Category Archives: Faith

Eternal Perspective

Posted on by brokenredeemed

Last week, as I read Matthew 16, I came across the verses (21-23) where Jesus revealed to His disciples that He was going to suffer and die in Jerusalem, but that He’d be raised to life; and Peter rebukes Jesus for saying such things. Jesus turns away from Peter and says, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

You see, Peter wasn’t seeing things the way the Father sees things. Much like us, he saw only what he thought should happen; what he wanted and expected to happen. But He, like other Jews, was thinking too small. He thought the Messiah would come and rescue them from Roman rule. God the Father wanted to rescue all mankind from sin and death; He brought everlasting life through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for all who believe!

So often, we think the same way. We think God’s going to save us from our particular situation or trial in a particular way. We think, if we had a particular leader,  for instance, things would change for the better. We tend to focus on the here and now and think God will make a way, He’ll heal us completely, He’ll open that door, restore that relationship, etc…but sometimes that’s not His plan. Sometimes, in our suffering, others see our dependence, strength, and peace in the Father and ask, “How?” Sometimes, God chooses something for us that we would never do or choose to walk on our own; something that makes us uncomfortable, brings us to our knees, and stretches our trust and faith in Him. He places us in locations and circumstances where we can be salt and light as we walk out our faith.

There are so many Old Testament examples of God using men and women, like you and I, for His glory. Men like Joseph, whose jealous brothers sold him into slavery, only for him to eventually be placed second in command to Pharoah and save the lives of countless people. Like Moses, whose mother placed him in a reed basket and sent him down a river to avoid slaughter. Yet, he was drawn from the river, faced down a Pharoah, and lead the Israelites through the wilderness to the promised land. They couldn’t see how their stories would turn out or how they would affect the future (or see how Christ was foreshadowed in their delivery). Naomi didn’t see how the death of her husband and sons and the faithfulness of her daughter-in-law would put her in the lineage of Christ.

In the New Testament, while we see the many miracles of Jesus, we also see men imprisoned, beaten, and martyred for their faith and sharing the Gospel. You may think, “But I don’t understand, doesn’t Romans 8:28 tell us “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose”? First, I think we often miss that last part, “according to His purpose.” God will always do that which brings glory to Himself and draws men to Him; He’s building His kingdom, not our’s. Second, I think we forget that things that are good for us aren’t always pleasing. Trials aren’t easy or pleasing, neither is discipline. Yet,  Romans 5:3-5 tells us that we ought to “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” And Hebrews 12:11 says discipline “yeilds the  peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Therefore, it’s for our eternal good that God works all things together!

We know that in this life, we will have trials (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7); and we shouldn’t say this flippantly, because some circumstances have the ability to shake us to our core. It’s no coincidence that in Matthew 16:24-28, just after this incident with Peter, Jesus tells the disciples that to follow Him would be costly. That they would have to deny themselves and pick up their cross to follow Him. We have to deny ourselves and the way we think things should go, the way we think our lives should pan out, the hopes and dreams and goals we may have, and surrender them at the feet of Christ, saying “thy will be done, not my will. Thy kingdom come, not my kingdom.” It’s hard! Jesus said that the gate to eternal life is hard and narrow, and few will find it (Matthew 7:13-14). We may not be able to see the end, but we serve a God outside of all time who sees how everything will work out, how all the pieces will come together for our eternal good and His glory; and we can’t rest in that.

Seeking in 2024

Posted on by brokenredeemed

Welcome all to my little spot on the internet! It’s been such a long time since I’ve written anything public. I’ve been praying about this blog because I wasn’t sure whether or not the things God has been teaching me are for others or just for myself. However, I’ve been reading “Raising Giant-Killers,” by Bill Johnson, and was reminded of the power of testimonies in showing what a powerful and loving God we serve. Then, I read in Matthew 13:52  how every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old (paraphrased from the AMP and NLT). So, here I am, attempting to share gems of truth.

I was sitting here re-reading some of the blog drafts that have been just sitting out in space, unfinished and/or unseen, by the public eye. Some, I deleted permanently because really they were more related to what was going on in our culture at the time I wrote them (2019-2022), but a few I kept and may update and share with you soon.

So, what’s going on with me now? I’m still a homeschooling stay-at-home mom of three, married to my hubby of almost 8 years. I’m finally coming out of the fog that is the fourth trimester, now that my last child is almost three (yes, it took that long), and I’m finding that I have a little more free time and energy on my hands, although, life is still very busy.

This past January, when everyone was thinking about their goals for the new year, I started a 21-day fast with my church, not really going into it with anything in particular that I wanted to pray about. The last few years, I’ve felt especially “stuck” in my role as mother and wife and in the ministries I’ve been involved with–and/or wanted to be involved with–my last post, titled Tomatoes, touched on this. I was tired of getting my hopes up, setting goals, praying about the same things repeatedly, and never seeing them come to fruition. But I fasted, and I prayed anyway. Even when it was hard. Even when I had no idea why it was hard.

I finally realized I was kind of angry and disappointed because things hadn’t changed over the last few years. I thought things would get easier as my children got older, I thought I’d be able to do more of the things I wanted to do or that I’d felt called to do; and I wanted to do more for the kingdom. So I laid this at God’s feet, and I asked Him to change my heart. I told Him, His Word says His burden is light, and His yolk is easy, but this life He’d given felt so burdensome (Matthew 11:28-30). This is me being real and vulnerable with you. Motherhood is incredibly hard for me. I know I’m not the only one who has felt this way. This is why I’m sharing. Motherhood is lonely, exhausting, repetitive, and unappreciated work. I love my children so much, but that doesn’t change how hard the role is.

To continue, during my Bible time, I read Jeremiah 29, and verses 4-7 jumped out at me. This is where God told Jeremiah to tell the Israelites that while they were in Babylonian captivity (for their sin), they were to be fruitful and to pray for the cities God had sent them to.  Essentially, He told them to bloom where they were planted. Then I thought about how God’s called me to my home and given me my children and husband, and I was focusing on all the wrong things. I want to do important things for God, but this is where He has me. It’s like in Matthew 25, when the master gives the servant money and tells him to invest it, but instead, he buries it. In focusing on how hard motherhood is, instead of how my God supplies me with everything I need, and uses motherhood to sanctify me and pour into my family, I wasn’t growing the gifts He’d given me. I wasn’t being faithful in the little things. I was thinking that I needed to go outside my home to do (additional) kingdom work, but He reminded me I can be on my knees in prayer for those doing the work that I can’t do in this season; and prayer is kingdom work!

Lastly, and more importantly, I was so focused on doing something important for the kingdom that I took my eyes off of the King. The King is sovereign, and He knows what He’s doing, and He does that which brings Him glory and establishes His kingdom, in His own time and in His own way; and He deserves my complete trust. After I lay all this down, God gave my pastor a message on surrender, and I knew I was on the right track because the Holy Spirit confirms what He’s revealing.

Well, this past Wednesday as we sang “The Goodness of God,” and we got to the verse that says “Your goodness is running after me,” I pictured my three children literally running after me, and I knew that God had done something transformative in my heart that I could never do on my own. We serve such a big and perfect God, with His own big and perfect plans. Those plans often look so much different than what we want or expect, but He’s always working in us, through us and around us. We just have to keep our eyes on Him no matter what, and never stop seeking Him, even when it’s hard.

Tomatoes

Posted on by brokenredeemed

About two months ago, as I drove home from church, I observed some tomatoes growing in a neighbor’s garden. I noticed how big and lush the plants seemed as the family picked, what I could only imagine, as juicy ripe tomatoes. I thought to myself, and even commented to my children, that I think next year we should plant our tomatoes in the ground, because the roots would have better opportunity to grow deep and produce more fruit. As it is, we have a container garden, and while my tomatoes look pretty good this year, they haven’t provided much fruit, because their roots could only grow as big as the container would allow.

The moment I said this my mind immediately went to the spiritual implications of this. You see, we’re just beginning a new series on the book of James and being rooted firmly in Christ, so these tomatoes were revealing to me an important aspect regarding our growth: Where we’re planted is incredibly important.

For example, no matter how much water and fertilizer I give our tomatoes, they’re not going to be able to grow any bigger than the pot will allow. And sometimes, we’re like these potted tomatoes; we seek the Lord, we study the Word and dive deep in prayer, but are left feeling “contained.” I’ve been feeling like this for some time. Like I take a step forward just to be put back in my place, stuck in my little pot, unable to grow as big, or as deep, or as wide as I would like, or as God would have me.

And it’s not always due to others; while sometimes, it’s the enemy that causes me to shrink back with his lies, even more often, it’s a fear of rocking the boat, or feeling like it’s not my place to speak out, that the timing is off, or just not knowing how to go about walking in my spiritual gifts. At first, I thought maybe this meant it was time for me to find a new church home. However, during a Wednesday night prayer service, I realized it could also mean that God’s calling us to burst out of these “containers.” Meaning, the confines of the Church, or those we’ve placed on ourselves, and sad to say, those we’ve tried to place on the Spirit.

God’s gifted us in so many ways through the power of the Holy Spirit (you may want to check out my last post for more on this) and while I think we can often feel like our gifting is only meant for those within the walls of our churches, I don’t believe that’s actually the case. We’ve been given spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church (1 Corinthians 12, 14:12), and I think this begs the question, what does it mean to “build the Church”?

As believers, we know that when we talk about the Church, we’re not talking about the physical church, but the spiritual. In John 18:36, Jesus Himself, said His kingdom is not of this world. Additionally, 1 Peter 2:4-5 (AMP) says…

Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight. [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Peter calls us living stones, being built into a spiritual house. Yet, how is a stone house built if not stone by stone, believer by believer, soul by soul? While there are certain spiritual gifts meant for those who already believe (as found in 1 Corinthians 14:23), God has given us the Holy Spirit, not to keep Him to ourselves, but to share Him in every sphere of our lives; through our giftings and talents, in our workplaces, homes, neighborhoods, communities, and around the globe.

Yes, our physical churches are for worship and celebration in community; training disciples, in and through the Word; and building the Church; but they should not be places to contain the works of the Spirit or the message of the gospel. From here, He wants us to go and share it with the world!

The Lord will not be contained. If we don’t allow Him to move through and in us, He’ll work in other ways. Will we continue to attempt to contain this precious gift He’s given us in little pots, or will we root ourselves in the deep, rich soil, where we can grow as big as God will allow and sustain? This may mean doing things far outside our comfort zone, working with people we’ve never worked with before, or doing things that may not come naturally to us; and not just waiting for doors to open, but intentionally seeking the opportunities, which the Spirit emboldens, empowers, and equips us for.

Truth, love and grace to you all! ❤️

The Holy Spirit

Posted on by brokenredeemed

This post has been two weeks in the making. I really wanted to come on here and talk about the Holy Spirit; but honestly, I feel inadequate for the task. There are people much more educated than myself that can more accurately describe Who the Holy Spirit is. Yet, perhaps that’s why I feel the need to write it, to show that it’s the Holy Spirit that gives us all we need to do things we feel ill-equipped for. What I can tell you is that He’s a part of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He’s co-equal, co-existant, co-eternal with the Father and Son.

We see Him at the beginning hovering over the face of the deep (Genesis 1:1-2), we see Him throughout the Old Testament when men were temporarily filled with the Spirit to complete a particular task(s). We see Him in the New Testament in John the Baptist, Elizabeth, and Mary, as they prepare for the birth of Jesus, the Messiah (Luke 1). We see Him when Jesus is baptized in Luke 3. Jesus talks about Him, in John 14-16, describing Him as the Comforter, Helper, Teacher, and Spirit of Truth. Yet, even after all the Word says about the Holy Spirit–and my list is not all-inclusive–I can’t help but feel like we sometimes miss Who is is and what He’s capable of.

After the resurrection, Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5). I’m sure most of you are familiar with what happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), but all the apostles and teachers found in the the book of Acts and all the epistles, written by the missionary, Paul, were written through the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the Bible itself, was written by men through the Holy Spirit!

Two Wednesday’s ago, as I was getting ready for bed 2 Peter 1:3, popped into my head…

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power. What divine power? Well, let’s see…could it be the very same power that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:9-11)?! When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our life, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and gives us power to do much more than just get from one day to the next (2 Corinthians 6:16). The Holy Spirit gives us everything we need “pertaining to life and godliness” [emphasis added]!

What does that mean? Godliness. When we talk about godliness we’re talking about being conformed to His will and likeness. Basically, the more time we spend with God in prayer, in the Word, in community with other believers, the more we begin to think and act like Him. This isn’t through our own doing, but the work of the Holy Spirit at work within us. He transforms our thinking, prompts us to act or speak, gives us boldness, and even the words to speak when we don’t have any clue what we’re doing.

How do we know the Holy Spirit lives in us? As stated previously, when we accept Christ, the Word says He comes to dwell in us, and the more we walk with God, study His Word, and allow Him to work in our hearts, we begin to see evidence of Him in our life, known as the Fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to emerge in our lives (Galatians 5:22-25). That’s not to say that we’ll be perfect from the get go, but that it will become more and more evident over time, whom we serve and Who is at work in us. We cannot be in true relationship with God and not be transformed; this process is called sanctification.

Besides Fruit of the Spirit there are also gifts of the Spirit. The Bible lists a bunch of them in 1 Corinthians 12, but the most important thing to remember about this is that there there are many different gifts given to be used in service to the Lord, and all are indispensable. Also, this list in 1 Corinthians is not all encompassing, for example, we see in the Old Testament that the Spirit was poured out on the artisans who designed the articles to be used for worship in the tabernacle (Exodus 35:30-35). There are even gifts and talents given to us today to be used in the service of the King, that weren’t in existence in biblical times, due to technological advances. But they all have one Source!

So, all that to say, if you’ve accepted Jesus as Lord of your life and are committed to loving and living for Him, the Holy Spirit is at work within you! And that means you have real power within you to say and do some mighty things for the Kingdom! So, why are we so timid? Why do we hold back?

Perhaps, this is a question for myself? I know I hardly ever feel up for the task at hand, just like this post…yet, the Holy Spirit works, even now, though obedience. I was reminded, again, in today’s (Sunday) message that it’s about our obedience to answer the call rather than our skill or abilities. For He equips us with everything we need pertaining to life and godliness, through the Holy Spirit at work within us. And that is a mighty thing indeed!

Cedars of Lebanon

Posted on by brokenredeemed

Last year our church pastor shared a dream he had, in which, he was praying in the church sanctuary and there grew a small forest of trees from the center. The wind blew, and all the trees broke. He prayed, and again, those trees sprang up, and the wind blew them down a second time. He went back to praying, and one huge tree sprung up from the center of the sanctuary, breaking through the ceiling.

This morning, as I read Psalm 92:12-15 I couldn’t help but think about that giant tree. I’ve always thought about that single tree with its many branches, as representing unity within the church. However, these verses made me think of an additional viewpoint…

The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love and contentment]. [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalm 92:12-15, AMP

Wow! I couldn’t help but think of that single tree growing through the ceiling, out from the middle of the sanctuary as I read these verses. These verses speak about the righteous (followers of Yahweh) being like palm trees and cedars; as being fruitful, stable, and incorruptible, flourishing and full of life!

Taken from Alan Titchmarsh’s blog. http://www.countrylife.co.uk

The last few years have been challenging. A lot of people have switched churches, some have reignited their passion for the Lord, and some have left the Church, altogether. Those who’ve left, were like trees that snapped from the storms of life, but I feel like those remaining, are like the palm and cedars of Lebanon. They are continually seeking the Lord, growing in the Word, in community, and have servant’s hearts.

But let it not stop there! May those left standing continue to serve and share the gospel with those beyond our own church walls. May we unite with churches in our communities though prayer and worship. May we reach the lost, though outreach and missions; but also, in our places of work, and in the everyday places God takes us (doctor’s offices, grocery stores, schools, etc.). May our roots continue to grow deeper and wider. May our branches extend in every direction and our fruit be plentiful. Lastly, may we be like the tree planted by streams of water, prospering in all that we do for His glory!

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3, ESV

Welcome 2023!

Posted on by brokenredeemed

It’s been a while since I’ve written, so thank you so much for sticking with me! I’m going to be honest, as I approached this year, I kept questioning, “What is 2023 going to bring?” After the chaos of 2020, I moved into 2021 and 2022 without even attempting to come up with goals, because I felt like nothing went according to plan, so why bother. But this year just feels different.

I’m walking into 2023 with actual goals! Last year we decided we’re finished having babies, and I’m beginning this year with an 18 month-old, a three-, and five-year-old. My homeschooled 5 year-old is reading like a champ, my 3 year-old is a social butterfly, and my youngest is beginning to speak. We’ve been changing up our daily routines, so we can get more things done around the house and have less chaotic lesson times. Some things I’m looking forward to this year are…joining a small group, co-leading an FPU class with my husband, working out, and getting together with friends, at least once a month.

I’m also planning to write more this year, take a trip with the hubbs for our anniversary, and to read lots of books! While, 2021 and 2022 seemed to steal all my aspiration and initiative, I’m much more hopeful about 2023. Dreams that I’ve laid down, I’m attempting to pick back up, and things I’ve needed to lay down, I continue to daily lay down at the foot of the cross.

So, we’ll see, how 2023 goes. I’m looking forward to a new year, with new adventures, and opportunities to learn and grow, to disciple and be discipled.

Truth, love, and grace to you all!

Community

Posted on by brokenredeemed

I’ve been working my way through Kelly Minter’s study, “Encountering God,” for a few weeks on my own. I don’t work on it daily, because I also like to read my Bible, journal, read additional books, and I’m often interrupted by littles. But I have been enjoying it and chipping away at it little by little. The study is on “cultivating habits of faith through spiritual disciplines,” and I must admit, one of the lessons that really challenged me, is the one on worship through celebration.

She began this lesson reviewing some of the feasts that the Israelites would have celebrated in Old Testament times, the why and how they were celebrated: The feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Booths. She then goes on to say:

As we turn our attention to the New Testament, we see that the Jewish holidays of the Old Testament are no longer prescribed for followers of Christ–they have been fulfilled in Him. The body of Christ can now celebrate at any time and in any place–the most significant celebration being the weekly gathering of the church. Yearly feasts were incredible, but regular community in Christ is better. The party can now be cued anytime believers are present with one another celebrating the shared life of Christ.

Kelly Minter, “Encountering God,” p. 105

Her main point in this lesson is about celebrating the Lord with our lives, together as a family of believers! We’re talking not just in church but living our lives like the early New Testament believers. Dining with each other, celebrating with each other, mourning with each other. Encouraging one another, discipling, doing ministry alongside each other, and just walking and talking through life’s joys and difficulties.

I’ve been thinking a lot about some who have neglected returning to Church because of their fear of COVID, and I just want to point out that you’re really missing out. We can read our Bible all we want at home, and worship on our own. We can work through Bible studies, and read all the books, but we’ll be missing out on the celebration of the Lord in doing life with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” And let’s not forget Proverbs 27:17, which states, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” We need each other to grow in our faith!

Paul David Tripp, in his devotional, “New Morning Mercies” also reminds us that “We were not wired by creation or re-creation to live on our own. Independent, self-focused living never goes anywhere good. We must all come to understand and accept the truth that our walks with God are community projects. We were not designed to live the Christian life on our own. The reason God calls us to this high quality of relationships is because relationships are an irreplaceable tool in his redemptive hands.”

Lastly, if there are any who are still using fear of sickness as an excuse to return to community. My question is this…How can we trust Christ with our souls, but not with our lives on the earth? Our number of days on the earth are preordained! That’s why the Word say “which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27; Luke 12:25).

Don’t forsake your community. We need each other.

Truth, love, and grace!

Life, Undervalued

Posted on by brokenredeemed

I know it’s been a couple weeks since this occurred, but I’ve been thinking a lot about the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Part of me doesn’t want to think about it because it breaks my heart, but I can’t ignore it as though it didn’t happen, because I think that’s why our nation is where it is today. Often, I hear people from other countries ask why things like this are so common in the U.S. but not other places, and I have to stop and think, and ask why? First, I know that terrible things such as this DO happen in other parts of the world, in the middle east, parts of Africa, China, and south America, for example, murder, genocide, and religious persecution run rampant. Even slavery continues globally! It just doesn’t always make the news.

The reason for all this wickedness is obviously sin, but a related issue I find particularly disturbing in the U.S. is the lack of value we have for human life. From the first heartbeat to old age, those with sickness or disability, as well as the perfectly healthy, we are made in the image of God and are precious to Him. We’ve talked about the Imago Dei in previous posts, and about how we are to show care and respect towards all for this very reason. But I feel we’ve lost sight of this fact.

There’s been a serious attempt to de-humanize people, across the globe, but especially in the United States. I’ve seen it in social media posts about people being undeserving of life because they’re poor, sick, elderly, or even because they think differently from you! It’s disheartening; and I believe this undervalue of life, only adds fuel to the mental health crisis and increased suicide rates in our country.

Granny and baby feet, taken from istockphoto.com

We may not be able to control what unbelievers think, or do, or say, but as believers we must stand firmly upon the Word of God, and God says, in no particular order…

  • We are created in His image. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, ESV).
  • We are created with intention and purpose. “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16).
  • Children are a blessing. “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3).
  • God cares, and therefore, we should care, for the poor, the sick, the oppressed, and even imprisoned. Read Matthew 25:31-46! I won’t write it all out here, because it is pretty long, but we will be judged for how we treat “the least.”
  • God cares, and we are to care, for the widow, the fatherless, and the foreigner. ‘The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin” (Psalm 146:9).
  • We are to respect those who’ve come before us. “If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth'” (Ephesians 6:3).
  • Young or old, man or woman, as believers, we are valuable in the kingdom of God. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28). Also check out 1 Timothy 4:12.
  • Christ loves and died for all people. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

God values human life, and we are meant to be His hands and feet on the Earth. We are to be kind, show love and grace and respect, regardless of whether we receive the same in return. We are to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, to protect life; to support, encourage, and teach those who feel ill-equipped to parent. To take care of our elderly, foreigners, orphans, ill, and prisoners.

I fear that, too often, we affiliate  Christianity–especially in the United States–with a particular political view point and miss out on what the Word actually says. In heaven there will be no American, democrat or republican…there will just be Children of God! There’s no leader, or government, or any amount of money or prepping, that can save us from sin, except the One Who shed His blood on the cross for us. And that’s what truly matters…eternity.

The words “eternal perspective” have been speaking to my heart, lately. We need to stop wasting our time and energy worrying over things that aren’t going to last! This world will fade away, this government will end, the things that will last are not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. As Paul says in Romans 8:5, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” So let’s be the hands and feet of God, let’s live keeping eternity at the forefront our minds, and sharing the gospel with as many as we can. Showering those around us with love, grace, and truth.

Refinement

Posted on by brokenredeemed

This last year has been a difficult transition for me, going from two littles, to three. Just as I was getting used to two, a third came along, and challenged me in a whole new way. My youngest is almost a year now, and I’m finally beginning to feel a little more myself, and like I have things somewhat under control. I use the term loosely, because while things are still challenging, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m feeling a little more knowledgeable in my parenting skills, and abilities (or lack thereof, lol).

I’ve realized–especially after reading “No Better Mom for the Job” by Becky Keife–I’m not a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants mom. I prefer parks with fences; and carrying the baby in a carrier, so I have two free hands for other things like chasing/grabbing my toddler, pushing the girls on the swing, helping them use the toilet, and getting them in/out of a pushcart. I plan outings around nursing, meals, naps, and bed times; and I plan meals and snacks in advance, so that I’m not scratching my head every couple hours, with a trio of crying hungry kids at my heels. And if I expect to have a real conversation with someone, it’s not going to happen with my kids running around.

Motherhood seems to come easy to some, but not to me. I’m challenged daily, by my children. I love them and love to teach and disciple them, but I’m an introvert blessed with three very needy and rowdy children. Hence, the reason it’s been such a long time in between my posts. I’m exhausted by the end of the day; and while I go to bed pretty early, I still have to drag myself out of bed most mornings. The best time for me to study the Word, pray, and journal is when I plug in my headphones and ignore the kids for an hour in the afternoon, (lol, I do keep my eyes on them from the dining room, in case you’re worried). So, if you think that the only time to study the Word with kids in the house, is early in the morning before they wake up, and you’re not a morning person, don’t let that stop you.

Regardless of how challenging motherhood can be, I wouldn’t change it. My children are a gift. A gift that, quite frankly, I don’t deserve. I think we’ve discussed this before, but God uses my children to grow me into the person He desires me to be. My children challenge my selfish nature, they teach me patience, endurance, gentleness, self-control (daily, I might add, lol). They teach me to show forgiveness, and to ask for forgiveness, when I fall short. They remind me constantly of the importance of knowing, learning, and being transformed by the Word, because they ask all the questions, and watch the hubby and I closely, every day.

The world says that children aren’t worth all the trouble, that they prevent us from reaching our full potential, goals and dreams. The Word says that children are a heritage (Psalm 127:3-5). I had to look that word up, it means an inheritance; in other words, they are valuable. And I’d even go so far as to say that my children will help me reach my full God-given potential. God designed my children specifically for me, and me for them; it’s symbiotic. We shape each other.

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

But the LORD tests hearts.

Proverbs 17:3, NASB

Parenting is a refining process. All our impurities come to the surface in the fire that is parenthood, and our shortcomings and flaws are on display for those closest to us to see, and then they’re often reflected back to us in our children. 😳 I can’t tell you how often I find myself face to face with my own sin–pride, selfishness, jealousy, etc.–being reflected back at me in the face of my child. It’s here, especially, that I’m forced to throw up my hands in surrender, and cry out, “I can’t” or “I don’t know what I’m doing!…God, help me! Forgive me. You have all the answers. Please give me wisdom and direction.”

That’s not to say that if you don’t have children, you can’t be shaped into the man or woman God wants you to be. God will mold and shape you in other ways, but for me, in this season, this is where He has me. This is how the Potter’s shaping me more and more into His image. What, in your life or circumstances, is God using to mold you, these days? What has He been revealing to you?

But now, O LORD, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8, ESV