Tuesday's Tool - Truth Proof

Recently we had an exterminator check our home for pests - specifically termites. After a thorough search, we learned that we were proud owners of some termite nests! A few weeks later, the exterminator paid another visit to our house.  But this time he was armed with a shovel and some bug killer.  Over the next two hours, he diligently dug a small trench around the perimeter of our home, put in pesticides, and then filled the trench back up.  Afterwards, he assured me that our home was officially bug proofed...for the next year atleast!

I started thinking about what we proof our lives against.  We disease proof our bodies by eating good nutrition, taking vitamins and exercising.  We baby proof our homes by putting in baby gates and outlet covers.  But what about the importance of Truth proofing our minds and hearts.  I can't tell you the number of times my lack of knowing God's Truth has hindered me from handling a situation the way He would want me to handle it. Jeremiah 17:9 says, ""The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?"  And then there are those times when I do know what His Word says, and in obedience and trust I follow God. By His grace, I am able to successfully navigate difficult situations because God's Word always leads us in the right direction.

So how do we Truth proof our hearts and minds?
1.  Scripture memory is vital. Psalm 119:11 says, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you."  Learning what the Bible says and 'taking it to heart' is the beginning of Truth Proofing our hearts. The more Bible we get into our hearts, the more Truth we know to steer us away from sin and give us direction. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Hiding God's Word in our hearts puts a guard around our hearts. 
2. Taking our thoughts captive is key.  Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." In 2 Corinthians, Paul discusses taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  By not allowing our minds to "go to those dark places" (and this is especially difficult when we are hormonal!!!) and keeping our thoughts focused on the things of God, we are Truth proofing our minds!

So that's the tool for the week!  Find a few Bible verses and Truth Proof away!!!

Breaking Away From 'Love' For the Week....

Ever since we've had Eli (10 months ago), we have all been adjusting to the demands of the baby. The kids have done well, but the fact is, my time has seemed to get shorter and the laundry has gotten larger. Many days they beg me to play with them and because of pure exhaustion, home school, housework, more housework and the caring of a baby, my time with them is very spread thin. So I have been making great attempts to sit down and play with my precious children, even if the housework gets neglected or the dinner is nothing more than PB&J's.  And that's why there is no tool on love this week. Instead of preparing to write the blog, I sat down and learned how to play chess with my oldest daughter (really fun by the way!). Here are some pics of the kids from Easter that I've been meaning to post...

Before the egg hunt...

                                                 

Ellie having a blast hunting!

Andrew's 1st bucket...



Andrew's 2nd "bucket"

Ellie is soooo happy with her finds!

Sarah is grabbing the last few eggs. No competitive nature in her at all....

Eli was 'done' when we got to the egg hunt. He was ready to go home and take a nap!

A content baby on Daddy's shoulders!

Bailey, Andrew and Ellie

Tuesday's Tool - The Is Nots and Does Nots of Love...Jealousy

     Today we will begin looking at what love is not.  The description of what love is not is sandwiched in between what love is...(yes I did just end in a preposition for all you English majors). So why would Paul write what love is not in his next 8 descriptions of agape love? Just as we look at synonyms and antonyms when we are trying to get a bigger picture of the definition of a word, Paul is giving the antonyms of love to give us a rounded idea.
     I want you to notice one thing about the next 8 descriptions of love - they can all be traced to selfishness and pride in our hearts.
     The first 'is not'... jealous. Love is not jealous. Other versions use the word envious. Covet is another word that comes to mind. What are we desiring in others that we don't have? Is it your friend's nice home? Your brother's new car? A co-workers job status? I'm being really surface here. How about when someone else's child receives an award that yours doesn't receive? Or when your husband dedicates his time to a ball game, but not to a date? Am I stepping on toes here? Mine sure are hurting! The bottom line is that our envy and jealousy reflects our lack of contentment with God. It's the "grass must be greener on the other side" syndrome. And if we fan the flames of that fire, our coveting behavior blocks our ability to show love to others. It builds a big wall that we can't get over. So how do we get past it? By admitting and confessing to God that we aren't content with where He has us in our life. Psalm 84:11 says "No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Friends, this is the truth that we put in place of that confessed jealousy. When we put this verse into action, we are resting in the knowing that if something was good for us, God would give it to us. And if it isn't in our lives, then it isn't what's best for us.
     So this week, let's ask God to reveal areas of jealousy. Once you see it, confess it and trust that God gives you only what is best for YOU! Then walk forward with the freedom to love your neighbor, all the while rejoicing with her over that blessing that God is giving her!

Tuesday's Tool - Love Is Kind

As we continue in our word study of 1 Corinthians 13, we see the description of love as kind.  The word kind means sympathetic, gentle and compassionate (Webster's New Dictionary). And when we look at the gospels, we see Jesus many times showing love through kind, gentle ways. He heals the sick, the lame, the blind. Feeds the hungry. Gently calls little children to sit in his lap. He continually shows people love through His kindness toward them.

My best friend Sarah is one of the most kind people that I know. She does an excellent job at showing her husband and children love through a kind, gentle and compassionate spirit. Everytime I hear her speak to her children - even when she is disciplining them - kindness resonates through her voice. My mother-in-law, Johanna, is the same. My kids know Grandma as a kind, gentle, loving woman. Why? Because she tailor makes her time with them so that they feel special and loved. She snuggles with them, cooks their favorite meals, and gives them her complete attention.

So what about you? I admit that as a mom of four, I don't show kindness as frequently as I should! My kindness tank runs out pretty quickly if I'm not focused on Christ. Suddenly I find myself responding to my family with harsh words. I have to back up and reevaluate my heart condition, asking God to help me love with kindness and not a mean spirit!

So precious friends, let's purpose in our minds and hearts to love the people around us with a kind, gentle spirit. Pray that God will open doors for you to shine His light through the kindness that you show the people closest to you and the total stranger standing next to you in the grocery store line!

Happy Resurrection Day!

This past week a friend of mine gave my family those neat Resurrection Eggs that tell the story of Jesus. So on Good Friday I sat down with my kids and told them the story leading up to the death of Jesus, cracking open 11 of the 12 eggs. My 2 older children were tuned into the story and very curious about the contents of each egg, but my 3 year old was distracted with some toys sitting nearby.  And then I came to the very last egg.  I told the kids that what was inside the last egg was the EXACT thing that was in the tomb on the third day. All three kids quickly gave me their full attention and it was very quiet in the room. I continued to stress how the contents of this very last egg was exactly what was in that tomb. My 8 year old was almost yelling for me to open it - she couldn't wait to see what was inside!

Then I opened it.

And it was empty.

Sarah said "There's nothing inside Mommy." "Yes I know," I said. "And that's what was inside the tomb on the third day - nothing. It was empty!"

They thought it was pretty cool that the egg held only the surprise of the same emptiness that the tomb held! I can't imagine the surprise of the women at the tomb, the disciples, or the 500 people that Jesus revealed himself too! He had risen!
So today I praise God for a risen Saviour and Lord and a very empty tomb! That emptiness represents a deal sealed on our sin debt being paid once and for all.

The Purpose of the Cross

This past Saturday my husband built a 16 foot long, 8 foot wide cross for our church Easter program. So I left the house Saturday morning before he started building it, and when I got home a couple hours later, it was completed. It had to be big enough for a man to be put up on it. And it was massive. It extended from the front of Bryan's truck to about 3 feet off the back of his truck bed. I drove up into our driveway and was captivated by the size of it. And then I asked him how he got it up onto his truck without help. "It was a major undertaking" he told me.


We stood there thinking about the cross that Jesus carried... for us. Imagine: Jesus had been beaten with a cat of nine tails, a whip with pieces of glass and metal shards tied to the ends. His body was literally missing flesh. A crown of thorns was mashed into his scalp and a robe was placed on his bleeding body. Then began the walk down the Via Dolorosa carrying his massive cross. The weight of the heavy wood bearing down on his bleeding back. Splinters adding insult to injury. The side of the cross hammering the crown of thorns even deeper into his head. People spitting on Him. Jesus, so exhausted, is unable to carry the load. So a man is pulled from the crowd to help carry the cross...

Precious Jesus, God in the flesh. At any moment he could have said "no more."  But He didn't.  He continued up the hill and let the soldiers nail him to the cross. Soldiers gambling for his garments. The crowd below yelling "crucify him" and a wooden sign above him (that stated KING OF THE JEWS), mocking him.

Jesus said in John 10:17“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Jesus, a perfect man, never knowing sin until our sin was placed on Him on the cross, made the choice to lay down His life for us 2,000 years ago. He chose to take our sin ... and pay the debt payment by His death. No one took it from Him. Not Herod, not Pilate, not the religious leaders, not the soldiers who crucified Him, and not us - the world. He gave His life up willingly so that we could have freedom from our sin.

So precious friends, Jesus died for you! Have you recognized that you are a sinner? If you know you are a sinner, then you are accountable for your sin. But here's the thing - your sin debt is too great for you to ever repay the price. And ultimately you (and me) derserve eternal death (yes I mean Hell) for our sin. BUT the good news is that Jesus HAS PAID YOUR DEBT! And all you have to do is ask for forgiveness of your sin and tell Him that you want Him to be Lord of your life. It's that simple. The Bible says that if you "Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved" (1 John 1:9).

He loves you and me with dying love.

Growing in Godliness

My precious and very inspired-by-God sister in Christ has recently written a Bible study called Knowing God Through His Names.  Check out her blog site www.growingodliness.com/.