Sunday, July 26, 2009
Born again
I just love this song, it touches my heart everytime I listen to it. I do feel this way about having a relationship with Jesus, and it just keeps getting better and better. :)
Monday, July 20, 2009
God leads us
The other day I saw a post from a friend about her life and having 4 kids in 5 years and she commented how she loves having a full plate.
It really made me think this morning. I really wouldn't want it any other way either. I am busy, I don't have much time to myself, I do have piles of laundry every day, a messy house, kids constantly needing something, always other little people to worry about, feed, change, referee, play with, read to, drive around, council,wipe butts, take kids to the doctor, it's never ending.
It really made me think this morning. I really wouldn't want it any other way either. I am busy, I don't have much time to myself, I do have piles of laundry every day, a messy house, kids constantly needing something, always other little people to worry about, feed, change, referee, play with, read to, drive around, council,wipe butts, take kids to the doctor, it's never ending.
I have days when I feel too exhausted for my husband, and days when I'm so stressed I want to run away for awhile, but when I really think about it, I wouldn't have it any other way. I absolutely love being a mommy.
My kids bring so many smiles to day, and warmth to my heart. I learn things from my kids daily. They love me unconditionally no matter what, they depend on me for everything. My life would be so boring without these children. I honestly feel so blessed to have these little people in my life.
The closer my relationship with the Lord, the more I love these kids and want what is best for them, the more I think about their needs instead of mine.
Recently God put in on my heart to home school my kids. For various reasons, but they are all about the kids and what they need to have a life centered on Christ, so they can grow up having real relationships with the Lord and not being influenced by silly worldly things that they shouldn't have to deal with until they are mature enough to deal with them. (Great sermon on educating our children) My thoughts about myself, and having free time, or time to clean the house, or read a book or just be alone are gone. (at least for the most part!) God has changed my heart to be less focused on Amy and her needs. I am thankful for that. He has made me more grateful for my children, and helped me to understand my role in their life as their mother. ( I think this must be some fruit of the spirit!)
It amazes me how God orchestrates things to work together before I even know what's coming. He put it in my heart/mind about home schooling months ago, around that same time I was going through months of discipleship with a friend at church, learning tons from her, but at the same time becoming discontent with my church. I know I blogged about it, that I was angry I went to church for 6 years and hadn't learned the things this women was teaching me in less then six months. My husband thought I was crazy. He wasn't really for the home school idea, and didn't think there was a thing wrong with our church. Again, around the same time, we both started listening to sermons online from Mars hill church in Seattle. The Pastor is Mark Driscoll. Kevin and I both really enjoyed his sermons, he tells it like it is, and nothing is watered down. One day I was scanning through the Mars hill web site and found a link to Acts 29. Something Mark Driscoll started for church plants. There happen to be a church called Mercy Hill. We decided to go check it out, I know God led us to that church, the address on the website was not only wrong, but it also said it was at a grade school. We drove around, found the address, and it was NOT a school. Kevin said, "oh, maybe we should go back to the other church", I said, "let's just drive a little farther." We found a middle school with cars parked in the parking lot and decided to go in. It WAS the church. People said, "how did you find us??" Good question! It's a very small new church plant, but when we found our seat, and I started singing along with the one man that was doing worship the tears starting falling. I had this peace in my heart, and I just knew it was where we were supposed to be. Then I heard the sermon, it was fabulous. The people, are so friendly, I just knew it was where we belong. So more things start coming together. So far every mom I've met there home schools. Is that a coincidence? I don't think so.
I was trying to find a home team at our old church for the summer, no luck. This church family gets together 3 weeks out of the month. My kids are going in the makeshift nursery, all of them, together, and no tears. We didn't have that before either. Oh, and my husband is on board with the home schooling now. Huh, what just happened?? This last month has been amazing, watching what God is doing in our lives. This is a time that I don't want to forget, God is so visible to me right now, directing our family, but he took it slow, one curve, one idea at a time and just led us right where we are now.
I am excited to see where this takes us, excited to see what home schooling will be like, excited to be a part of a brand new church plant. Who would have thought? A year ago I wouldn't have believed I'd be doing any of these things. God is amazing!
Recently God put in on my heart to home school my kids. For various reasons, but they are all about the kids and what they need to have a life centered on Christ, so they can grow up having real relationships with the Lord and not being influenced by silly worldly things that they shouldn't have to deal with until they are mature enough to deal with them. (Great sermon on educating our children) My thoughts about myself, and having free time, or time to clean the house, or read a book or just be alone are gone. (at least for the most part!) God has changed my heart to be less focused on Amy and her needs. I am thankful for that. He has made me more grateful for my children, and helped me to understand my role in their life as their mother. ( I think this must be some fruit of the spirit!)
It amazes me how God orchestrates things to work together before I even know what's coming. He put it in my heart/mind about home schooling months ago, around that same time I was going through months of discipleship with a friend at church, learning tons from her, but at the same time becoming discontent with my church. I know I blogged about it, that I was angry I went to church for 6 years and hadn't learned the things this women was teaching me in less then six months. My husband thought I was crazy. He wasn't really for the home school idea, and didn't think there was a thing wrong with our church. Again, around the same time, we both started listening to sermons online from Mars hill church in Seattle. The Pastor is Mark Driscoll. Kevin and I both really enjoyed his sermons, he tells it like it is, and nothing is watered down. One day I was scanning through the Mars hill web site and found a link to Acts 29. Something Mark Driscoll started for church plants. There happen to be a church called Mercy Hill. We decided to go check it out, I know God led us to that church, the address on the website was not only wrong, but it also said it was at a grade school. We drove around, found the address, and it was NOT a school. Kevin said, "oh, maybe we should go back to the other church", I said, "let's just drive a little farther." We found a middle school with cars parked in the parking lot and decided to go in. It WAS the church. People said, "how did you find us??" Good question! It's a very small new church plant, but when we found our seat, and I started singing along with the one man that was doing worship the tears starting falling. I had this peace in my heart, and I just knew it was where we were supposed to be. Then I heard the sermon, it was fabulous. The people, are so friendly, I just knew it was where we belong. So more things start coming together. So far every mom I've met there home schools. Is that a coincidence? I don't think so.
I was trying to find a home team at our old church for the summer, no luck. This church family gets together 3 weeks out of the month. My kids are going in the makeshift nursery, all of them, together, and no tears. We didn't have that before either. Oh, and my husband is on board with the home schooling now. Huh, what just happened?? This last month has been amazing, watching what God is doing in our lives. This is a time that I don't want to forget, God is so visible to me right now, directing our family, but he took it slow, one curve, one idea at a time and just led us right where we are now.
I am excited to see where this takes us, excited to see what home schooling will be like, excited to be a part of a brand new church plant. Who would have thought? A year ago I wouldn't have believed I'd be doing any of these things. God is amazing!
Just one thing I want to add to my friends at my first home church, I love you guys! I have made some wonderful friendships with beautiful God fearing people and i'm so grateful for each and every one of you! I was saved through that church, and if it wasn't for that church and it's misson for new beleivers, I wouldn't have been saved. I credit that church for my salvation and getting me on the right track to having a relationship with Christ. Had the sermons been as deep as what I need now, I probably wouldn't have understood it or liked it. I am thankful for both churches. I guess sometimes we have to move on to new and different things, different times in our life God leads us to new things, but Fox River will always have a place in my heart!! :)
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