Mettle Monday: A Narrow View

I am at yet another fork in the road in my relationship with Christ. You know the ones where religion and truth split. Yep that is where I am right this very minute. And as I chose relationship over religion, this road is getting less comfy. Self reflection has become more and more humbling as I see ALL that I lack and how very far I still have to go. I am coming into a greater understanding of God's grace and a greater need of it and pray that I never stray so far away from this truth: Any goodness that shines through in our lives is not of our own doing but God's glory shining through into the world. Anything that is not true, not noble, not right, not pure, not lovely, not admirable, not praiseworthy.... these things ARE from the very depths of my heart. When we come to realize that we ARE really that evil, that hateful, that detestable in the sight of God's eyes; then and only then do we realized our dependency on Christ.

I have been thinking alot on these verses:
Romans 7
¹⁴ So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
 ¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
 ²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power  within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord....

I think there is a deep cry from heaven for the church to grow up! To go beyond ALL earthy things and to really live out all our lives with a Kingdom Focus. I've started reading the book Radical by David Platt and God is really using this book to cut between the bone and marrow of who I am and who I think I am. In his book he talks about how self centered the American church has become and God is showing me how self centered I am, how what I do isn't really for him but for me. I'm determined to cut out all the fluff and really get to the heart of why God wants me here and somehow I think it isn't to have a nicely decorated home or to be able to fix a 9 course meal to entertain family and friends. No I think that what God is seeking from me and from every believer is how we deal with each day and each moment He gives us to minster to the lost, to our persecuted brothers and sisters and finally to take the focus off our ourselves and to be able to live our lives in complete obedience to God's plan for our lives. To go where he tells us to go, to suffer for the strength of our faith, to view every person we see as someone who may not know the salvation Christ has given us AND be willing at any cost to share Christ's message with them. I know I am very far from being able to do this and that is why I say that I have come to a fork in the road between religion and relationship. As I travel down this narrow road only one thing is certain He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Mettle Monday: In a minute

How many times have you told your child that?

I think I run out of fingers counting how many times that phrase is uttered in this house. Then for some reason last week it hit me: "Why do they have to wait?" Is an email really more important, or a phone call so needed that it disrupts their day. Yes, I believe that a child should learn to be patient, have manners, and learn to put others first. BUT if we are really honest with ourselves about how often we make our children "wait just a minute" we might come to understand their frustration with our lack of patience, manners and selfishness. I look at my own attitude at my children and I wonder when did a conversation, or a blog post, or even a morning devotion become so important that I grieve the heart of my child. It shouldn't be so and we only need to look at Jesus' example of embracing little children to see clearly that we might need a reality check:

Luke 18:¹⁵People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

I mean think about it!!! If Jesus stopped what he was doing to minister to these children how much more should we as parents make our children the priority of our day. So what does that look like for me:

Example 1

I'm working on my coveted morning devotion and my oldest son wakes up a bit early. I would normally tell him, mommy is doing her quite time go get your cereal and be quiet till I finish. What I will do now is close the laptop, embrace my son with a big smile and sit down with him as he eats his breakfast. After he is done eating, I'll curl up on the couch with him and we can read together his Children's Bible or work on his AWANA verses.  Developing within him discipline to have his own morning quiet time. BUT what about my quiet time, you ask. I am going to have full confidence in God that if there is more that I needed to learn or more time needed to spend with Him, he will open that door for me. 

Example 2

I am elbow deep in chores and my daughter wants to play. I would normally tell her not right now I need to get this chore done, go find your brother to play with till I'm done. What I will do now is invite her to help me finish my chore AND then we will go play. "Baby girl, I would love to play with you. Can you help me finish doing such and such." I can just here her precious voice saying, "sure" with such excitement and delight. 

Example 3

Often my youngest boy comes running to me in great delight over some new discovery or a chance to watch him do this or that. And often I am in the middle of a conversation on the phone. A while back I started having him touch my elbow so that I know he needs something, but I took advantage of his obedience and often forgot to even go see what he was going to show me. So we are back at square one with the interruptions again. So I spoke to him about this issue again, reaffirming his value in my heart and told him:    "What you have to say or show me is important. Please touch my elbow again so that I know you need my undivided attention. Mommy will set the timer and within 5 minutes I will be off the phone to listen to what you have to say." If the conversation I am in is something that needs to go on longer than 5 minutes, I will politely ask the caller if I can call them back at another time so that I can give them my undivided attention. Putting first my children because they are my Number 1 Ministry. 

Of course there are exceptions to every rule and a million what ifs where someone could show me that this wont work or even disagree with my emphasis on my children. But what God is showing me is that 1} He can take care of those "What Ifs" and 2} I am my children's  mother and they are my responsibility and priority during the day. Phone calls, blog posts, crafts, and to do lists can become distractions from my Number 1 Ministry.  

What importance do you give your home and all the responsibilities you have within your walls. Because I am a planner and love to map out my day with a schedule I have decided that I will pencil in my time at home as Number 1 Ministires. I don't know why but actually giving my homemaking duties a name just seems to put some perk in my step and motivate me to do those things I need to get done. If you are not getting done those things you should and could do daily, have a heart to heart with yourself and see if it is because you need some motivation. If so, I would like to challenge you to maybe come up with a "name" to help you remember why you do what you do, find a verse that helps keep you focused on what is important throughout your day or even admit to yourself that you need to change something within your day to make your family know they are a top priority in your life!!!!

I would like to leave you with a Proverbs that can help you greatly determine your steps and be a beacon as you go through out your day:

NIV
Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

CEV
Proverbs14:1 A woman's family is held together by her wisdom, but it can be destroyed by her foolishness.

Mettle Monday: A 1T Man

We always here about the Proverbs 31 Woman. There are ministeries by that name and often that is the goal of each wife and the desire for each mother in the upbringing of her daughter. But what about our boys? What do we as mothers use as a guide for what we should instill in our boys?!?!

Yesterday, Pastor Preston taught on the qualifications of a deacon as Providence Baptist Church will be accepting nominations for deacons next Sunday. I am a note taker in church and as as I was writing down the characteristics of a deacon, it hit me!!!! This is it, this is what I should be striving to instill in my boys!!! Before I go on I want to list, from 1 Timothy 3:8-13:

• temperate: *moderate or self-restrained; not extreme in opinion, statement,* mild in quality or character; exhibiting temperance
• self-controlled: *control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.
• respectable: *worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy
• hospitable:*receiving or treating guests or strangers warmly and generously, * characterized by or betokening warmth and generosity toward guests or strangers
• able to teach: *to impart knowledge or skill; give instruction
• not given to drunkenness:* not frequently or habitually drunk
• not violent but gentle
• not quarrelsome: *not argumentative; contentious
• not a lover of money
• manage own family 

As I, once again reflect over these traits (*a distinguishing characteristic or quality) I immediately think how different our culture would be if we, as mothers, ensured that our boys were raised to know these like the back of their hand. I think teenage pregnacy would be out the window, I think gangs would not be ramped, I think bullying would not be front page news and there would be more families intact. Because I am not a man or a father, I can not speak for what they should or should not do. I do know that what my husband teaches our boys and how he teaches them is different than how I, as a mother, teach them. I see that a boy needs both a mother and a father to help them be well rounded and prepared for the world AND I also see, however for the first 5 to 8 years of a boys life, a mother has the GREATEST impact on her boys. This doesn't mean that we can not instill these traits in our girls but there has to be a reason that the specific traits were written down as qualifications for a deacon and a deacon is a male, at least in a Southern Baptist church. I know that not every male will become a deacon but why don't we prepare our boys to be ready to step up into that leadership position should God call them to serve the church in that way?!?! Just think how much better shape our country and families would be in if we spent as much time and money on raising them up to be spiritual leaders as we do in advancing them in sports, computer technology and education. 

I know there are several items on this list that I can address immediately with my boys, how about you? What do you use to help guide you in raising and preparing your boys to be leaders of their family, communities, churches and maybe even our country?  

Mettle Monday: Reality Check

Yesterday after church our oldest son was out in the street skateboarding. His newest thing is to ride without his shirt, so he can "be cool". There is a young adult across the road who has tattoos, piercings and is always outside without his Tshirt. Before I go any further, please let me state for the record: I have no problem with tattoos or piercings. When I was a teenager I pierced my nose,belly button, and have a total of 6 ear piercings. Right after graduating boot-camp I got a tattoo and would probably have more if that one didn't hurt so much. My issue isn't with this young man's appearance but  the fact that my son is using him to define what is cool. This point was driven home even more when about 30 minutes later 2 boys showed up in front of our house with skateboards in tow. It seemed peculiar because they were between 15 to 17 years old and I do find it strange that out of everywhere in our neighbor hood they decided to skate in front of our house. Big Daddy and I starting taking about the whole situation and drugs were at the fore front of our minds and then we had a sobering moment. I looked at Big Daddy and told him: "You better make sure you are the apple of his eye, that he looks up to you and thinks the world of you so he doesn't fall into the wrong crowd." I didn't mean this in a bad way, Big Daddy is an awesome dad but as our kids get older we need to ensure that we stay connected with them. I think we can shape the way they look at the world by what we expose them too. We make it a priority to ensure that our children are learning from the Bible and leading them to the foot of the cross so that when the Holy Spirit prompts their hearts they have all the knowledge they need to accept Jesus as their Savior. Sometimes we prepare our children for so much "of this world": sports, education, music, arts and yet the one most important decision they will ever make we don't even equip them for. So many children do not have the knowledge to make the decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior or reject Him for the world.

Big Daddy continued our conversation with the stark reality that we will have to teach LJ about drugs and ways to say no. But the truth of the matter is, if LJ doesn't have a real connection with his dad all his words will fall on deaf ears because there will be no respect for what Big Daddy is saying. So I ask you today, who are your children's heros? Are they sports stars, singers, musicians, teachers, athletics or coaches. Do you have your child's heart in the palm of your hand protecting and molding it until they are ready to give it to Christ? As parents, we need to be the super hero in our child's eyes by the way we live our lives, not perfectly but living it out fully for Jesus Christ!!!!

Mettle Monday: The Proverbs 22:6 Promise

Train up a child in the way he should go

[and in keeping with his individual gift or bent],

and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I promise to greet you each day with a smile 

that conveys the love I have for you!!!

I promise to distinguish urgent from important and instill

within you the truth that YOU are my important.

I promise to still myself in the moments you bring to me,

no matter how busy I am.

I promise to give you all I have to give, each day,

from that which God fills me up with.

I promise to meditate each new morning on the importance of

my role within our family; putting it above any other role I

may have, outside our home, from time to time.

I promise to continue to grow in my relationship with Christ

so that I may continue to guide you closer and closer to Christ

as you discover your own personal relationship with our Savior.

I promise not to be perfect but to let our Savior perfect me

through the path He has set before us.

I promise to always remember that although you are my child,

you belong to God and I must do as He directs me and not

fulfill my own selfish desires through your life but train you up

into the person God has designed you to be.

I promise to seek first God's wisdom above any philosophy,

book, or opinion of man.

I promise, from this day forward, to intercede daily for you

and the path that God has designed for you so that you

may not be entangled by the snares of this world but

be blessed by obedience to God.

These things I promise to you, my precious child, before God

to help you become the individual that God created you to be!!!

Love, Your Mom

 As I prayed for guidance as a mom, the above flowed from my heart onto paper.  My prayer is that you will be blessed in using or sharing The Proverbs 22:6 Promise. After all, God's wisdom is for all and has no earthly ownership!!

Blogger Bible-Study and Give-Away!!!!

June 8, 2009

Alright Ladies, it's time to get serious and honest. How many summers do we let slip by without doing a Bible Study? So many times child care becomes an issue or summer activites seem to rule our days. But not any longer!!!

In the month of July I will be going through Kay Arthur's Lord, Teach Me To Pray In 28 Days Let me make a confession here, I have tried to get through this book twice on my own and I have laid it down after the first week or so each time but I'm praying that with the accountablity of other bloggers I we can get through this and finish this year strongly in prayer. So what do you say are you up to it? Sign up below and as the time draws near I'll send out more info!!! Also, if you sign up by June 20th, I'll put you in a drawing to receive a free copy of Kay Arthur's "Lord, Teach Me To Pray".



But wait, there is more!!! Blog about this Bible Study on Your Blog and I'll put you in another drawing for a OAPN notepad, designed just for you to keep your notes on!!!!!



Alright Ladies!!! What are you waiting for?!?!?! Let's get the word out and make this a Summer of Prayer!!!!!





Your Path
Father, may we mark the path of discipline for our children that they see clearly the road that you have designated for them. May they chose to live a life wisely, ready each morning to obey Your Will for their lives. Proverbs 8:32-36

Less is More: The T.V.

So if you head on over to The 160 you can read some more Less is More posts that Amydeanne is blogging about. As I previously posted under Selah, our family motto for this year has become: Less is More. Originally it started concerning money and the things we buy, however I think this is going to be more of a journey than I ever imagined!!! Today was the first day back at school and our less for the day was: T.V. and our more was: time together!!!! We did not watch any T.V. today until the babysitter came over tonight so that we could go to our small group study for Love and Respect. (This is going to be a completely different topic that I can't wait to post about!!!!!) And I can't believe how well our day went. It was hard at first not to cave in when I wanted to get things done, quickly but I just adjusted my mind set and instead of thinking: "How can I get this done fast?", I asked myself:"How can I get this done with the help of at least one of my children?" I actually had all the kids dressed, fed, kitchen cleaned up all by 8am and that was even sleeping in till almost 530am!!! No small task for this household. Oh and that included beds made and teeth brushed. And there wasn't as much complaining as I expected. There was a couple of requests for the Game Cube but other than that doing the dishes and having the boys take turns playing with their sister, going to music, then Story Time, plus an outing to the park with friends, completed our morning fantastically. And to be honest, I think it is me more than the children needing the T.V. as I used it to help keep the kids occupied and out of my way. I know it sound horrible but hey,the truth is the truth. I know not every day will be as great as today but I do think that we will have More and More good days with Less and Less T.V.

So, how about you? What is one thing you think that you could do less with and what would that create more of?

Mettle Mondays

Welcome to Mettle Mondays where we strive to imprint on our children's hearts the love of Christ. Join us as we share with you our adventures of putting others first and developing the character of our children.