From Fear to Faith

Romans 14:23 Anything not done in faith is sin.

That hit me as a strong statement this morning. Believing is a NOUN and a VERB. We can't just believe something in our mind, we have to act upon what we say we believe. 

One of the most challenging statements for me: even the demons believe in God but what does believing in God do for them? Does it get them greater access to God? No. Does it allow them to go from where they are to a better place? No. Is that what gives them eternal life? No. They have eternal destinies but it's not in a good place and it's not b/c they believe in God.

I'm lead to ask myself these questions, What is my faith saying to God about me? What does my faith look like to God and others? Is God speaking to me, am i listening and believing what i hear and then am i doing what he is leading me to do?

In my case, i often see that my sin, in regard to faith, is FEAR. Fear of this or fear of that. Some of us fear success, some fear failure, fear of relationships or fear of rejection. Often i fear i won't handle "this" right or i have fear of an unknown situation. I think so much of our fear boils down to one thing- PAIN. Could be physical pain, emotional pain, relational pain or some other. We all want to move from the place of pain to the place of comfort. Fear is so paralyzing. Yet to move forward in FAITH we must risk what we often don't see. We CAN move forward in FAITH because there is a bigger purpose for us to achieve. 

Lord, increase my faith. Help me to see those times Satan tries to convince me to play it safe when i need to jump out and take a risk or be obedient to what you are asking me to do. No matter how contradictory or opposite your steps for me may seem to be, compared to what i desire, let me act in truth faith and trust.

REST, PEACE and UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES

Psalm 91: 11-12 "For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands; so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Well this is GOOD news!  In all the mishaps, trials and struggles we have been having in our family lately, this Word is such an encouragement!  For though it is easy to see the things that go "wrong" in our lives, sometimes we fail to see how much we are being protected from.  You've heard the old saying "when it rains, it pours", and there seems to be some truth to that....that is how we have felt lately, one struggle or unexpected circumstance after another.  But ya know what..... we seem to have an easy tendency to focus on the "raining" down of difficult things in our lives, when we can and should change our perspective to see the "raining" down of God's hand in our lives.  Our perspective should not be one of concentrating on the negative things around us or all the ways we are feeling attack, but instead, on the protective hand of God.

If you've been following my posts, its been obvious that God has been trying to speak to me a lot lately about PEACE and PEACE in His PRESENCE, REST and a need to slow down and take time with Him and my family on a regular basis.  Also, as i am studying through the book of Mark, this week's emphasis for me was the verses where Jesus says, "LISTEN!......"(Mark 4:3), "He who has ears, let  him HEAR...." (Mark 4:9), "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Consider carefully what you hear," (Mark 4:23-24).  God is trying to speak to me and though i hear what He is saying i'm finding it difficult to apply what He's trying to teach me.

Why is it so hard for me to slow down, to rest, to find peace, to remain peaceful in His Presence?  Perhaps it's the face pace of this(my) world, 6 kids, home schooling, soccer, soccer, soccer, my type A personality, so many things of this world vying for our attention.  Whatever it is for you or for me, it's the thorns Mark 4 talks about that are constantly trying to choke out the Word of God and the fruit of the Spirit from out lives.

Lord, help me to not just hear but LISTEN and APPLY what you are trying to teach me.  Help my heart to be tender, responsive and willing.  Help me learn the lesson now or soon, instead of continuing to resist and fight the lesson, which then only takes more time and more lessons.  Thank you for caring enough about me to keep on teaching me, sometimes the same lesson over and over again.  I want to REST in you today, to TRUST the plan you have for my life and this day, AND to have PEACE in the storms and while scaling the treacherous mountains!

Unfailing Love AND Everlasting Arms

Deuteronomy 33:27   The ETERNAL God is your REFUGE, and underneath are the EVERLASTING arms.  He will DRIVE OUT your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!'

Jeremiah 31:3  I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE; I have drawn you with UNFAILING KINDNESS.

   Wow!  How comforting are the words and promises our God gives us!

 What are your enemies? Do you feel like they are people, circumstances, situations, attitudes, regrets, fears, or worries?  Or a combination of the above?  I know for me(Myra) it doesn't ever seem to just be one enemy i'm fighting but several at the same time!
  Encouragements i have gotten from this Jesus Calling Devotion have been SPOT ON for me.  It says God wants us to be ALL HIS.  Get this.....He WEANS us from all other dependencies.  Our security should rest in Him and in Him alone, not in other people, not in circumstances, not in who we are or who we think we are or want to be.
  Weaning is not the easiest experience, esp. if it's from things we are used to, comfortable with or things that are habits(good or bad ones).  Weaning is also a gradual thing sometimes.  Sometimes it's a "cold turkey" kinda experience but most often the most successful weaning is one that takes a little time.  It's a decreasing of dependency on one(or more) thing to be replaced by a dependency on something else.  I've always said, you can't get rid of a bad habit w/o replacing it with something else( hopefully that is a positive "something else.")

It does at times feel like following God and His spirit is like walking on a tightrope.  The good news though is that there is a "safety net underneath: THE EVERLASTING ARMS."  DON'T BE AFRAID OF FALLING!  Whoa!  That hits me b/c it seems like almost daily i am afraid of falling or failing or not measuring up.  Instead i should be looking ahead, focusing on my Savior and what He offers me each and everyday.  HE is always ahead of me,  BECKONING me on.  If i don't move ahead and chance the fall or failure how will i ever grow?  And despite the times i WILL fall or fail, that does not nor will not EVER separate me from Him, His LOVE or His PRESENCE.  That sure does bring a LIGHTNESS to my heavy load!

May you be BLESSED and ASSURED that GOD can do for you what HE has says AND OFFERS to you the same things he has offered me this morning here in HIS WORD!

Hand in Hand with you and Him!
-Myra

A Ray of Light in the Darkness

Ps. 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Last night at 6:30pm as i discovered i needed to go to the ER all the way in Nashville, I didn't see think that the above verse would be possible for me to implement today. Especially since we didn't get home til 3:00am this morning. I could hardly even prepare to rejoice in the day ahead i was so exhausted. Also, i wondered how in the world my dear husbandMatt Jackson was going to get up after 3.5 hours of sleep, fix breakfast, get everyone ready and out to church on time and still be able to function, as i laid there and had to sleep in. But GOD IS GOOD and His MERCIES are new ever morning!

I really needed that sleep in time! I didn't get up til 11:15! Just enough time to get up, get dressed and be ready for everyone to get home from church. And though the darkness and exhaustion put a deep discouragement on our evening and morning plans last night, God has redeemed our day! 

My Jesus Calling devotion this morning said to "try to view each day as an adventure, carefully planned out by your Guide." Well, last night certainly was! "Thank God for this day of LIFE, recognizing that is is a precious, UNREPEATABLE GIFT. Trust that i am with you each moment, whether you sense My Presence or not. A THANKFUL, TRUSTING ATTITUDE helps you to see events in your life from My perspective. A life lived close to Me will never be dull or predictable. (isn't that the truth!) Expect each day to contains surprises.

Todays adventure and surprises have been a great and needed time of rest for me, energy and stamina and even a little nap for Matt. A wonderfully productive time for me and the girls as we prepare to begin home schooling tomorrow(and what a treasure and blessing for me as i thought i might not ever home school again!), a fun time for J2 playing indoor soccer and J1 getting a coaching job, and a great walk with R2, my pup and my Mom right before this big storm hit.

It's really about perspective isn't it? As the rain falls heavily outside right now my heart can rejoice at the sunshines i have found in our day! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, your encouragement and your LIGHT into my life!

When STRENGTH is Just Not Enough....

It's been a little while since i read God's word and just began to weep. 

Ps 46:1-6 "God is our refuge and strength," I(Myra) have always known God as a refuge but honestly, there have been many times, painful times that i have NOT FELT Him as my STRENGTH. "....an ever-present help in trouble." And quite candidly, i have know that God is an ever-present help, but at times...WHERE THE HECK HAS HE BEEN?! At times, i have been so deeply saddened by God because i was in such trouble and i FELT like he was no where to be found, and WHY was he NOT helping me? 

When i began to read this passage today, the second time i read it and the flooding of my present circumstances, caused a great amount of emotion to sweep over me and i just began to cry. 

"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth GIVE WAY and the MOUNTAINS FALL INTO THE HEART OF THE SEA, though its waters ROAR and FOAM and the mountains QUAKE with their SURGING." 

Can you make a mental video for yourself of what that vs. might look like played out right in front of your eyes? .......I can...but what is more powerful for me and what brought me to weep, was..... emotionally, i FEEL like i have lived that TERROR....and i HAVE and I DO,.. FEAR.....there are times in my past and there is a current situation with someone that is more dear to my heart than almost anyone and our WORLDS, our earths so to speak GAVE WAY!!! There were MOUNTAINS, the mountains of our lives and the lives of our loved ones what were FALLING INTO THE HEART OF THE SEA!! And our very HEARTS were falling with it! 

It's FEELS like total destruction!! It's your world completely flipped upside down. It's pain and it's suffering. It's disease and it's heartache. IT IS NOT EASY! But you know what, lets look at the very next verse.
"There is a RIVER whose streams make GLAD the CITY OF GOD, the HOLY PLACE where the MOST HIGH dwells. GOD is within HER, she will NOT FALL; God WILL HELP HER at break of day; Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; HE LIFTS HIS VOICE, the earth MELTS. THE LORD ALMIGHTY IS WITH US; the God of Jacob is our FORTRESS."

At that point in the scripture as i was seeing some things in my life and the life of this one i love so deeply, i began to weep from different emotions, emotions that were so thankful and so broken for being so faithless and fearful, for questioning and being saddened by his apparent neglect of me and our worlds. All of a sudden, like the first wave of heavy emotions, a new wave took over. A wave of his presence, a wave of his compassion for us, a wave of his mercy to us.....a wave of understanding that washed over me.

All along friend he has been our strength, we are still here. All along my love he has been our help, even when we fear and fight and feel it is so very unfair, he is THERE. HE has been there. He is still there. He will bring us to his river, he will heal us by his blood. He will free us from our fear. And all with LOVE. He sees you, He sees me. We are so very dear to Him. He weeps for our pain and our suffering and how we have been wronged or life has thrown us things we had no idea how to prepare for. His heart is so much more than ours. His love so much greater. His empowerment so much stronger. Hang in there my friend, hang on! It is at the very end of our rope that we sometimes see His light in our deep deep darkness. 

Let our part of this relationship with Him be a responsive part in the litany of LOVE. As God searches for receptivity among all his children, let him find us there. Guard this gift that HE has PLANTED in our hearts and the hearts of our loved ones. "Nurture it with the Light of My Presence."

My sweet sweet friend, the depths of my love for you and your family go deep into the pit and the core of who i am. I am here. I LOVE YOU with an everlasting love. I pray for you daily and though i wish i could, i HATE that i cannot solve the problems and fears you face every single day. But you know, just as well as i do, who can!

In the Shadows

So maybe the devotion this morning was something i was just supposed to read and be challenged by or was it that the enemy didn't want me posting it so it got deleted?  Hard to know the answer to that but as i have prayed about reposting it i thought i would try again.  If God allows it to be erased this time then we know the answer :)

This devotion is taken from the book of John 19:38-42.  Joseph of Arimathea and a disciple of Jesus asks Pilate for Jesus' body in order to give him a proper Jewish burial.  Nicodemus goes along to help Joseph and brings 75 lbs of myrrh and aloes to use in the wrapping of Jesus' body.

These two men are among Israel's most influential people.  Both good, upright, seekers of the truth.  Yet both kept their relationship with Jesus in the shadows.  "They feared the controversy and the consequences of making their faith public."

Now picture the scene:  As they approach the hill and then the cross,.."they are stunned to see the lifeless slump of torn flesh that was once such a vital Savior."  the emotion is more than both of the men can bare and they fall to their knees.  "They weep for Jesus."  They weep for what has been done, they weep for those that did this, they weep for those that lost someone they love, they weep for themselves.  For all these two didn't say and didn't do.  They weep of all the thoughts that rush to their minds of how they wanted to hide their connection with this man.

Joseph ascends a ladder that he places on the crossbeam of the cross.  He slowly climbs closer and grimaces as he has to struggle to release the nail that is holding his wrists.  Nicodemus is watching and waiting from the ground.  Preparing himself to receive the body of his Savior in his arms.  As Jesus is lowered into his arms, he feels the weight and his arms clutch his lacerated back still wet with blood.  They gory details could go on as they closely experience all the abuse and disfigurement that took place hours before.  What struck me was this authors focus on the secrecy of their relationships with Jesus.  "In the quiet courtrooms of their hearts, they realize that loving Jesus in private was just another way of despising him and esteeming him not.  And their hearts condemned them for their sins of omission."  At that time they felt guilty, they felt condemned, they just wanted to beat themselves up!  They were ashamed, so very ashamed.  Why didn't they do more or say more or use some of their great influence to try and help prevent this from happening?  They felt like they could have done something, something more.  But they were too worried about their careers.  However, as they shoulder this guilt and the heavy weight of the moment and the body of their Savior, Nicodemus remembers Isaiah's words: "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death."  WHAT GRACE!

Jesus gave them this verse and they look at each other and realize "they HAVE done something.  They have spared the Savior the shame of a criminal's burial, where he would have been thrown into the garbage dump outside the city."  Can you imagine the emotion, the passion they both feel when they realize that despite their hiding and hesitation God himself ordained this moment AND this job for them!  This still was a dangerous time for them to step out of the shadows.  Hatred for Jesus was at an all time high and being known as one of his friends was definitely not going to make you popular.

This late blooming love is definitely better than a love that doesn't bloom at all!  "....a love that draws the cowards out of the shadows and into a fearless act of befriending their Savior."

Merry Christmas from the Jackson's

A year in the life of the Jacksons 

- Soccer, Travelling, Changing, Growing…   

                

There is definitely a lot of soccer in our lives.   I guess there is even more changing and growing.  And between trips, vacations, and travel soccer, we have driven a lot too.  We had downsized the pet population around here by 4 but added a dog, Jethro, to the mix.  A 100 lb., 6 month old Great Pyrenees puppy.  OH and a Beta fish.  Josiah’s Chinese water dragon met an untimely death and we released our 3 red-eared slider turtles back into the wild.  That leaves 2 cats, a dog, James’ 2 geckos and Rebekah’s fish.

Some of the highlights of the year include, Matt coaching James in Middle school soccer, John and Josiah playing together on a travel soccer team, Matt and James visiting Rick and Nancy in Saudi Arabia, Myra completing her second marathon, and hosting a baby shower for her sister Anne (and the 4^th of July on the same day), a Trip to NJ for Matt’s Aunts wedding (and the Statue of Liberty) and yet another new church home for us.  Myra and I also celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary this summer!

Matt – I am teaching 7^th grade geography at Warren County Middle School, coached the soccer team and loved having James on the team.  I am also now working part-time for another church in the community, Christ Community Church, working with the youth and families there.  We were not really looking for another church change but, when contacted   about the position, it felt like a change the Lord wanted us to make. It is a small non-denominational church with a wide range of ages, coffee and donuts every Sunday morning and some really great worship!   The family all agrees it was a good move for us and we are all enjoying making even more new friends.  I also had a great time visiting Riyadh this summer with James and getting to scuba dive in the Red Sea.  Myra asked the kids what they liked most about Dad and here’s what they had to say: Rachel’s most favorite thing about Dad is that she loves him and cares about him.  Rebekah  says “he always takes care of me”.  John says his favorite thing about Dad is “Dad’s new droid”.  Josiah says he appreciates all that Matt teaches him how to do, from soccer to yard work, yet he thinks he should get allowance for some of the work he does around here.  James really appreciates his Dad not giving him homework!

Myra – Keeps us all going.  While most of us are at school, she does more laundry than most would think possible.  She keeps the house looking great and makes sure everyone gets where they need to be, when they need to be there.  All while taking care of Ruth.  She also finds time to run, a lot!  Thankfully her mom can watch Ruth three mornings a week, while Myra logs 20-35 miles a week.  This past summer she completed her second marathon and is going to start training in December for her third. What do the kids have to say where Mom is concerned?  Rachel says “Mom sweeps a lot, is kind, and really likes her husband and her kids”.  Rebekah loves that Mom always wants to play board or card games with everyone.   Josiah says he really appreciates when Mom lets him help out in the kitchen, cooking and baking though, not so much with the dishes!  John’s favorite thing about Mom is “her new iPhone”.  James’ highlight with Mom this year was the many stops at Sonic after Cookeville soccer practice twice a week for a well-deserved treat! 

James- is 12 and in 7^th grade.  He grew a lot this past year and is one of the tallest in his grade.  He had a great season playing with a U14 travel soccer team from Cookeville (about an hour away).  He also just made the Olympic Development Program (ODP) team for Tennessee.  We don’t know what all that will mean, but as of right now, he is seeing and being seen by some top club and college coaches in the region.  He also had a great time in Saudi this summer on an amazing trip.  We are very proud of the young man God is shaping James to be,  we are thankful to be his parents and we appreciate how hard he works in school (straight A honor roll) and on the soccer field.  He is looking forward to selling his iPod to Josiah when Josiah gets enough money and saving to buy is own new IPod 5^th gen.  He is also really looking forward to his trip to North Carolina for the Olympic Development Soccer Team the first weekend in January.

Josiah – is just about 11 and in 5^th grade.  He is playing trombone at school, following in the paths of his dad, uncle, and granddad and doing very well at it.  He is a strong guy that loves to laugh.  He is playing goalkeeper for their travel soccer team and is learning to be the leader/ encourager from the back.  Josiah also has a creative streak that loves to come out in anything from inventions to artwork.  He loves to help in the kitchen and says he likes to bake cookies.  He is also looking forward to his birthday next week and Christmas so that he can then hopefully have enough money to buy is own (James’) iPod.

John – is 9 and in 4^th grade.  He works hard and is super competitive.  He is playing trumpet at school and wearing through pants and shoes at a very fast rate!  He can never sit still or go to sleep early; he might miss something and be just a tad behind if he did.  He plays all over the soccer field and can be counted on to do just about anything on the soccer field or at home.  He says his favorite thing to do is play soccer with his friends and build on the most recent fort outside with his brothers.

Rebekah-is 7 and in 2^nd grade.  She definitely fits the oldest girl profile; she’s neat, organized, motherly and very responsible.  She’s athletic yet very much a girl at the same time, reminds me of someone else I know! She loves soccer, school, animals and playing with friends.  Two of the things she says she loves to do is snuggling with her mom in bed and playing killer Uno with the family.

Rachel-is 6 and in 1^st grade.  She is slowly growing out of being the baby of the family but it has NOT been an easy position for her to resign.  She has grown and matured a lot in the last year, from a sweet little kindergartener to a 1^st grader that is reading and writing in cursive!  She does NOT like soccer she says and she has just started her first gymnastics class across the street at the Civic Center.  She says she loves the new church because they have DONUTS and her favorite thing to do is painting and science experiments.

Baby Ruth-is 23 months old now!  Talk about growing a lot in the last year, she has really taken off lately in talking and singing.  She can almost sing the whole Rock-a-Bye baby song all by herself!  She is becoming very independent while still very attached to her family and her Gigi (Myra’s mom, Vicki).  We are all a bit sweeter because we have her in our lives.  Everyone still fights over who can get her up in the morning, who can get her from the nursery at church, who can get her out of her car seat, who gets to carry her in somewhere, who get s to sit next to her at dinner and on and on and on….it’s really rather sweet.

We are all healthy, grateful and glad to be living our every days with one another and having people like you in our lives!

A Common Thief

Wow, our MMerge page still exsists!  I can't believe it's been since July that i posted on here.  Where does time go?  FAST is what how it has been going around here!  This morning i read something i just had to post..... It's was from a Devo. i read re: the two thieves on the cross next to Jesus.....

 
  It says in Matthews account of this story that the robbers-plural, both joined in the sneering and taunting of Jesus.  But something changes, one of the robbers heart was changed, touched and he was given the heroism to stand up for Jesus and the humility to submit to him.  Asking then that Jesus remember him in His Kingdom.  This thief, in the midst of that whole scene watches as Jesus responds.  He witnesses Jesus appeal to a higher court and his appeal is not for justice but for MERCY and not for himself but for his accusers.  WOW!  Powerful, isn't it?

  You know it went on to say that we have all been robbers, we too have stolen much. "When i have gossiped, i have taken from another's reputation, and in the process, robbed my own.  When i have raised my voice in anger, I have taken something away from peace. When i have aided and abetted immoral thoughts, I have stolen from another's dignity, depreciating that person from a sacred object of your love to a common object of my own lust.  When i have hurt someone's feelings, i have taken something from that person's self-worth-something which might never be replaced, something for which i might never be able to make restitution.  When i have spoken the truth, but not in love, i have stolen from your kingdom by pushing a soul, not closer, but farther away from the borders of paradise.
  Remember me, O King, a common thief! "

Update June 2012

Exciting News! Prayers and Support Needed!


A friend and i went by today to look at a space to rent for ministry use. Our friend is currently offering a dance class free of charge in the projects of McMinnville, the class grew quickly and others from outside the projects were wanting to come to the class but in order for this to happen they need to move locations. 
The price of the space to rent seems very reasonable, $600.00 a month, the location is great, we could move in within the next couple of months. pls pray for God to continue to open doors or close them, pls pray about giving financially to MMerge ministries to help support this new outreach and pray for us to offer the right ministries in the right way if we move in this direction.

Past to Present

From 2011 into 2012

• Birth of Ruth Grace Jackson January 21, 2011, the highlight of our year!
• plenty of soccer
• weddings, weddings, weddings!
• James starts Warren Co. Middle School
• Rachel heads to Kindergarten
• Lots of lost teeth!
• Matt's ministry at Teacher, Christian Ed. Director at our Church and WCMS boys soccer
• Plans to begin ministry at a downtown location

WOW, it's been awhile since we blogged or sent out a newsletter but i didn't think it had been this long! Time flies, esp. the older we get! We continue to see God moving all around us and we know He continues to work and do so much for us and his kingdom that we can't see at all. Matt is loving his work and seeing great fruit from so many of the kids he works with. He has also officiated at numerous wedding of "kids" that were in our first youth group here in McMinnville. Now that will make you feel old!

We are excited about the new possibility we were approached with of beginning ministry at a downtown location. This will be a great outreach to the kids of the community. We are currently praying for the right location at the right price, God's timing and friends and supporters to invest in this opportunity. The friends that have asked us to join this ministry with them are currently looking into buildings in the downtown area. We would appreciate you joining us in prayer in this matter and God's will to be done.

We are continually excited about soccer, whether the kids are playing or Matt is watching it on tv or coaching. All the boys have begun to play on traveling soccer teams that Matt helps to coach. James has also begun playing for Warren Co. Middle School this year and loves it! Rebekah's favorite sport is soccer, she is begging to play in the fall and 5 of our 6 kids played indoor this winter. Soccer and ministry through these opportunities is year round. We are thankful for the love of the game. Please pray for continued work and play in this area of our lives.

We are thankful for our health, provisions and blessings! We are sad to have missed a winter here in Tn because the weather was above normal temperatures but we are also thankful for Spring to have Sprung! We are looking forward to Spring Break for everyone coming over the next couple of weeks and for Summer to come.

We will be updating again soon with new developments on the downtown ministry.

Blessings!

The Jacksons

Mom's Moment #3- Natural Consequences

It's always been said that "One of the greatest teachers in life is LIFE ITSELF." In life and in parenting i have found this to be true. Life experience and experiencing life is such a wonderful teaching tool for us as parents and for children.
I have always wanted my kids to stay little as long as possible. We have really tried to maximize the time we have together with the kids and as a family unit. We have seen and experienced that natural consequences are one of the best teachers, whether they are experiencing consequences that are pleasant or one's that are not so pleasant, none-the-less they are better remembered. When teaching about hot water or the hot stove we actually let our children experiment with 'hot'. We did not burn them or just watch them burn themselves. We would say this or that was hot and allow them to get close enough to feel the warmth until they realized it was something that could hurt them. We have tried to teach responsibility for things like playing with fire and fireworks, sports and academics, doing this from a very young age. Most of us desire to keep the ones we love from pain, discouragement, loss or disappointment. However, we have found that trying to control so many things and the outcome shelters them from life and real life life experiences. That' s not always easy when you don't want them to untie the strings that connect your heart to theirs as is does when our children are so small and impressionable. However, allowing them to experience some pain, discomfort, loss of pets or people and the joy of success and the agony of defeat are wonderful teachers. Trying to protect them and not communicating together through these issues hinders the maturity and the lessons life is supposed to teach. Often times the experience itself is the disciple for difficult things and in many cases we don't need to exasperate the issue by implementing our own standard of disciple or punishment on top of the life lesson. At times our silences is what is most necessary. My husband is great at this. I always want to make sure they have learned the lesson, often with too much explanation. Yet i see the wisdom in keeping silent.
I pray for you as you continue on your parenting journey. A journey that is never done. A journey that is so worth every inch of effort or inconvenience it affords. Keep persevering and doing the best you can, God smiles at all your efforts to raise your children in a pleasing way.

Happy Parenting!

Mom's Moment #2- Orientation

Having eyes to see is only some of the picture. I read in a book one time to pray for the orientation of each child's heart. This has really stuck with me over the years. You know we have a lot of influence over our children as they grow but we won't be able to fully control them or direct their hearts. That is God's job and a work they will have to work out in and of themselves. I do think it is very significant though to pray for the orientation of their hearts, that they would be driven in the "right" directions and be steered clear of "fatal" things. I always have prayed that their hearts would be oriented toward Christ. i have prayed that my children would desire the things that He desires. As we are about to celebrate the baptism of our second son I am so proud to see this fruit of some of our prayers and influence.
Shepherding our children's hearts is not easy work. Taking the time to discover where there heart is or where there heart was, when making this or that decision takes time. A lot of time sometimes. We are having to learn, especially as our children are growing older that just cut and dry punishment is sometime futile if we don't get to the "heart of the matter" as they say. The big "why" questions. What were they thinking at the moment they did that or said that? Were they thinking of others when they did that and said that? Did they consider how that was going to effect others when they acted that way? Was that showing love or selfishness? Were they putting others first or themselves first in that? And one of the biggest questions in our household is.....was that a compassionate response in that situation? All of these questions get somewhere. Even if you think you aren't getting through these questions can make the child think deeper than just reactions and responses. It cuts to the heart.
I hope that as we grow in parenting we will remember that these are little hearts we are shepherding not just little people under our control.

Happy Parenting!
Myra

Mom Moments

Being a mom definitely has it's advantages. Beginning with the incredible experience only women can share of birthing a baby. What a miracle and life changing situation. There is also the advantage of the love between mother and child, the intimacy that is immediately brought to life at conception. The growing bond as your child grows in your womb and begins to move around inside you.
However, if all of us Mom's are honest, being a mom also had it's disadvantages and times of inconveniences. The pains of pregnancy and birth and learning to nurse your child. The raging hormones through 9 months and the months after as your body begins to recover. The sleepless nights and mood changes that come from not sleeping, hormones and the experience and pressure being a mom adds to your life. These are just a few of the disadvantages of birthing a child not considering any complications you might have. Add those in and the stress and emotional toll children have on your body, mind and spirit can be overwhelming.
With my six children each experience has been different and has had it's different advantages and disadvantages. However, i wouldn't exchange any of it for anything in the world. It has shaped me, grown me and given me life experience that only it can produce in our lives. Experiences teaches us. Whether for the good, bad or ugly.
From the beginning some things I discovered that made having six children possible are numerous. Perseverance being one. Persevering through pregnancy, especially at those times when having another child was definitely not in our deck of cards. Perseverance through nursing when it was so painful for months that it would make your toes curl up at latch on. Perseverance through the pain of not being able to nurse a child. Perseverance through the raging hormonal processes. Perseverance through the sleepless nights, the endless crying, the constant feedings, the uneasiness and uncertain of Motherhood at first with each new child and the challenges Motherhood brings. We aren't instantly experienced Mothers, it's a process, an ever changing journey.
The fed-wake -sleep cycle. For those of you out there just beginning, this strategy has saved my life and sanity! Beginning around 10 weeks or shortly after once the baby is beginning to stay awake for shorts amounts of time, i chose a schedule over demand feeding. I would feed my infant every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, wake the baby up after the feeding by changing the diaper, giving a bath, talking to the baby or whatever works to arouse your child out of sleep. Then keep the baby awake for 15-20 minutes or as long as possible and then put the baby down for a nap, to sleep until the next feeding. Waking your baby if she/he sleeps past the 3 hour mark. This cycle established sleep and feeding rhythms that the infant then begins to grow into. This has helped me so much! This has ensured that by 12-18 weeks my babies have slept through the night and been great sleepers and nappers. I would really have lost my sanity if this cycle was not taught to me from the very beginning. Sleep deprivation is a very dangerous thing. It's pretty amazing what your body does without appropriate amounts of sleep.
Child centered parenting is also a trap i did not want to fall into. I wanted to maintain a healthy relationship with my spouse and my children. I wanted my priorities to be in line. I didn't want our children to dictate my every move and decision making abilities. I wanted as a mom and my husband as a dad to call the shots while still maintaining a bent ear to my children and what they had to say. We try to always consider what the children say they need or want but at the same time it can be very dangerous to allow the child/or children to be in control and at the center of all things. This can destroy a marriage over time.
A listening ear is so important as well in the growing relationship between husband and wife and children and parents. Everyone of us wants and needs to be heard.
As difficult as parenthood is the pros most definitely out way the cons. It's an experience unparalleled in this life. It's a miracle in and of itself to grow and birth a child. However, we need tools. Tools to do the job, tools to refine us as parents. I would like to spend some time in my next few posts to share the tools that have helped me as a mom and women in this day and time. I would love to hear back from you moms and dads regarding what has had the greatest impact on you as a parent. What stands out to you that has helped make a difference in your parenting for the better. What question might you have? There is always so much we can learn from each other.

Happy Parenting!
Myra

His Glory

A sweet friend texted me today in a time of need, it read, 'Joshua 1:9, "Do not be afraid or dismayed today for i am with you wherever you go" His presence is your PEACE.' The next text read, 'Ps. 55:22, "as you cast every one of your cares on the Lord today, He will sustain you." ' Isn't it great when the Lord uses His word and His people to speak right to where you are and what your needs are at that time? And i don't just think he does this for Christians. I think it's especially neat when He manifests Himself and what He is about to those that do not believe in Him. To me it expresses the ultimate, that He IS love. I've been reading a book lately called Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model For Healing The Mind, and it has brought some new light to who God really is for me and what makes Him so powerful, strong and glorious. I supposed I related His great and mighty power to His glory and though they do go hand in hand, His power is not what makes Him most glorious, it's his love! So if His love is what makes Him so incredibly glorious how awesome must His love really be?! I quote, "The power isn't what is most important. Instead, it is the trustworthiness of the One who possesses all the power. It is the demonstration of His source of divine glory. For example, although God is all-powerful, He can never be provoked-even in the most abusive and horrendous circumstance-to use His power for self-interest. When humanity fully recognizes this, it will restore trust and regenerate love, and we will then open our hearts and minds to Him for healing and restoration."


Are you being touched, restored and healed by the love of God and through the love of others? What does that look like and how can you position yourself in a place to receive it?


Thank you my sweet friend for being LOVE to me today!

Waiting to Be Radically Changed

Waiting........i find it some of the hardest work to do. Whether you are waiting for the bus, a train, a cup of coffee, your food in a fast food line, waiting for the sun to shine or the rain to clear, waiting for school to start or school to recess for the summer. Waiting is work! Patient waiting is even mor difficult, especially in the culture we live in today. Waiting is NOT something people have time for.
What frustrates you the most about waiting? What frustrates you most about you feeling about having to wait? How do you feel when people are waiting on you.
I have often and still am waiting for this to happen or that to take place. I'm looking for the big breakthrough and waiting and waiting and waiting for something or someone to make that happen, often FOR me. Daivd Platt has a new book out after his orginal Radical, this new one is called Radical Together and i think it is a book that would really open our eyes to what God wants to do around us and for His Kingdom and Glory.
Now i have quite often thought of myself(myra) as a Radical but according to Pastor David Platt "you can never be radical enough". You also can not work hard enough to produce the fruit that is biblically described as attainable. God 's grace is what causes a radical to "chill out" and cause the hardest of working to "bear much fruit". Are you bearing fruit and thanking God for the grace that gives you that harvest? Are you making an impact for Christ and His Kingdom and thanking God for the energy He gives for you to be so "radical"? I know for me, i don't thank him enough for GRACE. Grace is something very difficult for me to grasp. I know what it is and i have heard it used umpteen million times to describe how God deals with us but putting it into active play in my everyday life is often a challenge. I DO know that without this grace i would NOT be sitting where i this very day. I would NOT be who i am today. I cannot function well and in health without it. Grace is a word and a concept that i need more study on, in knowledge and in everyday action. So, how do we, how do you GROW in Grace? How do your concepts of grace effect your everyday life? How does God's grace bestowed to you translate out into the world, as a friend often says, "What does that LOOK like"?
Now today and in the days to come, "May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus be with you!" 2 Corinthians 16:23

A New Addition

RUTH GRACE JACKSON was born January 21, 2011 at 9:06pm! We are now a family of EIGHT ! John accidentally got cut out of this picture. Soon we will get another one with all of us.

RUTH is just as precious as all the others and everyone is so smitten by her! Being pregnant with your 6th child is an arduous event, or at least is was for me. I had to endure more this pregnancy than any of the others. I had more minor difficulties with this pregnancy, more irritability, more sleeping and just more of a distaste for the whole process this time. I loved being pregnant, for the most part, with all the other children but this one was different. Even the labor and delivery were a different experience and I just prayed for the endurance and patience to get through the hospital stay. When i did arrive back at my safe haven, my home, little by little I began to feel better. The Lord is faithful and "an ever present help in times of trouble". He saw us through. Once home, my heart began to melt all over again for this new precious little life entrusted to us. I was beginning to wonder if it would. Through my pregnancy as my friends were having babies all around me I would catch myself looking at them and their newborns and saying to myself about my situation, "Oh no, not again. I'm going to have to do all of that, all over again". And honestly, at that time, there weren't pleasant feelings going on as i viewed the happiness of all the new moms.

Matt and I had both wanted a lot of children. This was something we talked about as we dated, married and began our family. However, you just never know how things will play out in life or what each new addition will bring. "Many are the plans of man, but the Lord's plans prevail". Thankfully, the Lord has seen fit to bless us over and over. We have 6 wonderful, healthy, happy children, the maximum number we mentioned when dreaming realisticlly about our family. We don't know what the future will hold for us or our family but personally I think i would now be content if I didn't birth any more :)!!! Though that thought has some sadness attached to it, child bearing for women at some point must come to an end. At this point in our process i can't imagine NOT having anymore babies but I can't imagine having anymore either. I must admit however that in the above picture, even if John were not accidentally cut out, it doesn't look like a lot of children to me. We don't look like a BIG family. It looks kinda like a small family to me, looks like there might need to be a few more added. Adoption is always an option and another thing that Matt and I have dreamed and talked about for the future. But for now........WE are BLESSED and CONTENT, VERY CONTENT :)

Thank you everyone for your love, prayers, gifts and blessings on/to us!

Powerlessness....

Went to a small group Tues. night with my sister. We were directed toward these new devo's from the Life Recovery Bible, they are GOOD.

This one is REALLY GOOD, i thought i would share.

Bible Reading Job 6:2-13
Step 1 : We admitted that we were powerless over our problems-that our lives had become unmanageable.

There are times when we are so confused and overwhelmed by the pain in our life that we wish we could die. No matter what we do, we are powerless to change things for the better. The weight of the pain and sadness seems too heavy to bear. We can't see why our heart doesn't break and allow death to free us.

Job felt that way. He'd lost everything, even though HE HAD ALWAYS DONE WHAT WAS RIGHT. His ten children were dead. He had lost his business, his riches, and his health. And all this happened in a matter of days! He was left with a sharp-tongued wife and three friends who blamed him for his own misfortune. Job cried out, "if my misery could be wieighd and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the Sands of the sea....Oh, that i might have my request, that God would grant my desire. I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me....I don't have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for. Do i have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze? No , I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success"(job 6:2-3, 8-9, 11-13)

Job didn't know that the END OF HIS LIFE WOULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE BEGINNING. God eventually restored everything Job had lost, and then some. "Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life" (job 42:17) Even when we're pressed to the point of death, there is STILL HOPE that our life will change. Our recovery could be so complete that the finaly lines written about us might read: "At last he or she died, after living a long, full life." We must remember: LIFE CAN BE GOOD AGAIN!

April Virtue: FRIENDSHIP

FRIENDSHIP!

Spending Time with Someone you Trust and Enjoy

I LOVE new virtues to work on every month. This one should be good! There's something to be said for the old saying, "Friendships make the world go round" :) I don't know what i'd do without mine.

We have been spending the week this week visiting family and friends, cultivating some of the relationships that mean the most to us.

"A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes." Proverbs 17:17

A Difficult Balance

This was good for me to read/hear today. As i struggle with the balance of giving too much or not giving enough. How do you strike the balance concerning this issue?

HEARTINESS V. HEARTLESSNESS TOWARDS OTHERS

"It is Christ . . . who also maketh intercession for us." "The Spirit . . . maketh intercession for the saints." Romans 8:34, 27
Do we need any more argument than this to become intercessors - that Christ "ever liveth to make intercession;" that the Holy Spirit "maketh intercession for the saints"? Are we living in such a vital relationship to our fellow men that we do the work of intercession as the Spirit-taught children of God?
Begin with the circumstances we are in - our homes, our business, our country, the present crisis as it touches us and others - are these things crushing us? Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and leaving us no time for worship? Then let us call a halt, and get into such living relationship with God that our relationship to others may be maintained on the line of intercession whereby God works His marvels.

Beware of outstripping God by your very longing to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, consequently we get so burdened with persons and with difficulties that we do not worship God, we do not intercede. If once the burden and the pressure come upon us and we are not in the worshipping attitude, it will produce not only hardness toward God but despair in our own souls.
God continually introduces us to people for whom we have no affinity, and unless we are worshipping God, the most natural thing to do is to treat them heartlessly, to give them a text like the jab of a spear, or leave them with a rapped-out counsel of God and go.
A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to Our Lord.
Are we in the direct line of the intercession of our Lord and of the Holy Spirit?

When i first began my journey toward Christ as a woman, then wife and mom, this is who i looked to. I read everything she wrote that i could get my hands on. Here's her devo for today.

Title: Pick Up Your Cross
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Jesus invites us to be his disciples. If we choose to accept his loving invitation, we must understand that there are certain conditions to be fulfilled. One of them is a willingness to accept the cross. Is this a once-for-all taking up of one particular burden? I don't think so. It seems to me that my "cross" is each particular occasion when I am given the chance to "die"--that is, to offer up my own will whenever it crosses Christ's. This happens very often. A disagreement with my husband can cause an argument and harsh words, even if the matter is ridiculously small--"When are you going to get that dashboard light fixed in the car?" I have already mentioned the light three times. It may be time to keep my mouth shut, but I don't want to keep my mouth shut. Here, then, is a chance to die. A decision which affects both of us may be a fairly big one, but we find ourselves on two sides of the fence. One of us, then, must "die." It is never easy for me. Shall I make excuses for myself (that's the way I am; it's my personality; it's the way I was raised; I'm tired; I can't hack it; it doesn't turn me on; you don't understand)--or shall I pick up this cross?
Perhaps my illustration seems to trivialize the cross of Christ. His was so unimaginably greater. What cross could I possibly take up which would be analogous? Just here is the lesson for me: when Jesus took up his cross, He was saying yes with all his being to the will of the Father. If I am unwilling to say yes in even a very little thing, how shall I accept a more painful thing? What sort of practice does it take for a disciple to learn to follow the Crucified? A friend hurts us, a plan goes awry, an effort fails--small things indeed. But then cancer strikes, a daughter marries unwisely, a business folds, a wife abandons her home and family. The call still comes to us: Take up your cross and come with Me. With You, Lord? Yes, with Me. Will You give me strength and show me the way? That was my promise--is it my custom to break promises?