Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Kristin N.
Family Stats: Husband Alec, Kids-Mason-7, Ava-5, Lila-3
Spiritual Gifts: Compassionate, Empathetic, Giver
Spiritual Pathway: Relational
Passions: Working out, reading, spending quality time with my family, nurturing my relationship with God, helping others in the community
Pet Peeves: Selfishness, arrogance
Secret Shames: When I get overwhelmed in life, I lose my focus on faith
Books that you Love: God is for Real, The Help, Look Me in the Eye
Can't Live Without: Relationships, connection with my family and friends
Favorite Room: The Kitchen; it is where we all seem to congregate and connect, talk and share
Favorite Tradition: Newly added for my husband and I to add one night a week to "date" each other

Memorize-It Monday

New Living Translation 2007 
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”  I John 4:8


Why this verse?  This verse can be called upon when you begin to experience fear or anxiety.  It turns the mind to think about how much God loves us and gave his son Jesus life for us. We were created by a God of love not a God of punishment.  Sometimes it feels like punishment when life is difficult and hurtful. It is in those times we need to call out to God and pray back the scriptures that direct you to who God really is. 

Focus Friday

Today, say a prayer for the Orphans at Covenant Children's Homes, India, and all the orphans around the world. Think of one thing you can do to support orphans: attend an adoption class at Heartland; "like" Covenant Children's Homes, India, on Facebook; give of your time, talent or treasure to a ministry that blesses the fatherless.  And today, be intentional about your own family, and give your children your very best.

Doing the Dailies

There’s a phrase I like to use to describe the endless tasks many of us carry out on a daily basis.  It’s called “doing the dailies”.  Friends call just to find out how my day is unfolding and my reply is often, “just doing the dailies”.  They get it. I’m sure you do too.  I don’t have to go into details about my piles of laundry, awaiting dishes, full trash cans, scrub-worthy toilets, bills, paperwork, phone calls, work outs, appointments, meal preparations, etc. for you or them to get what “dailies” I’m referring to.   They’re the seemingly small, repetitive tasks that fill a lifetime.
It’s in these duties that I tend to lose my focus, my center.  My vision blurs among the repeating tasks and my mood swings with the length of my to-do list.  Why is it that I, who should know better, cannot shake the feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness when it comes to conquering the small things, the dailies?  Shouldn’t this be the easy part?  How can someone who has experienced real loss fret over dirty dishes in the sink and wet towels on the floor? God, why can’t I get this right?
Then I am reminded how God views our weaknesses,

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

It’s not about how I can conquer anything, large or small.  It’s how I can surrender it to the One who already sees my prideful attempts at perfection for what they are, and turn them into righteous acts of gratitude for what He has done for me.  In my weakness His power is made perfect.  Christ’s grace is sufficient.  Even when I...yes. Even where there’s...yes. Even though I can’t...most definitely.

“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

God, I feel like a child who can’t grasp the fact that I can’t do everything by myself. My fits aren’t on the floor kicking and screaming but they play out in cutting words, ignored feelings, hurried days, and frustration.  Forgive my pride.  Forgive my arrogance.  Forgive my self-centered approach to the significant tasks that bring peace to my family and me. Come into my mess and teach me how to surrender and turn over every hint of weakness so your strength may abound in me.    I ask all this in the name of your Son, and as your daughter in Christ.  Amen.

Jena Meyerpeter

Whose Day Tuesday

Name: Dani B.

Family Stats: Husband, 2 kids (20 & 14), 2 dogs

Spiritual Gifts: Serving, Encouragement, Faith

Spiritual Pathway: Intellectual, Relational, Serving, Worship & Creation

Passions: Growing in Christ and helping others do the same

Pet Peeves: Bicyclists in street

Secret Shames: My relationships are a mess

Books That You Love: Bible and Bible Studies (anything about God)

Can’t Live Without: God

Favorite Room In Your House: Bedroom

Favorite Tradition: Family gatherings on birthdays and holidays

Memorize-It Monday

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
~Hebrews 10:25

Focus Friday

Let's begin to practice individual fasting in secret as well. In your table discussion, what individual issue struck you? Make a plan to fast and pray for that person in private. Pray that the power in the fast will bring release from oppression. Pray that God will let you see clearly how He responded to your fasting and praying for that person.