audio books

The kids and I took a trip to Disneyland yesterday, and I realized how much we enjoy the drive down there and back.  I never worry about sitting in traffic because we usually have an audio book to listen to and the kids are so engrossed in the story.  Even my little Evan will listen for a long time, even though he's not quite into the story yet.  We are in the middle of the Magic Tree House series and while the stories are simple, I like them because they appeal to both Madeline & Grant.  We also started the Little House on The Prairie audio books from the library.  Those are a bit harder for Grant to understand, but he still seems to enjoy listening (along with about 100 questions about the story)!  I was beating myself up for not spending enough time reading out loud to the kids.  I find it challenging with them being at different ages and stages to find books that engage all of them at the same time.  But audio books have provided a common ground for all the kids. 

statements of truth

I have been reviewing and saying these Scriptural truths out loud (courtesy of Neil Anderson, Steps to Freedom in Christ) each day for the last few days, and can't begin to describe the difference it has made in my perspective throughout the day.  They basically reiterate that I am not to function out of my flesh, but that when I choose to live by the Spirit and allow His fruit to work through me, then that is where true freedom and victory lie.

I hope these encourage and lift you up - this is who we are - let's stop living like we have to remain stuck!  This is the statement that has really stood out to me this week:

I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  I put no confidence in the flesh, for the weapons of my warfare are not of the flesh but are divinely powerful for the destruction of my strongholds.  I put on the full armor of God.  I resolve to stand firm in my faith and resist the evil one.  (See 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:3.)

After reading this out loud again this morning, I realized that when I choose to fight the spiritual battle in my flesh, it is like taking a plastic sword to fight to use in a real battle.  What a ridiculous scenario, but this is what I actually do when I rely on myself to get through the day, to respond without anger, to practice patience, to control my tongue, and so many other struggles I have.  What a difference to be reminded that these battles - while they are manifesting themselves in the physical world - they are spiritual in nature and must be faced accordingly in order to find true freedom in Christ.   

praying scripture

Isn't this a wonderful passage of Scripture to pray for our husbands, children and ourselves?

Lord, help me not to stop praying for my husband and children and asking You to fill them with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  I pray this in order that they may live a life worthy of You, Lord and may please You in every way:  bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of you, O God, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to you, Father, for You have qualitifed them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  Colossians 1:9b-12

aka "grouch"

I don't know what it is inside of me that wells up so big and so fast that I don't know where it came from and I don't know how to keep it contained. I've been reading Dennis Prager's book Happiness Is A Serious Problem and one of his main premises is that we have a moral obligation to be as happy as possible. Imagine being a child growing up with an unhappy parent or imagine a parent with unhappy children. There is a sense of helplessness in not being able to help someone else feel better. Prager also points out that it is easier to remain unhappy than it is to make a concerted effort in your mind to be happy.

I have been trying to keep his words at the forefront of my mind. Yet I still fail in choosing grumpiness because I'm frustrated with my circumstances. Prager says that we are not to pretend we are happy. We will have many situations where we will need to face and address our negative feelings, and that is perfectly normal and acceptable. The problem lies when we allow our negative feelings to take over, giving them full reign in how we speak to and treat others.

I had a rough week. But I think I made it worse than it could have been. The hardest moments were when I knew my children were watching me, wondering why it's okay for mom to act grumpy when I tell them that they can be sad, frustrated, angry, etc. but that they can still choose to act kindly toward others.

Hypocrisy is a painful vice to fight. I used to hope that my children would grow up never remembering those moments "when mom was such a grouch!" But now I hope that they not only remember them, but that they bring it up as a way to tease me about how silly I was to act that way.

I don't want to be afraid of my failures. I know they are there and I know they are intended for me to learn from. I hope that my children will be able to both laugh and learn from them.

sweet morsels of truth

I have been recently lacking the joy that my children deserve when I am with them each day. Granted, we have had the stomach flu, pink eye, coughs, and other lovely germ manifestations sweep through our home during the last couple of weeks which have made it a bit challenging to walk around the house with a smile on my face. But functioning from below the surface is a place I'd like to inhabit more often.

I love going back through the highlighted sections in books that gave me glimpses into myself and the possibilities of what the Lord can do in my life. One book that encourages me to walk the journey in joy is The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. Her words remind me to get out of myself and remember who I am in Christ and my purpose in where the Lord has me at this stage of my life.

No matter where you are on this road of discovering and living out the mission of motherhood, you can take steps sorward. Even more important, you can trust God to bring you forward. After all, we serve a redeeming God, a God of second chances, a God whose whole history has been that of seeking out his wayward people and bringing them back into his fold...When we acknowledge our shortcomings and failures to him, he is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...He has promised to support those whose hearts are completely his (2 Chronicles 16:9). The most important factor in being successful as a mother is to turn our hearts to God, to seek his will, and to allow him to begin making sense out of the messes we've made of our lives. He who created motherhood is the gentle teacher whose ways and input we must seek.

Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood

baby #4

belly shot at 11 weeks