With All My Heart

I have been participating in my first online Bible study called "When Women Say Yes to God" and it has been such a blessing.  I'm a little new at connecting through the online community, but when I saw a chance to write something on my blog about one of the topics, I thought it would be a good challenge for me.  I have recently been studying Deuteronomy 6:5,

"Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul and strength." 

I've heard and read this verse too many times to count.  I even have this verse up in my kitchen for the boys to memorize (thanks, ABC Scripture Cards!).  I thought I had this verse down pat!  But when I stopped to think what it really means, as far as applying it to my life, I found myself lacking.

When really thinking about this verse, I found myself thinking of my boys.  My loves.  My children. 

 

 

So I began a list of what it means to love my boys with all my heart, soul and strength.  That was the easy part.
 

• I will change my plans or schedule for them
• I will always have time for them
• I feel incomplete without them
• I think about them constantly
• I think of their needs before my own
• I'm willing to serve them even if I'm tired, had a hard day, regardless of their attitudes
• I consider serving them a blessing and a priviledge
• I would fight tooth and nail for them
• I would defeat enemies for them
• I lovingly talk to them to teach and guide them
• I do not run from the hard parts of raising them
• I do not let the fear of failure keep me from doing my very best with them
• If I fail, I ask for forgiveness and I move forward to the next challenge
• I take time to listen to them, even when dinner is boiling over and they are struggling to get the words out.
• I listen to all of their ideas and encourage them
• I take time to get to know them
• I crave to be in their presence
• I miss them when we are apart
• I love them all the time; the good, the bad and the ugly
• I know they love me for what I am and not how I look or what skills I have
• Their love is not linked to my talents
• They only want my attention
• They don't need, and aren't impressed with my accomplishments
• They depend on me to bring Jesus into our home and introduce them to His love.

Now, I look at my list and think of my Father in Heaven.  Do I really love him like this?  Well I ought to!  I ought to crave his presence!  I ought to miss him when we are not together.  My heart ought to feel the missing piece if I'm not walking beside Him!  I should be willing to change my whole schedule to just sit with Him.  I need to be willing to serve him, even when I'm tired or discouraged.  I should be willing to fight for him at all costs!  This is what it means to me to love Him with all my heart, soul and strength. 

  

This is my goal for this study.  To meditate on this verse and develop a relationship with Him that fills my heart like my boys do.  An unexplainable and fierce love that takes up all my heart, soul and strength.  This is the love that He desires from me and this is the love that will move my mountains and break my chains.

 

 

 

Mom's Group - Ashland, VA

I'm not really sure if I'm looking for a Mom's group.  Is that weird?  I know I could use the support.  I suspect I will always benefit from digging in the Word.  But where, oh where, would I put this on the calendar?  Maybe a once per month would be good?  I'm very very sensitive about the little time I have with my family as it is.  Working outside the home can be a challenge in this area.  After work, I have about 2-2/12 hours with my boys tops.  Most of that is filled with fixing supper, eating supper, baths, showers and getting ready for bed.  I hold on to this time for dear life.  So do I need some time to recharge with other moms?  Yes, that would be wonderful.  Is that time going to be in the next 5 years or so?  Not so sure about that one.  I'm really looking forward to reading what others do in this "Link Up" party!

 

I have loved the blog, Little Light of Mine, and traded emails a bit with the founder, Courtney.  She is a very real Mom who loves Jesus and her family.  I love how courageous she is about sharing on her blog.  I am certainly not there yet.  I love to write, but the fear of rejection still looms like a dark cloud over me.  I'm trying to break loose, knowing Jesus has set me free.  But my confidence in this area is very fragile.  Little by little, I hope to loose the chains of perfection and unrealistic expectations and know my best is good enough for the one who counts.

 

Be encouraged, ladies, no matter where you are in your journey!  There is one or more like you reading this blog right now!  I am certain of it! 

 

Thank you Courtney and friends for putting a little bait out there for want-to-be bloggers!



http://courtneydefeo.com/blog/

Simple Summer

There is something to be said about a simple summer. 

 

This was the summer of pinching pennies and cutting back.  This was the summer of answering the small talk question “where are ya’ll going on vacation this year?” with, “Um, we are just staying around the house this summer.  Not going anywhere really,”

while forcing the please-don’t-pitty-me smile.  I was prepared for bored kids and a few bouts of climb-the-wall-itis from me. 

 

But you know whats funny?  We got none of that.  This summer has been simply… relaxing.  And fun. 

 

 

 

 

Yes, we have had our share of “no one will play with mes” but for the most part, we have had a wonderful summer.  All of the things I would normally be stressed out about planning, or making sure we did; like camping, beach days etc… knowing we just could not do those things really took a lot off my shoulders.  It left a lot of room for lazy Saturday mornings with coffee and cartoons.  Teaching the boys to help clean the house.  Playing in the pool for hours.  Making our own ice cream.  Lessons on being grateful for what we have rather than focusing on what we don’t.  I think I get so caught up sometimes with planning family experiences, that I forget to experience our family!

 

 

 

We instead are planning some family fun for this month (since the August budget is favorable) and we have brought the kids into the planning and they are excited to be a part of it!  We are planning to go see a movie as a family, which we’ve never done, and to camp out in the backyard one of the nights of the meteor shower. 

 

 

I have truly enjoyed my simple summer this year.  Saying no sometimes means saying yes to so much more.  Because we aren’t running ragged, we have been able to have a few couples over for Saturday night suppers.  Its been fun to open our home.  We were not doing that in the past due to schedules, not enough time to clean the house, etc.  It has not been stressful for me as I learn to let go of so much.  Especially of what I imagine others are thinking of me.  Refreshing. 

 

 

Thank you God for our simple summer.  I pray the feeling and what we have learned so far extends through as school starts this fall!