This mama has it going on! OR does she?

Look at all of these children’s devotionals I have bought over the last few years.   Bet you are thinking this mama has it going on at her house!  Well…the truth is they don’t do any good unless they are used.  Of course my intentions have been to read and study the Bible with my children every night.  But, it doesn’t always happen.  WHY??  Let’s see…

My husband and I were discussing this very topic last Sunday morning.  Why is it that we can have devotions every night with our children and then all of a sudden we realize that a week has passed with no devotion??  His response…”The tv, we have to cut off the tv at night.”  Hmmm…sounds like a good reason to me and because I don’t watch tv, it sounds even better.  It is his fault because he watches tv at night!

My thought?  Because I’m busy (cleaning the kitchen, packing lunches, signing papers, checking homework, bathing children, presetting the coffee pot, etc)  I wait until it is pushing bedtime to tell the children to brush their teeth and begin on their nightly routine.  Then it is bedtime, everyone is tired and ill, we say our prayers and go to bed.

WHY, IF I REALLY WANT TO LEAD MY CHILDREN IN SPIRITUAL GROWTH, CAN I NOT MAKE IT A PRIORITY? 

My priorities must be out of line.  Right?  OR is it our flesh?

“The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”  Matthew 26:41b  (The disciples did not stay awake to be on guard while Jesus was praying for this same reason.  They wanted to, but their flesh was weak.)

As I began to get depressed, wondering if this would ever become routine and not be skipped, I remembered another scripture.

Lamentations 3:22-23  His mercies are new every morning.  Great is Thy faithfulness.

Today is a new day!  God is not the one making me feel defeated, satan is.  God is the one reminding me that today is a new day.  He forgives me for my weak flesh and allows me to begin anew!

I am happy to say last night makes 7 consecutive nights of devotions and Bible reading with our children.

What is it that you need to begin anew today?  Remember, God is a God of second chances!    Great is thy faithfulness!

Multitasking

My sons’ faces light up when they hear their daddy’s voice.  “YAY!  Daddy’s home!!” they scream.  I asked my 4 year old, “What can daddy do that I can’t?”  He quickly responded, “Daddy plays with me.”  In defense, I reminded him that we were just playing with playdoh.  He reminded me that I was cooking supper and he was playing with playdoh.  I said, “Well we watched a movie together.”  He interjected that he watched the movie while I fed Avery. 

Hummm…Guess I was multitasking instead of giving my child the attention he wanted and deserved.  Isn’t that what we women are good at…multitasking? 

As I went to bed that night thinking about our conversation, I wondered…Do I do this with God? 

I pray…as I’m cleaning house.

I worship…as I drive in my car.

I read the Bible…but lately it has been a verse here and a verse there (usually while I'm feeding Avery!).

God reminded me that these are all good.   He wants to be a part of my busy day, but He also wants me to have a quiet and intimate time with Him.   He wants my full attention.   I can’t help but to believe that it is in the stillness that I will know Him better! 

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”

The Family of God

Tears fell on April 27^th when I was told that my grandmother’s house had been hit by the tornado.  As family gathered, we discovered that it was not salvageable.  This was not just a house but her home.  A dwelling place she had lived in for 61 years.  She experienced life as a newly wed there, raised 5 children there, and entertained her 14 grandchildren and 7 great grand children there.  Family always gathered at her home on Sundays after church to visit with one another. In only a few minutes her dwelling place she called home was gone. 

For days, she sat with her 2 daughters (whose homes had also been destroyed) and starred at the remains. 

 My Grandmother's House

 Her car/carport

The area around her house.

She and her daughters’ families slowly began life again in my parent’s home nearby.  As reality sat in and her daughters began drawing up house plans in order to rebuild, reality also sat in for her.  She was almost 90 years old and would probably never be able to rebuild. 

However, only a few weeks later my grandmother had a visitor.  “We want to build you a house” were the words she heard.  She sat stunned as she listened to how a group of Christian men and women wanted to give of their time and talents to help her.  WOW!  God had sent His servants to build her a home.  A home in which she thought she would never be able to have. 

This group of everyday people like you and I, became the hands and feet of Christ to help my grandmother.  Many took vacation time from work and some even came out of retirement to help!  They all made sacrifices.

How happy I am to be a part of the family of God!   

Volunteers giving of their time and talents!

Almost finished!

My proud grandmother!