Synonymous

I'm teaching several sweeties about synonyms these days. It enriches their vocabulary, allows them to have more colorful writing, shows them more patterns in the world ... But it also helps with understanding. A child's understanding of a word comes from what they know. Maybe it's what they know about that word ~ Perhaps they use the context of the rest of the sentence to draw the meaning ~ Most often though, someone has explained it to them.

As I was again studying faithfulness, I came across a devotion which made a wonderful connection to a very familiar word: Reliability.

I can list at least 25 instances in which someone or something in my life has not been reliable. No hurt feelings (well, not now anyway. ;o) ) ~ only learned lessons....A lot of which were for the betterment of my own self so I am thankful for these circumstances.

I'm sure you know where this is going. You know who hasn't let me down? Yep ~ God! The One who created this entire universe ~ The One who spoke me & this sweet baby growing inside of me into existence ~ The One who gave up His only Son to become my sin on this earth.

"For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."

I'm tempted to fight back with the ones who "wrong" me. I am tempted to stomp my foot & put them in their correct place. I am tempted to make sure they know just how they are making me feel. Thankfully, I know my Shepard. And I pray at least a billion times a day, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." He is reliable & answers me. I...I am not. Sometimes I lose my cool & I fight back. But once again, I ask forgiveness & the Lord is reliable, welcoming me into His lap again, just as any good Abba does.

Faith itself is not something you usually see. We can attempt to show ourselves faithful or our faithfulness, but in our own flesh, we fail. God does not. As we teach our young ones about faith ~ being faithful & showing faithfulness ~ may we remember to teach them the synonym reliable. It may help them understand the bigger concept of "faithfulness." We will let our children down. Our children will let us down. Others will let us & our children down. But God will always be there & He will always understand. He is able to understand our every need, want, desire, & temptation.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but rather one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are."

Go before Him ~ who is able to understand...Who can meet you where you are...Who will be reliable & listen to you, speaking truth over you as you pour your heart out to Him. And remind those precious children who just colored on the wall ...or mouthed off to you ...or disobeyed your instruction ...or has a hurt heart because someone ignored them at AWANA's tonight ...or wasn't included because they were "too little" ...or said something about someone which was less than pleasing to our Lord ...That He is Our Father who is always reliable ~ always faithful ~ and is always waiting for us to enter into His presence.

Waiting at the cross with you ~

His Faithfulness

I have been considering how faithful my "trail" will be when I leave this earth. The words God spoke to me regarding the last post were challenging!!! When you really think about how faithful you are in your daily circumstances & you are actively seeking to serve God through each of them, He will speak to you ...and I assure you He will let you know if you are or are not being faithful. (OUCH!)

Times when I was NOT faithful this past week...

~When I rolled my eyes at something someone said.

~When I didn't return my friend's phone call.

~When I didn't finish cleaning the house.

~When I opened facebook before I opened my bible.

~When I ate the 2nd cookie instead of keeping with my set limit.

~When I questioned God & asked, "Why???"

Times this week when God WAS faithful...

~When He gave me 6 straight hours of sleep, just as I thought I was getting sick.

~When He held a dear friend through a difficult surgery, followed by chemo & radiation that same week.

~When He provided for a financial need.

~When His answer was confirmed by 5 different people!

~When He loved me, as I was unlovable.



God doesn't waiver in His Faithfulness. EVER! Mine ~ eh....a little shaky I must admit. In my flesh, I want to make a comment back because "I know I'm right" or I become lazy & say "I'll do it later" when we are never guaranteed as much. From the beginning of time, He knew His love would be poured out on Calvary's cross for me. He knew His perfect Son would be blamed, beaten, & mocked for sin that is mine. He created a perfect plan for me, knew I would fall & yet is faithful to lead me back to it, no matter how many times I venture down the other path. He loves me...He loves you...And it is always unconditional, always faithful.

"However, the Lord your God, ...turned the curse into a blessing for you, BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU."

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with UNFAILING faithfulness."

"God is faithful, who called you into the fellowship..."

"God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, ALWAYS providing a way of endurance."

"Be glad, ..rejoice in the Lord...BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL!"

"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in ALL he does."

Think about this today as you are teaching your young ones. Are you teaching them faithfulness? Do they have responsibilities at home or are you always asking them to please clean their rooms or please walk the dog? Teaching faithfulness is also keeping your commitments. (Look out ~ this may hit a nerve!!!) Are you always late to where you are going? Do you plan too much in one day & then skip something they were really looking forward to "because you just couldn't find the time." (Although, you had time to talk to your friend for 20 minutes while your kiddos sat in the car.) Do you pray with them every day or just when you have time?

God has shown Himself faithful to me so many times I couldn't possibly count. The most pressing on my mind in this moment is the anticipated birth of our first child. After 5 1/2 years, we WOULD. NOT. BE. PREGNANT without His guiding, His leading, His patience poured on us, His mercy on our unfaithfulness, His perfect timing. God ~ Is ~ Faithful. Would you keep pursuing faithfulness down this trail of life with me? Don't give up ~ He has a prize waiting for us at the end! ;o)