Girls To Grow

Nurturing moms in their walk with God

5 Things to Remember in a Season of Waiting

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Who likes to wait? No one I know.

It’s something we have to do nearly every day. Wait in line at the store, sit in traffic, wait for a package to arrive, wait to get the results of a test, wait for a table at a restaurant, or wait on hold on the phone (that may be the worst!)

When we have to wait it means staying right where we are. We can’t get on to the next thing. All action is stalled and it can seem like a big waste of time.

And sometimes in our lives we hit a season of waiting. We’re in an in-between period or we can’t move ahead for some reason. Maybe we’re anticipating or expecting something to happen, but we don’t know when – or maybe if – it will.

Do you remember specific seasons of waiting in your life? My most memorable waiting season was when we were trying to have children. It took nearly two years to get pregnant with our first daughter, Angel, who was stillborn, then another two years for our now 19-year-old daughter.

I’m reminded of several well-known Bible characters who endured a season of waiting. Abraham and Sarah waited many years for Isaac to be born, faithfully believing God’s promise even as they grew old. What about the two years Joseph spent in prison waiting and hoping that the butler would mention him to Pharaoh? Or David who was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel years before he actually gained the throne?

God has much to teach us in our waiting seasons. As we learn those lessons, here are a few things we can remember.

None of us like to wait. Yet some of God's richest blessings are on the other side of a season of waiting.

1. We are strengthened as we wait on the Lord.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

The promised strength and the mounting up with wings and the running come after the waiting. We like to focus on that last part, but the waiting comes first. With God, time spent waiting is not wasted, but is preparing us for what’s ahead.

2. Learning to wait can be part of God’s good plan for us.

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. ~Lamentations 3:25-26

Don’t we seek Him more in the waiting seasons? When we feel like we’re in a good place in life and we know where we’re headed, we can tend to rely on ourselves for what we need. If God’s allowed us to enter a season of waiting, we can know it’s part of His plan and seek to learn the lessons He has for us there.

3. We wait for the Lord because we need His help and guidance.

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. ~Psalm 33:20

Have you ever plunged ahead and done what you thought was right instead of waiting for that peace in your soul before you moved forward? That’s one way to learn about waiting since the results usually aren’t good! We can only accomplish His purposes as we rest in His timing and recognize that we need His help.

4. While we wait, we can find hope in His Word.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. ~Psalm 130:5

This happened to me while I was putting this post together!! Reading Bible verses that talk about waiting on the Lord helped me to see the value in those seasons. We know that going to God’s Word will bring encouragement and wisdom. Let’s memorize and meditate on Scripture that points our hearts and minds to His promises.

5. Waiting on God will ultimately bring Him glory.

I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. ~Psalm 52:9

How exciting it is when we can look back over our lives and see how waiting on God paid off. Often we can see how God moved at just the right time and in a way that can’t be explained except for Him. We see these things more clearly once we’ve come through a waiting season, but it can still be hard to remember them when the next waiting season comes along!

Here’s one final bit of encouragement, should you be in the midst of a waiting season today.

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. ~Psalm 40:1-3

The new song?? That comes after the waiting, after the horrible pit and the miry clay. Nobody wants to sign up for those, but God knows how it ends. We all want the new song, but it only comes after the waiting. So as we wait for our new song, may God give us the grace and peace we need to wait on Him!

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10 Things to Pray for When You’re Seeking God’s Guidance

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Are you a quick decision maker? As a rule, I’m not.

We recently bought new furniture for our living room, which was a whole decision-making process on its own. Now I’m updating some of the accessories, like lamps and curtains and pillows. So I’ll come home with, for example, a new lampshade. I’ll put it on the lamp and let it sit there for a few days while I decide if I like how it looks with everything else in the room. The same thing happens with the curtains. I have faith that at some point, it will all come together, but it may take a while!

Those decisions are relatively unimportant in the overall scheme of life. But we often have to make decisions with real, long-lasting consequences. They could involve changing jobs or careers, parenting decisions, moving to a different area of the country, or setting boundaries in a difficult relationship. And while those might all be “big” decisions, there are plenty of smaller decisions we make every day.

We need direction in so many areas. Because we want God to lead us, we go to Him in prayer. As we do that, here are ten things we can pray for as we seek His guidance in any decision.

Here are ten Bible verses we can pray as we seek God's guidance in our decision making.

1. A clear path.

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. ~Psalm 5:8

Lord, show me how to live rightly before you. Make my way plain and my path clear. Help me to easily discern what I should do, and don’t let me lose my way. Remove hindrances that would distract me from the way I should go.

2. To know the next right step.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. ~Psalm 37:23-24

Lord, direct and establish my steps so that I don’t stumble. Guide me as I take each step, especially when I don’t know exactly where the road will lead. Arrange circumstances to help me make the right choice. When I go the wrong way, thank you that you stay right there with me, and bring me back on track. Thank you that my failures aren’t permanent. I pray that you would delight in my way and find pleasure in my obedience.

3. God’s purpose to be accomplished.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28

Dear God, I am confident that everything that happens in my life works together for my good as I’m following you. You have a purpose and a plan for my life that I can’t always see and understand. Help me to simply trust you.

4. To recognize that God’s plan is good.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. ~Psalm 84:11

God, here in your Word you promise that if I walk honestly before you then you won’t withhold from me anything that is good for me. Show me where I’m falling short. Then let me embrace all that you send as good for me. May I realize that what I don’t have isn’t your best for me right now.

5. Wisdom.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ~James 1:5

Father, give me wisdom as I seek your guidance. I know my own wisdom is not sufficient. Thank you that you don’t scold me for lacking wisdom, but you offer yours to me in abundance. The gift of wisdom is a promise from you, Lord, and I believe that you will give it to me.

6. Be faithful to God’s Word.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. ~Psalm 25:4-5

Lord, give me a heart that is willing to be led and taught by you. May decisions I make be based on the truth of your Word. You will never lead me away from that.

7. Holy Spirit leading.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ~John 16:13

As a Christian, I know that your Holy Spirit lives inside me. May I be sensitive to His leading as I open your Word and as I pray. Help me to be still and listen to how He may be leading me.

8. Discernment.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. ~Philippians 1:9-10

Dear Lord, give me discernment. As I gather information, point me in the right direction. Help me make the best choice, not just settle for what’s right in front of me. Reveal to me weaknesses in my thinking that could lead me away from what you would have me to do.

9. God’s timing.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. ~Psalm 27:14

May I wait on you and not run ahead. Your timing is always best. Give me courage and strengthen me as I wait. Help me know when it’s time to take action.

10. God’s peace.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

God, I’m bringing this need for guidance to you in prayer. Thank you that I can trust you to guide me rightly. I leave this decision in your hands and claim the peace you’ve promised in this verse. Keep my heart from being anxious and my mind from conjuring up worst-case scenarios. I trust you to guide me. Thank you for your peace and that I can rest in what you’re going to do.

May God guide each one of us as we seek His leadership in making our decisions!

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7 Life Principles from Proverbs to Teach Our Children

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We’re one month into our youngest daughter’s senior year of high school, and the countdown is on. Not literally, because I’m not ready to actually dwell on that yet! But in the back of my mind, I know that we’re now looking at months – not years – before she steps out on her own.

As parents, we have a lot we want to teach our children in the eighteen or so years while they live in our homes. There are some practical skills that will come in real handy for them – like brushing their teeth, doing laundry, and driving a car. But there are also character traits we want them to develop as they mature.

Teaching our children truth from the Bible is much more valuable than just giving our opinion or sharing our life experiences, though those can be helpful. When our children are young, we can introduce principles very simply, ideally in the form of a story. Isaiah 28:9-10 talks about teaching “precept upon precept…line upon line…here a little, and there a little.” As they become teenagers, we can move into deeper conversations.

I recently went through Proverbs and found seven principles that our children can benefit from. There are many more in this particular book of the Bible, but these are a good place to start.

Here's wisdom from Proverbs to help our children develop character traits that will benefit them throughout their lives.

1. You need to guard your heart.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” ~4:23

We have to be proactive in setting a guard. In other words, be on the lookout for things that would turn you away from following God. To me this especially means guarding your thought life. Protect it from sinful influences. This could help you explain to your child why your family doesn’t watch certain movies, read particular books, or listen to some styles of music. What we think about comes out in our words and actions.

I pray this verse daily for one of our daughters, that she will diligently guard her heart. Negative emotions like fear, doubt, or a lack of confidence can also cause infiltrate our hearts and cause us to make poor decisions.

2. Sin makes you a slave.

“His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” ~5:22

We think freedom comes when we get to choose whatever we want to do. Let’s help our children understand that when we choose sin, it eventually makes you do whatever it wants you to.

Too often we think we can commit a sin once or twice, and then walk away from it, but that’s rarely the case. As Christians, we can get the victory, but it takes God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Laziness makes you poor.

“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” ~6:9-11

Here are the basics. Work hard. Be responsible. Get rich quick schemes don’t work. Let me just add that as parents, one of the qualities we most value in a potential spouse for our children is someone who knows the value of hard work.

4. Don’t talk too much.

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” ~10:19

We’ve all had times when we said something we immediately wished we could take back. That goes back to the old adage of “think before you speak!” And no one likes being around a person who doesn’t have an off button! If you talk alot, something you say is going to get you into trouble. And an easy way to be wise is just to get control of your tongue. (Much easier said than done!)

5. Be generous.

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” ~11:25

Give. Not just your money, but your time. No matter how little you think you have, it would appear abundant to someone else. Look for ways to bless others, and you’ll find that you’re blessed as well.

6. If you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it.

“He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.” ~11:27

Let your child know that their reputation proceeds them, even at a young age. Don’t let yourself be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pay attention to the people you hang around with and the situations you put yourself in.

7. Listen to wise advice.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” ~12:15

Don’t be a know-it-all! Find wise people to advise you when you need to make a decision. Sometimes we want to be in control and forge ahead with our own plan, but listening to the prudent counsel of others can cause us to avoid some costly mistakes.

Teaching our children these seven principles – and incorporating them into our own lives! – can help all of us have good character and walk in wisdom.

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What’s the Key to Serving Others the Way Jesus Did?

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It sounds really good when we talk about it, this “serving others” idea.

“I’m going to make a difference with this ministry!” Or “How can I help my neighbor across the street?” Or “I’ll volunteer with that particular organization.” Often we can find plenty of opportunities to serve right within our own homes.

I’m sure there are a few people who serve to get noticed, but I think most of us really want to help other people. We serve from a heart that wants to please God. But when those “others” we serve don’t appreciate our help or take advantage of us or aren’t kind in return, we can get discouraged.

Four ways that we can serve others like Jesus did...and the one-word key to help us follow through.

We can learn a lot about serving others from Jesus. In John 13:12-15, we find Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.“

Jesus specifically tells His disciples that He has done this as an example for them. I think we should pay attention! What lessons can we learn from His act of service? Here’s four that I noticed.

1. Serve even when you’re going through a difficult time.

Verse one of chapter 13 tells us that Jesus knew his hour was come. In other words, He was about to face torture, death on the cross, and temporary separation from His Father. Yet His thoughts were on His beloved followers, and He served them.

When we serve others, we get our minds off of ourselves and our troubles. (Please note that I’m not saying this was the purpose behind Jesus serving His disciples, but it’s usually true for us). Rather than sitting around and focusing on our problems (or waiting on someone to serve us!), we can get out there and help someone else.

2. Serve knowing who you are as a child of God.

Verse three of the chapter tells us that Jesus knew “that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God.” His identity was that of the Son of God.

As we reach out to others, let’s do it as children of God, knowing that He is with us and will help us. We serve not in our own strength, but through His power.

3. Set aside whatever could hold you back from serving.

Before He began serving, Jesus laid aside His garments and girded Himself with a towel (John 13:4). The clothing He was wearing at first may have gotten in the way as He washed the disciples’ feet.

What things might hold us back from serving? Is our calendar too full? Do we focus on other priorities? Let’s examine any excuses we’re giving for why we can’t serve and look for opportunities we may be missing.

4. Serve those who will never serve you.

As far as we know, Jesus washed the feet of Judas Iscariot. (We’re not told until verse 30 of the chapter that Judas left the upper room.) What was that like for Jesus? How about for Judas Iscariot? Jesus knew about Judas’ impending betrayal, yet He served him just as He did the other disciples.

I believe it takes the grace of God to serve those who are unkind or ungrateful. I know I’m not equal to that task without the fruit of the Spirit and the love of God.

There’s a great reward if we choose to serve. Verse 17 of the chapter says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” When we first start serving, we may be unhappy or have a wrong attitude, but we’ll likely not finish that way!

As we look back over these four lessons, can you figure out the key to serving others like Jesus did?

It’s humility.

The very Son of God washed the dirty feet of his twelve disciples. Beyond that, Philippians 2:8 shares the humility Jesus exemplified by coming to dwell with man on earth.

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.“

If we want to serve others in the same way that Jesus did, we have to humble ourselves. No act of service is beneath us. 1 Peter 1:5 says to be “clothed with humility.” We put it on, we cover ourselves with it.

That same verse says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. How sad it is to think of God standing against us, especially when I know how much I need His grace.

And paradoxically it’s by humbling ourselves that we can access all that God has for us. Proverbs 22:4 says, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.“

Let’s ask ourselves, “Whose ‘feet can I wash’ today?” The way we serve likely won’t be the literal washing of someone’s feet, but surely there’s an act of service just waiting to be performed.

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5 Common Enemies of a Good Marriage

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Recently I sent a poll to my email subscribers about content they’d like to see here on the blog. (If you’d like to sign up for my twice-weekly e-mails, click here.) One question asked what topics people would be interested in reading more about. Marriage was one answer that came up.

Honestly, it scares me to write about marriage. I don’t do it often, because I’ve learned the hard way that it practically invites some type of disagreement with my husband within the next 24 hours!

But in order to accommodate the reader who submitted that answer, I’m taking the chance! I’ve been married to my husband for 29 years, but I still feel like I have so much room to grow in this area. I’m definitely no marriage expert, but I will share a few things I’ve learned.

We all want to have good marriages, but sometimes things get in the way. Today I’m listing five enemies of a good marriage and how to fight against them. Hopefully, if we’re aware of them, we can avoid letting these enemies sneak into our relationships.

We need to watch out for these five things that can cause difficulty in our marriage.

1. Selfishness.

Who doesn’t want their own way? It’s natural to be selfish and to think we’re always right. We may start married life trying to change our spouse to fit the mold we imagine for them. None of us want to see ourselves as selfish, but we need to be willing to evaluate our actions and attitudes.

Romans 12:10 tells us to “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” Am I choosing to honor my spouse or is everything always about me? Selfishness elevates my wants and desires above anything else.

How to fight it:

Put a need of his ahead of your own. Make his coffee before you make your own. Take care of a task he needs to have done and put yours off till later. Maybe even ask if there’s anything you can do for him today.

When a conflict arises, put yourself in his shoes. Have you tried to see the situation from his side? What might be causing him to react so strongly? A little empathy goes a long way.

2. Impatience.

We are all a work in progress. Our spouses have areas in which they need to mature…and so do we. It takes time for us to grow. I’d like to think that I’m a better person than the woman my husband married at 22!

1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us that love “suffers long and is kind.” Be patient with your spouse. It was eye-opening to me when I read Linda Dillow’s book What’s It Like to Be Married to Me? What kind of question is that??? Of course, it’s great to be married to me (ha!) But it made me realize that being married to me is not a piece of cake. We want our spouse to be patient with us, so we should do the same for them.

How to fight it:

Pray for your spouse every day. We’re not asking God to change him into exactly what we think he should be, but for His Holy Spirit to grow our spouse in their spiritual walk.

Slow down. Don’t be in such a hurry to accomplish something that you run roughshod over your spouse and his opinion.

3. Neglect.

Neglect is a sneaky enemy because it happens when we just don’t pay attention. We’re caught up in good things – the kids, work, a busy schedule, ministry, keeping up with stuff around the house – and we don’t make connecting with our spouse a priority.

How to fight it:

Listen. Give him your undivided attention when he’s talking. Focus on what he’s saying, and respond positively.

Make time for each other on a regular basis. We didn’t do regularly scheduled date nights when our girls were young, though it’s a great idea if it works for you. But we did make time daily to catch up with what was going on in each other’s lives. That sometimes meant a phone call when he was on his way home from work, or just sitting on the couch to talk after the kids were in bed.

4. A critical spirit.

Isn’t it easy to focus on the negative?? “My husband drives me crazy when he ______.” If we’re looking for everything our spouse does wrong – or just not the way we would do it – we’re going to find it.

Ephesians 4:2 reminds us, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Sometimes our facial expressions or the tone we use when talking to our spouse can convey disrespect or disgust. Over time, those seemingly simple offenses can do damage to our marriage.

How to fight it:

Let one thing go every day. Don’t comment on the cabinet door he left open or the shirt he didn’t hang up or how he forgot to get milk at the grocery store. Just don’t. say. anything.

If you journal, write down one thing you appreciate about him every day. It could be as simple as “he wiped off his shoes before he walked in the house.” This exercise helps us to look for his positive actions and qualities.

5. Unforgiveness.

It can be a little thing that you allow to fester. He may not even know it’s an issue, but you clutch it to your heart and relive it in your mind. Let it go. Otherwise, you’re inviting bitterness into the relationship.

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” ~Colossians 3:13

How to fight it:

Say “thank you” to your husband at least once a day. This only takes a few seconds, but you do have to be paying attention. You have to notice what he’s doing that’s blessing you.

Let go of the past. Directly address whatever the issue is, and then move on. What’s done is done, so start fresh.

May we all be aware of these enemies and fight against them so that our marriages can thrive!

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4 Ways to Invest in What Really Matters for Your Future

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With many of us staying in more over the last few months, a lot of people are refreshing their homes. We fall into that category! Our current living room furniture is 15 years old, and we’ve been saving money to replace it. After shopping at several stores, I finally found what I wanted a couple of months ago. We placed an order, and it (hopefully!) will arrive in the next week or two.

I’m all about making our homes look nice. An interior decorator I’m definitely not, but I enjoy seeing how others design their spaces. We all like having pretty, comfortable rooms for our families.

While we understand the purpose behind decorating our houses, we wouldn’t do the same with a hotel room. We live and work in our homes daily, but a hotel room is just a temporary situation. The following excerpt from John Ortberg’s book When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box showed me how this relates to our Christian lives.

“Let’s say you spend a week at Motel 6.  How likely would it be for you to take all your money and spend it decorating your motel room? How probable is it that you would clean out your bank account to purchase van Goghs or paintings of Elvis on velvet or whatever it is that your taste runs to?

Not very. You wouldn’t even be tempted because the hotel room is not home. You’re only going to be there a little while.  It would be foolish to waste the treasure of your one and only life on a temporary residence…So Jesus says it is wise to store up treasure in what’s eternal:  God and people.

This is Motel 6.  Your ‘room’ – your home and furniture and clothes and possessions – will last the equivalent of a few seconds compared to the eternity that will be occupied by your soul. It’s not bad to stay in a place and enjoy it while you’re there.  But Jesus says don’t store up treasure in Motel 6.  It’s not home.  You’re only going to be here a little while.  If you’re going to stay up nights dreaming, dream about something better than how to upgrade your motel room.”

That likely reminds you of this Bible verse.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” ~Matthew 6:19-21

If God and people are the things that last, how do we focus on that? It’s fairly basic, but here are four ideas.

We don't redecorate a hotel room during a brief stay. In the same way, don't focus all your time and energy on things that aren't eternal.

Learn more about God by spending time in His Word and prayer.

I’m certainly not perfect at this. It’s easiest when I just make it part of my routine, which means doing it first thing in the morning. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said to myself, “I’ll do that after ___________ (my husband leaves for work/I check e-mail/that load of laundry gets finished).” And I rarely follow through.

Then there are some mornings when, for whatever reason, time is short and I can’t read and pray like I want to. I still try to at least have a plan going on YouVersion where I can read a quick devotional that gets my mind focused on Christ for the day.

Look for opportunities to touch someone’s life today.

On occasion, this may be on a grand scale, but it’s usually something simple. Send a “get well” or “sympathy” or “thinking of you” card. (I stock up on these at Dollar Tree.) Text a friend that you’re praying for them. Keep your eyes open to who might need your help in the grocery store or just hold the door for a mom pushing a stroller. Be aware of how you can share your faith or be an encouragement to those you come in contact with.

Always be finding ways to give.

Generosity changes us. In some seasons of life, you can give more; in others, maybe not as much. But we can manage whatever money we do have to honor God and bless others.

If money is tight, find other ways to give. Make a little more than you need for supper and share the extra with a neighbor. Pass along books you’ve finished reading to someone else who will enjoy them. Have your children make a gift for a family member. Offer someone a ride to a doctor’s appointment.

Praise God.

This right here is a big part of what we’re going to be doing in heaven, so we might as well practice it now! I like using Bible passages to praise God. Or put on some good praise music and sing along. I’ve found that my attitude about almost anything can change when I praise Him.

It’s nice to make our homes beautiful places where we and our families are comfortable. And it’s good to enjoy all the activities and opportunities we get to experience in the here and now. But let’s balance that with investing in things that will never wear out and that provide eternal blessings.

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5 Truths to Consider if We Want to Follow Christ

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Normal is now weird.

At least that’s how it feels this week. Our older daughter is back at college, the younger one is back in high school. I’m washing school uniforms, packing lunches, and standing on the sidelines while my daughter cheers at a soccer game. I’m alone in the house for several hours, and, except for the part where I’m also washing masks, it’s just like a regular ol’ September. It’s going to take me a few more days to adjust to normal again, though!

I’m sure this has happened to many of us – you come across a Bible verse that you’ve read many times before, but it suddenly hits you in a new way. That’s the case for me when I recently read this Scripture.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” ~Matthew 16:24

What’s involved with following Jesus? Here’s what I take from this verse.

Let's delve into Matthew 16:24 and discover what it means to follow Christ.

1. It’s a choice.

Jesus says, “If any man…” He’s not going to make us follow Him. God has given us a free will. You and I get to decide whether or not we want to pursue Jesus.

2. The choice is open to anyone.

He says “If any…will come after me…” We don’t have to meet particular criteria ahead of time or possess a certain talent level or go through an initiation process. Anyone who wants to can decide to follow Jesus.

3. We have to be willing to set aside some of our own wants and desires.

Do you know what I don’t like to talk about? Denying myself. I like to do what makes me feel good. Recently I asked myself the question, “What if every day I consciously told my flesh “no” one time?” Maybe that would mean passing on another cookie since I’m not even really hungry. Or not repeating that bit of gossip that I want to pass on. Or taking ten minutes to pray instead of turning on the television first.

Denying myself will mean setting aside my will and choosing God’s way. That can seem obvious in some areas, but maybe not in others. What about denying my self-dependence and leaning on Him instead? Denial equals surrender.

4. We willingly take up our burdens.

Burdens, trials, afflictions, troubles, suffering – whatever you want to call it, we’ve all got ’em. I’ve got mine, you’ve got yours. Note that the verse says “his cross.” We’re not to compare our cross with someone else’s cross. Rather we’re to accept what God’s laid out for us.

Through bearing the crosses that God has given us, we make progress toward holiness. The daily, even hourly troubles are the small things that mold us and prepare us for the big ones.

5. We follow Christ.

Live like Him. Imitate his example. Go after Him. These are all action verbs. Following Christ is accomplished as we actively pursue Him. Part of that involves getting into His Word. It will be hard to live like Christ if we don’t know much about Him.

If we’re going to follow Christ, that means He’s in front and we’re behind Him. We allow Him to lead the way instead of going off on our own.

Today let’s make the choice to deny ourselves, willingly pick up our burdens for his sake, and whole-heartedly follow Christ.

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What Does It Really Mean to Rejoice in the Lord?

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You’ve probably had the experience of teaching your children how to do something. Maybe it was using the toaster oven, riding a bike, or starting a load of laundry. No matter what the subject is, we usually begin by breaking the process down into basic parts.

Let’s take, for example, teaching them how to drive a car. Both of our girls have been driving for a while now, but teaching them took time and lots of practice (and patience!!) You start by pointing out which is the brake pedal and which one’s the gas pedal. Talk about basic, but important – one makes you go and the other makes you stop. Then you check out the dashboard, explain how to turn on the headlights, and so on. Hopefully, one day it all comes together and they become great drivers!

This month I’ve been reading through what are often called “the prison epistles” – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Those books are loaded with a lot of basic Bible principles. And many of the themes are the same.

One of those basic themes is the instruction to rejoice in the Lord. Philippians 3:1 and 4:4 are two of the places where Paul writes about this. So today, let’s look at some basics behind what it means to rejoice in the Lord.

Here are five things we can do to help us follow the Bible's command to rejoice in the Lord.

Look past our circumstances.

We all know that Paul wrote the book of Philippians from prison (and a first-century prison at that!) Yes, his admonition to “rejoice in the Lord” along with his statement of personal contentment (also found in Philippians 4) were written from jail. I daresay he’s an authority on looking past his circumstances. His joy wasn’t based on his current situation.

I like this quote from Mark Ballenger. “We can rejoice in the Lord always because God always changes our hearts, not our circumstances.” Rejoicing in the Lord can seem easier when times are good. But when we’re struggling, we can still rejoice because we know God is with us and has a purpose in our trials.

Consciously choose to obey the command to rejoice.

“Rejoice in the Lord” is a fairly straight forward command. Our part is to obey it. Left up to our own devices, rejoicing probably won’t be our default. That means we have to make the choice to rejoice.

It’s easier to obey and rejoice when we’re walking in faith. If we’re trusting God’s goodness and providence, we can rejoice because we know He is faithful to take care of us.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin that’s blocking your rejoicing.

It’s hard to rejoice if we know we have sin in our lives. And sometimes we need the Holy Spirit to show us sin that we’re not aware of.

Even as I write this post, I’m struggling with what I would call righteous indignation (ha) over an unfair (in my opinion) situation. I think there’s a reason I’ve been reading about the fruit of the Spirit over and over in these epistles…I especially need that “long-suffering” and “self-control” today!

Focus on Jesus.

 “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” ~Hebrews 12:1-2

As we look past our circumstances, the best place to focus is on Jesus. The more we get to know Him, the more our hearts will naturally gravitate to joy.

Take pleasure in God.

What a neat idea that we would delight in God! Isn’t that what heaven will be, us enjoying God forever? Right now we can do that by being grateful, by noticing all His blessings, by being satisfied in Him. Maybe taking pleasure in Him looks like singing or serving or meditating on Scripture.

Choosing to rejoice in the Lord changes our perspective. There’s certainly more we could dive into, but let me know what else you think helps us to rejoice in the Lord!

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5 Prayers to Pray When Your Child is Hurting

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One of the most helpless feelings in the world is seeing your child hurting and not being able to do anything about it. That’s true whether they’re dealing with physical pain or suffering emotionally.

I remember taking our daughters to the doctor for their vaccination shots when they were babies. My heart almost broke as they cried, even though I knew it was what we believed was best for their long-term health!

While we certainly pray for our children’s physical needs, we’ll also have times of praying for their emotional needs. Most of us will deal with a child who’s upset over a broken friendship or feels left out in a social situation. They’ll also likely face disappointment and failure. And from experience, I can say that it doesn’t get any easier as they get older. In fact, the stakes and the feelings just get bigger!

So here are five prayers we can pray for our children when they go through difficult times emotionally. And honestly, we could pray these for ourselves in similar situations!

Here are five prayers based on God's Word that we can pray for our children when they're in a difficult place.

1. Give her beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, and exchange her heaviness for praise.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to comfort all that mourn…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” ~Isaiah 61:-13

When disappointment comes and it seems that her dreams have been crushed, God still has a plan. In the moment, just sit with her. Hold her, listen to her, grieve with her. Then pray for God to work it all for His glory and her good.

Dear God, take the ashes of this situation and turn it into something beautiful. While all she can do right now is grieve over what is lost, in time, please let her joy return. Her heart is heavy, but you are greater than her disappointment. As only You can, put a spirit of praise within her.

2. Remind her that you are always with her and will never fail her.

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” ~Deuteronomy 31:8

Sometimes our child may feel alone, that she’s by herself in a hard place. Dad and mom can’t always be there, but God is always available. He has promised that He will never leave or forsake His own. When she’s bewildered and discouraged, she needs this truth prayed over her.

God, she knows this truth in her head, that You’ll never leave her. Now embed it in her heart. Help her to rely on the truth of your Word and your faithfulness. Overcome the fear that wants to entrap her and give her courage to take the next step.

3. Restore her hope.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” ~Romans 15:13

None of us can make it for long without hope. When our child has lost their hope, they can feel directionless and make poor decisions. But this verse says that our God is the God of hope. He can renew her mind through His Holy Spirit and even cause her to abound in hope.

Heavenly Father, you are the God of hope. Circumstances have caused my daughter to lose her hope, so I’m asking you to restore it. May she allow your Holy Spirit to infuse her with an abundance of hope. Help her to focus on your love and power so that she might continue on with hope for the future.

4. Lead her to find her refuge in You.

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” ~Psalm 9:9

Sometimes she’s not going to know where to turn. She’s going to feel burdened and helpless. That’s the time when she most needs the Lord.

Lord, let her turn to you in her trouble. There are many things in this world that say they can comfort her, but none gives true comfort but you. Help her to see her need of you clearly in this difficulty. May she know you can be her true hiding place when she’s overwhelmed. You are faithful to your Word and you will be her shelter and secure retreat.

5. Give her an eternal perspective.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” ~2 Corinthians 4:17-18

When times are hard, it’s easy for all of us to focus on what’s right in front of us. Yet putting it in perspective is so helpful. Our adversity can seem all-consuming at first, so it may take a minute to get there! But realizing that the situation will likely look different in hindsight – and certainly in light of eternity – can bring us back to where we need to be.

Dear Lord, in the midst of her struggle, lead her to a right perspective. What she’s facing is so formidable right now. Help her to be able to see past the present moment to what things can look like on the other side of this. Beyond that, give her an eternal perspective. Let her realize that what she’s going through – though hard – is temporary and that one day this will all be behind her. A home in heaven awaits. Give her a mindset that focuses on what will be important then, not just today.

How thankful I am that we have a God to whom we can take all of our burdens, a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for our children!

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10 Things That Are Easy About Being a Mother

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There’s a lot about being a mom that’s hard.

Don’t get me wrong. I know it’s a blessing to bring a child into the world. Children bring hope and joy and laughter and show you just how much love you can have for another human being.

But there are parts of being a mom that are hard…

…like giving up sleep. It starts when you bring them home from the hospital as a newborn, and continues through teething, potty training and nightmares. And then it morphs into staying up late as you wait for your teenager to come home at night.

It’s hard to discipline...to decide what offense merits what punishment. You have to set boundaries and then enforce them. And who wants to get up and correct their child for the umpteenth time when you’ve just settled down on the couch?

It’s hard to be patient. You endure one. more. sibling argument. And maybe some days you think you just can’t bear to hear “mom” yelled from the backseat or across the house ever again.

It’s hard to know what to allow when. From sleepovers (what age? only relatives? how much supervision? no sleepovers ever?) to when can I wear makeup/get my ears pierced/go on a date? Your child will often think they’re ready before you do, which can lead to a bit of a debate.

It’s hard to be consistent and stand firm in your decisions…especially if it seems your child is the only one who “has to” or “can’t” do something.

It’s hard to bear the responsibility of parenting, to be concerned about how your child’s doing in their relationships and academics and moral decisions.

Just writing all this out makes me feel tired! It sounds a little overwhelming. But then I’m reminded of the sweet parts – the easy parts – of motherhood.

So what’s easy about mothering?

Check out this list of ten things that are easy about being a mom.

1. Wanting the best for our children. I think every parent instinctively wants their child to have an easy road. We want to spare them from heartbreak and pain. We know that dealing with difficulties is part of maturing, but we do what we can to give our children good things.

2. Being amazed that your child is a unique individual with a distinct personality. Okay, sometimes this throws us for a loop – especially if they’re way different than we are – but it’s a wonderful thing to watch them develop into their own person.

3. Standing up for them. Protecting and defending our children is a natural part of motherhood. It’s also easy to take this too far in some cases…but our mama bear nature and instincts help to keep our children safe.

4. Sharing about our mom-life with fellow moms. Moms always seem to bond over parenting, especially when they’re in similar life stages. Nobody understands us like someone who’s walking through the same things.

5. Being proud of our children. This is especially true when we know how hard they’ve worked to achieve something. Seeing their diligence and perseverance pay off is so rewarding.

6. Connecting over shared interests. Whether it’s a sport they play or one you watch together, it’s fun to have conversations that you’re both invested in. It could also be about a book you both read and loved, shopping at a certain store, or baking a cake together.

7. Praying over them. I find prayer comes most naturally when they’re facing a hard situation at school or struggling in a relationship or driving off in the car alone for the first time. In situations that I can’t control (I guess that would be all of them??!), praying for them comes easily.

8. Listening to them share their hopes and dreams. I want to soak it all in when they give me a glimpse into their heart. Their secrets and confidences mean they trust me with what matters most to them.

9. Laughing with them over something we both think is funny. I love sending my girls memes or jokes or puns – pretty much anything that I think will make them laugh.

10. Loving them. There can be times we don’t like them very much, but our love for our children is never in doubt.

So yes, being a mom can be hard…but the easy parts make it so worthwhile!

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