The Flame Within

I woke up this morning in a super grumpy mood… My whiney little girl… Whose recovering from a bout with the stomach bug… Certainly wasn’t helping my mood… Neither were my younger two boys banging the floors of their room above my head or my messy house screaming to be cleaned.

It didn’t take me long to realize how desperately I needed to spend time with God.

I’m learning friends… Slowly but surely I’m learning.

As I began snapping grumpily at my children… trying desperately to find a quiet moment to pour myself a cup of coffee and to sit on my front porch swing and enjoy the beautiful day God has provided… God again whispered into my heart. Invite the little… “Loud” people to join you in reading my word… Listening to the calming serenading of my beautiful birds… Invite them to pray to me… Invite them to sing praises to Me… I am!

Today we read from Psalms…

1You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Spending time with The Lord with four children isn’t “easy” but there’s something about the process that calms my spirit and the Spirit’s of my children. Although, much of the time I’m redirecting and insisting they be better listeners etc… After time spent focusing on God our spirits are calmer. Today we ended by praising God for one awesome aspect of His creation… The beautiful flowers… The large tree in the front yard that is good for climbing… And for Daniel’s (my six year old’s) funny little facial expressions that always makes me smile. Before releasing the children… We sang two praise songs.

You know… This process of spending time with God is ultimately effective in regaining control of hyper kids, changing this momma’s bad attitude, and the overall calming of spirits. You know what… It’s so much better than yelling, spanking, and feeling guilty later.

You know I’m learning something in my old age… This God thing REALLY works…

That my friends is why I love Him and serve Him to the best of my ability!

Because…

God “REALLY” Works!!!

Next time your children are out of control, next time you feel on the verge of losing your temper, next time your spirit is uneasy….

Try God… He works!

Blessings,

Crystal