Multitude Monday

 

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

840.  Sensing God's leading and peace over our decision

841.  Productive day catching up with paperwork and phone calls after the break
842.  Finishing projects postponed until after the break


843.  Peaceful- even fun- morning before school!
844.  Seeing the fruit of SELF-CONTROL in my life


845.  The privilege of sharing and explaining the Word with her


846.  Staying on track with the Bible in 90 Days Challenge
847.  Two of my three who camp next to me with their Bibles and highlighters to rise to this challenge


848.  A string of peaceful mornings- even Sunday! 


849.  The beauty of fresh fallen snow

850.  Playing Uno with the boys

851.  Funny texts with a friend on a hard day 

852.  Dinner out at husband's suggestion!


853.  Heat going off during the night reminding me to give thanks for: a warm home, warm clothes, food, the basic necessities of life


854.  Our first basketball win of the season- ho how we've prayed for this!


855.  A husband who took down and put away Christmas while I was out


856.  Helping my oldest with a project and watching him enjoy the process


857.  Good friends- like minded- at church and school

You can read why I got started here.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 52

Jenny has begun a journey of praying her way through the Psalms that I have decided to join. Each weekend, we will pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 52

"But I am like an olive tree 
   flourishing in the house of God; 
I trust in God’s unfailing love 
   for ever and ever. 
For what you have done I will always praise you 
   in the presence of your faithful people. 
And I will hope in your name, 
   for your name is good."  Psalm 52: 8-9

Lord, I thank You for this season of growth.  For Your unfailing love in any season.  For all You have done, for all You are doing and for all that is to come, I praise You, Lord.  Oh, and how I hope in Your name!  Amen.

What's In a Name?

Photo Credit

Could I really dare to name this New Year?  

I know what He's been teaching me.  About Love and Grace.  


And I know this heart's longing.  For Liberty in Christ.  

Yet, my left brain warns against naming something without first being sure it is fitting.  Even as my right brain reminds me it is good sometimes to take a chance, even to make a mistake.

And His Word exhorts:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
      Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
      So are My ways higher than your ways, 
      And My thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55: 8-9

And also: 

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  Romans 11: 34

While I silently debate the theological wisdom of the naming of a year, I have to laugh as He brings this to mind:

"What's in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Yes, I will dare to name this year.  I might be right.  And I could, as easily, be wrong.  But what's in a name anyway?  This year will be as sweet- right or wrong- because it will be the Lord's purpose that prevails in the end. 

Standing on the edge of this New Year then, I throw my arms open wide, tilt my head to the Son and shout it with abandon- this, the year of my Freedom!


To follow my journey to Freedom, check out this series.

Joining Emily in offering my Imperfect Prose to Him who makes it all smell sweet! 

Freedom Road

Though I've hardly kept my struggle with anger a secret here, it's been awhile since I've written about it.  It's been a very difficult few months for our family.  Though I've had moments where I've been able to parent with love and grace, more often frustration and anger have dominated my emotions and, I'm sorry to admit, my actions.

I've just finished an incredible bible study in which I was reminded of some basic truths, was encouraged to persevere in trials and given tools to be transformed by the renewing of my mind.  I stand on the other end of this journey praying fervently that it has not been in vain.  My natural bent and my reason tell me that children must obey their parents and when they do not, there must be quick and increasing (if disobedience continues) consequences.  While there is biblical evidence for this parenting paradigm and I have seen it work with two of my three children, I have seen it fail miserably with one of them.  It has set up a cycle of anger and misery here that can no longer be ignored.  Happily, I am finding that there is just as much biblical evidence for parenting with mercy and grace.  The struggle lies only in that being merciful and gracious to a disobedient and disrespectful child feels impossible- no, is impossible for me- in my flesh.

But, I am determined to break free of the bondage of unrighteous anger- for my sake, for my child's sake, for my family's sake and most importantly for Christ's sake.  I'll share with you here what God has been teaching me (through this study and in my personal quiet time) and what I am trusting He will use to refine me and bring freedom:

• Anything that interferes with the effective, abundant, Spirit-filled life is bondage 
• Breaking free of sin requires obedience- simple, long, even when it is hard, obedience
• He is willing and able to break bonds- even the self-inflicted ones- oh, thank You, Jesus!
• The war for freedom is waged on the battlefield of the mind
• Behind every bond is a lie of the Enemy that I have believed
• These lies must be identified and torn down
• Truth from His Word must replace these lies
• Sin will continue to grow when it is kept hidden in darkness
• Biblical accountability brings sin into the light, provides structure to the process of breaking free and combats excuses

In future posts, I'll share the lies I've believed that have contributed to my bondage to unrighteous anger and the truths I've gleaned from the Word to combat those lies.  I pray that sharing my struggle will serve to help any who share it learn they are not alone, give them the boldness to bring their sin out into the light, teach them how to break free (even as I am learning) and give glory to the Son- for if He sets you free, you are FREE INDEED!

Finally, I cannot emphasize enough what an absolute blessing Beth Moore, her ministry and the Breaking Free Bible study have been in my life.  If you are in bondage to any sin, I urge you to do this Bible study!  (I could not do the study justice in a post, or even a series of posts.  My intention with this series on my blog is simply to share my journey in the hopes that it will spur you on to further study and relationship with the Lord.)

Steps on Freedom Road

• Taking the First Step
• The Path to Grace
• Walking Through Brokenness
• A Solitary Trek? 
• Victory March
• Detour

Multitude Monday

 

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

815.  E-mail and Facebook and Blogs to stay connected even when snowed in

816.  Sledding

817.  Kids who are big enough to climb the sledding hill on their own while I watch

818.  A media free day- no iPod or DS or TV or Wii

819.  Online grocery shopping and grocery delivery

820.  Finding time to write out the pros and cons of our decision

821.  Friends who offer real life, godly counsel as we weigh our options
822.  The internet- such an amazing, time saving research tool!

823.  Ice skating with friends

824.  Cleaning and preparing the house for a Little Cousin Christmas party

825.  Little girl cousins having a princess fashion show while...

826.  Little boy cousins build forts

827.  Niece sleeping over for the first time

828.  Her adorable and very active imagination

829.  Waking up to a houseful of happy cousins on the morning of New Year's Eve

830.  Parents taking us all to lunch because we won't be together for the New Year celebration (first time ever!)

831.  A New Year

832.  Ringing it in with family




833.  A restful, quiet New Year's Day with...
834.  Lots of time to read, pray, think and write

835.  Thinking it's Sunday when it's Saturday- the gift of an extra day!




836.  Little boy joy over his remote control helicopter




837.  Confirmation upon confirmation at Sunday service
838.  Seeing how He is already using my struggle to minister hope to others




839.  Beginning the Bible in 90 Days Journey


You can read why I got started here.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 51

Jenny has begun a journey of praying her way through the Psalms that I have decided to join. Each weekend, we will pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 51

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
 A broken and a contrite heart— 
 These, O God, You will not despise."  Psalm 51:17 

"See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter."                2 Cor 7:11 

It is a great comfort to know that this trial, which has produced in me a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart have not been in vain.  God does not despise my brokenness.   In fact, He uses it to produce in me an eagerness to clear myself, indignation and alarm over my sin, a longing and readiness for freedom.


Lord, I thank You for my brokenness.  I trust You with it.  Use it, O God, to produce real and lasting change in me.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Hola!

Hi friends!

I haven't had much time to post.  Been enjoying the season and kids home on vacation.  I do have a post in my drafts that I hope to finish this week.  I'm excited to share what God has been doing here!

In the meantime, here are three great reads that are helping me focus as we enter the New Year.  I pray you're blessed!

The Only Place to Really Live

I'm A Two Bit Dud...And Smiling Ear to Ear

Words (I get to be real live, in person friends with her- how cool is that?!?)

Oh, and don't forget to register to read the Bible in 90 Days!