Fight Those Battles!

Somehow when we have lots of things to do and I give the children small jobs there is a lot of conflicts, the battles of obedience and promptness are fought in a fury.  

When I let the children off and do everything myself, peace reigns, well not quite, then there’s squabbles to settle between them.

. . .But what have I accomplished?  I am to be training my children . . . not letting them slide.

But I find that too in my life, in a different way or maybe not so different.  When I enter in the spiritual battles there happens to be so much more conflict.  Satan sees the detriment it is to his kingdom and comes on like you wouldn’t believe.

And when I am laid back about engaging in the warfare things seem to go so much smoother.  

Am I doing the will of my Father? There will be confict.

Am I letting things slide . . .It defiantly is an easier, smoother, wider way!

“Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places . . .”   Ephesians 6:11,12

Peace That Passeth Understanding

“There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22

All day Saturday I battled with anxious, worrying thoughts . . . and all that day I was stressed out trying to get everything done and attend to the children’s needs (which were not a few). I spent extra time alone with God . . . yet still somehow I couldn’t keep back those troublesome worries.

I didn’t have peace.

“Therefore take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? (This is hard to do on a Saturday when company comes that evening and then someone calls to say they are coming the next day, and one is tired and stressed out already, and you just wish you could rest on the “Sabbath” ;) ) or Wherewithall shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Take no thought for the morrow: For the morrow shall take thought(Well, my husband made it easier for me. He forbade me to think of Sunday dinner . . . He said he'd grill something) for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:31-34 . . .In other words don’t worry anxiously. . .

“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 (from going crazy) through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7


“Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you . . .”

And today I had a chance to try again. (Isn’t that funny?) My grade is a bit better today, I think. Praise God!

In School

My son loves school  . . . or so he thinks.  I am teaching him to read but somehow he gets the idea of school as being with other children like Summer Bible School.  He just loves to be with other children!   He doesn’t consider that he’s really in school . . .

And so with me, I’m in God’s school . . .  It gets lonely at times thinking that I’m the only one learning “how to read” . . .  and I want to be with others where it’s “more fun”.  

But God has me in school . . . and I am glad . . . .for there is no other way for me to be taught the things that deep down I really want to learn . . .

“Thou hast made the earth to tremble;  Thou hast broken it:  Heal the breaches thereof;  for it shaketh.  For Thou hast showed thy people hard things . . . .”  Psalm 60:2,3a

Someone Really Is Missing

I was mentally checking off the children. Okay, Jeremiah’s in the bottom bunk, Wayne is in his crib, Loraine is in her bed in her little bedroom nook, Jaden is fed and in the swing sleeping away the day, Japtheth is “having school” at the kitchen table and lets see . . . it seems like I’m missing someone . . . Do any of you Mom’s do that? Maybe everybody does . . . Someone recently told me that women who have miscarried do that all the time . . . .Someone really is missing . . .

"Promise of the Life"

Since Jaden has been born, I’m having a hard time getting the scales to read a lower number . . . It’s coming off a lot harder than after my other babies (well after Jeremiah it was soooo slow too). So time to exercise and watch what I eat . . . and now I’m getting excited. I am starting to see results! Actually just two pounds since Friday, but it’s a whole lot better than seeing them go up or stay the same!

. . . Then I am reminded about how little it matters (except there is something to say for self-discipline)

“For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” I Timothy 4:8


“having promise of the life . . . .” THIS TRUELY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

Sad Little Boys

This picture is especially for Grandpa and Grandma Beery! . . . And Uncle Loren & Aunt Kendra, Courtney, Reagan, Uncle Roland & Aunt Patrica, Cheyanne, Aunt Karen, Aunt Sally and Uncle Skyler!

We're sad because we want to come see you all again . . . but we can't. Please "bear" with us . . . someday we will see you face to face . . . God be with you til we meet again . . . May He hold you in the palm of His hand, May the wind rise to meet you . . . (Or however that Irish blessing goes)

Lay Aside

These are the words of the motto I saw on the wall in Val’s living room this morning,
“ They will be made
perfect forever,
who are
being made
holy now.”

Memories . . . . Krystal is perfect forever. I need to be made holy now and I too one day shall be made perfect forever. . .

I am striving all the more to let myself be made holy by God . . . It’s only through Him that I can do these things!

Yesterday I was reminded again that when I’m feeding Jaden I need to set him aside and settle squabbles right away not letting them go on until it suits me.

Hebrews 12:1b “ . . .let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus . . .

Excuses

What kind of excuses do you give for not consistently exercising or drinking enough water or you name it. Sorry to say but here are some of mine. It’s Sunday. It’s supposed to be a day of rest.
It’s Monday, I can’t handle anything extra on a Monday of all days!
Not now, I’m too busy. I’ll wait till things slow down a bit. (Do they ever?)

And guess what excuse I found myself using today. It’s my birthday.

I was reminded of this verse . . .“The slothful man sayeth, ‘There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.’” Proverbs 26:13 I wouldn’t have called myself slothful, but maybe I will have to reconsider.