| A Rough Day | | Posted on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:00am | My three-year-old granddaughter, Eppie, has a new phrase, “I had a wough day..jpg) She doesn’t have her “r” sound mastered yet, but I’m sure she has heard an adult talk about “having a rough day.” Her daddy laughs, asking her, “Just how bad a day could you possibly have had?”
(Granny, can confer, that in this picture, she HAD had a bad night, battling with a high fever. She was uncharateristically cuddly. )
We all have days when everything seems to go wrong, right? The “spilt milk” sorts of things that occur every day are sometimes harder to find joy in than the major trials. My frustration levels rise when circumstances do not go exactly the way I planned. I fuss and fret, usually causing more minor catastrophes. My husband says that things going wrong, like dropping something and breaking it, or the washing machine overflowing, or a flat tire, are all reminders that we live in a fallen world.
Small struggles provide the opportunity to rejoice and learn perseverance. They prepare me for the bigger trials that might lie ahead. They also give me an opportunity to realize that my trials are minor compared to what others face, for instance, in places like Haiti.
Illness, accidents, wars, poverty, injustice, hunger, crime, and floods surround us. Such things may cause us to blame God. Why does God allow such things to occur? In fact, we are correct in blaming God. God is to blame. Since man chose to sine, God had to allow pain and suffering in the world. Fortunately, he created death and limits our days. However, this doesn’t mean that he is guilty or unjust for allowing these things.
If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them, (Mark 13:20).
In the midst of this suffering God sent his Son to tell us that “God is love.” But how can a God of love allow such evil and destruction? He allows such things to occur so that we might humble ourselves and repent. God placed each of us in our life situation, whether good or bad, so that we might seek him (Acts 17:26-27).
In the deepest of love and wisdom, God permits every injustice and suffering so that we might see our need to depend on him. Even if it does not happen directly to us God hopes we will learn by observation. This truth may seem unpleasant, but if understood and accepted leads to a deep eternal joy. It’s a lesson we can teach our children while they are young.
So the next time you have a “wough” day, ask God for wisdom. He will show you clearly the purpose of your trials. Persevering through trials and sufferings teaches us how God works. Each time we pass through a trial we can look back and learn new lessons. Then with this new wisdom we can face the next trial.
| | | | | | Ask Mom: Internet Addiction | | Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 5:00am |  (Wisdom) is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her, (Proverbs 3:15)
Dear Spiritual Mom:
My child wants to play video games constantly. I’m afraid he might be addicted. How can I keep him from overdosing on the internet?
It’s amazing how fast technology changes. When our kids were school age, my husband ran a bulletin board system and access to the internet was non-existent. Today the amount of time kids, young children and teens, spend online is a great concern for many parents. In addition to dealing with overuse, there are many dangers that parents must be aware of such as pornography and online predators. Unfortunately, parents are not usually aware there is a problem until a child is seriously addicted.
Ask these questions to determine if your child has an internet problem or not.
- How long are the stretches of time your child spends online (for example, two to four hours)?
- Can your child easily stop and not become restless if not online?
- Have you noticed mood swings?
- Does your child have interest in other activities besides online ones?
- Does your child lie about the time spent on the internet? Does he try to cover it up?
- Is he having problem with school or with homework?
- Does your child have physical signs such as carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, headaches, back aches, skipping meals?
- Does your child prefer spending time on the computer over spending time
 with friends and family?
Finding a healthy balance
Since most kids will find a way to get online, and computers are an important part of our society, it would be unreasonable to do away with it completely. The key is to teach children not be mastered by the internet.
"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything,” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Here are a few things you can do:
- Pray with your child about using the Internet. Discuss the amount of time, type of activities, and schedules that are appropriate. Allow your child to make some of these decisions with your guidance.
- Once guidelines are set, keep them in place. Statistics show that kids who don’t have Internet rules spend 95 % more time online than kids who do. Examine your own habits. How much time do you spend online? Does your child see you choosing to chat with friends on Facebook over spending time with him?
- Keep the computer in an open part of the house, not in your child’s bedroom. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin, (1 John 1:7).
- Invest in software that restricts Internet use and logs the time spent on the computer and what it’s used for, and update regularly. Our family has used several different types. Ultimately you want to teach your child self control and accountability, but this is a safe guard.
- Find activities that you can do with your child or as a family, both online and off.
- If you feel your child has a deeper problem, seek professional help.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed, (Proverbs 15:22).
- Teach your child “the man who fears God will avoid all extremes, (Ecclesiastes 7:18). Instill a concern for to obey God. Ask, "Would God want you to spend three hours on the computer? What else could you do?"
- Most importantly, don’t fret. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil, (Psalm 37:8). Work through this your child, and use it to steer him to rely on God more.
How has your family dealt with Internet overuse? Leave a comment and share how your family overcomes this problem.
Resources: Web-Savvy Kids; Enough-is-Enough | | | | | | New Resource from Hearts at Home | | Posted on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:00am |
I am excited to share a fun opportunity with you! .jpg)
To celebrate the release of Hearts at Home’s newest book: Living With Less So Your Family Has More, by Jill and Mark Savage, the Hearts at Home blog is launching the Living with Less Contest.
Email Hearts at Home a story or money-saving tip that gives a peek into your daily experiences representing the humor, richness, or spiritual aspects of what it’s like to live with less.
Better yet, blog readers will benefit as many of the money-saving entries will be posted on the Heart’s blog throughout the month of February!
For contest details go here!
| | | | | | Ask Mom: What makes a Spiritual Mom? | | Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 7:33am |
(Wisdom) is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her, (Proverbs 3:15)
What makes a Spiritual Mom?
This is a question I am often asked by women when speaking at events or conferences. Many times women ask, "How can I become a spiriitual mom?" Or "Will you be my spiritual mom?"
Many of us did not have a mother who nurtured or guided us, so we feel a need for a spiritual role model. This has led to a mentoring movement that encourages women to connect. While of great benefit, a lot of mentoring today is done over the internet. I love blogging and connecting with women through Christian Momlogic. What makes us “spiritual moms,” in person and virtually?
A spiritual mom understands that:
- she is nothing apart from Christ
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).
- her wisdom and women’s intuition are foolishness
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Cor. 1:20)
- her fleshly love counts for nothing
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life, (John 6:63).
- she must only speak, act, and behave as her Father directs
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does," (John 5:19).
- above all allow the Holy Spirit must work through her
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit, (Galatians 5:25).
Because she relies on the Holy Spirit she:
Her arms are strong for her task; she has no fear for her household (Pro. 31: 17, 21).
- comforts others as God has comforted her
. . .we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor. 1:4).
- Has wisdom and counsel beyond her years and experience
Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city (Ecc. 7:19).
- Patently waits for God to act in her children—especially when they break her heart
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes, (Psalm 37:7).
- Intercedes for her family, friends, and the world before men and God
Pray for us, (1 Thess. 5:25).
- Presents her children perfect before God
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ, (Col. 1:28).
Am I a “spiritual mom?” I hope so. Each day I ask God to fill me more with his Sprit that I might reflect his image. I fail miserably at times, but God is faithful to remind me that am nothing and he is All.
| | | | | | Taking a Sabbath Rest | | Posted on Monday, January 25, 2010 at 5:00am |  Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest (Exodus 34:21)
Yesterday Timothy encouraged me to take a “real” Sabbath—to rest on the couch and watch an old movie or read a book. I call my hubby by “stress barometer,” because he always knows when my stress level reaches its peak. I resisted at first—“This week calendar is super packed and I want to write my blogs ahead of time.” Blogging isn’t “work” was my excuse. But it didn’t take long for me to realize he was right. How could I have anything to say if I my cup was so empty? It was the "Sabbath" after all.
God felt so serious about the Sabbath that anyone who worked on that day was put to death (Ex. 31:15). Experts today tell us that stress and overwork contribute to a leading cause of heart disease, cancer, and ultimately early death. Maybe God was trying to warn us of the effects of not resting with this strict commandment.
Many years ago I read about a medical technique used for healing a damaged heart. A surgeon attaches a special pump to the candidate’s heart allowing blood to flow through it and throughout the body. The ill heart rests for at least twenty-four hours while the mechanical pump does all the work. Amazingly the heart can become healthy, and even normal, during this period. Just a few short hours of rest can strengthen a weak, failing heart. God desires for our emotional and spiritual hearts to be at rest. Refusing to take a Sabbath rest can damage or even stop our spiritual hearts from beating.
We all have our own periods of “plowing season,” or life’s busiest times. Even then God expects us to stop and regroup and reenergize our bodies and minds. For some of us—like myself—this might seem impossible sometimes. We cannot let go of our work; we hang on, even if only in our thoughts. We work and work, trying to squeeze out every minute of the day. By taking a Sabbath we might realize how much more productive we could be if we turn our cares and worries and labor over to God for his guidance and blessing.
A person with a damaged heart may be destined to a life of misery, pain, and even death. But a spiritual heart that rests in the presence of God receives healing. Yesterday I rested and energized my body and my heart. Today I feel energized and ready to remain in his Rest, even in the midst of my labor.
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