Everyday Is A Celebration

"Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, and again I say REJOICE"

Phil 4: 4

This year, as always, my older daughter had to make friendship cards for all her classmates and her teachers for Valentine's day. As is often the case, she forgot all about it until the evening before. Then she sat and made all of them with my help. This time, unlike other years though, my younger daughter was also interested in making valentines just because her sister was making some. So we gave her some cards and crayons and she made her own valentines.

A week later, as my younger daughter and I were playing at home she suddenly kissed me and said "Happy Valentine's day mommy!" I was pleasantly surprised, and wished her back with a kiss. A few days later, the same thing happened - she wished me once more out of the blue. I smiled and told her, "thank you baby, but its not Valentine's day anymore". Then a few days later, she did the same thing again. I again thanked her and reminded her that it was not Valentine's day anymore.

This kept going on pretty frequently and even became a daily affair and I just started wishing her back every time she wished me instead of trying to tell her that Valentine's day was over. We kept doing this on and off until one day my older daughter heard our exchange. Immediately she said "Jo, it's not even Valentine's day! Why would you wish mommy that?"

Just so she would not feel sad, I stuck up for her and said "Why not? let her be! Everyday is Valentine's day for her!" Then, like a lightning flash, God revealed something to me. Isn't everyday truly Valentine's day for every believer? We live each day because of the grace of God - because He died for us! Everyday is proof of His immense love for us!

In her own innocent way, my daughter had unwittingly revealed a simple and yet profound truth about God and His love for us! He truly speaks through the mouth of the babes doesn't He?

Learn to be happy with what you have

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Philippians: 4: 12 (NIV)

"Mommy can I have that new Shopkins set?" "No honey, you cannot. We cannot buy you another new toy right now." "But mommy! I really love this one." "I know you do, but we cannot buy it just now." "Ugh! You never buy me what I want!"

I don't know how many of you have had this conversation, but I have this conversation once every two or three months! Don't take me wrong. I am not a minimalist, as is proven by my daughters' overflowing toy chests! I trip over toys all day, and I kid you not, there is an entire room in our house, chock full of toys! And yet, my girls find the need for a new toy once every couple of times we visit the store! Sometimes, to hear them talk, you would think they did not have a single toy to play with at home!

We come home bickering and my daughter ends up sulking while I end up with one of my long-winded advice sessions. I always tell her "think of all that you have. We have bought you so many toys, and yet all you can think of is the one toy we did not buy you! What if I gave away all the toys you currently own? Let me give all that away, and then I will buy you this new toy that you so desperately need!"

Obviously the answer to that is a big and resounding NO. They want what they have and more. In fact, they want EVERYTHING!

Wait a minute! That struck a nerve! Isn't that the same thing I do with the Lord. He has given and is giving me so many many things - blessings in abundance. And yet, I always find the time to complain about the one thing He did not give me, or did not YET give me! How would I feel if the Lord said "I'll take away all that I have given you so far and give you this one thing you are sulking about." Oooo that wouldn't be a nice thing to happen!

Another lesson learnt! "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

It's the everyday conversations that matter

"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually"

                                                                                       1 Chronicles 16: 11

After my older daughter started regular school, we have cut down on going out during the weekdays to the minimum. but sometimes, it is inevitable and we do end up going out. My older daughter has gotten into the habit of bringing her MP3 player along every time we go out. She says it makes the rides shorter for her. So anyway... The other day, we had to drive to a store for something we simply had to have for the next day, and as usual, my daughter pulled out her earphones, all ready to go. But my husband said "Leave them at home. We are not driving far, and I want us to talk to each other." "But I'm only listening to gospel songs!" came the protesting whine. But my husband put his foot down and we started off. I am so thankful that he did that and you will soon know why.

Once in the car, my daughter said "Well at least turn KSBJ (a gospel radio station) on!" "No, we will talk to each other" said my husband. For a minute or two, we drove on in silence, my daughter silently protesting and my husband equally silent - waiting. My younger one promptly fell asleep, and I stayed quiet, not wanting to get caught in what was rapidly seeming to develop into a father-daughter blow out!

And then, it happened! My daughter saw a signboard and started talking about how one of her friends had gone to the shop advertised. We listened, with encouraging words here and there, and story after story poured forth. We ended up having a wonderful ride, with my daughter telling us so much about her friends and even telling us some incidents where we were able to advice her on what to do!

I was so thankful that day that my husband had insisted on not just leaving the MP3 player behind, but also on not turning the radio on. Having gospel music playing would not have been wrong in any way, but sometimes, we need to tune out all the world in order to concentrate on our own family!

And that got me to thinking about my relationship with God. How many times have I been so busy, keeping myself occupied, even with good things, that I have tuned God out! Going to church on Sundays and going to worship concerts is all good. Those are the high days - days like in my family when we sit around the table, have lunch together and sit around talking. But those occasions aren't always there - not everyday! but quick car rides and the like are more the everyday kind of things. And it's these everyday things that matter. Similarly, it is our everyday conversations with God - in prayer and Bible reading - that truly matter, for those are the times when we truly unwind and hear Him.

Lesson learnt! Seek to hear Him not just in the worship concerts, but in the everyday quiet time. Learn to value the power of everyday meetings with God for therein lies the secret to better fellowship with Him. Remember, it is the everyday conversations that matter the most!

I Love You Both Equally

"For God so loved the World..."

John  3: 16

"She doesn't get to do chores but I have to!" said my daughter to me the other day as she was cleaning out the dishwasher for me. "How come I have to work and she doesn't? I make my bed, eat myself, I have to study, I have to put my toys away..." the list and complains went on and on!!!

 "I can trust you to get stuff out of the dishwasher and onto the shelves without breaking them while I will probably have to deal with broken plates if she did the same thing sweety" I explained. "Well I don't see her doing anything!" was her only retort.

I sat her down and explained to her. "Honey, she is three years old. You are eight. when you were three, you didn't do anything either. I did everything for you. But now you are old enough to help mommy at home. When she grows older, she will have chores too."

My explanations didn't really convince her, but she did end up doing her chores without voicing any more arguments. As I sipped my coffee that evening, I reflected on how much like that I am sometimes with God.

"Why do I have to do all the hard work Lord? How come I trust you, but am not as well off as that family who aren't as involved with you as I am?" Such and similar questions seem to pop up in my mind from time to time. That day I realized that God deals with each of us differently. He has a different plan for each one of us, and leads us accordingly. That doesn't mean that He loves us less or more. He loves us all the same. Just that He approaches each of us differently, since we are wired differently.

What I say is for your own good

"I make known the end from the beginning..."

Isa: 46: 10 

Recently, my older daughter participated in a science fair at her school. The project was given to her before the Christmas break and was due last week. The minute she signed up, I asked her to make a time table so she could have a timeline to work with so she could finish in time comfortably. But she got into the holiday spirit and forgot about the project through the holidays. When school reopened, I once again asked her to start work on the project, but she put it all off until the last week. She started work on it during the last week! she started work on Monday, and it was due Friday! She was so up to her neck in work that by the time she got down to making the display board to record her findings, she was completely fed up with the project and wanted to finish it up as soon as possible! Result - haphazard, half-baked work with words missing and misspelled, and lines going from one end of the earth to the other. I was so unhappy with her work that I had to make her sit and do it all again. This literally brought tears to her eyes! But I assured her that I would sit with her and help her through the whole thing. After hours of rework, we ended up with tired hands and backs, sleepy eyes, but a presentable and decent project! 

This got me to thinking about how in all instances of our lives, God gives us guidelines to follow. These guidelines, advices, and commands are all there to make our lives easier - not more difficult. And yet, many are the times when I have been lazy to do what I have to do. I have failed to obey His word immediately, and let me tell you that all those instances have ended up costing me dearly. 

Then, When I have totally messed up, I have had to go back and clean up the mess, and do everything again! But just like I sat down with my daughter and helped her complete the work even though it was her fault it was not complete at the right time, God has always taken my hand, gone with me, and led me through every messed up situation. And that is because He loves me, and ultimately wants the best for me! 

When we were done with the project, this is what I said to my daughter: "Didn't I tell you to work on it a little at a time so you could finish it without stress? I know where your decisions lead you, since I have been there before you! So please take my word for it and obey me when I say something." And as I said these words, they echoed back to me in my mind as words the Lord uses for me. He knows the end from the beginning. Therefore, He knows exactly where my decisions will lead me, which is why He sets guidelines for me. I would be far safer following His commands. It would save me a lot of stress!

When you want something, Ask me

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Matt: 7: 7

Sometime back, I heard my younger daughter letting out frustrated sounds in her room as she was playing with her toys while I was busy folding clothes. I went to have a look and I found her on the floor, trying to close a box that she had filled to the brim with all her play kitchen toys. Clearly the box was too full to be closed. She was trying so hard, and since she could not close it, with every effort at it, she grew more frustrated and soon was in tears. I asked her what she wanted, but she just kept crying. 

Although I knew exactly why she was crying, I wanted her to get into the habit of coming to me with her problems so she would learn that I was always there, ready to help her. So I continued to ask her until she finally told me that she wanted me to help her close the box. Then I went in, sat next to her and explained to her that the box was too full. Then we took out a few toys and then she tried closing it again. Her success this time around brought a huge smile to her face. Then I told her that whenever she wanted something, she should ask me.

This led me to thinking about myself. How often have I struggled with some things this way, without taking it to the savior at the onset? I have to confess that I have done this many times! I struggle with problems, trying to come up with solutions, spend time trying to talk to people about things, and yes, even google it, before doing the one thing I should actually do - get down on my knees and take it to Jesus. 

It's not like He doesn't know what I am facing, but it is just that He wants me to go to Him so I can learn that He is there, and He is able! Nothing is too hard for Him, and being the creator of this entire universe, who better to know how to handle it than Him! It pleases Him more than anything else to know that His children trust Him and readily go to Him. As this lesson is sinking in, I have grown to go to the Lord FIRST more and more. I do confess that I still sometimes forget and panic, but God gently reminds me that He is there and He will take care. Go to Him! He is able and He WILL help you.

Hi. My name is Sheena and I am the mother of two adorable little girls aged 8 and 4. I love my girls, and having them has changed my perspective about a lot of things in this world. In their own sweet way, they teach me a lot of little life lessons. I am so grateful to the Lord for them. 

One of the main areas where they have created an impact is...wait for it... in my spiritual life! Yes! You read right! Having them, and watching them grow has taught me a great deal about the Lord! More and more, as I deal with my girls, I have learnt the "Parent" in our Lord. No wonder we call Him Abba Father. Of course I can never hope to understand Him and His love completely, but I am beginning to have glimpses of it through dealing with my girls. 

One of the very first things I learnt after having my older daughter was that I loved this writhing, cute but bawling baby like crazy and would do almost anything for her! That came as a pretty big shock to me, because I am not the most unselfish of people! The love I felt for her was so different from anything I had felt that far! I wanted to do everything possible for her, keep her from all danger, and just hold her close and never let go! I felt the same about my second daughter too.

And that showed me just how much the Lord loved me...and you...us...all His children. We are His children and He loves us like crazy. He wants to give us everything and more, wants to keep us from all danger and evil, and keep us close to Him at all times. If I, a human being, love my daughter so much, How much more did my Savior, who died for my sins love me!

And the Bible tells us that He loves us with "Agape" or unconditional love. This love was one of the hardest things for me to understand always, but after having my daughter, I began to see how it might feel to love someone like that. 

My love for my daughters is in many ways conditional still, but not so His love! His love is "unconditional" - there are no limits to His love! He loves us no matter what we do or who we are. wrap your brain around that! Many times, as a believer, I have felt that I have to measure up to some invisible standard for Jesus to love me. Many times, I have felt that He simply could not love someone as bad as me. but that's not the way I feel about my daughters. They don't have to do anything to deserve my love! The one and only criteria - they should be my daughters! And that's how God is. The only criteria is that we be His children. And we are! So He loves us! He loves us! The Lord of the universe, the God who created the heavens and the earth, loves us. And we didn't do anything to deserve it! Praise the Lord.