Those With Young

My Peace I Give - by Sharise

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Today was filled with a lot of crying. It started with a lot of crying from my baby, and followed with a little crying from myself as well. No matter what I did, my daughter was inconsolable. And by the end of the day, my nerves were shredded. I thought of Those With Young, and remembered our talks about rest. So I pulled out my copy of Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. It is the devotional I always pull out during strenuous periods of my life. And it is well used! The curled edges of the pages and tattered cover remind me of a past in which I cried out to God.

There is a quote that I found again tonight and it filled me with hope. It says, “Rest is not some holy feeling that comes upon us in church. It is a state of calm rising from a heart deeply and firmly established in God.” I may not always have a restful feeling, but I can have a heart firmly established in God! So whether you are meeting with God in a coffee shop on a warm, spring day, or you are struggling to find words through your tears in your bed on a dark night, rest is available to us through Him! We must only give Him our heart.

The devotional tonight ended with this poem:

My peace I give in times of deepest grief

Imparting calm and trust and My relief.

My peace I give when prayer seem lost, unheard;

Know that My promises are ever in My Word.

My peace I give when you are left alone-

The nightingale at night has sweetest tone.

My peace I give in times of utter loss,

The way of glory leads right to the cross.

My peace I give when enemies will blame,

Your fellowship is sweet through cruel shame.

My peace I give in agony and sweat,

For My own brow with bloody drops was wet.

My peace I give when nearest friend betrays-

Peace that is merged in love, and for them prays.

My peace I give when there’s but death for thee-

The gateway is the cross to get to Me.

Wake Up - by Sharise Piquard

Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

This week I read Isaiah 60 and haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. “Arise, shine…” I don’t know about you, but when I get up in the morning, I have a hard time arising, much less SHINING! I wish I were one of those moms who just popped out of bed with a smile on my face, ready to conquer the world! But most mornings I find myself fantasizing of being back in my warm, soft sheets. I am so grateful that the Bible has much encouragement when it comes to this. The Lord longs for us to live our days to the glory of Him! Not only physically, but He also wants us to be spiritually awake and alive. In the Message version of the Bible, Romans 13 says, “But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!”

Wow, that verse is like coffee from God, a wake up call for my life!

However, this is not just for us moms. It is for our children too! We can help our kids start their days off by telling of His glory from the minute they wake up! Does anyone remember the song, “Rise and Shine (Arky, Arky)” from Sunday school? Some mornings I still sing it to myself and my daughter and remember Noah who obeyed God. Here is a clip of some children singing this song. I can’t help but smile when I see that child-like faith and hear them shout, “Give God the glory glory, children of the Lord!”

 

God-Shaped Hole

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

There once was a woman who had been married four times. None of those marriages worked though, so she ended up just moving in with guy #5. Most of us would say, "There is something wrong with that woman!" Or, "She certainly has issues." Or, worse yet - simply resort to labeling and name calling.

Then she encounters Jesus - a man who tells her everything she has ever done and offers her permanent filling for that God-shaped hole that she keeps trying to fill with men.

There was never any doubt that she was thirsty. Oh, she was thirsty! But she kept choosing that wrong drink. She chose what made sense, sounded good, was easy. But it never satisfied.

We all have a God-shaped hole. Very few of us are working on man #5. But how many of us move from one good sounding thing to another trying to fill that unquenchable thirst inside. There are so many things that we moms are tempted to run after to fill a void we may feel inside. We think going back to school might help, or going back to work, or exercising ourselves into the perfect body, or losing ourselves in the fantasy world of fictional romance, or pouring ourselves completely into our kids, or finding every volunteer position that we can possibly fill, or, or, or......

We have thousands of choices in our world today that we can drink in without looking immoral or even out of balance. But the thirst is never quenched....unless we choose the one that truly will keep us from ever thirsting again.

Got Jesus?

Psalm 63

1 O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You,

my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.   

²So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.   

³Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.   

⁴So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.   

⁵My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;

and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips   

⁶When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.  

⁷For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.   

⁸My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You;

Your right hand upholds me.   

⁹But those who seek and demand my life to ruin and destroy it shall [themselves be destroyed

and] go into the lower parts of the earth [into the underworld of the dead].   

¹⁰They shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a prey for foxes and jackals.   

¹¹But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him

[that is, who binds himself by God's authority, acknowledging His supremacy, and devoting himself to His glory and service alone; every such one] shall glory,

for the mouths of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

What Are You Hungry For?

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

This last weekend I was hungry for carrot cake. So guess what I did? I went and bought the ingredients for carrot cake and came home and made one. After a busy day at work yesterday, I rushed out for an appointment. I was really thirsty. Vitamin Water sounded great, so I grabbed a bottle out of the pantry and took it with me. My kids like to have cereal about any chance they get. But when they have cereal for breakfast, guess what I have? Something else. Anything else. Possibly carrot cake. I'm never hungry for cereal.

Can you see a theme here? Typically, my hunger drives what I eat. What about you? Obviously, there are those times when the cupboards are bare, and out of desperation, you eat what is available. But most of the time (especially as moms), we eat what sounds good. In fact, what sounds good to us is usually what is set on the dinner table for everyone.

Matthew 5:6 promises that when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we will be filled. What a great promise for moms! It is so simple. If I hunger, I will be filled.

Now, I just want to stop and think about that for a minute. What a great guarantee! No cooking, no chopping, no grocery shopping. I hunger, and I'm filled.

I know that time is a huge factor for us moms in having time with God. But the other truth is, that if we aren't hungry for it, we will do something else when we have time.

What does your soul hunger for?

Keep Your Tank Full! - Angela

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
       When can I go and meet with God?" Psalm 42:2

I have a bad habit of letting my gas tank get way too low.  My mini-van has one of those handy features of telling me how many miles I have left on the tank. I've learned the hard way that it isn't too accurate.

Honestly, I don't know how many times I've needed bailed out. My sister in law has brought me gas on the side of the road. My brother has brought gas to my house. Friends have brought me gas at random stores I had to pull over at. I've even been towed by a stranger to the nearest station. Sad. I know.

I was trying to figure out this weekend why that happens to me so much, and the bottom line is that I'm just not intentional about filling my tank when I can. The truth is, I'm just too busy on school days to stop for gas. My schedule is down to the minute in the mornings and at noon when delivering my prize kindergartner to his afternoon class. 

SO....I need to make sure I'm gassed up on the weekend. Just like I do more cleaning and more baking and more laundry on the weekends, getting ready for a new week, I need to make sure my tank is full and ready.

I love this verse because, as a mom, it is my constant question. When can I meet with God?

I'll be honest, I don't get a consistent time every day with the Lord. It isn't that I don't try or that I don't want it but kids don't often read my schedule and pick when to get sick or misbehave or wake up super early. There are days when my only time with God is just praying throughout my day or reading a chapter of Psalms to my kids.

Long before this weekend, when I finally decided when to fill my van's tank, I learned that I had to be pretty intentional to keep my spiritual tank filled. Santha and I were talking not too long ago, and she said something so profound (which is pretty normal for Santha). She said, "There is a difference between being intentional and being in control." So often as moms we feel sabotaged by our lack of control over our schedule and what may surprise us each day. But we can still be intentional with our relationship with God. Our time with Him may not happen every morning like we hope...or even during afternoon nap time, but we can still carve the time slot out and be ready.

Kim was just sharing with me this weekend how God has laid on her heart to get up at a certain time on certain days of the week - not every day, but certain days. That is how she is going to be intentional.

I've learned to take my "mom-time" to be with God. When Bill sends me out for a couple of hours to get away, I often take my Bible and meet God somewhere. I've learned it helps me more than just about anything else I need to keep going. This weekend, I'm doing something I've never done before (at least since I had kids), I'm going away for an entire weekend - just me and God. I can't wait!

Do you thirst for time with the Lord? Does your soul long for Him? He's waiting for you!

Welcome, Sharise Piquard!

God has been so good to bless us with yet another Advisory Panel member and writer for Those With Young!!

Welcome, Sharise Piquard! 

Sharise and I met at a potluck, just about four short months ago. Bill and I host a middle school small group in our homes on Monday evenings. Nate and Sharise were interested in doing the same. They had just moved to our area, were expecting their first baby, and had no family in the area.

I immediately knew God wanted us to be friends. As I listened to her story, I felt like I was going back in time. In one short month, Sharise had quickly gone from a working woman, to a stay at home mom in a new place....and was still waiting on the baby she was staying home for. Oh, I remember those days!

Sharise and I went out to coffee five weeks before she was due to deliver little Eve. We had a great time. I knew our hearts were connected. I loved hearing her heart for the Lord and how he had worked on her heart to move her out of in career in cinematography to start a family. I learned how her dad is a pastor, and she has moved around some in her life. She and her sweet husband, Nate, met in college - John Brown University to be exact.:)

We left our sweet little coffee date, Sharise pulled up to the light, and her water broke. Little Eve made her entrance into this world five weeks early at just over four pounds.

I'm excited to have Sharise here at Those With Young for so many reasons. She's not an experienced mom. She's a brand new mom who is experienced at loving Jesus! We want Those With Young to be continually relevant to those who are brand new to motherhood, so Sharise's input is priceless. I know you will love her as much as I do!

Treasures  

I am a new, first-time mom. I’m sure you can all remember those crazy months when the nurses send you home, the visitors disperse, and you are left wondering, “so, what do I do now?”    I always knew I wanted to be a mom. Not just ANY mom, but a mom who taught her child to love the Lord! However, I have had a hard time figuring out how to do that with a newborn. All they do is eat, sleep, poop, and cry! Sure, she might smile and coo at me while I talk to her for a few seconds, but in an instant she is wriggling and fussing to do something more entertaining. So I quietly pray for her during my evening devotions and sometimes sing hymns while I rock her to sleep. And most of the time, that is all I do.  However, one evening I was reading A Mom After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George and she encouraged moms to speak the Word of God over their children from “cradle to grave”. She wrote about the power of scripture and the importance of speaking truth over our children’s lives as soon as they enter this world. It was as if a light bulb went on. Of course! Why haven’t I been speaking the Word over my daughter from day one? What better way is there to help my daughter grow in the Lord?   Even if I feel silly sometimes, I still try to read out of the Bible to my child every day. I get excited trying to think of new things I can do to surround her with the Word of God as she grows. We ordered a toy box the other day that came with free engraving. My husband and I couldn’t think of what to say. If we wrote her name, her future siblings would feel left out. If we wrote “toy box”, we could never use it for other things. So we decided to engrave, “Matthew 6:20-21” which says, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”   Now she may not understand what that means for many years. But I am hoping that one day she might just realize that her toys are not the treasures, but her relationship with God IS! I feel so blessed that the Lord chose me to help with the important task of introducing her to His Word!   So, moms, what have you done to help your children see the “treasures” from scripture?

 Sharise's book recommendation:

A Mom After God's Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children By Elizabeth George / Harvest House Publishers A Mom After God's Own Heart offers 10 principles to help moms make God an everyday part of their children's lives. Moms will explore how to: teach their children God's Word train them in God's ways talk to children about Jesus pray with and for them Elizabeth George, who has two grown children and six grandchildren, gives practical advice and real-life suggestions for helping children---no matter what their ages---incorporate God into daily life. Her husband, Jim, also provides biblical advice from a dad's perspective.

But Have Not Love

"IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

"Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing." I Corinthians 13:1-3 (Amplified Bible)

I don't know about you, but it is so easy for me to get focused on the things I do for Bill, and convince myself that it is showing love to him.

In reality, I can cook a five course meal, get the taxes done, catch up the laundry, wash the dog, and have the kids in bed when he gets home...so I can give him a foot rub in peace; but if I don't do it with love, well, ya...can you hear me clanging?

Ever been there?

So as this weekend comes up, and you may be tempted to simply make sure the house is clean and you've made cute little cupcakes and gotten a sitter and ....and....and.... try to think through the actual ways he needs your love. What has God shown you this week? How can you make this Valentines Day better than any other he's ever had?

He is Respected

"Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land." Proverbs 31:23

Now, why on earth would this verse be right in the middle of a passage on the Virtuous Woman? Does she have any control over whether or not her husband is respected?

Uh huh!

I bet I don't even have to tell you why. But just in case....how does word of anything get around town? Usually by the mouths of women...either on the phone, in person, in e-mails, or on the blog. I've learned the hard way, that I best count on anything I say about my husband being fit for the whole world to know.

Do the things I say about him to others, reflect that I love and respect him?

Extra credit: Ya, it is the same as last time. If you are really up to it, ask him what he thinks...and yep, have Kleenex on hand.

She Brings Him Good

"She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12

The meaning of "bring" hints at repaying. So we are to not only always bring good, but to repay good rather than evil ALL.THE.DAYS.OF.OUR.LIFE."

Wow! That means that when I'm not given good by him, I have to put my big girl panties on and be good anyway. My childrens' voices are echoing in my head. "That's not fair!"

I keep thinking how many times in marriage we get caught in the crazy cycle:

• "I'll meet his love language when he meets mine!" All the while he is thinking, "I'll meet hers, when she meets mine."
• "I'll show him respect, when he shows me some love." All the while he is thinking, "I'll show her love, when she shows me some respect."
• "I'll be good to him, when he is good to me......

....and on and on it goes, until someone grows up and breaks the cycle.

Will it be you?

Do you have the guts? It isn't easy, because even if you have the guts, you can't brag about it....or you've defeated the whole purpose.

Any of you out there know what I'm talking about?

So today, ask God how you can do your husband good. I'm asking too!