To be First

So, today in reading Matthew 20, I realized a few things about myself. One is that I have many of the issues I dislike to see in others(I see the speck in other's eyes without removing the plank from my own). I am so thankful to God that his mercies are new every morning and that the Holy Spirit prompts us to repentance so we can move on in God! The Second thing I realized is that there could be a great correlation between the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard and the Greatness that comes from Serving.

To sum up the parable of the workers, the owner of the vineyard went out early in the morning to employ some workers to come to his vineyard. They discussed and agreed upon a denarius to work for the day, and went to work. The owner then continued to go out every few hours throughout the day and hired more workers. At the end of the day he paid them their wages, each one earning the exact same amount. Now, those who worked all day did not think that was fair, and I can understand it! BUT, the owner brought up a great point-it is his money to give, and how can they tell him he cannot pay the others the same? So, in my reading this, I was comparing the vineyard to the Church. Some people have worked so hard in putting in long hours of hard work, and prayer, and vision, and time...and yet others will come in after that foundation has been laid(after all that work was put in, time given, etc.)- and might be given positions of greater authority or leadership...and there is to be no refutal from those who've worked the whole time, because, it's God's to give- the leadership, authority, position, blessing, etc...it's God's...AND, there's no greater joy than to have the privilege to serve the Body of Christ and the House of the Lord.

So, in correlating the two stories, we need to have a servant's heart, just like Jesus did...that to become great in the kingdom, we must become the servant of all. Because the greatest of all Men, Christ, "came not be be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."(Matt 20:28) How much more should we, as the people of God, be willing to give up our lives to serve the Kingdom...We aren't entitled to anything. God gives as he sees fit, and if you feel like you're(or if I feel like I'm) entitled to something in the House of God, I should check my heart and motives to see what/who I'm doing it for...

So, today I am thankful to be able to serve the Body of Christ, the Church, and thankful that because his mercies are new every morning, I can seek today to become more of a servant to all.

What We Have is Enough

In reading Matthew 14 today, I realized something very profound for my own life. I know that often times, I feel as though I don't have anything to offer God, and so I try to manufacture, scheme, get something together to offer to him that is "more" than I started with. In all my work and scheming I always come up with something that is mediocre and not the quality or character of what I really want to offer to God.

In vs. 17-18 the disciples told Jesus that they only had 5 loaves and 2 fish. They didn't try to scrounge around, or go purchase more, or try to make a deal with the bakery in town...they told Jesus what they had. All they had to do was bring it to Jesus, He said, "Bring them here to me." Nothing profound or crazy, just entrusting the little they had to God, and He made it multiply more than they probably ever dreamed.

What little bit is God asking you to offer to Him today that He is going to multiply to blow your mind? Don't try to scheme to come up with something that you think might be better, just give what you have to God and watch him multiply it!

Emotions

It occurred to me yesterday that I am a person who is greatly effected by emotion. My responses to others come out of my emotions, my outlook comes out of emotions, my faith(or lack of) is a result of my emotions-it all comes from what I allow to control my emotions. I have noticed that those around me influence me easily in this area. If someone has great faith for something, I catch on very easily and quickly and believe God for something amazing to occur, but if I am around someone who has little faith or is quite negative, I quickly might find myself becoming the same.

I know that we can guard our hearts against this great influence, and I'm determined to seek the face of God for strategy and help in doing this. I will become the influencer, not the influenced.

Today, I was reading in Matthew 14: 13-14 where Jesus goes away to a quiet place after the death(beheading) of John the Baptist. I can only assume he has gone away to mourn and contemplate the death of this great man of God. So, Jesus goes away to a "quiet" place only to find that the multitude had followed him out there. Now, I know my response to this would be a fleshly response similar to: "can't I just get a minute of quiet time to myself??!!!", but Jesus' response was the complete opposite. He was moved with compassion on the crowd and He healed their sick.

I want to be more like Jesus today-so selfless that regardless of life's circumstances, He was moved by those who needed the Love of God and healing in their lives. Not ruled by emotion, but instead ruled by the unconditional love of Christ.

Two

So, right now two is a number that is hard for me to swallow sometimes.

I have a two year old who is amazing and fun loving and crazy, but he's two and with that comes the all to0 realistic stereotypes of a two year old: 1.)testing every boundary, 2.)getting into anything he can get his hands on, 3.)saying "no" to every question that mommy asks even questions where "no" isn't relevant, 4.)refusing to take naps and then falling asleep in the car, on the couch, in the shopping cart, etc

...and then there's also the two of having two kids. My boys are such a blessing, but two is a hard hurtle to get over. I've heard from veteran moms that two is a jump, but once you get past that, you're good to go for as many as you want. Not sure we're going to have any more, but I feel the hurtle...

so, as in training for a hurtle event, you have to stretch, and be disciplined, and practice, practice, practice... get your timing right. I am learning there is similar training in motherhood... i am being stretched in my capacity to handle stressful situations with grace, i am learning to be disciplined that when i say "no" or that punishment will come with another testing that I have to stick to what i say-kids are too smart and learn really quickly that mommy will give me more chances than one. I am learning to practice what i preach and practice disciplining... and that timing is everything with kids-sometimes if you wait too long to discipline they don't know what it is for, or if you push too early for something they have a breakdown. Sometimes it's just that they're tired, or not awake yet, or just need some one-on-one mommy time that they see happening with their younger sibling... and there are times when you have to choose your battles, not to compromise your discipline, but to give yourself a moment of sanity or because the fact that your child doesn't want to eat the toast you made isn't the end of the world, and the fat stores he has in his cheeks could last him a week! :)

so in the end, two really isn't a bad number, it's just one that takes practice and training. And, I can learn to love two.

No More Excuses

So, this morning I noticed that my husband had written on his mirror, "no more excuses", and I realized I might have needed that more than him. We all start out each year with such great intentions only to discover that we are human and will ultimately fail to some extent...and the issue isn't that(the failing), but it's the inability to keep going, or get back up and continue with our goals.

I had set a few goals for myself for this new year, and only one week in, I had missed two days and was feeling like it was useless to even set any goals at all. Then I read my husbands mirror and realized, I can still meet my goals, I just have to decide to make up for my lost days and continue on in my endeavor to become a better version of myself-never forgetting that I am human, and might miss a few days, or fall short of my set goals, but as long as I keep at them, I am bigger than my failures.

So today, be bigger than your failures. Don't let one mistake, or missed goal, or hiccup destroy your whole year of becoming a better you. Let this truly be a year of reached and exceeded goals-one day at a time.