Recharge Your Batteries

I have often thought moms do little for themselves.

We are busy taking care of children, being a wife and focused on keeping a home.  Yes, we are doing Kingdom work right in our homes.  And it is a 24/7 job!

But, honestly, are you tired?

Are you burned out?

Have you snapped at your children lately?  Or your husband?

A few weeks ago, in Yosemite, I stole the time to take one of the art classes in the National Park – four hours long!  My mom and friends watched the kids as I sat under the trees painting Half Dome.

I learned to see the world from a contemporary modern artist.  While this is not my favorite medium, I learned something new.  I was able to reflect on the glory of God amidst the towering granite rocks and small wildflowers at my feet.  God’s majesty is everywhere in creation and painting it brings me closer to Him.

I did not feel guilty.  Perhaps years ago I would have, but now after cancer, I see the value in time away.  Time to breathe.  Time to reflect.  Not only do I strive to do this daily in a quiet time, but now I seek out opportunities that fill my soul regularly. 

I take time to recharge so when I am present with my family and my husband, I am truly present.

This is no easy task.  At home and in my life, there are thousands of things to do and lists to accomplish.  I have to carve out the time and make it a priority.  No one else will do this, but me!

So can I encourage you, moms of princesses and knights?

Can you take time for yourself this week?  And when you do, put into action 1 Cor. 10:31.  Find your place and “bring glory to God” wherever you are.

A couple of ideas:

1. Do something active.  Take an exercise class, ride your bike, or take a walk.
2. Do something soothing. Take a bubble bath. Go to the spa, or get a massage.  Go to coffee with a friend.
3. Do something outdoors.  Go to nature.  Wherever you live, God is there in His creation.  The mountains, the beach, the desert.  Find a quiet spot and journal, hike or paint.
4. Do something quiet.  Read a book alone with a candle lit and your favorite drink.  Watch the sunrise.
5. Do something creative.  Take the hobby out of the closet.  Start it up again: quilting, scrapbooking, pottery class, whatever makes you happy.

Our kids and our husbands love it when mom is happy and joyful. 

How will you find time for yourself this week?

Jackie's Journey: Invisible...Who?

“Is not wisdom found among the aged?

Does not long life bring understanding?”

Job 12: 12

The “Mom Song” is the voice of the ever diligent, often-unheard invisible Mother.

However, there is another category of individuals that are even more imperceptible…grandmothers and great-grandmothers!

Regardless of our involvement in the lives of our children and grandchildren, they reach an age of development (if we have done our job) where their need for us lessens.  They now have their own friends and activities that occupy the time that was once ours!  Life is a whirlwind of academics, team sports, community outreach, horses, theater and musical practices and performances, tennis coaches and tournaments, swim practices and meets, church youth group activities, bible studies, revivals, camps, etc.…! 

Finally, one day… they get driver’s licenses!

Keeping pace with all of this is a tremendous challenge…for all of us!  I am a grandmother of seven; my mother is a great-grandmother of 25 great-grandchildren! She lives on her own, caring for herself, alert with a memory that would put an elephant to shame!  She gives new meaning to the verse in Job 12.  There are very few topics that have applicability to our everyday life, that if asked, she cannot wisely put in perspective, yet she speaks of her need to keep relevant.

I have thought about the statement made by Mom and Job’s proclamation and wondered why in our 21st century culture the advanced in age feel they are being set to one side, listened to less and invisible in a large group of the younger generation.  

These vital soldiers have earned their place among those who should be the most honored, respected and valued in our culture. Titus 2: 3-5 admonishes “the older” women to be reverent in the way they live and to train the younger.”  There is so much to be gleaned from these seasoned veterans that have gone before us, paving the way.  We will quickly step into the print they have left behind!

Our local churches defer to the younger generation. They fill the jobs in women’s ministry and teach the even younger.  The young no longer turn to the older generation.  They have been replaced with quick and empty answers found in the latest technology, social media and their peers.

BUT…“Is not wisdom found among THE AGED”?

While in Panama, our good friends, the Jenkins, a couple with perfect pitch and harmony put this definition below to music.  I have been humming it for years and sing it out loud when my natural inclination to think “I’m all that!” overrides what Scripture says should be the godly point of view!

“Reverence is acknowledging that God is using in my life, people and events to produce the character of Christ in me”.  It is wisely looking at life’s situations (all of them!) from God’s point of view, not my own,  

THEN… the warning:

So be wise my son (daughter), heed my instruction (instantly placing myself in harmony with Him and His will and directives), leave that road that leads to destruction, hallow my name (don’t walk in shame…Proverbs 23: 17,18)

The Word is rich with wise instruction concerning our attitude toward the “old”.  

Psalm 92: 14 gives us A PROMISE when speaking of the advanced in age that bear the fruit of the righteous:

“They will STILL bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming the Lord upright; he is my Rock and there is no wickedness in him”!

• Deut. 28:50 mentions “a fierce-looking nation without RESPECT for the old”…(Respect should be expected…this nation was noted for its disrespect!)
• The Third Commandment is devoted to the HONOR our parents are to receive from us!  (There is no designated age termination for this command!)  
• Joseph brought his father and his entire family to live with him in Egypt during the famine. (We are to be concerned for them and look for opportunities to meet their need)
• The Old Testament saints carried the dead bones (!) of their ancestors with them when God moved them to another country! (Talk about reverence!)
• Somehow the patriarchs of old wisely led nations for generations before dying a “good old age”.  “1 Chronicles 29:28”

Age does not define our relevance, but it often reveals our place of usefulness in our present culture.  All of us have the need to be connected.  You may be saying, “Well my mother, grandmother, great-grandmother (etc.) is not deserving of my honor and respect”.  We do not choose our place of birth but we do choose how we allow God to use our circumstances to produce His life in us! 

Psalm 39: 5 tells us what God thinks about age, spoken by David:

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath”!

I have been told that it is not how old you are, but how you are old.  I agree with Bernard Baruch who said, “To me – old age is fifteen years older than I am!”  My Dad used to say “Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative”.

Life is inordinately SHORT!  There is always enough time “to heed His instruction”.  There are no exception clauses to obedience…just the command!

So be wise, my daughter, heed His instruction, leave that road that leads to destruction…hallow His Name, don’t walk in shame…”

How do you wisely show honor for those who have gone before you?

Do your little princesses and princes see and hear your reverence for “the aged”?

Will you commit yourself and “heed His instruction” to acknowledge, honor

 and encourage your mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers this week? 

Don’t hinder God’s work!

These “invisible” personalities are God-given with the divine purpose

of producing the character of Christ in us!

The Difficult Child

Most of us have one.

The child who makes us more Godly.  The one who plays by his own rules, who makes us want to pull our hair out at times.  The one who keeps us up at night and who makes us leave the grocery store while in a tantrum.  Sally Clarkson calls him “the tail that wags the dog”.  Others call him “the difficult child”.

They are often the ones most like us.  The ones we see great potential in.  They become inventors, CEOs, actors, world changers and life shapers.  But first they are children in our homes.  Given to us, by God, to nurture, raise and build into. 

One year, we were headed to the Mom Heart conference at a nice hotel.  I was going to be speaking and my kids were going to be the welcoming committee in charge of passing out chocolate.  Dressed up with baskets in hand, my girls listened while I gave instructions in the car for the duties ahead.  One daughter began complaining about having to serve.  She didn’t want to help.  As I parked the car, I saw her get out of the car and begin to have a two-year tantrum on the hotel asphalt ground.

My first instinct with this kind of conduct is to reprimand in a very stern voice, “Get up off the ground! This is not the kind of behavior I expect!  You are embarrassing Mama. Get up this instant!”  The flailing continued.

Flashing before my eyes, I saw the sign hanging on my refrigerator. “Today, the moment when I am most repelled by a child's behavior, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.” ~ Ann Voskamp

Sitting down on the filthy ground, I began to cradle my very large baby and sing to her.  Speaking words of truth, love and grace, I stroked her hair and smiled at her.  The scene in the parking lot did draw attention, and my older children remained strapped into their seats, slightly embarrassed.  A near 10 minutes passed.  Suddenly, she reached for her basket of chocolates, jumped up and skipped into the hotel.

All she wanted was time from me.

While this is not always the case, my complex child continues to keep me on my toes.  She is my puzzle to figure out.  Every day can bring new challenges.

I often ask God, “Why did You think I was ready for the task of raising this kind of child?”

His answer is simple.  He knows what is best for me.  He knows what it will take to make me more like His son.  He knows I need to learn patience, strength and wisdom.  He knows I need to be more loving and understanding.  All of these lessons are wrapped up in one little nine-year old ball of energy, and she is all mine!

If I can remember to draw near to her in these moments, I will win her heart.  If I remember to stop my busy schedule and focus on her in the times she needs me, she responds to the King of the universe.  If I get down on my knees at these times on her level, she calms her heart and can enter into all God has planned for her.  “Draw the very closest to that child”.

How do you reach your difficult child?

Jackie's Journey: The Inspiration of Gratefulness!

“Give thanks in all circumstances (inclusive; no exceptions!), for this is God’s will for you…” 1 Thess. 5:19

Recently a missionary friend posted a picture from our New Tribes Missionary school.  It was taken in what we called “the little dorm” in our early years on the field.  In the picture of about 15 children were my two daughters.  Christina was about 4 and in the foreground was a less-than-2-year-old Kim.  The picture was not significant in itself but the fact that I could not recall when my girls could have ever been in that picture was significant!  I literally, burst into tears!

Christina, my eldest daughter, reminded me that they had spent 6 weeks in “the little dorm” after I was flown out of our village with a ruptured appendix.  There was unrest in Panama City (guns in the streets, riots, etc.) and the Military Police were closing the airport!  We were the last fight allowed to land or take off.  I was hastily loaded onto a gurney directly out of the plane and I watched our Cessna take off into the stormy skies with my two little ones inside! 

I was unaware of most of what was transpiring around me, but I knew my circumstance was bad.  I was rushed to the Military Hospital and was rapidly being moved down the corridor, when Ralph heard someone call his name.  He turned to see a Surgeon that we had recently met through our Pucuro partners.  She had been on duty for 72 hours when she caught a glimpse of Ralph in the hall and instantly turned to help us, never leaving our side until she had run tests, completed my emergency laparotomy and safely escorted us to the ICU hours later.  God had gone before us and sent her to us in His perfect timing…

This is the posted picture!  Are these not the cutest missionary children…ever!!

I am emotionally astounded that I was so desperately ill that I did not know where my two little girls were in those first days! My recovery was slow and I ran a low-grade fever for a year after this event.  Wanting to reunite our family as quickly as possible and return to the interior, which was our home, we found ourselves in a quandary because we could not get a release from the doctors to go back! 

As I’m writing this, my past and present merge and the surge of gratefulness is overwhelming!

How many people can you think of offhand who have benefited your life in the past?  Whose name immediately comes to mind?

Gratefulness is recognizing the benefits, which God and others have provided.

From the pilot risking his life to save mine to the missionary families who sacrificially opened their hearts and homes to us to see me recover, my heart overflows with inexpressible thanksgiving for their generosity toward our family during this conflicting time in our lives. 

Gratitude is the memory of the heart!  It is said to be the parent of all the other virtues.  My gratitude for those members of the field that picked up the slack and totally covered for me is overpowering.  

Norman and Barbara Slaymaker were the “little dorm” parents at that time and took the loving responsibility of my babies for six weeks after our pilot, Scotty, and his wife, Mary, filled the gap in those first few days in Panama City.  After leaving the hospital, John and Ruth Jenkins, our busy field leaders, “adopted us” for another six weeks (!) until the doctors would release us to return to our post!  What a tremendous weight we must have been…a family of 4 for months!!! 

My memories are scattered and few.  I isolated myself into a survival mode.  I really thought I was going to die.  I had no time for tears and cannot remember even wanting to cry during those weeks, although I am sure I must have and those whose care I was under would readily attest that I did!  My heart cannot express the genuine gratitude that is flooding my eyes and consciousness as I write this!  I am mentally rehearsing the personal cost of the missionary families that encouraged me during those days and blanketed me with prayer and hands of intervention!

Why this flood of overwhelming gratefulness?  Why now?  What is it about life that at unexpected moments God opens our awareness to the magnitude of His Sovereignty, Majesty, Grace and Mercy on our behalf?  

I am sitting here with a keen mindfulness of:

• My Unworthiness…and His Holiness!   
• My Pretense of thinking I have any kind of control in this life (other than to choose to walk with Him)…and His complete and encompassing Rule and Protection!
• My Powerlessness…and His Omnipotent Presence, faithfully accomplishing His purpose with my blindness to His silent footsteps all around me!
• My Desperate Need to express my gratefulness and indebtedness to God and others! 

Do you make it a habit to thank God and others for the many things in life that others take for granted?

I would like to express my gratitude to you for joining me each Monday morning and for your encouraging words.  I am so blessed! 

Will you take time today to reflect glory back to Him… the Author of every blessing?  Let’s take today’s opportunity to acknowledge those who have and are benefiting our lives!

Jackie's Journey: Are You a Wise Mom?

"Wisdom calls aloud in the street..." Proverbs 1:20

Do you consider yourself to be a wise person? 

We each hold value systems that form our basic philosophies.  These we purpose to pass on to our children through goals we set for them.  Our desire is that they wisely hold our most highly valued principles.  As caring moms, our goal should be nothing less than to produce wise children who are self-motivated to do good and hate evil. 

Where do we begin?...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and to fear the Lord is to hate evil.

 I, Wisdom, hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior (rebellion) and perverse speech.”

Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:13

What is a wise child?  How would you recognize one?

Foolish children are easy to spot!

When Wisdom calls…LISTEN!

“Wisdom is seeing life’s situation from God’s point of view and acting in harmony with Him”. (ATIA)  We will recognize wisdom in our child through his or her attitudes, words, and actions!       

Knowing God and knowing our responsibility in life does not guarantee we will be successful in parenting!  If we do not know how or what to do…we are lost.  Most moms have teachable hearts that want to understand God’s instruction. Some even demonstrate a desire to honor God with a wise decision-making process regarding the manner of child development by adhering to God’s Word and voice when He calls!

 Proverbs 29:17 says our “Children are to bring us REST

And to DELIGHT our souls!

 Discipline your son or daughter and he will give you PEACE;

he will bring DELIGHT to your soul”.

 Do your children bring delight to your soul?

Do they bring you peace and give you rest? 

Wisdom is knowing the right path to take.  Integrity is taking it!

We want wise children with integrity!

When our girls were not bringing us “rest” and “delighting our soul” we knew we were failing in our training.  My life was not that much different than yours…lots of activity and responsibility and never enough time!  We were convinced, as you are, that our success as parents would come from making our children successful.

When we take responsibility for our child’s behavior, we are in a position to change it!  This is called Discipleship…the key to training.  The goal of raising a wise child should be to develop godly Character. 

“Godly character is developing right attitudes that produce right actions, habitually”. (RJ)

This involves the need for consistent “attitude training” which educates the spirit of a child, as well as the will. (Ask:  Was it kind? Was it considerate?).  It brings integrity back into focus by replacing the “action-response” teaching  (“Mom said, don’t do that! Don’t touch! Stop it, I said don’t touch…no…no”)!

 “Action-response” teaching has this sequence:

• Warning
• Warning
• Elevated tone of voice
• Threat added for emphasis
• No consequence with total resolve

This sequence cultivates REBELLION!  God hates rebellion…

“For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft…”!  I Samuel 15: 23 

Developing character in our little “Prince and Princesses” presupposes that WE are wise women of godly character!  “We are known and read by our children all the time…” I Cor. 3:2.  There is no hiding our true character…they read our spirit!

Do you know the test for measuring your own character?? 

 Character is revealed by what we do in secret and

 Maturity is revealed by what we do with our free time (T.V.; computer ;iPhone; iPad; books, magazines, music, FB, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, shopping, etc., etc..)

What do I do in secret?   What do I do with my free time?

Abraham Lincoln said, “There is just one way to train a child in the way he should go and that is to travel that way yourself!”

We are an example, or an excuse!!

Children learn what we are first, through our attitudes; then, what we teach them.  Training is first discipleship and then learning! Our job is to cause that learning in our child by lovingly training them to submit to our authority so they can be taught. 

A child that is not under control of his/her authority is preoccupied with resisting that authority and he/she cannot receive teaching!

The child that resists authority IS the teacher!!

When the course of action you are using has the goal of developing godly character through attitude training, the child will mature with wisdom and balance and will understand purpose in his or her life. 

What course of action are you on?

Heroes

HEROES.

Why do we love heroes so much?

We all love heroes because we are created to admire goodness. We want to emulate those who share our ideals – things like courage, honor and justice.  Heroes who make the hard, but right choices give us hope in the future.  We choose heroes who symbolize the person we would like to be and ambitions we would like to satisfy.  My husband loves William Wallace in Braveheart, Andy in Shawshank Redemption and Edmund in the Count of Monte Cristo.  I love Anne in Anne of Green Gables, Dorcus Lane in the Larkrise to Candleford or Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.  Each of them speak to my heart.  I can hear their stories again and again.  Tell me who your heroes or heroines are and it can tell me a lot about you.

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated the end of school with a history feast.  The kids and I reflected on their year studying the end of the Roman Empire to the Revolutionary War.  Part of the year was spent reading 16 historical fiction books.  This form of literature brought history to life for my kids AND gave them heroes to inspire them.  Many of the books were “old-fashioned” with tried-and-true wisdom.  These heroes made right choices, had virtuous character and inspiring actions.  I find this is one of my favorite parts of schooling.

Who are your kids’ heroes?

As we move into summer, my kids continue to read.  I want them to read.  With older children now, I find the library to be a bit challenging.  Somehow vampires and witchcraft have become commonplace among teen literature content.  We have to search and search for good books.  My elementary children find examples of bad attitudes and poor choices among the “favorites” of their peers.  I keep asking, “Where have the true heroes gone?”

The Princess Parables were created for this very reason.  Not only did we want to have inspiring princesses any girl would want to be like, we also wanted to teach God’s word and wisdom.  While the Princess Parables is an outstanding summer reading option, there needs to be more in the book baskets for our kids this summer.

Children just don’t stubble upon excellent reading options, but they are created for them.  I have to have a plan this summer for all of my kids.  Join me as we engage in the pages of literature recommendations from Read for the Heart by Sarah Clarkson and Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt.  Both of these books are wonderful guides to life changing literature for our kids.  Giving our kids heroes to build their character, their adventurous hearts and their imagination.

What does your summer reading list look like?

Will you introduce your kids to their next heroes?

Jackie's Journey: ANGER Is Only One Letter Short of DANGER

Would you consider yourself an angry person? 

1. Does your family (or whomever you live with) ever see you lose your temper?
2. Are you able to readily and quickly admit when you are wrong?
3. Do you complain about how others treat you (when you’re slighted or get your feelings hurt?)
4. Do you grumble when things do not work out the way you planned?
5. Do you demand prompt attention from family members, friends, teachers, employers, etc.? (Do you feel slighted when others get more attention than you do?)

All five questions reveal patterns of anger that are not uncommon to all of us!

The best functional definition I have ever found for anger is:

 “Someone finding a right that I have not yielded to God.”  

 Someone crossing my already decided will!

As a young tribal missionary wife and mother, I felt I had a right to be understood.  Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?  I was living with so many unknowns. Knowing my husband understood how hard I was attempting the impossible was important to me. It seemed like a legitimate right…no?  It was imperative to have someone to talk to in my heart language (English).  Poor Ralph…he was it!  He is not a detail guy and I speak in paragraphs!  My anger would reveal itself in various forms demanding his attention.

“A Right”…

is a legal demand of our will that we impose on each other–

something, someone, or some attitude apart from God’s own will.

It has its own authority with no power

It produces anger or hurt feelings

It assumes God and everybody owes us something

It imprisons the Soul and Spirit (the Soul claims dominion over the Spirit’s control!)

It refuses humility (the key to the Christian life!)

What rights do you claim?  

My anger popped up more often than I cared to admit.  I had a habit of making excuses or blaming others for:

•  My Pride – reserving the right to make the final decision
•  My Insecurity – structuring my life around temporal values
•  My Reputation- projecting the image I wanted others to have of me
• My Expectations

While living in the interior I jotted down a “few” rights in my journal.  Maybe you can identify with some of them:

·      To a normal standard of living

·      To ordinary standards of good health

·      To privacy

·      To hold others to their responsibilities

·      To be angry

·      To make the final decision on a matter

·      To judge others

·      To do it my way

·      To be understood (self-justification)

·      To be envious or jealous

·      To be uninterrupted (FB, Twitter, etc.) added in this last year!

If you identify with one or any of these as a daily occurrence…you have a sin pattern called ANGER!

By making excuses for my anger rather than tracing my “Anger” to a violation of one of my personal rights, I failed to live in victory. 

By calling the “Right” by its name and repenting, I found freedom in a consistent Christian walk…No more excuses.  I exchanged them for gratefulness and found peace!   

What is the hardest right to give up?

The right to make the ultimate decision!

I continue to learn to stop before yielding to unrighteousness and put my will in neutral, acknowledging His control and His will (not mine or my husband’s).  It brings harmony into my life in the midst of unknowns and confusion.  My demanding to be understood is now my signal to yield to His Will by giving my “right” to God. 

In the New Testament in Phil. 2: 6-8, it highlights the things Christ gave up:

1.     His Rights- “did not consider equality with God”

2.     His Reputation – “Made himself nothing, becoming a servant”

3.     His Ego –“Humbled himself”

4.     His Will  - “Obedient unto death”!

Philippians 2: 6-8

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross.”

How can we do less?

An independent, willful and rebellious spirit will keep us from living in victory.  Let’s choose to agree with God, call anger the sin that it is and walk as He walked, honoring the cross and remembering the price He paid for our Victory over sin!  No more excuses…

Rescuing a Princess

The little girl in the picture was born a princess. Just like all of our little girls.

Her story has turned out different than our girls.  She was born into a family in the poorest part of Thailand.  Her parents having so many other children decided to send their 9 year-old daughter into the city to make money and go to school.  In turn, the nice man who is helping them brings them food for their starving family and promises to bring more money once she starts working.  Their daughter leaves with a hope for the future; however, the family never hears from her again.

This is a familiar story in the hill country of Thailand.

There are more human slaves in the world today than ever before in history -more than in Moses’ day in Egypt and more than in the days of the Civil War.

There is a estimated 13 million children, not to mention the 27 million adults, around the world who are held against their will.  80% of them are forced to engage in sexual acts.  The other 20% are forced labor, organ donors and suicide bombers.  The leading countries that are harvest grounds for children are Eastern Europe, China, Nigeria and Thailand.  The countries that partake in the sex trafficking are Belgium, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey, and the U.S.  Most children only live 3-7 years once they enter the “system”.  Some are as young as 6 years old.  Either abuse, HIV or malnutrition end their life.  Their lives fund a 30 billion dollar industry.

Why am I writing about this on the Princess Parables website?

First, I believe there is not enough awareness about this widespread, global, human rights catastrophe that is happening around us.  If we can shine a light into the darkness and if more people can become aware, perhaps there is a chance of stopping it.  Also it helps us to be able educate our own children of this underground world of evil.

Second, I wanted to let you all know that as a part of supporting the Princess Parables ministry, we give a portion of our profits to God’s work.  Because the five princesses were His idea in the first place, we view all of the money as His and we ask carefully where He would have us give.  This month we were able to give a substantial amount to the Children’s Hunger Fund and rescue ONE child from slavery in Thailand.

Lastly, I believe we are all saddened by the statistics and want to help.  We are just not sure what to do about it.  I want to introduce you to one of our favorite charities, the Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF).   We know the people involved personally in Thailand who are amazing wonderful God fearing people.  Carol and Mike left their posh Hollywood entertainment jobs when they heard God’s call to sell it all and move to Thailand.  They not only rescue the kids out of slavery, but they introduce them to Jesus.  They have around 100 rescued kids living in their orphanage at Zoe International.  You can visit their website here to learn more about them.  Also at CHF you can donate $1,500 and they will go with Zoe and rescue a child off the streets of Thailand.  Only $1,500 to rescue a child!!!  To save a life!  I just knew you would want to know about that.  I can see all of us getting our kids and their friends together this summer to rescue kids off of the street and introduce them to Jesus.  I just get goose bumps thinking about it!  Bake sales, car washes, recycling to raise $1,500 and save a child from the horror of sex trafficking.

How will you live out the verse Ps. 82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed?

What can you and your family do to bring a child out of slavery?

Keeping a Clear Conscience

“I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man”  Acts 24:16

A few weekends ago, my husband and I were serving in the elder prayer room at our church.  A young lady came in looking very upset and unsure and asking for prayer.  On her request form, she was asking to pray about a miscarriage.  All of the elders were busy and I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to talk to her.  I, too, had a miscarriage many years before and knew what she was experiencing.

Happy to talk to a woman, this young girl (let’s call her Sarah) began to tell me her heart-wrenching story of loss.  She agonized over the death of her child she would never meet here on this earth.  She had been far enough along to feel the want.  After a few tears, she admitted to her real reason for being there.  It wasn’t the miscarriage, even though it did cause pain.  The event had brought on something else. She was not being tormented by the loss of her baby, but by the loss of a clear conscience.

Sarah explained losing her baby had made her think back to a time she was trying to forget.  She was thinking she lost the baby because of something she had done in her past. She had cheated on her dissertation and doctorate program. She had forged research results years ago. As Sarah unfolded her story, I assured her God was not punishing her, but in times of trial, we can tend to hear God’s voice more clearly.

God gives opportunities in life to share our life lessons. No trial happens to keep the lessons to ourselves. 

Each experience is to be shared.

When I first became a Christ follower, God asked me to confess and ask for forgiveness to those he brought to my mind.  At first, it was just a couple of names – friends, family, ex-boyfriend’s moms, teachers, etc.  At the end, the list of offended was 87 people!  So I knew the guilt she was carrying.  I had also cheated in college and God had asked me to go to the dean of my university and give back my diploma.

I also knew the freedom that comes from a clear conscience.  With that joy, I was able to share my story with her.  I wanted her to experience the burden-lifting experience of asking for forgiveness.

Sarah could hardly believe that not only had I faced a miscarriage, but I also confronted my conscience.  “What are the chances?” she said. “Of all the people who could have been here . . “  Only God does that!

After we prayed, Sarah went home to discuss all of it with her husband.  She called me weeks later to tell me she made a meeting with the dean.  She had decided to give back her doctorate diploma.  She called to get encouragement from me, to know this was the right thing.  She knew God had forgiven her. She had tried to forget about it and “sweep it under the rug”.  Many friends and family had encouraged her to “let it go”.  However, she knew in her heart that was not the right thing.

All I could do was exhort her to do what she was already being called to do.  We went through the pros and cons of living with the guilt and shame.  She was scared, but she wanted freedom.  She kept her appointment with the dean that very day. 

God speaks.

God brings darkness into the light.

God makes all things new.

She told him, “God has convicted me that I cheated and gave a false testimony.  I know this is wrong and I want to give back my diploma. Will you please forgive me?” I am smiling as I type this because I love to see someone do the right thing.  The hard thing.  Only then do we see the rewards – the burden lifted – the graciousness of Jesus.  The dean was gracious with her. 

Is there someone in your life you need to ask forgiveness to?  Don’t sweep it under the rug.  Don’t let it nag at you.  You can do it!  Go on! The heavenly angels are rooting you on! 

Do the hard thing! 

How have you kept your conscience clear before God and man?

Jackie's Journey: The Destroyer Defeated

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”

II Cor. 10:3

Is Someone Attempting to Destroy your Life?

The answer is YES… Every moment of every day!  We are at war.  Elisabeth Elliot wrote “How can God remold my mind from within unless I continually test what I read and hear from the world by the ‘straight edge of Scripture?’”  Moms, we are inundated with time consuming activities of every kind that are compounded by social media: Facebooking, tweeting, texting, Instagraming, blogging, etc. 

Where is the voice that speaks transforming truth?

The Psalmist wrote that “Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven”.  Ps. 119:89 “The Word of God is living, powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword”! Hebrews 4:12

How many days did you get in the Word this week?

The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, wrote in Chapter 6,  “This is what the Lord Almighty says…to whom can I speak and give warning?  Who will listen to me?  Their ears are closed so they cannot hear.  The Word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it…”

When you read His words what do you hear?  What do you want to get out of it? (His power? His life in you? A change in your bad habits?  A good story time?  A verse to meet someone else’s need?  A class assignment?)  What?

Listening to His voice and allowing His words to “dwell richly” in us brings blessing. Neglecting His Word brings destruction.  The Bible is the heart and mind of God…it transforms by renewing my mind. (Rom.12:2)  It is the roadmap to life!  I have this imperative need to ask God to “open my eyes so that I can see” the road, since His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways.” Isa.55: 8   

I explore His Word by purposing to read for a “BUMP”…a verse that jumps off the page at me!  It might be for someone else, but it is mine first!  It is the transforming voice of God speaking to me; perhaps in an area where I am blind to what is hindering the goal of His transforming life in me.   

What is your goal? Do you have Steps of Action to accomplish that goal?

There are 5 questions I ask myself as I begin to apply the verse to my life:

1. Is there sin for me to AVOID?
2. Is there a PROMISE for me to trust?
3. Is there an EXAMPLE for me to follow?
4. Is there a COMMAND for me to obey?
5. How can this passage increase my knowledge of the Lord God (not just about Him)

WARNING!!

 “Many false prophets (with false philosophies) will appear and deceive many.”

Matthew 24:11 

Beware of these 5 strong voices or fortresses in our 2015 culture:

1. Evolution:  How creation came into existence and developed
2. Egalitarianism:  Defining the role of man and woman
3. Economics:  Happiness = Having
4. Experience: Instant Gratification = I want, what I want…NOW!
5. Ego:  It’s All about Me!

These voices are universal and give us a checklist to reveal our true convictions and the confirmation or absence of His Word in our lives. They define strongholds that have been yielded to the destroyer. 

John 10: 10 “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal (our joy, youth, peace, seeds of truth, etc.) and kill (relationships) and destroy (us!); I (Christ) have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly”.

Revival is the power of the Holy Spirit transforming God’s Word into our soul!

Let’s pick up the Word of God this week and devastate the devil’s attempts to destroy us!!