A Word from Toby and Michael (excerpted from Living Under God)
"Today America is ruled by self-gratification and consumption. To return to godly standards, we need a generation that is willing to make sacrifices and lay down our self-seeking desires. This generation needs to see that true meaning is not found in materialism or self-obsession, but in a life of service. At the same time, people who can operate in the economic system to gain and use wealth to build God's kingdom are also greatly needed. God needs good stewards of what He has given us--time, talents, ingenuity, and material resources--more than ever before.The key, as it has always been, is to plug in to God's vision for your life through prayer, reading, and meditation on His Word, and then putting into action what He has taught you, no matter how outlandish those actions may seem to the world around you. Are you willing to live such a radical life? It is that life that qualifies as living under God."
--TobyMac & Michael Tait
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday Morning
I have become a part time worker.
As Justin and I were going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University lesson on debt reduction I came away with the feeling that it was time for momma to get a part time job to chip away at the student loan debt a little faster. When we came home and discussed it we agreed that I would look for something early morning - perhaps a 5am - 9am a couple mornings a week at Starbucks or something like that, and then maybe an occasional Saturday shift. That way the girls could still have thier mommy home all day. Justin could just adjust his office hours a bit.
So, after not much effort on my part (Thank you Jehovah Jireh - the LORD will provide!) I was offered a job at our local Community Center to sit the front desk for the early morning shift (6am - 9am) Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, and one Saturday a month. Interesting how God lays something on your heart and all you have to do is be willing and open your eyes to the possibility and then he takes care of the details!
I have been working there since early December and it is a great job. The only thing I don't like about it (aside from the 4:30 in the morning wake ups) is not being home with the girls for our normal morning routine. I am a tradition kind of gal. I like to have schedules and routines, partially for the ease of it all and I think routine is great for kids, but also to build memories on. My idea for the kids was never one of wake up, rush to get dressed and eat your dry cereal in the car on the way to work with daddy. Now, don't get me wrong here. The kids are fine and for them it is just part of their weekly routine, what they expect to do and it works great. And, I am thankful to have a husband with the willingness to take on the responsibility.
What I am learning is that Thursday mornings have become a very special time for us. The girls often sleep a little later due to the later Wednesday night bed time. They come in and when they are awake and we hang out mommy and daddy's bed for a while before we go downstairs and make pancakes all together (colored batter of course!) and have a nice and slow morning. Nothing fancy, just time together to talk and be. They call it our "girl date."
I enjoy it and they enjoy it. The first Thursday we got back in the habit of doing this - We've only been in our new house for couple of weeks now and prior to that everything was out of wack for a while - Allyson was certain that she would just rather have Life cereal for breakfast. We even had "words" for a minute or two about it. As we were sitting up at the counter enjoying our pink and yellow flowers pancakes she said, "you were right mom, this was way more fun than cereal for breakfast, you do know things."
:) At times like that you just smile. No "I told you so" is needed!
I love my girls and I love our special times together. I am thankful for my life and my blessings. I can't imagine a world with out my Allyson and my Lauren!
As Justin and I were going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University lesson on debt reduction I came away with the feeling that it was time for momma to get a part time job to chip away at the student loan debt a little faster. When we came home and discussed it we agreed that I would look for something early morning - perhaps a 5am - 9am a couple mornings a week at Starbucks or something like that, and then maybe an occasional Saturday shift. That way the girls could still have thier mommy home all day. Justin could just adjust his office hours a bit.
So, after not much effort on my part (Thank you Jehovah Jireh - the LORD will provide!) I was offered a job at our local Community Center to sit the front desk for the early morning shift (6am - 9am) Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, and one Saturday a month. Interesting how God lays something on your heart and all you have to do is be willing and open your eyes to the possibility and then he takes care of the details!
I have been working there since early December and it is a great job. The only thing I don't like about it (aside from the 4:30 in the morning wake ups) is not being home with the girls for our normal morning routine. I am a tradition kind of gal. I like to have schedules and routines, partially for the ease of it all and I think routine is great for kids, but also to build memories on. My idea for the kids was never one of wake up, rush to get dressed and eat your dry cereal in the car on the way to work with daddy. Now, don't get me wrong here. The kids are fine and for them it is just part of their weekly routine, what they expect to do and it works great. And, I am thankful to have a husband with the willingness to take on the responsibility.
What I am learning is that Thursday mornings have become a very special time for us. The girls often sleep a little later due to the later Wednesday night bed time. They come in and when they are awake and we hang out mommy and daddy's bed for a while before we go downstairs and make pancakes all together (colored batter of course!) and have a nice and slow morning. Nothing fancy, just time together to talk and be. They call it our "girl date."
I enjoy it and they enjoy it. The first Thursday we got back in the habit of doing this - We've only been in our new house for couple of weeks now and prior to that everything was out of wack for a while - Allyson was certain that she would just rather have Life cereal for breakfast. We even had "words" for a minute or two about it. As we were sitting up at the counter enjoying our pink and yellow flowers pancakes she said, "you were right mom, this was way more fun than cereal for breakfast, you do know things."
:) At times like that you just smile. No "I told you so" is needed!
I love my girls and I love our special times together. I am thankful for my life and my blessings. I can't imagine a world with out my Allyson and my Lauren!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Doing It the Right Way
God has been nudging me to think through some things.
You know how you have those days where you feel like you did it right? You can kiss the kids goodnight and feel like, at least for that day, you are okay with being held accountable to the responsibility God has set before you. Then you have the other days. The ones where you want to rewind back to your early morning wake up call and start over.
Justin and I were married almost 10 years ago (I know, really?!!!). When we said our vows to one another the thing that was most important for me to say to him was something along the lines of this, "I promise to make my efforts of being a child of God my number one priority. Trying to be a good wife, friend, companion (and someday mother) won't work unless God is first and foremost in my heart." These weren't my exact words, but you get the idea. The whole, out of the overflow kind of thing.
I want to raise my children to know the Lord. I feel blessed to have children! They are a good dose of accountability for me. I see myself reflected in them and I want to see great things! Not to build myself up or pat myself on the back for having the right answers and the best way to do things, but for their own good. The benefit of seeing good in them is that they become the people whom God created them to be. Somedays the reflection I see is God's way of reminding me that who I am to these girls does have an effect on who they are now and who they will be down the road. What a great responsibility! I want to be proven faithful in this. I desire to live in such a way that my children will some day see great things reflected in their own children.
How do we do it the right way? We love God much more than our husbands or our children. Even more than ourselves. When we are presented with a situation with our children and we have no clue how to handle it, we pray. God will give guidance.
Blessings on you as you love your sweet ones!
You know how you have those days where you feel like you did it right? You can kiss the kids goodnight and feel like, at least for that day, you are okay with being held accountable to the responsibility God has set before you. Then you have the other days. The ones where you want to rewind back to your early morning wake up call and start over.
Justin and I were married almost 10 years ago (I know, really?!!!). When we said our vows to one another the thing that was most important for me to say to him was something along the lines of this, "I promise to make my efforts of being a child of God my number one priority. Trying to be a good wife, friend, companion (and someday mother) won't work unless God is first and foremost in my heart." These weren't my exact words, but you get the idea. The whole, out of the overflow kind of thing.
I want to raise my children to know the Lord. I feel blessed to have children! They are a good dose of accountability for me. I see myself reflected in them and I want to see great things! Not to build myself up or pat myself on the back for having the right answers and the best way to do things, but for their own good. The benefit of seeing good in them is that they become the people whom God created them to be. Somedays the reflection I see is God's way of reminding me that who I am to these girls does have an effect on who they are now and who they will be down the road. What a great responsibility! I want to be proven faithful in this. I desire to live in such a way that my children will some day see great things reflected in their own children.
How do we do it the right way? We love God much more than our husbands or our children. Even more than ourselves. When we are presented with a situation with our children and we have no clue how to handle it, we pray. God will give guidance.
Blessings on you as you love your sweet ones!
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