Proverbs 29:17 tells us, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul." My father-in-law calls this the Mean Mommy Award verse. You know, when you are being a tough mom instead of a pushover. I like to think of it as a reward for consistant training. Either way it reminds me to not give up and stay focused. And I will "reap if I faint not."
The other night after finishing his consquences for certain actions, Snipp gave me a gift. It was a BEST MOM award complete with various handdrawn colored balloons. I often feel like I am struggling as a mom, but I guess the Lord chose to use my "corrected son" to encourage me to keep striving to be the best mom I can be.
My place to share how the Lord reveals His fingerprints on our lives. 2008-2015 Go to bb4thelord2.blogspot.com to read The Next Chapter.
January 31, 2009
January 19, 2009
The Right Hand
First a comment to all you left handers: I have nothing against any of you. As I was told once "If your right hand uses the left side of your brain, then only left handers are in their right mind" :) I love left handers. My dearly loved MIL, my maternal grandmother, and even my preacher are left handed. I think even a judge in the Bible is mentioned as a left hander. And maybe after this I will do a study on the left hand, but for now I just want to share what was impressed upon my heart concerning the right hand.
A verse that has been a source of comfort and encouragement on this walk of single motherhood is "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13
So I began to research in God's Word about the right hand and here are my notes:
RIGHT HAND----power, can save, holds up, full of righteousness, made strong, gotten victory, special place in God's right hand, does valiantly and is exalted, right hand a place of effectiveness and protection, God's right hand spands the heavens, Jesus is seated at God's right hand, Jesus was seen by Stephen standing at the right hand of God right before he was martyred, the right hand of God is place of intercession.
After this study, I feel God is saying more than just "I am here, don't be scared, you aren't alone." I believe the Lord was telling me He is holding me up from complete failure. With His hand in mine, He is giving me strength to be victorious. My LORD is sharing with me that I am protected and can be effective. And that Christ is ever interceeding on behalf of me and mine.
Those words have begun to soak into my soul and empowered me and endured me to my Saviour all the more.
P.S. Days later this thought came to me: Jim liked me to be on his right side. Whether we were sitting in a pew or driving some where or sleeping in bed. I was to his right and it was with his right hand that he reached out to me. And once again I stand in loving awe of how my Saviour used my husband and his ways to illustrate to me more of His heart and His ways.
Update: As a reminder to this promise of God, I have had my wedding ring resized. And now wear it on my right hand:)
A verse that has been a source of comfort and encouragement on this walk of single motherhood is "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13
So I began to research in God's Word about the right hand and here are my notes:
RIGHT HAND----power, can save, holds up, full of righteousness, made strong, gotten victory, special place in God's right hand, does valiantly and is exalted, right hand a place of effectiveness and protection, God's right hand spands the heavens, Jesus is seated at God's right hand, Jesus was seen by Stephen standing at the right hand of God right before he was martyred, the right hand of God is place of intercession.
After this study, I feel God is saying more than just "I am here, don't be scared, you aren't alone." I believe the Lord was telling me He is holding me up from complete failure. With His hand in mine, He is giving me strength to be victorious. My LORD is sharing with me that I am protected and can be effective. And that Christ is ever interceeding on behalf of me and mine.
Those words have begun to soak into my soul and empowered me and endured me to my Saviour all the more.
P.S. Days later this thought came to me: Jim liked me to be on his right side. Whether we were sitting in a pew or driving some where or sleeping in bed. I was to his right and it was with his right hand that he reached out to me. And once again I stand in loving awe of how my Saviour used my husband and his ways to illustrate to me more of His heart and His ways.
Update: As a reminder to this promise of God, I have had my wedding ring resized. And now wear it on my right hand:)
Being a Keeper
In my Bible reading recently, the Lord has had me doing word studies. Mercy, petition, keeper. And I felt the Lord impressing on me to share about my study on being a keeper.
The first use of keeper is from the mouth of Cain "Am I my brother's keeper?" So to be a keeper I need to know where my children are. Not just physically, but also emotionally and most importantly spiritually.
Next I looked at Psalm 121 where we are told "The LORD is thy keeper." Looking at the surrounding verses I learned more about keeping. Keeping is being on guard, protecting from evil, bringing comfort, watching over comings and goings.
In Ecclesiastes 12:3 it speaks of the keeper of the house. These verses are describing the aged body. The keepers of the house are a picture of the arms and hands. It immediately made me think of Proverbs 31 where the virtuous woman "she gireth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.....She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." So being a keeper is manual work like dishes and laundry and bandaging knees and changing diapers. But it is also ministering to others like helping a struggling child and sharing a scriptural truth and giving a hug to one who is hurting and sharing my blessings with another family.
In the New Testament, the soldiers guarding Jesus' tomb are called keepers in Matthew 28:4 when they shake with fear and become as dead men. Why were they sent to guard a tomb?? To keep thieves out. As a keeper of my home, I am to guard my home and the hearts of my children from the thief Satan, the father of lies.
And lastly, I studied the famous verse on keepers at home in Titus 2:5. The aged women are instructed to teach the younger to be "keepers at home.......that the word of God be not blasphemed." I understand this to be AT home. Busy at home, working at home. Home is to be my priority. Failure to do this and the other matters mentioned would expose the Word of God to contempt by the world. Blaspheme could be another word study, but I understand it to mean to put myself above God either by what I do or what I say. And when God tells me my place is to be a keeper and I leave my command post, His Word is blashemed.
Well, there you have it. Five little verses with amazing insight as to the significance of being a keeper. And now I must go and turn my attention to keeping:)
Update: I thank my Lord that He loves me and mine enough to expose our sin. Just days after this post, a little Achan was discovered and sin was found in the camp (Joshua 7) . Trust was shattered and deceit was confessed. The Lord lead me to this study because He knew I had let my guard down in some areas. We are working on rebuilding trust and I am trying diligently to apply the above truths about being a keeper. We welcome your prayers.
The first use of keeper is from the mouth of Cain "Am I my brother's keeper?" So to be a keeper I need to know where my children are. Not just physically, but also emotionally and most importantly spiritually.
Next I looked at Psalm 121 where we are told "The LORD is thy keeper." Looking at the surrounding verses I learned more about keeping. Keeping is being on guard, protecting from evil, bringing comfort, watching over comings and goings.
In Ecclesiastes 12:3 it speaks of the keeper of the house. These verses are describing the aged body. The keepers of the house are a picture of the arms and hands. It immediately made me think of Proverbs 31 where the virtuous woman "she gireth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.....She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." So being a keeper is manual work like dishes and laundry and bandaging knees and changing diapers. But it is also ministering to others like helping a struggling child and sharing a scriptural truth and giving a hug to one who is hurting and sharing my blessings with another family.
In the New Testament, the soldiers guarding Jesus' tomb are called keepers in Matthew 28:4 when they shake with fear and become as dead men. Why were they sent to guard a tomb?? To keep thieves out. As a keeper of my home, I am to guard my home and the hearts of my children from the thief Satan, the father of lies.
And lastly, I studied the famous verse on keepers at home in Titus 2:5. The aged women are instructed to teach the younger to be "keepers at home.......that the word of God be not blasphemed." I understand this to be AT home. Busy at home, working at home. Home is to be my priority. Failure to do this and the other matters mentioned would expose the Word of God to contempt by the world. Blaspheme could be another word study, but I understand it to mean to put myself above God either by what I do or what I say. And when God tells me my place is to be a keeper and I leave my command post, His Word is blashemed.
Well, there you have it. Five little verses with amazing insight as to the significance of being a keeper. And now I must go and turn my attention to keeping:)
Update: I thank my Lord that He loves me and mine enough to expose our sin. Just days after this post, a little Achan was discovered and sin was found in the camp (Joshua 7) . Trust was shattered and deceit was confessed. The Lord lead me to this study because He knew I had let my guard down in some areas. We are working on rebuilding trust and I am trying diligently to apply the above truths about being a keeper. We welcome your prayers.
December 30, 2008
My Word for 2009
I replied on a forum recently about what word I would be concentrating on for 2009. Many women had chosen great words: alert, devotion, finish, joy, restoration, trust, shine, etc. After much thought I chose the word: FOCUSED
To be more focused on my God, instead of my circumstances.
To be more focused on the heart of my children, instead of their actions.
To be more focused on my goals for each day, instead of what I can't possibly get done.
To be more focused on praying about things, instead of just taking action on things.
To be more focused on God's truth, so I can detect satan's lies, instead of just accepting things as truth.
To be more focused on the life after this one, instead of only on this life.
To be more FOCUSED
To be more focused on my God, instead of my circumstances.
To be more focused on the heart of my children, instead of their actions.
To be more focused on my goals for each day, instead of what I can't possibly get done.
To be more focused on praying about things, instead of just taking action on things.
To be more focused on God's truth, so I can detect satan's lies, instead of just accepting things as truth.
To be more focused on the life after this one, instead of only on this life.
To be more FOCUSED
So how about you? What word would you chose for 2009?
Holding My Hand
Another rollover from Words of Life To Me:
Isaiah 41:13 "For the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
What a comforting thought! God holding my hand. I am reminded of being a little girl crossing the street or walking into the big school on the first day of classes. And I am reminded again that I have been adopted into His family and I am His little girl. And my Almighty Father is holding my hand and telling me not to be afraid, He's going to help me. Oh the strength in a Father's love and presence.
Isaiah 41:13 "For the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
What a comforting thought! God holding my hand. I am reminded of being a little girl crossing the street or walking into the big school on the first day of classes. And I am reminded again that I have been adopted into His family and I am His little girl. And my Almighty Father is holding my hand and telling me not to be afraid, He's going to help me. Oh the strength in a Father's love and presence.
December 24, 2008
Taming Dinosaurs
Last week Snipp had a hard time getting to sleep. So I allowed him to come camp out on my floor and we had a good mother/son chat. One thing he shared was "Mom, I feel like I am a lamb and Christmas is a dinosaur chasing me." I so understood what he felt. There are certain times of the year when grief seems more overwhelming than others. I had been on the verge of tears quite often through out the passed few days. I kept trying to stay focused on Christ and press onward, but I felt the joy just being sucked right out of me.
As I often do when I feel overwhelmed, I called on my Praying Sisters to help me carry the burden. Then my preacher preached about how not to lose Jesus during the holidays. One of the things mentioned was keeping traditions.
Traditions are a blessing. On our first Christmas after we were married, we had no money for presents. So I patched my husband's favorite coat and we rejoice when God unthawed our well pump. That year I started a tradition. I wrote down blessings the Lord had given us through the year and shoved the slips of paper down into our stockings. And each year since then we have focused on our blessing stockings. Till Jim died. Hanging his stocking was just impossible and I didn't want to hang ours without his. So that year, I took a little cedar box and put in pictures or things to symbolize blessings/treasures God had given us. A picture of our van and house, a gold cross, a watch, a bible, etc. Then last year I found the answer. Treasure Boxes!!!! So instead of stockings, we have treasure boxes that each year has a list of treasures/gifts from Jesus. What a joy and blessing to read last years treasures as I prepared the boxes for today. We also had written down what we were going to give Jesus for Christmas. Some things given in the past were Daddy's favorite blanket, smiles, 1/2 with Him each am and pm.
Another tradition we added was one Daddy started the last Christmas he was with us. In my stocking was a clue to find my gift. It ended up being in the dryer!!! Anyway, so also in each treasure box now is a clue for example: Go to a book that has a picture of David praying like Daddy did. Then there is another clue. For example:Go to something that holds "fire sticks". And then the last clue leads them to some presents hidden. For example: Now, Look behind something big, green, and comfy Dad liked to read in. As we all know, the figuring out the clues and the hunt is about as much fun as getting the gifts. It is also a reminder that treasures have to be sought after. Like the wisemen did to find Jesus. And that we too need to seek Christ to find Him.
Another thing we decided as a family to go sing to some people who we knew were hurting. We were a little nervous at first, but young children singing the way they can was cute and hilarious as well. The smiles on their faces was just priceless.
It is amazing to me how keeping these simple traditions and reaching out to others tamed that dinosaur! I fully expect more grief waves to come, but at least Christmas isn't something hunting us down anymore.
Merry Christmas everyone!! And may Christ be the focus of your Christmas!
As I often do when I feel overwhelmed, I called on my Praying Sisters to help me carry the burden. Then my preacher preached about how not to lose Jesus during the holidays. One of the things mentioned was keeping traditions.
Traditions are a blessing. On our first Christmas after we were married, we had no money for presents. So I patched my husband's favorite coat and we rejoice when God unthawed our well pump. That year I started a tradition. I wrote down blessings the Lord had given us through the year and shoved the slips of paper down into our stockings. And each year since then we have focused on our blessing stockings. Till Jim died. Hanging his stocking was just impossible and I didn't want to hang ours without his. So that year, I took a little cedar box and put in pictures or things to symbolize blessings/treasures God had given us. A picture of our van and house, a gold cross, a watch, a bible, etc. Then last year I found the answer. Treasure Boxes!!!! So instead of stockings, we have treasure boxes that each year has a list of treasures/gifts from Jesus. What a joy and blessing to read last years treasures as I prepared the boxes for today. We also had written down what we were going to give Jesus for Christmas. Some things given in the past were Daddy's favorite blanket, smiles, 1/2 with Him each am and pm.
Another tradition we added was one Daddy started the last Christmas he was with us. In my stocking was a clue to find my gift. It ended up being in the dryer!!! Anyway, so also in each treasure box now is a clue for example: Go to a book that has a picture of David praying like Daddy did. Then there is another clue. For example:Go to something that holds "fire sticks". And then the last clue leads them to some presents hidden. For example: Now, Look behind something big, green, and comfy Dad liked to read in. As we all know, the figuring out the clues and the hunt is about as much fun as getting the gifts. It is also a reminder that treasures have to be sought after. Like the wisemen did to find Jesus. And that we too need to seek Christ to find Him.
Another thing we decided as a family to go sing to some people who we knew were hurting. We were a little nervous at first, but young children singing the way they can was cute and hilarious as well. The smiles on their faces was just priceless.
It is amazing to me how keeping these simple traditions and reaching out to others tamed that dinosaur! I fully expect more grief waves to come, but at least Christmas isn't something hunting us down anymore.
Merry Christmas everyone!! And may Christ be the focus of your Christmas!
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