Spark Truths

Daughters of Virtue

2010-05-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
   1 Corinthians 13:11

I spent last weekend reading an amazing book. It's the new one by Francine Rivers, "Her Mother's Hope."

It was AMAZING and I encourage everyone to read it!

If you have never read anything by Ms. Rivers, go out and buy all her books! I haven't found one I didn't love, learn from, cry with or even grow with.

She has an amazing ability to really make you think about your relationship with God, what you believe, grow your faith and thank God for his endless mercies...and all through works of fiction!

And, "Her Mother's Hope" did the all this for me once again.

A story of how the life of a mother affects how she raises her children and why it made me really stop and think about how I want to raise my children, especially my daughter.

My mother is a wonderful woman. A strong woman who loves the Lord with all her heart. We have a friendship that I treasure. Her friendship is a blessing in my life.

There is something about relationships between mother and daughter. Reading the book in many ways I could relate to both mother and daughter and I suppose that many feelings or situations tend to be somewhat universal.

My mom and I have have a great relationship now but it wasn't always so. My adolescence was full of teenage drama! Falling in love at 14 would scare any mother ( I pray against it for my sweet daughter every day!). My parents weren't perfect, but they did what they thought was right and they did it to protect me as much as possible. I know that now and I am thankful for it. But you can imagine the tears that were shed from that fifteen year old long ago!

At that time, my mom and I weren't the best of friends. I loved her. She loved me. And, we got along great. We always enjoyed shopping together and we had a relationship, but it was a mother/ daughter relationship. She made the rules that I didn't always understand or agree with. I many times rebelled. It was hard.

We've all been there I'm sure.

But now we are friends. I grew up. I no longer thought as a child, I put away childish things.

All that to say, I have really been thinking about what I want for my daughter in this life. What do I believe is important for her as she grows? What goes without question? What characteristics does she need? Everything else doesn't matter. Everything else will fall into place if her character is molded.

I want my daughter to be a daughter of virtue and strength. I want her to have a quiet strength. I want her to know how to care for her future household. I want her to be humble, but lovely. I want her to be kind and generous. I want her to be diligent and disciplined.

The list goes on.

So what must I do to see that she becomes this? Speak it into her. Tell her who she is in Christ. Tell her that she is kind. That she is able. That she is lovely.

I want to give her wings so that when she is ready she will fly.

Spark Challenges

How is/was your relationship with your mother? What can you do to get beyond the mother/ daughter relationship and become friends. Sometimes you have to put away the past, forgive, bite your tongue and set aside your pride. Is it worth it?

What do you want your daughters to become? What virtues do you want them to have? How can you instill these virtues? How can you teach them to be Proverbs 31 women?

Spark Truths

⁹I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
¹¹A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.
   1 Timothy 2: 9-11

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
       she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
       and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
       and does not eat the bread of idleness.
   Proverbs 31: 25-27

He Knows...

2010-05-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this post all night and most of this morning.

I've been thinking about this life we live...

It's exhausting...it's not easy...it's brutal.

In the last few months my family and my friends have been dealing with heartaches and struggles of so many.

The loss of parents, sickness, depression, marital affairs, cults, cancer, babies in the nicu, strokes, fear, divorce, loss of children, car accidents, loss of jobs....I could go on.

All of these things have occurred to someone I love whether in my family or church family in the recent months.

Brutal.

And the one thing that comforts me is something that Beth Moore said on James and Betty Robison....He Knows.

He Knows how brutal this life is. He knows how scary this world is. He knows how fearful we are of things we can't control. He knows how painful it is.

He knows....He knows.

M heart aches for my loved one who feels so hopeless. It aches. I can't do anything about it but pray that God's love and mercy just be poured onto his young, precious heart right now. I pray for protection for him.

My heart aches for family and friends who are dealing with cancer. Despicable, disease of the enemy. I hurt for my friends who have lost loved ones, for my sweet grandmother who still wakes every night and looks for her husband who is not there, for a loved one who is so fearful of the disease he doesn't even know what to do about it.

I hurt for my sister who was cast out by her husband for a younger woman. I hurt for her children who are so young, they don't even understand what's going on. I hurt for her and the loneliness she struggles with and the blow to her self-esteem.

My heart aches for the daily sickness, struggles, fears we deal with. I deal with.

But God knows. He knows our fears. He knows how much we can take. He knows.

He knows what loneliness is like when your closest loved ones are nowhere to be found.
He knows what fear is like, when huge soldiers are slapping and beating you.
he knows what the loss of a friend is like. He knows what the loss of a father is like.

His compassion is like no other.
His mercies are new every morning.

No matter what sorrows your are facing, no matter the hurts that this life brings, remember that He knows. He loves you and hurts with you and for you. He holds you in the palm of His hand and because of Him there is Hope.

Prayer

Dear Father, my heart is heavy...it's been heavy. So many whom I love are struggling. They are dealing with scary things. I have them too Lord. Protect us Father. Hold us in your hand. Remind us that we are not of this world and that you are preparing a better place for us. So much better than this world. Thank you for that Lord. I pray for all my friends and family that are hurting or sick or sad. Heal them Lord, touch their hearts and restore their minds. In your precious name, Amen.

Challenges

Pray for yourself, your family and your loved ones. Pray for peace, protection and endurance to run this race no matter where the course takes us.

Spark Truths.

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.   John 10:14-16

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
       my hope comes from him.
  He alone is my rock and my salvation;
       he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
   Psalms 62:5-6

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelations 22:1-5

True Calling

2010-04-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about my calling as a Christ follower for that last few days. This subject has come up in different ways and I have run across a few blogs that have mentioned this.

We all have callings. We all have seasons for our callings. Our callings change over time, they may transform, mature or even end for another to begin.

Everyone's calling is different. We have different spheres of influences.

Right now, in this season of life I have a small sphere of influence. I don't work outside of my home. Most of my friends are believers with their own calls. There are few people that I come in contact with who do not know Christ who I personally know. The majority of people I come in contact with on a daily basis includes the checker at the grocery store and the moms on Sammy's t-ball team.

It's a small sphere. And I am called to reach those who I come in contact with whether I do so by inviting them to church or befriending them and showing Christ through my walk with Him.

However, there is one rather large piece in my sphere that I have great influence on. That I have an incredible calling for. That is my highest calling and most challenging call.

My greatest calling is to my husband, children and the home God has blessed me with. It is my greatest calling. My greatest challenge.

It is a calling above everything else. It takes president over any other lost soul, hurting country or dying generation.

I have it only for a season and I must do all that I can to be a Godly influence and example to my husband and children.

My husband and I are in this together...and though he is the head of our home, I am the thermostat. I control the atmosphere. I want an atmosphere of praise in my home. I want an atmosphere of compassion, love, gentleness, kindness and truth. I am called to be the thermostat, to create the atmosphere in which we live. He will function well as the head of the home, he will fulfill his calling when I am fulfilling mine.

My goal in this season of life is to bring up my children in the Lord so that they will not depart from Him (Prov. 22:6).

My goal is for them to Love the Lord with all thier heart, soul and mind and write it on our door posts.

(Deut. 6:5-9).

My goal is for them to know the truth so that they will be set free (John 8:32).

My goal is for them to think on things that are pure, honest, just, holy (Phil. 4:8).

My goal is for them to Trust in the Lord with all their hearts. To do everything for the glory of God (Prov. 3:5-6)

What would it cost me to save the whole world but not shape and mold the hearts of my children? (Mark 8:36)

So many times I think maybe I am not doing enough. Maybe I am not serving enough. Maybe I should volunteer or join a mom group do something so I can meet more people and show them Jesus...broaden my sphere of influence.

But that's not my calling right now.

All those things are great, but what matters most right now are the hearts of my children and my husband.

My calling is to be constantly refined so that I can win the hearts of my children and husband.

Whoa.

That's a little scary.

To be refined is to go through fire. A piece of gold must meet the flame and be purged of all impurities before it is worth anything.

I am being refined daily. I go through daily struggles and constantly fail, but I am being refined. And it's worth it because I come out more pure, more ready to take on my calling.

This calling....it is at times overwhelming. But there is no greater calling than to raise my children to know and fear God. And to live every day rejoicing in the day he has made (Ps. 116:44).

Nothing else matters. I only have so much time before they take the lessons I have taught them and make their own choices.

No matter what season of life you are in you have a calling like no one else's. You have a sphere of influence. God has appointed you and placed you where you are for such a time as this.

Give praise for his refinement and make every day of influence count.

Prayer

Father I am sorry for taking advantage of the time and the season you have placed me in. Forgive me for wanting to be more when You have given me so much. Wanting to do more, when the greatest calling has been in my arms. Thank your for your patience, for your trust that you have in me to fulfill what you have called me to do. Thank you for refining me and allowing me to be better and able. Be patient with me Lord. Thank you for the calling of raising sons and daughters who Love you and help me to fulfill it. In your precious name, Amen.

Spark Challenge

What is your calling? Think about this. Pray about it. What has God called you to in this season of your life. What are you doing to fulfill it? Take some time out today and ask the Lord to show you what He has called you to and ask Him the path you need to take to fulfill that calling.

Actions to take

On an index card write down what your calling is and put it in your bible or prayer journal or even on somewhere you can see it everyday like a nightstand or vanity mirror. Read it and remind yourself of it everyday.

Write down some things on what you can do to fulfill your calling. For example, one of my goals is to have scripture written on my walls so that the children can see these and read these everyday, whether that is with decals or wall art.

Take a minute everyday to speak life into someone in your sphere of influence. Spark life into them with your words whether through encouragement, praise, words of thankfulness and appreciation, etc.

Spark Truths

"The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction." Proverbs 16:21

"Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk in it,
6"I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations." Is. 42:5-7

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." 1 Peter 1:6-8

For me?

2010-04-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine got some rather good news a few weeks ago and we were talking about how great God is and how I am always in awe of what He does for me...for us. We know what God can do, we know that he can do more than what we imagine...but when that happens...really happens...Whoa!

And my friend said something that was so...true.

"I can't get over the fact that He did this for ME. Why me? Why is He so good to me?"

I'm gonna let that sink in for a minute.

For me? Really God?

God, you healed my kid? Why mine?
God, you gave my husband a great job? Why him?
God, you healed my marriage? Why us?
God, you took away my depression and gave me hope? Why me?
God, you saved my sister from a life without you? Why?

Does He really love us that much. What did I or any of us do to deserve such love? Such grace?

Nothing.

He loves us that much!
He cares, He loves and He comes through.

And even when it seems that he doesn't...when we feel as if this time He did forget about us...He is hope.

Are you waiting for something that you need Him to come through on? Have you been asking Him for saving grace for you, your marriage, your children?

Keep praying. Keep seeking Him. And remember that He loves you and He has already saved you for no other reason than that.

Prayer

Father, thank you for saving me from me. Thank you for coming through for me and my family even when my faith is small, when I have given up first, when I'm tired of waiting or asking. Lord you do so many things for me that I don't deserve. Why? I am in awe of you Lord. Thank you for being so good. In your precious name, amen.

Spark Challenges

Are you waiting on God for something? It's time to get on your knees and pray. Literally. This is not old school! Be humbled and prostrate yourself before the Lord today, fall on your knees and ask Him for His mighty hand to move in your life or in whatever area you need Him to move. Life is serious and it's time to get serious with God.

Actions to take

Make a prayer journal or prayer box- Write down things you are praying about on a scrap piece of paper. Write the date you begin to pray on it and put it in the box or journal. When He gives you an answer, put that new date on it! He always comesr through!

Spark Truths

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phillipians 4:6

He does not treat us as our sins deserve
       or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him... Psalms 103:10-11

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
   John 1:16

What are your treasures?

2010-04-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:22

Truth: This earth, as bad and ugly as it can be is the only Heaven we know. Our happiest moments are on this earth. Everything we love begins on this earth. Our treasures are here. The idea of heaven is great, awesome...but we can't even grasp it because all we know of heaven is the few moments here on earth that are perfect.

There are certain aspects of heaven that I am really looking forward to like eating lots and lots of food and not gaining a pound! Or seeing the ones I love that have gone on before me like my precious grandparents. Getting to meet our historical patriarchs, Abraham, David, Esther and Ruth. Not to mentions mansions, streets of gold and perfect weather!

When I was growing up I remember thinking how I wanted God to wait a while before He came so that I could get married and have a couple of kids.

He did! Just for me! Just kidding.

But seriously, if He were to come right now I wouldn't be disappointed! I got married, had a couple of kids and he would be saving me from the middle school years!

But then again...I don't know heaven and I'm not sure if I am that great with change! It sounds perfect and it is perfect...

Truth: I have treasures on this earth. Right now...this is my heaven. And it's not perfect...in fact, there are days when it is hard and it hurts and its exhausting...but it's the closest thing to heaven that I know. That I can grasp.

Right now...my son is upstairs sleeping in his t-ball hat.
My baby girl, she went into her room after her bath and put on this gold beaded necklace on herself as if she knew that is exactly what you do with a gold beaded necklace.

Heaven.

My husband has been so blessed by his job this past week. He is coming home so happy. We just booked a trip to NYC.

Heaven.

My brother is going to get married in the next year. The girl he is marrying is a sweetheart and someone I want to be good friend with. They are fun and happy.

Heaven.

I could go on and on.

God has given us tastes of heaven. Small morsels. But they are so good. They out weigh the bad of this place. They are beautiful and sweet.

I can't even imagine what heaven is going to be like. How can it be better than a frosting kiss or the smell of my kids after baths or the sweet embrace of my husband. I don't know, but somehow it is going to be so much more.

So I will continue to treasure these small things here on earth all the while remembering that in Heaven they will be greater.

Prayer

Father, I have these treasure...Lord you gave them to me and I love them so. I value them so much. I can't imagine life any other way. But you, O Lord, you have such great things waiting for us. The things that are sweet and pure and perfect here will be so in Heaven but to a degree that we can't even fathom. So Lord I wait and in the meantime, I'm gonna keep holding on to the treasures you have given me on this earth that outweigh the hard. I love you Lord. Amen.

Reflections

What do you imagine Heaven to be? Make a list of what you desire, what would be fun, what would be perfect. Now, multiply that list by infinity!

Challenges

Do you have treasures here on earth? What makes them treasures? Make it a point to take care of your treasures in an extra special way this week. Maybe wake up and make your husband his favorite breakfast or take the kids on a special trip or spend some special time one on one with all of your treasures.

Truths to Remember

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.¹⁹In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:18-20

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away... ²²I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.²³The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.²⁶The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelations 21: 1-4 & 22-27

One of my Favorite Truths...

2010-04-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I have been so blessed by writing every week and I hope you have been blessed as well. This has not been an easy feat! It's funny how our weeks get so busy and I am constantly juggling so many things Wednesday comes around and I think, "Ok, I need to figure out what I am going to write about tonight!"
This week however, will be just a quick sneak peek for next. My baby girl is sick and I just can't devote the time I need for this post this week so I am going to leave you with just a few thoughts.

My family and I have been struggling with sickness for over a month. I have been dealing with it more so, which I am thankful that I am the one sick and not my kids so much!

However, it has been very debilitating. I haven't been sick in a long while and in one month I have gotten several bacterial and viral sicknesses.

This morning, I finally felt better, antibiotics are working and sure enough, my sweet baby girl has a fever!

Nonetheless, through all of this I have been praying over myself and my family and constantly quoting "No weapon formed against me shall prosper."

And I have been thinking about how hard life is. How tiring. How at times ruthless this life is. It is brutal and exhausting.

Let's be honest...there are times when life just stinks!

I look around and I don't have to look far to see how heart breaking this life can be.

But there are moments when this life is sweet. When it is good. When it is precious.

Funny thing, isn't it? Life.

Two truths occurred to me when I was thinking of all these things.

Truth: This earth, as bad and ugly as it can be is the only Heaven we know. Our happiest moments are on this earth. Everything we love begins on this earth. Our treasures are here. The idea of heaven is great, awesome...but we can't even grasp it because all we know of heaven is the few moments here on earth that are perfect.

Holding my kids and smelling their hair...Heaven.
Looking into my husbands eyes and seeing how much he loves me just in that one look...heaven.
Hearing my kids laugh...Heaven.

But here's another Truth: If you are a believer in Christ and you have asked for His forgiveness and turned to Him for grace and mercy...This earth is the only Hell you'll ever know.

Thank you Jesus!

So for this next week, think about those truths. Meditate on them and I will come back next week for some more thoughts on it!

Prayer

Father, Thank you so much for Heaven, whether here on earth or with you...I can only imagine the latter but if it is filled with laughter and joy that is all I desire! Help us deal with this earth and its hurts and sorrows. Thank you for saving us from Hell. I love you so much Lord. In your precious name, Amen.

Be Sure to come back next week!

Sweat the Small Stuff

2010-03-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."    Luke 22:44

A few years ago, or maybe more, this little book called Don't Sweat the Small Stuff came out and was a big hit...best seller, new catch phrase, etc.

I've never read it. Never even picked it up.

But here's my question...what makes "stuff" small?

Don't sweat the small stuff...Ok! Newsflash...if it were small, I wouldn't be sweating it!

Life isn't small. There is little in this life that is small.

There is a lot of big stuff to deal with. A lot of big stuff to sweat out. A lot of big stuff that if I only had to concentrate on not sweating about the small stuff I would be golden!

But life isn't small. It's big. There are things in this life that are too big for me to handle. There are things in the life that are too big for me to escape. There are things in this life that are too big for me to not sweat about or cry about or even scream about!

I'm sitting here and I am thinking about what constitutes as small. In reality, very little is small or insignificant.

Every word out of our mouth, every action we take is big.

This afternoon I lost it. LOST IT!

I was so busy cooking a healthy dinner, occupying the children and getting everyone ready for wherever they needed to be after dinner that I couldn't do it. Somehow, chaos insued and things got messy and I couldn't get it all together.

Time was running out. Things were not completed. I was yelling at my kids. Yelling at my husband. Frustration and anger won over everything.

My husband came to kiss me goodby and I barely looked at him...Truth: I scoffed at him and rejected him. And as soon as I did it, my heart broke. Guilt overcame me, but my anger, my pride took over.

He and my son went on their way. And I sat on the couch trying to head out myself and I felt pitiful.

So...did I sweat the small stuff? I got upset and frustrated over something small, like not having it all together. Not having the time to all sit and enjoy dinner. Not having the kids do or act the way I needed them to act.

But it wasn't small. It's something Big that I have to give to God. And that "small" frustration...turned into big stuff.

Yelling at my kids was not small. Rejecting my husband was not small. Letting my anger get the best of me was not small. All big.

Everything we do and say has a consequence. Big Stuff.

I quickly fixed things with my husband and apologized. I changed my plans and went with my family and put them first because I hadn't done so earlier.

This afternoon was, on a scale of small and big stuff, probably more on the small, but it was worth sweating over.

I need to sweat over the fact that I need to know how to handle things when they don't go my way, big or small.
I need to sweat over the words I speak to my kids. I need to sweat over the fact that they see me lose it. I need to sweat over the fact that they see me react and act frustrated toward them. I need to sweat over the fact that I lose my patience with them.I need to sweat over the fact that I dishonored my husband. I need to sweat over the fact that I speak harshly to him in the presence of my kids. I need to sweat over the fact that I rejected him and hurt him.

None of that is small. It's all worth sweating over.

Life isn't small. Our actions aren't small. Everything we do is big. What we say is not small. Everything we say is big.

These carry big effects. Big consequences or Big rewards.

So I'm gonna sweat my stuff, big or small, doesn't matter. I'm gonna sweat it because God gave me a mouth that is imperfect and sometimes brutal and a mind that makes decisions that aren't always good or kind and I am going to have to drink from that cup of imperfection for the time being. I'm gonna sweat it out, face it, face my imperfections and learn from my mistakes.

And I am going to sweat over small stuff, especially if they are worth sweating over.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for lsoing it today. Forgive me for the words that I spoke and the harshness of my actions and my heart. Forgive me for losing control. Some days I seem to have it all together but others don't go my way. Help me to look to you when they aren't going my way. Help me to perfect my imperfections, especially the actions I take and the words I speak.

Reflections

Are there small things in your life that you need to sweat over? Things that are worth sweating over? Ask the Lord to reveal things to you that you need to sweat over and perfect. Remember that what we do and what we say hold Big consequences.

Actions to Take

Write down 3 things you did or said today that are worth sweating over.
Ask the Lord what you need to do to learn from these 3 things.

Spark Challenges

I will sweat over the things I say because they can carry big effects.
I will sweat over the things I do becase they can have big consequences.
I will give those small things over to God so He can help me learn from them

Spark Truths

"Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place."          Jeremiah 7:3b

"Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared."
                                                                                                                       Psalms 119: 36-38

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."              2 Samuel 22:33

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."                  2 Corinthians 7:1

Refined Confidence

2010-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:3-36

I use to have this confidence.

Confidence where I could walk into a room and lift my head and be proud of who I was and I felt good about who I was. A confidence in the things I did. I was good at school. I had my life planned out at an early age.

I knew what I wanted, I knew what I needed to do to get it.

Confidence.

Somehow, I've misplaced it. Maybe I lost it.

Maybe it never really was confidence...maybe it was pride.

Yeah...a lot of it was pride. But I know there was some true confidence somewhere in me.

When I was in High School I was more proud, but confident. I wasn't the prettiest, I wasn't the smartest...but I knew who I was. I knew what I believed. I knew what I wanted in life. I was strong, I said no to lots of things like parties and drinking and things I didn't agree with. I was friends with everyone and I was liked and even admired. Pride.

When I got to college I still had that confidence. I could say hi to anyone...I even remember going into the cafeteria one time during lunch, that first week at school, and I went over to a table and asked if I could sit down with someone who I had never met. I went through college really fast...I wanted to get married. I did what I wanted to do, I got my degree, met a few good friends along the way and then got married.

I started teaching right after...I taught seniors and sophmores my first year. That first day I was so nervous...but I had confidence. I had it that day. That year. I had it. I remember one of my seniors wrote me an email telling me how much they admired the confidence I had and how they were greatful to have me as a teacher. I still have that email. I had confidence.

But in all these seasons of life, I now see that yes, I did have confidence, but that confidence was in me alone. In my abilities. In what I knew I could do. I had life in my hands and I was good at it.

Confidence mingled with pride.

And then motherhood...I was a confident mom at first. I had it down. I had taken care kids since I was young...I loved babies. I was one of those who couldn't wait to have babies.

And I was good at it.

But motherhood does something to you...it scares you a little bit. Because all of a sudden you realize that no matter how good at this you are....You Dont Have It. You Can't Do It All. I Have No Control.

Confidence plummets.

I had control of things in High School and College. I had control of my life. And I did it. I had a plan and I stuck to it and did it. But when you have other lives to deal with. When you have other personalities to figure out...when you can't figure out other little lives and that is what you are suppose to do...whoa!

So, here I am looking for my confidence. Trying to get it back. To find it. To feel it.

Truth: I long for that confidence I had. I long for that feeling of knowing who I am and not wavering. That feeling of strength and the ability to be able to do whatever I need to do to get things done and knowing that I'm gonna do it.

Truth: I don't want the pride to be in the way. I don't want that confidence if there is any pride that is not of God to be mingled in it. I don't want that. I want pure confidence. God given confidence. I want to know that I can do whatever it is God has called me to do in this moment because He has given me the strength and the power to do it and without Him I am nothing. I want to KNOW that. I want confidence in Him.

I struggle with my pride. I struggle with caring about what people think. I struggle with wanting admiration. I struggle with wanting appreciation. Sometimes motherhood is a thankless job. But there are times when it is awesome. I will take picked dandelions from our front yard from Sammy over 1000 thank you's anyday.

I want confidence...And I will have it. But I must be refined and purified...I don't want it any other way. I want pure confidence so that whatever I do, whatever God's calling is on my life, I know that I can do it because He has called me to do it. He has given me the power to do it. It's not me. It's not pride or vanity. It's all God. Everything that I do will glorify him, not me.

That's the kind of confidence I want and I know God is going to give it to me, refined and purified and perfected so that I can walk into a room and have confidence, knowing that every word out of my mouth is for his glory and every action I take is for His purpose.

Where does your confidence lie?

Prayer

Father, I want to have confidence in you alone. Nothing that I do in this life is of any value unless it is for Your glory and perfected in You. God there are days when my pride gets in the way, when my vanities seek approval, when I want recognition for me...I'm sorry for that. I want to feel what it's like to have confidence that is perfected and pure. That is my desire and I will persevere through whatever it is that I need to be taken through, because I know that once I do Your will, You will give me all that You have promised. In your precious name, Amen.

Reflections

Where does your confidence lie? In your work, your artistry, your mothering, your friendships...? Are there areas in your life where you can see pride mingled with confidence? Look at your life and ask yourself if you have confidence in such areas because of your abilities or because you know you are glorifying God in these things.

Actions to Take

Ask the Lord to reveal to you the confidence that He desires for you.
In your own words write down a prayer for Godly Confidence.

Spark Challenges

I will seek to have Confidence in Christ alone and not by my own strength.
I will ask the Lord to refine me and purify my confidence.
I will let go of the things I want control of and give them to God, knowing that I can do nothing without Him.
I will walk in a room with my head held high because I know that He gives me confidence, strength and favor.
I will remember that He has richly rewarded me!

Spark Truths to Remember

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:4

"My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore."
Psalms 121: 1-3

Life on Purpose and Abundant

2010-03-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News... For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. Phillipians 1:27 & 29-30

What’s our purpose? What’s my purpose in this life.

So many days we walk this life day by day and we lose sight of what we are doing or where we are going. We’re not lost. We are just moving through the motions of life. But what’s our purpose? What’s the point of everyday.

Daily living…wake up, get your family ready for the day, head to your daily work, whatever that may be, go about your day, come home, take care of your home, try to get to bed early and start all over the next day.

Is that it? Is that all we do? What’s the point? What are we living for?

Some of us live for our kids. All we do revolves around our children. Some may live for our spouse…we are constantly trying to make ourselves better for them, or create what we think they want in their lives. Some of us may live for church, and the time we spend "serving" and doing “church” things consumes us. Or perhaps you live for work, for that extra dollar, that promotion.

Are you missing out on a higher calling? What is your true purpose?

Phillipians 1:27 and 30 says “ we are fighting together for the faith, which is the good news…we are in this struggle together.”

Our purpose is to fight for the faith. It’s a priveledge and a struggle.

We are not called to walk life day by day. We are not called to be complacent to daily living. We are called to “fight for the faith.” We are in a fight everyday whether we know it or not. Whether we believe it or not. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but...against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
We are living in a dark world. Engaged in a fight for our lives and the lives of those we love. Our purpose is not to fight for that promotion, or fight for more money for the PTA or fight for a new church bulletin! Our purpose is to fight for the Good News.

What is the good news?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Life more abundantly. Abundantly: syn. overflowing, oversufficient, more than adequate.

I don’t know about you, but I want that life. I want a life overflowing in blessing. Abundant in grace and mercy. Oversufficient in love. Overflowing in forgiveness. Abundant in truth.

The abundant life.

Life sometimes gets complacent. It gets dull. It gets mediocre and monotonus.

And many times, I think I am to blame for that. So many times when things are crazy in my home, when kids are sick or work is stressful or weekends are filled I wish for "normalcy". Monotony.

I don’t want that. I want life to be abundant and overflowing.

Truth: When life is crazy and busy and stressful, I spend more time with my Savior. Perhaps it’s by default, but nonetheless it's true.

When life is easy or “normal,” when I am taking a break from the “struggle” of this life I don’t need to rely on my God. I don’t need to trust Him. My faith is fine right where it is. I don’t need an abundant life because things are manageable, easy, monotonous.

But the “struggle” is a “priviledge.” When I am fighting for the health of my family I remember his truths that “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn" Isaiah 54:17.

When I am fighting for favor at my husbands job I remember that "He blesses the righteous; He surrounds them with his favor as with a shield" Psalm 5:12.

I don’t want my purpose in this life to be just going though the motions; getting by on day to day living.

My purpose is to raise my kids to "love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and strength" Deuteronomy 6:5. My purpose is to “greatly enrich” my husbands life and “bring[s] him good, not harm” Proverbs 31: 12 My purpose is to “encourage one another and build each other up” 1 Thesolonians 5:11.

This is not always easy. Many days I struggle on simply raising my kids, not to mention teaching them to love the Lord. I struggle with honoring my husband and loving him for there are days when I want to say “leave me alone for 5 minutes!” I struggle with encouraging others when I feel like all I do is pour myself into everything but me.

But if I want an abundant life…a life that is full of blessing and overflowing, I will struggle to fulfill my purpose. I will fight. And there may be days when I fail, when I lose, when victory is lost, but on the days that I win, the days when my kids love like Christ loves, when my husband shows his appreciation, when I am pouring myself out so that He will fill me again…That is Life Abundant. That is Purpose Fulfilled.

Prayer

"Father Thank you for giving me a purpose greater than my own. Help me remember that it is a priveledge to struggle for the Good News. Remind me that the Life you desire for me is full of blessing and abundance and give me the courage and strength to fight for an abundant life so that my family will be blessed by my obedience. In your precious name, Amen.

Reflections

What is your purpose in this life? What are some areas in your life that you want God's abundance to be overflowing? What is "normal" for you?" Do you tend to find that when life is "normal" your relationship with God is complacent?" How can you increase God's abundance in your life daily?

Actions to Take

Write down how you are "fighting for the faith, or the Good News." How are those struggles fulfilling the purpose that God has called you to in the season you are in now? Examine your reasons for the fights you take on and align them with God's purpose for you.

Spark Challenges

I will no longer seek the norm, but find priviledge in the struggle.
I will find my purpose for what God is called me to be right now.
I will no longer be fine with a complacent relationship with God, but will seek Him always.
I will realize that I am always in some struggle for the Good News and I will do whatever it takes to fight for the Abundant Life.

Spark Truth to Remember

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands."                  Psalm 138:8

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."   Proverbs 19:21

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."        Philippians 1:6

"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance." Jude 1:2

Spark Truths

2010-03-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I found myself struggling with the truth. The truth about who I was, what I was and eventually who God was.

The Lord began to show me truths and teach me that what He thought of me mattered more than what anyone else thought.
For years I had thought of myself as a confident, strong woman, but as soon as life got difficult and when things weren’t going my way and as soon as I learned that I couldn’t control anything…that confidence waned and the strength was gone.

God began to strip me of everything that was not pure or of Him.

I soon found that I didn’t trust Him as much as I thought I did. The faith I thought I had was overcome by the fear I dealt with daily; And I valued appearances so much more than reality.

I soon found myself in despair, lonely, vulnerable and small.

Everything that I use to know or think was in vain.
The confidence and strength that I thought I had was nothing but vanity and pride.

God had so much more to give me: Confidence in Him and His Word. Strength In His arms.

I had to learn the Truths. Real truths. God’s truths.

I realized that I had been speaking and believing lies for too long. I needed truth spoken into me. I needed to speak it, to believe it and to live it. And I needed to speak it into the ones that I loved as well so that I could break those lies for good.

It has been a long battle. And even when I thought I had won, that I had overcome, I know now that it is a battle that I must continue to fight daily.

And so I begin this Journey and I encourage you to join me as we encounter what God believes about us, what he desires of us and what he has called us to. I encourage you to seek him and his truths with me and to SPARK TRUTHS into your life and into the lives of those you minister to daily.

Prayer
"Lord, here we go! Thank you for constantly challenging me and for not giving me more than I can handle! Your truths are so sweet Lord and so good. Help me to believe them. To know them. Help me to be encouraged by your words and to meditate on them daily so that I will not fall into the trap of lies. Help me to spark life into my family and those I love daily. In your preciouse name, amen."

Reflections

What are some lies that you have believed about yourself? What are the truths? Ask the Lord to help you erase those lies from your head so that you can walk with confidence in who He says you are.

Actions to take

As your spend time in the word write down any scriptures that speak truth into your life; whether it is scripture on what God says about you or the promises he has given to you. And when you start thinking about those lies, go back to what you wrote down and remember the truth!

Spark Challenges

I will memorize John 8:32
I will Spark truth into my life and stop believing the lies.
I will find confidence and strength in God alone.
I will Spark truth into the ones I love daily so they will not believe any lies.

Spark Truths to Remember

"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalms 62:2

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

"For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth." Psalms 26:3

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place." Psalms 51:6