Be Quiet.....

This is our Monday Memory Verse on SHINE this week.

I love this verse.

Perhaps because being still is hard to do these days. Especially as women. As wives, as mothers, as daughters, as sisters, as friends.

Hard.

My mind is always going a million miles per hour. Thinking of this and that. That and this.

Lem always says that he has zero things going through his brain at any given moment. This fascinates me.

So, to be still is hard. Like, real hard.

This week, I have tried to live stillness. The kids and I went to the beach, so it made it a little easier to be still. I told the SHINE girls that I would not post this week, so that I could be quiet, and to give them an opportunity to be quiet before the Lord as well.

Along with this verse, the Lord nudged me to give up some things this month in order to live in stillness.

August is anything but still around this house. School starts, activities begin, carpool begins, and homework folders and classroom duties for 3 children.

It is super full.

It's been two days since I gave up a couple of things in order to be still. I really do not miss them. At all.

Twitter and Instagram were my two things. I write this so that I can keep myself accountable. My children are holding me accountable as well....and they love it.

These two things are not bad for me, they are just another distraction  at times.

God wants me still. So, still it is.

In a world that is anything but still....can we really be still before the Lord?

Is it really possible to quiet and wean our souls before Him so that we can hear His whisper?

I think it is.

When I was explaining this verse to my children, I gave them this example: Imagine you have on headphones. Now imagine I am in the same room as you and whisper something to you. Could you hear me? No. However, if you take off your headphones and anticipate my voice, you will hear me.

I think they understood. Or at least I hope they did.

They have decided to take on a challenge as well. They will write in a gratitude journal this month. Taking the time to be quiet and to be still before Him as well.

So, I offer you the same challenge. Will you be still before God this month?

Can you think of something to give up in honor of spending more time in His Presence?

I think as a new school year approaches, this will be just what I need.

He's always speaking , I just don't always hear Him.

Bring on the quiet,

jill

Daily Bread....

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

Wow.

This is our memory verse for the week. It hit home with me in a big way. Not at first, but the more I discussed the meaning with my children, the more God was showing me what it meant.

It made an impression on my heart  because this is exactly what I want at the end of each day. I want to grow in some way closer to my Lord. Most days I fail miserably because my flesh gets the best of me.

Each day brings new challenges, and sometimes the growing pains just plain hurt. Badly.

The part that really gets to me is that "Jesus grew". He didn't just come across it, he grew into it.

How awesome is that? This gives me hope that I can grow into wisdom and stature too.

I told my friend Rebekah on the phone yesterday that I feel like lately God is continually beckoning me to grow with Him. To dwell in His presence even when I think I don't need to.

A lot of times I am guilty of thinking.."Okay, I got this. I'm good for now, Lord. Thanks!"

But, He wants me to continually draw close to Him. It's like eating a big meal and thinking you will never be hungry again. Your stomach is so satisfied and so content that you can't imagine eating again.

Three hours later you are hungry again. (1.5 hours if you are me!)

When we are spiritually hungry, He will feed us. However, we must keep going to Him daily for nourishment. Even when we think we are full, we aren't.

Revelation city for me. I mean, He is truly teaching me this lesson at this very moment of my life.

I was just flipping back through my prayer journal. It's like looking at a corn maze from the top. It's clear as a bell from this view. Now I can see where He was leading me with the cries of my heart.

However, when I etched those words in that small leather journal, my heart was in prayerful anticipation and hope. When you are desperately praying and seeking, it's like being inside of a corn maze. You have no idea where the end is. You just keep going and praying for His guidance. Knowing full well that one day you will see the purpose in it all.

There are no short cuts. You have to go the long and winding route to get to that glorious end.

I like short cuts.

God likes the long scenic route.

Guess I better pack a cooler and a lot of snacks.  It's gonna be a long ride.

The final destination will be worth every bump.

riding shot gun,

jill

Baby steps...

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9

Good old Proverbs. In my opinion, no other book of the Bible gets as straight to the point as Proverbs.

This is our verse for the week. The kids were excited because it's an easy one.

 Easy, but important, I told them.

How do I know this?

Because I plan my course a whole heck of a lot. I plan my day, my week, my month.

But, guess what? God always determines my steps. He will determine what will stick to that schedule and what He will take away from that schedule.

He will determine the direction of my compass.

He's teaching me a whole lot lately about determining my steps.

Like steps to forgiveness.

And grace.

And mercy.

And love.

My course isn't always set on those things. My course is set to bitterness, anger, judgement and a hardened heart at times. (a lot of times.)

God's word says He loves the ones He disciplines and corrects. He must really love me.

I'm thankful for His correction though, even when it's a bitter pill to swallow.

He keeps my attitude in check that's for sure.

That's how I know He loves me.

Praise Him for His discipline, friends. He loves you that much.

re-setting my compass,

jill

Back-seat conversations....

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

This is our Monday memorization verse for the week. I like it because it's a little less wordy than last week.

Less is good.

Very good for my very bad memory.

As we are discussing it in the car on the way to school, I ask the kids to think about what gifts they think God has given them to share with the world.

Silence. (A rare sound in our car.)

Okay, so it's a little harder to come up with your own special gifts that God gives you. Isn't it?

Think about it.

See?

I decide to change the question to this:

What do you think each other's gifts are?

This they can do.

After sharing some sweet conversation with each other about their gifts (again, a rare moment), they change the focus to the gym-clothes- pony-tailed- no-make-up-woman in the front seat.

Me.

Oh boy. I never ever know what my kids are going to say about me. Sometimes it can be really kind, but most of the time it can be brutal. I always cringe when Joseph says: "Mommy, you are so _________."

My palms were sweaty. This would be interesting. What did they think their Mommy's gifts from God were?

I knew this conversation would make or break my Monday morning.

Yikes.

Presley said (and I quote): "drawing (???), writing, and taking care of kids."

Okay, that was sweet. I can handle that.

Then it was Joseph's turn.

"Mommy, you are good at noticing things."

That's it??

Alrighty then.

 Not what I was expecting, but I guess it could have been worse.

Joseph continued: "You know, Mommy, you notice things that other people don't notice.........like birds. Remember the other day when you saw those 3 white birds and you said it reminded you of Jesus?"

"That's what I mean Mommy. You notice things that other people take for granted or don't take the time to see."

"And......your compassionate."

Okay, well this turned out much better than I thought. Wasn't quite sure where he was going with the whole noticing thing...but I think I'll take it.

Joseph is so thoughtful.

Love that kid...every ounce of him.

So, my Monday was a little more brighter, a little more lighter.

Lord, please help me to always notice things.

What are your gifts?

If you don't know, just ask your kids.

Or mine.


wide-eyed and bushy tailed,

jill

Clinging to that Vine....

presley's little card is already bent. i should take a picture by the end of the week--if i can even locate them by then.

here's the thinghy i keep our verses in. (after the end of the week, those note cards above are bent ,torn, stepped on, have juice spills, blood stains, you name it.) this helps keep my copy in a permanent place and free of the above mentioned damages.

Okay, so you know I have a Monday morning thing I do with my kids...I have shared with y'all before.Well, I thought I would start blogging about it just to hold me accountable.

Monday's are NOT my favorite, so having something to make my mind get out of neutral always helps.

As the last school year winded down, I got pretty slack. Then Summer hit, and it was slack-city.

So, last Monday we got back on track. I wrote down a new memory verse for that week and the kids and I learned it by Friday. (Sadly, the kids learn it much faster than me. Something about my brain and being 36 and all.)

Today, I woke up and had NO idea what this weeks verse would be. I opened the Bible and it all but slapped me in the face.

Our preacher mentioned this verse in our sermon yesterday. It was providential. God was all but screaming it in my ear.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Can I get an amen? I mean, how much more awesome and on point could this scripture be. I love the idea of remaining in Him. He always reaffirms a matter with me over over and over. He knows I need those reminders, because I so quickly forget.

 I jumped up and grabbed the note cards and wrote the scripture on 3 different cards. One for me, one for Joseph and one for Presley. If my children are anything like their poor momma, visual aides are their only chance at learning. Sad, but true.

We hopped in the car and read our new verse. Presley asked me to explain the verse to her and I hesitated to find the right 6 year old words for her to understand.

I decided on telling her a story instead so she could get a visual of what it meant to remain in Him and on His path. Hopefully, she understands now. However, even if she doesn't quite yet, I know she will eventually.

Well, that's my Monday so far people.

Praying for all of you as you begin another week!

remaining in Him,

jill