Are We Guided by the Spirit or Ruled by our Emotions?

Today was like many days in my life. I had goals, a list, I was encouraged, then disappointed, and once in a while I struggled with self-control.  The familiar realization appeared again that I was not and could not be in control of all the many things I had been given to accomplish.  Praise God that He saves me daily from having solitary control over ANYthing.  After taking time to allow Him to shape my attitude He corrected my way of thinking and I found the way to a positive outcome.  Have you had those days?  They are the days that you realize that you are not able to hide anything from God.  When He says He needs to be Lord of our lives, he means in all areas.  One phrase that was a great catalyst in my understanding of God's desire for my life is 2 Corinthians 10:4-6,

⁴ (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),

 ⁵ casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

 ⁶ and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

Daily the question enters my mind, "How am I going to do my best today to lead my children and others around me to in a faithful way?" What am I exalting above the knowledge of God?  Man's wisdom? My will? Chocolate? I can talk to my kids about God each day, which I do, but if I show them that those things are words with no power behind them, I know they will not see God's  ways as the answers to the problems in their lives.

Girls, we can sometimes be emotional - Do socks on the floor bug you? Do crumbs make you boil? Are there whiskers in your sink? Do you play with toys or curse them as you trip over them?  I'll hit you deeper - has your child ever complained about your plan for the day, one you've spent time praying and planning for, or grumbled again about the blessing of piano lessons?  It's those little things that Satan likes to jab me with on a daily basis, so the above verse is a lifeline to me.  Our weapons are NOT of the flesh or of this world.  Wine and chocolate and me time will not make me happier and will not lead to inner joy.   I must be obedient in the ways God has shown me, even when Satan tells me my efforts are fruitless.  I do not serve a God who is not there to back me up on the job he has given me!  Secondly, I have no hope of not falling into a heap on the floor and sobbing on a regular basis without the Spirit to remind me, moment-by-moment, that I need to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ.

Last night this topic of emotional health came up in the women's study I'm facilitating.  The author of our study guide said that if we choose to walk by the Spirit we will come under His control in even in our emotional responses.  "Of course that's TRUE," I thought, "but how can we accomplish this mindset?"  It sounded like magic in the book, but the author mistakenly assumed that saying it would make it so.  Why?  Because we don't all take the time to know what walking in the Spirit is before we expect it to work! It takes devotion and intention to reach this place.  Sure, we can be saved and forgiven, but we can also just snooze in that place, do a few good deeds, attend church regularly and even serve others - all without every really letting Jesus be Lord (which means Master) of our lives.

The good news is that walking in the Spirit does produce results that really ARE miraculous.  The question arose,  "Are we willing to let go of a few things and get uncomfortable on the way there?" Remember when Jesus said we had to take up our cross and follow Him?  Oooh, that applies to everyone? Wasn't that just for missionaries, ministers and leaders?  No, I'm afraid that if we read that verse above from Corinthians it holds us all to a pretty high standard.  Every thought?  Can it be?

Well, the group comprised a list of the things that we needed to do regularly to continue to walk in the Spirit.  I think it's safe to say that when you are in a group of women and you propose a way avoid reacting emotionally about the stones in the road of life, you'll gather some interest.   The list below may not be exhaustive, but these things are part of walking in the Spirit.  We decided that we would check this list regularly to see if we were lacking in an area when we felt off balance.   I hope it will be helpful as a checklist to you too.  Before you go, check the link to the daily read by Oswald Chambers.  (Daily Read) When it rains it pours and as I read this to my kids tonight, I couldn't help but see that God really hammers the message in when we are available to listen.  Sad that I need to have it hammered in, but I'm thankful none the less.

How Do We Continue in the Spirit?  A guide...

• Study
• Solitude (with God, not running from a situation, but running TO Him)
• Sermons
• Guard your heart and your mind
• Balance in your day
• Care for your physical and mental health
• Seek God directly (before asking friends for advice)
• Prayer (some talking, more listening)
• Find a mentor or someone who challenges you spiritually and connect regularly
• Pray to have a heart and eyes like God.  Look at others as He does.
• Do good works regularly
• Confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed
• Christian music (Music is a powerful influence!)
• Allow yourself to be held accountable to Christian friends (or that mentor)
• Be humble
• Be willing to let God search your heart and know your mind for anything against His will
• When convicted, take action
• Expect God to move
• Keep a prayer journal, record answered prayers and read them for encouragement
• Fast - obedience and devotion are powerful  
• Do not seek comfort in then world.  God is able to meet all your needs.

Thanks for holding me accountable!   Feel free to comment or email me any additions to this list.  The beauty of Christian women is that they are eager to keep each other on the road up the mountain.  Is it all worth it?  YES! Have you ever climbed a mountain and then sat on the top? You know your worked hard to get there, but when you look out you see things as you never have before.  You are awed by the vast beauty of creation in front of you and you celebrate that the moment is special.  Now that you are on top of it, you have the authority to say to it MOVE!

Therefore, ^(A)confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be ^(B)healed ^(C)The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16)

Last Minute Soup.. House Bound

It’s the day after Christmas and all through the house,
We’re going nowhere, the Midwest has been doused.

The snow has been falling
The rain’s freezing too.

If you want to go somewhere,
The Midwest’s not for you.

We were off to Grandmas,
but the Toll Road was closed,

No present swapping,
the kids were morose.

Now it’s dinner time and I’ve got cooking to do.
No Grandma meal for us now,
What’s on hand just will do.
***********************************************

I read a funny “dinner disaster” post by my friend Gina that discussed her challenging Christmas Eve. It was just before dinner and it reminded me that all of us have our own way around the kitchen. Gina is a freezer queen. She pre-makes, defrosts and has each meal for her large family easily at her finger tips. It is inspiring. I advise you read her blog, she’s a homeschooling, master-mom.

Over here, a little south, I’m a little more relaxed. So, I thought I’d share how I come up with dinner using a completely different method.


I spy an onion half, on the counter, I never put it away after lunch.
In the fridge lives a pot of vegetables. My family will groan if they recognize it, again.
We had roast chicken for Christmas. There’s about half of it left. Pull it off the bones.
I open the pantry and a bag of noodles, shoved in the bottom, falls out on my foot.
We hosted a Christmas party a while back.
Nobody eats celery sticks but me and the baby.
An open bottle of white wine remains in the bottom of the fridge door.

While playing the piano for my toddler this afternoon, he left and “chopped” up the loaf of bread that was on the counter.

So, that’s our dinner...

Fill the pot 1/2 full with water.
Chop the onion and the celery.
Dump the chicken and the wine.
Crunch the noodles before putting in a few handfuls.
Add some color with the veges.
Poultry seasoning and chicken base.

Ah! Croutons!
Put the mashed bread in a bowl,
Pour oil, sprinkle italian seasoning and garlic salt.
Bake.

Write this blog while the soup boils.
(Husband saves croutons while I forget about them and announces the the soup is done.)

A great dinner.
Chicken soup with homemade croutons.

Time to eat!

Laundry 101: Sharing Life and Laundry

When Kid #2 arrived, laundry became like the plague at our house.   It seemed long ago, but I knew I had to get  grip on it all.  I tried putting a basket in each kid's room, but then I had to re-sort that into the color groups every time I needed a load, and I had a mess on the floor.   With younger kids, there is no advantage to this system, since you do it all anyway!  Fortunately, they grow up and eventually, become useful.  Helping can start as early as age three (don’t be picky) and complete autonomy can be achieved by age 9 (plus or minus a year for some).

To some, our laundry management system may seem a dull topic, but for those drowning in laundry despair, perhaps a new idea will offer you a glimmer of light.  I remember a time, not to many years ago, when I felt overwhelmed and laundry just seemed to put me over the edge (or it could even have been at the root of it all).   

When we added the third child, we also upgraded the washer that came with our home to a large front loader.  A big washer makes a big difference!  In these tough economic times, it may not be so easy to upgrade, but it also could be a time when you could get a deal you can’t pass up!   

These days, laundry goes pretty smoothly.   Our boys are 10, 8 and 3 so they are active helpers.  Here’s how we manage it:

• We have sacrificed a corner of our room, but you can choose any place that three tall sorting bins fit.   
• We have these three bins together with a sign over what goes in each, dark, warm for lighter colors, and whites.  
• Everybody puts their own things in to the proper bin.  
• Each morning, one child takes the first load down.  He just has to fill a basket from the fullest bin.  
• Between our class subjects, I pick a child to “rotate” the laundry,  meaning move from washer to dryer or dryer to basket.  
• Once its in the basket,  a child who is strong enough to carry it up, takes it.  
• During the afternoon, we have a laundry “party”.  We all fold, stack and put away that day’s loads until it’s done.  

If you have room, your kids can be turned out with their own with their own three bins and they then become completely responsible for their own laundry.  No matter what method you choose, a routine and involving your kids is essential to success.  They wear the clothes and they must help the family.  I have one son whose big on rewards, but when it comes to laundry, I simply reply, “You get to wear them, you get to wash them. You may choose not to, but you will either be cold or will eventually smell pretty bad.”  

Training is essential.  Give them each a job according to their skill level and insist that no one is excused until the job is done.  Your goal should be for them to be completely self-sufficient (eventually).  I don’t believe that allowing piles and a lack of order should be allowed in their room either.  They need to have standards for themselves and to know basic hygiene principles. Your sanity and their independence are important!  

Make it fun!  Laundry can be a fun time to put on some music and enjoy each other’s company.  Set a timer and see how many baskets you can get done in 20 minutes.  

If you have great laundry tips, PLEASE take a moment to comment below.   I’m not an expert, only a survivor.  

Blessings to you! Anne