" Look To Jesus "

It's pretty early, 5:15 a.m. I didn't sleep much, so I made my coffee and grabbed my devotional. Let me share what I read.
                                                           " Look to Jesus "

It's always the Holy Spirit's work to turn out eyes away from self to Jesus. Satan's work is the opposite; he is constantly trying to make us look at ourselves instead of Christ. "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have such a wavering hd on Jesus." All these are thoughts of self. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us we are nothing , but Christ is everything. Remember, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you, it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you, it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, although that is the instrument, it is  Christ's blood and merit. Do not look to your hand that is grasping Christ as to Christ; do not look to your hope but to Jesus, the  source of your hope; do not look to your faith, but to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of your faith. We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers , our deeds, or our feelings; it is what Jesus IS, not what we are , that gives rest to our souls. If we are to overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by " looking to Jesus." Keep your eyes on Him; let His death, His suffering, His merit, His glories, His intercession be fresh upon your mind. When you awaken in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him. Do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus, follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you." Charles Spurgeon.

I needed this this morning. I needed to be reminded not to have faith in my actions, prayers or even my faith. I needed to be reminded that no matter how elequent my prayers may be, the prayer itself can do nothing. Only the Source of my prayer can. Only the Maker and Sustainer of my faith can save. What a good reminder. Let's not forget this. With out the Giver of hope, all our efforts are in vain.
May this breath refreshment and renewal into your heart this day as it did mine.

The wise women builds UP.

The wise women builds UP. What does that mean? It means she doesn't TEAR DOWN her husband, her children, her home, her life or her God. Being wise can be hard now a days. So many women wallow in self-pity. Complaining about their husbands, children, homes, and circumstances. They focus on all the negative they see.  They have forgotten that all this is a gift. They have taken their eyes off their blessings and become discontent.
I read this one day, "When we gripe and murmur in our homes, God hears it. He doesn't hear it as a gripe against your husband, your children, your circumstances, the home you live in, or your seeming lack of provisions, but He hears it as a complaint against Him. He sees that you do not trust Him. You can always find things to complain about, but you can also find things to be grateful about, too. Life is all in how you look at it. You will enjoy it if you are filled with gratitude and thankfulness. You will be miserable if you groan and complain. You choose!"  We need to keep our eyes focused on what the Lord has given us and build them all up.

How can we build up? We can encourage and be tender to our husbands. We can choose to not say any bad or negative thing about him to anyone. ( This includes to ourselves). We can encourage and be tender to our children. We can speak words of life by acknowledging the good they are doing and praise them for it. A wise women speaks wisdom and kindness.

Here's a great challenge I came across, " Do you think your ready to try and "uncomplaining" day? each time you start to moan about something, try praising instead. Instead of complaining about the weakness in your children, encourage them. Instead of moaning about all the negative you see in your husband, think of the good things about him-and tell him! Instead of groaning that you can't pay the bills, thank the Lord for His provisions."

Let's be wise women. Let's look well to the ways of our families and others. Let's practice words of wisdom, kindness, grace and truth. Let's build UP. 

Simple Truth.

I was reading in my favorite devotional " Morning and Evening" by Charles Spurgeon when I came across this sentence, " Doubter, believe this sure truth-that prayer must and will be heard and that never, even in the secret of eternity, has the Lord said to any living soul, " Seek me in vain" ( Is. 45:19). Isn't that comforting? It is to me. Sometime the only truth I can hold on to is the fact that God hears my prayers ( and some days, even that's a stretch!). I will repeat it to myself over and over. " You hear my prayers. You hear my prayers. You can't lie and  if the Bible is true and if it's Your Word, then You have to hear my prayers".  I do a lot of repeating on days when things are very pressing. I have been going through some pressing times lately, and haven't been seeking the Lord and praying as I should. That hinders my faith and causes me to be weak and susceptible to despair. Not to mention, we've had  a bad stomach flu go through the house and take down each member, so this Mama is very tired. But a good place for me to start, is at the beginning. :) Which is what I'm doing today. Starting back on track. How about you? Need to get back on track? The best place to start is at the beginning. Pray and believe the Lord hears your prayers. Even when you think your speaking into the wind. You're not, your voice is going straight to Him. :) So pray. Pour it out. He is Faithful.

Don't waste your summer.

It's summer time!! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the days are longer and the kiddos are on summer break. You might be wondering what to do with all the time. Well let me encourage you to not waste it! You have this chance to build and grow with your children.

How do I not waste my summer? Here are some thoughts, are there any area's that you have been wanting to work on with your children but with the business of the school year, you haven't had the chance? Are there some things you wanted to start building in your children? Maybe you wanted to work on some character issues or want to read the Bible together? Here's your chance. Maybe you want to work on some chore training.Maybe you want to do some light schooling with the children.  You will not be given this time again. Your chidkren won't be this age again. Take hold of it!

How? You might ask. Maybe your thinking, " Oh, Janice, there's so much I want to do with them. Where do I begin?". The best place to start is at the beginning. 

Let me encourage you to make a summer schedule. It's a great way to get things done that you want to and it keeps the day moving. Here's some thoughts of how to schedule so you don't waste you summer...

First, Make a list of all the things you think you would like to do/ work on. Some things that are on my list are; start a Bible reading plan, work on some much slacking table manners ( and manners in general), build a summer reading list ( ours includes one chapter book and one christian biography a week) and work on our summer chore list. What ever you can think of, just write it down. Ask your husband if he has any thoughts on the subject too. ou might be surprised at what he suggests. 

Second, plan some activities. ( Don't forget to have fun!). Maybe it's a once a week trip to the park, library or zoo.  We are planning a once a week trip to the library. They have many wonderful activities during the summer ( and they're free!). The older four will be taking swimming lessons for a few weeks.Take a nature walk, go to the public pool or have a playdate. 

Third, Don't overwhelm yourself or them with a FULL schedule. Summer is for enjoying the warm weather and having fun. Schedule only a few things at a time , giving yourself lots of breathing room. I know many people who jam pack their days with activities and outings, but by the end of the day they ( and the kiddos) are worn out, and that leads to a cranky evening.

Finally, remember to build the Word into your day. This is a great time to have a Bible time with the children. We will be doing a Psalm a day, talking about it, then I'm having each child use something they learned from the Psalm to pray. This is a great time to teach the children about the Lord. You are investing in them the MOST important thing of all. The Lord! Teach them to pray. And Mama's, don't forget your time in the Word and prayer DAILY.

Enjoy this summer my friends. Enjoy your children. Don't waste your summer. You won't regret it. :)

A Prayer of Weariness.

I'm tired. How bout you? I'm not only sleepy tired, but worn down from the heaviness of many stressful situations tired. Can you relate?  I came across this today and wanted to share it with you. It's called " A Prayer of Weariness" by Randy Alcorn. May it be a blessing to you as it is to me...




I AM WEARY, Lord…bone-tired.

Weary to the point of tears, and past them.

Your Word says you never grow weary;

But I know you understand weariness

Because once you dragged a heavy cross

up a long lonely hill—

Many times you had nowhere to lay your head—

And people who needed you pressed upon you

by day and by night.

My reservoir is depleted, almost dry.

For longer than I can remember I've been 

Dredging from its sludgy underside

Giving myself and my loved ones the leftovers

Of a life occupied with endless tasks.

The elastic of my life is so stretched out of shape

It doesn't snap back anymore.

Just once I’d like to say “It is finished,” like you did.

But you said it just before you died.

I guess my job won’t be over till my life is

And that’s OK Lord,

If you’ll just give me strength to live it.

Deliver me from this limbo of half-life;

Not just surviving, but thriving.

You who know all, You who know me

Far better than I know myself—

Deposit to my account that as I spend myself

There may be always more to draw from.

Give me strength

To rest without guilt…

To run without frenzy…

To soar like an eagle

Over the broad breathless canyons of the life

You still have for me both here and beyond.

Free to be you PART 2

I want to continue on with some more thoughts and encouragement in our fight against comparison.  I shared a snip it in my previous post from a wonderful little devotional I had read. I shared how it helped me in my times of struggle with jealousy. Today, as I was reading in another devotional, the title was " Uniquely you. Be the best Mama that GOD made YOU to be " Here are some highlights that stood out for me...

"Mama's tend to imagine that our friends live in sparkling home. Their children have spot free clothes and shinning faces, neatly completing their work assignments for school. We imagine their husbands bring them flowers at the end of hard days and maybe even a pizza so cooking isn't necessary. The key word here is IMAGINE.  In real life, we ALL face trials great and small. We often trip head long into the pit that is comparison. Comparison accomplishes nothing but breeding self-pity and discontent ( 2 Corinthians 10:12). The Bible tells us to be content in all circumstances ( Phil 4:11). Why? Because the Lord handpicks our circumstances for US. He allows those trials which will enable us to better turn our faces to Him. He allows the trials that will best prune away the unsightly growths on our hearts so that they reflect His imagine. Oftentimes, we can not change our circumstances, but we can change our responses to them. As christian mothers, we need to stop comparing ourselves to others and focus more on encouraging each other in the Lord. You may have a creative friend, or a friend who keeps her house clean and sparkly. None of that matters if you are seeking to encourage her by speaking about that which really matters; the works of God in her life and in the lives of those she loves ( Prov. 31:26). God made YOU, just as you are. He chose YOU to be the mother to your children. He chose YOU to be the wife to your husband. These are the only jobs you will hold in which you are irreplaceable. Choose to do these jobs well. Choose to be thankful for the gifts that the Lord has given to you and try to grow in the areas that have rough edges. Choose to rejoice int he days to come, because you will be facing them hand-in-hand with the One who created them-and you!-and spoke them into being." 

 I loved her comment " Comparison accomplishes nothing but breading self - pity and discontent". It's so very true. Nothing good ever comes from it. We never feel better about ourselves, our family, or our life when we are comparing.

Comparison doesn't just effect us Moms. It effects all women. Single and Married.

Be encouraged as I am in this. You ( and I ) are free to be ourselves. We are unique. Let's work on thankfulness today. Thank the Lord for your life and all the blessings He has given you. Be blessed!! 

Free to be you!

Did you know that you are free to be yourself? I know that it can be hard when you see so many " perfect people" out there. I have had a tendency to struggle with jealousy and coveting when it comes to certain people. I see certain people who SEEM to have it all. The perfect family. Perfect relationship with their husband. Perfect children, house, homeschooling environment.  They have a perfect ministry. Perfect attitude and always look at the good. They seem overly blessed. So I sigh and think, " boy, I wish I could have that life.". I start to get sour about my life, then I get ungrateful. I grumble in my heart and start feeling terrible about myself. I say things like, " I am a lousy mom compared to so and so." Or, "Why can't my house look like so and so."   It only snow balls from there and down down down I go in thought. The saying is true, " Comparison is the thief of joy".

During one of my ruts, I came across a wonderful little devotional that really spoke to my heart. It was titled "Free to be you!". I wish I could share the whole thing here, but I will highlight some things that really helped me. She started. " How amazing that God individually fashions each new inhabitant of the earth, There is not one who is the same. Not only does this cause us to worship our awesome God but it also liberates us to be the special person God created us to be. I am different from everyone else in the world. I am free from the bondage of having to be like anyone else. You are also unique and different person. That means you don't have to measure up to anyone else"s standard for you.  Dear mother, you don't have to try to be someone else to find your identity. You don't have to mother the same as a particular mother you admire, or some rules in a book. All you have to do is to mother according to your own heart and your individual personality.  You were born to reflect a special image of God on this earth. you were born to reveal the creative love of God from your heart in a way no one else can. Pour yourself out to touch others with God's love. Don't hold back and don't deprive the world of seeing the unique hand of God upon your life. Your will find your true identity as you pursue God and pour your life out for others. The more you know God the more you'll understand who He created you to be."
WOW!! I really needed that. It is truly freeing. If your struggling with any kind of comparison, jealousy, coveting, or anything of that nature, know you don't have to. Your free to be yourself. God has a purpose for YOU and the life He gave YOU. Start embracing your life. Look around and count your blessings then be thankful. I pray this blesses you and it has me. Let's be free to be ourselves! Be blessed.