How He Loves!!

Thinking about the Father's Love for us, especially during this Valentine's Day season.

I love the lyrics to this song, by the David Crowder Band. Enjoy them below as well as the video at the bottom.

------

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

CHRISTmas Conflict

Conflict during the Christmas holidays (yesterday), I hate when that happens!! During this time, everyone is supposed to be happy, loving, smiling, cuddling, giggling, singing and giving right?

Christmas scenes in our minds, are often picture perfect. We expect our homes and cars to continually resemble the cheer and glee matching the cards and commercials of the season.

The reality is, however, that although most of us are generally happier during this time of year, we are not exempt from conflicts and arguments, even sadness and depression. Jeoff and I had our conflict yesterday. (wah! wah! wah!).

But you know what gave me hope and assurance of a good ending?

Remembering the ultimate conflict.

Mankind - FULL of sin, clashed with God almighty - FULL of holiness, grace and truth.

The result was...... redeemed man, loved, forgiven, and FULL of peace!!

Without Christ there's no way we could have this peace. Even in stressful times, when it's very difficult to see a positive end, we must know beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Christ our savior is standing in the gap for us. Reconciling us back to God and restoring peace in our relationships.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!

Redesign Satisfied

I was talking to my husband today about eating healthy, cooking healthy, snacking healthy etc. and one interesting thing we discussed is the tendency to drop healthy eating goals when we become stressed.

Something occurred to me during the discussion and I said, the solution is that we need to redefine satisfied.

Many of us are so used to expecting not only a full stomach after a meal, but also a feeling of mmmm that was so tasty! It's almost like a lust, and in many ways it is a lust. I'm sure you can relate. There are some meals that can just pop into our minds and all of a sudden we have to have it, no matter the cost. The danger is when we move into do this daily and even planning our weekly meals based on the need to satisfy the mmm-mmm-good feeling.

The concept is actually quite powerful and can be applied to many aspects of life.

With our meals, as we redefine satisfied, we will begin to plan based on the desire to eat good, healthy foods, to feed our body's need to grow, sustain strength, and maintain stamina. Our body's desire to live longer and enjoy life.

In our marriages, as we redefine satisfied, we will begin to give (and PLAN) to give based on our spouse's need. We will begin to appreciate a loving healthy relationship based on commitment, through Christ, unconditional love and fulfilling God's desire for us to be together longer, enjoying marriage for life!

Redefine what you call SATISFIED in your eating and in your relationships!
(more to come, just had to jot down the thoughts I had initially)

My Identity is Found in Christ Alone

Who Can I Run To? Who DO I Run To? - Thoughts from The "Desperate Housewives Book" - Chapter 4

A quote from Chapter 4 of Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God.

"Has anyone ever said to you, 'You sure do look tired; you need to get more rest'? Maybe some well-meaning friend has patted your back and told you about your need for more time to yourself without the children, so that you won't have a breakdown or wear yourself out. Perhaps they've insisted that, to be truly spiritual or godly, you must have a "quiet time" early each morning in peaceful solitude with the Lord. To top it off, they've probably warned you that if you don't do all these things (that are practically impossible for a mom with young children), you won't be able to take care of your family properly, your relationship with God will suffer, and you may even wind up on the five o'clock news!"

Rather than getting angry or frustrated by these statements, we need to know how to respond to them. Even more importantly, we need to know how to rely on God to believe our burdens - His ways never fail us! In this chapter we'll discuss several ways we can let go of some of the ways we burden ourselves, as well as learn how to properly manage the challenges and trials God sends us for our good and His glory.

I'm reminded in this chapter of the book, that the times that I spend reading the Bible with my children, worshipping, and praying with them, are just as priceless as a time that I could spend miles away or completely alone. As I begin to appreciate those times I begin to have a much better attitude about what my spiritual role is in their life and I am less anxious about getting away from them, for time alone. It's not that I don't still get away and not that I cannot enjoy time away with friends or time alone, but my perspective about it is different.

Here's another great quote that I enjoyed, regarding the Lord's word to me in my weariness.

"Be assured that neither your efforts nor your tears (Psalm 56:8) have gone unnoticed by our wise, good, and powerful God; and that He has ordained your steps (Psalm 16:7). Go to Him; plead for His strength and mercy (Psalm 86:16). He will give you the rest needed to accomplish His will, as He promises (Matthew 11:28-30)."

That's especially assuring after long days of seemingly endless activity, or just long mornings of the same. I can rest on my pillow at night and replay a verse like this and it's just like my own personal get away:

"Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8)

One last quote from the book, which takes me to the attitude of servanthood, later expounded on in chapter 10 of the book.

"If I focus on the things I'm not getting because I'm serving my family....", "I might easily become embittered against the very people God has called me to sacrificially love and serve. If I strive for a "me-centered" life while I am surrounded by a family who needs me, then I will find myself frustrated and desperate indeed - with an emphasis on despair. Some days are draining, but we need to let Jesus be the satisfier of our souls. God will meet needs you didn't even know you had and give you all the rest and refreshing you require. It may come in the form of housecleaning help from a friend, a night alone with your husband, or a meal from someone at church. Or it may be the supernatural rest that only God can give. He will multiply your strength in His own way!"

Here is another post with commentary on the book.

Daily Devotionals and other Readings

Proverbs 31 Ministries

Keeping the Home

Ladies Against Feminism

Urban Homemaker

Preschoolers and Peace

Inspiring Sites:

At Home with Candy

Happy Hearts at Home -- lots of frugal tips!

Like Merchant Ships

Hearty Works

A Christian Home

Cherish the Home

Large Family Mothering

Purely His

Making a House a Home

Keeper of the Home

Lines from the Vine

Ladies of Grace - http://www.gbcladiesofgrace.com/

Mrs K's Musings - http://mrsmksmusings.blogspot.com/

Making it Home - http://www.xanga.com/MrsCatherine

Lizzie's Home - http://lizzieshome.blogspot.com/

Deputy Domain - http://www.deputydomain.blogspot.com/

Ladies of Grace Bible Studies - http://www.gbcladiesofgrace.com/Bible%20Studies.html

A Wise Woman Builds Her House - http://www.proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

Proverbs 31 Sisters - http://www.prov31sisters.blogspot.com/

The Healing Table - http://thehealingtable.blogspot.com/

Old Fashioned Living - http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/teatime.htm

Neat and Dainty as a Flower - http://neatanddaintyasaflower.blogspot.com/index.html

Charming the Birds from the Trees - http://charmingthebirdsfromthetrees.blogspot.com/

The Merry Rose - http://elizabeth-themerryrose.blogspot.com/

The Joy Box - http://www.joybox.typepad.com/

The Homespun Heart - http://thehomespunheart.blogspot.com/

The Sparrow's Nest - http://www.thesparrowsnest.typepad.com/

His Thoughts are Not My Thoughts

I have been talking to some friends of mine lately about some things that I need to work on in my personality / temperament / language / character. I named all of those titles because I know we are who we are based on how we are naturally shaped. With those four methods of characterizing ourselves, not to mention our birth order, we can be identified as having a specific set of strengths and weaknesses.

My personality is somewhat Outgoing/Extrovert, at the temperment level I'm Choleric and Sanguine, my life langage the last time I assessed it was Influencer/Mover/Doer, for birth order I'm the youngest!, and my character - well, it doesn't have a specific name that I know of but I believe it's made up of all of the aforementioned.

So how is that related to the title of this blog? The discussion that I had with some friends, although I can't blame my weaknesses on --- "that's just the way I was made" --- I know is a starting point for why I do some of the things I do. The way I'm shaped in addition to some experiences I've had in life have led me to make certain choices and handle situations in certain ways.

This discovery has led me to rethink the way I approach things that I share. Regardless of the circumstance that led me to receive this feedback from friends, I want to find ways to figure out how to change. There are many many aspects to this (the weaknesses I have and will be working to change) but one I will address by sharing more details of some of the real life issues I face in life and how I have dealt with them, right or wrong. I don't want to share the good ones only!

Why the title "His Thoughts are Not My Thoughts?" This title came to me because most of the time when I encounter a difficult time in life, my mind goes through a Thought Process and many times a Thought Exchange. I often times start with my own thoughts which may include fears, doubts, frustrations, hurt, sorrow, anger, you name it. But if I stay there I'll be a mess. Even if I have to vent to someone, cry it out, whatever, I have to come to a place where those thoughts exchange from mine to his.

The verses that affirm that for me are:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Ps 139:23

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Psalm 13:2

The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.
Psalm 94:11

So I'll be writing about some of the thoughts and frustrations that I have (and have had) and hopefully the times that I can make the Thought Exchange will outnumber the times that I do not!

From 7/2006

Want to know more about God?

If not, click here to find out more information about him.

5AM Prayer!

I know, that's really early in the morning, but because it's so early in the morning, it feels like the world has stopped and you have God all to yourself.

I know that's not true, 5am here is 4pm somewhere else, but whenever you get a moment for a period of quiet, focused time, with no distractions, it does give you that feeling.

It seems like several years ago I had 100 times more of these times than I do now. Now, there are so many more things going on in my life, and many more that are dependent on me, that I have to be strategic to get that time in.

The last time, was Thursday, June 28. And I was joined by one of my good friends, who helped me be accountable to it and who prayed along with me.

Now Lord help me do it more often!!

O Lord My Strength and My Redeemer

The words from Psalm 19:14 are most often heard as someone recites it as a prayer. And often times as a prayer before speaking or preaching.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. "

But the other day I began to reflect on it for my own personal encouragement.

The Lord brought it to my attention again tonight. As I prepare to turn in from another long day. This word from God's word provided just what I needed.

There again was a Thought Exchange (see previous post entitled His Thoughts are Not My Thoughts).

I gave to him my frustrations of the day........what could have been complaints (if I had dwelled on them) about what I did wrong or what I did not get around to accomplishing.

I exchanged that for thoughts of praise to my God, my King. For my life, my limbs, my sanity, my family, and my purpose (which is really His purpose). Just to name a few.

His Strength is made perfect in my weakness

My Redeemer Lives

".....Oh Lord my strength and my redeemer."

With those thoughts, I can go to bed in peace and I can be more effective for him....

8/2/06

The Last Rubber Band

It's 11:58PM and on the table, there lies the scattered group of rubber bands I just removed from Moriah's hair.  I am noting this because from here on out (as long as I can stand to do otherwise) I plan to place no more rubber bands in Moriah's hair. 

 

I read information all the time about the damage that rubberbands to the hair but had not seriously looked into alternatives (other than the cloth ponytail holders I use from time to time) until tonight, after I had picked them up from a babysitter and saw Ja'el's hair in twists.  It was so cute,  and I didin't mind that the sitter did it.

 

So I looked into this option for Moriah after sitting down at the end of a  long day and researching online.

 

Speaking  of the day it was a great one!

 

The first 'outing' of the day for me was CTI Worship.   Second year school of ministry students, CORE students, and any first year and school of business who want to join - participate once a month in a worship seminar held by the Intercessory Prayer Ministry. 

 

Today, Pastor Tim led us in worship, taught a lesson on worship, then continued with more worship. 

 

Among many things, we learned about the parallel between the Outer Court, Inner Court, and The Holy of Holies, with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (Ephesians 5:19, Colosians 3:16).   Very powerful word.

 

We were taught that when we sing psalms we are at an experiential level, in the soulish realm, the Outer Court, talking about what God has done for us, what He is doing, and so on (Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus, What Do You Know About Jesus?  He's Alright).  Often times if we're not careful, we're more into the groove, the beat, etc.  Not always, but often. There's nothing wrong with psalms, but the Lord desires that we go further.

 

When we sing hymns we're delcaring the doctrines of God, we move to the Inner Court, we're speaking of His nature (You Are The King of Kings, You Are the Almighty Creator, Our God is an Awesome God).  Often times, but not always, we're affected by the feel-good-ness of the song, and that in itself is not bad. 

 

Oh, but when spiritual songs are written, and when we sing spiritual songs.  We have taken the next step into the Holy of Holies.  The veil is removed, and we are naked before the Lord with all of our issues, hangups, we're transparent before him and we begin to allow him to move in our hearts.  But in order to go there we have to go beyond the veil that's blocking us from being totally free to become intimate with him.

 

Worship is not just what we sing, it's what we do.  It's what we were created to do.  It's not only about music.  It's also how God reaches out to fellowship with us - unlike no other religion!  We no longer need a priest to go to the Father for us, we have full access becasue of the work that Jesus did on the cross.  Hallelujah!

 

The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent hanging out with the kids, cleaning up, administrating nap times, visiting with Julie about life and Internship with CTI/CORE Music and Worship, visiting with Jatoya,  getting dance clothes for Moriah from the outlet dance wear store, and returning home for wind-down, bathing, and prayer with the kiddos before they turned in.

 

Long after Moriah was fast asleep, I went back to her room, brought her to the family room couch, and began to remove the tight rubber bands from her hair, much like the areas that block us from beig free and open for intimate fellowhip with the Father!

 

I pray her hair will be much more free to breath and grow now! As we are when we remove the barriers that are blocking us from this freedom.

 

When was the last time you removed one of those tight rubber bands?

 

(p.s. I plan to follow the online instructions in the morning, for putting her hair in twists.  We'll see how it goes.  If I really like how it turns out I'll post a pik.  If I'm not too thrilled, I'll hold off on the picture until I take her to a pro!)


Update 10/21: I have a picture to post but I cannot figure out how to get one on here again!!!


In the meantime here's a link to it Moriah Twist Pik

 

 

The last rubber band was removed from Moriah's hair at approximately 11:40pm.

 

 

 

 

It's All Worth It

It's 9:19PM (as I'm starting this). Pupster and Kitty just finished watching a movie, while eating grapes and Wheat Thins and sitting in their makeshift beds made out of a laundry basket, a pillow, and a blanket. It was so cute.  Kitty has coordinated another Family Fun Night (You know from Lilo and Stich 2?).

Of course they were in pretend mode and pretending to be parent and child. Can you guesss who played each role? Of course, the eldest played the parent. She had all kinds of ideas of things that she wanted her "son" to comply with throughout the adventure. "Be quiet, sit up, lay down, let's go to sleep now, ok come on lets' go to xyz...." Fun to watch.

After the movie, they were off to the room and rambled around and fussed a bit and Kitty just walked in with her back pack on and Pupster with his "suitcase" and Kitty says "Hi Teacher. Where are the other kids?" I have to play the part and and answer as she said "You said bring suitcases and tie backpacks, right Mrs. Sissus? What are we going to learn about today? Then she says you have to say 'Hello children' then you have to say 'How are you all today.....and now you have to read us a story......." Of course with Monte repeating every word. Oh goodness. Too funny.

So I ask her to go get the book and she's off to the back pack to bring a favorite book.

I'll be signing out now.

Watching and participating in this tonight makes all the frustrations of the week double worth it!!

The fact that the school asked me to take Lamby to the doctor for what they believed was diarrhea to ensure that she was not contagious. Took off work to do so and the doctor sent a note home with me that says "Lamby does not have diarrhea, she has normal breastfed stools." It was very frustrating initially, but it was all worth it because she stayed home with me and I was able to work from home.

Going through Target with the kiddos to shop for a "few things" and explain over and over why we are only getting ONE treat for each child and we're NOT buying toys. It was all worth it because at least they were all fed before we got there. That would have been a nightmare if they had not. Anyone done that before?

I could go on, but the point :-) is (while I try to finish as Pupster TRIES to kick me in my back for more drink) that all those things are so worthwhile. Especially after the fun moments like this tonight.

Oh cute.....Kitty just said "I'm drawing a picture of us playing with Grandma while Mommy and Daddy are on a date."

The Pupster standing on top of the basket prentending to fall saying....whoaaaaa! I love the way he says that!

(While we're having this late night fun, of course baby sister is fast asleep.....this time)

CTI December 2005

Today is a pretty good day. I feel a lot better than I’ve felt in a few weeks actually. I’m sitting in my office, at my desk looking at the beautiful roses that Jeoff sent me this week. As I told him yesterday, they are a reminder that I am to do my work as unto the Lord and it is also a motivation for me to go on.

Last night in CTI - New Testament Survey class, the books that we covered were Galatians, Romans, and I and II Corinthians. We discussed the fact that Romans is so power packed with so much encouraging word and powerful truths. One of the students read a good portion of chapter 8 and when he finished we were all like wow. That’s how God’s word is. That’s what his word does.

Why Blog for Life?

Why did I title this blog, Blog for life? The reason is that writing to me, inspires my life and it gives me life and hope. If I allow my thoughts to be trapped in my mind, I’m not as likely to encourage myself and change the bad ones to good. But if I write or type them out, I believe I put more accountability on myself and it forces me to encourage myself. That inspires me to live and to live my life to the fullest.

To love hard!

To give freely and liberally!

To work hard as a mother, wife, friend, and servant to my friends and loved ones!

Yes, Depression

I actually said the word. And I actually experienced it. I never thought I would and I didn't recognize it when it first began.

I'm going to come back and write some more about it, but wanted to at least share the initial fact that it happened. I want to share it, because a lot of people go through it, but don't write about it.

There was so much going on at the same time, a fairly new job as a Manager, which I had not done before, going to a very aggressive school of ministry program, expecting a third child, trying to fulfill the jobs of wife, homemaker, and mother of 2 preschoolers, managing a property (duplex) with my husband, AND recently completed a 12 week Crown Financial small group study with other leaders in our Life Team zone. Mama was challenged, to say the least!!

But I learned sooo much through that experience and I came to realize that in all of this, I had been neglecting some very fundamental things that are essential in my walk with the Lord.

It was almost as if I had to start over again, and the Lord was showing me that "you really have to depend on me for every single thing you do, including waking up in the morning with peace of mind, and being able to fall asleep in peace, ...being able to get dressed and go to work, ...having the will to keep living."

I believe I had to experience that at this important time in my life. I believe I I grew so much closer to the Lord during that time and my trust was deepened.

It actually became the subject of my CTI 2nd year, Public Speaking Presentation!

I'm going to post it when I find the Word document......