Friday SHINE....
Today's Reading: Micah 5
Happy Fun Friday! This is my favorite day of the week! My kids and I have a tradition of making a silly face and taking a picture of ourselves every Fun Friday! Try it with your kids, or your hubby, or your friend! It's FUN!
Can I just be honest? I think Satan is on the attack the MOST on Sundays at our house. Do you find that to be true as well?? It seems that Sunday is the day that EVERYTHING seems to go wrong.
This past Sunday, my family and I went to church, came back home and stayed around the house all afternoon doing this and that.
Well, for some (hormonal) reason, I got very upset with Lem. I truly do not even realize what caused it. The last thing I remember was crying to him saying that the garage was a mess, my car looked like it had not seen a bath in over a year (probably true), and that the house looked like a bomb had gone off while we were at church. (maybe two bombs)
I was lashing out to him because I didn't feel like he was "helping" enough.
Oh yikes. I was ugly. Real ugly.
Lem sat there and listened as I rattled off how "un-helper-ish" he was. I went on and on and on and on and on. You get the picture.
After my little rant was over, he asked me if I felt better for venting.
I huffed and walked off.
Later that night, we were in bed.
I had a hard time falling asleep. The Holy Spirit was convicting me real good. Shoot.
I kept hearing Him tell me to apologize to Lem.
Uggh.
So, against my flesh, I woke him up and told him I was so sorry for my behavior. I told him that God was really "on me" about some things and that I took it all out on him, instead of dealing with my junk.
After the apology, I slept in peace.
The next morning, I awoke with a fresh perspective.
I realized that I was lashing out at Lem because of my own poor choices. I had chosen to keep myself really tied up and busy that weekend and the previous week.
The result?
A messy house, backed-up laundry, and a grumpy momma. (me.)
God was showing me that Lem had nothing to do with my outburst. Instead I was lashing out because I had over-committed and under-prayed before making certain decisions that week. NOT a good combo.
I kept hearing the Lord saying, "There are many good things, Jill...but choose the BEST thing. Me."
He was right!
We as women, momma's, students, whatever we are...get caught up in the moment and make all kinds of promises and commitments that we just cannot keep. And probably were not ever "called" by God to keep.
I have a rule of thumb when I make any decision now:
Saying no is hard, girls. We are programmed in this world to say YES, YES, YES!
We feel inadequate if we say no.
As I was typing this post, my friend Mary text me and apologized for being unable to fulfill an obligation that she had made for an upcoming event with a few of her friends. She said it just wasn't going to be the best decision for her family. She would be gone when she really needed to be home. It would make her weekend too crazy and cramped. I smiled and thought: Great job friend.
I text her back and told her that it was so fine and that she had made the right choice.
Girls, it takes humility to admit that maybe something isn't best for us. We want to prove that we can do it all, meanwhile everything crumbles as we try to hold it all together.
Our Friday Challenge:
I challenge you to pray before making any decisions today and this weekend. Pray, pray, pray. This will teach us to pause, pray, then make a decision. Imagine how much more peace our lives will have! Imagine the impact you will have on others if you tell them that you need to pray about this first. If you are bold enough to take a break and pray about it, God will be bold enough to give you the answer, sweet girl.
I think back to the story of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Jesus came to their home to visit. Mary sat at His feet and soaked up His Presence. She listened intently to Him. I picture her quiet, and gazing up at His face completely unaware of the world around her.
Martha, Mary's sister, on the other hand, ran around busily doing this and that. She was caught up in activity, instead of being caught up with Jesus. (I've SO been there)
Here is an excerpt of the scene where Martha is complaining to Jesus:
I've been Martha before. I never want to be like her again. There's no peace there. We miss His voice because we cannot be still enough to hear it.
I've been led to this verse below several times over the past week. Until writing this post, I didn't realize why He was showing it to me. I think we need to hear it, girls. We need His gentle reminder.
Happy Fun Friday! This is my favorite day of the week! My kids and I have a tradition of making a silly face and taking a picture of ourselves every Fun Friday! Try it with your kids, or your hubby, or your friend! It's FUN!
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| Here's today's picture. :-) |
Can I just be honest? I think Satan is on the attack the MOST on Sundays at our house. Do you find that to be true as well?? It seems that Sunday is the day that EVERYTHING seems to go wrong.
This past Sunday, my family and I went to church, came back home and stayed around the house all afternoon doing this and that.
Well, for some (hormonal) reason, I got very upset with Lem. I truly do not even realize what caused it. The last thing I remember was crying to him saying that the garage was a mess, my car looked like it had not seen a bath in over a year (probably true), and that the house looked like a bomb had gone off while we were at church. (maybe two bombs)
I was lashing out to him because I didn't feel like he was "helping" enough.
Oh yikes. I was ugly. Real ugly.
Lem sat there and listened as I rattled off how "un-helper-ish" he was. I went on and on and on and on and on. You get the picture.
After my little rant was over, he asked me if I felt better for venting.
I huffed and walked off.
Later that night, we were in bed.
I had a hard time falling asleep. The Holy Spirit was convicting me real good. Shoot.
I kept hearing Him tell me to apologize to Lem.
Uggh.
So, against my flesh, I woke him up and told him I was so sorry for my behavior. I told him that God was really "on me" about some things and that I took it all out on him, instead of dealing with my junk.
After the apology, I slept in peace.
The next morning, I awoke with a fresh perspective.
I realized that I was lashing out at Lem because of my own poor choices. I had chosen to keep myself really tied up and busy that weekend and the previous week.
The result?
A messy house, backed-up laundry, and a grumpy momma. (me.)
God was showing me that Lem had nothing to do with my outburst. Instead I was lashing out because I had over-committed and under-prayed before making certain decisions that week. NOT a good combo.
I kept hearing the Lord saying, "There are many good things, Jill...but choose the BEST thing. Me."
He was right!
We as women, momma's, students, whatever we are...get caught up in the moment and make all kinds of promises and commitments that we just cannot keep. And probably were not ever "called" by God to keep.
I have a rule of thumb when I make any decision now:
- How will it affect my marriage?
- How will it affect my children?
- How will it affect my ability to care for the above?
- Will this be for His glory, or is it a self-glorification thing? (yikes)
Saying no is hard, girls. We are programmed in this world to say YES, YES, YES!
We feel inadequate if we say no.
As I was typing this post, my friend Mary text me and apologized for being unable to fulfill an obligation that she had made for an upcoming event with a few of her friends. She said it just wasn't going to be the best decision for her family. She would be gone when she really needed to be home. It would make her weekend too crazy and cramped. I smiled and thought: Great job friend.
I text her back and told her that it was so fine and that she had made the right choice.
Girls, it takes humility to admit that maybe something isn't best for us. We want to prove that we can do it all, meanwhile everything crumbles as we try to hold it all together.
Our Friday Challenge:
I challenge you to pray before making any decisions today and this weekend. Pray, pray, pray. This will teach us to pause, pray, then make a decision. Imagine how much more peace our lives will have! Imagine the impact you will have on others if you tell them that you need to pray about this first. If you are bold enough to take a break and pray about it, God will be bold enough to give you the answer, sweet girl.
"Don't make rash promises, and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few."
Ecclesiastes 5:2
I think back to the story of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Jesus came to their home to visit. Mary sat at His feet and soaked up His Presence. She listened intently to Him. I picture her quiet, and gazing up at His face completely unaware of the world around her.
Martha, Mary's sister, on the other hand, ran around busily doing this and that. She was caught up in activity, instead of being caught up with Jesus. (I've SO been there)
Here is an excerpt of the scene where Martha is complaining to Jesus:
"But Martha was distracted with much serving.
And she went up to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
Luke 10:40
Here is Jesus' response:
"But there's only one thing you need.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her."
Luke 10:42
I've been Martha before. I never want to be like her again. There's no peace there. We miss His voice because we cannot be still enough to hear it.
"Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."
Psalm 37:7
I've been led to this verse below several times over the past week. Until writing this post, I didn't realize why He was showing it to me. I think we need to hear it, girls. We need His gentle reminder.
“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 your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
finding mary in a martha world,
jill
