In the last week I have read Joyce Meyer's 'Simple Prayer' and Gary Chapman's 'The Five Love Languages'. I've known of the Love Languages book for years but I've always been sceptical of any book that attaches a number to it...5 this, 7 that, etc. But I saw Gary Chapman on Joyce's programme last year and it rang true to me. So finally read it.
It needs further study, but I am definitely getting the children's love language book too. It was a surprise to me because I always thought physical touch was important to me but as it turns out quality time is much more important. It was equal first with receiving gifts which I knew was my other one. making me bilingual.
I love giving gifts...not just things i've bought but something at home that I've heard someone say they need, or something I can make. I always listen out for those things from other people and make a mental note so if I can get it for them or in case I find it.
My brother despairs sometimes when he comes home and finds his favourite blanket is missing or the exercise ball that was sitting there doing nothing is suddenly gone to someone who wants one just when he decides to use it :) I'm forever giving things away.
Joyce's book confirmed lots of stuff that I knew already. There was a story about a couple who were sure the LORD wanted to bless them with a child. The woman became pregnant, but miscarried. She had 3 more miscarriages. But they didn't give up and persisted so sure was their faith and were finally blessed with a child.
I lost a child - an entopic pregnancy. It was devastating because we had been trying for 2 years and within a day, I found out i was carrying a living 7 week embryo that we had to terminate. I can't imagine miscarrying 4 times.
I would be spewing and I would have given up after the 2nd child. How could they maintain a grateful attitude and persevere??? I would have declared Satan the winner and found another alternative like adopting.
We had been trying for 6 years before I had Caleb, but I had the entopic and a large ovarian cyst which meant my good ovary had no fallopian tube and then I was told I had more cysts and they needed to be removed before attempting pregnancy...so IVF was our last hope. But if it didn't work and we didn't produce any embryos then I would have given up and adopted.
The LORD asks so much of us sometimes, but nothing that he knows we can't cope with and he always provides a way out (1 Cor 10:13). Just amazes me how much some of us can actually cope with.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
women
I've been reading lots of women's blogs (thanks, Faith!) and I realise just how much we love to share. Most of them are about our every day lives, how crazy we are and how we cope. I wonder if i read a lot of men's blogs if it would have anything about their every day lives?
The LORD in his infinite wisdom so made us to compliment men. I love reading about the lives of other women on the other side of the world. It makes me realise that we all have so much in common yet we're all so different! God is so funny. He must love the internet and how it spreads his word and good news all over the world. It helps connect his body.
My life should be getting back to normal next week. My mum leaves on Thursday. So will be just me and my little man during the day. Establish some routines, think of lots of fun things we can do to entertain him and me, and of cours rest!
Volleyball starts again tomorrow night. We are in a harder grade and I still want to play. I'm almost 20 weeks preggy so still early days. Actually went last tues to register and have a bash. Loved it, but games were so much fun, I got carried away and forgot to be careful. So will have to watch that.
The LORD in his infinite wisdom so made us to compliment men. I love reading about the lives of other women on the other side of the world. It makes me realise that we all have so much in common yet we're all so different! God is so funny. He must love the internet and how it spreads his word and good news all over the world. It helps connect his body.
My life should be getting back to normal next week. My mum leaves on Thursday. So will be just me and my little man during the day. Establish some routines, think of lots of fun things we can do to entertain him and me, and of cours rest!
Volleyball starts again tomorrow night. We are in a harder grade and I still want to play. I'm almost 20 weeks preggy so still early days. Actually went last tues to register and have a bash. Loved it, but games were so much fun, I got carried away and forgot to be careful. So will have to watch that.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
life's little dramas
I am a nervous Mum, which is very weird because I'm normally so calm in emergency situations. Everyone else loses the plot and I immediately go into crisis management mode. But with Caleb, I just can't cope with anything happening to him. I put it down to being a 1st time Mum and wanting a child for so long. Now he's here I'm scared I will lose him.
I know it's silly. This week Caleb had a rash all over his back and front and we took him to emergency. I tried to stay calm but before we even pulled into emergency I was crying.
He had the cold for the 1st time in his young life so he was on antibiotics, and the rash was a reaction to it. But while he had the cold, he was teething as well, so he was on panadol as well. He didn't take it very well, and spewed a couple of times. The 2nd time, I lost it, and couldn't stop crying.
It could be hormones as well, with pregnancy, but i'm becoming a stress head.
As for my year's challenge: Better today. But the evening is still young :)
I know it's silly. This week Caleb had a rash all over his back and front and we took him to emergency. I tried to stay calm but before we even pulled into emergency I was crying.
He had the cold for the 1st time in his young life so he was on antibiotics, and the rash was a reaction to it. But while he had the cold, he was teething as well, so he was on panadol as well. He didn't take it very well, and spewed a couple of times. The 2nd time, I lost it, and couldn't stop crying.
It could be hormones as well, with pregnancy, but i'm becoming a stress head.
As for my year's challenge: Better today. But the evening is still young :)
Saturday, February 02, 2008
new challenge
I set myself that challenge last night to put aside my own troubles and take up the LORD's cause every day. To ask myself: What can I do today for the LORD's cause? Not for myself, but for him?
So today I failed miserably! I spent time with my man, and kept asking myself those questions, meanwhile not behaving very loving or joyful at all towards him. I thought to myself...is this it? Is this the LORD's cause, treating my man with love and respect even when he's annoying me? Surely not, oh well, it was early on in the day so something else must pop up.
Then speaking to my mum, who also seemed determined to annoy me...all the while asking the LORD what can I do today for your cause, not for myself but for you??
Now it's the end of the day, and it has dawned on me that I had plenty of opportunities to do something for the LORD and not for myself, just with my loved ones. I didn't feel loved and so in turn behaved unlovingly. Instead of putting my own feelings aside and being loving for the LORD's sake I chose to wallow in self-pity! As Joyce would say 'what about me, what about me, what about me'.
Have to laugh...good thing I have all year to work at this...try again tomorrow :)
So today I failed miserably! I spent time with my man, and kept asking myself those questions, meanwhile not behaving very loving or joyful at all towards him. I thought to myself...is this it? Is this the LORD's cause, treating my man with love and respect even when he's annoying me? Surely not, oh well, it was early on in the day so something else must pop up.
Then speaking to my mum, who also seemed determined to annoy me...all the while asking the LORD what can I do today for your cause, not for myself but for you??
Now it's the end of the day, and it has dawned on me that I had plenty of opportunities to do something for the LORD and not for myself, just with my loved ones. I didn't feel loved and so in turn behaved unlovingly. Instead of putting my own feelings aside and being loving for the LORD's sake I chose to wallow in self-pity! As Joyce would say 'what about me, what about me, what about me'.
Have to laugh...good thing I have all year to work at this...try again tomorrow :)
Friday, February 01, 2008
blessings and privilege
Some of us live very privileged lives. I am one of these. It's not that I have no debt, or have everything I desire, but I have more than enough. I sometimes wonder how the LORD will judge those of us who have more than enough. Will he look at our church efforts and commitments and think we served him well? Or will he say - you had more than enough yet you gave less then those who had hardly anything?
Those Christians who live on the fringe, at the battle front, seem to be much more motivated than many found in comfortable churches around the world. Why is that?? There's this huge apathy...like we just don't get God's cause or find our own overwhelming enough....the world's cares get in the way???
We need conferences and courses to stir us up, but these people have their everyday lives to stir them. Our everyday lives are full of comfort.
Look at mine. I have a beautiful home, safe neighbourhood, a swimming pool in my backyard, more than enough food, water and clothes, a comfortable bed. Family who also live in safety. When Caleb was born I bought everything he needed without any struggle. He has more than enough.
These are all blessings from the LORD. Somehow I should be doing more for the privilege of such a life. The LORD needs us all to step up and save the world. I just feel like we are letting him down. I'm letting him down. Doing what we can instead of doing ALL we can. It's the difference between us and the widow who gave all she had, 2 small coins, as an offering. She gave everything, we give what we can, what is required of us, sometimes the minimum and not the maximum.
I'm not belittling our every day struggles. I have some of my own which weigh me down. But it's like worshiping the LORD...I lay my struggles at his feet and forget about me, focusing on him and how much he deserves my all, and nothing, not those around me, not my 2nd rate voice, can stop me for worshipping the LORD with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.
Our every day lives should be the same...put aside our personal struggles and each day take up God's cause and serve him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Whatever we do, do it as if for the LORD himself.
I'm going to ask myself that every day: What can I do today for the LORD's cause? Not for myself, but for him? Hold me accountable if you're reading this. It's challenging....but hey it's a new year...anything is possible...i wonder what lies ahead?
Those Christians who live on the fringe, at the battle front, seem to be much more motivated than many found in comfortable churches around the world. Why is that?? There's this huge apathy...like we just don't get God's cause or find our own overwhelming enough....the world's cares get in the way???
We need conferences and courses to stir us up, but these people have their everyday lives to stir them. Our everyday lives are full of comfort.
Look at mine. I have a beautiful home, safe neighbourhood, a swimming pool in my backyard, more than enough food, water and clothes, a comfortable bed. Family who also live in safety. When Caleb was born I bought everything he needed without any struggle. He has more than enough.
These are all blessings from the LORD. Somehow I should be doing more for the privilege of such a life. The LORD needs us all to step up and save the world. I just feel like we are letting him down. I'm letting him down. Doing what we can instead of doing ALL we can. It's the difference between us and the widow who gave all she had, 2 small coins, as an offering. She gave everything, we give what we can, what is required of us, sometimes the minimum and not the maximum.
I'm not belittling our every day struggles. I have some of my own which weigh me down. But it's like worshiping the LORD...I lay my struggles at his feet and forget about me, focusing on him and how much he deserves my all, and nothing, not those around me, not my 2nd rate voice, can stop me for worshipping the LORD with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.
Our every day lives should be the same...put aside our personal struggles and each day take up God's cause and serve him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Whatever we do, do it as if for the LORD himself.
I'm going to ask myself that every day: What can I do today for the LORD's cause? Not for myself, but for him? Hold me accountable if you're reading this. It's challenging....but hey it's a new year...anything is possible...i wonder what lies ahead?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)