Mary mother of Jesus

As we prepare for Christmas, it makes me not only think about Jesus, coming to Earth. But it also got me thinking about Mary. Mary a teenager, yet chosen by God to carry HIS son. I just can't imagine the joy that went through her mind, that she is carrying God's son. The promise child...

"But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33

But to raise such a "perfect" boy, and to have to think of how to raise such an amazing child. Just to sit and watch him be cursed and spat upon, betrayed and cruicified. I think back to the "Passion of the Christ" where Mary saw Jesus fall to the ground while carrying the cross, and she flashes back to when he was a child playing and falling scrapping his knee. She swiftly picks him up and holds him as any mother would do. But this time, she can't fix it, and she can't reach him. To know the pain, and grief she must have bared while watching her first born, hanging in pain and can't do anything to fix it!   

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene" John 19:25

Do you think if she knew even for a split second what would have come, would she have done it? I do, because she had that heart of trust, she found FAVOR WITH GOD. God knew she was strong enough, faithful enough. God knew that he could trust his ONE AND ONLY son to her. A small baby in the beginning and Savior in the End...

 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:32-33

Merry Christmas to All
Tina

Jesus, THE I AM

Have you ever sat there in wonder about how to approach Jesus in prayer? Or wonder what do I say because I have so much to say? I have, today actually and I just started naming the names of Jesus. I didn't know what to say this morning, I had a lot of my heart, and when I started saying the names of Jesus I realized

HE IS THE ALL KNOWING,

THE GREAT I AM!

I don't have to worry about what I am saying. I might be just saying names, but Jesus is hearing all the paragraphs my heart is feeling. And how amazing is that? As I am going through my head about this topic I keep hearing the song "Great I am", it talks about demons fleeing at the sound of HIS name, and Mountains shake when before HIM! 

   I can't even grasp the POWER of just saying

JESUS, LORD, MORNING STAR, 

ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE WAY, OUR PROTECTION! 

I hope you find comfort in the one true comforter, and go to HIM even if you don't know what to say, how to say it. Even if you are just sitting in silence. Know that he is All Knowing.

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." Psalm 59:16-17

Blessings

Tina

To computer or not to computer

Today we decided to do our first lesson VIA computer. Thought it might be fun, teaching Kris to use the computer (not a touch screen tablet, which has mastered pretty much). And he did great! We did a few fun things on this website my sister told me about, www.starfall.com and it was fun (we did I think all the FREE stuff we could). At one point I stepped away to make breakfast and let Kris try it without help from me.

The part that had me torn was, that I want my kid to have the basics of learning as much as possible, and not be addicted to spell check and technology. And to use paper and books, as well as find a love for writing.

 I am not obsessed with it but I have discovered that I have become dependent on technology too much. And I have taken steps to "unplug" from it (which is why its taken me awhile to post a new blog) as much as possible.

I know the world is computer, tablets, cell phones etc. And my children will learn ALL of those. But I want to give them the basics first, and branch from there. Kris thought it was pretty cool and wants to continue learning alittle here and there. And I hope we can find more and more to learn on here! But for now I think we will find a GREAT balance with a slow introduction to computers and technology, with a base of paper and books.

**If you would like to post how your family introduced your kids into computers please do below**

Blessings
Tina

Heavenly wisdom

  "Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5

So today, I read in my devotions about the Tongue and how harmful something so tiny can destroy everything in its path when used for harm. And something so tiny can be so powerful. 

How can we  tame something that no man can tame? How can we change our simple mean, hateful remarks to praises and encouraging words?

I have done much prayer this morning about it, I know there are times when I am simply don't mean harm but it comes out mean. Because it was sarcastic or meant as a joke but said wrong. And definitely did some damage. I am starting to try and speak in encouraging and kind words to not only my husband and children but to everyone. But reading this chapter today really showed me how powerful and distructive the tongue is and can be. 

And when you really think about it, how can we Praise God one moment, and next whip out an insult, discouraging word, or a sarcastic comment to someone? 

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness." James 3:9

I know after reading this I really started thinking about all the times I've done that. Posting on Facebook about a Godly moment with my children, or stating how GOD IS GOOD. Then speak to a friend or husband with not so praise worthy thing. 

Amazing how you set out to do something and you open your Bible to find the exact thing that you need. When it says it is the Manual for Life it is no joke. You can find anything in there. Amazing isn't?

It was like a dream :)

 So today we played outside at the park for an amazing 5hrs! It was amazing.. the warm weather and the beautiful leaves falling everywhere!
Oh it was like a dream...
 Sitting on a rock, wind blowing, leaves falling, and sunshining. 
Seeing all the amazing colors around us.. how often do we ignore all the beauty because we are too busy? The Earth, the colors of the Earth, the Sunshine, and the air. Everyday He paints a new picture in the sky, the plants of the Earth.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones ordominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ~Col 1:16








The kids running around screaming out of laughter and joy. And to see them getting so worn out they fall asleep in the car!

I took the day to enjoy all that is around us. I was like a breath of fresh air. Loved every minute of it, and so did the kids. Kris explained to me that we should do this more often, and I agree 100%!








I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.~3 John 1:4

Teaching responsibility

 Double Blog today! I was justing here going through some stuff for our shool lessons and my son comes out "Mom, I cleaned up now I'm going to lay down ok?", for those who are knew, he's 4.. this was music to my ears! We have a visitor today so kris's room is being used by an amazing little guy, so Kris got to stay out in the living room to play independently. So he cleaned up the blocks and I laid him down in our room. But this simple sentence just spoke words of joy! That I taught my kids to clean up after themselves and do simple things like load and unload the dishwasher. THEN I started looking through pictures, and I have taken the simpliest things that I do everyday and captured moments. Moments of my children working, serving and doing it with a SMILE and JOY!

Lena - unloading

Lena puting spoons away

 I know as a mom, its just a simple thing like seeing them doing their own chores brings joy. And to hear

"Mom can I help you" 

And wash dishes 

Just gives me warm fuzzies! I pray every day a servants heart is born more and more as they get older! I also want to encourage you as a parent to not hold back responsibility, and encourage them to serve EVERYONE whenever they can!

Kris helping his dad do dishes

Kris rolling out dough

Helping make Calzones

Yea he helps load groceries

 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

 Prov 22:6

Journey to find ones self.. WARNING open honesty inside

So today I start a new journey. A journey that hopefully will help me in finding what I am desiring! A desire to be ok with what God gives me, to be ok with HIS plans and NOT my own. And a healthier relationship with God, my family and me.

I have tried filling A LOT of my time with ME, THEY and just stuff. I try and plan play dates, girls night, me time, my time, kids time, husband time, dates, shopping trips etc. And when I do all this stuff, I forget 3 things: God, Jesus and Spirit. I forget to schedule God Time, Jesus Time and feed the Spirit. I teach my son (and show example to my daughter) about Jesus and how awesome God is, and I teach them Jesus loves me, but I forget to get up and get down in the word. The Word that is meant for daily nurishing.

So much so I started to have an internal battle with myself, and it showed. It showed with frustration towards my kids, frustration with my husband. I was the same (kind of) on the outside. Smiles, love, and when out in public utter respect for my husband. But when I was at home, I don't know if it showed on the outside, but I know I wasn't on the inside having the warm fuzzy feelings on the inside. Yes I loved him, and my children, they are my gifts from God. I, sometimes, hated the idea of being a mom 24/7, focusing on them all the time, being the sole schedule keeper 24/7, cleaning a house a thousand times a day with out help at times, making 3 meals a day for 3-4 people, even though one of them isn't even going to eat it. And desiring something that seems almost, basically out of reach because I am to respect decisions made even though its not what I want. I tried the vent to every friend I could find that would just listen and not give me biblical answers because I was mad, and frustrated. Then I tried just being silent and focus on raising my child and moving on. But it seemed to only fester announce toward my children.

Then one day, I started feeling tired and sick on and off. Thinking it was just simply, taking a vitamin without real food, ignored it and powered through the usual cleaning and cooking day. At the moment, what I thought was just a vitamin making me sick, turned into 3 FULL days of exhasution, migrains, dry heaves and what could only be described as false pregnancy syptoms. I couldn't understand what was going on, but I felt sick, but not flu sick. All I know is what ever it was, it wasn't fun.

That Saturday, doing what I do best when working emotional moments out, I reorganized my bedroom. I changed the clutter looking, path blocking, conflict causing room into a open, free flowing, no one is in anyones way, room. And had a moment with me and God.... YES the time I spent moving, pushing heavy furniture (one LARGE solid wood sewng cabinet), cleaning and dusting I had a conversation with God. And it hit me, I haven't spent time with Him, and I haven't been caring for the one that means the most, My SPIRITUAL self. I havent even taken the time to develop this relationship I teaching my kids about. So I prayed, looking into what stops me... and as usual laziness. I decided to need to WAKE UP! Stop being lazy and sleeping like I have nothing to do, I have 2 kids, a husband and a house hold to run. Stop your whining of life is too hard and GET UP, get dressed in the quiet, and devotion about my day and it will be better! I know it sounds "mean" or "hard" to say that to myself, but that is how I have to talk to myself. I am not the tell me kindly person, I have to be told "Get yourself together its not about you sweetie!". And amazingly I remember a sweet lady studying James and all of the goodness it brought. So this morning I woke at 5:50am, stretched, got dressed, made my bed, made coffee, kissed my husband goodbye for the day, grabbed my good old fashion bible (nothing like holding the word of God in your hands) and opened to James Chapter 1, and there it was highlighted from before but never in my mind meant for me at the time of first reading it, but STOOD out like a caution sign on the side of the road:

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

James 1:12

I encourage you to

"Stop your whining of life is too hard and GET UP" 

Get up and work on the connection that makes life enjoyable!

Blessings
Tina