Biggest Loser, Who wants to be a Millionaire, and American Idol

My husband has a theory, TV stinks. He has even created TV stinks products to get his idea out there. Maybe you agree with him and maybe you think, "Wow, that seems a bit extreme." Let me explain how he arrived at this theory.

Right before we got married, we were challenged to live without a tv for the first year of our marriage. We made it a couple years without ever feeling a need to own one. Then the day came when someone offered us a free tv so we jumped on it. That began our tv addiction. This addiction lasted until a few years ago when my husband went back to school for his master's degree. We quickly realized that we were tempted to watch too much television in place of studying. We agreed to get rid of our channels and we were suprised by the fact that we didn't even miss it. We actually began to connect more as a couple and we found we had more time available for people, things and activities that are more important to us.

There are many television shows that are good but do you really need to watch them? I challenge you to give up TV for a week or even a month. Try it and you may realize how fun it can be to fill your time with BETTER things, perhaps more time for resting in the Savior.

Let me speak to those who don't have a problem watching too much television. Perhaps there is another activity that eats up too much of your time. There are many worthwhile activities out there but are they taking you away from something you should be doing instead? Whatever it may be I challenge you to evaluate the time you devote to it and whether your time might be better spent doing something else.

for His glory!

1 Corinthians 10:23 "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.

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

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'Review and Renew Your Vows'