Are you a generational thinker?

On Saturday of Deeper Still, Beth Moore talked about the fact that God is a generational thinker & we should be too. She taught out of 2 Timothy 1:1-14. She said
        1. God has a unique regard for generations,
        2. We are each in our generation on purpose (Acts 17), &
        3. Each generation is linked to the other two.

She talked about how there are 3 generations of faith at any one time.
      1. Lois generation - roughly age 61 & above - Lois means "Desired" or "Better"
      2. Eunice generation - roughly age 40 - 60 - Eunice means "Victorious" (It's weird to think I'm in this generation)
      3. Timothy generation - roughly age 39 & below - Timothy means "Honoring God"
She also talked about how we need all 3 generations & that all 3 generations need each other. Each generation has their unique challenges & need things from the other 2 generations.

Beth had 3 ladies, one from each generation, get up on stage & tell one of their challenges & what they need from each other. It made me stop & really think about those I'm around. Here is what I brought home from this talk.

To those in the Lois generation:
-Are you mentoring those below you? Are you sharing with those who are walking the same path you walked? Are you encouraging them? Are you seeing the good in the younger generations?

To those in the Eunice generation:
-Are you respecting those older than you? Are you seeing that they are a fountain of expertise & that they have walked where you are walking? Are you encouraging them?
-Are you mentoring those below you? Are you encouraging them? Are you seeing that they want to live godly lives? Are you seeing the good in them & not just expecting them to party & not amount to anything?

To those in the Timothy generation:
-Are you respecting those older than you? Are you seeking out mentors? Are you seeing that they are wise as they've walked your road before? Are you gleaning all you can from them?

Each generation of women are needed. We need to show respect for each other & get along! We need to stop trying to "Compete" with each other! Instead of back-biting & fighting one another, we need to love & encourage one another. It is hard. The world wants us to fight & despise each other. Let's let the world see we are different! What an amazing witness it would be if our churches were filled with women who lifted one another up, who really loved each other & encouraged one another.

As I look at my list of friends, I'm blessed with ones in all 3 generations. I've tried to encourage those friends, but I'm going to try & be more intentional about it now. I'm going to try & seek out those older than me to ask questions of. I'm going to seek out those who are a step ahead of me in life to watch & learn from. I'm going to continue to encourage those younger than me or those in the step behind me in life. I'm going to try to be more open to them so they can ask me questions & seek out opinions from me. Not because I know it all, but because I've already walked the road they are on. But most of all, I'm going to try to love those around me.

To all my friends & family, I love you all! Walk with me on this journey we called life! Reach out to me & I'll reach out to you! If I falter, pick me up. If I mess up, lovingly correct me! I'm better online than in person, so help me! And I'll help you! Together, in unity, we can make life better & we can be more like Christ!

Do you know how to rest?

On Saturday morning of Deeper Still, Priscilla Shirer spoke. Boy, did I need to hear this message!!

She spoke about how we all need a Sabbath rest. She several very direct questions. "Are we so addicted to the Chaos that we can't enjoy "rest" when given to us?" "What is it you are overdoing in your life?" She went on to say that we can be free from sin, but enslaved to things that are "lawful" but have spiraled out of control.

Several things came to my mind. I overdo with food, helping others & computer time. All 3 of these I have cut back on in past year. BUT then I feel guilty when I'm not as active. I've started to pick things back up that God told me to put down. Then Priscilla said this "We need to be free to say "I'm not God & I'm going to leave time for Him in my life." Wow! I so needed to hear that. So the guilt is gone. Yes, we don't do all the extra-curricular activities every other family is doing! But that is ok! Instead, we are getting up & having family quiet time. We are spending quality family time together & I am focusing on raising my kids. I am resting in God & leaving room in my life for rest!

So as I plan for the summer & next school year, I am keeping in mind that I need to carve out & create my schedule based on what God has put as a priority at this stage/season of my life. My priority is love God, love my hubby and love & raise my kids to love God! So if things don't coincide with that, then I will be cutting them out of my life. I am expecting God to move in my life & do great things.

Priscilla challenged us to take 14 minutes each day to "Shabbat" (rest w/God) & to clear 14" of space. Why 14" of space? Because when you have everything, you can find anything, enjoy anything or even see clearly. We need to take our attention off our stuff & put it on Jesus!

So far this week, I've spent at least 14 min each day resting in the Lord by spending time in His Word with my kids! I've also spent time by myself in God's Word. I haven't cleared any space yet, but I know several areas that I need to clean out. I want to clean out my twitter list. I want to get rid of those I follow who take my time away from my kids, mainly celebrities. I also want to clean out my homeschool stuff. It clutters my home & takes my attention from other things. I have lots of preschool things that I could be passing on to other homeschoolers & be a blessing to them.

SO do you have time & room in your life to rest, Shabbat? or are you so addicted to the chaos of life that you don't know how to rest? God meant for the Sabbath to be a way of life! He started us off with an example in the first book of Genesis! God rested on the 7th day! We need to have a time where we can pause & rest and enjoy the blessings God has given us.

What is out of control in your life? What has become so important to you that you can't enjoy everything because you have everything? Is it work? shoes? belts? homeschool materials? kids involved in every sport? laziness? food? computers? Twitter? Facebook? Working out? In & of themselves, none of this is bad. It's when they become our focus, our priority, that's when they are bad. I'm going to clean out my stuff & my time so I can have margin in my life! So I can have rest! I want to make Jesus my priority & rest in Him. Will you join me?

What are you expecting?

This seems to be the question on my mind this week. Specifically, what am I expecting God to do in my life? Am I expecting Him to do anything? or am I just going through the motions. Am I looking for God to work in my life? Am I watching to see what message or blessing He has for me?

So many times, I get so entrenched in my daily life. Before I know it, I've dug a deep trench by trudging back & forth doing all that "needs" to be done. I don't look up, I don't look around. I just keep plugging away at life. When I finally do stop, I realize I've built walls around myself. Walls of housework, school routine, tv shows, kid raising, husband care-taking, yard work, church work, etc...

None of those things are bad, but they can become so routine that we get in a rut & all the joy is sucked out of everything. Before I know it I'm rushing to get everything done & taking no prisoners along the way. I become moody, irritable & withdrawn. I realize I'm not living, I'm just surviving.

What's the difference? Attitude!

I decided this week, after a blow-up at my kids, to be intentional about spending time in God's Word. The first day, my study asked if I was anticipating God working in & around me? I wasn't. I was only focused on what I had to do to get by. The last 3 days I have been starting my day in God's Word & praying for Him to open my eyes to what He is doing and to help me to expect Him to move!

I've seen God working! I've been more even keeled in my attitude. I've seen tenderness developing in my son that I would have missed before. I've seen God convicting my kids & softening their hearts. I've seen God answering prayers because I've been anticipating Him to answer!

Today, I'm going with a group of ladies from my church to "Deeper Still" with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer & Kay Arthur. I'm going expecting to hear from God! I'm excited to find out what message God has for me as I continue this walk with Him! I'm expecting Him to revolutionize my life & change me to be more like Christ!

So what are you expecting? Are you expecting God to work? Are you expecting God to bless you? Or are you just trudging through life trying to do it all on your own?

I Know A Man

Just wanted to share a poem I wrote in 1986 for Word of Life Teens Involved creative writing. Can't believe that was 25 years ago. Enjoy!

I Know A Man

I know a man

who cares for me,

He lives in Heaven

and can calm the sea.

I know a man

who cares for you,

He can live inside

your heart, that is true

I know a man

that I want you to meet,

I'll tell you all about Him

if you come to sit at my feet.

This man was born

in a lowly stable,

Born to die

and make Heaven more than a fable.

He prayed to God

and preached the Word.

Miracles He performed

to bring glory to the Lord.

He did no wrong

or evil, ever,

But still they blamed Him

for wrong deeds, they were so clever.

Then one day

they crucified Him,

They hung Him on a cross

and left Him to die on that limb.

This man suffered pain

and His blood was shed,

For our sins

He died and bled.

Then they took Him down

and placed Him in a tomb,

Soldiers guarded Him

so no one would steal Him in the gloom.

Three days He was there

with soldiers at the door,

Mary went to see Him

and knelt upon the floor.

But then a miracle took place,

an angel of God rolled back the rock,

And this man came out

and began to gather His flock.

For forty days

He preached again,

He trained His men

to preach against sin.

Now He is in Heaven

a place for you and me He went to prepare,

So that one great day

we could meet Him there.

You can meet Him too

in only you believe.

All there is to do

is to ask and receive.

He lives in my heart

oh, I'm so glad,

When you reject Him

it makes Him so sad.

Growing up too fast or not fast enough?

Have you ever noticed how society is pushing kids to grow up too fast? Not in all ways, but in dress & sexuality especially.  Kids are not allowed to be kids anymore. They aren't allowed to have time to just play, to use their imaginations.

Have you ever noticed how rare it is to have a teen or young adult who is grown up enough to take on adult responsibility? Ready to hold down a job, pay bills, get married, raise a family...

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I look at my kids & can clearly see that they are not as "grown up" as other kids their age. Other kids their ages (10, 7 & 5) are concerned about their looks, clothes & those of the opposite sex. I see it in my 10 yr old's peers especially. I see how they look down on my daughter because she doesn't have "Style" & doesn't really care about wearing heels & makeup. Part of that is her personality, but part of that is because she doesn't have all the peer pressure to "grow up". She still likes playing with toys.

But on the other hand, I can see where my daughter is more mature than her peers. She thinks about the feelings of others. She doesn't backtalk her parents or other adults. She talks to others respectfully. Now, she isn't perfect. She still interrupts adults while they are talking. She still fights with her siblings. I can see that I have lots of work to do to prepare her to be an adult! But we are working towards that.

My point is this. As we are raising our kids, what is our goal? Is it to have teens that are popular? Is it to have teens that fit in with their peers? Is it to have teens that "have fun"? Is it to get them out of the house & out of our hair? Or is it to train them up to be responsible adults? My goal is to raise young adults who know how to negotiate the world and accomplish any goal they have in life. I want them to look at the future knowing God made them for a purpose & that He will help them achieve that purpose. If along the way they are popular, then great. If they aren't, then great. The teen years are just a small part of life & I want my kids to be ready for what lies beyond childhood & the teen years.