Fresh Mercies

Great is His faithfulness

His mercies begin afresh each morning

Lam. 3:23

Yesterday, my yard looked like a pond because for days, storms have been pelting us with rain.  The days have been dreary and cold.  But this morning, I woke up to sunshine glistening through the trees.  Somehow, the glorious sunshine has pushed its way through the clouds, even clearing up the soggy yard to make it green again.  And the birds are singing as if the storms had never happened.

This reminds me of how God’s mercy is fresh and new every single day.  So if we’ve blown it the night before, losing our cool with hubby and kids, there's good news.  God knows we’re human.  He also knows our heart.  We don’t have to beat ourselves up over our mistakes and failings…the devil does a good enough job of that.  We just need to lay it all at Jesus feet, ask for forgiveness and start again with His fresh, new mercies for the day. The Bibles says if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us for that sin...as well as any other ugly thing we may have said or done.  (1John 1:9)

His “SON”shine has new fresh mercies for you and your family today.  So relax, the storm is passed and the birds are singing again.  Grab a cup of tea and bask in the Son today.

Terri

Preparing Your Ground

Break up your fallow ground

For it is time to seek the LORD

Hosea 10:12

Fallow isn’t a word I use every day...  So what does it mean?  When I really think about it, questions whirl around in my mind.  Do I even have fallow ground?  And if my ground is fallow, what is my ground?  How do I break it up? 

Well, I looked it up.  Fallow ground is potential farmland that is undisturbed.  It is good ground that has not yet been prepared for seed.  It has to be broken up with a hoe so the seed can go down into the ground, grow and bear fruit.

God is always giving us pictures from every day life to help us understand spiritual truths.  So this verse is actually saying it is planting season, (time to seek the Lord), and we need to prepare our hearts, (fallow ground), to better receive Him and the blessings He wants to produce in our lives.  So naturally, my next question is this—How do I break it up?

The answer I guess is in choosing the right tools.  I mean, it would be difficult to break up hard, undisturbed ground with my bare hands.  Even with gloves, my hands couldn’t chop it up.  So I need something with a sharp edge and a long handle for leverage—a hoe. 

Ok, bear with me for just a minute...  I am going somewhere with this.  I’m thinking about real life—our family life.  This is after all, a faith reflection for our family.  In order to have God move and work in our family relationships, it has to begin with my heart and me.  If I’m not willing to break up my own hard places, how can I receive the seed of God’s mercy and see the good fruit of good relationships grow in my family?  It has to begin with my own heart.  That means I have to allow the Holy Spirit to chop up the things I’m holding onto—offenses, stubbornness, my way of doing things.  It’s the Holy Spirit who actually does the breaking, but it is me who has control.  Do I want to do the work and swing this thing into motion? 

Yes, we have a long row to hoe, (excuse the pun), but I love my family and I want God’s best.  The bottom line is this; if I want to see anything grow, and if I want to enjoy the fruit, I have to do the labor.  I have to put my back into it and break up the fallow ground so it can receive the seed.  I can’t do it in my own strength, but with God, all things are possible.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I’m expecting good things to come of my garden.  I'm setting my family table with some big salad bowls and getting ready to enjoy the fruit of this labor.

Terri

Broken Pieces and Fresh Starts

Having a bad day?  Family life stressing you out?  Stepkids pushing your buttons?  Husband not stepping in to correct his kids?  Did the calm reserve fly out the window in a fit of emotional backlash on hubby and the kids?

Well, I can honestly say I’ve been there.  It happened when I was loading the dishwasher after dinner...  Stepdaughter pushed my buttons for the hundredth time that day...dad was oblivious...dishes shoved into the rack...more buttons...more words...dishes hitting harder...louder words...dad not paying attention to his daughter’s disrespect...

One more button pushed and the dishes were thrown into the dishwasher, shattering in the rack... felt good... another dish shattered... have dad’s attention now... one more flying dish (wedding gifts)...and I am out the door...

Well, I drove awhile trying to decide if I even wanted to come back.  Cried...yelled...cried...prayed...cried...

After doing scenic tour of freeway loop for a couple hours, I pointed my car back home...

Love my husband...trying to love my stepchildren...need God’s grace and mercy to see this thing through.

Once I finally stopped ranting and crying, the sweetness of the Holy Spirit enveloped me—comforting me, just as He promised He would.  In Lamentations 3:22 it says, “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” 

Blending is hard work and emotionally taxing, even in the best of circumstances.  We all have buttons, and there will always be someone around to push them.  But God is so faithful to help us through...we are not going to be consumed if we look to Him. 

I went home.  My husband and I talked and prayed.  We settled some hard issues with the kids before going to bed.  His compassion didn’t let me down.

If you read on in the Scripture the next verse says, “They, (His compassions), are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness.”  In the morning, I woke up to a fresh start on blending my family.

If you’ve had a bad day.  Don’t beat yourself up.  Let God help you pick up the pieces and give you a brand new start in the morning.

Believing God

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

I believe in Jesus Christ.  In February of 1974, I heard the amazing story of God’s love for me and I surrendered my life to Him.  In the 38 years since that day, I have called myself a Believer.  So why, after all these years of walking with Jesus, in and out of trials and triumphs, is it so difficult to really believe Him for the daily battles?  Hurt feelings, unmet goals, disappointments, bills, loneliness, and a million other things we secretly stuff inside.

Yes, I am a believer, but what does that really mean?  Believe what?  If a father tells his young child not to touch the pan on the stove because it us hot and will burn him, the child can either believe his daddy, and walk away from it, or he can reach out and touch it.  In both instances, the child will end up believing the truth about the hot burner.  Of course, God prefers we learn by just trusting that what He says is true.  He is a loving Father, and wants us to obey His Word and thereby avoid the pain.  But most of the time, we have to learn to trust Him the hard way...by getting burned.

God wants to teach us how to live our lives’ daily battles by believing He will do what He says He will do.  It is a matter of trust.  Will our lives be trouble free?  No.  But if we truly believe, and we are abiding in the Vine, drawing our strength, wisdom and guidance from Jesus and His Word, we can ask anything and He will do it. (John 15:7)  That means when we pray, we don’t immediately try and figure out a way to answer our own prayers.  We live our lives in Christ, and as we encounter daily battles, we trust Him to answer our prayers in the best possible way for everyone concerned.

Tangled Vines & Deep Roots

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and bogged down by family stuff? 

...Gotta run to this ball practice or that band concert, the debit card won’t work at the gas pump because you made the deposit too late in the afternoon to get credit today, the laundry pile is just as high after the last load as it was before the first one, hubby wants to know what’s for dinner and you forgot to take something out of the freezer...

So, where does all that family stuff end, and a few minutes for me begin?  Wouldn’t it be nice to soak in a hot bubble bath or just lie on the couch and watch a good movie without interruption? 

The other day I was complaining to God that I never seemed to have time for anything I wanted to do.  Even taking time to read my Bible and getting alone with Him was hard.  I prayed, “God, couldn’t you PLEASE just give me a break from my hectic life?”

After praying, I took a walk.  After passing by a pond, I came across a huge oak tree.  At the base of the tree were lots of tangled vines.  Some of the vines were over an inch thick.  And on several, you could see roots growing right into the bark of the old oak tree.  Standing there studying the tree, I finally asked God, “What is that, Lord?”  And I heard Him answer in that still, quiet voice that only comes when I finally get quiet enough to listen.  “Those vines are all the things in your life you’re complaining about...  your kids, your husband, money, and general busyness.  Those things are just life, and they aren’t going anywhere.”

The sweet Holy Spirit then directed my attention to the tree itself.  I was amazed at how big and strong and stately it stood, unhindered by the vines growing all around it.  I asked the Lord, “How is it that those vines aren’t sucking the life out of that tree?”  And His answer was gentle in a reproving sort of way...  “This tree is strong because its roots go deep.”

I realized just then, that if I were going to survive all the hectic demands of my life, I needed to set my roots deeper in Christ.

Walking on past that big oak, I saw another tree.  Entirely covered in vines, it showed no sign of life.  The vines had choked out its life because its roots didn’t have the depth of the other tree. 

Family life can be overwhelming, but our kids, husbands, and day-to-day busyness are just part of this season of life and they aren’t going away.  If we don’t guard our hearts, coveting our time with God, the life can be sucked right out of us too.  So, even if it means getting up a little earlier or staying up a bit later, we all need to soak up His living water, and allow Him to strengthen us through His Word and prayer.  

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.  Behold, those who are far from You will perish...  Psalm 73: 26-27a

Take a Break

We are already FIVE days into 2012 and I haven't even taken down my Christmas tree!
In my mind, I've broken my own self-inflicted rule: "The Christmas tree and decorations must be taken down and stored away by January 1st."  Sometimes life in a blended family can be so crazy and hectic, we have trouble staying ahead of our chaos and rules. And guess what? My family didn't fall apart on January 2nd because the tree was still up...in fact, no one but me even noticed or cared.

The good news is the tree and the rest of my family chaos will be addressed.  Stepmom, go easy on yourself.  Holidays in a blended family can stretch your negotiating skills and patience to the breaking point.  By the time the presents are opened and mess cleared away, we need a break of a different kind.

The kids are back in school, so fix yourself a hot cup of tea, a sappy novel and relax under the twinkling Christmas tree lights.  God's mercies are new every morning and they will be waiting for you tomorrow or this weekend when you're ready to tackle that tree.  Enjoy!