2021 Update: This plan didn’t work out the way I expected, but we live and learn. I’m very excited to be where we are today, the Peoria Area.
Loving Our Kids is Hard Sometimes...
Recently I spoke to my church's mom group, RC WOW, about how loving our kids means disciplining them. I would love to share it with more of you, so I thought I would type it up and post it. Feel free to leave comments.
I will be the first to tell you that I am no expert in the area of child-rearing. I've learned a lot of what I know through trial and error. As you'll read, even those results aren't conclusive. Still, I know how much it can help to know that there are other parents out there, going through the same struggles.
The verse I was given to speak about was Proverbs 31:28.
I have to tell you, I have always believed that if we went back to some of the early manuscripts of Proverbs, we would see that someone left a word out in translation. That word is EVENTUALLY. Because, let face it, if the children arise in the morning and call me blessed, I am in the wrong house! My first clue isn't even the blessed. It says they arise. There is no mention of dragging them out of bed kicking and screaming and whining and moaning.
I decided to do a little research.
Proverbs 13:24 (NLT) says, "Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them."
One day last summer I did something rare and took all of the kids inside a fast food restaurant. They all started arguing, so I told everyone to get back in the van before an order had even been placed. They were shocked.
Lauren started sobbing on the way out the door and a woman coming in squatted down to Lauren's level and started trying to get her to stop. Then Lauren managed to get out that I wasn't letting them have any food. That's when I got that look that I have come to know so well. The other kids were mortified that I was making them leave the restaurant without ordering. and even more embarrassed that I told a stranger on the way out the door. Lauren was soaking in the attention.
We do want our children to eventually arise up and call us “blessed” … but sometimes, for today, we have to be okay with growling, grumbling, glaring, and an occasional declaration of "I hate you." If we do what is right, it will all work out in the end.
I will be the first to tell you that I am no expert in the area of child-rearing. I've learned a lot of what I know through trial and error. As you'll read, even those results aren't conclusive. Still, I know how much it can help to know that there are other parents out there, going through the same struggles.
The love that I am talking about here is not the connection most people feel to their babies. It isn't the empathetic tears we get when they cry or the automatic smile we get when they laugh. Love is a verb. Love is something we do for them in spite of what we want to do or what would be easiest for us to do. Love is discipline.
The verse I was given to speak about was Proverbs 31:28.
"Her children arise up and call her blessed..."
I decided to do a little research.
Strong's Concordance defines the Hebrew version of Arise that is used in the this verse means "to be established" or to "take a stand." In other words, when her children grow up, when they become established, they will look back on their mom and call her blessed.
So let me start off by saying, YES our goal is for them to call us blessed... eventually. To get there we need to love them... and part of the way we do this is through our discipline.
Proverbs 13:24 (NLT) says, "Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them."
What love means is different for every child. Raising them to grow into the people God wants them to be takes a lot of tough love, but "tough" is different for each child. It is rarely easy.
By the time I got to child number four, I had the trip through the grocery store without whining down. Every child had thrown fits at some point. Every child had been dealt with the same way. When they started to throw a crying fit in the store, I told them they couldn't act like that with me. I then left them standing there and walked away.
I would get no more than 20 feet before the howling had turned into sniffles and they were walking with me again through the store. They were not only scared to be without me, but also not happy about the looks they were getting from strangers.
Not number four. Lauren and I were walking through Hy-Vee when she was three or four and she started throwing a fit. I tried to use the same strategy I had used with the others. I was about fifteen feet away when I turned around and saw her, flanked by three strangers who were asking her if she was okay and glaring at me. One of them attempted to buy her candy! Lauren was not only, not afraid of strangers, but she was instantly thriving on the attention.
I'd love to say this was an isolated incident, but it has happened again and again… even as recently as last summer. Strangers are drawn to my youngest when she cries. One day last summer I did something rare and took all of the kids inside a fast food restaurant. They all started arguing, so I told everyone to get back in the van before an order had even been placed. They were shocked.
Lauren started sobbing on the way out the door and a woman coming in squatted down to Lauren's level and started trying to get her to stop. Then Lauren managed to get out that I wasn't letting them have any food. That's when I got that look that I have come to know so well. The other kids were mortified that I was making them leave the restaurant without ordering. and even more embarrassed that I told a stranger on the way out the door. Lauren was soaking in the attention.
What would have been the easiest thing to do in the Wendy's situation? I could have just gone ahead and ordered and glared at them all through dinner. Disapproval will honestly affect one of my four. The other three would have been un-phased. Lauren, obviously needs to be disciplined in a way that does not garner her any attention from strangers.
Instead we left. They continued to fight in the car about whose fault it was that we left. So, while I showed some grace and went through the drive-thru when they were finally repentant (and frankly, it was my birthday, which is the reason we went out), our evening out was over.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, "When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong."
While many people will debate actual punishments and methods for discipline, the Bible shows how God used three main steps when loving His children through discipline.
Loving Our Kids Means.
1. Telling them the rules
2. Telling them the consequences
3. Sticking to those consequences
It's hard. But God gave us this example right in the beginning of the Bible.
He told Adam and Eve that if they ate the fruit from the tree they would die. They did. He didn't say, "I know I told you. Why didn't you listen? Lets have a time-out and then you can come back and try again." He kicked them out of the garden. He immediately made them accept the consequences for what they had done.
My older two children have their own cell phones. They both got them when they turned 11. They are smartphones, but when they received them we also gave them a long set of rules and consequences that went along with the responsibility of keeping a phone. These include making it clear that they could have to hand over their phone for inspection at any time and that texting history/browsing history would be verified with the phone bill/known usage to make sure things weren't being periodically deleted before we saw them.
Just before my oldest turned 15, her father checked her phone and found some questionable emails from a boy as well as some texts to someone she wasn't supposed to be talking to. He called me and we made a decision. Alexandra immediately lost her phone and internet access indefinitely.
Did I want her to have a phone? Very much so. As a single mom, it was hard on me for her not to have one. We did not have a home phone, and as my babysitter that summer, it was difficult to communicate at times. She also wanted to be involved in school activities, but it means planning way in advance if she needed a ride home or if she would be gone while she was supposed to babysitting for me. Their father uses the phones to stay in touch with the children as well. It was hard to get a hold of them at times.
Still, my ex-husband and I stuck to our decision and made her earn it back by showing that she could be respectful and follow the rules. It took 7 months for her to get her phone back. It took several more months for her to earn back her iPhone apps. She didn't have access to an internet browser for almost a year.
Taking the phone away and sticking to it was hard. But we proved that we love her over our own inconveniences.
Your challenge this next week is to 1.) Find the place where setting a boundary for your child is hard for you. Something that it is easier to ignore than to deal with. Something that you have let slide 1000 times, but something that you know will make them a better person if they learn the boundary.
You can’t all of the sudden come down on them with a sledgehammer. But saying “I’m not going to tolerate --- anymore. The next time you do it, this will be the consequence, no matter what.” in ONE new area is fair.
The second part of that challenge is 2.) Pray that God shows you the areas where you need to love your children more in this way, so that they can grow up to be the people He wants them to be. This is not easy.
Remember that you asked God to show you, but you can't tell Him HOW to show you. So, when your mother-in-law says, "It drives me crazy seeing him get away with that." or your best friend says, "She shouldn't be talking to you like that." don't get angry or frustrated with them. Take it as an answer to your prayer for direction and do something about it!
We do want our children to eventually arise up and call us “blessed” … but sometimes, for today, we have to be okay with growling, grumbling, glaring, and an occasional declaration of "I hate you." If we do what is right, it will all work out in the end.
Working with Hire A Housewife
Hire A Housewife is growing and we need more help!
Please check out our website, Facebook page, and blog to learn more about us and decide if you might want to be a part of our team!
It would especially be a good idea to read this blog post: Avoidable Mistakes Job Seekers Make
You Must:
Have your own vehicle
Have a friendly, positive attitude
Have a professional appearance
Enjoy making other people happy
Be prompt and dependable
Have a clean criminal record
Pay attention to details
Clean well!
Benefits:
Enjoy the freedom of being an Independent Contractor
Set your own schedule
Set your own service area
Paid training
$10 per hour
Tips possible, although not guaranteed.
Check us out at www.hireahousewifepeoria.com
Interested? Please email us with a resume and a cover letter. Please tell us why you think you would make a great team member for Hire A Housewife!
Our email address is [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you!
Stealing the Show...
Two of my girls and I went to Winter Jam this year to see performances by Toby Mac and Matthew West, among others. Toby talked about his new song "Steal My Show" and how his son was confused about what it meant and why any artist would want his show stolen...
The song itself is specifically about Toby Mac and going on stage and how people don't come to see him... they come to feel God's presence. He tells God...
The song itself is specifically about Toby Mac and going on stage and how people don't come to see him... they come to feel God's presence. He tells God...
"If you want to steal my show,
I'll sit back and watch you go.
If you've got something to say
Go on and take it away.
Need you to steal my show
Can't wait to watch you go-oh-oh-oh
So come on and take it away!*"
Toby Mac even says I need you to steal my show, Can't wait to watch you go... He knows that without God, he nothing...
As I met with some mentors from the Small Business Association last week, they asked me a lot of questions. I went in looking for advice on how make sure that I run this business in a legal and responsible manner... and they were very helpful. But one of the questions I was asked was about goals.
"How much money do you want to make? How much is too much? Is there such a thing?"
And my first thought was, "Money? Like, a specific number? What does that have to do with anything?" When I didn't have a good answer, the mentor told me it was something to think about, so that I could set goals.
I have been thinking about it, and it's funny. I figured out why I was baffled by that question.
Sure, I would like enough personal income to get a used van that isn't falling apart. I would like to live in a place where I feel safe and where everyone has a bedroom (even if they have to share)... maybe even buy a house again someday. I would like to pay bills without worrying that a check is going to bounce before the next deposit makes it in the account... But however the business works out... I know that God will provide for my family and me.
So, what are my goals for this business? I want to help individuals and families. I want this business to be known as one that brings JOY with us when we come. I want every part of this to be done as if it were for Him. I want His glory to shine through everything else...
I want Him to steal my show...
*Steal My Show, By Toby Mac can be found on his album "Eye On It" and is often played on 91.5 WCIC FM... Family Friendly Radio
*Steal My Show, By Toby Mac can be found on his album "Eye On It" and is often played on 91.5 WCIC FM... Family Friendly Radio
The Joy of Giving with a Servant's Heart
I was taking care of our newborn, our two-year-old, and our six-year-old and my husband, who had left a few months before, was remaining steadfast in his resolve for a divorce. I was falling to pieces in more ways than anyone even knew.
My friend came to my house and spent over an hour cleaning my bathroom. It was a huge bathroom... and she covered every square inch. She scrubbed the toilet, the tub, the tile and even the carpet where the cat had gotten sick (probably weeks before) and I had halfheartedly cleaned it up.
The love I felt from her when she gave with a servant's heart was so uplifting. I still remember that as the best gift I've ever received and will tell people so when a related topic comes up from time to time.
Giving a gift to someone who has had a new baby or is recovering from surgery is an automatic thing for some people... "Let's send flowers." It doesn't mean they care any less, and the gift receiver loves it as well... but caving to the automatic response can take the joy away from the gift giver.
I want to challenge you to put the JOY back into your giving.
Know that when you are giving a gift, it is something that is truly given with the receiver in mind. If you can't afford a gift that needs to be bought, consider what you can do for that person.
Offer to rock the new baby while the new mom takes a nap.
Offer to take the older sibling(s) to the park for the afternoon.
Make dinner for a family who is experiencing an illness.
Clean their kitchen.
Fold the laundry.
Or, don't even go in their house... just mow the yard.
Obviously, as a small business owner, I would encourage everyone to give a gift certificate for cleaning, cooking and errands from Hire A Housewife ;-) But really, everyone has the ability to do something meaningful for their friends... bless someone by having the heart of a servant.
You could even clean their deep freeze.
What is the best gift you've ever received? Leave a comment and let us know!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galations 5:13
On Memorial Day...
It's easy to post sparkly pictures that say "God Bless America" before we head off to our cook-outs. It is simple to take a moment of silence during the parade to remember those who fought for the freedoms we have today.
But when you think of those who fought... and how each one was an individual... a father, a son, an uncle, a brother, a mom, a daughter, sister, cousin... each one mourned by countless people... it is hard to grasp the full measure of what they gave... and how many have given...
The most recent full count of the number of US troops who have died in war was from 2007 and was a number totaling over 1.2 million.... and that was 6 years ago...
Most died before the battle they were fighting was over. They died because they believed in the cause and they believed that our country and our freedoms were more important than their own lives.
This poem, written by Walt Whitman after the death of President Abraham Lincoln, reminds us of those things...
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
by walt whitman
I.
O CAPTAIN! my captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring.
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red!
Where on the deck my captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
II.
O captain! my captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills
For you bouquets and wreaths for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning.
O Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
III.
My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will.
The ship is safe and sound, its voyage closed and done:
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won!
Exult, O shores! and ring, O bells!
But I, with silent tread,
Walk the spot my captain lies
Fallen cold and dead.
Honor their sacrifices by remembering.
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather'd every rack,
the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up- for you the flag is flung- for
you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths- for you the shores
a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15754#sthash.l6TOcWRv.dpuf
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather'd every rack,
the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up- for you the flag is flung- for
you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths- for you the shores
a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15754#sthash.l6TOcWRv.dpuf
O Captain! My Captain!
by Walt WhitmanO Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather'd every rack,
the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up- for you the flag is flung- for
you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths- for you the shores
a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15754#sthash.l6TOcWRv.dpufO Captain! My Captain!
by Walt WhitmanO Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather'd every rack,
the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up- for you the flag is flung- for
you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths- for you the shores
a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15754#sthash.l6TOcWRv.dpufLifting Each Other Up...
One thing that is important to me as a Christian is helping to promote other Christian businesses and causes. That is why I am proud to share that Hire A Housewife, Peoria is a supporter of family friendly radio station WCIC 91.5FM
Even if you aren't near a radio, you can download their App or listen on their website www.wcicfm.org
Or... try clicking on this logo!
If you listen on Sunday mornings, you might even hear them tell Hire A Housewife thank you for being a supporter!
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
God Uses the Strangest Things...
This morning, as I was rushing around getting ready to head to volunteer at the Community Harvest Food Pantry in Morton, I realized that my deep freeze had been unplugged for an unknown amount of time.
The stuff I reached in to touch was obviously already thawed. With no time to do anything this morning, I decided that when I got home this afternoon I would have to cook everything salvageable. Sounds like a lot of fun, right?
I desperately wanted to take a nap when I got home, but instead I trudged over to the freezer with a handful of garbage bags and a very little bit of hope, and started pulling things out.
Peeps from 2 Easters ago.... trash.
Broken open bag of rolls... trash.
Homemade lasagna... to the oven.
Homemade baked spaghetti... to the oven.
Uncooked Chicken strips... to the oven.
Chinese dinner in a bag... to the stove top.
Thawed steak stamped June 2011... trash.
Ice cream sandwiches (now soup)... trash.
Then I got to the box of deer meat. My heart hurt a little bit... I did not want that all to go to waste! I was not looking forward to browning 15 pounds of ground deer... I didn't even realize I had that much left! Amazingly, the deer meat wasn't thawed. I checked out the things under it including a turkey and a few other things are found that the bulk of the actual meat in my deep freeze was still frozen solid. Praise the Lord!
That's when I noticed something else. The inside of my freezer was gross. Some things had obviously been spilled and refrozen in the past. Other things were frozen into a 3inch sheet of ice on the bottom... like the container of pureed pumpkin that I remember putting in that freezer in October of 2011... (trash.)
I decided that even though it wasn't going to be fun, I had better go ahead and clean out the deep freeze. Some of the rolls from that broken bag had rolled to the bottom and were soaking up water. There was a no-longer-frozen pumpkin pie leaking into the mess as well. It was all kind of disgusting!
I think God can use things like this to teach us lessons. Especially those of us who are constantly on the run. You know who you are... how often do you stop to pray or read from a devotional or your Bible and fall asleep before you are done? When my kids were 1, 3, 5 and 9 I used fall asleep in church EVERY Sunday... because it was the only time where I had no choice but to sit still and stay quiet!
So as I'm cleaning out my freezer I hear myself say, "This freezer is a metaphor for my life!" I laugh at myself... but then I start to dissect it... I love it when I have a "Wow God" moment while I'm doing something I don't want to do! So here it is... and I think I'm sharing this because it is true for you too...
Now, I wouldn't have even looked in that freezer this weekend if it hadn't come unplugged... in the same way, I have a habit of neglecting something in my life or an area of my life until it is brought to the forefront for some reason. If I am willing to put in the work, God shows me what is worth saving and what to let go. It is a lot of hard work... it doesn't matter if you are cleaning your freezer or your friendships! But in the end that area of my life becomes more calm, more clean and organized, and not only contains good things I forgot I had... but now has room for more good things that God has in store for me.
This is one of the reasons I CHOOSE JOY... because even when the lesson is hard, even when the work is messy, even when I think I'd rather just quit... I KNOW that God has something SO MUCH BETTER in store for me...
Just think about it... What parts of your life would God love to make better for you, if you would only give it over to Him and commit to doing the work necessary?
ISAIAH 55:8-13
The stuff I reached in to touch was obviously already thawed. With no time to do anything this morning, I decided that when I got home this afternoon I would have to cook everything salvageable. Sounds like a lot of fun, right?
I desperately wanted to take a nap when I got home, but instead I trudged over to the freezer with a handful of garbage bags and a very little bit of hope, and started pulling things out.
Peeps from 2 Easters ago.... trash.
Broken open bag of rolls... trash.
Homemade lasagna... to the oven.
Homemade baked spaghetti... to the oven.
Uncooked Chicken strips... to the oven.
Chinese dinner in a bag... to the stove top.
Thawed steak stamped June 2011... trash.
Ice cream sandwiches (now soup)... trash.
Then I got to the box of deer meat. My heart hurt a little bit... I did not want that all to go to waste! I was not looking forward to browning 15 pounds of ground deer... I didn't even realize I had that much left! Amazingly, the deer meat wasn't thawed. I checked out the things under it including a turkey and a few other things are found that the bulk of the actual meat in my deep freeze was still frozen solid. Praise the Lord!
That's when I noticed something else. The inside of my freezer was gross. Some things had obviously been spilled and refrozen in the past. Other things were frozen into a 3inch sheet of ice on the bottom... like the container of pureed pumpkin that I remember putting in that freezer in October of 2011... (trash.)
I decided that even though it wasn't going to be fun, I had better go ahead and clean out the deep freeze. Some of the rolls from that broken bag had rolled to the bottom and were soaking up water. There was a no-longer-frozen pumpkin pie leaking into the mess as well. It was all kind of disgusting!
I think God can use things like this to teach us lessons. Especially those of us who are constantly on the run. You know who you are... how often do you stop to pray or read from a devotional or your Bible and fall asleep before you are done? When my kids were 1, 3, 5 and 9 I used fall asleep in church EVERY Sunday... because it was the only time where I had no choice but to sit still and stay quiet!
So as I'm cleaning out my freezer I hear myself say, "This freezer is a metaphor for my life!" I laugh at myself... but then I start to dissect it... I love it when I have a "Wow God" moment while I'm doing something I don't want to do! So here it is... and I think I'm sharing this because it is true for you too...
Now, I wouldn't have even looked in that freezer this weekend if it hadn't come unplugged... in the same way, I have a habit of neglecting something in my life or an area of my life until it is brought to the forefront for some reason. If I am willing to put in the work, God shows me what is worth saving and what to let go. It is a lot of hard work... it doesn't matter if you are cleaning your freezer or your friendships! But in the end that area of my life becomes more calm, more clean and organized, and not only contains good things I forgot I had... but now has room for more good things that God has in store for me.
This is one of the reasons I CHOOSE JOY... because even when the lesson is hard, even when the work is messy, even when I think I'd rather just quit... I KNOW that God has something SO MUCH BETTER in store for me...
Just think about it... What parts of your life would God love to make better for you, if you would only give it over to Him and commit to doing the work necessary?
ISAIAH 55:8-13
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
PS I took a picture of the inside of the freezer before I cleaned it... I'm not posting it. You're welcome. :-)
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
PS I took a picture of the inside of the freezer before I cleaned it... I'm not posting it. You're welcome. :-)
Choosing Joy...
I'd like to say that choosing joy is easy.
It's not.
I'd love to be able to tell people that there is
a pressure point or a yoga pose
that will bring it to them peace and joy.
There isn't.
I'd like to tell you that choosing to feel joy inside your heart
when your heart feels like it is breaking into a million pieces is simple.
How could it be?
What I can tell you is this...
Having true JOY inside of you comes from knowing the One who created true joy.
May the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you
may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
How's that for an introduction to this blog?