"Don’t Shoot the Messenger"

Proverbs 19:13,21:9 says "A foolish son is his father's ruin and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." Are you a quarrelsome wife? I know that I am sometimes. I guess women in biblical times weren't much different than we are. Their husbands drove them crazy sometimes too! Though we don't want to be this way sometimes life just gets tough and arguements break out. Have you ever wondered why your husband withdraws from you? Imagine how he must feel to be constantly criticized. He probably feels like he can't do anything right. Marriages have been broken for this very reason. Proverbs 31:10,12 speaks of "The Wife of Noble Character" "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Imagine what your marriage would be like if you took these timeless truths and applied them to your life? You just might be surprised at the outcome. Pray specifically each morning that God will help you to be a Proverbs 31 woman and watch your marriage flourish.

When others Succeed

Do you ever feel like the people around you to have it all? The best looking spouse, nice clothes, fancy cars and beautiful children. Never seeming to worry about anything their lives look perfect. They take family vacations all the time and money is spent freely. Have you ever felt envious? I know I have. If only I had money like them my life would be perfect. Do you wonder why God has blessed them with so much? Doesn't He know the kind of people they are? Outside of church their lives are anything but Godly. Everything they have is earned dishonestly. Cheating others is a way of life. Getting ahead is the name of the game. Only the strong survive is their motto. These are the things they teach their children. Though it doesn't seem like God sees what they are doing, He does. We may not understand why He sometimes lets the unrightous prosper and the rightous stuggle there is a reason for everything and His ways are higher than ours. We should not question Him just trust that He is in control. Don't let jealousy get the best of you.

Proverbs 23: "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord."

1Timothy 6:9,10 "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

My prayer this day is that each one of us will be content with what God has provided and be thankful for all that He has given.

"Don’t Shoot the Messenger"

Proverbs 19:13,21:9 says "A foolish son is his father's ruin and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." Are you a quarrelsome wife? I am sometimes. I guess women in biblical times weren't much different than we are. Their husbands drove them crazy too! Sometimes life just gets tough and arguements break out. Have you ever wondered why your husband withdraws from you? Imagine how he must feel. He probably feels like he can't do anything right. Marriages have been broken for this very reason. Proverbs 31:10,12 speaks of "The Wife of Noble Character" "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Imagine what your marriage would be like if you took these timeless truths and applied them to your life? You just might be surprised at the outcome. Pray specifically each morning that God will help you to be a Proverbs 31 woman and watch your marriage flourish.

Back Biting

As a youth leader of a large church and being involved in teenagers lives for the past 5 years including my own two teenage daughters I have quite a bit of experience in the daily stuggles of a teen. Their lives are completely wrapped up in what everyone else is doing,who is dating who and what others are talking about and of course they love to text one another non-stop! They seem consumed by relationships, some good and and others not so good. Communication is vital. Many of the students have some serious struggles and hurts in their lives. My job is to listen, not judge, and be a shoulder to cry on. I love each and everyone of them dearly as if they were my own. Lately, I have been disheartened by the back biting that has been going on among them. Normally these teens are extremely close to one another and when one is hurting the others all fall in to pray and give their best advise. I have never seen such an amazing group of kids. So, I cannot figure out for the life of me why they have been so cruel to each other. There are long time friendships being broken and alot of "he said, she said" going on. It feels like a brutal attack by the devil himself. Our church had been experiencing a great revival over the past few months and now all of a sudden it is unraveling at the seams. My prayer is that we as a group will once again pull together and pray ourselves through this. We are told by God to love one another no matter what and to not judge others, lest we be judged. Romans 2:1 "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things." If you have been hurt by someones harsh words tell them how you feel. Then try to remember the things you liked about them at the beginning of your friendship and give them another chance. Forgive them. Jesus would. Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

The Rat Race

It seems these days that everyone has an extremely busy schedule. The ceaseless obligations we feel like we have to fulfill to fit in with society. Whether a working mother or a stay at home mom the pressure to volunteer for a good cause or join the PTA is overwhelming. This generation has no idea what slowing down means. Multi-tasking is the norm. Caffeine is the major source of energy. Power drinks are replacing rest. The need to keep up is a constant battle. Leaving us exhausted and at the end of the day we have very little left to give to our own family. This creates tention in the home and makes life very hard. Our children seem unruely, disrespectful and downright disobedient. Our husbands tend to work more hours hoping to get away from all the chaos at home which in turn makes us even more unhappy. Leading to depression we feel like we can't win. Jesus tell us that there is hope. In Matthew 11:28-30 it says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." My prayer for all mothers is that you will take time to get in the Word. Tap into the source of life. God's promises are eternal and meant for you.

Why Fellowship?

I remember years ago when I first became a Christian I couldn't understand why our church had so many Sunday school classes and after service activities. It seemed like everyone wanted to stay at church. I would argue with my husband about attending all of these extra things. My excuse was that I didn't know anyone and besides none of them liked me anyway. An even bigger arguement I started every Sunday morning was why did we have to attend a Sunday school class? Wasn't an hour of church long enough? My husband grew up in the church and I didn't. Everything was new to me. I just didn't get it. However, I loved my husband and wanted to respect his wishes so I be-grudgingly went. As time went by God slowly changed me from the inside out. I began to grow in my Christian walk. I realized how thoughtless and disrespectful I had been to God and my husband. I started letting down some walls that I had built so high to keep everyone out. I actually enjoyed getting to know people and letting them get to know me. I took a genuine interest in the church. Before long I started to volunteer as a youth leader. I was comfortable around the teens seeing as I have two of my own. I loved going to church and couldn't believe that I had ever been so blind and selfish. I needed these people and this fellowship as much as they needed me. Now days if the church doors are open my family and I are there looking to serve joyfully. Fellowship is what God expects of us. We cannot be fully alive in Christ without embracing others. My prayer is that each and everyone of you who feel like I once felt to see church for what it really is, a place where God's people come together for His glory not our own. Fellowship with other believers is a gift. Accept the gift with a joyful heart you could very well end up like me. In love with Jesus and your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Romans 12:4,5 says "So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." and Romans 12:10,13 " Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

Loss of a Loved One

Recently I lost a dear friend of mine to cancer. She left behind a loving husband and a six year old little boy. He was her only child and the love of her life. It just didn't seem fair. Why would God allow such a thing to happen? Her death rocked her closest friends and family to the core. She knew Jesus and looked forward to her home in Heaven although leaving those behind is what kept her fighting so long. She was an amazing lady and had such a zest for life that was contagious. You couldn't be around her without laughing until your sides hurt. We all looked forward to her parties which she looked for any excuse to have one. Many late nights were spent at her house just celebrating life. Our boys were great friends and played together often. It is always hard to lose a loved one and her death seemed so unfair. Many of us questioned God's decision in taking her away from us. At her funeral something was said that really hit a cord with me. "God never picks His fruit out of season." Though we can't see the plans He has for our lives we must remember to live life to the fullest and love while there is still time. Psalm 116:15 says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Allow this truth to bring you comfort during the death of a loved one.

Grouchy Much?

This morning I woke to three bickering children who couldn't agree on breakfast. One wanted pancakes and the other two wanted eggs and bacon I wanted them to eat cereal which would have been easier. Running short on time and having to drive to three different schools. My patience was wearing thin. When we finally made it to the car I realized that I hadn't packed my son's lunch. I asked him if he would just buy it today and he started to cry. My girls started yelling at him to be quiet which in turn made him cry even harder. That was the straw that broke the camel's back! I yelled really loud to just shut-up! My husband and I rarely say that and they are forbidden to say it to each other. The car became deathly silent as I headed out the driveway. About half way to the first school my middle child said "Mom, you tell us not to say that. Why did you say it? Ouch! She was right. I had been very rude and hateful to them all morning. I was extremely grouchy. I didn't sleep well the night before and I could hardly get out of bed. It wasn't their fault. I shouldn't have taken it out on them. Ephesians 4:2 says "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." I was anything but patient and I surely wasn't acting in love or bearing with my children. My prayer this day is that all of us mom's think before we react. I know how hard it is to be a mother and our children seem to try us more than anyone else. If we pray before getting out of bed each morning for God to give us patience He promises He will. Let us act in love in everything we do no matter what the situation.

God vs. Riches

Have you ever thought about what is most important to you? Do you think getting ahead financially will make you happy? Are you always comparing yourself to friends and neighbors? Are your worried about the kind of car you drive, the house you live in and the clothes you wear? Do you feel less a person because you don't have the finest of things? Many people including myself feel the same way at times. 1Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root for all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Society tells us that we are nobody if we don't have fancy things. Even our children feel the pressure amoung their peers to have the best stuff. In Ecclesiastes 5:10 Solomon says "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. Nothing has changed throughout history. Money always meant privelged. Matthew 6:19,20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Of course we all need money to live on and support our families. God just wants us to use our money wisely and not to make it the center focus of our life.

Pray each day that God will help you to be a good steward of all He has provided.

Let go of the Nut

In some countries monkey's are considered a delicacy. Sometimes they are captured by placing a nut inside of a large jar with a small opening just large enough for the monkey to stick his hand in but not large enough to pull his hand and the nut out. All he has to do is let go of the nut and his hand will come right out. But he will not let go. Once they are stuck someone comes and kills them. Because of their determination not to let go they loose their life. Have you ever held on to something so tightly and by your refusal to let go caused yourself pain and suffering? I sure have. Letting go is a hard thing to do. God tells us that we are to cast our cares upon Him. For some reason this sounds easier than it is.