WHAT ARE YOU BREATHING?

    My dad was a dentist.  As you can imagine, good dental hygiene was a must.  Every night, before bed, we were sent to brush our teeth.  Our teeth were checked and my dad would actually smell our breath.  Only a clean “Crest Toothpaste” breath was acceptable.  If our teeth or breath didn’t pass, we were sent back upstairs for another try.  These habits from childhood have followed me my whole life. 

    As important as that habit was to pass on to my children, there was a new habit that was even more important- God breathed Scripture.  In the Bible, it says in 2 Tim 3:14-17  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

    With our girls, my husband and I,worked hard to keep God first and family second.  Everything came after our first two priorities.  Daily we allowed God to breathe on us through His Word.  The Bible always has a fresh word on every area of life.  Still today, God is first and family is second.  Even more important than “Crest” breath is “God’s Word” breath.

I think I’m a clay pot?!

    More than once while needing a potato or onion for dinner I have found a stinky, useless mess.  Both the onions and potatoes had sprouted.  I knew the environment needs to be cool and dark for them to last.  But I was doing that and they still sprouted and became mushy.  It wasn’t until 28 years of marriage and having a Tupperware party that I learned the answer.  Potatoes and onions shouldn’t be stored together.  When they are, they cause each other to sprout.  They bring out the worst in each other.  The Bible says in  2 Tim 2:20-22  “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

    As I look honestly at my life, there are things that need to be continually cleansed out of my life.  Like onions and potatoes there are things that don't go together.   A bad attitude, listening to recent gossip, a crabby mood, and worry can cause me to sprout what is not honoring to God.  They just don't go together with a life pleasing to  God. The Bible says we are to cleanse ourselves.  The thoughts, words, and actions we take to keep our pot cleansed makes us useful and prepares us for every good work.

    Even if I am a clay pot, God says that I can be a vessel of honor, set apart, useful to the Master, and prepared. God makes it clear that it isn’t what is on the outside of the pot that makes it a pot of honor.  A pot of honor keeps the junk out of the pot so that God can set us apart to be useful and be prepared.

I may be a clay pot, but I am beautiful to Him.

My name is Mom

    

Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, MOM< MOM< MOM< MOOOOOOOOOM I have longed for ear plugs on some days.  My ears and brain could get so tired.  Probably no name has been more repeated in every language since the creation of the world.  Yet, no name has been more longed for and loved.   For each of my girls I spent long hours smiling into their beautiful faces and repeated over and over Mama, Mama, Mama.  Recently when my grandson pointed at me and shouted NANA with a big smile on his face, my heart overflowed.  But I know there is a name that has no comparison-JESUS.  How beautiful is His Name!

    In the Bible there are two women, a mom and grandma, who talked and lived a life of sincere faith.  Timothy's faith was a reflection of the faith shown in Lois and Eunice.  They prepared him for the very difficult job of being a first century Pastor. In  2 Tim 1:5-6 it says " I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also".  Their words and actions convinced Paul of their sincere faith.

    My heart’s desire is that I am and will be a woman of sincere faith.  Every day when I hear “Mom” and “Nana” I pray that my faith speaks loudly, unashamed, powerfully, and full of God’s love. Sorry, I have to go- I hear my named being called-MOM!