In His Word Sunday- contentment

Contentment...

contentment: (noun) the state of being contented;  satisfaction; ease of mind. (dictionary.com)

From Our Daily Bread Devotional,

"A poet once wrote: “As a rule, man’s a fool. When it’s hot, he wants it cool. And when it’s cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not.”

What an insightful observation on human nature! So when we read in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” we wonder, Can this be possible?

For Paul it was. Philippians 4:12-13 describes Paul’s response to life: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (NIV). Paul’s relationship with God superseded whatever he did or did not have. His contentment was not based on his circumstances, but on his relationship with Christ."

If there is something I struggle with greatly, it is this.  The Lord has done a mighty work in my heart and continues to as He gently shows me my heart attitude, convicts my thoughts and my words and shows me the mirror through my little ones.  Growth happens when, at least speaking for myself, when we are able to humble our selves and listen to the words being spoken by a loved one (in love); to take these words and learn and not harden our hearts is through the strength and wisdom of God and the laying down of our sinful selves.  Peace is found in Him, contentment is peace found in our precious Jesus with the renewing of our minds in and by Him.

I recently read a blog post by a homeschooling mama (not sure where now!) and she wrote about falling into the trap of comparing herself to other homeschoolers.  In her journey of hearing the Lord in her home and schooling, she said she had to put the blinders on, as a horse would have, that she wouldn't be distracted by everything else, even the good.  She had to find what the Lord was calling HER to do and not everyone else.

I think of this often, not just in homeschooling but in the other areas-put the blinders on- His yoke upon me, His will and not mine, be content in all things...and a huge amen- His love endures forever :)  The many times I stumble and regress, He is there, to gently lead me back, to forgive, to love, to extend grace and mercy when not deserved.  He is our loving Creator.

Finding peace in being content with where we are at, for His plans are so much greater than mine could ever be and I have to trust that.  Let go and let God :)

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:12-13

He strengthens me...

hello, summer :)

birthday boys-oldest and youngest -cheesecake and a whoopie pie! :)

missing some legs?

summer days

engineer

characters!

future Yankee ;)

bike riding days

little league

lupines

mama on the porch

season in full swing

planting (I'm proud to say-they're STILL alive!!!)

my sweet ones

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

-Galatians 5:25 NLT

In His Word Sunday-the love of money (part 1)

I've decided to pick a word on Sundays that the Lord has been working on my heart with...today is Money.  Leave me a note if He is doing the same in your heart and you write about it-how we can learn from one another!  Blessings!

The Lord is continually teaching us.  Teaching us who He is, who we are, who we are in Him...
This week, I sat down with our boys to begin a study on money.  After hearing, "I want..", "can I have...", "can we go to...", "when I get..." continually, woo-wee it starts to wear on you precious nerves.  And I will admit it isn't just the continual asking for more and more and the seemingly ungrateful attitudes...it is also the part of having to say no majority of the time.  But dear ones, can I say how good our God is, when we say (or type) it out loud (confessing, if you will), He sure is awesome in revealing sinful nature there.  For me to be able to say yes to everything, would we be able to teach a grateful heart?  Would we be able to teach a content spirit?  Would we be able to teach a generous hand?

He is good :)

Okay, so that was a some what side note but, praise the Lord-I have to share what He reveals!  Anyhow, we started to read about God's money.  I took the big concordance out and we found verses on money.  Where did we end up?  Here:

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.


The earlier part of the verse speaks foundational wisdom and roots:  1 Timothy 6:6-10


 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

We will be studying this for a while.  Not only for them but for myself as well.  I didn't learn how to handle money well and it has been an ongoing lesson (and sometimes battle) for me.  I can't emphasize enough the amazing gift and responsibility we have as parents to teach our children how to handle God's money.  When we instill in them the truth of being God's stewards when they are young, prayerfully they will continue on that path as adults, avoiding unneeded hardships that come with unhealthy views and handling of finances.

Deuteronomy 15:6

6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.

Psalm 37:21

 21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, 

   but the righteous give generously;

Romans 13:8

 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Also,

Here is a great series on Revive Our Hearts (Calling Women to Freedom, Fullness and Fruitfulness in Christ):  Financial Wisdom for God's Glory with Jan Thompson (a 4 part series that is downloadable, I believe.)


Praying for the Lord's hand upon you, learning His ways, teaching them to your young, and being good stewards of what He has entrusted to your care.

Most importantly,

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

to be continued...

trials and breathing...

There is so much I want to write!  So many I times I'm thinking to myself, "oh, I want to write about this on the blog..." Well, I must start some where :)

There have been days I feel like I can't take one more step, one more breath and at that moment I have a choice...step, breathe...or don't...and I know there is no other choice but to step, to breathe...and I do-He does.   And I am left breathless, not because I am without hope but because He has done the opposite.  He has carried me through it, He has given me new breath, new hope to take another step.  Can I hear an Amen to His goodness :)

Though my trials are minuscule in comparison to many, they are what He knows I can handle.  He is using these trials to answer prayers.

May I serve You Lord, to live and bring You glory.

Love,
your girl :)


"...And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel:
He is called the God of the whole Earth." ~Isaiah 54:5

linked post- mud :)

"Because even mud is beautiful."


...she couldn't have said it better...read here...
Amen sister!


Finding joy in who we are and He created us to be...

a self portrait of sorts :)

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 (New King James Version)

Journeying...

Just when you think you know the plan...things change.  This seems to be the theme for us for the past 4 years.  It has been in spurts, ups and downs, highs and lows, plateauing in between.  Through it all though, I know God is leading.

I do have to say though, the past couple months have brought with them much change and I've struggled.  I've struggled with my faith, not with my love for the Lord but learning who He is, who I am in Him and well,...what am I supposed to be doing, thinking, saying?  A sweet friend said these words to me in conversation, "growing pains."  Yes, this is what they are...

Journeying with Him...He is good all the time :)

Zephaniah 3:17 (New King James Version)

¹⁷ The LORD your God in your midst,
      The Mighty One, will save;
      He will rejoice over you with gladness,
      He will quiet you with His love,
      He will rejoice over you with singing.” 
    
What a precious gift...

Mom :)

Thankful, honored, humbled at the gift to be called this precious name...Mom.

Ephesians 1:5 (New King James Version)

 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

with a smile...pop art!

Oh, how good the Lord is...little bits and pieces, coming together and a hope, a glimmer...the excitement of what He has put in each of us.... :)

we shall see...

 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” - Romans 3:23-24

seeing is believing (by His grace)...

New Year's Day I sat with my Bible in hand, reading His Word and had an unmistakable peace.  I wanted to dive into His Word, to make changes in our life that would be honoring to our precious LORD.  For this to be a year of changes, growth, learning and drawing nearer to Him.

Well, as with most New Year's resolutions (though I would definitely not categorize this desire as a NY's resolution-just a comparison being that it was New Year's day), life takes over and those "great changes" start to move to the back burner.

So this great journey I was to embark on, grabbing the bull by the horns so to speak, TV turned off, cloth diapers in hand, garden started, canning in process, crafting and journaling a daily habit, sewing, drawing, schooling and planning flowing, nature journals overflowing, organizing, de-cluttering, streamlining the home and daily duties and most importantly, diving into His Word-learning, searching, growing, being fully immersed in Him (can you imagine it, being completely submerged in His love, in His truth, in HIM?!)  Oh, it is breath-taking at the thought!

Well...as I'm writing this, these were my heart's desires and I was going to say that not, if any, progress had been made in these areas, but the truth is...there has been.  And the next only truth, it has been God who has lead these paths, not my own doing (isn't He wonderful!)  I have not made a conscious effort to put these desires into practice; one, due to lack of motivation; two, due to lack of organization and three, due to my perfectionist tendencies which usually result in null attempts (yep, sad but true.)  So what has the Lord done?  He has set these things into motion by circumstance, forcing me with His gentle hand to move into these directions.  Again, I say it:  He is wonderful!  (I'm not going to lie, not sure if I'm using the correct punctuation-have mercy on me :) )

So there you go, sometimes (a lot of times!) we have to step outside of ourselves, out of our boxes and look, that we can see what He's doing.  We can be blown away by His mighty work in the smallest of things.  The fact that He loves us, sinful and all is miracle enough.  And to think of the mighty blessings He has for us; us, an undeserving, selfish, filth covered people...saved only by the cross with grace.  Whoo-takes your breath away, humbling isn't it?

Yes, I am journeying with Him, seeking His (not my own, which I'm continuously laying at His feet) will...oh, He is good always and forever :)

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” -Hebrews 1:3

amazed...quiet

Without words, amazed by His hand upon lives, in and through them...we are only to obey...

This young woman's testimony leaves me speechless, with tears, humbled and amazed...asking for you to pray for her and her sweet ones and the journey the Lord has her on...

Praying all is well, I've been quiet for a while, resting in His care, sometimes clinging (always clinging!) Resting in the assurance of His goodness and mighty works and plans He has...and that I shall trust and obey, for I am here to serve Him, with joy and love.  In His strength and not my own.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” - Ephesians 1:7

Isaiah...

Resting in His care....a sweet post from a dear friend with an amazing testimony...

Praying you are resting in His care,