Hosea {When God calls us to do hard things}

I am starting to read through Hosea.  It's super painful and hard to read, but that's the book God sent to me through a friend, so that's what I'm reading.  I want to blog about my thoughts as I read.  They are very raw and not at all put together thoughts, so no judging.  I would love to hear any of your thoughts on Hosea as well.  I'm praying that God speaks to me through this (actually I know he will because he wouldn't give me this book and not speak to me) and I know he can use you to speak to me too.

Hosea 1Thoughts

I am not a prophet or a teacher, but God calls me and everyone to live in a way that speaks to others.  My life can be a ministry in that way.  That does not mean that I should hold myself to an impossible standard and tell everyone how I have followed XYZ commandment.  It means revealing my brokenness and need for grace to everyone so that they can see my Mighty God at work.  God asked Hosea to marry a prostitute which seems hard enough, but he also asked him to keep forgiving her for her adultery.  I can't imagine how painful that journey was but it allowed Hosea to show God's people, in a way they could actually see, how God's grace works and that it's there waiting for them if they just turn to him and accept it.

I am broken and in need of God's grace in more ways than you can even imagine.  God, give me the strength to reveal my brokenness to others, so that they too can see how amazing your grace really is.  And give me the strength to give that same grace that you have given me to anyone in my life that needs it right now.  Amen.

Dear Precious,

Last night we went out for ice cream.  Just the two of us.  No BubbaJ to distract me and no Sissy to compete for attention with.  At first we didn't talk about much.  What's going on at school.  How much fun Christmas break has been.  But then something happened.  You knew I was listening or I asked just the right questions.  Whatever the reason, you started to talk to me.  I mean REALLY talk to me.  About important stuff.  Your feelings about getting older, how you miss some of your friends because they aren't in your class this year, and things so personal I can't talk about them here.  I need you to know how special that time was for me.  I know I don't have time for that often enough.  I wish you would always talk to me like that.  Even when you're a teenager and think you already know everything or when you're grown and you really do know some stuff.  I thank God for last night and I pray that He has many more of those times in store for us.

I love you!
Mom

More boy differences.

As I watched a Victoria's Secret commercial on television recently I found that I have a whole new perspective.  Before, as I watched those commercials I thought about how angry it makes me that every woman out there feels like she has to live up to that.  I thought about me and how discouraging it was to know that my husband was seeing that as an example.  How at 33 years old and after almost 13 years of marriage, I still have body issues.  And I thought about my girls and how much pain they will probably feel because they will never live up to that.  But this time, I saw that commercial and thought about how mad I am that my son will be constantly inundated with pictures of half naked women and how hard it will be for him to make good, Godly choices throughout his life with all of the temptation that this world throws at him.  Father, help us all to stand strong against the things of this world and hold on to the truths of your word.

New Words

Our house is full of new words.

BubbaJ: "But why?"  Every mother loves those words, right?  I haven't quite started entertaining them with answers yet because he seems satisfied just asking.

Sissy:  "Literally."  She says this like one would use the word "seriously."  Like "Did you really just do that?"  Almost right, but not quite.  And she says it so often I haven't found a good way to correct her.  So if you hear her say "literally" somewhat inappropriately feel free to correct her or ignore it.

Precious:  "My life is over!"  In her dramatic voice.  This comes in response to anything from someone wasn't nice to me at school to you passed the ketchup instead of mustard.  Good times!

I even have "new words" in a way.  I have never enjoyed reading.  In fact, I found some way around reading almost every book I was assigned in high school and college.  And in my adult life I read only for self-improvement.  Then I joined a book club and continued to read only self-improvement books until one of the ladies bought us the book for the month and it was simply a book to read for pleasure.  And I enjoyed it!  Since then I have read seven other books.  Legit books!  And I enjoyed them.  If this keeps up I might have to actually use my library card.  :o

Grace through Prayer

We are studying prayer in Sunday school right now.  Last Sunday this verse stuck out to me:

Luke 23:33-34

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

 

It's easy to think of our enemies as evil people who don't deserve our prayers, but Jesus set forth the example of forgiveness and compassion.  It reminded me of a change that I have noticed in Sissy's prayers.

 

She used to pray, "I hope everyone has a great day, besides robbers and bad guys."

 

Lately her  prayer has changed to, "Help robbers and bad guys to see what they are doing is wrong.  Help them to follow you and do the right thing."

 

To me that is her version of "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  It's an everyday reminder for me to share the grace that God gives me with everyone, even my enemies.

 

 

A party even Jayme would be proud of

Precious turned 10!  I have to say I love having a 10 year old.  I think it might be the joyous age between needing me for everything and needing me for nothing. Here are some pictures of her amazingly fun Glow Party.  I think my friend Jayme would even be proud of this.

The Glow Room

Food Table

Glow Signs

Glow Bowling

Party Girls

They thought it was a good idea to smash cake in their faces.

The Dance Room

Fixing my eyes on Jesus

"Choose joy because God is working, and never look back because you cannot run the race while looking behind you." - Debbie Alsdorf in The Faith Dare: 30 Days to Live Your Life to the Fullest

When I ran my first half, God made it clear to me that I was to run in obedience to him.  He called me to run and he would provide everything I needed to do it.  He provided me with strength, guarded me from injuries, and he even gave me an awesome Bible verse.  But because it was so clear to me last time, I have struggled this time.

Last week as I was running 10 miles God reminded me that he is still providing for me.  People who don't run are really missing out.  They don't get to see how God can provide light in the darkness at the exact moment there is a pothole that I would have fallen in without some light.  Or the way he provided a gorgeous moon on a night I had to run by myself and needed something uplifting to get me through.  Or how he can provide a scripture at the exact moment you need it. Not too soon and not too late.  The exact moment!

After an awful run last night.  I mean AWFUL!  I was feeling defeated.  Like a failure.  And God provided a message for me in my Faith Dare reading for today.  He gave me my "race verse" at the moment when I was feeling the worst. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

So as I finish up my training and run my race I will:

"Choose joy because God is working, and never look back because you cannot run the race while looking behind you." - Debbie Alsdorf in The Faith Dare: 30 Days to Live Your Life to the Fullest