| Wednesday, April 28, 2010 |
| The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to These: Gail Matthews |
I observed a beautiful event on Sunday. While walking to my office in the church building, I stopped alongside a mom and dad as they watched the Bible class for babies, specifically, as they watched their precious little girl in that Bible class. We stood outside a one-way window and observed the process going on behind the glass.
Since I did not have a little one in that class, my eyes stayed on the teacher, Jimmie Sue Long. And I marveled. There were other helpers in the room. After all, when there are over 10 babies in one room - you need helpers! But there was a calm in the room - an engagement of little eyes and hands focused on this teacher. She talked to them. She touched them. She had their rapt attention as she spoke about God - their God.
And I thought about the paintings we have seen of Jesus touching and holding little ones. I remembered when Jesus reprimanded His disciples for trying to keep the children away from Him. (Matthew 19: 13 - 15) He said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
I am grateful that God has gifted many of our women with the gift of touching children. I witnessed it being exercised beautifully that Sunday. And I am grateful for Jimmie Sue and her willingness to use those God-given gifts to bless the children in this place.
If you are one of the many women who are being the "hands and feet of Jesus" to our children ... THANK YOU ... I pray God's continued blessings on you and your families.Labels: Seeing God in the Everyday |
posted by gm @ 10:21 AM  |
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| Tuesday, April 13, 2010 |
| Titus 2 Tidbits |
Jean Himes served on the panel that discussed "Loving Our Children". Tidbits from Jean:
"God gave Glenn and I two little boys. I like boys' forthright manner of communication and the way they get the 'big picture' usually. Little girls seem more interested in the details of a project and I thought that was interesting. I thought often that children taught me a lot more than I taught them especially in the area of love and forgiveness. A child's heart is a beautiful thing. Between my mom's example of treating the tiniest child with respect and Glenn's example of always showing love to our children regardless of their inappropriate behavior at times, I feel I was fortunate to learn from two excellent parents.
I always loved Florence Henderson's Jello commercial: 'At our house, we treat company like family and family like company.' I think that is a Godly sentiment because it helps us remember to treat our family with love and respect instead of saving it for 'company'!"
Nancy Wiese served on the panel discussing "Practicing Kindness and Goodness". Nancy emphasized the importance of forgiving others if we want to practice kindness and goodness. She spoke about the struggle to be a forgiving person - our desire to be a forgiving person without actually having to forgive! Tidbits from Nancy:
"Sometimes one does not want to forgive. When I found myself in that place, I had to begin by praying that God would help me WANT to forgive that individual. Also, I knew I needed forgiveness myself, so really had no choice but to begin the forgiving process. And, it is a process ... not a one time thought that I will forgive them ... I had to work on the wanting to for a while!"
Remember ... "Tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited." (Titus 2: 3 - 5)Labels: Titus 2 Women ... Learning Together |
| posted by gm @ 2:53 PM |
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| Titus 2 Women: Desire for Pure Living - Darla Whitehead |
When Danielle approached me and asked if I would be willing to be on a panel for
Titus 2 day, it made me a little uneasy. I’ve never liked to be the center of attention and this was way out of my comfort zone. With much prayer (my own & others) I decided that I really needed to do this. God does answer prayers! I believe He gave me the confidence to follow through. It was a great day.
In researching the scriptures and thinking about my desire to live a pure life, I came upon this scripture in Psalm 119:9-12: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.”
Compliance is the angle I chose to share. As a child I was very shy. I always wanted to please my parents, teachers, etc. and didn’t want to disappoint them. I feel the same way about my relationship with my heavenly Father. I want Him to be proud of me and don’t want to disappoint Him. I daily seek to be obedient to His will through prayer & Bible study. I struggle at times to keep my focus on Him. I need to rid myself of anything that would pull my attention away from Him. God knows my heart. Living pure is an attitude of the heart toward God.
I recommend the book A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George. She shares some great information about using our spiritual disciplines to live a life of obedience to God. I want to be remembered as a woman after God’s own heart.
Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”Labels: Titus 2 Women ... Learning Together |
| posted by gm @ 2:45 PM |
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| Monday, April 5, 2010 |
| Titus 2 Women: Home-making - Marcy Schaeffer |
Home-making … not House-keeping
Years ago, I started collecting and recording stories, poems, and anecdotes that spoke to me in my readings and I am working on notebook #4, and I am behind in my homework!! I keep reading books that peak my interest and pile them up to write about later! I really did not like book reports in school but now I see their value............hmmmm...........memory loss!!
One particular piece of wisdom was taped above my sink in our "starter" home (which we stayed on for 26 years!!!), and I have forgotten its origin, but not its lessons.
A Family is a Museum of Memories
1. Love more. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone that you love them. There are 3 rules for interpersonal relationships: 1. People are more important than things.
2. People are more important than things.
3. People are more important than things.
We had 2 sons and their friends (who were also boys!) and nerf balls, nerf guns, footballs, basketballs, etc. were always part of everyday life in the household. I have used every known glue known to man and all my "treasures" are glued together !@#!
Tell them "I love you" and accept your immeasurable worth as a human being. I am on your team even if your team is losing.
2. Laugh more. At yourself; At each other; There is never a time that we are together that someone doesn't bring up someone else's mistakes from the past that are hilarious, and we laugh , again, at such mistakes that we all make. The most fun in our time together seems to be at the table and with boys around all subjects seem to be open for discussion..................
3. Be together more. Especially 1 at a time, if possible, and with your extended families. Kids do love their cousins, so. It is such a special bond. We have been blessed with so many opportunities for river trips, farm trips, beach trips, DisneyWorld trips, ski trips, etc. that are directly related to the plans of our in-laws who valued family so much. Spend alot of time with your kids and be the parent--you can be friends later!! And such friends they are................
4. Be more encouraging, positive, and appreciative.
5. Listen more. I read a quote one day that said "i have never been hurt or hurt anyone by anything I did not say/" Wow! I needed that in my life. And I know that teenagers need to talk when they need to talk, so our best gift to our family may just be to listen.
6. Be more honest. Especially with my/your mistakes. They see us everyday and see right through us. Apologize. Be humble. Ask for their forgiveness when necessary.
7. Pay attention to the little things. And wear love on your sleeves, not your feelings, and not a chip on your shoulder.
8. Create a deeper sense of belonging. The family is their peer group. It lasts for a lifetime as friends come and go---graduations, moves,etc. We must teach our children to respect and cooperate with each other. We must teach them love and dignity for each other.
9. Share God more intimately. There is probably never a time when we are together that some conversation doesn't turn to our great God and His blessings, or fellow Christians that lift us up, or requests for prayers for our friends. We memorized alot of scripture in the summers and the kids still "have it" on their hearts----mine is not as easily recalled, anymore!! Speak His name often. Labels: Titus 2 Women ... Learning Together |
| posted by gm @ 4:07 PM |
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