Hurry Up...

I love reading... but what I love more is when God in His perfect timing - brings to the forefront of my mind and heart those things I have read, whether its ministering to someone, talking to my 12 year old daughter whose going on 21, or something I'm working on in my life. Its like an OH MY GOODNESS moment - my friend would call them light-bulb moments.

Wow - today was one of those moments and its just stopped me right in the middle of the sidewalk. 

  

Several days ago I read an article about a mom who was going to try and stop telling her precious daughter to hurry up. You see the mom's life consisted of rushing from here to there - like many of us. Well she had a beautiful daughter who had a laid back, carefree personality - who wasn't really into rushing but into admiring things around her, taking in nature, saying hi to an elderly lady who reminded her of her grandmother. She enjoyed picking a favorite purse before going out or helping with breakfast... oh how I know that feeling - when you need to rush out the door and my of my kids is "getting ready". Ahhhhhhh!!!!!

When you live life distracted, you have tunnel vision - only looking ahead to what's next on the agenda. And anything that cannot be checked off the list is a waste of time.

Have you ever caught yourself doing this... I know I have - many many times... and today was one of those days.

Today we went out as a family - the beginning of our family vacation!!! So there was no need to rush - we are on vacation, its a beautiful Saturday afternoon!! We went out to the movies and had a GREAT time!!! Walking toward the car my darling Priscilla was lagging behind... and I repeated to her - come on hurry up - over and over again... 

At one point she pointed out - "mommy look at all those tiny birds hiding in the bush" she stopped and started talking about the pigeons by mama's house in NYC and I caught myself saying "Priscilla come on"... and before the words hurry up came out of my mouth - God was reminding me of the article I had read and about taking the time to appreciate life through my daughters eyes.

So I stopped and searched for the tiny birds hiding in the bush. While she began to admire a small "baby" tree.

I loved how the author said - The truth hurts, but the truth heals... and brings me closer to the parent I want to be.

Each of my children are so very different... and they are such precious gifts from God. They are growing sooo fast and I'm finding that its time stop to checking something off the list, staring at a screen, or rushing off to the next destination because the hands of the clock can't be turned back. 

How about you...  what are you trying to hurry up... and what is God saying to you...  

Your Home

A Home is where your story begins...

What is your home's story??

As a woman we need to have our priorities in proper perspective. Many times we feel the need to do sooo many things - our "lists" just get longer and longer, many times leaving us feeling useless and sometimes inadequate  But what should our main priority be? To have Jesus reign in our heart and in our home and to teach this to our children.

You see the point is not about having a house... four walls and a roof.... but our goal should be to have a home where Jesus is at the center. I love the saying that goes - Christ is the center of our home, a guest at every meal, a silent listener to every conversation. It is a reminder that Christ is ever present in our home.  That our worship does not consist of just Sunday mornings - but it is our life - that He is in every area of our lives.

Unless the Lord builds the house - those who build labor in vain... Psalm 127:1

In order for the Lord to build our house so that it can become a home - it requires us to relinquish control, to be obedient to what He would want us to do as women, to stop complaining and be more thankful to the many blessings all around us. Oh how I love to have control... but that has often lead to disagreements and feeling hurt - many times realizing that its not about me or what I want to do or how I want to do it. I have come to learn that we are inadequate in our own strength, we need to depend on the Lord and trust in His word. Let us not get caught up in the rush rush of life - trying accomplish a list of things... will these pursuits ever give us the sustaining joy and fulfillment that God desires to freely give us?

And if we do attempt any work without God, we can expect failure. Even if you achieve a measure of apparent success, that success will be a pointless accomplishment, devoid of God's blessing and therefore devoid of any real satisfaction for our soul.

We have to be obedient to what God wants us to do.
If we are wise women, we have to be aware that we are on assignment from God and building a home is a life long assignment. This assignment begins early in the day meditating on the word of God - before the children even awake... and pondering on them late at night when all have gone to bed. But it is also important that we include our children - that they see His word lived out in our lives throughout the day. A couple of years ago I read that Priscilla Shirer - Tony Evans daughter - purposely positions herself somewhere in the house so when her kids get up, they are going to catch her praying or reading the bible. She does that so that they can see that it is a vital part of her life. 
As Godly women we cannot be conformed to this world - and what this world tells what what our home should have, should be... but it should be transformed by the renewal of our mind, that by testing we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect for our homes. Romans 12:2    Our home should be a place of refuge and love for our husband and children. A place where they will feel safe and loved.

What can we do in our homes, in our lives... to achieve this? Let us begin by praying for God's guidance, for His instruction and something I find so very important - older women I encourage you to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Titus 2:3-5

Let us begin today - to make our house a home - a place where God's love is felt, where memories are created, and where our children and husband will feel joyful in... Its not about what we "have" in our homes... but its all about Jesus... Have you invited Him to reign in your home?

Change by Diane Hegedus

I enjoy spending time with my Pastor's wife - Diane... She is a woman who has shared so much wisdom into my life. Sometimes the lessons have been easy breezy... other times they have caused me to pray for God's wisdom so I could understand what she was telling me... other times I would go home and think she was a tad nutty and wonder why is she saying that - and then days later it would all fall into place... and other times the lessons were tough and painful but full of love...

The lessons of life would revolve around being a wife, a mom, an employee, a sister in Christ... letting things go, loving more, digging deeper, but no matter what the lesson - it always came back to the main thing - The Word and Prayer.

In several weeks - my beloved Pastor together with Diane will be retiring and moving on to a new chapter - ughhhh - even though we've known this has been happening for quite some time - reality is now starting to settle into my heart and each day that passes by I find it harder to deal with... but I am blessed that I have so many lessons stored in my heart to share with others - so I've asked her to write a little something for my blog and here it is... I pray you are blessed by it... because I certainly was!!!

The last year of my life has been a series of preparing for changes. We are about to retire from working at our church where we have been for almost 25 years and from being in full-time ministry where we have been for the better part of 40 years. We are moving to an entirely different state, with a completely different culture. At least three of my children have changed their jobs this year and my youngest daughter, Lord willing, will become a first-time mother next month.

Most of us DON'T like change. We learn to accept the familiar as a comfortable part of life. Oh sure, we might complain about the weather, or politics, or our job, or even the "drama" at home, but we really draw comfort in things remaining the same.

For the Christian, however, in order to activate our faith we have to leave our comfort zone (the boat) and step out ON the water to learn what Jesus can really do in our lives. My husband and I have moved 16, soon to be 17 times, in our 48 years of marriage. We have experienced God and His faithfulness in so many unbelievable ways. I have watched so many Christians miss out on God's blessings because they were contented with staying "in the boat". All the disciples went on to serve Christ in great ways, but only Peter had experienced what it was like to walk on water. Facing new changes and challenges can be frightening, but God has told us that HE did NOT give us the "spirit of fear".

Since I don't want to hinder God working in my life, or the life of my family, once again I will leave the comfort of the boat, so I can walk on water. Change may not be comfortable, but it IS necessary if we are going to walk by faith. In fact, I kind of feel sorry for those who stay in the boat, because there is a whole other world out there just waiting to show you God's blessings, His miracles, and His faithfulness. Is it more comfortable in the boat? Yep, but it isn't nearly as exciting and fulfilling.

Come on!

Get out of the boat and be amazed at how great it is to walk on water.

In fact, I have to "walk" on the water, because I can't swim.