Today is the end of a week. A very busy week after all of the Holiday celebrations are over. I have been being selfish this week. I am never selfish. I never do anything for myself, I only do things that benefit my children and husband and house. I'm sure there are ways I am selfish and don't know it, but on the outside I don't realize it. I am trying to be more selfish. Not in a bad way but a way to better my family and myself.
Let me explain. I am always doing things for others. I am not very good at saying 'NO' when asked to help with events at church and other places. I felt it was my duty, not realizing I was neglecting my main duty. God puts us all in different areas because we have different talents. I am in NO WAY a perfect parent, and I would never claim to be, but I do feel that God has called me to be a mom. Period. My job on this earth while I can, is to teach them about the Lord, number one. Teach them morals, values, caring, kindness, how to have a servants heart and how to be a useful and good Christian leader in this self centered world. I don't know if I am doing it right or well, but I pray daily for God's help and guidance, and I trust Him.
So I have started saying 'NO'. It's not that I don't want to be involved outside of the house, but we are backing down from extra curricular activities for each kid, skimming the fat off of the unnecessary, redirecting what is necessary and replanning our days and nights. Simplifying our time away from home. We are striving for more family time, more time as a collective unit to prepare these children for the future. My husband works weird and different hours daily. It's hard to plan ahead. Sometimes it feels like he is never home. So when he is home in the evening we want to take advantage of it. We don't want to be at meetings, or events. We want to be home teaching them about what it means to be a Godly family. Selfish? You decide.
I have also been selfish for myself lately. Over the years, simply being at home with the kids and having four children, I have increasingly gained more weight. So this year my vow was now that the kids are older and can help out more with things around the house, it's my time to get healthy and back into shape, so I can live longer and healthier first for Him and for them. So my purging has been pushed to the side so I could spend my fleetingly free moments at the gym I joined.
I did not completely give up however. My main goals for this year is to get healthy, get organized, simplify, get closer to my family, and especially bring my family closer to God. (Not in that order).
Here are a few things I have gotten accomplished. While putting away Christmas decorations, it dawned on me that I didn't put out half of what we own. I never do. So I made a command decision to get rid of anything we didn't use that didn't have sentimental value. It was actually quite a bit. I rearranged our living room, bringing up our long lost couch from the basement that we have been missing, and in doing so purged many items.
I had to move our homeschool bookshelf, which was OVERFLOWING with books. Since it's our second year, I know what we use and don't use, so I got rid of a big box of books, and since the kids got new board games for Christmas, we got rid of all of our preschool puzzles and other games from our game cabinet. I have been holding onto all of my old VHS movies, because we have a DVD/VCR combo - but the VCR unit quit working two years ago. I kept having the intention of fixing it, but it hasn't gotten done, so I cleared out about 60 VHS movies to get rid of to make room for all of the DVD's that have been lying around. (Our family is a big movie family). I also have spent some time organizing paper work for my business and my home, and though I have a long way to go - it was nice to get a bunch moved off my dining room table.
I have a loooong way to go in many areas of my life, but little by little and with God's help, we will get this done. It's important, and one day I can't wait to look around my house and see nothing but the most simple necessities and my favorite people and my vision of a Godly house.
Good luck!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Simplify
There are many Bible verses that come to mind when I think of simplifying our lives for God. The one that stands out that I find myself attempting to live by each day, however, is Matthew 6:19-21. It says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".
Every time I find myself wanting something for my house or for myself, or my kids are begging for new toys or video games or "things", I pull out this verse. I have to confess it has kept me from making many unnecessary purchases in the past and I hope it will in the future as well.
My kids know the verse well these days. The temptations around us daily are too thick for even the most devout person to get through at times, especially children that are still learning what is necessary and what is not. Society says more is better, bigger is better! We can't watch a t.v. show without being bombarded by commercials for new things, and upgrades to things we already have that were new only a month or two ago, or things we supposedly can't live without. Yes, sometimes these things look super cool and I wish I had them, but then reality kicks in. This verse, rather, kicks in. It reminds me that in this world, less should be more. Our relationship is with God. That relationship is worth more than all of the riches of this earth. The buzz you get when you make a new purchase is only temporary and fades, but the buzz we get from our relationship with God never ends and only builds us up and makes us better. "Things" don't make me happy, my family that God has blessed me with makes me happy. The friends that God has blessed me with makes me happy. Helping others that God has allowed me to help, makes me happy.
It makes me sad to see our society so Godless and empty lately. So many people, especially the youth, have been caught in this constant temptation and feel entitled to have whatever their heart desires. This is creating an empty and selfish world for many. I pray daily that I don't fall prey and that my kids learn this lesson early and often that something they like or want does not equal something they need. I don't always succeed or profess myself to be perfect or without temptations of worldly goods. However, I will continue to strive for that simplicity.
Recently I posted on my Facebook page that our family has already started the process of implementing life changes to our family. I explained that as a family we have decided to get rid of a good majority of what we own. Our house is full. We have a decent sized house but there are 6 people, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 6 daycare children that occupy it daily. That doesn't leave a lot of room. We have too much furniture, too much paperwork, too much stuff. Over half of what we own we do not need. The purpose is to simplify. Decluttering and having less "stuff" will make life less stressful in many ways. One way is it will mean less cleaning and picking up, less concern for items we own, and more time to put our focus where it is truly needed, on God. Our goal is to simplify our worldly lives to start 'storing up our treasures in Heaven', by being more present with God.
A few people suggested I should blog about this because they too are interested in simplifying. I am in NO WAY a professional organizer, or even been called organized since my daughter was born 5 years ago. I will blog about our process, and our journey. Maybe it will help motivate someone to try to simplify their lives as well. This will be a long process for our family because surely life will get in the way and other obligations will come up. Our goal is to get rid of most of the stuff within a year - then maintain our simplified attitude. So here goes....welcome to our journey! Step one: clothes!
Heavenly Father, Fill our hearts daily with the strength we need to fight temptations. Help us to understand that things of this world will deteriorate and break and get ruined, but our relationship with you will always be strong. Guide me Lord to teach this to my own children. Let me be strong in the journey and let go of those "things" we no longer need that keeps us from getting closer to you. Thank you for all of the blessings you have given us.
Amen
Every time I find myself wanting something for my house or for myself, or my kids are begging for new toys or video games or "things", I pull out this verse. I have to confess it has kept me from making many unnecessary purchases in the past and I hope it will in the future as well.
My kids know the verse well these days. The temptations around us daily are too thick for even the most devout person to get through at times, especially children that are still learning what is necessary and what is not. Society says more is better, bigger is better! We can't watch a t.v. show without being bombarded by commercials for new things, and upgrades to things we already have that were new only a month or two ago, or things we supposedly can't live without. Yes, sometimes these things look super cool and I wish I had them, but then reality kicks in. This verse, rather, kicks in. It reminds me that in this world, less should be more. Our relationship is with God. That relationship is worth more than all of the riches of this earth. The buzz you get when you make a new purchase is only temporary and fades, but the buzz we get from our relationship with God never ends and only builds us up and makes us better. "Things" don't make me happy, my family that God has blessed me with makes me happy. The friends that God has blessed me with makes me happy. Helping others that God has allowed me to help, makes me happy.
It makes me sad to see our society so Godless and empty lately. So many people, especially the youth, have been caught in this constant temptation and feel entitled to have whatever their heart desires. This is creating an empty and selfish world for many. I pray daily that I don't fall prey and that my kids learn this lesson early and often that something they like or want does not equal something they need. I don't always succeed or profess myself to be perfect or without temptations of worldly goods. However, I will continue to strive for that simplicity.
Recently I posted on my Facebook page that our family has already started the process of implementing life changes to our family. I explained that as a family we have decided to get rid of a good majority of what we own. Our house is full. We have a decent sized house but there are 6 people, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 6 daycare children that occupy it daily. That doesn't leave a lot of room. We have too much furniture, too much paperwork, too much stuff. Over half of what we own we do not need. The purpose is to simplify. Decluttering and having less "stuff" will make life less stressful in many ways. One way is it will mean less cleaning and picking up, less concern for items we own, and more time to put our focus where it is truly needed, on God. Our goal is to simplify our worldly lives to start 'storing up our treasures in Heaven', by being more present with God.
A few people suggested I should blog about this because they too are interested in simplifying. I am in NO WAY a professional organizer, or even been called organized since my daughter was born 5 years ago. I will blog about our process, and our journey. Maybe it will help motivate someone to try to simplify their lives as well. This will be a long process for our family because surely life will get in the way and other obligations will come up. Our goal is to get rid of most of the stuff within a year - then maintain our simplified attitude. So here goes....welcome to our journey! Step one: clothes!
Heavenly Father, Fill our hearts daily with the strength we need to fight temptations. Help us to understand that things of this world will deteriorate and break and get ruined, but our relationship with you will always be strong. Guide me Lord to teach this to my own children. Let me be strong in the journey and let go of those "things" we no longer need that keeps us from getting closer to you. Thank you for all of the blessings you have given us.
Amen
Thursday, March 22, 2012
I will Follow you Lord....but....
"Yet another said, 'I will follow You, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home" Luke 9:61
Have you ever said that word "but"? It means you are unsure, self conscious, not confident, and uncommitted. You might want to do something...but...something gets in the way. You might want to be a certain way...but...you are too scared to change your habits or try something new. I think for many of us that word rears its ugly head quite often. Why is it so hard to get around that word? Why can't we just say, I want to go for a bike ride. Period. And then do it? Because we have that little foe of ours called the Devil that whispers in our ear. He causes doubt in us, He creates a fear in us that doesn't allow us to overcome. Sometimes I even feel that way in following the Lord.
I am very involved in my church I would say. I help plan events, I am at every worship service, I teach church classes, I cook meals, etc. I want to commit to everything but then I realize, where does that leave my husband and kids? Left to fend for themselves, unattached to me. That's not what I want either. I feel torn, just like the disciples did when they followed Jesus. They knew the risks. They knew that it would endanger their lives and it would be a hard road to follow...but...they also knew they had a family to take care of and other things to tend to. So eventually, many disciples would end up back at home. I understand that. I want to follow Jesus. I want to feel compelled to say yes to every thing at church and to do everything I can to spread his word - but I also realize that God blessed me with the 4 most beautiful children I could imagine, inside and out, and the most amazing husband. He gave me these people to grow, and fill with his Word, and to teach them about Jesus, so that one day they might be great witnesses to others. Maybe they will grow up and help the sick, feed the hungry, love others the way God wants us too. That is if I do my job right.
So yes, I still have a habit of over booking myself at church things, but that is my "free time" and I know I am needed there - BUT - I have also come to understand my other purpose that the Lord has given me and I am embracing that. I am a teacher at home too, and it is probably my most important role. So the word but is not interfering with my life right now. I have prayed to overcome this burdening word and now say yes to some things and no to others without finding that pesky word thrown in. I can do both. I just have to work hard at helping wherever God wants me to help. So I will follow you Jesus, wherever you take me. Without fear, without reservation, because I know you will always be there for me. Trust in the Lord!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me in organizing my life so that I may help where I am needed at church and teach my young children to follow you. Guide me daily to make the right choices that will benefit the church and my family and help me to continue to overcome the fear and doubt that the word 'but' can instill in people. By doing this, please help me to tune out the doubting words of the Devil whispering in my ears and help me to hear the trumpets of Heaven and the words from the Bible to keep me on the right path. Fill me with courage that I may follow wherever you lead me.
Amen
Have you ever said that word "but"? It means you are unsure, self conscious, not confident, and uncommitted. You might want to do something...but...something gets in the way. You might want to be a certain way...but...you are too scared to change your habits or try something new. I think for many of us that word rears its ugly head quite often. Why is it so hard to get around that word? Why can't we just say, I want to go for a bike ride. Period. And then do it? Because we have that little foe of ours called the Devil that whispers in our ear. He causes doubt in us, He creates a fear in us that doesn't allow us to overcome. Sometimes I even feel that way in following the Lord.
I am very involved in my church I would say. I help plan events, I am at every worship service, I teach church classes, I cook meals, etc. I want to commit to everything but then I realize, where does that leave my husband and kids? Left to fend for themselves, unattached to me. That's not what I want either. I feel torn, just like the disciples did when they followed Jesus. They knew the risks. They knew that it would endanger their lives and it would be a hard road to follow...but...they also knew they had a family to take care of and other things to tend to. So eventually, many disciples would end up back at home. I understand that. I want to follow Jesus. I want to feel compelled to say yes to every thing at church and to do everything I can to spread his word - but I also realize that God blessed me with the 4 most beautiful children I could imagine, inside and out, and the most amazing husband. He gave me these people to grow, and fill with his Word, and to teach them about Jesus, so that one day they might be great witnesses to others. Maybe they will grow up and help the sick, feed the hungry, love others the way God wants us too. That is if I do my job right.
So yes, I still have a habit of over booking myself at church things, but that is my "free time" and I know I am needed there - BUT - I have also come to understand my other purpose that the Lord has given me and I am embracing that. I am a teacher at home too, and it is probably my most important role. So the word but is not interfering with my life right now. I have prayed to overcome this burdening word and now say yes to some things and no to others without finding that pesky word thrown in. I can do both. I just have to work hard at helping wherever God wants me to help. So I will follow you Jesus, wherever you take me. Without fear, without reservation, because I know you will always be there for me. Trust in the Lord!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me in organizing my life so that I may help where I am needed at church and teach my young children to follow you. Guide me daily to make the right choices that will benefit the church and my family and help me to continue to overcome the fear and doubt that the word 'but' can instill in people. By doing this, please help me to tune out the doubting words of the Devil whispering in my ears and help me to hear the trumpets of Heaven and the words from the Bible to keep me on the right path. Fill me with courage that I may follow wherever you lead me.
Amen
Friday, February 17, 2012
How can I be chosen??
John 15:16-19 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remin; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you
Again with the 'me' and 'I' statments. It's so hard to get away from them in this life. It's so hard to make everything you do selfless when as humans we need so much! But the question, am I chosen to do this or this has come into my head a lot lately. I know that God has a plan for each of us, and none of us are accidents. We are all part of His plan. Sometimes people have a very hard time giving their lives to the Lord and letting him direct their path, me included. I was inspired to write today because I have been so busy lately with life and church and date nights with my kids, but I was reading in a prayer book that I had gotten from my LWML Convention last summer and was reinspired! Here is the message I read that made me feel alot better about my lack of acknowledging that God chose me as His people! This excerpt is taken from the book 'You Make A Difference' by Alma Kern.
Yes!You!
Moses was one of the greatest men of all times. He was the leader of God's ancient people.
How did Moses react when God chose him? He made all kinds of excuses: They won't believe me. They won't do what I tell them. I'm not a good speaker. O Lord, please send someone else. (sound familiar?)
What God tells us to do is often not what we want to be doing. We look for excuses. We put ourselves down, so we'll be excused.
Jesus is our Savior, also our Lord and Master. He laid down his life for us. He expects us to live our life for Him.
A few of our assignments are: Love your neighbor, forgive those who hurt you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Be salt of the earth, light of the world. Be a witness, tell other people about Jesus.
We are inclined to respon, " Who? Me? You've got more confidence in me than I have. I can't do these things. No way! O Lord, please send someone else."
We may be tempted to ask, "Who? Me?" We already know the anser: Yes! You!
We all do this, don't we? We don't stand confidently in the Lord? We are cowards and are afraid to to be bold and take ownership of our Christian tasks!
I have many things going on at church right now. I am teaching midweek, helping with all youth activities and planning, a member of the choir, on the board of Evangelism, in LWML and a women's circle, and the chair of the National Youth Gathering committee. But I am addicted. I need more more more! Church is not a responsibility to me anymore, it is my enjoyment, my free time and my outlet. I recently found an awesome women's Bible study that I wanted to do with a small group, and showed it to my friend at church and was pleased that she was so excited about it, she wanted to open it up to the whole church! I feel my path with the Lord is pulling me (sometimes in different directions) but I feel like I am gaining confidence in my roles and have talents at the Church in certain areas.
I am no longer asking am I worthy or why am I chosen for this all the time (only some of the time). I am enjoying sharing my talents with others and using some of my talents to help the church. I hope to continue to help with whatever I can.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to continue to use those talents to be selfless and help others. Help me to not question your path for me and to give my life to you daily. Thank you for my church and my friends that appreciate me for me and accept me as another chosen member of their congregation. Thank you for all these gifts.
Amen
Again with the 'me' and 'I' statments. It's so hard to get away from them in this life. It's so hard to make everything you do selfless when as humans we need so much! But the question, am I chosen to do this or this has come into my head a lot lately. I know that God has a plan for each of us, and none of us are accidents. We are all part of His plan. Sometimes people have a very hard time giving their lives to the Lord and letting him direct their path, me included. I was inspired to write today because I have been so busy lately with life and church and date nights with my kids, but I was reading in a prayer book that I had gotten from my LWML Convention last summer and was reinspired! Here is the message I read that made me feel alot better about my lack of acknowledging that God chose me as His people! This excerpt is taken from the book 'You Make A Difference' by Alma Kern.
Yes!You!
Moses was one of the greatest men of all times. He was the leader of God's ancient people.
How did Moses react when God chose him? He made all kinds of excuses: They won't believe me. They won't do what I tell them. I'm not a good speaker. O Lord, please send someone else. (sound familiar?)
What God tells us to do is often not what we want to be doing. We look for excuses. We put ourselves down, so we'll be excused.
Jesus is our Savior, also our Lord and Master. He laid down his life for us. He expects us to live our life for Him.
A few of our assignments are: Love your neighbor, forgive those who hurt you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Be salt of the earth, light of the world. Be a witness, tell other people about Jesus.
We are inclined to respon, " Who? Me? You've got more confidence in me than I have. I can't do these things. No way! O Lord, please send someone else."
We may be tempted to ask, "Who? Me?" We already know the anser: Yes! You!
We all do this, don't we? We don't stand confidently in the Lord? We are cowards and are afraid to to be bold and take ownership of our Christian tasks!
I have many things going on at church right now. I am teaching midweek, helping with all youth activities and planning, a member of the choir, on the board of Evangelism, in LWML and a women's circle, and the chair of the National Youth Gathering committee. But I am addicted. I need more more more! Church is not a responsibility to me anymore, it is my enjoyment, my free time and my outlet. I recently found an awesome women's Bible study that I wanted to do with a small group, and showed it to my friend at church and was pleased that she was so excited about it, she wanted to open it up to the whole church! I feel my path with the Lord is pulling me (sometimes in different directions) but I feel like I am gaining confidence in my roles and have talents at the Church in certain areas.
I am no longer asking am I worthy or why am I chosen for this all the time (only some of the time). I am enjoying sharing my talents with others and using some of my talents to help the church. I hope to continue to help with whatever I can.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to continue to use those talents to be selfless and help others. Help me to not question your path for me and to give my life to you daily. Thank you for my church and my friends that appreciate me for me and accept me as another chosen member of their congregation. Thank you for all these gifts.
Amen
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Jesus is the Reason for the Season
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Us as Christians know this. That Jesus is the reason of the season, but even as Christians, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of decorations, trees, baking, shopping, gifts and greed. What should be a time of year to become closer to our Lord and celebrate the most wonderful day of the world, his birth, has even been manipulated by the Devil. Once again that Devil has found a way to entice us and wrap us up in the unimportant aspects of this holiday. The original concept of gift giving was a way to show people love, but now it is a way to buy people's love. People are consumed with buying, and wanting, the most expensive and up to date gifts and kids are disappointed when parents and "Santa" don't buy them everything in the entire toy store and don't realize they don't need it. Want, want, want. It is the word that makes this world selfish. I try to explain it to my kids, but even they are selfish about gifts. They look through the Toys R Us Big book and say they want it to everything (except the girl toys). I feel like I haven't taught them very well how to celebrate Jesus on this Holiday.
Just the other day I told my oldest, who is now 7 1/2, that we are attending worship service at 10am on Christmas Sunday, and he got mad!! I was shocked. I know he knows what Christmas is all about, but his reaction to having to go to church on one of the two most important days of the year, instead of staying home to play with his new treasures, made my heart unhappy. How do I draw that fine line. It's ok to get a few gifts at Christmas but it's NOT ok to be greedy and forget the real reason for the holiday. Jesus comes first! How did he miss that lesson? I think this year we are going to heavily concentrate on the story of the nativity and the real story of Christmas and remind them that the gifts are just a bonus, but not the reason for the holiday.
I want it to come naturally for my kids to just live with Christ in their hearts. I know that this is difficult for all humans because we are sinful beings, but I want them to wear Christ daily more than the average person. I want them to strive for that too.
Us as Christians know this. That Jesus is the reason of the season, but even as Christians, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of decorations, trees, baking, shopping, gifts and greed. What should be a time of year to become closer to our Lord and celebrate the most wonderful day of the world, his birth, has even been manipulated by the Devil. Once again that Devil has found a way to entice us and wrap us up in the unimportant aspects of this holiday. The original concept of gift giving was a way to show people love, but now it is a way to buy people's love. People are consumed with buying, and wanting, the most expensive and up to date gifts and kids are disappointed when parents and "Santa" don't buy them everything in the entire toy store and don't realize they don't need it. Want, want, want. It is the word that makes this world selfish. I try to explain it to my kids, but even they are selfish about gifts. They look through the Toys R Us Big book and say they want it to everything (except the girl toys). I feel like I haven't taught them very well how to celebrate Jesus on this Holiday.
Just the other day I told my oldest, who is now 7 1/2, that we are attending worship service at 10am on Christmas Sunday, and he got mad!! I was shocked. I know he knows what Christmas is all about, but his reaction to having to go to church on one of the two most important days of the year, instead of staying home to play with his new treasures, made my heart unhappy. How do I draw that fine line. It's ok to get a few gifts at Christmas but it's NOT ok to be greedy and forget the real reason for the holiday. Jesus comes first! How did he miss that lesson? I think this year we are going to heavily concentrate on the story of the nativity and the real story of Christmas and remind them that the gifts are just a bonus, but not the reason for the holiday.
I want it to come naturally for my kids to just live with Christ in their hearts. I know that this is difficult for all humans because we are sinful beings, but I want them to wear Christ daily more than the average person. I want them to strive for that too.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Lord I lift your name on high!
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. I'm sure you all have heard or at some point in your life even sang this church song. It's about telling everyone the good news of Jesus, not hiding him but sharing him and the light he gives us when we know him. If we share our light and pass it on, then the next person passes it on, then we could light up the whole world! Wouldn't that be nice? Too bad it's not that easy. Too bad we have the Devil to contend with that wiggles into our hearts and minds and pushes us to make bad decisions and act in an ungodly manner. It's a battle that each of us fights everyday.
I can't believe it's been 4 months again since I've posted on this blog. It has been a whirlwind for the last few months and I am just trying to keep my head screwed on tight. I feel lifted up lately. I feel closer to God than I ever have in my life and I am doing my best to share my faith and surround myself by faith centered people. I have become even more involved in our church lately and feel motivated and led by God to work with the youth of our church. My brain moves a thousand miles a minute thinking of new ideas to try and get the youth more involved and more motivated and have been working directly with the Youth Director of our church to help wherever I can. Since my last post I have convinced our Youth Director that we need to take our youth to the National LCMS Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX in July 2013. She has never been herself - I went in 1998 to Atlanta, GA and it was by far the most amazing thing I've ever done in my Christian life. I can't even explain to our youth how awesome it was and will be for them, and they aren't yet convinced that it is what they want to do, but I'm hoping to convince them. It is an awesome experience to worship and praise the Lord with 30,000 other youth and leaders from across the country.
Though my motivation is to work with the youth and I feel God leading me in that direction, I feel that I am failing miserably as a parent. I take the kids to church each Sunday and they are involved in all that they can be at church for their age, but once we get home I drop the ball. I say things about Jesus from time to time, but don't do any children's devotionals with them, or read them Christian stories or talk about Jesus in everything we do, and I strive to be much better about that. I don't want them to think that being a Christian stops at the door of the church. I also pray that my own family (sisters and parents) will find the Lord again and find a church that they can become a part of and worship with because we all went every Sunday growing up and it makes me sad that they aren't as active as they used to be. So I will continue my work on myself and with the Lord. As we approach this Advent season I hope you all feel closer to the Lord and find a church that you can worship at and be a part of. It's so important to keep Him close. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" Galatians 5:25
God help me to put the spirit of the Lord in my own children daily and teach them about their Savior and his sacrifice for us and His love that is never ending. I pray that I can teach them to talk to the Lord daily and serve Him in all they do and not be afraid to tell others about their love for Jesus. I also pray that I can help my parents and sisters find the Lord again and realize that making time for the Lord, as they used to do, will renew them daily. -Amen.
I can't believe it's been 4 months again since I've posted on this blog. It has been a whirlwind for the last few months and I am just trying to keep my head screwed on tight. I feel lifted up lately. I feel closer to God than I ever have in my life and I am doing my best to share my faith and surround myself by faith centered people. I have become even more involved in our church lately and feel motivated and led by God to work with the youth of our church. My brain moves a thousand miles a minute thinking of new ideas to try and get the youth more involved and more motivated and have been working directly with the Youth Director of our church to help wherever I can. Since my last post I have convinced our Youth Director that we need to take our youth to the National LCMS Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX in July 2013. She has never been herself - I went in 1998 to Atlanta, GA and it was by far the most amazing thing I've ever done in my Christian life. I can't even explain to our youth how awesome it was and will be for them, and they aren't yet convinced that it is what they want to do, but I'm hoping to convince them. It is an awesome experience to worship and praise the Lord with 30,000 other youth and leaders from across the country.
Though my motivation is to work with the youth and I feel God leading me in that direction, I feel that I am failing miserably as a parent. I take the kids to church each Sunday and they are involved in all that they can be at church for their age, but once we get home I drop the ball. I say things about Jesus from time to time, but don't do any children's devotionals with them, or read them Christian stories or talk about Jesus in everything we do, and I strive to be much better about that. I don't want them to think that being a Christian stops at the door of the church. I also pray that my own family (sisters and parents) will find the Lord again and find a church that they can become a part of and worship with because we all went every Sunday growing up and it makes me sad that they aren't as active as they used to be. So I will continue my work on myself and with the Lord. As we approach this Advent season I hope you all feel closer to the Lord and find a church that you can worship at and be a part of. It's so important to keep Him close. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" Galatians 5:25
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wow, changes.
So I realized that I hadn't posted on this blog in five months. The realization of this is also that that was about the last time I really worked out, so needless to say I haven't lost any weight. I have discovered that I have no time for anything besides getting through my days. I hope that as my kids get just a bit older, I can begin to work on myself in many ways. So since my progress is so slow physically, then I have decided to make changes in other areas of my life where it isn't so time consuming. One of those things is my church and spiritual life. I have always been a church goer, minus my hiatus during college years. Over the last five years we have gotten really involved in our church and it feels good to be with people of a like faith and passion for Christ again.
So with that said, I have decided that as much as I'd like something to be about me to make my life separate from my children, from my husband, from my friends, and family, the one that I can NEVER be separate from is Christ. He is with me in everything that I do and everywhere that I go. Good or bad, thick or thin, he is with me until the end. So with that knowledge, I can't honestly say it's All About Me anymore, I should say It's All About Him. I am trying to live my life for Him and raise my children in His image and even with weight loss, it's to be healthy so I can be a better witness for him for a longer time.
My passion in Christ was renewed back in June, when I was chosen for our NE district to be a Young Women Representative at the National Lutheran Women in Mission League in Peoria, IL. It was an honor of sorts and it was a chance for me to learn how to Live on the Edge. I had never left my four kids for five days, or had never been thrown into a situation where I wouldn't know anyone except for a small handful of other church women. But I have ideas, and I have goals for my Church, for my position as a young woman witness for Christ. This was an opportunity to learn how, to equip myself with the tools needed to do something more than just cook hot dogs at a church function. I want to inspire someone else to join LWML, or our church or better yet, to follow Christ!
So this blog is taking a detour. It is following a path that is directed toward the Lord. We have our seat belts on and I will hopefully be making a difference in someone else's life. It is NOT All About Me, as much as it would be nice to be for five minutes a day, but it is All About Him and our journey to Him. Maybe things I have to say will be profound, and maybe they will be a bore. But we won't know until I try. So I hope you'll stay with me and hear my thoughts, since they seem to be getting a better work out then my waist or butt.
And they realized they had been with Jesus. "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard". Acts 4:13b &20
So with that said, I have decided that as much as I'd like something to be about me to make my life separate from my children, from my husband, from my friends, and family, the one that I can NEVER be separate from is Christ. He is with me in everything that I do and everywhere that I go. Good or bad, thick or thin, he is with me until the end. So with that knowledge, I can't honestly say it's All About Me anymore, I should say It's All About Him. I am trying to live my life for Him and raise my children in His image and even with weight loss, it's to be healthy so I can be a better witness for him for a longer time.
My passion in Christ was renewed back in June, when I was chosen for our NE district to be a Young Women Representative at the National Lutheran Women in Mission League in Peoria, IL. It was an honor of sorts and it was a chance for me to learn how to Live on the Edge. I had never left my four kids for five days, or had never been thrown into a situation where I wouldn't know anyone except for a small handful of other church women. But I have ideas, and I have goals for my Church, for my position as a young woman witness for Christ. This was an opportunity to learn how, to equip myself with the tools needed to do something more than just cook hot dogs at a church function. I want to inspire someone else to join LWML, or our church or better yet, to follow Christ!
So this blog is taking a detour. It is following a path that is directed toward the Lord. We have our seat belts on and I will hopefully be making a difference in someone else's life. It is NOT All About Me, as much as it would be nice to be for five minutes a day, but it is All About Him and our journey to Him. Maybe things I have to say will be profound, and maybe they will be a bore. But we won't know until I try. So I hope you'll stay with me and hear my thoughts, since they seem to be getting a better work out then my waist or butt.
And they realized they had been with Jesus. "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard". Acts 4:13b &20
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