Thankful Thursday 2

  This morning was a breath of fresh air for this heart of mine. Life has gotten so busy and has been so full lately that I have grown a little weary. We have been busy, busy, busy with wonderful and amazing things. Life is full and good. Full time ministry is busy, four kids is busy and homeschooling is busy.... I don't often get to spend time, quality time, quiet uninterrupted time with sweet friends.

   This morning I got two precious hours with one of my dearest friends. We didn't do anything adventurous or crazy exciting, neither of us have pressing things to share, cry or laugh about, but our time together was so sweet and precious to me. I always leave our times together feeling like I am not in life alone, I have some sweet friends that suit up and shoulder life with me. Sometimes that's all I need. Just a sweet little reminder that I have a life line outside of my crazy house, busy ministry and hours of conversations with human beings under the age of ten. So breakfast out and brisk walk in the spring sunshine with a dear friend was perfection.

   This is a busy season of life, there is no changing that. God has graciously shown me how to joyfully embrace all that is on my plate.  Gratitude is what fuels the joy in my heart. I have plenty to be thankful for, I just need to mindfully take the time to say thank you on the crazy busy days. So here are the things that I am thankful for this Thursday.

1. A precious brown eyed Sunday girl, who loves to laugh and loves to pick me flowers and weeds.
2. A son who is eager to please, obey and quick apologize when he has hurt his sisters feelings ... and diligently empties my dishwasher daily!
3. Hope's maturity in caring for her little sister, making her bed every morning and being a so generous with her love and affection towards me, fills up my love tank!
4. Lily's sense of humor brings laughter into every event in our home and her thoughtfulness and sweet grace towards others enriches the atmposhere in the Libby home daily.
5. I am thankful beyond words for husband who cares deeply for our family, loves the Lord with his whole heart and loves his job!
6. I am thankful for the sweet friends the Lord has blessed me with. Whether I see them once a week or once a month, I feel blessed and enriched by their presence in my life.
7. I am thankful for the laughter that has filled our home this spring break, for all the cuddles on the couch in our pj's wrapped up in blankets, for spring walks in the sun and quality time with the people I love! Blessed. I am SO blessed!

My one little man

     Over the last few weeks I have had some sweet moments with my one and only son. As he is growing into such a remarkable young man the mixed emotions come flooding in. It pains me that he is growing up SO fast and at the same time I am so proud of the man he is growing up to be.

    I have seen such a maturity in him over the last few weeks. I am so thankful that as he is forming his many thoughts, ideas and opinions about life , he is doing so rooted and grounded in Christ. I have truly seen a transformation in him as we talk through things together.

     On Thursday night we drove past the salvation army as crowds of people were lining up for beds that night. Elijah and Hope were absolutely heart broken at the thought of all those people not having a home. It brought lots of great questions and sweet conversation for the rest of the drive home. Right before we pulled into the driveway, Elijah looked up at me with the most sincere look in his eyes he said, "I wish that those people would really, really know Jesus, like I know Jesus. Then they could all have a fresh start in life, just like God gave me." My heart and my eyes welled up as I thought about how far we have come together just in the last two years. I was so full of thanks for all the work the Lord has been doing in Elijah's life. It is the most precious thing to see faith rooted in his heart, sprouting, growing and producing sweet fruit all on it's own.

    I went back and forth and back and forth about home schooling Elijah this year. I was so afraid that he would feel like he was missing out, I was afraid that he would in fact miss out, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to teach him well enough, I am not really the teaching type.....and you know what?! It has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made! We have had our ups and downs for sure, our occasional battles over math and a few meltdowns on both sides.... :) BUT the time we have been able to share, having him at home while the girls are a school, watching him grow and learn and being able to teach him so much more then subjects has been absolutely priceless. I am glad that I followed the Lord and stepped out of my comfort zone despite all my fears. I have been blessed in it all, beyond measure and Elijah and I have never been closer.

      I have learned quite a lot as well though all of this. Brace yourself, this may shock you just as much as it shocked me... I am not perfect. :) In all honesty, after this year it has never been more clear. I fall short in about a thousand ways. BUT the beautiful thing that the Lord has been teaching me day after day is grace; how to give it, and how to receive it. I am far from perfect, but I am the perfect mom for Elijah. TRUTH. God made me to be just the kind of mother that my boy needs. There is so much grace in that. I fail in one thing or another ever day. I can be impatient, unkind, selfish and irrational, nothing brings that out in a woman like home schooling! :) BUT even in my short comings I have been able to teach Elijah and my girls about how the Lord wants us to live. God has graciously shown me how to humbly lead them and teach them through my victories and my failures, we talk about it all. I also, have never needed Jesus more! I have four precious little ones with their eyes glued to me and their ears listening to what I have to say, it's an amazing and also terrifying place to be. I so badly don't want to mess up, so I rely heavily on the Lord day and night. It is safe to say that He comes to my rescue daily and through the raising of my children He and I have become the best of friends. I would not dare to even try to conquer the craziness of this household with out Him!

         When Elijah was 2, his favorite thing in the world was whales. They were the biggest thing his little mind knew of and he couldn't imagine anything greater. So when I would put him to bed at night he would wrap his little arms around me and say "I love you a million whales mama!" He needed me then, I was his whole world! When he is feeling sentimental about something he still tells me he loves me a million whales, but now that he is older our routine has changed. I get less kisses, cuddles and hugs for sure, but when he gives them to me they mean SO much. Every night when I say "I love you", he always says, "I love you more!". He doesn't say I love you in public, but he never fails to make eye contact with me and sign "I love you" every single time.

      Even though he is bigger, he is still just as sweet. Last night on the way home from church, after I gave him one of my "you have to be responsible, you have to be blah blah blah" speeches, he sat in silence and then said super sincerely  "I am really sorry mom, will you forgive me? And by the way, you look really pretty today." Somehow, it means so much  more coming from my extra opinionated, smart and independent growing son. Even though he thinks he is SO grown up, I know that he still needs me. He always will, it will just be for different things in different seasons and I am learning to be ok with that. My job after all is to help him succeed at being an honest, kind, godly man of integrity in this world one day. That would never happen if I didn't ever allow him to grow up. I will just soak in each day that I get with my ever growing little man, and keep praying that the Lord will help me to be exactly what Elijah needs me to be as he grows.

     

   

Xena the warrior princess

The Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:10-18 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and wit your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation  and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for the Saints."

     It's about time and far over due, but here it is, the last of the the armor of God! Studying the armor has truly made me aware of how desperately I need to be wearing it, and putting it on every day, even several times a day! Oh how we need it to succeed as we fight the good fight daily! 

      The sword of the spirit is the the Word of God.  Every other piece of armor is used as defense against attacks. The Bible is our powerful weapon that we can use to defend attacks AND fight back too. It's the only weapon we have, the only one we need! Hebrews 4:12

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." 

      One day, you and I will be held accountable for how we used this precious piece of armor that the Lord lovingly breathed into existence for us. Do you know it? Do you use it? Have you hidden it in your heart? Do you love love love the words of redemption, forgiveness, love and power? We have access to the words of the Almighty, living, sovereign Maker and Savior. His Words are full of wisdom, council, hope, truth and the most beautiful love story every lived out so that you and I could be saved, free, loved and  forgiven. What a precious and valuable gift that our Maker and Savior gave. His Words, His love story in written form for us. When we read it; it brings light to our paths. When we believe the Good News clearly written throughout it; we are saved.  When we obey the commands in it; we are spared and protected from so much evil and consequence. When we hide it in our hearts; it becomes readily available for the fight. 

      God's Word protects us from Satan's lies, because it is full of TRUTH. God's Word overflows with loving words of truth about our value and worth. We are SO valuable that Jesus gave His life so that we could be saved. It's the weapon we have to fight Satan when he reminds us of our past sin - We know we are washed in the  blood of the lamb, covered in Christ's righteousness. We can fight seeds of doubt planted in our minds with the TRUTH -Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". What power the Lord has given us in His spoken Word! It's truly the only power we have, shouldn't we be using it?! 

    When we don't know God's Word and aren't using it, we are often blind to the truth and accepting of the lies that Satan continually tells us. We are caught in a vicious battle with no weapon. When we are weaponless in battle we are not just completely unuseful, we becomes a hindrance to the other soldiers around us, fighting too. Can you imagine, a soldier in the middle of a battle choosing to not pick up his sword. It's right there, readily available to him and he doesn't pick it up and use it. He is not going to make it! And if he does survive, its because someone else has started to fight for him. That soldier is not only a fool, but a burden to those around him too. That thought alone is inspiration enough for me to go read my Bible right now! I do not want to be that kind of a soldier. I want to be as prepared and equipped as I can be, fighting shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters. So... I choose Xena the warrior princess. 

        Suit up! Pick up your sword and "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for the Saints." Ephesians 6:18.We are all in it together, shoulder to shoulder, fighting the good fight. We need the armor and each other every day. This world has exalted tolerance over truth, materialism over contentment and our rights to respond however we see fit over showing God's grace, love and forgiveness. We need His strength,  His armor and each other to live lives set apart! Then, as we start to live set apart - the battle heats up and we need Him, armor and each other all the more! But, take heart! When the light is shinning bright in the darkness, when the contrast is astoundingly evident, and the battle is fierce;  that's when we get to see God accomplish great things in us and through us for His glory and fame! That is living life truly abundantly!  May we all end our days able to say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”