Jesus lives in mommy's house

"We fulfill what we were "meant to be" when God is "recognizable" in our lifestyle."
-Beth Moore, Breaking Free

As a mom, there is nothing more incredible than the warmth of a hug from one of your kids followed by I love you.  At least I used to think there was nothing more incredible until I overheard my kids talking.


The kids and I did not celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving this year as they were not with me.  Instead,  I fixed a special dinner for them on Saturday night.  It was kids choice.  No turkey or mashed potatos but instead the things they "love" that only mom can make.  Everyone was in the kitchen playing a part in the preparation of our feast.  From crescent rolls to chocoalte pie we cooked, laughed and played all hungry at the smell of food stirring in the kitchen.  As I was putting clothes into the dryer down the hall, I overheard my ten year old tell my eight year old that "Jesus lives in mommy's house".  I stopped what I was doing as tears streamed down my face.

I have faced a lot of adversity over the past couple of years.  I have spent much time doubting myself as a mom as well as a wife until that moment.  In that moment I was filled with a great sense of peace. Satan spends so much time trying to convince us of our failures that we often begin to believe the lies. I'm learning that there could not be a greater compliment in the world than his opposition in my life.  If he is trying to bring me down it means that I am definitely doing something right.  Those words spoken by my daughter signified that for me.


You see, people can try and bring you down.  They can attempt to take your kids, friends and family away but God is always victorious.  He never loses and because He never loses, I will not lose.  No matter what happens, I have won a million times over because my children know their mom loves Jesus and that He lives in her house.

Give thanks

Giving Thanks Always

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

There are four types of people. There are those who are constantly complaining and grumbling. Have you met any of these folks? I mean, they can brighten up a room just by leaving it. That’s the lowest level. Then there are others who live lives of ingratitude. They don’t complain, but they never thank God for His obvious blessings. That’s a little better, but not much better. Then there are people who thank God for obvious blessings. When something good happens, they’re grateful. That’s a better level. But the highest level is to be grateful for all things at all times. That is the secret of a happy and productive life.

Bow before the Lord and begin to think about difficult circumstances you’re facing. Now, thank Him for each one.

Adrian Rogers

Thankful

This morning as I made my way to work, I was listening to Bob and the Showgram which is a local morning radio show.  They are in the middle of doing their yearly radiothon for the Pediatric Brain Tumor foundation.  As I turned on the radio I caught the beginning of one of the stories from a mom of a child who suffered with a brain tumor.  As I listened I was well reminded of how incredibly blessed I am.  


Though the past few years have been hard, those years are nothing compared to what many parents face every day with children fighting some form of cancer.  My issues pale in comparison.  


As I drove to work in tears I thanked God for His amazing grace.  Life has been hard but my children are healthy.  Time spent in a court room is nothing when you compare it to the heartache and pain of having to watch your babies suffering and in pain on a hospital bed.  


So today I am thankful...

• For a faithful God who has provided in every way possible in my life.  From His immeasurable grace to His unconditional love and everything in between.
• For the many opportunities in which He has allowed me to see Him move in my life and walked with me as I took such giant leaps of faith. 
• For all five of my awesome kids who are healthy, thriving, very smart and who love me.
• For my incredibly beautiful home which includes a sidewalk lined with rosebushes :-)
• For a job that I couldn't love any more! A place where I can laugh, be myself and relax.
• For all the new friends that God has placed in my life and for the blessing they each have been to me throughout the past few months
• For an incredible church family 
• For my family

God is good and every day He proves to be better than the day before.  Life is hard and we all struggle but once we realize that there is always someone else who is probably struggling much more than ourselves, we are then able to appreciate how truly blessed we are. 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Reaping and Sowing

I do not believe in Karma but I do work in the secular world where many hold to that way of thinking.  I do however believe that we do, in fact, reap what we sow. Which, I guess, can sound a lot like Karma. 

Anyway I have watched repeatedly as someone does wrong and then questions why things are not going their way.  Apparently there are people in this world that believe that they can lie or make light of the cross and get away with it.  

Not sure if these people are ignorant or plainly just do not care but it is scary.  Why test God?  Why mock His word?  Especially when you claim to believe in Him and claim to believe His truth?  Do you not realize that scripture tells us that "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 4:17.  Do you understand that sin is a way of mocking God? 

Everyone who declares to be a child of God is held to a standard higher than those who are not.  This means that if we know something is wrong and continue down the path of doing wrong, we are mocking God.  We are asking to be disciplined.

The more I study this subject the more my heart aches.  God is an amazing God.  His love and grace are immeasurable but there are consequences for doing wrong and making light of the sacrifice of His Son. 

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Galatians 6:7-10

Madame Chiang Kai-shek once wrote:

   "If the past has taught us anything it is that every cause brings its
   effect, every action has a consequence. We Chinese have a saying: "If
   a man plants melons he will reap melons; if he sows beans, he will
   reap beans." And this is true of everyone's life; good begets good,
   and evil leads to evil. True enough, the sun shines on the saint and
   the sinner alike, and too often it seems that the wicked prosper. But
   we can say with certainty that, with the individual as with the
   nation, the flourishing of the wicked is an illusion, for,
   unceasingly, life keeps books on us all. In the end, we are all the
   sum total of our actions. Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can
   it put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of
   the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in the very
   heart of the tree, character requires time and nurturing for growth
   and development. Thus also, day by day, we write our own destiny; for
   inexorably...we become what we do."