October is Pastor Appreciation Month. And as a Pastor's wife I love seeing my husband being honored. It can be hard to live with a pastor where you can see all the hard work they are putting into ministry, all the frustrations that come along with the calling, and all the times it goes unnoticed. It can be maddening to see all those trials and stress sit on your husband's shoulders while the congregation seems to not notice. (Which I am fully aware that this is a perception thing many times, that in REALITY the church does pray and notices and appreciates their pastors very much!). So, not only do I love the gifts that we are blessed with during this month,but, I stand proud as my husband is called out for all he does right for God's kingdom. It makes my day! (and month!)
Today I received a card (and recognition and prayer as well). It wasn't a "we appreciate you" kinda card... it was WAY MORE AMAZING! I just HAD to share it with you (and to remind myself). ** Part of the awesomeness of this card is that the person who blessed me with it must have spent a good amount of time to find the most perfect card. It was like God must have moved her hand to pick exactly what I needed to hear... I have read it many times, and have cried each time!
Continue On
A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life.
She feared she was wasting her potential by being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference.
At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated. "Is it worth it?" She often questioned. "Is there something better that I could be doing with my time?"
It was during these moments that she heard the still, small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart.
"You are a wife and mother because that is what I've called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye. But I notice. Most of what you give is done without payment. But I am your reward.
Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support, your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love.
Your children are precious to Me-- even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for me. What you invest in them is an offering to me. You may never be in the public spotlight but your obedience shines as a bright light before Me.
Remember you are my servant. Do all to please Me. Continue on."
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. --Colossians 3:23
Oh what a mighty word! I sure needed that today! (And everyday!)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Regrets
I've heard a thousand times "I have no regrets". This statement is usually followed by something like "All those mistakes have brought me to where I am today!" As if the mistakes made previously in life are those that HAD to be made in order to make this wonderful person sitting in front of me. But if you know me well, you know that I pick symantics apart. I pick silly phrases apart and make fun of my husband for saying the cliches like "For Pete's sake" (Who is Pete?). So I have to think about this common response. Are you saying you do not regret sinning? Are you honestly saying God HAD to use your sin to make you a godly person? Well, then I have to say I disagree. It is NEVER God's will for us to sin, to be separated from His will.I have to say to the many many MANY times I've made the wrong decisions and walked in the ways of sin instead of the ways of righteousness, I regret! I regret not being more obedient, I regret making decisions that displeased God. I regret making steps outside of God's will. I regret those sins. Sure, I agree that God used those mistakes, and turned what could have resulted in death and my sentence to hell, to teach me lessons, to show me His love... but it wasn't his ULTIMATE plan. He could have created me to be who I am today without me going through the sin to get here.
I have regrets in my past. I regret that I dated anyone other than Dave Ciske! I may not have been impure in dating relationships, I just know that it wasn't God's will. And I don't believe that those dating relationships (my boy-craziness) makes me a better wife to my husband. Or that those relationships taught me how to love my husband. I DO believe that Dave and I are meant for each other, that it was 100% (if not MORE) God's will that we married (10 years ago this January!!!!). But I believe it would have been true whether I dated or not. So I regret that my heart was not 100% reserved for Dave and only Dave (and I praise God, that even through a Boy-crazy teenhood, I was blessed with such a wonderfully terrific godly man!).
I say these things because I wish that regrets would hold the negative definition it was intended to hold. That we would all realize that to have regrets is a BAD thing.
By Definition it is "To feel sorrow or remorse for (an act) or to be very sorry for"
I just wish we could live our lives with the goal of having no regrets. To love our spouses so that if ever on a death bed facing one another you look back with NO regrets. To see our children grow and move out of our homes, to live independently knowing we raised them right, that we were there for them, that we put them in proper priority order (GOD, Husband, Children, Church, Then work), with NO regrets. To never miss a ministry opportunity, a divine appointment saying I wish I would have, I wish I could have... but to have NO regrets.
And when we fail, as sinners we inevitably will, that we won't look back and say "oh well, it builds character" but instead I pray we have such an intense sorrow and remorse over the actions to remind us to live according to God's will. God can use you even if you don't have a shady past. God can still use an obedient heart (and I dare to say, he'd prefer it that way!).
I pray you will join me in this quest. To live life in God's will. To seek Him, to make decisions that will not cause regret later.
As little as working so much, while neglecting your family (I promise it is NOT worth the amount of money you will earn to miss out on your babies growing up!) or as serious as living a life of worldly "fun" while believing you still have time to come to God ("Oh my, what a great testamony it will provide!"). What profits a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his own life? (mark 8:36).
I want to live with no regrets! I plan on starting today! Join me!
I have regrets in my past. I regret that I dated anyone other than Dave Ciske! I may not have been impure in dating relationships, I just know that it wasn't God's will. And I don't believe that those dating relationships (my boy-craziness) makes me a better wife to my husband. Or that those relationships taught me how to love my husband. I DO believe that Dave and I are meant for each other, that it was 100% (if not MORE) God's will that we married (10 years ago this January!!!!). But I believe it would have been true whether I dated or not. So I regret that my heart was not 100% reserved for Dave and only Dave (and I praise God, that even through a Boy-crazy teenhood, I was blessed with such a wonderfully terrific godly man!).
I say these things because I wish that regrets would hold the negative definition it was intended to hold. That we would all realize that to have regrets is a BAD thing.
By Definition it is "To feel sorrow or remorse for (an act) or to be very sorry for"
I just wish we could live our lives with the goal of having no regrets. To love our spouses so that if ever on a death bed facing one another you look back with NO regrets. To see our children grow and move out of our homes, to live independently knowing we raised them right, that we were there for them, that we put them in proper priority order (GOD, Husband, Children, Church, Then work), with NO regrets. To never miss a ministry opportunity, a divine appointment saying I wish I would have, I wish I could have... but to have NO regrets.
And when we fail, as sinners we inevitably will, that we won't look back and say "oh well, it builds character" but instead I pray we have such an intense sorrow and remorse over the actions to remind us to live according to God's will. God can use you even if you don't have a shady past. God can still use an obedient heart (and I dare to say, he'd prefer it that way!).
I pray you will join me in this quest. To live life in God's will. To seek Him, to make decisions that will not cause regret later.
As little as working so much, while neglecting your family (I promise it is NOT worth the amount of money you will earn to miss out on your babies growing up!) or as serious as living a life of worldly "fun" while believing you still have time to come to God ("Oh my, what a great testamony it will provide!"). What profits a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his own life? (mark 8:36).
I want to live with no regrets! I plan on starting today! Join me!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
He disciplines those He loves.
5"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Hebrews 12: 5-7
I've heard this verse a thousand times. Have used it to encourage myself when I feel like I am being disciplined by God. I love that its a sign that I am an heir of Christ. That I belong to Him, he is my father, my daddy.
But I've never looked at this verse and examined why I discipline. Do I discipline my children because I love them. Do I show that love in each form of discipline? Before having kids, Dave and I had discussed our goals for discipline. I was taught in college that you (within a classroom) discipline to teach correct behavior. So we had decided to incorporate that within our household. We discipline with the intention of teaching correct behavior (or saying "we don't do that") And we try to reevaluate to see if a punishment is needed in certain areas. We would like to always give a reason for each form of discipline (how else will they learn).
That being said... have you met our kids? I have two very strong willed (and possibly a third!) children. It takes LOTS of discipline, lots of reevaluating, and LOTS of consistency. We have to many times weigh the importance of being consistent with the realization that maybe that technique is not working! And it can be SO hard at times. And I know we get angry, and act out of that anger when it gets overbearing! But am I still disciplining in love. I sure hope so. I love my children, I want them to be obedient children, I want them to behave in such a way that shows they are respectful, considerate, compassionate, godly God-pleasers. So I discipline them to try to teach how to become that kind of child. And many times we go through phases where it seems like all we do is discipline. It breaks my heart. I know my children, I know what works with them, and I know that nothing happens quickly... so I find myself grieving over their misbehavior. I wait until they are sound asleep in their beds and I tiptoe in, pick them up, and cuddle with them, praying over them. I tell them (whether they are awake or not) that obeying mommy and daddy is practice for them as they get older and will be obeying more of God's commands. I rub their heads, caress their faces and ask God to create who He wants in them. And I cry. I cry for their behavior. I cry over the disobedience, the negative days, the rift it causes in our relationship with them.
Then I realize, God does this too. He grieves when we disobey. He cries tears of sorrow at the trials we drag ourselves into by turning from God's ways. God teaches us to behave in such a way that shows that we are respectful, considerate, compassionate and godly God-pleasers, and it saddens Him when we choose not to act in those teachings. He disciplines because He loves us. He grieves because He loved us so much that he died for us. He desires well behaved children. And I believe He beacons us back with every touch, every tear, every whisper to us even in our sleep.
Thank You, God. Teach me, I want to obey you!
**PS. as my children get older, those phases of disobedience become less and less, and I look towards God and ask "Does this mean I did it well?" But am reminded we have the teen years yet to come (and for Ruby haven't even begun yet!) Oh, God, be my help! :)
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Hebrews 12: 5-7
I've heard this verse a thousand times. Have used it to encourage myself when I feel like I am being disciplined by God. I love that its a sign that I am an heir of Christ. That I belong to Him, he is my father, my daddy.
But I've never looked at this verse and examined why I discipline. Do I discipline my children because I love them. Do I show that love in each form of discipline? Before having kids, Dave and I had discussed our goals for discipline. I was taught in college that you (within a classroom) discipline to teach correct behavior. So we had decided to incorporate that within our household. We discipline with the intention of teaching correct behavior (or saying "we don't do that") And we try to reevaluate to see if a punishment is needed in certain areas. We would like to always give a reason for each form of discipline (how else will they learn).
That being said... have you met our kids? I have two very strong willed (and possibly a third!) children. It takes LOTS of discipline, lots of reevaluating, and LOTS of consistency. We have to many times weigh the importance of being consistent with the realization that maybe that technique is not working! And it can be SO hard at times. And I know we get angry, and act out of that anger when it gets overbearing! But am I still disciplining in love. I sure hope so. I love my children, I want them to be obedient children, I want them to behave in such a way that shows they are respectful, considerate, compassionate, godly God-pleasers. So I discipline them to try to teach how to become that kind of child. And many times we go through phases where it seems like all we do is discipline. It breaks my heart. I know my children, I know what works with them, and I know that nothing happens quickly... so I find myself grieving over their misbehavior. I wait until they are sound asleep in their beds and I tiptoe in, pick them up, and cuddle with them, praying over them. I tell them (whether they are awake or not) that obeying mommy and daddy is practice for them as they get older and will be obeying more of God's commands. I rub their heads, caress their faces and ask God to create who He wants in them. And I cry. I cry for their behavior. I cry over the disobedience, the negative days, the rift it causes in our relationship with them.
Then I realize, God does this too. He grieves when we disobey. He cries tears of sorrow at the trials we drag ourselves into by turning from God's ways. God teaches us to behave in such a way that shows that we are respectful, considerate, compassionate and godly God-pleasers, and it saddens Him when we choose not to act in those teachings. He disciplines because He loves us. He grieves because He loved us so much that he died for us. He desires well behaved children. And I believe He beacons us back with every touch, every tear, every whisper to us even in our sleep.
Thank You, God. Teach me, I want to obey you!
**PS. as my children get older, those phases of disobedience become less and less, and I look towards God and ask "Does this mean I did it well?" But am reminded we have the teen years yet to come (and for Ruby haven't even begun yet!) Oh, God, be my help! :)
Homeschool Saved My Life.
I've had this blog on my mind for a while now, and although I have something else on my mind, I wanted to go ahead and finish one complete thought before heading on to the other. :)
I actually put this title on my Facebook status and it was kinda taken the wrong way, and that way is not what I am talking about. I have my own opinions on WHY I homeschool, but when I voice those reasons I tend to offend those that don't have the same opinions. So, its better left between me and my husband, the two that are actually making decisions for our kids. But no, this is a much lighter topic. Here I go...
I can not work in messiness. (And sometimes I can not make up better sounding words!) I've always had to clean before doing any kind of project. So I can not teach in a messy/cluttered area as well, nor do I expect the kids to do so either. So I had to come up with a plan to clean, prepare, and teach a 5 year old, a 3 year old and entertain a 8month old.
So, not that I am some future fly lady, but for me, I figured out a plan that will work for the easy smooth running of our school day. I wake up early enough (but not TOO early, I don't like getting up really early) to tidy up and prepare my lessons (getting materials out, printing sheets from websites). Then I make the kids' lunches. They love it! I love it! I love that once we finish school, the kids grab their lunch boxes and find a place to eat. I then do a quick pick up from the school area... and all the things Ruby has gotten herself into while I was preoccupied. And then when nap time comes around, I can sit back, kidless, and enjoy my lunch in the peace and quiet clean house!
Can you see how this homeschool has saved my life? see, told you it was a very light topic! It is so organized, so structured, so fun, gives me extra time for Bible Study, for phone calls, for a NAP! And when people drop by, I don't have to be completely embarrassed at my house.
I walk around much happier, calmer, I have more fun and have one on one time with each kid (that has proven to be priceless). For me, this is something I have attempted many times before, without any success. So its great for me. All it took was homeschooling... wait, huh?
Okay, maybe it wasn't homeschooling. Maybe it was the fact that I felt led by God to homeschool from the very beginning, and for the past 5 years have wavered back and forth with my decision. I'd tell myself that I couldn't do it, that I was cheating my kids, that they would be stupid (or illiterate). I would tell myself we'd just do private school, when all along I knew I was being told to homeschool. Once I obeyed, it all fell into place. I covered it in prayer, trusted God (which was a HUGE theme in my life for a good while) and said "YES!" So, homeschool didn't put the extra bounce in my step, the extra energy in my day, the special organization in our lifestyle... it was the pure act of obedience. Its a GREAT feeling to obey. Its a great feeling knowing that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to do. No one has to agree with why, or how I do it. No one has to approve of my teaching strategies... no one but God. And its so freeing to please Him. He saved my life... in so many ways!
I actually put this title on my Facebook status and it was kinda taken the wrong way, and that way is not what I am talking about. I have my own opinions on WHY I homeschool, but when I voice those reasons I tend to offend those that don't have the same opinions. So, its better left between me and my husband, the two that are actually making decisions for our kids. But no, this is a much lighter topic. Here I go...
I can not work in messiness. (And sometimes I can not make up better sounding words!) I've always had to clean before doing any kind of project. So I can not teach in a messy/cluttered area as well, nor do I expect the kids to do so either. So I had to come up with a plan to clean, prepare, and teach a 5 year old, a 3 year old and entertain a 8month old.
So, not that I am some future fly lady, but for me, I figured out a plan that will work for the easy smooth running of our school day. I wake up early enough (but not TOO early, I don't like getting up really early) to tidy up and prepare my lessons (getting materials out, printing sheets from websites). Then I make the kids' lunches. They love it! I love it! I love that once we finish school, the kids grab their lunch boxes and find a place to eat. I then do a quick pick up from the school area... and all the things Ruby has gotten herself into while I was preoccupied. And then when nap time comes around, I can sit back, kidless, and enjoy my lunch in the peace and quiet clean house!
Can you see how this homeschool has saved my life? see, told you it was a very light topic! It is so organized, so structured, so fun, gives me extra time for Bible Study, for phone calls, for a NAP! And when people drop by, I don't have to be completely embarrassed at my house.
I walk around much happier, calmer, I have more fun and have one on one time with each kid (that has proven to be priceless). For me, this is something I have attempted many times before, without any success. So its great for me. All it took was homeschooling... wait, huh?
Okay, maybe it wasn't homeschooling. Maybe it was the fact that I felt led by God to homeschool from the very beginning, and for the past 5 years have wavered back and forth with my decision. I'd tell myself that I couldn't do it, that I was cheating my kids, that they would be stupid (or illiterate). I would tell myself we'd just do private school, when all along I knew I was being told to homeschool. Once I obeyed, it all fell into place. I covered it in prayer, trusted God (which was a HUGE theme in my life for a good while) and said "YES!" So, homeschool didn't put the extra bounce in my step, the extra energy in my day, the special organization in our lifestyle... it was the pure act of obedience. Its a GREAT feeling to obey. Its a great feeling knowing that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to do. No one has to agree with why, or how I do it. No one has to approve of my teaching strategies... no one but God. And its so freeing to please Him. He saved my life... in so many ways!
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