Dealing With Anger

It is just human nature to retaliate or respond in anger when we feel that we have been wronged. This response is so naturally ingrained that it happens reflexively, like when the hammer hits that perfect point on your knee in the doctor's office.

Yet as is true in most areas, what the Lord asks of us is in complete opposition to our natural, fleshly inclinations.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

I've been reading about King David's reign in II Samuel. Yesterday I read about the time when his son, Absalom had strategically turned much of Israel against his father in his pursuit of overtaking the kingdom.

As I read about David taking his trusted men and fleeing, I got so irritated as I wondered why he didn't stand his ground and fight like a man.

As I've experienced many times, through further reading I was able to find the answer. As David and his men got to a stopping point in the wilderness, he spoke these words to Zadok...

"Take back the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His house. But if He says, I have no delight in you, then here I am; let Him do to me what seems good to Him." (II Samuel 15:25-26)

David recognized that he was not entitled to the kingship in the first place, that it had been a gift bestowed upon him by God, and that He who had gifted him with it had just as much the right to take it away.

His greatest desire was not for worldly position, but to be wherever God wanted him to be. Maybe this, I thought, is why David is often called "a man after God's own heart."

So I have to ask myself...what do I desire more, God's will for my life or my own?

When someone tramples on your heart, can you remember that God in His sovereignty has allowed it, and can use it for your good if you will let Him?

Our greatest desire in these difficult situations should be to respond in accordance with His will.

Choosing to ignore your inner fleshly voice long enough to seek Him for direction can be an uncomfortable and sometimes even, a painful process.

Yet it is one that is well worth the trouble.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall life you up." (James 4:10)

There's no worldly position in existence that can trump that.

Be Still

Our world is a confused, chaotic mess. The faster the pace of living becomes, the less apt people are to take time to slow down, process, and adjust their priorities and decisions accordingly.

I am amazed at what a difference sitting still before the Lord makes in my life. Things that were blurry in my mind and heart become sharp and clear. As I surrender my fears and anxiety to Him, sifting them through the truth in His Word, He gives me peace, direction, and confidence.

Through prayer, I reaffirm this truth...

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~Romans 8:28

If you keep your eyes on Him, seeking His wisdom, allowing Him to direct your paths, this will be your reality.

If not, you will falter.

Obviously things in this life will never be perfect either way, but His ways are best. When you begin to view things through an eternal perspective rather than a worldly one, then you are able to see things with clarity.

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:30,31

So before the busyness and requirements of your day take command, I encourage you to slow down, sit quietly, and look up.

There is nothing more pivotal to your daily peace and success in life than that.

Veggie Scrap Math

I am a firm believer that learning occurs best when it is woven within the fabric of everyday life.

Labor Day Monday was our quarterly Crock Pot Cooking Day.

Our two youngest children joined us at the table as we were chopping veggies. I saw an opportunity in this and grabbed hold of it.

I gave each of them a piece of foil and a variety of vegetable scraps. I also gave my six-year-old a box of toothpicks.

I gave them a short list of activity ideas and then let them go at it. No more suggestions were needed.

My daughter made a playground and then started making veggie people. This open-ended activity really appealed to her creative personality.

 My three-year-old's interests were more varied.

First he borrowed Cassidy's playground idea and went with that.

Then he made a pattern with his carrot and zucchini ends. Truthfully, I didn't know that he knew what a pattern was so I was very impressed.

Next he sorted them by type.

Then I asked him which veggie there was the most of, the least of, how many there were of each, and how many there were in all.

He understood all of my questions, and aside from needing my help going from 15 to 16 as he was counting them, he gave accurate responses to them all.

I have never spent time with him working on anything academic beyond reading books to him. His Daddy counts with him a lot when he reads to him at bedtime and he has picked up so much just from being around his brothers and sisters all day.

It never ceases to amaze me how many math concepts can be taught in a concentrated amount of time with one set of the right manipulatives or every day items.

It is also encouraging to be reminded that when I equip my children with open-ended materials, creativity abounds!

Their creative products are authentic expressions of themselves.

Being able to be here with them as they learn and discover is the thing about it that I treasure most of all!