My Non Creative But Hopeful Day!

Today I am not feeling very creative..... Simply put I am exhausted creatively, mentally and physically. I had a post that I wanted to add today, but I am kind of going through one of those moments when you try on an outfit and it just doesn't go with your day, so you change it. Well, I am having one of those days when nothing I write sounds right. Cliche' isn't it?

So, I checked my email this morning and read the thoughts today that my pastor sends out daily and it was encouraging so I thought I would post it, ( by the way if you want to be added to his distribution list that is sent all throughout this country, then simply leave your email address in the comments and I will forward to him and you will be able to receive these very encouraging spiritual thoughts). Today's thought which follows below is about hope.

When I feel rejuvenated I will post again today, because I don't want the enemy to rob me of the creativity that I feel that God has bestowed upon me. As a matter of fact, the more I type this the more my mind is churning and I want to post, so let me get my thoughts focused and I will come back later and re-post. For now, I want to share with you this thought.

Thoughts Today
Thursday, November 1, 2007

Hope means ANTICIPATION, EXPECTATION, CONFIDENCE. You must desperately fight in your mind, your heart, and your soul to protect your hope. It is the forerunner to your blessing from God. Make sure your hope is anchored in the deep-rooted belief that God is true to his promise, as long as you remain true to him. Such an anchor strengthens your patience.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. KJV
Pastor James Jennings, Church of God of Forrest City , AR
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Chorus: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
The words of this song are so encouraging to me and I hope they encourage you. Be blessed and stay encouraged

Miss Worst Case Scenario

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24

I thank God for his faithfulness in showing us ourselves if we are willing to look. I am/was Miss. Worst Case Scenario.... I admit it, I accept it as a weakness and a sin, I asked God to forgive me for playing this role, and to deliver me from it and I claim victory from it! I never thought of it as a bad thing actually, but it's funny how our past sinful life teaches us to always be on guard, paranoid, and on the look-out for the evil lurking in the shadows and eventually those shadows follow us around like a perpetual cartoon character with the thundercloud and lightning bolt over its head( yep, you know which one I am talking about). Unfortunately I was that cartoon character. No matter how good a situation was and is, I would and until recently ( I am claiming victory!!) still brace myself and try to prepare for the "worst case scenario" in the situation. Eventually this persona takes over your life, and you become cynical, negative, presumptuous about and even predicting worst case scenario's. I thank God and my true friends for pointing this out about me, because honestly, I never really realized this about myself and I was blinded by it and couldn't see myself.

I had a spiritual epiphany or breakthrough last night, we had a message in bible class about being free. God brought back a particular comment that a friend made to me about always seeing things negatively, My response was "I am not negative, but a realist". That is when I realized that when you trust in God, there is no such thing as being a realist, or a worst case scenario (unless you disobey God and do things in and of yourself in the flesh). God doesn't give us his worst, yes he gives us tests and trials, but then they are only to make us stronger so what is worst case about that? Worst case thinking causes is us to doubt, to waver, to not glorify God and to let enemy plant seeds that cultivate an unGodly way of thinking. This state of mind can cause us to miss our blessings James 1:6-9 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Thinking positive and remembering the goodness of God and his blessings is a start to help you overcome always thinking about "worst case scenario's". Philippians 4:8 tells us : Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

If we think on these things there won't be any room for worst case scenario's. Only thoughts of knowing Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Why is this important? Scripture plainly tells us in Proverbs 23:7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he .

If we continuously think in worst case scenario, then we accept worst case scenarios, eventually we will give worst case scenarios, and our children will accept this and become another generation of worst case scenario thinkers and doers. Bottom line, if you think worse, then you will give God your worse. So as single mothers let us ask God for help from the condemnations of the enemy concerning our past, present and future situations. Embrace the freedom and life that you have with God, and allow him to work his best through you so that you can pass it along to your children. That's what being a mother is all about right???


Stay blessed and encouraged!!!

A Stand Firm Child

It is a fundamental fact that if you want something repeated unexpectedly, then say it in front of a small child. Children will say the most profound things at the most unconventional moment however; there are some moments when what comes out of their mouths makes you a very proud mama. My six year old is a very vocal, outspoken child, she hears everything you say and sometimes what you think. I have often been before God on guidance on how to channel her outspokenness and not stifle it. I do believe that it ( her boldness) is a gift and I find myself sometimes asking God for some of what she has. My job as her mother is to teach her what and what not to say, how to say it and when.

I have no fear of her being a follower or buckling under pressure because she takes her stand.... albeit trouble or no trouble she takes her stand! At school the other day I was questioned by her kindergarten teacher " Do you celebrate Halloween? " My response " No, we don't celebrate Halloween" She then proceeded to tell me that my daughter was very "adamant about not coloring jack-0- lanterns and other Halloween pictures" She said Erin stood up and said firmly " No, I can't color that!" "We don't celebrate Halloween in my mommy's house." " God would not be pleased with me if I color that, it is part of Halloween" I couldn't hide my smile (and my laughter) when I told her of my biblical convictions against this secular holiday. I said very simply " I will talk to her about how she said what she said, and how she could have said it better" I wanted her to know that I supported my child in her stand against what she believed to be unpleasing to God, however I will teach her how next time to do it more gracefully. Through the course of the conversation, I found that they kept trying to tell her that it was fall pictures instead of Halloween. Thank God I didn't raise a child void of understanding. The more they kept trying to twist her beliefs the bolder she became. Some may think I should have reprimanded her.But I want her to have the boldness and firmness of Paul durning Acts, when it comes to the things of God. She knew what a jack-o-lantern represented and that it was simply not fall, but Halloween. I asked if she were disrespectful, she was not, but she was firm!!

The fact is that our children listen to us... we may think that they have selective hearing, but they listen. If they see you living what you speak, and you help them to see, understand, and accept your stand for God, they will take a firm stand with you. I thank God for guiding me in teaching my outspoken child how to remain firm and bold about the teachings and convictions that I have in my household.

Statistically single mothers seem have the highest number of vulnerable children, but as Godly mother and wives of God, we don't have to fit in this mold. Our children don't have to be another statistic. Why? Because we have an instruction book ( The Bible) and we have and instructor ( God) who will help us steer our children around pit falls. I have to hold fast to the thought that its not just me raising my children, its God, then me, the same can go for you and your household. Continue to raise your children under the leadership and fear of God and they will continue to stand firm and bold against those things that they know are unpleasing to God.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Letting Our Husband Drive

As I wrote in my post on Saturday, I planned to spent the weekend relaxing with my children. We had a mini-vacation in Louisiana visiting my brother and soon to be sister-in-law. We were having such a good time that we left later than we anticipated and I had to drive in the dark. Now I don't know if you know anything about two lane Arkansas roads at night during deer season, but driving them can be pretty scary. This coupled with seeing at least 70 deer grazing on the shoulder of the road during my 3 hr commute, and not having any available cellular phone signal the entire trip encouraged me to completely depend on my Heavenly Husband to guide me.

I think of all of my friends and relatives and conversations from other women I have met in my lifetime, and all I can remembert hearing them say is that driving long distances with their husbands can be a TRYING time. Many a heated argument over driving directions, stubbornness, etc have ruined a vacation or potentially peaceful drive. As I drove alone ( my children had fallen asleep not 15 minutes after we got on the road!) I talked to God peacefully and listened to and sang encouraging hymns and inspirational classican piano, I listened to him guide me, telling me, look to your left, look to your right, okay now slow down here, turn your brights on there, no arguing, no power struggle, no stubbornness. I had to totally depend on his expertise to guide me through my fear and anxiety of my drive. I mean he created the environment I was traveling through, so who better to guide me than the Almighty Creator! I thought about my drive as I got home and how it was actually very easy and relaxing. I couldn't help but wonder if God was trying to tell me that just as he can easily guide me through a peaceful three hour drive through dark two lane road filled with anxious deer, he can peacefully guide me through life, filled with fiery test, and tempestuous storms, deep valleys, and land mines of various destruction's. I thought about Psalms 32: 7-8 7. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. He and only he can help guide me through the trials of parenthood, the ups and downs of singleness, and the joys and pains of single parenthood. As long as we look to him for direction and follow his direction we will be fine. He is our maker. So my lesson learned through all of this, is to sit back, shut up and let my Heavenly husband drive. Blessings to you and stay encouraged!