Thursday's Truth

You know those moments when you find out a bit of information that changes everything you thought was true?  Growing up, we had an old console television that you turned on and off with a pull or push of a button and to turn channels you had to get up and turn a dial to one of four different stations.  One of my girlfriend's lived in high style and viewed TV with a remote control and a lot more than four channels.  While visiting her one afternoon, she taught me how to use the remote.  In my first and only lesson, she firmly instructed me where the volume, channels and power buttons were.  She said that it was very important to know that I could push any of the buttons except the sleep button. When I questioned what would happen if I hit the sleep button she informed me that the TV would blow up. Gullible as I was, I put that bit of info in my mind for all future encounters with a remote control.  It wasn't until I had my very own 13 inch television with remote control that I learned the truth about that sleep button.  Whoa! What an eye opener! What else had I missed? How long would I have gone on believing this?  Was this a joke or did should I be informing her of this new information?

I had another one of those moments this year during a bible study. One of the discussions was on worshiping.   When I think of worship, I think of singing and praying, going to church or having a bible study but I was missing out on another kind of worship, one that is far more powerful for me.  Using God's Word to worship in truth. It means to worship in Jesus, using God's word and believing it over and over again in the same breath if that's what it takes.  When my spirit is exhausted and my heart is just not into worshiping, I can still worship because I always have the truths in my Bible that can give me the peace, energy, courage and joy my soul needs.  For me, it means taking God's word and believing it, using it to fight off doubts, depression or temptation. Using it to praise God when my heart just doesn't feel like it.  So in light of my new discovery, I'm going to attempt to start Thursday's Truth. I'll post a Bible verse that is on my heart for the week or maybe just one that goes with a fun picture for the day. My hope is that it will speak to at least one of you as much as it speaks to me. 

Sophia & Cohen

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:31&32

Thursday's Truth - A Kid At Heart

What are your favorite memories about being a kid?  Mine include laughing out loud over almost anything, having best friends live next door, feeling rich with ten pennies in my pocket and even richer once I had bought half a dozen pieces of candy with it.  The simplest things made me happy.  It's the moments when the box that wraps a present brings as much delight as the gift itself.  Or when you never worried about how a home was run only how fast you could run through it to the backyard of opportunities.  When did we complicate things as grown ups? Why are we looking for happiness when it's all around us?  Why are we worried about taking care of ourselves and everyone else when God is already doing that for us?  Being a kid at heart is what God intends - trust in Him to take care of you like He's the only Daddy you know, laugh out loud, be silly, find joy in the simple things that have always been right around you, meet some new best friends next door, live each day as if you've never lived it before. 

Finn

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-4

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Thursday's Truth

Those who wait for the Lord - they will soar on the wings of eagles. They will run and not get weary they will walk and not faint. 

Isaiah 40:31

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Thursday's Truth

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 4 - 7

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Thursday's Truth

It seems like my mind is constantly in a fog.  There are lots of distractions around here and I am constantly being pulled in many different ways.  

Sophia will follow me around saying "Mommy, hair?" "Mommy, hair?" "Mommy, hair?"  She'll persist for an hour just for me to look down to see that all she wants is for me to put her little pigtails back in for her.  

Cohen will walk around the house and request over and over "Up.....up.....up....up..." to see if I'll give in and finally pick him up. Which will then create a domino effect of three more little ones insisting, "Mommy, up..."  

Finn likes to ask to go outside and then once he's outside he likes to ask to come back inside. It's to see if I'll pay attention to him and open and shut the door for him for as long as he sees fit. 

Noah's new one is "Mommy, look! or "Mommy, watch!" No matter if he's just sitting on the couch or about to go down the slide - he wants to see if I'll look his way - all eyes on him.  

I've gotten really good at tuning out the requests so I don't start a domino effect and so I can try to stay on course and get my next task done.  The problem with this is that I've started to tune out that one clear voice who should be directing my path throughout the day.  God, the Holy Spirit, my BFF; I'm sad to say that voice has been giving very clear instructions lately and I've simply been ignoring it and going on to the next item on my checklist. 

The God who has given me the miracles that these four little ones are, the God who provides in abundance for our family of six on just one income, the same God who created this entire universe. How could I just ignore what He is asking of me? How did I make His plan so insignificant and my pursuit for order and pleasure so much better? I let my mind get clouded by everything around me.  I fill my schedule with meaningless tasks and activities that leave me too tired and worn out to do what He's asking. I get in a hurry and forget to really listen and I justify that there's always tomorrow. I don't want that to be my life. As our pastor often says, God's plan is not always easier but always so much better than our own plans. I've got to choose who it is I am living for and then learn to listen to that clear yet quiet voice in order to live it out.

You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes. 

Deuteronomy 10:20 & 21

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Thursday's Truth

We walk by faith not by sight.

II Corinthians 5:7

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Thursday's Truth - Every Time is Story Time

Everyone loves a good story, especially kids. One of our kids' favorite books is called "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" by Jane Yolen.  They act out all of the silly things the dinosaurs are doing to get out of bedtime.  They can remember what's next by hearing just one line before the anticipated naughty behavior they are so eager to mimic. They can listen to it over and over and never tire from it.  As a mom, I know it's my job to tell our kids lots of stories. And not just the colorful, glossy-paged ones. I tell them stories that show what miracles they are or specific stories about how God has helped us that day. Like today when it was pouring rain while we were driving in the car, I told them how God is our umbrella and He is always right there with us helping us to see even in the rain.  Right now they are so young the stories are pretty short and simple but I'm getting practice telling the tales that might be passed down through the generations. Stories our kids will roll their eyes at after hearing the first line because they've heard it a hundred times or more. But if they listen enough just maybe they'll start acting these stories out too.  

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

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Thursday's Truth

Jesus replied, "What is impossible for men is possible with God." 

Luke 18:27

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Thursday's Truth

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.  In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.  

Psalm 34:4-6 (NLT)