Telling the Whole Truth

"If you love me, obey my commandments" John 14:15

This has been the verse used in our home a lot this past few weeks.  My husband and I have both felt like we are fighting, and sometimes losing, character battles with our two big kids as of late. Most of this is a result of unnecessary business that has resulted in not enough time for just playing, laughing, and having quality time to impress character on our children.  So we have been having a lot of obedience talks about the same offenses, a lot of time outs for the same bad choices, and a lot of fake "I'm sorrys" from our kids! 

On Saturday morning while I was reading in Isaiah (the first part of the book) it dawned on me that we often talk with our kids about how Jesus loves them.  We are always quick to remind and point them to who they are in Him....precious, beloved, chosen, and bought with a high price.  And while this is all very true we hardly ever spend much time at all talking about sin.  We spend even less time explaining that their "bad choices" are in fact sin, and that these "choices" can serve to separate us from God.  An analogy that we have used is that sin is like a brick that stacks and stacks in your heart until there is a wall between you and God.  The part I am not sure we ever explained is that God hates that wall.  Its not the view He desires for us or delights in.  I realized that we had presented sin as a "bad choice" as if a better choice was preferred.  When in actuality the "bad choice" is evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Sin is detestable to God and He doesn't weigh some sin as worse than other sin.  In his eyes its all sin and all heartbreaking. 

"Blesses our those who mourn for they shall be comforted" Matt 5:4

These are Jesus' own words in respect to our sin.  My heart should mourn and grieve over my sin.  It should sadden me and afflict me.  Out of the recognition and hurt over my sin also flows my awareness of my need for Him.  I need Jesus.  I am unable to know God without Him.  The "high price" I am redeemed with was Jesus' very life.  God is the perfect balance of justice and love.  He never glossed over my sin, but instead He tells me the truth of justice and points me always back to His sacrifice of love for me. 

Colossians 3:5-6 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

Corinthians 15:57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ

Perfectly truthful.  I am a sinner who participates in evil often- this is true.  Left to myself I am an enemy of God unable to love Him and unable to feel His love- this is true.  But He made a way through the brick wall of evil I built.  He provided His Holy, spotless, blameless, perfect son as a living sacrifice to pay my debt of sin and buy me back from the clutches of sin.  He made a way for me to return to Him redeemed...where I belong...where we all belong.  AMAZING!!

Without calling sin evil we can't fully comprehend God's holiness. We all, my children included, when asked would say they love God, but would it be as easy to say that we also hate what God hates?  Sin: lying, gossip, envy, idolatry, selfishness, pride....

.¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community

Proverbs 6:16-19

So the Lord comforted my heart to love my children enough to tell them the Truth and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.  I prayed over my children that day that I would have the courage to tell them of their need for Jesus.  That without Him they have no power over sin that will make them a slave.  I prayed their hearts would mourn and break over their sin to cause repentance, which turns them from sin.  And I will keep telling them that they our chosen and precious and loved with His everlasting perfect love.  I prayed this over myself too.  I want to share, and tell, and know the WHOLE truth not just the parts that make me comfortable. 

Practically speaking I got up from that chair committed to sharing the whole Truth and person of Jesus. Knowing and believing He will do the rest of the work in their little hearts and behavior (which is the focus of my usual parenting efforts) will be a symptom of a greater joy- their acknowledgement of their absolute need for Him. 

bye till next time :)

 

 

Truths colliding

I may be dating myself a bit with this but here we go anyway!  Do you guys remember the "No Fear" clothing stuff that WAS really popular long ago...like my middle school days.  It came to mind this morning after a week of learning sort of collided and reminded me I should have "no fear".  In my ladies Bible study this week we studied Colossions 3 about holy living and putting on our newness in Christ. Then my accountability partner and I are memorizing 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, which is about believing and speaking truth even in troubled times, and believing Jesus is renewing us (clothing us inside out) with good things.  So we should fix our eyes on Him and eternity.  Then (keep following it might come together soon) our "day starter" today with the kiddos was to work on memorizing Pslam 27:1 "The Lord is the light of my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?' The collision of what I have been hearing this week from Jesus happened this morning in a beautiful way.  I realized that am confused about my "clothes" in Christ.  In Colossians when Paul is talking about our clothing it is the outside result of truly knowing Jesus!  It is a mindset, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" vs 2-3.  This mindset opens the door to a closet full of all of the garments I am made to wear....compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.  I can't put them on myself and when God puts them on me I can't take them off...they are me.

Now flip to the 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 passage.  How and why do I speak... because I am a believer.  I have to believe first and because I do I can't help it but to share and speak of God and His goodness.  How am I able to do this life?  Go to verse 14:  "because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus....".  Because of who He is and what He did and not because of who I am or what I can do.  Does anybody else want to sigh "thank goodness" right now...I can't mess this up....He has completed this!  So why do we put on new clothes, why do we tell others, why do we die to self and live for Jesus even in the  midst of trouble....."All this is for your benefit , so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." verse 15.  For Him...when people know of His grace the know of love, and we are thankful for that love and it overflows in such of way that He is glorified.  So cool!!! If you are a "question and answer " person you are smiling now!!!

Paul sums it up by encouraging us that our inside is changing and God will make the outside match (He will dress us like Col 3) and in order to do that our outside flesh will waste away whether thru trial, trouble, or purification....all the same its supposed to go.  He reminds us again to fix our eyes on Jesus and live above trouble (he doesn't promise we won't have it) because the reward is greater. 

This is one of those passages that is like kerosene on a fire....leaves me fired up, but living it out is hard.  I think we are equipped and designed for life to look like this.  This morning He showed me with Psalm 27:1 that I have no reason not to live this way.  I have nothing to fear.  I believe Him and I believe His word and as I read over and over Psalm 27:1 I was reminded that the Lord again, the Lord Himself, has overcome this world and given me His strength to cling to. 

As my big kiddos and I (Noah was more interested in Fresh beat band) said the verse again and again and again all put to motions in our living room....an amazing collision of TRUTH came over my life from these three passages. So here it is :  I believe so I boldly speak and share because He who is in me is faithful.  He is changing my inside and changing my outside to match Him....and I don't have to be afraid because the Lord of my Salvation never fails. (Insert YAY and happy dance)

  I am not sure what my kids learned, but this momma is exhaling a big ole sigh of "Thank You Jesus." This was a collision of TRUTH....and I am bringing back the "no fear" gear :) and putting in on today!!!

"Day Starters"

I am blogging about this for one reason...accountability. We have started doing "day starters" in our home. The kids and I are using a pretty simple Veggie Tale Devotional book and taking about 5 to 10 minutes before school to spend some time talking about Jesus. Our life with three kiddos sometimes keeps up going from here to there and everywhere without much thought of the the in between. So please ask me about these important touch points when you see me. It will help me stay accountable and keep us encouraged to live out the Word.

" Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates." Deuteronomy 5:5-9

In addition to accountability I am hoping we can encourage one another by sharing ideas and such. Its so important to train our children in the way they should go. We have only had three "day starters" so far this week but all have been fun. At most we have taken 10 minutes and its been really doable. My kiddos even made a little play to act out for Sammy over our first verse Luke 3:11. Before beginning this endeavour I prayed for simplicity. And the Lord was so good to show the very simple nature of discipleship. I often make it very complicated and elaborate. I have fancy crafts, catchy songs, and themed snacks! The "teaching moment" (which I completely created) is over and my kids are left sitting in glue, glitter, gorged, and confused; and I am tired. So this time instead its simple. I prayed for an obedient heart, bought a book that was already written, and decided mornings while they eat would be a great time. I read what is written and then I am quiet. I have let them talk even if it means we chase a few rabbits! I know He will reward our faithfulness with seeds that stick!

So give me tips, ideas, etc that you do with your kiddos. The goal I have in mind is just to always keep Jesus central in our lives. Thanks for checking in and more to come soon!!

It starts and ends at home....

I married up! That is for sure and anyone who knows my husband knows this is true. God completely blessed me with this man who knows just how to handle me and this is no small feat! Sammy is at his core a man after God's heart, and as his wife I am super thankful for that. He often says things that I think warrant repeating, but honestly most often times he is so on a different page than I am spiritually, I just do well to listen, pray, a tag along behind him where he leads us. He is always reading something ,but rarely posts anything on fb other than Scripture and I love that about him. That is just "how he rolls" so if he says it, reposts it, or gives an opinion on it - I listen up. The other day he posted the following on fb take a read :)


Contrary to our event-centered, leader-oriented, excitement-driven view of childhood training, the Bible seems to suggest that children learn best about true faith in the simple, mundane things of life, in watching parents honor God in the midst of the normal rhythms of everyday life........Though they may buttress our parenting, we do not "need" flashy children's programs or charismatic youth speakers. We need to be godly parents whose lives back up our faith.

- The Essential Edwards Collection on True Christianity

I read this and then read it again because honestly its Jonathen Edwards as translated by John Piper....it warrants reading twice. Once it began to soak into my brain in "holly language" it was just beautiful. I love when something the Lord has Sammy reading echos something He is telling me. Its so true- think about it. We go to this AMAZING church with AMAZING leadership and I am so thankful for our youth leaders and children's ministers for all they do and how they love our kids. My kids love them too! The coolest thing about this quote for me is that I have heard them echo it too...in words but most of all in their lives. On separate occasions I have seen both families teach, disciple, and love their own children in the name of Jesus. Their day to day lives glorify Him not just their jobs!! I have even heard our youth pastor say that how we as parents live makes the most difference in our children's lives and walks with Christ. I just love it!!

Now as for my hubby as a father- AMAZING!!! He is one of those dads that takes the time to explain the "why" and answer the questions over and over. He indulges our kids in their curiosity and is quick to talk about the Lord always. He never creates "teaching moments" but is always quick to notice them. I am so thankful that in the day to day "routine" of life my kids see daddy loving Jesus by the way he talks, acts, listens, prays, and loves! The fact he would take time to re-post this shows how close it is to his heart, and makes me just sit back and say "God, You are faithful". I had prayed since I was young for a man after God's heart, and He is faithful, and my kids are reaping the blessing!! So thanks honey for the reminder...it starts at home and ends there! There is a generational impact for the Kingdom and God intends to use the family first and then the church- AMAZING!!

A Good Dose of Truth

I will spare you all the details...mostly because I am not sure you all are ready for the full picture of how my mind works-SCARY...but I will tell you I am so thankful for TRUTH! This mornig God reminded me of an important TRUTH through a dear fried of mine Rebekah. I was strugglig with some things and really needed to reminded that when my walk with the Lord is right my life will right. Sometimes I get really caught up in decsions, choices, jobs/ministries, life stuff and neglect heart stuff. The Lord is concerned with the condition of my heart not with how busy my hands are. If my heart is right He will establish the work of my hands. I just happened by her house for an unrealated purpose to this and God just spoke to my heart. She was sharing in respect to a trip she had recently been on to N. Africa and about how simple it is to tell of loving Jesus and Jesus loving us. And with every word she spoke it was as if the Lord was uncomplicating what I had seemed to complicate yet again. Love me and love people....love me and love people..is what I heard over and over again. It was freeing...He was freeig me from the legalism and relegion I had began to let take over my thoughts and life. Then the words from John 8:32 found me "Then you will know the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you free". You see never is walking with Christ bound in leagalism or relgion but in love. I am free from the mundane, the materail, the lie! Free to walk in TRUTH! Life gets foggy and truth can become hard to see but it is there. I would encourage you to have a friend or a close cirle of "truth tellers" in your life so that you are set free! Thank you sweet Rebekah!

What I hope to teach my kids....

Its been a while my blogger family and while I would love to catch everyone up with what has been going on the last three months its just not what I feel like writing about. We have had a crazy three months between sickness and business, but what I want to talk about today is closer to my heart. Anyone who knows me well knows I was born to be a wife and a momma. I wear the badge of mom proudly and devote most of my time to the task. I will say this about the last three months; it has given me some much needed time to think and slow down. Sammy and I believe that every good and bad thing the Lord allows into our lives for a purpose of His glory. That is a really big thought and I spend a lot of time searching through Scripture and pondering its full meaning. And I admit I have yet to scratch the surface of the full meaning of this, but I do know that He uses my life in simple ways to bring Him glory- by being a momma!

The past three months I have been physically unable to busy myself with business, and when I tried He slowed me down by whatever means necessary! I love to be busy and I don't sit well, but during this season the Lord has really impressed on my heart a desire to be so purposeful with what I teach my children. As words like happiness, success, the value of education, kindness, passion, love all flowed through my head none of them seemed to really resonate with what I felt God wanted me impress on them. I did want all those things but the core of what I want them to know is very different. I really want my kids to know God. I have spent more time in the Word the last three months than ever, and I don't tell you this for an accolade but instead to say that a life saturated with the Word is a life burdened to share it. I have had more meaningful and purposeful conversations with my husband and children lately because the Word has saturated my heart (blog post about that soon). As I have been doing a study in Hosea (Chains Falling by Jamy Fisher check it out)I have been completely overwhelmed for the first time with the relentless love of God. When I say overwhelmed I am talking about that feeling that keeps your leg shaking with excitement, or keeps you up at night with your mind running, and the kind of feeling that leaves you wanting to make sure you live in such a way that the people in your influence really understand what you are talking about. So with that feeling on the tips of my fingers and tongue I set about to mother in a way that shows my kiddos they are precious and chosen by God.

Practically this has meant me praying for them ALOT more. We have started memorizing chunks of Scripture, put to motions to help them remember, in an effort to give them Truth with them always! This has meant always loving them to their benefit, which sounds easy but practically it means correcting behavior when it would be more conducive to my schedule to just give in.

The big picture that God has given me is but a Small glimpse of what I am sure He has planned for these three miracles I am entrusted with. At the end of my time as the main influence on their lives I hope they walk away totally in love and in total abandonment to God. My hope isn't for them to be blessed for that will surely come to a life yielded to God, but rather that they desire above themselves to be a blessing.

Whew....that is a big job given to me!! How could I ever not think that what He has for me isn't important. How can I not give Him this too and say use this family for your glory. Use us to bless others generationally and relationally- just use us!! This is what I hope I teach you my beautiful precious children!

So pray for me as this is a bid deal...this parenting thing! I will pray for you and keep me accountable to the Word that I may love and live in a way that these babies know they are loved by the Creator and known by Him...Jeremiah 1:5

A Great Decison

I have made a few, very few, great decisions in my life and one of them occurred a bit over 10 years ago. You see a little over 10 years ago became Mrs. Anwer Ehtisham (that is Sammy for those who don't know his real name). It was a GREAT decision...one of those things you just "know you know". I knew it was right and I felt God in it and it was easy...its those kinds of decisions I am very thankful for.
We celebrated our anniversary in the Mayan Rivera and that was also a great decision :)! This was the first time I had ever left our little ones for that long...and while it was hard....and I knocked Sammy over trying to get back in the door the see them lol...it was a much needed time of uninterrupted talking and laughing, being together, and getting one anothers undivided attention- in short if was perfection!
As I have been thinking about what I most wanted to say about this major milestone a common theme of decisions kept coming up. I mean I could rattle on and on about how wonderful our marriage is and how "perfect" we are for one another and how we never fight and its always easy....I think it better to be real! The truth is that the first decision of "saying yes" was easy and effortless but its the decisions that God has allowed and guided us through since then that have made us "us". Its the times when one of us chose to be the strong one, or when one of us chose to say I am sorry, or the time when we chose to let some trivial disagreement go, or when one of us chose to show up even when we didn't want to that day, or when we chose to like the other one when it was hard, and we chose grace over blame time and time again. I guess I am most proud to say that God has allowed us to make some great choices over the last 10 years....choices apart from Him we wouldn't of made. You see I know that God's plan was for me to be Sammy's wife and for Sammy to be my husband...not because we necessarily perfectly complimented each other or because our love would be effortless...but because it was "best" for me and for him and best to accomplish His kingdom purpose! We have been entrusted these children for a short time and my prayer is always to show them what a marriage rooted and established in the Lord looks like.....it never looks perfect but it is always filled with grace....after all its that extension of Divine grace that makes any and all of the other stuff possible!!
So Sammy: I say thank you for choosing God's will, for choosing me, for choosing strength, and for always choosing grace! I have been challenged to grow spiritually by you daily (and sometimes just been challenged by you lol)! Its been far "better" than "worse" and even in the worse thanks for "choosing" to stick it out! I know that what God has made in us in unbreakable....and I honestly can say that saying yes to you was a great great decision. I love you and like you and can't wait for the next years :)!!