Glory - Why do I say this?
Today and yesterday everyone in the house has a cold including the baby. It is perfectly miserable here. I got only 3 hours of sleep trying to keep the baby breathing and not coughing or being miserable made for a long night. But still I say Glory!
What does "Glory" even mean? Well I have been pondering it all day yesterday and today as this word has been running through my head. I am giving Glory to God despite the fact that the baby has not even taken a decent nap all day. I have been so congested and have had a horrible headache and the kids are all coughing and just overall miserable. Even my wonderful Honey has this cold. But still today - Glory!
Praise God that he is God and I - am not. How wonderful my Jesus is that he gave his life for me. The splendor of his majesty who I worship and adore loves me unconditionally. And I say Glory to him that he is leading me in this part of the adventure.
Saying Glory gives me visions of a yellow van and makes me smile with happy memories. Anyone who has known my in-laws forever will remember a specific "Glory Van" I loved that van. I cried when it stayed in Mexico at the orphanage - but smiled knowing that is was still doing what God wanted it to do - Minister to others. I do not think I really understood why the van said "Glory" until few years after the van stayed in Mexico. I learned the full meaning of the word Glory one year on my way to the Father Daughter Shop till you Drop in SF about 5 years ago now. When we were driving in my father in-law's, new to him, Chrysler and we literally blew up a deer when it ran head on into the car. It was, needless to say, gross but the deer actually blew up!?! The entire front of the car is smashed the radiator no more as we are just south of town and had no time to spare to get to the ferry that was taking us to the city. My father in-law gets out, looks at the car, and says "Glory." I finally really got what that means at that moment. Then he wonderfully says, "It's just part of the adventure." Then not even 5 minutes later, another minivan full of Fathers and Daughters pulled up behind us, one of the Fathers drove a tow truck at that time and he was able to call in for a tow as we piled into the minivan on our way to SF. We were able to make it down with 10 minutes to spare! We praised God in a really crazy situation that could have caused us to get mad and ruin the day but it did not and today, I feel bad for that deer but I laugh and praise God that he already worked out the day before hand.
Today and yesterday were days that could have been completely awful and horrible I have been saying Glory. The result were two days that I spent with my munchkins, just hanging out not doing much of anything and growing closer together.
To Give Glory - Giving praise and adoration with thanksgiving to God.
Psalm 69:30
"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving."
Psalm 86:12 & 13
"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave."
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Mommy Arms
The baby has been really fussy lately. She has been wanting only Mommy and no one else will do. This is starting to be a little difficult when it comes to accomplishing things but I am remembering to enjoy the baby time as it will be gone in a heartbeat it seems. It is also great for building up those muscles, man are my arms getting tired but strong.
Imagine those days when the baby won't stop crying, and first Grandma tries to comfort her doing all the special tricks grandmas have, then it's Auntie's turn who has some of the most amazing results - but not today. And after that has failed Daddy may try briefly knowing the only one who can help is Mommy and then at last finally Mommy takes the baby and peace happens. Baby is now cooing and content laying in Mommy's arms safe, secure, relaxed, and smiling up at her. Now, why didn't Mommy get the baby first? In most cases, it is because everyone is trying to help and give Mommy a break. And almost always, everyone wants a chance at holding the baby no matter the circumstance. (Except to change the diaper of course.)
When she is crying a fussing, and only Mommy can make her feel better, it makes me think of the Lord. When we are unsettled in life and nothing can make us feel better, the only one who can is God. But yet, there are times where we fail to go directly to him for the comfort. We go to our husband, our parents, or our best friend but not Jesus first. Yet when we finally end up in His ever-comforting arms, all is well and we can be settled. Nestled in His perfect peace feeling safe, secure, and content. He says to come to Him first and yet sometimes we are caught up in all that is going on and forget. He is faithful to give us the rest and peace we need every day no matter what.
Life in our house right now is very uncertain and yet I am remembering to continually lean on Him for that security and peace. I have an amazing peace that is beyond all understanding because I am putting all my trust in him. An amazing phenomenon that cannot be explained by the world. In fact, the world thinks I am crazy (at least those who I have talked to). To only have a Plan A and no Plan B.
Plan A: Trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I know that he has already taken care of my needs of tomorrow. Who needs a Plan B?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5 & 6
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33 & 34
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11: 28-30
Imagine those days when the baby won't stop crying, and first Grandma tries to comfort her doing all the special tricks grandmas have, then it's Auntie's turn who has some of the most amazing results - but not today. And after that has failed Daddy may try briefly knowing the only one who can help is Mommy and then at last finally Mommy takes the baby and peace happens. Baby is now cooing and content laying in Mommy's arms safe, secure, relaxed, and smiling up at her. Now, why didn't Mommy get the baby first? In most cases, it is because everyone is trying to help and give Mommy a break. And almost always, everyone wants a chance at holding the baby no matter the circumstance. (Except to change the diaper of course.)
When she is crying a fussing, and only Mommy can make her feel better, it makes me think of the Lord. When we are unsettled in life and nothing can make us feel better, the only one who can is God. But yet, there are times where we fail to go directly to him for the comfort. We go to our husband, our parents, or our best friend but not Jesus first. Yet when we finally end up in His ever-comforting arms, all is well and we can be settled. Nestled in His perfect peace feeling safe, secure, and content. He says to come to Him first and yet sometimes we are caught up in all that is going on and forget. He is faithful to give us the rest and peace we need every day no matter what.
Life in our house right now is very uncertain and yet I am remembering to continually lean on Him for that security and peace. I have an amazing peace that is beyond all understanding because I am putting all my trust in him. An amazing phenomenon that cannot be explained by the world. In fact, the world thinks I am crazy (at least those who I have talked to). To only have a Plan A and no Plan B.
Plan A: Trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I know that he has already taken care of my needs of tomorrow. Who needs a Plan B?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5 & 6
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33 & 34
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11: 28-30
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Mommyhood - A Lesson in Obedience
My kids are really good at obeying. (Not bragging, just saying) As parents, Mario and I feel it is very important to teach them obedience by training them how to obey. If they can obey us then it will be easier for them to obey God. Not to mention make their childhoods a lot more pleasant. We will periodically tell them to do random tasks that really do not pertain to anything we are doing just to train them to obey without question. God tells us to do things all the time that never make sense at the beginning but when the situation at hand is part of our life story, we can look back at that chapter and understand why we were told to do whatever it was. I want my kids to have that kind of obedience. And in the world today, it is important that they obey without question so they will stay safe.
When I am training my kids, God is faithful to show me how he trains me in the same way. He wants me to obey even the most strange, or illogical commands without question, for my own good. He has plans for me to prosper and if I do not obey, how can he set those plans into motion? The Israelites did not obey without serious protest and God became angry with them several times. He kept asking them why they wouldn't obey his commands. They walked around the desert for 40 years while God had to teach them how to obey him.
- My children, do not worry about food, I will feed you heavenly food every day. Do not gather more than you need today, for tomorrow I will feed you again. Except for the day before the Sabbath, gather enough for 2 days, which is the only time this food will not spoil on the next day. The ones that obeyed had no problem. The ones that didn't went hungry and I am sure complained about it.
-Noah, build a giant boat I am going to flood the earth. Noah probably asked God what a flood was. But Noah did this, at that time, very bizarre task, even thought it most likely didn't make any sense to him. Very simply, Noah obeyed.
-Abraham, take your son up to this mountain and kill him as an offering to me. Now that command took serious trust in God, to know that God knew what he was doing. Abraham obeyed. God blessed him beyond measure because he obeyed.
-Joshua, you will take this city by walking around in circles. No weapons will be needed you do not need to charge the city gates. Just walk around in circles and then blow your trumpets. Joshua, amazingly, obeyed. And the walls came tumbling down, because Joshua obeyed.
-Jesus spit in some dirt, put the mud he made on a guy's eyes and told him to go wash it off at this one specific pool. Now this to a normal person makes no sense but the guy did not wipe off the mud right away, he went to the exact pool as he was told and washed it off there. He got to see for the first time ever in his life because he obeyed.
My obedience is nowhere near that I don't think. But lately God is showing me how to obey just by trust. Thinking about it with a worldly mind makes me look nuts. Our job and our home at this point have no security, we are managing an apartment complex that is being sold, and another management company will be managing it. But I have been realizing that I never put my trust in my job or my home so that never really got me worried. What did, was knowing that I have a responsibility to my children. I am not just throwing caution to the wind for myself but my kids too. However, I am trusting in God. I know that he already has in place our next step. We just have to obey him and trust that he knows what he is doing.
Obedience takes trust, it really does. It also takes faith, which is very similar to trust - but not the same thing. Me trusting in the Lord and obeying him is yet another way I can train my kids to obey without question. This is the best lesson as it is by example. Now, I don't ask them to lift up their staff so the sea can be parted or to fill several jars with oil that seems to be coming out of nowhere because you know there wasn't that much in the first jar to begin with. I am just telling them to put their shoes on even though we aren't going anywhere. Go brush their hair even though they already did. Put this object over there for no apparent reason. Or to just do something that needs to be done without them asking "Why?" Now, here is a question. Why is it common now to have to explain every reason to a child? Children do not need to always know why; they just need to obey, "Because I said so." Noah, Abraham, the blind guy I am sure did not ask why and I know that God did not explain it to them before they obeyed.
Obedience is not on the condition of knowing why, it is to be on the condition of trusting that God (or the person in authority) knows what he is doing.
Jonah did not obey. God had to discipline him by allowing a giant fish to swallow him (yuck that is just gross!) and throwing him up on the beach (like I said-yuck) so Jonah could have a second chance at obedience. At my house, that happens. But not as gross, just an effective means of discipline to allow the kids to rethink the whole obedience thing and try again. Jonah learned his lesson. But of course, who would want to be swallowed twice. My kids usually learn their lesson the first time, but then again I don't have them swallowed by a fish.
I am learning a lesson in obedience. I know I have just scratched the very top layer of the surface on obedience. The Bible is so full of examples. The greatest example of all, Christ was obedient to the cross. If he didn't obey, I would be facing certain eternal death and so would every person who has ever walked the face of this earth.
"I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:17&18
"Although he was a son he learned obedience from what he suffered and, one made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" Hebrews 5:8
When I am training my kids, God is faithful to show me how he trains me in the same way. He wants me to obey even the most strange, or illogical commands without question, for my own good. He has plans for me to prosper and if I do not obey, how can he set those plans into motion? The Israelites did not obey without serious protest and God became angry with them several times. He kept asking them why they wouldn't obey his commands. They walked around the desert for 40 years while God had to teach them how to obey him.
- My children, do not worry about food, I will feed you heavenly food every day. Do not gather more than you need today, for tomorrow I will feed you again. Except for the day before the Sabbath, gather enough for 2 days, which is the only time this food will not spoil on the next day. The ones that obeyed had no problem. The ones that didn't went hungry and I am sure complained about it.
-Noah, build a giant boat I am going to flood the earth. Noah probably asked God what a flood was. But Noah did this, at that time, very bizarre task, even thought it most likely didn't make any sense to him. Very simply, Noah obeyed.
-Abraham, take your son up to this mountain and kill him as an offering to me. Now that command took serious trust in God, to know that God knew what he was doing. Abraham obeyed. God blessed him beyond measure because he obeyed.
-Joshua, you will take this city by walking around in circles. No weapons will be needed you do not need to charge the city gates. Just walk around in circles and then blow your trumpets. Joshua, amazingly, obeyed. And the walls came tumbling down, because Joshua obeyed.
-Jesus spit in some dirt, put the mud he made on a guy's eyes and told him to go wash it off at this one specific pool. Now this to a normal person makes no sense but the guy did not wipe off the mud right away, he went to the exact pool as he was told and washed it off there. He got to see for the first time ever in his life because he obeyed.
My obedience is nowhere near that I don't think. But lately God is showing me how to obey just by trust. Thinking about it with a worldly mind makes me look nuts. Our job and our home at this point have no security, we are managing an apartment complex that is being sold, and another management company will be managing it. But I have been realizing that I never put my trust in my job or my home so that never really got me worried. What did, was knowing that I have a responsibility to my children. I am not just throwing caution to the wind for myself but my kids too. However, I am trusting in God. I know that he already has in place our next step. We just have to obey him and trust that he knows what he is doing.
Obedience takes trust, it really does. It also takes faith, which is very similar to trust - but not the same thing. Me trusting in the Lord and obeying him is yet another way I can train my kids to obey without question. This is the best lesson as it is by example. Now, I don't ask them to lift up their staff so the sea can be parted or to fill several jars with oil that seems to be coming out of nowhere because you know there wasn't that much in the first jar to begin with. I am just telling them to put their shoes on even though we aren't going anywhere. Go brush their hair even though they already did. Put this object over there for no apparent reason. Or to just do something that needs to be done without them asking "Why?" Now, here is a question. Why is it common now to have to explain every reason to a child? Children do not need to always know why; they just need to obey, "Because I said so." Noah, Abraham, the blind guy I am sure did not ask why and I know that God did not explain it to them before they obeyed.
Obedience is not on the condition of knowing why, it is to be on the condition of trusting that God (or the person in authority) knows what he is doing.
Jonah did not obey. God had to discipline him by allowing a giant fish to swallow him (yuck that is just gross!) and throwing him up on the beach (like I said-yuck) so Jonah could have a second chance at obedience. At my house, that happens. But not as gross, just an effective means of discipline to allow the kids to rethink the whole obedience thing and try again. Jonah learned his lesson. But of course, who would want to be swallowed twice. My kids usually learn their lesson the first time, but then again I don't have them swallowed by a fish.
I am learning a lesson in obedience. I know I have just scratched the very top layer of the surface on obedience. The Bible is so full of examples. The greatest example of all, Christ was obedient to the cross. If he didn't obey, I would be facing certain eternal death and so would every person who has ever walked the face of this earth.
"I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:17&18
"Although he was a son he learned obedience from what he suffered and, one made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" Hebrews 5:8
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