One Big Family | |
Heart checkAm I guarding myself?Do I tend to try and orchestrate circumstances so they are more convenient for me, often without considering others? Do I use guilt or anger as tools to get my own way? Do I try and convince people to make certain decisions because I am afraid their negative consequences will harm me--or do I convince them for their own sake? Do I do things expecting something in return? Do I expect a brass band to play when I am self-sacrifical? When people talk to me, do they come away refreshed and encouraged, or do they feel drained and discouraged or fearful? What kind of friends do I have--the ones who spark me on to love and good works, or the ones who like to wallow in the mire with me? Do I share information to make me look good in someone else's eyes, or do I only share what would edify and build them up? Do I know when to be silent so that God can do the work? When I counsel, do I point someone else to God, or make it seem as though I have all the answers? Am I conniving, beguiling, or seductively manipulative? Do my children know me as a person who is their best cheerleader, or their worst critic? Am I so insecure about myself that I can only feel good if someone else is not? Am I afraid my children will surpass me or that they will forget me, or do I hope they will surpass me and don't give how their choices will affect me a second thought? These are the questions that a woman needs to ask herself--especially if that woman is a dedicated homemaker. We need to be taking an inventory--since it is so easy to become convinced that we are martyrs or saints, when actually we are life-drainers instead of life-givers. This is part of the repentance that God is calling us to. Here's a prayer: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
For it is in giving that we receive; (St. Francis of Assisi) May God grant me the ability to be a "balm of Gilead" to my family; to be that healing, gentle touch, that warm blanket, that strong tower that has steadfast faith in God and His righteousness. May my life be like a song to them--the remembrance of a warm rain on a spring day, the voice that lightens their steps, and the strong arm that gives them courage through the hard times. Sherry The fear of GodThere is a new wave hitting this land--the Christians that we are in contact from one end of the country of the other, no matter what the "flavor" are sensing it--the Holy Spirit is calling us to the fear of the Lord!REPENTANCE--that's the word that was spoken over me--and this was not condemming or oppressive, it was freeing. I felt so light and unburdened, but my heart was flowing in such a deep unction to unload all that is not Him! We have been given instruction in this "fear" of the Lord from numerous sources all at once, definitely a message that God is speaking to us. There is coming a great falling away--and I just don't want to be a part of it! This does not negate grace, it does not do away with the perfect offering of Jesus, it just makes us mindful of coming into God's stride so that we will be in fellowship with Him once the deception becomes more rampant. We may have thought we were rich and in need of nothing, but God is calling us to realize our wretchedness and buy from Him the garments that have not been polluted by the world's system (see Jesus' letters to the churches in Revelation). How easy it is just to get so wrapped up in this life! How exciting! I am happier and more joyful than in many months past. I don't want it to end, and I don't want to ever be the same again. Two places we have been hearing this from: John Bevere and Edsel Charles ...among others. Some more about our tripWhen you get together with a bunch of God's servants, something wonderful happens--He shows up!This last year was draining and full of hard work and sometimes disappointment. The enemy was giving us evil reports right-and-left. I am sure most of us can relate--the "noisome pestilence" that rings in your ears about "doom and gloom". Of course, we were able to keep most of it at bay, but we were weary. The denomination we are a part of does not have any official recognition or encouragement for stay-at-home moms, quiver-fullness, or homeschooling. I have sometimes felt left-out, or even estranged because of it. Even so, my husband and I kept serving and giving of ourselves, since we knew that these folks also had a deep desire to serve and love God, and that is really what we are, at our core. This last week God moved on their hearts to pour out encouragement to us beyond measure. They doted on our children, they prayed for us, and they gave us words of prophecy. It was just the touch we needed at just the right time. I cannot begin to explain how bolstered I feel right now. It is as if all of their hands are under us, lifting us up. One of the prophecies given was that I did not have to answer to anyone but God for the calling He has on my life--I really needed that. Another one was that God wanted us to be in a spirit of repentance--that was right-on, too. A dear lady laid her hands on my tummy and was swept away at the anointing over this little baby growing inside of me--and the baby answered by thumping up and down! My husband and I, after my two miscarriages, almost gave up on having another--what we would have missed out on! Then two of our other children received a mighty touch of God, the two that are just now entering into young adulthood (some call them "teen-agers"). Our daughter received such a dose of the Holy Ghost that the other ladies were asking her to pray for them, just to get some of the overflow. Our son received prayer and hasn't come down from it yet--wants to spend all day studying the Word! This was an answer to prayer for me. I need to emphasize here something that we all need to hear from time to time, "unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it". I know that homeschooling is a wonderful, God-given idea, and it will even work for the pre-christian, simply because it is based on His principles and His ideas. But, for those of us who are looking to populate a new generation of God-followers, sold-out living testimonies, you CANNOT do it without the power of God. You can read all the right books, use all the right curriculum (or not), but it will fall flat without the Holy Spirit. Christianity is not like any other religion, where it is a set of principles or ideas, but it is a real, living relationship with the God who created the universe. On that basis, it doesn't do one much good to read the writings of some dead prophet, unless you know that the God of those words is still living and can bring those words to life to you everyday. This takes faith, and I'm sure those of other religions have to exercise this type of faith as well, but I am so excited that God meets that faith--that Jesus really does walk and talk with His followers, and that the Holy Spirit guides and directs, and in real, tangible ways, not just "some day". In the living, breathing Christianity that we live, God is more active on our behalf than we are on His. We don't have to beg and plead and deny ourselves to hear from Him, we just believe and rest. The time we spend in prayer and seeking His face is not in vain, it is part of the reward. Heaven is a place in which one's greatest desires are fulfilled--but not the boring, empty earthly desires we are now enslaved by. Heaven is filled with HIM! And once you get to know God, in His fulness, you don't need anything else, neither do you want anything else! Just think of the most wonderful person you have ever met, one that you could count on for love, encouragement, and direction, multiply it times a kazillion, and then you will have just a glimpse of who He is. I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise will continually be in my mouth My soul will boast in God my Savior The humble will hear it, and they will be glad Oh magnify the Lord with me Let us exalt His name together Psalm 34:1-3 Sherry Sometimes it happens!I guess you could say it was a "test".This afternoon, all in the span of a half-an-hour, all sorts of things just "happened". 1)...our son ran his scooter into the water-weight section of the driveway basketball hoop and it sprang a leak going down the street... 2)...while trying to move the basketball hoop to a safe place (where it wouldn't topple over, since the water was leaking out), my dear husband and son scratched our van... 3)...as we were about to prepare dinner, we found our dishwasher had been unresponsive, and so I had the task of trying to figure out if we were still under warranty, finding receipts, numbers, etc. All of this happened during one of the busiest times of the day, when we pick up people and fix dinner and generally everything is topsy-turvy. It seems like the devil knew just where to hit us. Nothing super-tragic, nothing life-shattering, just a lot of little nuisances all at once. It exposed me, and it humbled me. What does it tell me? I don't just need Jesus a little bit, like butter on my bread, but I need Him desperately, every minute of every day. He is my bread, the Bread of Life. It is so easy to forget, so easy to feel smug or competent, but then He turns everything upside-down in turmoil just so that we don't miss out on the greatest blessing--Himself. Life is messy--got Jesus? |
About Me My Profile Archives Friends LinksFamily photo
CategoriesChild rearingHome-making Homeschooling Large family distinctives Loving my husband Pantry Principle Walk with God Recent EntriesEASY chicken and potato soupMaking hay while the baby sleeps Are boys or girls "easier" More baby pictures Christmas What are you buying your husband for Christmas? Sharing the joy... Pictures She's here! False alarm American Girls dolls--sort of White walls Technical difficulties Belly shot and other pics Heart check The fear of God Things I love about pregnancy Jury duty A funny occurance Vacuum cleaners FriendsBuckeyeblogDebi rondahinzman QuiverfullMom weareqf SandMountainAcademy homegoddess22 dawilli TRINITYPREPSCHOOL genamayo hallfamily8 Peekershaz thecoolmom cyndiegirl72 Mommaofmany BarbaraLee sunydazy HeadingHomeward youngmommy agodlyhomemaker homeschool blogroll |