The Trouble with Oxen

"Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of the ox. " Proverbs 14:4

I've heard this verse before, and ran across it again today.

Pastor explained it as "what you should expect when oxen (the people of God - in a church setting) get together... that there will always be a mess somewhere."

My experience has proven his theory correct. :)

The trouble with oxen is that they don't clean up after themselves.

As a mommy of three little people, I can TOTALLY RELATE. As long as you have them, there will be something that needs to be cleaned up, a mess left somewhere.

There will be a cost to maintain them, and feed them, keep them healthy, and it is likely that they will inconvenience your life more than a time or two.

But, the better part about oxen?

Oxen are nothing more than TRAINED cattle. 

Imagine that... an ox is just a steer or heifer that has been "taught to work."

Bless the Lord. :)

Even better… the Word promises that MUCH increase comes by the strength of the ox.

This gives me hope, because I know that though a young ox be feeble, he can gain strength if he will remain teachable. And further, there is blessing in the gaining of strength.


Man, that'll preach.

So, I'll preach, or maybe pray?? a little bit of it here. *wink*

Thank you, Lord, that You have taught us to carry our cross, by carrying it first. You teach us on a daily basis that we can walk, and we can learn of You, and we can have the mind of Christ if we will but walk alongside You. Because, in deed, we are not unequally yoked with You, who came, wrapped Your glory in this skin, and were one of us - our Emmanuel. Because You were the firstborn of every creature, and because we can look to You for instruction. You speak with grace, "If any lack wisdom, let him come…" Let us hear Your voice today, and find strength in Your instruction.

Amen.

As a mommy of little ones, in a place where the mess is quite literally EVER PRESENT, I am thankful that my "young oxen" can be taught. And that with their learning comes much increase, both for them and accounted to me as mom.

I am MORE thankful that this gal can be taught… and is learning (daily) to plow under the wise instruction of the Master, and the eldest of oxen, who plowed this life PERFECTLY -  the One Risen Jesus.

Thank you Lord, for ever walking by my side.

May this life, in all of it's messy glory shine bight a light that draws Your 

lost treasure back to You. May my eyes see the Reward heaped 

upon the necks of my little oxen as they learn to carry your yoke. 

Help me to be a faithful teacher, to imitate what I have learned from You.

 My heart, and my neck are ever yoked to You, my risen King. 

Amen.

photo credit

(in) Real Life 2014 - This is PAST DUE for me...

Calling all ladies!! Are you ready to have some fun? 

Me, too... in fact this is WAY OVERDUE. :) 

So, here's the lowdown... A few years back, the ladies over at (in)courage took note that quite often we ladies typically DON'T get together to encourage each other on a personal level, for a host of different reasons. 

While we are so very good at connecting with each other via social media, it's easy to sit behind the computer screen, and be safe to type (rethinking many times what you're going to say, so it sounds just right) and maybe edit those posts, afterward, to be sure that they are "encouraging". 

I don't know about you, but I know that my human soul longs for face to face interaction...  And, I'll go out on a limb here, and say that if you're a living human, then you need community, too. :) We all do. It's how we were built.  

To meet this need, the (in)courage team had a BRILLIANT idea to offer a FREE annual Women's Conference that comes to you! It's called (in) Real Life. When I heard about it, I was all in... because, I mean, what woman doesn't LOVE hanging out with her girlfriends, catching up, and share her life stories? 

I love this idea because EVERYONE HAS A STORY, and we never know if our story will be just what is needed to encourage someone else who is currently walking where we have already been.  

So... with the blessing of the Full Life Women's Ministries, I will be your humble host for the first annual (in) Real Life Women's eConference on Saturday, April 26th @ 4:00 - 6:00pm.  Click here to register & view the agenda and speaker list!

There will be food, giveaways, I have heard about a possible craft that (in)RL is putting together for us to do together, and of course the conference (via webcast on the BIG SCREEN).  Oh, and CHILDCARE (W/SNACKS) WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE CHURCH. 

You may have noticed that the conference is 4/25 & 4/26. The conference IS a two day event, but the Friday session will be available at different times for you to view at home, whenever is the best time for you. So, you can be in your PJ's, eating chocolate, and no one will know! 

I love this... I'm thinking of retreating to my bedroom that evening, and letting daddy have a movie & pizza night with the kiddos in the living room! :) 

God has challenged me with transparency this year, and I'm so looking forward to spending my afternoon with you, getting to know you better & learning who Jesus has been in your life! 

Won't you come? I would love to see you there! 

Two ARE Better...

Okay… it's confession time.

It's been 8 days since my last post. I know, I know. I didn't say I was the MOST consistent person on the planet.  *wink*

One would think that for someone who is trying to break into the "blog-o-sphere", an 8 day writing vacation would not be the smartest way to do it.

Thankfully for me, that's NOT what this call to blog is about. What this IS about is an intentional unveiling of the "skin" I wear on a daily basis, that keeps me separated from the community God has placed around me. The daily choice to connect myself "again" with others. To be a part of the wall. Because honestly, we are ALL a part of the Wall. And, we all have others God has placed around us to encourage us, and keep us sharp.

Case in point: Yesterday, I was approached by one such "wall woman", who gently rebuked me for taking an 8 day leave of absence from writing, because she was intentional on reading my thoughts everyday, and was missing them.

She reminded me that what I have to say is important, and that even on the days when nothing is leaping from my heart to the page, the connection between myself and others MUST TAKE PLACE no matter what my life looks like, or the distractions that may pull.

I was reading a post from http://www.incourage.me the other day, and here's what jumped out at me:


"I used to think I needed to be more before I could do more.

This is a lie.

God wants you today, right where you are, with what you have. He isn't waiting for you to clean up your mess before you say yes.

Your yes matters. And the best part is size doesn't matter. Your small yes to God is enough." 

~Kristen Welch (www.wearethatfamily.com)


Man, that hit me like a ton of bricks. My yes, even a small yes, is enough to change my whole world.

So… today, I'm saying YES. Again... yes. Yes to the call to be transparent. Because that's what this is REALLY all about. It's God's way of showing me that NO one person has it all together (although us ladies try hard sometimes to do just that) and that He NEVER meant for any person to be an island.


And, today, I am saying THANK YOU. Thank you to the WALL of women who have allowed me into their lives, to call me friend. Sister. You know who you are. You, who are courageous enough to look past the "rough" places in me, and get to know me. You, who have learned that the "tough" that others see is just a protective layer, and that a truly malleable heart lies within.

I am truly thankful for the encouragement God has placed in my life because of You. You lift me up. You keep me sharp. You challenge me to live as He has called me to live, and not succumb to what this world says I should look or act like. You have been INVALUABLE to me.

So, for all of the wonder you bring to my life, and this world, I count YOU as gifts. I truly would not be who I am today without you.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.

Wisdom Has A Voice

She's standing in all the right places, right where she can get to us. She wants to be sure we can hear her. She positions herself on the hilltops. She walks alongside us as we traverse this life. She takes her stand at the many crossroads we encounter. Makes her home by the gates which lead into anywhere our feet could carry us, and she cries aloud...  Listen close. Can you hear her?

“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.

You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.

Listen to me! 

For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth

and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome.

There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,

corruption and perverse speech. 

Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.

Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.

Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.

“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.

My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!

I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

I was appointed in ages past,  at the very first, before the earth began.

I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—

before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.

I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.

And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, I was the architect at his side.

I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.

Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, 

waiting for me outside my home! 

For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

But those who miss me injure themselves. 

All who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 8:4-36

This year, I am challenging myself to a daily portion of bread and wine. Hopefully, in the next few days, I will be able to expound a little more on what I mean. For now, I'll just give a quick plug to the "Bible In A Year" reading plan on www.bible.com Their free smartphone app is the most popular, which I have also, but I prefer to use their online version, so I can have my bible (the BOOK... LOL - it's hilarious that I need to clarify) close by for study. All in all, it's a pretty handy tool. And, this chick loves her tools.