Do you have an Ebenezer?

 

Do you know the old hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing“?  It has always been one of my favorites, but there was something in the second verse that I just didn’t get, but never really questioned until recently. 

The second verse says, ” Here I raise mine Ebenezer; Hither by they help I’m come…”

So, I wondered what is an “Ebenezer”?  Well, I googled it, found out & was really excited by what I found.

1 Samuel 7:12 – 14, says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.”  (NRSV)

Ebenezer  is a combination of 2 Hebrew words that literally means stone of help.  I love that!  Samuel  set up this stone as a reminder of the Lord’s help.  It was a physical, in your face reminder that God had not forgotten about them, he had helped them by subduing the Philistines.

What do you have as your Ebenezer?  Do you have something that reminds you of the everlasting love & mercy of your God?  I actually have some stones that I keep on my bathroom counter that are a reminder to me that God helps me everyday.  These stones are not perfect as I am not perfect, but they have been polished as I am being polished by my Lord to become the women that he can use to His Glory!  I hold these stones often in my hand as I pray, thanking the Lord for his love in my life.  Thanking him for his goodness, mercy and wisdom.  I thank him that even when I feel as though I am all alone, I know that he is helping me and guiding me along.

If you don’t have an Ebenezer, get one.  Find something that reminds you of God’s help in your life.  Sometimes we need a physical reminder in front of us that God is there & he already knows what we are going through.  Then we can praise him & thank him for his goodness in our life.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

The Bailey Tribe

Here are some recent pics of my kids!  We went to a park one day to take these.  We had a lot of fun, but it was hot.  My first attempt at taking these failed because once I had everyone under the tree & ready I realized the batteries were dead on the camera.  No biggie, the store is 1 block away, let’s go get batteries.  So I did & then as we are coming up to the park to try again I realzed that I got the wrong batteries.  Ugh!  So, we went home because the babies needed a nap anyway.  While they napped & the kids ate lunch I went & got the right batteries.  So, we went again all refreshed & fed to get some pics done & this time it worked!

From the left:  Sarah (15), Gracie (2 1/2) Zachary (5 1/2, standing up) Collin(11), Morgan (13, back) Ben (7 1/2, sitting) Josh(14, back) Austin(9 front), Ashley (16) & Sam (1)

Here is Sam.  He is our baby. 

This is Gracie.  She is my first strong willed girl!  She looks so sweet & innocent doesn’t she?  What I don’t like to admit is that she has a lot more control of our house than I like to admit.

Sarah(15), Ashley(16) & Morgan (13)

Here are the boys! 

From the left; Zachary(5), Josh(14), Sam (in Josh’s lap & is 1 yr old), Collin (11), Ben (7) & Austin(9)

 There are some ducks in the pond & some golfer dudes (as my boys called them) that they were watching.

Girlfriends

 As women we are so relational.  We need others around us most of the time.  We don’t even like going to public bathroom by ourselves.  Having close friends to talk to is very important to us.

 If you filled a room with women the conversations would turn to our children, husbands, or other friends.  A room full of men would be the totally opposite.  If they were talking to one another, the conversation would probably be about the last ball game, favorite brand of concrete or last hunting expedition; nothing real personal, just talk. 

Romans 12:15-16

 ”Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  Do not be wise in your own opinion.”

How blessed we are when we have friends who will cry with us & laugh with us.  I have a friend like this.  She and I have a lot in common.  The biggest thing we have in common is that we both have 10 kids.  We love meeting together at IHOP around 8:00 at night & staying until our husbands start calling, which is usually around 1 or 2:00 a.m.  It is great.  We laugh until we are about to pee in our pants (which isn’t that hard after having 10 babies) and then we will cry until we just have no more tears. She knows things about me that I wouldn’t want just anyone to know & she still loves me! Only she can understand how I can do 6 loads of laundry everyday & still stay behind.  She understands my thrill at watching my kids grow up and not wanting them too.  She understands how I can have so many kids and still hope to have more…now that is a friend!  She has never asked me “Why would you want more?” because we have the same mindset about our families.  We both always have at least one broken window in our house & she doesn’t freak out when she see’s her baby eating a sandwich off of the floor.  We both know that they will survive! (If you are wondering why the sandwich was on the floor, you don’t have enough kids) When I had a miscarriage a few years ago she cried with me and when she had a miscarriage this year I cried with her.

The part I think I love most about my friend is that she is the first one to tell you that she really doesn’t know much about being a mom.  She lives everyday seeking the wisdom & guidance of her Lord and resting in his grace.  She gets a lot of questions like I do about how to raise her kids & her humble attitude is so encouraging.  She always makes the questioning mom feel as though she is doing something right and encourages her to press on.  Does she know a lot about raising kids?  Absolutely, but she has a very humble attitude about it because she knows that it is truly only by the grace of God that any of her kids will turn out o.k.

I chose her as my friend.  Yes, we met and really hit it off, but I chose to spend more time with her.  I wanted to get to know her better & she felt the same way.  I had prayed for a long time for a friend who would do more than just understand my crazy life as a mom of many kids, but I needed a friend who would encourage me in my relationship with the Lord and challenge me in my walk.  She has taught me so much about the Lord and cheered me on to publish my writings and speak to moms about the Lord.

What kind of friendships do you have?  Do your friends encourage you in the Word and in your walk with Christ or do they distract you from him?  Be careful how you choose your friends.  If you don’t have any close girlfriends, pray and ask the Lord for some.  He will bring them, just make sure you are looking for them.

Tell me about your girlfriends.  Has the Lord placed a friend in your life just when you needed her support & encouragement?

Being Always Open to Truth

Psalm. 119:18, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

We have been trained by our sinful society to resist & rebel from the law.  Seeing God’s law as wonderful is not natural to the depraved eye.  As believers in Christ we must ask him to open our eyes to the beauty of his law.  Everything he does is for our good.  When we keep his law and commands we then are experiencing true life and joy.  But, we are very sinful and we must ask him to open our eyes to the wonderful things.  We cannot see the wonderfulness of his law when our eyes are clouded by our sin

Did you see the movie National Treasure?  In this movie two groups of people are searching for a treasure that is believed to be hidden by the Founding Fathers.  There are clues all over the United States that lead them closer to the treasure.  One of the clues is a pairs of glasses invented by Benjamin Franklin.  The glasses were created to decode a message that is on the back of the Declaration of Independence.  With normal eye sight no one could see the clues, but when you looked through these glasses you could see an amazing set of words giving the location of the treasure.

We can get so caught up in our own life that we forget how wonderful God’s way is.  It is a more peaceful and more exciting way to live.  His law adds beauty to our lives, but we must ask him to open our eyes to the wonderful things of his law so that we can understand better the importance of remaining pure.

10 Things to Pray

 Teach me…

•1.     To hold my tongue –

Job 6:24, Teach me, and I will be quiet;   show me where I have been wrong.

Psalm 141:3, Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Father, teach me when to speak and when to listen.  Set a guard over my mouth so that my words will encourage & not discourage others.  Give me wisdom in my words  . A-men.

2.  What I can say to God-

Job 37:19, “Tell us what we should say to him;   we cannot draw up our case   because of our darkness.  

Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us   with groans that words cannot express.

Father, how thankful I am to know that even when I have no words to say to you, your Holy Spirit can speak on my behalf.

3.  Your paths-

Psalm 25:4  “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;   

Job 34:32 “Teach me what I cannot see;   if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.

Father, open my eyes that I may see your path to walk in.  Help me to see when I am stepping away from you and give me the faith to walk in your ways even though I cannot see the way.

4.  Your Truth -

Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,   and my hope is in you  all day long.

Father, how wonderful it is to know that you are God.  Guide me in your truth so that I can easily recognize evil and strengthen me so that I can resist and temptation to stray from you.

5.  Your Way-

Psalm 27:11, “Teach me your way,   O LORD; lead me in a straight path   because of my oppressors.   

 Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way,   O LORD, and I will walk in your truth;  give me an undivided  heart, that I may fear   your name.

Father, teach me to walk only in your way.  When I am faced with difficult times help me to trust only you to direct me.  I want to love you with all my heart, show me when I allow other things to interfere with my love for you.

6.  To number my days that I might apply my heart to wisdom-

 Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 Psalm 20:24, “A man’s steps are directed by the LORD.  How then can anyone understand his own way?   

Father, please forgive me idol busyness.  I know that I let so many things get in the way & then my day is wasted.  Teach me to use my days with discernment & wisdom so that I may bring glory to you.

7.  Your statutes-

 Psalm 119:12 “Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me   your decrees.  

Psalm 119:26,”I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.  

 Psalm 119:64, “The earth is filled with your love,   O LORD; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:68, “You are good,   and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.  

Psalm 119:124, “Deal with your servant according to your love   and teach me your decrees.   

Psalm 119:135, “Make your face shine   upon your servant and teach me your decrees.  

Father, teach me your statutes so that I can know you better.  You are so good and your statues bring peace to my life.  Shine on me Oh God and teach me your decrees.

8.  The way of your statutes-

Psalm 119:33, “Teach me,   O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.

Father, just knowing your statues will not help me much unless I learn to keep them.  Help me to keep your commands so that I may experience you and know the way of your statutes.

9.  Judgments. -

Psalm 119:66, “Teach me knowledge   and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.

Psalm 119:108, “Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,  and teach me your laws.

Father, teach me to make good judgments.  Help me to discern and to act slowly with great thought.  Help me to apply the knowledge of your word to my actions.  I praise you for your law’s and the happiness it brings me.

•10. Knowledge-

Psalm 119:66, “Teach me knowledge   and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.

Father, teach me your knowledge and help me to gain wisdom from it. 

 For more ideas on what to pray or how to pray go to Prayer Power Ministries website.  Kaye Johns is a mom who is passionate about teaching moms how to develop a deep prayer life.

Beautiful without makeup!

 Why do we spend so much time (&money) on make-up?  I remember my mom telling me stories about when she & dad first got married the other ladies in the apartment complex were betting who could catch her with out her make-up on.  No one ever did.  She put it on first thing every morning.  Why do we put so much importance on putting on our makeup before anyone see’s us; because we don’t want anyone to see our freckles, wrinkles, & blotchy skin?  The same goes for our inner self.  We don’t want anyone to know who we really are.  If they did find out, they might not like us anymore.  Society has immersed us in this false way of thinking.  TV commercials, music, magazines are full of this message of your self worth is all about what you look like, who you know, and what you do.

As moms, we must understand that we are loved and accepted the way we are by God.  This doesn’t mean that our bad habits can remain, we must always be seeking to improve ourselves, but to God’s glory, not man’s.  If we are confidant in our relationship with Christ then that will show & we will be seen as beautiful by others.  If we understand our freedom and live in it we can remove our “veils” with confidence.  We can live without our makeup on…well, our emotional make-up.  We are free to be ourselves & be confidant in who we are in Christ.  We must pass this confidence on to our children.  We need to teach them who they are…sons & daughters of the King of all Kings!  We must teach them that when they are confident in who God created them to be, their lives will bring glory to God.  They will inspire others to also be themselves, not who others want them to be.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Today’s youth base their worth on the acceptance of others.  If they are accepted in the right crowd or by the right boys they are worth a lot.  This is totally opposite of what Paul is teaching the Corinthians.  Our worth is in Christ.  We should not look to be accepted by anyone but Christ.  His standards are the only acceptable ones.  These youth girls become moms later on who are still looking in the wrong places for self worth.  They are afraid that if they are not the perfect size or wear the right clothes that their husband might lose interest or their friends will find new friends.  How sad this is.  We must teach our girls while they are young that there is freedom in being a daughter of the King.  They are free to be their self, just the way God made them.  They don’t have to earn God’s acceptance, and nothing you do will cause God to reject you.  This is so hard to explain to young girls who are in the midst of the depraved & selfish world everyday.  They are immersed in materialism and lust as an acceptable way to be.  If we start when these girls are young, the chance of laying a firm foundation of proper self worth is greater.  We need to teach our girls (& guys) that there is freedom in knowing Christ.  We need to teach them to look to the Lord for acceptance and guidance, not the world, but we can teach something that we do not know for ourselves. 

Because he lives in us, we can shine and be more beautiful than we could ever imagine even without our make up on!

From The Message   

2 Corinthians 3:12-15,With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back. Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us. He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn’t notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn’t notice. They didn’t notice it then and they don’t notice it now, don’t notice that there’s nothing left behind that veil. Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can’t see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there’s nothing there.

 3:16-18 – Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

Are You Flexible?

This year in our Family Bible Study time we are spending a week or so on  different character traits.  We are going through the scriptures studying people who did or didn’t portray the character trait and what were the blessings or consequences of their actions.  Then we also look at animals and how they may portray a specific trait.  It has been really fun & interesteing and a time of growth for all of us.

Well, the first character trait we studied was “Flexibility”.  We studied about Martha who flunked her test in flexibility when she became angry and frustrated when Mary was just sitting at Jesus feet rather than in the kitchen working.  Then we read about Moses who obeyed God and returned to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery even though he felt so unqualified.

I was amazed as our study of flexibility continued at how each of us were tested in different ways in our flexibility.  I have always thought of myself to be a fairly flexible person.  I can go with the flow to a certain extent, but this study showed me that my actions may show flexibility, but I’m not very flexible in my thoughts.

When my plans have to change, I may go ahead & flow with the new plans, but I am grumbling all the way.  On the outside others see me as peaceful & calm when on the inside I may be screaming, “I want my way.”  This is just as wrong as not being flexible in my actions.

Here are some points I gave my kids to remember, but in all reality, I needed them just as bad.  These are 5 ways that we can exhibit flexibility.

1. I will not get upset when plans change.  Learn to use self-control & patience
2. I will look for the good in changes rather than focusing on the bad.
3. I will respect the decisions of my authorities.
4. I will not be stubborn
5. I will not compromise what is right by yielding to changes that are wrong. (wrong kind of flexibility)

I printed these out and put them up where they would see them everyday.  A very good reminder for me also.

Colossians 3:1,2

Since, then, you have been raised wtih Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

 

I know that when my heart & mind are truly set on Christ then I don’t have an issue with flexibility.  So, when I am stubborn & selfish, whining because my plans are not working out I know that my mind is set on me, not HIM.

 

How flexible are you these days?