Tag Archives: homeschooling mom

Simple Clouds

Christianity, Grace, mom, motherhood, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

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Simple Clouds

One summer day we arrived at the amusement park.  It was very warm, one of those hot and sticky days.  The blacktop road had absorbed the heat from the previous day and just radiated.  Rain was forecasted, and we were none to happy about the forecast.

We rode a couple of rides with sweat rolling down our heads, backs and other areas!  We were miserable.  We are fans of the warm weather, but this was not good.  By the time we were on the fourth ride we noticed a markable difference.  What had happened?

The rain clouds had rolled in.  They lasted throughout the day and yet the rain seemed to stay away.  The rain clouds turned out to be an incredible covering for us.  The hovered over the park, keeping the temperatures almost pleasant.  They were indeed welcomed.

In the Old Testament, God dwelled among his people.  He chose the tabernacle and the Holy of Holies to be the place of His presence.  The cloud hovered over the ark. (Read Exodus 25-30).

Exodus 40 tells us of the tabernacle and how it was set up.  “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not left from above the tabernacle, they would not set out until the day it lifted.” vs. 34-37

Cool huh?  Three things I noticed.  First, our precious Father has always wanted to dwell among his people.  Remember how He walked with Adam in the cool of the garden in Genesis? The sin took place.  God cannot look upon sin.  He is a Holy God.  And yet, He is again providing a way to dwell among his people.  Then I noticed the cloud.  How appropriate that the cloud would somehow represent the glory of the Lord!  Clouds protect, carry rain to nourish the land, are beautiful to behold.  Lastly, notice that the Israelites did not move until the cloud had lifted.  My if we could only move when God called us to!  Some many times I set out in my own timing and not His!

So many times we think of the clouds as a bad thing…..I wonder if those simple clouds can teach us more than we can ever begin to understand?  And next time we are at an amusement park on a hot, humid day….I hope the clouds show up!!

Be Blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV

Simple Days

Grace, mom, motherhood, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , ,

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A Terrible, Horrible, no Good, very Bad Day!

A simple day can bring may things.  Joy, laughter, pain, sorrow.  It can be simple, complex, confusing, long or short.  It can end quickly, or go on forever. We have all had those days.  But Moms go on.  They endure.

I left early to avoid the rain.  Well you guessed it.  As soon as I pulled in the lot the downpour began.  And shall I mention the lightning and thunder?  I had to get out and open the gate.  Umbrella up, strong shove.  No movement.  Lightning strike, umbrella up…stronger shove…success.  And the umbrella really didn’t work.

The morning settled down a bit.  I worked my shift, made a phone call about a trip I “won”, which of course was too good to be true.  My shift got over and I headed home for Monday chores.  Need I say more?

The sink got clogged, the washer overflowed, the dog threw up, the kids did not pick up their clothes, the stove burner quit working, and all this in one hour.  Yes, it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  But Moms go on.  They endure.

I got to supper with a few more issues, but everything seem to slow down a bit.  I had bought meat to grill, and it was very thick.  I decided to pre broil it before grilling.  I made a huge mess, it would be tough but I tried to grill it anyway.  Once the meat was on the grill I put the potatoes on the stove top burner that worked and headed back outside to check on the meat.  I could tell you that the grill lid had come loose and the top metal rack was laying on top of the meat.  I could tell you that the grill lid was sliding off the back, too hot to fix and the meat had caught on fire.  Would you believe me? Nah…

The meat was now “done” and the potatoes were finishing.  I picked up a bowl to place in the dishwasher and of course it was full of milk that proceeded to jump from the bowl onto the floor, cabinets and my jeans.  I made some very loud noises.  They must have been of another planet because the boys came running and their dishwashing skills became quite evident.  

Did I mention that the smoke alarm sounded, I tripped over the dog and fell on my knee?  I didn’t think so.  “Lord, I need your help right now.” I murmured under my breath.  Dinner was completed, and somehow we found a way to eat the charred mess.  The potatoes survived.

Moms endure. But this momma needed a bike ride.  Why would this be any different than the rest of the day?  Soon the neighborhood dog was chasing me down the street, I was trying to get away from him and a car was headed straight into my path.  I swerved, got away from the dog and headed for home.

I got home and went to the bedroom and just sat.  I did not move.  But the bed did.  Two baskets full of clothes to be folded still on the bed…and as if to add insult to injury, it still fell off of one of its legs.  I gave up.  I yelled that I was going to bed and even though my husband offered to fix the bed, I declined.  He knew that this Mom had endured her limit for the day!

I woke up in the night (in a slanted position I might add)…and just thanked God for getting me through the day.  Yes it was terrible, horrible, not good and very bad…I still had a roof over my head, a healthy, sleeping family and the silence of the night. I had my life and the Lord had protected me through all the trials throughout the day.  I had endured…with His help. 

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

After all, tomorrow was a new day. Possibly a wonderful, delightful, good not bad day!!

~Teachable moment~ ALEXANDER’S TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY by Judith Viorist is a great book to talk about our circumstances and how it feels sometimes…yet God does not leave!

Be Blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV*

Simple Feet (Part 1)

Christianity, Grace, Love one another, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Simple Feet- Part 1

I have an aversion to feet.  There I said it.  Baby feet I can tolerate.  Sorry.  What kind of mom was I?????

But simple feet have a story to tell.

 John 13:2-8  “The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judias Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his out clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord are you going to wash my feet?’ and Jesus replied ‘You do not realize what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘No’, said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet’ Jesus answered, ‘unless I was you, you will have no part of me.'”

Friends, these were not baby feet!!  These were grimy, dirty, walk many miles in the mud and no telling what else, men feet.  And our Jesus actually washed them!! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords washed his disciples’ feet!!

Imagine sitting around the table, laughing, eating and having a good time.  The serious stuff had not happened yet.  I believe with all my heart that Jesus knew how to have a good time.  He was happy, charismatic and a man whose love drew people to him.  At any rate, he knew his time had come and he knew the lesson he had to teach. And Jesus, the greatest teacher ever, taught them in a way they would understand and remember. Can you imagine the horror on the disciples’ faces? I bet the silence was deafening as they all sat there with shock on their face!

Then Peter (love this guy) said what most all of them wanted to say….and then Jesus responded.  Jesus was showing them the love he had for them!  He showed the true humility of God’s servant by washing their feet.  He was setting the example…Luke 22:15-15 “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater that the one who sent him.”

I have a story to further illustrate this lesson next time.  Simple feet…a lesson indeed!

Be blessed,

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV*