Tag: mom

My favorite things

For the last few years I believe Father God spoke to my spirit on various occasions about giving away something of mine to bless others. If I was to admit a small complaint, it would be that each time He asked me to give something away, it just happened to be one of my favorite things.

One such time I procrastinated for two weeks before I finally gave in and did what Father God was asking. My only copy of my favorite devotional was the item in question. That devotional meant so much to me because it got me through an extremely hard time in my life. I often told people that I highly recommend it as it saved my life. It took two weeks to open up and allow the Holy Spirit to convince me it truly was God requesting I give that devotional away.

The day I decided to finally be obedient, no sooner did I pull into the driveway, when the person to whom I was to give the book to, walked right by my car. I called out to her. As she approached my window I handed her the book and told her “ God wanted me to give this to you.” She looked at it and with a lit up face she smiled and said to me, “oh grandma just gave me this same book a few days ago.”

 As she handed the book back through my window, I knew in my spirit, grandma got my blessing. God first gave the job to me and not once did he push me or threaten me about it. No as a matter of fact he allowed me all the time I needed to settle my emotional ties to this worldly object. He was patient, understanding and gentle with me, but because the job needed done in the right timing, His timing, He asked Grandma whom happened to be mom to me, Mom then went obediently right out to do the job. As I sit in my car thinking about this, I couldn’t help but smile and tell the Lord okay I get it, I see what’s happened, I missed an opportunity to be blessed because of my emotional attachment to that book. I also chuckled with the realization that Father God worked it out so that I would see clearly that blessing was given to my mom because she acted immediately.

He was showing me that to be effective for Him it’s crucial to listen and act as quickly as I can as some jobs are time sensitive. He wouldn’t push me into obedience and He will always give me the space I need to heal or let go but at the same time the job needed done so He made sure it was. He didn’t rub it in my face, He didn’t tell me I failed, He never condemned me. He didn’t even seem slightly disappointed in me. Instead he got overjoyed along with me once the concept truly set in and I finally understood. Less than a week later someone else needed my book and that time I didn’t hesitate. That book led me closer to Father God, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. During major hardship in my life I knew that book help me get to know God on a whole different level than ever before. I never thought God would want me to part with it. Oh sentimental soul that I am. The prize is the new level of relationship I gained with Father God not the book the book was just the tool God used to draw me into this new level. I unwittingly placed the value on the wrong thing.

The true value was never the book itself, but it was found in what the book brought into my life. A close, intimate, relationship with Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

The Lord is showing me how easily I can find reasons to become attached to things of this world. How  occasionally  I convince myself that my attachment is justifiable. Because of this He had been asking for my favorite things to be given to someone else.

I find the more I act in obedience giving away my favorite possessions, the easier it gets. I won’t pretend not to hesitate, or whine, or pull a Jonah kinda move hoping to avoid it all together, because I do.. I’m still a work in progress after all.

Matthew 6:19-21 NLT — “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

One of the things I have learned through all of this is, those things I have in this world that I try so hard to hold onto, once I’ve let them go, truly let them go joyfully and willingly, the weight that came off of me had been so heavy, I had no idea I carried such weight until it was lifted off me. I never noticed it until I was free of it.

This world has many treasures. It was after all designed by The Master Designer, whom  thought it, spoke it, and it was.. All for His good pleasure and as a blessing unto us. Sometimes we need a reminder that all things here are on loan, we cannot take them with us.

The enemy will help us find any and all possible reason to hold onto treasure here in order to stop us from longing for home. If he can cause us to become emotionally bound to our relationships and worldly possessions, it’s less likely for us to yearn for heaven when our hearts, everything we love, is here.

The enemy tricks us with treasures equivalent to less than a penny in comparison to the home Jesus has prepared for us once we are called home. Life doesn’t end here. This life isn’t even the dress rehearsal of eternity. It’s more like roll choosing.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT — Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

This life and what we do with it will determine our place in heavens society. This less than a millisecond of time is our schooling for life in the kingdom of Almighty God!

What we do with what Father God  gives us whether in abundance or small portion, including the time we are allotted here on Earth, determines what we will be in eternity.  

Friends, God does all the work for us and gives us the opportunity to be heroes for His glory. All we need to do is let go of this world and with all our heart seek Him, love Him and worship Him.

Until next time, may God bless you and keep you as you seek Him with your whole heart.

 

 

10 reasons I thank God for the blessing of mom

Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT — Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her,

And she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, All the days of her life. She finds wool and flax And busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, Bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household And plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; With her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, A hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

Her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread,

Her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor And opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, For everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates,

Where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments And sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, And she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, And she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household And suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, But you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; But a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

 

Today, is the one day a year we as a society, set aside to honor our mother’s. Although in my opinion, mom’s should be celebrated and honored every day of the year, it still gives me hope and a grateful heart, that we give one whole day every year, to remember our moms and what they mean to us.

 

I thank God regularly for so richly blessing my life with my mom. Today, on mother’s day, I am especially grateful because my mom is a most extraordinary woman. My entire life, I have yet to meet another mom that can compare with mine.

 

For the sake of space within this blog post, I have narrowed down all the reasons I praise God for my mom down to my top ten.

 

10. Number ten is probably the most obvious and would be rather silly to even mention, except that it is absolutely true and therefore worth listing. I thank God for Mama because she gave me life. She birthed me and took on the responsibility of raising me.

 

9. I praise Father God for my mama because through good times and bad times, she stayed and work things out with daddy. She loved him so much it was awe inspiring. She, by her example, taught me it’s not only possible to be self-controlled, patient, and selfless, but it’s a requirement for a lasting marriage.

 

8. I praise God for my mama because, she worked so hard, both in the home and outside the home.  She not only taught me how to clean and care for a home, but she also taught me the value in working hard.

 

7. I thank God for mama because, she hosted our family holiday gatherings, that always seemed more like family reunions, with how many people would show up. It was hard work and she never got to visit with everyone because by the time the meal was prepared, shared, and then cleaned up, everyone started heading home. Still she did this year after year.

 

6. I thank Father God for my mama because, she has such a big heart. She is very attentive, thoughtful and she is always helping family, friends, and sometimes even strangers that are in need.

 

5. I praise God for my mama because, she raised me to walk with dignity and taught me how to be a woman deserving of respect. She taught by being an example.

 

4. I thank God for my mama because, she was never afraid to discipline me when I messed up. Even as an adult, she’s not afraid to let me know when I am wrong. She gently tells me with guidance from the Holy Spirit.

 

3. I praise God for my mama because, she has never been disloyal to me and she has always had my back.

 

2. I thank Father God for my mama because, she taught me how to listen and hear Holy Spirit  God. She also taught me, to always read at least one verse in the Bible, before reacting in anger to a fight.  She taught me, if I do this, I won’t react the same way I would if I lashed out in my own emotional understanding. I’m less likely to cause permanent damage to a relationship if I read a verse or two before reacting.

 

1. I praise father God for my mama because,  she introduced me to Jesus. Nothing will ever compare to this in all my life. She gave me life and took part in saving my life, by introducing me to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

My list could go on for pages, telling of all the reasons mama has been Father God’s first blessing upon my life. Today, as we honor our moms for the blessings they  are,  maybe we can stop for a moment and with all our heart, say a little prayer of gratitude to Father God for so greatly blessing us.

 

Until next time may God bless you and keep you as you seek him with your whole heart.