What’s the Deal with Dirty Socks?
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~1 Thessalonians 5:18
Ok all the Moms out there…what is the deal with dirty socks? Do your kids do this too? I find dirty socks everywhere! They frequently lay on my living room floor, on our back deck and in my kids’ bathroom, but the other day I found them on top of the kitchen counter—seriously??? How does that happen?
What makes a person think, “Oh—I think I will take off the socks I’ve been wearing all day and put them over here next to the toaster!”
Sometimes you and I get overwhelmed with all we need to do. The daily tasks before us make us feel covered up and it seems there is no getting caught up! If you are a wife or Mom, I want you to feel encouraged today about your role in the family.
God has been reminding me that I need to have a heart of gratefulness in all things. When I begin to complain about all the things I need to do at home, He gently whispers into my spirit for me to turn my thoughts towards thankfulness for the responsibilities I have at home. God reminds me of the blessings they are in my life and to also remember they are kids….they are going to do things I do not want them to do.
He also reminds me to have patience with them as Bryan and I seek to teach them how to be responsible adults.
If you are tired today and there is too much work you need to do, instead of being frustrated, stop and thank God for the blessings in your life. Count your blessings one by one and imagine how sad you would be without those blessings in your life.
Do not allow the enemy to steal your joy as a wife and Mom. Fill up with God’s Word and ask Him to pour out over you a spirit of thankfulness!
A heart of gratefulness is just what you and I need.
Thanks for stopping by today!
-Joy
Read MoreSome lessons learned through disappointments…
Disappointed is defined as feeling sad, unhappy, or displeased because something was not as good as expected or because something you hoped for or expected did not happen.
Disappointment: we have all been there. Things do not always turn out the way we want them. We feel rejected and hurt and we wonder what the future holds.
Just like you, I have faced disappointments over and over again in my life. Here are a few things I have learned by walking through disappointment.
1. Life is hard and unfair.
God showers us with His blessings and He gives us good things, but life is not a Hollywood movie. God is clear in His word that life on earth will be difficult. Some of the most esteemed people of the Bible lived the hardest lives. We do not get a free pass from pain, tribulation or disappointment. We cannot “earn” an easy life. Sometimes…life hurts.
But—God is good all the time and He gives us what we need to endure the pain of this life. When life hurts, we must lean on Him, trust Him and walk by faith. He is our strength. He is our shield. He is near to the brokenhearted and His eye is on those who are crushed in spirit. Allow your disappointments to drive you to the foot of the cross.
2. We get ahead of God.
Sometimes disappointment comes because I have made my own plans and set my own dreams before seeking out God’s will for my life. I get disappointed with an outcome because my plans and dreams were never aligned with God’s purpose in the first place.
But—when I get my life back in order by allowing God to lead me, He shows me His plan and I begin to see Him at work in my life. He is the creator and I am the created. The created cannot tell the creator what he/she was made to do and be on this earth. I did not create myself. It is His plan I need to seek after, not my own! I must die to my own selfish flesh and submit to Him.
3. Closed doors are important.
When we really want something to happen yet the door to that opportunity is closed, we feel disappointed and rejected. We allow it to get us down and then the enemy can have a hay day with us as we wallow in self-pity. We will knock on many doors of opportunity—not every door will open.
But—I have learned that a closed door is just as important as an open door because it is leading me towards God’s will for my life. When a door closes, you and I should not sit around and dwell on it. We cannot allow it to dampen our spirits. Instead, we need to remember God is using that closed door to guide us to the next open door.
4. Things take time.
Most of us like instant gratification, but God requires us to wait. We do not like to wait. Waiting is hard.
But– waiting is necessary. Refinement, sanctification, and fulfilling one’s purpose in life are not quick processes. We are on a journey to find our place in God’s story and that takes time. A friend of mine once said, “God is rarely early, but He is never late.” We need to have patience as we wait on God to move in our lives.
5. When He calls you to it—He will do it!
God will call you and me to do things that seem impossible. When you and I are seeking after Him, He makes His calling clear. Fulfilling your calling will take pain-staking effort on your part.
But— When He calls you, He will make it happen. One of my favorite verses is 1 Thessalonians 5:24 which says “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” This verse hangs on my refrigerator as encouragement for my journey in life. You and I must stand firm on what we are called to do. We cannot be quitters just because we hit a road block from time to time. There are times you will feel so defeated, you will want to quit….don’t quit! Persevere and cling to His Word. He will take you where He wants you to go…but He will test you along the way and He will force you out of your comfort zone.
6. Get up and start again.
We get off course from time to time. We lose our way. We make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes are big. We fall down.
But—nothing is too big for God to restore. He can take our broken, messed-up lives and turn them into something beautiful…but we have to turn back to Him. When you mess up and you are disappointed in yourself, get back up and with His grace….start again.
Life usually does not end up the way we planned, but as a child of God, we can trust Him during times of disappointment. He really does have a plan for your life. He really is working it all together for your good and His glory.
When disappointments come into your life, instead of asking Him “why?”….ask Him, “what’s next?”
Thanks for stopping by!
~Joy
Read MoreA Christian Mom’s Review of the movie, “Son of God”
Yesterday, we had been cooped up in the house too long from the ice/snow storm so we ventured out and decided to watch a movie. After seeing Frozen more times that I want to admit, Bryan and I decided to take our nine year old and our 11 year old with us to see the movie, Son of God.
Ok, now remember this is a PG 13 movie! My son, Sam (who is nine), dramatically said more than once, “I cannot believe y’all are allowing me to watch a PG 13 move!” So, our reputations as parents were on the line.
Unlike the Passion of the Christ (which Mel Gibson directed years ago), Son of God is a depiction of the full ministry of Jesus, not just the hours leading up to the crucifixion. Son of God highlights stories such as His birth, when He walks on water, the healing of the paralytic and when He overturns the money-changers’ tables at the temple. Son of God focuses more on the love God has for mankind than the suffering of Jesus at the cross (although there was suffering and a gruesome view of the crucifixion process).
Before we went to watch the movie, I did an internet search and found good and bad reviews of the movie. I read many critics’ reviews discussing producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett and how they are “New Age” Christians. One blogger warned Christians not to go see this movie because the producers had embedded a skewed reality of the life of Christ from what the Bible teaches. I also read reviews that this was a movie Christians should support.
After watching the movie, here are my takes:
It’s a good movie. I’m glad I went to see it and I am glad I took my kids.
Some things I wish the producers would have done differently:
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Context of Scripture: Some scripture is out of place. When Jesus is speaking, several times the verses used are not in their proper context. One example is on the road to Calvary. Jesus drops the cross and Mary runs out to help Him (which is not in scripture) and He says to her, “With God all things are possible”. Scripture from Matthew 19:26, but not used in its proper place and time.
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Judas: There is some speculation about Judas’s motive. Judas is portrayed as someone who did not really mean to turn Jesus in to the authorities. Instead, he is seen as one who wants to work out issues between the religious leaders and Jesus. As if he is a peace-maker. The scene with Jesus and Judas at the Last Supper is not accurate and when Jesus is being sentenced, Judas dramatically throws the money back at the religious leaders for all to see.
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Mary Magdalene: Now, we know she was with Jesus and his disciples a lot, but in the movie she appears to be with them most all of the time. She is present with them on the boat when Jesus walks on water and she is seen cooking for them at various times. If you did not know better, you may assume that she is included as one of the 12 disciples. As a side-note, I do not recall seeing her in the scene at the last supper. I would like to watch it again and look closely for that.
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The tomb after the resurrection: In the movie, there were no guards at the scene and no angel. The movie shows the stone broken in two, not just rolled away. Also, only Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb on the third day, (scripture says the other Mary was also there, Matthew 28:1).
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Some great stories were left out: It would be extremely difficult to shorten the life of Jesus to just over two hours, but my heart ached when I did not see Him washing the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. They also cut short The Great Commission. In the movie, Jesus only said a portion of it. Leaving out particularly, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
If you choose to take your kids, talk with them beforehand about what they will see and explain that there are some things in the movie that are not found in scripture.
As far as the age limit goes, I think you have to judge your child’s maturity and their knowledge of the Bible. There are bloody flogging and crucifixion scenes, and they show the feet of Judas as he hangs himself from a tree.
Sam held on to Bryan’s coat during the movie. I saw him cover his eyes with it several times, especially during the crucifixion scenes. Ellie (who is 11) seemed to have no issues with those scenes.
One important point: This movie is no substitute for reading and studying God’s Holy Word!
If you take someone to see this movie who is not a Christian, bring along a Bible to give to them. Tell them this movie is just what it claims to be—a movie! It has flaws. It has inaccuracies. Tell them that the truth about Jesus is found in the pages of God’s Holy Word.
For what it’s worth, I liked the movie. I think they did a nice job. I wish the producers would have changed a few things to make it more Biblically accurate, but overall, the message of the Gospel is clear.
God sent His son Jesus into our broken world to die for our sins. He was crucified, buried and dead. He defeated death and rose up out of that tomb! He is the way, the truth and the life. He loves you and He wants you to know it!
Thanks for stopping by!
~Joy
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