This has been a very busy month. Each time I have sat to do a post I feel empty with nothing to say. When I think I might have something worth while to write, I have no time to do so.
One thing this month that God has shown me came from a MOPS meeting. I used to go to MOPS years ago when my oldest was small. They were having a professional organizer talk so I went to see what I could glean from this guru. In the course of the morning I had the opportunity to talk with a couple young mommies that I did not know. I am sure I was the same way when I was their age. Very idealistic and immature, thinking I had it all figured out. They commented on how marriage was a 50-50 deal and how motherhood should be treated like a 40 hour a week job...hmmm. God has brought me so far. I am glad that I am where I am and that God has taught me the lessons He has in these areas. I am grateful for dear friends that encourage biblical womanhood and not the worlds version of womanhood. That includes dear friends that I have met through the blog world.
I am also grateful that what I hear from my friends and read on the blogs that I read is encouragement and edification of our families. Not tearing our husbands down or complaining. Sure we all have rotten days, weeks, or seasons in life. But those hard times do not rule our lives.
Lord, help us always to have your best in mind. Always striving to be the woman you want us to be for our husbands and families.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Why do we wait?
I have been pondering the past couple days. Pondering after watching a video at church Sunday night from Pastor Jim Cymbala on prayer. The importance and power of prayer. After the video there was discussion on why do we hesitate to pray and ask others to pray for us. Several good and right answers were given by a very wise and godly man at church. These quotes I found at Girl Talk summed it all up I think.
"What men do by themselves they do for themselves. They eat their own fruit, devouring the praise of what they do. Only the Christian who does everything by Christ does it all for Him. He takes his nourishment from Him into whom he has been grafted; and this is what makes him fruitful." –William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p. 49)
"If he can do any duty, he acknowledges it is Christ's strength more than his own. As the ship gets to the haven more by the benefit of the wind than the sail, so when a Christian makes swift progress, it is more by wind of God's Spirit than the sail of his own endeavour." –Thomas Watson
We struggle with the inner man. We still want to do it all ourselves. We don't want to need the Lord. I think it all comes down to pride. What do you think?
"What men do by themselves they do for themselves. They eat their own fruit, devouring the praise of what they do. Only the Christian who does everything by Christ does it all for Him. He takes his nourishment from Him into whom he has been grafted; and this is what makes him fruitful." –William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p. 49)
"If he can do any duty, he acknowledges it is Christ's strength more than his own. As the ship gets to the haven more by the benefit of the wind than the sail, so when a Christian makes swift progress, it is more by wind of God's Spirit than the sail of his own endeavour." –Thomas Watson
We struggle with the inner man. We still want to do it all ourselves. We don't want to need the Lord. I think it all comes down to pride. What do you think?
Monday, January 7, 2008
Large families
I was over at Raising Five with Katherine and she had some great thoughts on raising a large family. I went from there to Family Life with Dennis Rainey to read an article that she linked to. It echoed her thoughts which by the way are mine. God has brought us on two very different journeys to parenthood but we both agree that raising lots of kids together have lots of blessings for both parents and children.
Dennis Rainey says 'One word that pretty well describes a family with six kids is “chaos.” Those of you who are accustomed to order, neatness, and control have to learn flexibility and get used to not having all your ducks in a row. What comes out of chaos for you as an individual is sacrifice.
The major lesson that Barbara and I have learned is to submit ourselves to the Lord and die to our own personal agendas. We had to die to some of our own dreams and desires. However, when I look back on what we’ve had to sacrifice compared to what we’ve experienced, what we gave up was petty and worthless.
I think our culture has its course set on the wrong star. We try to find life in fulfilling our desires, but Jesus said that whoever saves his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for Christ’s sake will find it. If you die to self you will live. What we have experienced in having six kids is, admittedly, a lot of death to self. But in the process of dying to self, we have found Jesus Christ to be sufficient.
Oh yes, God has given this many children to chip away at all that is not Him in me. Apparently there is a lot that is not Him to take so many kids to chip it all away!
;o)
Dennis Rainey says 'One word that pretty well describes a family with six kids is “chaos.” Those of you who are accustomed to order, neatness, and control have to learn flexibility and get used to not having all your ducks in a row. What comes out of chaos for you as an individual is sacrifice.
The major lesson that Barbara and I have learned is to submit ourselves to the Lord and die to our own personal agendas. We had to die to some of our own dreams and desires. However, when I look back on what we’ve had to sacrifice compared to what we’ve experienced, what we gave up was petty and worthless.
I think our culture has its course set on the wrong star. We try to find life in fulfilling our desires, but Jesus said that whoever saves his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for Christ’s sake will find it. If you die to self you will live. What we have experienced in having six kids is, admittedly, a lot of death to self. But in the process of dying to self, we have found Jesus Christ to be sufficient.
Oh yes, God has given this many children to chip away at all that is not Him in me. Apparently there is a lot that is not Him to take so many kids to chip it all away!
;o)
Monday: Healthier Shepherd's Pie with sweet potatos
Tuesday: Ham, steamed broccoli, homemade mac & cheese
Wednesday: Church dinner
Thursday: Chicken & steamed veggies
Friday: Tacos
Saturday: Chili
With hubby's diabetes we are trying really hard to make wise choices with our carbs. Eatting lots of fiber and whole grains trying to keep things in balance as much as possible. His doctor wants his cholesterol down to 70 from the current 150. Oh my! So he is excercising more and I am doing what I can with the meal planning. I still can't believe that he has this disease. I am sure that God has reasons and lessons for us to learn. Have a great week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)