April 30, 2012
Prayer for a Friend
I have been praying for a special friend of mine lately. I know she is "lost" right now and feeling alone. I pray she knows I am here for her.
Prayers for a Friend
April 27, 2012
It Won't Kill Them
Ever go somewhere and see a child that you know could honestly use a good spanking? I mean, one of those, go outside and cut down a switch from the tree spanking?
I am speaking outside of the PC lines at this point, but it is my belief that children would treat parents and other adults with a lot more respect if they were first of all taught to and second of all reprimanded when they didn't. I grew up saying yes ma'am and no sir. I knew that if I spoke inappropriately I was gonna get the belt. And I did! But guess what, I'm still here, and I know how to treat my elders.
With that on my mind today, I decided to look at what the Bible said about it and found this...
I am speaking outside of the PC lines at this point, but it is my belief that children would treat parents and other adults with a lot more respect if they were first of all taught to and second of all reprimanded when they didn't. I grew up saying yes ma'am and no sir. I knew that if I spoke inappropriately I was gonna get the belt. And I did! But guess what, I'm still here, and I know how to treat my elders.
With that on my mind today, I decided to look at what the Bible said about it and found this...
Proverbs 23:13-14
The Message (MSG)
13-14 Don't be afraid to correct your young ones;
a spanking won't kill them.
A good spanking, in fact, might save them
from something worse than death.
a spanking won't kill them.
A good spanking, in fact, might save them
from something worse than death.
Think about a lesson you learned as a child. Did it come with a spanking? I betcha it either did or the threat of one! I read the verses and love that second verse. A good spanking could very well save your child from something worse than death! I see children yelling at their parents, especially boys yelling at their mothers and it really bothers me. These children could (I'm not saying they will!) end up in some serious trouble later in life. I see these violent tendencies, and I wonder what kind of teenagers and men these little hollering kids will be. It makes me sad, but it also makes me angry and frustrated that these parents allow their children to behave and become this way.
That all being said. I look to the Bible as my source for how to be a parent and how to be a parent that is acceptable to Christ. If the Bible says a spanking won't kill, I suppose I should have to keep that in mind should my children ever need that. In the meantime, I will enjoy the time I have with my children and pray for those mothers who continue to struggle with discipline.
April 26, 2012
Solace in the stillness
I am so tired today. Was tired last night and tried to sleep but I just couldn't sleep very well. Lots of things going on in my head can't help that, but what can you do.
I thought about how I am so physically tired and realized I am probably as spiritually tired as well. I need to continually rest up spiritually so that I can be the Christian Christ wants me to be and witness to others who need His Word/guidance.
Spiritual exhaustion means your tired beyond your body. It is a sign that we have become separated from ourselves somewhere along the way and need to reconnect. No matter how tired I am, I have to be that good example (not perfect but good). But how do we refresh when we feel like we are empty?
A word that isn't heard or used often by mothers is stillness, that beautiful word! I picture a relaxed body, peaceful mind and absolute silence. Stillness tends to get lost in the busy world we live in today. But it can be found in the Word if you take the time to look for it.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus knew how important rest is, we can read that in the Bible. He understood how important rest is to our physical and mental health.
If it is okay for our Father to be tired and rest, then it is acceptable for us as well. Jesus wants us to actually rest in a special way, spiritually.
Challenges and problems in life can drain us physically, mentally and spiritually, leaving us exhausted and frustrated. Jesus understands this and wants us to come to Him for rest. There is no problem too big for Him. No matter how tired I am or you are, Jesus will give us the rest that refreshes us and help us to be ready to face whatever challenges we are going to face on a day to day basis.
I thought about how I am so physically tired and realized I am probably as spiritually tired as well. I need to continually rest up spiritually so that I can be the Christian Christ wants me to be and witness to others who need His Word/guidance.
A word that isn't heard or used often by mothers is stillness, that beautiful word! I picture a relaxed body, peaceful mind and absolute silence. Stillness tends to get lost in the busy world we live in today. But it can be found in the Word if you take the time to look for it.
Matthew 11:28-30
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus knew how important rest is, we can read that in the Bible. He understood how important rest is to our physical and mental health.
If it is okay for our Father to be tired and rest, then it is acceptable for us as well. Jesus wants us to actually rest in a special way, spiritually.
Challenges and problems in life can drain us physically, mentally and spiritually, leaving us exhausted and frustrated. Jesus understands this and wants us to come to Him for rest. There is no problem too big for Him. No matter how tired I am or you are, Jesus will give us the rest that refreshes us and help us to be ready to face whatever challenges we are going to face on a day to day basis.
April 25, 2012
Educating Society
Philippians 2:4
King James Version (KJV)
4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Look around your house. Is there something you have in your house that others do not? Is there something you have to do to your house that others don't? Do others understand those differences? Let's be more specific..
Do you have a nebulizer in your house? Do you have oxygen masks? Do you have special railings? Or are there foods that are not allowed in your house?
We have a friend with an asthmatic child that keeps a nebulizer in her living room. I have another friend with railings to help him get around because he struggles with balance issues. My home has food restrictions because of Owen's allergies.
But not every house has differences and those who live in them don't always understand restrictions and the need to keep medical equipment close by. The Bible tells us not to look at our own houses but those of others to help educate. I can look at my house all I want; I know every nook and cranny and every need within my house, but I don't know what someone else might need until I open my eyes and see what is in their home.
And I shouldn't expect others to just understand my restrictions without instructions prior to! I am learning this more and more as we deal with Owen's food allergies. There are people out there that just don't understand, and while I struggle with why they don't understand, I was forgetting to look at their house. I find that when I call on the Lord for understanding, He always leads me to the best place. Today, He led me to Phillipians, and He is so right!
I need to stop looking at myself (or in this situation Owen) and look at others. The idea of a small child having something permanent that could end their live is so very hard to fathom! Knowing it myself, doesn't make it easier to understand. But looking at others, I can see where it would be so hard to not really "get it." They don't live in my shoes and see what it could do, but it's not ignorance as much as it is lack of knowledge.
Yesterday, Owen went somewhere new. He didn't know the people but was excited to go. Without a thought, we let him go and made sure to inform them of his food restrictions and what would happen should he be exposed to his allergen: Peanuts. Well, we can't control everything. We couldn't control the fact that the adult in charge couldn't handle the situation, nor could we control that another child ate peanut butter and decided (smelling strongly of peanut butter) to rub his hands all through Owen's hair. Praise the Lord for His hands of safety that enveloped my sweet little boy last night and today, I Praise God for the opportunity to teach someone else. Rather than being angry at the situation (trust me I went through that at one point), I decided to put my best foot forward and make it a teachable moment to share with that location the severity of the food restrictions even when there isn't an actual attack.
My son didn't end up in the hospital, nor did he end up with hives or anything for that matter, but his heart was broken and his spirit was torn. It is important to understand the struggle that comes after something happens. The struggle with helping my child to understand that people do care. It's not that they don't care if he lives or dies. It's just a lack of understanding that he could live or die. I looked into my Owen's little house and saw fear. So today, I educating others on the aftermath of a situation that could lead to an allergic reaction and I encourage you to try to understand what others might be dealing with. Look in their houses and stand a moment in their shoes. It may just change your perspective.
Look around your house. Is there something you have in your house that others do not? Is there something you have to do to your house that others don't? Do others understand those differences? Let's be more specific..
Do you have a nebulizer in your house? Do you have oxygen masks? Do you have special railings? Or are there foods that are not allowed in your house?
We have a friend with an asthmatic child that keeps a nebulizer in her living room. I have another friend with railings to help him get around because he struggles with balance issues. My home has food restrictions because of Owen's allergies.
But not every house has differences and those who live in them don't always understand restrictions and the need to keep medical equipment close by. The Bible tells us not to look at our own houses but those of others to help educate. I can look at my house all I want; I know every nook and cranny and every need within my house, but I don't know what someone else might need until I open my eyes and see what is in their home.
And I shouldn't expect others to just understand my restrictions without instructions prior to! I am learning this more and more as we deal with Owen's food allergies. There are people out there that just don't understand, and while I struggle with why they don't understand, I was forgetting to look at their house. I find that when I call on the Lord for understanding, He always leads me to the best place. Today, He led me to Phillipians, and He is so right!
I need to stop looking at myself (or in this situation Owen) and look at others. The idea of a small child having something permanent that could end their live is so very hard to fathom! Knowing it myself, doesn't make it easier to understand. But looking at others, I can see where it would be so hard to not really "get it." They don't live in my shoes and see what it could do, but it's not ignorance as much as it is lack of knowledge.
Yesterday, Owen went somewhere new. He didn't know the people but was excited to go. Without a thought, we let him go and made sure to inform them of his food restrictions and what would happen should he be exposed to his allergen: Peanuts. Well, we can't control everything. We couldn't control the fact that the adult in charge couldn't handle the situation, nor could we control that another child ate peanut butter and decided (smelling strongly of peanut butter) to rub his hands all through Owen's hair. Praise the Lord for His hands of safety that enveloped my sweet little boy last night and today, I Praise God for the opportunity to teach someone else. Rather than being angry at the situation (trust me I went through that at one point), I decided to put my best foot forward and make it a teachable moment to share with that location the severity of the food restrictions even when there isn't an actual attack.
My son didn't end up in the hospital, nor did he end up with hives or anything for that matter, but his heart was broken and his spirit was torn. It is important to understand the struggle that comes after something happens. The struggle with helping my child to understand that people do care. It's not that they don't care if he lives or dies. It's just a lack of understanding that he could live or die. I looked into my Owen's little house and saw fear. So today, I educating others on the aftermath of a situation that could lead to an allergic reaction and I encourage you to try to understand what others might be dealing with. Look in their houses and stand a moment in their shoes. It may just change your perspective.
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