My Beth Moore Weekend

I went to Beth Moore's Living Proof Live event last weekend...my first time...and it was SO GOOD!!! I've been a huge fan of hers since I did the Believing God study with a group of women a few years ago.

If you haven't heard her or done any of her studies. You should! You'll be blessed! Also, she does a great job of going back to the original language to capture any part of the definition that might have been lost in translation.

For her Living Proof Live events she has a different topic each time. For this one we looked at Isaiah 32:1-8 and our memory verse was verse 8, which says:

"But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands."

She made 8 points concerning these verses. I'll try to do it justice (and I know this is long, sorry). I've still been processing it all.

1) Every life needs a noble plan.
She has us ask our selves what are you hoping for in 5 years? (life for you, where you'll be, who will you be) Then...ask if you're on your way that direction. We can get in a position where we might be thinking "Yall just go on, this is not what I signed up for." But we've got to get up and do it. Do the plan.

We spend our life reacting so our life feels like a train wreck. We cant get ahead, cant get a plan. Sometimes we're caught in the past, wishing to change it. A stronghold of regret. Well, you cant change it. Move on. Job 17:11; Prov 14:22; 16:3-4; 19:21

What if we planned to fulfill the Lord's purpose? And what is that purpose? Jesus came to save, but there's so much more than that. What would happen if he were reigning king in our lives? This plan is for those whom Jesus reigns in their life, not just saved it. Until we're in the kingdom, the kingdom is in us.

2) The noble plan is to show God to your fellow man.
Verse 2 says "Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land."

We're here to be a benefit to a lost world. To be a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, a stream of water in the desert and a shadow of a great rock. It's not about "being" good. It's about "doing" it. We know a tree is good by its fruit...not by just being a good tree.

Selfishness robs us because we're looking in and not out. Tragedy and crisis causes the strong to become weak. We live in the land of exhaustion. And we want to make ourselves comfortable...no conflict or arguments. But if we do that we'd be lonely and miserable because problems come with human interaction. That's why He wont exempt us from difficulty. How can we be a shelter from the storm if we've never been in one or needed one?

Don't force shelter on people who want to stay in the storm. There are many that do want shelter, so open your eyes to them.

3) All it takes to be noble is to be a willing volunteer. Judges 5:1-9
What does it take to be noble? To be a shelter, refuge, stream, shadow? The Hebrew word for noble means to be willing, free, large hearted. It means to be a willing volunteer. Ex 36:2-6

Nothing will give you more paralysis in ministry than a spirit of perfection. (Ouch!) Don't wait to be great to do something good. God's not here to pressure you. He offers life to the full...if you want it.

4) The opposite of a noble is a nabal.
Hebrew for noble is "ndb" or "nadab" which means free will (offering), willing volunteer. Hebrew for fool is "nbl" or "nabal" (remember the story of Abigail and Nabal?) which means...fool, stupid.

5) Any nabal can become a noble.
You make that decision. The mark of a nabal is he/she just doesn't get it. But God gets it...gets us. Even when we don't get ourselves. When he's reigning king of our hearts and minds we can see it and God gives us a little insight.

If we're going to benefit others (be a shelter, etc) we've got to start listening to them. Let them talk it out and not be thinking of the next thing we're going to say. If we don't, we wont get insight into what they're not saying, but wish they could. Nabals don't listen. Nabals are rash and just react to things.

If we're going to be a shelter, etc we're going to get told things. What will you do with what you know? You've got to have discernment, which means you've got to pray, get in the word, and let God direct you.

6) Any noble can become a nabal. Gal 6:1; 2 Cor 11:2-3
We can never get so spiritual that we wont end up in a ditch. When you grow, Satan attacks because you're a threat. Learn to fight! Don't be a wimp, be a warrior. He deceives to get you away from pure hearted devotion. There's nothing Satan loves more than to turn a shadow (a refuge, etc) into darkness.

We can become a hiding place for someone who comes to us with their sin because they trust us. Be their refuge, but don't still be their refuge in that sin 6 months later.

Sometimes people call carnality as "being real." No! It's not. Only carnal people think carnality is cool.

Don't let a group of people you're supposed to lead intimidate you into not leading. If God put you in that position to lead. Lead. This includes parents. Be the parent! Don't let your kids intimidate you into not parenting.

7) The power of a noble trumps a nabal. 1 Sam 25:32-42
It's a tricky thing when you're trying to be a noble, under the authority of a nabal. Don't loose heart. Don't forsake the wisdom of God.

Hosea 14:1-2, 4 He's a willing volunteer in your life. Plan to be faithful, a shelter, refuge, stream, shadow. Plan it in advance.

8) A noble man sustains noble plans by knowing when to hide.
Commit to a new plan, but how can you keep it up for the rest of your life? We cant maintain that position if we don't get that from God. Know when to take a break and hide in the shelter of our God. Sometimes we need to check out for a while (beyond our daily time with him). Mk 6:30-31

If we commit to this life we will wear out. So take a "time out" with God. Know when you get that signal. We cant be a shelter, etc if we don't have one. The trap is we try to get a little from God then do a lot for him.

Ways to know when you need to go to time out (not because you're in trouble, but for rest):
~ when we do it but no longer feel it. Prov 119:32 (NKJV), 2 Cor 4:1
~ when we start thinking we're the only one. (you're taking too much credit!)
~ when we start developing a stronghold of negativity. (when we get gripey!)
~ when we cannot get full...of whatever it is we indulge in to make us feel better. Binge on God!

She closes by reading out of A Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas where he says our private life affects us in our public life. What we do in secret shapes us.

What if our secret life was intimacy with Christ. It will come out!

You Mean There's Two?!

Yesterday I went to the dentist. Finally.

I'm embarrassed to say that it had been 4 years since I'd been and I was really dreading it. We had moved twice since I'd gone before and I just really hate trying out new doctors/dentists/optometrists/etc. I also tend to put "me" off and make sure the kids get all the appointments they need. It's not right or ok, but we moms tend to do that, don't we?

As the assistant was shoving the sharp plastic contraptions for the x-rays, one by one, into my mouth we talked about...our kids. Shocking, I know. Come to find out, she also had 3 girls then a boy and her third child's name is Jessica, and her Jessica and my Jessica have the very same personality. The. Very. Same. There was plenty of fodder for us to talk about.

Since her kids are older than mine (her Jessica is 14 years old, mine is 5) I just had to ask if it gets any easier. The short answer? Nope. Sorry. Her Jessica told her recently that she wants to ride a bull. For some reason that didn't surprise me in the least, knowing my Jessica.

But even though our Jessicas will provide us with plenty of grey hair, we both can see the amazing potential for their lives. They are full of fire and passion and aren't scared to take a leap. Whether they look first is another matter. But they aren't scared to find out what's going to happen. In fact, sometimes they know full well the future punishment/consequence if they go thru with [insert any action here] and will proceed without a hint of hesitation.

That's where Jessica and I are so different. I'm a scaredy cat. She's a tiger. I'm cautious. She throws caution to the wind. I weigh the situation carefully. She races full speed ahead and asks questions later. I watch and wonder. She does and knows.

Yes, Jessica could "drive me to drinkin'," as they say, but what an adventure she is. She is like watching an action movie where you think you could never do that (but wish you could) and are amazed and impressed with the character's courage and ability.

Jessica, I cant wait to find out what you do with your life. I hope I never crush your spirit in my attempts to teach you and train you for a godly (and obedient) life. Without direction, you'd just be wild for wild's sake. But by God's grace and mercy may I aim you, my arrow, straight and true. And when I let go, I can trust God to propel you straight to his bulls eye. (Just please, no bull riding, ok?)

Why Life in the Estrogen Ocean? Part 2

I promise this post won't be as long as Part 1. (yeah, don't hold your breath!)


Last week I decided I wanted a new look for the blog. I've been pretty tired of the brown background for a while but hadn't bothered to change it. After a long Montana winter, I'm ready for spring. Ready for color. Ready for refreshment.


After changing the color and adding a picture of the ocean to match the theme I was all set! That was easy enough.


But...


I've noticed that many blogs have a sub-title where they are more descriptive of their blog's main theme. After mulling it over for a day I realized that the whole ocean thing was even more appropriate than I thought.



The ocean can be beautiful and calm on the surface and you can let the waves gently carry you. Life with kids can be beautiful and calm on the surface. It's unpredictable, so there are waves. Our day-to-day doesn't always go as planned and the unexpected will happen. But if you go with the flow and run with it, the adventure will carry you to fun and exciting places. If you fight it, you've only managed to wear yourself out. The waves are still there.

But underneath that calm surface is the undertow. I admit that I had to look it up to make sure I was spelling it correctly. When I did, this is what I read in the definition for undertow:

~ an underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent


Oh! So true! Kids have a tendency to be a force that is in opposition to what mom and dad are apparently trying to teach them. (or...they are just in opposition to a-parent, sorry I couldnt resist the play on words). Raising kids is not always easy and fun. Sometimes you get caught in that undertow and if you try to just go with the flow in those cases then you'll get dragged under and start to drown. (Oh how I've been there too many times to count.) Sometimes you've got to fight.


Oh no, you will NOT sass me! No, you cant watch cartoons all day long. Yes, you have to take a shower. Yes, you have to do your chores. No, you cant have a sleep-over at (that horribly bad influence) so-and-so's. Do NOT hit. Be nice to your sister. Be nice to your sister. Be nice to your sister.


Yeah, those are pretty "mild" but you have to fight those "mild" ones if you're going to have any credibility on the "major" ones later.

Rejection?

Sorry but I dont really have any deep thoughts right now. Well, I guess I do, but I'm not so good at sharing them...or wanting to share them...or feel like anyone wants to hear them. I'm a surface level kinda gal and I'm much more comfortable talking about the weather than what's really going on inside my noggin (assuming that I could even get it into words). It's snowing, by the way...we got a few inches last night. I dont take rejection too well, so I dont take risks too often. And for me...going deeper than surface level is quite a risk. I feel way too vulnerable and awkward. I feel like others might think I'm an idiot or laugh at me or decide they'd rather screen my calls. Good grief! I'm thirty-something, not twelve.

But how many of us feel that way about some part(s) of ourselves? Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. And how do we disguise it? Wear clothes that we hope will hide it? Act like we're smarter than we feel we really are? Avoid topics/people? Stay superficial? Crack a lot of jokes? Yeah...we all do it. We've become experts at hiding our insecurities. Why? Because it's too painful not to. If we confront it and admit it then we think that's who we are and it's all we see. If it's all we see then we think it's all everyone else sees too. Rejection. We hate that!

I'm sure I heard this train of thought from Beth Moore: it's easier to please God than people. How true! It's easier to please God than anyone else...even ourselves. We never feel good enough, smart enough, slim enough or that we do enough or do it well enough. Who are we trying to please? We humans can be so judgmental and condemning. Of others. Of ourselves. And if we can get the focus off of us and onto someone else we're relieved. So the games begin.

People see only what we want them to see...most of the time (heaven forbid we get "outed" for something excruciatingly humiliating...or get slanderized by untrue/half-true gossip!). We try to control what others know about us. And we care what people think of us. (Yes, even those who "dont care what others think." It's in there somewhere. It might be more true to say they "dont care what most others think" or even they "mostly dont care what others think.") We care. We want to be accepted. And we get slapped in the face over and over with some kind of rejection from people/ourselves. (If we didnt, we wouldnt feel like we're never "enough.") But people dont see everything.

God sees everything. Every. Thing. He knows what we're thinking and he knows what we're really like...deep down inside where we try to hide it. Does he ever reject us for it? Never. Not ever. We're enough. Even if we're not smart, slim, witty, in-control, or got it all together (who does?). We're enough. We're accepted. Always. He loves us. Always. Just like we are. All he wants is our love back. To believe him. (I feel the need to add that it's because we love him back that we want to obey him and serve him and please him.)

We have to ask ourselves...who are we trying to please? Who's opinion actually matters? Why do we spend so much effort pleasing people/ourselves...who may never be pleased? Exactly how much effort am I spending on that, anyway? How much effort am I spending on pleasing God?

It's just so easy for me to get sidetracked and distracted from what's really important.

So...those are my thoughts for today. I have to remind myself of this periodically and you got to hear it this time. Lucky you!

My Favorite Things

I've been drawing a blank on any new posts lately...and have been kinda too busy to even think about anything. But thanks to Jenni I am actually going to post something today...Lord willing. Jenni posts her favorite things each January so here are some of my favorite things...in no particular order:

1. Electric blankets...dual control!!! Oh yes!
2. Three-fourths of my kids can wipe their own hineys.
3. Standing in front of the wood burning stove on a cold day.
4. Getting a new book.
5. Coffee...with sugar and flavored Coffee Mate (especially Peppermint Mocha).
6. Getting email...from people I know, not junk emails.
7. Reading other people's blogs.
8. Chocolate (remember, I said in no particular order...otherwise this might be first).
9. Watching Stan play with the kids.
10. Getting up before the kids do and having some coffee and quiet time with God.
11. Mexican food.
12. Snow.
13. Girl talk.
14. Hugs and snuggles from my kids...and the sweet things they say.
15. Lounging on the couch with Stan.
16. Being able to set the timer on the TV so it will turn off on its own after Stan falls asleep.
17. Calling mom when I'm driving somewhere.
18. The girls can do a lot of things on their own and help/play with Jake.
19. The girls all do their own laundry!
20. Pizza night.

Ok so that's all for now. I just realized many of these are winter-influenced. Maybe I'll have to do one in the summertime too. Feel free to post some of your favorite things in the comments section. Well...at least feel free to leave a comment!

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is half days here, so I get the pleasure of dropping everything in the middle of the day and load 3 kids in the rig, run to town, drop one off, and come back home (or try to beat my last record time at the grocery store so that I can get back, get the kids fed, put the baby down for a nap, and not be late for tutoring). I complain but I guess secretly I don’t mind so much because I get an extra half day with my little girl!

I get so tickled at the Kindergarten drop off routine. Parents and day care providers show up with their appointed children. The kids run around the school yard for a while until the adults have them go get in line. The line forms on the sidewalk and there’s a little wooden fence right next to it to keep kids off of the landscaping. The kids line up along the fence and the adults line up in the grass, just off the other side of the sidewalk…each one standing across from their child. So now we have 2 lines! And I’m just waiting for someone to start yelling, “Red Rover, Red Rover!” But no one ever does.

The parents smile with pride at their big girl/boy going to school…and scold them when they climb on the fence or push in line (I’ve actually learned a few kids’ names this way because of the repetition). Some parents know each other and they visit, oblivious to anything around them…including their child who is climbing in the fence which makes all the other kids want to climb on it too because so-and-so’s mom lets them do it. Some parents stand all rigid and look like they’re on a mission. Some stand nonchalant like they’re just too cool for school. And then there’s the rebel parents who refuse to stand in the parent line like the others. They are sure to stand a few feet away…two or ten…or even all the way across the school yard so that they are the first ones back to the car. The men are the funniest. They feel kind of awkward being there but they secretly really like it and are resisting the urge to run thru the leaves with their child.

Shortly, someone from the school comes out and leads the line of kids to their appointed classroom. After the parade of waves and kiss-blowing the parents and day care providers flood out from the school.

In Perspective

If you haven't already seen this...



(This is called "New Again" by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans, with scenes from the movie "The Passion.")