having answers {day 13}

For nearly 2 weeks I have posted each day of things the Lord has shown me either from personal Bible reading to in the simple day-to-day of being at home with my children.
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Today, I have read several familiar passages {as was in my scheduled reading} and 1 of my usual “daily devotionals” and there has not been one particular thought or lesson that has made itself shareable. Several previous posts have been brought to mind though.  {:) -ever learning:

[being a more faithful witness of His Love] ~ [personal responsibility] ~ [how I can have strength] ~ [seeing my own faults in my children’s needs] ~ [learning to live as His child from my own children] ~ to name a few}

Often the Lord shows me things that simply are not meant for me to share with the world, because my desire for this blog is to not be divisive. I do realize there are some who do not agree with 100% of what I share, but my prayer is that nothing I write can be taken and turned on the Lord to say: Look, she claims to be following Jesus and yet she is constantly having other Christians criticize or rebuke her for this or that. That makes my testimony of no effect for God’s glory.

Some things the Lord shows me personally are quite controversial, such as with dress standards or music our family will listen to or even how I plan to vote…I have personal, God-directed, husband-approving {yes, that is important to me!}, philosophies and opinions about all of those areas.

And there are blogs out there where the blogger’s simple desire to to share everything… and that’s fine!

But that is not my blog’s purpose. I strive to only speak of how God is changing my own heart.

Some posts I hesitate to publish because I am uncertain of the reaction, and I must be sensitive to my family’s place of influence in our church. I do not want to come across as pointing a finger at anyone. The “followers” number often fluctuates and I wonder… was it something I wrote or did they just really not understand what this blog was about when they first started following? [I don’t actually write to grow a “following,” but I do notice those things.] Most of my posts are first read by my husband. A few posts have been read by close, Godly friends before I hit “publish.”

One verse in my reading today that perhaps prompted these thoughts was in Proverbs 13:10- Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised there is wisdom.

While I wish to speak only truth, and I strive to do it in love, I also wish to do so with a visible humility so as to avoid contention due to my personage.

My heart’s desire is to not come across as someone who gushes that she has found all the answers because even though the principles I do find and share come from Scripture, I will never have ALL the answers [and neither will you 🙂 ].
And aside from salvation, there is much of our life as Christians that is simply to be governed by the two great commands Jesus shared in Matthew. I wrote a little about that on {day 1}. But I do praise the Lord that I know where to FIND the answer to anything I need.I suppose that is it for today. I was still... the Lord showed me things I have already written about that need more attention in my own life.

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And He reminded me of my need to be peaceable and show humility in all things I write.
 

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established thoughts {day 16}

Some days, I just feel kinda lost. I don’t know how to get a certain principle across to my children, or I am unsure how to respond to something unkind a supposed friend said.

And some days, I just feel like any good I try to do means nothing.

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And then I read encouraging words from God’s Word:

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

Each day I have the opportunity and privilege to intentionally commit my day and all its works unto the Lord– only then can it really have any meaning anyway.

And when I do this {you see, I don’t first thing every day… hence those lost thoughts that happen}, the Lord establishes my thoughts for me. 

He directs my mind to think the way I need to.

He gives me wisdom to instruct my children with the proper attitude and the appropriate words.

He gives me the strength to be hurt and yet forgive without being asked for it.

He gives me the discretion to understand that, while my “good deeds” are filthy rags, when I ask Him to do the works through me… His goodness is mine. And I can rejoice in that!

I am not well today. I had to cancel plans with a dear lady… and that made me sad. But my thoughts can still be right and good when I commit the works I am able to accomplish today to Him.

 

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{learning} how to fall

{learning} how to fall

We read this story in our devotion book the other evening: {I will paraphrase some of it}

Little Sammy had to wear leg braces because he had polio. He fell often but still wanted to attend school. One day he fell down the steps and his teacher rushed over to see if he was ok.

“Sammy, are you hurt?”

Sammy SMILED up at her and said: 

“No, I’ve learned HOW TO FALL.”

As people saved by grace, we need to learn how to fall.

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First. We must realize that we WILL fall.

There is sin in this world, still residing in our hearts. Falling is inevitable.

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Second. No one ever falls all-by-himself.

There are consequences. If I am a child of God, His chastisement will remind me; and more than likely, there will be at least 1 human who notices also.

Our actions affect other people.

BUT there is grace for every time.

And I must learn that it is not the fall that will destroy me. It is how I handle it. I must allow God to work in my life.

God can use any fall to bring Him glory if we are seeking His face- searching for Him.

And that is learning how to fall.

Always into His waiting arms of grace, picking us up, helping us make it right, strengthening us to apologize, supporting us, allowing us another opportunity to make it right, giving us grace to learn through the consequences.

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