I'll never win any awards for blogging. Good thing I don't care.
Yesterday marked the beginning of a new season in my life. My days as a Homeschooling mom ended in May when our youngest graduated from Jr. High. She will be in Highschool and we have decided to enroll her in a traditional Highschool. Yesterday was her first day there.
There are no "Coffee and Cry" rooms at Highschools. Only the moms of Kinders get that benefit. I went to Starbucks. And I did fine.
I realize this is a huge change for her and I'm realizing it's a huge change for me too. Sadly, I think I need to grow and mature more than she does.
So today after I dropped her at school I came home committed to develop some new habits. I began with devotions. The need is immense. I find that I place burdens on my daughter that really belong at the foot of the cross. So after doing devotions I had thoughts that I want to really grasp and take with me all day - so I'm blogging them. Maybe someone else will benefit from them. Or maybe some day my children will read them. Certainly I benefit from writing them and that's enough.
My notes from today's devotion - from my heart without edit and formatting... just a ramble.
1st - God's promises - His law is a promise to us. In Exodus we read the law and how God gave it to us. Then in Matthew we read how Satan tempted Christ - when He was hungry and tired - vulnerable - and Jesus fought back with the Law - God's promises to us.
Yesterday marked the beginning of a new season in my life. My days as a Homeschooling mom ended in May when our youngest graduated from Jr. High. She will be in Highschool and we have decided to enroll her in a traditional Highschool. Yesterday was her first day there.
There are no "Coffee and Cry" rooms at Highschools. Only the moms of Kinders get that benefit. I went to Starbucks. And I did fine.
I realize this is a huge change for her and I'm realizing it's a huge change for me too. Sadly, I think I need to grow and mature more than she does.
So today after I dropped her at school I came home committed to develop some new habits. I began with devotions. The need is immense. I find that I place burdens on my daughter that really belong at the foot of the cross. So after doing devotions I had thoughts that I want to really grasp and take with me all day - so I'm blogging them. Maybe someone else will benefit from them. Or maybe some day my children will read them. Certainly I benefit from writing them and that's enough.
My notes from today's devotion - from my heart without edit and formatting... just a ramble.
1st - God's promises - His law is a promise to us. In Exodus we read the law and how God gave it to us. Then in Matthew we read how Satan tempted Christ - when He was hungry and tired - vulnerable - and Jesus fought back with the Law - God's promises to us.
"Let Your voice be the loudest one I hear - and help me to not just hear Your voice but to respond - to act - to follow You, do what You lead, take You where You want me to share Your love... Your spirit is in me and goes with me - Help me to NOT take You places You don't want to go..... Paul served You and knew it was critical that new believers and thos who don't know You see that You are faithful... he wanted his life and actions to mirror Jesus' so people would know that You are faithful to fulfill Your promises in Jesus. Because You are faithful, we too can be faithful. Help me to show YOUR faithfulness by being faithful - and FAITH FULL. Help me to use Your words, not words that are vulgar, harsh, false, misleading - displeasing to You in any way."
So in Matthew 3 Jesus hears DIRECTLY from God after being baptized - that He is faithful and God is pleased with Him. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (v17)." "This one's mine." He claims Jesus, calls Him His Own - He calls me His own!!! How much MORE affirmation can one get??? Right? It's what we ALL long for - affirmation. And then Jesus is led into the dessert where He is tempted... and God's affirmations have to be enough. There isn't anyone else there to help Him "feel good about himself" or remind Him of His value and worth. He must KNOW it in His heart - from God. I must KNOW it in my heart from God - I am His/valued/loved. And I must take that with me in my day when I'm hungry, tired and vulnerable - and need affirmations.
"Forgive me Lord, for placing this burden on my daughter today. In the car on the way to school I was sensitive - not terribly uncommon but uggggly. I was defensive when she said something. I asked her to please not say things to me unless they were kind and affirming. WHAT???!!! What kind of crap is that??? You were there - You heard the conversation. What a heavy burden to place on her shoulders. My affirmation comes from my Father - not my daughter. Lord, help me to hear Your voice - Your voice affirming me, leading me, directing me, prompting me to shut my mouth, giving me the right words to say to those I speak with today... nothing unwholesome. Words of encouragement - that they may benefit those who listen. May YOUR voice be the loudest voice I hear today. Help me to listen for it - to listen for YOU and to YOU."
"I love you, Dad."
