Put 'em up!!

 Today I feel a bit like the cowardly lion, with out the cowardly! I am so stickin' tick off at Ryanne's stupid work, I just wanna call her D U M B boss and give her a piece of my mind!! But I can't. There will be times when you will desperatly want to step in and fix a situation for your kid.  Call "foul play", but you can't. You just have to sit back, counsel your kids as best as you can and let them walk through it. It sucks. There are no other words. It just plain sucks. 

I think about Ryanne at work, frustrated, not sure what is happening and being written up for not selling enough credit cards, nevermind all the great things she does, let's focus on the one thing she has absolutely NO CONTROL over!! Deep breaths, Cija. (%#(*%@) ARG!!!

But here is what I do know. God always has a plan. He sees you. El Roi the God Who sees!!  We might not know what the plan is right now, but we can rest in it. Knowing that He lead and provide. So, we wait and see what He is about to do. 

Somedays it will feel like you are helpless to help you child, but you can always pray for them and He is never helpless. So do what you can, listen, counsel, point your kids to the Bible for advise and PRAY!! Then let them walk through their trials and learn to lean on God for their strength. 

XOXO, Mom

You make me so mad!!

So currently, I am really frustrated with all of you (some more than others).

Somedays as a mom, it feels like all you do is spin your wheels, you try and try and try again but no one is working with you. No one is listening, no one is helping and you just want to give up. They don't care so why should you.

I wish I had some inspirational words for you, but mostly I just wanted to let you know that "this crap" is just part of being a mom. No matter how prepared you are, how thoughtful, how much you give and give and give and give... your kids will at times seem mostly oblivious. They will hurt you and I mean really hurt you and then refuse to apologize or even show the smallest amount of remorse.  They will watch you cry and say absolutely nothing.  They will instead avoid you. You will want to hurt them back, make them feel they way they are making you feel.  And then you feel like the worst mother ever for feeling that way. But in reality, that's just part of being a mom.

Regardless of how I feel right now, eventually the amount of love I have for you will once again overshadow the all the hurt and all the pain. Eventually...  For now, I just want to get in my car, go get a pedicure and maybe spend the afternoon at the movies.

My advice. Walk away before you say something you can't take back. Go get that pedicure and go to the movies (of course, depending on the age of your kids make sure you have a sitter before you leave). You can't take the harsh words back, manipulating your kid in the moment might give you a feeling of satisfaction but you will do damage you can't undo. So walk away and give yourself the time and space you need to calm down. And when you are ready pray. Seek the Lord for wisdom and quidance, then come back and try again.

You can do this! XOXO Mom

Teen Years - No one prepared me for this!

No one prepared me for this. Up until now, your lives really seemed to center around me. It was just assumed that where I went you went - I like it that way. But now, things are changing.  You are becoming so independent.  Given the choice, you would rather be with your friends. To be honest, you’d even prefer to be at work. We don’t have as much time to talk as we used too and something on your phone has a very tight hold on your attention. I don’t like it. It makes my heart hurt. I seriously struggle with feeling like - "she doesn't like me anymore." Seriously. I hate how I feel, I really don’t like a hurting heart so, I have found myself a did more irritable even - angry. I suppose it’s a defense mechanism. Trying to protect myseIf from hurting more, I don’t like it.  I want to go back to the way it used to be. When  you were always here, when you used to share a blanket with me on the couch while we watched TV.  When you would tell me everything. I miss you. I miss us. No one told me it would hurt this much. 

So, I write this to you, my sweet girlies, in hopes that you will be better prepare for when your teens start to spread their wings. My advice? Never neglect the relationship you have with your husband, you’re going to want a friend in the house to comfort you and help past the time. Try and make the most of the moments you do have. Push past the hurt feelings and be there, when they come looking for you. Don't over discipline because you are hurt and don't forget to parent because you are hoping they will want to spend Friday night with you vs. their friends.  And pray. Pray for their safety, pray that they will apply all that you have taught them and pray that your heart won’t burst in two. It's hard and it hurts. XOXO, Mom

Do not avenge yourself

Hello my sweet girlies,

It's been a while since I was here last, but tonight I want to write something down so that none of us will forget it.  Melia, you are just 5 months shy of sixteen as I write this.  You have been working at Papa Murphy's since last May. It has been an adventure to say the least. Managers have come and gone, they have been severely under staffed and the air conditioning was broken for most of the summer. Even on the hottest and most difficult of days, you have never come home as upset as you did this past Monday.

Long story short there is a co-worker that has been rather difficult to deal with. She is relatively new, yet she seems to have the position of "shift manager, unfortunately she is the kind of manager that wants nothing more than to weld her power, boss people around and be generally unkind. After arriving 2 hours late for work on Monday, she spent her time "getting on everyone's case" and doing little of her own work.  You were fit to be tied by the time you got home.

Later that night, when cooler heads prevailed we sat down and had a talk about what happened. More importantly, we talked about what you could do in this situation. We went to Romans 12:18-21 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay", says the Lord.  Therefore, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

We talked about you doing your part to try and get along, but that in the end,  you would have to trust God to handle the situation for you. (This is not an easy thing to do.)

The next morning in our daily study we were talking about the difference between Rachel and Mary and how they handled it when things appeared to be going the wrong way.  Rachel took it upon herself to scheme and devise a plan that would make what God had promised actually happen. Mary on the other hand, never once tried to get Jesus out of anything.  Even to the point of standing at the foot of the cross, she trusted that when God said her son would rule on the throne of David - He would.

This fit perfectly with what you and I had discussed the night before and you would need to decide if you would respond to the situation like Rachel or Mary. So on Tuesday, you and I prayed on the way to work, this co-worker was scheduled to work and we both knew you would need the power of the Holy Spirit to "be nice" and maintain a witness for Christ among your co-workers.  She was in her usual form but you managed to keep your attitude in check and you were just happy that the night was over when you arrived home.

On Wednesday (that is today), you were not scheduled to work but Taylor texted in a panic that this same co-worker did not show up for her shift and she was unable to reach her, so you decided to go in and lend a hand.  A couple of hours later you called the house with good news!  She had quit!

I can not tell you what this did to grow my own personal faith, I had been praying that the Lord would show Himself faithful in this situation and that He would take care of the situation on your behalf! And He certainly delivered!  I wanted to take a moment and write this down while it was fresh in my mind so that we can all remember how God had your back and how you did not need to avenge yourself!

News Flash - Becoming a Mom doesn't make you perfect

Hey there, girlies!
It's one of those nights, it's late. I am so tired, I am having trouble focusing.  But this is one of those times that I need to stop and write to you right now while I am feeling this and experiencing this. Where to even start?  So I was getting ready to go to bed when I got a notification that Ryanne had made a note on her Bible ap.  I, of course, clicked on it right away, because I always to love to read what she has to say.  It's like a little peek into her heart, she's the quiet one.  Doesn't get too deep in her conversations with me.   Here it is:
I wanted to come on here to share something with you. Tonight was church and I was really just feeling beat down and like I needed to be with Jesus. During worship Chris was talking about how we all come into church in different ways emotionally and I was hit by how horrible I was feeling. This made me want to cry. He started to sing "Oh come to the altar" I almost feel to the ground. I was so impacted by the song and the words Chris was saying. This is one of the first times I have really felt like God was watching me and was with me. I hope this encourages you and if you are in a bad place that you will know God is there and He is watching over you.

Ugh! My mind started racing, why is she feeling beat down and horrible? Trouble with friends? Did I do something? I was like 11:30PM, so I thought it best to NOT run up to her room begging her to tell me everything. Instead, I wrote her an email.  It's the only chance I have at sleep.  But as I wrote that email it made me realize that I want to share a few things with you. 

First of all, I am so sorry for all the stupid and crappy things I do. I know that I lose my temper, and give lectures that are way too long and say things I wish I could take back. 

But here's the deal, I thought that when I had kids that somehow I would be magically different. I thought I would all of the sudden be more affectionate, I thought I would be the kind of mom that hugs her kids all the time, and tells them every day how much she loves them.  I thought I would want to spend hours playing Barbies and that I would never tell you "No, I am too tired to braid your hair right now." Guess what? That did not happen.  I was exactly the same person I was before but with kids! 

As a mom, you fully understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he said "I do want I don't want to do and don't do what I want to do."  It's so incredibly frustrating! 

So I write this entry for two reasons.

#1 To say I am sorry for all my screw-ups, to tell you that I loved you (still do) more than you can ever know, that I was proud of each of you (still am), that I was overjoyed to be your mom (still am), that I really, truly wanted to be better, kinder, gentler, funnier, sweeter, thinner and stronger. 

#2 That if you have the joy of having children you too will make mistakes, you will want to be different, better for your kids. You will be tempted to beat yourself up for failing.  Heck, you won't just be tempted you WILL beat yourself up!  You will desperately want to change and be all they need and want you to be. I don't have any great advice for you here (I am still here right now, beating myself up for not being more patient with Ryanne in school.) Literally makes me feel nauseous. What if that is why she is feeling beat down?!

Here's what I can tell you.  God picked you to be their mom. Every day, you press into Him, you make your personal quiet time with Him your first priority, you keep trying, keep praying, and remember, saying you are sorry can go a long way. I have to believe that God is in this with me.  He is the One, who will do the work.  He is the one that will bind up the broken hearts. Us moms? We just get a front row seat to watch Him work. 

Oh how I wish you knew just how much I love you all!! 

XOXO, Mom

Revelation 6

Revelation 6

Jesus is now going to open the seals that protect the deed to the earth from being tampered with or changed. What he said would happen in Genesis & Daniel will happen just the way he said it would. 

Turn in your Bibles to Daniel 9. Let me give you a little background on what is happening here. The Jewish people are currently being held captive in a city called Babylon.  God told the prophet Jeremiah that they would be held captive for 70 years, one year for every 7 years that they didn’t allow the land to rest. The 70 years of captivity are coming to an end and Daniel begins to pray that the Lord will once again shine His face upon them and free them from the captivity in Babylon.  While he is praying the Angel Gabriel comes down from Heaven to have a little chat with Daniel.  Read Daniel 9:21-26.

According to verse 24, how long has been decreed for Daniel’s people (the Jews) and their holy city (Jerusalem)?

And what is the purpose of this time? vs. 24

Gabriel now lays out a time table.

Verse 25 - 

From the going forth of command to:  

until:  

there shall be how long: 

(The Hebrew word translated weeks (or sevens) refers to a period of 7 years, like the English word decade refers to a period of 10 years. )

So what is 7 + 62? ________  total “weeks” x 7 years for each week = ______________ years

So 483, till the Messiah comes.  But we still have 1 “week” or 7 years that haven’t been accounted for.  At the end of verse 26 we have a gap.  Turn to Romans 11:25, how long with this gap last?

Daniel 9:27 Takes place after the fullness of the gentiles have been received and now the final “week”/or 7 years will begin. 

What event will start the timer of the 7 year clock? vs.27

And what will happen in the middle of the 7 years?

And when will he be stopped?

Now back to Revelation 6. Read verses 1-2 regarding the 1st Seal that was broken.

Seal #1 

At the direction of one of the living creatures (cherubim) John comes for a closer look.  

What color is the horse?

What is the rider holding?

What has he been given?

And how did he ride?

Any guesses who this rider is?

Now, don’t feel bad if you guessed Jesus, that was the intent of this rider.  He wants everyone to think that he is Jesus, but he is actually the anti-christ.  (“anti” means “in place of”)

Compare and contrast the rider in Revelation 6 with the Rider in Revelation 19

	Rider in Rev 6	Rider is Rev 19
Horse Color
Rider’s name
What is on his head
What is he holding
What did he ride like?
What was his goal?

Now, what was this counterfeit rider holding?

Look up Genesis 9:13 in the original King James Version, what did God set in the clouds?                              

What was it to be a sign or token of?

So the “bow” in Genesis 9 was a symbol of a covenant or promise that God made to man. 

Take a look at Daniel 9:27, what does this verse say the anti-christ will do?

So perhaps the bow the rider on the white horse is carrying is a symbol of the covenant or treaty that the anti-christ will make with Israel. (NOTE: no where does it say that the Jews will accept the anti-christ as their messiah, just that they will entering into an agreement with him).

Okay, back to Revelation 6:3-4 The 2nd Seal

What color is this horse?

What was the rider given or granted?

What will the people do to one another?

What was given to the rider?

The empty promise that the Anti-christ made to the Jews is now followed by war.

According to Psalm 29:11 Who gives peace to the people?

This rider has be granted the power to take peace away and when he does, man will have nothing holding them back their evilness will take over and they will kill one another. 

Revelation 6:5-6 The 3rd Seal

What color is this horse?

What is he holding?

A loud voice says  “ A _______________ of wheat for a _____________” ... but do not _________________ the _______________ and ________________.

War will be followed by a great famine. The scales symbolize weighing food and money.  A denarius represents a full days wages, and a quart of wheat is just enough to feed one person for a day. The oil and wine represent those things that are enjoyed by the rich.  In other words the poor will get poorer but the things enjoyed by the wealthy will still be available. 

Revelation 6:7-8  The 4th Seal

What is the color of this horse?

What was the rider’s name?

Who followed him?

*Hades was the unrighteous side of Sheol. Abraham’s Bosom is the righteous side of the Sheol. Old Testament believers went to Abraham’s Bosom in Sheol, Old Testament unbelievers and New Testament unbelievers go to Hades in Sheol.  Jesus emptied Abraham’s bosom when He returned to Heaven. 

Okay, what happens to our bodies?

And what happens to our souls when we die?

Death represents what happens to our bodies, and Hades represent what happens to our souls. 

What power was given to them?

1.5 billion people will die at this time, whether by the sword, famine or even epidemics. 

Revelation 6:9-11 The 5th Seal

No more horses.

Who did John see when the 5th seal was opened?

And where were they?

What were they saying?

What was given to them?

What were they told to do for a little while longer?

In this seal we are introduced those who choose to accept Jesus as their Savior during the tribulation and are killed for doing so. They are now in the Throne Room of God asking how long till God will judge and avenge their blood and He tells them to rest and wait until the full number of them has come in. 

Revelation 6:12-17 The 6th Seal

What did John behold when the 6th seal was opened?

1.

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6.

What did every man do?

What did they ask of the mountains and the rocks?

What did they want to be hid from?

A lot of really disturbing things are going to happen with the opening of this seal. We can’t be exactly sure what it will look like because scripture tells us it will be like nothing that has ever happed before. But it will be scary! So scary that it will cause every man to hide and ask the rocks to fall on them and hide them. 

Okay, I want to you to really think about this for a minute.  The men that run and hide are they saved?

But look at what they say in verse 16, they want to be hid from who?

If they are not saved, how did they know that this was the Wrath of the Lamb?

Hint: the people mention in the 5th seal. 

Now here’s the sad part, they have been told the truth about God and who God is, but who do they choose to call out to for help? 

The hard heart of man. 

Okay let’s summarize the 6th seals we have opened so far:

1st Seal	2nd Seal	3rd Seal	4th Seal	5th Seal	6th Seal

Revelation 5

Revelation 5

What is in the right hand of God?

What is the mighty Angel in vs 2 trying to find?

According to verse 3 was the Angel able to find what he was looking for?

How did John react to this? vs. 4

In verse 5 someone comes to comfort John and to offer him hope that there is someone worthy,  who is it that comes to John?

Remembering from Revelation 4, who do the 24 elders represent?

So, in other words it is the church that offers hope to John, just like the church offers the world hope!

The elder gives two descriptions of the one that is worthy to open the scroll, what are they?

In Genesis 49 Jacob is giving a blessing to each of his sons, in verse 10 he is talking to his son Judah when he says “The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”

What is a sceptre?

So Jacob was telling Judah that the rulers or kings of Israel would would come from his line, “until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Now, think about it, what ruler or king will ALL the nations obey?

In Isaiah 11:10 How is Jesus described?

What does the elder say that the Lion of Judah and Root of David has done?

Record the words of Colossians 2:13-15

Just to be clear according to this elder, who is worthy to open this scroll?

Okay, we need to take a little detour to find out more about this scroll. Turn to Jeremiah 32.   A little background for you. Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Babylonians and it’s citizens have been carried off to Babylon, where they will spend 70 years in captivity for their disobedience against God. Jeremiah, a prophet of God, is currently in prison when he receives a word from the Lord. Jeremiah’s cousin is going to come to him and ask him to buy a piece of land in order to redeem it.  Now, what does that mean??

In Leviticus 25, God lays out his plan for the land in Israel.   

According to verse 23, who owns the land?

According to verse 24, what will be allowed?

The following verse describes exactly how it works, but let me give you a brief summary:

God divided up the land that belonged to him and gave it to the different tribes to manage.  If someone became poor, they could sell their land, when they were able, they could buy the land back (redeem it). However, if they weren’t able they could have a close family member buy the land back for them (redeem it).  After 50 years, during the year of Jubilee, if no one had redeemed the land it would be returned to the original owner. 

So Jeremiah was going to redeem a piece of land for his cousin. He would be called the kinsman redeemer.  Now, keep in mind that Jeremiah was in prison and the land was in Israel which was currently overrun with Canaanites and others who have no right to occupy the land. So basically, he was buying a piece of land that he wouldn’t be able to take possession of until after he was released from prison and the captivity in Babylon was order. 

Now go back to Jeremiah 32:10, Jeremiah was given a deed to the land to show that he now legally owned it, what did the deed to this land look like?

With that in mind, what do you think the scroll mentioned in Revelation 5 is?

It is a widely held belief that this scroll is the deed to the earth. Now that we understand the system that God put in place for how property is handled we can start to understand why Jesus has the deed to the earth and why he is worthy to open it. 

At the end of Revelation 4, why is God worthy to receive glory and honor?

According to Psalms 24:1, who does the earth behold to?

In Genesis 1:26, to whom did God give the authority to manage the earth?

But, man turned around and gave the deed to the earth to a non-kinsman.  Look at  Luke 4:3-7 to whom was the deed delivered to?

According to Isaiah 24:6, what is the current condition of the earth?

In short, we sold the land God gave us to Satan and now we need a Kinsman Redeemer to get it back. Jesus is that Kinsman Redeemer.  This is why Jesus had to become a man, he needed to be human to be our kin. 

According to Ephesians 1:7  we gain redemption through what?

Just like Jeremiah, Jesus redeemed the earth, but would not take possession of it until a later date. 

According to Matthew 19:28 when will that time be?

So, this is what is happening in Revelation 5.  Jesus reveals himself as the Kinsman Redeemer the rightful owner of the deed to the earth and now he will take and open it, ushering a time of judgment that will bring about the regeneration, or the setting of things back to the way they were before man turned the deed over to Satan. 

In verse 6, what does John see?

Look up John 1:29, how does John the Baptist describe Jesus in this passage?

What unusual features did this lamb have?

Can you remember what the number 7 represents in scripture?

Horns in scripture represent power, truth and authority.  So here we see Jesus as the Lamb, looking as if was slain, perhaps bearing the scars of his crucifixion but in complete power and authority!

When Jesus steps forward and takes the scroll there is quite a reaction.  What do each of the following groups do in response:

The 4 Living Creatures and the 24 Elders:

The Angels:

Every Creature in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and in them:

Everyone worshipped and praised Jesus!  Finally, after all this time, Jesus is about to set things right! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!