What prevents you...

Tam - posted on 05/22/2009

Okay, don't have a lot of time because it's very late and my internet has been acting wonky (I've prayed for patience a lot these past two days!). But had to chuckle, I remember the days when my little ones were young and you're right, you gotta be up with them or they will raise a fuss (rightfully so), lol. I'm a little more blessed in that now, with the older kids. My oldest gets herself up and dressed and out the door (thank goodness too, because she leaves at 6:30), and the boys are home-schooled so while we have a schedule, it's a bit more flexible and they are big enough to make oatmeal in the microwave or a bowl of cereal and grab some fruit if I'm not moving quickly,lol.

And I grinned so wide when I read about your dream! God laid that on your heart, sweetie! Isn't is awesome when He does stuff like that? I mean, you didn't even know that verse, but here you are quoting a verse about seeking Godly wisdom and that's exactly what we are studying here. :) I think it's so important too, because so many people out there haven't taken the time to seek out God's wisdom and so they don't understand why the "Christianity" thing isn't working for them, or they fall for something that just isn't Biblical. In this day and age when the enemy is doing everything he can to get us away from God or bind us from doing His will, it is so important that we know God's word so we can walk in His authority.

Okay, gotta go or I'll need toothpicks to keep my eyes open. Pray that my connection stays tomorrow so I can answer the other threads!

PS - I LOVE LOVE LOVE my crockpots (yes, I have two, lol) I do think God gave the inventor of crockpots that knowledge so moms like us would be able to spend more time doing our Godly duty (be it changing diapers or going to church or whatever!). :) Have you looked into Fix It And Forget It cookbooks? Those are great. Taste of Home/Quick Cooking also has some great crockpot recipes, if you're looking for something new, let me know!

Heather - posted on 05/21/2009

Tam, I too have noticed that if I read a little scripture before bed it stays with me in my dreams. Yesterday morning I woke up and in my dream I was quoting James 1:5 to someone.... I don't have James 1:5 memorized, so I had to go look it up. But it says "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." I sure wish I knew what the dream was about, but all I remember about it is James 1:5. I always use to do better studying before bed. I could always stay up late and just sleep in in the morning, but now with such young children, I have to have them up by 7 to get ready for school, and even if I didn't have to have the boys to school the girls wake up at 7 and I have to get them out of their cribs. I have found that it is much easier and I find more joy in it if I have been up reading God's word before it's time to dive into the day. And then by the time they go to bed I'm lucky if I have enough energy left to climb the stairs. Life is truly exhausting! Almost every night while I am waiting for bedtime I am quoting Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Oh, and one more thing I wanted to share with you. On Sundays I use my crock pot. Every week. I can prepare lunch or supper the night before, and it's one less thing for me to do on Sunday.

Tam - posted on 05/20/2009

Jennifer, it's good to *see* you. Know you've been busy being obedient to God by setting up that daycare. You're in my prayers. Same here with the whole television and movie thing. We cancelled a bunch (we have to keep cable or we don't even get local channels) but we put a lock on most of it. But I wanted to say when you get a chance to catch your breath, definitely go back and read the Proverbs 3 study. It deals with fear and we've chatted about it on the thread. :)

Heather, thanks. We try to keep from doing any real work on Sundays, but it never fails with five tweens/teen/adults in this house that something seems to go awry. We've begun setting out things earlier and trying to get a schedule so everyone can have hot water for showers, etc. I saw those scriptures and we both have the same favorite, lol! Thanks for doing that. I'm trying harder to stick to a better schedule, but I've always been a night owl. Even as a child, I remember doing my best studying at night. I memorized the books of the bible by night light (off a bookmark) when I was supposed to be sleeping, lol. I do take care to make study not the last thing I do, otherwise I would be too sleepy, but usually right after everyone is in bed I'll study and read and pray, and it stays with me. I've often dreamed something related to what I'd studied, and so it stays on my heart the next day. Guess this is another one of God's wonderful variety in His people. There might be a reason for the night-sessions and the morning sessions. It could be as simple as that's when God knows He can get our full attention. :) Or it could be that way He would have His people praying and praising continuously? Hmm. Something to think about, eh?

Jennifer - posted on 05/19/2009

Oh my golly molly! It has been a while since I have been on here. Still crazy busy, we have put up a fence, enclosed our carport, redoing our back porch per say so we can have more room and just finishing up the small stuff because it is this Monday that I start with the first 4 kids.

But I will get on here this next coming week and try to get caught up. I looked at the Proverbs 3 or was it 4 that I haven't replied to yet...oh well. But it is way to long for me to read and I am so zapped I can not focus on reading and Lord knows what my reply would be and I know everyone reading it would be laughing.

But a few things that prevent me is fear, my laziness because I get so busy and just don't stop to give thanks.

However, at the beginning of this year, God started convicting me hugely. The biggest reason is because I started helping in our Wednesday night toddlers class and every Wednesday before church and really after I literally would have the weight on my heart that I just couldn't explain. After a many prayers that was lifted up by me, I finally figured it out. How was I to teach these toddlers when I, myself didn't know what all the Bible said. After reading and getting more into God's word, that weight started letting up on my heart. I started feeling this sense of ahhhhhhhhh! I could breath!

Also another thing that has been preventing me from getting closer to God is the TV programs we watch, the music we listen to, the movies we rent. I have really been under conviction of this because I am going to church and telling these kids, all this stuff is a sin (what they show and what they say) and it is wrong for us to do it. Yet I come home sit down and watch and listen to every bit of the things I tell them not to do! In order for my family to become better Christian and in order for us to be closer to God, we have got to shut this out of our home.

My husband and I was talking the other day and the area we live in the shows that came on between the 7 and 9o'clock time frame was the Leave it to Beaver, Little House on the Prairie, and the good clean things, the after 9 o'clock, we went to bed and our parents stayed up, then 12o'clock all networks where turned off and the American Flag would be waving across the screen. Now a days, they are showing unGodly things during the family time, they are showing it is ok to be Gay, it is okay to cuss, it is okay to do all this stuff we tell them not to. This is just been bothering me and we have set up our TV, if it is not G we do not get it. But we did rent a movie about 2 months ago and it stated it was G, not even 15 minutes into the movie, they were cussing. So we are redoing our whole lives and we are taking out a ton of crap that God does not see fit for us!

I will do everything in my power to get caught up next week!

Heather - posted on 05/19/2009

Quoting Tam:

Ya know, that is so true. We do have daily bible reading for homeschool, and daily devotions. Since we did that it has been easier for me to read when the boys are reading. :) Saturdays are difficult, with all the errands and whatnot, but we are working on that. My blocks tend to come at the end of the day, when everyone gets to bed (I am sooo not a morning person, lol)

I'm not a morning person either, but I use to do my reading at night, and found that I would fall asleep while reading, and then I didn't get anything out of it. It is hard for me to get up in the morning, but I have "good morning scriptures" that encourage me to get out of bed. (I posted them on Christian Mommies.) Actually, the only day that I have trouble finding time to spend in God's word is Sunday.... It's my day to sleep in and rest, then spend time with our family. Our church meets at 4pm, and by the time we get there I am always extatic to hear God's word.

Heather - posted on 05/19/2009

Sundays are my husband's only day off. So we try to do something as a family. Our favorite thing to do is go hiking and soak in God's beauty. (We live near the mountains, and there are tons of trails and paths to chose from.) I don't do any house work on Sundays. I let the dishes pile up and the floors get dirty. I wouldn't say that I get any extra rest on Sundays, with four small children it just doesn't happen. But I don't work any harder then I have to.

Tam - posted on 05/19/2009

So, was thinking about it and realized that Sundays are not always so "delightful" for us. We try to make sure that we keep it a day of rest and holy, but it's not always easy.

I've found a book on Doorposts I'm thinking of buying, but wondered if there was anything special you all do on Sundays to honor the Lord and the blessed family and friends He gave you (aside from Sunday services).

Tam - posted on 05/19/2009

Ya know, that is so true. We do have daily bible reading for homeschool, and daily devotions. Since we did that it has been easier for me to read when the boys are reading. :) Saturdays are difficult, with all the errands and whatnot, but we are working on that. My blocks tend to come at the end of the day, when everyone gets to bed (I am sooo not a morning person, lol)

Heather - posted on 05/18/2009

I also have verses taped up all over my house. Some on the walls where I can see them always, and on the computer, but also in the fridge, and other places like that. They are so helpful in so many ways! I use note cards with scriptures for book marks, and have scriptures written on or in all of my notebooks.

As far as time spent in prayer goes, I get up around 6am and take a shower, that is my big block of prayer. Then I spend time reading God's word before I wake up my children and husband. I also pray off and on all day. Prayer is so important! I also spend time reading God's word during the day. I believe it is very important for my children to see it. But the morning time helps me to have my undivided attention on the Lord.

Another (there are many....) really helpful verse for me is:

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Tam - posted on 05/17/2009

Awesome verses, Heather!

Heather, I have more time now that my kids are little older (more independent) but I still find myself praying throughout the day in bouts rather than one hunk of time each day. And remember asking God if I wasn't doing right because I wasn't going into that prayer closet for an hour or whatever each day and He took me to I Thessalonians 5:17 ~ Pray without ceasing. And that sometimes those who do make it to that precious hour-long time with God often forget to pray all day as they go about their business. That there needs to be some kind of balance, to find "blocks" as I can, but to also continue saying prayers and praises as I go throughout my day. So, as I'm doing dishes or folding laundry, I pray. As I'm driving on errands I will sing worship songs to Him. I think the most important thing for prayer aspect of time is just to do it.

As far as getting things done, as mentioned, those are definitely inspired verses and I appreciate you sharing them with us! I'm writing them out now.

Alexandria, one thing I've started doing is writing out verses like that which remind me that God is in Control and try to post them around the house. If you don't want to "clutter" anything, put them in surprise places where you can see them throughout the day but they aren't littering the household. Tape them to the inside of your cabinets, Tuck them into a book you're reading (at a later spot), think of fun places and go for it!
If you're like me, some days those little cards might be all you get in scripture so it definitely helps, and you memorize a bit more with each reading. :)

Alexandria - posted on 05/16/2009

Thanks, Heather, God Bless!

Heather - posted on 05/16/2009

I struggle most with time. I have four very young children, and between taking them to school, feeding them, playing with them and cleaning the house there just isn't enough time in my day the way it is. I can very much relate with you Alexandria, at the end of the day I never have as much done as I would like, or else I have stayed up way too late to get it all done. The honest truth is that the Lord has me do what he wants done. If I don't get any cleaning done because my kids need me more I have to except that. A few verses that God has led me to recently are:

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

I still don't feel that there enough hours in the day, but God knows better then me.

Alexandria - posted on 05/16/2009

I really struggle with two major things. Fear, and laziness. I wake up being deternined to get a lot done and then give in to the many forms of distraction that present themselves throughout the day. Then at the end of the day I feel worthless and mad at myself because it was my own fault and end up taking it out on my family by being crabby with them.

The fear mostly pertains to 'what will people think of me'. I worry more about this than what God will think because there is always the cushion of knowing that God will love me anyway. But you ladies gave me good advice for my fears, thanks again, and this has helped for today anyway. lol.