Walk Worthy

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3

*

Ephesians 4:1-3 speaks of the calling of a life in Christ. What a beautiful reminder to the calling of a wife and mother, as well.

*

Lowliness is defined in Webster's 1828 Dictionary as freedom from pride; humility; humbleness of mind. Life as a wife and mom requires humbleness. There is simply no way around it. We can not care for our husbands and children and be prideful, thinking we are above some of the things that need to be done to help them. Changing diapers, cleaning toilets, taking our shower last, and (gasp!) going without dessert - all of those things require that we put ourselves last and others first.

*

Gentleness needs to be an integral part of all we do. Our speech, facial expressions, tone of voice, even our movements as we help a little one dress or respond to our husband's physical needs are very revealing. This gentleness truly needs to come from the heart, not just be an act. Of course, sometimes we must act in gentleness regardless of what we truly are feeling inside. To do otherwise would be cruel. However, if we are so in tune with Jesus and spending time with Him daily, His gentle spirit will become our own more times than not.

*

Being longsuffering is right up there with walking a tight rope. It is difficult and tricky, and when we fall it is painful. Countless times we are called to bite our tongues when husbands loose their cool after a rough day, a child accuses us of being unfair, or we feel plain old unappreciated. We must choose to be patient and not easily provoked. We must choose to be patient as we wait for home improvement projects to be completed or for children to put their boots on. Once again, spending much time at the feet of the One who is supremely longsuffering will prepare us for the times we must also be patient.

*

Being a wife and mom requires that we bear the brunt of much. Sometimes children do not understand the decisions parents make and many times they take it out on mom. Our husbands trust us with their work concerns and their pent up frustrations, not always realizing that it can feel very personal to us. This is where "bearing with one another in love" comes into play. We must look at the whole picture and choose to keep the unity of the Spirit in our homes by how we respond.

*

All of this looks quite overwhelming until we look at the fact that we are called to this. What the Lord calls us to He equips us for. He gives us nothing to do for which we do not have His grace. It is not a hopeless, overwhelming task to bear in love, be longsuffering, patient, and gentle. On the contrary, it is a fabulous opportunity to walk in Christ, drawing closer to Him each day in order to receive the grace we need.

*

Prayer:

Father, thank You that You give me everything I need to walk as Jesus did. There is nothing set before me that is impossible with Your guidance and grace. Please help me to walk in Your Spirit this week as I minister to my family. Amen.

*

Challenge:

Ask the Lord to let you see your husband and children through His eyes this week. Be watchful for those times that you fall into impatience, selfishness, and resentfulness. Take time every morning for prayer and Scripture reading to help you be prepared for all that comes your way.

*

Jen Gorton 2009

Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

*

When I was a child, I loved to sing this hymn in the Baptist church we attended. I would rest my hand on the back of the pew, standing on tiptoe in order for my arm to stretch out straight like the grown ups near me. In my other hand I held the big hymn book and belted out the words to this glorious song. More recently, I have clapped and watched the projection screen while singing "Blessed Be Your Name in the land that is plentiful. Where the streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name!" Blessings are a wonderful thing to sing about!

*

What do you do when in real life the second verse begins and you are singing, "Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering. When there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name." At that point, blessings might not be such a wonderful thing to sing about. In your mind you are thinking, "What blessings? My basement is leaking, ice has backed up in my ceiling, a friend's daughter has taken her own life, two of my children are sick, my vacation was cancelled! How am I supposed to be counting those things as blessings?" A great man named Job struggled with those same questions. An entire book is devoted to this man and his conversations with his well meaning friends and an all powerful God.

*

Job was broken over the loss of all he had in this world, except his wife and friends. Mrs. Job stuck around to encourage him to ditch God and his well meaning friends were making sure he felt as guilty as possible for things going awry. In spite of the tremendous suffering, Job was diligent to praise God for what had been given and what had been taken. Job understood that in the end, all that mattered was that he would see God.

*

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

Job 19:25-27

*

Our broken plans, lack of sleep, fragile health, loss of loved ones, financial trouble - all of those things are tools. They can be tools of war that the enemy uses to destroy our faith and witness, or tools of restoration that the Lord uses to draw us closer to Him and point others to Him. It is our choice who uses the tools. We choose by counting the blessings in ALL things or refusing to see the blessings in ALL things.

*

We benefit from Job's choice of seeing the blessing of having nothing but God, but it is important to realize that he most likely never realized the incredible blessing his story would be to millions of people centuries later. Sometimes we might not see the purpose of some blessings, but God's Word promises that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. We must set our hearts towards our Redeemer, realizing that when all else fades away, He remains. He is the ultimate blessing.

*

Prayer:

Lord God, please turn my heart towards You in all things. Please guide my thoughts towards praising You for all You have allowed in my life, regardless of how painful or inconvenient. You have my utmost good in Your plans. You allow nothing to touch me that You have not equipped me for. Thank you for your blessings.

*

Challenge:

Capture your thoughts when difficult things arise. Direct them towards Romans 8, specifically verses 28-39. Look for and speak the blessings you see in all circumstances that come your way.

*

Jen Gorton 2009

Never Alone

Sometimes, regardless of how busy and noisy my home is or how many children are running circles around me, I feel alone. This is the kind of alone that leaves me feeling hollow and confused, hopeless and useless. Why does this come on me and other moms at times? Could it be that we are not remembering the promises that the Lord has given us in His Word?
*

Psalm 139:7-10

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

*

As Christ followers God promises that no matter where we are or what we are experiencing He will be right next to us. His hand will guide us and hold us. What an incredible promise! He does not stop with just one great promise, He gives many more.

*

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*

Not even demons or death can keep us from the love of God. His sacrifice through Jesus created an impenetrable place of safety. Regardless of what comes our way, if we are children of the Most High God, nothing can remove us from His love. He has given that love to us and He will keep that promise in every circumstance. When you find yourself feeling alone in your innermost being, take time to meditate on the Scriptures shared here. Remind yourself that you are never alone as a Christ following mom.

*

If you do not know Jesus then the hollow, lonely feeling I described is the void in you that can only be filled by the Lord. I encourage you to click on the link on the top right or email me to learn how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

*

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the promise that You will never leave me. Thank You that regardless of what is going on in my life You are always holding me in Your hand and guiding me. Please remind me of Your beautiful promises that are mine through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

*

Challenge:

Write out Psalm 139:7-10 and Romans 8:38-39 and post them around your house. When you feel lonely and as though you are on your own go directly to the Scriptures and remind yourself that you are in the Lord's hands and that nothing can take you from Him.

*

Jen Gorton 2009

Seasons

To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

*

When my dearest and I said, “I do” little did we know that two months later our first child would be conceived. Our journey of “firsts” began: first smiles, first words, first temper fits, and my first call to Mom for mothering advice. Now, it seems that I am entering a time where others call me for advice for their own “firsts” while I am searching for advice on how to deal with the “lasts.” Unless the Lord intervenes I will never have another baby to breastfeed or another video of first steps. That season of “firsts” is over. Now I am entering a new season.

Our last baby went into a toddler bed and Sunday school and underwear - all in the same month. That alone should be illegal. Our oldest is about to turn fifteen and I feel as though life is going faster and faster. A little study and a lot of prayer helped me to understand and be at peace with the changing seasons of life I am facing.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines season as

• time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature
• a suitable or natural time or occasion
• an indefinite period of time.

It also defines in season as

• at the right time
• at the stage of greatest fitness (as in eating – peaches are in season).
  

I like the second definition of “in season” the best. Take out the peach part and it fits perfectly. I am in this season of my life because I am at the stage of greatest fitness for it. If this season came three years ago I would not have been prepared for it. It is here now and I am being equipped for it daily. The yesterdays were sweet and wonderful and I will miss them, but today and tomorrow will be equally sweet because that is where the Lord wants me to be.

Let me encourage you to be joyful in the place you are right now. Even though it might be difficult, uncomfortable, or even completely wonderful, recognize it as the place the Lord has you at this time of your life. Be willing to live in it joyfully and eagerly while waiting to hear His direction for the next season.

Prayer: Father, thank you that you have created me to do Your good work and purpose. Help me as what that looks like changes. Work in me to be loving, patient, kind, and content in the season you have me. Amen.

Challenge: This week look for the blessings in the season you are in. That might be a no-brainer for some and like looking for a pacifier in a dark car for others. Regardless of what your life looks like right now, concentrate daily on the blessings of breath, salvation, and the Word. As you focus on those blessings, many more will come to mind. Counting those blessings and working towards contentment in your present season will fill your heart with joy.

Jen Gorton 2007