Who's looking forward to their four day weekend coming up?! Beyond excited for Thanksgivings. Before I get into my recap, I want to share something that melted my heart last night. So, every night I say prayer with the kids and I always ask if they want to add something to prayer for or give thanks for. Well, here's what Moo addition to our prayer was last night: "Thank You for our food and our drink. And thank You for blessing us."
Y'all my little heart melted on the spot. When your child knows that your family is blessed and acknowledges it is just an amazing feeling as a parent. I'm not the perfect Christian or parent by any means, but it moves me to know that my daughter is on the right track spiritually and that I've had something to do with that. My greatest goal as a parent has always been to raise to children who turn into great, kind and loving adults with good values and morals. Her little prayer addition makes me even more anxious to see JJ progress with his speech therapy and one day be able to hear what he would pray for during our nightly prayers.
I'm getting a little misty eyed again, so let's jump into this Week 47 recap. I can't believe we have 5 weeks (counting this week) left in 2013 and in this Bible 365 Challenge! It's been such a journey and learning experience. And know that to all of you who have been right here every Monday supporting me by reading, sharing or commenting on these posts, I am thankful and grateful for your support!
With Thanksgiving being this Thursday, I don't think it's any coincidence that the first scripture that caught my eye was Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer or petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God." I have so many things that I've been praying for God to intercede on right now. And although not all of those requests have been answered, I realize the importance to give Him thanks like they have been when I pray. He is so good to all of us that we should never forget to say Thank You when we pray.
He sacrificed His only child for us folks! That alone makes me eternally grateful. I've said it before, I couldn't imagine giving up Moo or JJ to die for the sins of selfish and unappreciative people. Thankfully, God is better than we are and His love for us truly knows no bounds or limitations. He forgives us when we don't even deserve to forgive ourselves. Simply put- God is good!
We can be the most compassionate, forgiving and patient people in the work, but without love those virtues just want stick. "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:14). Love conquers all not because it is a feeling, but because it is an action. Love is the action of doing the right thing or something that benefits another without it having any benefit for you or motive behind it. You can be kind and patient to people all you want, but you're not doing it with love or from the heart, you might as well not do it at all. Like the song says "Love, love will keep us together..."
"Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged" (Colossians 3:18-21). I call this the Family Commandments. A lot of families fall apart from lack of order and lack of effort to get said family in order. Well, God has already laid out the blueprint for having a non-dysfunctional family.
Now, a lot of men try to use that "wives, submit to your husbands" part to justify being controlling. But I'm going to need some of y'all to read on to that "as is fitting in the Lord" part too. I'm all for submitting to my husband, but it's within reason. I know that it is not fitting to the Lord for me to become more of a slave or child to my husband than to his partner and help mate. So, don't get it twisted men, we have rights! And that includes saying no.
At the end of the day, I couldn't agree more with 1 Thessalonians 2:12, that I want to be "encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." There have been so many people who have encouraged and helped me to get back to living a purpose driven life and I'm determined to pay it forward by doing the same for others.
Y'all my little heart melted on the spot. When your child knows that your family is blessed and acknowledges it is just an amazing feeling as a parent. I'm not the perfect Christian or parent by any means, but it moves me to know that my daughter is on the right track spiritually and that I've had something to do with that. My greatest goal as a parent has always been to raise to children who turn into great, kind and loving adults with good values and morals. Her little prayer addition makes me even more anxious to see JJ progress with his speech therapy and one day be able to hear what he would pray for during our nightly prayers.
I'm getting a little misty eyed again, so let's jump into this Week 47 recap. I can't believe we have 5 weeks (counting this week) left in 2013 and in this Bible 365 Challenge! It's been such a journey and learning experience. And know that to all of you who have been right here every Monday supporting me by reading, sharing or commenting on these posts, I am thankful and grateful for your support!
With Thanksgiving being this Thursday, I don't think it's any coincidence that the first scripture that caught my eye was Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer or petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God." I have so many things that I've been praying for God to intercede on right now. And although not all of those requests have been answered, I realize the importance to give Him thanks like they have been when I pray. He is so good to all of us that we should never forget to say Thank You when we pray.
He sacrificed His only child for us folks! That alone makes me eternally grateful. I've said it before, I couldn't imagine giving up Moo or JJ to die for the sins of selfish and unappreciative people. Thankfully, God is better than we are and His love for us truly knows no bounds or limitations. He forgives us when we don't even deserve to forgive ourselves. Simply put- God is good!
We can be the most compassionate, forgiving and patient people in the work, but without love those virtues just want stick. "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:14). Love conquers all not because it is a feeling, but because it is an action. Love is the action of doing the right thing or something that benefits another without it having any benefit for you or motive behind it. You can be kind and patient to people all you want, but you're not doing it with love or from the heart, you might as well not do it at all. Like the song says "Love, love will keep us together..."
"Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged" (Colossians 3:18-21). I call this the Family Commandments. A lot of families fall apart from lack of order and lack of effort to get said family in order. Well, God has already laid out the blueprint for having a non-dysfunctional family.
Now, a lot of men try to use that "wives, submit to your husbands" part to justify being controlling. But I'm going to need some of y'all to read on to that "as is fitting in the Lord" part too. I'm all for submitting to my husband, but it's within reason. I know that it is not fitting to the Lord for me to become more of a slave or child to my husband than to his partner and help mate. So, don't get it twisted men, we have rights! And that includes saying no.
At the end of the day, I couldn't agree more with 1 Thessalonians 2:12, that I want to be "encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." There have been so many people who have encouraged and helped me to get back to living a purpose driven life and I'm determined to pay it forward by doing the same for others.
Week 48 Readings
11/25: 2 Thessalonians 3
11/26: 1 Timothy 1
11/27: 1 Timothy 2-3
11/28: 1 Timothy 4-6
11/29: 2 Timothy 1-2
11/30: 2 Timothy 3-4
12/01:Titus 1
This is an awesome challenge! The Bible is so practical. I love learning ways that I can be better in my role as a believer, wife, mommy and homemaker. You raise some very great points about how it teaches us how to be as a family. :)
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