Today's Coffee Break Devotion was perfect for me. In fact, I was just emailing a friend about when we should get together and thinking in the back of my mind about how I need to clean my house before I invite her and her family over! :) I know there are a lot of moms (and others) like me in the world, so I wanted to share this one.
"The road to a friend's house is never long."
"Chances are, most of us can remember a house where the kids liked to hang out when we were growing up. It probably wasn't a squeaky-clean house with vinyl on the furniture. Most likely it was a house with stacks of laundry, some scattered books and papers, and some dust. There may have been children's artwork on the fridge, and Kool-Aid was probably involved. Homes like these are warm places where kids feel safe, accepted and free to have some fun.
With this in mind, why do we think things have to be just so before we will allow others into our inner sanctum? Could it be our own pride or insecurity?
Warmth and openness are two qualities that set others at ease and make them feel welcome. Most people find these attributes in short supply as they go about their daily lives. It is unlikely that guests will feel compelled to give your furniture the white-glove treatment, yet offering genuine hospitality is a gift your guests will long remember and appreciate.
So why not turn a blind eye to those dust bunnies and invite a friend over today? Chances are, you'll be glad you did."
"Don't let the specter of dust keep you from opening your home to friends."
"Offer hospitality to one another. -1 Peter 4:9"
-FROM Coffee Break Devotions: Latte
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
I'm back!
Well it's been a while since I've posted here, but you can check out our family blog (http://themorrisfour.blogspot.com) to see what all has been going on with the kids and you'll see why. :)
I've been having quite a good week this week. I'm so thankful that God dragged me out of bed, shoved me in the car and sent me off to church on Sunday. Since Owen had his surgery Friday, we didnt want to take him to church yet, so one of us had to stay home with him. Saturday night, I was trying to talk Matt into going and Sunday morning I was so tired and really didn't want to go. Ella had waken up a few times in the night and Owen didn't sleep very good, so I was just exhausted. I rolled out of bed finally and fed Ella, took a shower and off we went. Of course, we were running late, but I made it there by 9 to help with Sunday school. They recently rearranged things to kinda work around us always being late. Now there is just 1 kindergarten class that the Quams are leading and we are helping them (or other classes if need be). We split up into 2 classes if there are too many kids, which seems to happen about every other week. This week, there was a manageable number of kids, they were quite well behaved and we had big group worship, so we kept them in one room and things went pretty smoothly. The ladies in the nursery managed to hold Ella off until between services, so they didnt have to page me and I was able to feed her before I went into the service.
Dave Semmelbeck did the sermon this week and it was excellent! It's sad how I sit through lots of sermons and realize at the end that I didnt pay much attention and have no idea what they were all about. This week I was paying attention and it was just the message I needed to hear right now! We're studying the book of John right now and Dave covered chapter 3 this week which is all about believing in Christ and spiritual rebirth and Dave spent a lot of time talking about living a life dependent on Christ. I agree that's essential to life and sadly I have forgotten to do it lately! I've been so stressed out that I even went to the doctor and got a prescription for anxiety medication (which I have not started taking yet). I know a lot of my problem is my hormones right now, being post-partum and all, but I really think now that more of my problem is my spirit! I have been trying to do everything on my own. I've been digging and digging trying to find the energy to take care of my kids, work, keep my house somewhat sanitary, keep at least a pair of undies or 2 clean and I'm coming up empty! I sat there in church listening to Dave and just kicked myself and said, "DUH!" What is wrong with me? I know the truth, yet I stray away from it over and over and over again. So, this week, my goal has been to stop and pray when I feel myself becoming overwhelmed. I just ask God to remind me and help me to depend on him and draw my strength from him because I absolutely cannot do it on my own or I really will drive myself crazy. I've been much more patient with my kids and have felt much more positive about everything. Yesterday, I was completely losing my patience with Owen, so I decided it was time to go for a run, so I loaded Owen up in the stroller and off we went. When we got back, I felt so much better. It's amazing what prayer and a little physical activity can do for your mindset! I've been trying my best to run or at least walk every day and keep thinking about Dave's sermon and what a change I've seen in my attitude. I've even had some energy left over to get part of my house cleaned up!
Thanks Dave!! You hit the mark this week and I appreciate it so much! :)
I've been having quite a good week this week. I'm so thankful that God dragged me out of bed, shoved me in the car and sent me off to church on Sunday. Since Owen had his surgery Friday, we didnt want to take him to church yet, so one of us had to stay home with him. Saturday night, I was trying to talk Matt into going and Sunday morning I was so tired and really didn't want to go. Ella had waken up a few times in the night and Owen didn't sleep very good, so I was just exhausted. I rolled out of bed finally and fed Ella, took a shower and off we went. Of course, we were running late, but I made it there by 9 to help with Sunday school. They recently rearranged things to kinda work around us always being late. Now there is just 1 kindergarten class that the Quams are leading and we are helping them (or other classes if need be). We split up into 2 classes if there are too many kids, which seems to happen about every other week. This week, there was a manageable number of kids, they were quite well behaved and we had big group worship, so we kept them in one room and things went pretty smoothly. The ladies in the nursery managed to hold Ella off until between services, so they didnt have to page me and I was able to feed her before I went into the service.
Dave Semmelbeck did the sermon this week and it was excellent! It's sad how I sit through lots of sermons and realize at the end that I didnt pay much attention and have no idea what they were all about. This week I was paying attention and it was just the message I needed to hear right now! We're studying the book of John right now and Dave covered chapter 3 this week which is all about believing in Christ and spiritual rebirth and Dave spent a lot of time talking about living a life dependent on Christ. I agree that's essential to life and sadly I have forgotten to do it lately! I've been so stressed out that I even went to the doctor and got a prescription for anxiety medication (which I have not started taking yet). I know a lot of my problem is my hormones right now, being post-partum and all, but I really think now that more of my problem is my spirit! I have been trying to do everything on my own. I've been digging and digging trying to find the energy to take care of my kids, work, keep my house somewhat sanitary, keep at least a pair of undies or 2 clean and I'm coming up empty! I sat there in church listening to Dave and just kicked myself and said, "DUH!" What is wrong with me? I know the truth, yet I stray away from it over and over and over again. So, this week, my goal has been to stop and pray when I feel myself becoming overwhelmed. I just ask God to remind me and help me to depend on him and draw my strength from him because I absolutely cannot do it on my own or I really will drive myself crazy. I've been much more patient with my kids and have felt much more positive about everything. Yesterday, I was completely losing my patience with Owen, so I decided it was time to go for a run, so I loaded Owen up in the stroller and off we went. When we got back, I felt so much better. It's amazing what prayer and a little physical activity can do for your mindset! I've been trying my best to run or at least walk every day and keep thinking about Dave's sermon and what a change I've seen in my attitude. I've even had some energy left over to get part of my house cleaned up!
Thanks Dave!! You hit the mark this week and I appreciate it so much! :)
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