An Every Day Spiritual High

Have you ever had a "spiritual high?"  I have.  It's that feeling you get when you're at a convention like a state youth convention, or Promise Keepers, or Women of Faith - when your heart is in worship 100%, you want to do more, give more than you ever have.  You want to turn your life around, live the life Christ called you for.  You have tears of joy and awe, your arms are raised, unashamed, in worship.  But then a week after you get home and go back to your usual routine...that feeling is lost somewhere, forgotten alongside the road at the last rest stop.  But does it have to be like that?  I don't think so.

Deuteronomy 5:29 - Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever.

First of all, what does it means to "fear the Lord?"  According to Scofield, fear of the Lord means "reverential trust, with hatred of evil."  We've always heard that to fear the Lord means to be reverent, which is true.  According to Dictionary.com reverence means "a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe."  So, if we truly revere the Lord, if we truly respect Him, we trust Him and we hate what He hates, evil.  It reminds me of the lyrics from Hosanna - "Break my heart for what breaks Yours..."  

Next we are told, "keep all My commandments always."  "Keep" or shamar in the Hebrew can be defined as "guard" (Strong's H8104).  You only guard something that is important, something that truly matters!  And then there's the small matter of the word "always."  "Always" in this verse is a combination of two Hebrew words: kol ("coal") and yowm.  Kol is simply defined as "all" or "the whole" and yowm is defined as "day, time, year" (Strong's H3605, Strong's H3117).  So this could be translated as all of the days, all of the years, or all of the time.  Regardless, you get the picture: always!

As Henry states, "It would be well with many if there were always such a heart in them as there seems to be sometimes, when they are under conviction of sin...or when they come to look death in the face."  This is where I got the idea of the "spiritual high."  I would go to youth conventions and wish I could keep that feeling, that connection with God, all of the time.  If only my heart were like that always!?!  But why can't it be?  Why can't I worship with all of my heart every day?  Why can't I be open to His touch, His conviction, the leading of His Spirit every day?  It is only myself that stops me.  It is only my lack of trust and reliance on God that keeps me from having such a heart in me always.

If we take a look at the first word of this verse, "Oh," we get a little bit of a glimpse at how we can have a heart like that always.  "Oh" is translated from two words in the Hebrew, miy ("me") means "who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever" and nathan means "to give, put, set" (Strong's H4310, Strong's H5414).  So, it would actually be read something like this, "Who will give such a heart to them, that they may fear [always].  Receive such a heart from Me, [the Lord your God]" (Clarke).  The only place that we can have a heart like that, a heart that fears the Lord and keeps His commandments always is in Christ!  We receive the ability from Him!  Which means we must trust Him and rely on Him fully, 100%, completely...however you want to phrase it. But here is the problem: "We can know in our mind that this is what is best for us but until we know it in our heart, it can't change us" (Rev. Kenny Seidler)!

He gives us the ability to have a heart that fears Him, respects Him, hates what He hates, keeps and guards His commandments always.  We just have to fully surrender to Him and give Him our hearts.  I know it isn't easy, especially when times are tough.  But my challenge today is to start slow.  Take just one day this week and fully surrender to Christ.  Worship Him in everything you do, let Him speak to you, touch you...  Take full advantage of the "spiritual high" that is at your finger tips every day.  

God is so good.

Stealing Children

My dad's church (Dayton) has a rather small congregation.  Of that small congregation there are a lot of little one's.  Which, of course, makes my heart happy.  Though we don't attend Dayton regularly (as of yet), we still consider ourselves a part of the congregation and try to go to all of the extra stuff, like last night.  There was a family fun night and we made our way up to Dayton...which was so great!  There are two little boys that I constantly have - Benjamin and Max.  Natasha, Benjamin's mom says I am the child stealer.  I can't help myself.  Annette was walking in the door with Max and I just scooped him out of her arms...later, I "yelled" at Natasha because I hadn't gotten to hold Benjamin yet as I, rather abruptly, swept him from her arms.  It is a rare thing to see me at that church without a child in my arms.  I held Max after dinner until it was time for them to go home and he loved it...just sat there and clapped, played with my sunglasses for awhile, he was content for a really long time.  Annette even commented - "That is the longest I've seen him sit in anyone's lap and not try to escape - he is usually crawling all over the place by now."  Those are the kind of comments that make my heart warm.  God gave me a heart for kids and I love when that shows through.  From red spots on my tank top (strawberry juice) to finger smudged sunglasses to sloppy kisses...I love it all!  So yeah...I'm okay with being the "child stealer" (as long as their mom's don't mind of course).  ;)  

The Transforming Truth of God's Power!

Deuteronomy 4:39 – Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

I read that verse and I get chills.  There is such power behind those words!  Go ahead, take a moment and read it out loud and see how you feel.

(pause)

See?  I told you!  J

There isn’t very much I want to add to this today…I just had to share a glimpse of God’s power.  However, there are a couple of really great points that I don’t want you to miss.  The section that says to “take it to your heart” can also be translated as “to recall…to mind” (Strong's H7725).  So basically, what this verse is saying is that we need to know this truth, we need to consider, think about, ponder over this truth.  As Henry points out, “There are many things which we know, but are not the better for, because we do not consider them, we do not apply them to ourselves nor draw proper inferences from them.  This is a truth so evident that it cannot but be known, and so influential that, if it were duly considered, it would effectually reform the world!”   Read it again:

Deuteronomy 4:39 – Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Those words are life changing!  If the world were to truly know the power of this truth, things would be changing…for the better!  And what about you, or me, personally?  What does this truth mean for us?  If “we consider what a God He is with whom we have to do, we should surely make conscience of our duty to Him and not dare to sin against Him” (Henry).  If we were to truly consider the truth and power behind these words we would never, ever neglect our duty to the One True God!  And sin?  Who would dare!?!  But sometimes I think we forget how truly magnificent and powerful He is.  We are to fear Him, to revere Him!  Let us never forget that the Lord, He IS God….”there is no other!”

Today I challenge you to pause for a moment.  Sit still, in silence, and read over these words two or three times until you can truly and literally feel their power!  Live today with that feeling, that emotion, driving your every move.  Allow the knowledge of God’s power to consume you!  It’s amazing isn’t it?

If...Then...

If…then.  We have all heard the phrase used for many cause and effect relationships.  Countless times I had to use the phrase in science class and I grew to have a love-hate relationship with the words “if” and “then.”  But maybe they aren’t so bad after all…

Deuteronomy 4:29 – But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

If you didn’t catch that, let me rephrase it a bit for you – If you search for the Lord your God then you will find Him!  That tiny “if…then” statement, that cause and effect, quickly becomes a major promise!

The word used for “seek,” baqash, can be defined as “to seek the face of God” (Strong's H1245). Then we move on to the word “search” or darash – “to seek with care” (Strong's H1875).  In order to find God, we must be seeking His face, seeking Him with care, or rather, with all of our hearts!  Henry notes, “Those, and those only, shall find God to their comfort, who seek Him with all their heart, that is who are entirely devoted to Him, earnestly desirous of His favor and [eager] to obtain it.”

But the amazing thing here is that there is not a single place where God is not!  We are never too far, we are never out of His reach – “Whatever place we are in, we may from thence seek Him.  There is no part of earth which has a gulf fixt between it and heaven” (Wesley).   And equally amazing – “God is longsuffering, and of tender mercy; and waits, ever ready, to receive a backsliding soul when it returns to Him” (Clarke).  There is not a single thing that can keep us from Him - there is no sin too large, no distance too great.  If you seek Him then you will find Him!  That is a promise!  All you have to do is seek…with all of your heart and soul…and He will be there, you will find Him! 

Our God is truly and wonderfully awesome.

Taking Teachings to Heart...and More

Deuteronomy 4:9 - Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

This verse is referring to God's law, His commandments, His teachings.  The Israelites were just across the Jordan from the Promised Land and God was instructing, urging them to obey His law.  But, as with all Scripture, these words can surely be applied to our lives as well.

The first thing that piques my interest is the Hebrew word used for "forget" - shakach, which can also be translated as "whither" (Strong's H7911).  I love the imagery of "whither" - the verse could be read something like this, "so the the things which your eyes have seen do not whither away..."  We forget things all the time.  I forget to call my mom, I forget to water the plants once or twice, etc.  But the image of a flower withering - it holds the idea of neglect.  If we do not neglect the things we have seen, they will not whither, we will not forget!  "Do not forget" = remember.  And remembering means we must be active!  

Next we are not to let these things "depart from [our] heart."  After all, "it is not sufficient to lay up Divine things in the memory, they must be laid up in the heart" (Clarke).  I can remember a lot of things, but that does not mean I care about them.  I remember the lyrics to hundreds of songs, numerous ones that I don't even like, let alone care about!  The law of God, His teachings, all things Divine must be laid up in our memories AND our hearts!  For "those who let the grace of God depart from their hearts, lose that grace; and those who lose the grace, fall from the grace..." (Clarke).  You see, we "must be very cautious and walk circumspectly...we need to look about us and...keep our hearts with diligence. [We] cannot walk carelessly and at all adventures" (Henry).  

Lastly, we see that we are to "make [these teachings] known to [our] sons and [our] grandsons."  First of all, I find it interesting that not one generation, but two generations are mentioned here!  We are not only responsible for our sons and daughters but for our grandsons and granddaughters as well.  I am proud to say that my family exemplifies this.  My parents have done an excellent job in teaching me what Christian living is all about, so have my grandparents..and yes, even my great-grandparents.  I pray everyday that I will be able to do the same.  Anyhow, sorry about that side-note...back to Scripture.  Let us look at the Hebrew definition of "known" - yada means "to know" but more specifically, "to cause someone to know something" (Strong's H3045).  Two things jump out here: First, in order for there to be a cause ("to cause someone...") there has to be an effect!  And second, to know something is to be familiar with it!  So much in such a simple  statement!  The last thing I would like to note here is this: "Those who neglect family religion, neglect personal religion" (Clarke).  If you are clearly living the laws and teachings of God, it will effect your entire life - most directly and importantly, your family!  If these teachings are truly in your heart - your family will know them, they will be familiar with them!  

Today I challenge you to examine your heart.  First, find a scripture that is meaningful to you, something that has impacted you or changed you for the better...and memorize it by the end of the week.  Second, take a moment to consider and then jot down at least one area of your life where you are not exemplifying what is in your heart and take a step to change that!

Happy Monday - I hope it is a great one!

Sewing Adventures

So for those of you who don't know - my birthday present this year was a sewing machine.  And I am super excited about it.  However...I have no experience (with the exception of 8th grade Home-Ec).  So anything I try is quite the adventure. But I love the joy of learning on my own without the help of tutorials and what not - it gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Last week...I decided to attempt to patch a pair of my hubby's work pants.  I grabbed a dress shirt out of my scraps box and started snipping away.  I don't like to measure, so I just laid the shirt on top of the hole and snipped away (luckily, the shirt was striped, so cutting straight lines was a no brainer!).  I added push pins and then went to the sewing machine.  Now here was the problem - how was I supposed to patch the knee without sewing the leg together?!?!  I remembered Mom telling me I could remove some pieces if I needed to sew in a circle - so I did that and managed to shimmy the leg the whole way to the knee (it was pretty bunched up...).  It actually worked pretty well...but you really had to keep an eye on the material and needle in order to keep the stitch straight.  And of course...about half way through, my bobbin ran out of thread (genius me forgot to check it...).  It took me awhile, and it isn't very pretty...but they are just work pants.  Here is the finished product:

UPDATE 5/23/12 - The large patch was a fail.  Hubby text me at lunch to let me know - "your patch worked for a little while :)."  He is so good at letting me down easy.  haha.  I will have to try again...and hope that it will at least last a full day.  Gotta love the learning process! 

Awhile ago, I had ripped apart...wait for it...an old Vera Bradley (*gasp*).  It was grungy (even after being washed) and was teared and frayed from excessive use...but I couldn't bring myself to just throw it away...so I started to take it apart.  In the end...I had quite a bit of usable material - the inside had stayed pretty white...and there are quite a few layers in those purses!  So after stitching hubby's pants, I took a couple pieces of the inside material and sewed them together:

I am quite proud of this idea...I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet, maybe add a strap or something...we will see!  I also have another bag I hand stitched when I first tore the purse apart, but I don't have any pics so I'll have to show that later.  Plus...there is STILL material left!  Just one more reason I love Vera Bradley - it is the gift that, now, keeps on giving!  But trust me...I will NOT be ripping apart my new ones any time soon!

On to more adventures!

This is Where it Begins...

I first worked at a daycare the summer between my junior and senior year of college.  This is when I truly discovered my love for watching children day in and day out (though I have known all along that my purpose in life is to be a stay-at-home mom).  I had to leave that job at the end of the summer due to previously undiagnosed health issues (which turned out to be a good thing since they were later shut down by DHS...).  I missed those kids every single day of my senior year.  When I graduated I had to find a new job and I stumbled across KKCA - which became a genuine blessing (that keeps on blessing me from 1200 miles away).  It was there that I learned how to teach children from ages 3 months to 5 years.  It was exhilarating - after weeks of teaching basic sign language, little by little each child would pick up one sign or the other and start communicating with me!  Or when one of my babies took one of her first steps after countless tries...these are the moments I will never forget.  It was so hard to leave them and move closer to home, one of the hardest decisions I think I have ever had to make.

Then, I was hired as an on-call nanny.  While I desperately loved the kids (and families often requested me) it was not a job I was suited for - different families every day, a commute of no less than 30 minutes, 10+ hour days, inconsistent hours, I could go on and on... However, I was placed with a family on a permanent basis on Tuesday/Thursday of every other week.  I am fortunate enough now to be working solely for that family.  Mostly, I work with the twins, age 3: Charlie & Mary.  But I will have the opportunity over the summer to work with their 2 older siblings.  I love it.  The twins and I have been practicing the letter "A."  And Charlie could have cared less the first time we talked about it - but when I had him circle all of the letter "A's" on a worksheet just 3 days later, he nailed it!  And had fun!  And when we were playing with their four-wheelers later Mary looked up - "Bri?"  "Yes Mary?"  "I love you."  It melts your heart!

I love working with kids!  They are so unique and so loveable, they teach you things every moment, and everyday is an adventure.  That is why I decided to start this blog.  I want to remember the simple things I learn.  I imagine I will have an array of different things on here - from game ideas, to resources, to funny things the kids say...  I hope if you're reading this that you enjoy!