Early Mornings and Coffee with Christ

Being a mother of four little ones, time to myself comes in small moments throughout the day, unless I wake up before the sound of pitter patter, more like thump thump.  Children usually wake up with full energy and so their morning greetings can be a bit too much for either parent who hasn't had their morning cup of coffee and ample time to wake up the brain. Wisdom has taught me that getting up a half hour before them allows me not only time to wake up, but more importantly, uninterrupted time with the Lord. 
Time in the Word each morning is time with Him.  (1 John 1)  Pursuing Christ first thing before the house wakes up, allows my heart to find peace and security before the unexpected things of the day try to steer my emotions.  All other pursuits cannot give me the stability that Christ does.  When I run to anything else to bring what only God can bring, I have made an idol.  Reading the book of Jeremiah speaks of idol worship and how God's people left Him for idolatry.  It has reminded me to ask God to search my heart and show me if I have begun to create idols in my own heart.  In the Old Testament, idols were usually carved images made out of wood or stone.  During the time it took one to carve the image, the heart was beginning to look for another way of satisfaction.  The worship came after the image was carved.  God is faithful to show me that the idol I am molding in my hand needs to be thrown down and not to be worshipped, always reminding me that the idol will never fully satisfy.  Though we may not carve stone images as they did in the past, the heart behind it still needs to be examined. 
In today's American culture, we have taken God's blessings and tried to remove Him as provider, leaving us as provider and leaving us exhausted and empty.  I see so much of God's warning in 1 John 2:15-16.  We have come to love the world, it's lust, and it's pride.  It is masked as success.  Yet God hates and opposes this way of living.  It is opposite of Heaven.  How can one tell if this way of thinking has crept in one's heart?  I think of the verse, "Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also."  What is your heart pursuing above all else?  What sacrifices are you making for this treasure?  How are you treating others that get in the way of this treasure hunt?  Are you neglecting your time with God and His people?  Are you fulfilling the Great Commission? Are you sitting on the sidelines spiritually and not producing spiritual fruit?  For me impatience and unkindness are my first marks of a wandering heart.  They are the first evidences that I am not filled with His Spirit. 

There is nothing like the sweet love of a baby.  How can our nation be so blind to these precious gifts from our Heavenly Father?  I know it is not always easy to raise a child.  For some, they are doing it alone. Having four children under the age of eight can be trying,  but my love for them grows deeper and deeper each day. I am blessed to hear them rise up in the morning.  I find myself throughout the day, standing in awe of God's love for me just by looking at their sweet faces.  It happens when I watch them reading quietly on the couch or being silly in the yard.  The joy they get over the smallest surprises and the random, "You're the best mommy!" are gifts that can not be bought.  They are God's gifts of grace to us.  My prayer for our country is for revival in the heart and in the home.   "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." ~Proverbs 14:34

My Grandmothers

Both of my grandmothers were classy women.  They both were wonderful mothers, loving wives, and true homemakers.  They both had the talent to knit or crochet.  They both gardened.  They loved opening up their homes for their loved ones and strangers alike.  Much stands out in my mind about them, but because I have been meditating lately on modesty, especially as I am growing older,  I am noticing that both of my grandmothers liked to look nice and ladylike, but sexy was never their goal.  I never even heard them say the word "sexy."  They were admired for being attractive women, but not because they were sexy.  They were admired for their modesty.  Modesty in behavior.  Modesty is words.  Modesty in choices.  They did not seek attention, but enjoyed living for others, nurturing others, giving themselves to others.  When our hearts are focused on others and not ourselves, modesty naturally happens.
Immodesty has become a serious problem in our American culture, because women have given up their honored place in the home, because they want attention.  Attention to be the prettiest, the richest, the highest on the corporate ladder.  Even in homemaking, if it is not done for the glory of God and to bless others, we can even use our honored places and create a "kingdom" to serve our selfish needs.  Expensive furnishings, designer baby clothes, creating a magazine-looking mother with a perfect home and perfect highlights are idols I see young families bowing down to.  Not only do I see it, I wrestle with it. 
The Holy Spirit has been dealing with me lately about the idol of exercising.  Trying to get that 20s body back is the familiar idol I see with moms.  I can always tell an idol because I feel less when I don't have it.  The Bible says I have all things in Christ.  If there is an area God wants me to pursue, it is to bring forth fruit.  Not so with idols.  They create slavery.
Idols appear when we compare.  If you find yourself wishing you had "her" house and "her" body, then you can bet it is an idol.  I never heard either of my grandmothers wishing for another woman's life.  They loved their life.  They didn't have to say it...I simple saw it.  They found joy in loving others.  I felt it.  Others felt it.  And this became their beauty for all to see.  No one felt less around them, but quite the opposite.  They entered into the same joy when they entered their homes.  I am thankful I have such wonderful examples.  I just hope I can be the same.

What Inspires You?

What is your source of inspiration?  What inspires you to move towards your goals?  Even though I have not personally blogged in a long while, I am constantly reading other women's blogs because for one reason or another, they inspire me.  I love looking up the meaning of words, so I looked up the word "inspire."  Here is the definition: "to stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence." 
Reading a blog on personal health and fitness stimulates my energies to exercise and eat cleaner.  My favorite blogspots are from everyday homemakers.  Their christian ideals stimulate my energies to want to live for my King, serve my family, friends, and community, and live simply.  Those who inspire me are also those I want to be like, so I naturally reverence them in my heart and attitude.  I appreciate their gifts and study them, so that I may glean from them.  Here are some that I have visited recently:

http://peak313.com/
http://www.etsy.com/
http://www.oneplace.com/
http://frugallysustainable.com/
http://thenourishinghome.com/

Post your favorite blog.  I'd love to see what inspires you.

Introducing...

Asher Samuel Cartwright.

Five years ago, in upstate NY, God blessed me with the birth of our firstborn son, Chase. When these little ones come into our lives, we think of all the things we will teach them, but it seems, we, the parents, are the ones being taught.

I can still remember the nurse laying him next to me, so I could wrap my right arm around him and feel his presence. He was bathed and tightly wrapped, as only hospital nurses can do, and simply precious. He and I took our first nap together. That memory rings out over all the other memories during my first days with him. I sensed his gentle nature then and I felt blessed to be his mother.

Out of my three, he is my easiest child. He is not a fighter. He is rarely prideful or mean. He enjoys blessing others and finds joy in giving. He makes friends easily, because of his kind nature. Needless to say, he is taught me many things about having a heart like Jesus.

Setting My Mind on Things Above While Watching My Kids

I could stare for hours at my children while they play. It is like time stands still and deep joy overwhelms me that I never tire of their expressions. They bring wonder and through them I learn about my Creator.

Heaven will be like this. We will be forever staring at our Creator in awe and wonder of His beauty, His majesty, and His ways. He will capture our attention for eternity and deep joy will reside within our hearts.
God tells us to store up treasures in Heaven where nothing can take them away from us. Everytime I find out I am expecting, I find myself thinking of a new treasure to enjoy for all eternity. I will begin this journey of awe and wonder all over again sometime in April.

"Homemade Perfume"

Want a fun and easy summer activity for your kids? Let them make their own perfume by gathering up some flowers around the yard. Fill a glass jar (or in my case, a glass milk jug) with water and send them off. The floating flowers in the water are a pretty sight to see and they will be thrilled to have made something even though they won't be putting the concoction on their neck and wrists, unless you let them, of course. And for some added fun, take a picture of it and post it in your blog...make sure one is taken in the negative.

The Reward of Motherhood

My job, as a wife, mother, and homemaker is to take care of the ones made in the image of God. I take this role on with great passion and my reward is ...them... their love... their fellowship.
And so, I am inspired to create the best place on earth for them. A place of resting in His presence. A place where they can understand they are special and that I see their needs and hear their cries. A place to nourish their bodies and spirits the same. And together in this place, we create a place of love, a place where God can dwell among us.

The Day Chase Knocked My Plants Over

Fifteen little seedlings are making their appearance this week at our front door. They sit on a table next to the door, because that is where the most sunlight comes through. The sunflowers are already standing tall, but are still to weak to be transplanted. They will still need a few weeks indoors to grow and strengthen before being put outside to face the daily elements of weather and nature.
There are also some little "seedlings" growing in my house. They are not from the store or a gardening magazine. No, these little ones are from Heaven. I didn't have to buy them, because they are priceless and are, indeed, a gift from above. God desires a godly seed, so He sent them to me to nurture, to feed, to protect, and to love with daily care. Some days I nurture well with praises and hugs and kisses. Some days I feed them the best food to help them grow strong. But some days, I do not protect or love the way I should and the Father has to teach me again how to train up these little seedlings.
And so today's lesson came from my son Chase. He is the sweetest of the family and the gentlest of all five of us. He is four years old and like all four year old boys, they run and bump and are careless at times. Today, he managed to knock over two of the fifteen seedlings in a matter of five minutes. The first time, I allowed him his mistake and gave no correction to the mishap. Ah, but to do it again within five minutes did not allow for grace the second time around...and so I became harsh. My words and looks were filled with angry and I scolded him for knocking over a second plant.
As I began to cleanup the mess, while holding the bruised plant, I continued to scold Chase to clean up the mess. And in that moment, the Saviour who never leaves my side, began to teach me how to heal the bruised little "seedling" in the kitchen getting paper towels. And so, my heart was grieved and I told my son that Mommy was sorry for getting angry. Before I could seek his forgiveness, the tender little boy put his arms around me and said,"I forgive you, Mommy."
As my heart was humbled, I told Chase I would clean up the rest for him. In fact, I was honored to do it, because of the grace he showed to me. And it that time, God taught me that angry responses belittle other human beings and causes them to feel low self-worth. This is certainly not the mother or woman I want to be, so I am grateful for all the wisdom I learned the day Chase knocked my plants over.