Check out She Seeks!

One of the many things I love about being a part of Proverbs 31 Ministries that it reaches in so many areas. One of our newer branches is She Seeks. Take a look at the She Seeks sight. They are issuing a challenge. Will you accept? www.sheseeks.org/find-truth

Giveaways Galore!

This week I went to Kingman, Arizona for a 2 day writer/friendship retreat with my friend Glynnis Whitwer. (She's the editor for our Proverbs 31 magazine.) We were so excited just to be together and to work. I arrived at the hotel around 3:00 pm and then about 4:30 just didn't feel so good. Long story short, I was sick most of the time I was there. However, still had a great time and did get a little work accomplished.

This morning as we were packing to come home the emails started to flood my inbox on some great giveaways on some friend's blogs. Check these out!

Lysa TerKeurst www.lysaterkeust.blogspot.com

Karen Ehman www.karenehman.com

Giveaways galore!

Keep the Heart-Print Faith--Fun, Fearless & Fulfilled,

Sheep Thoughts

“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord." Ezekiel 34:15

Our car came to a complete stop on the winding mountain road. The herd of sheep meandered across the highway. They sashayed their way across the road to munch on a few mouthfuls of grass. The shepherd tried to hurry them across the asphalt, but to no avail.

Although several cars were delayed on their way up to Bryce National Park, no one seemed to mind. The people in the cars enjoyed watching the unexpected wooly spectacle—sheep and their shepherd making their way through life. 

As we waited for the road to clear, my imagination took over. Thoughts floated through my mind—sheep thoughts.

Sheep thought: “I belong to no one.”

The Shepherd says, “You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God, says the Sovereign Lord.” (Ezekiel 34:31 NLT) 

Sheep thought: “I am lost.”

The Shepherd says, “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.” (Ezekiel 34:11 NIV) 

Sheep thought: “No one cares.”

The Shepherd says, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:34 (NIV) 

Sheep thought: “I am afraid.”

The Shepherd says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NIV) 

Sheep thought: “This is my shepherd!”

The Shepherd says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14 (NIV) 

Final sheep thought:

                                   The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:1-3 NIV)

The road clears and we drive on  . . . life goes on . . .

What are your sheep thoughts?

Is That Your Wild Child?

Do you want to scream every time your daughter arrives sporting a new facial piercing?  Or does it hit a nerve when see you see the newest florescent color of your son’s hair? How do you feel about the skull and crossbones tattoo on your son’s muscular arm? Do you flinch when your child, dressed in torn, ripped jeans, saunters into a room full of conservative friends?

“Is that your wild child?” asks the wide-eyed church member. How do you respond?

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” Mark 1:6 (NIV)

Let’s relate our dilemma back to Elizabeth in the Bible. Do you remember her?

Elizabeth bore a child in her old age with her devout husband, Zacharias. (He was a Jewish priest). Surely thoughts of the future captivated Elizabeth during the nine months of pregnancy. Perhaps she mused, “The visions I have for this baby! The Lord God has plans for this one. Of course, the priesthood already claims his future. He’ll follow his daddy’s example. Tradition must be followed.  The baby will be like his daddy—conservative and reliable”  The son of Elizabeth and Zacharias grew up to be John the Baptist. 

Let’s give an imaginary interview to see how she might have responded about her own wild child.     

As a mom, Elizabeth, how did you cope when he began to eat locusts out in the desert? After all, his dad made a good living. Your table never lacked for kosher delights. Did you fret and plead with John?

“Yes, John was certainly a handful at times. His diet was atrocious. I never did understand his taste for locusts. He could have the finest of beef from the offerings! Of course I longed for John to conform to my expectations. I thought I knew best!  He challenged not only my parenting skills, but also my faith.”

Elizabeth, did your neighbors mention his strange garb? Did they ask, “Is that your son?"  Or did they whisper behind your back?            

Did you cringe when John would begin to speak? His outspoken words must have seemed harsh and rude when John cried to the respected men of the community, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” (Matthew 3:7 NIV)

“From his outward appearance not many would have guessed he was a PK. (That would be “priest’s kid” in Israel.)  Yet, even in my worry and distress over the odd behavior, I knew John’s heart. Although he didn’t look the part of a PK, I knew his relationship with God.”

Did the leaders look at you with raised eyebrows and scowls of scorn? Did you buy him the Jewish version of John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership? Or did you encourage him to enroll in a course similar to “How to Make Friends and Influence People?”

With a wistful sigh Elizabeth replies, “At first, I did try to defend him when others criticized his strange behaviors. Of course, I was criticized too. From their viewpoint, I had not raised him in a godly manner. Oh, those times hurt!”

Finally, Elizabeth, what would you say to parents whose child doesn’t fit the “ideal” of a parent’s expectations?

“Do not attempt to explain your child.  Your child’s life is between him and God. Be proud of your child. Whenever I was asked, ‘Is that your child?’ I would answer, ‘Yes, that is my child!’”

Thank you, Elizabeth.  Thank you for this valuable advice for parents of a wild child.

Things to Ponder:

Read Luke 1 and Matthew 1.  Imagine the thoughts and emotions of Elizabeth.  Compare your thoughts about your child.  Write down every positive quality of your child and concentrate on the positives.

A Parent's Prayer:

Dear Lord, despite my child’s appearance and behavior help me to be proud of him/her. Grant me the ability to put aside other people’s opinions and to know that You are watching over my wild child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents by Susanne Scheppmann

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stressful Times--Stressful Parenting

Times are stressful--especially for parents. Within the last 2 months I have had 4 dear, dear friends ask me for prayer for their sons. I am not talking about the everyday teenage drama of being mouthy or obnoxious manners. I write of heart-wrenching issues that range the gamut of out of control behavior, drugs, gender issues, and mental illness.

Families are battling the ecomomy, job struggles, health insurance issues, then throw on the pressure of trying to make the best parenting decisions on behalf of their children--stress. So what's a parent to do? My best recommendation is to find a friend and pray together for your children. Because God still sits on the throne!

Yesterday at my church, our message was on living in this new world we have found ourselves in. Our pastor called it the "new normal." I agree the world is a new place with terrorism fears, economic collaspe and everything else that seems to be falling apart, but God still reigns. He still hears our prayers. He still answers.

Thankfully, we have the Lord to fall back on.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you. for you will answer me. Psalms 86:6-7

Tune in tomorrow and read my devotion: Is That Your Child?

Keep the Heart-Print Faith--Fun, Fearless and Fulfilled,

She Reads

If you haven't checked out She Reads at the Proverbs 31 Ministries website, then you are missing a treat, especially if you like to read Christian fiction. She Reads is one of Proverbs 31's newest branches of ministry. It helps point fiction readers to the best Christian fiction out there.

Now I will be the first to admit that a lot of Christian fiction doesn't live up to my "novel" expectations. However, I have read two books that were exceptionally written and with great plots -- The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner and Eye of the God by Ariel Allison. Both of these books were recommended by She Reads. I liked them enough that I passed them both on to my daughter-in-law to read.

Check out She Reads! http://www.shereads.org/

Do you know of some great Christian fiction that is a must read? Let me know--I am a bookworm and would love to put a few new books on my "must read" list.

Happy Reading,

Susanne

A Time to Weep and a Time to Laugh

Life can be so terrible. As we watch the disaster in Haiti we see the pain and sorrow portrayed on the victims' faces. Even the American newscasters look worn down and helpless. There are many ministries and agencies helping in the relief effort. Give monetarily as you are able and pray hard for Haiti. If you would like to give, please check our website http://www.proverbs31.org/ for information on how to give through Compassion International with whom we partner in ministry.

Now on a more joyful note, please recognize those perfect moments in your life that God allows. Give thanks to Him for those fleeting moments. Scripture so aptly puts it as, "A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV)

Today is a time to weep for the dear people of Haiti, but it is also a time to rejoice in the blessings we have in our own lives. Here are a couple of perfect moments that I am thanking God for today.