Death and Life

May 30, 2013 By

Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24

Dying to bear fruit – to bring life. We see it as we hike.Life from Death

 

I point it out to my kids. The moss and baby tree growing out of a dead one. And I whispered the truth, “God did that to point to Jesus. His death brings life…”

And isn’t it like God to change the order of things?

What looks like an end is a beginning. What looks like defeat is victory. And life comes from death.

Elisabeth Elliot spoke of little deaths as opportunities to say yes to God and no to yourself.

An opportunity to forgive instead of hold a grudge…

A chance to use self-control instead of yelling.

Offering the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping to conclusions.

Giving your resources to help others when you really want to buy that fun toy or cute sweater.

Little deaths. Dying to what we want so we can live for what God wants.

And it hurts to die. But there is joy because as we die to ourselves, God brings new life – fruit is produced.

So are you ready to die so that you can live? What little deaths do you need to be willing to die?

by Angela Mackey

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Mom Mission Statement…and why it’s important to have one

May 28, 2013 By

Mom Mission Statement Graphic (1)

4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NLT

Mission Statements — Most businesses have them, ministries have them, and so do several other organizations. They guide the organizations in pursuit of the main goal of what and why they do what they do.

As a matter of fact, according to Dictionary.com, here is what the official definition of mission statement is; an official document that sets out the goals, purpose, and work of an organization.

Why is it that we have mission statements for our work and ministry life, but don’t necessarily have them for our families or our parenting?

I’m not sure when this idea actually hit me but it was many years ago when my boys were little (they aren’t so little any longer). I remember talking with my husband and dreaming about what kind of men they would be when they grew up. That simple little conversation sparked something in me that wanted to be more proactive in my approach as a mom.

I wasn’t going to sit by and just let things happen (yes, yes, I have control issues, but this time it actually helped) to our boys as they grew up. I was going to be specific and intentional in my approach as their mom. I didn’t necessarily have a laid out plan for what this was going to look like in the long haul, but what I did do was to create a MOM Mission Statement.

I know, I know, it might sound a little corny, but I’ve been in ministry for almost fifteen years and have always had a mission statement in my professional and personal ministry, so it seemed a natural fit for me to craft up a mom mission statement. This would be the guiding factor in what would become of the many decisions for my boys for many years to come. It’s not a perfect formula, but it has worked for me and I’m hoping that by sharing this idea, that maybe it will work for you too.

So, what was this magical formula for my boys, well, for me, it was simply this;

“I want to raise godly men that know and fear the Lord, that will seek Him first in all that they do, that will lead their families with strength, honor and integrity and that will serve Him with all their heart and soul in whatever He has planned for them to do.”

See, nothing out of the ordinary, but by writing it down it became my guiding light in all the decisions, prayers and ways that my husband and I would parent them. Did we always hit the mark…um, no, but thankfully this framework has helped me, as their mom, to narrow down to the core the principles of what I’m do teach them, as their mom, before they leave my house.

We are their mom’s…forever, but the reality is that we have a limited amount of time to teach and train them all they need to know before they head off into the world on their own. Why not be proactive about and decide right now what it is that God wants you to pour into them so that they can be all God created them to be.

It’s a decision that has served our family well over the years. Our boys are nineteen and seventeen now and no, they are not perfect, but they are good, godly young men. They serve, they give and they are passionately pursuing what God has planned for them–and as their mom, there’s nothing that makes me more happy than that.

What about you…

Have you ever thought about making a MOM Mission Statement?

What things would you add in your mission statement that are specific to your child(ren)?

 I can’t wait to hear what ideas this sparks! I’m praying for you as you seek to see if this is something that might work for your family too.

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

Melissa Mashburn

www.MelissaMashburn.net

 

 

 

 

 

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See the BOID!

May 8, 2013 By

“My sister was carrying my daughter, Kim, down the hall of a hospital. Little Kim was looking back and saying, “See the boid!” (bird – she couldn’t yet say her Rs). Gail turned to see what bird could possibly be in the hospital, and there stood three nuns. Kim thought they were penguins.”* PenguinMy friend, Sandra Chapman, shared this story in the “Laugh Out Loud” section of  The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World.  

 

IT’S GOOD TO LAUGH, DON’T YOU THINK?

I remember the day when my children, Taylor and Lauren, were little and the milk spilled for the upteenth time.  I finally decided to laugh. Not cry. Not scream. Not get mad. Instead, realize that accidents were going to happen when you’re raising little ones.

If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?

But sometimes a mom can feel like a BASKET CASE!

What drives you almost INSANE?

Are there some things we CAN DO to have a MORE SANE home and family life? Yes! As a matter of fact, I listed 75 pointers in The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World.

Which might help you?

75  7 POINTERS for a SANE FAMILY** You don’t have time to read all 75 right now. :)  

1. Be in the moment with the one you’re with.

If you’ve set aside 15 minutes to play with the kids, then make it play time. Put your phone in your purse and don’t text, call, or answer it.

2. Laugh together.

Telling old stories keeps them alive in your mind and your child’s mind. “Do you remember when you were three and you asked me how God got dinosaurs to heaven?”

3. Pray immediately, not later.

If Carson is worried he won’t make the soccer team, instead of saying, “We’ll pray you do,” pray that moment. “Carson, I know you want to make the team, and you’re so good! Let’s pray that if it is God’s will, that you will. Heavenly Father, thank You for making Carson with feet and legs that can run and with a good strong body that can play soccer. We pray that if it is Your will for Him to make the team that He will. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Now, Carson, go out and do your best. We’ll trust God with what happens. I love you.”

4. Listen to Christian music.

Studies prove that music has a powerful effect on us. When you or your kids are down or they’re trying your nerves, play Christian music. It’s good for your soul and your kids.

5. Say, “Good morning!” and greet each family member with a smile in the mornings.

It sets the tone and mood for the day. Trust me on this.

6. Read at least one verse from your Bible every morning.

“I gotta have it!” we say about our coffee. “Caffeine gets me through the day,” we explain. Sure, it may physically get you through the day. But what about emotionally? A great addiction is a verse a day. It WILL impact you and affect whether or not you are sane and raise sane kids.

7. Last but not least. Say, “I love you,” in the morning when you hug little ones and often throughout the day.

Say, “I love you” to that tween and teen and let them hear you say it to others. God is LOVE. If we want our children to grow in God and be loving adults, we must pray for God to fill us with His love. We must speak loving words. We must articulate our love.

I guess I really gave you 8 POINTERS. The last is really the first. Before you get out of bed, if you want to be sane and more than sane and raise sane kids, PRAY for God to FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT.  You can’t do the mommy thing well nor God’s way without CHRIST INFUSING YOUR MIND, EMOTIONS, & SPIRIT.

HAPPY SANE MOTHER’S DAY!

 ”The fruit of the SPIRIT is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS, SELF-CONTROL,”                        Galatians 5:22-23.

Love, Debbie

The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World

The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World: How to Raise Faithful Kids in a Flawed World

**75 POINTERS for a SANE FAMILY, pages 215-217.

DEBBIE TAYLOR WILLIAMS, Spreading the Word and Love of God.

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How to Alt-Ctrl-Delete Your Life

May 3, 2013 By

At times in our lives, we reach a point where we simply need a restart to get everything smoothly working again.  For me that comes in time with the LORD. Sometimes that time becomes to us another thing on the long, laundry list we fill and are overwhelmed by each day.  But it doesn’t have to be so hard. It is a time apart with our dearest friend, Jesus, who gets us when we are distracted or worn thin as a sheet. So we come to Him and find rest, joy and blessing.

100_5214Right now, these are my quiet time materials: Beth Moore’s A Heart Like His devotional journal (about David), My Partner Prayer Notebook by Becky Tirabassi, a three-divider notebook, and my Bible (an ESV study Bible, not pictured). This is something I try to do every morning before going downstairs. I do it because I need it–not to check off a list, not to say that I did it, not really even to share it with others. I spend this time because I NEED it.

Also, I have some devotionals that I change out every year.  My current ones are Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman and Tozer on the Almighty God (A VERY GOOD ONE!!), a great compilation of A.W. Tozer’s writings.  I stagger reading various non-fiction books, too, that challenge my walk with the Lord.  The ones that have blessed me lately are E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Angie Smith’s What Women Fear and Brennan Manning’s Memoir All is Grace.

Finally, I read fiction–I love to read fiction and often am spurred on in the faith from various writers. I am re-reading Tolkein’s The Hobbit right now and then this summer, I’ll be diving into his Lord of the Rings series, which I have never read.  Many of these materials have so marked my life that I am truly different because of taking their words to heart.

I have heard different Bible teachers and pastors say that any trouble you are facing at any given moment, the Bible has something to say about it. It’s timeless and has an answer for these troubles. That is true. But you have to read it to find out!

A Bible concordance is a great place to find answers to various topics.  Read beyond one scripture–read the whole chapter and book.  If you are wanting to grow in the area of studying the Bible, Beth Moore wrote a blog post here that will show you tools to begin and get deeper into study of the Word.

I cannot count the times when I have been reading along in the Bible and found that a theme would begin in my mind about something I’m dealing with–be it people, situations or even myself. I know this is because of the Holy Spirit. When I asked Christ in my life to save me and forgive me, He entrusted me with His Spirit. So anytime I am reading the Bible or discussing something with a friend, I will hear a MESSAGE from Him. It may be like this, “stop this conversation now, you are walking down the wrong road.” Or I may read and hear, “go and call this person now, ask about their family.” Now I know I didn’t just come up with these things. They happen! And because I heed His voice in these matters, I find that the messages get louder and clearer each time.

When I have a quiet time, at times I face an inner struggle. My mind will focus on the to-do list that day or I can’t seem to “take-in” what I’m reading. I struggle with sitting still and being quiet. Wanting to make it fresh myself, I buy brightly colored materials–I love a blank page! I try to trick myself into thinking that it will make a difference. But it won’t. It doesn’t. That is when I hear His message to me again, “Just Me, Holly. Just take time in my Word. Keep it simple. You are trying to do too much at once and for the wrong reason.”

At times, we all need to re-boot our systems. Get rid of the junk that has accumulated, and start again with the basic programs to run more smoothly. The Lord comes in an enlarges our memory, as we spend time with Him. He gets rid of those nasty viruses of self: pride, self-importance, greed, jealousy, gossip, and simply getting our priorities mixed up. I need that! Sometimes, I hear His gentle reminder to me and sometimes He gets in my face about what attitudes I’m choosing. And I say, Yes, Lord. You’re right, Lord. AGAIN Lord, I come to you with hands upturned and mouth ready to be filled with good things in your Presence.

Exodus 33:14
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 89:15
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

REST-JOY-BLESSING: we all need these every day! Get in His Word and keep it simple. You will be so glad you did!

By Holly Smith

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Why Moms Should Keep Their Promises

April 23, 2013 By

straws“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them,” (Proverbs 20:7, NLT).

I spent fifteen dollars on a snow cone. Crazy, right?

Of course this wasn’t just any snow cone. This was a super-sized, rainbow flavored, tantalizing treat scooped into a commemorative Tinkerbell mug. Yes, my husband and I took our girls to the Disney on Ice show, and one glance around the arena told us we weren’t the only parents forking over ridiculous cash for souvenirs.

Why? What kind of mother buys a fifteen-dollar snow cone?

A good one, I think.

Not because good mothers pay a fortune for shaved ice balls. Seriously, what was in that thing to make it worth fifteen bucks? Pixie dust?

Good mothers do, however, keep their promises. You see, before we settled into our seats, I promised my daughter a snow cone. How was I supposed to know they’d charge me a healthy kidney for it? There were no signs, no announcements to warn us—get your overpriced snow cones here! By the time the concession peddler approached our row and I flagged him down, it was already too late. I promised. Therefore, I paid.

Woman figure skatingIn today’s world, it seems promises are easily diluted. Commitments are optional. Covenants are casually broken. Yet God calls his people to live a life of integrity. One of the simplest ways we can do that is by keeping our word. God keeps his promises to us. So I will keep my promises to my children—even when it’s hard.

Even when it hurts.

Even when it costs more than I bargained for.

A souvenir mug may not guarantee my daughters will remember our special family outing ten years from now. But they will remember this—their mother is a habitual promise-keeper. That, to me, is priceless.

Good moms keep their promises.

Good moms probably also have rules against things like straw-slurping the bottom of a Tinkerbell mug in public. If that’s the case, then I have my faults. My girls lapped up every last drop of that snow cone. I made sure of it.

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Heightened Awareness: Living Life in the Midst of the Unknown

April 19, 2013 By

Heightened Awareness Graphic 4-2013

© Angela Farley | Dreamstime Stock Photos RF-LL

Most of my life is lived in a constant state of heightened awareness. At any given moment I am painfully aware that I could have to drop everything and be in the middle of a medical crisis. Truth be told, that is pretty much true for any of us, especially moms.

Our kids are in a state of constant movement and yes, at any given time, they could get hurt. For me, it is the same, except that I have also experienced this medical crisis too many times.

In 2005 my oldest son woke up that morning for school and he just didn’t seem “right?”. I thought he might have been having a stomach ache, or maybe it could have been from the fall he had the night before from running in the house with his socks on, either way I was not prepared for how dramatically life would change in that one instant.

He went from just not “right” to full blown grand mal seizures and continued seizing for forty five minutes. He was eleven years old at the time and in the middle of that my then nine year old walked in and witnessed every single minute of it. The ambulance came and next thing I knew my boy was on a helicopter headed to the children’s hospital…without me.

We had no idea what was going on or that from that moment on our lives would be in a constant state of heightened awareness. He spent fifty one days in the PICU of the children’s hospital and after several procedures, infections, complications, and more he walked out of the hospital with a new side effect of the trauma his body went through, he would be forever insulin dependent and was now diabetic. We had the best doctors, training and more and had walked the road of juvenile diabetes for almost four years when he started having seizures again.

Just when things started to fall into a new normal the walls of our lives were rattled and here we were in a new state of heightened awareness.

Never knowing what was going on in his world, every phone call, text, or communication with our son started with “are you ok?” and then we could process whatever he was talking about and move on.

Years of doctors appointments, tests, blood work, referrals and more added to the stress, anxiety and worry. Living in this constant state of awareness and always being ready to jump into action is exhausting–not just mentally, but physically and emotionally as well.

We are eight years on this journey now and we have learned a lot of lessons through this, but something keeps banging up against my heart whenever I start to feel the anxiousness of the heightened awareness and that is this — what if we were to “shift” (my one word for 2013) our thoughts and awareness from the issue and put it squarely where it belongs…on God.

Moving the focus from the stuff going on in our lives (and let’s face it, we all have stuff) and resting it on the only One that can do anything about it. To have His peace, comfort and rest would be a blessed reprieve for most of us right now.

Hang with me here, if we lived in a state of heightened awareness of God, then imagine with me how you might feel emotionally? physically? emotionally?

For I am always aware of your unfailing love,

   and I have lived according to your truth.

Psalm 26:3 NLT

Sweet friends, I know it isn’t always easy to make that shift, believe me, it is still something that I wrestle with almost daily, but this I know — He is in control (Hebrews 2:8). He has a perfect plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11), for your family and He wants nothing more than to shower you with His love (Romans 5:5).

What does living in a state of heightened awareness of God look like?

It can be anything as simple as;

  1. starting your day with a “Good Morning God”,

  2. to stopping in the middle of a busy day to say “thank you” for the sunshine, the children in your life, or for any of the blessings you’ve been given that day.

  3. or even listening to worship music and being fully present in that moment to enjoy it.

I don’t know what it looks like for you, but I do know this, the peace from shifting my heightened awareness from the health issues to God and who He is, has brought me so much more comfort in living life in the midst of the unknown.

Yes, like any mama bear that has a child (well, he’s an adult now, but he’s still my boy) with health issues I am painfully aware that things can change in an instant, but I have peace that no matter what happens my God will carry me through and that is more than enough for me right this very moment.

What about you?

When living in the state of heightened awareness which are you looking for that peace and comfort in the most — physically, mentally or emotionally?

How would living in your day to day world change if you made that shift and were in a state of heightened awareness to the presence of God?

I look forward to hearing from you…

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

Melissa Mashburn

www.MelissaMashburn.net

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Looking for a Fence

April 5, 2013 By

Looking for a FenceGrowing up on a 100-acre cattle and horse farm, I learned early on how to put in a fence post.

First you needed gloves to protect your hands from blisters and thorny-pieces of wood. Then you’d take the post-hole digger and begin at the spot designated for the fence post. As a weakling like me, you jumped on the top of the post-hole digger. Jumping over and over and over, you would work the post-hole digger down. Then carefully, you would open the post-hole digger and hold the dirt you have displaced and set it outside and beside the hole.

Then you begin again, until the hole is the right depth in the earth. You pick up the post (usually a very heavy piece of timber, sometimes covered in creosote) and place it in the hole. Then with a careful hand and a level, you begin to place the dirt back in the hole, tamping it down with your boot, as you go, and keeping the post level.

In the hot Texas sun, this was some kind of work–really a two person job! The creosote would heat up and exude a smell that became familiar. It reminded me of the railroad tracks we used to walk on as kids. A strong smell and a good memory combine to make the smell a likable one–even when it really isn’t.

When the posts are up and the fence railings nailed in place, you can keep a lot of strong animals out or in, depending upon your goal. It was hard work that really made me proud, as a young, teen-aged girl.

So I began to think about this yesterday, a fence equals hard work and a lot of effort to build. So does offense. Yes ma’am, so does offense.

How often do we put on our gloves to build up offense? How much work and effort do we put into offense? Can you smell offense in your life today–has it become associated in your mind with something justifiable, so that the bad smell has grown on you?

WELL, what do we do with it?

I remember a plane ride I took a few years ago with a new friend. We were both Christians and shared much of our lives in the short two hour trip. It was a special time. My friend has discerning nature. Yes indeed, she is quite discerning…

She said to me, “I can see that you struggle with being easily offended.”

What does one do with that? Well the easily offended one could get offended, right? But I didn’t, I took her words to heart. And every once in awhile I replay them in my mind. Then I hold up those words before the LORD and say, “See this Father? This is offense. I turn it over to You.”

Granted there are justifiable things that happen to offend us. I have a list of them…justified offenses. People I have trusted being untrustworthy–hurts and pains are all of them–and forgiveness is vital for our lives. But the LORD asks me to hand it over to Him…for my good…’cause He loves me and sees the hole in me that is beginning to reek of creosote.

It says in the Merriam-Webster dictionary that an offense is a cause or occasion of sin. Both the offender sins and the offended then has an occasion to sin.

What do we do with offense? Where do we begin?

  • Well Job says it like this in Job 13:23:

How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.

  • So we ask the LORD to show us, where have we been offending and where have we been offended. Then we progress on in the situation…we cover the offenses (tamp it down with your boot, if you will) and turn away from them:

A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die.

Ezekiel 18:28

  • Then we simply turn to the LORD, as He says:

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Isaiah 44:22

The thing about it is this–and this is my rendition of the wisdom from my friend on the plane–carrying around fences is burdensome. There is no need to carry them around. Stop white-washing and lay down your timbers, friends. Place them lovingly at your Jesus’ feet. He knows what it is to offend and to be offended. He is wise about it.

No, Jesus didn’t walk to please others. There are just some things in this journey of life that WILL bring offense to others. If it’s sin, confess it to God and to them. If it’s of their own making, then you must walk on from it, as Jesus did.

When He bore the offense of our sins on the cross, He was despised for our sake. But for the JOY set before Him, He endured the offense of the cross–rejected for our sakes.

Jesus HAS redeemed you! Now, take off your gloves. Lay down your posts. Throw off the smell and be free of a fence for Heaven’s sake (and I mean that literally). And since you have your boot’s on, take a spin of praise with me! He has set us free. We are free indeed!

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Come Away With Me

March 8, 2013 By

Every week or so, I feel a strong tug on my heart, a prompting from the Lord, to COME and GET AWAY with Him for awhile.  I may be dropping my kids off at school in the morning (it may have taken 14 years, but we are finally out of the baby/toddler/preschool stage!), and I hear His voice, quietly beckoning me to come on a walk with Him.

Come Away With MeSo I do!  I grab my journal and Bible (and camera!)—sometimes even buy a nice cup of coffee for the time—and I drive to a nearby park called Fox Run.  It is a beautiful place here in Colorado to just go and be.  Often I go early enough that it is just me and God.

I park the car and begin to pray over the time.  Then I jump out and start to walk the trails.  All the while, I am praying and praising—noticing everything around me.  I notice the turtle that bobs its head up above the water.  I notice the fallen acorn on the path.  I notice the color of the leaves and the markings (likely from deer and elk) on the trees.  I notice the sounds of the mama birds, as they tend to their babies.  And I watch the playful swoop of the falcon flying overhead, looking for a bite to eat.  I notice the sound of the rushing water.  And I begin to FEEL myself unwind.

All the pressure and strain from the days and the worries that had been so prevalent only moments before begin to fall away.  It’s like the song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus… “and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”  He calls us all out (and I believe that part of being called out is to physically GO OUTSIDE), to be with Him.  Aside from all the wonderful health benefits of walking and sunshine, there is a soul need that every mother has to be outside with our Savior….alone with Him.

After I have spent a goodly time warming up my muscles in exercise, I find a place to stop and begin to dig through the scriptures.  I often read aloud.  Oh magnify the Lord.  The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower, the righteous run to Him and are safe. Be still and know that I am God. Let everything that has breath, Praise the LORD!  Often I go through my Bible with no agenda. I just read wherever I land.  Sometimes I read through an entire book or chapter…sometimes I focus in on ONE power-packed verse.  Every time, it is God’s direct Word on the page spoken to my heart.

As I read, I communicate with Him.  I draw out a particular word and say, YES, Lord, I needed that reminder that you are with me.  You are for me.  You love me.  You care for me.  You SEE me.  You hear me.

I then begin to write whatever prompts I have from that time.  I write what I hear Him say to me in His Word and what I feel He is saying to me through the time walking and savoring His Presence.  I write what I fear.  I write what I know.  Then finally, I lay it all out at His feet and say, “I TRUST you, LORD.”

Finally, I sit in silence a few moments longer and listen.  I still everything that clamors.  And I listen.  Sometimes I hear only silence.  But it is a silence that creeps deep into my soul and my spirit feels His peace.

When I arise, I continue to think on what He spoke.  For He ALWAYS speaks….even in a whisper.  I walk and capture the pictures of beauty all around me—Colorado is an easy place to find raw beauty.  As I drive home, I ready myself for the day ahead.  I notice that ONE hour of time that morning changed everything—my thoughts, emotions, strain and even fears.

No matter what stage of life you find yourself, GET OUTDOORS and say YES to God’s daily invitation for you to come apart with Him for awhile. Be it five minutes or a few hours.  Say Yes and be BLESSED.

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A Mother’s Heart…A Valentine Special

February 14, 2013 By

Valentine's Day

~~A special Valentine just for you~~

In Max Lucado’s book, When Christ Comes, is a beautiful love story of a prince and his peasant bride The prince is stately, peerless, yet she is common, plain. “His attraction to her is baffling.”

She is sometimes “sullen and sour, even cranky.” Not the type you’d want to spend the rest of your life with. Yet, he cannot live without her, so he proposes to her. Soon afterward, he leaves to build their future home and take care of his father’s kingdom duties. He promises her that he will return for her as soon as everything was ready.

In the meantime, she forgets that she is betrothed. She lives as she pleases, not caring that her behavior reflects on her family and on her betrothed. “She forgot to prepare herself for her nuptials. She was even seen doing things that made others whisper.”

Rebellious and forgetful. Distracted and too busy. Preparation for the wedding? What future bride does not plan and prepare for her beautiful wedding day? A prince was coming for her. Forget the groom? How could she!

And how could we. We are that peasant girl, that covenanted bride-to-be. Do we behave as though we are betrothed to our Beloved? No. Our behavior should be fitting of a princess…not a peasant. Our Beloved’s return for us should be uppermost in our minds.

Max says we are “amnesic.” “To forget the purpose of gingko is one thing. But to forget our engagement to Christ is another.”

We need a reminder! And here it is:

“YOU HAVE CAPTURED GOD’S HEART.”

You, the one He loves truly. You, the one for whom He died. You, the one to whom He yearns to be close. You, The Lord’s espoused, His intended, His precious companion for all eternity.

A wedding day is the culmination of preparation. Everything is ready. And the bride and groom desire to look their best for each other. All decked out in their wedding finery; he, fit to meet the bride, and she, fit to meet the bridegroom.

Where is your focus? Is it on your heavenly Bridegroom? Are you preparing every day for that beautiful wedding? Are you fit to meet your Bridegroom?

When I go to a wedding, I always keep my eyes on the groom. The look on his face is always a precious glimpse into his heart.

He stands there, first on one foot and then on the other. The epitome of royalty in his wedding finery. Ready to whisk his beloved away to their future home. His smile – crooked. His cheek – twitching.

The vein in his neck usually is about to pop from anticipation. Anxiety increases as he awaits that lovely figure in white to take her place beside him.

If you take a closer look into his eyes, you’ll see the reflection of his bride as she comes down the aisle. And you are that precious reflection in the eyes of Jesus, as He waits to take you home with Him.

I wonder…are we all that anxious to “clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” and look so beautiful for our precious Bridegroom? If so, someday we will be thrilled to hear, “How beautiful is your love…my [promised] bride!”

Prepare yourself, Bride. Ready yourself for your beloved Bridegroom. Remember, you are engaged. Behave as a proper princess should. Keep your eyes on the Groom. He is returning for you.

As Max says, “You are engaged to royalty, and your Prince is coming to take you home”!!! “Behold, your bridegroom is coming; run out to meet him!” (Matt. 25:6)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled…I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3 Amp)

“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” (SOS 6:3 NKJV)

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

lynnmosher.com

 

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Love is Not a Doormat

February 8, 2013 By

Love is not a DoormatDoormats are handy things–dusting off the snow before entering a somewhat-clean floor, wiping off the mud from the now-melted snow, stomping your tennis shoes to get the ever-living sand out of them, especially if you live by the beach. Doormats are weathered. Doormats can be pretty and decorative–that is until the above happens and they become grubby. Doormats are lasting. We usually keep the same doormat by each door until we move, then we finally throw the things out, like old rags.

Sometimes, whether it’s learned behavior, taught behavior or even caught behavior, we decide that Christians must in every way be compliant and, well, doormats to be humble, loving and good.

I know this for I have learned this behavior in various venues. And somewhere along the line, people began to think I was sweet and nice and kind and a doormat. Compliance has become the anchor that I drag around everywhere I go.

Sometimes I feel like a doormat, don’t you?

Then one day, I shifted the lens of perspective, though blurred with the mud wiped across my face and gritty from all that sand, and I began to see that even though it is not all about me–well, it isn’t all about them either. To be humble, I can still be emptied of pride and callousness in my thinking and actions. I can be both humble and not walked upon.

That day, I began to see that the thing I most lacked in my life were boundaries. Oh, I had put up boundaries, but they were like the snow-blown fences that no longer worked. And I realized that I did not have to walk with someone to love them or to pray for them. As my friend Diane said so well, I can stop moving toward them when I encounter them. I can stand still and be loving and humble and kind; yet, I have not moved one single inch. There is no need for me to act like a beaten dog around them and lay my head down pitifully, as if I deserve to be treated that way.

No. Love is not a doormat.

I think perhaps our culture, even our churches may teach it, but Jesus showed it best in his actions. He spoke the truth in love. He had boundaries with others and with some, he let them in close to see more of Him. And then one day, after preparing those closest to Him, He told them that he would submit Himself to being crucified. He was willing. He had strength that could overcome the obstacle and chose to be crucified. And not once, not one single time was my Jesus a doormat.

For He humbled Himself, but never acted like that beaten and pitiful dog. No. The whole time, He was strength under control. He was looking outward and praying for others and loving others and He was killed. But it didn’t last. Three days and He conquered sin and death! And when it was over, He wasn’t thrown out like our old doormats.

He was changed before their eyes and was taken to Heaven to live forever–to continue to intercede on our behalf. For the stuff of which Jesus is made is that which is incorruptible–mud cannot soil Him, fire cannot mar Him, no amount of anything man or this world could bring could take Him. But within the infinite scope of His ability, He took upon Himself the sins of the world and He submitted His material being to death…resurrecting immaterial, immortal, Immanuel–the spotless Lamb of God.

And why did He do this? He did it to change our substance, too. We are being changed from glory to glory, but my sisters, my friends, that never meant we should be debased and walked upon.

Where do you need to set boundaries today? I have been learning lesson after lesson about boundaries the past 4 years. And they are FOR my good and FOR yours. Jesus was born, so that we may not be tossed away like an old doormat, but may become immaterial, immortal and spotless.

God loves us and He IS love. He wants us to love Him and to love others.  But His love does not act nor treat us like we or anyone else is a doormat. It acts like this in 1 Corinthians 13.

“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”
Romans 8:37-39 The Message

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