I ran into someone today, from the past. This person is not fond of my family, for one reason or another…. And truly that’s ok. God tells us in His word that we will be persecuted, Matthew 5:10 to be exact. Recently I have developed the true understanding of compassion, which I never thought I had much of- which leads to my appointment with God today.
I was at a particular place at a particular time, which I will fail to mention, only because it will be easy to figure out who I may be talking about. That specific name is not of importance but only the value of the lesson to be learned.
My lessons begins, as this person I have not seen in a while nears me… as this person nears me so does thick air (you might know this as tension, I know this as spiritual warfare). The amazing part is this person looked at me (in my eyes) and decided to continue to walk right by me completely failing to return my “hi!” Boohoo poor me right??? As this person continued to walk by, and did not even address the fact that I was standing there, my heart begin to break. I must add; a few years ago I might have been thinking very ungodly words about this person but I can boldy say I have been washed by the overflowing waters of God’s amazing love and forgiveness.
Lesson: This person was/is a pastor’s wife, I do not want to intentionally knock on pastors wives, it is a hard road, but the title comes with an amount of respect from the world. The world considers pastors and their families to be ‘spiritual’ – the truth is, that’s not always the case and it’s sad. I say that, to say this: even as you walk with the title Christian to your name, we are held accountable for our actions and words. The sad thing is, that even within the ‘body of Christ’ there can be so much friction. If we choose to judge, slander and treat God’s children (our sisters and brothers in Christ) like they are scum and we can walk all over- how do we expect the world to treat us???
Two verses come to mind to go along with this life lesson...the Man himself sent me…
Proverbs 20:11 NIV
11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.
Romans 3:19 NIV
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
My prayer: Please allow me to love everyone as Jesus loved, even when it seems hard. Even in a split second someone will either see Jesus radiant in and thru us, or they won’t.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
A Conversation with God
I woke up this morning, got right into Gods word... and felt nothing impressed upon my heart to blog or share. God said "wait."
So I began waiting to hear God, to hear what he had to say, what I was going to learn today... So I carried on like any other day well not really.
Today was abnormal; Elijah didn’t have school because it was parent teacher conference. Our appointment 10am- long and behold it was nothing but an appointment for God to encourage us through Elijah's teacher- AMAZING.
This journey of deciding where Elijah would attend school started a year ago, I know that Kindergarten would be approaching and my heart was troubled over where Elijah was going to go. This is only because God placed a call in mine and Eli's lives to build a strong spiritual foundation for our children- starting in the home, and than elsewhere. We wanted to make sure where ever Elijah was at that he was learning about God, and being surrounded by God's love daily.
As I started researching school in the area, there were not any that God had whispered this is it! So I began to look at charter school, etc... And praying!
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
I happened to run across a school with a very odd name... and wanted to learn more in depth about the school. I met with the dean and I sat in a classroom to observe, read thoroughly over what they teach biblically. I can hear people asking, "What about the education, what is the curriculum?" So if that is what your thinking let me again state, God has called us as parents of Elijah and Miley to build a strong foundation based on the Word of God. But I will add this school scores very high in the educationally. I continue to use the word 'I' but when I say this I am refereeing to me and my husband, for there is not decision that is not made without us seeking God together first.
And God did not just whisper but yelled. "YES!" So our journey begins-
We sat down around the table together today with the teacher and Elijah and she started by telling us what had happened a couple of days ago...
The teacher stated, "I missed about 45 minutes of class on Tuesday because I had a doctor’s appointment and when I was gone the assistant did bible with them, by the time I got back it was ready for the kids to pack their things, I signed their folder to head home. As I was signing Elijah's folder I automatically wrote 5*'s because it is so rare that Elijah looses and star. Thank Elijah informed me, 'Mrs. Martin I did not get 5*'s today I lost a star in bible for messing around.'
So the teacher went on, "I am so proud of you Elijah for telling me the truth, you didn't have to tell me, I never would have known and neither would your parents."
Elijah's response, "Mrs. Martin, nothing is hidden from God."
TEARS!! Mrs Martin than explained to us that Elijah meant what he said, it was truly a conscious check, he knew he would feel to guilty for not telling me the truth.
Let me share another story about Elijah's amazing Godly teacher, Elijah was having a hard time in math facts one day and started to cry, his teacher immediately went to him and prayed over him and ask for God strength because with his help nothing is impossible even when it seems tough. (I was there as parents helper)
This is why Elijah is in this school. We want him to be surrounded in God's love top to bottom, home, church, school, friends....
Someone had said to me how Elijah is supposed to witness to kids if he is in a private school. He impacts lives no matter where he is at! God has called us as a family and weighed it on our hearts; this is path God has laid out for Elijah to grow in.
Everyone circumstances are different; we were not called to send our children to a public school or home-school. But my question and challenge for everyone- are you doing everything you can to make sure that your children know God. Our society has done nothing but slowly stripped God out of everything... I know many public school teachers who would love to pray with their kids personally but can't...
After my parent-kid-teacher conference, I realized that so many Christians have lost what’s worth sacrificing for... Because in the end the only thing that matters is.... Did you know God?
So I began waiting to hear God, to hear what he had to say, what I was going to learn today... So I carried on like any other day well not really.
Today was abnormal; Elijah didn’t have school because it was parent teacher conference. Our appointment 10am- long and behold it was nothing but an appointment for God to encourage us through Elijah's teacher- AMAZING.
This journey of deciding where Elijah would attend school started a year ago, I know that Kindergarten would be approaching and my heart was troubled over where Elijah was going to go. This is only because God placed a call in mine and Eli's lives to build a strong spiritual foundation for our children- starting in the home, and than elsewhere. We wanted to make sure where ever Elijah was at that he was learning about God, and being surrounded by God's love daily.
As I started researching school in the area, there were not any that God had whispered this is it! So I began to look at charter school, etc... And praying!
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
I happened to run across a school with a very odd name... and wanted to learn more in depth about the school. I met with the dean and I sat in a classroom to observe, read thoroughly over what they teach biblically. I can hear people asking, "What about the education, what is the curriculum?" So if that is what your thinking let me again state, God has called us as parents of Elijah and Miley to build a strong foundation based on the Word of God. But I will add this school scores very high in the educationally. I continue to use the word 'I' but when I say this I am refereeing to me and my husband, for there is not decision that is not made without us seeking God together first.
And God did not just whisper but yelled. "YES!" So our journey begins-
We sat down around the table together today with the teacher and Elijah and she started by telling us what had happened a couple of days ago...
The teacher stated, "I missed about 45 minutes of class on Tuesday because I had a doctor’s appointment and when I was gone the assistant did bible with them, by the time I got back it was ready for the kids to pack their things, I signed their folder to head home. As I was signing Elijah's folder I automatically wrote 5*'s because it is so rare that Elijah looses and star. Thank Elijah informed me, 'Mrs. Martin I did not get 5*'s today I lost a star in bible for messing around.'
So the teacher went on, "I am so proud of you Elijah for telling me the truth, you didn't have to tell me, I never would have known and neither would your parents."
Elijah's response, "Mrs. Martin, nothing is hidden from God."
TEARS!! Mrs Martin than explained to us that Elijah meant what he said, it was truly a conscious check, he knew he would feel to guilty for not telling me the truth.
Let me share another story about Elijah's amazing Godly teacher, Elijah was having a hard time in math facts one day and started to cry, his teacher immediately went to him and prayed over him and ask for God strength because with his help nothing is impossible even when it seems tough. (I was there as parents helper)
This is why Elijah is in this school. We want him to be surrounded in God's love top to bottom, home, church, school, friends....
Someone had said to me how Elijah is supposed to witness to kids if he is in a private school. He impacts lives no matter where he is at! God has called us as a family and weighed it on our hearts; this is path God has laid out for Elijah to grow in.
Everyone circumstances are different; we were not called to send our children to a public school or home-school. But my question and challenge for everyone- are you doing everything you can to make sure that your children know God. Our society has done nothing but slowly stripped God out of everything... I know many public school teachers who would love to pray with their kids personally but can't...
After my parent-kid-teacher conference, I realized that so many Christians have lost what’s worth sacrificing for... Because in the end the only thing that matters is.... Did you know God?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
What do you choose first?
Many of you heard on Sunday, thru my amazing husband how much I do not like the statement, "I'm to busy or i don't have time." It's amazing, if we pay attention how many people say it when most of the time what we really mean is, it's not a priority. I found myself walking down this path when I needed to reorganize the kids room.... I walked into their room and glanced around, "I don't have time for this." By the time I turned around I realized, I could make time- it's just not on the top of my list today. This is how my journey of being too busy began....
Wow, amazing how God works! Not to long after my new found discovery of the true meaning behind, "I don't have time or I'm too busy," I entered in a bible study of Martha and Mary. Yes, I know some of you know where I am going with this...touchy, touchy, touchy...
Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
WOW!!! How many of us spend way to much time of FB, Myspace, Email, Phone etc and not time with God. In my case it is sooooo easy to look around and see- there are always dishes or laundry or vacuuming to be done. But I want to daily choose God first!!!! I have the desire to have a "Mary heart in a Martha world" cause let's face it, the world tells us to be Martha, God asked us to be Mary first.
Dont get read me wrong- I'm not saying you should negelect all your "chores" or your kids, but what I have found thru digging into this passage more elaborately is that God wants us to choose him first. Even as I sit here and type, the dishwasher needs emptied just to filled back up.... but what God has for me, I don't want to miss --the work can be done in a bit.
Matthew 6:33 (New International Version)
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (The Message)
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
I ask that you pray with me... That God would spark an awakening into my generation to seek him first.
I leave you with this last thought... what if God said to us, 'today child, I am to busy to listen to your request!'
Wow, amazing how God works! Not to long after my new found discovery of the true meaning behind, "I don't have time or I'm too busy," I entered in a bible study of Martha and Mary. Yes, I know some of you know where I am going with this...touchy, touchy, touchy...
Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
WOW!!! How many of us spend way to much time of FB, Myspace, Email, Phone etc and not time with God. In my case it is sooooo easy to look around and see- there are always dishes or laundry or vacuuming to be done. But I want to daily choose God first!!!! I have the desire to have a "Mary heart in a Martha world" cause let's face it, the world tells us to be Martha, God asked us to be Mary first.
Dont get read me wrong- I'm not saying you should negelect all your "chores" or your kids, but what I have found thru digging into this passage more elaborately is that God wants us to choose him first. Even as I sit here and type, the dishwasher needs emptied just to filled back up.... but what God has for me, I don't want to miss --the work can be done in a bit.
Matthew 6:33 (New International Version)
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (The Message)
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
I ask that you pray with me... That God would spark an awakening into my generation to seek him first.
I leave you with this last thought... what if God said to us, 'today child, I am to busy to listen to your request!'
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Reasoning
Why would I start a blog, you ask? I want to create a place that my family, friends and their friends can go and discuss; mom topics, movies, share recipes, prayer request, need a word of encouragment, scripture, and just to say HI!!!
In this busy life of ours we need each other!!!
So let's begin!
In this busy life of ours we need each other!!!
So let's begin!
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