Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Thankful

I receive a daily devotional in my email every morning. I try to make sure it's the first thing I read when I get online. I received two not long ago that I know God sent to me. I have been struggling lately and these two spoke to my soul. Hope you are encouraged!

Beauty

Pretty, Pretty Princess
By Micca Campbell

“Your beauty should not come for outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Devotion:
The other day I came across a photo of my daughter’s first school dance. She looked like a Princess. Part of her fun that evening was getting dressed up for the event. Like most girls, Peyton has loved playing dress-up since she was a little girl. I have many pictures of her dressed up like a bride, a princess, or a ballerina. Peyton loved playing dress-up so much that one year on her birthday I bought her a board game called “Pretty, Pretty Princess.”

Quickly, it became her favorite game. With each turn, the player had the opportunity to put on an earring, a necklace, or a bracelet according to which card was drawn. You won the game if you drew the Princess crown! I can still recall how cute it was watching her play with her daddy, and how fun it was to see him wearing the plastic jewelry. One time, he actually answered the front door wearing his Pretty, Pretty Princess jewels. Looking back over the years, I’ve come to realize that Peyton is not alone. No matter how old we get as women, we still long to be as beautiful as a princess. That desire is a God-given desire. However, since we live in a fallen world, we often try to fill our God-given desires in unhealthy ways. For example, the world tells us in order to be beautiful we must be a perfect size, have no defects, and a cover-girl face. Anybody measure up? I know I don't. Most of us probably don't but secretly we wish we did. How do I know? Just look at the millions of dollars spent every year on cosmetics, lotions, surgeries, and beauty aids. I can't say that I wouldn't like a lift and a tuck myself!Turning on the TV or looking at what women are wearing today will give us evidence that we've allowed the world to shape our views on beauty. The world encourages us to seek a beauty that only lasts for a brief amount of time. God encourages us to cultivate a beauty that will never fade but only grow more beautiful with time. God's Word always has a way of bringing me back to truth. It removes the pressures of what the world says, and allows me to be nothing more than who God created me to be...beautiful in His sight.

Besides, if you’re a child of the King, then you’re already a princess. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). You and I were not only called out of our sin into the saving light of Christ, but we were made daughters of the King. As royal princesses, who cares what the world says? God’s princesses come in all shapes and sizes—and He loves them all!

Dear Lord, Help me not to focus on my outward appearance more than I should. Instead, give me a greater desire to cultivate my inner beauty that grows more attractive with time, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Overlooked

Overlooked By Everyone Else
Lysa TerKeurst

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Devotion:
Sometimes I wake up on Monday mornings a little grumpy. Time to do it all again. I'll buy food that gets eaten. I'll wash clothes that get dirty again. I'll sweep floors that an hour later will be littered with crumbs. Is there more to all this than just doing the tasks of everyday life?Before I jumped into the normal routine this morning, I sat with Jesus. And I found some big truths as I took a little glance into David's life. Despite how others saw him, his own propensity to sin, and lack of position in his own family, David had the sweet reassurance of God and that was enough.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.To his older brothers, David was a pest. To his father, Jesse, he was just the youngest son. To on-lookers, he was just a shepherd boy. But to God, he was the one destined to be king. And not just any king. His lineage was the one from whom Jesus would come.Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.Even how David was anointed to be the future king is a telling story. In 1 Samuel 16, God tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul as king and chosen one of Jesse's sons to be the replacement. Think of the list of qualifications that must have run through Samuel's mind for such a position: tall, smart, articulate, brave, groomed, well mannered, a natural born leader. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his outward appearance or his height, for I have rejected him (meaning Saul who had these qualities). The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (verse 7).Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.Samuel had Jesse line up all of his sons before him. All of them were to be looked at. Yet, Jesse doesn't call David in from tending sheep. Was this an oversight? An assumption? A judgment call? A necessity? A deliberate choice?Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.Samuel passes on each of Jesse's sons and then asks, "Are these all the sons you have?"I imagine Jesse with a quizzical expression replying, "There is still the youngest but he is tending sheep." Surely one who spends his time taking care of animals is not the one to take care of a nation. Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.As soon as Samuel saw him, he knew he was the one. David was anointed to become king. But he was not immediately ushered to the throne. It was years before David would be recognized by the world. So, where did he go after being anointed as king? To a refining school? A government academy? Military training? Nope.He went back out into the fields and continued to shepherd his flock. A king doing lowly tasks. A king whose character was being refined in the fields of everyday life to prepare him for his calling.How like us. In the midst of smelly laundry, dirty dishes, snotty noses, misplaced keys, overdue library books, bills, and that birthday gift that still needs to be mailed to grandma - there is training there. There is character building. There is attitude shaping. There is soul defining. There is heart grounding. All of which must take place for us to become what God intends.Ever feel overlooked by the world? Take heart sister- we are handpicked by God.I am not just doing tasks. I am building a legacy. I am shaping God's kingdom. I am in the process of not only discovering my calling but that of my family as well. And I don't know about you, but it sure does make me look at my everyday tasks... even the smelly laundry in a whole different light.

Dear Lord, thank you that even when I feel overlooked, I can rest in the fact that I am handpicked by You. Help me to live my life for an audience of One. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Reading

I have always been an avid reader. Not sure when it started, but I can remember bugging my mom to order from the scholastic book order from school. I loved the library and when in high school I was thrilled to be hired to work there. After having babies, toddlers and now school age kids, finding time to read is a bit hard. But I have pressed on and the reading bug has hit again.

I've always hoped that my own kids would love reading as much as I do. I started reading to them since the very beginning. Gabriel is in 2nd grade now and loves to read. He comes home every Monday with two new books from the library. I have started reading chapter books to the kids each night which even Lillian at 4 will sit and listen. I do have to pick books that does have a picture every few pages. But it's amazing that they can sit and remember the story line. After I read to them, I let Gabriel stay up and read his own books for awhile. He loves that I let him do this, but I look at it as just encouraging reading. Though he looks at it that he can stay up a bit longer. lol

Victoria's teacher highly encourages reading to the kids and I have to fill out a reading log every night for her. If you aren't already reading to your own kids, I encourage you to do so. I know we're all tired at the end of the day and some nights I have to drag myself to their rooms. But it's also quality time where we sit together and read. I know this is also laying the foundation that as they get older it will turn into talking time for more serious conversations.

A little hint, make sure you pick a book that sounds interesting to you as well as the kids. There is nothing worse than reading a book that you find boring. Also, pick books with good morals and values. I just ordered the whole Little House box set. I loved these books as a kid and I know my own will love them as well. And if you haven't picked up a book for you lately, go get one!!!! If money is a bit tight, head to the library. Also Hastings sells used books at great prices!!!!