A Mother's Heart Cry for Her Children, and God's Answer

This blog has turned out to be such a source for making precious friends across the miles, that I am ever astounded by how dearly I have come to love so many people whom I've never laid eyes on.

If you're reading this, and have wanted to "meet", I invite you to send me an email at the address listed in the sidebar. I'd love to know you, and know how I can be praying for you.

Shelly, a Precept leader in South Carolina whom I mentioned in this post, is one of the precious friends I'm referring to. She's become like a sister to me, and we talk weekly. I love to hear her pray, for when she does, the Word of God pours off of her lips as one who truly knows the Lord, because she has disciplined herself to study His Word, and therefore knows His heart.

Shelly is a woman who is deeply in love with the Lord. Her desire is to be the best mom she can be, yet she has a redheaded 4 year old little boy, Ben, who likes to really test her!

She also has Sam who is 6...not a redhead. :)

She called me shortly after having written the 1st prayer journal entry, which you'll see below, and was at her wit's end with Ben. Haven't we all been there!

It was during that conversation that I challenged her to the call of leading her boys through studying the Bible inductively. I shared my heart with her, which is that we as parents cannot expect our kids to learn all they need to know about the Lord, just by putting them in Sunday School and Wednesday night classes at church.

What if we were to disciple our children at home, and then trust that what they get at church would be the icing on the cake? The cake that we had been faithful to bake at home!

I fully believe that we will stand before the Throne one day and will answer to God for what we did (and did not do) with His command to us to teach the Word to our children!

That very night, Shelly answered the call, even though neither of her boys are fluent readers. She started teaching them by using one of the Discover 4 Yourself books by Precept Ministries, "Wrong Way Jonah!"

The common misconception that I hear is this...people think they can't use the D4Y books because their kids aren't readers.

Please hear me on this...each of the D4Y books is written as a story within a story. There are a few leading characters, Max and Molly, and with each of the studies, they are learning a new career... they become archaeologists, comic book writers, advice columnists, superheroes, etc, and all the while they (and your kids) are learning to observe, interpret, and apply God's Word!

So, even if the children in your life are not reading yet, you can still use these books!

You'd just need to read the story aloud, and then verbally walk them through how to use the 5Ws and an H to reason through the Scriptures listed. It's all laid out for you in the book, so it's very easy for the teacher.

You will be QUICKLY BLOWN AWAY by how much very young kids can learn about the Word of God, if you'll just take the time to go though a Discover 4 Yourself book with them. And, they'll LOVE it!

OK, back to Shelly....

She was gracious enough to share the entries from her prayer journal, chronicling her journey with her son Ben's behavior, and how being willing to seek counsel, apply some new ideas, and spend daily time teaching he and Sam how to reason through the Word of God, has helped her whole family.

Her hope is that you will be encouraged, edified, and exhorted to begin leading your own children, or those in your church, through inductive Bible study, too!

Here's what she wrote in her prayer journal...

Saturday, May 9, 2009 (the before entry)

Dear Almighty and Most Holy Lord,

My heart is so heavy today! My load and burden seems too difficult to carry.

Immediately I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that “sheep” are not burden bearing animals.

That’s what you call and refer to Your people as…one of Your sheep and You Jesus are the Great Shepherd.

I have come to lay my burden on You.

I am so glad that I can pour out my heart like water before You and You welcome it.

How wonderful! How grateful I am!

So, here goes…

I need Your help with Ben! His screaming is driving me crazy. I beg of You to make him stop!

Teach me how to teach him to control his temper and anger. Teach me how to control mine as well. You have helped me with this already but I’m not all the way there yet.

I greatly desire peace and serenity for my home. A place where order and contentment exist.

A place where mommy doesn’t have an attitude, where mommy doesn’t resent her children’s misdeeds.

I beg for You to fix me to be the mother/nurturer/trainer of these kids.

I want to go to bed each night without regret that I said or did the wrong thing!

Here's the "after" entry....

A dear friend of mine, Jesica, spoke words of wisdom to my heart today.

She challenged me to be in the Word daily with Sam and Ben. I said “really?” “daily?”

I know I should and I have the “want” to but I hesitate – anticipating their response. I feared their lack of attention and lack of excitement.

So, Heavenly Father I bring this to You. I want to want to teach them more than I want to teach adult ladies.

Give to Sam and Ben a deep desire and enthusiasm for Your Word. May they initiate our time of Bible study.

Give me the ability to teach them at 4 and 6 years of age.

I realize that I don’t take teaching them seriously enough. I am more concerned and excited and consumed with teaching others rather than my own children.

Why is that, Lord?

I ask for you to forgive me and change my heart. I am pleading with You Father to truly change my heart and attitude regarding them and turn my heart back to my first ministry.

UPDATE!

We started Bible study last night and it was GREAT!

I read the first chapter of Jonah out loud and asked the 5 W’s and an H.

I used a small dry erase board and drew pictures of the events. I had them draw in their notebooks pictures as well.

They participated and even Sam said the best prayer that “we wouldn’t be like Jonah who when told to go to Nineveh went to Tarshish instead and disobeyed God.” (Sam is 6!)

I showed a map that showed Tarshish was in the opposite direction of Nineveh.

I asked them “Can you really run from the presence of the Lord?” and they said “NO! He sees you all the time and everywhere!”

We also discussed how Jonah’s disobedience was and is SIN and his sin affected other people (the sailors).

We discussed how we are often like Jonah and Sam gave me an example.

Ben tried but had some trouble (he’s four).

Our time together far exceeded my expectation and was so fulfilling!

Oh, my heart is so full of thankfulness to my dearest Father. He answered the cry of this mama’s heart beautifully!

Don't you just want to meet this Momma, who so transparently poured her heart out before the Lord? Doesn't her story make you want to start studying with your own children or grandchildren? What about the children in your church?

Oh that we would all cry out to God for the hearts of our children, as Shelly did!

Here she is...with Sam and Ben, in front of the library on the grounds of Billy Graham's ministry.

I love you, Shelly! Thanks for sharing your story with us, and keep up the great work!

The Sweet Prayer of a Friend...

I can never adequately express my appreciation for all of the prayers that have been sent up on our behalf over the past few weeks.

Truly, we thank each one of you who have lifted us up before the Lord.

I want to share one of those prayers with you now. This was sent to me by my friend Melissa, (though not the Melissa I wrote about last week).

This Melissa and I met last year in a Precept class that we were both taking. She then joined us at the Precept retreat, and that's where I really got to see her heart.

She came to me at the end of the retreat, big tears filling her beautiful brown eyes, and said something along these lines... "It's time for me to get up and going. I've wanted to go to seminary for so long, and have been studying inductively for the past 10 years or so. Through this retreat God showed me that He wants me to start leading others right now. People need to know how to study the Bible for themselves, and I've been given this gift...it's time to share it with other people!"

Melissa then joined us last year for a study of "Rising to the Call of Leadership," which we used as a leadership development class. Everyone fell in love with her! She has the sweetest disposition, and such a heart for the Word and for people.

I wanted to share the prayer that she emailed to me (by permission), because it is so full of Scripture. I've bolded the parts that are directly from the Word of God. (Hope you don't mind me taking that liberty, Melissa.)

As I read it, I was reminded of how the Word of God really does implant on our hearts, and spills out our mouths (or fingers in this case) when we spend time in dedicated study on a regular basis.

Melissa, you bless my life, and I am so proud of you that I could pop! It's incredibly exciting to watch how God is using your life for His glory!

What an amazing blessing it is to call you friend, and to get to sit in your "amen" corner!

I love you, sister!

Jes

After I sent you the e-mail, I read your blog.

I'm so sorry to hear about your possible diagnosis. I am praying for you and your family!!

Hang in there, hang in there, hangeth thou in there, dear friend.

Our hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us, allthough, sometimes I feel like my heart is too small to hold both pain and His love. Yet, as the Grinch's heart grew, so does mine.

It grows by faith. It is by faith that a woman of God has a heart that bears burdens, yet hopes and prays and prays and prays for herself and for others.

You bet my hope does not disappoint. It is that hope that allows me to finish strong or smile when the the external screams the contrary.

Praise be our Savior through whom I have received the reconciliation!!

I truly glory in Him.

God bless you Jesica in all you bear as you daily walk!

I am praying on the alert with all perserverance and petition for you dear Sister!

Thoughts on My Ministry

I wrote this post several weeks ago.

I trust that God's timing for it's publishing is perfect, for had I posted it when I first wrote it, Shelly's story would not have been available. She is ecstatic about my sharing it.

May you be blessed, encouraged, and compelled to walk in the good works God lays before you...(your family being #1)

My ministry.

Even those words look odd to me.

It's not "my" ministry, it's the ministry of the Lord through me. The same can be said of you.

It's the Lord's ministry through those who obey Him.

I've been thinking a lot about ministry lately...about what God desires to do with and through my life. About what an awesome, humbling thing it is that the Almighty would even choose to use any of us in His grand plan for mankind.

Last year, the Lord tugged on my heart...whisphered to my heart, to put together a Precept retreat. In every single step of the way, He went before us. He paved the way for that retreat to happen, and He did some awesome things in the hearts of many of us who were there.

Since the time of the retreat, I've had countless conversations with people who took the challenge from the Lord, and stepped forward to lead others in inductive study. Many of these stories came from people who had never led ANY Bible studies, much less a study that teaches people to reason through God's Word for themselves.

Immediately after the retreat, I was hit with sickness like I've never dealt with before.

For months upon months, I found myself sidelined.

Flattened.

Worn out.

But you know, the Lord was in control of all of it, and through it He has taught me some invaluable lessons.

I am so passionate about people being rooted in God's Word, that I don't always see the ministry right in front of my eyes.

I forget that it's important to have healthy meals for my family, down time with my sweetheart, game time with my children.

Yesterday as I was getting ready to go to church, to lead the youth (whom I love!) in our Wednesday night class, Brennan came into my bathroom crying. She told me that her tummy was really hurting, and that she didn't feel like going to church.

She LOVES Wednesday nights, so I knew this wasn't about her trying to get out of something she didn't want to do. (Um, that was MY trick when it came to school!)

I was a bit paniced. It was 5:40pm, and we had to leave for church in 20 minutes, and I had to discern in just moments, what I was to do.

In my flesh, I wanted to make her "buck up" and tell her that she'd be fine, and that Mommy had a class to teach.

But, in my spirit, I was unsure. So I prayed, and then I called a precious woman of God from within our body, and she graciously stepped forward and taught class that night.

And I stayed home with my first ministry, and cuddled and watched a movie.

And you know, the sweet woman who took my class that night, and has raised 4 children who know and love the Lord, said to me, "Sometimes, all they need is you."

Oh, how she ministered to me through her kindness, and her heart of service!

I've been praying and asking the Lord to tender my heart toward home. I've removed different outside ministry roles from my plate so that my attentions could be focused more here.

It's not the most comfortable thing in the world for me. I like moving and shaking...I like pressing onward and upward.

I am passionate about people learning to study God's Word for themselves.

My heart aches for those who are believers in Jesus Christ, yet do not know what to do with their Bibles, or who don't realize that God's Word really will be a lamp unto their feet, and a light unto their path, TODAY if only they'll discipline themselves to spend time in it.

As a result of this passion for people to know God's Word, I struggle with how much I am to do. If it were only me, or if our kids were grown and Shane and I were free to teach people how to study any time we liked, I think I'd want to have a class going every day!

Shane told me the other day that it isn't Jesus who loads us to the point of breaking. It isn't the Lord who gives us so much on our plates that we get sick from it.

We do that.

His burden is light.

I think of the time that I left my own children in order to go for a week of training for ministry.

I left my children, and my husband. My husband still had to work full time, and my children were being shuffled in order for my "ministry" training.

If I had it to do over again, that would not happen. If I had it to do all over again, I'd make a different choice. I'd choose to wait upon the Lord, and to wait for training to come to my town, instead of leaving my family behind for a week.

I thank God that He knows my heart, and forgives my poor choices. That was definitely a poor one.

It grieves me that we as women have such internal battles as to what ministry is. Is it the feminist agenda at work that tells us that ministering to our families is not sufficient?

I was talking recenlty with my friend Shelly, another Precept leader, and she too has small children. She was sharing with me that they were having some huge struggles with their 4 year old.

I asked her how much time she was spending in the Word with him, and there was only silence coming from her end. Then she asked, "Really? I mean, really?! I guess I think he's too little to understand, or to get it. I mean, I teach women! Not kids!"

To which I said to her, "Oh no, sweet friend. If you have kids, you teach kids. It's that simple. If your children grow up to reject the Word, and you haven't done your job to teach it to them, you will never forgive yourself. And, it won't matter if every woman in your town is living for the LORD, if you haven't done your job with your kids."

What a joy it was to get a call from her just 2 days later, telling me that she had sat her children down and started on "Wrong Way Jonah!", and that they had LOVED it! She said they were so into it, and she was thrilled beyond words!

Huge!

Oh, to raise world changers for God's glory!

I remember several years ago when we first moved to town, that I would spend hours each week taking my kids to the park. With each trip to the park, I met new people. Most were moms who were new in town, and were looking for friends, and for places to connect.

The friendships that were formed, and the opportunities to share Christ with those moms, were unmatched.

Isn't that what ministry is, at it's core?

Living as the light of Jesus Christ in a world of darkness?

Loving others as Christ loved us, and being available to share His love with them?

As we move into the summer, I realize that much of "my" ministry is going to happen right here in my home...in my neighborhood.

There are going to be children in my home, or swimming in our backyard...children who may not know how precious they are to Jesus Christ.

Will I answer THAT call?

Will I minister reconciliation over cookies and milk, and a good water gun fight?

Or, will I be grumpy and stressed with these kids, because I have to prepare to lead Bible study?
Will I show my children, through sacrificial love, that their friends and their interests are important to me, or will I crowd out their needs for those needs that I deem "important?"

A new friend of mine said these words to me a few weeks ago, and they have powerfully impacted my life...

"I have to learn to say "no" to the good, so I can say "yes" to the great."

I don't want to sacrifice my family on the altar of "doing ministry."

I just don't.

And I've finally decided that I won't.

Again, I'm reminded, as I listen to the words of my precious and amazing husband...

"It's not Jesus that loads us to the point of breaking. We do that to ourselves."

Update from Dr.'s Visit Today...

What a crazy time we live in, isn't it?

I find I'm communicating more through Facebook, email and here on the blog, than I am by phone these days.

I had an appt. with a neurologist today, and these are the basic findings...

1. She does not think that what I'm dealing with is MS. My dear friend who was just diagnosed with MS, is not so sure.

2. I have to have more testing done. EEG, another MRI in a month or so, and some other tests that I don't remember the name of. ...they are designed to test the memory, so I find it pretty funny that I can't recall the name. :)

3. I asked her for a best and worse case scenario.

Best: this could be as "simple" as the remaining issues from having had Epstein-Barr. Evidently, even a virus can cause a lesion to form on the brain.

Worst: a brain tumor.

Say it with me, in your best Arnorld voice, "It's NOT a TUMOR!"

So, we wait, and we pray, and we see what next week and next month hold.

Thank you for praying. So many of you have written or called to say that you are, and I want you to know, I cherish each prayer, and am humbled by your graciousness.

A precious friend of mine called to pray with me today, and in our conversation, she reminded me that even the waiting is part of God's plan, and she encouraged me not to dismiss the waiting time.

I loved that!

So right on!

Thanks, Melissa. 

You're a sweetie!

Mothers Day...Mother's Day...Mothers' Day...?

I never do know...does that need an apostrophe? Mother's Day...Mothers Day....Mothers' Day ?

However it is to be, Happy Mothers Day.

Caedmon is sick today. We've had rounds of this lately, and he got his turn as it kicked in last night on our way home from our first Diamondback's game.

Poor little guy. He's just pitiful when he's sick!

P-I-T-I-F-U-L!

He was whining ( I mean talking ) to me a few minutes ago about the fact that we aren't going to go to church tomorrow, and he's quite sad that we won't be there.

He said, "MOMMY! We can't miss on Mother's Day!"

I said, "Caedmon. My Mother's Day will still be wonderful. I have everything I could ever ask for, for Mother's Day."

"But Mommy...we didn't get you anything yet! What do you want?"

"I just want you and Brennan to put bows on your heads. You are my presents."

And oh, how they are!

We're holding steady here today. Thank you so much for all of the prayers.

They are priceless!

Jes

I Know I Am Loved By the King....

Hi Friends...

Talk about having written a post over and over again in my head...this one I've tried to write, but alas...I'm just cutting, pasting and editing the prayer request that I sent to my church today.

I know you'll understand...

I have been having horrid migraine headaches for several months. As of late, they have been waking me in the middle of the night, and even after taking something for them, they are still there when I wake up.

On Monday of this week, it was so bad that I went to Urgent Care, just begging for relief.
Thankfully, the Dr. there (whom we love, a fellow brother in Christ) asked a lot of questions and then urged me to get an MRI.

I had that done on Wednesday.

By the time that we got back home from having it done, he had already called to talk with us. Shane and I loaded up and went to see him so we could talk face to face.

He explained that I have a lesion on my brain. His biggest concern seemed to be MS, as so many of the funky things I've been dealing with for the past year, are symptoms in keeping with MS.
So he referred me to a neurologist whom he highly respects, and described as being more like a family doctor in her demeanor. (yay!)

She wanted to have my films sent to her office, and the scheduler told me that the first available appt. was 5/26, but that if there seemed to be an urgent matter, they would call me to schedule sooner. She also told me that the Dr. isn't in the office on Fridays or Mondays, so I wouldn't be hearing from them until next Tuesday.

Well, they called today, and the Dr. wants me next Tuesday. She also told the scheduler to tell me that she is seeking a 2nd opinion. Don't know what to make of that.

I was going to keep this as quiet as possible. (You're saying, "yeah, right" aren't you?) :)

However, it occurs to me that we really need prayer right now.

So here are my prayer requests, in order:
1. That people who are closely watching me through this already, will come to know that they are loved by the King, and will bow their knee before Him, and receive Him as Lord.
2. Ditto that for my lost family members.
3. That God will be glorified in my life, no matter what this turns out to be.
4. For Shane...oh I love that man...that he will be able to talk it all out...that he will have brothers come alongside him through whatever we are facing.
5. For my babies...that I'll be sensitive to their needs, and hear what they aren't saying...that they'll run into Jesus instead of away from Him.
6. For an opportunity to teach more people how to study God's Word for themselves. :)
(You knew I'd be slipping that in somewhere, didn't you?!)
7. For answers. This has been a tough road, and I'd just like to ask for a clear diagnosis.

Thank you for praying for us.
Much love,
Jes

A Poem...until my next post is ready. :)

My sweet friend and "Naomi-Janan" talked with me this week about my last post. She honed in on the part where I talked about not posting more often.

Her words were, "I can't help but wonder if you're discouraged, and feeling isolated."

How precious you are to me, Janan! Thank you for loving me like the daughter you never had. Thank you for praying and speaking the Word over my life. A reference to a song by Watermark..."You've Been More Than A Friend To Me"...such a beautiful song!

Sweet friends, she encouraged me to press on, and to write more often...that it encourages others.

I do admit, I am often amazed at the number of people who have contacted me since I started this blog...people from India, Germany, South Africa, and some of my very favorites from right here in the USA. :)

Truly, this blog has been a source of fellowship for me so many times, and I hope and pray that the Lord uses it to encourage and strengthen you.

Until I finish the post I'm writing about "Sweeter Than Chocolate"...the new study by Pam Gillaspie, published by Precept, I'll leave you with a poem I wrote years ago.

I wrote it right before I became a Christian, but clearly the Lord was calling me. I've since had to change a few words, as the doctrine wasn't correct. ;)

Enjoy!
(I do love reading your comments, so consider this an official "fishing" for some.)

Love you!
Jes


Grace
by Jesica P.

Don’t you ever find yourself,
In quiet times alone
Trying to absorb the awesomeness
Of all that God has done?

And don’t you ever ask yourself,
When you truly look within…
How it is that He so graciously
Once again, forgives THAT sin?

Don’t you ever wish in your heart,
When you’re wanting to give back
That you always stayed the course with Him,
And never got off track?

Don’t you know in your soul,
In the place where He resides
That He wants to bless you…
And to be your joy and pride?

I think of all the mistakes I’ve made,
Of the tears He must have shed…
Of the times I know He wanted to scream,
“Does it mean NOTHING that I was TORTURED, and I BLED?!”

“That sin has been forgiven,
From it’s bondage, you’re set free…
Don’t you know that every time you run back to it,
You’re once again torturing me?”

“Don’t you realize the blessings I have for you,
Are more splendid than any for which you’ve prayed?
I’m so ready to pour them out to you,
Yet I can’t, when you continue to stray.”

“Don’t you want to come home my child,
And feel my love and grace?
I have so much joy and happiness waiting for you,
Those tears We will erase.”

“For there’s no more despair, with your Lord,
And no trial We can’t survive.
You’re not alone in this world, My babe,
Because inside of you, the Holy Spirit is alive!”

“So please, forget the things of this world,
That tempt you to believe
That you could EVER experience the kind of excitement
That only a life with Me, lets one receive.”

“Come home, My precious baby,
My sweet little lamb, Your Daddy longs to hold you…
Your Father, The Great I AM.”

Kings, Prophets, and You and Me

I want to confess something to you tonight...

I am constantly writing blogs. I write them every day in my head, it's just that most of them only make it that far...they never see the light of day, so of course they don't make it to blogger. :)

I've been doing some self reflecting about this...trying to figure out why I don't sit down and write every cool thing that I learn from the Word on a daily basis.

Truly, I'd love to do just that. But I don't. So the obvious question is "Why not?"

I think it's because what I've been studying the past 8 months or so has been so awe-inspiring to me; so new; so laden with the history of Israel, of which I am no expert, that quite honestly, I've had to have some time to really meditate upon what I've learned.

I simply mean I've had to chew on these truths I've been learning. I've had to have time to let them solidify in my heart.

Does that make sense at all?

I sure hope so, for your sakes. For my sake, I'm all good with it. :)

The major lessons for me in our study of "A Divided Heart, A Divided Nation" - (1Kings & 2nd Chronicles) were :

1. It's all about God being glorified. All of it. It has to be. Anything less from us is total    disobedience.

The temple - a place for God's glory to reside

Jerusalem - the city which God chose for Himself where His Name would dwell

King David - God's chosen man, for God's glory and God's purposes although he sinned grievously, he never once turned from serving the One True God, the God of Israel, to serving idols...never. He was repentant over his sin, and submitted to God's discipline all the while trusting in His mercy and lovingkindness.

Solomon - at first it seemed he started his reign well, but I'm not so sure I think so. At the time that he prayed his prayer for wisdom from God, he had already made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh to marry his daughter. This was total disobedience to God.

Yet, at times he really knocked it out of the park with his prayers. He prayed as someone who knew the Lord, and was genuine in his prayer to him, or so it seems.

Yet, his life did not imitate his prayers.

 

I'm still "chewing" on what I've learned about Solomon. Some would say he had a divided heart. I'm not sure that's possible. I love how one of the ladies in our group put it...."If you cut your heart in half, you die."

How did Solomon do with bringing God glory? Not so good...he worshiped false gods, built houses for the many gods that his 700+ wives served. Yes, he built the temple to God, but then he built other temples/high places to idols! And lots of them!

Rehoboam and Jeroboam are next in line. You see, after Solomon, the nation of Israel divided. 

There were definite consequences to disobeying the Word of the LORD.

There are still consequences to disobedience to the LORD Most High. We don't often hear about that in some of our churches these days, but it's the truth. 

God disciplines those whom He loves.

For our good, for our edification. 

What loving parent wouldn't discipline a disobedient child? If your child keeps putting his head in the oven so he can smell the cookies baking, repeatedly ignoring your instruction not to do that because he could get burned, aren't you going to discipline him at some point, for his best?

Think about this....a kid who is putting his head into a hot oven IS going to be disciplined one way or another....either by you, or by the oven. 

I have a friend who says that either she will discipline her children, or the world will. 

So it is with God. He loves us, and knows what's best for us, even if we don't agree. If we belong to Him, His plans are always to do good for us in the end. (Deut. 8)

What did I learn from Kings & Prophets?

It's all about God glorified. 

In Kings 

In fulfilled plans, like the temple being built 

In honored promises, like how there has always been and will always be a King on the throne of David. 

In Me- My daily question needs to be, "Lord, how to you want to be glorified in me today?

What is my job assignment for Your glory, Lord?"

In You - will you obey? Will you live for His glory in all things, and not for your desires?  

Will you begin your day tomorrow talking with the Lord, and telling Him,                

 

"I'm here Father, a ready ambassador of Christ Jesus...a minister of the reconciliation that you performed for mankind. Your bond-servant. What "field" do you want me to work today, Master?"

Can you tell that I'm still "chewing" ?

We'll talk about the first King of Judah and the next King of Israel, next.

And, we'll talk about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, too!

Much Love ... 

Jes

People Don't Know What To Do With Jesus

Today my sweet little Brennie and I went to the library to check out some movies for the weekend.

While we were standing at the checkout desk, I commented on the beautiful bright pink blouse that the sweet lady behind the desk was wearing. 

"I love that pink!" 

"Thank you. I thought it was nice for Easter, " she said.

"He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!" I said.

She was blank.

Had no idea what to say to me.

The nice man beside her was blank too. Usually he has a smile and a kind word for us when we see him on our visits. Most of the time he's quite the chatter-bug.

Zippo today.

Nothing.

Well, I take that back. He did have a bit of a scowl.

Coincidence?

I don't know.

Sure did sadden me though. I wondered as I left, if either of them know the Lord.

Are they believers who have just been squelched by the fact that they work at a library that is on the campus of a public school?

Or, do they know the Lord?

The best news in the world....the best news of all time....

Jesus Christ came to give His life that we might live.

He came to pay the sin debt for you and for me.

It's by His life that we are saved.

If He had not risen after being laid in the tomb, you and I would still be dead in our sins.

If He had just been crucified and buried, He would not have fulfilled prophesy. 

He could not have been Messiah.

What's the Good News of Good Friday?

He gave His life that we might have life eternal. 

And on the 3rd day, He rose again!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Tell someone that over the next few days, won't you?

If you've never shared that blessed good news, share it with at least one person, please.

To be loved by the Lord of  Lords is an awesome thing!

Who do you know that needs to hear how much Jesus loves them...that He gave His life that they might live?

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Caedmon's Call

I should be sleeping right now. Do me a favor, and don't look at the time of this posting, ok?

You'll think I've lost my mind, when in fact, I still have it, it just won't shut off!

So, here I sit, baring my soul with my friends, and countless strangers. 

Good thing I'm not an introvert, isn't it?

Since I'm on a roll, I'll tell you another secret about myself. I tend to get "fritzy"...that's the word that the kids and I have come up with to describe my behavior at times....Fritzy.

Now please, if this is a real word that means something other than uptight, wired, and with a leaning toward DONE, then don't tell me. Just let me go on using my word in my context, because it's just too fun of a word to have to surrender, ok?

Here's an example of when my fritziness shows up the most...my children like to team up on me, at the very moment that I'm loading the van to go run errands. 

And I do mean THE VERY MINUTE...I'm deep in thought, trying to make sure that I have one thing for all of the 12 stops we'll be making, and that I have my cell phone and charger, and iced tea (I drink a lot, but not that kind of drinking...it's AZ, for goodness sake...everyone drinks a lot...and for some it IS that kind of drinking!)..oh, back to my list....lipgloss, toilet paper roll (I'm too cheap to buy kleenex)...water for the kids....you get the idea.

So, it's RIGHT in the midst of all of this that my children, who are seated in the back row of a very long mini-van, like to start peppering me with what they want to do while we're out. 

Remember "going to town" when you were a kid? Well, it's kind of like that for us...I really don't like going out much, so when we do, it's a big deal!

I'll be right in the swing of loading the front passenger seat up with all of my goodies/returns/toilet paper rolls, and in the back I'm getting grilled like it's the Spanish Inquisition.

Due to the great need, I decided we'd have a "rule" about this...no talking to Mommy until I'm at the end of the street! No talking to me while I'm loading the car, no talking to me when I'm backing out, JU JUST NO TALKIE! :)

I mean, if my Mom had had this rule, my cat might still be alive...but hey, I digress. 

So today, they didn't observe my fritzy-free Mommy rule AT ALL!

They were like Mr. & Miss Jabberjaws from the moment we got in the car. 

yakity yak. Yakity Yak. YAKITY YAK. YAKITYYAKITYAKITYAKITYAK!

I thought I was handling it pretty well, until I came up to a stop sign, was trying to find my phone charger, and my fresh glass of iced tea almost spilled all over me.

That's when I blew it. 

Yep, blew it big.

From the back of the van, little man says, "Mommy, I want to tell you something."

I didn't miss a beat. I just went straight into nosedive, headed for full throttle explosion.

No, I didn't yell. I just said, "Caedmon, I just can't do it right now, son. I just can't listen. I'm trying to drive, and there are cars everywhere, and I almost spilled my tea, and I'm FRUSTRATED because I can't find my charger. and I just can't DO it right now!"

From the back I hear, "It's ok Mommy. We don't have to talk about it."

Insert knife, twist, dig deep, twist once more to make sure it's really in deep.

Yes. That's what it felt like.

I knew in that moment that I had really blown it! 

My son didn't want anything. He was just hoping for a listening ear from his Mommy, and I was so focused on myself that I wouldn't even give him that!

Don't you hate it when you blow it with your kids? 

I do. I really, really, really do. I hate it!

It took me three times of asking him, and 3 times of reassuring him that I really did want to hear what he had to say, before he'd finally open up again.

But he did. THANK YOU, JESUS!

And it was rich.

"Mommy. Brad was over playing the other day, and I thought it was the perfect time to tell him about Jesus. I want to make sure that he knows how to give his life to Christ when the time is right, so I told him how to."

Mommy is stunned into silence.

"I told him that he could know the One True God. You know what he told me, Mommy?"

"He told me that that wasn't right. He told me there is a moon god, and a sun god, and a god of the sea, and a rain god. He told me there are lots of gods, no One True God."

"Hmm..So what did you say then, Caedmon?"

"I just told him that those gods weren't real. They were just created from man's imagination, but that the One True God made man, man can't make God."

"Then I asked him if he wanted to become a Christian. I told him he could do it right then and there, all he had to do was repent of his sin, and lay his life down for Jesus Christ. To live for Him, instead of for himself. I told him though, Mommy, that Jesus laid His life down for Brad...He died so that Brad could live one day."

"He said that his parents hadn't taught him this stuff. So, I told him that it's through the children that the parents often get saved."

"What do you mean by that, Caedmon?"

"Well, Mom. Sometimes a child gives their life to Jesus, and then the parents realize that they need to also. I told him that could happen for his parents. Maybe he's supposed to lead the way."

Suffice it to say, a lot rattled through my head at that moment.

1. I need to master my fritzes, not let my fritzes master me.

2. My son is a treasure.

3. I'm so glad we didn't shut this little kid, "Brad" out of our lives because he can be difficult. 

I'm glad that we told Caedmon that the Word says to love him, and that that's exactly what we were going to do.

4. I often look at my kids and wonder what they'll be when they grow up. I really don't wonder that too much anymore with Caedmon. 

This kid loves God's Word so much. He begs me to read the Bible to him, to teach him the Word....and then he goes and teaches others...his friends, strangers on a plane, kids at the park....it truly is the Good News, and he is compelled to share it.

I think I have an evangelist on my hands. Or a pastor. 

That just upped my job responsibilities...but what an honor to be the mother of a pastor, should that happen one day...

Pray for my fritzes, won't you?

And for "Brad" - name has been changed, of course

And for Caedmon - if God does call him to preach or evangelize, he's going to be preaching to a generation that is upside down, quite likely...as his Mommy, I'd covet your prayers even now...

Made me think of this verse today...this was when Paul commissioned Timothy, just as Paul was dying..I love this passage.

2 Timothy 4:1-5	I solemnly charge {you} in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
	preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
	For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but {wanting} to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
	and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
	But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Blue Letter Bible. "2 Timothy 4 - New American Standard Bible." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 7 Apr 2009. < b="2Ti&c="4&t="NASB">

The Great Bible Study Giveaway from Precept Ministries

Dear Friends....

I am SO excited about this!

Precept Ministries is holding "The Great Bible Study Giveaway", and anyone can enter to win.

You could win a Leather bound New Inductive Study Bible, or any number of Precept Bible Studies!

I'm thinking that after my last post, I need to be sure and sign up to win...oh wait, I have a NISB Bible...I just didn't crack it open that day!

Seriously, though. This is a great time to share God's Word and Precept with those in your church, your neighborhood, your workplace, your MySpace world of contacts, on your blog or through your FACEBOOK page. :)

If I'm not your Facebook friend yet, I sure would like to be...especially if you're a Precept person. I love hooking up with Precept students and leaders from across the world!

Now, for some marketing tactics... (hey, old habits die hard!)

Would you add this link to your Blog or Facebook Wall or MySpace?

Would you please forward this post to your friends and family, and encourage them to enter to win, too?

Think grassroots marketing here, folks!

We need your help to reach as many people as possible with this great opportunity!

Most importantly, I encourage you to join me in praying that many hearts will turn from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh as they are given this opportunity to discover Truth for themselves.

Discover. Go Deeper. Disciple.

Where are you in your journey with God?

Precept has tools for you at any level...from brand new beginners to those who are ready to be used of the Lord to raise up new leaders.

If I can help answer any questions for you, feel free to send me an e-mail.

OK, enough chatting...now go enter to win! :)

Have a great day!

Jes

P.S. I studied my Bible today...what a difference a day makes!

Just didn't want you all getting worried about me. :)