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Married mama to 4 great kids. Lover of coffee, crochet, Jesus and people, but not necessarily in that order.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Learning about Temptation



Last Sunday, Pastor Adams taught about 3 principles that are necessary to "conquer" temptation, or at least be ready for it so that you can defeat it, one temptation at a time. 

The principles?

1.  Be filled with the Spirit.

I absolutely loved the analogy that Pastor Adams used; shouting "I know karate!" will not save us from an attacker any more than shouting "I've read the bible!!!" will help us conquer temptation. we need to do as Jesus did and remember, retrieve and repeat the actual verses that we have hidden in our hearts...

Which means, (ahem) we need to spend time in and memorize the Bible!! This is an area that I have been really thinking about and wanting to work on. There is so much wisdom in the bible!

I know! I know! Profound, right?!?!  ....wisdom in the Word of God...go figure!

I have been helping my 8 year old daughter with her memory verse for church, over the past couple of months, and ya know something???  I have memorized, them, too!  I have also had many opportunities to repeat them to myself, to my children and to friends, in remembrance, for teaching and for encouragement!

Next step? Work harder with all of my children in this discipline and continue to develop the skill for myself, as well.


2.  Know where you will be tempted...

Easy... everywhere!!! 

I am often tempted to eat more than I should, the things that I shouldn't, because they are just so good!! 

I am tempted to disrespect my man, because, ya know, he's human and imperfect (ahem...like me).

I am tempted often to skirt the responsibilities around my home and with the children because I deserve some "me" time, right?!?

The temptations go on and on and on, but I should be sure that Satan will definitely tempt me in the very same ways he tempted Adam, Eve, and Jesus.

He will use my flesh, my eyes and my mind to convince me that there are things that I want or need and just have to have.

He will try his best to convince me that God is holding out on me, or in the very least is just sitting by "watching" with disinterest. 

3. Suffering

EW!  Where is the "unlike" button?  While I can't speak for everyone, I am not a fan of the suffering "bit".  Not at all, but I can say that on the days of what I could describe as my most difficult days, there has always been a great sense of peace and/or joy that can only come from one place.... "God". 

Pretty sure, that this also means that we sacrifice some of the things that we think we "need" and wait for God's timing. Which leads me to another of Pastor Adams' awesome points that really made me think...

ALL of the trees in the garden were good.  ALL of the fruit was good.  God said so, Himself.  He created it.  It was ALL good!  God wasn't keeping Adam and Eve from goodness.  He wasn't witholding anything!!!  He was protecting them.  Isn't it so much easier to understand when we think of our own children and the treasure we give and/or keep for them?!? 

Now, I need to remember it for myself! 

Satan's big plan is to trick us into living our life without God, while we sometimes mistakening think that we are living it "for" God! 

He will stop at nothing to destroy our lives, our relationships, our persons.  He will not stop until ALL that God has created is destroyed...our marriages, our families, and our reputations. 


Watch Pastor Adams' message in it's entirety, here.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Grandma's Prayers

As many know, my Gaby has eye surgery scheduled for August 20th.  The surgery is needed to correct a "lazy" eye which is a result of damage done to the 3rd cranial nerve during a horseback riding accident (during which she was wearing her helmet) and subsequent traumatic brain injury. 

I had been praying for all to go well with surgery.  I had been praying for the surgeon.  I had been praying for Gaby. I had been praying for peace and health. 

My mom had been praying for God to provide us a way to avoid surgery all together!  Why hadn't I thought of that?!?

About 3 weeks ago, Mom called and asked if she could take Gaby to a massage therapist that she had been seeing with excellent results (another blog for another time).  My husband and I agreed to the therapy, though skeptical that it would produce the miracle results needed to eliminate the need for surgery.  Gaby had 2 different sessions in 2 different weeks, and honestly, I didn't see a difference at all.  Rafa said he thought things were improving.  I figured it was still just wishful thinking.

This week, we went to stay with my Mom, who had been trained in technique while earning continuing education credits many years ago, but had never really used it.  After working with the massage therapist on Gaby a couple of sessions, she was ready to do this herself at home. 

The morning after receiving a treatment with Mom, Gaby's eyes looked more on center.  Upon talking to Gaby we discovered that while she does still have double vision, the images are closer together than they had been.  Mom gave her another treatment that morning.  That afternoon, Gaby tried and was successful at combining the images.  For the first time since before the accident, she was able to see just one of something. Throughout the day, her eye moved back to the "lazy" position, and I began to doubt what I had seen and heard.

Yesterday morning, I noticed  that her left eye was once again much more centered.  I asked her questions about the images and their locations.  A little over a week ago, my 2nd "me" was about 2 1/2 feet to my left.  Now, "I'm" right next to me.  For the first time in almost 10 months, Gaby was able to look at one tv.  That is really important to an 8 year old, apparently.  She said she had been trying and trying to do that. 

So, for now, we have decided to cancel the surgery.  We have another appointment in October with the opthalmologist to see if there are any changes from last month.  I've seen that there are. 

Thank you for all who may have been praying Mom's prayer, for having that kind of faith.  Thank you also who have been praying for a successful surgery.  The most successful surgery is one averted.  Please keep praying that Gaby's left eye continues to improve and has lasting results! 

God has been so good to us!!

For the entire story of Gaby's accident and recovery, click here.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Hello Mornings

I want to be a faithful follower of Christ.  I want to wake up early each morning and fill my soul with His breath before I do anything else.  I do.  I really do.  Wanting doesn't get it done though.  I also want to be organized and healthy and crafty.  All of those things require work, discipline, and dedication. 


I have found, over the course of my life so far, that what I need above all else is some accountability to get started and keep going.  Which is why I signed up for Hello Mornings and joined a group.  Starting August 20th, I will be committing to get up earlier each and every morning to spend some time with God.  I plan to pray and do some bible study, plan my day (by choosing 3 things that need to be done), and move my body.  Hey!  I think that by doing these things, I'm well on my way towards my wants from above, no?  Then, I plan to check in with my group and share what I am learning. 


I do have some hang ups, though.  I've tried this kind of thing before.  I have participated in several Beth Moore bible studies through my amazing church with varying levels of success.  By success I mean, getting the homework done...I have some workbooks that are virtually blank.


I do have one workbook, though, that is completely filled.  Last fall, as I was going through the Beth Moore's study, Jesus, The One and Only, I kept up with my homework and was very faithful.  As we travelled through the Book of Luke, I felt so close to my Savior.  Then, about half way through, my second oldest daughter was involved in a horseback riding accident.  She suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and was in a coma for a little over a week.  She was in the hospital for almost a month, then in rehab for several more months.  She is doing so well. She returned to school after missing nearly 2 1/2 quarters and ended the year with all A's and B's (previously a straight A student).  Her recovery has been miraculous.  And I owe it ALL to my Lord, who selected the doctors, nurses, teachers and therapists to put in Gaby's path.  Throughout her time in the PICU and her recovery, God has been faithful with me, as well.  So many passages from the bible came to me, through loved ones and friends that I had just studied.  God provided me with so much peace.  I saw so many people that prayed for her before, during and after our ordeal.  I was shown the faithfulness of children who prayed for her.  I have been forever humbled by how others love us... how much God loves us.

Since the accident, I have gone through another bible study, but my book looks very similar to those older workbooks, with more blank lines than filled ones.  I enter into this next committment to prayer, study and time with God with excitement, joy, and a bit of trepidation.  I want to be faithful, yet when I was last faithful, trials came, as they always do. 

But, then I remember...what would I have done without Him?


If you are interested in Maximizing your Mornings, then sign up for the Hello Mornings Challenge!!!  There are still spots open!  This challenge runs from August 20th - November 16th. Check it out!