Choices

Sometimes it seems like God is a big, fat teaser. It's especially hardest when life hands you unexpected surprises (a pregnancy, a job, a move - something hopeful) which then fall apart. You end up sitting there wondering what happened. Wondering why these possibilities were snatched away. Wondering why they were even offered in the first place. Hopes you maybe never even asked for. Dreams you never thought were within arm's reach that get dangled in front of your nose and then removed. Maybe something you've worked so hard for which gets further away instead of closer. In those moments, there are always choices. Choices to yell and scream, to sink into depression, to push God away, to give up. Choices to move forward, pray for strength and hope, embrace God. Sometimes we choose all of these. But the ache in my soul can tempt me to walk away instead of walk beside Him. But the knowledge of Who He is overshadows my weak resolve. My broken heart knows my healing can only come from Him. So while I kick against the sorrows life hands me, my black and blue heart tells me to run to Him. To crawl up into His lap. To cry and complain to Him. Because at the end of the day, no matter what happens, I know Who He is. He is not a teaser. He is not a bully. He is my Father, my Abba. And I am loved by Him.

Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. Psalm 103:13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Pagan {Christian} Parenting

Please go here and read this article RIGHT NOW! :)  It's called "How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home".  It's phenomenal and will really prick your conscience if you're like the typical American Christian parent like me.  Here's an excerpt:

Do you teach your kids "be good because the Bible tells you to" or do you teach your kids that they will never be good without Christ’s offer of grace? There is a huge difference. One leads to moralism; the other leads to brokenness. One leads to self-righteousness; the other leads to a life that realizes that Christ is everything and that nothing else matters.   

Continue reading the post here....

Jon Bloom on the DesiringGod.org website writes an awesome post called "Don't Raise Good Kids" - a post where I can very much personally relate to the author's words. Making our children see the total depravity that is in them is key to making them see the need for Christ's grace and salvation in their life. Another great blog post I just read from Sally Clarkson is about training up your child (especially that difficult one that knows just how to push your buttons!) and recognizing the unique traits that irritate you now but may help them fulfill God's calling on their life later.

I sit here in the midst of these incredible teachings and can only pray for God to help me teach my children the gospel, not just good behavior!  Help me to reach their hearts for God, not create an external facade of righteousness!

Some resources I'm either reading right now or own that I feel are helpful toward this end are:

For Instructions in Righteousness (awesome reference guide to match Scripture with different character weaknesses - this company also provides many other excellent resources for Biblical character training)

Shepherding a Child's Heart (love this book but have yet to finish it)

Wise Words for Moms (very thin reference book with easy-to-use chart of verses to deal with specific offenses)

Don't Make Me Count to Three! (reading right now)

Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training (very good book about getting to the heart of your child's behavior and how to train up your child in the admonition of the Lord)

Grace-Based Parenting (looks good though I haven't read it and don't own it)

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below...

Offering Up Your Talents

When I do rarely happen to catch an interesting posting on someone's blog, many times I'm uplifted, encouraged, convicted, inspired, etc.  However there are times when I feel the posting is written *just* for me! This is one I love and want to share with you.  It's about being willing to sacrifice and lay on the altar your gifts and strengths and those things you actually take pride in and enjoy in life and give it all to God so He can use you much more mightily than you could ever do in your own strength.  It mirrors many of the same thoughts I've had regarding where God has me at right now and the lessons He's teaching me through my situation. Maybe you can relate.

Not too long ago a young woman was over at my house for some reason that I cannot remember. Now on a typical day  at my house you would find dishes in the sink, junk on the floor, a baby unloading a drawer, laundry on the stairs, and about 410 things on my to-do list. Children are always coloring, wielding scissors, and gluing things on the window when I’m not looking. Hopefully, you would also find me running around in the midst of it, because long experience has taught me that giving up on it won’t get results. I don’t remember what exactly was going on when she came by, but at some point she commented that she was the sort of person who liked things to be really orderly. It wasn’t a criticism and it wasn’t offensive, although it did make me laugh. Because, lo. Me too.

Please continue reading here...

The Bible

There's a new television series coming to the History channel next March called The Bible, appropriately named since it features stories from Creation to Revelation.  I'm not sure if it will be completely accurate (tho theologians and "experts" are consulted throughout) or worth watching all ten hours of it, but I'm pretty excited whenever I see someone tackling a project like this.  It's much too rare finding the opportunity to visually see the Bible played out, and in an age of visual entertainment, it's nice to offer my children a chance to learn more about the classic Bible stories in a different way.

During the Christmas season, it's always a good reminder for me when I watch Christmas movies, see a clip about the nativity story or watch an inspirational music video during the holidays because it's what I need more of during this time of shopping, baking, making lists, wrapping and decorating.  It injects the reality and purpose back into the days around Christmas, and I need that desperately.  Watch this video and see what I mean. And yes, I cried through the whole thing. (But I ask you, what mother can stand to listen to "Mary, Did You Know?" without crying?)

Fan or Follower?

Are you a Christian?  I don't mean do you have Christian values, abide by Christian morals or express a Christian spirit.  I mean are you a follower of Christ?  Do you day in and day out yearn to please your Savior?  Do you feel and see the Holy Spirit work in you?  Are you a changed person, more like Christ, than you were yesterday, last week, last month or even last year?  Forget everything you've believed about how one becomes a Christian. A simple, sweet prayer in the mouth of a child asking Jesus to come into their heart is beautiful and touching.  I believe it is something that makes God's heart sing.  But if the last time you spoke to Jesus was as a child, your efforts in being a Christian amount to nothing more than superstition.  You may as well avoid black cats and broken mirrors too and hope that helps you in eternity.

It is sobering to sit here and think about those in my life I've just always assumed were saved from eternal damnation because they once spoke or acted like a Christian.  But as I learn more about what it takes to be a follower of Christ, one who takes up their cross daily and gives their will over to His will moment by moment, I'm saddened by the realization that maybe those I always thought I'd see in heaven would not be there.  Even scarier is the thought that maybe they too think they are saved but will one day find out they are not counted among the saved.

Simply believing that Jesus is Lord, that he died on the cross for your sins and was raised up three days later does not separate you from the beliefs of the devil himself.  Satan knows these things too; he wholeheartedly believes them.  But if you are not giving yourself over to God every day, you spend that day walking a little further away from Him. There is no such thing as being in limbo when it comes to the Christian faith - you are either living and growing on the vine of Christ or you are dying and withering.  If it has been 20 years or even 2 years since you witnessed God at work in you, wake up, humble yourself and make yourself second.  Stop being a fan of Christ and become a follower.

Erin (our Kajiji Girl in France) recommends a great message by Paul Washer just on this topic. It is audio only and just over an hour, but please listen to it when you can.  It may sound harsh at times and uncomfortably true throughout, however the directive to examine oneself is imperative.  

Come, Rest

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts.  In fact, we are invited to lay our burdens, including the burden of trying to be a "good Christian", at the feet of Jesus.  When we offer up all of our worries, our lists, our priorities, our stressors, our failures, our burdens, ourselves, our life becomes about only one thing: God and our dependence on Him.  He does all the rest. 

Those who labour to establish their own righteousness also labour in vain. The convinced sinner is heavy-laden with guilt and terror; and the tempted and afflicted believer has labours and burdens. Christ invites all to come to him for rest to their souls. - from  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary