Wednesday, August 22, 2012

You are Chosen!

This morning in my devotional I read from Romans 8:1

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

As I read this, the word condemnation stood out to me and I realized, have I ever really looked at the word condemnation?  So I wiki-ed it! According to Wiki, the word condemned refers to "Damnation, the anithesis of salvation"-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condemnation. As I read the definition it hit me that whenever I believe the devil's lies, I begin believing that I am not saved, that I am doomed and will spend the rest of my eternal existence in Hell. WHAT A LIE FROM THE PITS OF HELL! I have a seat in Heaven!

So today, I am making the choice to believe the truth and not a lie. I am Saved, I am Chosen, I am God's! Christ made me worthy by dying on the Cross and rising again. Once the Benefactor died and rose again, I became his beneficiary and now get to walk in his Holiness, his purity.

So, instead of forfeiting your blessings today by believing the lie, choose to receive what the Benefactor died to give you, HIS LOVE, THE IMPOSSIBLES, THE MIRACLES, THE TRUTH!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

"I have a beautiful booty!"

I used to be a lead teacher of a class consisting of 10-12 2 year olds and boy do you hear some interesting things. There was one child, Lilly who had recently begun sharing with me how beautiful she was or how gorgeous her clothes were as she'd twirl around. One month we conducted a classroom activity we called "our weekly prodigies" where we would choose a child and spend a few days learning about that child, posting pictures of the child and their family, and would discuss what made that child special.

Well, this particular week Lilly was our class "Prodigy." She got to wear her pretty Prodigy crown that her and I made together and the teachers and the rest of her classmates shared why we thought she was so special/a prodigy. When it came time for Lilly to explain what she liked about herself and what made her special, she replied, "I have a beautiful booty!"  Quite hilarious indeed and was looked so proud saying it (got to love a 2 year old's answers).

But a funny thing began to happen since her prodigy week, she began acting very different from the Lilly that I knew. It was great that she knew that she was beautiful and special, a prodigy but I started noticing that she would begin to use this as a way to get what she wanted. Yes, a 2 year old began manipulating and using what she had to get what she wanted. It was from that instant that I realized something, we should teach them that they are smart, beautiful, special, loved BUT we should also teach them that it was God who made them smart, beautiful, special, loved so that when someone tells them that they are wrong and makes them doubt themselves, they give into arrogance, something life altering happens (a tragic accident that leaves him/her wounded physically, divorce hits, their heart is broken, etc.) they can fall back on the truth that it is not them BUT Christ in them. They can remember that they were made in his likeness. They cannot take credit for something that you did not create.

So, to reel her back in a little, I spent time reminding Lilly that God was her source, that he "made her very special" and it was him that created her "beautiful booty." Constantly speaking him over her and giving him the credit along with edifying her in that she was smart because he made her smart, etc. changed the ways in which she acted, it was quite instant especially for a child that was not raised in a Christian family. Imagine if she did hear this everyday at home, imagine if everyday she was reminded that God made her smart, loved, special? If at 2 years old it has that much of an impact, imagine the adult that she would one day become? What she could one day accomplish due to this confidence in herself and in her God?



What does scripture say.......

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Psalm 139:13-18
13 For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful, I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them!18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand —when I awake, I am still with you.






Monday, August 6, 2012

You Are Not Just a Mom!!!!!!

Great wisdom for mom's who feel like they just cannot get it together, for parents who understand that they are training up our grandchildren's mommy and daddy, who want their children to know they are loved, and for those that see other women who seem to got it together so much better than we do.

Every mom should be able to relate to this. Great broadcast from Focus on the Family. Guest Tracey Eyster blogger and author of the book- Be The Mom. Here is the broadcast below...

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/popups/media_player.aspx?MediaId={A3A07FDF-1A54-4B45-9C76-88623994A860}

Also, you can follow Tracey on her blog at http://traceyster.com/ and buy her new book at
http://family.christianbook.com/overcome-attitude-traps-enjoy-your-kids/tracey-eyster/9781589976849/pd/976849?p=1158279&event=ORC

Unhappy Wife=Unhappy Life

Have you ever felt guilty that you could not take the time to go see a friend or go to a function because of the responsiblities awaiting you at home? As a new mom and as a wife, this is something that I experience almost daily. There is this feeling of guilt and dread that surrounds me when I have to tell someone no.

The people pleaser in me, screams! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! So, I prayed about, tried some things and here is what I have found....

Scenario One- I commit to go see the person, go to the event, etc. anyway.
Conclusion-Frustrated on the day or 2 before, frustrated and rushing the day of, frustrated afterward
                                              =Unhappy Household!

Scenario Two- Don't go and give a long explanation of why it cannot happen.
Conclusion-They ask me the one question that causes me to doubt myself and my daily decision making,"What do you do all day?" They still don't get it.
                                            =Doubt, depressed feelings, rough day
                                            =Unhappy Household
In just these 2 scenarios alone we find that UNHAPPY WIFE=UNHAPPY LIFE!

So here is what I plan to do...

Consider
1-Does this effect my husband, if so, ask him if it is something that he wants to do.
2-Why am I going? Is it out of guilt? Because I generally miss this person?
3-Consider if this is the appropriate time for it or do we need to consider if another time would be more appropriate, SIMPLY take a rain check?

If I based my decision out of guilt, then it is not going to happen. My heart is not in the right place and the those closest to me will suffer (husband, children, even the family dog). My family and well being comes first, not someone else that I am placing my worth in that in a few years may not even be someone I speak to.

The people pleaser in me wants to make everyone happy But that isn't possible, so I need to be the best me that I can be and that starts with being Christ's daughter. I need to choose and acknowledge that my worth is in him and out of that overflow I can BE the best Angelina and fullfil the roles that I am first and foremost called to as Christopher's wife, Israel and Princess' mom.

That is it, that simple. Now, there is way more to this people pleasing stuff that I need to dig deep and deal with BUT for now. I need to acknowledge these situations and ask God to reveal his truth to me and why I am allowing these people to dictate my worth?

Join me on this journey! :)