train up your child

Training up our children to be in love with Jesus..... 


Deuteronomy 6
 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

"and thou", this is a direct command to the parent.....love the Lord thy God with ALL YOUR heart and soul and might.....
If we put anything above God, our children more than anyone know we could love better!  Children are intuitive!

While we teach them Gods word, it is not a bad idea to have these verses continually before OUR eyes as reminders for us to love God and live for God.  Write them on our hands and as messages before our eyes.  Reminders for Mom and Dad, there are little ones watching every move you make....even things done in secret.
No you and I will not be perfect at this.....Yes we will make many mistakes.....but living in love is a humble way of living that allows for apologies and new beginnings, both for us and our children.

Training up our children to love Jesus must become more than words that we speak......it must be a way of being!

               Never give UP!

Never Give up!

Dads lunch pale

Dad packed his lunch everyday for work....
One of my jobs as a youngin was to unpack it every evening.  At the time it was an unpleasant task, but now long after he's gone it conjures up fond memories. 
Opening that metal dome shaped pale and gathering up what was left....I can still remember the smell.  It was  a smell of cold meat, grease from the machinery he worked on, and old spice.

My Dad was a good man,  not a perfect man,  he was human with lots of faults just like me, but he taught me to trust Jesus.  To always lean on Jesus.  He also was the first to show me unconditional love.  No matter what I did or said, he was always there.  I remember a few spankings but not to many.  Mostly, I remember him sitting a the kitchen table Bible open, hands clasped in prayer............he always believed we would come to Jesus.

Jamie Grace - Come to Me (Official Lyric Video)

The term selfie is probably the most defining word of our century.  A culture where getting the perfect picture is made a priority, while people around us go without anyone loving them and caring for them enough to share Jesus. 

Imagine the anger that filled the heart of Jesus as He walked through the Synagogue toppling tables while encountering leaders who were only concerned with "their" ideas of what was important, laying aside God's desires for them to be reaching out to people with help.....

How far have we come?  Scary to think about as the Bible says.....
2 Timothy 3:1
  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Timothy 3:2
  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy..........

• It is God's desire that all should come to repentance...(asking Him for forgiveness for unbelief in Him, Jesus)
• It is God's desire that we love Him
• It is God's desire that we love people
• It is God's desire that we help people

It is also God's desire for us to live victoriously.......You are a child of the Most High God, and HE thinks you are beautiful!    Let Him fill you with His joy and fulfillment...you will find ultimate contentment in Him.

Jesus Follower

Follow Jesus

Do you ever let what people think sway your thoughts, moods, and actions?  If they are followers of Jesus this is a good thing!

Most of the time the things that sway our thinking , aren't the positive, scripture adhering words of a friend, but rather that derogatory slam or the threat of one.  

In fear of what men will say or think about us and that which is precious to us....... we hunker down, and put our hard shell out ready to receive blows from our critics. 
(and are ready to fire back those darts as soon as or even before they begin)

Ps. 56:4
  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Psalms 118:6
  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:6
  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

We forget how important it is to be like Jesus and to care what He thinks of our attitudes
As a Jesus follower, we can afford to be tender.....and risk being kind in the face of our attacker.  Learning to put the Lord first over absolutely everything else,  allows us to be bold and considerate to any who would engage us.......It is freedom.....it is supernatural intervention!


NO ONE is ever perfect at this....but every time we choose to be a Jesus follower we become a little stronger.  Don't beat yourself up when you fail..... don't give up......  Try again.  The world is depending on us to show them Jesus.

 

 

Are you my Mother?

                                                      

Some days, I tell you, I am so scary I am unrecognizable.......
Tired, overworked, pushed to my edge, wanting to give in and give up.  I sure don't resemble anything that looks like the mother I desire to be.......
It is obvious to everyone in close proximity I am not doing what is needed to keep my heart and mind sane and in step with God.....
This is when I need to self examine.

What went wrong and how did I end up here?
I love my kids and my husband.  Opening God's Word and soaking in the truth of His Word as his child, my attitude quickly turns around....Counting my blessings, recognizing His sacrifice on my behalf, He wants me to focus on Him and be thankful..........

We can know how we should act and still choose wrong thoughts and behaviors.  Our relationship with Jesus dulls when we act out of repetition instead of relying on Him completely.

The peace of God and a sound mind comes to us and exists in us when we are willing to seek and understand the truth of God.  Not trying to find "our personal truth", but God's truth about us!
How can I know I am finding God's truth?

First, look in the Bible for answers yourself.......
God am I being honest with myself?
Am I your child?
Have I asked you to be Master of my life today?
Is there something in me that I need to identify and change to conform to Your image?

Help me Lord, so my children will want to say,  I am happy you are my Mother and God will say well done!

Heal me, O Lord.....

Going to God's Words in highly stressful times, WILL help us learn how to bring our thoughts and our tongue under control.  We learn how to bring light into the situation instead of bringing darkness and added chaos.
 
It takes  work and the discipline to run to His Word instead on vomiting out whatever words pop into your mind, but it will work!  
You will be happier when you  learn to sit quietly and trust our amazing God!

He can fix your brokenness!  He wants to heal your broken, wounded heart!  He wants you to be whole and well.

We can learn words that lift up and give life........
"but thou oh Lord, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of my head.  I cried unto the Lord and He heard me.  " Ps.3
"the entrance of Thy words giveth light."Ps. 119

JOY

Mandisa - Overcomer (Lyric Video)

you can be an overcomer

YOU can be an overcomer!

Why do so many people feel like they are "stuck" in their poor habits?  God says you can.....

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Jesus said "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."


Being an overcomer is an action........you can not be an overcomer by staying the same.
*Overcomer defined is- overcomer is not sinless, but holds fast to faith in Christ.....He does not turn away from God to fulfill his own will.

Whatever it is you need to overcome, God can help
Do you consistently have negative thinking......God can help
Are you a poor judge of character.....God can help
Are you an addict.....God can help
Are you a gossip....... God can help

Saturate yourself with the Word of God, and with the people of God........

Go to Him with every temptation and trial!     YOU can do it!

BE an OVERCOMER!

Thinking about childhood today.

Long sunny days spent on the lake, it was wonderful.  Friends over for dinner on Sunday afternoons.  Laughing so hard we couldn't catch our breath.......so many good days.

Coffee

He saw me and He loved me anyway.....

I believe at the heart of every woman is a desire for her man to see her for who she really is......and love her anyway, as a treasure.

We want to walk beside you, not behind you, not in front of you......
We desire for you to care about what we care about, just because we care about it!.......
We want you to listen when we speak our endless rambling words that might not make sense, with loving attention..........
We want to be intimate without expectation

of getting more than intimacy!


We will respect you and honor you with loyalty!
We will love you and cherish every moment we have with you (even when you think we are angry with you.).....
We will not say no to your requests, big or small, because we love you.
We will try to please you and take care of you......
We will desire you....
We treasure YOU.....

Don't wait.....start now

For some reason we think we have to start big.......

If God has placed a burden on your heart or given you a vision for a particular ministry, don't wait, start now!  
In Exodus 4:2 God said to Moses "what is that in your hand, and he said, a rod".......
Our command isn't to wait until all of the pieces fit into place, but rather to start.  Start where you are with what you have.  


It's ok to have high hopes, big dreams......and to want to do a lot.  Chances are the circumstances are never going to be ideal!  There may never be enough money or time,
only an encouragement to use what we already have in our hand. 

•  Maybe help one person 
•  teach one person
•  be a difference maker to one
  
   

Right here, right now, with what you already have! 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love castesth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

create JOY: Compassion

create JOY: Compassion: Compassion-   feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong des...

love

Love Never Fails

Calm down about things that don't matter,

Picking your battles wisely is a life quality that everyone should adopt.

Ask your self:
     why does this bother me
     what will happen if I don't respond
     will my opinion change the outcome
     can I find a positive way to express the way this makes me I feel
 
   
When serious things do happen (and they will) over the top responses will only serve to hurt you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and  you will alienate people after time...........
Discipline your thought life!   Don't allow every minor irritation make you irrational!
Try focusing on  the positive and meditating on the blessings of God and watch the small problems fade from sight.........

Philipians 4:8
Finally, brethren.....whatsoever things that are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
   

Good morning January

Today, I try again to look for and create JOY.......

I love the way my kids attack life with fervor.  Wide awake most mornings (especially if there is no school).  Happy and ready to get the day started......

They haven't yet had the hard disappointments life can bring.  They love God!  They have high goals for the future and believe in their hearts they can and will attain them.

I hope for them.  I hope they don't get distracted by some short term lust.  I hope they have what it takes to keep doing right even when it seems like forever........ with no rewards.......
I hope for them to sleep hard at night and enjoy every breath during the day.

 I love them so much, they inspire me to look for good in people and not look down my nose.

So, here's to trying again, thank you God, your mercies are truly new every morning!

love~jackie

Confident together.....

It only takes one criticism or disapproval to shatter my confidence.  I don't know what happened, when I was young I felt very confident.  Maybe after years of being shown my inadequacies the disapproval sank into my spirit.

This sounds like it might be a sad evaluation of a life, but in truth it was the awakening I had needed to come to fully trust Jesus to be my Lord and overseer of my life.  No longer putting trust in myself....

Jesus speaks love and peace into my spirit, unlike all of those other voices.  He calms me with His soothing words and gives me confidence.  He helps me learn and whispers life giving words
 in my ear.
In fellowship with Him, I stand tall and have a mission and a  purpose.  I know He has it all worked out for me as I walk with Him.......

He has a plan just for you too!  I don't know what it is, but I do know that it is awesome and you can have confidence in it, in Him.........trust Him!
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall  have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

~love jackie

 

A Thankful attitude....

Nine o'clock in the evening and our boys and the dog are wound UP^  So, so far we are off to a loud energetic start.......you could set your watch by this nightly activity.

Wouldn't change a thing!
Sometimes when I am tired I am tempted to scream and tell them to stop, but I know what they want is for us to watch them wrestle and laugh at their antics.  It is time to spend together and how I receive it is all up to me.  Tired or not, these are precious moments.......

There are so many "things" in our lives that do not seem ideal to us.  They aren't exactly the way we would have scripted our lives,  but our ability to enjoy the moment and be at peace
can change us and everyone around us.  A new year......new attitudes about what a "precious moment" looks like......

Chillin in the middle of upheaval takes practice, but we can do this.........:-))

Psalms 16:9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;  my flesh also shall rest in hope.