On facebook I've joined the group "You know your from Eclectic if...". Eclectic is my small, one stop light town, that I grew up in! I loved it in so many ways, yet I was biting at the bit to get away from it for more than one reason. As I'm reading some of these things, I'm remembering so much of my childhood and high school days, just reading those things and it brings such a smile to my face. So much of my childhood I have blocked out, b/c it wasn't always a picture perfect family....in fact it was quite the opposite. I feel God has been so gracious to allow me to hold on to the good things from those times and the others....well, they are lost somewhere in God's hands so I don't have to hold on to them! So this bit that I am reading on facebook just makes me smile....about the sweet Coach Brown, who left this earth far earlier than anyone would have liked, and how everyone knows everyone's business, the pep rallies on fridays and hanging out in the parking lots. So much of that I sort of wish I could give my children, those seemed like pure and simple days. But the truth is....life isn't what it was back when I was young. God has put such a burden on my heart to protect my children and train them in His ways, and I'm going to go after this steadfastly.....yes, even on the hardest days!
So I'm going to rewind back to the magazine I referenced last night "Above Rubies" and add some more. The article that I am going to reference is called An Overflowing Land. I am going to give a lot of scriptures here and maybe share what they mean to my life! Joshua 1:9 says "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Isn't this great, He never leaves us....He doesn't just put it in our hearts and tell us what to do, but He actually goes with us every step of the way! Another thing said here is "God does not leave you to mother your children on your own. He is right beside you, backing you all the way. He is with you constantly and watches over the walls of your home. His eyes are always upon you in your land of motherhood, 'from beginning of the year even unto the end of the year'(Deut 11:12). You can call upon Him at any moment. He is your source of widsom and daily strength-and His resources never run out! You will be amazed at how you cope when you take your eyes off your problems and turn them upon the Lord! The psalmist proclaims, 'Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me' (Psalm 138:7). Often our difficulties don't go away, but God has promised to revive and refresh as we go through them!"
Another one......"Our land of motherhood should always be enlarging (children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren). It's interesting that Satan wants to minimize the literal land of Israel, or hopefully eradicate it from the earth. He knows if He can do that, He wipes out the Bible which is filled with prophecy for Israel. He also works to minimize the land of motherhood or diminish it altogether. He hates life and tries to stop it every way he can. But don't let your land be diminished-you belong to a large land." I've realized the lie that the enemy has been spreading in my head over the past 6 years.....oh you have to work to help support the family to do you part. My job, that God has made clear several times, is to be a mom and wife. My "job" is to train my children in the way of the Lord. Psalm 127:3-5 says "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." I want my arrows to be sharp in their knowledge and relationship with the Lord....most importantly their relationship!!
It tickles me pink...yes I just said that....when I hear my children say "thank you Lord". It's so cool when you go to the store, and God decides to give you a special kiss that day and you get a close parking spot! So I'll just quietly say "Thank you Lord." Well the kids have picked that up and they say it whenever we get any parking spot!! They do as I do!!
Jarrod and I had some announcements to make Sunday at church regarding the children's ministry. Jarrod does the talking b/c I don't like being in front of people on a microphone! While watching a slideshow from our fun water day, the Lord kept pressing on my heart to share, so I told him to hand me the mic!! I shared what I had witnessed in my children with the way they treated each other, and how it warmed my heart, b/c I knew that I was getting something right, b/c they were doing things that Jarrod and I do. Then other times I see them doing some not so good things, and it made me sad. Our children have us as their guide.....and what they see us do, they will do. If we dance before the Lord, they will dance; if we spend time in worship and prayer, they will; if we sit and watch tv all day, they will also. They mock us, so we need to make sure we realize that the training goes beyond our words. What's important to us is important to them!!
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