"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve..."
Col.3:23-24
Posted: 05 Jun 2010 01:01 AM PDT
Lord Jesus, I know You said that in this world we would have troubles, but for some reason, I really thought there would be fewer problems as I aged, that I would become wise. But life becomes more complicated. I wonder, Lord, is it because You need to constantly remind us that this earth is not our home…that we are heaven bound? So many times I forget that people, circumstances or things cannot give me happiness; only You can. I realize now that my discouragement can be because of the lack of trusting You. This day, Lord, I pray that You will enable me to trust You each time a problem arises. Whenever I get stressed, remind me to turn my eyes on You and Your sufficiency. You can comment on this devotional online at: |
Posted: 01 May 2010 01:01 AM PDT
“And this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” John 6: 39 (NIV)
I took a picture of the recycling truck in our neighborhood a few days ago. “Transforming waste to resources,” reads the sign on the side. It reminds me so much of Jesus.
So often we see the experiences, mistakes and sins in our life as plain garbage. We want to leave it on the side of life’s road and see it disappear into forgetting. Jesus, however, wants to take our waste and is ready to transform it into resources for others who need to know that He meets us and loves us, even in our messiest moments.
In the hands of Jesus, our wasted experiences and the lessons we learn along the way can become a message. If only we would turn our hearts towards Him. As soon as we hold out our garbage to Him, He recycles it into resources and transforms us into His likeness.
Reflect:
Is there anything in your life you need to put out for Jesus to recycle?
Jesus, I love that You can transform even my smelliest garbage into something to serve another person’s heart. I place it all before You. Thank You for Divine recycling and transformation. With You, nothing is wasted.
We had a 4D Ultrasound done of John Paul on Monday, April 19th. It is amazing how well these pics turned out...even better than James' and Noah's 4D's. He looks so much like Noah now in some of the photos! We already love this sweet boy as much as we love our other two precious sons! It amazes me daily how blessed we are by our gracious God!
It has been a sad week for us...as one of Aaron's colleagues lost his 6 month old baby girl to SIDS on Saturday morning. We mourn the loss of this sweet baby with them, and realize how so often we take lightly the gifts God has given us. Our daily struggles, frustrations and complaints of managing the "Terrible 2's," "Ornery 1's," and constant juggling of two babies while very pregnant are put into perspective when such a tragedy occurs! I've tried to enjoy every moment with my sweet babies this week (snotty noses and all!) They are such an answer to many years of prayer, and although we will face our daily "battles" I'd never trade my job as their mother and Aaron's wife for any other! Thank you, Lord, for blessing me so abundantly!
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Posted: 11 Mar 2010 12:01 AM PST
I will war for you when you are weak
and can't go on.
Giving to you renewed strength.
I will war for you when people
are slandering you, with words
and assassinating your character
I will war for you, that you will
not get stuck in the mud.
I will war for you maintaining your integrity
for you were born to win, to soar above
the storms of life.
Yes I will carry your pain, humiliation
and all of your shame.
I will war so that you will live above sin.
I will war for you to continue to display
My love, embracing each hurting soul
whose path you cross, in spite
of the false accusers.
I will war for you, fighting your battles
giving to you the victories, and ushering
you into My presence where you will find
joy beyond measure.
I will war for you, you are my Choice Vessel
whom I have chosen, to display my love
to a hurting world filled with pain.
I will war for you, I love you so much
that I sacrificed My only Son Jesus Christ
to die in your place
so that you can live daily abundantly
free from the ravages of sin.
Always remember Jehovah Gibbor will arise
to war for you, through Jesus Christ
your Intercessor, your High Priest.
The Lamb who died for you.
Signed: Your Abba Father who loves you
unconditionally!!!!!!
(march 10, 2006)
(february 2007)
(march 2007)
(james-6.5 months, march 2008)
(aaron, james {18 months} & noah {2.5 months})
(march 2009)
i married my best friend and my life companion. thank you, Jesus, for saving him for me.
i love you, my sweet a-wyn.
Posted: 09 Mar 2010 12:01 AM PST
In Jeremiah 2 God paints a picture of how his people loved him like a bride loves her groom, full of passion and complete in their devotion to him. But their hearts changed. In Jeremiah 2:13 God says that his people have forsaken him, the spring of Living Water, and have dug their own cisterns. They are looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places. You can hear the Father's grieved heart as he lays out their behavior before them and then ends with "How's that working for you?" My heart sinks as I see the areas in my life where I have chosen to find identity in my own cisterns, rather than drinking the Living Water. We too easily revert back to our own cisterns that can hold no water. Look at the cisterns in your life. What seemed like such a good source of legitimacy suddenly pales in comparison to true legitimacy found in God. That is why it is critical to meditate on the truths of who God is and who we are in Him until it sinks down deep into our spirit, soul, and body. John Calvin wrote in The Institutes Of The Christian Religion, "It now remains to pour into the heart itself what the mind has absorbed. For the Word of God is not received by faith if it fills the top of the brain, but when it takes root in the depth of the heart." Calvin is urging us to take deep drinks of the Living Water of who he is and what we have because of who he is: He is Jehovah-Jireh (provider). He is Jehovah-Rophe (healer). He is Jehovah-Shalom (peace). He is Jehovah-Nissi (banner). He is Jehovah-Rohi (shepherd). He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu (righteousness). He is Jehovah-Shammah (THE LORD IS THERE, Ezekiel 48:35) Stop and allow these truths to sink deep into your spirit. You may "know" these Scriptural facts, but now really receive their truth deeply in your spirit where your legitimacy, identity, significance, and birthright are defined by God. Remember whose you are... and who you are in him! You can comment on this devotional online at: |
Posted: 07 Mar 2010 12:01 AM PST
“You are the salt of the earth. . .” Matthew 5:13
"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:50
After I read these verses during my Quiet Time one evening, I began to think about the reasons for salt being good thing.
1. Salt enhances the flavor of food,
2. Salt is used to preserve meat.
3. Salt is used to thaw ice.
4. Salt is a water softener.
So how can we apply these “salty” things to our lives because Jesus said we are the salt of the earth?
We can enhance our surroundings. For example our behavior must be based on Biblical values—integrity, truthfulness, peace, joy and love. Our yards and houses can set a standard of excellence and enhance the neighborhood.
We can preserve by being there to help neighbors, co-workers and family when they need someone to comfort them (be like a healing ointment). We can share the gospel
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/4laws/law0.html with them so they can come to know the power of Christ within them.
We can melt icy relationships by being kind and loving to those around us even when they are cold to us. In time they will melt. Love never fails.
We can soften the world around us by smiling and being gentle and kind. We must make an effort to be friendly to all people—regardless of their race, religion, color, or lifestyle.
So, let me ask you, are you a salty Christian? Are you a nice person? Or have you lost it? You can become a salty Christian again by repenting and asking the Lord to be in control of your life http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/biblestudies/spiritfilledlife.htm once again. He will produce salt in your life.
Father, thank you that when you ask anything of us you will always provide the resources. We love you—enable us to love others like you do. Amen
(yes my eyes are closed, but i can't find the non-digital prints aaron got of my dad looking at me with more pride and love than i've ever known him to have. i'm so thankful for these photos and the man who took them. i know he'll be as wonderful a father to our boys as my dad was to us.)
(happy as can be flying the high skies)
(had i not met my dear, sweet hubby this photo would not exist. how grateful i am God's timing is and was more perfect than our own.)
So in a few months, the boys will be sharing a room (and many other mischievious acts, I'm sure!) I've given myself about 2 1/2 months with each transition so that by the time John Paul arrives, everyone will be sleeping (and hopefully have actually been sleeping) in their 'new' room for awhile. Of course, the baby will sleep in our room with us for a few months but I just want to make sure he's the only one waking up in the middle of the night. We've been blessed in the fact that both James and Noah are usually fantastic sleepers...until the recent switch to the 'big boy' bed (more stories to come on that at a later date!) I just hope the trasition remains relatively smooth. (As you can see, I'm up at 12:04am writing this post so sleep has been somewhat non-existent for me these days and I don't know if I can go on for an entire year this way!)
And finally, the "bad" news for our family, our nerves as parents, and the realization that our sweet baby James is a sinner just like the rest of us is his new "tude!" I might scream if I hear the words "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.............." one more time! It's breaking my heart! The "uh, uh, uh..." to ask for things and endless fountain of tears and shrills when he doesn't get his way are baffling and mind-numbing. This is the child who not 6 months ago was saying "please" and "thank you" before and after he asked for anything! I want that child back! Help, all you seasoned mommies! I'm at wit's end and have been reading every book, praying (constantly throughout the day), using time-outs, pats on the behind, taking things away...and then by advice of my counselor...even allowing him a little more freedom. I don't know what to do now! We're weary and I know it only gets harder from here! (And don't even get me started on the all-day obsession with the 'taggies' and 'sassy'...as our little angel calls them! They were just for bed, but he's beating me down. I never let them make it to the car if we're leaving the house--other than a long road trip--but it's all shrills and sincere panic if he decides he wants them during the day and I say the magic word..."NO!")
There are still good moments in our day, but he's definitely developed a knack for selective hearing. He can be sweet as pie one minute, especially when I ask him to help in some way with Noah. But the second he's "done" helping, the whining begins...and it's the type of whining without words, just grunts, pointing, tears and screams. If you have any advice, I'll gladly take it right now. Can't promise I'll follow it, but I'll definitely read it or hear it with an open mind and heart! :) 
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I don't know your story and you don't know mine, but we share a common theme. We are driven by the search for true identity, a desire to be understood and appreciated for who we are. We have longing to seek out something more. Those are not evil desires. God gave us the desire to seek the essence of who he created us to be, so that he can fulfill it. He created the thirst so we can enjoy the Living Water. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time and energy looking everywhere else but to him for that fulfillment.