Progress... Just make progress. It is okay to have setbacks and the need for do-overs. It is okay to draw a line in the sand and start over again and again. Just make sure you are moving the line forward. Move forward. Take baby steps, but at least take steps that keep you from being stuck. Then change will come. and it will be good. Imperfect changes are slow steps of progress wrapped in Grace... Imperfect Progress. When you change your perspective you find the key to not coming unglued.
I cannot control the things that happen to me each day, but I can control how i think about them. I have the choice to have destructive thoughts or constructive thoughts... I can wallow in whats wrong and make things worse, or I can ask God for a better perspective to help me see good even when I don't feel good.
Can I trust God and believe that He is working out something good even from things that seem no good?
When faced with a situation out of our control, we should ask, "Who's side am I on" If we ground ourselves in the reality that we trust God, we can face circumstances that are out of our control without acting out of control.
This is Imperfect Progress.
Praying in the Name of Jesus is giving Him power of attorney to intercede on your behalf when you make requests of the Father. Tell Jesus who you need Him to be... Then call Him that... Those are Words of Faith.... Wonderful Counselor, Great Physician, etc...
Romans 12.2 instructs us to not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's Will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
I want to let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart... "But now, Yahweh, you are our Father, we are the clay, and you are our potter; and we are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64.8
If we can strive for imperfect progress, trust God that He will bring good out of any situation that we are faced with, Pray for Jesus to be what we are begging Him to be, and allow Him to transform us - like clay in the potters hand... then our weaknesses can be a vessel for His power, and our flaws a canvas for His Grace. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. {2 Corinthians 12.9}
My weaknesses are many, my flaws are countless... But my God knows my heart, my deepest desires, and all of my struggles - no matter how small. I have overcome many, are in the trenches with many, and surely have many to come... But my God is good... and I will listen and obey... Right now my heart aches with the 'could have beens'... But Psalms 35.18 reminds me that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those who's spirits are crushed." I have been told that sometimes God's blessings are not in what He gives; But in what He takes away... He knows what is best. I will Trust Him. Imperfect Progress.
{Matthew 6.27} "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Can all my worries add a single moment to my life? No. Isaiah 66.9 says "I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born." Draw a line in the sand. Take baby steps. Imperfect Progress. "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you." {Isaiah 43.2}
The moment the growth of life left my body, I lost a part of myself... I'm not sure if the pain was worse because of the shock of what happened, or the ripping wound of knowing what will never be here on earth in my arms... I know that HOPE is what holds a breaking heart together... Oh Sweet Savior, I beg that you will grant me the Grace to endure. I have suffered and experienced loss twice before, and I know full well I and living in yesterday's fear. But I come to you in the present, in this moment. Restore my soul with comfort and assurance that all is well, and all will be well. I lay my anxiety at the feet of your throne... shower me with the security to trust....
Imperfect Progress.
Isaiah 46.4 I have made you. I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 41 - I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I am not letting go. I'm telling you, "Don't panic. I'm right here to help you."
I am going to allow my life to set the scene for God's glorious intervention. Softly God announces His presence by gently and tenderly tapping at my heart and mind seeking entrance. Even though He has all the power in heaven and earth, His is ever so tender with me. I see that my weakness is a door to allow Him in. He is my Ever-present Help. To hope in Him protects me from depression. Hope is like a golden cord connecting me to Him. The more I cling to it, the more He bears my burdens... His light then shines in my darkness. Imperfect Progress when I look at my past and how I have dealt with pain...
This baby - perfectly formed in the palm of my hand... was taken from my arms here on earth - but was held in the arms of our One True Father. Spared of pain and suffering... but leaving such a void in mommas heart... So I will strive to keep making Imperfect Progress.
I will not be afraid or ashamed of my emptiness. It is by God's tender Mercy that I can TRUST that it will be filled with His Peace.
January 24, 2016
January 22, 2016
Yackey yack yack...
What are we saying in our everyday lingo to our kids? We talk to them in a discussion, sitting them down explaining them something. There is instructional talk, giving them directions eg. obey (most common word around our house anyway!). But Deuteronomy 6 tells us to have everyday talk... when I read this passage, I first thought "of course I do that". When there is a thunderstorm, I tell my daughter that God sends us storms to help the flowers grow. When she freaks out about bugs, I tell her that God created every living thing, and that each one has purpose and job.... But do I break it down more than that? Do I take time to be an example? (more than just keeping my language clean, reigning in my occasional road rage, etc)
So I took a few days to evaluate my attitude and actions.... CRAP!!!! IF GOD HAD A STICK, HE WOULD BE WHOPPIN ME WITH IT!!
Talking to our kids should be more than prayer time, when they are frightened, and... its minute by minute. I fail, everyday.
Everyday talk can be used as a weapon. To allow His commands to be in our hearts - they must dominate our thinking and overflow from our hearts and into the lives of our kids... Which leads to the question of: what kinds of thoughts live long enough in our hearts to take up residence there - that you just can't stop thinking about them? Is it your favorite sports team, a movie you want to see, a pair of killer shoes on sale? Or is negative thoughts about how someone did you wrong, how unfair your life is? We are called to a higher standard! What bears in/on our hearts is what automatically comes out of our mouths and portrayed by our actions.
Lasting impressions can't be made over dinnertime prayers. So talking about the weather with the kids is a great way to talk about God.... but what other ways can I share with them in that given event? Talk about all types of weather... tell her stories from the bible - Jesus calmed the seas - and even walked on water! (um, hello kami, where was your head? - probably a little frustrated that they were all over me whining about the thunderstorm which lead me to stop doing what I was doing at the time.... SELFISH!!!)
We as parents have an example to set. Unguarded words from our mouths present a powerful view of God to our children. Casual words forcefully instruct our children about God - for good and bad. Our lack in judgement about how we feel when something doesnt go our way, communicates to our kids just how well we think Jesus Christ is. We are complaining about His decisions. Who are we pleasing? Who's cheering us on? NOT the Holy Spirit! We only have so many words, so many minutes to show God's truth to our kids. God wants us to make them ALL count. They need to hear God's truths spoken with love and awe by parents following God's instruction.
Our interaction with God in everyday, ordinary, non-church life is the most powerful tool of influence we have with our children. It communicates what we REALLY believe. Our delivery of Gods Word should be presented with a happy pleasant spirit... these words spoken correctly will make them attractive. Dont just throw Gods Word at them. Present it with love and care. The book gives an example of fine jewelry - if Bryan would have proposed to me by flinging my ring at me, and saying all the right words, but with the wrong tone behind it, and flying out the door - I can tell you right now I probably wouldnt be sitting here today worrying about how to show God to my kids, thats for sure!! Because more often than not, we hurl Gods Word at our kids in the heat of a battle, propelled by frustration and anger.
Jesus even used everyday talk to teach His diciples. He used every event and non-event to talk to them. He used a fig tree, a sparrow, a kernel of wheat, foxes, wine, camels, gates, highways, pearls, mustard seeds, the hair on your head, money, the weather, etc.
Talking about God isnt hard or complicated, but it does require time and preparation. If we dont spend time THINKING about God, we wont have alot to SAY about Him. We arent the only ones talking to our kids. Its amazing to hear the statistics on how much time your children spend watching tv versus how much time we are truly talking and teaching them. If tv time is outweighing talk time - who is winning the influence battle?? It doesnt take R rated films to have an un-godly influence.
Anything that doesnt influence your child for god is an influence away from God. Jesus taught that whoever was not with Him was against Him.
We need to start realizing that everyday talk should be given as the most precious gifts, because it is! I pray that God will use this book so effectively that the everyday talk our children start hearing will lead them to Christ! And that our responses, even to something like unexpected rain, will lead to praising God.
What do you think your everyday talk reveals about your priorities and your worldview?
Make a list of 25 ordinary events or things that you could use for everyday talk about God.
When do you have everyday talk with your children?
What opportunities do you have to increase or improve your everyday talk?
So I took a few days to evaluate my attitude and actions.... CRAP!!!! IF GOD HAD A STICK, HE WOULD BE WHOPPIN ME WITH IT!!
Talking to our kids should be more than prayer time, when they are frightened, and
Everyday talk can be used as a weapon. To allow His commands to be in our hearts - they must dominate our thinking and overflow from our hearts and into the lives of our kids... Which leads to the question of: what kinds of thoughts live long enough in our hearts to take up residence there - that you just can't stop thinking about them? Is it your favorite sports team, a movie you want to see, a pair of killer shoes on sale? Or is negative thoughts about how someone did you wrong, how unfair your life is? We are called to a higher standard! What bears in/on our hearts is what automatically comes out of our mouths and portrayed by our actions.
Lasting impressions can't be made over dinnertime prayers. So talking about the weather with the kids is a great way to talk about God.... but what other ways can I share with them in that given event? Talk about all types of weather... tell her stories from the bible - Jesus calmed the seas - and even walked on water! (um, hello kami, where was your head? - probably a little frustrated that they were all over me whining about the thunderstorm which lead me to stop doing what I was doing at the time.... SELFISH!!!)
We as parents have an example to set. Unguarded words from our mouths present a powerful view of God to our children. Casual words forcefully instruct our children about God - for good and bad. Our lack in judgement about how we feel when something doesnt go our way, communicates to our kids just how well we think Jesus Christ is. We are complaining about His decisions. Who are we pleasing? Who's cheering us on? NOT the Holy Spirit! We only have so many words, so many minutes to show God's truth to our kids. God wants us to make them ALL count. They need to hear God's truths spoken with love and awe by parents following God's instruction.
Our interaction with God in everyday, ordinary, non-church life is the most powerful tool of influence we have with our children. It communicates what we REALLY believe. Our delivery of Gods Word should be presented with a happy pleasant spirit... these words spoken correctly will make them attractive. Dont just throw Gods Word at them. Present it with love and care. The book gives an example of fine jewelry - if Bryan would have proposed to me by flinging my ring at me, and saying all the right words, but with the wrong tone behind it, and flying out the door - I can tell you right now I probably wouldnt be sitting here today worrying about how to show God to my kids, thats for sure!! Because more often than not, we hurl Gods Word at our kids in the heat of a battle, propelled by frustration and anger.
Jesus even used everyday talk to teach His diciples. He used every event and non-event to talk to them. He used a fig tree, a sparrow, a kernel of wheat, foxes, wine, camels, gates, highways, pearls, mustard seeds, the hair on your head, money, the weather, etc.
Talking about God isnt hard or complicated, but it does require time and preparation. If we dont spend time THINKING about God, we wont have alot to SAY about Him. We arent the only ones talking to our kids. Its amazing to hear the statistics on how much time your children spend watching tv versus how much time we are truly talking and teaching them. If tv time is outweighing talk time - who is winning the influence battle?? It doesnt take R rated films to have an un-godly influence.
Anything that doesnt influence your child for god is an influence away from God. Jesus taught that whoever was not with Him was against Him.
We need to start realizing that everyday talk should be given as the most precious gifts, because it is! I pray that God will use this book so effectively that the everyday talk our children start hearing will lead them to Christ! And that our responses, even to something like unexpected rain, will lead to praising God.
What do you think your everyday talk reveals about your priorities and your worldview?
Make a list of 25 ordinary events or things that you could use for everyday talk about God.
When do you have everyday talk with your children?
What opportunities do you have to increase or improve your everyday talk?
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