Well, I'm headed to the Women of Faith Conference today. It's theme this year is "Infinite Grace". I feel like I need a little grace lately. I'm so glad I serve the God of infinite grace. He has just the right amount for me when I need it most. He's a right on time God. I praise Him this morning for knowing what I need, when I need it, and how much of it I need to make me more like Him.
I read one verse this morning. My Bible was open already. I looked up and here's the verse...
"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." Ecc. 1:2
As I searched the study notes of my Bibles to see just what this meant, this is what I come up with. Vanity is futility, which means meaningless, emptiness, nothingness, that which is futile or worthless, of no value or profit. Pursuing anything that God is not in is vanity. Whether it be money, a certain job, a baby, a Bible study, recognition, fixing a problem and not waiting on Him, etc...you name it...ANYTHING that is not of God is vanity...worthless, meaningless.
This kind of ties in with what I've been studying about in my quiet time this week. One ugly word...PRIDE. Did you know that pride is not the opposite of a low self-esteem?? Pride is the opposite of humility which means "to lower oneself, to be brought low". Beth says in the study "Living Free"...
"When we see God as He is, we automatically see ourselves as we are. Low self-esteem means I see myself as low~not because God is great, but because I have little value. Pride is self-absorption, whether we're absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. Humility is God-focused not self-focused."
I am praying for a little grace this weekend. All too much of what I've been trying to do lately has been with great vanity. I am trying to learn to do everything I do with honoring Him in mind. But to do that we need His strength and His direction.
Father, I pray for Your strength and guidance this morning. To do anything You've asked me to do, I need You. You've called me to be a wife, a mother, a teacher and to lead a Bible study just to name a few. I'm asking for Your power. To honor You will only be with Your strength. I have nothing to give that would be pleasing to You. Thank You for your grace and mercy just when I need it.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Effective Ads
I will preface all of this by saying that Don and I do not talk politics (in front of the kids or otherwise really). Kids really do hear what is said, even when we think they're not listening. Yesterday, Emma came up to me and this was our conversation...
E: Barak Obama is mean.
M: What?
E: Barak Obama is mean.
M: What do you know about Barak Obama?
E: I know he's mean.
I was floored. Then because Obama was in Raleigh, they had him speaking on the noon news. We walked in the room together and they had not mentioned his name.
M: Emma, who is that on TV?
E: That's Barak Obama.
I guess it goes to show you that the ads for this election are getting through. I wonder if she knows who McCain is?? I wonder who she would vote for if allowed??? I guess it goes to show you that we do make an impact on children with the words we use and the way we use them.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
E: Barak Obama is mean.
M: What?
E: Barak Obama is mean.
M: What do you know about Barak Obama?
E: I know he's mean.
I was floored. Then because Obama was in Raleigh, they had him speaking on the noon news. We walked in the room together and they had not mentioned his name.
M: Emma, who is that on TV?
E: That's Barak Obama.
I guess it goes to show you that the ads for this election are getting through. I wonder if she knows who McCain is?? I wonder who she would vote for if allowed??? I guess it goes to show you that we do make an impact on children with the words we use and the way we use them.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Consuming Thoughts
I've really struggled lately trying to bring myself to put into words what my heart is feeling. In my quiet time, the Lord has been showing me some things. What consumes my thoughts? Mark 4:14-20 talks about the parable of the sower. This is where I've camped for a while.
Vs. 15 talks about the 1st kind of people..."they by the wayside" which are the unresponsive people. These people fail to respond to the Word so satan removes it quickly. How many times does the Lord nudge me to call someone, write a note, say a word about Him that I quickly dismiss and then...it's gone. The Lord then uses someone else.
The 2nd kind of people is found in vs. 16-17. Here it's the "stony ground" or impulsive people. These people immediately receive the Word, but not counting the cost. There are no deep roots here; we believe for a while until trouble or persecution comes, and we quickly fall away. I don't want to fail the tests God allows in my life, but boy, am I feeling weak. My spirit seems broken with all the sadness I am enduring personally and that of others which brings me to point #3.
The 3rd is "those among thorns" or the preoccupied people. Here we allow legitimate matters ("cares of this world") and illegitimate matters ("the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things") to take priority over the Word. The Lord never said that the cares of this world that we bare are bad, but He did say for us to cast all our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
4th is "the good ground". Here we hear and receive or take to heart the Word which bares the fruits of faith, obedience and fidelity.
Father, I feel as if You are tilling my garden...trying to make me "good ground" to bare much fruit for You. You know my heart and the fears and tears that reside within. Father, I pray that the moment I begin to allow those to choke out Your Word and Your Promises to me, that You would nudge me...remind me that You are near. I'm nothing without You, Lord. I have NO strength of my own, so I MUST have Yours to be able to carry on. Infiltrate me through Your Hands. I love You Lord.
Vs. 15 talks about the 1st kind of people..."they by the wayside" which are the unresponsive people. These people fail to respond to the Word so satan removes it quickly. How many times does the Lord nudge me to call someone, write a note, say a word about Him that I quickly dismiss and then...it's gone. The Lord then uses someone else.
The 2nd kind of people is found in vs. 16-17. Here it's the "stony ground" or impulsive people. These people immediately receive the Word, but not counting the cost. There are no deep roots here; we believe for a while until trouble or persecution comes, and we quickly fall away. I don't want to fail the tests God allows in my life, but boy, am I feeling weak. My spirit seems broken with all the sadness I am enduring personally and that of others which brings me to point #3.
The 3rd is "those among thorns" or the preoccupied people. Here we allow legitimate matters ("cares of this world") and illegitimate matters ("the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things") to take priority over the Word. The Lord never said that the cares of this world that we bare are bad, but He did say for us to cast all our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
4th is "the good ground". Here we hear and receive or take to heart the Word which bares the fruits of faith, obedience and fidelity.
Father, I feel as if You are tilling my garden...trying to make me "good ground" to bare much fruit for You. You know my heart and the fears and tears that reside within. Father, I pray that the moment I begin to allow those to choke out Your Word and Your Promises to me, that You would nudge me...remind me that You are near. I'm nothing without You, Lord. I have NO strength of my own, so I MUST have Yours to be able to carry on. Infiltrate me through Your Hands. I love You Lord.
Happy Birthday Charlie!
Just wanted to say happy 25th birthday to Charlie, my brother. It was actually yesterday. Love you...
Beth & Charlie on their wedding day, Sept. 6th.
Beth & Charlie on their wedding day, Sept. 6th.Sunday, October 26, 2008
Trunk or Treat
Tonight our church hosted it's annual "Trunk or Treat". For those of you not familiar with that, it's where people dress up their trunks and put tons of candy in. Some people dress up with a theme and give out candy. Others just put the candy in their trunks and walk around. It's safe and fun and what we do in place of Halloween. They had a blast. Here are the "Justice Babies" as they called themselves.
Gracie, Chloe, Ethan and Emma
Chloe and Emma showing their "superhero powers".
Gracie, Chloe, Ethan and Emma
Chloe and Emma showing their "superhero powers".Friday, October 24, 2008
Broken
Simple word, isn't it? However, it packs such a punch in our lives. I'm extremely heavy laden this morning. My heart is breaking for families all around me. Ones facing terminal illnesses, sicknesses, marital issues ,and just brokenness. God blessed me with the the gift of mercy. I know this because it was based on a long list of my misuses of the gift. I tend to want to do my best to fix the problems and heartaches of the ones I love. But, Isaiah 55:8-9 says...
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
God has a plan...a purpose for the troubles and trials we face. Now, do I understand it all? No way. Do I understand why a young, new mother of a 4, 2, & 5 day old is facing death with the diagnosis of stage 4 cancer? No. Do I understand why a family I love faces a broken home and the possibility of divorce? No. But God knows and He has a plan for making us more like Him. I think the thing that really weighs on me most is even just in these 2 particular instances I described, it could be MY circumstances. I'm not above anything either of these 2 particular families are facing.
However, I refuse to live in the pit today. I will think on the promises of God. I will remember He is Lord of ALL....the Beginning and the End...my Comfort and my Refuge.
Lord, thank You for being those things. Thank You that You never allow more to happen to us than we need. I pray for all the families on my heart this morning. Lord, You're the only Hope most of these families have including my own. Help my thoughts be captivated by You and honoring You. Thank You, Lord, for being my All in all.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
God has a plan...a purpose for the troubles and trials we face. Now, do I understand it all? No way. Do I understand why a young, new mother of a 4, 2, & 5 day old is facing death with the diagnosis of stage 4 cancer? No. Do I understand why a family I love faces a broken home and the possibility of divorce? No. But God knows and He has a plan for making us more like Him. I think the thing that really weighs on me most is even just in these 2 particular instances I described, it could be MY circumstances. I'm not above anything either of these 2 particular families are facing.
However, I refuse to live in the pit today. I will think on the promises of God. I will remember He is Lord of ALL....the Beginning and the End...my Comfort and my Refuge.
Lord, thank You for being those things. Thank You that You never allow more to happen to us than we need. I pray for all the families on my heart this morning. Lord, You're the only Hope most of these families have including my own. Help my thoughts be captivated by You and honoring You. Thank You, Lord, for being my All in all.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Beginning and The End
I wanted to share what the Lord showed me in my quiet time yesterday. I really meant to do it yesterday, but there was just no time. I was reading Rev. 21:6...
"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
I've read that verse many times, but yesterday I read the study notes in my Bible concerning that verse. It said that the beginning represented the origin of ALL things and the end represented the goal or aim of ALL things. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with what the Lord has been teaching me lately. For satan to tempt me or put pressure on me of any kind, he must first go to Jesus since He's the origin of ALL things (good and bad). My goal or aim for every thing I'm faced with should be Jesus and bringing Him glory and honor. It goes on to say that the water of life represented eternal sustenance and provisions. Dictionary.com said that sustenance was...
1. means of sustaining life; nourishment.
2. means of livelihood.
3. the process of sustaining.
4. the state of being sustained.
That nourishment could be physical, spiritual or emotional. The Lord also seemed to show me that the fountain was the source...where the water came from. So if we are thirsty, He promised "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." We must just come to Him.
Father, thank You that You are the beginning and the end just like Your Word says. Thank You that when I'm thirsty, all I need to do is come to that fountain for a drink of Your Nourishment. Thank You that it's free, and that it doesn't depend on anything I do or don't do. I certainly don't deserve it.
"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
I've read that verse many times, but yesterday I read the study notes in my Bible concerning that verse. It said that the beginning represented the origin of ALL things and the end represented the goal or aim of ALL things. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with what the Lord has been teaching me lately. For satan to tempt me or put pressure on me of any kind, he must first go to Jesus since He's the origin of ALL things (good and bad). My goal or aim for every thing I'm faced with should be Jesus and bringing Him glory and honor. It goes on to say that the water of life represented eternal sustenance and provisions. Dictionary.com said that sustenance was...
1. means of sustaining life; nourishment.
2. means of livelihood.
3. the process of sustaining.
4. the state of being sustained.
That nourishment could be physical, spiritual or emotional. The Lord also seemed to show me that the fountain was the source...where the water came from. So if we are thirsty, He promised "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." We must just come to Him.
Father, thank You that You are the beginning and the end just like Your Word says. Thank You that when I'm thirsty, all I need to do is come to that fountain for a drink of Your Nourishment. Thank You that it's free, and that it doesn't depend on anything I do or don't do. I certainly don't deserve it.
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