Church camp

This cutie patootie is at camp this week. Please join me in praying for his heart to be prepared for the things God has in store for him. And for all the kids at camp this week, that they will learn to be mighty warriors for His kingdom!

Committed and Intentional

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

As a little girl I knew the only job I wanted was to be a mother and I couldn't wait for it. Little did I know, it would be the hardest thing I'd ever do-- much more than I bargained for. There is no way I could do it on my own.  I have a great husband; He is there to help me with anything and everything.  There are grandparents all around that will jump when needed. But greatest of all, I have a faithful God helping me on this path of motherhood!

From the time I had my first born I cherished the verse in Proverbs 22:6.  But often I have struggled with the question, "why do so many kids who grew up in Christian homes consider faith boring and irrelevant when they grow up?" I've seen so many turn their backs completely. There are also ones (like me) who graduate and haven't embraced faith as their own. Last week on vacation we visited a church and the speaker talked about this very passage and asked, "Is this verse foolproof," and proceeded to say, "Absolutely not." Only in the past couple of years have I come to grasp the depth and meaning of this verse.  I think (and this is my opinion) that it is very much foolproof.  I think the bible is God's word and it IS! So, I take this verse as a promise from God that my boys won't depart from him.  I don't mean that they won't stray and wander down a different path...we do, after all, have free will.  But I have "the hope" that they will always come back!

A few years ago I was okay with just taking my boys to Sunday School and church. They were learning "it" there, right? The more I studied motherhood and read God's word, the more convicted I started to feel.  I knew I wasn't doing this verse justice. I had to become intentional and committed... It became very real to me that I didn't have a real relationship with my Creator.  I knew about Jesus, because I sat in church, sang all the songs, went to camp, I learned all about Him, but didn't know him... Yikes! I can't teach it if I don't have it.  And who is to say that the Sunday School teachers have it?  It's very possible they are just reading it out of a book and the Holy Spirit isn't leading them.  Scary, huh? I believe I'm very lucky with our teachers, though!

I want more for these little boys that God entrusted into my care! I want to teach them to know, love, and serve Jesus with all their hearts! Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." It's easy to talk about and teach when you're out on a hike, or a walk in the park, or planting in the garden, even fishing. It's not always easy when you have three cranky boys not wanting to go to bed. Like tonight, Johnny was yelling from his bed wanting me to come to him.  I was sleepy and couldn't wait to lay my head on my pillow.  I yelled at him to come see me immediately and scolded him for how rude it was to yell like that.  Then sent him off back to his bed.  All he wanted was hugs, kisses, and a lullaby...which I had already given hugs and kisses.  I was convicted for not using that as a teachable moment.  Shortly after, I walked to his room to apologize, but it was too late-- he had already drifted off to sleep.  God used that as a teachable moment for me; Even though he was sleeping I was able to pray over him and his brothers.  God showed me that it's not too late, I can still tell him sorry in the morning.  I will be on guard and mindful of my patience and kindness tomorrow, and be gentle with these little hearts I call "My Three Sons."

Mother's Day

I'm only 120 pounds and "the best mom of my life," according to Johnny!  Justin says, I'm 31 years old (shhhh, he doesn't have to know any different!), I'm prettiest when I wear dresses, and I'm funny when I'm in my funny suit. That's Justin for ya! As for Joel, there is no one greater on this earth than "My Momma!"

I LOVE it!! To this here brood I am "SuperMom!" Lucky me!!! They love unconditionally and I hate that I take it for granted at times.

Today was a nice reminder of just what my job here on earth is;  The Spiritual Growth of my Children!  As the preacher talked this morning I embraced every word-- soaking up as much as I could to be a better mother.  I learned that my prayers have to change a little...or maybe a lot.

I've always prayed for my boys and their salvation-- knowing I can't do this without His help. I'll teach them to love the Lord and the only way to eternal life is through Jesus. I want them to lean on God for strength in good times and not only in difficult times. They are unique and He has a plan for their lives....  What if his plan isn't the same as my plan? Am I praying for his will or mine...? I've always had the thought they would grow up and stay close to where ever I'm at.  Johnny's talk about being in the Army will fade, right? I mean, God wouldn't put that in the heart of an eight year old, would he? Probably not, but it's possible.  God knows them better than I do, he does have a plan for them.  I need to be praying that he guides my thoughts, words, and actions to line up with his will.  He can take better care of them than I can!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wind blown

My sweet little Justin had so much fun with his window down this afternoon. It's usually too hot, too cold, the wind would mess my hair up...really I'm just scared they would fall out, so I never let them put their windows down. Once we got to our road they begged because it was so nice outside-- and reluctantly, I agreed. I'm so glad I did! Look at the smile on this boys face. Fear almost made me miss this...

I wonder what else in my life I'm letting fear hold me back from. I "opened the window" a couple of weeks ago and signed up for the prison ministry and I go next week. Scared but looking forward to the "smiles"!!

What is fear holding you back from??

Dog pile

That's a lot off Griffin boys right there!! I'm so lucky. :)

I wonder what God has in store for those three little monkeys on top?

Jesus is the HERO of my story!

As I was doing a Beth Moore bible study this morning, God led me off on a study of my own.  I had no idea what it was going to be about or why it was happening, but I just went with it! I'm not exactly sure how I got from the book of Daniel to the book of Isaiah, but I took great comfort in the forty third chapter.  One verse that really stuck out was this,

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, 

for my own sake, and remembers you sin no more."  

 Isaiah 43:25

Isn't is great God loves us that much?? He doesn't even remember our past sins!! More on this in a moment.

In my Beth Moore study she talked about what God's desire for my life is.  What is God's desire for us...John 15:8,16 says, (v8) "to be my disciples." (v.16) "You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go out and bear fruit..."  It's humbling knowing GOD CHOSE ME! He gave me specific gifts to do his work.  One is definite-- he gave me a singing voice.  I know He can give  more than one gift, and I know there's more to me than just singing...so what is it?? I've been praying for several weeks now trying to figure out what it is, and what am I supposed to do with it. After reading these verses in John I knew God wanted to share something with me.  I started digging deep and he revealed to me I have the gift of showing mercy!! It has always come so easy to me...growing up I often thought maybe I was too soft; after all most people around me where not so willing to show mercy. 

• Mercy-- compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence; Have mercy on the poor sinner.

I can't share personal stories with out permission of the other party, but one thing I would like to share (what I think compassion should look like) is Osama Bin Laden.  On 9-11 there people in the Middle East standing in the streets singing and dancing over lives lost.  What's equally heartbreaking to me, though, is the night I heard Osama Bin Laden was dead the things I heard on TV and was reading on facebook.  I was glad to hear they got him (dead or alive) because it needed to be done.   War is ugly and even God says it's necessary at times.  But here is a man who didn't know God and had just lost his life.  I was cheerless... We are to mourn as God does, for his people, even the lost.

Now back to our God who doesn't remember our sins.  If you ask for forgiveness you not only receive it, but he remembers it no more!  It comes easy for me forgive and forget. Yes, even forget.  I was really put to the test a couple of years ago.  Even though it took a long time (longer for me than usual) I was able to forgive and ask for forgiveness.  I really have to stop and think about the whole situation to remember details, but I choose not to.  Some say that's foolish and I could get burned again.  I say we are to be just like Jesus and we are to forgive as many times as it takes.  If I harbor resentment from the past it would make it hard to forgive in the future.  Also, I think if we are to be like Jesus- we should forget just as God does.  He tells us in Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."

I don't write this to toot my own horn or to brag, but to encourage you. Forgiveness sometimes is a slow process....it doesn't have to be- it's a chose.  Don't let Satan have a stronghold on your life by holding on to bitterness. If you want mercy you have to show it.  I leave you with this last verse:

"This is how my heavenly Fater will treat each of you

unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Matthew 18:35 

Thriving on parched land

Those that live in Texas know, but we have been months with no rain...day after day with over 100 degree temperatures. A few days ago this very tolerant moss rose plant was wilted and dying; It thrives in sunny hot locations where the soil is poor. Even though mine was wilting, it was still green but no flowers. Then, finally Saturday night, it poured down on this thirsty land! The next morning I could barely tell it had rained. Here it is a few days later and it's producing lots of bold color!

I wonder, how many of us are parched and drying up? Or growing, but not producing anything beautiful.  It's only when you're reading and studying God's word daily that you are going to flourish! Over the last couple of years, I've learned that it all begins with prayer.  If I'm studying and not praying it doesn't quite work out for me.  I still end up feeling lost and confused-- very much like this moss grass before the rain.  I would catch myself wondering why my life wasn't going according to plan.  HA! Who's plan?? Well, mine of course. 

One thing that I've come to realize (I've heard all my life, but it's finally it home) is God has a kingdom agenda!  And I'm usually way off the path He has planned out for me. When I'm doing both is when He grants me wisdom and understanding;  That's when I'm able to have boldness and color!

We live in a broken world-- our lands are parched. Satan wants to hold us in captivity-- often times you don't even know it's Satan.  Our culture tells us "Yes, Yes, Yes! Because you deserve it! Use credit and pay it back later!" If you're not building up your faith by praying and studying, you will stay in bondage. Don't become brainwashed by the world and culture!  But, be intentional and very deliberate!!  Practice a little restraint with me this week. I'm not drinking Dr. Pepper, or over eating, or buying unnecessary things. I'm going to watch less TV.  I AM going to show restraint and focus more on God because of it! And let me tell ya, not having Dr. Pepper (just because I can) has been the biggest challenge for me!

As I close out this blog, I'm going to pray for you! That (for even just one of my readers) these words written will spark a flame in your soul. That you'll be intentional in spending one-on-one time with the Lord. That as you learn, God will reveal his plan for your life! That he will put a blaze of passion on your heart and you'll know exactly what to do!!