A Praying Mother

 Wisdom is……..taking all a Mother’s hopes, dreams, and cares to the Lord in Prayer.

I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. – Abraham Lincoln

I am currently reviewing the book Prayer Warrior Mom, and for many years I have prayed the prayers from Stormie Omartian’s Book The Power of a Praying Parent.

I truly believe that one of the most powerful things we can do as parents is pray for our children.  Let’s face it, we can’t control every aspect of our children’s lives and we can’t protect them from all the trials and tribulations of life.  We can’t go every where they go, and the time comes that we have to let go of being the mother that tells them what to do, when to come home, who to spend time with,  and what decisions to make.  But we do have a God who can take over and gaurd the hearts and lives of our loved ones.  When a loving, caring mother prayers for her children, I believe heaven opens wide to receive those prayers.

Got Enemies?

Do you have enemies?

Do you grow weary with the drama, the ridicule, the manipulations, the plots and slander that plague your life?   Do you have people that come against your marriage, your family, your goals and ambitions with the intent of harm and not good?

David had enemies too.  In fact, David had to spend a lot of time on the run and hiding because he was pursued with the intent of being killed.  Reflect on David’s attitude toward being hounded by the enemy in Psalm 27.

Book Review: Dirty God

Dirty God by Johnnie Moore is about Jesus in the trenches. As Johnnie puts it “This is a book about grace. And how grace split time in half and made a broken world a playground again for the goodness and kindness of God.”

This book takes us into the amazing humanity and deity of God all wrapped up into the very personable and “down to earth” Jesus. The Jesus who could have come to Earth in full glory and honor, chose to make his entrance into our world as among the poor and common. He did this to show his ultimate love and compassion for all of humankind and not just the rich and famous. Unlike any other religion, this book points out that Christianity is different because instead of people clamoring for the attention of their distant gods, Christianity has a personable and available God who comes directly and personably to them. Jesus came to give us access to God as a free gift. Mr. Moore believed that if one could truly grasp the love and acceptance extended in God’s grace, their life would be radically changed and they would be able to understand how important their purpose in life could be as the extender of that grace to others.

As a fan of books about God’s grace, I have to add this one to my favorite’s collection. This is the first book I have read by Johnnie Moore, and I found his writing style pulled me in to the story as if written directly to me. In a style I could compare to Max Lucado, he has a talent for making Jesus come alive and walk off the pages of the book. I also liked learning that this author lives what he preaches and has made many travels to distant lands, seeing first hand and ministering to the suffering of this world that he writes about and wants to change. This book is a good read if you are seeking a personable relationship with Jesus and a better understanding of his amazing love for you.

Under The Dogwood Tree

When I was a little girl, I remember playing under the dogwood trees in my grandmother’s yard.  

Every spring, they would bloom so beautifully.  My grandmother was a kindergarten teacher and so she would always find teachable moments.  The dogwood blossom was the opportunity to remind us of the true meaning of Easter….Christ’s death and resurrection.

The white blossom has 4 petals in the shape of a cross.
The petals have blood colored stains at each tip and a marking like the nail prints in the hands and feet of Jesus.
The crown of green buds in the center of the blossom represents the crown of thorns placed upon Jesus head.

True Value

Wisdom is realizing what has true value in this world.
I was reading a book this weekend called Mending the Soul by Steven R Tracy, and in this book the following story was told: Satan’s role in this world is like a burglar who breaks into a jewelry store.  Instead of stealing the jewels, however, he just rearranges the price tags.
You see, Satan specializes in counterfeit and deceit.  He devalues the most valuable and precious pieces, and he inflates the value of the fake or costume pieces.

Just Dust

WISDOM IS KNOWING THAT WE ARE JUST DUST

For He knows our frame;

He remembers that

we are dust.  -Psalm 103:14

When I fail to meet your expectations….remember that I am dust.
When I cause you heartache and sorrow…..remember that I am dust.
When you are lonely and I am not there….remember that I am dust.

Wisdom Vs Natural Inclinations

2013: A YEAR FOR GATHERING WISDOM

Wisdom begins in wonder. -Socrates

Wisdom is found only in truth. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. -Tom Wilson

Counsel woven into the fabric of real life is wisdom. -Walter Benjamin

Virtue vs Impurity

This is WEEK 48 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by!

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.  -Marcus Aurelius 

All the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give in exchange for virtue.  -Plato

Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.  David Starr Jordan

Truthfulness vs Deception

This is WEEK 47 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by!

“Let us rejoice in the truth, wherever we find its lamp burning.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

Half a truth is often a great lie. -Benjamin Franklin

We are either in the process of resisting God’s truth or in the process of being shaped and molded by his truth. -Charles Stanley

God’s truth judges created things out of love, and Satan’s truth judges them out of envy and hatred.  -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Tolerance vs Prejudice

This is WEEK 46 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by!  

Prejudice is a learned trait. You’re not born prejudiced; you’re taught it.  -Charles R. Swindoll

In examining the evidence of the Christian religion, it is essential to the discovery of truth that we bring to the investigation a mind freed, as far as possible, from existing prejudice, and open to conviction.  -Simon Greenleaf

If people are informed they will do the right thing. It’s when they are not informed that they become hostages to prejudice.  -Charlayne Hunter-Gault