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Thursday, August 27, 2009
LOVE
1 John 3:16 gives us a clear definition of love and christian maturity~
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Today after school Anna-Marie was misbehaving and I told her she would be receiving a spanking. Naturally she began to cry. Nathan came over to me and with the most sincere sweetest spirit asked me to please let him take her punishment. He was so sweet and truly wanted to take that punishment that she deserved and take it away from her and onto himself. I must tell you my heart was so moved and I was so proud of him. He is far from perfect, but He has such a sensitive heart for the Holy Spirit. I told him how much like Jesus that was. He told Michael the other day that God had given him a mission. He was going to go all over the world and tell people to stop doing bad things (he named several "bad" things) but he said I'm going to tell them that the most important thing is that you accept Jesus as your Savior.
~Michael and I will be praying for our little soldier that God will equip him with all he needs to carry out His mission.
as for Anna-Marie punishment was still necessary. She's gotta learn. Nathan informed me tonight that he used to act just like that 'referring to her misbehavior' ; years ago he says, back when he was 6 and 7. But he says "I'm older now and I know better"
Thus the life of any believer ~
we are young, we misbehave, we receive punishment, we learn, we grow Hopefully we grow so much that we take on the attitude of Christ and one that Nathan demonstrated today. Willing to lay down our own lives for our brothers.
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Today after school Anna-Marie was misbehaving and I told her she would be receiving a spanking. Naturally she began to cry. Nathan came over to me and with the most sincere sweetest spirit asked me to please let him take her punishment. He was so sweet and truly wanted to take that punishment that she deserved and take it away from her and onto himself. I must tell you my heart was so moved and I was so proud of him. He is far from perfect, but He has such a sensitive heart for the Holy Spirit. I told him how much like Jesus that was. He told Michael the other day that God had given him a mission. He was going to go all over the world and tell people to stop doing bad things (he named several "bad" things) but he said I'm going to tell them that the most important thing is that you accept Jesus as your Savior.
~Michael and I will be praying for our little soldier that God will equip him with all he needs to carry out His mission.
as for Anna-Marie punishment was still necessary. She's gotta learn. Nathan informed me tonight that he used to act just like that 'referring to her misbehavior' ; years ago he says, back when he was 6 and 7. But he says "I'm older now and I know better"
Thus the life of any believer ~
we are young, we misbehave, we receive punishment, we learn, we grow Hopefully we grow so much that we take on the attitude of Christ and one that Nathan demonstrated today. Willing to lay down our own lives for our brothers.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED
"Too blessed to be stressed" that's what I told Michael this morning when I woke up. Yes, my life has been a tad bit stressful. I've got a room full of sweet little second graders and my life has been non stop hopping since the first day of school.
This morning after my sweet time with the Lord, I was reminded of a bumper sticker I've seen before with this quote. Cute and oh so true! I am oh so blessed. And yes, I had a fantastic day! Tonight as I sat with Anna-Marie spending just a few more minutes with her before she drifted off to sleepy town I listened to her pray. What a sweet privilege for a mama to listen to her sweet baby pray to Jesus. She said,(and I must quote so you get the full affect) "Jesus, thank you that I did good on my paper thingy in school today, you know the half page thingy, Jesus thank you that I got all checkses, thank you Lord Jesus." Her prayer was so innocent and from her heart, the sweetest thing is that Jesus knows exactly what "thingy" she is talking about and He cares and she knows He cares. WOW, who am I to be so blessed. Nathan is also geared up and ready to be studious (OK, sometimes) (OK, only when it comes to tests). He wants to make good grades he just doesn't understand why he has to do all that other work in between. Tonight as we study for his spelling test he has that light bulb moment. You know, when it finally clicks, he's so excited "I get it now" he says. Yes, I say I've only been teaching it to you all week. It's not easy teaching your own child. But, he was proud of himself and I was proud for him. He found me in the laundry room after all should have been in bed, but before I could shoo him away, he asked me to pray with him, (boy does he know how to avoid going to bed). We prayed and Nathan just went right on ahead and thanked Jesus that he was going to make a 100 on his spelling test. While there is power in positive thinking, I'm glad he thanked Jesus, and that he knows Jesus deserves our thanks and praise in all we do. I do love my children. As I continue to think how blessed I am of course my ultimate blessing is my salvation. I'm so thankful Jesus loved me so much that He died in my place and offered me eternal life and I'm so thankful that He didn't stop there, that He gives me the gift of the Holy Spirit to help me and to guide me each and every day. I must say though, as I think about how blessed I am, I can't help but turn my thoughts to my dear sweet husband. I am the most blessed women to have such a godly man. I don't deserve him, but he's mine.
I must end with a quote from one of my favorite authors; Henry Blackaby "Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another."
Christians it is time that we let that love shine, let others see it and want it for themselves and let's be ready to tell 'em what it is that makes us love each other so much. JESUS
Jesus has worked miracles in my life and yes, the testimony of how the Lord saved me is amazing. I don't know near as much about the Bible as I wish I did. But I haven't meet too many unsaved individuals that wish to hear about my testimony or care to know how much I think I know about the Bible. When I put out there that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, they are watching to see what makes that so, and they will know it is so if they see me loving others. Truly, sacrificially loving others. Just like Jesus did.
This morning after my sweet time with the Lord, I was reminded of a bumper sticker I've seen before with this quote. Cute and oh so true! I am oh so blessed. And yes, I had a fantastic day! Tonight as I sat with Anna-Marie spending just a few more minutes with her before she drifted off to sleepy town I listened to her pray. What a sweet privilege for a mama to listen to her sweet baby pray to Jesus. She said,(and I must quote so you get the full affect) "Jesus, thank you that I did good on my paper thingy in school today, you know the half page thingy, Jesus thank you that I got all checkses, thank you Lord Jesus." Her prayer was so innocent and from her heart, the sweetest thing is that Jesus knows exactly what "thingy" she is talking about and He cares and she knows He cares. WOW, who am I to be so blessed. Nathan is also geared up and ready to be studious (OK, sometimes) (OK, only when it comes to tests). He wants to make good grades he just doesn't understand why he has to do all that other work in between. Tonight as we study for his spelling test he has that light bulb moment. You know, when it finally clicks, he's so excited "I get it now" he says. Yes, I say I've only been teaching it to you all week. It's not easy teaching your own child. But, he was proud of himself and I was proud for him. He found me in the laundry room after all should have been in bed, but before I could shoo him away, he asked me to pray with him, (boy does he know how to avoid going to bed). We prayed and Nathan just went right on ahead and thanked Jesus that he was going to make a 100 on his spelling test. While there is power in positive thinking, I'm glad he thanked Jesus, and that he knows Jesus deserves our thanks and praise in all we do. I do love my children. As I continue to think how blessed I am of course my ultimate blessing is my salvation. I'm so thankful Jesus loved me so much that He died in my place and offered me eternal life and I'm so thankful that He didn't stop there, that He gives me the gift of the Holy Spirit to help me and to guide me each and every day. I must say though, as I think about how blessed I am, I can't help but turn my thoughts to my dear sweet husband. I am the most blessed women to have such a godly man. I don't deserve him, but he's mine.
I must end with a quote from one of my favorite authors; Henry Blackaby "Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another."
Christians it is time that we let that love shine, let others see it and want it for themselves and let's be ready to tell 'em what it is that makes us love each other so much. JESUS
Jesus has worked miracles in my life and yes, the testimony of how the Lord saved me is amazing. I don't know near as much about the Bible as I wish I did. But I haven't meet too many unsaved individuals that wish to hear about my testimony or care to know how much I think I know about the Bible. When I put out there that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, they are watching to see what makes that so, and they will know it is so if they see me loving others. Truly, sacrificially loving others. Just like Jesus did.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
GOOD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
On the way to school this week Nathan was thinking about his future and his desire to be in the army. He asked me what I thought his commander would be like. Anna-Marie said "I hope he will be a good person." I said "yes, I hope so to, we will pray that he will be a good person." Nathan says, "NO, Mama you need to pray that he will be a christian. "Wow" I said "buddy, you are exactly right. Anybody can be good, the best is to be a Christian."
Good is not good enough. Anyone can be good. Nathan understands that as Christians we are held to a higher standard of conduct and conviction. Not that we don't fail, because we do. But oh, when I do. Sweet Holy Spirit, bring conviction to my soul. Then Jesus help me to repent and change. Father, thank you for your never ending mercy.
I'm so thankful that my (almost eight year old) understands that good is not good enough. You must be born again.
Good is not good enough. Anyone can be good. Nathan understands that as Christians we are held to a higher standard of conduct and conviction. Not that we don't fail, because we do. But oh, when I do. Sweet Holy Spirit, bring conviction to my soul. Then Jesus help me to repent and change. Father, thank you for your never ending mercy.
I'm so thankful that my (almost eight year old) understands that good is not good enough. You must be born again.
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