Showing posts with label christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christian. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Love....Actually
In honor of my husband's and my 13th wedding anniversary, I thought I'd write on the subject of love. At our wedding, one of the scripture readings the minister read was in 1 Corinthians. I think many Christian weddings these days have some sort of reference to this passage from the Bible during their ceremony. But recently, I read the whole chapter that these excerpts are taken from and I thought it shed a whole new light. Here it is: 1 Corinthians 13 (Revised Standard Version)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
This love that Paul is speaking of, I believe, is not only just a love shared by a husband and wife. This is a love that should be in all of our relationships. It's a love God gives us...unconditional. It's a love given to us not because of what we've done or the fact that we love Him. It's given to us for no specific reason at all.....for lack of a better explanation: just because. And the best part is, this kind of love...this unconditional "love never ends"....no matter what we do or say. Everything we do should be out of this kind of love for one another. This is especially hard when someone has hurt us deeply.
For some reason, it's so much easier to harbor that pain and resentment, build up a wall and never look back. The bad part about that is, most of the time that pain and resentment that built that wall comes from the filter of negativity and depression. You start to forget the good things about that person and let the looming dark cloud take over, overshadowing any and all positive memories. Years pass and either you believe your dark thoughts to be the truth or you forget why you were mad in the first place. But as this Biblical passage reminds us, "our knowledge is imperfect."
God wants us to let His light of love shine through us. We can't, however, do this when we've built up walls. Walls cast shadows, blocking the light. We've got to let those walls down. God will let you know when it's time for you to break it down and will help you do it ("when the perfect comes"). When you accept this journey, God will help you see the situation for what it truly was ("the imperfect will pass away"). It will give you a peace you never thought you were missing and that is when God's light will shine through you like never before. Is there a wall from the past or today that's blocking God's light in you?
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
This love that Paul is speaking of, I believe, is not only just a love shared by a husband and wife. This is a love that should be in all of our relationships. It's a love God gives us...unconditional. It's a love given to us not because of what we've done or the fact that we love Him. It's given to us for no specific reason at all.....for lack of a better explanation: just because. And the best part is, this kind of love...this unconditional "love never ends"....no matter what we do or say. Everything we do should be out of this kind of love for one another. This is especially hard when someone has hurt us deeply.
For some reason, it's so much easier to harbor that pain and resentment, build up a wall and never look back. The bad part about that is, most of the time that pain and resentment that built that wall comes from the filter of negativity and depression. You start to forget the good things about that person and let the looming dark cloud take over, overshadowing any and all positive memories. Years pass and either you believe your dark thoughts to be the truth or you forget why you were mad in the first place. But as this Biblical passage reminds us, "our knowledge is imperfect."
God wants us to let His light of love shine through us. We can't, however, do this when we've built up walls. Walls cast shadows, blocking the light. We've got to let those walls down. God will let you know when it's time for you to break it down and will help you do it ("when the perfect comes"). When you accept this journey, God will help you see the situation for what it truly was ("the imperfect will pass away"). It will give you a peace you never thought you were missing and that is when God's light will shine through you like never before. Is there a wall from the past or today that's blocking God's light in you?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Gardening
I was reading my devotional book for mothers this evening and the devotion for today inspired me to put it in my blog....well at least an excerpt. It ties really nicely into my previous posting with "planting the seeds of faith" in my children. Here it is:
"My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow."
1 Corinthians 3:6
"It's easy for us to get frustrated when, after diligently planting seeds of righteousness in our children and watering those seeds with prayer, we don't see green sprouts emerging through the dirt. It's easy to wonder where we went wrong. But we have to remember where our job ends and God's begins. He promises that, if we are faithful to sow seeds and provide regular watering, He will be faithful to bring increase.
-Renee Gray-Wilburn"
"My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow."
1 Corinthians 3:6
"It's easy for us to get frustrated when, after diligently planting seeds of righteousness in our children and watering those seeds with prayer, we don't see green sprouts emerging through the dirt. It's easy to wonder where we went wrong. But we have to remember where our job ends and God's begins. He promises that, if we are faithful to sow seeds and provide regular watering, He will be faithful to bring increase.
-Renee Gray-Wilburn"
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Greatest Gift
Some of my earliest childhood memories are of going to Wilson (an hour away) with my sisters and parents to visit my grandparents. My paternal grandfather passed away when I was 2 and my paternal grandmother lived with her youngest son. Many times during these visits, my sisters and I would make our way to my uncle's bedroom. He always had what seemed like the latest technology and so it was quite fun for us to have him show us his newest gadget.
He also had a microphone and tape recorder...something that looked like it belonged in a recording studio. He wrote and sang gospel music and recorded his songs himself. Many times during our visits he would set up the microphone and tape recorder and my sisters and I would have a good time recording ourselves.
There were several times during these visits that we talked about God, Jesus and heaven. I don't know what prompted me to ask him questions. Perhaps it was just simply that I felt comfortable with him. He always showed us lots of patience and I always appreciated how he shared his faith with me through answering my never ending (and sometimes hard) questions. Looking back, I realize that he was planting the seeds of what is now my faith today.
Over the years, my faith has come to be so important to me. This has never been more true than during my darkest times. When I didn't know what to do, which way to go or who to turn to for help, I turned to God. It was my faith that saw me through these hard times. It is my faith now that helps me look back on those low times and see the positive things...the ways I've grown, the lessons I learned, the blessings I was given even if it was but for a moment.
In January, 2008, I was given the opportunity to tell him that I am a Christian today because of him.....through his patient and loving way he shared his faith with me. I was about to let the opportunity to tell him this pass me by, as I am a shy person by nature. But something in me told me to say it....that he needed to hear it. Three months later, a year ago this very night, he passed away due to congestive heart failure.
Many times in raising my children I question whether what I'm doing with and for them is truly in their best interest or mine. I've been taking my children with me to church for going on 3 years now and I'll admit there are times that my children are dragging their feet. It is during these times that I feel discouraged as a mother....am I doing this for them or me? Then I think back to my story of my uncle and I realize that I am doing this for them AND me. For myself, I am nurturing the faith that I now have. For my children, I am planting the seeds of faith in them now. It's up to them to nurture them and allow it to grow in whatever way they are going to grow, if they grow at all. They will reap what I sow. As my children grow up there will be lots of things they will face, good and bad. I am giving them the spiritual tools they will need to see themselves through the storms of life that they will encounter.
I wanted to end this post with a poem. I don't know if it really had any personal connection with my uncle. I just vividly remember seeing this poem on a plaque on his wall in his room. As a child, it didn't mean much to me but through the years, I grown to love this poem. The poem is "Footprints:"
In Loving Memory
Marty Webster Pender
January 24, 1951 - April 6, 2008
He also had a microphone and tape recorder...something that looked like it belonged in a recording studio. He wrote and sang gospel music and recorded his songs himself. Many times during our visits he would set up the microphone and tape recorder and my sisters and I would have a good time recording ourselves.
There were several times during these visits that we talked about God, Jesus and heaven. I don't know what prompted me to ask him questions. Perhaps it was just simply that I felt comfortable with him. He always showed us lots of patience and I always appreciated how he shared his faith with me through answering my never ending (and sometimes hard) questions. Looking back, I realize that he was planting the seeds of what is now my faith today.
Over the years, my faith has come to be so important to me. This has never been more true than during my darkest times. When I didn't know what to do, which way to go or who to turn to for help, I turned to God. It was my faith that saw me through these hard times. It is my faith now that helps me look back on those low times and see the positive things...the ways I've grown, the lessons I learned, the blessings I was given even if it was but for a moment.
In January, 2008, I was given the opportunity to tell him that I am a Christian today because of him.....through his patient and loving way he shared his faith with me. I was about to let the opportunity to tell him this pass me by, as I am a shy person by nature. But something in me told me to say it....that he needed to hear it. Three months later, a year ago this very night, he passed away due to congestive heart failure.
Many times in raising my children I question whether what I'm doing with and for them is truly in their best interest or mine. I've been taking my children with me to church for going on 3 years now and I'll admit there are times that my children are dragging their feet. It is during these times that I feel discouraged as a mother....am I doing this for them or me? Then I think back to my story of my uncle and I realize that I am doing this for them AND me. For myself, I am nurturing the faith that I now have. For my children, I am planting the seeds of faith in them now. It's up to them to nurture them and allow it to grow in whatever way they are going to grow, if they grow at all. They will reap what I sow. As my children grow up there will be lots of things they will face, good and bad. I am giving them the spiritual tools they will need to see themselves through the storms of life that they will encounter.
I wanted to end this post with a poem. I don't know if it really had any personal connection with my uncle. I just vividly remember seeing this poem on a plaque on his wall in his room. As a child, it didn't mean much to me but through the years, I grown to love this poem. The poem is "Footprints:"
Footprints
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
Carolyn Carty, 1963
In Loving Memory
Marty Webster Pender
January 24, 1951 - April 6, 2008
Monday, March 16, 2009
Jump To Me
I drive a Ford F250 diesel truck. My original mode of transportation was a "Soccer Mom" van. This was of course before the gas prices sky-rocketed. Now that the cost of diesel is enormously expensive (compared to what it once was) and my work is much closer than my husband's I've been driving the gas guzzler (as I affectionately call it).
This truck is so huge! I literally have to get in completely to strap my younger 2 children in the truck. By the time I've gotten them in the truck and sit in the driver's seat, I'm much too tired to even start driving to wherever it is I needed to go. Perhaps I'm just out of shape. No, I blame the truck! Did I tell you it's huge?
When my young children get out of the truck, they've started playing this game with me. After they strap out, they say "I want to jump to you." Although this goes against every mother-protecting instinct I have for them, I indulge them and say with outstretched arms "Ok, jump to me." They spend another couple of seconds making sure I'm standing just right: arms outstretched the right length and whole body a certain distance away. Then when I'm in the perfect spot, they stretch out their arms, close their eyes, smile broadly and then jump to me with all of their might, never flinching. I admit to saying a quick prayer as they are making sure I'm where they want me to be prior to the jump, but each and every time I catch them.
Watching my children do this with such complete trust and faith in my catching abilities reminds me of how I think I should be and perhaps we all should be with God and our faith. Many times God says to us "Ok, jump to Me" and we hesitate or don't do it at all. May we trust God in the same way our children trust us. Stretch out your arms, close your eyes, smile broadly and jump with all of your might to our God who never fails to catch us.
This truck is so huge! I literally have to get in completely to strap my younger 2 children in the truck. By the time I've gotten them in the truck and sit in the driver's seat, I'm much too tired to even start driving to wherever it is I needed to go. Perhaps I'm just out of shape. No, I blame the truck! Did I tell you it's huge?
When my young children get out of the truck, they've started playing this game with me. After they strap out, they say "I want to jump to you." Although this goes against every mother-protecting instinct I have for them, I indulge them and say with outstretched arms "Ok, jump to me." They spend another couple of seconds making sure I'm standing just right: arms outstretched the right length and whole body a certain distance away. Then when I'm in the perfect spot, they stretch out their arms, close their eyes, smile broadly and then jump to me with all of their might, never flinching. I admit to saying a quick prayer as they are making sure I'm where they want me to be prior to the jump, but each and every time I catch them.
Watching my children do this with such complete trust and faith in my catching abilities reminds me of how I think I should be and perhaps we all should be with God and our faith. Many times God says to us "Ok, jump to Me" and we hesitate or don't do it at all. May we trust God in the same way our children trust us. Stretch out your arms, close your eyes, smile broadly and jump with all of your might to our God who never fails to catch us.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Great Balancing Act
I created this blog, I don't know how long ago. I decided I'd try out a blog when I had something to say. Well, it's been months and now, I finally have something I feel is worth sharing!
I read a Christian devotional book for Moms. Today's devotion inspired me to write in my blog. Here it is:
On the Back Burner
"God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you." 1 Peter 4:10
"I used to do oil painting, but I have put that on the back burner since I had children," my friend said with a sigh.
When you become a mother, bring all you are to it - bring your art and music, bring your love of nature and your favorite football team. You will need all of these things to build a happy, whole child.
"Sure," says the new mommy, "but, when? I barely have time to brush my teeth."
Well, a baby must sleep sometime. Keep a corner of the bedroom as "Mommy's space." An easel would fit there, or a few great books. A journal beside the baby's calendar will let you record how you are growing along with how she is growing. Designate Thursdays as sandwich night and use the saved cooking time to pursue your soul. Give the toddler a tiny paintbrush, or the teen a piece of sheet music and pursue creativity together.
Our children are not interruptions; they are traveling companions to share the richness of God's world with us.
-Karla Doyle
I can't begin to tell you how many things I have put on the back burner since becoming a Mom. The family scrapbook I started before I had children....let's see....I'm up to year 4 of that one. Not bad, you may think. Well, considering I've been married for going on 13 years and can't even begin to fill in the blanks with the milestones, you can see my frustration. I am half way through a scrapbook of a 2 week European vacation my husband and I took....in 1999. My first born.....I haven't even completed his first year's scrapbook and he's now 8. Don't even get me started about my other 2 children's scrapbooks. Luckily, I have the pictures, I just have to make the time to put them in their scrapbooks. I did get the chance to finish a frog shaped napping quilt for my then preschool age son. I was able to give it to him when he was 5 years old...much too old for naps. I started on my second son's Curious George quilt while I was pregnant with him. He's now 5 years old and I still haven't finished it. I do have the topper completed. I have bought a storybook pillow I plan to make for my 2 year old daughter. It's still in the packaging.
I don't know how some Moms do it. How do Moms have time to do the things they love while taking great care of their children? I used to think that any interests that I had needed to be put on the back burner in favor of my children's interests: swimming, soccer, baseball, scouts. I'll have time when they're older to do these things, I'd say to myself. Well, guess what? They are getting older and my back burner just keeps getting filled.
I mentioned to my husband (ok, probably more like complained) that I really don't have a space of my own. So, bless his heart, he took it upon himself to help me create a space of my own in the house. We got rid of the junk piling up (mostly out-of-date children's clothing) and he took down my old craft table from the attic and dusted it off. It's now in it's own space in our bedroom. Of course I have a humidifier on it. But I do also have picture frames on it...a reminder of yet another craft I've put on the back burner.
This devotion reminded me that my children need to grow up seeing their Mom as a person....with interests and passions for things outside of them. They need to grow up remembering how well-rounded I was and how fulfilling hobbies and other interests can be. Only then can they really learn to be complete, well-rounded people with interests they will be able to share with their children. Perhaps today's the day I start cleaning off my back burner....
I read a Christian devotional book for Moms. Today's devotion inspired me to write in my blog. Here it is:
On the Back Burner
"God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you." 1 Peter 4:10
"I used to do oil painting, but I have put that on the back burner since I had children," my friend said with a sigh.
When you become a mother, bring all you are to it - bring your art and music, bring your love of nature and your favorite football team. You will need all of these things to build a happy, whole child.
"Sure," says the new mommy, "but, when? I barely have time to brush my teeth."
Well, a baby must sleep sometime. Keep a corner of the bedroom as "Mommy's space." An easel would fit there, or a few great books. A journal beside the baby's calendar will let you record how you are growing along with how she is growing. Designate Thursdays as sandwich night and use the saved cooking time to pursue your soul. Give the toddler a tiny paintbrush, or the teen a piece of sheet music and pursue creativity together.
Our children are not interruptions; they are traveling companions to share the richness of God's world with us.
-Karla Doyle
I can't begin to tell you how many things I have put on the back burner since becoming a Mom. The family scrapbook I started before I had children....let's see....I'm up to year 4 of that one. Not bad, you may think. Well, considering I've been married for going on 13 years and can't even begin to fill in the blanks with the milestones, you can see my frustration. I am half way through a scrapbook of a 2 week European vacation my husband and I took....in 1999. My first born.....I haven't even completed his first year's scrapbook and he's now 8. Don't even get me started about my other 2 children's scrapbooks. Luckily, I have the pictures, I just have to make the time to put them in their scrapbooks. I did get the chance to finish a frog shaped napping quilt for my then preschool age son. I was able to give it to him when he was 5 years old...much too old for naps. I started on my second son's Curious George quilt while I was pregnant with him. He's now 5 years old and I still haven't finished it. I do have the topper completed. I have bought a storybook pillow I plan to make for my 2 year old daughter. It's still in the packaging.
I don't know how some Moms do it. How do Moms have time to do the things they love while taking great care of their children? I used to think that any interests that I had needed to be put on the back burner in favor of my children's interests: swimming, soccer, baseball, scouts. I'll have time when they're older to do these things, I'd say to myself. Well, guess what? They are getting older and my back burner just keeps getting filled.
I mentioned to my husband (ok, probably more like complained) that I really don't have a space of my own. So, bless his heart, he took it upon himself to help me create a space of my own in the house. We got rid of the junk piling up (mostly out-of-date children's clothing) and he took down my old craft table from the attic and dusted it off. It's now in it's own space in our bedroom. Of course I have a humidifier on it. But I do also have picture frames on it...a reminder of yet another craft I've put on the back burner.
This devotion reminded me that my children need to grow up seeing their Mom as a person....with interests and passions for things outside of them. They need to grow up remembering how well-rounded I was and how fulfilling hobbies and other interests can be. Only then can they really learn to be complete, well-rounded people with interests they will be able to share with their children. Perhaps today's the day I start cleaning off my back burner....
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