Journey of Worship

 What's your vice?  Is it wine, ice cream, or chocolate?  Maybe a little combination of that and shopping, binge-watching someone else's made-up life, or "escaping" to meet up with some other clucky hens, or maybe it's just finding solitude.  If you're finding yourself pulled to these things, you might want to deeply consider where the conflict of submission is.  What are you resisting in God's order?  Maybe you think you're doing it all right.... take some of that time you're running away and make it time to ask God and dig in the Word.  Proverbs is rich with instruction.  Paul includes in many of his letters God's order for marriage.  God is so good, he doesn't want us to be clueless, susceptible to our flesh and the lies of Satan and order of this world.   Why is it so import to learn to "submit to our husbands as unto the Lord"?  Because that is truly the key to the blessed life.  We submit first to the Lord, and even ...

 There is a temptation to be ignorant.  With knowledge comes power and responsibility.  With ignorance: bliss, the earthly kind that looks like spend without thinking of the future, do it because it feels good now, neglect what is difficult and enjoy your life today....  But God tells us this is not truly the way, and there is much more joy in His way!  Check this out, though knowledge can make one puffed up, prideful, and hypocritical, with the wisdom of the Lord, we know how to apply it for kingdom gain.  Anything we do for kingdom comes with multiplication reward. I can get stuck in so many proverbs and verses on wisdom, and how God takes our faithful actions and mutliplies them, and these are great studies to pursue, but how do we apply it to our mothering and wifing? Porverbs 29:15  The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.   Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son and he will give you peace/ he w...

 A good woman is genuine, Joyful, virtuous, valuable, competent, ready, kind, benevolent, merciful, hardworking, agreeable, pleasant, congenial, honorable, faithful, gracious, and wise.   Titus 3:14 "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." A person is what she does.  So often we want only a portion of our life on stage.  God sees it all, and usually, quite frankly, so do our kids.  It doesn't matter what others think of us, ultimately, it's what God thinks, our husbands experience, and our kids learn from us that matters.   Lord, I want to be fruitful, guide me today to put my hand to the things that will bring great harvest.   "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." Prov 12:4 A good woman is a crown to her husband.  She can make a mediocre man be as honored as one wearing a crown.     -She is wise and does ...

  Holy Spirit fruit Greater gift of love (Holy Spirit Gift) love joy peace doesn't envy patience/ forebearance, longsuffering patient, keeps no record or wrong gentleness not easily angered kindness kind goodness doesn't delight in evil, but rejoices with truth faithfulness always protects, trust, hopes, perseveres, never fails meekness doesn't boast, isn't proud temperance/self-control isn't rude, self-seeking, or easily angered

 The importance of my job at home-it's not something that is just a passing of time- it's paramount.  I am responsible for setting the physical, spiritual, and relational atmosphere of our family, and what they will recognize as boundaries or standards for themselves going forward.  What I allow they will ultimately end up allowing, even when they are conflicted or convicted otherwise.  What I do as a mother is a lot of hard-wiring into their hearts and minds, whether intentionally or not.   Keeping the house in order is important- it ultimately does contribute to making for a peaceful home where it's inhabitants can think clearly, creatively, and caring for each other as they see the care that goes into everything I do.  The spiritual and relational order of the home is even more important: making it peaceful and welcoming for my husband as well as my kids and guests.  Guests will not feel welcome if my own do not.  I teach my kids to respec...

 Romans 12:10  Honor one another (above yourself/take focus off self.  When I am not so self-focused and comparing but rather choose to be content in my own creation in His image). v 11 Never be lacking in zeal- keep spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  How do I get so complacent and then complain(ant)?!  Do the opposite- practice praise and thanksgiving! v12 Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer; always seeking God and believing Him I can be.  Lord, help me in my believing to recognize what you're doing and calling me to do. v13  When I'm believing Your abundance for whatever I have, not just what I will have, which is another form of "not enough" or overlooking my current blessing, I will live more generously.  Lord give me courage to do that; such that I would readily share with your people in need, and eagerly practice hospitality.  This starts in our family.  I can say no to gluttony and too much "stuff" but not...

 Romans 12- a study on living submitted: the submitted life.  To live out your salvation.  What we do is our sacrifice of praise for God's mercy (v1).  We fix our mind on God's gifts and His call (Romans 11:29).  Thanksgiving and pursuit of his well.  Letting His will become mine is a renewing of my mind.  I am no longer driven by my own desires, or pleasing others, but in receiving and executing God's good, pleasing and perfect will.  (v2) (v3)  I get in a 'trap' when I start to think more highly of myself.  The danger is in comparing laterally/horizontally instead of living vertically.  I need to stop comparing and judging to be able to act in the will of God, using the gifts.  HE has given me.  Otherwise it is with hypocrisy and expectation, begrudging and obviously insincere.(v9) "love must be sincere".  The following is for relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ- all the more my God-fearing Christ-s...

 Hospitality is a way to minister to others as well as setting the tone in our home to receive Chris each evening and weekend. 1 Peter 4:9 "Use hospitality to one another without grudging." Lord, forgive me for all the grudging for being "over it" with Chris, and frustrated with not having generous friends that give back/invite us over. I have felt the strong pull, and responded to bringing my kids home to homeschool.  It's the big things like this, as well as the little things: short and long term invites that would allow for impact on my kids. Even our "plans" for the lakehouse was thwarted (I have peace about it) for my conviction to protect my kids first.  (In this case extra boys to my daughter being the only girl.  I was disappointed in the invitor's expectation that it be okay for her to hang with the boys for 3 days including overnights.... even for my son, the secluded exposure that comes with overnights.  Every time he goes with rangers t...

 A woman after God's heart desires to be chaste/ pure in all she lets in and projects out.  She contends for the gospel by gently, faithfully supporting her man.  She does not criticize him, but finds him delightful in his humor, diligence, and whatever the outcomes: his attempts to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Philippians 4 She stands with her husband as he stands firm, constantly praying and even when he appears to be at fault, continuing to pray and stand beside him.  In a sense, in his place yet, never over-stepping his position.   v3 I am to be a loyal yokefellow; this is my character as God's child, trusting Him ultimately, and as Chris's wife, I: v4 Rejoice in the Lord always, and praise Chris often. I smile and choose to be happy/ grateful to make plans with him.  To hear his ideas and "siempre gumby" be flexible to him (mold to him faithfully). v5 My gentleness towards him and his children is evident.  I have no reason to fear and lash...

 Am I a hidden treasure?  Do I try to somehow justify my existence or my actions because I don't understand the treasure that I am or could be?  What would it mean to be a hidden treasure?   Titus 2:4-5 "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste...." (KJV) 1 Peter 3:1-6 "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned thems...

 Being discreet seems to be exactly my sin. What exactly does discreet mean?  To be " careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing  offense  or to gain an advantage." Another translation says it this way , "prudent, wise in avoiding error and in selecting the best means to accomplish a purpose; circumspect; courteous, polite, honest dealings." Titus 2:4-5 "that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children to be discreet..."  Chapter 18.... well, and it's not my only one, but that for sure described the struggle Sunday, and what continues to rear it's head.  I think Chris needs to be reminded, directed, pushed.  He, at times, has told me he needs me to do this, so I'm actually quite confused, other than, maybe it's the spirit that these actions come out of: distrust, not thinking he's courageous, committed, convicted, Christian.... a lot of thi...

 It's summer, time for all the fun plans to begin... and road trips.  You know if you're buckling up for a trip with your kids, you're going to hear multiple times, "are we there yet?"  Even if it's just a couple hours.   That's how I'm feeling right now though.  I am just being exposed to this new way of thinking, a new way of seeing submission and honoring my husband as a wife and a mother.  This weekend I had one of my little tantrums, and yes, expressed my frustration, but also said I'm working on this.  Understanding how to be a better wife.... and a better mother.  I don't want to look back, pass blame, or claim "brain wiring": I have elasticity and I will form to God's intention. Proverbs 31:11-12  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of  value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Titus 2:5 To be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their...

 So, after that devotional on loving my children well, being convicted that it really is my job to lead the children, God gave me an opportunity to put on my Big Mama Hat.  We were going to a conference to learn trading, had arranged for all the kids to be in different places- with their friends.  The littles were dropped off the night before, and it was going to be a bit of a scramble to get the bigs to their places and get to the conference on time.  We ended up taking Aliya with us to the conference because her friend hadn't woken up yet.  She was so concerned that her friend would wake up soon so she could leave.  Again, as in the last conference, we had several people come and encourage us and her, that her starting young would set her up for funding herself rather than being funded by someone else (someone else gets to name her value).   When her friend did finally text, the instructor was mid-testimony of raising her own 5 kids and starting...

 Lord, Help me to love my children well-including each one independently, differently and especially.  Nathaniel, Aliya, Jaxon, and Elizabeth.   Last night Jaxon was so excited about going to Jennifer's.   In his excitement he gets independent and demanding.  that irritates me and Nathaniel.  Lord, help me to teach him well...and Nathaniel.  This morning I woke up thinking, "I just need to enroll him in school.  We will do better to have less hours with him, have to work around the school schedule, then to deal with him at home."  I do remember feeling like I needed a break when Nathaniel was little.  But I've felt convicted to homeschool for bonding.  And yet there's a spirit of rejection with Jaxon.  "Get him somebody closer in age to play with"... he has a sister who is about to catch up with him...  But in all my scrambled thinking, this morning I read Chapter 17 in Help Meet:  Love their Children. ...

 A couple at our church presented Ephesians 5:20-27.  "An orderly home is arguably our greatest witness to a disorderly culture."  The encouragement was in the order of a wife honoring her husband, and then caring for her children and managing the home.  It is in the atmosphere that comes with that honoring- he in turn loving her, and able to embrace the comfort in the home- that transpires any messes that did not get attention.  I so focus on the messes.  Lord, help me to focus on first priority, submitting to you so that my heart and mind is in the right place to submit to Chris.   Upon reading Help Meet, I am further called out and encouraged.  Pages 177-182:  My selfish "worry" for my own mental and physical health (which is such a mystery and yet I have built a castle around myself in which to try to protect myself from all the triggers and harms that could be fall me), has not only kept me from loving Chris well, but loving the kid...

Malachi  A Warning to the Priests 2  “Listen, you priests—this command is for you!   2  Listen to me and make up your minds to honor my name,” says the  Lord  of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken my warning to heart.   3  I will punish your descendants and splatter your faces with the manure from your festival sacrifices, and I will throw you on the manure pile.   4  Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning so that my covenant with the Levites can continue,” says the  Lord  of Heaven’s Armies. 5  “The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name.   6  They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they ...

What if I looked up verses on Joy, and considered the context, and where there might be a promise in following God's laws/will, and especially relating to marriage and our relationships.  Really, I don't think we are ever called to be self-righteous, judgemental, or to justify our words or actions based on our own standards.  We are called to be gracious, bearing, patient, and focused on God's will for our lives, which is in pleasing Him in all we do. I took the following verses off of a search on dailyverses.net: NLT vs NIV, for those who prefer one or the other- I often use the NLT for readability. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. gratitude prayer For the L ord  your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight i...