Facade

A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French Language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face".  In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important from a design standpoint, as it sets the tone for the rest of the building. Many façades are historic...

I was explaining this term to a client yesterday as we passed a store in the mall with a brick facade.  I said to her something like"The reason that is hollow is that it is a facade, or just a fake front put there to make it look like brick"

In my quiet time with the Lord, I was reflecting on my own facade. I haven't posted in a week and partly because my facade was being repaired. I want my facade to be that of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, like Galatians 3:27 states: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

However, that has not been the case for me recently. When people ask how are you doing, you don't want to respond with venom, though not directed at them, it is still the venom of negativity and despair. 


When I was a young college coed I dreamed of living in a high rise apartment with all white furniture, even a white pooch. When I became pregnant and later met my husband and was married I dreamed about having lost of kids and being a full-time mom.  My husband didn't have the same thoughts and wanted to wait a few years between children. Seven years later we are still waiting....The night before Father's Day I had a dream that my husband was wheeling me into the labor and delivery at a local hospital.Then I awoke and realized it was just a dream and I was still hoping for another baby. Since then 3 of my friends have given birth to healthy baby girls and I am happy for them, but the sting is still there and my facade is still under repair. 

This past Sunday my pastor preached on Colossians 3, verse 2 was like mortar to the cracks in my facade:  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

I am still hoping for a miracle baby, and attempting to allow Christ to create my facade in His timing and perfect will.

Jesus IS the answer

<sup>One of my clients frequently asks if I am in a good mood. He already knows the answer, because it is almost always YES!!!, but he asks anyways. Then he will say something like "It is a good thing to be positive and have a good attitude isn't it?"

"Be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you" I have shared minimally about my faith, and will continue to share as he asks. 


 I was reminded of these thougths when I read today: 

1 Peter3:13-17</sup>
 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their
threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

I think too often as believers in Christ that we are waiting for someone to ask us this question so we can tell them "Jesus is the answer!" It appears there are a few things that lead up to being asked the hope question:
1.  Follow what is good
2.  Suffer for righteousness
3.  Do not be afraid/troubled
4.  Sanctify the lord in your hearts
Simple things to do, right? I wish.....

Are people asking you about the hope that you have? Is there a step that you are missing? Are you, like me, striving to fulfill the things daily that God reveals for His glory?  Keep striving along with me, and remain thankful, again for Grace.

I want to...

Sometimes lyrics are enough...

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that 

When in Christ... do as Christ

1 Peter 13-16
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.

I totally understand God's desire for us to live Holy, to live as He lived and do as he did.

We are trying to teach our daughter, Hannah some basic housekeeping skills, like putting away her things when she is done with them. I find myself reminding her everyday to do the same things.

Why do I find it odd when God has to do the same with me?!

Thankful again, for Grace

These Lyrics from Beckah Shae spoke to me while working out this morning:


Holy, holy, holy are You Lord!
There’s no one like You,
Your glorious!
It’s overwhelming, just the thought
Of Your unending love!
Righteousness and goodness and purity!
Worthy of my complete devotion, You’re all I need.

Water, please

Most people can tell you how they like their water; iced, with lemon, bottled, flavored, carbonated. Me? I like my water straight from the tap with no ice, just plain and easy to drink. My dog prefers it straight from the toilet, the toiletier the better.

I just heard recently that if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. Is that the state of your spiritual life? Are you thirsty for something and finding that it isn't fully satisfying?

John 4:13, 14
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

How do we drink the water that Jesus is talking about? By reading His Word and letting the nourishment of the Holy Scriptures fill our spirit and soul. 

While it is important to be drinking water, however we prefer the presentation, it is much more valuable to drink from the living water of God's word.

Come on, baby, let's do the twist!

While I was at aerobics this morning, the instructor said "Let your eyes take you further into the twist"  And I immediately thought that was quite a spiritual comment.
I've been listening to a talk show, Revive our hearts with Nancy Leigh Demoss and her most recent guests are sharing their story. The son has been delivered out of a homosexual/drug lifestyle and gives God the glory! It is a great hope to listen to. The man shared how his descent into the homosexual lifestyle started with a viewing of porn... He let his eyes take him further into the twist.
Well, as I was reading this morning, I read this:
Ephesians 5
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Jesus ties these thoughts together perfectly when He says in Luke 11:34:
The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Be careful not to let your eyes take you further into the twist!

Advocacy

I have clients who have self-advoacy goals, they need to learn how to stand up for themselves. As I read this today, it made me thankful again for grace.

1 John 2:1b
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
I don't need to worry about standing up for myself, I have someone far more able to do that than I ever will be.

daily docket

Here is what I have on my docket for today:
Zumba
Lunch
YMCA......................I love my job!

What I don't always love is getting things prepared before I leave for said loved job.

So far today I have done the dishes-by hand, hung 2 loads of laundry on the line, packed 3 lunches, and made breakfast. 

It is easy for me to get bogged down with the duldrums of being a full-time mother/homemaker, but then I read this:

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Christ came as a servant of ALL, and yet some days, I don't even feel like being a servant to my family....

 Thankful for Grace today :)

my thorny thoughts

2 Corinthians 12:6, 7
 - For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

I read this and pondered the phrase 'lest I be exalted above measure'.  I've heard and talked about the thorn in the flesh as something that we 'blame' God for, something that holds us back from a certain ministry or calling.

I personally don't think that is the case. God didn't want, and Paul didn't want to be exalted above measure. Just a thought for my Monday morning as I pray and work towards leading another Vacation Bible School, I want to remain humbled and led by Holy Spirit so I do not become exalted above measure.

two-for Friday: God can speak to you!

I have heard the audible voice of God only a few times in my life. My most vivid occurance was when I first met my husband. I had the thought "Maybe this is the man I am supposed to marry."  Now I know that was the Lord speaking to me because I had completely opposite plans for my spouse at the time.

Isaiah 55:9 reads: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ... thoughts higher than your thoughts.

 I can look back and see that verse came alive to me that day. I did marry that man, and am thankful that the Lord spoke to me on that long-ago Sunday morning.

Yesterday on my way home from work, I heard a man who was struggling with depression comment on his being frustrated with God for not taking away the depression. The host asked the man a simple question, "How is your devotional life?" The host then went on to say God speaks to us all, and if you are having trouble hearing him, READ THE WORD outloud and HEAR what he is speaking to you.

Now I know how to hear God speaking to me everyday!

Breastfeeding

It seems that you can't go anywhere without being bombarded with images of women breast-feeding their children, there are magazine covers emblazoned with photos and online articles showing this womanly privilege. I am in agreement that breastfeeding is the most nourishing and best start for your children. I don't think you'd catch me in photos demonstrating this, however.

I made the decision to nurse my daughter for 2 years, and successfully made it to 18months. I was convinced I was giving her the best of what God created for her nourishment and care. I believe the reason she remains as healthy as she does, is due to that fact. To this day, when she is tired or trying to relax she nurtsies her pillow! It is super cute and it is something she has done for years.

I heard a teaching recently about El Shaddai being translated as the powerful, omnipotent, mighty, all-able God who also is the tender, nursing caretaker and provider for His people.  God gives us all that we need to survive and thrive through Jesus Christ.  

So let me ask you, what do you nurtsie when you are tired or trying to relax? Is it El Shaddai, the nursing caretaker and provider for His people? I hope so.