THE BLESSING... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

There are books that focus on giving BLESSING to God, yourself, to your family, and to others.  THE BLESSING, by Gary Smalley and John Trent is a very popular book that I read years ago.  It will quite probably open your eyes to many new things that you have not contemplated before.

Another one that has become a huge blessing to so many may not have been specifically written for the purpose of teaching blessing.  It is titled WHO I AM IN CHRIST by Neil Anderson.  When the reader works through the process of this book, she is more ready to bless God, herself, and others.  Some fellow mothers and I have committed to read this book this month.   It has 38 chapters broken into 3 parts:

PART ONE:  OUR ACCEPTANCE IN CHRIST
PART TWO:  OUR SECURITY IN CHRIST
PART THREE:  OUR SIGNIFICANCE IN CHRIST

What a blessing it is to your family when you, as wife and mother, understand deeply who you are in Christ.

Just this week, after learning about how GOD BLESSES, in our Sunday morning Bible class, a couple from church went to a Michael W. Smith concert.  They were very encouraged that he ended His concert by giving his audience THE BLESSING.  They brought us Michael W. Smith's book entitled, THE SIMPLE BLESSING. 

Here is a YouTube video of Michael "giving a blessing" to a christian school at the end of his chapel talk.
. 



LOVE J esus!            BLESS J esus!

LOVE O thers!        BLESS O thers!

LOVE Y ourself!      BLESS Y ourself!

~Oh, the JOY!~

LOVING GOD, LOVING EACH OTHER... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

I witness deep and abiding LOVE for others on a daily basis.  I am part of a local church family who is known for it's LOVE.  I am a part of a worldwide group of believers, the body of Christ, who are known for our LOVE of our LORD.  Just this week, I've observed close up and long distance christians who know how to love one another.  Are you passing this choice to love on to your children? 

Are you loving others:

• During the "daily mundane" of home life?
• While shopping at the grocery store?
• While stuck in traffic?
• When speaking to or of your children's teachers/friends?
• When talking on the phone?
• When with your husband?
• With the body of believers who you call "church family"?

IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO CHOOSE LOVE?

Put the person's name in the blank and begin to LOVE:

My love for _________is patient,
My love for _________is kind and is not jealous;
My love for _________does not brag and is not arrogant,
My love for _________does not act unbecomingly;
My love for _________does not seek its own,
My love for _________is not provoked,
My love for _________does not take into account a wrong suffered, My love for _________does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
My love for _________bears all things,
My love for _________believes all things,
My love for _________hopes all things,
My love for _________endures all things.

LOVE never fails;
¹³ But now faith, hope, LOVE, abide these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE."

                                    ~Oh, the JOY~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

This week, I have witnessed a great outpouring of love in God's family.  It's the kind of love that says,

"I've walked this road of learning to love myself like Jesus loves me.  The burdens seem heavy until you understand that He will never leave you and that I will come walk beside you."



Love J esus!

Love O thers!

Love Y ourself!

~Oh, the J.O.Y.!~

SO LONG SELF... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

Fellowship = 2 or more fellows in the same ship!

Looking at it in those terms, I ask myself, "What happens to those 'fellows' when a storm comes?"  I have a feeling that "focusing on oneself instead of on the good of all on board" would NOT be the correct answer.

It is so easy to get caught up in protecting ourselves first.  In light of our topic on this blog, we each  must learn to LOVE ourselves by pouring ourselves out and allowing Jesus to fill us up.  What follows is becoming more and more like Christ in:

1. Mourning over the sinful condition of our world.
2. Meekly living in the midst of that world.
3. Hungering and thirsting for His righteousness in all I do.
4. Merciful ministering to all those who my life touches each day.
5. Keeping a pure heart in all things.

I'm thinking of some of my friends this weekend in terms of FellowSHIP...

•  FellowSHIP:  What does that look like while chaperoning a busload of teens on a multi-state trip?
•  FellowSHIP:  What does that look like when a mommy hosts a bunch of young ones for a slumber party?
• FellowSHIP:  What does that look like when a group of mommies get together and have lots of time to gab while the kids play?
• FellowSHIP:  What does that look like when you are along with just your family at home?

 NONE OF SELF! 

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT!

~OH, THE J.O.Y.~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

The fellowship of suffering... there truly is a bond of fellowship that runs deep in this type of fellowship in the family of God.  In the last few weeks, my heart has been full of grief for many dear friends and family:  death of a parent, death of a second parent, death of a grandparent, job losses, pay cuts, chronic pain, rare disorders, tumors, cancer, surgeries, norovirus, children turning away from God...

Then, last night, again, I read these words from E. Stanley Jones' book, THE CHRIST OF THE MOUNT. 

"In choosing the way of the cross, we find ourselves in an intimacy of companionship with Christ who toils up that same road, and there in that way we hear words that make the heart sing amid its sacrifice.  Then can the soul say, 'Might one little drop of what I feel fall into hell, hell would be transformed into paradise.'  The comfort is not a sickly sentimental thing-it is not the wiping of tearful eyes, but the re-inforcing of the heart.  The Beatitudes put no premium on mere mourning...  ... There is nothing so absolutely blessed as to be able to suffer well.  The sorrow of the world brings death, but this sorrow brings life."

I observed the Beatitudes lived out in the life of my friend, Tanya.  As we are focusing on the first 3 of the Beatitudes, this week, I can't get Tanya off my mind. 

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

  You will be forever blessed by reading this written about Tanya, on this blog, on the day she died:

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-light-your-world-be-transformed.html

She had learned how to love Jesus, love herself, and love others:

~Oh, the JOY!~

LOVE THE LORD... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

Sometimes good intentions don't get the job done!  After injuring my knee further and spending most of the morning in water therapy and at the doctor's office, I now am walking with a cane AND a boot.  This is really gonna slow this girl down!  But never fear... I've got FAMILY and FRIENDS!

Brenda arrived at my house to clean.  While she did that, I was able to make my list of phone calls and do school work on the computer.  Then, I got to sit and be encouraged by reading my daughter-in-love's blog about our 2 grand-girls.  Afterwards, Brenda chauffered me to the University where I had a meeting and office work.  A professor friend helped me gather my files for an hour and a half to prepare for the testing I'm giving all day tomorrow.  Chauffeur Steve arrived just in time for my friend to carry my files to his truck while I hobbled along.

As I thought more about being "Poor in spirit!"  I knew that I was being taught today in multiple ways.  I cannot do life on my own strength!  Humility!  Non-resistance!  Service!  Love!  Those were all in my face today!

Also "in my face" today was my GRANDdaughter C.  Oh, she is not here!  But some things she has done/said recently remind me of the "poor in spirit heart of a child". 

"C" story #1 remind me to BE poor in spirit, BE mournful when things go wrong, BE meek enough to be moldable:



When "J"  commented, "Sad,"  "C" piped up, "What's sad, mom?"


"J" said, "I was just sad the ice cream place had closed, but it is fine." 

"C"  immediately said, "We need to pray for it. And then maybe it can open back up."

"J" and "J" smiled. Then they prayed. And they thank God for this moldable little heart and the ways He's already working in it.

 

 

"J" has begun to work on the ABC Scriptures with 2 year old "C".  Here is "C" story #2:

 

When they did the "A" verse, "J" wrote:  It's week 2 with the verse, so we made a craft today.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."Joshua 24:15

 

 

Later, "J" wrote, "Last week we were supposed to finish B. We read the story of the Good Samaritan, and talked about how he built another up. When I finished, "C" asked me, "Can I give the Good Samaritan a hug?" Sweetie! 

First, we wrote ways that we can make others feel love, or build them up.

"C" came up with

a)play with them

b)be a nice friend

c) make them something with cute things

d) say something nice

 e)share

f) give a hug.

 

We wrote each inside of a heart, and she colored it."

 

WHAT A HEART FULL OF JESUS' LOVE

LITTLE MISS "C" HAS!

 

If you would like to get yourself and

your children started on this spiritual

journey of understanding and  memorizing God's word,

go to Jenae's blog at:

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/10/abc-printable-scripture-cards/

 

Love Yourself like Jesus loves You!

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit...

Blessed are those who mourn...

Blessed are the meek...

 

OH, THE JOY!!!

I LOVE THE LORD: TRANSFORMING THURSDAY AND FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

Last week, I wrote the following:

In a christian family and in the church family, our goal is to grow up in the love of Christ or be "taken by the love of Christ". I love this scripture, Ephesians 4, that describes how this transformation happens:


"11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to EQUIP HIS PEOPLE for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE WILL GROW to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up IN LOVE, as each part does its work."

I saw this picture on FB and I immediately thought of the transformation process we all must go through and how it relates to our role as wives and mothers.  I connected it back to last Thursdays post (above) and then I thought of two chapters later in Ephesians 6, where Paul says this:

 
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Life is a battle!   Jesus gives us His armor!

~LOVING JESUS~

 

~Oh, the J.O.Y.~

TAKEN BY LOVE... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

What a week of great challenge!  I don't know what I or others would do without the fellowship and love of God and His family. 

This week, has been one of great challenge in the midst of me hobbling with a cane because of a bum knee and my new semester beginning:

• different friends are grieving the loss of a father, sister, and grandfather
• friends are battling depression for multiple reasons
• a friend was rushed to the emergency room with great pain and signs of having a heart attack - we joined him there with his family
• my husband stopped by to see a friend, only to find this friend dead in his living room...

I have seen many tears and deep grief / pain responded to with great measures of LOVING-KINDNESS... LOVING SERVICE... LOVE...

I am TAKEN BY THE LOVE OF JESUS and how He works in and through my family and friends. 

~Oh, the J.O.Y.~

TAKEN BY LOVE...

TESTIFY TO LOVE...

JESUS...

     You've likely seen this video. It's all over Facebook! I saw it for the first time on Wednesday. Wednesday evening it had about half a million viewings. By last night at 10 p.m., it had over 3,200,000 viewings and 500,000 comments. What? Yes! I don't agree with every statement the young man makes, yet his premise is so true. Jesus loves me! Jesus loves you!
.
     I sat for about 5 minutes after watching the video on Youtube: WHY I HATE RELIGION, BUT LOVE JESUS! The comments rolled in at about 1 per second. Nasty comments! Vile comments! Encouraging and loving comments! It hit me... this is what God sees ALL THE TIME. How patient can He be? Is it time for the King to return?

     I believe He is waiting for one more... five more... hundreds more... thousands more... to be added to the Family! He is waiting for one more... five more... hundreds more... thousands more... to BE TAKEN BY LOVE!

Our children need to be taught that "church" is not a place we go to... it is the people who are in love with Jesus.... His bride... who is TAKEN BY LOVE!

Taken by the love of Jesus!

Testify to the love of Jesus!

~OH, THE JOY!~

I AM BLESSED... FAMILY AND FRIENDS...

"The holidays" are here! They can be soooo memorable and sooooo stressful. Before you head into this day/this weekend/this next week, take a moment and read through these few words of inspiration, taken from a book put out by Hallmark, called FRIENDSHIP IS A BLESSING. My friend, Melody, gave me this book about a year and a half ago.

"BLESSED

are they who have the gift of making friends,

for it is one of God's best gifts.

It involves many things,

but above all,

the power of going out of one's self,

and appreciating whatever is

noble and loving in another."

ABC'S of Friendship

A - Accepts you as you are.
B - Believes in you no matter what.
C - Calls you just to say "Hi".
D - Doesn't give up on you.
E - Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
F - Forgives your mistakes and shortcomings.
G - Gives of self unconditionally.
H - Helps you without being asked.
I - Invites you to come over.
J - Just wants to be with you.
K - Keeps you close in heart.
L - Loves you for who you are.
M - Makes a difference in your life.
N - Never judges you.
O - Offers you support.
P - Picks you up when you are down.
Q - Quiets your fears.
R - Raises your spirits with encouraging words.
S - Says nice things about you.
T - Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
U - Understands you.
V - Values you.
W - Walks beside you during the hard times.
X - eXplains those things you don't understand.
Y - Yells as loud as it takes to make you listen.
Z - Zaps you back to reality.



And, if these ABC's are too hard to remember, Charles Swindoll, makes it simpler:

"I A ccept you as you are."

"I B elieve you are valuable."

"I C are when you are hurt."

"I Desire what is best for you."

"I Erase all offenses."

~BLESSED~

MY SAVIOR MY GOD... CANDY CANE REMINDER...

I'm giving my grandchildren a collection of candy canes this month - one a day for the 12 days of Christmas.

Christmas Candy Cane Poem

~adapted~

Look at a Candy Cane.

What do you see?

The stripes are red,

Like His blood shed for me.

The white is for MY SAVIOR

Who is sinless and pure!

“J” is for JESUS, MY GOD,

that’s for sure!

Turn it around

And a staff you will see

JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD-

loves you and me!

~BLESSED~

FOREVER... FAMILY...

FOREVER FAMILY only happens because of Jesus.

Jesus Christ is...

A uthor of the forever family

B rother in the forever family

C reator of the forever family

D eliverer of the forever family

E ternal Life of the forever family

F aithfulness within the forever family

G oodness, Gentleness, and Grace within the forever family

H umility, Holiness, and Hope within the forever family

I ntegrity within the forever family

J oy within family

K indness within the forever family

L ove and Life within the forever family

M eekness and Mercy within the forever family

N ame of the the forever family

O nly Begotten Son of the forever family

P eace and Purity of the forever family

Q uieter of the forever family

R ighteousness of the forever family

S pirit, Soul, Savior, and Song of the forever family

T ruth and Teacher of the forever family

U nfailing Love and Unspeakable Gift of the forever family

V ictory of the forever family

W ay and Word of the forever family

eX ample for the forever family

Y ahweh of the forever family

Z ealous for the forever family

~BLESSED~

GIVE THANKS... FOR FAMILY...

I am so thankful that the words above are true. Whether it be my physical family or my spiritual family, it is God's love that transcends all to make us friends.

I love the straightforward definition of love that God gives us in scripture. Within that "definition" in 1 Corinthians 13, anyone's name can be entered in my paraphrased version here:

My Love for _____ is patient,

my love for ______ is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast,

it is not proud.

5 It does not dishonor , ______

My love for _____ is not self-seeking,

My love for ____ is not easily angered,

My love for _____keeps no record of wrongs.

6 My love for ________does not delight in evil

but rejoices with the truth.

7 My love for ______always protects,

My love for ______always trusts,

My love for ______always hopes,

My love for ______always perseveres.

8 God's kind of Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease;

where there are tongues, they will be stilled;

where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when completeness comes,

what is in part disappears.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child,

I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man,

I put the ways of childhood behind me.

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part;

then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain:

faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

~BLESSED~

THAT'S WHAT FAITH CAN DO... GIVE HOPE... FAMILY...

Please watch a brief newscast video of a christian man who along with his wife has chosen to BLESS many. My FAMILY and I have been overwhelming recipients of God's lovingkindness through the Craig and Kathy Taylor FAMILY. So thankful that we are all FAMILY in Jesus!

I am putting a link here just in case the embedded video does not work.

http://www.news9.com/story/16060870/amanda-taylors-role-model-speaks-out-about-hunger
































~BLESSED~

THAT'S WHAT FAITH CAN DO...

11-11-11

Today's date is so unique! It reminds me that I am a fan of ones!

In Ephesians chapter 4, there is a focus on ONES:

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then,

I urge you to live a life worthy

of the calling you have received.

2 Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient,

bearing with one another in love.

3 Make every effort to keep

the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace.

4 There is ONE body

and ONE Spirit,

just as you were called to ONE hope when you were called;

ONE Lord,

ONE FAITH,

ONE baptism;

ONE God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each ONE of us

grace has been given

as Christ apportioned it.

• 
  
  1 Body


• 
  
  1 Spirit


• 
  
  1 Hope


• 
  
  1 LORD


• 
  
  1 Faith


• 
  
  1 Baptism


• 
  
  1 God and Father of all

• 
  
  1 Godly Husband


• 
  
  1 Godly Oldest son


• 
  
  1 Godly Oldest daughter


• 
  
  1 Godly Youngest son


• 
  
  1 Godly Youngest daughter

That's what FAITH can do!

~BLESSED~

VOICE OF TRUTH... TO THE FAMILY...

Last Sunday, in our Faithful Friends Bible class someone shared that her upbringing was quite opposite of what she was reading in the Bible. My heart was touched with saddness to hear her speak.

This week I have addressed words on this blog like endurance, perseverance, Holy Spirit, transformation, happiness, and blessing. Our youngest daughter was visiting last weekend. As she headed for the airport on Tuesday, I repeated to her what she has heard me say often over the years, "Be a blessing!" In some families, that would not be said or even considered.

What does the VOICE OF TRUTH tell us about the difference between a family living for Jesus and a family who is not? Compare / Contrast the two families below, understanding that no family is perfect. The family on the right is certainly what a christian family should aim for.

F ear

F aith and forgiveness

A rguing

A blessing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M e, myself, and I

M orality and ministry

I mmorality

I ndwelling Holy Spirit

L ies

L ove!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Y ou and me

Y ahweh, you, and me

~BLESSED~

CHERISH THE TREASURE... FOR THE CHILDREN...

I've been a people watcher for a long time, when it comes to families. I heard many years ago, that one of the best ways for parents to raise children is for the children to really see and know that their daddy loves their mommy and their mommy loves their daddy!

Over the years, I've seen parents who choose to "stay together for the sake of the children". They live, putting on foot in front of the other, tolerating their spouse. It's mediocre at best!

Life is so hard! Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy! Why allow him to do that to our marriages? Our families? Put Jesus at the center of your marriage relationship and soon Jesus will become the center of your family. Put Jesus and the center and there will be many blessings, beginning with the fruit of THE SPIRIT: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

I pray that if you have not had a chance to read the posts of this week, that you do so now. They will encourage you to become a Spirit-led mommy who cherishes the treasure of your spouse because of Jesus! Go ahead! Be a blessing by counting your blessings!

~BLESSED~

BLESSED ASSURANCE... FOR FLAWED FAMILIES...

Let's face it! We are all flawed! I'm flawed! You're flawed! Husbands and ex-husbands are flawed! Children are flawed! Yet, it is because of Jesus that God sees us differently. Once you and I took the steps to become a christian, we became part of a large eternal family. We've said, "We are friends of Jesus!" On the Judgment Day, Jesus will say to His Heavenly Father, "These guys are with me! I claim them as my brothers and sisters."

If we know we are all flawed and Jesus is the answer for life, then why don't people flock to Jesus? What about when marriages need a tune-up or a major overhaul? Shouldn't Jesus be the answer to the problems within marriage?

This weekend our church is hosting a Marriage Enrichment, beginning this evening at 7 p.m. www.cochrist.org

Couples are taking the step to confess that there are flaws in their marriages. They know that Jesus is the answer! What BLESSED ASSURANCE!

~BLESSED~

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS... I WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO KNOW...

Happy First Birthday, Kaleah Faith!

Gigi wants you to know that your blessings all come from God and the best friend you'll ever have is Jesus!

~BLESSED~

WHO AM I? A WOMAN MOST BLESSED...

Oh, how BLESSED I am in so many ways! I'm praising you, Jesus, today for my FAMILY!

What a BLESSING to have a supportive, encouraging, praying husband. Today, I received this email from him:

PATTI,

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND WHAT GOD IS DOING THROUGH YOU IN EVERY WAY!!

"I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up;

Do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:19

LOVE AND RESPECT YOU MUCH!

Steve

Thank you, hubby, for always pointing me towards our Heavenly Father. I am a woman most BLESSED!

I will treasure this note sent to me today on the 29th birthday of one of our daughter-in-loves. Oh, how BLESSED we are to have Jacqueline as a gift from God: a gift to our son, a gift to us, and now such a precious gift to two children. As we have been looking at who we are in Christ this week, I have considered the beauty of Christ that I see in Jacqueline. Here's just a sampling:

• Advocate
• Blessing
• Counselor
• Deliverer
• Encourager
• Friend
• Guide
• Healer

Happy Birthday, sweet lady!

~BLESSED~