I had to post this devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  I’ve been meditating on this since March 8th, and it has given me such peace that I had to share with my followers.

Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is an amazing devotional.  It was the number 1 selling devotional (not sure for how long).  She writes from the perspective of Jesus, and it is based on Scripture….

“Save your best striving for seeking My face.  I am constantly communicating with you.  To find Me and hear My voice, you must seek Me above all else.  Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol.  When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness.  Instead of single-mindedly pursing some goal, talk with Me about it.  Let the Light of My Presence shine on this pursuit, so that you can see it from My perspective.  If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it.  If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart.  Seek Me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will falling into place, piece by piece.”

1 Chronicles 16:11

Matthew 6:33

I read this devotion on March 8th which was a day I was overwhelmed with the responsibility and emotions of fostering two young babies (20 months & 4 months) along with the needs of our four biological children, putting my husband first, caring for our home, and the many other responsibilities, etc.  Every day our emotions fluctuate.  Fostering presents itself with an array of emotions no one can prepare you for.  One day you want to keep them forever, the next day you feel overwhelmed with the responsibility & the new normal you’ve brought into your home, then the next you feel so bad for what these innocent children have to walk through; the list of emotions could go on and on.  This particular day, I honestly cried out to God – “Why did you think I was strong enough to do this?”  and on the radio begins to play ‘I’m Not Strong Enough” by Matthew West.  If you don’t know the song – you must listen.  Then I come home and felt led to read my ‘Jesus Calling’ devotion… God just calmed my heart and mind and everything else going on inside of me.  I can’t make these children my idols – God has everything in His control.  (did you know that in the book of Revelation it refers to God being on the throne 34 times?)  And though things may not always look clear to me; all things are very clear to Him.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future”  - what another great promise to stand on when you or those you love are walking through uncertainty!!!  I pray that verse over these 2 precious lives that God has trusted me and my family with.

I have been so encouraged to trust that if my desire fits into God’s plans then He will help me reach it, but if it doesn’t He will gradually change my heart.  And all I have to do is seek Him first and foremost!  My prayer is that all who read this walk through their struggles, trials, and decisions by seeking Him first, and asking to see it from His perspective!!!

May He overflow in your lives!!!!

Fully Rely On God

What an awesome author visit at St. Patrick School in Canonsburg, PA!!!

Thank you St. Patricks students and staff!!!!

some of my precious fans!

If you only had one month to live, what one thing would you change in your parenting that you know makes your child feel unloved?

I am learning through this walk of raising four children, to ask myself that question daily.  And when I do, I know I need to change my attitude of “well, I can get to them later when I’m done getting my stuff done.” or “they know I love them – I stay at home with them.” or “Hey – if they only acted how I want them to act then I would act more loving to them.”  There are so many excuses, but if we can be honest, if we thought we had 1 month to live then I guarantee our whole attitude about our children and how we show them love would change!

My intentions of writing this is not to tell you I have done the art of loving my children perfectly, but to shed light on how children feel loved and each of us as parents have a choice to fill them with love or not… There are consequences to both!  Gary Chapman, author of the 5 Love Languages of Children said, “love will make the difference between children who are well adjusted and happy and those who are insecure, angry, inaccessible and immature.”

Me personally, I choose the consequence of well adjusted and happy, and I’m sure all reading this do as well.  For some, loving their children comes naturally.  For most of us, when our kids are asleep or when they are acting perfect, or cute, or helpful then it’s easier to show love to them, but when they become disobedient or whiny or annoying, we tend to not show love as easily.  And then there’s others who find little joy in being a parent, and they are just trying to get through it.  No matter which experience is yours – it is not impossible to show your child the kind of love they feel!

Poem by Diane Loemers….(shortened)

If I had my child to raise all over again…

I’d build love first, the house later

I would do less correcting and more connecting

I’d take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes

I’d do more hugging and less tugging

With those wise words from a parent of grown children, us parents of young children should heed to her wisdom.  Her poem is also the outline for this post.

I’D BUILD LOVE FIRST, THE HOUSE LATER

Who likes a clean house?  An organized house?  A nicely decorated house?  All three of those can be my struggle; I get a sense of calmness when my house is cleaned, organized and decorated pretty.  But, I have never heard anyone at the end of their life say, “boy, I shouldn’t have spent so much time loving my children, I should have had a cleaner, nicer, bigger, better decorated home.”    So, how do you build love first?

Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages states there are 5 areas that a child will feel loved.  All areas are important to foster and all areas will make your children feel love, but each child has 1 area that dominates the other 4.

1-Physical Touch  (hugging, holding, patting shoulder, wrestling around, tickling)

2- Words of Affirmation (positive & encouraging words)

3- Quality Time (making an effort to do something special, reading a book, playing a game, doing a craft)

4- Gifts (taking the time to buy a gift or giving them something special)

5- Acts of Service (doing things for them; making their bed, getting them their drink, helping them out with things.)

For those of you with more than one child, yes – typically each child feels loved in a different love language.  Tough, I know – because all 4 of my children have a different love language.  The task of showing our children love the way they receive it can mean change on our part as the parent and time; but the investment is worth it!!  We can not change the way our children feel loved, it is the way God wired them.  I remind myself often to build love first (the way they receive love and not the way I receive love), and put my energy into loving rather than my projects, my housekeeping or the busyness of life that can steel time away.

I’D DO LESS CORRECTING AND MORE CONNECTING…

As a parent, yes – we must correct or discipline, but we should pick our battles wisely.  If we harp on everything then children will not hear us when it is important.  And most children feel unloved when a mom or dad are constantly nagging.  There is a balance – we can not let our children get away with bad behavior or be overly cautious on discipline.  We also can’t let them consume all our time.  If we are emptied as a parent or our marriage is emptied because all our energy goes into our children then we have a whole other set of issues with our children and marriages which further drains us.  There is a balance.  But I do believe when you connect more with your children, you actually correct less.  Not always, but most often the fussing, the whining, or the attention seeking behaviors are really a cry for time with daddy or mommy.

Adults spell love L-O-V-E but children spell love  T-I-M-E regardless of their main love language.  If you look at the love languages- all require time.  I read an article on line that quotes. “It is a myth that spending quality time with your children is more important than spending quantity time.  We wouldn’t buy into the lie if a surgeon told us ‘I was not able to spend as much time as I would have liked on your surgery, but the few moments I did spend was real quality time.’ ”  We need both quantity and quality time and so do our children.  So, how do we spend quantities of quality time with our children in a world that demands so much?   …..

Earlier, I wrote that children spell love T-I-M-E, well I believe we have an example of how God spells love.  It is S-A-C-R-I-F-C-E.  Jesus came and sacrificed His life for us.  So in order to give our children the T-I-M-E (watch me with your eyes kind of time) or love they need then maybe we need to sacrifice or restructure how we use the gift of time and spend it connecting with our children instead of connecting to the stuff that will not mean anything to us at the end of our lives.

MORE HUGGING & LESS TUGGING…

Hugging can mean so much more than a physical hug.  Hugging summarizes loving your children – it means meeting your child where they are at, listening with your eyes, laughing with them, hugging them with loving words, being excited for them, LISTENING to your child, acting like a kid yourself – it’s okay to loosen up.

It is so important to meet our children where they are at.  And when the “tugging” happens with your children, say to them … “I am for you, not against you!”  I say this in our home often, and I do believe it calms my children’s hearts. They just want to know that someone is for them.

One last thing I want to add to the Art of Loving Your Child is… If Jesus says in Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you ; love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  Then how much more do we need to pray for our children?  I believe it’s never to early or to late to start praying for our children.  Prayers change everything and they especially change the one praying, and often times it is us that needs changing more than our children!!!  I always pray for God to show me my children through His eyes.  Boy, do I see them differently!

Some questions to ponder or respond to…

1-Do you know what love language your child is?

2- What keeps you from connecting with your children?  Is it worth it?  At the end of your life, will those things really matter?

3-Do you listen to your children with your eyes?

4-Do your children know you are for them, or do they think you are against them?

5-And the last question I will leave you with is… if you only had 1 month to live, what 1 thing would you change as a parent to show more love to your child or children?

HOW DO WE LOVE THE WORLD, BUT HATE THE DARK?  

In my opinion, one of the best worship songs that was ever written is called “Great I Am” by New Life Worship.  ”Loving the world, but hating the dark” is a lyric from “Great I Am”.  As I listened to the song over and over again, as I often do with music, that verse really made me ask myself…. how I am loving the world, but hating the dark?

First, let’s define the world and the dark in the context of this verse.

• The world –  the inhabitants of the earth; the human race
• the dark - wickedness or evil or sin

Now we can ask ourselves, “How do we love the human race, but hate the wickedness, evil or sin that is rampid in human beings hearts?”

So….. ”HOW CAN WE LOVE THE WORLD, BUT HATE THE DARK?

You might think I am going to go into some long speel on how in order to love the world you have to go on a mission trip (Matthew 28:19-20), feed the hungry (Isaiah 58:7), take in orphans (james 1:27), give your time and money (prov 3:9)… All of those are good deeds that God calls His people to do & maybe God is calling you to do one of them or all of them.  But I’m learning that you could be doing all those things mentioned, yet if the people closest to you are not touched by His love in you then do the really “BIG” things  matter?

Are you a person who thinks if you’re not doing something “BIG” then you’re not doing anything at all?  I think the the world we live in makes “BIG” seem like it’s the only thing that matters.  I’m learning that loving the world can be as simple as loving the people in our sphere of influence (your spouse, children, neighbors, friends, parents, siblings, extended family, teachers, your children’s friends), and having a servant heart right where God has planted us.

My pastor preached something to this affect, and it really spoke to me—– “God has you right where He wants you to influence those around you for Him.  He put the people in our lives to accomplish His purpose, and His purpose is for us is to shine His light to those in the world who are watching us.  And whatever title we have whether it be spouse, parent, homemaker, athlete, student, sister, brother,coach, business person, business owner – it is all a cover up .  Our real title is child of God, and our purpose is to shine His light & spread the Good News to the sphere of influence He’s given to us.”                 (these are not my pastors exact words)

So let me take a stab at putting together a few ideas on how we can begin our walk closer to LOVING THE WORLD BUT HATING THE DARK.

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Let go and forgive the people in our lives!  That includes ourselves!   We are to extend grace & mercy!  (Mark 11:25)

On our knees!  PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! (Psalm 33:6)

Value the sphere of influence we have.  (Luke 6:32-33)  That includes valuing ourselves because God values us! (Psalm 139:13)

Experience God!  We need to read His amazing, life changing Word; Go to church; Get involved in a Bible study; and we need to trust & obey God! (Psalm 46:10)

We need to be learning and changing.  Change is not easy, loving the unloveable in our lives is not easy, and forgiveness is not easy,  but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).  I believe if we take ourselves out of the equation, and put the emphasis on God then He will begin to show us HOW WE CAN LOVE THE WORLD, AND HATE THE DARK!  

When we learn of His love that helps us love the world, and when we learn of His ways that keeps us hating the dark!  

Blessings and Peace!!!  Please post any words of wisdom, thoughts, or feelings, and ways you are loving the world, but hating the dark!!!!

Crista Stewart

go to The Little Frog facebook page to hear the words to the song “Great I Am”; and friend me please!

WORDS TO THE SONG GREAT I AM by New life Worship

I wanna to be close, close to your side

So heaven is real and death is a live

I wanna hear voices of angels above

Singing as one

Chorus:  

Hallelujah, Holy Holy

God Almighty, Great I Am

Who is worthy, None beside Thee

God Almighty, Great I Am

I wanna be near, near to your heart

Loving the world, hating the dark

I want to see dry bones living again

Singing as one

Chorus

The mountains shake before Him

The demons run and flee

At the mention of the your name

King of Majesty

There is no power in hell

Or any who can stand

Before the power and the presence of the Great I Am,

The Great I Am, The Great I Am,

The Great I Am, The Great I Am, The Great I Am

Chorus

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All across the nation, there is an increase in families who have become homeless or financially down and out. “He’s Got Your Back” is a non-profit, Christian organization that provides backpacks, school supplies and a gift card for a first day of school outfit to children in need. There are families who are struggling to feed their children. How do they have the means to provide their children with backpacks, school supplies and clothing? Well, they don’t have the means. And this is where “He’s Got Your Back” steps in to be God’s hands and feet. By your contribution, we will be able to provide a great start to a new school year for children right here in the USA.

Your financial contribution will go toward

A new backpack which is filled with folders, pencils, notebooks, crayons, markers, glue sticks, calculators, pencil boxes, kleenex, highlighters, colored pencils, a gift card for a new school outfit, and of course a Bible.

The non-profit works hard through out the summer months to prepare the backpacks for the upcoming school year. All backpacks are distributed to the children the second week of August through different organizations.

Some organizations include: Urban Impact, Washington City Mission & Washington Housing Authority residents & New Hope Ministries.

We are always open to any suggestions or areas in need. Please send us an email, and depending on our contributions we will fill the need.

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

No donation is to small.

May God bless you for supporting “He’s Got Your Back.” The children in need will be blessed by your contribution.
He’s Got Your Back Donation Flier

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The Little Frog was submitted to the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest International Book Awards.

• Brad Paisley & Kimberly William Paisley read The Little Frog book series to their children.
• The members of The Jars of Clay band
• Steven Curtis Chapman received a copy of The Little Frog for his family
• The Duggars – yes, 19 kids and counting are reading The Little Frog as well as 2 grandchildren so that makes 21 and counting!
• Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Ministries was personally given The Little Frog book series for her grandchildren.
• Dan Haseltine – lead singer of jars of clay & author of the one, the only magnificent me. ”little Frog is a welcome new character for every child who is searching for love & acceptance in a big world.”
• Tim Tebow’s family and ministry are reading the Little Frog.

Little Frog is hopping the globe….
He is all over Pennsylvania, in New York, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Idaho, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico and California. And many other states as well. He’s even went global – New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Poland, Brazil, and throughout Europe.

February 2011, Stewart’s 2nd release, The Little Frog Learns the Golden Rule hit airwaves, internet, and t.v. ads that broadcast all over the country.
The Almanac and in Peters Township interviewed and featured a piece on Stewart and Little Frog.