Getting Our Fill

28. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: God's still working on me, Uncategorized · Tags:

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to really rely on Jesus to be my strength and source of life. Many say they are followers of Jesus, but for how many of us is Jesus everthing we need? After Jesus had fed the 5,000, he had many hungry followers. Many it seems, wanted more free food. Jesus said to them in John 6, “you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of loaves.”

To see the rest of this post, visit Faithful Devotions here where I am guest posting today.

1,000 Things

28. February 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Gratitude Community

“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” Prov. 107:8,9

How He fills my soul with good things! And how many of them do I take for granted? Acts 17 says that ”human hands can’t serve his needs-for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.” I wake up every morning and take for granted that I am alive another day. I take for granted that my children will wake up each morning and that my husband will return home from work. How easy it is to forget how the very breath we breathe comes from the hand of God.

306. The air I breathe.

307. Each and every smile from my children.

308. The feel of misting rain on my face.

309. The sound of giggles from boys being tickled.

310. Friends who give encouragement.

311. My new cute purple bible.

312. The opportunity to serve a friend while they are out of the country in their adoption process.

313. Palm branches blowing gently in the breeze.

314. It’s getting warm enough to swim!

315. I think I may have convinced my husband that we should homeschool next year!

Bathroom Angst

26. February 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Parenting

For the past six months or so, my six year old has been complaining about coming into the ladies restroom with me. I have continued to explain to him that because I can’t go into the men’s bathroom, he has to come with me to the ladies bathroom. In the past couple of weeks, he’s become more agitated about it. Over the past weekend, every time he came with me into the ladies bathroom, I noticed him behaving strangely. I realized that each time he saw another female child, he would hide behind me. His anxiety level was high and all he wanted to do was get out of there.

My husband talked to him about it and promised that by the time he was seven, he could go into the men’s restroom by himself. I have to admit that freaks me out a bit. I frankly don’t trust other men in the restroom. It’s really hard for me to send my child off alone where I can’t see him. Honestly, there are just too many people with evil intentions out there for me to feel comfortable.

I know I have to gradually let go and allow him to step out there in the world but this is a hard one for me. From time to time I’ll let him go into a men’s restroom if we’re in a small restaurant and not many people are coming and going. But places like Disney World and the Turnpike plaza and other large places freak me out.

Honestly, am I crazy and overprotective?

Open Hearts

25. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Hospitality · Tags:

In a previous post, Open Doors, I had shared about God’s work in me as he teaches me hospitality. I’ve had some interesting discussions and comments from readers and friends about that post, revealing that hospitality is something we know we are called to do, but not sure how. I believe the act of hospitality begins with an open heart. It’s not really about the act itself but of what the act helps facilitate.

To see the rest of this post, click here to visit Christian Stay at Home Mom’s where I am guest posting today.

Managing Depression, part 1

24. February 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Depression · Tags:

Depression can be an insidious thing; often seeming to come out of nowhere. For me, when I’m really far along on the path of a depressive episode, it’s a rough road on which turn around and head back. I need to catch it before it gets that far.

Geologists are given clues and advanced notice that a volcano is due to erupt. We are given notice when a hurricane is on its way and we have our emergency supplies and evacuation plan in place. It’s very important to know the advanced warning signs that depression is lingering and to have a plan in place for how to handle it. It requires being proactive rather than reactive.

Some of my warning signs are: increased irritability, tearing up at the slighest thing, exhaustion, wanting to be alone, and negative thinking.

It’s often easy for me to blame circumstances, events, or things people say and do for my depression. Jesus said that “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” What’s ultimately in my heart is what controls what I say and do. Many Psychologist’s believe that feelings are not caused by what happens outside us, but by our own thinking. Simply put, my core beliefs about myself effects my thinking, which in turns effects my reactions, emotions, and behavior. When I’m faced with a difficult situation, my thoughts are usually something like, “I can’t handle this” or “There’s no way I can get through this.” Then I begin feeling down and depressed.

When I begin having those depressive feelings, I have to ask myself, “what was I just thinking about?” It’s amazing how thoughts zoom through my head and I don’t realize the impact they have on me. Sometimes it’s as simple as me spilling something in the kitchen and the first thought I have is “of course, that’s just how my day is going” or “how dumb is that?” And from then on I’m feeling irritable. When these thoughts continue to happen over and over without me catching them, my emotions worsen.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians that we need to “take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” And that’s one of the main things I do to manage my depression each and every day. It took me developing a habit of catching those quick, automatic thoughts and challenging those with the truths of scripture so that they didn’t take root and develop into depression. One of the things that a psychotherapist does in counseling someone with depression is by helping them dig into their thoughts and ultimately back to the very beliefs about themselves. By changing those deeply rooted core beliefs and replacing them with the truth, a person is then able to change their thinking which effects their responses to situations. An excellent book on changing beliefs to the truth of how God sees us is Search for Significance by Robert McGee.

Upcoming: Managing Depression Part 2: Having a Support System

The Faith of a Child

23. February 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: Teach Me Jesus

Ian: “Mommy, I believe in God.”

Me: “Oh yeah? What do you believe about God?”

We were sitting together working on a space puzzle-large planets, swirling colors, astroids, and stars.

Ian: “He made everything.”

Me: “What do you think about God’s Son, Jesus?”

Ian: “He healed people. And he heals us.”

Ian is the same age Ethan was when he started asking lots of questions about God, Jesus and his death on the cross, and heaven.

A few weeks ago he asked, “Mommy, why did Jesus have to die?”

We’re always reading about what Christ did for us either in their bible or other stories and honestly, most of the time I’m not sure he’s paying attention. I talked with him about sin and why we needed Jesus to die so that we could have a relationship with God. When I shared with him about heaven and the joy we will have in being with God for eternity, he said, “I’m worried that there aren’t any blankies in heaven.”

It’s so simple for children. I am daily amazed how both my boys can ask a question about spiritual things and easily accept my answer. I also marvel at how well Ethan can verbalize his faith to his little brother. When Ian answered my question about Jesus and said that he heals us, Ethan said, “He heals us from our sins, Ian.”

Why is it so hard for us as adults to accept the truth about God? Why do we doubt Him and what He’s done for us? Why do we doubt that he’s always there and only wants what’s best?

Jesus pointed out that we would need the faith of a child to enter the kingdom of heaven:

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10:15-17

What does that look like for an adult to recieve the kingdom of God like a little child? In Matthew 18, Jesus says that those who have humility like a child will be greatest in the kingdom. Children trust in their parents for all their needs and do all they can to please them. My kids never doubt that I will feed them and clothe them. They know they don’t have the resources to take care of themselves and they rely on us completely for their needs. They run to show me their drawings and tell me stories of what they’ve accomplished. They desire to hear me approve of what they’ve done. This is the humility we need to have.

“Blessed are those who are humble for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5.

Absolute trust. Absolute love. Like that of a child.

Send Emilda to the Olympics

22. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Compassion International

This month’s Compassion blog post is about an 18 year old Compassion sponsored child named Emilda. She has the mental capacity of a three year-old but she is a fast runner. When she was 2 years old, Emilda had a convulsion from high fever and after she woke up from being unconscious for six days, she never was the same. She lives in a squatter community in the Philippines, just outside a cemetary where half naked drunken men roam the streets all hours of the day.

In 2009 Emilda competed in the Philippine Special Olympics. She won a gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze medal in track and field. She did well enough to qualify for the World Special Olympics in Athens, Greece this coming Summer. Emilda’s parents cannot pay her way to the Olympics and neither can the Philippine government. The cost for her to go is $19,857.

Months before the 2009 competition, it didn’t look like there was any way Emilda would be joining the national event. Her parents could not afford to buy her new running shoes or a uniform. Nor could they pay for the psychological and medical tests that are required before competing. They couldn’t even afford for her to travel to the local sports complex for practice. For Emilda and her mother to go to practice each morning and afternoon, they need close to $1.25 a day to pay for the travel expenses. Emilda’s father earns $6.25 a week making tombstones. Her mother tries to make additional money by washing clothes but she can’t do that everyday because she has to watch Emilda constantly. It is very dangerous for Emilda to be out by herself since she is mentally challenged. So Emilda and her mother walk four kilometers every day to the sports complex.

Compassion is hoping to raise the money for her to go to Greece this summer. If you are interested in helping her experience the opportunity of a lifetime, you can click here.

Half Full

21. February 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: Gratitude Community

My son has more of a negative look on life (not sure where he got that from:) He frequently complains that school is boring so my Firefighter husband encourages him everyday to describe three things he liked about school. Recently, my husband used a glass of water to explain to Ethan the difference between viewing things as “half full” or “half empty.” Each evening at dinner, the boys report to us their list of “half full” things they are thankful to God for that day. We’ve been doing a family “1,000″ list and take turns writing it down in a journal.

My son is probably the only child in the world who is thankful for the peas I made for dinner (#14 on the list)!

I think it helps them want to write in the journal since Ethan is the one who designed it:)

297. Sharing with the kids the graces God gives us and hearing their gratitude list.

298. Trip to Orlando and Sea World.

299. I did not cry once on said trip (seems to be a family rule that we haven’t experienced Orlando without the entire family crying at least once)

300. Seeing old friends and their kids. (one whom I was there when he was born-now he’s 8 years old)

301. Happy faces on rides at Sea World.

302. The wonder and diversity of the sea animals God has made.

303. Challenging sermon yesterday on the cost of discipleship-one I need to hear over and over.

304. Sunny days next to the pool.

305. Firefighter husband who can take care of all injuries bloody and somehow convince a screaming child that it’s okay to wear a bandaid.

Kids and Nervous Habits

19. February 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: gifted education, Parenting · Tags: ,

I think most people struggle with habits they wish they didn’t have. Nail biting, curling hair around your finger, etc. My oldest has had a few at various times in his young life but they didn’t last long (for a short time he used to wet his hands and wipe his cheeks with his hands, he also used to stick his hands in his mouth when he was nervous). I noticed last summer when he was in camp for the first time, he started chewing on his shirt from time to time. Once kindergarten started, it became a constant thing. It’s quite normal for gifted learners to have nervous habits so I’m not suprised by it. There’s also plenty to be anxious about in school. However, all his white shirts have a dark spot on them where he chews on them:(

We’re trying to bring the habit from the unconscious level to the conscious level. He really has no idea when he’s doing it. I point it out to him whenever I see him do it. We’ve also made a rule that when he is at home he has three choices:

1. Take off the shirt.

2. Have tape put all around the collar.

3. I put something distasteful on the collar (I’ve wet it and sprinkled pepper on it and I’ve used organic dish soap).

A friend of mine has a highly gifted learner who is now an adult. She told me that when her son was the same age, he chewed on his shirt as well. I’m sure that he’ll grow out of it in time but I am concerned about him being teased. I also want him to learn coping skills for when he is nervous or anxious so that he won’t feel the need to chew on his shirt. His little brother has learned that when he is upset, he is to ask for a hug or go and find his blanket for comfort. He’s been praying each night at bedtime for God to help him stop the habit.

In the meantime, no more white shirts!

Brother’s Rivalry

18. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Parenting, Teach Me Jesus

Most days I feel like I’m a referee at a wrestling match, better yet, an ultimate fighting match. It doesn’t take much for the boys to go from playing nicely together to one or both screaming and crying. Many times, my oldest will provoke the younger by saying things that he knows irritates him. My youngest will respond by damaging something his brother has created (Lego’s for example). Many times I end up separating them into separate rooms and inform them they cannot play together for a half hour.

One of the biggest battles lately has been when they are racing something together and my oldest son always wins. It has started to effect the little one’s self-concept. I’ve heard him saying things like “I’m no good at anything, I never win.” It doesn’t help when his brother rubs it in.

Over a week ago, I had a talk with Ethan, my oldest, about the impact his behavior has on his little brother. I reminded him that Ian was made in God’s image and therefore he has to treat him with kindness and respect. That’s something I am always reminding them both about. I describe it to Ethan by telling him it is as if someone took a piece of art he created and crumpled it up. It hurts God when we mistreat what he has created. Just like Ethan gets really upset when something he has drawn gets damaged. I told him that God chose him to be Ian’s big brother and that Ian will be his only brother. We talked about how verbal wounds can often hurt more deeply than physical ones. I pointed out the negative statements his brother has been saying and how much of an impact Ethan’s statements are to his brother.

We never know if anything we say reaches the heart of our children but I believe the repetition of the same biblical truths will at some point take hold. It is my hope that over time, when they are about to say or do something wrong, the biblical truth they learned will come to their minds and help them to stop. My job is to remain faithful to “teach these things diligently to your children” and to rely on the Spirit to do the rest of the work.

Since we had our talk, the boys have changed the way they play together. Instead of racing against each other, they are now on the same team and race against an imaginary team. When they win, they both win. This was not an idea I gave him, I believe it’s the Spirit’s work in his heart. I pray daily for them both that the Spirit will pierce their hearts and give them a heart that desires to obey God.

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