Filled with Light (Luke 11:34)

I'm reading through Luke in 26 days with Moms Toolbox. Today is day #12 and we are reading chapter eleven.

Scripture: Luke 11:34

"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness."

Observation:

Prior to this verse, Jesus was speaking on the fact that people keep asking for miraculous signs. But He was the miracle and they refused to see that.  Someone greater than any of the past prophets was right infront of them, and all they focused on was more miracles.

Application:

This verse really spoke to me because I've recently stopped watching TV for myself. I will watch TV with my family if we are watching a show together, but other than that, the TV is off.  At first it was kind of hard, and sometimes I will catch a commercial for one of my shows and a little part of me says "oooh, just one episode!!", but no.  I really want to put nothing but God's word in front of my eyes. I want to see the goodness of God as much as I have power over it.  When everyone is at work/school, I have the power to put goodness before me. When my husband is home, maybe not so much, but I also have the power to get up and go somewhere else (if I don't agree with the show).  The same goes for my children.  My daughter has nightmares now because of things she has seen on TV with her father.  She suffers from it now and we are working on it, but this is why it is important to only fill your eyes with light and God.

Prayer:

Dear Father, please help me to continue to fill my body with You and all things related to You.  I pray that my children might also know the importance of being careful with what they put infront of their eyes not only at home but at school as well.  You are Light and if we focus on You, then our bodies will be filled with the Light of God. Thank you, Father, for allowing us to be filled with You!

In Jesus' Mighty name, Amen.

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Peace on this House (Luke 10:5)

I'm reading through Luke in 26 days with Moms Toolbox. Today is day #11 and we are reading chapter ten.

Scripture: Luke 10:5

"Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’"

Observation:

Jesus was sending his disciples out to preach the good news and giving them instructions.

Application:

I've been praying peace over my house for many days now since my daughter began dealing with a bully.  There is a spirit of fear that has come over her and because of it there is much unrest in our home.  I confided this to a sister at church and she began to pray for peace in my home and told me I needed to do the same. Every time I enter my house now I pray that God's peace be on it, in it, and around it!

Prayer:

Father God, once again I pray for your peace not only in our home, but also in our spirits!  You are a God of peace and so we call out to you for the peace that surpasses all understanding that only you can give!  Thank you!

In Jesus' Mighty name, Amen.

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Welcoming (Luke 9:11)

I'm reading through Luke in 26 days with Moms Toolbox. Today is day #10 and we are reading chapter nine.

Scripture: Luke 9:11

"But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick."

Observation:

Jesus had slipped away quietly from the crowd, but when they found Him, He didn't rebuke them! No, he welcomed them and taught them and healed them.

Application:

Oh sweet, sweet conviction of God that comes from reading His word.  How many times have I tried to slip away from my children and into my bedroom or the bathroom, only to have them find me a few minutes later.  Many times I will tell them to let me have a few minutes to myself and send them on their way.  But Jesus? He welcomed them... and not only did He welcome them, but He taught them... and not only did He teach them but He healed them!  This is a true example of what I need to do.  This is not to say that we don't need some uninterrupted quiet time with God - many times Jesus left His disciples so He could go pray.  But more often then not, when my children seek me out, I'm just reading a book or doing something for me.  How much of a blessing would it be to them if instead of rebuking them and telling them to leave, instead I welcomed them into my bed, taught them about the scriptures I was reading, and prayed healing words over them?

Prayer:

Father God, you are wonderful, and mighty, and awesome! Thank you for your Word.  Please allow me to see my children as Jesus saw the crowds of people that were following Him like sheep following their Shepherd.  Allow my heart to be soft towards their need to be welcomed, taught, and healed.  Help me to follow the example You left me!

In Jesus' Mighty name, Amen.

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Fear (Luke 8:37)

I'm reading through Luke in 26 days with Moms Toolbox. Today is day #9 and we are reading chapter eight.

Scripture: Luke 8:37

"And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake."

Observation:

Jesus healed a man filled with many demons - and the crowds reaction to this miracle was fear.

Application:

I guess this really speaks to me now because my daughter is going through a period of fear and anxiety. A bully was picking on her at school and it really has brought upon a real spirit of fear, to the point that she is even afraid of God.  I remind her of all the great ways that God has shown his love to us and read her verses about God being light and love... but she's still afraid.  So her reaction kind of reminds me of the reaction of the people in the region of the Gerasenes.  I can understand this though because there was a time that I was very afraid of God as well - it's just the idea of such a great and powerful God is too big for my little mind to comprehend.

Prayer:

Father God, I pray that we would never ask you to leave our presence because of fear of You. You are Love defined and You have shown Your love towards us from the day Eve sinned in the garden.  Please allow Marissa's heart to be open to your loving grace again. 

In Jesus' Mighty name, Amen.

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P31 Study: Her Husband Trusts her...

Proverbs 31:11

"Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life."

This verse is absolutely my favorite verse in Proverbs 31.  To have my husband trust me, like TRUST me so that he knows he can go to work and not have to worry about anything that involves the home or our family - that is truly a blessing.  For me and my family, that means:

• I've paid the bills for the month (or at least attempted to pay them with what we have!)
• I've done grocery shopping and there's always something to eat/drink/snack on in the house
• the kids are clean (like showers, combed hair, smelling good...)
• the kids are not walking out the house looking crazy (no ripped jeans, inside out shirts, two different pairs of shoes, etc.)
• his work clothes are washed and available to him every morning
• I don't go out and spend money on things we don't need

My husband can trust me with our children, our home, and our financial situation. He knows that I'm not spending money unnecessarily.  I once went to the salvation army and bought my husband a nice pair of pants for $4! I told him to try them on without telling him where I got them, after he liked it and I got them off of him, I told him how much they cost and where I got them. He was very surprised, because my husband is very particular about clothing especially - he wants the children to be in nothing but expensive clothing and hates hand me downs.  So I wanted to prove to him that we can still get nice clothes but don't have to break the bank.  He trusts me in these areas. 

And then there are ways that I can great enrich his life.  For example, my husband comes home Monday - Friday and after saying hello to everyone he makes a beeline straight to the bathroom to take a shower. Every single evening, that's his main goal: just get to that shower and wash the day away.  And every single day, he says "Can someone get my towel from upstairs?"  Every day.  So starting today, I'm going to make sure that his towel is already hung up in the bathroom waiting for him when he gets home. So he will eventually know that he can just go straight to the bathroom and not worry about his towel, because it will be there. That's enriching his life in a small way - but I know he would appreciate it.   Another way I enrich my husband's life is just by taking a few minutes out of my day during the week to call his parents and check up on them.  Just calling them once or twice a week shows him that I care about his parents and they are on my heart.  That's a REALLY big deal for him. My husband is very close to his mother and feels very guilty when he cannot call her as often as he likes.  But if I call her, then he knows that she has at least heard from one of us and it makes her feel that we love her and haven't forgotten about her and my father-in-law. So it makes her happy, it makes my husband happy.  Little things.
What can you do to enrich your husband's life?  It doesn't have to be a big thing, something small but important to him.

In Christ,

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