Taking Time to Teach

   So, I don't know if any of you read the post before last one with the pictures. The one I am talking about is  titled "provision" and, the topic of that day was being worried that something bad was going to happen when it might not ever happen. This particular blog post goes back to that idea. I have been thinking lots about what my tests or trials are in my life right now. As a housewife/manager, mother of 3 beautiful little children I have lots of things that happen throughout of the course of one day. From when I wake up at about 7:00 ish to when I go to bed which is sometimes 12:30-1:00 ish I am faced with all kinds of tests, most of which are not multiple choice but TRUE/FALSE tests! I used to hate multiple choice in college. I would make 100%'s on essay tests, but multiple choice tests, well those were a different story. So, back to present day. I'm at home all day everyday with my 3 gorgeous children, whom I love, but drive me insane at times!! So, my husband might not have died, my kids might not have cancer (not that those things couldn't happen at any time), but I still have tests/trials at home! What am I doing with these hours that I have at home with them?

  Most of my hours "feel" like I am cleaning up messes being made. I try to make them clean up a lot of their messes, but sometimes it's simply easier to get the  'do it yourself' mentality. But, does that type of mentality  teach them anything? I think there has to be a balance between the extreme of slave labor (LOL), and not making your children do anything.  I can let the times that my kids are moving slow, or simply don't want to pick up as a disappointment or HIS appointment. I can either choose do it myself to save the time/energy of talking and doing, or I can show them how to do things the right way. This is so much more difficult in practice than in thought! Just like most other things are in this life!

    Next, I can let those opportunities slip, and then I become somewhat "bitter" at my kids for making the messes to begin with. Then, what usually happens is that we often have an explosion of frustration!  These are what the trials in my life are right now. I know this might be a "duh" moment to most of you, but to me it  is as though Satan has been blinding my eyes so that  could not see these everyday issues as trials/test from God. God does not tempt as stated in James (chapter 1), but he does tests our spiritual muscles to see how strong we are. I have to admit and be honest to you, I fail my tests and reveal my weak muscles much of the time. This is  because when presented with the option of teaching my kids to pick up or doing it myself (which is JUST ONE example), I usually just do it myself which is quickly followed by my explosion later because there is YET another mess. I was listening to a sermon on oneplace.com the other day by John MacArthur. Excellent sermon about the Model prayer. It was explaining that when it says "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" it is asking God help you "pass" those tests so that we won't be tempted to react to our situations, but act.
    Let me say it like this: Say, for example Noah & Elijah make a mess in their room. I go in there and instead of getting upset with them I nicely (calmly) ask them to pick up the mess they have made, supervise them until they do (they're only 3 &4, sometimes I have to remind myself), and  don't NAG them to keep picking up but ENCOURAGE them to pick up and put the toys exactly where they go. Then, I have passed my test/trial God has sent me. However, let's give the other scenario that happens far too often around here; the kids make a monstrous mess, I go in there and tell them very sweetly to pick up their mess. I walk away to go do something else that needs to be done (most of the time), and then I go back to find that they are still playing with the toys and haven't picked up at all, so I get a little more upset his time. I might even raise my voice! I tell them again,  PICK UP the MESS! I get even more specific, and then walk away and come back in another 5 minutes to find that guess what? It is still there!!! I'm furious by this time and my test has now been taken by Satan and turned into Temptation to which is succumb to with OPEN ARMS. Why? All because I didn't take the time to Teach.
    This applies to all areas of life, not just with children. I just used this because it is what I deal with most of the time! However, I have other areas of my life where I have examined and found the same thing to be true! How Deceitful, How Monstrous can one person be? Satan is the author of LIES. He is the Ruler of the this World that we can see is getting worse and worse daily! Why should we be surprised when he does things like this to us? He is trying to ruin our reputation.  No,  they might not be the executives of a big corporation, but they could be the NEXT NOAH (found Grace in God's eyes), THE NEXT ELIJAH (cast down the Baals), THE NEXT KATE( Kate = PURE Girl). Wow. We wonder why our influence won't go out our doors when we do, this is why. I struggle more with this than anything else. How do I react to my husband? Do I get mad at him right away when he does something that frustrates me or do I take the time to consider what God is teaching me through this. Because just was we (women) are tyring to TEACH our children, God is trying to TEACH us! Are we willing to listen? Are we willing to be corrected (hard one for me!!!)? Are we willing to try to change? A hard challenge for us all.

     My struggles may not be a child with cancer, losing a husband, or even battling an illness of some type myself, but my battles are loneliness, impatience, bitterness, resentment, etc. And, how I handle those are going to be a good indicator of my relationship with God in others' eyes!

Thank you, Lord, for all you do for me! You are so good to me I am unable to write everything good that you have done. Lord, I love my 3 children that you have blessed me with. They are wonderful, creative, and so willing to learn. Help me to be willing to teach them the lessons they need to learn in this life so that they may grow up to be prepared for the next life to come with worshipping our Almighty Savior and King, YOU!

Couldn't leave without posting these verses: "2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything"

Your Girl,
     Jamie