8/13/2010 -- I was listening to 4-year old, Child C, talk about God being alive in her heart. "He NEVER sleeps, Mom! He's always awake in there - even at night!"
8/22/2010 -- I'm thinking of all of you whose kids are either already back in school or getting ready to go back to school.... nya-nya-nya-nya-nya. We're still enjoying summer!!! (And not sick of them being home!) :)
9/7/2010 -- There is truth in every single message in this video and it communicates them very well. Moms and Moms-to-be, this is for you! (Thanks, Karen, for sharing this on Facebook!)
9/9/2010 -- I love Praise Moves for Children!!! My 4-year old is stretching and exercising while repeating scripture. It keeps her busy while the other 2 work on handwriting, math, and language. One of these days I'm going to have to check out the videos for adults!
9/21/2010 -- I just finished helping my second grader, Child B, fill in a missing verb. I ______ a little boy. She cheerfully fills in "hit", "I hit a little boy." If you know her, then you know that she speaks the truth. She has indeed hit many little boys. {sigh}
9/30/2010 -- I just pulled my oldest baby girl's (10 & 1/4 today) last baby tooth. {sniffle} {wiping away tears}
10/5/2010 -- I was helping my 7-year old daughter, Child B, with math at the dining room table when I realized she was standing up rather than sitting. I asked her the obvious, "You'd rather stand than sit?" She replied, "I'd rather be a peacock!"
10/7/2010 -- I'm sure my kids would fail this experiment, too, but I will show this to them anyway. Too much of what we eat isn't meant to be called "food." Thanks, Chris, for sharing it on Facebook.
10/8/2010 -- My kids have discovered that sticks fit in the pencil sharpener.
10/12/2010 -- Two hours to bake 3 fozen pizzas that should take 15 minutes each. Hmmm. That doesn't seem right. Guess I'll be making a phone call to an oven repairman soon... (I'm really ready to not have any more unexpected expenses for a while - this year has been full of the unexpected.)
10/14/2010 -- During their time in the mine, one of the Chilean miners had sent up a note saying there were 34 down there, not 33, because God was with them. Makes me think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace of fire. But when King Nebuchadnezzar looked in, he saw 4, not 3, walking around unharmed in the fire. (Daniel 3)
10/22/2010 -- I had a nice conversation today with the kids. In the midst of them grumbling I asked, "What blessings would *you* count right now?" Child B came up with the first: "I'm blessed that I don't live in an orphanage!" She also came up with the second: "I'm also blessed that I don't work in a factory because kids can really get hurt in factories!" (I guess the movie Samantha has really had an impact on her.)
10/25/2010 -- Child A just asked me if Goliath was *really* a giant pickle. She's 10. Can I just say that apparently there is such a thing as TooMuchVeggieTales?!
10/28/2010 -- I went in to check on my girls at 11:30 and 2/3 of them were still awake and goofing around. Must be time to fold some laundry. They finished their load and promptly went to bed for real this time.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Do you know about the napkin?
I was reading Smockity Frock's blog where she commented on nonsensical songs and poetry. It got me thinking about something else I had read. I wasn't sure I wanted to share it here because I recently posted something I received in email and I think so many people also receive this stuff in their email that they don't care to read about it on a blog. However, I think it is very common for many people who read the Bible to skim over stuff they aren't familiar with (geneology or the details of the tabernacle are just examples.) If it doesn't apply to right her, right now then I'll just get to the parts that I understand and that do apply, right? Well, OK, maybe this doesn't apply to you. But I know that sometimes it applies to me. There are things (places, situations, experiences) in the Bible that I will skim over and either hope or intend to come back to or just leave behind and move on.
Like the buriel cloth that was left folded in the empty tomb after Jesus had risen. Had you noticed this little detail or were just thinking about the fact that the tomb is empty? It's a small detail, but a detail none the less. And God doesn't overlook the small stuff (not even in our lives!)
So, before I share with you what someone else shared with me about why Jesus folded the linen burial cloth after His resurrection, let me first put it in context:
John 20:3-9 (NIV)
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished..
Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished.."
But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
Like the buriel cloth that was left folded in the empty tomb after Jesus had risen. Had you noticed this little detail or were just thinking about the fact that the tomb is empty? It's a small detail, but a detail none the less. And God doesn't overlook the small stuff (not even in our lives!)
So, before I share with you what someone else shared with me about why Jesus folded the linen burial cloth after His resurrection, let me first put it in context:
John 20:3-9 (NIV)
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished..
Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished.."
But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
God’s answers to prayers
This is long, but stick with me here. Not only is it cathartic for me, but also important for others to know how God is active in our lives - whether we acknowledge it or not. So humor me and read it. Feel free to comment or not. I have more humorous and lighter things waiting to be blogged and had to get this out here first.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 – 10:30 AM
My sweet 4-yo, Child C, fell and split her chin open. It was wide open when I got to her and the bleeding had mostly stopped, thanks to the young lady who applied pressure while I was notified. However, at first glance, I knew it was deep enough to seek medical attention. I hugged my daughter and cried for a minute, remembering what she went through last year when the same thing happened. Except then it was both deep and wide – nauseatingly wide. I pulled myself together, made some phone calls to make arrangements for my other children and to tell my hubby what had happened, squeezed the edges together and put a tight bandage on it.
She was so calm and good on the way to the urgent care, asking if she would get a snack and juice like last time. Such sweet innocence. But I was remembering more from last time. I remembered how she was calm and easy going until they irrigated her wound, gave her a shot to numb her chin, held her head still, and sewed her closed with 6 stitches. She screamed. It was awful. I nearly fainted, but the doctor saw it coming and caught me before I passed out. Amazing how they can see it coming like that – I sure didn’t. But my sweet daughter had to endure a terrifying experience. That’s what I was remembering. So I prayed.
I prayed for God to help calm me. Give me peace. But more than that, to comfort her. If it’s possible, if anyone can do it, God can. I asked God to please help her be comfortable – even pain free. Please. I wanted so badly to phone a friend and seek comfort, but I knew God was telling me to run to Him for that comfort. So I told Him that I wanted to talk to a friend and that HE is my friend. He is the one I am calling!
While sitting in the exam room, C and I were singing songs and trying to be distracted. But there was a moment that was quiet and she leaned against me. The tears just streamed from her eyes as she told me with urgency, “Mommy, I want to go home now. Let’s go right now!” Embracing her tightly, I asked her if her chin hurt and she told me no. I asked her if she was scared and she nodded fiercely yes. She then said, “Mommy it hurted last time, It hurted!” Still embracing her, I told her that I know it hurt last time and I prayed for it to be more gentle this time.
While we were singing, “I’m In The Lord’s Army,” the doctor came in, looked closely at her chin and happily announced that he could glue her chin instead of using stitches. With a deep sigh and some restraint to not hug him, I said “Oh that would be so great!”
After it was over, I asked C if it hurt and she told me no. God answered that prayer for her to be comfortable and pain free. Praise God!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 – 1:00 AM
I went to bed at 11:15 and the next thing I heard was a thud. Throwing the covers off, I asked hubby if he was OK. Not hearing a reply, I got out of bed, not even taking time to get my glasses or turn on a light – both of which would have been helpful. I half expected to see him getting his things together for work the next day. I didn’t even realize what time it was. As I walked out into the hallway, I did notice that there were no lights on so I wasn’t sure where I should be looking or what I was looking for. Then I saw him lying on the bathroom floor, on his right side and rather crumpled. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I knew it wasn’t right. Standing over him, rubbing his arm and shoulder and shaking him, calling his name, asking if he was OK and could he wake up. Although it seemed like a very long time, it couldn’t have been more than 2 minutes. But I’m sure it was around that. I saw blood on the floor by his mouth and he slowly woke up. Not slowly enough though. As he got up, I told him he had split his lip and to sit down. He said he was OK and I turned around to get something to help clean up him and floor. Then he went down again with the same thud that woke me. Head first, right onto the bathroom floor. Now his body was twitching and I didn’t know if he’s having a seizure or not. I was just terrified. I actually said out loud, “OK, I have to call 911.” My oldest daughter, 9-yo Child A emerged from her room, which is right next to the bathroom, and shakily said, “Yes, mom, call 911.”
Hubby regained consciousness rather quickly that time and was able to get back up. I didn’t know if he had had a stroke or a heart attack or what, but I was worried sick. The paramedics were on their way and he had really banged himself up good on the floor. Over 200 pounds hitting the floor face first is not a good thing.
I prayed in the ambulance and ongoing at the hospital for Patrick to not be badly hurt and to be healed completely from whatever it was. I prayed for wisdom for the doctors and expressed great thanks for my husband. I don’t remember all of how I prayed as a lot of it is still a blur. I was so terrified that he would die or that he had a life changing health condition
The doctors seemed to be very thorough and checked for stroke, heart attack, and head and neck injury from the impact. Everything was fine. He had a drop in blood pressure, which is not uncommon (although it has never before happened to him), and he is fine. He has 11 stitches inside & outside his lip and 4 teeth that were traumatized. Time will tell about his teeth healing and if he severed a nerve in his lip. He is getting pretty sore on his right side and noticing new bruises each day, but he is fine in the areas that really matter!
Thank you, God, for answering those prayers. For going ahead of us to the hospital and getting things prepared for him and for the doctors to have wisdom and know what to check. Thank you for keeping him safe from physical harm and healing him if there was anything going on.
Thank you, too, Lord, that I have limited space in my house and didn’t have the toilet paper crammed in the closet yet. Hubby fell against it and cushioned his fall.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 – 8:00 AM
Hubby woke me this morning to tell me that Merlin was in the process of dying. At 18-1/2, he has had a very full life and has been declining over the past several months from kidney failure and congestive heart failure. A growth in his mouth has prevented him from eating hard food since last summer and the past few days he would only eat canned food from my hand. I knew it was coming and even last night thought he probably wouldn’t make it through the night. So I got up and went to Merlin, who I’ve mothered and friended since he was less than 8 weeks old.
He was stretched out and spasming. I won’t go into details. My middle daughter, 7-yo Child B, woke up and came out to see me petting him. With each twitch, she’d ask a question. I told her that he was already gone; they were just muscle spasms. Hubby asked me if I was sure, to which I replied, “No, I’m not.” I felt for his heartbeat and clearly felt it. He gave out a few little moans and I prayed. I prayed, “God, please take him. Take him where ever you take kitties. You made him and You love him. Please don’t give him more to endure.” And Merlin took his last breath and his heart stopped.
Wow. No need to say more other than THANK YOU, Lord!
RIP Merlin 9/5(?)/1991 - 2/18/2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010 – sometime in the afternoon (1:55, according to my phone log)
I noticed that the dryer had stopped mid-cycle for some reason. Maybe I forgot to start it or maybe one of the kids was looking for clothes. I didn’t really think about it too long, just pushed the button to restart it. Within 5 minutes or so, I smelled something burning – like burning paper, but stronger and it stung my throat. So I went back in and opened the door to stop the dryer. Although I wasn’t sure it was the dryer, that was the only thing running. I came back to my oldest daughter, who thought the paint she just opened smelled like smoke. I smelled the paint and reassured her that wasn’t it. Going back into the utility room to take a closer look at the dryer, I saw smoke up towards the ceiling. Does life ever slow down?
Quickly getting the kids out of the house, grabbing shoes and coats along the way, I grabbed my purse on the way out and called 911. Here we go again.
I was too busy talking to the emergency personnel to pray. But God still answered prayers. It could have been so much worse. The fire was contained in the dryer. There was no damage to the house (unless you count muddy boots from 6+ fire fighters) or our family. Had we been asleep, we could have died – even with working smoke detectors. Had we been out of the house, it could have been burned down. God blessed us by keeping us safe and cluing us in to some things in our home that increase our risk of not escaping a fire should there be another.
Yes, after all of this I am exhausted. But I am also so very thankful for God’s sustaining love and grace to get me through this. I am so thankful that God gave me Jesus so I can I reach God, Himself. I’m so glad that He cares about the little things and the big things in our lives and that He uses these situations to bring me closer to Him. He also gives me opportunities to share this with you. Even when God doesn’t answer prayers the way we think we want him to (uhm, like I'd rather my dryer hadn't caught on fire and that my hubby hadn't passed out), He does answer them. And sometimes we have to look closely for the answers.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 – 10:30 AM
My sweet 4-yo, Child C, fell and split her chin open. It was wide open when I got to her and the bleeding had mostly stopped, thanks to the young lady who applied pressure while I was notified. However, at first glance, I knew it was deep enough to seek medical attention. I hugged my daughter and cried for a minute, remembering what she went through last year when the same thing happened. Except then it was both deep and wide – nauseatingly wide. I pulled myself together, made some phone calls to make arrangements for my other children and to tell my hubby what had happened, squeezed the edges together and put a tight bandage on it.
She was so calm and good on the way to the urgent care, asking if she would get a snack and juice like last time. Such sweet innocence. But I was remembering more from last time. I remembered how she was calm and easy going until they irrigated her wound, gave her a shot to numb her chin, held her head still, and sewed her closed with 6 stitches. She screamed. It was awful. I nearly fainted, but the doctor saw it coming and caught me before I passed out. Amazing how they can see it coming like that – I sure didn’t. But my sweet daughter had to endure a terrifying experience. That’s what I was remembering. So I prayed.
I prayed for God to help calm me. Give me peace. But more than that, to comfort her. If it’s possible, if anyone can do it, God can. I asked God to please help her be comfortable – even pain free. Please. I wanted so badly to phone a friend and seek comfort, but I knew God was telling me to run to Him for that comfort. So I told Him that I wanted to talk to a friend and that HE is my friend. He is the one I am calling!
While sitting in the exam room, C and I were singing songs and trying to be distracted. But there was a moment that was quiet and she leaned against me. The tears just streamed from her eyes as she told me with urgency, “Mommy, I want to go home now. Let’s go right now!” Embracing her tightly, I asked her if her chin hurt and she told me no. I asked her if she was scared and she nodded fiercely yes. She then said, “Mommy it hurted last time, It hurted!” Still embracing her, I told her that I know it hurt last time and I prayed for it to be more gentle this time.
While we were singing, “I’m In The Lord’s Army,” the doctor came in, looked closely at her chin and happily announced that he could glue her chin instead of using stitches. With a deep sigh and some restraint to not hug him, I said “Oh that would be so great!”
After it was over, I asked C if it hurt and she told me no. God answered that prayer for her to be comfortable and pain free. Praise God!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 – 1:00 AM
I went to bed at 11:15 and the next thing I heard was a thud. Throwing the covers off, I asked hubby if he was OK. Not hearing a reply, I got out of bed, not even taking time to get my glasses or turn on a light – both of which would have been helpful. I half expected to see him getting his things together for work the next day. I didn’t even realize what time it was. As I walked out into the hallway, I did notice that there were no lights on so I wasn’t sure where I should be looking or what I was looking for. Then I saw him lying on the bathroom floor, on his right side and rather crumpled. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I knew it wasn’t right. Standing over him, rubbing his arm and shoulder and shaking him, calling his name, asking if he was OK and could he wake up. Although it seemed like a very long time, it couldn’t have been more than 2 minutes. But I’m sure it was around that. I saw blood on the floor by his mouth and he slowly woke up. Not slowly enough though. As he got up, I told him he had split his lip and to sit down. He said he was OK and I turned around to get something to help clean up him and floor. Then he went down again with the same thud that woke me. Head first, right onto the bathroom floor. Now his body was twitching and I didn’t know if he’s having a seizure or not. I was just terrified. I actually said out loud, “OK, I have to call 911.” My oldest daughter, 9-yo Child A emerged from her room, which is right next to the bathroom, and shakily said, “Yes, mom, call 911.”
Hubby regained consciousness rather quickly that time and was able to get back up. I didn’t know if he had had a stroke or a heart attack or what, but I was worried sick. The paramedics were on their way and he had really banged himself up good on the floor. Over 200 pounds hitting the floor face first is not a good thing.
I prayed in the ambulance and ongoing at the hospital for Patrick to not be badly hurt and to be healed completely from whatever it was. I prayed for wisdom for the doctors and expressed great thanks for my husband. I don’t remember all of how I prayed as a lot of it is still a blur. I was so terrified that he would die or that he had a life changing health condition
The doctors seemed to be very thorough and checked for stroke, heart attack, and head and neck injury from the impact. Everything was fine. He had a drop in blood pressure, which is not uncommon (although it has never before happened to him), and he is fine. He has 11 stitches inside & outside his lip and 4 teeth that were traumatized. Time will tell about his teeth healing and if he severed a nerve in his lip. He is getting pretty sore on his right side and noticing new bruises each day, but he is fine in the areas that really matter!
Thank you, God, for answering those prayers. For going ahead of us to the hospital and getting things prepared for him and for the doctors to have wisdom and know what to check. Thank you for keeping him safe from physical harm and healing him if there was anything going on.
Thank you, too, Lord, that I have limited space in my house and didn’t have the toilet paper crammed in the closet yet. Hubby fell against it and cushioned his fall.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 – 8:00 AM
Hubby woke me this morning to tell me that Merlin was in the process of dying. At 18-1/2, he has had a very full life and has been declining over the past several months from kidney failure and congestive heart failure. A growth in his mouth has prevented him from eating hard food since last summer and the past few days he would only eat canned food from my hand. I knew it was coming and even last night thought he probably wouldn’t make it through the night. So I got up and went to Merlin, who I’ve mothered and friended since he was less than 8 weeks old.
He was stretched out and spasming. I won’t go into details. My middle daughter, 7-yo Child B, woke up and came out to see me petting him. With each twitch, she’d ask a question. I told her that he was already gone; they were just muscle spasms. Hubby asked me if I was sure, to which I replied, “No, I’m not.” I felt for his heartbeat and clearly felt it. He gave out a few little moans and I prayed. I prayed, “God, please take him. Take him where ever you take kitties. You made him and You love him. Please don’t give him more to endure.” And Merlin took his last breath and his heart stopped.
Wow. No need to say more other than THANK YOU, Lord!RIP Merlin 9/5(?)/1991 - 2/18/2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010 – sometime in the afternoon (1:55, according to my phone log)
I noticed that the dryer had stopped mid-cycle for some reason. Maybe I forgot to start it or maybe one of the kids was looking for clothes. I didn’t really think about it too long, just pushed the button to restart it. Within 5 minutes or so, I smelled something burning – like burning paper, but stronger and it stung my throat. So I went back in and opened the door to stop the dryer. Although I wasn’t sure it was the dryer, that was the only thing running. I came back to my oldest daughter, who thought the paint she just opened smelled like smoke. I smelled the paint and reassured her that wasn’t it. Going back into the utility room to take a closer look at the dryer, I saw smoke up towards the ceiling. Does life ever slow down?
Quickly getting the kids out of the house, grabbing shoes and coats along the way, I grabbed my purse on the way out and called 911. Here we go again.
I was too busy talking to the emergency personnel to pray. But God still answered prayers. It could have been so much worse. The fire was contained in the dryer. There was no damage to the house (unless you count muddy boots from 6+ fire fighters) or our family. Had we been asleep, we could have died – even with working smoke detectors. Had we been out of the house, it could have been burned down. God blessed us by keeping us safe and cluing us in to some things in our home that increase our risk of not escaping a fire should there be another.
Yes, after all of this I am exhausted. But I am also so very thankful for God’s sustaining love and grace to get me through this. I am so thankful that God gave me Jesus so I can I reach God, Himself. I’m so glad that He cares about the little things and the big things in our lives and that He uses these situations to bring me closer to Him. He also gives me opportunities to share this with you. Even when God doesn’t answer prayers the way we think we want him to (uhm, like I'd rather my dryer hadn't caught on fire and that my hubby hadn't passed out), He does answer them. And sometimes we have to look closely for the answers.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Watch this!
Watch the God's Chisel video by The Skit Guys first, then read. I’ll wait. I have all the time in the world. This post isn’t going anywhere.
This post isn’t about the kids. If you were looking for something funny or cute or crazy, then you will not find that here today. This is totally serious and heartfelt. It’s important to me and I’m hoping that this video (below) will be forwarded to others who struggle with human-junk in their walk with The Lord. It hits home and is very easy to understand, but hard to watch. No, it’s not gory or gross. It’s personal. That’s where it hits you – inside.
After watching this video I didn’t sleep very well. I never sleep well when I need to be praying more. God wakes me up and draws me near in the middle of the night. A time when I would rather do nothing else but sleep. It’s hard. I want to pray for sleep. I want to pray for feeling rested. But that’s not what I pray for. I use this time to pray for everyone but myself. Except after watching this video.
But after watching this video, prayed for myself. I apologized to God for not trusting Him. I like control – over my house, my kids, my life. I realized by watching this video that my most prized possessions are my kids and my husband. But they don’t really belong to me. They are merely on loan. Even though two of my three children have been dedicated in church, I considered that more of hubby and me dedicating our lives to raising our children in a Godly manner and to raise them while seeking God’s direction in our parenting. I also considered those baby dedications to be a commitment from church members to lift us up and support us in raising our children. Not so much, did I consider it giving my children up to God and trusting Him with them. I know God loves each of us more than we are capable of loving each other. I don’t doubt that one bit. But I hadn’t realized that every time I yell at one or all of my children, or ignore them because they are bickering and I am tired of listening, or invoke some method of discipline while I am still angry that I am doing that to God’s daughters. Yes, I gave birth to them, but only by the grace of God. He entrusted me with this job and I feel like have been letting him down (even though I never held Him up in the first place.)
So I prayed that God would guide me clearly through this venture. That He will give me more patience – not put me in situations that require more patience and wait for me to seek Him, but for Him to be gracious and generous with the patience He just bestows upon me so I can be a better mother and be a better influence. My children learn from me every day. I am their teacher, but I am also their mother. They are learning how to be a mom from how I treat them. I asked God to please calm the anger in me and help me teach them more love. If someone else treated my children with anything but love, I’d be very upset. I can only imagine how God must cringe at times with my parenting. Don’t get me wrong, I love my children! We do all kinds of fun things together and have a lot of joy. But I am human and I am a sinner. I have said things that are hurtful, just as any parent has. And it is hard not to when a child says mean things to you. But it’s not right to say something hurtful in return. In fact, God tells us to be content in all circumstances. Is saying something hurtful or pretending not to hear a child tell a story being content? Not really. Not at all. At least I hope I’m not content when I react that way!
I prayed a lot and asked for forgiveness for how I’ve treated God’s daughters that He has loaned me. He so generously, and apparently confidently, trusts me to raise them for Him. Now I need to trust Him to lead me through.
If you didn’t watch the video, please do. Really. And please share it with others. As believers we are not only supposed to lift each other up and worship together, we are also supposed to hold each other accountable. This video really hits the personal stuff. How did it affect you?
This song is a wonderful complement to the video skit:
Monday, May 18, 2009
God
My 3-year old thinks her heart is in her tummy.
She often tells me quite excitedly that she wants God to come out of her tummy so she can hug Him. Then He can go back in her belly button and live there more.
Sweet. Typical for Child C.
She often tells me quite excitedly that she wants God to come out of her tummy so she can hug Him. Then He can go back in her belly button and live there more.
Sweet. Typical for Child C.
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