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Song: Faithful Father

January 2018 issue

Written and produced by Amy Smith

 
 
|| Friday Magnify ||⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ "Oh, magnify the LORD with me,⠀⠀⠀ And let us exalt His name together."⠀⠀⠀ Psalm 34:3⠀⠀ ⠀ These jeans have been around for a while. Those tears are from wear, and I don't mind a bit. I think back on so many memories that have happened while buying and wearing these pants! ⠀ ⠀ But, while I'm thankful for this pair of jeans, I'm more thankful for the fact that He clothes me. Yes, literally and physically; I have clothes for all seasons. What a blessing.⠀ ⠀ Yet He clothes me with so much more. His strength, His righteousness, His peace. He fits in every situation, good weather or bad weather. He always has answers, because He is sufficient. ⠀ ⠀ This week I've had to depend more on Him, and turn to Him in areas I wasn't anticipating. He always, always is faithful. He always is good, and He always is above all. I'm so grateful.⠀ ⠀ What are you thankful for this week? I'd love to know. ❤️⠀ ⠀ - Amy
"I’ve left my starched white apron behind but I can still make a mean appetizer platter. My specialty is loading up a big tray with unique cheeses and crackers, bright red grapes, and my homemade fig jam, bowls of salty olives and always those tiny French pickles.⠀ ⠀ If you look closely at the word “entertain” and you’ll see two words: “enter” and “in”. You enter my world and I enter yours and we usually do it around a table. The word’s origin is in Old Middle English and means “to hold mutually”. Don’t you love that? I hold you and you hold me as we enter in to each other’s lives. It can also mean “hold together, stick together, support” which sounds exactly like family to me! ⠀ ⠀ Come into my world, my life, my table and let me pamper you, make you feel special, and use the good china because you’re worth it."⠀ ⠀ - excerpt from How to Entertain Without Losing Your Mind by @katebattistelli ⠀ For the full article, order the latest issue of Strength and Song magazine!
"If a crooked stick is before you, you need not explain how crooked it is. Lay a straight one down by the side of it, and the work is well done. Preach the truth, and error will stand abashed in its presence." Charles Spurgeon⠀ ⠀ There are some amazing truth-speakers out there who aren't afraid to go against the flow of self obsession that is currently trending in our hurting culture. Is your feed filled with people telling you that you are enough, that you have all the answers and means to fulfil your dreams? Are you buying in to the lie of self-love and putting yourself first, and cutting out any(thing)(one) in your life that doesn't make you happy?⠀ ⠀ I challenge you to pick up the Word and God and search the scriptures in context to see if those phrases are from the Lord or from the father of all lies. I'll give you a hint...it's not biblical truth to put yourself above anyone else. You can never be fulfilled or find purpose outside of Jesus Christ. You will never find freedom and peace if you are not living for God. If your identity isn't wrapped up in the cross, you will never be content in your body, your house + material wealth, your role as wife or mother. ⠀ ⠀ Let's not sit idly by as the truth of God gets trampled underfoot. Let's preach the truth - on social media, sure, but in our homes and in our communities and churches - and watch as error stands abashed before the power of the Gospel.
Happy Monday, friends!⠀ ⠀ Quick rundown of this week's email:⠀ - Christian community and fellowship: being in community, and asking God to show you how He intends it to look (Amy Parsons)⠀ - Do you regret having kids? Whether you do or don't this is a great read from @jenoshman⠀ - God Knows: testimony to how the Lord really is involved in every part of your life (Marlene McKenna)⠀ - Excerpt from the upcoming magazine issue about hospitality⠀ ⠀ If you don't have this all in your Inbox, head over to www.strengthandsong.com and get it!⠀ While you're there, look around and think if there's a mama you could bless with a magazine subscription. Or, donate so that we can give copies to mamas at pregnancy centers and girls' homes. ❤️
Thank God! ⠀ Happy Sabbath, friends. ❤️
|| Friday Magnify ||⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ "Oh, magnify the LORD with me,⠀⠀⠀ And let us exalt His name together."⠀⠀⠀ Psalm 34:3⠀⠀ ⠀ This week I'm grateful for bike rides and teachable moments with my boys.⠀ ⠀ We live next to the Boise Greenbelt, and it has been such a blessing to jump on and take the kids for a ride during the week. ⠀ ⠀ Dont get me wrong - it isnt completely peaceful and idyllic. We went out for an hour and a half last week and I thought I would go crazy the number of times I had to stop and handle a situation. Finally, after the umpteenth time, I decided to keep riding and let them figure it out. There were screaches and angry yells disturbing the beauty of nature and an embarrased mama, but after about 10 minutes they decided it was much more enjoyable to sit peacefully together and enjoy the ride.⠀ ⠀ Sometimes I anticipate everything that could go wrong and miss out on opportunities to allow my kids to grow. I was so close to nixing the whole bike ride thing due to my dread of my kids acting up - well, they sure did, but they figured it out and grew in maturity as a result. I avoid taking them on errands because what if they decide to pull a fit? I dont want to be the mom with the screaming toddler in Walmart. But how many teaching moments am I missing simply because I'm unwilling to endure uncomfortable situations as a parent? ⠀ ⠀ So, cheers to opportunities of growth! Thank You Lord for knowing what's best and giving strength and wisdom accordingly. ⠀ ⠀ Have a blessed weekend!⠀ ⠀ Natalya
"I have always considered myself a relatively content person…until it came to finances.⠀ ⠀ My dad is a pharmacist, which means after he got his doctorate we were financially secure. My parents were very 'Larry Burkett' with their money, so it’s not like we grew up lavishly surrounded with every material possession we desired, but money wasn’t something I had to think about.⠀ ⠀ That changed when I married my beloved fuzzy mountain man. He runs his small family flooring business, and as all contractors know in summer we 'feast' and in winter we 'famine'."⠀ ⠀ More from Natalya - link in profile!
"Biblical hospitality is about much more than opening our home — it is imitating Jesus’ costly love, connecting with others, meeting their needs, and sharing our lives.⠀ ⠀ God is calling us to open not only our homes, but our lives — humbly, generously, and sacrificially — for the privilege to imitate Jesus as we look with expectation for His return."⠀ ⠀ - Hospitality: The Fruit of Sacrifice by Stephanie Smith⠀ ⠀ -------------------⠀ ⠀ This beautiful article is featured in the next issue of Strength and Song magazine! You can order your copy or subscribe to the entire year by visiting the link in our bio.
"Even though you may not understand how God works, you know He does."⠀ Max Lucado⠀ ⠀ I was talking to a friend a little while ago, and we were discussing difficult life circumstances and how sometimes you just want to throw in the towel and scream, "Why me?!" ⠀ ⠀ If only we could see from God's standpoint. If only we could recognize that He is preparing us for something. Teaching us a life lesson we need to learn before we can grow in Him and be fully used by Him. So, if you are struggling and hurting and feeling forsaken by your loving Creator, remember - He is at work in your life, and because He is loving and good, you know He has your best interest in mind at all times. Be encouraged! Have faith!⠀ ⠀ Natalya
As you may know from my last Friday Magnify post, we've had a good bout of sickness. In the midst of the fevers, medicine, and trying to sleep - I noticed a little habit I have.⠀ ⠀ “It’s been so bad,” I'd text a friend. “This after this after this… and this happened too -- right after this, of course. Because why would anything be easy?”⠀ ⠀ And on it would go, with me thinking I needed to make everything sound as dire as possible. My struggles in motherhood are worse and harder than hers. She has an idea, but she hasn’t been *here*. It’s just so bad.⠀ ⠀ Mmm, hold up a sec. ⠀ ⠀ We know there are other moms who have it worse than we do. I know of families whose children constantly struggle, wrestling with health issues or learning disabilities. There are families who don’t have clean water to drink. There are moms who literally have to scrounge to find food that won’t even fill their kids’ bellies. And I feel the need to proclaim my own hardships?⠀ ⠀ Mamas, we do no good when we try to level up like this! When we complain about how hard we have it, how it’s never going to end. We can be so dramatic, and it’s not right.⠀ ⠀ The truth is, God has allowed each of us what’s in front of us. And according to Him, all things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). When the going gets rough for you, it’s still a part of His plan. When the going gets rough for your friend, it’s also part of His plan. It’s all for His glory.⠀ ⠀ Instead of sinking into despair or trying to make our situations sound worse than everyone else’s, we need to let go of our pride. Send those texts to friends so that they might encourage you, pray for you, or ask if you need anything. #checkyourheart ⠀ When you receive the same texts from a friend in a rough spot, find a way to encourage her. Pray for her. Understand, to the extent you can based on your own trials, what she is going through and walk with her. ⠀ ⠀ Humility is a beautiful, Godly thing that we need more of. Let our trials give glory to Him, rather than shine light on how we “endure”.⠀ ⠀ So to the friends I complained to -- forgive me! And next time around, remind me of this post and hold me accountable. 😉⠀ ⠀ -Amy