Turning In My Kitchen Chair

Am I my biggest hindrance in having God's Spirit poured out on me?

According to Proverbs 1:23, possibly so.

If you turn at my reproof, behind I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

I want nothing more in my life but to have God's Spirit poured out on me.  I mean that.

This Proverbs makes me search myself up and down, seeking any area of my life that is not completely surrendered to the Lord.  

Look a little closer...

Turn {shuwb} - to turn towards any one; repent; to turn from evil; to come back; to restore

The Lord asks us to come back to Him.  Turn away from sin and towards Him for restoration.

Reproof (towkechah} Correction by words; rebuke.

I ask myself - Becky, where is the Lord correcting you?  What rebuke do you receive from His Word?  What specific area needs restored in you?

Pour out my spirit {naba} to gush forth.

Oh need I say more??  His Word promises me that when I do this...when I turn towards Him in response to correction...His Spirit will GUSH FORTH upon my life.  

Holy Smokes!  What am I waiting on?  Can you imagine?  Don't we want this?

Is there an area in your life that you need to turn at His reproof?  Are you in Spiritual dry patch?  Could this be why??

I know exactly where these areas are in my life.  I hardly have to think about it. 

This morning, I sit at the head of my kitchen table, turning and turning and turning in my chair.  Coming back to my Daddy.  Expecting His Spirit to GUSH FORTH on this day.  On my life.  On my home. On my family.  

I throw my head back and open my mouth wide! Oh, let it rain!  Open the floodgates today, Lord Jesus.

Friend, will you walk with me this morning?...

.... Let us search our hearts.  And surrender our lives.

Be filled with His Spirit today.

Authority, Crowns and Camo Hats

For Brent, the conversation came up out of no where.

I stood staring at the bathroom mirror.  Curling one tiny strand of hair at a time, I talked to the Lord and listened.  He had been stirring my spirit for days.  Curl after curl, I replayed each scenario in my mind. My most recent not-so-great-wife moments.

Listening back I could hear it...my words creating disorder in my own home.

Brent walked through the bathroom door and into our closet, laying a pair of gym shoes on the floor.

I looked at him through the mirror, "Babe, I owe you an apology."

He stood up.  "For what?"

"Recently, my eyes have been opened to how often I rob you of authority in front of the kids."

Twirling strands of hair around my iron, I went on.

"When you are home, I want the boys to know that Daddy is home.  God has appointed you as the head of our family and when it comes to the kids, I rob your voice of its authority.  And what I say is nothing huge or greatly disrespectful.  It is the little things.  For example, yesterday after dinner the boys asked if they could go outside and play.  And in the middle of you giving them permission, I interjected and said to them, 'No you all need to go upstairs and finish cleaning the playroom.'  I did not allow your instruction to hold weight."

Brent smiled.  "I think you are being too hard on yourself."

"No, I am serious.  Earlier I stopped you when you gave them a Popsicle. I even know when I do it!  I want the boys to hear your "no be no" and your "yes be yes".  I want to play a supportive role to you in everything.  If I am not submitting to you then what am I teaching them?  To argue authority?  I don't want that.  When you are home, I want them to see you as the head of our family.  God put things in this order."

As a mom, isn't it difficult to make this transition?  All day long, it is just me and the kids.  I give instruction. I call them for meals.  I referee disputes.  I tell them where to be and at what time. I am in charge.

But when daddy's home, things shift.  Authority shifts.  Brent and I then become a team, yet he serves as coach.

But hear me now {sassy finger wagging}. What I am not saying is - "Ladies, we are to be quiet doormats in our homes.  We have no voice.  Let us be seen and not heard."

Absolutely not.  That is not it at all.  But what the Lord is saying to me is, "Becky, be an example of honor and respect.  Don't just tell your boys to honor their authority, be an example.  Show them the God-ordained order of a Christian home.  Encourage your husband in his manhood.  Love him well by respecting him well.

My parents fought - loud, proud and a lot.  My mama wore the pants, no doubt.  I refuse to allow my boys to grow up under this same model. When I disagree with Brent, I can (and usually will) express my opinion in a respectful way...but not in the presence of my children.

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.  Proverbs 12:4

The excellent wife is a woman of good character, a helper to her man, one who brings him public honor. But the place I must practice public honor is in the privacy of my own home.  With my audience of three.

I pray my sons will grow up desiring an excellent wife of good, godly character.  A character in which they watched their own mother live out.

I pray their wife will be a beautiful crown, not a camouflage hat.

Brent smiled, "Well, I accept your apology."

And with an overly macho voice and a silly smirk, Brent stood extra tall and said, "But don't let it happen again now woman."

{He's a mess - grin}

Lord, thank you for your gentle conviction and allowing me to see a small crack in what could become large break.  Help me to show honor and respect to Brent, all of the time, but especially in the presence of our boys.  In Jesus name, amen.

This post was featured today at Our Family For His Glory!  Take time to hop over and meet Jessica...a woman of God, wife and mother of six....SEVEN years and younger.  What a rockstar!  Thanks, Jess for the opportunity to share a piece of my heart with your readers!!  xoxo

Dollywood's Got Nothin' On You

Two mornings ago, the sun shone brightly through my bamboo, Roman shade. 

 My eyes opened and immediately I heard Him speak.

"This summer, be filled."

His voice, quiet and clear.

"Be filled."

He is faithful to answer my questions.  The past weeks, I had been asking...

Lord, what is Your purpose for this summer?  

Give me a word.  Give me a Scripture to claim.  

What do you want me to teach my boys?  Let's get creative.

And intentional.

"Be filled," He said.

Each summer I have focused on something.  Summertime Sanity, remember?! And then last year we planned a Summer of Significance.  We've read books and made crafts and kept calendars. 

And it was great!

But this Summer, the Lord is having me keep it simple.

"Be filled."

Parent, you don't need a new book or catchy moto this summer.  

The Holy Spirit lives inside you.  

You are in dwelt with the power that called light into existence.

Do you know this about yourself?  

If you haven't thought about this earth-shattering truth in a while sip your coffee and smile...

The Spirit of the Creator God lives in you and empowers your life.

This summer, be filled.

What does that mean to you?  What does that mean for your summer?  For your children?

How could this summer look different if we walk fully in the creativity of His Spirit?

Dollywood ain't got nothin' on you, honey.  This summer may just be the ride of your life.

As I have researched the word "filled" and prayed about my boys, I have asked the Lord what He wants me to do for the next 76 summer days.  Again, He answered.  Giving me one thing I thought I'd share.

It is simple.  But has been a blessing.

My two older boys (ages almost 9 & 6) have a new morning routine.

Each day, first thing when they come downstairs, they look at the chalkboard.

On it will be a passage reference.  Theirs to look up.  

I bought them each a new journal (spiral Mead notebook) and gave them pens and markers.

Quietly, they grab their Bible and start to flippin'.

I ask them to write out the verse. And next write down a few observations.

Ethan is younger, so sometimes he draws a picture or simply decorates the verse with fun color letters.  Then we will talk about it.

Either way, they are handling the Word of God.  First thing every morning.

They are old enough to begin embracing their own quiet times.

Yesterday, this verse graced our chalkboard.

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52

After Ethan wrote this down he said, "That's it?"

I couldn't help but laugh.  I said, 

"Yes, that's it.  But what are two things we know about Jesus' disciples from this simple phrase."

"Umm.  They were happy?"

"Yes, full of joy. What else?"

"And they had the Holy Spirit?"

"Yep.  The Bible says they were full of that, too.  Filled with His Spirit.  Do you think that we are full of joy when we are filled full of God?...."

And on we went....having a casual conversation about a life-changing Biblical truth.

I told you, simple.

But intentional.

Today, I pray the Lord would speak to you about your summer. 

Or maybe He has already!

 I hope you'll share.

Share a word.  Or His vision.  

For your children and the next 76 days.  

Thanks for letting me share mine {smile}.