A Warning to Mothers

Hi Friends! I am excited to invite you to join me over at Missional Women.  Missional Women is a website dedicated to teaching Women how to live Missionally. We hope to teach how to view the world as your mission field and to see how Christ can use you in the every day simple moments. 

This month I realized, it had been YEARS since I have actually sat through a commercial because we use a DVR.  I never watch television when the children are awake so everything I watch I Fast Forward or I watch it on Netflix.  Am I the only one? :) 

Well last month I was rudely awakened to an area I never had considered guarding my children

If you are a DVR addict as well I would love to invite you to join me over at Missional Women and give me your thoughts.

http://www.missionalwomen.com/20/post/2013/02/a-warning-to-mothers.html

It's been a while.  I am currently writing periodically over at 

http://www.missionalwomen.com,

http://radiancewomen.me/ 

and trying to keep up (but miserably failing ;) ) 

http://treybradley.blogspot.com/

Hope, Change and a Promising Future

This morning I am crushed by the overwhelming mindset of Christians in this country.  Decades of thinking that we have the power, only once every four years to try and force a Nation to accept our biblical worldview or even just our quasi world view.

We have a nation who's people are hurting, but if that thought effects our hearts we will pray about it and send money to an organization, like Samaritans Purse, to go and help themselves, but we'll say, "leave me in my comfy, cozy every day routine". 

I hear that the children of our nation are suffering from child abuse, neglect or homelessness and I may offer to pray for them but it stops before I ask God, "What can I do?"

I hear that there are people who feel so hated, judged, mistreated, isolated or misunderstood because they are leading a homosexual lifestyle, or they chose to have an abortion.  Instead of bridging the gap, loving them and caring for them the way that Christ would, we snub our nose and walk the other way.

I hear that there are young girls that have never even been taught that sex is a beautiful gift intended for marriage.  They've never been taught of the heart ache and consequences.  Yet, we don't bother to get involved until our hearts are filled with anger or judgement towards them.  The average church is only impacting 15-30 students - not realizing that is only half the size of 1 classroom in a school.   

Why do we only come out of our shells once every 4 years; when there are 1461 days in between where we could be praying and asking God "what is YOUR desire for my life to make an impact?  How can I be used by You today?  Lord, take my focus off of me, remove my fears of rejection, remove my selfish heart that doesn't want to get involved. Lord, use me today, in a way that makes Your goodness known."

We do not have the power to change hearts. It is wrong for us to try and force someone to believe just like I do; when they've never met the Savior who changed my heart and mindset.  He is the only "Hope" for this nation, but if I'm not willing to "plow the fields" He's not going to "supply the harvest" (Matthew 9:35-39).  I don't believe it's too late for America. I do believe that it's time for all Christians to quit sitting in their comfy and grow in their relationship with the Lord so that HE will move in you to change lives.

What To Do:

• If we're not growing in Him, He's not going to use us.  
• If you're in a place where it seems overwhelming, how do I grow? Take a 3 chapters a day challenge. 
• As you seek Him pray for Him to use you.
• Pray that He will equip you for conversations, that lead to the gospel.
• He wants to use you in your job, in your home, in your everyday life - not just at church.
• He may call you to step out in faith. Leave your comfort zone. 
• He may open your eyes to ministries right in your path that you had never considered before but He has spent years equipping you.

Samaritans Purse is an amazing organization you should send money, but the Mission Field is All Around you!!! God has created each one of us with a specific purpose, we cannot neglect our daily purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We have no power to change the world for Christ until we've been humbled and changed into the Image of Christ.

Love with the Heart of Christ. Feel with the compassion of Christ.  Think with the mindset of Christ.  Pray to see others through His eyes, so that we can reach out with the hands and arms of Christ!

Surrendering a Gripey Heart

The other night, after I had sent my children to their bed for the 3rd time, I overheard my son reading rather loudly.  After I told him, "Baby, it's past quiet time.  It's now sleep time. You must go to sleep."  He said, "Mommy, I'm reading Paitlyn a book to help her calm down. Her heart is broken."

For the last year or so my children have been sneaking into my bed around 2:30 every morning for "mommy snuggles".  I LOVE those times with my children but my lack of sleep was getting old, my husband and I are trying to toughen up, through their tears and broken hearts and keep them in their beds all night.

Paitlyn (3) was still snubbing from her broken heart and that is why Jaxson (5) was reading a book to her.  My heart melted over the love my son has for his sister and how thoughtful he can be towards her.  What a blessed little girl, I thought. Then I considered how one day she might take that love and care forgranted, just like we do with ALL blessings.

Over the last few days I have struggled with a gripey heart.  I have had this amazing ability to find fault and conflict in everything.  I HATE when my heart becomes so negative.  When my heart is negative it is even hard to pray because I feel so far away from the Lord, it's a miserable feeling.  I began praying so hard for the Lord to bless me with perspective.  I prayed for Him to give me His eyes to see circumstances.  His compassion to view conflict. His grace to overcome my negative mindset.

That was the night I found my son caring for his sister. What a blessing! I stayed in the living room listening to him talk to her and when he finished reading to her he prayed for her and for... well he's 5 so he prayed for everything under the sun, even Woody and Buzz Lightyear. :)

Today if you're feeling the weight of a negative heart, if you feel like you're the only one and no one else could understand your frustration, pain, loneliness, anger or regret - whatever you're going through.  I challenge you (and this may be hard) to consider your blessings, find ways to bless others and pray for perspective. (James 1:5)

 

Psalm 119:169-176 (NAS)

Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.

Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
Let my lips utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes. 

 

Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
Let Your hand be ready to help me,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
Let my soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me.
 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

 

Our hearts are incapable of being full of Praise and Complaint at the same time.  Lord fill our hearts and thoughts full of YOUR PRAISE!!!

 

HIS clay,

Melissa