Stand Firm - Speak Truth continually to Our Kids

Growing up, there are two quotes I remember my Mom pounding into my brain.  Well, besides the usual
"chew with your mouth closed" or "work before play", etc....  :)  Did Mom stop spouting these two quotes when I turned 18? 
Oh No.
Somewhere in a college dorm addressed letter, or tucked into an email my Mom inevitably quoted 1 of 2 Bible verses:
1) 3 John 4:  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
or
2) Something about "Standing Firm"
I'm sorry, Mom.  I do not remember the verse you used to back that up.  Perhaps that is because there are so many verses on standing firm to be found in the Bible???  (I tried looking up your specific choice verse, and could not narrow it down) 
OR - perhaps it is because I usually just thought, "yah, yah.  Stand firm.  What a weird piece of advice, Mom."
Yes.  I knew some of the references to standing firm found in the Bible, and that it was important to not be swayed as a boat on the ocean waves.  However, it seemed like kind of "blah" advice.
No,  "go get 'em, tiger" or "be all you can be" or "shoot for the stars" or "you can do anything you set your mind to".
Does anyone see a corelation in the phraes I would have picked for myself?
I am a doer.  A planner.  A control freak.
I would like to believe that if I set my mind and talents to any task, well, then I can achieve it.
If you read my last post, you understand I haven't done a very good job of directing my own life on my own power lately.

I forgot to stand firm.  To stand firm in HIS (God's) mighty power.   I forgot to stand firm with the armor of God in place.....and I fell for the devil's schemes.  (Ephesians 6:10,11)

It is kind of ironic that the hoemschool verses I just had my children learn a couple weeks ago were Ephesians 6:10,11 and 6:13-17. 
And this morning, various verses on "stand firm" kept popping out at me.
I think I'm going to reflect on "standing firm" and "resisitng the devil's schemes" the next few quiet times.

Thanks Mom.  Thanks for being wise and pounding Truth into my brain over the years.  I didn't want to hear "stand firm", but it is what I needed to hear - even all these years down the road.

And that reminds me.  As a Mom, I often wonder if the little "darts" of wisdom I try and throw at my children ever stick.  I must remember that God can use those darts to plant seeds of wisdom in my children's hearts.  Seeds that might not grow for years.  And the more darts I throw, the more likely I will hit a bullseye.
Okay, with my aim, I have to throw lots of darts, but you get the picture :)

Here is to standing firm as Moms and continuing to speak Truth to our children!

Gutting a Sick Soul

Do you ever feel as if everything is spinning a bit out of control?   That you can do nothing right?  That everything is against you and you have to wonder if God truly is for you?  Do you ever doubt the effectiveness of prayer or the goodness of God?
That is where I have been lately.  And I can't really put it all on this blog as to everything that is bugging me and getting me down.  But after talking with a couple good friends, pouring my heart out to my wonderful husband (who had to first endure a 2-year-oldish fit from, well, his adult wife). 
Oh - and finally, I was ready to go before my Father in heaven and pour my heart out to Him Who made me.  HE who is outside of time and space.  The creator of everything.  I should have went to God first, but I knew Who would win that rumble.  Puny little, fit-throwing, selfish, prideful me was gonna have to kneel before my God - literally- and beg forgiveness.  Yes, I knew God always waits with loving open arms and forgiveness.  But I wanted to wallow in my anger and self-pity a bit. 
And I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep going on as a "good" Christian.  Being a good Christian is hard work.  It is selfless.  It is patient.  It is generous.  It loves all.  And love bears all things - with a "let God's will be done" mentality.  It's giving up control.  It's admitting (to oneself) that God does know better than my little human mind can comprehend.  It's like a one year old thinking they could beat a grand master in chess.
(I am neither - but I act like the former).
Then God brought to mind the great enemy - Satan.  Who seeks to devour and destroy.  To seek out those whom he can crush, ruin, or at least cripple enough to quit the race.
I don't want to be a quitter.  Not for me.  Not as an example for my children.  Not for my God's Glory.
So finally this morning I got up early and poured out my heart to God.  Not just talking abot it to others, or throwing cursory short prayers heavenward.  Basically I gutted my soul.  I had to.  Putting patches on just wasn't working any more.  The problem/s weren't external.  IT was internal. 
And IT = Pride.
Pride - too proud to admit God is in control and knows best.  Even when I can't see it.
Pride - I can do it all.  On my own human power.
Pride - Don't want to admit I am failing at basic relationships (being a good Mom, wife, friend,etc...) because my relationship with God is self-imposed severed rigth now.
Pride - I am better than others and deserve more.  Why shouldn't I focus on my 'needs'?
Pride - I just questioned God's goodness - and in the process threw a royal temper tantrum.  Will He forgive me?
So - kinda heavy today.  But that is where I've been.  I say been, because, PRAISE GOD, where I am now is on the other side of the great soul gutting.  Confession has been made.
I am forgiven.  I am loved by God.  I am a child of a GOOD God.  I am human and going to fail on my own power. I am (with God's help) re-committed to getting up early to spend time at my Father's feet.  The source of all love, goodness, grace, mercy, and power I need to live this life.

I am, through the blood of Christ, connected to THE I AM.

Praise God from Whom all belssings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.

Toilet Time

Ok,
I hope you don't think I'm going all potty mouth blog on you; with a "P" and "toilet"  post back to back.  I promise my next post will have nothing to do with doo-doo!
I apologize, but I really couldn't think of a more appropriate title today. 
It seems that I'm doing alot of spiritual thinking and praying while going to the bathroom lately. 
I'm not trying to give TMI, just noting that I'm not quite sure what to make of this.  Is it sacrilige to mix the 3 P's?  Does this mean I am super spiritual (pray without ceasing) or a potty mouth?  Am I just a busy mother of 3 young kids who finds the only alone time in the day is found sitting upon the throne? (wait - any Mom will laugh at the thought bathroom time = privacy! ha ha ha!)
Or maybe.... gasp!  Maybe it means my priorities (once again) are misaligned.  Perhaps if I took time to pray in the morning during my quiet time, I wouldn't need quite so many toilet time prayers.
Yes, I've not been real consistent with quiet times again.  Sure, I've read my Bible - but spuradically.  I pray, but my prayers seem to be a bit more "emergency" and selfish in nature. 
Sure, I've had "stuff" going on in my life lately, and an in-house guest sleeping on the bonus room couch - my preferred quiet time spot.  But, let's be honest. Those are excuses.  God doesn't call me to make time for Him when all is well and convenient.  I am to make time to be with my maker. Period.
So-----
Here's to me cleaning up my act. 
Interactive:
Have you ever felt just a bit sacrilige for praying while on the toilet?  (Please don't tell me I'm the only one who ever does this!)
How are you doing with your quiet time consistency?

To P or not to P

And by "P", I mean PUPPY.
Several months ago we started chores for allowance around this house.
Two motivators were behind this decision:
1) We want to teach our children financial responsibility (I know, kind of ironic in light of this post!)  ;)
2) The kids (and me) are wanting a dog.  But dogs are a lot of responsibility and work, and we wanted to make sure the kids would be of consistent help.  (Yep, pooper-scooper will be added to the kid's chore chart!)
So we are discussing the whole puppy issue now.
Why now? 
Well, since we are not moving for awhile, seems as good a time as any.  And in a couple years, our carpet and kitchen linoleum will need replaced.  Would rather house-break a puppy on old carpet. :)
Currently, there are no long trips planned for several months. 
And, we are coming up on warmer weather (for frequent puppy potty breaks outside)

Cons:   Money (purchase, food, vet....)
            Messes - especially the stinky, brown variety on carpet.
            Misbehavior (had to think of another "M" word) - time to properly train the puppy.  I do NOT want
                                    a barker, "humper", or jumper!
Pros:    CUTE and CUDDLY
            Children responsibility training
            Crime prevention  - protection both when Dan is gone and walking with kids
            Children and Dogs just belong together.
            Calorie Burner - good motivator for kids and me to exercise  (need to walk dog...)

Breeds???    Pure-bred or Mut???

We want a medium-sized dog.  Big enough to offer some protection, but not so huge as to not fit in our house.... or eat us out of house and home!    I like the idea of a poodle not shedding, but not fond of pure-bred poodles.   We do not want a "yipper".   Obviously, we want a breed or mix-breed that is great with children.  Intelligent always nice (for ease of training).  I'm thinking I want the dog indoors.  (I know, Mom is happy...)  But I know if we do "outdoor" dog - we will ignore it more, which wouldn't be fair to the dog.  If we are going to get a dog, it's going to be part of the family.  Might be different if we lived on an acerage or farm with plenty for her to do, but we don't. (Yes, I said her.  I figure a female dog will be less inclined to hump everybody's leg that visits.  Am I wrong???)

So I guess what I am saying on this post is.... HELP!  I need your prayers and ideas!  This is a very major decision and we want to make a wise choice. 
Thanks for your prayers and input!

I'm ba-ack. Happy Happenings Post

Hello - for the second time in a 7 day period.  :()
Thank God (and I am not swearing here)  I finally feel a bit more chipper again!
(helps the hubby is home - yay)
So for those who endured the blah's lately - thanks, and this post is dedicated to you. :)
Happy Happenings:
* Dan is back from his recruiting trip to Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!). 
* Praise God, Dan's Dad comes home from the hospital today!
* Did anyone else watch Shaun White's Gold medal Snowboarding run last night?
      It was excellent.  Very fun to watch.
      Funny side note:  Papa and I were watching the competition and one of the riders wobbled in the air.
       We both thought it was a cool trick.  We later learned it was called the "kickin chicken" - and not
       a trick - but lack of control.  :)  Good thing we weren't judging :)

* Last night we went to church for Ash Wednesday.  Good reminder of our spiritual debt and our need for a Savior.  (sets us up for Easter....)  Anyway, the Happy thought was a memory from last year at Ash Wednesday service.   When it came time for the impartation of the ashes, Dan, myself, and our 2 little girls went up.  Our 6 year old son stayed sitting by himself - not wanting to go up.  We didn't force the issue.
When we got home, the girls and I washed off our foreheads.  My son noticed our clean foreheads and exclaimed, "It washes OFF!?!".  He hadn't wanted ashes on his head because he thought it was permanent!  :)

Ok.  Better go make lunch for the kiddos.  Have a great day.
Britt :)

Suffering Joy

Obviously, I did not meet my goal of posting at least twice last week.  My apologies.  I'm still developing discipline in writing..... and it was kinda a rough week.   Dan was out of town for business.  And Dan's Dad was in the hospital in a lot of pain.  Turns out he (my Father in law) has a torn carotid artery (yah - the juglar) and a clot had formed - putting pressure on a nerve that paralyzed his tongue and gave him intense, painful headaches :(
So I have been husbandless all week and worried about my Father-in-law.  (Not to mention other stresses that seem to have piled on top of my mind this week:  Homeschool issues, no new house, husband has been super busy and working long hours at work all year, wanting my Dad to get a job out here - soon......)
ANYWAY - guess what I have realized?
It. Is. Not. About. Me!
Yah, I know - shocker!
Yes, I might feel as if I am having a rough week and my life is so horrible right now  (yes, that is an exageration :) but truly, I am NOT suffering very greatly.  Just the little things adding up.
There are people who truly ARE suffering right now.  Like my Father-in-Law.
GOD IS GOOD.
Remember I mentioned Dan's business trip?  He was recruiting college grads for work at our alma mater just 2 - TWO-hours away from his parents!  Dan is currently able to spend a few days with his Mom, siblings, and visit his Dad in the hospital.  This would have been very cost prohibitive if he had not already been on his business trip so close to "home".  Thank you God, for your perfect timing!
So yes - part of my stress is that I miss my husband.  But I thank God Dan is able to see his family during this trying time in their lives.  I'll choose to *suffer* a few more days in JOY, knowing that God is in control of ALL circumstances.
JOY JOY JOY   (Sure feels God is testing me to see how serious I am about wanting 2010 to be a year of Joy!)  :)

Praying God's Joy for your life and mine,
Britt :)