Category: Uncategorized

Little White Lies…

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christianity, Faith, Family, Mother and daughter, Personal Reflection, Relationship, Uncategorized

For we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

It’s often hard for parents to teach our children right from wrong, and especially hard to teach them from a Christian standpoint. It’s hands on, and oftentimes preparedness armed with the tools God gives us – the BIBLE. Through the BIBLE we are given wisdom and knowledge.

Little white lies…

The other day I noticed a full bag of chips shrunk by half. I casually asked my 13 year old if she had any. Her immediate reply, “No”.

“Who?”

“I don’t know”

It was a small matter, but I repeated the question and got the same response. The issue in my mind was how do I make my daughter recognize that her little lie has consequences. How do I teach her that it’s wrong to lie. How do I guide her to understand that lying however big or small, it’s still a lie and it’s not only wrong, but a sin!

How do I as a mom get her to owe it?

Mom, “MeiMei you are doing bad stuff that makes God sad”.

If we sin, we will go to a bad place when we die.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.Revelation 21:8 KJV

Mom asks, “MeiMei, do you think you’ve sin?“

“Hmm, No.”

He came to earth as an infant.

With a calm face, I tell her the story of Jesus. I explain to her how Jesus is God who lived in heaven, but he came down to earth as man (human). He lived for 33 1/2 years without sin. There were certain people who were jealous of Jesus and using fake charges, lied and framed him. They crucified Jesus and then buried Him. Jesus raised himself from the dead. Jesus is now in heaven.

Hence, He was crucified, buried and resurrected.

Do you know why Jesus went through all this bloodiness for?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

It’s because of our sin. This prevents us from going to heaven. The only thing that can wash away our sin is the blood of Jesus. This is the only way we can go to heaven.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9

Only through the blood of Jesus can wash away our sin.

Mom, “Are you sorry for being a sinner?”

“Yes.”

Upon which this mom tells her daughter, “All you have to do is say it to God.”

If we believe and say to God. He will forgive.

Amen!

Remembering to Pray

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, prayer, Uncategorized

Out of the depths I call to you, Lord hear my ….

Wow, as I look on the date of my last post, it’s been a long while.

As the world is buckling down with isolation and social distancing – I feel all around me the uncertainty and the anxiety created is also felt by all citizens of this globe.

I discovered this blog: https://www.missionariesofprayer.org/2010/11/power-prayer-e-m-bounds-free-online/

The following is a PDF I found by E M Bound – Power Through Prayer: http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Necessity%20of%20Prayer%20by%20EM%20Bounds.pdf.

Or

http://www.biblebelievers.com/em_bounds/index.html

With all kinds of restrictions and governmental mandates in place, and as we are forced to stay home – rather than look at all the negative implications that can drag our spirit and soul down, I found that reading can nourish the soul as it draws me closer to GOD.

Why prayer?

Prayer is talking to God.

Taking the time to talk to God!

The past while, I have only given God a quick shout out! I didn’t even realize I wasn’t give God more time. It became a quick nod and a quick word minus the depth. Somehow God has become one of my followers as I send a quick “Instagram” update on my daily “what nots”. The past few months, I have not taken the time to hold a serious conversation with him. Nor have I taken the time to spend with him. I think I’ve spend more time reading daily news feeds than I have the BIBLE. I became a news junkie!

Gods – He who has unconditional love, He who has forgiven us for all our ugly deeds through the blood of His son Jesus, and – WHAT? – I don’t take the time to pray and listen? All I can do is humbly fall upon my knees like a child and say “I’m sorry”. I hope unlike a child, I don’t “forget” and do the same again.

Like a loving parent, God always has a way of reminding us and drawing us back into His arms (fold). Whether through others, chains of events, or like now, a world wide COVID-19 pandemic – God draws us back even though the Churches are forced apart. HE reminds us to draw near to HIM and PRAY. A quick text to God, quick hello, a quick blah blah blah, just doesn’t cut it anymore.

While I’m “forced” to self quarantine at home, I spent my first week observing all the media frenzy about the COVID-19 pandemic, worrying senseless about my high risk Asthma. I also had a frenzied mind set upon disinfecting and maintaining all the protocols as mandated by the government.

By the end of the last week I started to see the hand of God upon this world as I thought back to his teachings in the Bible.

In a world now where the Church cannot congregate, one gets the sense that there is something deeper at play which suppresses all those who know God, and blind all those who don’t know Him from knowing Him.

Hence, I take the time to draw nearer to God. I don’t ask the whys, I can only laid upon him my fears, angsts, and all the negative I feel within as well as all the cheers and joy of his hands in my life. I can only tell HIM I believe in Him, and trust His hand is upon me.

Praise be to God!

Amen!

Happy 15th Birthday Son!

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Faith, Family, Lifestyle, Praise, Uncategorized

14 years and 5 months ago, my husband and I received the most precious gift from God – a bundle of joy from South Korea.

At 42, I a was a mom! Those tumultuous and self centered years of meandering through life, faded into the background as I held him in my arms.

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We had prepared ourselves with many self help books for newbie parents. Resourceful guides to help us through the first 24 months of our son’s developmental progress. Nothing prepared me for the act of selflessness that comes with caring for an infant(s) – and although I thought I was prepared to be a new mom – I wasn’t.  It was humbling.

We had given up hope of having children – it was just going to be the two of us, until that summer when my sister and her husband entrusted Dan and I with the care of their two young children while they went on vacation. It was a life changing experience.  We discovered the joy of children, and imagined being parents.   We wanted a family – and my biological clock was ticking.  Adoption was the only option for us!

We placed all our hopes in God to fill the hole in our lives. How I must have whined daily and I’m sure I was a pain in the neck as I scribbled away in my prayer journal.

With every stroke of the pen, with every prayer I asked God for a child.    My daily prayers were simple and full of hope.   I even gave God a list of what I wanted in our child.  Oh I can imagine God’s lift eyebrows as I look back on those prayers.

God you are all forgiving, all merciful, and all glorious!!  You have done great thing in my life!
All my hope is in you!

We went through the adoption process in December 2011, and had our application in by March, and our bundle of joy arrived in July 2012.  God’s hand was present throughout the process, and when he arrived at the airport, he was 4 months old.  Surround by family and friends, we welcomed him into our lives.  Our promise to God – to bring him up within His embrace.

Oh there were many challenges of taking care of an infant.   After 21 years together, we went through a period of adjustment.   Each day saw our love grow deeper as we fell in love with our son.  Living in the moment, we savored and appreciated the new challenges in our lives.   Each day was a learning experience, from being panicky and nervous parents, to watching him pull his first temper tantrum at 24 months, to the tenderness and love as we embraced being parents under God’s hands is precious.

Dear God,

You gave Dan and I what we could handle – both spiritually, and in our lives.  You have taught me many life lessons about being a believer, a mom, a wife, and a teacher.

The joy of being a mom, is also a life long process where each thought, idea, inspiration, goal, ability is examined and made new. Along with trials to my patience, attitude, prejudices, bias, and character flaw mirrored and revealed – You Dear Jesus, guide me towards change.

“Down on my knees again surrendering all…I’m desperate for you…. drench my soul, I hunger for you….”. I Surrender- Hillsong Live Cornerstone

Thank you God for the gift of answered prayer!
Thank you Jesus for guiding me to be the best mom I can be. For showing me daily my flaws and short coming as I interact with my son – with my children.  Thank you for your grace, that with You in me, I can make the effective changes to be an awesome mom. Thank you for always being there to get me back on track when I make a wrong turn ❤