My strength or His?

Well, the last two days I've had my focus on me, rather than the Lord and His mighty strength. Being soley responsible for your children's education is a huge responsibility. It is definitely one the Lord has called me to, and I am being obedient to that. What I often forget is, what He has called me to do, He will equip me to do. I have been really frustrated and discouraged the last few days, because educating my children isn't a walk in the park, and is actually very difficult. My mistake though, is taking it on as my sole responsibiltiy.

The Lord was so good to show me last night and this morning that He made me the mother of my two children for a reason. He did not give me "normal" or "easy" children for a reason. I guess He believes that I can handle raising them up the way He has commanded. I know He has put those two precious children on this earth for a purpose, and it is my responsibility to make sure they are fully trained and equipped to carry out His plan. He did give us as parents that responsibility, however, He never intended for us to do it on our own. He is with us all the way guiding and leading us. When I've hit the wall, and I don't know what else to do or try, He has always been there to show me, when I've asked. He was faithful in that again. It is amazing to me, how I can be so discouraged one day and so relieved the next, but that is the beauty of having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The hard part of having this relationship is just like any other relationship, I have to work on it. It doesn't just happen, so when I back off and start relying on my own strengths and abilities, discouragement quickly sets in. When I put my focus back on Him, and rely on His strength, then the peace and joy comes back. Hallelujah!

I guess my point of this blog is, if you are discouraged then take a look at yourself. Are you relying on your own strenth or His?

May God bless you this week.

Set Apart

There has been so much response from the last post, that I had to come back and share even more of God's sovereignty with you. My father-in-law sent us an email after reading the post, and he said God gave Jase his strong will to overcome the odds and, "there is no telling what God has in store for him." Of course our pediatrician has told me every time I have taking in him for something (like the 2 or 3 month period, when he was 2, that he would wake up and scream from 3am to 5am because he wanted to come get into our bed, which I had only allowed one time when he was sick), "He is strong willed and God made him that way so he can achieve what God has planned for him. You are going to have to learn how to channel his determination." Easier said than done of course. He tells me that pretty much every time he sees Jase.

Getting back to the point, God did create Jase with a strong will not only to overcome his physical challenges, but also to fulfill His purpose and plan. When Jase was born I had one of those calendars over my kitchen sink that had a verse and a little devotion for each day. Several weeks after he was born, I noticed that the calendar was still on April 17 the day he was born. So I picked up to change it and I read what it said for that day: "He...set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace." Gal. 1:15 Then the devotion part read: "Each child has been uniquely created by God to fulfill a special part of His plan for the ages. Use every resource you can to help your child discover that part." I tore that page out and it is on the front page of his baby book.

From that moment I knew Jase would be called for something special. Of course, I did not know at that time, how often God would bring that back to my memory to encourage me that Jase will overcome, and he has been created for a special purpose just like all of us. My daughter has also been created for a special purpose. She isn't strong willed like Jase (praise God), but she is sweet, loving, compassionate, happy-go-lucky, and always has a smile on her face. The smiles of children I think are one of God's greatest gifts! They can lift the heaviest heart and light up the darkest night.

Friend, I just hope you remember that you too, have been created for a special purpose. Since we were created on purpose, we need to live our lives with purpose. Pray for God to show you your purpose, if you don't already know it. Don't just exist, live for your purpose, let God have control in your life, and live it with passion for Christ.

Have a blessed, purposeful day!