Charlie Browniest

This year I have not been able to get into the Christmas spirit as I have in years past. Usually by this time I have already watched every Christmas movie we own and gotten all of my gifts purchased, wrapped and sent. But this year I haven't gotten into it. I'm not sure why.

Last night we watched "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" on TV (so blessed America still allows that show on network TV!) At one point Linus says to Charlie Brown "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest." This struck a chord in me. I'm feeling very Charlie Brown-y this year. Buying gifts and decorating and even watching movies is not what it's all about. When Linus got up and read from Luke 2 my heart was warmed.

"For unto you in born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord...

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Yes, indeed. Christ the Lord is what Christmas is all about. My heart was filled with joy and hope for this year's Christmas season once again.

Today, my son asked if Santa would bring him a present because he tried to be a good boy this year. My heart sank again. I was so good at teaching Katie the truth of Christmas. She really understood that we celebrate Jesus being born. But somehow I've missed the mark with Eli. My apathy this year may have given room for Santa to fill the place of God in my sons way of thinking. Well, not anymore. I am getting back to the basics. I'm going to take a clue from Linus and the shepherds and remember that Jesus is worthy to be worshiped. Jesus is not just the reason for the season. He is the reason for living!

Perseverance

One of the great joys in my life is when my kids actually enjoy conquering a hard task at school.
Today, Eli asked to do school. He asks to do school often, but I am usually so busy with "real" school with Katie that I give him something easy like cutting and pasting or mazes. But today I decided he needed a challenge. I gave him a dot to dot book for five year olds. It was HARD. He cried and fussed, but then when he figured it out and completed the page he did a happy dance and asked to do it again!
Katie has always struggled with writing/reading/grammar. Today we were talking about nouns ("A noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea."). To solidify the rule I pulled out an old magazine and told her she had 15 minutes to find as many pictures of nouns as she can and paste them on the page. She is giggling and searching. I hear her saying quietly to her self "a noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea...yep, this is a noun." She is having fun learning and she will REALLY know this definition by the end of the day!
My children are finding school a challenge, but are learning to persevere. I am finding homeschooling and housework and being a mom, wife, friend is a challenge, but I am being encouraged to persevere. It reminds me of the verse found in Hebrews 10:36...You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
We all have something we need to persevere in. What challenge are you facing today? Remember, the Lord promises great blessings if you fight through!

Katie and Eli

One of the great parts of homeschooling is setting our own schedule. Sometimes we have a slow starting morning or a super busy afternoon and we set the schedule accordingly. Well, this is one of those slow mornings. The kids decided to just play while they waited for mom to get her act together. As they were playing they were doing real life math. They were sorting according to size. When they realized there were too many small and not enough big to be fair. Then they sorted by color and realized there were way too many groups to be fair. Next they decided to count. They counted 30 toys (I know, they have way too many toys) and Katie said, "I think that is an even number. Lets take turns taking one and see how many we each get!" So they each took one then another than another. Then Katie said, "lets count and be sure we have the same number." They counted to 15 (well, Eli had to have some help at #12, but she helped him and I stayed still, eavesdropping!). Then Katie says, "Mom, did you know that 15 plus 15 equals 30?" Home-school math at it's best!

As they were playing and learning together I couldn't help but think of John's writing in 1John 4:20-21. He writes:

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love

God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

There is nothing better than when my kids are enjoying each other. I don't just want them to get along, but I want them to enjoy each other. As they grow, I am treasuring these times in my heart and praying their love for one another never grows dim. Because their love for one another is a direct reflection of their love for and relationship with God!

Good Advise

Yesterday while we were coming home from vacation Eli ran into a wall. He was looking at people behind him and not where he was going. I looked at him and said "You need to watch where you're going, not where you've been." Then those very words struck me. It was as if the Lord was speaking to my heart. Recently I have been wallowing in the past. Thoughts of how I've blown it or not been all the Lord has meant for me to be have consumed my thoughts. But in my very own words to my son, God spoke to my heart. I need to be about the future work of my Lord. Will you join me?

Philipians 3:13b "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead".

Is Eli a prophet?

Yesterday we were talking about the late Zukey (my brother and sister's dog who recently was put to sleep). Eli asked if Zukey was coming on the family trip to the beach. I told him, "No, Zukey is in heaven and God wont let Zukey come back for his grandparents anniversary." Katie said, "She's dead, Eli! Everyone dies!" Then Eli looked at us and said "Not me. I'm not dieing on earth." I asked what he meant. He said "I'm not gonna die. Jesus is gonna capture me." I said, "you mean Jesus is gonna come back and rapture you?" He shook his head yes. This brought on a whole conversation about the rapture and whether or not Katie wanted to be raptured or die "like a normal person"! Two things popped in my head. Number 1, where on earth did Eli, my 3 year old son, learn about or even hear the word rapture?! And number 2, looking at the world the way it is, he very well may be right. Because the Bible does say Jesus is coming back "after all these things" and many of the "these things" have happened or are happening now. I need to be more serious about teaching my kids to honor and follow God; I need to be more open in sharing my faith all around; I need to be more in tune with what God is saying to me today! Jesus is coming back. Perhaps we wont die; perhaps we will all be "captured".

Clean...

Some days as a mom and housewife I feel like all I do is clean...laundry, dishes, floors, baby bums, etc. Today was no exception. Dishes were piled, laundry was flowing onto the floor. I thought, "man, does the cleaning up ever stop...every time I clean this there's another mess" Then I had a thought. Does the Lord ever get tired of cleaning me? I mean, He sent His one and only Son to clean me and I seen to get myself all messed up again. Does He ever think "good grief Mendy, when are you going to get your act together and stay clean?" No, I don't think so. God loves all the time without hesitation. He willingly cleans me every time I make a mess. Oh, if I could only be like Him and love my family, mess and all!

Kid's Spiritual Gifts

One of the things I have enjoyed as a mom is looking for and nourishing my kids' spiritual gifts. As Solomon says in Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go..." My job as a mom is to find what the Lord has made my kids to do and be and help them get there.

For a long time I have known that one of Katie's spiritual gifts is the gift of encouragement but recently she demonstrated it beautifully. I was having a hard day. My head was hurting and I didn't really want to do much more than be in bed. She made me cards, came in and rubbed my head and prayed for me. She encouraged me greatly. Yesterday we were at the store and Katie saw someone looking unhappy. She went over to the woman and smiled. She just smiled. The woman told me how wonderful my children are. Her entire face lit up because Katie smiled at her. I was so blessed to have such a daughter.

Today I heard that one friend had fallen and broke her neck. Then I heard that my friend who is waiting for her double lung transplant is not doing well today. I was sad. But Eli showed me his spiritual gift! He began to pray. As he prayed he not only thought of my two friends but he prayed for their families and doctors and everyone around them. This 3 year old, who can barely sit still for anything, prayed for 10 minutes with such power. I was so blessed.

My kids may have more spiritual gifts as they grow up. But God has shown me one in each one of them that is beautiful and can be cultivated right now.

If you are a parent, are you looking for your kids gifts and how to encourage them in it?Do you have friends or family who are young in their faith that can be encouraged in their gifts? I highly recommend that you do encourage them; you will all be blessed!

Idols

On Sunday my pastor taught on idol worship. He mentioned that anything that takes you away from God is an idol. It made me begin thinking of things that could be an idol in my life. He asked some questions. One was what do you talk about, think about, spend time on the most in your life? Another was what would your friends say you talk about, think about, spend the most time on in your life?

Mark Driscol says that idols sometimes are very good things that you have made into God things. As Christians sometimes we make Christianity our idol (worshipping the fact we are Christians rather than the one who bought our salvation). Sometimes it's being a Republican or Democrat or a dog owner or a cat owner or male or female or money or cars or clothes or image or family.

As I began to answer the questions my pastor asked, I began to think that my kids would be the answer to those questions. I am consumed with teaching them, raising them, keeping them alive! So are my children my idols? Well, sometimes I'd have to say yes. I skip my quiet time with God often because the kids need me. I always thought that this is just the season for that and I need to give myself a break. And in someways that is true. But when I go days in a row and never read my Bible but give tons of energy into these kids I have made them my idol.

What are your idols? If you were to honestly answer those questions, what would your say?

Jesus And Me

Yesterday we had some friends over. Eli happily served his banana bread that he helped me make. When our friends asked if he made the bread he proudly said "Yes, Jesus and me".
What a lesson for all of us. As Paul said in Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men"
Out of the mouths of babes!

Spurgeon Quote

I heard a great quote last night. It's from Charles Spurgeon.
"The Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to the life that is not falling apart!"
So, are you using your Bible well? What has the Lord told you through the scriptures today?

Your's

I was cruising YouTube and found these clips. I was blown away. As many of you know, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman lost their daughter a little over a year ago. In that tragedy, Steven added a verse to his song "Yours". Here's his explanation and then the added verse...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkNm0RALnQ&feature=related

If you've never heard the whole song, here's the whole song with the added verse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y_lHevMdpc

I know that my "troubles" this summer can not relate to the death of a child. But in my own difficulties I have come to understand that God really is in control. He really does have the answers. He really does love me. And I really am HIS!

Let's think about this one...

I read a quote by John Piper that has me thinking.

“If you could go to heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauty you ever saw, all the physical pleasure you ever tasted, and no human conflict or natural disasters, could you be satisfied with that heaven if Christ were no there?”

Tell me what you think...

I'm A 5:16 Gal.

While searching the web, I found this interesting button. I clicked on it and I fell in love with the idea. Here is what the website - Like a Warm Cup of Coffee had to say:

What is a 5:16 Gal?
A 5:16 gal is a gal who has decided that she wants to redeem the time with her Savior. She is choosing to rise early, before the day takes her away, to sit at the feet of Jesus.

What is the 5:16 club?
The idea for the 5:16 club began as the 5 am club. While the ultimate goal is to rise early, circumstances don't always allow (pregnancy, new baby, illness, etc.). The real purpose of this club is to encourage and journey with one another as we seek to spend time with the Lord every day - whatever time of the day you are able.

Why 5:16?
Ephesians 5:16 says, "making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." The literal meaning is "redeem the time." We are seeking to redeem the time and make the most of every opportunity to seek the Lord with all our hearts.

Why?
Because the days are evil. We must prepare for battle each and every day - sometimes just to get through the day!

I was hooked! Although the idea original started with a Mom and her daughters, it spread over to the website Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. I am extending the invitation to you! Who needs to redeem the time with her Savior more than a Mom?

Count me in as a 5:16 Gal...

If You Want Me To

As many of you know, I have Fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed 9 years ago last February. When I first started dealing with it I felt betrayed by my own body and honestly a little let down by God. I was only 26 years old; much too young to be in such pain. But as I spent time reading the scriptures and crying out to God for answers I learned one thing very clearly, Deuteronomy 31:6 is true...He never left me in the pain. He blessed me with more of Him in it.

Recently we went on a little road trip. I decided to pull out some older CD's to listen to. One such CD was done by Ginny Owens. In this CD she has a song called "If You Want Me To". I nearly started crying as I listened to the song. I remembered that God used that song to really minister to my heart when I was first sick. One on the lines is "This may not be the way I would have chosen, when You lead me through a world that's not my own. But You never said it would be easy. You only said I'd never go alone." It absolutely amazed me to think of how desperate I was back then. I question God and did not feel like a blessed daughter of the King. Now I feel so blessed I can hardly remember how I felt back then. God has always blessed me, even in the pain. I can confidently say that Romans 8:28 and 2 Corinthians 9:8 are absolutely true!

I found the song on YouTube to share with you. Please enjoy and remember that no matter what, God has a plan for your life! Trust HIM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtNzOpKvPfw&feature=related

He Thought of Everything

Last night during family devotions Rick read this from the Jon Courson commentary and I loved it...
"The message of the Lamb of God grows wider and becomes more encompassing as you travel through Scripture. In Genesis, as Abel brought a lamb for sacrifice we see a lamb offered for an individual. In Exodus, as each household sacrificed a lamb during Passover, we see a lamb offered for a family. In Leviticus, when the people of Israel were instructed to sacrifice a lamb, we see a lamb offered for a nation. In John, the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, we see a Lamb who would be offered for the world."
As we get ready to celebrate Easter (in less than 4 weeks) let us remember that Jesus saves individually, as a family, as a nation and the world. Let us praise Him because He really did think of everything!

From Z to A

I have some very creative, "think out side of the box" kind of kids. This can be so much fun, and very thought provoking all at the same time.

Recently Katie asked me an interesting question. One that I think few people have asked. And I remember as a kid wondering the same thing. What is that question? She asked why the alphabet has to be A to Z. Why can't B come before A and Why is Z always last?

Then just this morning Eli wanted me to read his book from the end to the beginning. So we did. It was fun and he noticed things at the end of the book he'd never noticed before. I guess because he was fresh enough to pay attention and not tired of hearing the book go on and on.

This has gotten me thinking about other things. Why is it only OK to eat cereal for breakfast and not for dinner? Why do we read the Bible Genesis to Revelation instead of the other way around? Why do we work in the morning and relax in the evening?

Well, I think I came up with an answer. Besides the basic one of "because that's what we do"! We do things in order because it helps us remember what is important. We do things in order because it helps us to communicate with each other. But most importantly we do things in order because our God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33). We are created to be like Him (Genesis 1:27)If we are created in His image and if He is an organized, chaos-free individual we should strive to be as well.

However, God is also creative. So be creative and enjoy reading Revelation first. It puts the rest of the story in the right perspective! (And Eli's book was an alphabet book. Fun reading from Z to A!)