Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
I have been filled with almost indescribable joy in these last few months as I've been watching the relationship of my youngest children flourishing. Pure joy to my soul.
I'll take you back to the 2010-2011 school year. My daughter was in 1st grade in the public school. Her brother just 2. And this was their relationship: he adored her and she loathed him. Sounds typical, you say. Sure it is typical, if you're of this world. But we are not of this world ~
Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
We serve the Lord in this household, not the world. Brother/Sister quarrels - of this world. Feeling like your younger sibling is not good enough to hang out with - of this world. Feeling like you're too cool for your younger sibling - of this world. Thinking their should not be too much of a bond between children because they are so far apart in age - of this world!!! Do not conform to the patterns of this world...
But my daughter was a slow fade into conformity due to the friends she had to choose from. When she started Kindergarten at age 4 in public school (because she was tested and found ready), she was the sweetest, most loving and precious child. She loved her friends and love Jesus. But very quickly, she was picked on because she was ONLY 4, while all her classmates were 5 and in some cases even 6. She learned and conformed to that mentality of the course of the 2 years she was in public school. Every year, it got worse. She had to hear over and over on the playground, 'you can't play with us, only kids that are ....age can play with us.' And what did she get at home playing with the kids around the block, the same thing, even with the kids who were in the same grade as her but a year older.
Patterns of the world. No one else was telling their kids, you don't need to exclude anyone. Everyone has gifts to share and parts of their personality to share that you don't have and it's good to accept others and enjoy their gifts as they share them with you.
So she brought that home and handed it right off to her brother. They yelled at each other all the time, they got in arguments over toys because she didn't want to share, they were bored because she didn't see the value in playing with her brother and felt like she had no one to play with. It was a long 2+ years.
And I prayed. I prayed for her heart. I prayed for their relationship. For the protection of his heart because he was not understanding why his sister did not want to play with him. And for peace in our household. I prayed expecting God would answer.
And his answer: an invitation to join a new group of ladies - people I hadn't spent much time with at all and some not ever - but an opportunity to become part of a community of believers to share life together. And that was the day that changed our lives, again. That was the night, after hanging around after everyone else had left because I was enjoying myself and was half expecting they'd kick me out if they didn't want me hanging around, the invitation came. An offer to have my daughter home-schooled at their house!! God, you are so awesome! Are you serious?! I couldn't have come across a better solution in a million years. I wasn't equipped to homeschool and it wouldn't have been at all the same, since their school already had kids in it and two kids already there in her grade! It was the weekend before public school was to start, not more than three days after we had dropped off all her supplies at school and she was truly excited about her teacher, as she had been hoping that she would have him for 2nd grade. But I knew this was a gift from God and was not going to let the devil tantalize her with the thought of a 'cool teacher' - what would have been a bandaid on a broken bone.
We went to school, took back her supplies and God worked out the rest, of course!
Fast forward to this weekend. Saturday was quite possibly one of the best days so far in their relationship. I have been continuously praising God for his healing in their relationship over the last several months. It has been so noticeable and undeniable that God is the one working in them, moving them to a more loving relationship with each other.
So this weekend, they come running up to me and ask me if they can share a bedroom by moving my son's bed downstairs into his sister's room. They both were excited about the idea and his toddler bed was just the right size and easy enough to move. I thought, how excellent is it, they love each other so much that they want to share space and feel the comfort of the other being in the room when they sleep. Absolutely!! Are you kidding me - I love you guys so much! My heart was just exploding and almost speechless with pure joy at the development of this new relationship that God has been forging. And in which I have been obedient in disciplining along the way when those 'of the world' patterns were trying to creep in and take over.
I have gotten to witness gut giggles, them playing together non-stop, eating the same kind of candy after they finish their meal (that's our treat, 1-piece after eating all that's on the plate in the correct proportion and food groups) and wanting to do that, getting each other's water bottles out of the fridge, taking baths together, helping each other make their beds and picking up toys, piggy back rides, playing games together, hugging each other, laying on top of each other to watch movies, snuggling .....
Truly, truly loving each other from the heart!!
And moving his bed down to her room, was the best cake icing I have ever tasted!
Her mind was renewed and as a result all our lives have been transformed. God's word is steadfast and true, forever and always.
We will continue on, removing ourselves from this world, so that our joy may be complete. We will continue to serve the Lord; anything else is serving satan.
I have been filled with almost indescribable joy in these last few months as I've been watching the relationship of my youngest children flourishing. Pure joy to my soul.
I'll take you back to the 2010-2011 school year. My daughter was in 1st grade in the public school. Her brother just 2. And this was their relationship: he adored her and she loathed him. Sounds typical, you say. Sure it is typical, if you're of this world. But we are not of this world ~
Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
We serve the Lord in this household, not the world. Brother/Sister quarrels - of this world. Feeling like your younger sibling is not good enough to hang out with - of this world. Feeling like you're too cool for your younger sibling - of this world. Thinking their should not be too much of a bond between children because they are so far apart in age - of this world!!! Do not conform to the patterns of this world...
But my daughter was a slow fade into conformity due to the friends she had to choose from. When she started Kindergarten at age 4 in public school (because she was tested and found ready), she was the sweetest, most loving and precious child. She loved her friends and love Jesus. But very quickly, she was picked on because she was ONLY 4, while all her classmates were 5 and in some cases even 6. She learned and conformed to that mentality of the course of the 2 years she was in public school. Every year, it got worse. She had to hear over and over on the playground, 'you can't play with us, only kids that are ....age can play with us.' And what did she get at home playing with the kids around the block, the same thing, even with the kids who were in the same grade as her but a year older.
Patterns of the world. No one else was telling their kids, you don't need to exclude anyone. Everyone has gifts to share and parts of their personality to share that you don't have and it's good to accept others and enjoy their gifts as they share them with you.
So she brought that home and handed it right off to her brother. They yelled at each other all the time, they got in arguments over toys because she didn't want to share, they were bored because she didn't see the value in playing with her brother and felt like she had no one to play with. It was a long 2+ years.
And I prayed. I prayed for her heart. I prayed for their relationship. For the protection of his heart because he was not understanding why his sister did not want to play with him. And for peace in our household. I prayed expecting God would answer.
And his answer: an invitation to join a new group of ladies - people I hadn't spent much time with at all and some not ever - but an opportunity to become part of a community of believers to share life together. And that was the day that changed our lives, again. That was the night, after hanging around after everyone else had left because I was enjoying myself and was half expecting they'd kick me out if they didn't want me hanging around, the invitation came. An offer to have my daughter home-schooled at their house!! God, you are so awesome! Are you serious?! I couldn't have come across a better solution in a million years. I wasn't equipped to homeschool and it wouldn't have been at all the same, since their school already had kids in it and two kids already there in her grade! It was the weekend before public school was to start, not more than three days after we had dropped off all her supplies at school and she was truly excited about her teacher, as she had been hoping that she would have him for 2nd grade. But I knew this was a gift from God and was not going to let the devil tantalize her with the thought of a 'cool teacher' - what would have been a bandaid on a broken bone.
We went to school, took back her supplies and God worked out the rest, of course!
Fast forward to this weekend. Saturday was quite possibly one of the best days so far in their relationship. I have been continuously praising God for his healing in their relationship over the last several months. It has been so noticeable and undeniable that God is the one working in them, moving them to a more loving relationship with each other.
So this weekend, they come running up to me and ask me if they can share a bedroom by moving my son's bed downstairs into his sister's room. They both were excited about the idea and his toddler bed was just the right size and easy enough to move. I thought, how excellent is it, they love each other so much that they want to share space and feel the comfort of the other being in the room when they sleep. Absolutely!! Are you kidding me - I love you guys so much! My heart was just exploding and almost speechless with pure joy at the development of this new relationship that God has been forging. And in which I have been obedient in disciplining along the way when those 'of the world' patterns were trying to creep in and take over.
I have gotten to witness gut giggles, them playing together non-stop, eating the same kind of candy after they finish their meal (that's our treat, 1-piece after eating all that's on the plate in the correct proportion and food groups) and wanting to do that, getting each other's water bottles out of the fridge, taking baths together, helping each other make their beds and picking up toys, piggy back rides, playing games together, hugging each other, laying on top of each other to watch movies, snuggling .....
Truly, truly loving each other from the heart!!
And moving his bed down to her room, was the best cake icing I have ever tasted!
Her mind was renewed and as a result all our lives have been transformed. God's word is steadfast and true, forever and always.
We will continue on, removing ourselves from this world, so that our joy may be complete. We will continue to serve the Lord; anything else is serving satan.
