I love to follow the Christian Calendar. I know lots of people believe that it's just religion and they believe others just use the calendar and it's methodical activities to keep busy and appear to truly believe. I want to live closer to the LORD and although I know that what ever righteousness we have is just filthy rags, (Isaiah 64:6) I do believe GOD wants us to strive to be closer to HIM. To know HIM more; to learn HIS wishes and wants for us by reading HIS Word more. I feel like following and observing some of the dates on the Christian Calendar, along with observing the old Feasts and Festivals in the Old Testament, is well pleasing to the LORD.
Several years ago a friend, Marianna de Lachica lived in Wilkes. Marianna was the first person that I remember speaking to about the meaning of Lent. I had heard of the term some from our Nana Kathy when we attended the Methodist Church. However, it was Marianna that I discussed Lent more extensively with and those discussions are what led to me to want to participate in Lent.
Lent to me is to Easter like Advent is to Christmas. It's a time of preparation. Now, I know that many people have their ideas about what Easter and Christmas Holidays really came from. I must admit, there is lots of evidence to convince anyone that these Holy-days and not so Holy in origin. However, I do celebrate both of these holidays with our family and try to use them as times to draw closer to the LORD and learn more about HIM. I like the fact that their are 5 Sunday's in Advent and your family can use that time to reflect on Emmanuel coming as our sacrifice when HE was born. I like that you can use 40 days prior to the anniversary of the Resurrection of Jesus to think of all that HIS sacrifice meant for you and how you can serve HIM more.
I have observed lent a couple of different ways over the years. Once I fasted something about the computer. I really can't remember much about that fast though, and honestly, I'm not sure if I made it the entire 40 days. I do remember one year in particular I fasted meats. I had no meats of any form except on Sundays for the entire 40 days. That was NOT easy! It actually physically made me weak. I should have substituted it with another form of protein, but I didn't know that then. Anyway, I didn't tell anyone what I was doing, although my family did eventually catch on. I do believe that year I learned something though. I learned that sacrificing something, anything for GOD is not always necessary, however it can be a good thing.
I think that others think too often, "Oh Goodness tomorrow is Lent, what will I have to give up this year?" I really believe that where any fasting is concerned, GOD would much rather us ask what HE wants from us. I don't think HE wants for us to simply pick something random that we either think might sound good, or be easy for us to give up. Even if something is hard for you to give up, that doesn't necessarily mean that is the things GOD wants you to do without. Just because it's the time of year so many others are fasting, doesn't necessarily mean that GOD wants you to fast now either. Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, 1 Samuel 15:22 If we simply fast because of routine, ritual, or even religion, is this really was GOD wants from us? I believe HE wants us to speak to HIM, to pray and ask what HE would have us do.
To fast or not to fast? If to fast what do I fast? In each thing we do, we have the opportunity to increase or decrease our witness. If we choose to do something after feeling led by the LORD, that may be the very thing that GOD uses in our life to open up our witness to that one person we would have never reached other wise. We should pray about all things, ... continuing instant in prayer; Romans 12:12 Lent is no different.
Praying is what it is all about isn't it. What does GOD want you to do with the next 40 days? What can you do to learn more about HIM in the next few weeks before Easter? Ask HIM, I bet HE will lead you too!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Things I hear
I am very grateful to be able to hear all of my blessings.
Many times those around me accuse me of have a larger than normal mouth. Yeah, I know that's not exactly what they say, but I try to not repeat the evil, and only concentrate on the good. ;-) Anywho, I must admit, I am very opinionated. I have spent many more hours than I wish to remember regretting the words that I spoke. I want to speak words or peace, love, and encouragement. However, sometimes the words I say are in hurt, resentment, and even anger. Often those things I say in haste, are not the things I wish I would have said at all. I've learned though, that the biggest blessings in my life are not the things that I've said, but rather so often the things I have heard.
Last week I had an optical migraine. It was caused by lack of decent sleep, older contacts than I should have worn, and a high level of stress. I realized how sensitive my hearing was during this time. Even the slightest little noise felt like someone was screaming across the room at me. I had to lay on the couch and in the bed for 3 days with my eyes closed the majority of the time, just listening, while keeping very still and hoping my head would soon feel better. I wondered during this time if the reason I was so sick was so that I could concentrate more on the things I was hearing than what I was seeing. I know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. So even though I would have rather have had a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday without pain, I can see how the things I heard were good and I want to take time out now to appreciate the things I hear more.
I started writing this post because of something I heard this morning. I was listening to Anna play "He Leadeth Me." It was a beautiful rendition of the song written by Mrs. Wanda Marlow just for Anna to learn for her competition. Anna will be competing at her ACE Convention again in about 5 weeks. She is practicing this song about 8 - 10 times a day now. I think nothing the LORD does is by circumstance. I completely believe everything is on purpose, so that GOD can continue to work HIS ultimate will in our lives. I know HE had Mrs. Wanda choose this song for our entire family's good. "He Leadeth Me" what a wonderful thing to hear over and over again. We all need to make sure HE is leading us. By repeating this sound over and over again, it settles it more in our hearts. The more we hear, the more we believe. The more we believe, the more we practice. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
I wanted to take the time to savor what I had heard. I love listening to Anna play the piano. I love the fact that she is honoring GOD with her talent. I know that Anna is often not thought of for her talents. I'm not sure why this is, I can think of many possible reasons, but GOD knows the truth, and again I'm trusting HIM to work it out for our good. I am glad though that Anna doesn't have a haughty heart about her talents. I'm glad she is humble, and I pray she always has a spirit of humility for the talents GOD has given her. Her singing and her piano playing are such a blessing to me. I love listening to the sweet sounds that come from her little fingers and the beautiful notes that she sings too. I pray that GOD will continue to use her to bless our family as well as others for many years to come!
I love hearing all of my babies. I love hearing little Valie when she says "Bay Bee." She has such a sweet little voice and there is no doubt that the GOD placed her in all of our lives for the blessing she would be. You can not hear her little voice without smiling! A friend once told me women are made to always have babies in their life. She said they are supposed to keep having babies until they have grand-babies. This is so at no time will their house be without the pitter-patter of little baby feet running about. I'm not sure how much of a possibility this will be in my life, but for now I'm grateful for the little sticky feet I can still hear running all around making tiny foot prints for me to clean up after!
I love hearing my little Rose-bud. Even as I type these letters she is picking up the living room singing "God's been good." I'm so blessed to be able to have children who want to Praise GOD all the time, even when they think no one is watching or listening. I'm so thankful to be able to hear my daughter sing now, instead of having to worry about what she is doing while she is away from me. There as so many sounds I hear every week that I would never have the privilege of hearing were it not for my freedom to homeschool. I'm so thankful for that!
Today I love hearing my little man Sethy. While I'm typing this he is working on school worksheets. I love to hear how he still says so many things like a "little boy." We have joked that all of our children have been effected by our friend Kim Royal. Kim has played such a strong influence in our lives, our children all say certain things that sound like Kim. Little Sethy seems to be hanging on to some of those slurred letters the longest so far though. R's sound like W's and L's sound like W's too. S's sometimes just disappear all together. I love the sweetness and youth that is still in so many of Seth's words. I love how that although he is a little boy with few words at times, he says so much with the deep love her shows to so many. I'm so thankful to hear my little boy learning to read. I'm grateful I'm the one teaching him!
These are the things I'm hearing today. I pray that GOD keeps me mindful of just how privileged I am to be able to hear all of these blessings. I pray there are many years to come with me hearing all of these blessings around me each day.
What are you hearing today?
Whew, it's a good thing I had stopped typing when I did! Now all I hear from the room beside me as I am proof reading my post is a little brother taunting his older sister, and another sister who is fighting with her sister about what she is "not going to pick up" that the other one left behind. Ha, that is my life for sure, and I'm very thankful for it! ;-)
Oh, and one more little P.S. I can't forget to thank Tracie Bauguess for her inspiration for me. I have read her blog for a while and I thought, I need to do that. I'll share soon my real reason for wanting to blog, but Thank you again Tracie for your willingness to share your life and the inspiration you gave me to share mine!
Many times those around me accuse me of have a larger than normal mouth. Yeah, I know that's not exactly what they say, but I try to not repeat the evil, and only concentrate on the good. ;-) Anywho, I must admit, I am very opinionated. I have spent many more hours than I wish to remember regretting the words that I spoke. I want to speak words or peace, love, and encouragement. However, sometimes the words I say are in hurt, resentment, and even anger. Often those things I say in haste, are not the things I wish I would have said at all. I've learned though, that the biggest blessings in my life are not the things that I've said, but rather so often the things I have heard.
Last week I had an optical migraine. It was caused by lack of decent sleep, older contacts than I should have worn, and a high level of stress. I realized how sensitive my hearing was during this time. Even the slightest little noise felt like someone was screaming across the room at me. I had to lay on the couch and in the bed for 3 days with my eyes closed the majority of the time, just listening, while keeping very still and hoping my head would soon feel better. I wondered during this time if the reason I was so sick was so that I could concentrate more on the things I was hearing than what I was seeing. I know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. So even though I would have rather have had a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday without pain, I can see how the things I heard were good and I want to take time out now to appreciate the things I hear more.
I started writing this post because of something I heard this morning. I was listening to Anna play "He Leadeth Me." It was a beautiful rendition of the song written by Mrs. Wanda Marlow just for Anna to learn for her competition. Anna will be competing at her ACE Convention again in about 5 weeks. She is practicing this song about 8 - 10 times a day now. I think nothing the LORD does is by circumstance. I completely believe everything is on purpose, so that GOD can continue to work HIS ultimate will in our lives. I know HE had Mrs. Wanda choose this song for our entire family's good. "He Leadeth Me" what a wonderful thing to hear over and over again. We all need to make sure HE is leading us. By repeating this sound over and over again, it settles it more in our hearts. The more we hear, the more we believe. The more we believe, the more we practice. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
I wanted to take the time to savor what I had heard. I love listening to Anna play the piano. I love the fact that she is honoring GOD with her talent. I know that Anna is often not thought of for her talents. I'm not sure why this is, I can think of many possible reasons, but GOD knows the truth, and again I'm trusting HIM to work it out for our good. I am glad though that Anna doesn't have a haughty heart about her talents. I'm glad she is humble, and I pray she always has a spirit of humility for the talents GOD has given her. Her singing and her piano playing are such a blessing to me. I love listening to the sweet sounds that come from her little fingers and the beautiful notes that she sings too. I pray that GOD will continue to use her to bless our family as well as others for many years to come!
I love hearing all of my babies. I love hearing little Valie when she says "Bay Bee." She has such a sweet little voice and there is no doubt that the GOD placed her in all of our lives for the blessing she would be. You can not hear her little voice without smiling! A friend once told me women are made to always have babies in their life. She said they are supposed to keep having babies until they have grand-babies. This is so at no time will their house be without the pitter-patter of little baby feet running about. I'm not sure how much of a possibility this will be in my life, but for now I'm grateful for the little sticky feet I can still hear running all around making tiny foot prints for me to clean up after!
I love hearing my little Rose-bud. Even as I type these letters she is picking up the living room singing "God's been good." I'm so blessed to be able to have children who want to Praise GOD all the time, even when they think no one is watching or listening. I'm so thankful to be able to hear my daughter sing now, instead of having to worry about what she is doing while she is away from me. There as so many sounds I hear every week that I would never have the privilege of hearing were it not for my freedom to homeschool. I'm so thankful for that!
Today I love hearing my little man Sethy. While I'm typing this he is working on school worksheets. I love to hear how he still says so many things like a "little boy." We have joked that all of our children have been effected by our friend Kim Royal. Kim has played such a strong influence in our lives, our children all say certain things that sound like Kim. Little Sethy seems to be hanging on to some of those slurred letters the longest so far though. R's sound like W's and L's sound like W's too. S's sometimes just disappear all together. I love the sweetness and youth that is still in so many of Seth's words. I love how that although he is a little boy with few words at times, he says so much with the deep love her shows to so many. I'm so thankful to hear my little boy learning to read. I'm grateful I'm the one teaching him!
These are the things I'm hearing today. I pray that GOD keeps me mindful of just how privileged I am to be able to hear all of these blessings. I pray there are many years to come with me hearing all of these blessings around me each day.
What are you hearing today?
Whew, it's a good thing I had stopped typing when I did! Now all I hear from the room beside me as I am proof reading my post is a little brother taunting his older sister, and another sister who is fighting with her sister about what she is "not going to pick up" that the other one left behind. Ha, that is my life for sure, and I'm very thankful for it! ;-)
Oh, and one more little P.S. I can't forget to thank Tracie Bauguess for her inspiration for me. I have read her blog for a while and I thought, I need to do that. I'll share soon my real reason for wanting to blog, but Thank you again Tracie for your willingness to share your life and the inspiration you gave me to share mine!
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