Phone-a-friend- that’s the bonus I took as a mom today….

It all started when I told one of my children it was nap time.  We got “Pony”, “Mr. Chubbs”, and blankie all snuggled up together with us.  I was going to lay down with them a moment when the demand came, “I want ‘Chicken’ and ‘Monkey’”. (Yes we do get very creative with our names around here!)  Well you must understand this child is not particular about “who” they sleep with. It changes daily.  Since “Chicken” and “Monkey” were not in sight I simply replied, “Not this time maybe tonight we’ll be able to find them.”

Well…… an escalating drama began!!! I did concede and give them “Chicken” and “Monkey” but then they didn’t want to lay down either….  a case of good old fashioned stubbornness was visiting!  During the 45 minute episode that ensued, I reached a point I had to call someone to help me hold on to the fight.  The conversation went something like this:

Friend: “Hello?”

Me:   “Will my child continue to breathe despite the fact that they are crying so hard it sounds as though they are suffocating?”

Friend:  “Oh dear what happened?”

Me: “A good case of separation anxiety and strong will over “Monkey” and “Chicken” not being in bed.”

Friend: “Uh-Oh! The not-so-fun part about being a mom! and yes they can still breathe…”

Me:  “So stick with it? Make them mind?”

Friend:  “As long as there is nothing physically wrong, yes you must.”

Me:  “Thanks, they just got out of bed again.  Gotta go!  I needed the emotional support to win this battle”

Thankfully I am rejoicing that it was only five more minutes or so after that call before this battle was won. I didn’t enjoy one minute of the event.  A good lesson in parenting for me.  I must remember sometimes I’m just gonna have to MAKE them mind and prayerfully by the time they leave the nest this battle and all future ones will have a lasting victory over the war of stubbornness!!

The scary part about such a display of strong-will is that I can totally see myself within it.  There are seasons I go through that God has to put me in my place over and over again.  There are tears, drama, and fleshly determination I battle before I just let go and obey!  I don’t know why I put up such a fight when I know God has His best interest in mind the whole time.

I only pray that as a parent I can help be apart of the molding of my kido’s heart in such a way that they won’t fight quite as hard with God when they’re my age.  I’m so thankful God’s love is greater than myself.

So all that to say– even Mom’s need to “phone- a-friend” every now and then!

Sorry about the delay in posting.  We’ve been running quite a bit.  Monica has shown a pretty serious interest in potty training and we’ve begun the battle of weaning her from the passy. Needless to say it’s been pretty exciting around here without mentioning the x-tra’s going on in the rest of the family’s schedule.

Honesty will prevail today.  Along with busyness, I’ve also been mulling around in my heart a few life situations that tend to make me very sad.  Sometimes these things I’ve found can be quite difficult to yank yourself out of and just “move on.” I must say though, God promises to never leave us or forsake us no matter what we go through. If you can take just a few minutes I’d love to share with you how He showed up in my life this morning…

As I drove to my Bible study I had tears streaming down my face. I called a precious friend to ask for prayer. (Jan you’re such a highlight in my life.)  The main reason for my tears was fear of the emotions brimming beneath the surface of my heart.  Pulling it “together” upon arrival, I entered in and put on a great smile. Yet, when I sat down I wasn’t “together” enough for my mouth not to drop at the instructor’s first words.

“Have you ever found yourself in a ditch? I don’t mean in your car but in your life?  You were facing something that causes confusion, despair, depression, ect?  Something that is fractured and you can do nothing within yourself to make it right?

Some people slide into these ditches, others are pushed; some jump in, and some people just plain like rolling around in the ditch.

Life is NOT w/o ditches! Today we are going to talk about how NOT to become a ditch dweller!”

I couldn’t believe it…. It was as if God was speaking directly to me.

Okay so I’m going to break these posts in two parts…. Click on Part Two if you want to read about the points to overcome “ditch dwelling.”

“Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.“

Psalm 112:4

ESV

We’ve been studying the life of Moses. This week found us in chapters 5 and 6. It’s at the point in Moses’ journey that he had first decided to be obedient.  He had gone to Pharaoh as God commanded. Instead of finding blessing he found both Pharaoh and the Israelite people turned on him. Things went from bad to WORSE—all because he was obedient.  Pretty serious stuff!!! I mean most people expect that when you are obedient to God great things are supposed to happen, right?!?!?  Not always…

Anyway- The speaker entitled the lesson. “How to not become a Ditch Dweller.”

These are the points that ministered to my heart.

I. God ordains disappointments to develop our relationship with Him

• God allows ditches or chasms in life to come so that we MUST draw closer to him

• Most ditch dwellers, just like Moses, tend to ask ‘why?’ instead of ‘who?’

* God wants us to look to “who” is in control not the “why” of the situation
* You’ll find as you read about Moses, God not once answered “why” He just told him, I AM and poured forth promises. (chp6)

II. When Life becomes Discouraging and Difficult– Go to God

• Assurance and revelations are ALWAYS there for those who will listen to God.

• Go to God before you go to Friends and Family.  This is when the deepening of relationship with God will happen.

III. God is NEVER discouraged and disappointed by MY discouragement and dissapointedness

• Remember when things go from bad to worse practice speaking to yourself truth versus listening to yourself rationalize situations

• Have you ever thought that God wants people and situations to disappoint us in order for us to get to know Him more

Each syllable of the documentary above impacted my heart this morning.  If you’re in one of those “ditches” I pray they were an inspiration to you.  Check out Exodus 5 and 6! It will make these principles come alive.  Also if you have time watch the video I made below as well.  It’s an old song but was as if I heard it for the first time today! (the pics are from our vacation) God is GREAT….

With all my heart I believe humility is extremely important.  We see it’s emphasis all throughout Scripture.  I look at my own life and am reminded at how much it’s lacking at the ground zero level of my heart.  I’m pretty sure that’s one of those Jesus traits that just won’t come to full fruition until I’m standing at His feet.

However, regardless of my own personal needs I know as a parent it’s important to begin instilling the idea in my children that the world does not revolve around them and they aren’t the greatest thing under God’s sun!  I want them to be confident in themselves because they know God has made a good thing and at the same time not be full of themselves either.  Right now I’m finding these are difficult lines to draw.

Here’s is story of one of my first attempts:

Mommy:  “Eli we need to work on our Cubbies verses.”

Eli:  “I KNOW!”

Mommy: “You know bud, a nicer way to say that is, “You’re right.”"

Eli:  “I’m right mom!”

Okay I hope that translated through type but if not I was wanting to teach him to acknowledge the other person’s correctness versus his own knowledge….

He didn’t get it!

“…It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”

James 4:6

I must say you don’t realize what a phone call, meal, or card can do for someone until you’re on the receiving end!! That’s right I had some minor surgery done this past week and got to be on that end….  I’m totally fine. I’m just taking it easy this weekend and hopefully back to normal very soon. But please keep reading, I do not write this for my attention.  I just want to say hats off to every girlfriend and christian woman that takes the time to love on those a bit under the weather.

While waiting in pre-op I had several phone calls, a visitor, some flowers, and some help from my great in-laws in taking care of my kidos. We’ve also had a precious lady organize a few meals for our family.  I feel sooooo incredibly spoiled and loved on!!!

What a gift to know God has surrounded us with a caring church family as well as just GREAT friends!  I see and hear of ladies serving others like this all the time. However, experiencing it personally has just left me dumbfounded on how being apart of the body of Christ is such a privelege!!

I’ve also been reminded to return the blessing of concern right around to the next person who needs a little TLC for whatever reason.  It TRULY makes all the difference in the world!!

Thanks to each of you that have touched me in such a big way this weekend. You have a standing ovation from this chica. I love you! May God’s blessing abound to you!

Today I was given a good check point on keeping things confidential.  A godly lady reminded me that to some people a ’secret is just something you tell to one person at a time and they really don’t grasp the true meaning of ’secret’.’ Are you a person that can be considered a faithful secret keeper?  Are you someone that is trustworthy with intimate information of a friends burdens? When I’m not sure if something is confidential I always follow deep conversations with, “Do you mind if I share this with others?”  If the answer is ‘no’  I know I must keep it too myself.  I know my heart often hears heavy burdens of others. It sometimes feels I just can’t bear them alone BUT it’s good to know we can trust Jesus with those that seem to big to bear. The secrets we are entrusted with I’m learning are not things that we alawys know what to do with BUT they are given to us for a reason.  Sometimes that ‘reason’ is to learn how to seek God in new ways through prayer and His Word.

I was so grateful to hear the wise words italicized above this morning.  Maybe they can encourage you in the same way–

“Where does the spirit of the world tree originate?? In the gentle breezes that touch our inner self? in the passing and rising of the warm sun? Seriously where does the spirit of the tree come from that gives us the feeling of security and protection just from it’s presence and the knowing it has always “been”? There is no wrong answer just tell me how you feel?”

Okay these aren’t my original thoughts. Are you relieved? Did I have you scared for a minute? I was tying Eli’s shoes when I first heard the words from the other room. I rushed in to see with my eyes if I was hearing correctly. I grabbed the remote and recorded the show just in case I missed something and wasn’t gathering the whole picture of what they were trying to say. Nope, just re-watched it after the kids went to bed. These words were followed by giggles, fun music, and glorious colors on a Preschool program today. It was a 15 minute show entitled Spirit/Shell on “It’s a Big Big World. ” It was not just a segment of the show but rather the entire 15 minutes were devoted to seeking the source of the tree’s inner spirit and recognizing that it’s spirit has always “existed”.

This concept redefined is called Pantheism on a preschool level. Pantheism is the belief that God is all in all. God pervades all things, contains all things, subsumes all things, and is found within all things. Pantheists believe that god and the universe are one.  If you read that definition quickly it might not have sounded so bad.  It’s a false teaching because  Scripture teaches us that God is not the same essence as the universe rather He is it’s CREATOR and everything within in it.

Scary huh?!? I got online to see if this show has been controversial. At this point I have not found anything. However, I did see that this episode aired for the first time today so maybe it’s message is slowly creeping into our homes.

Will my children continue to watch the station? Will I still turn on the TV? Absolutely- there are moments it is my sanity keeper!!!! However, I was very much reminded how it is our responsibility to be our children’s gatekeepers. We MUST be wary of the information that comes and goes through their little minds. I’m a firm believer, do to many experiences in my life, that it’s healthy not to stifle the world away from our children. Rather we are to be guardians of their hearts as they process what comes their way. So with much grace, and many prayers, we’re gonna do our best to help our little ones process false teaching starting now!

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

It was neat to see God bring this excerpt to my attention right in the middle of my “thinking.” It’s from Beth Moore’s Things Pondered . pg.91

“For Today’s frustrated Christian, trying to do all she can do (rather than be all she can be), here’s Biblical permission to resign a few activities–

“whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ” 1 Cor. 10:31

Let’s face it . None of us can do a thousand things to the glory of God. And in our vain attempt we stand the risk of forfeiting a precious thing– EXCELLENCE. Oh, that we might discern the will of God, surrender to His calling, resign the masses of activities, and sell out to do a few things well. What a legacy that would be for our children.

‘and this I pray… that ye may approve things that are excellent.’”phil. 1:9,10

Okay so that’s my lesson for me. God’s reminder to be still, strive for excellence, but don’t strive to be excellent in the things He HASN’T given me to accomplish.

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While out for our anniversary Saturday, we swung by the mall for a few minutes. Steven was looking for something and I was shopped out!!! (I would make a big deal out of the fact that Steven shopped longer than me but the real truth is my feet were hurting in my new shoes.) Plopping down on a bench, I enjoyed some quality “people watching.” It had been a long time since I’d done that. Without my kidos with me, I was still enough to really ‘watch’ the crowd pass by.

Well the mall was packed!!! I don’t know if it was back-to-school shopping or what but there were a million people there. The goth, the Hispanic, the uppereclass society, the psychotic delusional, the unwed moms, the poverty stricken, the elderly, and the countless hopeless eyes passed by. The time on the bench overwhelmed me with the reality of needs. Without question I knew the greatest need was Jesus. Most days laundry, shopping, house cleaning, and keeping my kidos out of the ER consume me!! My moment of being still was a needed reminder there is WAY more than me and my house out there–

Monica was awake at 6:30 today. This is unusual for her. Normally she sleeps until 8:30 or 9:00am. Yes mommies out there, I know that’s FABULOUS sleeping habits!! However this morning her early rising made me a bit sad. It wasn’t because I was missing sleep but because I had set my alarm in hopes I could get up before the kids. I had some things I wanted to talk to God about —- alone. Obviously, my plans went amiss. However, God was good to honor the desire for some “alone” time. Monica was very relaxed and enjoyed some time by herself watching Sesame Street- the very early showing I might add.

Here’s just a tidbit of what the Lord blessed me with this morning–

I really love the names of God. I know I’ve talked about them before on the blog but they are special enough to mention again and again!! Over the summer I’ve been going through Kay Arthur’s book Lord I Want to Know You. It’s been a GREAT study on the names of God! Check out this clip on the name El Shaddai God Almighty. A man name Andrew Jukes is quoted:

“The thought expressed in the name “Shaddai“… describes power, but it is the power, not of violence, but of all- bountifulness. “Shaddai” primarily means “Breasted,” being formed directly from the Hebrew word Shad, that is, “the breast,” or, more exactly, a “woman’s breast.” Parkhurst thus explains the name — “Shaddai, one of the Divine titles, meaning The Pourer of Shedder Forth, that is of blessings, temporal and spiritual…”

If this is seen, I need hardly explain how this title, the “Breasted,” or the “Pourer-forth,” came to mean “Almighty.” Mothers at least will understand it. A babe is crying— restless. Nothing can quiet it. Yet, the breast can. A babe is pining— starving. Its life is going out. It cannot take man’s proper food: it will die. No: the breast can give it fresh life, and nourish it. By her breast the mother has almost infinite power over the child…

[pg. 38 - Andrew Jukes, The Names of God (Grand Rapids, Mich; Kregel Publications, 1976), 74-79]

God is my Shaddai. How about you?

I think all that can stand alone. Blessings~