It's like the anticipated impact of a car spinning out of control toward you on a rainy day. You can feel the burden of the impact in your chest as all the motions, though quick, seem to be moving in slow motion. Your heart pounds in against your chest. The full impact of car has not yet been felt, but you can see, and therefore you mentally and physically brace yourself for the excruiating pain that is forthcoming.
A mother's pain is like that spinning car. All the feelings and emotions are real as your stomach slowly starts to knot up into a thousand balls and your body wanes from the emotional turmoil. Your day vasilates between an operational reality and nonfunctional numbness as you ponder how could your child reject everything you have taught them.
You recount the days when you first felt a flutter in your stomach. That was a welcomed flutter; unlike the knots and numbness you now feel. You ask yourself over and over again, "How could this be happening". It's not death in the true sense of the word, but all the same it is a loss.
I'm referring to the loss of a relationship between a mother and her child. I do believe that as with death it is a mother's ultimate pain. It's a pain that afflicts many during the course of parenting. It's a pain that not many wish to talk about. It's a pain that only the Father above can take away.
Scriptural mediation during this time of growth are: Luke 15:24 (For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found), Proverbs 22:6 (Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it), Psalm 147:3 (He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds).
Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts
Monday, February 9, 2009
Speak To The Hand! My Faith Banner. My Jehovah Nissi
My Faith Banner. My Jehovah Nissi.
In the monthly devotional Journey, I was recently challenged by Beth Moore, a notable Christian author and speaker who talked of her practice of raising her hand as her shield of faith that represents her 5 statement pledge of faith. This made me think of another shield that has become quite common lately and quite possibly cultural to throw an opened hand up as if stopping traffic but often to stop an attack, attitude or other dissatisfaction coming from another person.
We all have seen the young girls with hands on their hips, jaws clenching up and down from Hubba Bubba, head cocked to one side, eyebrows arched and eyes down low. Yes, if you're old enough to remember Mel's Diner, you know the look when Mel was told, "Mel, kiss my grits." Or, maybe you're younger and you remember Martin and Gina on the Martin show holding up the well understood, "Speak to the Hand" offering.
At any rate, it was to ward off the unwanted with non verbal communication. That "speak to the hand" embodied all the commentary and attitude needed to place a shield between you and the offender. A shield of protection if you will. A silent, yet effective tool of defense.
Adopting the efficacy of this tool, Beth Moore assigns each digit on the hand a scripture for defense. The reader's challenge, my challenge was to personalize my new tool with meaningful and principle driven scriptures that would resonant in my soul and affirm my faith.
In my searching I found a name of God that had the resonance I was searching for, Jehovah Nissi, my banner- Exodus 17:15. Exodus 17:15 says that Moses built an alter after their defeat of Amalek and named it, " The Lord is my banner." Now this affirmation came centuries before me. Actually, Moses had been using the hand well before it became cliche. Scripture says that when Moses' hands grew weary they were held up by Aaron, his brother-in-law, and Hur until the going down of the sun until Amalek was defeated. Wherever Moses' hands were up Isreal prevailed and whenever Moses' hands were lowered Amalek prevailed- Exodus 17:11-13. What a wonderful use for the hand. God's Word spoke loud and clear with the use of Moses's hands.
As stated earlier, Beth Moore's 2002 model was a challenge to me as I searched for my banner with meaningful and principle driven scriptures to create my own 5 statement pledge of faith using the following model.
The 1st statement: "God is who He says He is"
The 2nd statement: "God can do what He says He can do"
The 3rd statement: "I am who God says that I am"
The 4th statement: "I can do all things through Christ"
The 5th statement: "God's Word is alive and active in me"
The Bible references that I chose to reflect on when I have to hold up the "Speak to the Hand" tool are ones that I try to practice daily. While I don't always get it right. I know that it is a process. A process in my belief, my faith and total trust in God. A process that my husband, my church family, my BSF fellowship and friends will come to me and hold my hands up when I too become weary.
Cyndy's 5 Statement Pledge with Living Words
The 1st statement: "God is who He says He is" (You shall have no other gods before me)
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Deuteronomy 6:4
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. Matthew 22:36-38
The 2nd statement: "God can do what He says He can do"
The 3rd statement: "I am who God says that I am"
But you are a chosen race, a royal, priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I Peter 2:9
The 4th statement: "I can do all things through Christ"
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
The 5th statement: "God's Word is alive and active in me"
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart Hebrews 4:12
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
What will your 5 statement pledge be?
Monday, November 5, 2007
Rock, Paper, Scissor
I thought we could manage with sharing one tube of toothpaste until payday which by my calculations would help out with the budget...(Wow, it saved $4.50 for Tom's Natural Toothpaste). So this morning while I was dashing into my kids bathroom to use the only tube of toothpaste in house I was able to witness a ritual my 13yo and 7yo had been doing for some time now and I was pleasantly surprised and proud of them.
I had known for awhile now that I had not heard any fussing between the two of them for weeks about who got to the bathroom first. I never knew the reason but accepted the calm mornings as I held my breath. It was a welcomed change to the usual morning madness.
Well, this morning on my way out of their bathroom both of them reach the door at the same time but instead of the usual pushing or whining out, "I got here first", I heard my 13yo say with eyes still waking up, "Paper, Rock, Scissors". Then, without another word said my 7yo, her too with eyes still waking up, in unision with the 13yo began to form their hands to either Paper, Rock, Scissors.
My daughter won and so my son said two out of three. They proceeded to shake their hands to Paper, Rock, Scissors for two more rounds. My daughter won two out of three and quietly entered into the bathroom and closed the door. No other words were spoken. My son went back to his room to snooze until she came out.
I think I woke up the reminder of the sleeping eyes in the house as I told them how proud I was of them of how they had worked out the morning bathroom problem. They both looked at me with expressions that said every bit of, "Mom, we got it under control".
I thank God for both of their maturity in their roles of big brother, little sister as well as learning how to resolve conflict. It is truly a step to contentment and peace.
I would also love to think that the scriptures that I have written, and illustrated for the 4yo, have been hidden in their hearts.
I had known for awhile now that I had not heard any fussing between the two of them for weeks about who got to the bathroom first. I never knew the reason but accepted the calm mornings as I held my breath. It was a welcomed change to the usual morning madness.
Well, this morning on my way out of their bathroom both of them reach the door at the same time but instead of the usual pushing or whining out, "I got here first", I heard my 13yo say with eyes still waking up, "Paper, Rock, Scissors". Then, without another word said my 7yo, her too with eyes still waking up, in unision with the 13yo began to form their hands to either Paper, Rock, Scissors.
My daughter won and so my son said two out of three. They proceeded to shake their hands to Paper, Rock, Scissors for two more rounds. My daughter won two out of three and quietly entered into the bathroom and closed the door. No other words were spoken. My son went back to his room to snooze until she came out.
I think I woke up the reminder of the sleeping eyes in the house as I told them how proud I was of them of how they had worked out the morning bathroom problem. They both looked at me with expressions that said every bit of, "Mom, we got it under control".
I thank God for both of their maturity in their roles of big brother, little sister as well as learning how to resolve conflict. It is truly a step to contentment and peace.
I would also love to think that the scriptures that I have written, and illustrated for the 4yo, have been hidden in their hearts.
Proverbs 15
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
What language are you fluent in?
I Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Recently I have had some communication issues with someone very close to me. It just seemed that at every opportunity for harmony there was a battle. It's quite funny because the battle never seemed to directed at me personally, but it was tension nonetheless.
Well, yesterday there was true harmony and heartfelt communication. I immediately scanned the environment and happenings all around us hoping to duplicate it for the future. It seemed too simple, too trivial. It was all about showing love.
This morning my daily devotion was on I Corinthians 13. We all know this one. It's the love chapter. It's one I had studied in depth with my husband and Pastor Skepple during our premarital counseling. For some reason, I'm not sure of the origin of my thoughts, I'd only made the connection of this chapter in my relation with my husband. But, the connection with those outside my marriage didn't always experience this unconditional love that I was commanded to express. How did I miss the importance of this unconditional love with others.
I thank my Lord and Savior for providing a universal language that we should all be fluent in, and with all people. I also thank Him for making the connection with events of yesterday with my daily reading today. God is so timely.
My unfavorable situation with my love one changed yesterday with a simle hug. Yes, it was simple and seemingly trivial at the time. However, it was just what I was commanded to do and the relationship is all the better for it.
Hugs are universal. This language is understood and accepted by all.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Recently I have had some communication issues with someone very close to me. It just seemed that at every opportunity for harmony there was a battle. It's quite funny because the battle never seemed to directed at me personally, but it was tension nonetheless.
Well, yesterday there was true harmony and heartfelt communication. I immediately scanned the environment and happenings all around us hoping to duplicate it for the future. It seemed too simple, too trivial. It was all about showing love.
This morning my daily devotion was on I Corinthians 13. We all know this one. It's the love chapter. It's one I had studied in depth with my husband and Pastor Skepple during our premarital counseling. For some reason, I'm not sure of the origin of my thoughts, I'd only made the connection of this chapter in my relation with my husband. But, the connection with those outside my marriage didn't always experience this unconditional love that I was commanded to express. How did I miss the importance of this unconditional love with others.
I thank my Lord and Savior for providing a universal language that we should all be fluent in, and with all people. I also thank Him for making the connection with events of yesterday with my daily reading today. God is so timely.
My unfavorable situation with my love one changed yesterday with a simle hug. Yes, it was simple and seemingly trivial at the time. However, it was just what I was commanded to do and the relationship is all the better for it.
Hugs are universal. This language is understood and accepted by all.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Memories, our belief system (Right or Wrong?)
Part 2
Our memories, a wicked self -preservation.
We spoke of a self - preservation that leaves one feeling rejected, vulnerable and discounted. This type of self' - preservation becomes unforgiving in relationships when one person's belief system, based on their memories and their right and wrong, are forced upon another. During this type of disharmony each one is waging memory against memory all in the name of right or wrong -- their own self-preservation.
Equally painful and discounting are the sneers, jeers and accusations of self seeking participants in this war of memories as they too use their own belief system for their own validation. It's the perfect crescendo, their chiming in to the existing disharmony, that will add fuel to each one's cause.
Memories - our belief system, is it right or wrong? A few self- examining questions could restore harmony.
1. Can my memory be confirmed in a tangible way by another or evidence?
2. Am I isolating my memory to empirical evidence alone, or am I using interpretation to form a memory?
If restorative actions are required after finding Biblical answers to the questions it is appropriate to seek or give forgiveness and restitution to a person's "personhood".
Enjoyed "self-preservation" can only by obtained in truth. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
Our memories, a wicked self -preservation.
We spoke of a self - preservation that leaves one feeling rejected, vulnerable and discounted. This type of self' - preservation becomes unforgiving in relationships when one person's belief system, based on their memories and their right and wrong, are forced upon another. During this type of disharmony each one is waging memory against memory all in the name of right or wrong -- their own self-preservation.
Equally painful and discounting are the sneers, jeers and accusations of self seeking participants in this war of memories as they too use their own belief system for their own validation. It's the perfect crescendo, their chiming in to the existing disharmony, that will add fuel to each one's cause.
Memories - our belief system, is it right or wrong? A few self- examining questions could restore harmony.
1. Can my memory be confirmed in a tangible way by another or evidence?
2. Am I isolating my memory to empirical evidence alone, or am I using interpretation to form a memory?
If restorative actions are required after finding Biblical answers to the questions it is appropriate to seek or give forgiveness and restitution to a person's "personhood".
Enjoyed "self-preservation" can only by obtained in truth. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
Memories, our belief system (Right or Wrong?)
Part 1
We all have been shaped by our genes, environment, past and convictions. Our molding is predicated on that belief system that formed from that shaping. We see our moldings from our belief system as right or wrong; albeit right or wrong.
From earlier on in our character formation we accept or reject those things from our lives and past and claim them as a part of our "personhood". I see this in my own children.
It's those aspects of our moldings that determines our memories. Yes, what we accept as right or wrong will be what defines us and what our memories are comprised. It is our memories that hold or define our pursuit for maintaining or claiming who we are. This too, I see in my own family. Please follow me on this.
When the memories that have been branded as our personal banner serve as our validation those aspects of our "personhood" becomes our reality. Those realities may be far from being validated and/ or it may be full of omissions by those who would know best. Nevertheless, we hold on to those memories as our own self-preservation. The funny thing about self-preservation is that everyone does it.
When driven on memories, many times within families this self-preservation creates disharmony. Furthermore, the case for preserving each one's personhood never preserves bilaterally. While one has victory in self-preservation; someone else is left with a unsettled resolve of not being validated, rejected, discounted and vulnerable. All for the sake of memories, what each has chosen to remember. Is it right or wrong?
We all have been shaped by our genes, environment, past and convictions. Our molding is predicated on that belief system that formed from that shaping. We see our moldings from our belief system as right or wrong; albeit right or wrong.
From earlier on in our character formation we accept or reject those things from our lives and past and claim them as a part of our "personhood". I see this in my own children.
It's those aspects of our moldings that determines our memories. Yes, what we accept as right or wrong will be what defines us and what our memories are comprised. It is our memories that hold or define our pursuit for maintaining or claiming who we are. This too, I see in my own family. Please follow me on this.
When the memories that have been branded as our personal banner serve as our validation those aspects of our "personhood" becomes our reality. Those realities may be far from being validated and/ or it may be full of omissions by those who would know best. Nevertheless, we hold on to those memories as our own self-preservation. The funny thing about self-preservation is that everyone does it.
When driven on memories, many times within families this self-preservation creates disharmony. Furthermore, the case for preserving each one's personhood never preserves bilaterally. While one has victory in self-preservation; someone else is left with a unsettled resolve of not being validated, rejected, discounted and vulnerable. All for the sake of memories, what each has chosen to remember. Is it right or wrong?
Friday, June 29, 2007
Jehovah Jireh - My Provider
Genesis 22:14 introduces the name of God as being a provider. God is shown as being a provider to Abraham when he was faithful and took his son Isaac up to the mountains to be a sacrifice. That place was named Jehovah Jireh because it was where a God provided a sacrifice.
It was this passage that I awoke with in my heart as an answer to a conversation I had had with a friend just yesterday. As a result of an unfortunate job circumstance my friend was informing me that she and her husband would not be able to use my preschool services for their child. In my trying to encourage her in her situation and well as me in my own family's financial hardship that this unfortunate circumstance had created, I quoted to her, "When the Lord closes one door another will open". To put it another way, God is Jehovah Jireh- My provider.
Now this statement I made was not setting well inside and by the time that I had awaken the Holy Spirit had created in me a desire to find biblical truth to what I had said. Now being biblically correct is always important since a person's relationship with God as their Savior is not always known or evident. I knew that my encouragement should always point to God. I was not sure that I had done that.
I looked in the concordance in the back of my bible for the words where "door, open, close" were used and I found nothing in that context. I thought of stories from the bible that demonstrated this statement that I had quoted and the one story that I remembered was from Genesis 22:1-14. It was the story where Abraham took Isaac to the mountains to sacrifice him. Abraham believed by faith that God would have both he and Isaac return down the mountain after the sacrifice. Now that's faith. It was when Abraham had drawn his knife for the sacrifice that he heard the tugging of a ram in the caught in the bushes. It was a ram that God provided for the sacrifice. It was a moment of faith and testing. It was a moment that God revealed Himself as Abraham's provider.
After remembering the story I planned to read it in my bible after my daily devotion- "Drawing Near" by John MacArthur. I preceded to my devotion dated June 29th and there it was. A whole devotion on "Enjoying Friendship with God" with a Further Study section leading to the book of Genesis 22:1-19. The Holy Spirit could not have spoken to me more clearer.
So, today when my friend brings over my precious little preschool student for her last day, I will be prepared to share a biblical perspective on the unfortunate circumstance that effects both of our families. I will able to encourage the both of us with the beautiful illustration of God truly closing one door and opening another.
I can truly say that God does work everything for good for those that love Him- Romans 8:28.
It was because if this unfortunate circumstance that revealed God's constant love and care for us. He truly gives us all we need, at the time we need it most.
It was this passage that I awoke with in my heart as an answer to a conversation I had had with a friend just yesterday. As a result of an unfortunate job circumstance my friend was informing me that she and her husband would not be able to use my preschool services for their child. In my trying to encourage her in her situation and well as me in my own family's financial hardship that this unfortunate circumstance had created, I quoted to her, "When the Lord closes one door another will open". To put it another way, God is Jehovah Jireh- My provider.
Now this statement I made was not setting well inside and by the time that I had awaken the Holy Spirit had created in me a desire to find biblical truth to what I had said. Now being biblically correct is always important since a person's relationship with God as their Savior is not always known or evident. I knew that my encouragement should always point to God. I was not sure that I had done that.
I looked in the concordance in the back of my bible for the words where "door, open, close" were used and I found nothing in that context. I thought of stories from the bible that demonstrated this statement that I had quoted and the one story that I remembered was from Genesis 22:1-14. It was the story where Abraham took Isaac to the mountains to sacrifice him. Abraham believed by faith that God would have both he and Isaac return down the mountain after the sacrifice. Now that's faith. It was when Abraham had drawn his knife for the sacrifice that he heard the tugging of a ram in the caught in the bushes. It was a ram that God provided for the sacrifice. It was a moment of faith and testing. It was a moment that God revealed Himself as Abraham's provider.
After remembering the story I planned to read it in my bible after my daily devotion- "Drawing Near" by John MacArthur. I preceded to my devotion dated June 29th and there it was. A whole devotion on "Enjoying Friendship with God" with a Further Study section leading to the book of Genesis 22:1-19. The Holy Spirit could not have spoken to me more clearer.
So, today when my friend brings over my precious little preschool student for her last day, I will be prepared to share a biblical perspective on the unfortunate circumstance that effects both of our families. I will able to encourage the both of us with the beautiful illustration of God truly closing one door and opening another.
I can truly say that God does work everything for good for those that love Him- Romans 8:28.
It was because if this unfortunate circumstance that revealed God's constant love and care for us. He truly gives us all we need, at the time we need it most.
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