Happy Birthday!

Today is my Mom's birthday and I'm so thankful for the gift of her in my life! 3 John 4 "I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth." That has been her standard in raising the three of us children. A goal that is worthy and valuable is often challenging and not without cost. Homeschooling three kids, disciplining, loving is hard work. I know now from personal experience that sacrifice is the standard of motherhood. That's as it should be, our Great Parent didn't spare himself sacrifice in his own parental love for us, why should we expect the cost to be less for us in parenting. So today I say thank you Mom! I count it an amazing act of God's mercy and grace in my life to give me so generous a gift as to be born into a loving, godly family with you as my mother! Happy birthday, and I certainly wish you many more!

Girlie

What is it about a girl and her purse?! Maggie had been wanting to carry around my purse all day but the strap was so long she was tripping. So, I found her a little bag she could use for a purse. She loved it. We put a few of her toys in there, including a magic wand. She carried it around all evening! I love how at just one year you can see such a distinction between feminine and masculine traits, things I never taught. Of course Max has always wanted me to paint his toe nails and Maggie makes really good car sounds when she drives toy cars. But the differences even now are still very distinct.

I believe it's a reflection how we as people aren't complete without both sexes to reflect God's nature. Not that I'm saying you aren't a complete person unless you're married. I'm saying that if there were only men or only women we as a people would show only a portion of God's image. God teaches me so much through my children!

Muscles

Why is it so hard to stay true to our course. The Bible is full of so many reminders like: "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2. Or "Run in such a way as to get the prize" 1 Corinthians 9:24. Or one of my favorites Hebrews 12:12 "So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Apparently I like Hebrews!) I must confess to having bloody knees from falling down so many times along the way. Praise God for his love that picks me up and sets me back on course!

In the last month I've been trying to exercise regularly. I like to take a long walk in the morning or evening when I can. If I can't get outside I use one of the exercise videos I have at home. My progress has been slow but I'm beginning to see a difference in my strength and endurance. The more I walk the farther and faster I can go, the stronger I feel, the more energy I have. My leg muscles are becoming more defined and stronger. It's the same with our spiritual muscles. When I'm faithful to continuous spiritual 'exercise' I see results. We exercise our spiritual muscles through obedience, each time we obey we get a work out. The more I obediently practice the disciplines of prayer, study of God's word, reflection, worship, etc. the stronger I am, the more spiritual energy I have. When I practice obedience in forgiveness, patience, resisting temptation, saying no to self, extending love the more defined and stronger my spiritual muscles become.

But it has to be a priority. Physical exercise costs something, discomfort, time, energy, commitment, a little sweat. So does spiritual exercise, it may mean getting up early to read the Word and pray, or taking a stand for something unpopular but true. But the results are so worth it. I still haven't reached my physical goal yet, but I know when I do the rewards will be worth the hard work. The same is even more true for my spiritual goal of maturity in Christ, I know it's worth pursuing above anything else. Even more important than our personal goals of physical health and strength, which may have an affect on a few people, our spiritual health affects the entire body of Christ. When each member is healthy and strong, flexing their spiritual muscles, then the whole church is muscular and strong.

Sometimes I think we believe God is just going to pour out all of his blessings on our lives while we just sit and soak them up. While God is certainly generous and there is nothing we can do to earn his favor, I think that attitude is lazy. God very clearly has said that he blesses the righteous man but resists the proud man. God has expectations of his people and he's God, he has that right. I've been a Christian for so many years though, sometimes I forget. I take for granted his grace and generosity. I get lazy in my discipline. But the truth is, I pay the price when I do. God has provided all the equipment we need for spiritual victory (Ephesians 6, armor of God) but we have to use it. His word can't renew our mind if we don't read it, he can't commune with us if we don't approach him in prayer, his Spirit won't fill us unless we ask. I believe so strongly if we avail ourselves of the resources his love has offered us the difference in our lives will be astounding. So, I've decided to take the spiritual challenge of a 40 day journey of prayer, to go along with my physical challenge of regular exercise. The challenge to myself is to pray daily for one hour for my family and church. My specific prayer focus for my church is for women's ministry and for God to display miraculous love among the members of the church. So, in 40 days I will report back. I believe with all my heart to have stronger muscles, a new prayer habit and some amazing stories to tell!

Walking girl

Miss Maggie has turned into a walking machine! She loves wearing her new shoes from grandma, she brings them to me to put on her all the time.

I would change myself first

The movie Amazing Grace is a story of William Wilberforce's life. In the movie one of his friends, the future Prime Minister, is discussing change in England. The war for America's independence is being fought. The abolition of slavery is being considered by some. Change is on the horizon for the country, it's leaders and it's people. Wilberforce says to his friend "[England] will soon change." And his young friend from parliament replies, "Only if we change it. You don't believe you and I could change things?" Wilberforce's response is, "I would change myself first."

Wilberforce in the eyes of some, especially the peers of his day, would be considered a dreamer and a fool. But certainly he was wiser than most. He knew that, in and of himself, he had nothing to offer the world without first being changed into what he was supposed to be. His fight against injustice was dictated and defined by God. Not by his feelings, though certainly they were stirred, or man's opinion. Even though he was at the forefront of the abolition of slavery in his time, something today's liberals and conservatives alike would champion, I don't think he would be popular at all today. The reason is his motivation. Freedom isn't something that one man bestows on another, it comes from God alone, the creator of man and his freedom. But what do you do with freedom when you remove God? Something to ponder.

We as a society, a nation, and our leaders would do well to remember, before we seek to change others we should first seek to change ourselves. Power corrupts quickly, if internal change isn't undertaken before it's acquired it can ruin a man. That's true from the top down, from the presidency to county commissioner. And leadership in the church is certainly no exception. So when you're asked to believe what someone says make sure it lines up with what they live. And we should certainly make sure that is true of ourselves as well. So let's seek first to change ourselves, it will have more affect than we know.