Archive for the ‘Titus 2 Issues’ Category
Dec
28
Posted by traci
If you’re like many people - you make resolutions each year, only to find by the end of January (or the end of the week!), you’ve already blown it. Why do we seem to fail so miserably at resolutions? I believe, in part, it could be our heart motive behind those resolutions.
Without a doubt, the most common resolution we hear about is losing weight. With America’s obesity crisis on the rise, this would be a good resolution to stick to; but it’s difficult to break bad habits and start new, good habits. So the resolution itself is good - but our heart attitude is off. We really want to lose the weight, but we don’t relish the hard work and effort we know it will take to make that happen.
Years ago, I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions. If I felt the Lord leading me to change or correct something, I didn’t wait until New Year’s Day to put it into action. Am I always successful at everything the Lord tells me to? I wish I could say yes, but the truth is - No, I’m not. Why? Because I’m a sinner. I am not perfect and I am still a work in progress.
So what’s my rambling point? :) My one resolution and goal for this coming year is to grow even deeper in my walk with the Lord. I want to more fully and intimately know him. I have looked back on 2006 and while it’s been a blessed year, it’s also been one of my most stressful. I find myself busier than I ever wanted to be and that busyness has left me tired, stressed and not digging into the Word like I used to. You will also notice a drastic drop in articles by me here on the T2CHK web site. I’ve been active in ministry, but so side-tracked with other responsibilities, I have not taken the time to contribute articles like I have in the past and really would like to. I read my Bible - and I do pray and hear from the Lord, but it’s not as close a relationship as it used to be - and it’s my fault. I let life get in the way of what should always have been my first priority: my relationship with Christ.
Now, it wouldn’t kill me to lose about 15 pounds, do some more organizing on my home, take more time of solace, prayer and just quietness; but I know that the root of all the good things I want/need to do will come after I first seek God and put Him first above all else. My heart was seeking worldly things before the one heavenly relationship I needed to accomplish that which I need (spiritual growth) and want (lose weight, organize my life, etc…). No wonder I was stressed and tired! I was trying to do all these things! I can only do all things through Christ who strengthens me, if I let Christ strengthen me. I was leaving out the important element in my plans: Christ!
So I’m breaking with my normal tradition of not setting a New Year’s Resolution - and I’m setting one now. The year 2007 is going to be a year of rest, less stress and spiritual growth for me. I know this is what God is calling me to - and without this step, nothing else will get done that I want. I must first do what I need to do.
Is God calling you to do something? Get your priorities in order and all else will come in God’s timing. I pray God abundantly blesses you in 2007.
In Him,
Traci
Aug
01
Posted by Glenys
It can certainly be busy, even frantic getting ready for church in the morning can’t it? There is an early breakfast, baths or showers, perhaps a hasty repair of some clothing or a button replaced- and your favourite skirt is still in the ironing basket! The time’s flying, the kids are fighting and as you superglue your hair into place and grab something from the freezer for dinner whilst running out the door you wonder if it is worth the trouble worshipping.
The frantic preparations have left you a bit frazzled and you know that today should be a day of rest and worship, and you guiltily realize that God has up to now been the last thing on your mind. Perhaps next week will be easier you think as you enter the church foyer.
I don’t think this scenario is an unrealistic one for those of us with a family to get ready and little time to do it in. But really with a little planning and organization during the week, it is possible to have a relaxed morning and arrive at church ready to worship and relax for the rest of the day. Because when we come to think of it, we have six days to prepare for the Sabbath- be it a Saturday or Sunday.
Over the years I have found that it helps to lay out everyone’s clothes the night before. Then there are no unpleasant surprises first thing in the morning. Another trick I found was to plan a menu for the evening meal and my favourite friend in the kitchen for cooking ahead is my crockpot. These are so safe to leave on whilst you are out and there will be a lovely meal to return to if you have cooked it the night before or you can just switch it on as you leave in the morning for a delicious evening meal. Some folks like to eat out after church or visit friends. So it is wise to plan extra meals in advance if you are hosting lunch or dinner at your home.
I also found a quick clean up and tidy of the house just before going to bed should have the home presentable for guests after church. Anything done before the day will enhance the relaxed mood of the day of rest. To prepare our hearts for worship I play songs of praise and worship as background music whilst we are getting ready. Also I pack my bag and prepare the offering envelopes before I retire the night before the Sabbath. Mothers of young children would do well to pack diaper bags the night before as well.
Anything done prior to the day of rest will be beneficial in enhancing not only relaxation after the week’s work, but will help you unwind so that the heart may prepare to worship.
This is a Biblical concept. The children of Israel had to collect a double portion of manna before the Sabbath: And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, . . . This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe: and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (Exodus 16:22-23)
Try to plan a balance of social activities and rest on this day and keep in mind that the LORD has blessed us with a day of rest and worship for our good. How we ready ourselves for worship will either make or break us. I know what we all would prefer- let’s make an effort to make it a reality.
We will benefit in so many ways if we come prepared to worship and rest and look upon the Sabbath as a day of delight.
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
May
27
Posted by Glenys
The Proverbs 31 woman is an example of a godly wife. It’s not something we are going to be able to do all at once and for some of us, we may never accomplish all she did. But I believe emulating her example is a good thing. We have to have a goal. If you aim for nothing, you are always going to hit it. I used to get up real early, about 4.30 to get my husband off to work. I would have my quiet time then before my 4 children would wake up.
This worked for me when they were quite tiny too and I just carried it through. Until about 3 years ago when illness came in. I don’t sleep well and wake up in lots of pain and I find if I try to get into the Word the fibro fog makes it impossible to focus. I don’t glean much from the Word and my prayers are disjointed. I put on some praise and worship music and just thank the LORD for giving some sleep and so on. After a hot shower and breakfast, I can study the Word and pray better. I think anyone with an illness or pregnant, or who has had a sleepless night with a sick child etc, has to be realistic and in tune with their body. She has to know what her own limitations are and modify what is an excellent goal to achieve it.
My modified morning routine now works better for me. And let’s face it, any time is a good time to be in the Word! We all have to work out when it is best for us….then do it. My time of choice would be early mornings though. But I have had to learn to modify things in order to achieve them. And later is better than never! I believe that for all of us women trying to live a godly life, the Proverbs 31 woman is a guide of what to strive for. Even if we can’t achieve all she has done (and you will notice that she achieved this over seasons of her life- not all at once!), still our hearts will be in the right place.
If women look at the whole picture with the view of doing it all NOW or not modifying it for themselves, they will most likely give up and not even try to emulate her example. Sometimes there are unresolved heart issues that the LORD has to work through with some women who won’t even try to emulate the Proverbs 31 woman. Not even with modifications. It may take some time until they are convinced that this holy calling in their lives is truly for their own good and contentment. Sometimes it takes a lot of washing with the Word before the soil of the world is cleared out of some women’s eyes. They just need some encouragement as God works in their life.© Glenys Robyn Hicks
‘She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.’ Proverbs 31:17
Glenys can be contacted at glenys@t2chk.org |
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May
10
Posted by Glenys
Childbirth is not the most severe pain you can experience as a woman- I believe being the mother of a prodigal child is! Even more so when they are now adults! The pain the mother of a prodigal suffers never goes away, for the love that God placed in our hearts for them from birth rarely dies. The natal cord still remains long after a child’s birth- the invisible cord of love and bonding that make up a mother’s love for her child. Only a prodigal child can touch your heart and leave it raw and still have you love them. The love that endures from its conception is usually only severed through the mother’s death. No matter how much we deny it, or try to divorce ourselves from them, it is exceedingly difficult to find that love for your child completely dies. A woman can divorce her abusive husband and eventually recover- the divorce of a prodigal child is virtually impossible. And often the wounded mother’s heart is still bleeding as another onslaught of pain appears! To me, it is like a perpetual labour of the soul. I have been through the gamut of emotions prodigal children bring- from self-blame and introspection, guilt, regrets and despair to hope that after a trial he or she has finally learnt their lesson and grown up! I have found after many years, that it was their choices that cause them to be prodigals, not some defect in my mothering or love. It is a hard lesson to learn. It is harder still to distance yourself and mean it. For despite the best of intentions, a plea for help will summon the maternal desire to aid your child, and all good intentions for your own survival and mental health go down the drain. I have placed my children in God’s care and have found that most times it has been more a learning experience in trusting God for me rather than for my children. I am devastated to find that after all my trouble with my son yesterday and over the last few weeks, he still hasn’t learnt his lesson, and has been driving his car unlicensed. I am resigned to hearing that he has been taken into prison as the Judge warned him. I hope it doesn’t happen- but I fear it will- and no amount of my praying will help him this time. The fault is not mine or God’s, but his. The pain is ongoing- and I vow to myself to distance myself from him should it happen- yet God knows that I will suffer those pains only the mother of a prodigal can understand, when it happens. So to all mothers of prodigals, I have written this poem- a prayer really! And a plea for understanding for all those mothers blessed with basically good children. Please pray for me and all those mothers who continue to suffer through no fault of their own- except to be mothers of prodigals…
‘When the mother of a prodigal prays’
Somewhere the poor mother of a prodigal son cries,
Her eyes reddened and not taking in much at all,
For she’s seeing her son through the eyes of love
Not how the world sees him at all…
For every thief is some poor mother’s child,
He has captured her heart in love’s ransom-
Yet to her she still sees the son of her youth;
But he’s stolen all of her dreams…
Desperately and frantically the murderer flees
Yet from this one thing he can’t ever flee-
The love of his mother bowing in sorrow,
Bemoaning a love he can’t kill…
For every trembling junkie finally taking a fix
There’s a hurting mother just wondering why
The life that she gave him just isn’t enough;
And she bows her head slowly and cries…
The gavel thumps and the sentence is passed
She is ushered out as her son’s led away.
As tears flow down each side of her face
She still finds the strength to pray…
So for every news article that you ever read
Of sons that have gone their own way,
Remember that he has a mother who cares
And lift her to God when you pray…
For somewhere the mother of a prodigal prays…
O how this poor mother prays.
© Glenys Robyn Hicks 2005
“Bear one another burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2
