Parenting and The Gift of Time

"The greatest gift our Father gives us is His presence. The greatest gift we can give our children is ours." 

Parenting.  It's a sensitive subject and there are a vast number of opinions on the topic.  I've shared my opinions and parenting style of choice in blog posts past.  

I've made my fair share of parenting blunders.  I've done a lot wrong, but I would like to think I've done more right.    There will always be areas I wish I had handled a situation differently, spoken a little more softly, reacted a little less abruptly, etc.  But I don't believe in living in regret.  Regret will eat you up, rob you of today, the present, and the gift of the now in front of you.  Don't live in regrets.  Trust me on that one.

So, instead of regret, I look at how I can do things differently going forward.  This is where the opening quote struck me right between the eyes.

How many times has one of my girls wanted my undivided attention and I responded to them, "just a minute, I'm busy," "I need to make this phone call," "we'll do that tomorrow,"  "you can tell me later," or "not right now, I've got laundry, dishes, dinner, etc to do."  My younger daughter often asks me to watch a show with her.  I oblige her request with my physical presence, but I sit there and scroll through social media sites on my phone or answer e-mails from my laptop.  She comments.  I make excuses.  Eventually she stopped asking.  Sigh.

When my girls were younger, I was a fanatic about my house being clean.  If it wasn't clean I got grouchy (ok, some things haven't changed)...having a clean house and everything in order was my priority.  In hindsight I wish I would've ignored the sink full of dishes, dusty baseboards and piles of laundry and spent a little more time on the floor coloring, playing Polly Pockets, Thomas the Train, and dress up.

I heard a statistic (I don't know the source)  this generation of teens is the loneliest, most depressed generation ever.  After spending some time with this generation, I can testify to these facts.  In our busyness we've left behind the fundamentals of family time, dinner around the table and other relational family activities.  We've lost our relational connectedness as a result.

Father God is always available.  He doesn't have to check His calendar or pencil us in.  If I have something I want to share with Him or talk about, He is there and the best listener I know!  As I have stated in previous posts on parenting, I want Father God to be my parenting model.  

I want to listen more to my girls and comment less.  I want to disconnect from social media, ministry and the "to-do list" long enough to be completely and totally PRESENT for them.  I want to give them the gift of my time...because let's be honest, time is a gift, not a commodity we can buy.  

No matter what your parenting style, I think we can agree, time is something all children need.  Are you giving your children the gift of your presence?  If not, start today!

In the Shower with Jesus

Hopefully the title of this post doesn't offend anyone, because if truth be told; and you are a believer, you are IN CHRIST and there's no where you go that He doesn't;)  I had a shower epiphany this morning.  Now, you guys can count yourself blessed I don't share all my shower 'epiphanies' in blog posts.  The shower seems to be the place where He speaks to me the most often.  Occasionally, He will awaken me from sleep during the night, but I don't always get up and listen.  He knows me well; so, in the shower it is:)

This morning's insight was so seemingly random.  I suppose the timing might become clearer to me in the days to come, but if it doesn't, I'll just count it as an insight He wanted to show me 'just because.'  He can do that, ya know?  Just because He loves talking to us!

He took me back to the junior high lunch table and some remarks a boy a year older than me said to me, more than once.  The comments were rude, degrading, explicit, sexual and a direct assault on my physical body.

This wasn't a totally new memory for me to re-visit.  When I went through inner healing this memory surfaced and I forgave the boy for his disparaging remarks.  It's a healed memory; I can know this because the thought of it doesn't bring any pain.  It remains part of my history, but it no longer defines who I am.

As I was picturing the setting in my imagination the question struck me, "why did I continue to sit at lunch with this group of people?"  I honestly can't remember any of the other 'players,' just this one offensive (older) boy and his remarks to me.  I can only assume we had mutual friends, which placed us at the same table, because I know for certain there were no assigned seats.

It was like Jesus was showing me this picture, but He wasn't really saying anything about it.  This is when I realized I would not put myself in that situation currently.  I wouldn't continue to expose myself to someone who didn't respect me.  Would I be kind to them?  Yes.  Would I go out of my way to reach out to them?  In the words of my 16 year old, 'probs not.'  Would I sit at the lunch table with them?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I think Jesus wanted me to see how far I've come, from self-hatred and no value or respect for myself, to healthy boundaries with those who don't see me for who I really am.  From a victim mindset to one of an overcomer.

A victim doesn't see their worth.  They don't expect to be respected by others; because, quite frankly, they don't respect themselves.  I've said this many times, but it bears repeating...one sets the standard for which one can receive love/respect/honor.  To the degree you love/respect/honor yourself is the degree others will love, respect and honor you.

In the case of this boy at the lunch table, for years his remarks rang through my head and I believed them to be true.  In reality, they were quite false.  From his remarks I formed the belief of many other lies, escalating in depth from the one he spoke over me.  Do I blame him?  Nope.  You see, we choose what to believe.  Sure, as a young teenage girl I was more vulnerable to deception than I am now, but still, it was my choice.

Not really sure why I'm sharing this with you today.  It's always my prayer that what I share will bring hope to someone currently struggling with where I've been.  It's just another way I relish in trampling on the work of the enemy:)  What he (satan) meant for my harm and destruction, Papa God turned into a platform for me to share truth.  Oh, the redemption and restoration of my Papa God makes MY SOUL SING!

Known for Love

I've been thinking about something.  Uh-oh, there she goes thinking again:)  As I realize God's perfect love more and more, I just can't get away from it's simplicity, yet complexity.  Obviously, we've made it very complex, because if the body of Christ had an accurate and deep understanding of God's love I am convinced we would be living differently.

The Gospel of Christ is ridiculously good news!  So good, I think we have a hard time embracing just how good it is.  God's love comes with no strings or stipulations, why do we add them???  We go back to religious mindsets and mix old covenant law with new covenant reality.  There is such a burning desire in my heart to teach and impart the good news of the new covenant to everyone I know.

As I've written previously, the body of Christ impaling the body of Christ grieves me...DEEPLY!!!!  Honestly, there's not a day goes by I don't think of it and pray about it and look for ways to bring about reconciliation.  There are times I have considered taking a sabbatical from Facebook, merely because of posts that I feel are grossly misrepresenting my Jesus to a broken world.

What if, just what if, your only job as a follower of Christ was to love people?  I can hear the question now, what about the Truth?  What about what we stand for on topics such as same sex marriage, abortion, etc?  I get that, people.  I really, really do!  I believe marriage is one man and one woman.  I believe that abortion is murder.  But, seriously, it's not my place to impose my standards (which are derived from the Bible) on those who don't even believe in my God.  To quote the Bible at a person who doesn't believe in Jesus is utterly silly.

I go back to Romans 2:4 that it is His kindness that leads to repentance.  Repentance isn't wailing and crying for hours and hours proclaiming how sinful you are before the Lord, begging for His mercy.  Repentance is changing the way you think.  Turning from your worldly or sinful thought/belief in exchange for His.  Something like, "Father, I have believed a lie and I have made bad choices based on this belief.  I am truly sorry.  I receive Your forgiveness.  I choose to believe Your truth today."

Here lately, I can not get away from the Gandhi quote, "I like your Christ.  I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

You know what?  The Ten Commandments are still valid.  We are no longer under the law, but that doesn't make the law invalid.  Instead of worrying about people keeping the laws, what if we focused on the one law Jesus said was most important?  The law of love which is; love God, love others as you love yourself.

Henry Lewis Drummond wrote the following in 1890:

'If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law.  You can readily see for yourselves how that must be so.  Take any of the commandments. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  If a man loves God, you will not need to tell him to put away other gods.  Love is the fulfilling of that law.  "Take not the Lord's name in vain."  Would a man ever dream of taking the Lord's name in vain if he loved Him? "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."  Wouldn't a man be glad to have one day in seven to dedicate more exclusively to the object of his affection?  Love would fulfill all these laws regarding God.

In the same way, if a man loves others, you would never think of telling him to honor his father and mother.  He could not do anything else.  It would be preposterous to tell him not to kill.  He could not do anything else.  You could only insult him if you suggested that he should not steal-how could he steal from those he loved?  It would be superfluous to beg him not to bear false witness against his neighbor.  If he loved him it would be the last thing he would do.  And you would never dream of urging him not to covet what his neighbor had.  He would rather they processed it than himself.  In this way "love is the fulfilling of the law."  It is the rule for fulfilling all rules, the new commandment for keeping all the old commandments, Christ's one secret of the Christian life.'


Jonathan Welton says, "the difficultly of developing this type of lifestyle is that we must have our eyes focused not on a list of rules, but upon walking in love in our relationships."


The deeper I go in God's love the less I am tempted to break one of these laws.  Does that mean I am sinless?  NO!  When I do sin it's because I have left the truth of God's love.  Sin is a counterfeit way to get a need met.  When sin is present it is just an indication of an area where God's love needs to be received.  The grace of God empowers us to walk free from sin!

So, what's my point of this blog post?  Simple.  As believers I think we should take the words of Jesus to heart and start loving others.  If we were truly and accurately representing our Savior our churches would be full to max capacity.  The lost would be flocking to Jesus.

Body of Christ, it's time to stop hating and debating.  It's time to start representing our Father with excellence.  It's time to get over our divisions and disagreements and focus on the one thing that matters.  Jesus, oh sweet Jesus, Your love is amazing!

So, the next time you are tempted at work, on social media or wherever else you find yourself 'taking a stand for Jesus' by proclaiming what you are against perhaps try developing a relationship with someone who needs Jesus.  That girl who just had abortion, she doesn't need to hear how wrong it was.  She needs to know the love and forgiveness of Jesus so she won't make the same choice again.

My Soul Sings because I live in the new covenant and the Gospel of grace is such good news!!!!!  Help us, Jesus, become a people of relationship.  I want to be known for love and representing You well!

Lesson from my Teenager

It's been awhile since I've written a post about a life lesson with spiritual application.  Oh, do I have one for you today!

My daughter, Rachel, has been driving for a few months now.   Everyday she drives herself and her sister to school, then she drives herself to and from swim practice six days a week.  She knows two ways to get to swim practice, but any deviation from her departure or arrival location and she has no clue what way to go.  Both her father and I have impeccable sense of direction, so we are unsure where her lack of direction comes from ;)

Today she ran an errand after school and on her way home she came across stand still traffic.  Mind you, she was a mere two miles away from home, so she was definitely on her own turf.  Patience is a fruit she has yet to manifest consistently.  Instead of waiting through the traffic she decides to turn off onto another road.

Now that's all well and good with one slight problem, she doesn't know where she is going!  Should she?  Yes.  Remember, she was only two miles from home.

My phone rings.  "Mom, there's a wreck and traffic wasn't moving, so I turned off and now I don't know how to get home."  Hmmm...I didn't hold back my frustration, unfortunately, I slammed her with it...you see, this happens more often than I would like...we get a phone call with her lost and us having to talk her through directions to get back to a point of reference she is familiar.

Ok, so you're probably thinking a GPS would be a perfect Christmas gift.  I agree, but back to the spiritual lesson Holy Spirit showed me from this.

How many of us in our Christian walk find ourselves on the path being directed by Him?  We know we are going the right direction, we can hear and see Him beckoning us forward.  We have vision.  Inevitably somewhere along the road we can count on a few bumps, a few obstacles, challenges, distractions, etc.  The truth is He has not moved, He is still calling us forward, but because of the "bump" we lose our focus and for any number of reasons we decide to take a different path.  Problem is without vision (direction) we don't know where we are going and get lost.

Thankfully, Holy Spirit is always there to help us get back on the right path.  Just as I was on the other end of the phone directing Rachel back home.

I shared this analogy with Rachel and she laughed and said, "that's so me!"  I encouraged her to slow down, think things through and just because she comes across traffic congestion doesn't mean she needs to turn and go another way, especially if she doesn't know another way!

In our Christian walk I think the "bumps" are opportunities.  Opportunities to encounter and know Him, trusting Him to guide our steps.  Through this process comes maturity.

Have you gotten off the path?  No reason to panic.  Simply ask Him where to go from here.  He'll show you what steps to take!

Holy Spirit I thank you for Your direction.  I thank You for Your patience with me when I decide to take a detour.  I thank You for always lovingly pointing me back to the Father.  You are my global positioning system (GPS) and though sometimes I may feel lost, I'm not, because I am secure in the palm of Your hand and this makes MY SOUL SING!

My thoughts on Election 2012

Unless you're living under a rock, you know today is November 6th.  It is Election Day in these great United States of America.  The day we, the people, go to the polls and cast our vote for the man we want to lead our country for the next four years.

I make no claims that what I am about to share is theologically, politically or even socially correct.  I'm not looking for agreement, but merely sharing my heart.

Yes, I voted, early actually, for which I am grateful.  It is not the point of this post to tell you who to vote for...in fact, I hope to write this post with complete impartiality.

My heart is grieved today.  I woke up with a heaviness, a deep sadness.  Not because I fear the outcome of today's election...I am actually quite at peace there.  My heart is grieved because the body of Christ is impaling each other and this time it's over Republicans versus Democrats.

I have lost count of the numerous posts on social media over the last weeks with believers demonizing (for lack of a better word) those on the opposite side.  Many times believers accusing believers.  Posing questions like, "How can a believer vote for a man, when he is for killing babies, anti-Israel and pro same sex marriage?"  Or, "Jesus said to help the poor, my candidate does that."  "I'm voting for the man most consistent with Biblical values."  Of course they go on to claim that God's man is their man.

Now, I've been nice with these examples.  I've seen far more vitriolic posts than these.  Some posts are finger pointing, some are angry, some are sarcastic, some are arrogant, but the underlying current in much of them is fear.  Fear that if their man is not elected their future is less than secure.

Do you fear your future?  If I look at the current economic and moral culture around me, I might fear my future, too.  So, instead, I choose to look to the kingdom of heaven, believing 'on earth as it is in heaven'...my eyes focused on Jesus.  I can assure you He's not a Republican or a Democrat.  He's also not wringing His hands in heaven, wondering if us silly people will get it right.

Body of Christ, are our tirades, accusations and such doing anything to influence people or are they just making them bitter toward the God we are suppose to represent?  Last I checked the best way to influence people is by building a relationship with them and sharing our hearts, without an agenda.  When unbelievers see us going at each other, judging one another for their party affiliation, they want no part of our God.

Like I stated in the beginning, I'm merely sharing my heart.  I believe loving and honoring one another doesn't come with a pre-requisite of agreement...that's the point of this post.  As the body of Christ we need to focus on loving each other, I don't think demonizing people for their beliefs is a very effective means of communicating love.

My Soul Sings because I have peace that is not of this world.  My Savior was put into office over 2000 years ago and He never changes.  His ways are just and His law is love.  He has assured me of my victory, my hope in Him is secure.  He is for me.  No man can separate me from my identity in Christ. There can be chaos and confusion around me, but within me there is a peace that calms the fiercest of storms.  I serve a good and perfect King, His name is Jesus.  I hope you know Him.  He loves you very much!

Get out there and vote!  Personally, I look forward to tomorrow morning when all this tension is hopefully behind us.  I will pray for whomever is elected to lead this country...cause he's going to need them!

I want MORE, Lord!

I've been listening to a song by Cory Asbury and Jaye Thomas called "Shekinah."  At the end of this post I will add a link where you can listen to it.  The song is quite simple, with repetitive lyrics...which I've grown quite fond of for several reasons.... but, that's another topic for another day...

Here's a sampling of the lyrics, "You move and we want more.  You speak and we want more.  We want the fullness."

More.  In my circles it's a common request in prayer to ask the Lord for more.  More of Him.  More of His presence.  More of His power.  More of His goodness.  More of His love.  Just simply, more of anything and everything pertaining to Him.

I can see how someone not knowing the context of this request, or that is unfamiliar with the quest for more of the Lord, could come to the conclusion this is a selfish request.  I wanted to take the opportunity to journal, I mean blog, about what this heart cry means to me.

When a person believes and accepts Christ as their Savior, He makes His home inside of them.   You get all of Him.  So, when I ask for more, I'm never insinuating that one has been cheated a part of God.

I fully believe God is so vast and mysterious I will spend my lifetime getting to know Him.  Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter." It's part of our adventure with God, the romance... the intimacy of getting to KNOW Him!  We are told in both Proverbs and Jeremiah that if we seek Him, we will find Him.

Usually spiritual laws mimic natural laws, but there is one in my opinion that does not.  Eating.  In the natural the more you eat the fuller you get.  In the spiritual the more you eat, the hungrier you become.  The more time I spend in the presence of Jesus, the more I want!  The more I worship Him, the more I want to worship!  The more time I spend in His Word, the more time I want to read and learn about Him!

During intimate times of worship (usually in the privacy of my home with no one else watching) I feel His presence so tangibly I feel I will explode inside from the fullness!

I've also heard it compared to a marriage relationship.  In a healthy marriage it's probable you love your spouse more today than the day you said, "I do."  Why?  Because you've grown together and you're love has also grown.  I love my husband more today than I did twenty years ago.  There are probably many reasons, but one is maturity.  Through maturity my ability to love and receive love has increased in capacity.

As you receive the "more" of God something else happens...He increases and you decrease.  It's all part of becoming more like Him.  As you decrease and He increases you can be trusted with more without pride or selfish motives getting in the way.

So, why doesn't God just reveal Himself fully and completely upon salvation?  My personal opinion is I don't think we could live!  I believe that's what is meant in Exodus 33:20 which states no man can see Him and live.  I don't interpret this to mean if you see the face of God you die a physical death, because we are told numerous times in scripture to seek His face and turn our eyes to Him.  I interpret it to mean no human can encompass all His glory and remain the same...you would cease to be human!

I hope just reading this post has been an appetizer for you to seek more of God!  Just writing it has made me hungry for more of Him!  I can't seem to get enough of His kindness and goodness...it's just overwhelming!

As promised here is the link to "Shekinah."  Turn your eyes and heart toward Jesus and take a listen. Invite Him to reveal Himself in a deeper way to you.  Ask for MORE, LORD!  My Soul Sings because I have a living relationship with the Lover of my soul, a limitless supply of His perfect love and He has made me FREE!!!!!

Living to Die or Dying to Live?

Today I want to share some thoughts running through my mind that have come from responses to my decision to eat for life, instead of living to eat.

People are curious as to why I have chosen to make radical changes to my diet.  When I tell them weight loss was just a benefit of the changes and not the reason for them, they are perplexed.  I want to live healed and whole.  If what I eat empowers my body to fight disease, prevent disease, etc., I'm all for it.  Why?  Because I want to live many days on this earth as an offering to the One who lives inside of me.

I have been surprised at people's responses; especially believers, who don't want to live past 75-80 years of age.  Let me add here, I do not judge anyone.  This post is sharing my personal convictions, which I do not impose on ANYONE else.

Now, honestly, I don't want to live to see 100 if it means I'm holed up in a nursing home, with someone wiping drool from my face 24/7.  But if I can live to see 100 and live it abundantly, count me in!

Why?  Because I believe as believers we shouldn't be so singularly focused on going to heaven that we miss what He put us here on earth to do.  If this was every believer's mentality who would be spreading the Good News?  No, friends, your salvation is so much MORE than a get out of hell free card.  It's a call on your life to go be light in a dark world!

As a believer if my goal is just to make it through another day so I am one day closer to heaven that's NOT abundant life.  That's living in survival mode.  God's plan for you is abundant life (see John 10:10, 3 John 2.)

When you accept Jesus as Savior the old you dies.  This is what the act of baptism symbolizes.  Buried with Christ, raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4.)  We die in order to LIVE!

Which brings me to the question the title of this post poses.  Living to die or dying to live?  My Soul Sings because it is no longer the old me who lives, but Christ in me!  This world is not my eternal home, but it is my mission field, my assignment.  I will embrace each day I live on this earth as a gift from heaven!

Papa God, I am sorry for the times I have wished my days away.  For the times when things got hard and instead of turning to You for strength I prayed for You to take the adversity away from me.  I was focused on my comfort and not the greater good You had in store for me.  I am sorry for times I haven't honored my body as the temple of Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19-20.)  Continue to help me steward this body You have given me so that we can co-labor to bring heaven to earth for all my days here (I Corinthians 3:9, Matthew 6:10.)  Help me to see people as You see them.  Break my heart for what breaks Yours and then give me the courage and boldness to take action.  Thank You, Papa, for preparing a place for me.  I look forward to the day when heaven becomes my permanent home, but for now, teach me how to remain aware that I am seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6.)  You are such a good Papa.  I want to tell the world about Your goodness and represent Jesus well.  I love You and I thank You!  In the name of Jesus I pray, AMEN!