Seeking the counsel of the Lord

Hello friends! I wanted to share a little something that the Lord showed me a couple of days ago as I was spending some time in the Word...

In Joshua 9, the Israelites were in the process of driving out the former inhabitants of Canaan, the land the Lord had promised to give them. Following victory over the people of Jericho and Ai, word was spreading of the great power of the God of the Israelites. As the other kings of the cities of Canaan began to hear of this victorious nation, they banded together to fight Joshua and the people.  But when the inhabitants of Gideon got word, they when to Joshua and deceived him by pretending to be travelers from a far away land, hoping to make a treaty with the people that they might spare their lives.  They wore old garments, their wineskins were torn and mended, and their bread was dry and moldy.  Verse 14 says, "then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask the counsel of the Lord." So Joshua made a covenant with the Gibeonites and allowed them to live.  How often do we, perhaps in our pride, trust our own judgement and fail to seek the counsel of the Lord, only to be faced with enemies with whom we have blindly made treaties?

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16

See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5:15

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Are we being diligent to seek the counsel of the Lord in every decision, both big and small?  I'm certainly being reminded to do so!

Until next time...

What kind of fruit are you bearing?

Well, it's been awhile. ;) My absence was not intentional and I have had some thoughts rolling around in my head for a little while now, but I'm just now making the time to sit down and get them out, which always makes me feel better!  For the writers reading this, you know what I mean!

So I have been teaching my almost 3-year-old daughter about the fruit of the Spirit and what they mean.  Especially self-control. ;)  We have been discussing them for several weeks and the other day when we were in line at Sam's, she just couldn't understand why we had to wait in line.  She was hungry and more than ready to go.  Thus, began a discussion of patience and what it means to be patient.  It means that we wait, but not only wait, to wait with gentleness and joy (had to throw in a couple more fruits while I was at it) and not with a begrudging spirit.  I asked her what it meant to have fruit of the Spirit.  I said as I held up my right arm, "Does that mean that Mommy has bananas hanging from her arms?"  She, of course laughed and said, "No, that's silly, Mommy!"  As I pointed to the back of my ear, I asked her, "Does it mean I have grapes growing behind my ears?!"  Another laugh ensued and then she replied ever so sweetly, "Mommy, it means you have fruit in your heart!"  I had never explained that concept to her before, but her precious little heart was beginning to understand what it meant to have a pure heart filled with good things.  Tears welled up in my eyes as I told her that, yes, that's exactly what having fruit of the Spirit means. 

I was praying a few days later asking the Lord for wisdom, as I do daily, on how to shape these precious souls that the Lord has blessed me with.  I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that they will model the behavior that they see displayed in my life.  If I am impatient, they will be impatient.  If I'm not gentle in my approach with them, they will not learn to be gentle in their approach with others.  It is an overwhelming responsibility at times to be the one they look to on a daily basis for an example of Jesus, which is why it is so crucial for me to spend time daily imploring the Lord for wisdom and asking Him to mold me into who He wants me to be as a mother.  I must realize that I can do nothing apart from the Lord and His guidance and constantly (sometimes hourly) seek His direction.  I am certainly still learning this lesson! 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25 

Until next time...

What kind of fruit are you bearing and who is imitating that fruit because of your example?

It won't be like this for long...

Happy Resurrection Weekend!  What absolutely beautiful weather the Lord has blessed us with as we celebrate His death, burial and resurrection.  I will forever be grateful for His sacrifice. 


I was just putting my daughter down for a (past-due) nap a few minutes ago and was selfishly trying to get her down in a hurry when she sweetly asked me, "Mommy, will you lay down with me while I go to sleep?"  How could I resist?  So I climbed up in her bed and lay down beside her.  We sang several of her favorite songs as she played with her stuffed animals (which is our normal night-night routine) and then she peacefully drifted off to sleep.  I do this often when I stay long enough for her to fall asleep, but I laid there for several minutes just watching her.  I thought of when she was a tiny baby and how helpless she was and now there lays before me an almost 3-year-old who can walk, talk, eat, dress herself and use the potty.  Of course, I so enjoy seeing her grow and mature, but sometimes my heart aches at how quickly time flies.  There are some moments (like the one I just had) that I wish I could freeze-frame in my heart and cherish just a little while longer.  But alas, the clock keeps ticking and each day brings about new experiences, developments and independency.  Even though I look forward to those new dynamics of my relationship with my daughter, I don't want to miss today.  The things that I needed to get done while she was asleep will be there later and I will tackle them then, but today, my precious little girl wanted me to lay down with her until she fell asleep....and that's just what I did. 


I saw this quote on a friend's Facebook status the other day: "If you have the choice between cuddling and cleaning, always choose the cuddling."  It's so true.  The other things can wait.  They grow up so very fast. 


The first time I heard this song on the radio, I literally had to pull the car over because I was sobbing.  If you haven't heard it, you'll see why when you watch this video.  Might want to go ahead and get the tissues now.  ; )

Until next time..

A story of the Father's relentless love

First, allow me to say welcome to my very first blog.  I am a newbie to this whole thing, but I wanted a place to be transparent in my daily victories, failures and struggles as a wife and mom and about the lessons the Lord is teaching me along the way.  With that being said, what's posted here may not always be eloquent or worth your time reading, but I pray that it always accomplishes at least one thing: to glorify our Heavenly Father. 


I had an incident with my 2 and a half year old daughter this week that prompted me to begin this blogging journey.  It always amazes me what the Father teaches me through my everyday dealings with my children.  My daughter is a precious, caring little soul, but she is very strong-willed.  I had been reading The Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson and became determined to "win" the battles (worth fighting) that ensued with her.  I was not going to allow an almost 3-year-old to dictate my world.  Wednesday came along and presented the first battle (of many, I'm sure) since my new determination to bend her will.  Her baby brother was down for a nap, I was vacuuming the floor and she was playing on the couch.  All was well until I looked and she was standing on the couch, which is a no-no in our house.  I calmly told her to sit down and not stand on the couch, as I resumed my cleaning.  A minute later, I looked and she was again standing on the couch, with a look on her face that said, "What are you going to do about it?" She was obviously testing my authority.  I turned off the vacuum, took her on my lap and explained that because she disobeyed, she would have to have a spanking.  After spanking her, I gave her a hug and told her how much I loved her, which is our normal thing after discipline.  I then kept her on my lap to talk about the importance of obedience, but she was ready to get down and there began a 45 minute battle of the wills.   She kicked, screamed and cried all the while I stayed calm and had my arms gently resting around her waist, telling her if she would sit still and quiet, I would allow her to get down.  She was sweating and her whole body was flush red, but I knew that if I let her have her way, she would know she could wear me down and eventually I would give in.  So I stayed the course praying all the while that the Lord would bend her will and help her to submit.  I had in my heart that I was going to make her submit, when the Lord quietly whispered to my heart, "Stephanie, you cannot make her submit to your will anymore than I would make you submit to mine.  But I can guarantee you this, I won't give up until you do." Oh, what a true word that was!  Even when I'm kicking and screaming and doing everything in my power to fight against the One who knows best, He still has His loving arms wrapped gently around my waist, waiting patiently for me to lay down my arms and rest.  Once my daughter finally gave up 45 minutes later, she fell like a limp noodle in my arms and sobbed sorrowfully for a good 5 minutes, as I told her how much I loved her and wanted her to trust me that I know best for her.  And you know, she still has moments of disobedience, but I can tell that her will is beginning to be shaped.  Praise the Lord that He never gives up on His children, even when we are determined to have our own way.  I have an investment in my children and I have a deep desire for them to become something they will not become, if they're not shaped and guided.  It's the same with our Heavenly Father.  His relentless love chases after the ones He calls His own until they stop fighting their own wicked, deceitful hearts and submit to His will.  He has an investment in us and desires for us to become something we cannot on our own.  I am thankful for that relentless pursuit.  

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says 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 55:8-9

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!..."  Matthew 23:37

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you..."  Jeremiah 31:3

Until next time..