Palace of the King
Built in the chambers of my heart
Your kingdom here on earth within me
The light that burns so deep
Holy Spirits work a part
With gifts and warmth that free me
The King stands at the door
Generously giving more and more
Out of my very life ,I am amazed
As His voice of Love cries out
My mind, my will yeild and obey
Not this world ,but of His Way
Kingdom of Christs rule
Built from living stones
Strengthened as a wall with firm foundation
Love that mortars all
Gods eternal power alive
Making precious gems from pressured dust
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Silent Night
There is a science to picking out the right mattress, pillows and bedding. The promise of a perfect nights sleep hangs over a shoppers head as one carefully purchases and prepares an inviting sanctuary to rest in. Decorating experts declare wall color can have a tranquil effect on mood (hospitals have used this info for years).
I must say that in spite of any best effort to employ a comfortable environment, certain variables in young families prevent a good nights sleep! When my babies were arriving, I had no idea how quickly sleep deprivation would distort my ability to maintain mental and physical balance. I remember feeling like my energy levels would never come back up, my focus was on constant care of the little ones needs, and I mean constant!
Diaper changes, feedings, teething, colds, ear infections, and mixed up days and night time schedules would reap a dragged out mommy. My life became a six year push toward a real nights sleep. It was at this time I became more vulnerable to mood swings and irritability. I argued with my husband over which one of us got to nap on the weekends or whose turn it was to answer the midnight cry of a little one. I felt like a walking zombie at times!
I had to learn that conserving my own energy was of major importance during those years. I also remember my support network of other mommies helped me to not place myself in some kind of defeated position. I even grew comfortable with what I called"parralell parenting". I had two girlfriends that would visit with thier children, we would share the task of diapering, rocking and holding kids, addressing booboos, and preparing meals and snacks a couple times a week while our husbands worked. We also folded each others laundry, ran a vacuam, washed a few dishes and allowed each other time for errands. We had one thing in common, we had no family around us to support us in the day to day needs. We became sisters in the cause! We barely got the chance to finish a sentence, but just being in it together seemed like an unspoken answer to prayer. This was my cavalry! The reinforcements would arrive in our lives. The days would seem less tiring, the kids would have all the attention they required and the household tasks would become less tedious and demanding. A certain groove was felt by us all as we shared each others load.
We didn't all have the same style of parenting, but we did all trust and respect each others boundries. So we modified our times together to reflect tolerance of a corperate nature that if one child could not have, none would! If one child required certain structures and rules all would. I mean, for the sake of the benefit we mommies received 2-3 days a week, the children could do without certain freedoms they enjoyed in their own homes and learn to accept different rule and authority. But most of all we loved each other and deeply cared for the needs of each others families and lives.
You probably are wondering what this all has to do with a good nights rest? I can't promise anyone that! But I can tell you that it does help to know you are not alone, it does renew your energy to have accountablility to others about where your head is at when you are cranky and tired from those who see you and care about you on a regular basis. And " many hands make light work", so you can be more than you might have thought to all who depend on you.
One of my favorite prayers is a simple one word expression "HELP". If you try it, be prepared to receive it! You may still be tired but you will "sleep in heavenly peace"!
In Galations it says"bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ"
I must say that in spite of any best effort to employ a comfortable environment, certain variables in young families prevent a good nights sleep! When my babies were arriving, I had no idea how quickly sleep deprivation would distort my ability to maintain mental and physical balance. I remember feeling like my energy levels would never come back up, my focus was on constant care of the little ones needs, and I mean constant!
Diaper changes, feedings, teething, colds, ear infections, and mixed up days and night time schedules would reap a dragged out mommy. My life became a six year push toward a real nights sleep. It was at this time I became more vulnerable to mood swings and irritability. I argued with my husband over which one of us got to nap on the weekends or whose turn it was to answer the midnight cry of a little one. I felt like a walking zombie at times!
I had to learn that conserving my own energy was of major importance during those years. I also remember my support network of other mommies helped me to not place myself in some kind of defeated position. I even grew comfortable with what I called"parralell parenting". I had two girlfriends that would visit with thier children, we would share the task of diapering, rocking and holding kids, addressing booboos, and preparing meals and snacks a couple times a week while our husbands worked. We also folded each others laundry, ran a vacuam, washed a few dishes and allowed each other time for errands. We had one thing in common, we had no family around us to support us in the day to day needs. We became sisters in the cause! We barely got the chance to finish a sentence, but just being in it together seemed like an unspoken answer to prayer. This was my cavalry! The reinforcements would arrive in our lives. The days would seem less tiring, the kids would have all the attention they required and the household tasks would become less tedious and demanding. A certain groove was felt by us all as we shared each others load.
We didn't all have the same style of parenting, but we did all trust and respect each others boundries. So we modified our times together to reflect tolerance of a corperate nature that if one child could not have, none would! If one child required certain structures and rules all would. I mean, for the sake of the benefit we mommies received 2-3 days a week, the children could do without certain freedoms they enjoyed in their own homes and learn to accept different rule and authority. But most of all we loved each other and deeply cared for the needs of each others families and lives.
You probably are wondering what this all has to do with a good nights rest? I can't promise anyone that! But I can tell you that it does help to know you are not alone, it does renew your energy to have accountablility to others about where your head is at when you are cranky and tired from those who see you and care about you on a regular basis. And " many hands make light work", so you can be more than you might have thought to all who depend on you.
One of my favorite prayers is a simple one word expression "HELP". If you try it, be prepared to receive it! You may still be tired but you will "sleep in heavenly peace"!
In Galations it says"bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ"
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