How annoying am I?

Yikes! Did I step on someone's toe????
It just struck me funny, that in chapter 11 of Luke, the very God who not only gave life to the priests, pharisees, scribes etc, and He was The one who create and gave them their "office". He saw these people of that office (standing/authority) and the same of many generations past, killing the prophets that He sent to guide them and speak wisdom to them, and yet they stood before Him boastful and arrogant, trying to trip Him up in His words.
Imagine this. He is all knowing! He stood before them, knowing their thoughts now and many generations ago. The history of their hypocrisy, pride and godlessness. Knowing that He will be soon a volunteer to their acts of violence and cruelty. It must of angered Him. God allowed them their standing and authority among their people and they abused it, thinking they were hiding their motives from the Son of God Himself.
When we look at our kids and they get sossy with us, prideful and arrogant, does it not boil up inside of us? We can quickly get angry at them but how much more merciful was and is God.
Reading Luke 11:37-54, at first I can hear the frustration in His voice but as I continued to listen to Him give the historical accounts of the prophets, I could hear the pain in His heart for those who loved, served and obeyed Him, yet who were killed by those who were sinning wickedly but that God was trying to reach out to because of His love for them. (not their sin)
Can you see this?
God over top, watching those who love Him desiring to serve Him so they risk and some loose their life by reaching out to those whom God is trying to gain back to Him.
God gave me an "office", a responsibility for young children whom He has lent me for a season and those of others while in Sunday School and by example of my life. I know that in my everyday tasks, although I have not killed anyone... yet... LOL (just kidding), I get swelled up with pride.
God is over top, watching me, who has been given an office over "our" children. Do I have the same compassion for them as they learn or even disobey, as God has with me? Does my heart feel the pain of the consequence of their unwise decisions? Does my heart desire to reach out to them even in their moments of frustration or rebellion? I can be so filled with pride at times, that compassion is far from me.
Oh how I want to have compassion for the loss and the wicked, even if it meant my life, but am I willing or just too proud?
Let's keep searching to be like HIM.

To be... or not to be...

I arrived from a women's conference a couple of weeks ago. It was such an encouragement! Since then, certain things that the Lord showed me has been a learning curve for me. One thing I prayed before I left was that He would not let me forget what He had shown me.

I wanted to share with you one of the things He has allowed me to remember because it has given me a new freedom.

Do you ever feel anoyed by all the things you have to do? Clean the house, make meals, wash the clothes, fold then iron them (my kids put them away), clean the house again, make your bed, vaccum, clean the house again, another meal etc. It seems like it never ends. Sometimes when I get consumed with those things, I get bitter that I'm the only one doing it, even if it is my "job". This thing that God has shown me, through the preacher who preached on the last evening. He said, that we should not be bitter with all that we do; we should consider what we do, a blessing to others.

Have you ever read a passage of scripture or heard the preacher say something over but THIS one time, something about it rings true. The Holy Spirit taught me something, I can do what I do to be a blessing instead of it being a burden.

The past few days have been extremely hot and humid. I've also been trying to do the things that I can't get to when we homeschool, so I've been really busy and it's been a burden at times! God is so good because He would, as soon as bitterness entered my heart, remind me of what Bro. Osteen said. I quickly told myself, do this (whatever it was) to be a blessing. Instantly my heart changed. Folding the clothes so my husband wouldn't have to search in the basket became a blessing I could give him. Washing the floor, again, was a blessing for my family, to be able to enjoy a clean floor. Washing the egg residue on the siding of our house (kids in the neighbourhood threw them on our house), a blessing for those walking behind our house to go to the city park. Picking up some toys from the livingroom floor to bless my kids who aren't old enough to endure such heat and were in the sprinkler.

I love doing things for others, like cooking a meal, making a dessert, sending a card or buying something special but somehow, doing my househod duties to BLESS my family, never crossed my mind. Funny enough, in return, I have been blessed. I have not had bitterness in my heart and I've even seen my love for my family has grown even more.

I encourage you, when you are discouraged and feeling the burden of our responsibilities, remember you have the opportunity to bless that person who will be touched or exposed by you doing that such thing. How would or did you feel if that person did it for you. Remember that blessing you would have, and give it to them instead. You will also get the blessing. The more you bless others with your giving of time and work, the more blessings you will receive.

Keep being a blessing.

Like mother like centurion... (?)

We, as mom's, think that other than the everyday chores, raising kids, meals and wife related responsibilities, we are not important. We could never be so wrong!

I read Luke chapter 7 and couldn't help but see the similarities between the centurion and us.

Definition (Wikipedia www.wikipedia.org ) of centurion: a professional officer of the Roman army. In comparison to a modern military organization, centurions covered a whole range of ranks. Ordinary century commanders would be equivalent to a modern army lieutenants or captains. The senior centurions leading cohorts would be equivalent to lieutenant colonels. Centurions often suffered heavy casualties in battle, generally fighting alongside the legionaries they commanded. They usually led from the front, occupying a position at the front right of the century formation. They led and inspired their men by example. They also sought to display the skill and courage that got them to their rank in the first place. It is for these reasons that they often suffered a disproportionate number of casualties.

In Luke 7:2-8 "And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick."

This centurion had power and the respect of those around him. These elders thought highly of him for his generosity even though he was not "one of them". He also had the respect of his servants for they also met Jesus on His way there but they delivered the message that the centurion did not consider himself to be worthy of Jesus being under his roof.

As highly regarded as he was, as respected as he was, he still recognized that Jesus was above him and that his dear servant could not be spared unless Jesus did something. This centurion had so much faith in Jesus that he asked Him to just speak a word and he knew his servant would be healed. Just like in the beginning, God spoke everything into existence.

How is this comparable to us as moms?

1.He also had someone in authority over him and was an authority over many

2.He also cared for those he was responsible

3.We are on the front line for our children having experienced life, in prayer, informing ourselves of an environment before leaving them in it.

4. We lead our children and inspire them to do right or evil, by our example.

5. We show them why we are who we are and that age alone makes us adults, but wisdom, discernment, humbleness and a hope in Christ is what makes you a respectable adult.

We need to recognized that we have a difficult task, one that we can't do on our own. We need to humble ourselves before God and offer our children to Him in prayer and our lives in sacrifice. Our relationship with God must be pure, sincere, honest and growing so He may heal them, preparing them for the tasks He has for each individual child we have.

Being a mom is a larger responsibility than we thought before we had our children, is it not? It is one that is life changing for both mother and child. We have the "power" to draw our children to Christ or away from Him. Oh how much I want my children to love and serve God with all their heart because of who God is. It seems too simple of a concept, to live our life in a way that pleases God, but it will ultimately lead others to Him, more importantly, our children.

Keep praying, leading, fighting the battle and caring for those you have authority over.