Fearing...... in Proverbs it says, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life." If we don't plant the seed, how will it grow? Our Children will always see their parents be faithful.... If we skip a beat, they may too.... So, Lord.. I ask you to Bless my children... Bless them indeed... and please Lord Expand their territory and give them the desire to have a heart for you... Amen.
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