Motherhood

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Motherhood, what a complex and overwhelming task it is yet what joy and fulfillment it brings! Growing up I knew I wanted to be a wife and mother. Some girls wanted to be nurses, others wanted to be lawyers or astronauts. Not me... I looked forward to having a family. While I didn't plan my wedding or pick out my children's names way in advance, I did have a deep desire to get married, have children, and stay home with them.


When I graduated high school I didn't have a major or a career chosen so I went to a junior college and earned my AA degree. What next? Well, I didn't have a major, I still just wanted to be a wife and mother so I went to work and waited.



Fast forward, I married my sweetheart and had two beautiful daughters. Wife... check! Mother... check! I even had the privilege to homeschool them, teach them to read, write, cook, draw, do laundry, sew, and on and on. Stay at home... check!



Now my oldest daughter is getting ready to graduate high school this year and her sister is only two years behind her. "What are you going to do when your girls get out of high school?" people ask me. Well, I am doing what I always wanted to do and gee... then what? I'll still get to be a wife and mother but my mothering will change inevitably. You guessed it, I have no major picked out still after all these years! I have even looked through college catalogues and nothing jumps out at me.



My mom said to me just recently not to worry, God had my future all planned out, I just had to live it so I'm going to keep enjoying my "career" and when my "job change" comes, I'll know it and live it. I bet I'll even love it (maybe not as much as my first "career" but that's ok). Lord willing I'll get to see my girls live the same blessed life I have. Who knows.... maybe someday being a grandma will be added to my "career resume"!!

Satisfied in Him

Psalm 36:7-8

"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures."


Many of us have probably sung this popular praise song:

"All of You is more than enough for all of me,
For every thirst and every need,
You satisfy me with Your love
All I have in You is more than enough."

But I wonder... is this lived out in our lives daily? Truly being satisfied (satiated) in Him?

Websters 1828 Dictionary defines satisfy (and it's synonym "satiate") this way:

"satisfy - to gratify wants, wishes, or desires to the full extent; to supply possession or enjoyment until no more is desired."

"satiate - to fill so completely that it is not possible to receive or enjoy more."

Even more telling is the Hebrew word for "abundantly satisfied" used in the passage above, ravah, which means "to satiate, take the fill, soak, water abundantly, slake the thirst."

What a powerful word picture! We are to be satiated in Him, soaked in Him, filled so completely that it is not possible to receive or enjoy more of Him. It is to be as if we are watered so abundantly that our thirst is completely slaked! We long for nothing more because He truly is our all.

I am guilty of not be satisfied in Him, of being thirsty for temporary things or accolades. God has been drawing my heart to this topic of satisfaction, wooing me back to the source of my salvation and joy.

LORD, forgive me for so quickly losing sight of Your complete abundance, Your grace that has been poured out lavishly upon me. Renew my spirit to a place of total satisfaction found only in You. Teach me to walk in Your fullness and to spill over with it toward others. I ask this in Your holy name, Jesus, Amen.

New Year - Valley of Vision

"O LORD,

Length of days does not profit me except the days are passed

in thy presence, in thy service, to thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains,

sanctifies, aids every hour,

that I may not be one moment apart from thee,

but may rely on thy Spirit

to supply every thought,

speak in every word,

direct every step,

prosper every work,

build up every mote of faith,

and give me a desire

to show forth thy praise,

testify thy love,

advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,

with thee, O Father, as my harbour,

thee, O Son, at my helm,

thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,

my lamp burning,

my ear open to thy calls,

my heart full of love,

my soul free.

Give me thy grace to sanctify me,

thy comforts to cheer,

thy wisdom to teach,

thy right hand to guide,

thy counsel to instruct,

thy law to judge,

thy presence to stabilize.

May thy fear be my awe,

thy triumphs my joy."

Taken from "The Valley of Vision - A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions"

Psalm 18 - Who is God?

I walked through Psalm 18 and it was a treasure trove of insight into the character of God. What an awesome thing it is to look into the Word of God, to see truth when we so desperately need it!
Let these truths wash over your soul today... cleansing it of worry, unbelief, stress, depression, fear, whatever else the enemy is throwing at you. This, my friends, is for you... the daughters of the king!

Verse 1 - He is my strength
Verse 2 - He is my rock and fortress, my deliverer and my God, my strength, my shield, horn of my salvation, my stronghold
Verse 3 - He is worthy to be praised
Verse 6 - He hears my cries of distress, He hears my voice
Verse 7-15 - He is powerful, Creator, controller of all things, Master of the universe, Lord of all creation
Verse 16 - He is my deliverer
Verse 17 - He is stronger than my enemies and those things that are too big for me
Verse 18 - He is my support
Verse 20 - He is my rewarder
Verse 25 - He is merciful and blameless
Verse 26 - He is pure to those who are pure, He is shrewd toward those who are devious
Verse 27 - He saves the humble
Verse 28 - He lights my lamp, enlightening the darkness around me
Verse 29 - He enables me to run against a troop, to leap over a wall
Verse 30 - His way is perfect, His word is proven, He is my shield
Verse 31 - He is the Lord, my rock
Verse 32 - He arms me with strength and makes my way perfect
Verse 33 - He sets my feet on high places
Verse 34 - He is my teacher
Verse 35 - He gives me salvation, He holds me up, He is gentle
Verse 36 - He guards my path so my feet do not slip
Verse 39 - He arms me with strength for battle
Verse 46 - He lives, He is my rock, He is the God of my salvation
Verse 47 - He is my avenger
Verse 48 - He is my deliverer
Verse 49 - He is deserving of thanks and praise
Verse 50 - He shows mercy to His anointed

Faith founded on God's Sovereignty

Faith needs to be founded on God's sovereignty.

1) Recall past victories - often the battlefield is in the mind, don't cave in to fear, doubt or misbelief. Shift your focus from the lies of the enemy to God and His infinite ability. Set your heart, mind, will, and emotions on the truth of God's words- use scripture memorization.

2) Reexamine and reaffirm your motives - Is it for personal gain or God's glory?
Victory comes from surrendering my life and desires to Christ. Ask these questions:
~What is my motivation?
~What is God's purpose for me?
~What's really going on here?

3) Reject discouraging words - turn your heart toward God, He is your ultimate encourager.

4) Recognize the true nature of the battle - It is God versus Satan... God wins! (I Sam. 17:45-47)

5) Respond to the challenge with positive confession - speak the truth of God's word to yourself and others. Remember your testimony of faith.

6) Rely on the power of God for the victory - you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13)

7) Reckon the victory - face circumstances with confidence and hope. It is God's ability that is the source of victory. Trust in Him and tap into the eternal force that cannot be constrained!

(This is an excerpt from my journal dated 10/5/00 - I'm not sure who the source is... but I pray it will be an encouragement to you anyway.)

Right Goals and True Success

The new year always begins with resolutions or goals. Goals may be to read a book every month, lose weight, keep in touch with friends consistently, read the Bible every day, exercise regularly, learn a new skill, paint your house, get out of debt, etc. While all of these goals can be good they can be done without the right motive and with the wrong "success measuring tool".

I recently read an article about defining true success. Within that context, the author was pointing out that we can succeed for our own glory or for God's glory. She told a story of a girl who excelled at everything she did, graduating at the top of her class and being class valedictorian yet her success was empty. Why? Because she sought glory for herself and it was never enough. Then the author told another story about a man who chose to work hard while he was at work but when it was time to go home to his family, he did so. He lived his conviction to be a man of God and keep his family as his top priority after his Lord. Worrying about the outcome of this decision was not his focus, being obedient to God was.

In both cases there were goals and success. For the girl, the goals were accomplished and the success left her prideful yet empty. For the man, he accomplished what God called him to do as a man, employee and husband which was his goal. While he received earthly rewards, God was glorified by his obedience and faith - that success brought peace, fulfillment, and a lifestyle of humble dependence on God.

Which scenario best represents our lives? Are we characterized by a life that follows hard after God and His plans or by a life that is always seeking for more and more of what the world has to offer (at whatever price the world exacts)? It is my prayer that we are becoming ever increasingly more like Christ, seeing goals and success through His eyes.

In the article I mentioned, this wonderful hymn by Frances Brook was shared. Here I am sharing stanzas one and two. Enjoy!

"My Goal is God Himself"

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
'Tis His to lead me there- not mine, but His-
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So faith bounds forward to it's goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath fulfilled my deepest prayer

Fruit of the Spirit

While perusing my old journals, I came across this excerpt from a newlsetter from by Dr. Paul Chappell, teaching pastor at Lancaster Baptist Church.

"Joy is love singing
Peace is love resting
Longsuffering is love enduring
Gentleness is love's true touch
Goodness is love's character
Faith is love's habit
Meekness is love's self-forgetfulness
Temperance is love holding the reins.

...Wise is he who continues learning to hear that still small voice of God and obeys His every impulse."

Focus and Clear Vision

"Do not look at someone else and say - Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why cannot I? You have to walk in the light of the vision that has been given to you and not compare yourself with others or judge them, that is between them and God."

taken from My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers, December 29

Recently I was wrestling with God when this devotion hit me right between the eyes. I tend to wrestle because I have lost my focus. For example when I know He is requiring something of me yet I look at others that I think are not following suit (anybody see the problem with that view???).

How quickly God calls me up short in His mercy. Thankfully He loves His children with agape love; love that does what is best for them, not necessarily what they desire. That is why I read devotions like this right at the time when I need to hear them... because God is merciful and faithful.

And you know He is always on time... His Holy Spirit works on us, convicting us, reminding us God's Word, bringing people (or devotionals) across our path, whatever it takes to bring us to repentance.

Like a pair of glasses that get dirty over time, my heart gets dirty over time - gradual enough that I don't realize it's happening. God gets my attention, He encourages me to take a good look at my "glasses" and see all the dirty film that has built up. Once I clean them off through repentance, my clear vision comes back and I can see rightly again. He asks me, "What have I called YOU to do?" I answer, "Yes Lord," and we are back in focus again.

Renewing Your Strength

As the New Year begins, here is a good starting point - renewing our strength, strength only our Lord can give and sustain - and a wise path for the whole year ahead.

"Your life cannot be sustained without renewal from God. Just as it is essential to replace the body's energy by eating, the soul must be revitalized by feeding on the Book of God, by listening to the preaching of His Word, and by the soul-filling table of communion.

"How depressed we become when renewal is neglected! How poor and malnourished are the saints who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer. If our faith can live without God, that faith is not from God; it is only a dream. But if our faith is from God, we will wait for Him as flowers wait for the dew....

"In humble prayer, draw near to the footstool of divine mercy, and realize the fulfillment of the promise, 'Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength' (Isaiah 40:31)"

taken from: "Morning and Evening", Charles H. Spurgeon, January 2, Evening

A New Beginning

As I look over this past year of my life, I find myself overwhelmingly grateful for the measureless grace of God. The grace of God is what has brought me safe thus far and His grace will lead me home.

Last night as I prayed with my girls I was reminded that for the believer, new beginnings don't come once a year but every day. God's mercy is new every morning and great is His faithfulness. If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I don't have to wait; I can be cleansed, renewed, restored now because God is a living God, the one true God Who sees, hears, and acts on our behalf.

We have the privilege of living right now, not yesterday, or tomorrow, but right in this moment.