What do you mean?

What do you mean?

Y'all, this has been a question I find myself asking my children ALL THE TIME. See, we have a very interesting family dynamic when it comes to communication. 

My husband is very literal and exact, both in the way he interprets what people say as well as how he communicates. This has been passed on to my oldest daughter, though her skills is not nearly as well developed yet...

I struggle to communicate well. I pause often and in odd places when speaking, and have learned that I often do not know the right word to use (unless I look up a word or two, then I can figure it out.) I'm more apt to speak in figurative language, or just flat out misspeak and not realize it until confusion has nearly reached the point of chaos. This has been passed on to my middle daughter.

My youngest is only three years old - enough said.

 So, we learn to clarify. "What do you mean by ________?" This helps my middle realize she may not have spoken clearly. It helps my oldest realize that her sister didn't understand what was said. It helps us all to take a step back and make sure we are communicating well with each other.

This leads me to think more about the messages, the sayings, that we hear often and repeat to ourselves.

"You are good enough." Boy, as moms we really need the reminder that we can do this parenting thing. But, what do we really mean by "you are good enough"?

Let's look at that phrase Biblically. I am not good enough. I am a sinner who struggles against the flesh all the time. I'm not good enough to teach my children. I'm not good enough to train them in the Lord. I'm not good enough to even have the right to care for these little blessings/terrors, these wonderful sinners. 

But, God says "I will give you strength." He reminds us that if we ask for wisdom, He will give it abundantly. He tells us His Spirit is with is, to comfort us when we fail, to bring His Word to resemblance when we need it, to give us a peace that passes understanding. He will uphold us with His righteous right hand.

 

As we walk through this next week, I encourage you to look at the phrases that we so readily grab a hold of to boost us through the day. Encouraging quotes, song lyrics, or memes that make us smile, nod our heads, and say "yeah, sounds good."

Pick one and put it up against Biblical truth. Seriously look as it. What does the saying mean? Is it pointing us to the Gospel truth that we need Jesus and that Jesus is all we need? If it doesn't tell the Truth, throw it out and replace it with scripture.

I have found that when I replace "encouraging" quotes with scripture straight from the Bible, the joy and peace that flows through me (mentally and spiritually) is so much more powerful.

His Word is powerful. His Word is truth. When I want something meaningful, the Bible is the best place to turn.

God bless, dear friend. 

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Don't Give Up

 This will be short.

We had a youth rally this week at our church. For those of you unfamiliar with that term (as I was for most of my life), it's basically a series of church see I es held with youth as the focus.

Wednesday through Saturday, we gathered at church.  The youth sat in front and the preacher preached messages geared mostly to them and their life - but it was also full of so much that I needed to hear as well.

My immediate take-away is this thought: don't give up.

Anyone can quit, and quitting is often easier.

But God called us from darkness into light. He made us soldiers in His army, gave us armor, and has been training us to wage spiritual warfare. 

As moms, we are also called to train up the next generation. 

There is a great need. We need to not grow weary in welldoing. We need to reply on the strength of Christ.

James 1:25

... whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

I am looking for the blessings of God.

I trust He will bless you also.

All we have to do is Not Give Up.

The Glorious Gospel

I'm going to assume that most of my visitors here are Christians - mainly because I'm fairly certain no one else would be interested in anything I have to say.

So I'm going to make sure I'm as clear as possible in this post about the MOST important thing.

Salvation comes by grace through faith in the saving blood of Jesus Christ.

For by grace are we saved through faith, and that not of ourselves - it is a gift of God, not won by our works, so we can not boast (Eph 2:8-9)

We all need salvation because we all sin against God and the just punishment for sin is death (Rom. 3:23 and Rom 6:23)

But, if we simply believe and call upon His name, we will be saved (Rom 10:13).

Jesus was sent to save all from sin, not to condemn us. We were already condemned, and only the perfect blood of Christ can redeem us (John 3:16-17)

Eternal life is a gift.

Praise God that I don't have to work for His approval, His Love, His salvation.

So, why then do I post a lot about our works?

Well, James 1:25 tells us that "... whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

I want to encourage us to lived blessed lives. Not in the materialistic sense, but spiritually.

If we do the work of the Word, we are doing His will and shall be blessed. If we pray according to the Word, our prayers shall be answered. If we are obedient with what He wants us to do, we will prosper in that task (even if it isn't easy) and have peace.

The gospel does not require my working and doing good. Yet, we love because God first loved us - commended His love toward us in that when we were still lost in sin Christ died for us. 

I ask, are we thankful for the gospel? Are we thankful for what Christ did for us?

Do we love Christ in return? 

It's an interesting walk that we are called to as Christians. We are free from the law, called into liberty. Yet because we are called out of the bondage of the law, we should love God enough to want to be holy, to live righteously, to glorify Him in deed.

Let us not forget that we can never earn salvation for ourselves. Our works, our feelings, none of that can cause God to forgive us and wash us clean of our sins.

Let us also not become complacent in our salvation that we forget to honor the name of Christ, for we bear His name as Christians. 

One final thought.

The darkest day in history, when Christ was crucified, is called "Good Friday."

The day that everyone scrambled to get the best they can get for the least money, is called "Black Friday."

 Christians can face dark, troubled times knowing that God loves us and has a plan. It isn't always happy, but there is always hope.

When we seek our own desires and happiness, all we find is temporary pleasure amid frantic selfishness.

 Praise God for the hope we have in Christ through the gospel.