Job Goals

A week ago today my children and I were visiting my parents. My mom and I went out with the kids and when we returned home my dad said he needed to talk to my mom. After he spoke with her, I found out that he had been let go from his company of over 30yrs. My dad's attitude about the whole thing was very godly. The coworker who called him to tell him the news said how sorry they were. My dad actually told them that God is sovereign and to not worry. It was at this point that my dad shared with me his job goal: To make his company successful. He was even willing to finish the projects he was in the middle of just to achieve his goal.

I then thought on what my goal should be. As a mom who stays at home, what is/are God's goal(s) for me in my job?

______Live for God everyday so my kids can see Him
______Model His grace and truth
______Be slow to anger and quick to forgive

No matter what vocation God has put you in, what is your goal?

God wants me to be....

Holy. My last post I talked about my pastor giving us a two part homework assignment. I contemplated the first part on Monday and now here is part two. Romans 11:22 talks about God's kindness AND severity. I like to think on God's kindness but what does his severity mean and does it really affect me? My mind immediately went to God's holiness. He is so completely holy that He cannot tolerate sin. I then asked myself this question, "What sin am I harboring that I need to confess?" I was really hoping God would say, "You're good. You don't have to confess any sin." But unfortunately that is not what I heard. Pride was the blaring answer. I have struggled with this ugly sin my entire life. As a kid I received many compliments by my friends and adults which only made the problem worse. I would hear, "You are so good. You never do anything wrong." I thought I had my walk with God all figured out. Be good, do the right thing. All the while I ignored the pride that was festering. It silently has taken hold of me and I have allowed it to grow. This pride tries to cover over the creation God has made me to be like kudzu covering anything in it's path. Lord, if there is any good in me REMIND me that it comes from YOU. You are the Great Physician so please do surgery on me. Remove this ugly pride that tries to ruin our relationship and dirty Your name. Please take it, Lord!

What comes to mind when you contemplate God's severity?

for His glory!

Gifts from God

Yesterday our pastor taught on Romans 11:22a, the loving kindness of our God. I don't remember him ever giving us homework before but he ended the sermon by giving us a two part assignment. The first day he asked us to think on God's kindness and what that means to us. While considering His kindness my mind went to the many gifts He has given to me. This is by no means an exhaustive list but just some of things that I thought of:

children_______________________godly husband
health_________________________house
family_________________________sight
mobility_______________________neighbors
church_________________________friends
food __________________________contentment
pastors________________________cars
dishwasher_____________________washer
dryer__________________________bible
His direction/leading__________quiet time w/ Him
laughter_______________________sunshine
mountains______________________hugs
walks__________________________Jesus
songs__________________________siblings
godly counsel__________________parents
travel_____________________indoor plumbing
salvation______________________rest

Many of these things may not at first glance appear to be gifts but I believe that they are. A gift is something we recieve that is undeserved. What gifts from God might be on your list?

for His glory!

Our Savior

I really enjoyed the verses in Exodus that I read the other day. Moses was leading the Israelites into the desert after Pharoah had finally agreed to let them leave. Pharoah then changes his mind, Again! The people were extremely frightened and began to doubt their decision to step out into the unknown. This attitude seems very similiar to how we react to the unexpected or to situations that scare us. I love what God included in his Word in Exodus chapter 14 verse 13. It says, 'But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today"...' God wants to save us he just wants us to stop our striving for what we think we should do. God can and will do amazing things for us if we will just, "stand by" and see the salvation He will bring for us "today".

What is causing you to fear today? God is waiting for you to trust Him so He can be your Savior.

3 is enough

Does anyone remember the show from a LONG time ago called "8 is enough"? Well, that was my dream, maybe not 8 but I wanted to have a big family. When I got married my husband told me he only wanted 2. I got him to compromise to 4 so things were going to be great! Five years after we were married, we had our first child. Brian, my husband then told me 1 was enough. I waited patiently, or rather not too patiently for him to change his mind. When our oldest child was 10 months old we got pregnant. I was then informed again that 2 was enough. I waited again. This time a bit more patiently because I had gone back to college so I had plenty to occupy my time. As graduation grew closer I began to talk of number three. My husband agreed and in March of 2009 we welcomed our little boy into the world:) Some would be done at this point but not me because I am "goal oriented." I get an idea in my head and then I seek to make it happen. God, however had a different plan for me. "3 is enough, 3 is enough," I kept hearing Him say to me. For a while I played a game with my husband and with God. I would say, "Yes, Brian or Lord. I am fine with 3. Oh yes, three is a wonderful number!" All the while I was hoping my husband and God would let me have four. I was so blinded by my own desires. I actually believed that if my mouth told God 3 was enough, I could manipulate Him to get what I wanted. God cannot be manipulated and through my quiet time with Him, He has asked me to lay my desires down before Him. I may have wanted 4 children but God wants me to follow Him and stop striving for what I want. It hasn't been easy but I now have a peace that I know only comes from God. Without trying to trick God or my husband, I can truly say, "3 is enough."

What are you unwilling to give to God? What issue or person or area of your life are you grasping onto with all your might? Give it/him/her to God and He will give you rest.

Proverbs 3:5&6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

'Review and Renew Your Vows' via www.marriagevine.com

I receive an email everyday from this ministry and today I thought it might be something you all would be interested in reading so, here it is!

'Review and Renew Your Vows'

Peas or no Peace

Okay maybe the title is a little bit misleading. I really wish I had a legitimate way to connect the two but sadly, I don't. I for some reason really just wanted to say it.

Peace can be thought of in a few different ways:

Peace vs. war

Peace vs. noise

Peace vs. turmoil

God of peace vs. god of endless distractions

Peace has been on my mind since two weekends ago when I went on a women's retreat with my church. God met me there in a mighty way and brought me to a place where I saw how much I have been neglecting Him. Our world is so fast paced filled with any and every distraction. Godly activities can also be distractions that take us away from where God wants us to be. Resting in the Savior was born out of the rest and peace that God has granted me since I purposefully have set time aside for just Him. Let me make a point to say that I am FAR from perfect at this. I am a die-hard fan of sleeping and have been this way since my childhood. I have started telling God, "I want to be alone with You, please help me want to meet with You." God has helped me fight off the temptation to fall back asleep and I pray He continues His pursuit of me.

What are some of your distractions? God wants to grant you peace in this life. What keeps you from making time to get alone with Him?

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you... He will quiet you with His love. NIV
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. NASB

For better, for worse

Can't you just see the beautiful bride and the adoring groom gazing into each others' eyes:

Will you love him/her, comfort him/her, honor and keep him/her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for WORSE, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?

Worse is a word I glossed over when I got married. It means, "Further from standard; less desirable or satisfactory." Now when I hear worse I think of "something bad, something undesirable." Is that what you think of? What does worse mean to you? When many of us decide to get married do we just think of the better and assume there won't be the worse? I know I wasn't ready for anything but the better. When my husband and I got married I truly believed that we would live happily ever after just like all of the maidens in the fairy tales. Surprisingly (to me and I think my husband too) we didn't. We had A LOT of immaturity to work through. There were a lot of tears, screaming and fighting but by God's grace things are amazing now(for the moment). We constantly have to strive for positive communication but God is now our Rock.

Trials will still come for my marriage and for others. How will we choose to respond?

What is God's example in our relationship with Him? When things get worse (we betray him, ignore him, disrespect him or curse him) God stays right by our side. He doesn't pack His bags and say, "I didn't sign up for this." He is there for the long haul. I pray He gives us the strength to love like He loves us.

Joshua 1:5b I will not fail you or forsake you. NASB
see also Deut 31:6, 7 and Heb 13 for further study

Turn that way

My kids and I were driving to a friend's house the other day. It just so happened that we had never been to their house so I had to print out directions. My six year old said to me, "You don't know where we are going do you?" With confidence I reassured her that I had directions and we would see our friends in no time. After we drove for a while I realized that some of the directions had gotten cut off which led me to wonder which direction to turn. My oldest again offered her advice to me, "Turn that way, Mommy." I then explained to her that you cannot turn whichever way you please. You have to follow the directions. This little exchange didn't take too long but it has left an impression on me as it relates to my spiritual walk. Do I ponder enough which way to turn in life? Do I seek God's direction and guidance from His Word and through prayer or do I just say, "Turn that way."

Resting before the Savior

This blog has been something that God laid on my heart about a year ago but I have been too afraid of failure to start it until now. God has been working on me and through that has taught me that I must do what He asks of me. This blog is an attempt for me to share what God has been and is teaching me through His Word, through friendships and through trials. These posts are only what God has laid on my heart and I hopefully won't get in the way of what He has said and has to say. I have a wonderful husband and three beautiful children so I might sprinkle in some posts about them and the crazy fun life we enjoy together!

For His glory!

Debby