Thursday, October 28, 2010

A Song

This Week’s Readings: 1 Chronicles 10-16; Psalm 42; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 8-10:1-18

“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”

(Psalm 42:8 NIV)

My hours are consumed these days in a life-lesson on sacrificial love. Like never before, I’m learning what it’s like to totally set my own needs aside and care for the needs of someone else. At times this is extremely difficult. There are nights when I’m up with my little baby for hours at a time, holding her, changing her, and rocking her back to sleep. In those moments, I would much rather be asleep in my own bed, but instead I’m wide awake, missing my warm sheets and soft pillow. During the day she’ll often call me away from a warm meal, or her needs will cause me to stay home, instead of doing something with friends. Her needs are immediate, she doesn’t yet understand how to wait. If she wants something, she cries distressingly until she gets it. She needs my love, and when she asks for it, I give it.

Because how much more has God loved me? How much has He given me? More then I can express or imagine. By day He helps me love this little one. He directs me in how to love her best. And by night His song is upon my heart, as I rock my sweet little girl back to sleep.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Thoughts?


Readings from this week: 1 Chronicles 1- 9; 1 Corinthians 6-7

“ I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:32-35 NIV).

I haven’t had much to say about this week’s readings. The selections from 1 Chronicles have been a genealogy of names, from the beginning of time up to King David. I do find it amazing that so much was memorized. It makes me wish that I could list my family tree back farther then a few generations. In 1 Corinthians we read about lawsuits among believers, sexual immorality, and finally marriage. Paul truly believed that it was better to be unmarried. His thought was that if you were unmarried, you could truly devote all of your energy to God, while if you were married you had a spouse and family to consider as well. While I love being married, I do kind of understand his point of view. Being married is tough, and my focus is often divided between my husband and my God. It takes a conscious effort to ensure that God truly is number one in my life.

Just the same, being married is a wonderful thing. God has truly blessed me in this department. I’ve heard it said that a Christian marriage is the closest experience we have to experiencing God’s amazing love for each of us. The intimacy we experience with our spouse here on this earth is only the smallest picture of God’s love.

What an amazing thought! It leaves me feeling truly blessed.

What have you take from these readings? Did anything in particular stand out to you?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

My Bandaged Heart

Today’s Reading: Psalm 147-150; 1 Corinthians 4-5

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

On my own I try to bandage things. I try to cover up the wounds. I hide what I’m feeling from those around me. I let hurts in my heart fester and become even worse. I stew, I fret, I withdraw from those around me. The tiny tears in my heart become larger as I try to deal with the pain on my own.

But my Jesus comes to me. He opens up his hands and waits patiently for me. For some reason I often close my eyes so that I cannot see his open hands. Perhaps I’m afraid to let go of the pain I hold on so readily to.

But still he waits until I come to a moment of brokenness. The band aides over my heart aren’t holding anymore. My death-like grip loosens, and I give over my hurting heart to him. I release my pent-up feelings, my anxiety, my brokenness, and finally give him the control he needs to fix it. I place the wounds and battle scars into his arms and the healing begins.

More often then naught the healing isn’t instant. Instead it takes a lifetime of giving my broken heart back to Him, over and over again. And boy have I done it! I’ve had so many instances when my heart has been broken in millions of pieces, and I’ve needed my Savior to put the pieces back together again.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Today I’m Thankful For…

Today’s Reading: Psalm 136, 146; 1 Corinthians 3

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1 NIV).

My mom reminded me the other day to enjoy each part of this motherhood experience. It’s so easy to look into the future and wish that it would hurry up and get here. I look ahead 1 ½ months to when my family will be visiting for Thanksgiving. I look ahead five months to when my little one can start eating solid food. I look ahead to when she can talk, when she can walk, and all of the fun adventures we’ll have over the years.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine to dream about the future. I think we all do it. But just the same, there’s something special about living in the here and now. There’s something special about searching for the ordinary blessings in each and every day. For our God is good, and He blesses us in so many ways. With the nights being so long and the adjustment to motherhood being so hard at times, my heart feels the urge to seek out those reasons to be thankful. It’s a topic you’ll see me come back to day after day. But I think it’s an important one. One we all could stand focusing on a little more. As you consider what ordinary things you’re thankful for, I’ll leave you with my list for today:

I’m thankful for a baby girl who sometimes wants nothing more then to be held by her momma.

I’m thankful for skinny vanilla lattes… in fact maybe I should go get one in the next little bit.

I’m thankful for Fall, even if it is a little different then the Fall I knew growing up. I love this time of year, when sweaters come out of storage and pumpkins and apples are ready for the picking.

I’m thankful for today in all of it’s ordinariness. (I made up a word there, but oh well).

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A Song on My Heart

Today’s Reading: Psalm 133-135; 1 Corinthians 2

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant” (Psalm 135:3 NIV).

It’s so easy for me to look at the negative. I didn’t have time to take a shower this morning. I’m tired all the time these days. My little girl’s cries give me a headache at times. My house is a mess, and I never seem to have the time to clean it.

Being a new mom is rough. I feel as if my job titles of freelance writer and homemaker have gone by the wayside as I’ve taken on the role of mommy. It’s so easy for me to look at all I’m not accomplishing, instead of everything I am.

I’m feeding, changing, and loving on a little baby. I’m investing in her little life, so that she grows up confident in my love. I’m telling her about Jesus so that one day in the somewhat distant future she accepts Him as her personal Savior.

It’s so easy to look at all the time I don’t have, instead of looking at what I do have. I have a beautiful, healthy little girl who is such a wonderful mixture of her daddy and me. I have a husband who goes out of his way to help around the house, and who can’t get enough of his little girl. I have friends and family who encourage me daily and remind me that time is fleeting. And I have a Savior who gives me the strength to make it through each long night of feedings, and gives me the grace to make it through each day.

With all those things, I can’t help but have a song of praise in my heart today.

What can you praise God for today?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Tired and Weak

Today’s Reading: Psalms 130-132; 1 Corinthians 1

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1: 27-30 NIV).

Today my earthly body feels tired and weak. It’s hard work taking care of an infant. I often feel as If I have nothing left to give, but then I pray, and somehow find the strength to give a little more. For me, the nights are the hardest. I’ve always been someone who needs my solid eight hours a night. This whole waking up every couple of hours to feed a baby thing is really stretching me. I don’t know how I do it every night, but I do. Often times morning comes and I feel exhausted. It’s only by the grace of God that I find the energy to make it through each day. In 1 Corinthians 1, we read that God “chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (vs. 27 NIV). Weakness takes on a whole new meaning now that I’m a mother. Day in and day out I recognize my utter frailty in this world. I recognize my need for a Savior who understands how tired and raw my emotions are. I recognize how much I need to depend on Him for strength and love to make it through each day. Because my little girl needs a momma full of strength and love who doesn’t begrudgingly see to her needs, but lovingly cherishes every late night feeding, and every time she snuggles up close to me for a bit. Time is fleeting. These days of late night feedings will be gone before I know it. And so I choose to cherish them, and depend on my God for strength when mine is gone.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Our God the Builder

Our God the Builder

Today’s Reading: Psalm 127-129; Acts 18

I’ve been staring at these verses for quite awhile. In fact, I actually read them two days ago, and I’ve been wondering what to write ever since. Nothing really has been coming to mind. Sometimes when I read scripture a verse leaps off the page and pricks my heart. The application to my life is instantly there. Other times I don’t really find anything that applies. This morning, I finally found an application. Here’s what I found:
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1 NIV).

My husband and I made a vow, way back when we were still dating, that God would always be at the center of our relationship. We truly believe that by keeping our focus on God, we will be drawn closer together as a couple. At times, this is easier said then done. It’s so easy to get our focus out of whack. We get busy, get preoccupied, and rely too much on our significant other for our happiness.
This last part is where I fail especially. I depend on my husband too much, and forget to depend on my God most of all. For, as much as my husband loves and protects me, he can never love me as much as my Savior. That is why my focus and dependence has to be on my God most of all. My husband will sadly fall short from time to time, my God never will.
By keeping our focus on God, we are allowing Him to build up our marriage, our family, our household. We’re allowing Him to ultimately be in control. This takes on a new meaning now that we have a small daughter. The responsibility of caring for her is daunting at times. We need our Savior to be in control like never before. We need His direction, guidance and wisdom to help us as we rear up this young soul. We need Him to build up our house, because it wouldn’t be pretty if we tried to do it on our own.

Who is building up your household?

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Peace

Today’s Reading: Psalms 123-125; 2 Thessalonians 3

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV).

Peace is something that seems a bit hard to come by these days. With a little baby in tow, I feel as if I’m always running from one thing to the next. Her waking hours are spent crying, and her sleeping hours are either a chance for me to catch a nap, or to catch up on the large amount of house hold chores that always needs to be done. This morning for instance, I heard my little one start to stir, so I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, washed my face, and started a load of laundry. I ran around like crazy, only to find that she wasn’t waking up after all, only talking in her sleep. That’s not peace if you ask me.
But where is peace then?
Peace is there when I take the time to seek it out. My life may seem new and hectic at times, but peace is still there, ready to be found.
Peace is found when my fussy baby finally falls asleep in my arms, and I look at her beautiful little fingers and toes. Peace is found when I step outside in my yard, and simply enjoy the feeling of the sun on my face.
Peace is found late at night, as I hold my little one close and she sucks away on her bottle.
Peace is found in my heart, even on the craziest of days, when my baby won’t stop crying, and my head is hurting like crazy.
Peace is found when I reach out to my Savior and ask Him to fill in the gaps in my life where I don’t measure up.
Peace is fond when I seek it.

Do you need peace in your life today?