Scripture Rocks

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2

I bought a huge bag of small stones the other day.  I can probably get a bazillion craft projects done with it.  I just LOVE rocks. 

I decided to take some of these rocks…..the smoothest and flattest ones….and write some of my favorite scripture verses on them.

I know, I know.  I don’t have the coolest handwriting ever.  But I like them anyway.

I took a few of them with me when I went out the other day.  I put one next to the peanut butter at the grocery store.  I left one on the counter at the post office.  A third one I dropped into my friend’s purse while she was looking away.  I wonder who will find them or when?

For now, I put the others in a little glass jar so I can take a few out as needed.  I may stick a magnet on some of them too.  Little reminders to keep my faith firmly on the Rock each day.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

Let's Put Away Resentment

Resentment.  I know that everyone has to deal with it.  But doesn’t it sometimes seem as wives and mothers that we are just swimming in it?  Why doesn’t my husband ever have to scrub the bathtub?  Why can’t the kids just feed themselves a nutritious meal for once?  Why don’t others put in as much time and effort volunteering for our community as I do?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes the resentment is so deep, I actually start drowning in it.

(Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006 (page 14))

The bible uses many words to help describe resentment.  Pride, anger, and bitterness are just a few.  If you want to get really fancy you can even use wrath or vexation.  Recently, I have been so vexed by the fact that no one else in my family can take out the recycling, I am about to just go dump it into their beds.

So what does a Godly woman do about resentment?  You might feel like moping around the house trying to get someone to pay extra attention to you.  You may flat out yell at your children because SERIOUSLY?  Can they put their dirty clothes in the hamper already?  Or if you are like me, you may make a snide, underhanded remark about how your husband never does anything around the house, as he is walking out the door for a 10 hour work day.  (Hey baby…..I know that isn’t true and I am sorry.)  Obviously, none of these scenarios are very God-like.

Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.”  I purposely bolded the words “be put away from you”, because these are some words we all should concentrate on when surrounding yourself in a sea of resentment.

(Image Source : imagekind for purchase)

As sinners, we dive right into the resentment sea thinking that our time, our motivations, and our accomplishments, are better or more important compared to everyone else.  Then, we quickly feel the effects of this self-centered mind set of resentment through, anger, jealousy, bitterness, and disappointment.   Job 5:2 warns us that when we are in a constant state of anger and jealousy, we will suffer.  “Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.”

As women of God we must put resentment far far away from us.  First we need to confess our sin of resentment and ask the Lord to forgive us.  We must then ask Him to constantly show us when the bitterness and anger that accompanies resentment, is present in our lives.  We all know that love is patient and kind from 1 Corinthians 13, but do you remember that love is also “not irritable or resentful”?  We need to ask God to put resentment away from us, and replace it with His love.

I encourage you to place the happiness sucking, relationship destroying, suffocating sea of resentment, into the hands of God.  He is big enough, He is strong enough, and he will always be there to guide you if you fall back in.

(Image Source: Diviant Art by XPI August 23, 2011)

Linking up with:

Pages of Faith

I have always been addicted to making lists, jotting down quotes, and sketching doodles.  I collect little notebooks and journals and fill them up with my goals and things I must do…..all handwritten with something like colorful gel pens, of course.

Beyond the grocery and bucket lists however, came a unique way for me to become closer to God.  One day I bought the prettiest notebook, hundreds of stickers, and a set of fine tipped Sharpie markers.  I began to write in this notebook……favorite bible verses, thoughts on God, prayers, and simply what was on my heart……and then I  began to decorate it with colorful stickers and Sharpie doodles.

I call it my Faith Notebook.  I love it.  As I thumb through the pages I realize it has changed my life.  It makes me laugh and uplifts my spirit.  I can vividly see prayers that have been answered and how my faith has grown.  Best of all, my girlies look through it and want to make one of their own.   I am hoping if I show you how, you will want to make one too. 

What you need:

·        A notebook or journal

·        Colorful things to write with

·        Stickers

Okay, really all you need is a notebook.  But gel pens and stickers will make you happy!  I bought a fancy spiral hardback notebook, splurged on the package of 80 fine tipped markers, and loaded up on hundreds of stickers.  Shhhhh.  Don’t tell my husband.

Getting Started:  You can write about anything you want in your Faith Notebook, but mine mainly consists of my favorite Bible verses.

Often times, I would write notes to myself about the verses or write down why they meant something to me, during a bible study.  The point is, to collect your thoughts so you can go back and remember what you have learned.

Making It Personal:  It would take eons to fill in a large notebook with just bible verses and although they are the main portion of a Faith Notebook, I just love how I made my notebook mine.  Here are some ideas that I used that will make your notebook uniquely yours.

*Be Creative*  Draw something.  Color it.  Use these illustrations to draw analogies about the Bible verses you have written down, or to explain what you are studying.

*Ask Yourself Questions* As you look back on your notebook you will be able to re-ask yourself the questions that you wrote down, and if you are anything like me, they will be questions that you need to ask yourself over and over. 

*Give Thanks*  Thank you Oprah, this is just like a gratitude journal.  Your journal can be a great reminder of what you have to be thankful for, no matter what situation you are facing.

*Pray* 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to “Pray without ceasing.”  Praying is an open line of communication between you and God.  When you write your prayers down, you will actually be able to see that they have been answered when you look back on them.  It is AMAZING!

*Talk To Yourself*  In my notebook I am always bossing myself around.  I use my name.  Like, “Hey Lynnie!  Listen to this!” or “Lynn, you gotta remember that….”.   It’s like giving yourself a little pep talk during the messy game of life.

*Use Song Lyrics*  The words from a favorite praise song or hymn are a great way to add to your journal.  I sometimes get a little crazy and take lyrics from any old love song and give those words a “God” theme.  I think any song will work as long as you focus on Him.

*Repeat Yourself*  Many times I have written a Bible verse or special quote more than once in my journal.  Sometimes what I have written is applied differently to whatever situation I am struggling with at the time, compared to when I wrote it down the first time.   Sometimes it is simply a part of God’s word that I hold fast to over and over.  Either way, don’t God’s words and promises bear repeating again and again?

*Be Funny*  When I watch my girls reading through my journal I love to see them laughing about my silly drawings and analogies.  Being happy in your faith is a life altering experience.  Nothing will make you happier in life than an ongoing relationship with God.  Write about it and laugh!

So there it is, my Faith Notebook.  I have been working on it for over two years!  I am about half way through it now and it is one of my goals to finish this year. (Goal #65 of 101 Goals in 2012)  It is something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life and hopefully it will inspire someone to start one too.  Get ready…..your faith is about to grow!

Linking with:

Women In the Word Wednesdays

A Quiet Morning

“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains righteousness on you. “  Hosea 10:12

I spent half the day bitter and angry yesterday.  Long story short, a best friend’s ex-husband arrived in Japan yesterday.  Since this isn’t a huge Air Force base we live on, it was inevitable that I would be running into him at some point in the next three years.  Lucky for me, about five hours after he landed, my husband and I saw him and his new wife, skipping across the street through our neighborhood.  Awesome.

After waking up this morning and starting to stew a bit more over the situation, I decided I needed to quietly sit down and to do a little bible study. (Something I have been neglecting lately.)

The very first verse in the study I am following was the one above.  Hosea repeatedly uses illustrations about fields and crops.  In this verse he mentions a plowed field that is ready to receive seeds.  The soil is no longer stony and hard, but has been carefully prepared and is ready.

Loud and clear I had to ask myself, “Is your life ready for God to work in it?” 

All too often, my heart is hard and unplowed.  Instead of being ready for God’s guidance, forgiveness, and righteousness, I get selfish (I want my friend to be here in Japan, not some other girl) and angry (Why does life seem so unfair sometimes?).  I forget to let God be in control.

I am still not sure what I will do if I run into this guy and his new wife face to face. Since my husband and I used to be friends with him, it might be a little bit awkward.  What I do know, is that my heart can be ready for God’s guidance in situations that are hard.  This one is really hard.  My friend is now a single mom.  Her boys have a dad that lives half way across the world.  My good friend’s ex, has his own struggles that I cannot even begin to understand.

Fortunately for all of us, God is always there and his righteousness will rain down for us if we let it.  The question is…….Is your heart ready for it?

What I Know For Sure

Eleven years ago yesterday, my second daughter was born.  Weighing nine pounds and having a head circumference in the 95^th percentile, saying she tore into this world is putting it mildly.

I’d like to say that this is just a really horrible newborn picture, but I think she really did look this bad.  It only took a few days for her to become much cuter, which was good…..because that’s when the crying started.

 She cried.

And cried.

Then, she cried some more.

Rumor has it, that God doesn't give you more than you can hande.  So really, after about the first four months she stopped crying.

It was my husband who wanted to name her after the Elvis Costello song “Allison”.  I thought it was okay, but I was leaning toward Jessica or Sara.  Of course when she was lying on my chest after that rip-roaring birth, I agreed with him.  Her middle name Eden, is also mine and my mother’s, and my Grandmother’s maiden name.

She has lived in five states and three different countries, has been in a coma and on a Life Flight, and she won’t take off her Converse tennis shoes and her green wool hat.  She only weighs 61 pounds but can swim the 50 meter Freestyle in thirty-eight seconds....which is only 14 seconds off of Michael Phelps' split....in case you didn't know.

For some reason, even though she is not my youngest daughter, she is my baby.  She is the daughter that is most like my husband and that is a good thing….usually.  She is best friends with her older sister and the coolest friend to her younger sister.

I could brag and brag about her all day long on this post, but you get the point.  Happy Birthday Allison Eden!  What I know for sure is, we love you!!!