Written on
July 10, 2010 by
Gina in
Blog
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
I was a bit surprised by an article I read lately, about a mom who openly admitted she’s bored with her children. And it got me thinking…
Most times, I feel I lack the nurture gene, and yes, I admit I feel like this woman at times. Bored of playing with toys and dolls, aggravated by the never ending kiddie board game, and frustrated by driving my kids all over town.
I’m not one of those moms who loves to play with her children for the simple fact that I’m a type A personality, a Choleric/Melancholy, who sees so much to do around the house that playing a game often feels like wasting time.
Continue Reading »
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Sometimes it’s hard to know which way to turn, which area of your life has gotten out of balance and which needs to be steered back on course. Every since I’ve become a mom, I’ve struggled with balance. Yet, I’ve been able to encourage others along the way even though I don’t have it all figured out myself…
I wrote the following to a friend who was starting on a similar journey of balance in her own life:
“Listen to that gentle whisper God is speaking to your heart and see where He wants you to let go.
Continue Reading »
“If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 16:25
One morning, when my youngest two were three and five years old, I sat down with them for a quick devotion. I usually didn’t get around to devotions with my little ones, but on this morning I had managed some quiet time myself before they got up. When they came to sit besides me, I set aside my Bible and seized the moment, never knowing that their children’s devotion would be just what I needed.
Continue Reading »
I needed a word from the Lord about my writing, my relationships, my life. When I cracked the Bible, the book fell open to Ecclesiastes 1:1 and I started reading.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
Okaaay… Not the answer I was expecting so I read on.
“What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever…All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Continue Reading »
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9”
I started on my writing journey enthusiastic, bright-eyed and hopeful. That was six years ago. Now, at times I’m weary, blurry-eyed, and discouraged. Why?
What takes a determined person and zaps the life from her dreams? Is it the struggles we face along the way? The obstacles we must overcome? Or is it the lack of results?
While I’ve had successes in my writing career, I’m starting to wonder if it’s enough to sustain me.
Continue Reading »
How quickly I forget the blessings of life.
When I think back to my childhood and through the years, what comes to mind?
The hard times.
The hurts and pain.
People who wronged me.
Why is that? Why is it so easy to remember the bad times and so hard to conjure up memories of good? Are you this way too?
The Israelites, whom God had chosen and loved, battled the same thing.
“So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.
Continue Reading »
“The suddenly there dawns upon us the vast, entire endowment of God’s free love and forgiveness…It is this which bowls us over…frees us…transforms us.” Paul Tournier
Saved by Grace.
Christians throw that phrase around to express their faith, but do they really know what Grace is? I’ve come to a deeper appreciation and revelation about God’s Grace. It’s so amazing, even my seven-year-old is still too young to understand it’s power and meaning.
I’ve come to understand through my own Christian walk the difference between Grace and Mercy in these simple terms:
Grace is getting some reward I don’t deserve. Mercy is being forgiven or pardoned from a wrong I did and a punishment I deserve.
Continue Reading »
It was a Sunday morning of my writing weekend. I had just finished a rather good word count and went back and forth about debating whether or not to miss my church’s new series on Jesus, but figured I could catch it on the web. So I flipped through the channels of the hotel television, stopping on a choir singing. Not my typical church service. I like my music more contemporary, but thought I’d give it a try. Then a suited man stepped to the podium. Again, not my typical service. My pastor is usually dressed casual and in the summer often wears sandals.
Continue Reading »
