My Daughter/Myself

For weeks now I've curiously watched Mommy and Daddy Wren build their nest.


The hanging basket of impatiens that my daughters gave me for Mother's Day on our front porch was their choice for the perfect location to raise their little family.


Day in and day out, I curiously watch as they attend to their nest, waiting for the birth of their babies.

Several days ago, my daughter, (who, I am lately realizing is very much my twin), seemed to be getting just as curious and appeared as though she could contain it no longer. She was ready to satisfy her curiosity and take a look inside. I cautioned her not to bother the nest, as the babies needed time to hatch and maybe we shouldn't make the parents nervous.

Yesterday, as I was busy about daily chores, I thought I heard little peeps crying out to Mommy and Daddy Wren. Although I was still concerned about disturbing the nest, like my daughter, my curiosity was quickly outweighing my worry.

Well, today, my daughter's curiosity finally got the best of her. As I heard the chair scrape across the porch headed for the potted plant, I quickly 'ran' for the front door. Before I could put my hand on the door knob, I heard a loud 'crash'.

I opened the door, and to my horror, I saw clumps of nest, and newborn baby birds laying at my daughters feet. I immediately panicked and began to cry.

If you have been following this journal, you know that it is in response to my Bible Study Leader's challenge to journal for 30 days, the ways in which the Lord speaks to me.

How would you react to this situation? Better yet.. how would Christ want you to react?

Scenario A)

"Oh no!!! Why can't you just listen to me? I told you not to bother the nest and you just can't listen to me! When are you going to listen to me??? You NEVER listen!" {Mom storms off to her room hysterically crying and angry. Chances are, she will stew over it all day.. maybe more than one day.. give her daughter major guilt trips and bury it deep enough to firmly take root as bitterness, thereby further driving her daughter away and ruining her fragile relationship.}

Scenario B)

"It's ok honey, sometimes it takes us a long time to realize that we should listen to our parents. It's taken me over 49 years to realize how important it is to listen to my authorities. I know you feel bad enough as it is, and I'm sorry that it happened. You didn't mean to hurt those baby birds, you were just curious. They will be ok. But that doesn't mean it was ok to disobey. It's never ok to disobey. Let this be a lesson to you to listen to those that God puts in authority over you. Maybe God allowed this just to show you that you need help in this area of your life."

I wish I could say I chose Scenario B.

I began with Scenario A to the the point of hysterically going to my room and closing the door. It was then that the Lord spoke very clearly to my heart. He reminded me of the many times I had 'pulled the chair up to the nest'. And of the many times he lovingly showed me where I was wrong, and encouraged me to obey Him, for my own safety and good.

How many times have I chosen Scenario B in all my years of parenting? Not very many.

As God Faithfully heals my inadequacies and lovingly refines me into His Image, I am humbled and grateful for the way He continues to show Mercy and Grace to us, although, time after time, we reject His Love for us through pride and disobedience.
By the way, my husband and daughter gently placed the birds back in their nest (with a piece of bark), and Mommy and Daddy Wren are tending to them.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."Luke12:6&7

After the Lord spoke to my heart, I held my daughter and chose Scenario B. What Peace the Lord imparted as I obeyed His Voice.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phl 4:7

"Lord, thank you, again, for Who you are and how You love me. Thank you for making a Way for everyone to receive forgiveness for sins and shortcomings through the substitutionary death of your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving the Supreme Sacrifice so that we may be forgiven and live eternally with You!

Please help me each day to chose Your Way in all areas of life as I daily go to the Cross and long to live a Cross-driven life"


HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.

There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
Don't judge her yet, there's an unfinished part.
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.

In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see
Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay.

On Casting Stones...

Twelve days ago, when my Bible Study leader challenged me to begin this 30 day journal journey, I had no idea of the incredible ways that God would reveal Himself to me! He speaks through His Awesome Creation, His Everlasting Word and His Children.

Today it was through His preached Word that He spoke to my heart. This was a very hard lesson, one in which I would have preferred not to hear. It ended up being similar to emergency open heart surgery in which I 'flat-lined' and needed resuscitation several times.

As the Preacher delivered the message, he seemed to relentlessly speak of my judgmental, hypocritical and critical spirit, etc. I began to sense the finger of GOD pointing directly at me. After I stopped saying "not me, nope, not for me" long enough to actually hear what He had to say to me, I realized I was indeed guilty and in need of correction.

Like a child after a good spanking, I am still crying. As I finally get to the point where I have begun to stop trying to justify and blame my behavior on someone else, I realize my Father is right.

As in so many areas in God's Word, this matter of judging others has been sorely distorted by the prince of the power of the air... the devil. Since the beginning of time, the devil has come to us asking, "Yea, hath God said?" He would have us look at others and see their faults and use the excuse of 'the good of the church, setting a good example, not bringing reproach on Christ, etc.', as reason for us to judge and criticize. All of these reasons I have recently used as 'justification' for my judgmental hypocritical and critical spirit.

God's word is very clear on casting stones.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.Jhn 8:7

Realizing that I am the "chiefest among sinners", I wipe my tears and crawl up into my Father's lap as His Loving Arms surround and comfort me. I know now that under no circumstances do I have any right to judge, criticize or condemn anyone other than myself.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.1Cr 11:31

Even after all of the correction and chastisement, He Loves me and shows His great Mercy on me tonight.

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Hebrews 12:6

"Lord, against thee and thee alone have I sinned. I know there is nothing I can do to atone for my sin as even at best, my works are as filthy rags. I am humbled and ashamed at my behavior. Please forgive me. Thank you for sending your only begotten Son to pay for my sin and the sin of the whole world. Please forgive me for my judgemental and critical spirit as I humbly bow at the Cross of Christ and seek your help in leading the Cross-driven life you have set before me."


Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

On Friendship...

Friends.

Everybody has them... or should, anyway.

The need to have a friend and be a friend is woven into the fiber of our very being.

Recently, back in my home-town, some of my classmates met for a 'Girls Night Out'. The pictures quickly appeared on facebook along with the comments (many from boys that had crushes on them 'back in the day'). I was truly amazed at how beautiful these girls looked after so many years! As I looked closer, I believe the Lord showed me that what I was seeing wasn't so much their beauty, (although obviously apparent), but the happiness they shared in being with close friends, reminiscing of days gone by and sharing with each other about their lives since high school.

I truly believe that we are 'created in His Image' and part of that Image is being a friend and having a friend.

When I looked around at those I come in contact with on a regular basis, I began to realize just how much true friendship should really mean to me. I began asking myself what my life would be without true friends. I now have a new appreciation for those that God has put in my life and have purposed in my heart never, ever to take them for granted again.

There are so many lonely and hurting people in the world today. Many are elderly and many are children and young adults who just need to feel the unconditional love of a true friend. Many have suffered great neglect and abusive relationships. You may just be surprised... one that seems the most cheerful, may be just the one that is the most in need of a true and loving friend.

Jesus befriended the unfriendly. He sought out those that the world cast away. He came "seeking to save that which is lost". What better way to encourage a lonely, hurting human being than to introduce them to Jesus Christ, the Son of God? Not only are you giving them a Friend for their time on this earth, you are giving them a Friend for all eternity.

Why not be a friend today and introduce someone to the Greatest Friend they could ever know?

"Dear Lord, please forgive me for taking my friends for granted and for feeling sorry for myself. Help me to remember that your word says in Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Help me never be so selfish not to seek others in friendship and to tell others about Jesus, the Greatest friend on Earth and in Heaven... Help me to humbly kneel at the foot of the Cross as I continue to seek to lead a Cross-driven life.

"NO NOT ONE
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!
Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!
There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!
Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!

Having done all...STAND

Today God speaks through His Word and a song...


For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:12-18




Until He Comes
There are hilltops that I must climb, there are rivers that I must cross,
there are trials that I may not understand.
But I am sure there'll always be, Grace sufficient for even me...
Until Jesus comes again.

Until He comes, I will love him, though I may not see...
My broken heart and bitter tears are good for me..
And the darkest valley's may be left to cross until I'm home,
But I'll take it to Calvary... until he comes...

There are times I'll walk alone, there are times I know I'll cry,
Sometimes I'll wonder if I'll ever smile again.
But I refuse to turn around or stop and lay my armor down...
Until Jesus Comes for me...

Until He comes, I will love him, though I may not see... my broken heart and bitter tears are good for me.. and the darkest valley's may be left to cross until I'm home, but I'll take it to Calvary... until he comes...


"Thank you Lord for the Grace sufficient for us in these times of trials. Please help me to be an encouragement to others. Forgive me where I fail and help even my enemies to be at peace with me as I continue doing my best to "take it to Calvary" and live the cross-driven life."