Love Conquers All

One Wednesday night service, Mrs. Becky, my Pastors wife said something that struck a chord with me.  She said, "Let your first thought be love." Out of that thought blossomed this post. (Thank you for sharing your wisdom Mrs. Becky!)

Love conquers all?  I know 1 Corinthians 13:8 says love never fails, so if it never fails, it must conquer all! 

What is love?  Long suffering, kind, perseveres, rejoices with the truth, protects, trusts (with boundaries), hopes.

What love is not? Envious, boastful, prideful, dishonest, self seeking, easily angered, delights in evil, does not fail.

When I think of the word conquer, I think of someone finally reaching the mountain top.  What is your mountain?  You can have a mountain of ______________, but love can knock it all down.  What would you fill the blank in with?  Rejection? Low self esteem? Jealously? Hate? Bitterness? Un-forgiveness?  Loneliness?

God loved you enough to cover all of your flaws/sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Can you stand up and be brave enough to conquer that mountain? 

Do the work!

Eradicate negative chatter.  Take all those negative thoughts and shoot them down!  Do NOT allow yourself to dwell on them.  Replace them with what is true, which is my next point.

Think on what is true.  I know this sounds a bit new agey, but this worked for me.  I literally breathed in and thought of only things God says is true about me, good stuff.  Then, I breathed out all the negative stuff that was trying to jump on me.  I continued this until I knew that those thoughts had left me.  As time goes on, I find it easier and easier to get rid of all those negative thoughts.

Let your first thought be love.  If the negative chatter involves a tense relationship, change those thoughts to thoughts of love.  I KNOW you can find something good about that person to think about.  It may be something very small and silly, "She can cook good." or "She's a good mom.".  Find something!  Anything! 

Pray the hard prayers.  If the negative chatter involves another person, pray for them.  Even if the only words you can get out are, "Jesus, help!" it's a great start.

Finally, do a heart check before you unleash on others.  I wouldn't recommend unleashing on anyone at all, but if you must confront make sure your heart is right. Make sure the reasons are right.  Make sure you do it in LOVE!  There is so much that could be written on this one.

Your mountain, my mountain can be conquered by love!  So, I'll say it again, before you speak, let your first thought be love. 


CH

1st Day of Kindergarten, 1st Day of Homeschooling

The first day of homeschooling wasn't bad at all.  Very short.  I do recognize I am currently only homeschooling one child, but I was nervous none the less.  Although I was prepared, I quickly realized that I needed to adjust the area we are using for class. 

My daughter, who I'll call Oregano, was very excited for school.  Today, school lasted about an hour and that was good because I don't think she would've lasted much longer.  She was very enthusiastic about the reward system.  It's a classic reward system, but one that I think will be my sanity.  Green, Yellow, Red cards.  Green-good, yellow-not so good, Red-not good at all.  If she is on green at the end of the day, she gets a sticker, fill up one row of stickers, she get a prize!  Now, I'm talking her language!  PRIZES!!!!  Land on yellow, you get nothing.  Land on red, you get to have a conversation with Daddy about why.  Sounds good to me!

Excuse the amateur nature of this picture.  I promise to get better.

I am so thankful to my husband and to the Lord that I get the opportunity to be at home with my babies and to teach them.  I know there will be challenges and hard days, but I also know that there will be grace. 

Also, I want to give you a link today to a page that REALLY helped me get organized.  www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com  If you are homeschooling, check out her page! 

How was your first day?  Your child's first day of school or homeschool? 

Happy Monday!

CH

As Iron Sharpens Iron

Disclaimer: I'm terrible at grammar.  I even misspelled grammar, thank God for auto correct.  Have mercy on me and be encouraged by the content, not distracted by the mistakes.  Thanks!


Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

One night, as my daughter, who is 4, was having an EPIC meltdown at a friends house, a new perspective on this scripture came into view.  Unfortunately my husband wasn't there for backup and I had a very trying day with #1 already.  Her meltdown, brought me to tears.  I handled the situation with correction and discipline, had Daddy call #1 and talk to her and I headed out the door trying to look like the picture of grace. Ever been there? Talking slowly and calmly, standing with good posture, collecting items slowly and saying an apologetic goodbye to our friends. The damage was done, I probably didn't look as graceful as I imagined and likely looked more like the frazzled mess I was on the inside.  I forbid #1 to talk on the ride home, I had to pull myself together.  While I was stopped I sent a quick message to our friends apologizing again and it was in that moment that God spoke to me.  Iron gets sharpened by pressing up against one another.  WOW!  How close would you need to be to become sharpened?  How vulnerable?  How exposed? 

That night, our friends didn't gaff at me, they didn't say, "You need to work on your parenting skills." or "Your child is out of control.".  They loved on me, reminded me that all children have meltdowns, this was normal.  There were things I learned that night that I wouldn't have if I hadn't been exposed.  Two points on that....1. Sometimes we can choose to expose ourselves and 2. sometimes we get exposed involuntarily.

Ever since that night I've been open, upon God's leading, to expose myself in situations that I might not have before to allow myself to be sharpened.  Being sharpened is a tough kind of business, but boy do I like being sharp.  Get me sharp Lord!

CH

Sick Day For Mommy?

Yesterday I was sick ALL day, slept pretty bad the night before too.  Thankfully, my husband was off of work and was able to help out with the girls.  However, as I laid down in bed, partaking in some much needed rest, I felt GUILTY!  Why?  Now, I told y'all that God has been speaking deep into my heart lately and I firmly believe had not my ears been listening I wouldn't have had the opportunity to work out what I am about to tell you.

So, why?  When I was little I was sick almost always!  Crazy allergies and bronchial asthma were at the top of the list.  (Note: I love my parents and am not bashing them in anyway.)  I'm not sure if they realized I had allergies or not, but I would visit my Dad (Yes, they were divorced.) who had cats!  Did I mention I am SEVERELY allergic to cats!  I remember him saying to me one visit, "You just get sick because you don't want to be here.".  Now, remember, parents aren't perfect and we all say things we regret. However, I never put two and two together.  Every time I would get sick after that and until now I felt guilty, like I was getting sick intentionally.  Thank you JESUS that He revealed this deep seeded lie in my heart!  I don't ever want to be sick.  I bet you don't either, but when we get sick we should be able to rest up and get better without guilt or thinking we need to be supermom. I do realize there are times when we have to woman-up and take care of things, but if we have the opportunity to rest it should be without guilt.  Here are a few Bible verses that say, hey, it's okay to rest and be healed!

Matthew 11:28  "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Exodus 34:21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

Isaiah 53: 5  "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Might I even suggest that sometimes we will only receive healing in our bodies when we REST! 

So, yesterday, God healed a very small piece of my heart that was buried for so long.  Anytime I began to feel guilty I would remind myself, that Jesus Himself needed rest,  God requires a day of rest from us, and that healing may come only from REST.  I will no longer allow myself to say, "I'm sorry I'm sick, I feel like I'm letting you down". I will no longer allow myself to wallow in negative chatter about being sick either.

Are you sick?  Are you weary?  Rest!  Rest in Jesus, rest on the couch, rest on the bed!  Rest!  Give yourself a few minutes, a few hours, whatever you need to get better.  The dishes can wait.  Rest!

CH

First Time Deployment Brings Perspective

"It's official, I'm getting deployed."  That's the phone call I received in June from my husband Kent.  My heart sank.  We knew the possibility of this happening when he signed up for Army National Guard.  At the same time I had an overwhelming peace.  I knew God was assigning a special load of grace to us during this time.

Now we are in August.  After almost two months of processing, praying, saying to myself "Stay in the zone of proximity.", we get news it will all begin a week earlier.  I'm still calm, God is still in charge, but this brings a perspective that only this situation could bring.  Every single moment is crucial, important, under a magnifying glass.  Every "Daddy would you hold me", every look, every word spoken is thought out, felt deeply.  Get the point?  

Often our time gets cut short.  I think frustration ensues because we took for granted all the time beforehand. We didn't settle in.  We didn't allow ourselves to sit and soak in what God is trying to do.  What He is wanting to do for us!  The creator of this universe is asking you to slow down and soak in His goodness.  To hear His voice.  And let me tell you sister (or brother) it is imperative that you soak in and listen now because your trials are not over.  You will face more and learning how to "rest" in God during these times WILL be your lifeline.

My question to you today.

What trial are you facing?  Are you speeding through it trying to move through it as quickly as possible?  Are you avoiding the inevitable?  Slow down, take a breath.  Allow God's grace to cover you.  Allow His words to speak to you.  Allow this trail to perfect you.  Rest in God!

James 1:2-4  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything"

CH

Subway, eat fresh? No, listen!

I once read, when you meet someone new, that you should listen to them for the first few meetings not giving much feedback and no advice so you can earn their trust.  I wish I could remember the book, when I do I'll let you know.

Yesterday I went to a Subway to pick up dinner for me and my mother in love.  I wasn't feeling particularly great and I was greeted by "Linda", we'll call her that because I didn't catch her name.  My instinct was to give a ho-hum reply, but I saluted her instead.  No, I don't go around saluting people, it's just what came out of my body involuntarily.  She smiled as I headed to the counter to order.  The following was our conversation after she asked me a few questions about ordering and realizing I was answering slowly.

Me: Sorry, I'm trying to remember her order, she didn't write it down.
Linda: Well, if you get it wrong, oh well, she should have have written it down.
Me:  She is my MIL and I need to put forth an effort. (I chuckled)
Linda: Well, I had two MIL's and ..... mumble mumble mumble (I didn't catch what she said, but it wasn't good.)
Me:  I very fortunate to have a great relationship with mine.  :)

This introduction lead into a lengthy story of how she had a terrible relationship with her MIL's one in particular.  Her story was laced with violence and profanity, but I could see hurt as well.  I thought, well God, give me an opening so I can talk about You.  Well, the opening never came.  I prayed as she talked, we exchanged goodbyes and off I went.

I felt like I had missed something, that I was supposed to say something that brought glory to God.  But I was reminded that with some people we have to LISTEN many times before our "help" will be heard and considered genuine.  Maybe this is the beginning of a relationship with "Linda", maybe, I don't know.  What I do know what that I was obedient to God when I listened and prayed.  Sometimes we aren't going to have those amazing big BAM, light shining, Holy Ghost goose bumps encounters.  Sometimes, they are quiet, still and filled with prayer.

As you encounter new people ask God for an opening and if there is none, maybe you were called to pray and listen.