Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13:14 NIV)

How many times do I find myself wishing that I could have a nicer *insert item here* ….. Shows, hairstyle, clothes, house, etc. You get the idea. Instead of being happy with what I have, praising and thanking God for all of the wonderful provisions he’s given me, I’m often wishing I had more.

Then I read a verse like this one specifically speaking to this type of … well … sin. Telling us to “clothe yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ”. A rather pointed calling for us, especially as women when we find ourselves searching the closet and saying we have absolutely nothing to wear. Simply not the case for most of us.

So I had to stop and ponder what would it mean to clothe myself in the Lord Jesus Christ? I honestly think that to some extent this would look different for each of us so I’m not speaking for everyone here.

For me, it would start with daily spending time in the word, not just reading it, but truly applying it to my life and trying to walk it out each and every day. It would also require an attitude of praise and thankfulness.

Learning how Christ lived and striving to be like him, in the way I treat my family and those I come in contact with especially.

What does “clothing yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ” look like for you??

Guard them!  I could seriously leave this post right there and have still spoken the foundation of what I feel led to share today.  Guard your mind and thoughts ladies!  It is far too easy for us to let them get carried away.  

As women we have a tendency to read between the lines, or let our thoughts run rampant and grow.  Far too often we don’t hold them in check, then we’re left with a heap of rubble inside or out.  It is - in my opinion - most often the first place of attack by the enemy for women.  One little thought, one little nudge, one little crack in a normally healthy way of thinking can lead to something much more than we ever could have imagined.

Letting our mind run amuck is - again, in my opinion - truly where many anxiety and stress issues begin. In Psalm 55 the second half of verse 2 and the first half of verse 3 says: “My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy.”  The Bible even mentions that Daniel’s “thoughts terrified him” (Daniel 4:19 and 7:28).  Obviously this is not a new idea by any means.

How are you today?  Does your mind need to be restored and refreshed with a new and purer perspective? I don’t even want to begin to think how many days I have begun - or ended - with a “messed up” thought life.  Maybe I’m the only one, but there are days when the events all seem to build until at the end of the day I am left with a mountain of rubble to sort through. 

As a mom there are so many more things that add to this!  Some of the less than positive conversations, a situation with a child that I would rather not have had - suddenly reappear in my mind at the end of the day only to be met by a tired and half-rational thought process that blows everything out of proportion.   Also be very careful what you allow into your mind through movies, television, books and even inappropriate or insincere conversation.

~ “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Phillipians 4:7

I am so very thankful that we can always go to God for renewal of mind and spirit, and most importantly for peace! 

~ “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:2
~ “The mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” Romans 8:6

King Solomon

1 Kings 3:11-13
“Then God said to him ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked for riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see I have given you a wise and understanding heart so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days,’”

I know that’s a lot of scripture, but the entire content was needed to get the point. First he asks for wisdom instead of all the other “me” centered things people ask for. It reminds me of all the shows where people are granted wishes. It seems like they always end up in trouble because they’ve asked for so many ultimately worthless things - money, fame, things that have no eternal value.

What Solomon asks for here has eternal value and pleases God greatly because in essence it is selfless. So because of this he ends up with many more blessings than he asked for!

It is a great lesson to see God’s blessings when we make good decisions, selfless decisions, decisions that affect our life and others in a good way!

Heavenly Father please help me to seek you and your will and to ask for things that hold eternal value. I want to be more like you to live a whole and blameless life, to seek you in all I do and to have eternal impact on all those around me!

“1. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. 3. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.”

Psalm 128:1 & 3

Here’s a few things that particularly stand out to me in these verses.

• First, this is a blessing. I know, I know, there’s lots of blessings in the Bible, but I think this one stands out to me because of the second part of verse 3. Now, I don’t exactly know what the significance of an olive shoot is, but my guess would be a strong, tall, healthy young man. This in my life would be a huge blessing!
• Second thing that stands out is the fact that if my husband & I fear the Lord and walk in His ways our sons will be blessed - WOW!

Side Note: I find it greatly amusing that the sons are “around the table” ;0)

Prayer: Father, may our household fear, respect and worship you every day! May our sons grow healthy, strong and in faith! Thank You! AMEN!

Spring has arrived and with it comes new life. Do you notice the brand new life in things around you? Do you allow a fresh look into your life everyday? These are my challenges right now! Looking for the fresh, new and positive in daily life as well as the people and things around me.

I am reminded of a popular verse; Lamentations 3:21-23 “21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Isn’t it amazing how such a refreshing and uplifting verse comes from a book named “Lamentations”? Phrases like “I have hope”, “we are not consumed”, “compassions never fail”, “new every morning”, and “great is your faithfulness” are phrases that we can and should apply to our lives daily.

I feel inspired to place these phrases all over my house on sticky notes so that wherever I am and whatever I’m doing throughout the day I am reminded. The thougts and sayings that I typically have posted around the house amuse most people. The reminder “He won’t be three forever!” has been posted on my fridge for about 6 months now to help me remember not to overreact to our super strong-willed three year old. So, I sense a new era to my stickies, even the washer may be graced with an encouraging thought and scripture! Celebrate Life!

Moms deeply understand the need to recognize how amazing new life is! How often I remember watching my helpless newborn, in awe of the amazing and instant love for that tiny creature! But babies are also a reminder of all that is fresh and new. When I look into my babies’ eyes as they experience something new it is amazing to see the awe, wonder and joy!

Through a child we can truly understand the celebration of life! They open their arms to the beauty and truth of Creation. They are able to appreciate all of the wonderful things in nature that I fail to see beauty in - a frog or a snake for instance. My boys will spend an entire day with one frog they have found, fascinated by all it does, it’s noises, the way it feels, just Life! I think I need to learn from them on this one! Planting seeds and watching them grow - seems almost ho-hum to me but they can’t wait to see the seed turn into a plant, veggie or flower. If I look through their eyes I am once again amazed by God’s Creation with a renewed interest.

So, I begin my journey to remember the fresh, new life in everything around me. Each day is new and fresh and I need to begin again with renewed purpose toward the goals God has placed in my life, to be a better wife and mother. To celebrate the things that seem small but are new life to my children, to notice with a fresh outlook the beauty around me! This is my challenge and I hope to rise to the occasion!

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This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Art Bookbindery, “Empowering Writers to Self Publish.”

Here’s one more journal entry from 2002 that I thought was worth putting in here!

Sept. 10, 2002 - Compassion - Lamentations 3:22 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”

Have you ever had a truly rotten day? The kind of day where absolutely nothing goes right. The kids are whining, there’s no more milk (you spilled it all over the kitchen floor) you’re out of bread . . . The car won’t start, then when you finally get on the road you look at the gas gauge and it’s on “E” . . . The list goes on and on for the rest of the day.

During a day like this, many of us find ourselves wishing we could start over. We all have had days like this, but compared to what’s described in Lamentations a day like I described looks like a walk in the park. Yet in the midst of this nasty day or even in the midst of far worse affliction we won’t be consumed. Our lives won’t be forever ended in misery because of God’s compassion. I think here is another reference in a way to hwo God won’t let us take on, or give us more than we can bear, or so much that it would consume our lives.

Compassion is such a big word and for all of us it’s a life saver - because without it we’d be doomed. God didn’t have to care enough about us to save us - but he does!

Lamentations seems like such a depressing book, but surprisingly enough I find great hope in this and many other scriptures placed in between all the doom and gloom of Lamentations (I like the word Lamentations it is big and lamenting haha).

Bottom line, No matter what comes my way and no matter if I think I can’t handle it, God knows. All I need to do is wait and put my hope in Him, seek Him and bear my yoke and when it’s time he’ll show his unfailing COMPASSION!

Prayer: Lord help me to remember that you are in control and when things start feeling so overwhelming to give them back to you. You know what you have for me, help me to wait quietly, seeking you for the answers. I Love You! Amen.

As part of trying to get my priorities in order I have been reviewing a book of journals that I began several years ago. I came across a couple that stand out to me in light of my motherhood journey. Keep in mind that this was written when I had only 3 children.

Written Sept. 8, 2002: Psalm 48:6 ” . . . pain like that of a woman in labor.”

OK, so I can’t resist. Every time I turn around in the Old Testament, I’m reading about the pain of a woman in labor. After giving birth to 2 of my 3 children without drugs, once while also on pitocin to get labor going, I’m quite familiar to what this sentence entails. I have wondered however why is this such a common analogy? I’ve spoken before of the amazing ability God has to touch on every real part of our lives, but I don’t recall any other painful experience needing to be relived over and over and over again. That’s the part we try to forget first. It’s amazing to me that he so completely knows all our tribulations - even understands childbirth.

Prayer: Thank you again Father for all your wisdom and compassion. Help me to remember that I can call on you even for something as crazy as labor and you understand!

John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

So simple, yet it seems to often be one of the last things to enter our minds. “He who comes to me . . . ” a simple act of going to God, but the outcome is huge - never hungry, never thirtsty. One would assume he means physically as well as spiritually.

Heavenly Father, help me to believe and remember the promises you’ve given us. They are so simple and there are so many, yet I often wait until life feels out of control, or until I feel overwhelmed before I come to you. I believe in you, yet I often feel I’m not important enough for your simple promises. Help me to become a woman of faith and come to you with all that life involves.