Recently my prayer has been, “Lord, protect my family from all my good ideas!”

Multiple thoughts flash through my mind with seeming importance. When viewed at a distance, they just don’t matter all that much.

Finding a way to weed out that which should be pursued eludes me at times. I don’t hear God whispering in my ear, “Do this or do that.”

What I do have is His word.

If I’m in it regularly, I see more clearly.

It’s in the word that God shows what His desire is. It’s there for anyone who is willing to pick it up.

We read it, we ponder it, then we do our best to make decisions in view of what He has said.

Do you ever wish you could put out the fleece like Gideon? Lord if I should do this, let there be dew on the fleece? Oh, that would be so much easier!

I do ask God to close doors on things I shouldn’t be doing. But He has given me free will, so it’s still up to me to sit still and not kick the door down. Know what I mean?

I often feel like a wild child and not the mature Christian woman I hope to be. Thankfully God is full of grace.

This week the High 5 Moms are talking about letting God lead your blog and your projects. I’ve struggled to put my thoughts into words. Here is my meager offering on the topic:

Letting God lead the blog and other projects:

• Get in the word

It’s impossible to know what God thinks about anything without reading the Bible.

I once heard about a man who spent many of his younger years in Sunday school, only to leave the church as an adult. Sitting in a bar, ready to drown in his sorrows in a glass of something, those memory verses from Bible class kept jumping into his head. He eventually set the glass down a walked out of the bar. In time, he came back to God.

The word is powerful.

I also strive to remember this:

“The sum of Your word is truth,

And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

-Psalm 119:160

I can’t pick and choose what I want to follow. The entirety of God’s word is truth.

• Don’t rely on warm, fuzzy feelings or whispers in your ear.

Humans are fickle and easily swayed.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick; who can understand it?”

- Jeremiah 17:9

I do think our guts can help guide us, but they should not be the sole source of decision-making.

The most reliable I find my feelings to be are when I say yes to something I shouldn’t. Often a sick feeling begins immediately. That alerts me to the fact that I probably just did something I already knew I shouldn’t do.

But then again, I’m not going to rely on that, doing the right things can produce a similar feeling! See what I mean: unreliable!

I was once a part of a direct sales company that rewarded distributors for high sales. I remember hearing women say that God told them to go for after this wonderful prize (a car). That it was okay to ignore their families for the many months it took to get there.

I’m sorry. I don’t think so.

(I’m not saying anyone who tries to make high sales or win a car is ignoring their families, this is just what some of these ladies actually said.)

Check those voices.

“. . .for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

- 2 Corinthians 11:14

• Pray

Ask God for wisdom. He gives it.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

- James 1:5

Asking God for help, or for guidance is always a good idea. I think most of us know that we need to lay our ideas and desires at His feet. We just forget to sometimes.

Strive to make this a habit.

• Take note of your conscience

If you something is bugging your conscience, don’t do it! It will only come back as regret.

This applies even if everyone else is doing it.

Do the right thing.

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

- James 4:17

• Get advice from a trusted Christian friend

Sometimes an outsider’s opinion is all we need to see clearly.

Your husband, a sister or friend can remind you of what is truly important, even without saying much. Often the telling of our situation or ideas is enough to bring it all into focus.

• Check your motives

Ask yourself hard questions? Why do you want to do this? What is your desired outcome?

Be honest.

There are usually mixes of reasons for doing anything, and often some of those reasons are less than pure. It’s okay, just see them for what they are, then think about it, pray about it, talk about it. Then look again.

• Think about the end

Viewing everything is light of eternity is ridiculously helpful in decision-making. Don’t just take into account the fact that you want to help others get to heaven, remember your own soul too!

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”

- Mark 8:36

I don’t have a perfect formula for letting God lead my blog or projects and I don’t believe it is something we can ever have completely figured out. Life throws us curve balls ever step of the way, we must continue to readjust.

Keep seeking to please God and you’ll be on your way.

The other High 5 Moms will be blogging about this topic today. Kerimae has already shared some great thoughts.

Visit the other moms to see how they are letting God lead:

• Ponder The Path
• Happy Andersons
• The Marathon Mom
• A Happy Home

What are your thoughts on this? Have any advice for me?

Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk.

~Susan Scarf Merrell

Siblings have the potential to be our best friends and confidants. Sibling relationships are the ones that help us learn how to get along with others, how to serve, and how to be a good friend.

These relationships developing under our roof need extra care and attention. I don’t pretend to know what is the best way to foster and nurture sibling relationships, in fact, I’m often feel that I’m making all this up as I go along!

Below are a few things I’ve learned so far, about fostering sibling relationships:

Allow them time to spend together

With the myriad of activities available today, it is easy for siblings to be so busy they barely know one another.

It is important to intentionally make time for them to be together. This is one of the reasons we chose to homeschool. But even if you are not a homeschooler, you can still limit extra activities so your children have time to be together. They need unhurried hours to play and talk. Structured and unstructured time are both beneficial.

This time together enables them to know one another and to strengthen the bond between them. It also aids their future relationshps as they learn to how to get along.

If you want to know how your girl will treat you after marriage, just listen to her talking to her little brother.

~Sam Levenson

Let them work together

Have you ever worked alongside someone through a difficult task? If you have, you know it has the potential to strengthen the bond between you.

Let the kids work hard to clean a room, create a welcome home sign for daddy, set the table for dinner, or make a meal. Yes, tension often arises during these situations, but what better way for them to learn how to compromise and get along than in the safety of their own home?

Image by Micheal Grunow

Teach them to protect each other

My wonderful mother-in-law talked to my kids about how important it is to look out for one another. I hadn’t thought much about this (the kids were still young) but I am so grateful she taught us this worthy trait.

It’s important for kids to know that it is not okay to blurt out their siblings secrets. If brother is struggling with an issue, that is family business, not fodder for teasing or general conversation.

Make this a big deal.

Talk to them about how they will be tempted to share things about their siblings that are not theirs for the sharing and discuss what they could do in those situations.

A sibling may be the keeper of one’s identity, the only person with the keys to one’s unfettered, more fundamental self.

~Marian Sandmaier

Help them implement the Golden Rule

I think many parents aim to teach their children to treat others the way the want to be treated. It’s a wonderful thing and I’m glad for it.

I don’t have any extra tips, I just know it is a valuable lesson for kids (and adults) to learn to look out for the needs of others.

Teaching kids to see their siblings are made by God will help them develop care and concern in their relationship. (Of course, this takes a lot of guidance from mom and dad! Whisper in their ear or take them aside and tell them how much sister would enjoy it if they did so and so. Smile in delight when they do such things.

Be sure to praise them when you see them being kind to their siblings. Especially when they give up something they want to do for the sake of the other person.

What do you do to foster and nurture sibling relationships in your home? Please tell me, I really want to know!

Today the High Five Moms are sharing about fostering sibling relationships. See what they have to say by following the links below:

• Happy Andersons
• The Marathon Mom
  
• Ponder the Path
• A Happy Home

How’s that for a tall order?

Everything.

Yes, everything.

In the New American Standard Bible, 1 Corinthians 16:14 says:

Do everything in love

The NIV translates it as:

Let all that you do be done in love.

Doesn’t leave much wiggle room, does it?

This word love is from the Greek word agape. You’ve probably already heard that agape means unconditional love.

It’s the I love you no matter what kind of love. The love is a choice kind of love.

Imagine what a difference we would see in our homes if we lived by this verse!

For the next 31 days, I’m reading this verse every morning. I’d love it if you would join me.

It’s written on a sticky note right by the kitchen sink, on the fridge, in the bathroom, and stuck to the cover of my Bible.

I’m striving to teach this to my children too. If we all do everything in love, then peace and joy will reign. Now wouldn’t that be nice?

I know living by this verse will make me a better wife and mother. It will shape me into the woman I need to be for my family.

Striving to live a life of love is sure to be fraught with bumps in the road. But the more we practice, the easier it will become.

Love never fails. {1 Cor. 13:18}

Browse all the Bible verses that mention love here.

I’m excited about this journey we are taking together!

Practically speaking, what would doing everything in love look like in your home?

Top Image Credit
Heart Tree credit

This post is linked to Titus 2sdays at Time Warp Wife

I saw some friends yesterday. Friends I grew up with in Australia.

What a blessing it is to have people in my life who know me and love me anyway!

I am thankful.

Seeing these friends got me thinking about how important people are to each of our lives. . .

Friends are one of life’s greatest treasures. It sounds cliche, but it’s still true.

There is such great power in being known and being loved . . . it’s lifts us.

There is also life-changing power in knowing and loving others.

This life, it’s in the relationships. The joys. The struggles. The tears and laughter. The knowing.

“A real friend is one who helps us to think our best thoughts, do our noblest deeds, and be our finest selves.”

-Elizabeth George, Life Management for Busy Women

I want to be a friend like that.

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This post is linked to Bigger Picture Moments and Thankful Thursday. Go check them out and be inspired.

Images from Morguefile.com

Having a place to rest and relax , where you can be yourself, and know you are loved is a wonderful thing!

Today I’m sharing four steps to give you more peace at home over at Keeper of the Home.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you do to foster a peaceful atmosphere in your home?

Read the post here.

My Dad called me from Australia a few days ago. He told me our neighbor’s daughter had been killed in a car accident.

She was my age. A mother. A daughter. A sister. A friend.

Her family is devastated.

It is hard to believe that my fun childhood friend is gone. Leaving behind those who loved her (and those she loved).

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. We are not even guaranteed another minute.

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

-James 4:14

We must do our best to live our lives well. To love well. As much as we are able.

About 10 days ago, I was informed of the passing of another friend, a dear sister in Christ. She was older and had lived a full  life, but we sure miss her.

The day I heard about her death, I was digging around in some boxes and found a card she had written to me and my family. In it she told us how much she loved us and that I had made the best food she had eaten in 100 years! What a treasure.

I’m so grateful she took the time to tell us she loved and appreciated us. It made a difference then, and it is making a difference now.

(A quick side note: I like to use cards and photos as bookmarks. Then I can see them often.)

If there is one thing I want to do with this blog, it is to encourage you (and me) to choose the best. To love to ones in our care. To enjoy the moments that make up our days.

Hug them, write to them, tell them they are loved. Send them flowers. And do it now. We don’t know about tomorrow.

I know I have a tendency to get a little morbid around here on occasion. But I don’t think that is a bad thing. It’s good to take an honest look at reality. Thinking about the future helps shape our now…in a good way. It can be life changing, actually.

Here is my son “flying” on the swing after taking spring time pictures.

Sometimes I cannot believe I have a son.

As one who grew up with a sister, I knew very little about boys.

But I’m getting an education now.

Boys are so funny, sweet, and full of energy!

I’m glad God saw fit to bless this family with a son.

This week I’ve been praying through the scriptures at the direction of Brooke McGlothlin’s book, Warrior Prayers.

Praying intentionally for my son is changing things. I can see it. I’ve prayed for my son before, but not in this way.

So far, the changes I am seeing are in me. My eyes are open to see his actions more clearly. My heart feels more attuned to him. I’m seeing him as a grown up man. And how that starts RIGHT NOW.

Brooke has been sharing some great thoughts on her blog each day. I encourage you to visit her.

I have been praying the words, but thanks to Momma Kristi’s encouragement, I plan to take some time to write them out next week. It’s a lovely way to preserve these prayers and memories. Also, writing seems to help get things into my heart and mind better than speaking does.

Thanks Brooke for your hard work and for setting a wonderful example to mothers everywhere!

I’m linking this post to the Warrior Prayers link-up and also to Home with the Boys, Boys in Motion link up (a fun place where moms link up pictures of their boys in action).

These three things are usually with me in the early morning: a baby, a Bible, and a reading light.

I like to sit in my comfy glider, but that doesn’t always happen. In fact, the day I took this picture, I ended up kneeling on the bedroom floor to read my Bible while Little Miss played. The way our house is set up, there are very few places I can go that won’t wake anyone. So we move around.

There is something about having to make such an effort that brings me great satisfaction. Reading by a small light, kneeling on the cold floor… it makes me feel SERIOUS!

I think of Christians in times past who had to read in secret. Who treasured each word of the book. When Bibles were rare and couldn’t be purchased at the local Wal-mart! I want to be serious like they were.

To LOVE the word and value it.

Each day I get up and read, I feel stronger. Just a little.

And that makes me happy.

Visit Inspired to Action to find out more about Hello Mornings and join in the fun.

I have a guest post there today too! How to Say Hello Mornings with a Night Owl Husband

I’m sharing a few simple ideas for bringing comfort to dreary days over at Frugal Granola today.

Feel like an herbal bath or foot soak?

The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child’s Heart for Eternity by Sally Clarkson

I’ve already started this one and LOVE it. Sally has a wonderful ability to cut to the heart of the matter and help readers see what is of true value in life.

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson

I read about this book in If I’m Diapering a Watermelon, Then Where’d I Leave the Baby?: Help for the Highly Distractible Mom by Carol Barnier. It’s about leaving room in our lives and putting an end to filling every spare moment. (I wouldn’t know anything about that. Ahem.)

Practicing Hospitality:The Joy of serving Others by Patricia A. Ennis

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years by Jim Fay and Charles Fay

I’m  interested to see what this book has to say.

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

My current read. I am certainly challenged by it!

You Can Raise a Well Mannered Child by June Hines Moore

I’ve read this one before, but want to revisit it. I love that it has age appropriate lists!

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

I’ve listened to most of this book on CD and it is excellent. Very insightful.

A real eye-opener for what goes on inside the heart and mind of a man.

There are a few others, but I think I’ll work through these first. I’ll let you know what I think about them when I’m finished.