tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78705697844593620562024-02-21T08:39:32.981-08:00Courtney Osborne- Bountiful BlessingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-22527849788062932032020-03-07T21:16:00.000-08:002020-03-07T21:19:39.468-08:00Growth ChartMy twins were born tiny. I made feeding them my job. Charis was difficult to feed and we worked for every ounce that she put on. At one point she quit taking liquids and I went to every doctor I could think of. They all agreed that she was healthy. The pediatrician described her at birth as "tiny but mighty" and declared her healthy at every well check. I still obsessed over feeding her and spent the evenings coming up with new food ideas and the days frustrated that she still wasn't eating much at all. I would feel at peace for a few days and then hear from another mom what their child eats or weighs. Then I would feel scared again. <i>She was never on a growth chart.</i><br />
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One day my wonderful pediatrician did something that changed my perspective completely. I was once again asking if she was okay and if it is a problem that she is so small. The doctor looked at me and said "Look, she has never been on my growth charts. She is little. However, she has her own growth chart". She turned her laptop around and showed me from the day Charis was born until that day the growth that she had accomplished. It didn't look like the other 99.9 of babies. The line was not as steep as others but, it was her growth and it was okay.<br />
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It is like that in education, as well. Each child develops and grows at a different rate. That is not only okay, it can be celebrated. We can celebrate the growth in each child. It will not look the same and that is not failure. As moms we can be scared when we see a "grade" or compare work to another child in their class. Just remember... your child has their own growth chart.<br />
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Some children may be different than Charis and be off the charts. In educational terms these children may already know much of what I had planned to teach them that year. That is okay, too. I can still reach them where they are and and go further. I can also teach them how to be a good friend, how to try new things and be willing to struggle, who Jesus is and how much He loves them, and that learning is fun.<br />
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As a mom and teacher I look forward to seeing the growth in each child. When we focus on their own growth chart we can see and celebrate the person that God created them to be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-18113320251257437652018-08-12T16:03:00.000-07:002018-08-12T16:03:08.818-07:00Your LoadThe other day I was getting laundry out of the dryer. I dropped a sock and bent down to get it and then dropped three more items. When I reached for those I dropped two more. I yelled out "Stephen, this is a metaphor for my life"! <br />
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The next day as I sat at a red light I saw a little bird gathering sticks. That little bird had the same problem I did. She would reach for a stick and then one would fall out of her beak and then she would start over. I wanted to call out, "Little bird. You are only meant to carry three sticks!"<br />
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I am excited to go back to teaching full time and see that God is using laundry and birds to teach me to lighten my load. Like all women, I want to do all the things and do them all well. Well, it's inevitable that I will drop things along the way. Thankfully, my husband is great at picking them up but I see that it is so important that we don't take on more than God intended for us. He desires us to work hard and rest. We need to create margin in our lives for needed rest. Margin is also where relationships have room to grow and flourish. Lighten your load and pray through the things that are truly yours to carry.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-34565607356418599642018-06-25T19:49:00.002-07:002018-06-25T19:50:58.604-07:00Do you know what I love the most about you?Drew has always been a talker and inquisitive. He likes to know about a lot of different things and can keep a conversation going. When he was three he climbed up in my Poppi's lap. Poppi is Drew's great-grandfather. He sat in Poppi's lap facing him, asking questions, and talking for quite awhile. Suddenly, he grabbed Poppi's face in his little hands and said, "Poppi, do you know what I love the most about you?". Poppi told him that he didn't know and Drew answered, "Because you answer all my questions". I have always loved that moment.<br />
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Sunday morning in worship at church I could not get that picture out of my head. As I have been praying for the Lord's direction in some areas lately, I was thinking about this moment. I imagined my hands grabbing the Lord's face and telling him what I love about Him. I love that He answers all my questions, too. He gave us His Word and speaks through it to us. His Spirit leads us. I love that He is always faithful. I love that He will never leave us. I love so many things about who He is. What do you love about Him?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-1688976672310627642018-05-01T18:10:00.000-07:002018-05-01T18:10:04.099-07:00Ron update and an open apology to my dogI will start with the story and then move on to an apology. Drew wanted me to move his fish tank. So I huffed and heaved that tank across the room and then heard Drew yell, "Is that Ron, Is that Ron, Is that Ron?!". If you haven't heard we had a rope fish named Ron. He jumped out of the tank and was eaten. Or so we thought. I looked on the ground and saw a mummified Ron. He was perfectly perserved. I guess he had jumped out and was hidden. We had checked all behind the aquarium and drawers but he was hiding somewhere because he suddenly appeared on the floor. <br />
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I hate snakes. Ron looked like a snake. So I cried. I begged my children to dispose of Ron. Drew suddenly thought he would be helpful and go to the garage for the screwdriver that I had asked him for 10 minutes ago. That left Charis and I alone with Ron's corpse. Charis said, "I'm not scared of the grossness but I'm scared he is alive". He looked like the same 'ol Ron and so I got her fear but after months he was certainly dead. I begged and so my little girl went and like a valiant warrior scooped up Ron and threw him away. She's my favorite. JUST KIDDING. <br />
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Now for the apology... I want to formally and publicly apologize to my dog, Ellie. I was wrong to assume because you had wet ears that you ate Ron. I see now that all my evidence was circumstantial. I judged you falsely based on the moisture level of your ears and that was wrong. I even wrote a blog about it and I am sorry. Please let it be known that Ellie was not complicit in the disappearance of Ron. <br />
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I feel like we have closure in Ron's death and I'm glad he wasn't eaten. He suffocated. Once again... respect the boundaries God has set for our protection. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-47684636845189410132018-04-18T12:38:00.002-07:002018-04-18T12:38:57.126-07:00Our African NamesWhen Stephen and I were trying to get pregnant or adopt we were blessed with many prayer warriors coming alongside us. Some of these people we knew well and some we only heard about. One woman, an amazing woman of prayer from my grandparents' church, fervently prayed for us to have a child and then she said "God, why not two?". <br />
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Her name is Maria. Maria is from Africa and can pray prayer that shakes the building. When she has finished praying you know you have been prayed for. At a baby shower she gave us a children's book with two names written in it. She told me that was the twins African names. I was appreciative and thought it was how you say their names in her native language. </div>
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God saved a special moment of understanding for me this month. Maria told me the whole story a few weeks ago. The kids and I saw Maria while visiting my Mimi in the hospital. She was telling the kids about their African names and told us that the morning I found out I was pregnant she was driving and praying for us. At that time she pulled over and wrote down two names that the Lord gave her. She wrote down Joyful and Grace in her language. I love how God works! Maria did not know that we were pregnant, that it was twins, or that my prayer had been in God's charis to give us Charis. Charis means grace, a gift of grace. The names He gave her fit our children perfectly.</div>
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From birth Drew has been a child the exudes JOY and Charis is the gift of grace that we prayed for. </div>
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Over eight years later I am still getting glimpses of how God was at work through the prayers of His people. That was a hard and sometimes dark time for us but I can always see His hand working. I am so thankful that shortly after He knit my babies together He chose names that fit them so well. He is a Creator and His love is forever.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-83376803691441262492018-04-18T12:11:00.002-07:002018-04-18T12:11:57.373-07:00A Costly Gift<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Every Gift Has a Cost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The other night as I watched my kids sleep it struck me… The thing that I have most poured myself into in life is teaching them about the Lord, with the prayer that they will accept Him as their Lord and Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have worked hard at jobs, desires, and goals before but never have I so completely poured my life into something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The salvation of my kids has been a prayer since before I met them, directed EVERY decision I make for them, and occupied so many of our conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I thought about this I reflected on these verses:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Eph 2:8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The wages of sin is death but, the gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23</span><span style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">These verses are referring to how I received my salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was no work of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it struck me what Jesus gave for me to have salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave His own life, he took my sin, and He was separated from His Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My salvation was only free to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to Jesus and not to the people that sowed His name into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s thank the people that spent time in prayer for us and taught us who He is so that we could experience and know Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s live a life of gratitude to Jesus for His costly gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Raising children is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a parent, in general, is difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But being a parent that seeks to raise their children to go against the grain of culture and societal norms, to seek the face of the Lord, and follow His voice over the roar of culture is down right TOUGH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes His Spirit renewing us each day and prayer that feels repetitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, now as I look at them sleeping and wonder if what I am teaching is sinking in I can stand encouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sowing into them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A farmer’s life is full of hard work and prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can tell you that never once did he win an award for how well he sowed seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, his work provided food for many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we sow into the hearts of our little ones we are helping to produce a food that will one day feed someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work can be hard but don’t lose heart. Keep plowing parents!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-59866560474179048432018-01-12T06:58:00.002-08:002018-01-12T18:58:15.391-08:00Ron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFe0viJYh3HCh66M92_eCd0lBRh1lMhP-bj3kFWxmdCmpsv7Hy5TWn2eacaaqaqCOuFQ7-uXTaKeQdxYxIqa30NlddSbkBR3PqPRElmpvPn_1zUEqlwn-SaHzDrGThFKBDPTUvodIaUl2w/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFe0viJYh3HCh66M92_eCd0lBRh1lMhP-bj3kFWxmdCmpsv7Hy5TWn2eacaaqaqCOuFQ7-uXTaKeQdxYxIqa30NlddSbkBR3PqPRElmpvPn_1zUEqlwn-SaHzDrGThFKBDPTUvodIaUl2w/s320/IMG_3352.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
My kids made Christmas lists. Charis' list included an American Girl doll, markers, binder clips, and a book. Drew's list resembled the list of a Saudi Prince. I quote... "things that are rare, diamonds, $500 cash, and an eel named Ron". Did you catch that last one? An eel. Named Ron. And remarkably that was the most doable gift on his list. So we bought the sheik an aquarium for Christmas. My husband researched eels and found out that they bury themselves and you never see them but that there is a fish called a Rope Fish that looks like an eel and is "social". So we ordered a Rope Fish. The employee at the aquarium store informed us that this Rope Fish was being caught in a river in Africa and that people risked their lives in hippo-infested waters to get us (dumb) Americans these fish. We were like "Great, we will take one!".<br />
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A few weeks later Ron came home to us. Drew loved Ron and we all enjoyed watching him. Ron had tricks. He would hide IN the filter and shoot out at me when I looked for him. I told the boys that I was nervous he would get out from the hole by the filter. Stephen assured me Ron would never do that. I worried though because I could sense that Ron had a gypsy heart.<br />
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Last night Stephen and Drew were feeding the fish and noticed Ron was gone. We looked in his usual spots... the filter, the rocks, and in the gravel. Ron was gone. Then we noticed a wet puddle on the table by the aquarium. Right then Ellie, our dog, came up and her ears were wet. After we CSIed the crime scene we deduced that Ron had in fact freed himself of the aquarium and Ellie had found him in distress. Then she ate him. Ellie ate Ron!<br />
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We are still mourning the loss of our Ron. He was a good Rope Fish. He just didn't respect the boundaries that were there for his protection. And he got eaten. I think we can all learn from Ron's legacy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-82177187014446054502017-12-31T18:37:00.000-08:002017-12-31T18:37:46.137-08:00I Do It Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKe2BQiYoLKperSW4OuWby-u8nXE3He7ONtEiNybTv-1KnDZSrnVpxfgQDhfCqeAT7DLf_VYAGETGLk-xsqZDhUIM_RH4QNSOzX9RzWWlyEevgfGBoFvH18_7ykIrTFblMn0YBCS6ZreE/s1600/images-65.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKe2BQiYoLKperSW4OuWby-u8nXE3He7ONtEiNybTv-1KnDZSrnVpxfgQDhfCqeAT7DLf_VYAGETGLk-xsqZDhUIM_RH4QNSOzX9RzWWlyEevgfGBoFvH18_7ykIrTFblMn0YBCS6ZreE/s1600/images-65.jpeg" /></a></div>
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At church our worship leader always leads us in a time of confession and I was convicted that I often try to do things on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never been a big resolution setter for the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably just because by January 2<sup>nd</sup> I get busy and forget about what was so important to me on December 31<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this year I would like to be aware of how dependent I am on the Lord for everything and not strive in my own meek efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That will mean that I spend time with Him, listen to His Spirit, and seek His will over my comfort. I desire to step out of my comfort zone and follow His lead. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I was reminded of when my kids were little and I would try to dress them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about 3 years old they went through the common “I do it myself” phase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which to them was an effort to exert some independence but as a mom meant that I had to wait while they put their shoes on (the wrong feet), stood in the rain or cold while they attempted to buckle their car seat, and let all my pride go as I took my son to Bible study in a random assortment of clothes that he chose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought back to that 3 year old standing there looking ridiculous in mismatched clothes, some on backwards, and not weather appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that I look like that to God at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a way that is good and best for me but, I “do it myself” and in the end stand there like that 3 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may be dressed but it could have been so much better had I listened to and depended on the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I parented, worked, and was a wife that day… but had I done those things in His Strength and not my own how much better could I have done?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want a heart that acknowledges that I am not self-sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dependent on the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the kids were little Stephen told them one night that we were not going to ask the Lord for anything, just thank Him for what we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was on board and see lots of value in taking time to thank and praise God. That night Drew started crying and asking “what if I need something?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was comical at the time because he missed the point but after he went to bed I realized that Drew had a great mindset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was scared of going through a day of not being able to ask God for what he needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little boy knew who to go to and that He was all we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want a heart that is so dependent on Him that I can’t imagine not seeking His guidance, fruits, or heart for a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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My resolution is to walk in His Strength and depend on the Lord for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that at the end of 2018 I can stand appropriately dressed and not like that willful 3-year-old in red shorts, an orange tank top, boots on the wrong feet, and a snow cap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-65546927277648276812017-11-20T14:34:00.000-08:002017-11-20T14:34:07.687-08:00Bountifulness and Waiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was reading in the Psalms this morning and was reminded of a sweet verse that the Lord used for me. Years ago Stephen and I were struggling with infertility, waiting on the Lord, fear, and honestly processing all of it imperfectly and not always in unity. We walked that road for years and then when I found out we were expecting twins the Lord gave me the verse "Return to rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you" in Psalms 116:7. I had it painted on the their nursery wall as a great reminder of what the Lord has done. <br />
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If you have waited or are waiting on the Lord you know that is not what it sounds like. Waiting sounds passive. Waiting on the Lord is active. Waiting on the Lord is fraught with prayer, deep anguishing prayers. Waiting on the Lord is expectant. It is sitting up and keeping watch and listening for the Lord's direction. It is daily giving it over to the Lord. Somehow, I spent every morning giving my desire for children to the Lord but woke up with the desire again the next morning. <br />
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The Lord's bountiful blessings were not solely wrapped up in the twins. His blessings came as He sustained us through the journey. He taught me to praise Him in the waiting room. He gave me the desire to be a saint that perseveres. He showed me where my hope and home are. He showed up when my spirit was weak and my stomach was full of tears. He showed me Himself and allowed His people to minister to me. In the end His answer to our prayers took our breath away. But many times in the journey His love, faithfulness, and provision did the same. <br />
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His blessings are bountiful and our souls can find rest in Him. No matter what you are waiting for today let your soul find peace in Him and His bountifulness. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-22556006465859757842017-10-29T19:33:00.002-07:002017-10-29T19:33:33.266-07:00Walmart SurpriseHave you ever had a blessing and learned a life lesson at Walmart? Not a life lesson like don't wear nude leggings with a t-shirt but something a little more profound? There was a day when my twins were about 14 months old that I did. <br />
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When my kids were little grocery shopping was hard. They were too little to walk with me and when I put both in the cart there was no room for groceries. So my solution was to put the kids in our double stroller and fill the bottom portion with as much groceries as I could. This particular day I was trying to quickly get through the store and filled the bottom of the stroller. Suddenly, one of the twins started to cry. Then it got worse. The other started to cry as well. Then it got worse. They both started to scream. Red-faced, loud, angry cries were coming from both of my cherubs. I started to panic. As a first-time mom I worried a lot about what other people were thinking. I wanted to run from the store. However, if I ran out with my stroller full of food it would be stealing. If I left them and ran out, that is child abandonment. My only option was to check out as fast as possible. <br />
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I ran up to the shortest check out line. As I came up I started to sweat and just knew that the poor cashier was thinking "Why me? Why my line out of these 25 lanes, I know only 3 are open, but why mine". I waited trying to placate the kids with puffs, happy noises, and promises of ponies. Nothing was working. It was finally my turn. I came up with a sheepish look and started apologizing and simultaneously throwing food on the belt in an effort to get out of there. As I looked at the cashier she stopped and made eye contact with me and smiled. I started breathing again. She smiled bigger and told me "They are such blessings. You are a special mama. They are beautiful." I turned to see what children she was referring to. Mine. This amazing lady looked at my red-faced, screaming children at their worse and called them blessings. She is right. They are. It took us 5 years to have them and they are a blessing. The part that took my breath away was that she looked at my children at a point when they were not lovely at all and saw their value. Their value is not because of their great behavior, good grades, or manners. They are valued simply because they are made in the image of God. They have value because He created and died for them. <br />
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The cashier not only extended desperately needed grace to me and my children that day but she taught me something. She changed the way I view people. As a teacher, I could look at that little guy that pushed all my buttons and had been to the office on repeat and see a child of value and love him. As a parent, when it gets hard and I feel like I am dealing with the same character issue for the 1000th time I can look at them as a blessing. God looks at us in our worse state and sees value in us. Romans 5:8 "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". The moral of the story is that the Walmart pick up isn't the only blessing there... sometimes it's through a cashier named Triumph. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-76598790151466550342017-09-01T20:07:00.000-07:002017-09-03T09:28:54.911-07:00Who Are You?Many years ago Stephen and I went through years of infertility. If you have been through that journey or are in it now I am sorry. I know the loneliness, fear, and pain that shows up every day. I know it feels forever. We went through several doors and then backed up and closed them before the Lord led us to the path that gave us our kids. After a particularly hard treatment I was waiting to find out if we were pregnant. I was praying one afternoon... when I say praying I mean pleading with the Lord to give us a baby. I was reading that the Lord does not give us a spirit of fear. I was fearing. So I opened the Greek dictionary to look up fear. As I searched the page my eyes immediately came to the word grace instead. I sat reading the definition of grace and thinking about His character. I saw that the Greek word for grace was Charis.<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span class="tophdg" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Short Definition: </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">grace, favor, kindness</span><br style="font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span class="tophdg" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Definition: </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I got up and sent an email to my mom and Stephen's mom asking them to change their prayer. We prayed that in God's charis he would give us Charis. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A week later I found out that the Lord had blessed us with a pregnancy. We rejoiced in His charis. Fast forward to an 18-week sonogram and I asked the PA to take a guess on the gender of our twins. She quickly found Drew and told me it was a boy. Then she moved to the next baby and told me it was another boy. I timidly responded that I think that is the same baby and she assured me it wasn't. I knew it was. I would have been ecstatic to have two boys but I knew that was the same baby. A few weeks later we saw the doctor and she confirmed a boy... and a girl. We knew her name would be Charis. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I often tell Charis the origin of her name in Greek and that she is our "gift from the Giver". She loves that part of who she is. One day when she was little she sat in a box and yelled "Look, I am a gift from the Giver"! The other day I was putting something on her desk and saw her name tag. She had written her name and then "gift from the giver". I pray she remembers who she is as she gets older. When the world, classmates, boys, or circumstances tell her something else I pray she is rooted in Jesus and remember that she is always our Gift from the Giver. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-87814593328575876602017-03-19T19:29:00.002-07:002018-01-12T07:12:58.469-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Spring Break my family went on a trip to Ruidoso, NM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was beautiful and we went for a hike one day in an isolated area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we walked we noticed that we were by the stream and had heard that bears were waking up so Stephen would call out every few feet so that we wouldn’t scare a bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though we were all alone in the woods I felt awkward with him yelling out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know that embarrassed feeling you get for other people sometimes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we came around a cluster of trees Stephen yelled out and we were answered by a low growl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped and he yelled and the growl came again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this time we looked at each other with hearts pounding and I thought maybe the yells were worth my awkward feeling, put the kids between us, and turned around to hurry out of there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bear was nice enough to give us a warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this experience reminded me about our Mama hearts and the fierce love we have for our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all heard about the Mama Bear tendency to fiercely protect our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When someone messes with our kid we have a primal response to react.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This Mama Bear response, while innate in us all, needs to be tempered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the hard part. The part goes against nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get this term Mama Bear because we mimic the response of a real bear protecting her cubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mama bears often attack out of a perceived threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sees a human and out of fear that he will hurt her cub attacks him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the humans were ignorant city folks like us out for a stroll, but the Mama Bear attacks without knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We as Moms often have that same reaction out of fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We perceive a threat… whether it be another child, a teacher, a parent, culture and react aggressively without all the information and taking the time to pray through our response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe there is a better way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us consider the actions of the Mama Bird.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Mama bird loves, comforts, and cares for her young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, she also teaches them to fly on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to teach my children how to tell others how they want to be treated, how to solve conflict, how to speak up, how to love and forgive others, and how to pray and not react.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both care deeply, love, and protect their children. The difference comes in how that is played out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mama Bird gently even nudges her babies out of the nest when she knows they are ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must encourage our children to step out and try new ideas and experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will build their character, independence, and responsibility. The nudge can be hard for us moms at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may have to give the nudge with a brave face and then go text our friends for support and prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have many seen schools offer a “Tears and Cheers Coffee” for kindergarten parents after they drop their child off for their first day of kindergarten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put on a brave face and tell our children how wonderful school will be and then retreat to the school cafeteria for camaraderie, support, or a big high 5 depending on your emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they learn to step out in these small ways with our encouragement then, they will be confident and be able to step out in Faith one day as the Lord leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our job is to prepare them for what the Lord calls them to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love, pray, release, and watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When we mimic the bear we damage relationships, hurt people, and teach our children that they are not safe with out us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be times for us to step in and protect our children but we must do so in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times the threat that we perceived was actually an opportunity to teach, model grace, show forgiveness, or train our children how to deal with conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ecclesiastes 7:9 says “Do not be provoked in your spirit, anger resides in the lap of fools”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should stop and ask ourselves first what the Lord would have us to do, what can our child learn from this, can we overlook the offense, or what our response should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s stop and consider the intentions or position from someone that we are tempted to “go Mama Bear” on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Word tells us that by tempering this desire to attack and praying through our response we will avoid being a “fool”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parenting is hard and we will make mistakes in handling issues that arise but we can reach out to reconcile and try again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our relationships will stay intake, our children will learn life skills, and we will honor the Lord when we step out of attack mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us remember the bird and the bravery and strength she shows as she gently leads, encourages, and even nudges her babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-16588787258622204282016-05-30T20:08:00.000-07:002016-06-03T11:29:40.323-07:00Disciples Among Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oLHoe5yGFqYcF2DPx8WVpo2lsYeblv4HGB_Os-P_IPq25qPDm2T0tSB-NPezFuLoQQUbNmvL5ZP7P2vBHNeHuAa22uRdwDnn8s705jXzjRX_BgqTL_BMSYEmKhFEm1UpeHWuIFQf9Ll8/s1600/images-41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oLHoe5yGFqYcF2DPx8WVpo2lsYeblv4HGB_Os-P_IPq25qPDm2T0tSB-NPezFuLoQQUbNmvL5ZP7P2vBHNeHuAa22uRdwDnn8s705jXzjRX_BgqTL_BMSYEmKhFEm1UpeHWuIFQf9Ll8/s1600/images-41.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was reading this morning in John about when Jesus called a
few of the disciples that had been listening to John the Baptist to follow
Him. One of these young men was named
Andrew. I was drawn to him because my son is named Andrew. It hit me that my Andrew and the disciple had
a lot in common… they are both very social and a natural networkers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My son was called a “communicator” by his sweet
teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a former teacher I can
translate… that means he talks a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We recently moved into
a new neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we moved we
thought there was only one boy on our street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow, without leaving the confines of our yard, my child has brought
children from the far corners of the earth to our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any given day we will have between 7-10 kids
in our yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love it because he
brought us a whole mission field that we didn’t know existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus called Andrew to follow Him and he came and saw where
Jesus was staying, listened to His preaching, and then immediately went and got
his friends to bring them to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
John 1:40-42 says, “the <span style="color: #1a1a1a;">first
thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the
Messiah” (that is, the Christ). <sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup>And
he brought him to Jesus.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My Andrew has yelled out to the yard full of kids sitting
eating popsicles <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Who here believes in
Jesus?” (we are working on his delivery).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has created him this
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He networks and shares his passions
with others… whether it be about the Aggies, hunting, or Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I was laughing that morning that Drew is like his namesake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized that often times the thing that we
work on to reign in with our children is the very thing God uses for His
kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew’s mom may have been
exasperated by the boys he brought over all the time or been frustrated as she
tried to get through the marketplace with him as he stopped to talk to
everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God used this trait in Andrew to draw Peter (whom he chose
as the Rock to build His church on) and others to Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew was also the disciple that found the
boy with the fish and loaves that God multiplied to feed the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was passionate about people and Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I looked at the disciples that Jesus chose to spread His
Gospel and be martyred for Him I realized that they are like the children we
all know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples were most likely
between 18-20 years old. They were not young boys but were still not grown
men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were normal humans like
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew would have been the boy at
school that is constantly in trouble for talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the one that goes to school for
recess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Peter is the impulsive one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is the kid you discuss self-control with everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one that has big reactions and then feels
bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thomas is the kid that always wants to know “why”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will question you and keep you <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on</span> your
toes to explain what you are telling him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">James and John… they had the helicopter mom asking for her
boys to sit at Jesus’ right hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
boys had a competitive spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John at
first bragged about getting to Jesus’ empty tomb first but then allowed Peter
to enter first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Philip was ever practical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He may be like the kid that has a hard time letting loose or thinking
outside the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philip was in charge of
supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was responsible and
predictable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Lord uses these normal young men to do great
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even used the character
traits that as mom or teachers can drive us crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I have told our son to eat and
that it was time to stop talking at dinner repeatedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had to train him that he can’t ask if
the stranger at the store can come over for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The traits in our children that want to make
us face palm can be used for His glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As parents we have to train and disciple them in how to use these traits
in a productive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How they can be who
God created them to be but honor Him with their personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have to put in the time training
them how to use their gifts and personalities to His glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we can laugh to ourselves and pray that
God will use this child to do big things for the kingdom in the unique way they
were created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My point is… Parents/ Teachers when you want to put your
head in your hands and you feel frustration that your kid is not getting it… just
remember that the disciples all had flaws, were human, and God used them in
mighty ways. He may choose to use the
thing that drives us the most crazy to bring others to Himself. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-29061855775831971152016-01-12T20:43:00.004-08:002016-01-12T20:43:58.130-08:00Fixer Uppers In Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6FFHKQZa_5gWI58MRwWNC0MA7vFY8tMlSztBYVNA5ADYWIFWmD5Gdw0LDdJ6cSAZ_rQTpeudHl3NI1AqaWtEkbXatSE9HB1izYVq99AArZLjePZOSK3Ove9V-q7E6O7PQTPEA7KvL3Up/s1600/images-36.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6FFHKQZa_5gWI58MRwWNC0MA7vFY8tMlSztBYVNA5ADYWIFWmD5Gdw0LDdJ6cSAZ_rQTpeudHl3NI1AqaWtEkbXatSE9HB1izYVq99AArZLjePZOSK3Ove9V-q7E6O7PQTPEA7KvL3Up/s1600/images-36.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Have you ever had a “morning” with
your kids?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind where you don’t know
whether to pull them back in the car at drop off and hug them tight or throw up
a peace sign as your tires squeal out of the school parking lot?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had one of those mornings not long
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything that my daughter put on
“bothered” her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevermind, that 12 hours
earlier I had her try it on to avoid this scene and all clothing was fine but,
12 hours later she is tired and so now nothing feels right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My son was more interested in loving on the
dog than putting pants on and unfortunately, pants are a required piece of
their uniform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We finally got in the car and
started the trek to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
feeling sad and wanting to set a new tone for the morning before drop off but
one of the kids had forgot their watch so they were still upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We passed the local water park that we go to
in the summer and my son looked over to see that is had been torn up for
renovations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was upset and asked why
they had done that and would we be able to go again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained that they were making repairs to
get it ready for the summer and he said, “But it looks ruined!”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to explain and related it to
renovations we had done on our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
said, “Do you remember when our kitchen and bathrooms were all torn up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was removed and all that was left
was not pretty and was messy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, they
had to do that in order to make it beautiful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The words were no sooner out of my mouth than God whispered… “That is
what I am doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks messy but I am
building beautiful character into them and you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As I thought about the Truth that
He is at work in us and removing the old, sinful parts is messy but He is
faithful to build us into something beautiful for Him I was brought to
tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have ever lived in a house
being renovated it is just plain awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is messy, inconvenient, and hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may get to know new neighbors because the contractor forgot to hook
up your only working toilet before he left for the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will have to get used to sharing your
space with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will live in the
dust and debris that comes with demolition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is how our sanctification is as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have to step out of your comfort
zone, obey the Holy Spirit that lives in you, and be among the mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the great reward of allowing God to come
in and do His work in you is beautiful sanctification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I need this in myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need His Spirit to tear down the dry wall
of my sinful nature and replace it with His character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also so encouraging to me as a
mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raising children is wonderful
but working to develop Godly character in them can be difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work really hard and don’t see the fruit
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That morning I felt like
God was telling me that it is okay that it is hard, it’s supposed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s okay that we are not perfect and
sanitized, we will be messy emotionally and even spiritually while He works in
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is okay for it not to be
comfortable, He has more in store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Sometimes things have to be torn up
and look messy before they can be made beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can trust in His process and yield to His
teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phil1:6</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7870569784459362056.post-83440880040658770162014-11-03T06:44:00.001-08:002014-11-03T06:44:54.655-08:00The Cure<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Didot;">“‘Your
wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. <sup> </sup>There is no
one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>All
your allies have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. I have struck you as an enemy would and
punished you as would the cruel, because your guilt is so great and your sins
so many. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that
has no cure? - Jeremiah 30:12-14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Didot; font-size: 14.0pt;">There has
been a lot of press over a young woman with an incurable brain tumor that chose
to take her own life. Her circumstance
is heartbreaking and she must have felt so powerless when receiving her
diagnosis. She knew that this disease
would kill her, there was nothing she could do to change it. No medical treatment, new diet, or work could
save her life. She was dying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Didot; font-size: 14.0pt;">As I read
this verse this morning I was struck by the Truth that we are all like Brittany
Maynard. We all have an incurable
disease. There is absolutely nothing we can
do to stop it. We are dying. However, our disease is the same, it is
sin. The Bible says, <i>“But God, being rich in mercy, because of
His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”</i> <i>Ephesians
2:4-5</i>. He chose in His mercy to save
us through Jesus. While we were dead in
our sin God made a provision to save us and give us Life. His provision is the gift of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Didot; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, we
are not completely without hope. There
is One that can change our path from death to life. We cannot cure our disease of sin through of
own good works or efforts but we can rest in the redeeming work Christ already
did on the cross and put our faith in Him.
Through this faith we will be made whole, cured, and forgiven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Didot; font-size: 14.0pt;">While
Brittany chose a path that made her feel some sort of empowerment, her result
was the same… death. When we release the
desire for control and cease striving our result is entirely different…
LIFE. Not just a renewed life on Earth
but eternal life with God in Heaven. Who
will you trust to cure you? There is
only one cure for the disease we all have.
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0