Decisions

Are You Faithful in The Little Things?

May 18, 2015 By Mrs. Mom 10 Comments

Often times we find ourselves committed to causes that we really believe in.

We make sure that we do all that we are asked to do. If we have committed to doing something or being somewhere, we’ll make sure that we are faithful to show up or do it. That’s great!

We are showing that we are disciplined.

Still, I have a question for you…

Are you as committed to yourself or even to your relationship with God as you are to these other commitments?

How many times do we make ourselves promises only to break them?

Where do we lack commitment to self?

Is it in working out?

Is it in reading, praying, or having time to rest?

Maybe you told yourself a long time ago that you wanted to do something, like finish your degree or go back to school, but you never did it.

Did you fine that you we committed to other things?

Now don’t get me wrong.

There is nothing wrong with having priorities and realizing that what you wanted to do for yourself, just didn’t fit into the picture at that time, but what about now?

Have you lost sight of a dream or desire and left it on the back burner?

Perhaps you’re like me and said that you wanted to read the Bible all the way through and never did it…well, what are we waiting for?

There will never be a better time than now to commit to doing something for ourselves.

God tells us to love one another as we have loved ourselves, but how can we do that if we have forgotten about ourselves and left her stranded in the dust somewhere, holding the promise of that commitment…

Really?! Are you still waiting on yourself to fulfill the commitment that you made to yourself years ago?

If your answer is yes…now is the time to get honest with you…

Today I encourage you, as I am encouraging myself, to prayerfully take a look at the things that you’ve wanted to do for yourself. PICK ONE and see where you can fit that commitment into your present life…

Be good to yourself so that you aren’t angry when God calls you to be good to someone else.

That’s right!!!

Be faithful in the small things for you.

People always call us to be faithful in the little things others, but you count too. Be faithful in the little things in your life…the little things that are important to you.

Perhaps you should take a rest today.

Maybe tomorrow, you can paint your nails.

Over the weekend you can go for a run or walk.

Read that book you’ve been wanting to read. I’m sure you can find an hour in your day to do this.

Talk to God while you ride in the car.

I’m sure that if you find time to do this, you will feel great about you.

Remember, you are loved and you matter!

Taking The Steps To Grow…Spiritually

October 4, 2014 By Mrs. Mom Leave a Comment

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

~1 Corinthians 13:11

There is a normal cycle in our human existence. We all go through a span of life development.

We are born into this life as a helpless baby. We mature into a child, adolescent, and adult. Even our adulthood is filled with a maturing process. We go from being young adults to middle adulthood. Finally we become an elder. While this process is a natural one, there is also a spiritual process of development that we all must go through. Yet there is a slight difference in the two.

The natural process of development takes place without our participation. Every year we grow older, age, and change. Life’s situations and circumstances cause us to develop, even in our minds. Our brains change, developing the essential qualities needed to live a healthy life. Yet, the spiritual process is not the same.

As an adult that is a newly saved Christian, we are a new creature in Christ. This means that we are born again and a babe in Christ. After spending time in relationship with God through His word, we begin to mature. However, this process of maturing requires more than what is required in our natural lives.

What I mean is that as a Christian ages, this is not equivalent to their level of spiritual maturity. However God calls us to a place in Him where we go from being a child in Christ to being a young man or woman in Christ. After that it is important that we begin to mature into an elder in the body of Christ. In the body of Christ, new babes are always being born and we are called to help train them for service and for their lives in this earth. (Titus 2:3-5) Yet we cannot do this if we stay babes ourselves.

This process of becoming spiritually mature requires our participation. In the scripture above, Paul distinguishes some of the changes that take place. He says that when he became a man, he put away childish things. We must put away from us speaking as a child. We must be willing to take the time necessary to acquire the understanding of a spiritually mature adult so that we no longer understand as a child. Even our thoughts have to change from being childish to being spiritually mature, thinking on the things that are pleasing to God and replenishing to our spirit.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ~Philippians 4:8

This is one of our first steps.

We must change the way we think. We cannot do this on our own. Instead, we have to allow God’s word to permeate our beings. As we do, we will renew our minds and change the way we think. (Roman 12:2)

We also have to change what we do. It is not enough to simply read the word of God. We have to do it. We have to decided that if our lives conflict with the word of God, we will bring things to a clear resolve by doing what the word says. (James 1:22)

In all of this, it is important that we seek to build a relationship with God, in faith as a changed individual. (Hebrews 10:22)

We all want to be our best. We want to be good wives, mothers, daughters, friends, aunts, sisters, cousins…you name it…we want to be our best. If we want this, we have to do what it takes to be that. We have to afford ourselves the opportunities to be our best. Yet, when we do not pursue the things of God, we rob ourselves and those in our lives of experiencing us at our best.

I hope this message comes across in a way that blesses you. I have found that being my best means saying no to some things and yes to others. I have to trust God at His word and do what He says, so that my life can be a reflection of His love. It might be challenging, but when we look back and see how far we have come, it will all be worth it.

As we bring this week to a close, let’s think about the things we can change in our lives. What are new habits to build and old ones to break? How can our relationship with God and others be better? What is our relationship with the Word of God?

Basically, let’s do some evaluating so that we will be ready tomorrow to start a new week, moving forward spiritually.

Decisions Decisions

March 21, 2014 By Mrs. Mom 2 Comments

This morning, I am faced with a very important decision.

I have a lot on my mind and I don’t have a lot of time to make this decision.

Sometimes the choices make the decision an easy one. I am quickly able to decide what I want to do based on the available choices. I want one thing or the other…but what happens when I am offered two things that I want? This is what happens…I don’t know what to do.

Now here I am. I am stuck…I was just stuck a couple of days ago. I need to decide what I want and what I want to do. I am going to have to weigh my options.

What are the pros and cons. Does one out weigh the other. A part of me wishes that someone could help me make this decision. While the other part of me is happy that I get to do this all on my own. I just have to make sure that I don’t get stressed in the process of decision making.

I have to admit. I am glad that there is no right or wrong in this decision. I just have different options. That makes it easier and harder. When things are either right or wrong, it is easier to make a decision because I either want to do the right thing or the wrong thing. Yet this is harder because it is simply a matter of preference.

Its like when making a new career choice. Neither of the options are right or wrong, unless it is a question of the legality of a thing, but it is simply a matter of preference. That’s what this is for me. It is a decision that will affect my future in a positive way no matter what I choose. (Both things are legal of course 🙂 ) Yet, still there is a little bit of confusion on my part because I’m not exactly sure what I want to do.

Which is why I am feeling a little bit confused. Whenever this happens, I have to research the options. I have to find out all that I can about the options and then decide how I feel and what I think of the choices. This often times helps me. Whatever I decide, I kinda have to hurry up. I am in a bit of a time crunch. I have to make a decision very soon. Once I make my choice, there is no going back. It will be a sealed dun deal… unless God steps in and changes things, which is very possible…

The clock is ticking.

Decisions…Decisions…

What shall I do?

I will say this. I take comfort in knowing that whatever I decide, God will work it out for my good. Oh and trust me when I say that I am praying. I am waiting to hear His voice on the decision, but I have a feeling that this will be like a few other things that I have had to choose in the past…the Lord will tell me that He will bless either one. You know, I can plan my way, but He will order my steps.(Proverbs 16:9) I just want to make the wisest decision.

Now it’s time for the fun part. It’s time for me to research it all, to weigh it all, and to actually make the choice…

Trusting Other People

March 4, 2014 By Mrs. Mom Leave a Comment

Trust…

Have you ever sat down to think about it? It is a relational word. We trust the chair, in relation to whether or not it will hold us as we sit. We trust the car, in relation to whether or not we will be able to drive where we need to go. We put out trust in things everyday. Yet many of us find it hard to do the same thing with people or even God.

When you or I decide to trust someone we are saying that we don’t believe that the person is going to bring us hurt or harm. We believe, within ourselves, that this person is trust-worthy.

Now, I am using the word trust, over and over again, but let’s look a what it means.

The dictionary defines trust as:

reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

confident expectation of something; hope

It is as if when we trust someone, according to the definition of the word, we put our faith in them. We believe that they are able to uphold the confidence that we place in them. It sounds very simple, but I’m sure that you, like me, find that trust isn’t always that simple.

I want to ask you a question. How do you determine who you are going to trust?

For me this is a hard one.

I am a very optimistic person. I find it very easy to see the best in most people. I want to have the best experience and relationship with everyone, but I know that this isn’t always possible. Since this is my desire, in the past, I didn’t have a test that I put people through. I would just trust them. I’d give them the opportunity to show me that they are not trust worthy. Now, I don’t recommend trying to do this with things that are very precious or important to you.

Why?

Well, what would happen if the person was not worthy of your trust? You would have trusted them with things that are very dear to you.

I had a situation like this before. I placed my trust in someone and shared very intimate details with them. I assumed that they could handle the things that I had given them. I thought that they were full of integrity. I must say, my expectations were very high. What I learned later was that, I had not rightly judged the situation. The person showed me that they could not hold the piece of myself that I had given them.

What a learning lesson that was. I decided to learn from it.
WARNING: There is a way to learn from a situation without making a vow to never allow something to happen again.
I caution you in this because I have learned that making vows, only open the door for a proving of the vow. Will you stick to it in the midst of a test or trial. Not only will it be tested, but the vow may change you, for the worst.

Imagine a person that has vowed to herself that she would never let a someone hurt her again. Her life would become a series of events that focus primary on avoiding that hurt which was experienced before.

Instead of taking a vow, I’d like to encourage you, as I have found encouragement to do this as well, pray. While you are praying for wisdom in how you trust, allow the person to prove that they are worthy of your trust. As they prove that they are worthy, give them more of your confidence.

Here is an example of this.

When my children ask for a privilege, like going outside by themselves, I give them specific directions to prove themselves responsible, obedient, and trustworthy.

Lets say that it is a cold day outside and there are children playing in front of our house from down the street. I will tell my son to put on his coat. I will also tell him to put on his play clothes and shoes. After proving himself in this area, I allow him to go outside. Don’t leave the porch. After he has proved himself in this, I place more of my confidence in him. “You can play with your friends, but don’t leave our street.”

At this point he has done everything that I asked him to do, so I back up, a bit, and allow him to play because he showed that he can be trusted.

After spending a few minutes out of my site, I’ve gone in the house, my son is playing and following all of the rules. I realize that I can trust him. He has demonstrated his ability to follow directions and to be responsible. The last proving will be giving a time limit. This will determine whether or not we can do this again.

This is how we should treat other people. Although it may seem hard at first, if we pray for wisdom and are wise, we will see if a person is trust worthy or not.

Today, think on what trust means to you. Do you find it hard to trust people? Do you have a system for the proving? Or have you left your self in a position to have your confidence broken?

Let’s make sure that our expectations are realistic and based in sound judgement.
Be encouraged today. 🙂

My Job

September 25, 2013 By Mrs. Mom 2 Comments

I have a friend that is trying to decide what she wants to do right now. She is trying to figure out if she wants to be a stay at home mom or if she wants to go to work outside of the home. This inspired me because I have found that working outside of the home right now would mean working two jobs, for me. Now some people may not agree with me, but I don’t sit at home twiddling my thumbs everyday. There is a lot of work to do around here. Did I mention that there are six of us? That means that there is a never ending load of laundry here. There are always dishes to wash, food to cook, diapers to change, and a person that needs some sort of help with something.

For me, at this stage in my mothering, to work outside of the home would be draining. One of my jobs would suffer. It would either be my family and home, or my job outside of the house.

When my time comes to work outside of the home, my kids will be older and I will be able to handle the load of both responsibilities. I think that will be when all of my children are in school. I know many women can do it and they do it everyday, but I feel it is beyond what I can handle right now. I want to give my family my best and this is how I do it.

To all of the mothers that do it outside of the house, may God bless and strengthen you.

To all of the mothers like me who do it inside of the house, my prayer is the same. May God bless and strengthen you.

To the mothers that are in the process of deciding, may God help you to make a wise decision as you contemplate the two.

We all need prayer, patience, and a bit more wisdom.

When Loving Is Hard To Do

January 12, 2013 By Mrs. Mom 2 Comments

Let me start off by saying that I have not thought this post through. I am just writing because I feel like it. I have no idea where I’m going or how this will end. What I do know is that I feel this.

There are times in life when things just don’t make much sense. The events that occur are not pretty or pleasant, but they happen. When that time comes, we are faced with a serious decision…

How to handle it?

Seriously…I feel like tht question has slapped me in that face. How will I continue to be myself and love those I love without changing. Some people change in the midst of making this decision. They become harsh and mean. Some become arrogant and prideful. Others become so broken by the situation that their life is drastically affected, by the event and the decision.

I know that God loves us even when we are wrong. Yet, He does not turn a blind eye to our sin. He sees it for what it is and deals with us accordingly, but with mercy. This is how He loves us. Our prayers may be hindered, we may have to walk through some hard places, but the truth is that it could all be over quicker that a twinkle of an eye. That all depends on us. All God is waiting on to meet us, help us, and forgive us is repentance. If we decide that we are beyond repentance, He take a few steps back because the Bible says that sin effects people in steps. The ultimate step is death. He longsfor us to live abundant lives and to continually be connected to Him, but the choice is ours.

I said all that to say, God never changes and since God is love, I want to love they way that He loves. There is no magic formula as to how to love someone when it gets hard besides, love like He loves. With this knowledge, I have chosen to seek Him about my current situation. I have to understand how to love someone that has hurt me without destroying who they are or becoming someone else, myself. I want to imitate God and love the way He does. I just see His way as freeing to both the lover and the lovee.

I am almost positive that this will not be easy. I kinda think this is going to take a while. With the little inlking that I have, I pray for the dedication to remain loving throughout this whole process. I realize that this is natural…sometimes loving is hard to do

Decisions

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