Praying in the Spirit

This past week we have observed many natural disasters like hurricanes, fires, an earthquake, threats of a tsunami and more hurricanes. 

Our family also has two kids away at college making their own choices and one was in the path of hurricane Irma. Thankfully it slowed down before it got to her location.

At times like this we pray more. And this got me thinking about how there is a difference of praying 'at God' and praying 'to God'. There is also a difference of praying 'in the flesh' and 'in the Spirit'.

Sometimes when we pray, we are so caught up in the circumstances that our faith and trust in God is shaken. We feel that we just need to get God on our team and to do what we see as best. We think from our own perspective and reason with God for our will to be done.

I've found myself doing this recently and can tell that these prayers leave me feeling unsatisfied in my spirit. 

Other times I have sought to find a QUIET place and seek God in the stillness. I have surrendered to HIS will and sovereignty. I lean towards trusting with faith that HE is working all things together for our good. I come with a heart of praise, humbleness and can pray with hope and without knowing the answer. This is when God can give me peace and I let go of my will. This is when I can hear new thoughts, eternal and Christ-centered ways in my heart. I am more satisfied because I know my Savior has a plan and it is rooted in His love for us. Then I am no longer praying with my expectations and I can be more content with my life in Christ.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is able to take our prayers, shake off our humanness and tell God the heart of the matter which we may not even understand ourselves. He is also able to guide us to the PEACE we can have when we decide to BE STILL and surrender to HIM. Thankfully He is faithful.

"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." Romans 8:37

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8: 26

Graduation and Parenting

For those of you that are experiencing a child graduating this year, please know that it’s going to be ok.

Everyone is different in how they work through this transition of being a parent with kids in our home to being a parent of adult children. I was one of those parents that had a tough time with our first child leaving for college last year. This year, I have a new hope for our baby girl graduating because I have been through it once.

Even though we will miss them, over time we find a rhythm. Over time I realized I hadn’t lost our son but that he still needed me in his life for many things. Over time I have come to enjoy watching him grow and develop into God’s masterpiece.

God loves our children more than we know how and can be trusted as their Heavenly Father. If God could help us with our life and guide us towards His path, He is able to do the same for them.

There is one thing I will continue to do in my role as a mother and that is to be my children’s prayer warrior. I pray for the right people to be put in their lives that want a relationship with Jesus. I pray for safety and friends that make good choices. I pray for their future spouse and that faith will be passed on from generation to generation in our family.

Our kids know how much we love them and when things get confusing or they need a listening ear, they know they can reach out to us. If your relationship has been good before they leave for college, have confidence that they will still want you in their life.

There are some great resources out there with organizations like “Focus on the Family” that can help with suggestions on how to parent in this new phase. For some of us, there is no book or person that is going to make the pain go away except God and time.

Some things I have found helpful with modern technology are “Facetime” and “Find Friends”. Facetime really helps when you can’t see each other for 4 months straight. Find Friends is a free two-way tool that helps you locate each other when you can’t reach each other by phone. It has helped give me a sense of relief and peace of mind to be able to see a general location of where my child is as I wait until they are available to talk later.

Another practical thing to do is discuss expectations with your child. Here are some topics we discussed:

How often they want to talk on the phone each week and would it be better if they called you.

Financial responsibilities.

Expectations during school breaks – transportation, chores, rules changes.
To keep in touch with siblings too.

Our role as a parent shifts and our kids need to know that they are not forgotten. They need to know that we love them and have confidence in them. They need to feel we are there to support them through the good times and the bad. Also, that we want to celebrate every milestone with them as we show them how proud we are of them. If they don’t call often, this is a normal part of spreading their wings and it is part of the process of having their own life.

I know I want the best for our kids, God’s best. So, I need to trust God and His plans for their lives.

Hebrews 11:1~ “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Frustrated

Have you ever had something that continually goes wrong for years? It affects you but its out of your control to fix it?

If so, You and I are in this together and we need to Pray Pray Pray. I want to pray this prayer for you and I. Here us my prayer based on Psalm 86:13-17.

Lord, your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of despair by dying on the cross in my place and giving me eternal life. Therefore I have hope for a better tomorrow.

O God, people rise up against me and you mean nothing to them. Have mercy on me and give me strength. Forgive me for the frustration, bitterness and anger that are building up inside me. Help me keep things in perspective. Please save me and bring justice to this chaos. 

Please send me a sign of favor and help me to follow your example and not react in a sinful way. I want to please you. Let those that do not respect or care about others be put to shame. 

Lord, please be my helper and fight for me. Please fix this problem and comfort me. Give me peace over my circumstances and allow me to see your hand at work.

Amen.

Here is an exercise that I have made myself do to help me redirect my focus and to get my mind off of the problem and back on eternal things.

Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Philippians 4:6-8 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. (Write down prayers. Journal or make notes about our frustrations and worries.) Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (List needs and praises) Then you will experience God's peace, (Notice we need to do something to experience God's peace and that is to not continuing to focus on the problem. Turning our thoughts in a new directions and taking them captive - 2 Corinthians 10:5) which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix you thoughts on what is True, and Honorable, and Right, and Pure, and Lovely, and Admirable. Think about things that are Excellent and Worthy of Praise - think about such things." ( I had to literally make a list of everything under these headings to be aware and mindful of the things that God would want me to think about instead of circumstances.)

I don't know about you but I have a hard time turning my thoughts in a different direction when something is weighing on me. But God tells us to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

I have found that God doesn't always answer us right away and fix the problem. Sometimes I think it is to allow us to grow and teach us to endure through trials. Sometimes it is to test and refine us in our attitude of following Jesus. I think that He is also possibly doing a work with the other person and it may take a while to happen.

I know that God is not to blame for the waiting and the chaos. That is why it is important to focus on His promises and His love for us in these times, not giving all our time and thoughts over to the trouble maker. :)

We can have hope that this life has a purpose and God has a plan. (Jeremiah 29:11)

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. " John 14:3

Refocus - Repent - Revive your heart with Jesus and be encouraged my friend!

Tawnya

Trusting God with our Young Adult Children

With our two children going off to college within two years it's easy to get in my head and worry.

But God has been so gracious to find Noah a Christian roommate. To provide a hand full of upper-class men that have helped him get involved and include him in activities. Helped him become part of a worship team and found him a job on campus so quickly. Why do I think He will let us down with our second child in the plans he has for her?

I am learning a new way of being a mom. It involves letting go and letting God become their life teacher just as He has been to me. It involves praying and just being there to listen and celebrate from a distance.

It's a time to let them take the wheel and always be there to love them thru the good and bad choices.

I am learning a new level of trusting God and handing over the little ones I have poured my life into, to the One who is always faithful. He loves my kids more than I know how to and can be trusted to be there for them when I can not. It's a blind faith that is good for me.

It's not easy but I know I am thankful that God is working things out for the good of all four of us. 

Presidential Election 2016

Yesterday was election day and America voted in Donald Trump for President.

I have many personal thoughts about this but it really doesn't matter what I think. One thing I know is that our nation has been straying from God more and more over the last couple of decades. Franklin Graham just finished doing the "Decision America" tour to all 50 state capitals to come lead prayer for repentance and mercy from God to help us heal our land, to vote for Biblical values and to engage in this nation politically. This all made a lot of sense to me.

No matter who won, today will be a day of frustration and triumph. Some people will doubt our system of government and others will be hopeful for change. But I think that we must look back in God's word to see how history has repeated itself. God blessed people, they started to think their accomplishments were all their own doing and then they became arrogant and started relying on themselves. They turned their backs on God and went their own ways with their own reasoning and then God let them have their way. Eventually, so much sin ruled the land that the people begged for God's mercy and He forgave them, blessing them once again. The cycle has gone on over and over for centuries around our world.

I believe God has a plan no matter who He allows to be our President. No person on earth will have a spotless record going into office. I trust God to guide the President and believe God is good and everything will work together for our good.

His plans are prevailing and we can be strong as a nation if we unify under God. I will be praying for our nation, president and peace among us. Will you join me?

"Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone." Psalm 33:22

In those moments.....

There are times that I just have to believe and trust in God’s words, even when I can’t see the good in things. In fact, this week I had to go to the doctor for a second mammogram. The technician found something, measured it and went to get the doctor. At that moment, I prayed for God’s will to be done and for Him to strengthen me. That I could be in perfect peace regardless of the results. I was frightened and alone on the doctors table, waiting to hear what they had found. It was in that moment that I decided that the results would not define me. I am a child of God and I believe that he has a perfect plan for my life. That I am here to live for Him no matter what.

Thankfully, what they found were benign cysts and I do not have cancer. But in those moments, God is all we have and He is all we need. Know that He is there for you too. Keep your eyes on Him because He is bigger than our storms.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

“Blessed be the Lord who daily carries us. God is our deliverer.” Psalm 68:19 ISV

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 ESV

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 NLT

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! ” 

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

"This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NLT

Faith in the Unseen

Have you ever had one of those mornings? You know, the realities that life throws at you.

Here is my morning so far...

I woke up at 2 am with my heart skipping a beat every 5 seconds -scary!  I recently became aware of my heart skipping a beat and made an upcoming appointment with a heart specialist.

I had to use a screw driver for the kitchen faucet because it is torn apart waiting for a replacement part to fix it. Hopefully Moen will have it here within the week and we won’t need to use a screw driver anymore.

The bathroom floor is wet because there is a leak and it needs to be fixed (with the floor tiles lifting up from moisture). 

I realized my newly upgraded used cell phone is shattered. 

I receive emails reminding me that our son is leaving this year for college.

Plus I wonder if my car will quit working today because of a part that is breaking and about to quit. I need my car to help get our kids around and an elderly lady I help.

This can definitely make me feel down due to circumstances. So I pray and tell God my concerns. As I write, I try to think about who He is and this helps me move from being under my circumstances into the presences of the One who can help. 

"So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." Hebrew 13:6a

• God loves us. (John 3:16)
• God has a plan for us. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
• He will always provide. (Philippians 4:19)
• I can be confident of my future, God is there. (Philippians 1:6)
• His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
• My hope is in Him alone. (Psalm 34:22)
• Why should I be down and doubt? He is the same good God always. (Psalm 136:1)
• He will meet our children at whatever college He has chosen for them. (Jeremiah 23:23)
• God is a blessing to us that is filled with eternal goodness and can never be taken away. (Romans 8:38)
• This too shall pass. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

What trials are you facing today? God is over our circumstances, so lets keep our eyes on Him.

He is our Lord and Savior who gave His life for us because he loves us deeply. Through faith we can believe that it will all be okay. We can trust God is in control and be thankful for things that we can not yet see. 

I pray for God to give you and me His strength and faith so that we can find joy in trials as He builds our character and helps us be prepared for anything. Not trusting in our own reasoning but in Him. I chose to find hope and joy in His ways because He knows best. 

Here is a verse to aspire towards: "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25

All I Need Is You - Hillsong United

Somedays it feels like things don't measure up or we might loose someone in our life as they move on. It is my prayer that when I think I need something or someone, I would quickly remember that I can be satisfied in Christ alone.

As we grow in our faith, my God help us be mindful of this truth more and more.

Our Choices- God’s Decision- Homosexual marriage

With the U.S. Supreme Court “choice” yesterday voting 5-4 to allow homosexual marriage in all 50
states, it leads one to think how can we be “One nation under God?” Of course there are lots of other things going on in our nation, but few have been promoted and supported with such effort. It saddens me. 

Some people don’t believe in God so these people are not expected to follow God’s ways. Not every
Christian is reading God’s Word, so they won’t understand that this is not about equal rights at all. We don’t have equal rights with God. The fallen angel Satan chose to have equality with God but only our Lord is seated on the throne. Satan will eventually go to a place where he will be separated from God for eternity. Jesus did not demand his rights as Lord but humbled himself and did the will of the Father (John 6:38).

" Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11

We are to love people but follow God’s ways and He is the one who says these things are unacceptable. God would love for us all to turn away from our own ways, ask forgiveness and receive His love.

But God so loved us...as it says is John 3:16, that He gave. What did God give and why? He gave His Son because He loved us while we were still sinners. He knew that for us to be in His presence, we 
would need to be washed white as snow. So God made a way for us to have peace with Himself,
through Jesus death on the cross. 

God loves LGBT people. He loves them enough to die for them, just as He did for everyone.
He wants them to have an abundant life and live with Him in eternity. But it is His right as our creator to set the rules. He does this for our good. He is all knowing, patient, loving and just. We all must stand before Him someday at the final judgment. Then God “decides” who will spend eternity with Him. As a nation, are we saying we don’t want to follow God’s ways? Are we willing to ignore what He says? If so, I pray for mercy. 

My prayer is that we would be one people under God as it says on our currency and as this country was founded. Also, that we would all choose His goodness, love, mercy, patience, ultimate justice and live for Him. Why? Because of all that He has done for us. God let's us have the free will to choose. There is no middle ground. Matthew 12:30a says: "Whoever is not with me is against me." If we are Christians/Christ followers, our life ought to stand for and support the ways of God, not try to please man. If we try to please man, we are told that we are not a servant of Christ (Gal 1:10). The battle is the Lord's and we can rest assured that we will have victory in Him as we stand with Him.

"Don 't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2

"But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge." Psalm 94:22

Growing in Faith

This week our oldest son is away at camp and having a blast! So much so that he is having a hard

time even texting or calling us in the evenings. 

 

It has been difficult for me since he is still in high school and I am use to hearing about what 

happens each day. But that isn't the real issue, the real problem stems from a new area I need to 

learn to give over to God.

 

In one year, our first born son will be going away to college and this week is giving me a glimpse

into what it will be like. He is a guy who is full of life and in the moment. He doesn't spend a lot of

time on social media or on the phone. He has so many good qualities and is such a joy be around (97% of the time). I will miss him terribly.

 

The other night I went to God in prayer to ask for help dealing with this realization of what is to come. 

I know the next year will go by so fast. As I lay in bed praying, asking for wisdom on how to handle all

of this, God was reminding me of the truth.

 

Here are the thoughts that came to my mind:

 

God is good.

God loves us.

He wants our best.

We can trust God.

His ways are best.

All things are working together for good.

I am to live for His will.

I am to surrender my will.

I am to be joyful in all things always.

I am to let go and let God........

I am to walk in His Word.

I am to live in gratitude.

I love God.

I am to delight in Him.

 
I decided to write all of this down in my journal to remind me of truth and keep my eyes focused
on Jesus rather than the vague doubts that Satan wants me to worry about. God wants to lovingly remind me of the truth and show me how He wants me to grow.

 
We have 7 baby birds in a nest under our front porch right now that are growing very fast. In just a short time, they will no longer need their momma to feed them and they will be able to fly. If the baby birds never left the nest, it just wouldn't be the way it was meant to be and they would not learn to take care of themselves.

 

The same is true with our kids; there comes a time that they must fly and learn to feed themselves. 
Its just the way it was meant to be. God has great plans for them just like He does for us.

 

Only by giving our cares to God and trusting Him, will we be in His will. My heart is to seek Him
above all else. So I work at daily surrender to His plans and thank Him for every good thing. 

 

How is God growing your faith today?

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence."

How Can It Be - Lauren Daigle

God, thank you for your grace! Even though we are not worthy, and can never live the perfect life, you did it for us.

Thank you that you died for us before we came to you and asked for forgiveness.

Thank you that we are washed white as snow because you took our punishment on the cross and handed us the gift of salvation.

You have broken the chains of all strong holds so we are free to turn towards you without shame or condemnation.

We love you Lord!

Loving God - "From the Inside Out"

Immorality and Compassion

There is so much immorality going on in our world today that it's hard to overlook. It leaves us wondering how to respond as followers of Christ. It can be very confusing as we try to follow our convictions and show love at the same time. Yet it can be done. 

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves:
 
1. Am I helping others feel significant and secure/accepted as I speak with them?
2. Am I being demanding, domineering, demeaning or dogmatic?
   (uncompromising and in-compassionate)
3. Do I evaluate or affirm (emotionally support) others?

Thankfully God has given us some guidelines to follow.

Matthew 12:7b " ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ God is more interested in the heart of the
matter, which is a matter of the heart. Not so much what we do outwardly at church but how we are 
forgiving others and loving people.
 
In Micah 6:8 God expresses that he is pleased with justice, kindness, humility and an attitude of love, 
not rituals. So as we go about our dealings with others, it pleases God to have a humble and loving
approach.

In 1 Samuel 15:22, God tell us to be obedient not stubborn or rebellious. What is God asking us to do
that may feel uncomfortable but would be stretching out a hand to someone who needs it?

We are to do the will of the Father (Psalm 40: 6-8). God has planted us where we are for a purpose. We don't have to go on a trip far away to love our neighbor or live our life for Christ.
 
What did Jesus do? He ate and drank with sinners. Why? Jesus thought about the results of what loving
others would do, before he made his decisions. Matthew 11:19b "But wisdom is shown to be right by
its results.” Jesus had the motive of love for his hosts and accepted them where they were at. This 
helped them to see the love of the Father thru his time with them. 

God wants us to do His will as we surrender to His plans. Jeremiah 7: 23 "This is what I told them:
‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be
well!’"


Jesus taught that it is more valuable to love people and be compassionate than to be dogmatic. 
Matthew 12:12 "And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person
to do good on the Sabbath.”

It can be confusing at times when we think of the verse that says: "Do not conform to the pattern
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Yes, our religion can actually stop us from connecting with others and being ambassadors for Christ.
We must live by our convictions but not expect others to follow something they don't yet understand
will benefit them. The only way to do all of this is by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. As we
lean into Him for His strength and wisdom.

James 1:27 " Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and
widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” This means not letting sin direct
us (our judgment, our wayward desires) but the Holy Spirit instead.

Yes, it is possible to love, show compassion and still live according to the Word. We all are in
need of grace and it comes from our hearts. Amen

Broken, Yet Deeply Loved

       

Sometimes life can be hard and disappointing. Maybe a relationship with a spouse is difficult right now. Maybe there is a sibling rivalry or a parent has disappointed us. No matter which relationship it is, we are called to love and forgive.

Songs and movies say, "You complete me." The funny thing is that no person or thing can complete us because we were made to be completed by God. We live in a broken world with broken, imperfect people, churches, and possessions. No matter how hard we try, we can never be that perfect person that will make everyone we know happy.

That's why Ruth Graham says, "A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers." I would go on to add that "Happy relationships and churches are made up of merciful forgivers." If we expect someone or something to be all that we want and need, we will be disappointed and dissatisfied.... so why not forgive and leave room for others' short comings and love them anyway.

This is what God did for us! He forgave us while we were still sinners. He didn't wait for us to say sorry when he sent Christ to die on our behalf. We weren't even born yet.

James 1:18 "In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession."

What a great revelation! We are God's choice possession! Some days it may feel like we are no ones prized possession. But God proved to us how much He loved us as His treasure, through word and deed on the cross. We can choose to do the same thing, to love and forgive each other.

2 Corinthians 4:7 "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."

Set a Fire - Will Reagan & United Pursuit

No place is better than in the presence of God! :)

Empty Nest - Trusting God

I am going thru Empty Nest Syndrome early and it is not fun. We have 2 teenagers 11 months apart and I am currently researching colleges for them. Our son starts applying for college next year at this time.

I feel my emotions can be all over the place at times, and I am looking for ways to have life outside of being the primary care giver for so many years. I am hopeful that I can find something with purpose that I enjoy. Its not easy finding something I can do that works around the kids and still be a dependable employee. Seasonal work has been pretty good but I have starting looking into substitute teaching. I'm not sure if that will be the right fit for us or not yet.

There are a few things I still want to teach the kids to equip them for life-  like how to drive, manage money and work a summer job. This summer we will work on interviewing skills for college with Grandma, who is an interview coach.

Thinking about the kids being 2-6 hours away from home and the thought of not being part of the daily activities is a hard pill to swallow. Right now I am trying to figure out a way to make family time in between so many extra curricular activities. The colleges want to see these continue on a transcript and our son enjoys doing them.

I feel tired and overwhelmed with the cares of the world, and normal activities seem like a lot to handle. Our married life is in need of attention with so much going on. But I will trust in the Lord. His Word gives me hope and assurance that his plans are good.

I have just started reading a Christian book called "Give Them Wings" by  Carol Kuykendall that came highly recommended to help with understand the thoughts of my teens and my role as a mom in this phase of our life.

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Here are notes from what I read today in Lamentations 3:22-33:

God has great love for us.

His compassion's never fail.

He is faithful.

The Lord is my portion and I will wait for Him.

He is good to those who Hope in Him.

Seek Him & Wait quietly.

No one is cast off by the Lord forever.

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion.

God has unfailing love.

He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

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Whatever affliction we may be feeling, God loves us and is our portion. He is faithful and good to those who hope in Him. He will show compassion on us and love us forever. He holds the cares of the world in His hands. I have come to realize that if I can trust God at all times, seeking Him and waiting patiently, that He can work all things out for good. 

I thank God for His Word that fights against the enemy's mind games - he can so easily entangle us into a downward spiral. God's Word lifts our head and sets our feet on solid ground again. That is why scripture tells us that the Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path. (Psalm 119:105)

Psalm 62:8 "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

Lamentations 3:25 "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.."

Balancing Life as a Family

Everything in life will cost us something, mainly time and money. How will we spend ours for what matters?

Cross country, worship practice, student council meetings, church training sessions, AP homework, meeting with teachers for extra help, giving music lessons or working, chores, birthdays, hobbies, conflicts in scheduling, serving, SAT testing & conferences about colleges; all of these are examples of an American family life with teens.


Recently our family sat down to discuss what we want our priorities to be, so that we live for what matters instead of the expectations of others.  Here are our priorities:

1. God

2. Spouse

3. Family

4. Work/School/Chores

5. Serving/Ministry

Everything else falls below these things.  For example:

Fun with friends

Community Service

Work

Sports

There are many times that we try so hard to do it all, but things fall apart. Our heart is to be involved and make a difference but sometimes all of these activities can affect the peace at home. That is why it is so important to have a set of priorities and the Word to start out with, so we don't loose sight of what we hope to be.

As a couple, we know that we want to live by the Spirit and it doesn’t always happen.  We are learning to be content in all circumstances & hoping to follow God’s will for our lives. In reality we both are growing in maturity & its not always pretty. That is where grace and love come in for each other.

Living in the Spirit matters

Gal 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Gal 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Phil 4: 6-7 Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Peace in the Home matters

Gal 5:15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

Prov 26:20 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

Heb 12:14a Work at living in peace with everyone.

Prov 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Honoring Parents

As adults we must find a way to honor our parents & set an example as we expect our children to follow God’s Word in this matter. Kids are gifts from God & have been placed under our authority- to protect, encourage & guide them.

Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life of the earth.”

Prov 1:8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

Col 3:20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.

Talking back and not obeying will result in consequences.

Requirements of our Teens

Live in peace, have a good attitude, listen and do what we ask, be respectful to each other and especially to your parents and authorities. Always do your best.

Col 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Family comes first on special days like birthdays and holidays.

Your authorities were set up by God. First is God, then your parents, then school and church. Please remember, despite who may pull at you, this is the order of your authorities.
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My hope in sharing all of this is to show how balancing priorities in a family takes effort. We struggle in this busy world, standing up for what Satan would love to tear down- the family. God has plans that include us trusting & learning to be content in Him. The results of prioritizing & balancing family life help bring us more joy & peace. Its important to carve time out for just family & I can't wait for my  birthday get-away weekend coming soon. :)

In the end, we hope that we live a life that has more purpose and satisfaction than regrets. We want to spend our time and money wisely for eternal things, like loving family and others.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

May we all be alert to what will pull at us & attempt to break our family bonds. Peace be with you.

Expectations Unmet

Do you ever feel let down by others? It leaves us wondering if others care or if they aren't equipped to think of how it feels. Sometimes all it takes is communication but other times this might not even make a difference. Recently I found out that one of the main reasons that people don't deliver is because they are not capable. Many of us are broken and carry around fear, anxiety and shame which prevent us from being all that we were made to be.

It is important to look at why others might be broken and show compassion for them, which in turn helps us understand the situation better and also takes our focus off of ourselves. Yes, that's right, by nature it is always easiest to think of how things affect us first.

The only way we are capable of forgiving others, unconditionally loving them and moving forward is with fervent love.

"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart." 1 Peter 1 :22

Jesus gave,  and forgave us with love & He is asking us to do the same. When we live knowing we are LOVED, cherished, chosen, precious and the apple of God's eye, this makes it easier to live with a THANKFUL heart. Living LOVED helps us have joy despite our circumstances or the things people say or do.

We need to ask ourselves: "What might the other person be going thru?" or "What example have they had growing up?" These types of questions are ones that can help us become more compassionate and forgiving. This is how we can keep our eyes focused on what truly matters.

Being filled up with the Lord & His Word, being physically rested and praying for the Lord to guide us, is what helps us cope with difficult times. God wants us to love others and leave the things we can't control to Him. As new creations in Christ, may we be the people we were meant to be and trust in the power, abilities and good plans of our Heavenly Father.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock." Isaiah 26:3-4

A Word of Encouragement for Fear & Loneliness

This is a letter I wrote a friend as a response to her difficult times. I have left out names on purpose. These are things I needed to remind myself of too. I am always encouraged when I encourage others. :) I think God can work on 2 people at once when we help others. :)

Here is the letter:

The biggest thing that pops out at me from your letter in my spirit is "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. Many of our problems in life deal with this issue. God asks us to trust and obey, and we do it out of our love for all He has done for us. Many of the issues you brought up, I struggle with too.

"Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

Regarding fear, regret, loneliness, and discontentment: These are all arrows shot at us by Satan. They are hard to dodge and I have been hit by them frequently, which hinders the Holy Spirit's ability to work thru me. That is why it is so important to be in the Word and pray, as I know you are. Humbling myself in prayer, being slow to speak and listening to others is important. People would rather see us care than hear what we know.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1 Have victory over Satan in your knowledge that "greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world." Satan loves to make our hearts feel regret, shame, discontentment, jealousy (this is one of mine), and low self esteem.

"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him." 1 John 3:1

I would say that when you feel loneliness, walk towards God spiritually. He will fill you up like no one or nothing else will, including a spouse. God made things that way on purpose so that we could have a close relationship with Him. That's how much He loves us!!

The more I learn about the things of God, the more I realize my faults and recognize my need for God. It humbles me and makes me want to be a more gentle person. I pray that God will forgive my sins and then I must forgive myself or Jesus died for nothing.

I think it is our job to love people and live for God. If people see how we are able to bounce back and how we are thankful for God's faithfulness in our lives, they might want to know more. Some Christians don't feel led to share scripture publicly. Others of us do feel led to and God works through this.

Regarding friendship: I can tell you that I had one friend for 20 years and we hardly ever speak to each other anymore. God has moved us to new places. I have another friend that I have known for 17 years. Throughout the years we have had a couple of ups and downs, but our love for the Lord and each other has made it through. I am thankful for this friend but I have only got to see her about 5 times over the last 8 years since we moved to SC. I have other friends and acquaintances that I see or hear from occasionally, but God has me in the role of being a mom and wife for now and it is good.

When we first moved here I tried really hard to make new friends and it was exhausting. I think God wants Richard to be my best friend now and I am thankful I have him. We are two imperfect souls that love Jesus and it has taken many years to shed a lot of selfishness on both of our parts.

I will be praying that you would "be still" in the presence of God. That you would know that HE is enough. He will be faithful to give you fellowship as life goes on. Do you see that he has given us each other over the last couple of years? 

I also pray you can get help moving and that your marriage can have a time of refreshment. Let's pray for these two things in one accord. I believe they are both God honoring requests and he is faithful to do His will. 

I'd love to do a phone chat with coffee since we are miles apart!! :) 

Love to you & your family!!  Tawnya

Singing to Honor God's name

Lately I have been playing a song from 2007 called "Signature of Divine (or "Yahweh")" by NeedtoBreathe. This is one of my favorite songs of all time and it reminds me of God's greatness, glory and the beautiful love Jesus had for us as He suffered on our behalf.

We are so blessed to be able to sing His name "Yahweh, Yahweh." Many years ago it was considered blasphemous to utter the name of God. Here is what I found when I researched Yahweh: "A name of the Hebrew God, represented in Hebrew by the tetragrammaton ("four letters") יהוה (Yod Heh Vav Heh), transliterated into Roman script Y H W H. Because it was considered blasphemous to utter the name of God it was only written and never spoken. This resulted in the original pronunciation being lost. The name may have originally been derived from the old Semitic root הוה (hawah) meaning "to be" or "to become"." (http://www.behindthename.com/name/yahweh)

"To be"- God exists and is a being. God is love and created all things. He is perfect and He is in control.  Worshiping God and singing His name "Yahweh", can be a way of saying "I believe you exist. I adore you as being love and being a Father. I want to live for you. You are King of all creation and worthy of praise." Singing out God's name is a privilege that followers of Christ do to praise and honor Him.

Yahweh, also known as Jehovah, means "LORD". In Exodus 3:14, the name Yahweh is first given to Moses when God says; "I Am who I Am." This name specifies a presence and accessibility, near to those who call for deliverance, (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3).

We are also singing Yahweh to say "My LORD and my master, you are who I love and hope in for every good thing. I trust that you are faithful." We have direct access to the presence of God and that is something we do not deserve but have been given. Yahweh is our deliverer, the one who helps us in our time of need and protects us from harm. He forgives us for our inequities of impatiences, bad choices and short comings. Thankfully, Yahweh guides us on the right path towards the narrow gate as we choose to walk with Him. It is such a awesome privilege to be able to sing the name of Yahweh.

Lord, your ways are lovely and so high above ours. Thank you that you allow us access to yourself. Thank you for being Master of all and for being the great "I Am". I find great joy in singing your name to honor and praise you "Yahweh".


"Yahweh/Signature of Divine" by NeedtoBreathe