I know these images are not tack sharp. But this is life right now.
Ever moving.
Ever changing.
Always beautiful. (In this one I see a glimpse of my baby boy's face within that little boy's face).
Sometimes surprising.
I'm a mom. Of 2 babies. And I'm enjoying it so much more this time around.
Not worrying about the fleeting of the moments, but embracing them, realizing each one is a gift from above.
Knowing I'm not promised the next moment, so I'd better make the most of it and live life intentionally for Christ in front of them.
Last week I came off of this high, this mountaintop experience with the Lord. Later in the week, I came back down, as I always do, and there was this temptation to believe the lie that the time it takes to pour into others for the Lord is taking away from the little ones who dwell with me in this blur of a life.
But,
No.
No.
No. [wagging my finger.]
I don't believe the lie. I know from reading God's word, the enemy's method of operation. I know how to recognize his voice and replace it with His voice.
Remember Jesus' baptism? Right after the heavens opened up and God spoke audibly saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” (Matthew 3:17) Jesus was led by the Spirit to the desert to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). He offers Jesus the temporal over the eternal and Jesus declines and doesn't sin.
There is always this temptation for me to not read my Bible and spend that time with my children. Or to second guess the calling of discipleship on my life with the excuse that God gave me 2 little ones to disciple and a business to run.
There's the temptation to put more of my energy towards creating and working to aquire more money, childrens' clothes, travel, and temporary things instead of remembering that my part time work affords me time at home to invest in my children and in others for Christ. You can't put a price tag on the eternal. I know my time spent in His word and sharing with others will not return to Him void.
I have already been receiving my reward in my almost 3 year old. He wants to memorize scripture. He wants to read his Bible, 2 or 3 times a day. He wants to pray. In fact today he said he was sick (allergies), "Can you pray for me, mom?" So, I stopped what I was doing and prayed for him. I cheer very loudly when he recites scripture from memory. I tell him how proud I am when I see character development. Times Square can't shine as bright as those moments. And many of you know how much I love the bright lights and big city!
And when I stop and think about what I'd be doing with my time if I weren't in His word or investing my time in others, I can tell you I wouldn't be in the floor with my kids in those moments. I'd be filling the void in the following ways:
Watching too much T.V.
Worrying about the future.
Working 24/7...at home.
and...
Wasting my time.
My ideas of daily success in this stage of life are these things.
1. Bible studied (mine and kids), prayer, and me/the kids dressed by 10
2. Lunch and Nap by 1
3. Dishes washed, 2 loads of laundry done, and supper cooked by 5:30.
My students at "Bible School" each morning. We do a story out of the Jesus Storybook Bible (a must have for kids of all ages) and then a craft to help them remember. (Georgia sleeps through school most mornings--the face Jonah is making is in response to my camera, not to the Bible. LOL).
It doesn't happen everyday, but more than not lately. There are lots of discipleship and teachable moments in between and maybe time for me to write a blog, read, or edit personal photos, somethings I enjoy, during their naps.
I've lived it both ways, with and without God. I've lived as a Christian who never picked up her Bible or did anything for the Lord besides go to church on Sunday morning and I can tell you it was a very meloncholy place to be.
Although the temptation to choose the world never goes away, the fruit of a life lived out for Christ and the faith that it builds makes it easier to say "no."
And once again I quote Philippians.
3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
--Emily
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