Ladies, Ladies…All the Ladies!!

 

“Moses built an altar and named it “The Lord is My Banner”  Exodus 17:15

Day 1

This week we are studying Jehovah Nissi… The Lord is My Banner.  Let us first read in Exodus the story behind this name.

Read Exodus 17:8-16

This passage finds us immediately after the Israelites went through another spell of “testing” the Lord.  Moses once again pleaded before the Lord for more water because the people were questioning if God was “still among them or not”…they were yet again doubting His hand on their lives…..and once again the Lord provided.  Wow… I just need to take a minute here.  I feel like I’m writing about MY life.  I see God over and over again reveal Himself to me in REAL ways… I see Him sustaining me in REAL ways… yet I still find myself questioning God’s hand in my life….”Is the Lord among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7).  Have you ever felt like this?  When was the most recent time you felt this way?  Pray today that you will be reminded that the Lord is here with you and has not left you in the desert alone without water to drink and bread to eat.

So now we read “THEN Amalek came and fought against Israel…” (Exodus 17:8)..  So I’m sure the Israelites were like, “ok, here we go again…what next God.”  Just a little background….Amalek was the grandson of Esau (Jacob’s twin brother). 

“The Amalekites were distinguished in the holy Scripture by two villainous characteristics: cruelty and cowardice. What makes the Amalekites particularly interesting is that these two characteristics are always glaringly present when an Amalekite is involved in any Biblical story. In every story in which an Amalekite is privileged to participate, the reader witnesses this extraordinarily evil people not only committing cruel acts, but at the same time committing those acts in an unashamedly cowardly manner. They were warriors, yes, but they were not noble warriors. They never fought a fair fight.”– John David Clark, Sr. - January, 1995

So probably out of nowhere these people came and began war on God’s people..(not a good idea)….

Read verses 9-13 again… How did the battle play out?

What happened when Moses held the staff high?  What happened when the staff was lowered?

Now I know that many of us think we are not going into battle today or tomorrow… or really anytime soon… but we are mistaken… we are ALWAYS in battle….we are ALWAYS at war..this passage is very pertinent to us even today.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

According to this passage what are we fighting?  Who (or what) are our hostages…our “captives”?

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…” (v.5)..So often I get into mindsets where I KNOW that EVERYTHING against the knowledge of God is “raised up” in my heart.  I believe lies that I’m a failure… that I have no power outside myself….that Christ isn’t enough to help me attain contentment in certain areas in my life….that Christ isn’t big enough for my issues….that I’m alone….and I’m not worthy of any sort of grace… or worse- I must earn my grace.  These are all lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God…anything that isn’t a truth of Christ is against Him.  We must destroy these things….but how? Read these verses and write out what God says about our fight…..

1 Corinthians 6:13

1 Peter 5:8

Ephesians 6:8

John 16:33

1 John 5:4

As Moses held the staff high… God’s team was winning….as the staff was lowered… Satan’s team took the lead.  What is being held high in your life?  Who’s defeating whom? 

Christ power is big enough….He has overcome the world…. And that means that He HAS OVERCOME our heartaches, our longings, our struggles, our addictions, our disappointments…. It means that through Him… WE, TOO, can overcome those battles.  We must keep HIM in the forefront of our mind…. we must stay in the word….we must stay alert…. We must stay on our knees before Him.  Spend some time today asking God the reveal any “lofty thought”  that is not a truth of Christ that you are living with?  What is raised high in your heart?  Pray that you will take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ and lift that up and may THAT reign there.

Day 2

“But Moses’ hands were heavy.  Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other.  Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.”  Exodus 17:12

I can’t look deeper in this passage without stopping for awhile on this verse.  I just love the image of Moses’ friends standing on each side of him and lifting up his arms…. Helping him hold the staff up high so that the battle against the Amalekites would be won.   From the very beginning God has ordained that man not be alone.  He did not leave Adam alone in the garden.. He created Eve.  Throughout the bible we see the significance of friends and family.  We begin to realize that God does not desire nor ask us to walk through this life without help…without companionship…..we NEED community! 

“When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. “(Job 2:11-13)                  

“Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.” (1 Samuel 23:16-18)

 

People, we need our ‘peeps’…We NEED others to hold us accountable and as Jonathan did for David..”encourage [each other] to stay strong in [our] faith in God.”  What does Ecclesiastes 4:12 state?

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” 

We learned yesterday that we are always battling… we are at war with our flesh and the devil… He is prowling, waiting to devour us.  Did you know that when animals out in the wild are preying on a herd they single out the sick or try to steer one away from the pack.  I’ve watched lions do this a hundred times on those discovery shows….. One cord will snap…but “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”God can do anything….we know this.  He could have wiped out that army in a blink of an eye…but he had Joshua in bravery and faith step out and lead his men into battle… He had Moses stand on the mountain and lift up the holy staff of God….but He let Moses be tired and weak… …He couldn’t hold the staff up….God didn’t hold it up… He had Moses’ friends do it.  I can’t imagine there was no purpose in this.

So I must ask you… who is holding you up when YOUR hands are heavy?  Who is helping you when your heart is heavy?

Are you allowing your hands to be lifted up?  Can you imagine if Moses had this “I can do this on my own” mentality… Look what trouble his pride would have caused.  Unfortunately for us we can’t stand up on a mountain and look down at our lives and see who is winning and who is losing and how everything is intertwined.  We can’t see how our pride could be detrimental—but it is.  I say all of this because I struggle with pride.  However, I am learning that it’s ok to be in need sometimes.  It’s ok to accept help… It’s ok to need someone to be your help.  I see Moses… an AMAZING man of faith…a leader…the man talked to God!!!… and even HE needed help.  And something as simple as holding a stick in the air.  But isn’t it sometimes the ‘simple’ mundane things in life that truly ‘heavy’ our hands?  Simple things like taking care of children from sun up to sun down and sometimes all through the night…. Or keeping things tidy around the house… or planning and cooking meals… or being successful at work….  It’s not the HUGE things for me that wear me down… it’s the day-to-day “boring life” stuff… and I’m feeble… I’m weak… I NEED people in my life to continue encouraging me in the faith.  And I pray that I may encourage others as well.Who are you encouraging?  Have you encouraged him/her lately?  If not… send a note, or email… and let them know how much you value your friendship and pray for this person today especially.  I will ask again… who’s encouraging YOU in the faith?  Write out these names. Pray for them.  If you can’t think of any then ask God to give you people that will build you up.  God is listening to your prayers.  

Day 3

“Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner”  Exodus 17:15.

Alas… we’ve finally made it to the entire point of this week!  The Lord, our Banner.  I am a visual person.  I have to sort of picture things in order to really commit them to memory.  So as I study this particular name I found myself realizing… I don’t really know what a banner is.  What IS a banner?  After doing a little research… I see this passage with two particular points.  The first one we will touch on today and leave the second for tomorrow.

“What is a banner? It’s another name for a battle symbol. In Moses’ time it was a staff (a long stick). During the crusades in Europe during the middle ages it was a coat-of-arms painted on a crusader’s battle shield. In recent times past it was a flag carried into battle. In more modern times it is an emblem painted on a war weapon such as a star painted on the side of an airplane to let everyone know that it belongs to and fights for the United States.”—Kraig Rice 

In other words… a banner displays our team. (To put it mildly)…. To whom we belong.  THE LORD is my banner.  I belong to Him.  I am fighting for HIM.  But what sort of displays am I exemplifying that reflect my team?  As a star painted on the side of an airplane allows everyone to know this one is flying for the United States…I must then ask myself…if the Lord is My banner…am I clearly marked?  Write out what these verses say about how others may know to whom we belong….

Colossians 4:5-7    

1 Peter 3:15-16

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Ephesians 5:1-2

It certainly is one thing to “be an example” of Christ to others outside of your home.  However, I find the greatest challenge is to be Christ-like within my home.  Now THAT is another story.  I have come to believe that our homes reveal our hearts.  Within our walls, we are our TRUE selves—and that can be full of grace if I’m seeking first His kingdom… or a load of JUNK if I’m not.  When I am not walking in His love, I’m nasty, irritable, short-tempered..and guess what… my children completely absorb that behavior like little sponges and they TOO become all of those things.  We are all grasping for something that will make for peace.. but there is NOTHING that brings about peace like our great Prince of Peace…who

 “will keep him in perfect peace,
      Whose mind is stayed on You,
      Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

So, I firmly believe that our examples of Christ will flow from our relationship with Him in our hearts.  As a mom and wife I always tend to make THOSE particular roles top priority in my life… but I am a child of God… and THAT should always take precedence.

Are you striving for peace within your home?

Are you looking to Christ for peace?  If not, where are you looking?

Take some time today and really pray through these verses.  Pray that the Lord will enable you to live them out in your interactions with others….but most importantly…live them out within your own heart. Watch as Christ’s banner begins to shine forth for all to see!

Day 4    

“He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.”  Song of Solomon 2:4

Yesterday we focused on Christ, our banner… that we belong to Him.  Not only are we fighting for Christ… but He is fighting for US.  With all of his strength Moses lifted his arms… his friends lifted his arms… Joshua fought out in the fields… BUT GOD was fighting this battle as well!  The Lord is My banner and “his banner over me is love.”Christ is in all things… and all things are under His authority.  He is our banner.  Salvation through Christ is God’s ultimate victory…..we are under the banner of Christ’s blood…protected… cleansed…and empowered.  We are never left alone… We are never left defenseless…. We are never left, period. 

Are you feeling left alone?

Are you feeling like the Lord isn’t fighting for you?

What does scripture say?  Write out the truths found in these passages:

1 Chronicles 28:20

Psalm 23:4

Psalm 27:1

Psalm 34:7

Now these are just a few of the HUNDREDS of verses describing a God who is fighting for us with all of his might… with all of his love.  He holds high his banner and we, my sweet friends… are under its protection!

Finally read Psalm 60:4

“You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.”

“…..and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32.

Read John 3:16-17

What is the truth?

Are you living by the truth?  Are you living freed?

I’ve written on this concept of “living freed”….I think this is one of the greatest tools Satan uses on us Christians… it’s like he wants us to feel like we don’t deserve our freedom in Christ… or we can achieve this on our own—if we only do a little more, then we will truly be worthy of forgiveness… or worse.. Christ can’t reign in one particular area in our hearts.  Christ should reign EVERYWHERE!!!  In our thoughts, our homes, our marriages, our language, our TV shows, our music… I mean seriously….really think about that.  There is NOTHING that He can’t overcome… He has overcome the world.. He has overcome death… and anything and everything that we feel wants to separate us from Him… He has “taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross!”  (Colossians 2:14).  To quote Jesus himself… It’s FINISHED!  It’s done, people.  Nothing can separate us from Him.  Through Christ we have been given our banner… flying high in the sweet victory of salvation.  We have a God who saves… a God who fights for us… a God who wins every battle….The Lord is our banner… This is Jehovah Nissi!

Spend some time today in prayer.  Pray that God will enable you to live freed. May He remind you today that He is fighting for you and He loves you.

Well, my friends.. I feel like it’s been FOREVER since I’ve blogged.  I just don’t know where I’ve been.  I mean, I really haven’t left the house…. perhaps “In my mind I’m gone to Carolina”…….today I’m packing and we are leaving tomorrow to go to SOUTH CAROLINA!!!  SO STOKED!!!  I am singing at one of dear friend’s weddings this weekend in Florence and then my mom and I are off to the beach house for two long weeks!!!  Chris flies in on Wed. and he’s off a week and I think that the entire Nissen clan will be arriving over Memorial Weekend.  I’m so excited.  I haven’t been to the beach since Memorial Weekend last year when I was something like 32 weeks pregnant and embarking on my move to Birmingham…needless to say, my kids could vomit their entire way through this vacation.. and I’m STILL going to enjoy it.  I mean that!  I’ve set my heart and mind on it……well, really trying to embrace a little Colossians for my trip…

2: 6–”Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him; having been firmly rooted and NOW being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

Presently I’m overflowing in stress.  I’ve got to pack and Emma Faye woke up this morning with ear infections and Will pooped in his pants (what?) and Josh is getting sick and I thought that when Chris had on the calendar 8-11 today that meant AM… not 11pm tonight!!  So the stress floodgates are filled and overflowing.  But I need to be overflowing with gratitude… I need to be walking in Him…. I am planted and rooted in Christ…..I’ve been instructed… so here is where I am.  I truly have SO MUCH to be thankful for…..these are not hardships…this is simply my day. 

As I was writing a little of week three… God our Banner.. in the bible study I’m doing… I was realizing something and I sort of wanted this to be the last thing that I blogged before vacation because I want to be focusing on it as much as just writing it out for you guys.  I was looking at several passages in the bible about being examples of Christ… one in particular..

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

I was humbled.  You know… it’s so easy I think for me to be an “example of Christ” to those outside of my family.  The difficulty is truly exuding Him from WITHIN.  Walking in love with my children and husband, my mom, siblings… my very close friends… this is a struggle… because these are the places we are our true selves… and I came to this conclusion…. our homes reveal our hearts.  When I am walking in love in my heart… when I’m seeking first HIS kingdom from within my heart…. the overflow is that kind of love and peace within my home…..I’m patient, I’m kind, I’m serving, I’m strengthened, I’m at peace……

so I challenge every one of you while I’m away to search scripture… stay in prayer with our Lord…. seek to walk in love and humility…. Jesus was a servant….we are to be imitators of this.  This year I am praying for a new outlook on my vacation.  Before I have always thought of it as MY time….and I’ve ALWAYS been disappointed…the children were annoying…Chris and I bicker… we are tired…. this year our beach vacation means something different to me.  I’m just thankful for the chance to spend time with family… and that we have a place to go and vacation….. all are truly blessings…. so what if Josh continues waking up early… we’ll go for a walk in the morning and I’ll cuddle up with him in the afternoon and we’ll snooze…. so what if Emma Faye is a little sick… I know a pair of MaMa and Papa hands that have been missing her sweet little self.  So what if the boys want to run the beach and I don’t get to bake in my chair in silence on the beach….I’ll get dirty… I praise the Lord that he has made me aware of the fact that one day they aren’t going to want to build a sandcastle with “mommy”….. so there you have it.  I’m excited.  I pray you all have a great week!  I pray you ALL will enjoy your families especially in the next few weeks… they are a gift, people.  Seriously… we so forget….. what a gift—a family!  I would most certainly covet your prayers as I travel by myself with three little ones. It’s going to be interesting… but then again… I like a little adventure……. toodles….

“And He said, ….for I, the Lord, am your healer.” Exodus 15:26

Day 1

This week we are learning about our God who heals.  God reveals this name soon after the parting of the Red Sea and His deliverance of His people out of Egypt.  Before we dive in, I would like all of us to read Exodus 15:1-21 and be reminded of our GREAT GOD!  I LOVE this passage. 

After reading Exodus 15:1-21, write out, or circle in your bible, the words describing our God.  Spend time in prayer praising the Lord for who He is and asking Him to be these things in your life.

Day 2

Read Exodus 15:22-27

1.        Why were the people grumbling at Moses?

2.       What did Moses do?

3.       What three things did the Lord do in response to Moses’ plea?

When the children of Israel complained to Moses, what did he do?  He “cried out to the Lord.”  I wish when my little children are grumbling and complaining the first thing I would do was cry out to the Lord.  If you are anything like me… you try to appease the best you can…. You try and reason… you try to remain calm …. And before you know it… you’ve blown your top!  That’s me.  Oh if I would just take the requests of “my people” to my great God….FIRST!  If only I would take MY OWN requests to the Lord and stop griping to my husband or friends.  I think there is a lesson here for ALL of us.

Anyway, isn’t it hard to believe that the Israelites would even begin to worry about water after the experience they had just encountered.  I mean can you imagine watching the ocean separate before your very eyes and then devouring your enemy as soon as the last member of your party stepped safely onto the other side?  I say this as though I couldn’t imagine complaining to God after such a miracle while sadly, I have fallen prey to this very thing numerous times. 

4.       Can you think of a time in your life when God really blessed you or did something really amazing for you and you still had an ungrateful attitude?

5.       Are you still living with that attitude? If so, please take some time right now to pray that the Lord will give you a thankful heart.

As you read on in verse25 you will notice that the Lord had the Israelites be thirsty as a test.  There was purpose for this “season of drought.”  The Lord had a specific message that He wanted to convey to his children.  What was that message?  Read verse 26.

I am not saying that every person suffering from disease is not walking in the Lord.  I am not saying that because our Great God has decided not to heal our loved ones that one or all of the family is not walking with the Lord.  I am not saying that every horrible or difficulty in our lives is a test.  I do know that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.  And I am confident in the fact that our Lord is more important with healing us from the inside out.  And His love is so great for us…He will go at GREAT measures to perfect that work He has started…the work He has ‘prepared beforehand.’

Pray today that the Lord will continue perfecting His work in your life. 

Read  1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Pray for a kingdom mindset when you face hardships and that you may be able to embrace this verse.

Day 3

The children of God were in the wilderness and were unable to find water.  They were thirsty.  I know in my weakness I would have been like..”Great God… you go to such links for us only to have us die of thirst…You keep us from drowning…but now we are dying of thirst.  Ummm… can I please go back to the ocean? “  I KNOW I would have been right in there in line making my complaints to Moses.  I don’t know what it is about the ‘being in the desert” that makes us forget the sovereignty of our God.  We are overwhelmed with need…overcome by our thirst and hunger….we cry out to each other and fail to address our God.

Are you thirsty right now?  Has the desert sun left you parched? 

Read John 4:7-15 and Deut. 8:3

What is the common theme of these two passages?

What is it that we need for true healing?  Is this in-line with the message God shared with His children?

Spend time today praying and drinking from His word.  Do you have any deep rooted sin or pain from your past that needs healing?  As the woman at the well ask of Jesus.. you ask, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty……”.

Day 4

This particular character of God is a very difficult one for me right now.  I have several people very close to me that are dealing with incurable illnesses.  It is hard for me to see God promise to be a healer when I am surrounded by disease.  It’s hard for me to listen to my husband (a pediatrician) talk about children dying or being diagnosed with cancer or genetic disorders and read the Lord, my God, call himself a healer when I know a handful of people…GODLY people… that he opted NOT to heal.  I think we are all learning that God is most interested in our hearts.  He most desires a healed ‘faith’ so to speak.  But I can’t help but touch a little on physical healing in speaking of Jehovah Rophe.

God has the power to Heal.  He is the mighty One.  The God who parted the sea, who sent manna from the heavens, who enabled a little boy to defeat a giant can do WHATEVER HE WANTS!  He has the power.  So what are we to do when our loved ones are suffering and He seems to have turned His back?

Read 2 Samuel 12:15-23.

1.        What did David do when his son became ill?

2.        What was David’s response after hearing the news of his son’s death?

3.        How did David explain his response?

For some reason, this passage is very comforting to me.  David prayed with all of his might, still the Lord did not heal his son physically……  And he’s DAVID for crying out loud… a man that God said was “after His own heart.”  God LOVED David.  He loves US, too!  We can pray to the Lord.  There is healing in our time with Him.  We are told to make our requests known to our Lord, but as it is said….

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, “ declares the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways.  And My thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:10

“…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  Matthew 5:45

We may not understand the ways of the Lord and why some of those ‘ways’ bring about so much pain.  Although life is difficult in this fallen world, the Lord has not left us here alone with our pain.  Remember, He is has provided…and He not only provided for us ultimately….He heals in the process.  By embracing His pain on the cross He is able to exchange OUR pain presently for healing.….”for by his wounds we are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).  For those of us who profess Christ, he was taken our souls and plunged them into his healing waters…we are bathed in his blood… and washed as white as snow. 

My eyes are filling with tears as I write.  I see the faces of so many loved ones I know that are hurting right now.  God is our healer.  What He does not accomplish in this time now… He will in the days to come.  This one truth is healing for me in itself.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. “ (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4

“But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness.  I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying.  No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days,” Isaiah 65:18-20.

Perhaps you have just witnessed God do something as amazing as parting an ocean.  Perhaps you are in a desert.  Perhaps you are walking your way right into a desert and have absolutely no idea as of yet.  Wherever you are the Lord bids you “Come.  And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” (Rev. 22:17). 

“Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water……and they camped there beside the waters.”  Exodus 17:27.

Come and camp beside His waters.  As the Lord our God led His people THROUGH an ocean, through the desert… on to an oasis where they were given the water they needed….Our Lord is still doing this in OUR LIVES.  He wants us camped and stationed in HIM…beside the springs of life!  This is where He is bringing you.  It’s where He wants you.   His drinks are free.  His water is healing ……..for He is Jehovah Rophe—The Lord who Heals.

Spend some time today in quiet rest before the Lord.  May He pour healing water over those areas in your life that are thirsting in the desert.  Give those areas to Him.

  Well, it’s Friday and WE MADE IT!!  As always by the time Friday gets here I can’t remember anything that happened over the course of my week.  BUT I know that this weekend is going to be great!  It’s Mother’s Day Weekend!!  YEAH!  I just love this weekend… not because I’m a mom and it’s all about ‘me’… but it seems that it’s always beautiful weather… it’s about family… and a time that I am reminded how blessed I am.  I’ve always LOVED mother’s day…..I have wonderful mothers to celebrate… and now I am mother of three beautiful children… wow… I’m overcome with joy!  So anyway… that’s all that I really have to say today… thought I’d include a few pics from one night this week…. Will isn’t in any of them because I think he was tired and had already gone to bed… anyhoo… we were being silly one night and took some pictures after bathtime…..  Have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!  Remember… I know these days with children can be difficult… I know sometimes unbearable…. but would we want it any other way?  Do we really want to be sitting right now in a quiet house with no one but our husbands?  I wouldn’t…no offense to my sweet hubby… but the pitter patter of little feet all along my hardwood floors…. what sweet music to my ears…… 

Happy Mother’s Day my sweet friends.

In the spare time that I have these days I’m trying to read through Corinthians.  It’s taken me forever because I keep getting interrupted.  Sometimes I read while the kids are watching TV in the morning… others before they wake up (although, Josh has been getting up no later than 6:15am lately–dressed and ready to start his day… SO FRUSTRATING!)…however… the Lord blesses my time I do spend with him.  I praise Him that somehow amidst the chaos he allows me to retain a little of what I’m reading.  I always realize this later in my day when something happens and suddenly scripture comes to my mind.  Seriously…the Lord still speaks to us…. and He DOES use His words.

For instance, yesterday morning I was reading in 1 Corinthians, chapter 6 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.”  (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  Now as I breezed by this familiar verse to me… I was like, “Oh.. yeah.. my standard  ‘diet’ verse.  I think I’ve claimed this 1,ooo times as I was reaching for a cupcake or something chocolate… really didn’t phase me, honestly……THAT MORNING….. However, as I was sitting outside on my patio later that afternoon… holding happy Emma Faye in my lap, watching Will play contently in the sandbox… all the while trying not to look at my disgruntled 2 1/2 year old screaming at me through our kitchen window..(I had locked him IN the house… he kept following me around screaming about something that was just well.. STUPID…and I wasn’t giving in… and if anyone has been around my Josh during these  stubborn outbursts…well… it’s tortuous… so I needed him to be somewhere safe…..but I needed some barrier between us… for HIS protection–anybody been there?….)anyhoo… all that said…. I was sitting outside contemplating… yet again…. what I do and the value of my time these past days….and suddenly there was a voice deep inside me that simply stated….. you are not your own.

Just last night we were constantly up and down with Emma… I mean… it was literally ALL NIGHT…. and at around 4:00am I hit a wall and was REALLY about to lose it…when that voice again   …….. you are not your own.  honor me with your body.

It stopped me dead in my rage….and I simply took my sweet little girl in my arms and we slept the rest of the night together on the couch.  Now, I know that may seem silly… I know that passage is talking about sexual immorality… BUT God was using that passage to speak something different to me last night and yesterday….. 

I am not my own.  These circumstances that I find myself in… are not my own.  And my body encompasses everything from physical to emotional… to spiritual…… My weaknesses are rage and anger.  Without Christ, I’m a done deal in that department and anyone who knows me… knows that.  I lose my temper SOOO  easily.  and I HATE it!  So in becoming quickly angered, I am not honoring the Lord with my body… in my outbursts… in my language….in my gestures…. in my sighs…..  It cuts even deeper… with my thoughts… my heart…. my outlook….my faith….my hope….  See, I want to be in control.  I want to determine how my day is going to be.  It’s like I want to make my children bow and curtsy their way through the day obeying every one of my commands… and they better have a ”yes Ma’am” before their actions.  Oh, if I could only just live up to the expectations I place on my children in my daily walk with Christ.  I think about how Will HATED those swimming lessons and how he would cry and whine and stomp around the house on swimming lesson day….. Well, last night around 2:30 that’s exactly how I was behaving when my sick child wasn’t allowing me to do what I wanted to do… SLEEP!  Once again… I am not my own… my days are NOT my own…they are the Lord’s…. and I am to honor him in THAT day.  The day that He has given me…. I have a choice.  Hey… there’s my control.  Why don’t we long to embrace control over our RESPONSE to these little curve balls and win some points for Jesus in Satan’s little game he plays with us all the time, rather than just griping about the curve ball all day.   So here is where I am today.  I’m tired….but my tired body is not my own.  I am to honor the Lord.  I am to pray for the supernatural… the power of Christ to literally sustain me through today… and you know what… He is doing that!  I really hate that phrase “Let Go and Let God”…. but in these days.. perhaps that’s the best thing to do.  Let Go of the fact that our kids are sick.. or our husbands are working longer than usual.. we’re tired… our kids want to battle us over everything…. let go of those things (they really were never in our hands in the first place…) and LET GOD redeem the day… let God sanctify you through THIS day…. let the Lord extend peace to you this day…watch Him enter your door and walk your floors…. and really strengthen you in ways you never knew He could… watch Him restore your marriage….. provide patience for your children… and most importantly extend to you the higher perspective… the greater calling in what you are doing…. and how it’s glorifying our Lord.   

You are not your own. 

(Can you believe I was angry at this precious thing?  It only goes to show how we are doomed to sink without Christ at the helm.)