Trust and Obey

Lately I have been working with my 5yr old on obedience. He's a good kid. It's not that he acts out a lot or does a lot of bad things. He just has been a little stubborn lately in the way that he responds to me when I ask him to do or not do something. His dad calls it "sassing". That's pretty much it. I say something and he is quick to come back with "but I wasn't" or "I didn't" responses. It's getting very old, and I have finally started to show him that there are consequences to not respecting mommy. I am trying to be consistent with him, or there will be consequences for me, the older he gets. Not to mention when he becomes an adult out on his own and needs to respect his boss, or other authorities.

That being said, I have been thinking a lot about my own views on obedience. I am always telling my children to "listen and obey." I believe that God asks the same childlike response from me. He wants me to listen to His instructions, and obey them without questioning Him. It is called trust. I need to trust that God only wants what's best for me, just like my children need to trust that I only want the best for them. When I don't listen and obey, there are consequences. Consequences that not only effect me, but those around me that I love.

So, while I am working on my son's "listen and obey" skills, I am also asking God to work on me. Hopefully, with time, God will cultivate obedience in both of us.

It's like the old familiar hymn says:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy with Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
(Text: John H. Sammis 1887, Music: Daniel B. Towner)

Friendship in the Valleys

I have a lot of close friends that are going through difficult times right now. Often, the Lord will place their burdens on my heart so that I can carry them in prayer. I am certain that when I have gone through my own valleys, they have been faithful to carry me in prayer as well. True friendship is like that. Words needn't be exchanged. You can just sense that they need prayer.

This psalm is my prayer for my sisters in Christ this morning. It goes out to you with all my heart. May you lean on Jesus as you walk through the valleys, for He is there with you. And when it seems like you can't go any further, He will carry you. I love you and am praying for you always.

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Big Boxes and Small Things

I received my gift from Rachel Anne yesterday for most points earned in February at Home Sanctuary. It is a beautiful canvas of Psalm 84:5. "Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on pilgrimage." Thank you, Rachel Anne! It is beautiful. I have hung it above my piano in my living room.

Not only did I get a beautiful canvas, but I got a box! I know that sounds funny, but it ended up being hours of unending entertainment for my kids. First, we turned it into a bus, and the wheels on the bus went round and round, all over the house!

Then we simply made a few adjustments and voila! It becomes the perfect place for a puppet show! It was a complete production.

The fun goes on and on. I love to watch them as they use their imaginations to come up with each new thing. It's been everything from a salon to a race car!

Thanks again, Rachel Anne, for your creative site. You inspire me in so many ways. I love being a Company Girl!

Looking Back

Today I am reflecting on where I have been and how far I've come. Sounds simple enough. I started by thinking about the past year, but that seemed a little overwhelming. So, to keep it simple (and small as Rachel would say) I decided to just think about the first three months of this year. Even that began to make my head spin so I picked one area of my life to examine.

I've been working on my thoughts for a while now. I used to be such a negative thinker. I was a "glass half empty" kind of gal. It was actually something that almost ruined our marriage in the early years. Recently, a friend and I started up a bible study about the mind. We are reading the book together and then discussing how we can apply it to our lives.

I now know that I can choose my thoughts. I can take them captive and cast down the ones that are negative. I can replace those negative thoughts with new, positive ones by being in the Word on a regular basis. It has effected me in a powerful way. I see the difference in my attitude towards my husband, my children, and those around me.

I am now a "glass half full" kind of gal. I am glad for the change. As I look back and reflect on how far I've come, I am thankful for God and what He has done in my life. I know I have a long way to go, but He is faithful to complete the work.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. " -1 Corinthians 13:12

The Last of the Firsts

It's been almost two weeks since I took time to sit down and write. Life gets busy that way sometimes. One of those weeks was Spring break, which was wonderful. Despite the unwelcomed snow, we had a good time. There was one sunny day that we took the kids to the park to play and they loved it. We bundled them up because it was still pretty cold outside. It was my youngest son's first time on the swings. He laughed and laughed and kicked his little legs as his dad pushed him.

Part of me is sad that there are going to be a lot of last "firsts" to come. I have really been sentimental about watching my last born transition from a baby to a toddler. They grow up so fast! My third child will be going into kindergarten next fall. What I am realizing is that I need to cherish these times with them while they are small and not take them for granted. I also get excited with each new stage that they enter and pray for the grace and wisdom to walk through it with them. Parenting requires such adaptability!

There is a popular song on the radio right now that makes even my husband cry when he listens to it. It's the new Steven Curtis Chapman song "Cinderella" Some of the lyrics are "Oh I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone. ..." Our first born is a girl. She has melted my husband's heart and will always be her daddy's little girl.

Yes, children grow up. That's why it's so important to enjoy every moment with them while they are small. Call me a sentimental fool, but this is one mom that will be hanging on to these days with all my heart! Because one day, with God's strength and blessing, I will have to let go. But not too soon...

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3 NLT

It All Works Out

"It will all work out." Now there's a statement that is both comforting, and sometimes hard to hear in the midst of life's difficulties. I, for one am a fixer. I want to know how it's all going to work out in the end. So I have a very hard time listening to someone say those few small words to me when I am having problems.

Eventually though, it does work out. That's how we grow and learn. I love to watch my 16 month old son as his little mind works. Today he was playing with a collapsible cup. It starts out flat, with a lid. He worked at it until he got the lid off. Then you pull at the rings inside until they stack, one on top of the other, to become a cup. He pulled, it fell. He pulled again. He continued to pull until it finally came together as a cup. The look of satisfaction on his face when he accomplished that one small task was priceless. He had learned something new. And he was proud.

Life is like that cup. You work and you pull and you problem solve until it finally comes together. Most of all, you don't give up. Why? Because "it will all work out in the end!"

Ephesians 1:11 "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will..." (Bold emphasis mine.)

Something Silly

Happy April Fool's Day! Today I am going to be silly with my kids and laugh until I cry. April first is a day to remind me not to take myself so seriously. Up until I got married, I really didn't have much of a sense of humor. That's one of the things I love so much about my husband. He can make just about anyone laugh. Thanks honey! In honor of April Fool's day, I want to share a clip from my favorite movie, Singin' in the Rain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW02c5UNGl0