I logged on to Pinterest for the very first time about a week ago.  It didn’t take me long to become enamored with the site as I found millions of recipes within an index finger’s reach, just waiting to be “pinned.”  There was such wisdom within those carefully scribed words that I couldn’t wait to gather the ingredients for my very first recipe.

The next day I decided to get started on some of the yummy goodness I had found. I planned the meal perfectly with all of the ingredients laid before me, and I followed that recipe every step of the way. When the recipe called for a sprig of fresh mint, I joyfully added a sprig of fresh mint; when it called for fish sauce, I obediently added fish sauce.

And the outcome was pure heaven in my mouth.

I have been on the other side of things; when I had the recipe at my fingertips lovingly written on the page before me, but as I began adding ingredients, I chose my own creativity over the chef’s competence. I rashly omitted juniper berries, and added thyme; I impulsively replaced tapioca flour with cornstarch.

There have been times when I walked away from the oven with confidence, and I waited with excitement to unearth my stroke of genius-- only to find out I had made an utter mess of things.

How often have I done this in my spiritual life; how often have I read the words with awe and wonder that our Father penned for me thousands of years ago, only to ruin His carefully laid out plan for my life?  How often have I poured over and painstakingly memorized His directions, only to take a shortcut, create my own path, and make an utter mess of things?

Just as it is important to follow the chef’s carefully written steps in a well thought recipe, it is important that we place the conviction we have in God’s wisdom over the confidence we have in our own abilities in our lives.

He has lovingly shared His very thoughts regarding how we live our lives, and how we raise our children so…

Let us not only hear His words, let us be doers of His word.

Let us not only memorize His directions, let us etch in them on our hearts.

Today, if you are thinking about changing the recipe, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into being intentional about following the Master Chef’s instructions.  When His word calls for forgiveness, let’s joyfully add forgiveness to the rue; when His word calls for humility, let’s obediently add humility to the rue… and then let’s watch as heaven touches earth in our lives and in the lives of those we love.


Word of the Day:
“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way”. Psalm 37:23 (ESV)

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your word that speaks to my heart, for your truth that guides my steps and for your Spirit which redirects my path when I lose my way.  When I begin to place my confidence in my own abilities, please remind me of your promise and remind me of your devotion, in Jesus’ name, amen.

​Author:  Kandice Adams

I have always admired the families on television shows that have breakfast together, sitting around the kitchen table, fully dressed and ready for life.  The perfect children always smile brightly and kiss their perfect parents goodbye before heading to school for the day.

My mornings fall somewhere in between a bad remake of Wrestlemania and a horrible depiction a history channel war movie.  

​Undoubtedly the debate always begins with my daughter’s clothes that she picked out the night before but would change twice that morning, and then  lead into a full fledge argument about her hair.  Then we part for the day- her, having cried at least once; and I, stomping out the door, pouting and angry.

Recently my husband “helped” me to see the circumstance for what it clearly was:He told me that Mia was acting appropriately for her age.  But I… was… not.
At the time I hated to admit it, but He was right.  

If I am truthful sometimes my reactions look pretty close to those of an unbeliever.  If I am truthful, my reactions are natural, instead of supernatural.

My reaction is only a symptom of a deeper spiritual problem.  As a mature Christian, I should be slow to anger and slow to speak; and as her parent, I should be modeling Jesus before her, but there are days when I fail miserably at both.  I allow situations to dictate my emotional response because I am not consistently planted in Christ.

Too frequently my frustrations, the obstacles, and the disappointments become missed opportunities to show Jesus to my family.

I don’t believe I am alone in this.

Friends, we must begin to plant ourselves in good soil full of nutrients and continue to water ourselves with the living water, so God will cause the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us abundantly.

Instead of allowing our emotions to dictate the outcome of situations, let’s look to the Holy Spirit to instruct us how to respond in those difficult moments.  If we cultivate the environment that is healthy for growth, we will have the patience and self-control that will supersede any outburst, dry any tears and calm any tantrum.

Together let’s acknowledge our struggle with maintaining composure during difficult moments. But beyond that let’s take our struggle to the Lord-- planting ourselves just a little deeper into Him so that our responses can be seized opportunities to point others to Christ.


Word of the Day:

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Galatians 5:16

Prayer:
Lord, I admit that I am in desperate need of your presence.  When I get caught up in the moment, and I forget that I am planted in you, please remind me of your grace, which abounds at the foot of the cross.  Please remind me, Lord, of the peace that lives in me in the person of the Holy Spirit and the supernatural power that He contains, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Author:  Kandice Adams

​

I love listening to the conversations between my children.  I learn so much about how they perceive themselves in the world and often I am able to gather awesome sprigs of truth planted by our Father.  

Recently I overheard my oldest daughter asking the youngest about what she wanted to be when she grew up.  I paused what I was doing, listened closely and waited for her to say, a doctor or a nurse, or some other profession. But without hesitation she said, I just want to be Mia.

She didn’t say, a ballerina, though she loves to dance around the house; she didn’t say a cook, though she loves to help me prep in the kitchen; she said she wanted to be herself.  

How much she taught me in that moment!

For as long as I can remember I have defined myself by my activities— and worse, because I didn’t intentionally separate my identity from what I did, I subconsciously judged my worth based on my performance.  When I fell short in any area, my self-evaluation changed.  If I had a bad day and yelled at my kids, I was a horrible mom… but not just a horrible mom-- I was a horrible person who was failing at life.

I had conditioned myself to allow who I was to be eclipsed by the shadow of my activities.  

Through my daughter’s innocent words, I could feel the Holy Spirit speaking into my life, imploring me to understand that our identity in Christ is not transient; it is static.  

Who we are in Christ doesn’t change with the direction of the blowing wind-- and that, my friends, is liberating.

It is freeing to know that when we identify fully in Him, He will quiet any feelings of failure and He will free us to focus on being who He has created us to be.  While we are imperfect and are bound to fail, if we allow Him to be God of our thoughts and God of our activities, His grace will be sufficient, and our families will see His perfection shine through the “cracks” of our lives.  His power is made perfect in our weaknesses and failures.  

Today, maybe you aren’t having a great day; maybe you forgot to send a snack to school with your little one, or maybe you were irritable with your husband when he told you that he didn’t want chicken for dinner again; but it is ok.  You may not be the “perfect” mom or wife today, but as you begin to focus on who you are in Christ, allowing Him to govern your thoughts, and be Lord of your activities, it will be evident by those you love most in your everyday life.

Today, ask God to remind you of who you are in Him.  And then say the words— “I am a child of the King and I am perfect in Christ because He lives in me and I am His.”


Word of the Day
“It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.” Hebrews 10:14

Prayer
Father, I thank you for your love which transcends all understanding.  Please forgive me that often I get so caught up in my “doings” that I forget that your love is unconditional.  Today I ask that you remind me to bask in your love and allow your Spirit to lead my thoughts and my actions, so that my family may see your love through me, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Author:  Kandice Adams