IT'S WORKING!
Last night when I was asking Kyler about his day, he started to share about an incident that happened on the bus. He said that another boy was trying to get him to throw paper balls. When Kyler told him he didn't think it was right and that it was distracting to the bus driver the boy started to tease and pressure him, just a little. Kyler said it was no big deal and he just blow it off. He said the boy was still trying to get him to throw some. Kyler kept telling him no and then the bus driver stopped the bus and made that boy come sit up front by him and was going to turn his name into the office in the morning. Kyler said that he kept hearing "take your stand against the devil's schemes."
I realize this is a small example, but at least it is sinking in!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
"Armor of God"
As always on the first day of school, I took Kyler's picture, then it was off to the donut shop for our annul First Day of School Breakfast. As Kyler started middle school this morning, I prayed that God would keep a hedge of protection around him. Then God pressed it on my heart to start reciting the "Armor of God" passage everyday on our way to school. It is my hope by doing so Kyler will be reminded that God is with him all day, everyday, to continue to make good decisions, and be equipped to face the many challenges that he will be facing this year. I have provided the passage below if anyone wants to print it off and stick it your car and do the same!
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. ~~Ephesians 6:10-18
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. ~~Ephesians 6:10-18
Friday, August 14, 2009
hate the sin, love the person
Do you still love Kevin? That seems to be the question of the day, everyday. The answer is yes. As a child of God I am commanded to love him, no matter what has happened. In Matthew 5:43-44 Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (I am not saying Kevin is my enemy or that he hates me or curses me, the truth is I'm not sure.) Even before this happened, I have struggled with loving those who hurt me, I tend to be one who tends to hold a grudge. However, over the last few months after I pray this verse keeps entering my mind. So I started thinking, how many times does God tell us to love one another? With a little help from WikiAnswers.com I found that the phrase 'love one another' is used twelve times in the King James Bible. I felt it necessary to share them below:
John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:12 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:17 - These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 - But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:11 - For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 4:7 -Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 -No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
2 John 1:5 - And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Twelve times! Do you think He was trying to tell us something? When I ask Kyler to do something and on the rare occasion he doesn't acknowledge me I will ask him again and say, "I should only have to tell you once." How many times does He have to tell us before we acknowledge His request?
I struggle with my situation everyday. I won't sugar coat it, it stinks, it's horrible, I hate it, I don't recommend it, and I can't change it. For a short time I thought God was punishing me for something. Then I realized that God didn't do this to me. He gave us free will and the opportunity to decide right or wrong. Sometimes we make decisions that touch others and the "others" become collateral damage. I can't reverse the decisions that have been made, I can just move forward and not let my circumstances steal my joy. I am required as a Christian to 'love one another' and I am able to do this because of the love God has for me.
John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:12 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:17 - These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 - But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:11 - For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 4:7 -Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 -No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
2 John 1:5 - And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Twelve times! Do you think He was trying to tell us something? When I ask Kyler to do something and on the rare occasion he doesn't acknowledge me I will ask him again and say, "I should only have to tell you once." How many times does He have to tell us before we acknowledge His request?
I struggle with my situation everyday. I won't sugar coat it, it stinks, it's horrible, I hate it, I don't recommend it, and I can't change it. For a short time I thought God was punishing me for something. Then I realized that God didn't do this to me. He gave us free will and the opportunity to decide right or wrong. Sometimes we make decisions that touch others and the "others" become collateral damage. I can't reverse the decisions that have been made, I can just move forward and not let my circumstances steal my joy. I am required as a Christian to 'love one another' and I am able to do this because of the love God has for me.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
GRAPE STOMPIN IN TONTITOWN
What started out as a picnic over a hundred years ago is now a Northwest Arkansas tradition. The Tontitown Grape Festival has been going strong for 111 years. Somethings have changed, but the core of the event has remained the same and so has the famous homemade Italian Spaghetti Dinners! One of the annual attractions is the grape stomp. Last night I took Kyler and Aaron to do just that...stomp some grapes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)