Saturday, April 30, 2011

Taming Our Household

So I decided that I'm going to participate in Joyful Mothering's 31 Days to Clean Challenge. I heard about it a few weeks ago, but didn't think anything of it. Now it's come across my radar again so I decided maybe this is just what I need to give me the support I need to get my house clean and make it a HOME! After signing up Jason said he'd like to participate with me too! I'm very excited that this will be a joint effort. I'll be thankful even if the effort he puts forth is to take E out of the house while I work on different rooms. :-) Although I'm pretty sure he'll be doing some cleaning too. So be on the look out for posts not just from me, but from him also on how our 31 Days to Clean is going each week.


If you're interested in this challenge also click on the button on the right and it will take you there.

Or click here: 31 Days to Clean Challenge
You can also find it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/31DaysToClean

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Gently Being Lead

I was on Facebook tonight, no big surprise there, but I saw a post from Cravings. I linked over and read through Amy's post about peace. I was so thankful for her sharing her story as she touched upon a verse I don't think I have ever paid much attention to.

I, like her, feel as though sometimes I do not give the needed attention to either the ministries I am working in or to Jason and Evalyn. I feel as though there are times when I don't have time for God, but I know that isn't true. Even now in my weekly Bible Study with 6 other ladies I am working on making sure that I schedule some time in each day to read God's Word and work on my homework for the study. (More on this during another post.)

The verse that surprised me the most was Isaiah 40:11.

Isaiah 40:11 (New International Version, ©2011)


11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.


I've always known that God is compared to a shepherd in the way he cares for us. As have I known that I'm usually the one straying away from Him. The part that surprised me was the last line of "...he gently leads those that have young." Wait..what.."he gently leads those that have young." (Emphasis mine.) Wait, that's me! I have young now! I have a rambunctious, darling daughter! This verse is saying that there is provision for mothers! Not only will he tend to all of us, he will lead me gently and keep my child close to his heart.

Wow! What tranquility that brings to my mind. God knows exactly what I need as a mother. I need someone that understands that sometimes I only have 10 minutes to myself and I need to just breathe and close my eyes for that time. He will gently guide me as I guide Evalyn too. I'm so very thankful He carries Evalyn "close to his heart" because I know there are times she is on my last nerve and she's not very close to my heart at that instance. But God will guide me back to Him and her also. Love covers all, if only we let it.

Here's another version of that verse:

"... He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young." Isaiah 40:11, New Living Translation


Thank you God for gently leading me with my little lamb. I'm so grateful that there is someone else leading .... now just help me stay on that path right behind you and not stray....

What about you? Are you being gently lead?


Verses looked up on www.biblegateway.com