Sorry for the lateness of this post. It's been a busy week with my boys in camp and getting to join them on Monday. What a blessing to see them having so much fun with their friends and trying out new things. What an eye opener as well.
Going into this week, I had thought that the boys from our troop would be together, and they are. What I didn't realize was that there would be other boys added to the group as well. This of course does make sense though, as we didn't have enough boys to make a full group.
I met one of the other young boys right away and had the pleasure of meeting his mother who seemed a very nice lady. Just before we got under way for the day, the other two boys joined the group and made their presence be known.
After a few stations, I could tell that these young men were not being brought up with the same sort of values as the other boys in our group. Once we hit our fourth station for the day however, I really knew that these boys were not being brought up in a Christian home. Long story short, topics of discussion that they brought up while waiting for the other boys to have a turn at the next activity were 'hatchet practice', using the father's machetti to cut off chicken heads, and strip clubs - yes, strip clubs!!! Why on earth should 10 year old boys even know about such a thing?!?!? I must say that their group leader did a great job at changing the subject and not letting the boys talk about inapproriate things. While my heart broke for those boys, I was concerned about their conversations being heard by my sons.
This past year has had a lot of firsts for me as a mum. I've sent our boys out to do things on their own for the first time and to be honest, I've had a lot of anxiety about it. I've reminded myself again and again to 'be anxious for nothing, but everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and he will make your path straight."
Sending my boys out the door for day two of camp without me was hard, especially after the topics mentioned above had been discussed by boys in their group. I have been reminding the boys that they need to do what God tells them to do and act in a way that is pleasing to Him, not to join in something because the others are doing it. I tell them to ask God what to do and He will guide them if ever they are confused. I shared this week's verse with them:
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
This is something that I need to remind myself of time and time again. I don't need to waste time wrestling with something trying to figure it out on my own. Go to God and trust in Him, we'll never take a wrong turn with God!!
Is there something that comes to mind today that you need to trust God for?
Next week's verse: Matthew 6:33
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Forgiveness
The 10th grade was an
interesting year for me because I had lost 30 pounds the summer prior to the
start of school and as a result people who had never paid me the time of day
before were suddenly willing to talk to me. Although I was still very shy, I felt
a little more comfortable in my own skin.
I sat in the last row near the windows in my Geometry class that year. I was friendly with the kids who sat around me and although I did more listening than talking (yes, I know that's a switch to how I am now) we did enjoy socializing before the start of class each day.
As the school year went on, there was a boy who sat in front of me who kept teasing me. At first I didn't think much of it, just that he wasn't fond of me, but as his teasing persisted, the kids around us told me that he was teasing me because he liked me. This made me very uncomfortable! I had never had a boy like me before and to add to that, the kids around me thought it was very funny that he would like me.
I can make excuses that I was young, or that I succumbed to peer pressure, but I'll never forget what I said to that boy one day. It may seem laughable now, but it really wasn't funny at all.
One day he came in and began teasing me as usual and I told him (I still tear up with shame, even now) that no one liked him, not even Santa Clause (it was around Christmas). The look on his face was awful. I really hurt him! At the end of class I apologized, but he walked away. The next day and the next and the next I tried to apologize to him. He would just give me a 'yeah, yeah' response.
As time passed, he was able to talk to me again, but it was never the same.
Several years ago I was at church and one of the gentlemen who lead the men's ministry there introduced us to this man he brought. This man had fallen on hard times and was trying to get clean. When we went up to meet him, it was the same boy I had been mean to years prior. My mind recollected the 10th grade incident with amazing clarity and the sickness in my stomach felt the very same as it had felt back then. I greeted him warmly and encouraged him in his journey and gave him a hug as we left that day. I've often wondered what happened to him. I hope he's done well.
It's been over 20 years since I made a very bad choice and hurt this boy, but clearly, I am still struggling to forgive myself. I am as desperately in need of God's forgiveness as anyone, but I think I can count on one hand how many times I have been mean to someone and it still breaks my heart to think of this. This is also a good reminder of how damaging the tongue can be! (Psalm 141:3)
God tells us in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I still struggle to forgive myself for this sin from many years ago several years before I knew the Lord, and yet our amazing God can forgive every one of my sins and cleans me!
It never ceases to amaze me that God can love us so much!! It's also a humble reminder that I am but a sinful human, but God is so GREAT, LOVING, FORGIVING, FULL OF GRACE - too amazing to really comprehend!!
What do you think of / feel when you think about God's forgiveness? Do you need to ask Him to help you forgive yourself about something?
Next Week's Verse: Proverbs 3: 5-6
I sat in the last row near the windows in my Geometry class that year. I was friendly with the kids who sat around me and although I did more listening than talking (yes, I know that's a switch to how I am now) we did enjoy socializing before the start of class each day.
As the school year went on, there was a boy who sat in front of me who kept teasing me. At first I didn't think much of it, just that he wasn't fond of me, but as his teasing persisted, the kids around us told me that he was teasing me because he liked me. This made me very uncomfortable! I had never had a boy like me before and to add to that, the kids around me thought it was very funny that he would like me.
I can make excuses that I was young, or that I succumbed to peer pressure, but I'll never forget what I said to that boy one day. It may seem laughable now, but it really wasn't funny at all.
One day he came in and began teasing me as usual and I told him (I still tear up with shame, even now) that no one liked him, not even Santa Clause (it was around Christmas). The look on his face was awful. I really hurt him! At the end of class I apologized, but he walked away. The next day and the next and the next I tried to apologize to him. He would just give me a 'yeah, yeah' response.
As time passed, he was able to talk to me again, but it was never the same.
Several years ago I was at church and one of the gentlemen who lead the men's ministry there introduced us to this man he brought. This man had fallen on hard times and was trying to get clean. When we went up to meet him, it was the same boy I had been mean to years prior. My mind recollected the 10th grade incident with amazing clarity and the sickness in my stomach felt the very same as it had felt back then. I greeted him warmly and encouraged him in his journey and gave him a hug as we left that day. I've often wondered what happened to him. I hope he's done well.
It's been over 20 years since I made a very bad choice and hurt this boy, but clearly, I am still struggling to forgive myself. I am as desperately in need of God's forgiveness as anyone, but I think I can count on one hand how many times I have been mean to someone and it still breaks my heart to think of this. This is also a good reminder of how damaging the tongue can be! (Psalm 141:3)
God tells us in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I still struggle to forgive myself for this sin from many years ago several years before I knew the Lord, and yet our amazing God can forgive every one of my sins and cleans me!
It never ceases to amaze me that God can love us so much!! It's also a humble reminder that I am but a sinful human, but God is so GREAT, LOVING, FORGIVING, FULL OF GRACE - too amazing to really comprehend!!
What do you think of / feel when you think about God's forgiveness? Do you need to ask Him to help you forgive yourself about something?
Next Week's Verse: Proverbs 3: 5-6
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Take the Blindfold Off and Get Movin'
I was driving home from work today with my two boys talking and laughing in the back seat. About half way home my younger son (just turned 7) said, "Mum, do you know what Tom (that would be Tom of 'Tom & Jerry' fame) does when he sees the big bull running for him, or when a train is headed for him?" "No, what does he do?", I answered. "He puts a blindfold on and waits to be hit" he answered with a tone that left me with no doubt that he was smiling from ear to ear. "Hmmm, I think I would just run out of the way instead of waiting to be hit." I said. "Yeah," my little man reasoned, "I think he just doesn't want to see what's gonna come and run him over."
The wisdom, and chiding of those words hit me instantly. When something is coming straight for us, do we get out of the way or simply put a blindfold on and wait for what seems to be the inevitable?
The scripture I'm studying this week with my friend who I am discipling is 1 Corinthians 10:13 -
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Maybe the bull or train that seems to be heading our way is a great temptation. Maybe it seems that we can't avoid this fast approaching threat. Maybe, we deal with it, by not dealing with it. Maybe we put on a blindfold of sorts and wait to be crushed.
Let's step back and look. As a young lady (or even a married woman), this 'train' may come in the form of a young man whom we are attracted to. This young man may be very appealing (in many ways). But does he know the Lord? Is he walking with the Lord? Where is this 'relationship' headed? Are we going to get knocked off our feet and off of our walk with the Lord?
Maybe instead, this 'bull' is our enjoyment of good times and partying. Possibly we start having a glass of wine here to take the edge off when we've had a tough day with the kids, and then we begin a weekly 'girls night out' having a 'few drinks' at the local watering hole. Next we keep a bottle of something at home to get us through the day. Will we be brought to our knees and not be able to continue a sober relationship with God?
God does not promise that we'll never experience temptation - a train or bull will come at us from time to time. He does however, promise that He will provide a way to keep us from being plowed down.
Instead of reaching for the blindfold, lets look up to heaven and ask God to show us, and give us the strength to get out of the way. Claim His promises!
Next week's verse: 1 John 1:9
The wisdom, and chiding of those words hit me instantly. When something is coming straight for us, do we get out of the way or simply put a blindfold on and wait for what seems to be the inevitable?
The scripture I'm studying this week with my friend who I am discipling is 1 Corinthians 10:13 -
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Maybe the bull or train that seems to be heading our way is a great temptation. Maybe it seems that we can't avoid this fast approaching threat. Maybe, we deal with it, by not dealing with it. Maybe we put on a blindfold of sorts and wait to be crushed.
Let's step back and look. As a young lady (or even a married woman), this 'train' may come in the form of a young man whom we are attracted to. This young man may be very appealing (in many ways). But does he know the Lord? Is he walking with the Lord? Where is this 'relationship' headed? Are we going to get knocked off our feet and off of our walk with the Lord?
Maybe instead, this 'bull' is our enjoyment of good times and partying. Possibly we start having a glass of wine here to take the edge off when we've had a tough day with the kids, and then we begin a weekly 'girls night out' having a 'few drinks' at the local watering hole. Next we keep a bottle of something at home to get us through the day. Will we be brought to our knees and not be able to continue a sober relationship with God?
God does not promise that we'll never experience temptation - a train or bull will come at us from time to time. He does however, promise that He will provide a way to keep us from being plowed down.
Instead of reaching for the blindfold, lets look up to heaven and ask God to show us, and give us the strength to get out of the way. Claim His promises!
Next week's verse: 1 John 1:9
Monday, July 2, 2012
Summer with our Savior
Each year as the spring moves on and we count down to the start of summer, our minds (influenced by our ever-bulging calendars) look forward to the approaching reprieve most of us enjoy in the hot, school-free months. It is right, I think, that we take a break from the hustle and bustle of the school year and hopefully take time to rest and have fun with our families. Those that serve our Lord by teaching our children and leading adult Bible studies also often take a break from preparing their lessons. This too I think is necessary as we want to avoid burn-out.
As much as we all need a vacation from our normal schedule, we must be careful not to take a vacation from God. He never takes a break from us - can I get a big hallelujah on that?!
With this train of thought, I've been considering for a few weeks about having a 'study' on this blog to help us all with consistency in our walk with the Lord. I've had many ideas, but I didn't feel the Lord's leading, until today. I think what we should do is study what God puts on our hearts, but we can come here each week and check in on Monday, sharing what He has had to say to us.
Today I did a little homework as I have begun discipling a dear sister-in-Christ and wanted to be prepared for our time together. Our verse this week is John 16:24 - Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete. (yeah - that was from memory. I've always struggled with memorization, but I don't give up - it's so worth it!) This week we're talking about the assurance that our prayers are heard and answered. One of the verses used in this chapter is Philippians 4:6 - 7. Tonight I was brought to a place where I once again had to either chose to trust these verses, or tell God, "All set, I'm choosing to worry this out instead thanks." Phil. 4:6-7 says 'Be anxious for nothing, but everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and soul in Christ Jesus.'
This isn't coincidence. Nope! God knew what was to come and made sure I was reminded once again of His instruction (don't worry - go to Him) and His promise (His peace). I don't know what is going to happen in this new situation that has me so sad/upset, but I do know that it isn't too big for God and that worrying will not help anything. I need His peace and strength to be there for others who will need me and I need to have my head clear to learn what is to be done. (Sorry - it's not that I'm trying to be cryptic, but I don't want to divuldge too much family info.)
So this is what I'm working on this week - or rather, what God is working on with me. I need to not worry, but trust and pray with confidence.
The prayer request I'd like to share: Please pray for discernment and a quick, clear and effective course of action.
What is God saying to you this week? Is there a key scripture you're claiming? How can we pray for you?
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