Submission
I have been putting off this particular post because I am not exactly sure how the thoughts in my head will transcend from the craziness in my head to my computer screen.
The Lord has definitely done some work on me when it comes to submission. If you would have told me I was suppose to submit to my husband 4 years ago I would have puffed up and laughed that I was in control of this family. Through many difficult situations I have found that my husband is so much more rational that I am.  As a women I tend to link every emotion, experience (good or bad)  to the task or decision at hand. Everything is linked together with a fine piece of string and if one snaps they all snap. Submission is respecting your husband enough to involve him in the day to day decisions. Trusting that he will lead your family in a Godly way. The past year or so I have tried (and I will express tried) my best to take each and every decision big and small to him. We discuss it together and more times than not the decision that is made is the right one, the one God has lead us to.

Submission does NOT mean that you must become a back seat driver to your family. As women God has handed us the great duty of managing our homes. We are called to organize our homes in a way that it is a safe haven for our families. This takes a great deal of planning and decision making. I challenge us today to trust in our husbands to lead our families and to take each decision to him and work through it together. I will say I needed this reminder. My husband has been working a lot lately and I see myself slipping back into old habits of deciding for us all since he is not here. I need to pray for patience so that I can take whatever arises to him first instead of answering for us all because he is unavailable. 

God makes all things good in His time!
I came across a saying this weekend that I have seen many times before but for some reason this time it is sticking. "God make ALL things beautiful in His time." Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." I can't help but park it on the word ALL.God has taught me so much the past few years in regards to trails and tribulations. James 1:2 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." When I first read this verse I really thought I was suppose to be happy when bad things happen. The more I explored the words and had the opportunity to study this verse along side a seasoned preacher, God revealed to me that trails and tribulations come our way as a means to draw nearer to Him. It's an opportunity to grow in character and perseverance. Non-Believers are watching to see our reactions in these difficult times. It is easy to portray the fruits of the spirit when things go our way, but what about when they don't?

Application: I resolve today to be careful of my reaction in difficult situations. I will remember Romans 8:28, that God makes ALL things good in His time.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

Sure wish I had pulled this out before I nearly had a nervous break down over crafts and camping.

I have more anxiety over miniscule things than any other person I know, why is it that I have to have every detail planned down to a tee?? Ill let you know my answer once I figure it out.

Being a Busy Women...
The role that has been placed upon us is an important one...one given directly from Our Creator and it is one I don't take lightly. God calls us to play so many roles as women (some more daunting than others) all of great importance. And the more I think about each of the roles the more I have come to learn that it is really more about our attitude in completing them than about how the "chore" gets done. I struggle with my attitude. An eight hour work day that leads to an evening of lunches, dinner, baths, stories and a half hour of quality family time usually leads this full time working mom to a place of down right grouchiness. I want to change that, I want this circle of people around me to see that I take each and every task the Lord has placed before me as an opportunity to serve my family, friends, church and community. Someone once told me that you should do the dishes (any task) as if Jesus was standing right next to you...I assure you that I would not be slamming doors and dishes around :). I resolve to change my attitude. Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Now back to the laundry!


Application: I intend to find some element of fun or purpose in each task I complete today.

Contentment Continued...
I will admit that I have struggled for years with being content in who I am, where I lived, what I had and how I looked. It was not until recently that God brought me to a place where I have found a sense of contentment. Trust me I still have those moments of want and desire to move on from any particular moment but I will say that those moments are being fewer and fewer. On the flip side I have also experienced a sense that we are not suppose to enjoy the things of this world nor are we suppose to have hopes and dreams. I found myself drawing away from relationships and being stagnant in the daily routines of being a stay at home mom for two small children. Fun and enjoyment were no longer a part of my vocabulary and when I did experience them I found myself feeling guilty for it. God did some work on me and now I am happy to say I feel that I have found a balance between contentment and those uncontrolled desires that so many times sent me spinning out of control. AS I mentioned before I still struggle with being content in what I have, right now I really want some new TOMS!!!

My resolve to be more content...

I resolve to be content in the good (and the bad) that the Lord brings my way and trust that each blessing, gift or material object that comes my way was given to me ultimately to serve those around me. I  resolve that I will pray-fully consider each and every hope and dream that enters my heart and mind. I resolve to live in each and every moment that God has given me and remember to give Him thanks.

God's Word says this about contement...

Job 36:11 "If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment"
This coming from a man who had lost EVERYTHING.

Phillipians 4:11" Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."
Phillipians 4:12 "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."
(Paul was in prison when he wrote Phillipians.)

1 Timothy 6:8 "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."

1 Timothy 6:6" But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Application: Make a list of the things God provisions on your life and meditate on them.
God's provisions on my life...
A healthy family
A heart that seeks the knowledge of God's Truth
A family that is always there
A church family that continues to deepen and grow
A group of friends that are always there to lend an ear
The opportunity to teach younger generations all that God is and has in store for them
A husband who supports me even on my worst days
A Christian environment where my children and I can deepen our faith
Opportunities to serve the women of my community
A hope of eternity through Jesus Christ
 I plan to add on to my list each and everyday. 
 
 

Contentment

I need to ponder on this...what might god be trying to grow in my character or cement in my relationship with him by keeping me separated from some of the things that I have wanted and don't yet have?

Contentment

Contentment is something I have always struggled with. I vow to make it a point to live in each and every moment given to me by our gracious God. Hebrews 13:5 "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you. "


Practical Application: Have you ever cleaned out your closet to find things with the tags still attached? I have more times than I can count. Shopping in any capacity (yes even the grocery store) is one of my favorite things to do. Back to the closet, I LOVE to clean out my closet and organize my clothes into sections (yes I LOVE to organize), my point here is when I do this my closet seems to transform itself. I encourage you today to go shopping in your closet. I promise you won't be disappointed. I find using Polyvore and Pinterest can also help me give an old outfit a new look by simply adding accessories or pairing it with a cute pair of shoes. Have fun and take some risk with your closet.


Practical Application #2" As I mentioned above shopping tends to be one of my favorite things to do but with two kids in private school I don't always have the extra funds to run out and buy something new. So instead I rearrange what I already have...try moving a picture or vase to another room or rearranging your furniture. One of my favorite projects is to give a piece of furniture a new coat of paint! For instance I have a small stand that has been painted numerous times and has become one of my favorite pieces in my house. Redecorating with you already have can be fun and inexpensive if your willing to let your creative juice flow. I promise you will be happy with your end product and have a sense of accomplishment afterwards.


I vow to take what the Lord has blessed me with and make it new.

A New Journey

Day One...Well I finally did it, after much thought and prayer I have decided to start a spiritual blog with all the wonderful and amazing things that God is teaching me in my life. At this point I am sure that the only eyes that will see these thoughts, words and prayers are me and occasionally my husband but I am submitting to God's will and pray that this will become what he wants it to be.

I must admit that I have struggled in my quiet time with the Lord for sometime now. I believe that is what has lead me here. Although I feel that I have been obedient in my time that I spend with the Lord, especially in my intentions, I walk away more times that not with a feeling that I have not truly processed what God had in store for me. Many times the thoughts of my to do list and my anxieties draw me away from the Lord and I find myself off in right field. So here I am, determined to make a commitment to journal through this blog and hopefully reveal what is the Lord is asking of me.

I am so blessed to be a part of a school that focuses it students to the power of God's Truth. This morning at chapel a courageous leader at our school stood before us and revealed some important truths for everyday living using everyday objects. I walked away feeling that if only we could remember these few simple truths, our everyday lives would be much different. I was reminded that I don't only need to speak but rather hold my tongue. James 1:19 says, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" ESV. What trouble I could save myself if only I could produce this verse every time I want to open my big mouth. This lesson is the one that I want to park on a think about for a while and I am sure my husband and my family will appreciate it as well. As I think back to the times when anxieties or hardships really hit hard have been started by a single word or phrase. I teach my students graders that your tongue can do great things (cooking, warmth and light). They can also do really bad things (burn down houses, hurt people and destroy lives). I want to choose to bring warmth and light with my words and I aim to start right now. James 3:5-6 "So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." I find it interesting that this is the first thing God set out for me to write about considering it's my tongue that sets forth this new journey of mine, blogging.

Dear Lord, I humbly come before you to submit this blog and my whole life to you. I pray that you will use this journey of words to draw nearer to you and process all the wonderful truths that you provide me through your word, others and my teaching. I thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ, through which I draw my strength and my hopes. In His Name I pray, AMEN!