Missional Minded Mommy Pt. 6

This past week Pastor Matt preached a sermon called The Sent Life, it was helpful and thought provoking. At least it was for me. My thinking and therefore my actions have been challenged and stretched much lately. Maybe everyone else is way ahead in the being a gospel-centered, mission-oriented person than I am, and I am the only one that can't stop thinking and evaluating... I don't know. But just as I thought I'd kill my little Missional Minded Mommy series, more thoughts were provoked. I suppose I don't need to share them with you, but I told you at the beginning that this could be a bumpy ride.....well I meant it! :)

Pastor Matt mentioned that if we are going to embrace the sent life we have to let go of our rights. This was brought out more clearly in Small Group on Monday night as we discussed the sermon. I know that I am hindered at times when I am just tired or sick. Sometimes I just want to be left alone.... I mean a person can only do so much right? But that is just self love talking, it is about my right to have a little break every once in while.

Sunday was the sermon and that very afternoon my little heart revealing challenge came. So often I don't think of myself as feeling like my time belongs to me or my home belongs to me, but this particular afternoon I saw how deceitful my heart is. When my baby sister, her boyfriend and friend came in I was happy to show them hospitality in offering them food and use of the computer to register for my sister's friend's upcoming baby shower. But, when the headache hit and the fatigue came I really just wanted everyone to leave, or at least leave me alone. That is not what happened though. The young lady with my little sister is pregnant and has nobody but my sister, who has never had a baby and knows nothing. Needless to say I ended up sitting with this girl spending hours in front of the computer answering her questions and showing her things that she will need, because she didn't have a clue. God gave me the grace to just do it, but mostly because I remembered that we have to let go of our rights and that even meant my right to take a nap and be left alone while not feeling well. It took some prayer and faith because to be honest I really didn't want to sit in front of that computer and talk about anything that day. I kept thinking, "this is such a bad time for me." But as a person who wants to embrace the sent life and understands that God has made us missionaries for His name's sake to this world, it really doesn't matter if it was a good time for me. And you know what? The Lord blessed that little tiny effort to help this girl and it looks like I might be seeing her a little more. Plus, you know I had to follow my husbands example because my sister's boyfriend really wanted to help Rick work on the roof and he let him even though he knew it would ultimately slow him down. And even though this guy "helped" Rick all he could talk about was what a good time he had and how cool it was that Rick bought him a case of vitamin water. A 4$ investment and one happy young kid who does not know the Lord. I am beginning to see that the missional lifestyle isn't always convenient, but it isn't that complicated either. I mean how hard is it to have a guy help you out with repairs or talk to a girl about having her first baby? Yet, it isn't always at your convenience!

It got me thinking about Amy Carmichael, a missionary back in the late 1800's to India. This women colored her skin with coffee and adopted Indian garb; rather than make any women who converted dress like an English woman, which most of the missionaries did at the time. She went around the villages with a band of Christian Indian women to preach the gospel. But at some point during her ministry that she loved and thought to be vitally important, a young 7 year old temple prostitute escaped the temple and came to Amy for help. Amy Carmichael quickly began to care for her as her child and keep her safe from the temple. Then many other girls escaped and came to Amy and her group of Christian women. Soon Amy had several girls from infancy to teenagers living with her that that had been rescued from the temples or had escaped. Consequently Amy was unable to travel to the villages to preach the gospel as she instead had babies to feed and burp and diapers to change, meals to prepare, and floors to scrub and beds to make and teach the older girls chores and other life lessons. She became known as a "tied woman". Something she never intended to be. She had not dreamed of going to India and being tied to babies and domestic duties and she in fact struggled with it at first. She struggled with whether or not she should be done with mothering these girls or going back to the exciting life of traveling speaking the gospel from village to village. Ultimately, she chose the life of a "tied woman" because she remembered Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. She began to see how Jesus did the work of the lowest slave and invited His people do the same and in so doing she was "preaching the gospel". She spent the rest of her life scrubbing floors, cleaning mouths, changing diapers, and teaching about Jesus to the many children she "adopted" (until the last 20 years of her life when she was bedridden, but still praying for and teaching the girls). It wasn't convenient and she didn't choose to invoke her "rights" as a single woman to do what was more exciting or consider more important! What an example of a person who truly embraced the Sent Life.

What a lesson I can take from her when I consider loving those around me for the sake of the name of Jesus..

Trust

Job 1 "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering ^I)">(burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."

Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

"Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

"But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face."

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

He said,
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God"

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

How would you have reacted?

Witty Wednesday

This is just plain good advise for any gentlemen out there that might come to this blog! :)
This guy made me laugh out loud!

These are the things you don't say to your wife........enjoy!

Savvy Shopper

Let me start by saying I am not an expert, just a Mom trying to wisely use what the Lord has blessed her family with. Today I would like to share some of my “shopping secrets”. As a mom of 3 girls shopping for clothes can be fun and expensive so I always check the clearance racks first and look for sales. By planning ahead I shop for next summer/winter clothes at end of season when many stores have really big discounts and I can get brand new clothes for about the same price, sometimes less than what one might pay for used clothes at a rummage sale, which by the way is another way to save. Here are some of my favorite stores to shop for great deals: Old Navy, Gap, Kohls, Children’s Place and Gymboree.

My next “shopping secret” is coupons. I use coupons for anything and everything. Wednesday is double coupon day at Pick N Save where if you spend $25 dollars you can double 5 coupons up to $1 each which could be up to $10 savings. You can use more than 5 coupons but only 5 will be doubled. By taking time to look through sales flyers and my coupons I have gotten many food items free or almost free. Eating out can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. I use coupons when ever possible and many restaurants have specific nights where kids eat free. I also use coupons when shopping for clothes which when I combine with sales/clearance I’m getting an even better deal.

Would you like to get free stuff? My third “shopping secret” is rebates. Stores like Walgreens, CVS and Menards, just to name a few, offer many items free after rebate. Here are just some of the things I have gotten free: toothpaste, toothbrushes, make-up, shampoo, conditioner, styling products, cleaning supplies, tools, soda, and the list goes on. I also use coupons with the rebates and then I am actually getting paid for the item. An example, Walgreens has shampoo on sale for $$3.99 and they offer a rebate of $3.99 making it free but I also have a $1 coupon, so basically I am getting paid $1 for the shampoo.

My final “shopping secret” is credit cards. Many credit cards offer cash back, miles for airline tickets, points to trade for gift cards to restaurants and retail stores. An example we used our credit card on every day purchases and earned four free season passes to Six Flags. This “shopping secret” may not be for everyone as you must show self control and not spend more than you have and pay balances off each month.

I have other little things I could share but it could possibly fill a book, so I just end by saying if you would like to know more about any of my “shopping secrets” feel free to ask. I would be happy to share and would love to hear your “shopping secrets”.

Leila

Let's Get Frugal ......

A few weeks ago I asked if anyone had any resolutions they would like to share, and a dear friend shared that she was resolving to put more "heart" into meal prep for her family and to find cheap ways to do it. What we here at the True Women blog are wondering is if any of you are interested in sharing with us and the other readers your ideas on putting more "heart" in your dinner times and what you are doing to cut costs in a time where it has become more essential for people in general to watch what they spend. By "heart", we mean, what motivates your prep times and meal planning. Maybe you can share any little touches to the dinner table to add a bit of specialness, or little dinner time traditions such as using it as a time to ask questions and demonstrating what true fellowship looks like to the kids, or perhaps that is when you do family worship, or when you give gifts to your spouse, or whatever little ritual you do that makes dinner a little more than ho-hum. Sharing recipes that are economical and tasty are definitely welcome as are of course any other money saving tips. Please just put them in the comments section of the blog. We also have the privilege of having a very dear friend of ours who we know to be very gifted in frugality to give us some help on this subject. Please be on the look out for her post this week. We are looking forward to your participation.