Where does the time go?

It seems that I can't keep up with this blog anymore.  While it serves as a wonderful outlet for me to connect and reach out, there isn't enough time in my day to allow for it.  What is keeping me so busy you ask?  It could be the potty training 3 yr old boy.....and he is doing well, thank you.  It could be the 15 week old puppy that we rescued several weeks ago that isn't potty trained like the boy! Or the 2 preschoolers that beg me everyday to play with "rice" or "do school."  It could also be those 3 big kids that need me to teach them the ways of our Lord, along with math, language, history, science, spelling, reading, writing, and home economics.  It might also be those long trips we make (an hour one way) to take 2 kids to soccer practices just 3 days a week.  Or the studying that I do for my own spiritual growth, currently studying 1&2 Thessalonians, Grace Based Parenting and also a book on Women's Leadership in the church.  And then there is that other thing called a house I have to keep clean, the laundry that has to be washed and folded, the meals that need cooking, the dishes washed, dogs fed and walked....you know all the joys of being a Wife and Mom!  All those things that I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world! 
I am finding joy in the small things, joy in the trials, and joy in the big things!  I am busy, yes, but busy doing the things that God has called me to do.  And for that I will not complain about lack of blogging time, but I will love those times sharing in studies with my husband, cherish those moments when my kids finally understand a concept, cheer for the goals reached in sports, relish those times playing with "rice," and just enjoy the JOYS that God has given me.......for He has given me much.  How will you spend your time? 
Where does your time go?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Past......

Today in our bible study we spoke about our past.  This really hit home for me.  I often think of the mistakes I have made in my past and whether or not I have learned or been forgiven of them.  Am I still living in the past?  Have I learned and moved forward?  Have I forgiven and forgotten or am I still stuck in unforgiveness.

Our past is our history...if we don't learn from our past then it will repeat itself.  I, for one, don't need to repeat my many mistakes.  Do you?  The past is not where we are to live, but where we should learn.  I have had friends that hold on so tightly to their pasts that it totally defines them, they live it out day to day and this breaks my heart.  The patterns keep repeating themselves over and over.  Their children, though young, hold onto these truths that they have been taught at such a young age.  I agree that we must learn from our past, but living it day to day is not good for anyone.  God actually calls us to put it behind us.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14

We must trust God to do the things He has said.  He can and will restore us, if only we would seek Him first.  If we don't choose to leave the past behind, what will we teach the next generations?  The pattern of living in the past and holding onto it will continue unless we choose to break it now!  My past is not who I am today....my past is behind me, I am grateful for the Saving Grace of Jesus to have changed me!  Lord, I pray that you will continue to change me and mold me into your image, your calling upon my life.  May we not live in the past, but look to the wonderful future of praising you day after day.

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"  Isaiah 43:18-19

God's Calling....

Where oh where have I been??  I don't even know myself.  It's been a crazy week, I can tell you that.  Lots going on and there never seems to be enough time for me and my blog.  It's always the last thing to get my attention.  Sorry for anyone that was wondering if we are ok.  We are GREAT, just busy little bees.

Several weeks ago I spoke to some women at my church about being too busy to listen to God's calling on our lives.  I prayed so hard that I would learn from what the Lord was teaching me.  It was a hard week, busy trying to prepare to leave 2 little ones behind while I took the older kids on a field trip, leaving my husband behind as well.  I wanted the house to be comfortable for him while we were gone, the clothes to be clean, kids to be well taken care of, even if I wasn't providing all the care.  I was often too busy to stop and pray, stop and listen to God speaking to me in the midst of it all.  Do you ever get that way?

Well, I sure don't want my kids to remember me always being "busy" for everyone else.  I mean, being busy for the Lord is great, busy with church is awesome, but too busy for my kids is a big NO, no!  It makes me ask myself, "what kind of legacy do I want to leave?"  What do or will my kids remember about me?  Was mom always on the computer?  Too busy to read a book with them?  On the phone too much to see to my scraped knees?  Too busy with household chores to notice I was lonely and needed a friend?  Or will they remember the things I want them to??  Mom stopped everything to tend to my scrapes and tears.  She read me books over and over even though I had them memorized.  She prayed for me when I felt worrisome over schoolwork or friends.  Do they know that I pray for their futures?  Do they know I pray over them?  Do they even know that I pray?

I have been trying to spend more "time" with my kids, doing more fun things with them, putting aside the laundry, the hustle and bustle of the day.  I struggle with this so much, there is so much being neglected, but for now....My kids are NOT neglected, they are More important to me than a load of clean clothes or dishes.  So, forgive me when I don't blog everyday or every other day, or even for a week.  It's because God has a bigger plan for me, He has more to offer me through the real world than this blogoshpere.  He gave me 5 precious children to mold in His image, His likeness, show His love, teach His ways and I am choosing to obey His calling on my life.  I pray you are listening to His call on you as well.

He's calling.....do you hear??  Will you listen?  Blessings to you all!

He is my supply....

Ahhhhhh.....when I look back at the post from yesterday I wonder where did that depressed lady go?  God is so good and I thank you for your prayers!  He heard and I felt them indeed.  So, thank you again and if you have no idea what I am talking about then be grateful and let's move on.  LOL

I began attending a bible study on Monday morning and I believe that these past few days were a test to see what I had learned and if I would use my new skills.  I am happy to say that I GREW!!  I feel like I handled them better than I would have a week ago, but I still have lots of improving.  (Don't we all!?)  Anyway, I prayed more and looked for God's desire in the situation and I am so thankful for His quick answer.  He has equipped me with a better grasp on my faith and a deeper prayer life than before.  It's a good thing, cause I'm gonna need it!

Because.....This morning I got some news that really saddened me, but also brought me joy too.  Sounds really weird, I know, but a friend told me that she is pretty sure they are moving away and soon.  Now normally this would cause me GREAT anguish, but I felt such a peace.  You see, this friendship is totally based on God's love!  I feel that a friendship that is built on His foundation and in His Love can get through anything.  So no matter how many miles are between us, we will forever be friends.  She has been such a blessing to me, I can't imagine life without her here, but I am so happy that God has answered their prayers.  Her husband recently lost his job, his position was eliminated, so he has been unemployed for about a week!  Talk about a quick answer to prayer, a week later he has a wonderful offer for a new job.  All this to say that, even though I am saddened in the flesh, I am rejoicing in God's goodness and love.  Indeed He gives and takes away, He supplies our every need, and He strengthens us with His great love!

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Phillipians 4:19

Change

Another Monday, ahhhhh, the wonder of a new week and the contemplating all that goes with it.  Will it be a good week?  Will it linger on forever?  Will I accomplish all I have set for the week?  Will we get our schoolwork done?  Will I get time for coffee with friends?  So many questions, yet no answers.

Mondays are such a tough day for me.  Its the second day of the week, but it feels like the beginning.  Mondays my husband goes back to his work week, we are back to our school grind, and I am back to dragging my kids here and there for this and that.  Ahhhhh....the busyness of the week begins on Monday, that must be why it feels like the beginning.  Right?  I mean, Sunday is the start of the week, but it is so relaxing and worshipful it doesn't feel like work.

Mondays seems to be when the chaos begins, at least for me.  However, I have found a peace about my weeks over the last 3 weeks!  What has changed you ask, I am attending a women's Bible study at my church.  Let me tell you, all that talk about spending time wtih God will improve your life, improve your outlook, improve your marraige, is RIGHT!  I've heard of this thing called "God time" or "quiet time with the Lord" but it never seemed to happen in my hectic day(s), week(s), month(s) or year(s).  Until this year, when I finally chose to listen to the calling God has for me.  I chose to listen to Him telling me to change.  Hey You, its time to change your body!  Hey You, its time to get healthy!  Hey You, I want to spend more time with you!  Hey You, why don't you Pray about that question?  Hey You, I'm here anytime you need me....will you look for me?  Finally I decided to listen, I decided to ask, I decided to pray, I decided to let Him change me.  What a wonderful God we serve that He desires us to be like Him!  He created us in His image, so of course He wants us to live like Him!

Will you let Him change YOU?????!!!!

Create in me a clean heart, O God,and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10

Giver of Life...............

This weekend I had the privelege of going on a women's retreat with some wonderful women from my church.  There were 8 of us, including a precious 3 1/2 month old baby, that attended the entire weekend.  The speaker was Great and she had such a sweet spirit that shined everywhere she went.  She shared with us about leaving a life-giving legacy and what that means.  How are we as mortals, life-givers?  Isn't God the only one that gives life and takes it away?  As women we are bearers of God's image, we are made in His image and isn't God a life-giver?  In order to give life, we must be willing to be a HELP and better understand what it means to be a HELPer. 

H=hedge of protection 
E=empathizer
L=lifter
P=preserver of life and hope

A hedge of protection simply means offering a safe place for others to come into.  Do you feel as though others can trust you? Do you give off the feeling that people can share with you and feel protected?  An empathizer needs to try and understand where someone is coming from.  Can you try and remember what it was like as a teen, or a young adult, to be single, divorced, or struggling in a marriage?  At least try to understand what someone else is going through even if you haven't yourself experienced it.  Be a lifter.....lifting others in prayer, lifting their spirit when they are sad or down.  Just giving off a smile instead of a sour face can lift someone else's darkest day.  Are you lifting others?  Be a preserver of life......give hope for the future generations.  In order to preserve life we must share the good news of Christ!  It is our calling form the Lord!  The next generation is all we have left...if they don't know of Christ how will the good news be told??? 

Where are you today?  Are you giving hope, life, and preserving the future?  Our speaker posed this question to us...............If God plucked you out of your family, would anyone notice?  Would you be missed?  If God plucked you out of your church, would anyone notice?  Would you be missed?  If God plucked you out of your neighborhood, would anyone notice?  Would you be missed?  I'm sure that many of us mothers feel like our families would certainly notice and miss us, but what about our churches?  Are there ministries that would notice you were no longer there?  Are there neighbors that would wonder about you?  Would they miss your sweet spirit?  Your trust? Or would life go on without a hitch?

Today I am trying to live my life as a HELPer, an image bearer of Christ, and encourager, a lifter, a preserver.  How then, will you live yours?

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.  1 Thessalonians 2:8

Wishy Washy??

After a day playing in the snow, we watched as the snow quickly melted away. Now we have only traces of snow left and tomorrow the weather is expected to be in the 70's!! Go figure! It's amazing to me how crazy the weather can be....so wishy washy, inconsistent, much like my life.

I have had to look at myself and re-evaluate who I am....what do I stand for.....what do I believe....does my life follow my convictions? I have joined a women's Bible study at church on a book "Faith and Doubt" and it has me thinking alot about myself and where do I fit into this world. I have really enjoyed the few sessions that I have attended, but I am struggling to find what God wants me to see. I think some days I know who I am, I am firm in my convictions and I stand strong....then something happens to knock the wind out of me and I can't stand up straight, I wobble, I turn and hide.....why am I like this? Why do we cower away from our true beliefs? Why must I always let the world in which I live in influence who I am or how I act? All I can say is that God is growing me. He has a purpose in my life, a purpose far bigger than I can see, a purpose He will reveal in His time and for now, I must wait, must persevere, I must continue on the path that I believe He has set before me and pray, Pray, PRAY that I am being obedient to His word.

To you this may sound like a random post.......but to me, it speaks of my struggle right now. for now, I will seek Him on my knees and praying that He answers me loud and clear. May we all meet Him on our knees and humble ourselves before our Lord and King.

Have a Blessed Weekend Y'all!

I taught someone to sew!!!!

I have to share how proud I am of my dear friend! She came over for Bible study tonight and afterwards we got to talking about sewing. I was showing her my nightgowns that I recently made for the girls. (I now have 3 nightgowns for the three youngest arrows) She wanted to know more details, next thing you know she was sewing, I was talking and guiding her through it and she was making my little man's jammy bottoms!! They turned out so cute!!! If it wasn't 20 minutes after Midnight I would post a picture, but it will have to wait until morning.

Anyway, I just had to share!! It does my heart good to know that if I can teach my friend how to sew, I can teach my own girls how to sew. I want so much to pass down homemaking skills to my girls. I think that sewing is an important part of homemaking. Along with a list of others, but this is one that my grandmother passed down to me, and I am now passing it down to the next generation. How cool is that?

Blessings All!

Passions...Desires...Sins....OH MY!

Have you ever had those times when you get so jealous? Like when your kids are sick and you have to stay home from church, miss lunch with friends after church and cancel Bible study?

We really love our Sundays. First we worship our Lord with all our hearts, through corporate worship, singing, prayer and then we attend Sunday school, where we look through the Bible for God's truths and how to apply them to our lives. Secondly, we enjoy the fellowship of other christian brothers and sisters. A large group of us go to Wendy's for lunch after church and Sunday school. Thirdly we host a home fellowship at our home. DH is an elder in our church and he leads us in a bible study. We are currently doing a study on "The Case for Kids" by Paul and Tedd Tripp. So, you see how busy our Sundays are, but they are all for the glory of God. While glorifying God we have fun! Fellowship is a big part of that fun.

Yesterday, I had 3 out of 5 arrows sick. Naturally I had to stay home with the kids. I kept all the kids home, since they were all fighting a cold of some kind. Saturday we had soccer games, it was COLD, windy and all the kids had stuffy noses this past week, more like allergies, not sickness. Well, the cold, wind, running around getting sweaty and cold must have did them in. They all coughed all night long and by Sunday morning they were miserable. I had to have DH cancel bible study for the evening and he went to lunch without us. The kids and I were very bummed. However, some of our friends were thoughtful enough (or so I thought) to call us and check in. They were all at Target, laughing, hooting and hollering having a GREAT time, without us. Needless to say, I felt the green monster welling up. Jealous of their healthy kids? Was I really jealous? Why did I feel this way? I should be happy and rejoicing that their kids are healthy, but I was selfishly jealous over MY missing out!! Later that day our friends called again....they were all enjoying some fun at a friends house in their HOT TUB!!! NOT AGAIN!!! Do you feel a pattern coming on? YUP....here it comes!!!!! GREEN UGLY and in FULL force. I was jealous even more so now. My friends were calling to check on me and the kids, hoping that we all felt better. I appreciate their concern, but man I just don't like the way my heart was reacting.

After dispensing medicine to each child for their cough, cold or stuffy nose, we enjoyed some "history" time. We have been enjoying a DVD of "Drive Through History" with Dave Stotts. It is only about a 10 minute little segment, then we talk about what we remember and reflect on the person we learned about. After the history lesson, we put the kids to bed. DH and I enjoy a bowl of ice cream most nights after the kids are in bed. We sit on the bed and eat our ice cream while either talking, watching TV or sometimes watching a DVD. Last night we watched Paul Tripp speaking out our Home School Conference. We purchased the DVDs at our home school convention instead of attending the session because it was a late hour and the kids were exhausted already. Well, the Lord knew I needed to watch and hear this speech at home too!! :) He was talking about James 4:1-3 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. What causes fights among you? Why do I get so angry over little things, because it gets in the way of what I want....my idols...my treasures. OUCH!!!!!!! So, not only was I in the midst of my own sin of jealousy, but now I see my idols. WHOA!!! I was just hoping for some downtime with DH and a little ice cream!!! God had bigger things in store for me.

I see my sin for what it is now....I see where I need to repent and change. Will you pray with me and for me?

Lord, forgive me for my sins. Forgive me for the jealousy of my heart and the treasures of my own passions and desires. Take these things from me so that YOU might be my only treasure and YOU would be my only passion. Lord, I ask that where there is more sin I need to see you would make it clear to me. I humble myself before you. May your name be glorified through all I do. May the light and love of Christ shine through my life here. Replace the passions of my heart from sinful things to holy and glorifying things. I pray all this in the name of Christ, Your Son, AMEN