We Encourage: Contentment

As a woman, wife & mama it can be a daily struggle sometimes to take my eyes off of my circumstances and put them on Jesus. My heart and mind becomes clowded w/ doubt, insecurity, frustration, pride, coveting... really it could be any number of things that puts the focus on me and not on my Jesus.

Today, I did this little exercise and thought I would share what the Holy Spirit shared with me through His word.

When I am tired or stressed or whatever excuse I can come up with to reason my behavior, I can tend to grumble and complain. like a. lot. Sometimes I don't even want to be around myself. I will find a fault in anything and everything there is to find fault it. (sometimes even where there isn't any) My poor hubs. He usually just 'takes it' and might say something to the affect of, "wow, I can't do anything right, huh?"

In no way is that who Jesus has called me to be, nor is it at all a reflection of his saving grace in my life. This is where he has placed me for such a time as this- as a minister to my family. He has called me to serve them and love them. Most of the time I enjoy it... I mean I love being a wife and a mama.

Usually what happens is, I begin to dwell on all the things that are NOT getting done. All the things I have left to do. All the things I don't like about my house, husband, kids, myself and BAM! negativity begins to flow like a flooded river right out of my mouth.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

(Philippians 4:8-10 ESV)

Anyone that knows me and knows my husband could tell you that I am one blessed lady. Michael truly has a servant's heart and will give you the shirt off his back if he thinks you need it. A dream for him would be to own a full service auto maintenance truck so that he would be able to stop at any moment and help some one out- no charge- no expectation- just to be a blessing. He has a big heart and gives it freely. He gets frustrated because he feels like he can't do enough. We were having a discussion the other day and I told him I thought it was silly how a lot of wifes/moms view the husbands as "getting" to go to work... His response? "But we do! We do get to go to work. I feel bad that you are here all day taking care of the kids and house and all the things you do. I wish I could be here to help you more. I could never do what you do." Couple of things I know for sure, #1 one of us has to pay the bills and #2 I would NEVER want his job. I love being a mom and even when things get crazy (which happens...often), I wouldn't trade this season with my littles for anything. 

Only when my mind is full of these truths, can I be content. If I allow myself to wander into and be consumed by all that I don't have, I miss out on the wonderful blessings that are right in front of me. To keep things in perspective, this is my prayer:

Philippians 4: 6-9 whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy, think about these things. Only by keeping my mind & heart focused on these things, will I be able to love them and serve the way you have designed. My children are a blessing from the Lord. They are beautiful creations from God. They smile, laugh, give kisses and hugs. They are smart little sponges. My husband is loving, kind and gracious. He is a hard worker, adorable, and a true blessing to my life. He is a loving papa and a precious gift to me. You have called me to be a servant- I desire to serve my family and show them the gospel and point them to Jesus. Thank you, thank you, Jesus for your unending blessings and love. Thank you for your grace and kindness. Thank you for my family. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. May my home be a haven of peace and comfort, full of love and joy from You.

Orbitz Gum, Anyone? A Juicy Morsel.

source

Today is all about cleaning up dirty mouths.

Recently, I have allowed my mouth to move way too much. I'll be in mid sentence and realize that what I am saying is neither edifying nor for building up. It is idle conversation or just plain unnecessary. The Bible calls this gossip and is pretty clear how destructive this sin is.

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

This puts a whole new standard on what I say. There have been many instances in the past few days/weeks where my mouth moved only for greed and pride. What came out of my mouth was not to build up or give grace. Quite the opposite, actually. My words have too many times been used to puff myself up or make my flesh feel satisfied (even if only for a moment). Its almost like a small high to have diarrhea of the mouth. Many times the damage done by spreading rumors (even information we know to be true or more often, just think to be true) isn't ever fully realized by the person spreading it. My intentions may be 'good' but as some may say, "wars are started with good intentions.

Proverbs has this to say of gossip:

"They words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body." (Prov 26:22, ESV)

 When our ears itch and want to greedily swallow up a 'juicy story' or our tongue can't help but 'share' the latest news, the words become a part of us. The greed and pride get deep down into our core and begin we begin to rot from the inside out. The pain we are causing is selfish and unnecessary. Unfortunately, it is all to common, even among friends. Whether thought to be in confidence as an 'important' prayer request or out of concern for a friend or just plain 'ole run of the mill idle talk, the sin is the same and the results can be deadly. 

All too often gossip becomes an issue because of an idle mind. Its kind of like eating junk when we are bored. When our mind is set to idle, we begin to feed it junk and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The less time I have spent looking to Jesus and meditating on His words, the easier it has been to fall into the trap of gossip and idle talk.

No

                 longer

                                 will

                                              I

                                                  stand for it.

Where is our hope? What is the answer to this on-going, death-filled problem???

LOVE. 

LOVE from our gracious savior is the answer.

Praise Jesus that His mercies are new every morning! Praise Him, that his grace is sufficient. Thank you Jesus, your love and grace covers a multitude of sins! Thank you that I am forgiven and you have brought restoration for my soul! Thank you that through the loving grace of your Holy Spirit, I can choose to build up and edify my brothers and sisters. I no longer am a slave to sin. I am a new creation and by your grace, use my mouth to bring glory and honor to your name. 

Let me leave you with this last morsel of encouragement,

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Dirty Mouth? Clean it up! 

Not with gum but with love and grace by setting our sights on Jesus. 

And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack.

Today started rough. Actually if we rewind to yesterday, it started then. Okay so, maybe its been building for a while. My little guy is 2. He's smart (a little too smart sometimes). He's funny and even hilarious. He is a joy, a hugger, a jokester. While, he isn't bad and is far from the worst, he is definitely two! Oh boy is he ever 2. And I am definitely a mom of 3 under 3. Most days we get through the rough patches unscathed. Today, I wasn't so sure that would be the case.


So yesterday.


Really as I sit here writing this I can't even think of why it was so rough except to say that as I was laying in my little guy's toddler bed next to him praying, my heart was suddenly broken. And it still kind of is. Broken for the number of times I raised my voice to that cutie little face. Broken for the anger I felt at times towards him and his behavior. Broken knowing I hadn't been loving him like God loves me. Broken realizing that tomorrow when he wakes up, he will smile and be so happy to see despite my lack of care for his spirit. Broken knowing these were the memories I was building for him in his early childhood. Fearful that my lunatic screams would be all he remembers.


So what did I do? I prayed. I prayed for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to restore order and peace in our home. I prayed for protection over my son's heart... protection from me. (Learned that one from my daddy) I prayed against chaos and fear. I prayed for our home to be a beakon of christ's love and grace and peace. I prayed for a gentle and quiet spirit. I just prayed.


Walking out of his room I felt like things were different. Like tomorrow we would have a new day, a new beginning, a chance to do it all right. And then tomorrow came. Boy did it come... And I wanted yesterday. He was on a mission. Maybe a mission for the most spanks in one day. Possibly a mission to see how quickly he could have his mommy committed. Perhaps a mission to just irritate the heck out of everyone in the house. (Or maaaaaybe just being 2 and testing every limit possible... just because that's what 2 yr olds do). Either way, the craziness was happening and it was leaving me defeated. And frustrated. And feeling like a failure. I was failing my kids, my husband, my God and myself. All before 10 a.m.!


Two things happened. Friends and coffee. I text my dear friend kelly to ask her to sit wth the girls while they napped so I could go to the grocery. And then I made coffee. By the time she came down, I had talked to the hubs and had 1/2 a cup of coffee in me. She suggested I leave the boy with her- thank you Jesus for good brave friends! I didn't hesitate! Who knew walmart grocery isles were the perfect place for alone time???


The remainder of my day was most certainly better than the start but it wasn't perfect. I tried not to raise my voice so much and I actually don't think he got any more spankings. As I sat down after the kids were all tucked away, I suddenly felt this overwhelming love. Love for that sweet boy I had just put to sleep while praying with him. Love for those 2 sweet sleeping baby girls. And I knew. I knew that jesus loves me. I knew that I had been blessed with 3...THREE of the most precious gifts a human being could ever receive. I was left speechless knowing that jesus loves me so much that even in my failed attempts at loving my children I was his precious gift and he reminded me that he still loves me- no. matter. what. He is who gives me the capacity to love. Wow.


When I got in the shower I realized 2 things... 


First, I can do nothing without christ. He is the finished work. I can, however, do all things through christ who strengthens me. 


Second, the enemy wants nothing more than for me to accept defeat and be crushed by my own frustration. The thing is:  I am not defeated-he is! I am more than a conqueror in christ jesus. No, get this, NO weapon formed against me will prosper!!!


We will receive peace in our home and reject chaos. I will love my family more today than I did yesterday. And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack.


Joy- I'm taking you back! I'm choosing to rest in jesus.


Nehemiah 6:3 "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down."


This thing called motherhood is a great work and is not for quitters. I will not come down. I will not be defeated. Lord willing, I'm gonna keep on building this wall.


**If you actually read all of this, God bless ya :-)
(The Nehemiah mention was not fully an original thought but was inspired by this post from another blogger over at Letters to Ames.)