Journey of Worship

 One of the most frustrating things a parent experiences is an ungrateful child.  We go all out for Christmas, but didn't get that one gift... or we give them a treat, but they're never satisfied.  Have you ever given 2 or more children a cookie just to see them counting the chocolate chips, griping over who got more or who's is bigger, and barely even enjoying what you gave them?  When my children do that I don't feel good at all for the giving, and I'm not especially thinking about the next opportunity to treat them.  I might even take away what was given because they're not grateful.  On the other hand, if they are excited about what they got- gifts or treats- and don't compare to what someone else got, I am thinking about the next opportunity  to treat them.   Do you think God might be the same way?  We do it in the big and little things too.  When we compare what we have, our gifts, talents, abilities, houses, jobs, and we...

Our conversations reflect our faith.  What we see in others and choose to dwell on reflects our submission to God as not only our God, but theirs'.  When I choose to submit to the God who created me for good things and that my life would be long and prosperous, I live on mission, with excitement,  joy and peace that I can extend to others.  When I'm stuck on performing, grasping for control, and looking to my left and right in comparison, I will feel the struggle, discontentment will fester, and I won't see my mission or the blessings the Lord wants in my life.  Read Psalm 73 : Asaph starts with a statement of faith, then confession, that he had begun to compare himself to others, and in his jaded perception, God was overlooking their faults and allowing them to enjoy prosperity (verse 3-14).  He was letting what others had- become his focus instead of the mission God had him on and his relationship with God.  If he had gone on to speak slanderously o...

Chapter 5: Surrendering Our Words Words have power. Communication is not just about being kind—it’s about being holy.   I have been convicted over and over again of my words and tone.  My biggest struggle still, is with my kids.  I'd like to give all kinds of excuses: being a momma is hard, I didn't have an incredible example, it's not in my blood(line) to be a patient and eloquent teacher and coach to my kids... But God!  So I have no excuses!  I have read many books on parenting, I have had good examples as well, and Christ's blood runs through me and Holy Spirit dwells in me, so God can change this too!  So beginning today (and with each new day I begin), I will speak love, truth, and life over my kids. I invite Holy Spirit in to do the work in and through me.  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord.” — Psalm 19:14 I'm going to take much of this straight from week 6, "The Power of W...

God is so good to us: He knows what we need and how we will function best. It is not just that He wants our time, or that He is demanding; rather, He wants us to enjoy the fullness of life. How does it feel to be overwhelmed with demands on your time and energy? Are you feeling like every drop of life is getting sucked out of you, or maybe it’s already been sucked out and you just feel like you’re running on empty? That is not the feeling that comes with alignment with God. I can’t claim to know everything, but I do know He is the God of a thousand hills and He has overflow for you! I’ve felt it in the energy that comes with doing what He’s called me to do, and the miracles of deadlines being met. When we prioritize Him, and what He shows us to prioritize, He will make everything else good. So, where do we even start with attempting to manage time- a “relative, yet fixed asset?” You can read all kinds of books, and I can give you all kinds of tips and wisdom, convictions and t...

  Chapter 4: Time Is Not Your Own You might be beginning to think, "if there's a struggle, than it must be an area I need to surrender." God has given everyone equally 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week; one in which he tells us to take as a sabbath.  And yet, we will hear, or might say ourselves, "but I.... need more sleep have to work more hours don't get enough time with my kids I'm running all over the place and don't have time to fellowship with others/invest in godly relationships don't have time for date nights... after all of that, I don't have much time for personal devotionals." You can add to the list.  If you are grudgingly giving your time, ask God about what you're giving it to.  It may not be the person that's asking that needs to hear no, it might be something else you thought you needed to prioritize, or didn't even realize how much time it was sucking up.  Ask God for wisdom in your time management; "Teach us...

 When we take every thought captive and submit it to Christ, we can experience freedom:  Freedom is having  the mind of Christ.  Galatians 5:13 says "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters... to serve one another in love."  I bet you would say that you would "love" to receive some serving in love !  Well when we submit to Christ, not only are we freed up to easily give, because we are not weighed down by bitterness , feelings of incompetence , or shame , but we are also more open to receive the love of others.  Have you ever stepped up to serve someone and found their demeanor repulsive?  Maybe they didn't even say anything, but there was a scowl on their face, or they seemed hesitant to receive.  There could be a lot of past behind that representing things they have not submitted to God .  If you think you are not blessed, you will not easily receive blessing .  Take some time to reflect on your recei...

 As I wade through boxes, unpacking the last of our "stuff", I really wonder, what are these "treasures"?  They are distractions for me.  So much of it unused, yet someone sees value in it and doesn't want to let go.... Though we have a bigger house now, it is just too much.  And the greatest distraction for my kids takes up about 8x12x2"- this Chromebook that I'm working in now, but they find escape in.  Playing games and watching shorts.  I think my desire to engage with them, despite my task-oriented brain that wants to clear spaces, collides with their natural inclination to seek entertainment.  What is it that they're doing that is so wrong?  The main thing is not contributing to the solution of order and the goal of family time.  Family time.  It can be any time.  Our drive time is increased- we could be using that to have "family time".   What is family time anyway?  Seeking entertainment together?  I thin...

Chapter 3: Taking Every Thought Captive Have you ever created something with good intentions, given it to a beloved, maybe especially a child, and seen them use it in ways you did not intend?  Or maybe words were completely twisted and a compliment became offensive.  Because we intended to have children in our home for an unknown period of time, including the rotating door of fostering, Chris put up a beautiful playground in our backyard.  He went to every extent to make it "safe", putting in 9 inches of pea gravel, and getting the best playground out there- as good or better than any you might see at a park or church.  We wanted a haven where our kids could greet the day, get out energy, have healthy fellowship, and retreat after a day at school.   There were many wonderful memories made there, including an evening when the kids sang "Way-Maker" at the top of their lungs while swinging.  However, it didn't always look like that!  You may already...

When God created us, or man and woman in the beginning, He gave us the gift of desire.  A deep longing for something we don't yet have, or do have, that will keep us chasing after it.  He created us with a soul that is connected to Him and would recognize what blessed Him, and be able to discern those desires that would lead to sin and suffering, versus those that would lead to glory.  There is a depth within us that recognizes right from wrong, even before we know God (Romans 1:20).  Once we know God, Holy Spirit has a greater (and the goal is growing) access to our soul, to convict us and draw us into alignment with Holy God (John 14:16, 26, 16:3 & 8, Ephesians 2:18, 3:16, Romans 8:26-27).  Our desires that are self-pleasing and destructive become less and less in exchange for God's desires which are for our good, Holy living which comes with earthly and heavenly reward, and the building up of the believers (Romans 8:28-39, Galatians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians ...

We are so excited and feel so incredibly overwhelmed with blessing as we move into a beautiful new-to-us home. It's been a journey: I had started calling our little home that Chris transformed a mansion . Everything I could ever have wanted - he sought to please me, and me him, as we worked together to tear down walls, replace floors, fascia, and make beauty happen. In our eyes, it was amazing and we loved it. But then we went from a family of 4 to a family of 6 (and for a while we had 8!), and the walls just became too close. We needed more space, and despite all that we had created there, all the memories, all of the remaining plans, we had to start considering what "more" could look like. In order to come to this place we had to begin to open our hands from the hold we had on our current home.  We felt God had led us to that home, God had blessed us there, and we had honored him in all we did there: not that we were a perfect couple or perfect parents while we ...

  Chapter 2: Surrendering Our Desires The Bible speaks of exchanging our desires for God's, a process of aligning our will with His through faith and surrender.   T his involves delighting in God, which leads to a transformation of our desires, causing us to crave what is aligned with His will.  This doesn't mean desires for good things are eliminated, but rather, they are submitted to God's ultimate plan and purpose, which is for our good! "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you."  Jeremiah 29:11 Our desires can lead us closer to God when they are aligned with Him, and our focus is to please Him—or away from Him when we are focused on ourselves, our circumstances, or pleasing other...