Do it

Salvation is by faith through grace and so is sanctification. We cannot in and of ourselves do what God wants us to do. But yet he tells us to do things. To be kind, to forgive, to do all without complaining or arguing, to be humble, to love (and what a love). He expects us to do them, yet rely on Him for that ability. Hard to wrap your mind around. I think the thing is not so much to waste time trying to understand it all, though certainly immersing yourself in God's Word and absorbing more and more of the heart of God is never a waste of time, but to do it. Just do it. Easier to steer what's already moving and all that.
Grace will find you.

Not to Compare

As a parent, you can spend a lot of time comparing yourself to others who do things differently than you. Maybe you get frustrated because someone else's kids are reading better than yours or are better behaved. Or maybe you feel good because your kid is the better one.
But God says that it is unwise to compare yourselves.
I know I wish my kids were the top of the class, would always behave immediately, would sit still in church and never run in the sanctuary, but--I also wish I were more consistent with them, as an example and as a model.
When the Bible talks about women being saved through child-bearing, I wonder if it has something to do w/ the work God does in your heart as you work with others, specifically your children, as you see in them yourself and your need to rely on God and grow more like Him. No one teaches you humility like a child, because small children don't value your accomplishments and aren't out to make you look good. Furthermore, they are obviously needy, and ultimately, so are we.
The biggest struggle and yet the easiest, I think, is persevering. It's so hard because it requires a degree of unquenchable, unfounded optimism, sometimes facing the worst odds and still striving for improvement in oneself and in one's family. It's so easy because we do have a deep love for our family and as believers, a great desire to see them grow spiritually.
At the end of the day, I want to do the best I can with my kids and present my talents as they present theirs to God, having done all we could with what we were given, regardless of what anyone else is given or what they do with it. To hear Him say "well done," is what matters, no matter what anyone else says.

Sometimes life is extremely discouraging. When you look in the mirror and see wrinkles and gray hair, when you step on the scales and tell yourself the number can't be right, when you ponder what you've done today, yesterday, this past week, month, year, and you're not so sure what you've really accomplished, when you just can't seem to reach your goals no matter how hard you try, when everyone's always arguing and fighting . . . . Other times it's heavenly to be alive, enjoying simple things like a child or a spouse's hugs and kisses, a nice meal, a laugh with friends, the encouragement of an apt word, a walk with the breeze blowing your hair and the sun on your face, a story that captures your heart or imagination or just makes you think, a beautiful space, picture, song, experience, someone who listens to you, someone who shares himself or herself with you . . . . In the dark, pray to Him. In the light, sing to Him. And in it all, know His grace.

Critique of Ford's A Conversation w/ God for Women

I enjoyed this book by Marcia Ford. She covers so much in her book with a wide-range of questions, some of which include who's in control, who Christ died for, women's place in ministry, whether prayer really makes a difference, if repetitious prayer is okay, why God places restrictions on sex, what's up with teaching on submission, and how can some believers be so good. The questions are divided into topics of God, Jesus, the Bible, life, prayer, relationships, and good and evil. The book is heavily end-noted with a long list of Scripture proofs for statements in each chapter. The novel approach of having God, Jesus, and women of the Bible answer these questions is appealing though it has its danger as the author isn't God or any of these people and does insert her own ideas.
I'd think it more biblical for her to include the fact of God's drawing those who will trust in Him unto Himself. I also think she makes too light of the scriptural teaching of a woman's submitting to her husband. There is mutual submission but the wife's submission goes beond that. Yet it is important to emphasize that the the husband is never to browbeat or lord over his wife, nor is he superior to her. As well, Ford seems soft on a woman's need to exercise a similar submissive role in ministry, not taking upon herself the pastoring of a church. I think we'd be hard put to find a biblical example of a woman doing so though certainly there are examples of women less formally teaching and admonishing men and there does seem to be a place for it.
All in all I found this book to be very biblical, balanced, and thought-provoking. I hope readers will read the verses in the back of the book and also seek Scripture themselves for answers to their questions.

Interacting w/ Differences

Proverbs says a just man falls seven times and rises up again. Because of what God has done for me, I want to, by His power at work within me, keep on for Him, stand firm for Him. I will fall because I still stand in need of His grace, because He wants all of me, every thought, every action, to bring Him and not me glory. But by His grace, I will get back up again and again and again. I have no room for pride. I am no better than any other. I am only different from nonChristians by God's work in my life. Growth in the Christian walk involves much that is internal as well as external. It is difficult for us to evaluate and is also brought about by grace. Living a pure life is only by God's work. There is that which is error and love speaks truth and will address such but will also acknowledge that we don't know all the answers and there is at times room for different conclusions. God works on people in different areas in different ways. We may have preferences and likes and dislikes but if a Christian worldview in a certain area allows for differences of opinion, that's all these are, and they're also certainly not worthy of pride. I have been touched by hearts that want God's heart and these hearts are no respectors of persons, not closed to those unlike themselves, not unwilling to reach out to them, to make the effort to love, even when it is difficult. They will know we are Christians by our love. Love is difficult, impossible, without God's work. But if we persevere, by and because of God's work in us, we will show love. We will strive for God and we will strive for others whether we consider them too narrow or too broad or just too different. We will correct in love when there is error and by God's grace He'll show us what that is and when and how to address it and to never forget in that life and ours it is God's grace by which we stand. I don't think we show love by never saying what we think about anything, but by listening, by offering who we are and accepting (not wrong but simple differences) who others are as well. If we differ, we can surely say so though not to press the point to where we do nothing but argue. We also must be able to find some common ground because we do have commonalities and we can learn from others.
Just some thoughts I've had as I've tried to dialogue with those who disagree w/ me, who believe me too narrow or not narrow enough.
I admire those who can move in different circles and always be themselves, not change like a chameleon or turn off and on like a power strip but simply live an honest open life and offer that to whomever they come into contact with. I want to be this kind of person but I'm not there yet :)