Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking…

and the noise of it distracts me!

This morning while I was listening to our morning Bible teaching, the pastor, almost off the cuff, made some mention of our being eternal.

You know what?  I know that.  I know I – and all those around me – are eternal.  I have no doubt that we have life eternal waiting for us.  But, you know what?  I forget it and the implications it holds for my life.

Time vs Eternity is quite a battle in my daily living.  When I do not have it in its proper place, I am jazzed about many things that are of no eternal import, but in this moment in time, it seems very important.

I have been dishonoring in my speech to my family, because of time. *Tick*  “I’m STILL angry about that.”  *Tick* “Why are we still working on this? Why haven’t you gained victory over this?” *Tick* “Aren’t you finished with that school work, yet?”  *Tick*

I have been disobedient to Father because of time.  *Tick* “This is due today, I don’t have time to do that right now.”  *Tick*  “Lord, we needed that TODAY!  Where are YOU?” *Tick*

I have been careless of other people because of time.  *Tick* “They are such a dork!  Why would I waste my time on that?”  *Tick*

I realized this morning that I need a fresh dose of eternity in my thinking… and its value and its import and its grace and its patience and its kindness.  I need to stop time from distracting me and keep my ears and eyes and MOUTH!!!! on eternity, rather than time.

Eternity woos me to be disciplined enough daily that I have time for the important issues of eternity.

Eternity requires me to have the grace to allow others to have time for the things that are eternal.

Eternity commands me to walk in the wisdom required to know the difference.

Eternity cups my face in its hands and turns my head (and heart) toward Father, the Eternal God, the Alpha and Omega, and says, “Go, be with Him today.  Do not wait for eternity to delight and enjoy Him fully.  Live in light of His goodness and His mercy today.  Draw near to Him, for His glory will endure for….eternity.”

The Older Mum Speaketh*

This past weekend I had the pleasure of talking with a young mom of many Littles.  She had charming children, to be sure.  However, one little guy she clearly identified as “The Handful Boy.” 

Just before speaking to me, she mentioned that he had had a moment in a store recently that had resulted in his throwing a fit.  (Man, can I equate, I recently had a situation in a store that made ME want to throw a fit.)     There was a woman there that had been horribly unkind about the situation (and had I been there to hear it, it would have made for TWO situations in a store that made me want to throw a fit) making snide and derisive comments.

The Precious Mom said to me, “Do you have any suggestions on disciplining?”  When she asked that, I sat there a moment and appreciated how far the Lord has brought me in my mothering.  (Father, why is it that I’m so much wiser now that my children are growing up?  Now that I don’t have Littles (plural) underfoot and more than one toddler throwing a fit, I have to wonder, could I have had the perspectives I have now back then?  Or is this reserved for those who have passed through the flames?!!)  In pondering, I realized if I could tell every young mommy three things, it would be these:

Proverbs 16:9

Okay, so the family issue that has been usurping my time so much over the past few weeks has accelerated this weekend.  I ask your forgiveness please, as I attend to this, instead of working on our book.

We have given our time to this need and had no time left for writing this weekend.  We have made a point to schedule in time throughout this next week to write, but until we get past Wednesday, I won’t be able to even venture a guess as to when we can have sufficient time to complete this.  (We’re praying for Friday, but Wednesday will be a pivotal point in our estimation.)

Please check back on Wedneday evening, when I will post a better idea for you.

If you’re brain is wandering around feeling a little dry, I would encourage  you to spend the next few days feasting on 1 & 2 Corinthians and Galatians.   I think you will find them to be rich in encouragement and wisdom for your soul!

Abundant Blessings ~

Somebody made a decision! :)

And I quote him, “Let’s just do the book.”

SO, we’re going to put it into an ebook.  I forgot Monday is a holiday (ESPECIALLY considering Jeff’s family declared Memorial Day Family Reunion Day, several years ago, and I had completely forgotten all about it.  OOPS) so I will post it Tuesday morning, bright and early.  (Bright and early being a relative term)

Be blessed!

Brainwashing Day Number…I’m not sure

I apologize if you were among the people that wrote and asked me if I’d fallen off the face of the earth.  Life here at the Clark place has been very interesting, to say the least.      (Your prayers for us during this time are greatly appreciated – and rawther needful.)

I had planned on wrapping up our Brainwashing discussion by this Friday, so that your minds would be renewed and you would be transformed, ready to do the will of our Lord and be refreshed by the Holy Spirit, in time for Pentecost.  Is anyone but me getting the idea that isn’t going to happen?

I still have pages of stuff in the Word doc that I have been keeping all the notes that got this project started.  (Did I mention pages?) Much of it is the very core of what I desire to share with you – the things that have made the greatest change in my relationship with Father – the things that made me fall in love with Him in a whole new way.

Brainwashing Day 17

Prepare ye the way of the Lord…..prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Now, in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”

If the Kingdom of God is not for here and now, why was John preaching it?  If it is for here and now, why was he saying that it was only at hand?

I believe that the reason is due to a transference of authority that was about to take place that would rock the Kingdom and return it to its rightful caretaker.

Brainwashing Day 16

While very blessed to live in America, there is an aspect of doing so that is to our detriment.  Because we do not live in a monarchy, there are many things that simply bypass our understanding of a kingdom.

Kingdom: The domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth.

Kingdom of God: (a) The universe. (b) That spiritual realm of which God is the acknowledged sovereign. (c) The authority or dominion of God.

Please assist me…

Jeff and I are reworking our morning routine to accomodate this newest project that we have.  As we are doing so, I’m wondering – does anyone have a preference when I update Brainwashing?  In other words, would you prefer to have it early in the morning to include in your morning quiet time or do you just grab it when you can? If you do, would you please either drop me a note (at stromata eight) or leave a comment here.  That would be ever so helpful.

Secondly, please hold us in prayer.  You recall I shared with you the week I was to start Brainwashing, our family got sicker than we’ve been in years, yes?  Yesterday I spent the day battling food poisoning.  We’re just not thinking that all of this is a coincidence.  We’re not sitting by just waiting to have our booties kicked, but it would sure be great to have others praying with/for us. 

Thanks!

Brainwashing Day 15

She was leaving the bathroom in a sleep fogged daze (or was it him? Oh well…) carrying a chocolate bar in one hand.  (That always grossed me out – chocolate in the bathroom??!!!  Blech!  And I’m a chocolate person! But, better chocolate than the other…)  He was running down the hall, a jar of peanut butter in hand.  WHAM!!!! They collide.  (What a surprise)

“You got chocolate on my peanut butter.”  “No, you got peanut butter on my chocolate.”  Two great tastes that taste great together.  (Of course, then we all sing the jingle…that is if we’re older than 30.) 

Today, that’s what we’re going to talk about in our discussion about faith.  The power of two powerful things coming together.  And it will be great! 

Brainwashing Day 14 (the real thing)

I have a notebook where I have written out the things that I wanted to share in this series.  It was pretty clearly defined, with plenty of notes.  However, what I realized as I have been staring at my notes is that what I intended to teach here requires a better understanding of Covenant than most people have.

Please, don’t hear that as anything but what it is – a realization that I am the recipient of much grace, as Father took the time to teach me about grace.  Please don’t receive my words as being anything other than an acknowledgment of that….and eager anticipation.  I lovelovelovelove talking about Covenant!

An understanding of the Covenant will set you free in your relationship with Father like nothing else.  You will have a better understanding of what His will in the earth is.  You will have a better understanding of what His love means to you.  You will have a much deeper and richer appreciation for what our Lord and Savior has done for us.

Did I mention I love talking about Covenant?   Maybe I did.    Anyway, armed with a fresh and deeper understanding of Covenant you will find that the Scripture has a whole new depth of meaning for you.  Suddenly you’ll be reading something and you’ll say, “Whoa, wait a minute, that is talking about Covenant.”  It’s SO much fun.  I’m not certain if I told you or not, but I just love talking about Covenant. 

ANYWAY, we will start on that on Monday.  I’m planning on spending a week on it – BUT – if you have any questions – if you have any clarification you desire/need, I’m quite willing to go beyond the week.  Hey, I’m flexible.