Humbly bowed, in your presence Lord. I call to you, come find me where I am.
I’m begging now, down on my knees. I need you God, to make me pure again.
Here I am, a sinner needing cleansed. Come wash me now, from all this filth and sin.
Forgiveness flows, like blood and water flowed. From Your side, Your life just slipped away.
Thank you God, forgiveness floods my soul. I’m pure again, washed as white as snow.
My sins are cast. Far away from me. From east to west, thank you God I’m free!
God has been truly working on my heart. it has been under construction.
My voice to the kids is acidic, and hurtful at times. I would like to blame it on them but I am responsible for the actions and words of my mouth. This week I’ve been reading in Proverbs.
Proverbs 12:16 it says, “Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.” Regardless of what they do, I am responsible for what comes out of my mouth, and how I say it. That’s confirmed two verses later in Proverbs 12:18 “The words of the reckless pierced like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” I certainly do not want to pierce my children with my words, I would much rather bring healing. So why did they frustrate me so? It probably boils down to selfishness. They don’t act like I want them to act. They don’t act how I expect them to act. Yet I have to train them to behave properly. To be a functioning and productive member of society and show self-control.
Newsflash! They are kids. Kids do dumb stuff. Kids get into fights. Kids do great things. Kids help when they’re asked. It’s just the balance of the way I view them. Therein lies my problem. I need to view them as a gift more often rather than I view them with frustration. I need to show love and patience, rather than my first response being sharp like a sword piercing them.
Psalm 85:10-13 “Love and faithfulness meet together; Righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him; and prepares the way for his steps.”
Now that’s what I’m talking about! I would rather have love and faithfulness meeting together, but see, it starts with me. Not them. Me. He is faithful to work through me and I need to yield do that part of me to Him on a daily or hourly basis (minutes or seconds in reality sometimes).
I paint a rather icky picture of myself here perhaps because of what I know is on the inside of me. Parenting isn’t easy. It definitely can refine us as people.
The truth of the matter is, I want my kids to love one another. I don’t want damaged relationships, though I realize that is out of my control. I want to share from what I have seen and experienced so they don’t have to go through things I went through. Yet, just as I chose my path, they also must choose theirs.
I need to equip them for life and what lies ahead. In doing that with a relationship with God, a blanket of peace and arms full of love, they will succeed. They are God’s children. On loan to my husband and I. A lofty task, yet a worthy one.
Lord, may We today be the moms you have asked us to be. Help us to love without fear, teach without anger and be a peacemaker rather than a peace-breaker.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen
You can do this friend!
Just peeking over the tree
You’ve given this beauty for all to see.
Rays that stream across the sky.
Bringing hope to the tear filled eye.
In this day let us walk with You, when we are weak please carry us through.
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5b ESV
Some times the kids have a hard time sleeping at night. They may have seen or heard something that bothered them, or scared them and they didn’t talk with us about it. This may lead to their inability to sleep. This is the verse I pray with my kids and the photo with verse seemed perfect for them. 🙂
Praying for peaceful sleep for all!
I had spent my grocery money for the week and I was egg rationing until Friday to get some more. I was down to 3. 🙂
What would you have done?
A. Cry
B. Pray
C. Wait until the next week’s cash to flow in.
D. Ration
E. Go buy more eggs even though you didn’t have cash.
F. B, C and D
Well I did F. We have a pretty tight budget so I just waited, prayed and rationed. I never thought I would get eggs delivered! My husband came home from work with 3 dozen eggs today not knowing that we were in an egg drought. So I thought it was pretty cool that God heard my not really request, He saw that I was honoring my husband by not using the debit card to buy anything until next week and now we have been given eggs. Pretty stinkin cool!!
Thank You for always providing our needs!
Philippians 4:1
My cousin sent me this book as we have adopted 3 children. I didn’t read it right away because just the title alone is sad to me. As we have gone through each adoption, we have learned that nothing is EVER the same. 🙂 You are probably saying some smarty pants comment right now like “duh” or “seriously?” but you never know what to expect with adoption. Heartache and love go hand in hand.
Life changes so differently for each side of the family. This book made me laugh, cry, doubt, and lean more on God. He truly is the one who makes all things happen in His time.
I highly recommend this book to those whose hearts are blessed by adoption, to those considering adoption or those who work with foster care children. Rather, any person who loves should read this!
Have a wonderful day.
Tara
Are there times when in the distance, you hear someone calling your name? Are you actually listening? Do you care?
Then you realize the person is right next to you, repeating your name and calling you. “MOM! MOM! MOM! Can you hear me? I am talking to you. MOM?!”. Is there a frustration that builds as they pull you from your own blissful world of silence?
Being a stay at home mom can be a challenge at times. There is a constant barrage of questions and answers that trickle in through the calm. Constant redirection and correction are your tools. Little rears, little noses and little hands that all need attention NOW!
Little lips are kissing my arm like one of those water pecking birds.
I am in the midst of doing some chore. The other two are speaking as they increase the decibel level by 10 so that they can be louder than the other to get my attention. The garden needs to be watered. Five piles of semi folded laundry are scattered in the living room. Dinner is in the oven and the dishwasher is in over drive.
Then someone announces, “The dog just rolled in horse poo mom and she wants to come in!”
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! DON’T LET HER IN!!!”
“Hi Angel.” (In a very gushy talking to the dog voice. Those who have dogs, know what I am talking about!)
“OUT! OUT! OUT!”
“Mom, she wanted to say hi.”
“She can say hi from the door next time.”
(True story) 🙂
Do you feel like you just can’t listen anymore because you are so frustrated with life going on all around you?
Do you feel like Fly Paper?
Turn this situation around to yourself. Imagine you are with a friend or a spouse having lunch or a coffee. You are chatting away only to realize they did not hear a word you said. Shock and dismay are pretty common reactions here. Feeling unimportant to them is another.
I really like to speak and be heard. I really like to listen. I have to remember though, that even though my children are little, they are still little people. They do need to be heard. I am training them by my actions and reactions how to be adult listeners.
Am I showing them that is ok not to listen while someone is speaking to them?
OR
Am I making them feel special, because I am taking time from my busy day to demonstrate the same love that I want to be showered with?
There is a great responsibility before us as we raise children to be good listeners.
Lend your ear today. Listen to what the little people are saying. 🙂
Lord, let me be a good example to my children today. Guide me as I teach and instruct them in Your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
James 1:19-20 NIV “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
May I be more like You.
By: Tara Young
May I love like You Lord.
May I care like You.
May I listen like You Lord.
May I hear like You.
May I obey like You Lord.
May I serve like You.
May I be more like You.
ahumblevessel 