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Joy for Everyday

April 20, 2012 — Leave a comment

Everyday it seems like Eli is learning something new. Just yesterday he was imitating me as I pretended to knock on the door he did the same thing. Today he had a toy on the other side of the room and he would walk back and forth from the toy and the couch, he would pretend to pick up some food and then he would come over and pretend to feed me that food. When I responded with a “mmmmm!” He got a big smile on his face and I could see the excitement he had by my reaction. Every time that he does something good he hears me saying “good boy” and just this week he has started saying that as well. Seriously moms where does the time go? I mean before I know it my baby will be off to school! Which by the way I am so not ready for!

I think time seems to go by much faster as we are older, probably because we value it more as we see how much of a gift the lives God has given us truly are. I am just grateful that one of the many gifts that God has given me is my beautiful son who makes me laugh and smile and brings me joy everyday! What gift are you thankful for?

 

We sing this song every year at my church during the Christmas services. I love this song! It is a great example that the heart behind the gift is what truly matters, not the gift itself. One of the lines in the song mentions that the boy has no gift to bring, so the he plays his drum. The heart behind the gift is what truly matters, I believe that to be so for gifts we give to each other as well as the gift we give God when we worship Him. If our heart isn’t there then it doesn’t really matter what gift we are bringing.

Little Drummer Boy by Jars of Clay

Come, they told me (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
A newborn king to see (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
Our finest gifts we bring (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
To lay before the king (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum) [x3]
So, to honor Him (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
When we come

Little baby (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I am a poor boy too (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I have no gifts to bring (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
That’s fit to give a king (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum) [x3]
Shall I play for you (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
On my drum?

Mary nodded (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I played my best for Him (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum) [x3]
Then, He smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
Me and my drum

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 (NIV) 

As Christians we are not supposed to just go to church and then go home. The church is not truly meant for us. We are to be the church for those who need to hear God’s word. Many of us find our selves in a routine of going to church and coming home and that’s it. How many of us get involved? I know with as busy as our schedules are, it is hard to find time to buy groceries let alone volunteer. But, we are supposed to reach out to those in need. I have made a top 10 list of ways to volunteer either from home, or short time framed opportunities that will work for most moms! It doesn’t matter what we do as long as we get involved and show our kids first hand how fun it is to help! Find what you are passionate about and start there. That way volunteering wont feel like a chore. We must make a difference in our communities, God will bless us for doing what He has asked!

  1. Find an organization you support and see if they need help running their blog
  2. Make phone calls for a non-profit
  3. Help get envelopes ready for mail outs
  4. Be a greeter at your church (you are already there and the kids can join in!)
  5. Take your kids with you to your local food bank and sort food
  6. You and your kids can make cards for local vets and residents of nursing homes (it really brightens their day!)
  7. Volunteer with a hospitality ministry where you cook meals for families who have had a birth or loss in the family (these ministries are also easy to start if your church doesn’t have one, get a bunch of volunteers and you only have to cook a meal once a month or so because you all take turns!)
  8. If you are artistic or creative in any way non profits and smaller ministries would love to use your abilities for websites, flyers and events
  9. Go through your closets and clean them out! There are lots of non profits that will distribute the clothing to those in need
  10. Need a way to start off simple and work into bigger volunteer options? Start by sponsorship. You can sponsor children and families in lots of different organizations to provide things like food, clothing, school supplies, a job and much more!

It doesn’t matter what you do, we just need to get out there and make a difference! If you still don’t know where to start I have listed a few non profits that I really believe in and you just might too! Go and be Jesus to the world!

Give A Goat

Compassion International

Invisible Children

Charity Water

 

 

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV)

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:7-8 (NIV)

Where does your strength come from? Do you rely on the strength of yourself and the circumstances around you? Why do we do that? Sometimes I think that we place our strength in ourselves because it is easy to have the idea that we can do it all. How wrong is that? We are not wonder woman, sometimes we may feel like we need to be. When the kids are sick, laundry is piled high and the house is a wreck, if we rely on ourselves to get through it all we feel the need for super powers! The only thing we are doing is setting ourselves up for defeat. When the house becomes more of a disaster and nothing is getting done, in fact things are just getting worse, we are only made more aware of the lack of our wonder woman abilities. Well, let me be the first to say that it is OKAY if we are not super mom. We all want to be that for our kids. But, it is okay because there is one that will be that super hero for us. He will give us the strength to get through everything and not feel defeated! If we place our trust in the Rock that is our God then our strength will never fail because He is our refuge and source of all strength we have! Let’s embrace the fact that we are not wonder woman and fully trust in the One who will give us the strength we need!