LOVING GOD
As I have been raising my children, one of the things that has been very important to me is that they know they are precious and that they are loved. As soon as they were born my husband and I began whispering "I love you! You're precious!" in their ears. As a result of that, as soon as they could talk, they began to express to us that they loved us as well. I can still hear Caleb at age 2, yelling from his crib, "I yuv you, you're peppie!" It was sooooo wonderful to start hearing that from them when they were little, and I love to hear those words even to this day! I still tell them several times a day that I love them and they are precious.
They need to hear it.
I need to hear it.
When my son was first learning to write he secretly got out several sheets of red construction paper, ripped them up into little pieces, and wrote "I love you" on each piece of paper. Then he hid them all over the house...In the freezer, in our drawers, under pillows. I still find little red pieces of paper! I want to save each one.
I don't think there are many parents out there that haven't covered their refrigerator with notes and pictures that their children have given them. There is just something about the expression of love from your own child!
I have always loved to cuddle with my kids. When my son was about two years old he went through a time when I referred to him as the "energizer bunny"! If you picked him up his legs kept moving! He never stopped! It was during those days that he didn't want to cuddle as much. When I would hold him he would squirm to get off my lap. I longed for him to sit in my lap for awhile.
God has often brought these memories to mind as I ask Him how I can love Him "better". These simple pictures of the parent/child relationship have helped me see a glimpse into the heart of God my Father. If I love and long for an expression of love from my children, how much more must He long for that from His children. It is comforting to know that I don't have to do or say anything complicated. Just like those simple words "I love you, you're precious" make my day, I can express those same simple words to God. I can write it on little pieces of paper and spread them all over the place!
...And I can make sure that when I am "sitting on His lap" that I am not in a hurry and squirming to get down!!!
When my son was first learning to write he secretly got out several sheets of red construction paper, ripped them up into little pieces, and wrote "I love you" on each piece of paper. Then he hid them all over the house...In the freezer, in our drawers, under pillows. I still find little red pieces of paper! I want to save each one.
I don't think there are many parents out there that haven't covered their refrigerator with notes and pictures that their children have given them. There is just something about the expression of love from your own child!
I have always loved to cuddle with my kids. When my son was about two years old he went through a time when I referred to him as the "energizer bunny"! If you picked him up his legs kept moving! He never stopped! It was during those days that he didn't want to cuddle as much. When I would hold him he would squirm to get off my lap. I longed for him to sit in my lap for awhile.
God has often brought these memories to mind as I ask Him how I can love Him "better". These simple pictures of the parent/child relationship have helped me see a glimpse into the heart of God my Father. If I love and long for an expression of love from my children, how much more must He long for that from His children. It is comforting to know that I don't have to do or say anything complicated. Just like those simple words "I love you, you're precious" make my day, I can express those same simple words to God. I can write it on little pieces of paper and spread them all over the place!
...And I can make sure that when I am "sitting on His lap" that I am not in a hurry and squirming to get down!!!
HOLY GROUND
I believe that every choice we make
to relinquish something from our lives
that has not given God glory
is a victory and should be
celebrated!
When it comes to choosing between God
When it comes to choosing between God
and the world
and what it has to offer,
there are no small choices,
only big, life changing, God glorifying ones!
We are in a battle.
A battle for our minds, our hearts,
and everything that Satan can get his filthy hands on!
...because He knows he cannot have the soul
of a true child of God.
But he'll take what he can get,
and we either let him do it...
Or we don't.
Tonight I am celebrating
Or we don't.
Tonight I am celebrating
Jannelle, Renee, Brianna, Caity,
Katie, Mary, Candice, Bethany...
Young women who want to choose God
and not the world.
Young women who want to learn
how to Glorify God.
Young women who want to take a stand.
This is a reason to celebrate!
And worship!
And praise our God
This is a reason to celebrate!
And worship!
And praise our God
who moves in hearts
and draws us to Himself.
No.
No.
There are no small steps.
There is nothing small
about choosing to turn your back
and walk away from what has hindered
your walk with God.
That is no small thing.
Walking away means there is victory!
It means God will be glorified!
This kind of walking away takes place on holy ground!
Yes. It is holy ground!
Would you like to join us in walking away...
and in celebrating!?
Walking away means there is victory!
It means God will be glorified!
This kind of walking away takes place on holy ground!
Yes. It is holy ground!
Would you like to join us in walking away...
and in celebrating!?
WHO ARE WE ACCOUNTABLE TO?
When I was in college I began to meet regularly with a Titus 2 woman. We met once a week and she would share with me what God was teaching her in her daily Bible times. After I got married, and even after I had my first child, we continued to meet once a week.
I can remember a few times that I didn't FEEL like meeting. Maybe I felt convicted about something in my life or I knew that I hadn't been faithful in a certain area. One night we were supposed to meet at my on campus apartment. She came and knocked on the door. I hid in a back room! I didn't want the accountability that came with meeting--so I hid! Can you believe that?
It is very popular to be involved in "accountability groups" or with "accountability partners". Although I know this can be helpful, we need to make sure that we are mindful of what is most important--ultimately our "accountability" is to God. I do not mean to minimize the value of having other believers in your life that encourage you in your walk with God. I think that is vital! I just think it is a good idea to evaluate what your purpose for meeting might be, and what exactly is being accomplished.
Are you learning to further rely on and look to Jesus or are you relying on and looking to others? In these types of relationships do the people you meet with constantly point you to the Word or their opinion? Are you only meeting with people who are your age or are you meeting with women who are older than you! (Titus 2) Do the people or person you meet with encourage you to think Biblically? Do they encourage you to be committed to your church body, honor your parents, live a holy life, be godly, be obedient and submissive?
When I met with my friend all those years ago, the main thing that characterized our time together was that I went away longing to be in the Word and excited to live it out in whatever season I happened to be in. When I was a college student I was challenged to be in the Word and live a holy life. After getting married I was excited about being a wife. I remember coming home so motivated to serve and love my husband! (Brian used to joke with me that maybe I should start meeting with my friend twice a week because I came home so excited to be a godly wife!) After I had children I would come home motivated to be a godly mom. I remember there were times I would come home from our meeting and I would go into my daughter's room and pick her up out of her crib so that I could just hold her! I came away from those times with my friend having been encouraged in the Word and having spent time with a woman who lived out her walk with God in a way that made me want to do the same. She never encouraged me to go to HER church, or do things HER way! She simply focused my attention on God and His Word. It was what SHE was focused on! I never felt dependant on her but always felt the need to be more dependant on God.
I love what Amy Carmichael says:
I can remember a few times that I didn't FEEL like meeting. Maybe I felt convicted about something in my life or I knew that I hadn't been faithful in a certain area. One night we were supposed to meet at my on campus apartment. She came and knocked on the door. I hid in a back room! I didn't want the accountability that came with meeting--so I hid! Can you believe that?
It is very popular to be involved in "accountability groups" or with "accountability partners". Although I know this can be helpful, we need to make sure that we are mindful of what is most important--ultimately our "accountability" is to God. I do not mean to minimize the value of having other believers in your life that encourage you in your walk with God. I think that is vital! I just think it is a good idea to evaluate what your purpose for meeting might be, and what exactly is being accomplished.
Are you learning to further rely on and look to Jesus or are you relying on and looking to others? In these types of relationships do the people you meet with constantly point you to the Word or their opinion? Are you only meeting with people who are your age or are you meeting with women who are older than you! (Titus 2) Do the people or person you meet with encourage you to think Biblically? Do they encourage you to be committed to your church body, honor your parents, live a holy life, be godly, be obedient and submissive?
When I met with my friend all those years ago, the main thing that characterized our time together was that I went away longing to be in the Word and excited to live it out in whatever season I happened to be in. When I was a college student I was challenged to be in the Word and live a holy life. After getting married I was excited about being a wife. I remember coming home so motivated to serve and love my husband! (Brian used to joke with me that maybe I should start meeting with my friend twice a week because I came home so excited to be a godly wife!) After I had children I would come home motivated to be a godly mom. I remember there were times I would come home from our meeting and I would go into my daughter's room and pick her up out of her crib so that I could just hold her! I came away from those times with my friend having been encouraged in the Word and having spent time with a woman who lived out her walk with God in a way that made me want to do the same. She never encouraged me to go to HER church, or do things HER way! She simply focused my attention on God and His Word. It was what SHE was focused on! I never felt dependant on her but always felt the need to be more dependant on God.
I love what Amy Carmichael says:
"God make us all His Jonathan. There is a great hunter abroad in the world. Like Saul who sought David every day, he seeks souls every day, never a day's respite, always the hunt is on. Although the words stand for ever, "but God delivered him not into his hand", yet sometimes souls tire of being hunted, and like David they are in a wilderness in a wood. Then is Jonathan's chance. BUT NOTICE WHAT HE DOES, HE DOES NOT SO COMFORT DAVID THAT HE BECOMES NECESSARY TO HIM. 'HE STRENGTHENED HIS HAND IN GOD.' (I SAMUEL 23:16) HE LEAVES HIS FRIEND STRONG IN GOD, RESTING IN GOD, SAFE IN GOD. HE DETACHES HIS DEAR DAVID FROM HIMSELF AND HE ATTACHES HIM TO HIS 'VERY PRESENT HELP'. THEN JONATHAN WENT TO HIS HOUSE, AND DAVID ABODE IN THE WOOD---WITH GOD!"
We can hide from a person! We can tell them what we think they want to hear. But there is nothing that we do, think, or say that is not seen by God! We are accountable to Him for our daily, minute by minute choices! He is the one who sees our heart of hearts...our deepest desires...our deepest thoughts! No group or person can do that.
I pray that I will follow God and His Word, become dependant on HIM, and that I will LEAVE MY FRIENDS STRONG IN GOD, RESTING IN GOD, SAFE IN GOD. THAT I WILL DETACH ALL WHO ARE DEAR TO ME FROM MYSELF AND ATTACH THEM TO MY 'VERY PRESENT HELP'!
I pray that I will follow God and His Word, become dependant on HIM, and that I will LEAVE MY FRIENDS STRONG IN GOD, RESTING IN GOD, SAFE IN GOD. THAT I WILL DETACH ALL WHO ARE DEAR TO ME FROM MYSELF AND ATTACH THEM TO MY 'VERY PRESENT HELP'!
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