A Big Thanks To Thomas Nelson

Wow!  What a day!  In a good way.  I went to a play date this morning that turned out to be a surprise Baby Shower for Caleb!  My MOPS buddies surprised me.  It was beautiful.  

While there I found out that Mama Hall (a mama blogger friend of mine) had nominated me for a prize at Relevant (a blogging conference that I would LOVE to attend).  The contest was for a prize from Thomas Nelson for bloggers that hadn’t been able to go to the conference.  They looked at the blogs and chose a winner.  

And the winner was Devotion Mama!  They sent a big box of goodies for my family with Hermie DVDs, Will the Warrier books and much more!  As I write this Josiah is busy watching his new Hermie DVD.  We LOVE Thomas Nelson.  We were big Hermie and Will fans before, but even more so now.  So thanks to Mama Hall, Relevant, and Tomas Nelson!  Be sure to click on the links below to check out the websites.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/

http://mamahall.blogspot.com/

http://therelevantconference.com/

Dirty Fingernails

I love this picture!  Well I kind of love this picture.  Ok, so I love everything about this picture except for one thing.  One thing that just happened to be the first thing I noticed when I downloaded it to my computer.  Matthew has dirt under his fingernails! 

Ok so he’s a boy.  And boys get dirt under their fingernails.  I’m sure girls do to, but it just seems like it should be more acceptable for boys.  But what does this Mama see?  I should have cleaned his hands better. 

On further inspection of the picture there is so much I love about it.  The baby fingers in complete focus in the foreground.  The fact that Matthew is out of focus in the background that gives the picture a sleepy feel.  The adorable little boy asleep on the carpet.  The beautiful new carpet he’s sleeping on.  The fact that it makes me sigh contentedly every time I look at it.  I totally thought that I would use it for a blog about peace, contentment, or feeling secure.  But as soon as I looked at it there they were.  Those dirty fingernails screaming at me about my weaknesses and faults as a mother. 

Sounds kind of crazy right?  What is it that makes us focus on our imperfections?  What is it that accuses us and makes our weaknesses seem so big?  Where does that accusing finger pointing at us come from?  Why can we look at a day where a million things went right and we focus on the one thing that went wrong? 

Well it happens when we decide not to think about what is true, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.  If we are filling our minds with these things there will be no room for the accuser’s voice.  He has been overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony so listening to him is like listening to the coach of a country’s soccer team say that they won the world cup when they didn’t even qualify.  Let’s fill our minds with the goodness of God and send the accuser’s voice back where it came from!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or  praiseworthy - think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power of the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony . . .
Revelation 12:10-11

Halloween

I’ve been thinking about what to write about Halloween.  When I think about it I don’t have any cute stories or pictures of my children in costume.  We just don’t participate.  But we do need to be aware and protect or children body, mind, and spirit during this time of year especially.  What it comes down to is education.  As Christians we need to know more about what Halloween is before we decide for ourselves and our families whether to participate.  I haven’t found a better way to explain it than they do with a flyer at my church.  I would post the flyer, but it’s in Spanish.  So instead I’ve decided to translate it for you.  I hope you will read it and consider carefully what to do for Halloween.


“Where Does Halloween Come From?

Many years ago in England people believed that the dead returned to eat with people.  The druid priests took advantage of this belief by dressing up as the dead and going door to door asking for food.  This is where the tradition of going door to door asking for candy dressed in scary costumes comes from.  If the priests did not receive anything they would curse the house or they would burn it down with the people inside.  This is where the phrase ‘Trick or Treat’ comes from.  The people were terrified of these visiting ‘spirits’ and put candles inside of pumpkins to scare them off.  In popular tradition this celebration is known as ‘All Hallows (saints) Eve’ also known as Halloween.  This festival on October 31 is considered the most important day of the year for those who now practice witchcraft and satanism.

What Does The Bible Say About Halloween?

The origin of Halloween and the Day of the Dead is just as unknown to people as the Bible verses that show such practices to be an abomination for God.  The Bible says in Leviticus 20:27 ‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. . .’  Many people participate in this celebration for their children, but they should remember that Christians should not conform to the customs of this world (Romans 12:2).  This celebration is an integral part of witchcraft and according to the Apostle Paul those who participate in witchcraft will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  (Galatians 5:16-21).  While some may think that Halloween is an inoffensive party, it is really a satanic celebration.  It is serious and dangerous.  During Halloween night those who are in opposition to Christ gather together to observe satanic rituals against the church and the family.

What Should I Do For Halloween?

We invite you to talk to your children, explaining to them the reasons it is not good for them to participate in these celebrations, teaching them to respond to the questions their friends and classmates may ask, so that they can do it prudently, without judgment, and without scaring them.  If it’s possible also speak with your children’s teachers explaining to them why you and your children do not participate in these activities.  Tell your small children that if they want candy, you will buy it for them, and do it so they won’t be tempted to get them by participating in Halloween activities.  Speak to the older ones about the danger involved in participating in anything that is related to the darkness.  If what your children want is to be with their friends organize a healthy party in your house.  Prepare games and entertainment for them that have nothing to do with the darkness, but have everything to do with Jesus (it could be a good opportunity for your child’s friends and their parents to know God).  Pray and intercede to destroy the works of satan during these days.

Don’t get involved in these satanic practices!”


. . . what fellowship can light have with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14

Childproofing

As I was ironing this morning I looked down and saw the electric plug cover on the floor.  It reminded me of a while ago when I had bought a pack, started to put them in, got distracted, and then forgot where I had put them.  We lasted a while keeping the doors to the rooms shut since they weren’t child proofed yet.  Then one day Samuel opened a drawer in our dresser we never used and asked me if I knew we had a bunch of child proofing stuff in it. 

Well I had bought everything, but it was doing me no good sitting in the drawer.  I had to actually use it!  Just like I protect my children from danger by child proofing my house God protects us by giving us his armor.  But armor does no good sitting in the closet, just like the plug covers did me no good sitting in the drawer.  We’ve gotta put on our armor if we want to have the protection we need.  And we NEED all of it!  Why have the helmet of salvation and leave the breastplate of righteousness on the floor?  Our mind may be protected, but our heart would be wide open to attack.  I wouldn’t put only one cover on a socket with two plugs!  I’d only be half protecting my children.  So let’s do an inventory.  Are we truly using the armor God had given us?  Have we picked up the sword of his word?  Do we speak and live in truth?  Do we live in righteousness?  Are we ready at all times to share the gospel of peace?  Are we covered with the shield of faith?  Are we wearing our salvation as a helmet?  If we are missing any one of these things it’s like leaving an electric socket open when we already bought the cover.  It’s there.  Jesus bought it for us. Let’s use it!

What a difference it would make when life gets difficult or things happen to us if we would only wear our armor.


For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;  it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:13-17

Calm In The Storm

I had the privilege of watching my nephew Adoniram today.  I had heard that after you have 3 children it’s just as easy to have 4.  I only had all four for one day, but honestly it seemed to be the same amount of work.  It wasn’t any more difficult for me and my boy’s loved being able to play with their cousin all day.  Caleb seemed unaffected by the change to.  As you can see he is sound asleep while the other three were playing, making noise and on occasion fighting over toys in the background.  But Caleb was calm.  He was the calm in the storm.  

Jesus was the calm in the storm in Luke 8.  While everyone was frightened He had the peace of God and was fast asleep.  When He woke his actions and words brought calm to the storm that surrounded him.  When we’re in the middle of a storm what do we do?  Do we contribute to the storm and make it bigger?  Or do we decide to BE the calm in the storm.  When I see this picture of Caleb I’m reminded to be the calm in the storm.  I have the peace of God in me and the ability to transmit that peace to the circumstances that surround me.  Will I do it?

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”  So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;  the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Luke 8:22-24