I wanted to write my daughters a prayer. A prayer I pray on a daily basis since they were born, but it has been generic until about a year ago, then I began to intentionally pray for them because they are my world, and I want only the best for them. When I began my virtuous journey I struggled with how to pray for my children and my husband, I decided it was time to mix it up and truly pray for my girls, with my heart in it and my relationship with the Lord being stronger.
My Daughters: My prayer to my daughters is that they grow up to virtuous women. They are all their own people with their own individual personalities and I love them all so much. My girls are growing up in a house where prayer, reading the bible, and just having good morals is important. My girls are sheltered from a lot of things, yes this is true but it is the way my husband and I want to raise our girls. They are so full of Life and Amazing. Grace is 7, she is smart, funny, and energetic. Hartley is 3 and is my little mommy, and cares about everyone, she is a neat freak and everything has to be in its place and clean. Clara is just over a year and she is my goof ball. She likes to make you laugh and play games. I have been praying for each one of them everynight of their lives and before they were born. I have been praying for their salvation, their future spouse, and just for their life. One thing I NEVER thought I would never have to pray
Before they were born: Before they were born the prayers were generic. They were please keep this child safe, let them know they are loved more then anything, please save them. That was the prayer generic and well unintentional and with no real emotion. Occasionally I would pray for their future job and their future spouse, but it wasn't common.
Since my journey began: Since I began and continue on this virtuous journey of being a woman of God I want to tell you how I specifically pray for each child and why they mean the world to me.
Grace: For Grace I pray for her salvation, she told me she is saved but I continue to pray for her relationship with Christ that it will grow daily. That her hunger and desire to know more and more about God never ceases. I pray for friends at school and now in the future, she is a lot like me and will have a hard time with peers, and I pray she isn't like me in that she wants to please everyone and will give into temptation in her teen years because she thinks that will get her friendships. I pray for her future, and all the creative career ambitions she has such as being an astronaut and a teacher and a mommy and wife; those are some big shoes to fill. I pray her life is filled with glory and she sees love and joy in everything she does. I pray for her spouse that he will love the Lord and know the Lord like she does. I pray that she knows the Lord and understands the Lord needs to come first in her marriage.
Hartley and Clara: For Hartley and Clara I pray for their salvation, that I can express why it is important to have a relationship with the Lord and not just know about him. That busyness doesn't get into the way of us demonstrating to them about God, but that we show them daily. That they grow to know his love through us. I pray for both of them, there future whatever it may hold and that they fullfill the Lord's will in thier life. If they are to be missionaries, school teachers, doctors, lawyers, or pilots whatever they want to be that they will do it with a heart for the Lord and will have a heart of God. I pray for their future spouses that they are growing up to know the Lord and love the Lord as much as my girls do. I pray that their lives glorify him in everything they do.
I hope these things and pray these things for my girls. God knows the path he has for them, and I cannot ask him why if the path doesn't go the way I want but I know they are children of God and he will take care of them.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
A day in my shoes: I'm an adult with ADHD and processing disorder
A little about me:
I am a 29 (almost 30) typical wife, mother, and teacher. I have 3 kids and I am married to the Love of my life for 8 1/2 years. He and I met in college and he accepted me for me and everything that entails. Everything that entails is that I am an adult with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, a learning disability in math reasoning, and a processing speed disorder. Those are a lot of big words and big things that actually molded me into becoming a special education teacher myself.
A little about what all those big words mean: Okay so as an adult with ADHD it isn't too bad, I have learned over the years how to help myself focus better and be less hyper. What it means in some instances though is that someone is talking and I relate something to it, I say it and it doesn't always make sense and people do not always get the connection. I cannot always stay still when sitting or pay attention to the same person speaking to me for more than 45 minutes. I get distracted quite easily but I have learned many coping mechanisms and other things to help with the ADHD. My mind is always running. Even when I am tired my mind is always making connections, see ADHD is something where one thing makes me think of another, then that connects to this, and this connects to that. It is a daily, hourly and minute struggle to make sure I am staying on topic and not jumping from connection to connection. Now my learning disability just affects me in higher order math skills such as x+2y+3z=____ don't ask me how to solve it, I have no idea; that's not really relevant though. Now onto Processing Disorder. What is processing disorder do you ask? It is where I read, hear, or see something and it takes me a bit slower to process this information than most. People sometimes think I am ignoring them or that I do not understand what they are saying. That is not it, honestly. What it is, you are telling me something and I am processing what you are telling me. It takes me a bit longer. So if you are talking fast, giving me a lot of information at one time sometimes I have to ask you questions to fully grasp all the information that was presented. I do understand what is being said, I am just processing what you said. Unfortunately there is a hard part to slower processing and that is that it is hard to make yourself process faster, and when I am tired or stressed to the max, it is super noticeable. I have done lots of mental games over the years and mental exercises which I know have helped.
My day:
My daily life is hard, I have to constantly focus, consistently try to make myself trying to process faster trying to survive in a world where things are faster, always around me and more and more distracting each and every day.It is hard for me to finish tasks without me having to redirect myself or make sure I stay on task, this is part of my ADHD. I work so hard mentally each day to focus, stay on task, process information, and stay calm that by the end of the day I am exhausted. I am just so LUCKY and GLAD to be around a group of fellow teachers who understand and help me in my daily journey at work.
I love my job and my students. The hardest part of my job is the training and the meetings, not because I don't like them because I process things so much slower, meetings usually go fast and have a lot of information. A lot of the time the speaker is on point 4 and I am still processing part 2, it makes life difficult and people get frustrated when I ask questions, but understand I am NOT asking questions because I do NOT understand, I am asking questions because I missed something they said because I was still processing part 2 when they were on part 4. Trust me I have days where my processing and are lower than others, I have good days and bad, we all do. I have days where I am like "Processing Disorder, what Processing Disorder I rocked it today" Then I have days where I am like I got 2 words out of the last 100 words you said, can you repeat that and wait for me to process it. When I am tired or stressed my ADHD and processing disorders are so much more noticeable. I was in an important meeting the other day, and the person spoke, and I could not focus on them, so I did not process what they were saying, and they seemed offended when I asked them to repeat what they said, I wasn't trying to be distracted and that was my fault. One way to help Ok if you are telling me something and you can tell it's an off day for me for processing, slow down, give me a chance to process and answer, PLEASE do not repeat yourself then the processing at a slower rate just starts all over again. I know this doesn't make sense to a lot of people and that is okay, but remember the children I teach, I have to watch myself too. I talk fast and my students tell me sometimes to slow myself down, and guess what I have to make an effort to slow down what I say. If I CAN do it so CAN you!
The way God made me is awesome, I do wish more people would understand what my daily life consists of. I thank God everyday for a Husband who accepts me for me, and can see me and love me for my slow processing, math troubles, and ADHD. He more than anyone does not get my crazy connections. I sometimes wonder why God made me the way he did. Then I look back on my life and experiences, and think I wouldn't be doing what I do for a living if it wasn't for God making me the way he did.
If you want an example of what it is like to having a processing disorder I have some links listed below:
I am a 29 (almost 30) typical wife, mother, and teacher. I have 3 kids and I am married to the Love of my life for 8 1/2 years. He and I met in college and he accepted me for me and everything that entails. Everything that entails is that I am an adult with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, a learning disability in math reasoning, and a processing speed disorder. Those are a lot of big words and big things that actually molded me into becoming a special education teacher myself.
A little about what all those big words mean: Okay so as an adult with ADHD it isn't too bad, I have learned over the years how to help myself focus better and be less hyper. What it means in some instances though is that someone is talking and I relate something to it, I say it and it doesn't always make sense and people do not always get the connection. I cannot always stay still when sitting or pay attention to the same person speaking to me for more than 45 minutes. I get distracted quite easily but I have learned many coping mechanisms and other things to help with the ADHD. My mind is always running. Even when I am tired my mind is always making connections, see ADHD is something where one thing makes me think of another, then that connects to this, and this connects to that. It is a daily, hourly and minute struggle to make sure I am staying on topic and not jumping from connection to connection. Now my learning disability just affects me in higher order math skills such as x+2y+3z=____ don't ask me how to solve it, I have no idea; that's not really relevant though. Now onto Processing Disorder. What is processing disorder do you ask? It is where I read, hear, or see something and it takes me a bit slower to process this information than most. People sometimes think I am ignoring them or that I do not understand what they are saying. That is not it, honestly. What it is, you are telling me something and I am processing what you are telling me. It takes me a bit longer. So if you are talking fast, giving me a lot of information at one time sometimes I have to ask you questions to fully grasp all the information that was presented. I do understand what is being said, I am just processing what you said. Unfortunately there is a hard part to slower processing and that is that it is hard to make yourself process faster, and when I am tired or stressed to the max, it is super noticeable. I have done lots of mental games over the years and mental exercises which I know have helped.
My day:
My daily life is hard, I have to constantly focus, consistently try to make myself trying to process faster trying to survive in a world where things are faster, always around me and more and more distracting each and every day.It is hard for me to finish tasks without me having to redirect myself or make sure I stay on task, this is part of my ADHD. I work so hard mentally each day to focus, stay on task, process information, and stay calm that by the end of the day I am exhausted. I am just so LUCKY and GLAD to be around a group of fellow teachers who understand and help me in my daily journey at work.
I love my job and my students. The hardest part of my job is the training and the meetings, not because I don't like them because I process things so much slower, meetings usually go fast and have a lot of information. A lot of the time the speaker is on point 4 and I am still processing part 2, it makes life difficult and people get frustrated when I ask questions, but understand I am NOT asking questions because I do NOT understand, I am asking questions because I missed something they said because I was still processing part 2 when they were on part 4. Trust me I have days where my processing and are lower than others, I have good days and bad, we all do. I have days where I am like "Processing Disorder, what Processing Disorder I rocked it today" Then I have days where I am like I got 2 words out of the last 100 words you said, can you repeat that and wait for me to process it. When I am tired or stressed my ADHD and processing disorders are so much more noticeable. I was in an important meeting the other day, and the person spoke, and I could not focus on them, so I did not process what they were saying, and they seemed offended when I asked them to repeat what they said, I wasn't trying to be distracted and that was my fault. One way to help Ok if you are telling me something and you can tell it's an off day for me for processing, slow down, give me a chance to process and answer, PLEASE do not repeat yourself then the processing at a slower rate just starts all over again. I know this doesn't make sense to a lot of people and that is okay, but remember the children I teach, I have to watch myself too. I talk fast and my students tell me sometimes to slow myself down, and guess what I have to make an effort to slow down what I say. If I CAN do it so CAN you!
The way God made me is awesome, I do wish more people would understand what my daily life consists of. I thank God everyday for a Husband who accepts me for me, and can see me and love me for my slow processing, math troubles, and ADHD. He more than anyone does not get my crazy connections. I sometimes wonder why God made me the way he did. Then I look back on my life and experiences, and think I wouldn't be doing what I do for a living if it wasn't for God making me the way he did.
If you want an example of what it is like to having a processing disorder I have some links listed below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiyBNZEuPPc
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Please Don't be a Scrooge!
This is not like a normal post. Today I am just going to get my thoughts out, tell you why we do Christmas the way we do, and why please no matter who you are, family, foe, or stranger Please do not ruin Christmas for my Kids. I Love this time of year, I love the excitement and wonder in my childrens' eyes and voices so please keep your Grinchiness and Scrooge Attitude to yourself.
Let me Explain:
Yes we are Christians and yes we make Jesus the primary Focus of the Season, Yes there would not be CHRISTMAS if it wasn't for JESUS but let it be known we do Santa also. Before you judge or leave this blog because it isn't what you want to read let me explain.
1. I on a daily basis I explain to my girls ages 7, 2, and 1 who Jesus was, what he did, and why we celebrate him on Christmas.
2. I explain that presents and Santa are NOT the reason for the season, but they are just added blessings and excitement.
3. Santa brings us 3 gifts: We discuss the 3 gifts are to remind us of the 3 gifts brought to Jesus by the wise man and remind us that JESUS is the reason for the season.
4. We do all the Santa things but he isn't the focus when we talk he may be in conversation as our Elf on the Shelf Petey is too, but it isn't the focus.
A Little Background:
Now, my husband was not raised with Santa and does not indulge like I do.He would prefer to not put up a tree, not decorate, not watch Christmas movies, not do anything Christmas related. He also knows I want to make memories, and do things with my kids that are not the same things we do every other day of the year. I Love CHRISTMAS time its my favorite time of year, the sights, the sounds, the music, the food, the feeling of Love and comfort. I just love it. My husband is wonderful he does not tell my Children Santa doesn't exist, he simply tells them when asked if he believes in Santa, That he does not. When my children ask I always say "I believe in the magic, spirit and love of Christmas" This is not agreeing or denying Santa. I was raised with Santa and Jesus, and was raised to know Jesus was the reason for the season, but also was raised to be a child and have the wonder, excitement, and belief in something bigger than myself known as Santa. Growing up Christ was the main focus in our house, but we had traditions and we did Santa too. I have my favorite decoration from my parents house which is a fiber optic Mary and Joseph hold Jesus, come on that is my favorite and most cherished Christmas decoration from my house as a kid, followed by my beloved reindeer.
Why we do what we do with Christmas:
Why I don't want you to ruin CHRISTMAS for my kids, let me explain. I don't want you to ruin Christmas for my kids, because honestly I want them to stay little, innocent, and children as long as possible kids these days grow up to fast. Another Blogger said it so perfectly and I am going to paraphrase what was said so you can get the jest of why I do Santa. We as Christians want our kids to believe in God and Jesus, yes great I hope all my kids are saved and live a life following in God's will. We want our kids to believe in something bigger than themselves, we want them to believe in this older, invisible man in the sky we cannot see and put faith and love into him, and get blessings and love in return. So you see my children believing in Santa in my mind is preparing them to understand the relationship they will have with God and Jesus, How hard is it as adults to have faith and love for an invisible man in the sky whom we show faith and love to, and expect blessings from?I know God and Santa are no where close to the same thing, but I am teaching my children to believe in something bigger than themselves, have faith that something miraculous can happen (Trillions of presents being delivered in one night), show love to someone you do not know, believe in someone you cannot see, and be blessed by the love of someone who doesn't actually know you. It teaches them to be selfless, I mean come on a man who gives you presents for no other reason than he loves you and all he asks for in return is cookies and milk, to me this demonstrates selflessness. Yes lots of parents work hard for the money they make, and the money they pay for the presents with I am no different and neither is my husband we work hard for what we have. Yes my children get toys and gifts from us, but we don't have to be the only source of gifts. Lots of parents want their kids to know that mom and dad bought all their presents and worked hard for them. I want my kids to know I love them everyday and one day of lots of presents from Mommy and Daddy aren't the way we show it. I tell my kids daily, mommy and daddy go to work and work hard for them to have food, a house, clothes, and toys. We do this daily, because my kids need to know that we work for them daily, I would have more money if I didn't have kids yes, but my heart would be empty. We also always go through our stuff and donate a lot of toys and games before Christmas always to children who have nothing, because they need a blessing too. So please before you tell my kids there is no Santa THINK! I think there is a way you can safely and successfully balance Christ and Santa during Christmas time.
Let me Explain:
Yes we are Christians and yes we make Jesus the primary Focus of the Season, Yes there would not be CHRISTMAS if it wasn't for JESUS but let it be known we do Santa also. Before you judge or leave this blog because it isn't what you want to read let me explain.
1. I on a daily basis I explain to my girls ages 7, 2, and 1 who Jesus was, what he did, and why we celebrate him on Christmas.
2. I explain that presents and Santa are NOT the reason for the season, but they are just added blessings and excitement.
3. Santa brings us 3 gifts: We discuss the 3 gifts are to remind us of the 3 gifts brought to Jesus by the wise man and remind us that JESUS is the reason for the season.
4. We do all the Santa things but he isn't the focus when we talk he may be in conversation as our Elf on the Shelf Petey is too, but it isn't the focus.
A Little Background:
Now, my husband was not raised with Santa and does not indulge like I do.He would prefer to not put up a tree, not decorate, not watch Christmas movies, not do anything Christmas related. He also knows I want to make memories, and do things with my kids that are not the same things we do every other day of the year. I Love CHRISTMAS time its my favorite time of year, the sights, the sounds, the music, the food, the feeling of Love and comfort. I just love it. My husband is wonderful he does not tell my Children Santa doesn't exist, he simply tells them when asked if he believes in Santa, That he does not. When my children ask I always say "I believe in the magic, spirit and love of Christmas" This is not agreeing or denying Santa. I was raised with Santa and Jesus, and was raised to know Jesus was the reason for the season, but also was raised to be a child and have the wonder, excitement, and belief in something bigger than myself known as Santa. Growing up Christ was the main focus in our house, but we had traditions and we did Santa too. I have my favorite decoration from my parents house which is a fiber optic Mary and Joseph hold Jesus, come on that is my favorite and most cherished Christmas decoration from my house as a kid, followed by my beloved reindeer.
Why we do what we do with Christmas:
Why I don't want you to ruin CHRISTMAS for my kids, let me explain. I don't want you to ruin Christmas for my kids, because honestly I want them to stay little, innocent, and children as long as possible kids these days grow up to fast. Another Blogger said it so perfectly and I am going to paraphrase what was said so you can get the jest of why I do Santa. We as Christians want our kids to believe in God and Jesus, yes great I hope all my kids are saved and live a life following in God's will. We want our kids to believe in something bigger than themselves, we want them to believe in this older, invisible man in the sky we cannot see and put faith and love into him, and get blessings and love in return. So you see my children believing in Santa in my mind is preparing them to understand the relationship they will have with God and Jesus, How hard is it as adults to have faith and love for an invisible man in the sky whom we show faith and love to, and expect blessings from?I know God and Santa are no where close to the same thing, but I am teaching my children to believe in something bigger than themselves, have faith that something miraculous can happen (Trillions of presents being delivered in one night), show love to someone you do not know, believe in someone you cannot see, and be blessed by the love of someone who doesn't actually know you. It teaches them to be selfless, I mean come on a man who gives you presents for no other reason than he loves you and all he asks for in return is cookies and milk, to me this demonstrates selflessness. Yes lots of parents work hard for the money they make, and the money they pay for the presents with I am no different and neither is my husband we work hard for what we have. Yes my children get toys and gifts from us, but we don't have to be the only source of gifts. Lots of parents want their kids to know that mom and dad bought all their presents and worked hard for them. I want my kids to know I love them everyday and one day of lots of presents from Mommy and Daddy aren't the way we show it. I tell my kids daily, mommy and daddy go to work and work hard for them to have food, a house, clothes, and toys. We do this daily, because my kids need to know that we work for them daily, I would have more money if I didn't have kids yes, but my heart would be empty. We also always go through our stuff and donate a lot of toys and games before Christmas always to children who have nothing, because they need a blessing too. So please before you tell my kids there is no Santa THINK! I think there is a way you can safely and successfully balance Christ and Santa during Christmas time.
Before you speak THINK!
Christmas is not about you or what you get, but what you can do for others.So if you don't do Santa that's great but it is not your right or your kids right to purposefully tell my kids Santa isn't real because you think it is not the way we should do things. If my kids ask you just tell them you don't believe in Santa don't say things like "He isn't real" or things like "Your parents are Santa" you have just ruined it for my kids and me. I want to explain to my children when they get to the age I THINK is acceptable to tell them the truth I will. You have no right to decide when my child or children are old enough to know the TRUTH about Santa.
I want my kids to believe for a long time, not too long but a long time due to the love, wonder, and excitement I see in their eyes this time of year. To hear them talk about the nativity scenes outside of churches with excitement makes my heart smile, but to hear them get excited about Santa makes me excited to. I want my kids to stay kids as long as possible. Kids these days are growing up way to fast and I don't want my kids to grow up too fast. I want my kids to be innocent and believe as long as possible. So before you take the joy, love, and excitement away from my children think. When you take this from my kids you hurt not just them but me as well. You take away part of their innocence, you take traditions, and memories that could be made, you and your scrooge attitude can go and ruin someone else Christmas but please do not ruin it for me or my Kids.
Thank you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Christmas is not about you or what you get, but what you can do for others.So if you don't do Santa that's great but it is not your right or your kids right to purposefully tell my kids Santa isn't real because you think it is not the way we should do things. If my kids ask you just tell them you don't believe in Santa don't say things like "He isn't real" or things like "Your parents are Santa" you have just ruined it for my kids and me. I want to explain to my children when they get to the age I THINK is acceptable to tell them the truth I will. You have no right to decide when my child or children are old enough to know the TRUTH about Santa.
I want my kids to believe for a long time, not too long but a long time due to the love, wonder, and excitement I see in their eyes this time of year. To hear them talk about the nativity scenes outside of churches with excitement makes my heart smile, but to hear them get excited about Santa makes me excited to. I want my kids to stay kids as long as possible. Kids these days are growing up way to fast and I don't want my kids to grow up too fast. I want my kids to be innocent and believe as long as possible. So before you take the joy, love, and excitement away from my children think. When you take this from my kids you hurt not just them but me as well. You take away part of their innocence, you take traditions, and memories that could be made, you and your scrooge attitude can go and ruin someone else Christmas but please do not ruin it for me or my Kids.
Thank you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
A New Begining for This Blog
So just today I decided instead of trying to keep up with 2 seperate blogs, I am going to mesh my two blogs together, Instead of having one about bible verses and what they mean to me, and how I have applied to be a virtuous woman, I am going to blog about the bible and my everyday life on this blog. I mix the two together on living a Christian life. So posting parental issues and how I handled them in a Christian way or non Christian way and verses that have helped me through them, how to have a christian marriage or just struggles and blessings I have experienced in every day life will be the new main focus of this blog. I am trying to live a virtuous life daily, and have that journey so mixing and meshing them together will be better.
Thanks and God Bless.
Thanks and God Bless.
Monday, September 15, 2014
I am back after a long and eventful hiatus
After a Long and eventful summer. I am back this time I am working through Ruth. I am ready to get started on a new bible study a new blog, and working to help other's understand Ruth. This summer the Lord showed me a lot. My husband who is only 29 had blood clots himself and scared the begebees out of me, which I wish he did not do. He is better now and back to his normal self. I am also teaching full time and have started an UNPUBLISHED journal of my adventures being a first year teacher. Sorry I am not sharing those stories.....at least not yet ;).
Ok so now I prayed a lot this summer. Read other devotions and really thought about what I wanted my next section of the Virtuous woman to be about. I figured I would focus on some of the woman in the bible since lets face it I am a woman and trying to be a woman of God so what better place to look then to the woman of God in the bible.......makes sense to me. So the Lord definitely spoke to me last week at church when my pastor made a profound statement and got me thinking about my prayer life and my quiet time. Here is the profound statement "If you prayed as hard as you work, would you be hired or fired?" WOW. Okay Lord I hear you loud and clear, my prayer life was not where it needed to be, let me tell you in the last 2 weeks, I have been diligent about my prayer life, and quiet time and not just doing it to do it but doing it because I LOVE the Lord.
A little bit about Ruth before we begin....
Ruth was a Moabite, she was a widow who ended marrying Boaz. She became an ancestor of King David, Since we know that Jesus was a descendant of David, he was also a descendant of Ruth. Naomi and Ruth had an amazing relationship. A lot of people now a days complain about the relationship with their mother in law however Naomi and Ruth had a great relationship,
To have a loyalty like Ruth....
In Ruth 1:8-10 Naomi tell's her daughter in laws: "Go return each of you to your mothers house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest in each of you in the house of her husband!" Then Naomi Kissed them and they lifted up thier voiced and wept. They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people".
Wow how Ruth could say that to Naomi. Naomi wanted Ruth to return to her parents house and Ruth could not leave her. How many woman now a days would love to have this kind of relationship with their mother in law? Ruth saw Naomi as a mother, even though her husband had died she was still her family and treated Naomi the same. WOW!! Question to think upon.....How is my relationship with the family of my significant other?
I am pretty sure my relationship with my extended family on my husband's side is pretty good actually. I am very happy with the relationship we have and I feel welcome and loved when in the presence of my in laws. After reading the beginning of Ruth it really made me think about how people always tell Mother in law jokes, and how some people I know do not have the best relationships with their mother in laws. I wish we could all have the desire and love to have the same commitment to our extended families as Ruth did. Or how would marriages thrive better if we all had healthy relationships with our in laws or knew that if something happened to our husbands or wives that our inlaws would take us in and support us the way that Naomi did with Ruth? Just think about it.
Prayer: Lord, help me to want to have a relationship with my in laws that is honoring of my husband and you. please help me to understand that my extended family sees me as an extension of theirs. Lord thank you for my wonderful inlaws.
Ok so now I prayed a lot this summer. Read other devotions and really thought about what I wanted my next section of the Virtuous woman to be about. I figured I would focus on some of the woman in the bible since lets face it I am a woman and trying to be a woman of God so what better place to look then to the woman of God in the bible.......makes sense to me. So the Lord definitely spoke to me last week at church when my pastor made a profound statement and got me thinking about my prayer life and my quiet time. Here is the profound statement "If you prayed as hard as you work, would you be hired or fired?" WOW. Okay Lord I hear you loud and clear, my prayer life was not where it needed to be, let me tell you in the last 2 weeks, I have been diligent about my prayer life, and quiet time and not just doing it to do it but doing it because I LOVE the Lord.
A little bit about Ruth before we begin....
Ruth was a Moabite, she was a widow who ended marrying Boaz. She became an ancestor of King David, Since we know that Jesus was a descendant of David, he was also a descendant of Ruth. Naomi and Ruth had an amazing relationship. A lot of people now a days complain about the relationship with their mother in law however Naomi and Ruth had a great relationship,
To have a loyalty like Ruth....
In Ruth 1:8-10 Naomi tell's her daughter in laws: "Go return each of you to your mothers house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest in each of you in the house of her husband!" Then Naomi Kissed them and they lifted up thier voiced and wept. They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people".
Wow how Ruth could say that to Naomi. Naomi wanted Ruth to return to her parents house and Ruth could not leave her. How many woman now a days would love to have this kind of relationship with their mother in law? Ruth saw Naomi as a mother, even though her husband had died she was still her family and treated Naomi the same. WOW!! Question to think upon.....How is my relationship with the family of my significant other?
I am pretty sure my relationship with my extended family on my husband's side is pretty good actually. I am very happy with the relationship we have and I feel welcome and loved when in the presence of my in laws. After reading the beginning of Ruth it really made me think about how people always tell Mother in law jokes, and how some people I know do not have the best relationships with their mother in laws. I wish we could all have the desire and love to have the same commitment to our extended families as Ruth did. Or how would marriages thrive better if we all had healthy relationships with our in laws or knew that if something happened to our husbands or wives that our inlaws would take us in and support us the way that Naomi did with Ruth? Just think about it.
Prayer: Lord, help me to want to have a relationship with my in laws that is honoring of my husband and you. please help me to understand that my extended family sees me as an extension of theirs. Lord thank you for my wonderful inlaws.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
She is to be praised.
Proverbs comes to end, tonight will be my last post in proverbs next I will walk through Ruth, then Ester and then onto other book/verses in the bible about different topics. I want to continue to encourage anyone who reads my blog. I don't think many do but those who do, I want to encourage them,I want them to be a woman of God and draw close to him. I have to admit I was not virtuous in my thoughts this evening, I was very upset when I was talking to my husband and he didn't seem to care about my blog and acted like he had no idea I was even writing one. I was kind of upset and got frustrated but then I had to remind myself that I wasn't doing this for him I was doing this for me. I am just excited about starting and finishing a study, I have slacked off and on but I am going to do better from now on.
To fear the Lord, is more important than beauty or charm. Charm is good to have and it is good to be charming, but Satan can use charm to lie, cheat, steal, and tempt people. Beauty is not important, yes it's good to take care of yourself but do not let your looks be your God. Let God be your God, don't let vanity be the most important thing of your life. Use your hands for the good, be fruitful in the work you do and don't do it for the Glory of you, but for the Glory of God.
To fear the Lord, is more important than beauty or charm. Charm is good to have and it is good to be charming, but Satan can use charm to lie, cheat, steal, and tempt people. Beauty is not important, yes it's good to take care of yourself but do not let your looks be your God. Let God be your God, don't let vanity be the most important thing of your life. Use your hands for the good, be fruitful in the work you do and don't do it for the Glory of you, but for the Glory of God.
Proverbs 31:30-31
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise in her in the gates.
WOW! I don't want to be deceitful, or vain. I want to be seen as a woman who fears the Lord. I want to be praised not for my GLORY but for his Glory not for mine. I want the fruit of my hands to speak volumes, I want my children to get filled by my fruit and to learn how to be Godly woman from me, as well as what a Godly man looks like from their Daddy (Hubs). Remember being fruitful and charming and beautiful is not for us it is for him and his glory. It is okay to display beauty, it is okay to take care of yourself but also remember beauty is not to be your God, Make-up, clothing, hair, things like that should be important but should not be your main priority. I have enjoyed doing this study and learning what a virtuous woman truly is and I have learned a lot about myself, my husband, and most importantly MY GOD, what he expects from he and what he wants me to be and I will continue to strive to be the type of woman he has made me to be. Beauty is not bad, I mean I am one who likes to look nice, I want to have my hair done, and occasionally make up on, mainly because I feel much better when I do and it helps me feel better about myself, I try not to be vain, but who doesn't slip up on beauty and being vain, trust me if you are a woman, you have put all of your efforts into the way you look. Think back to when you were dating your spouse you took that extra effort to look good for them, and you always wanted to look extra good for them.
Prayer
Lord, Help me to not be deceitful in my intentions, help me to do everything for you, and not for the Glory of Samantha, but for the Glory of the Lord. Help me to not be vain, help me to demonstrate to my children that fearing the Lord and giving him glory is more important than the way you look. Help me to give me the words to my girls, that even if they aren't following the trends or aren't allowed to wear certain things that it is for the better because it is glorifying him. Lord help me to not be vain or deceitful in my intentions with serving. AMEN.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
They call her blessed!
I am going to be honest yet again, I have not been doing well with encouraging my husband. I have let the world and the enemy get the best of me. I have been selfish. I am trying to do better with encouraging my husband. On a good note though, I have been better towards my children, not that I haven't faltered in my parenting because I have. I have seen a house that is running much smoother because there is less yelling and less frustration. I am enjoying my children more due to the fact that I can let them, let loose and be goofy, as long as they aren't hurting themselves or breaking important house rules, I can just let them be kids. That is something God has laid on my heart, that I need to just let my kids be kids and let me enjoy them. I have listened and done it and it has helped my kids laugh more, and just enjoy life. I love my kids so much and I don't know why God entrusted me with them, and I thank him for them every single day.
They call her blessed, if someone looks back on my life one day I hope they can describe me as blessed. Wow to be called blessed would be amazing. I hope that in my life I can be the virtuous woman and become blessed. If I am having a relationship with God where I am blessed by him, and a blessing to others I will do it.
They call her blessed, if someone looks back on my life one day I hope they can describe me as blessed. Wow to be called blessed would be amazing. I hope that in my life I can be the virtuous woman and become blessed. If I am having a relationship with God where I am blessed by him, and a blessing to others I will do it.
Proverbs 31:28-29
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her: "Many woman have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
I want to be a big enough blessing to my husband and children that I am called excellent. I don't have to be perfect because lets face it no one is perfect. I just have be virtuous. God has already blessed me so much in my life as being a mother, the greatest blessing I have ever had is being a parent. I cannot imagine my life without my 3 beautiful girls, or my amazing Husband. God truly blessed me when he placed all of them in my life, and I am doing this virtuous journey for them. Praise God for the opportunity for me to strive to be virtuous and for showing me what it means to be virtuous.
Prayer
Lord, help me to rise up to be the mother and wife you have made me to be. Help me to learn to be more virtuous each and every day, help me to know what it means to truly be blessed. Thank you for allowing me to have all these amazing blessings in my life, and Lord thank you for sharing in your word the attribute of a Virtuous Woman and for helping me to be that woman. AMEN.
On a side note Two more verses in Proverbs 31, before we are finished. I am thinking of moving on to Ester next.
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