Just Learn From Your Mistakes

"Let the wise listen and add to their learning..."
Proverbs 1:5 NIV

Written 6/13/95

Courtney told me one of her teacher's was not coming back to school so all the children made her cards. She told me, "Mama, I messed up Miss Kelly's card, I put two Y's in it." Courtney was very sad about this. I told her, "It's O.K. I mess up, too! Sometimes I type things wrong or spell something wrong, but you know what? When we make a mistake we can learn from it and not to do it again. I bet you won't put two Y's in the name Kelly again, will you?" She smiled. I said, "See, you learned something from your mistake!"

In life we make many mistakes and wrong choices and we, like Courtney, can be very sad about it. We can learn from our mistakes and wrong choices if we approach them in the right way. If you are a child of God, through Jesus Christ, then your mistakes have already been paid for, so let's learn from them and not do them again!

She Knows It's Me

"And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God's very own children ... For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts, and tells us that we really are God's children." Romans 8:15-16 TLB

Written 5/10/95

Courtney is not a morning person, so when I wake her up for school, I try to be gentle. I will turn back her covers and touch her hands. Without even opening her eyes she reaches up for me to take her ... She knows it's me without even looking!

When we know our Father in heaven as well as Courtney knows me, when He gently touches us we know it's Him. We will reach up for Him without even looking!

Pick up your Toys...Pick up your Toys...Pick up your Toys!!!

"Take with you your only son - yes, Issac whom you love so much and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there ... The next morning Abraham got up early ... and took with him his son Issac" Genesis 2: 2,3 TLB

Written 4/18/95

It is very frustrating for a mother to have to tell her child to do something over and over AND over again. I am forever saying "Courtney, Pick up your toys. Pick up your toys...Pick up your toys!!!" Obeying is such an easy thing to do. I told her "If you'd just obey me the first time I wouldn't get frustrated, you wouldn't get into trouble, and everybody would be happy!

I know God gets tired to having to tell us over and over "Pick up your toys. Pick up your toys...Pick up your toys!!!" When we hear God speaking and we know it's Him, obey the first time and we won't get into trouble and everyone will be happy, including ourselves. It's a joy to obey God and it's such an easy thing to do!

I've Heard the Wind Blow Before

"So when you talk to God and vow to Him that you will do something, don't delay in doing it..." Ecclesiastes 5:4 TLB

Written 2/23/95

Courtney and I were the way to church Wednesday night and she asked me if I was supposed to keep the "baby" class that night. It was my night to keep them so she began to beg, "Please, can I stay in there with you, I PROMISE I'll be good, just let me stay in there, I PROMISE I'll be good...” We've had this experience before and she is not always "good" when she stays with me in the "baby" class. I told her "You know, I've heard the wind blow before!"

God has heard our wind blow before many times. We PROMISE, if you do this God, or if you'll get me out of this God, I PROMISE, I'll be good. If we promise God something, let's not just let it be the wind blowing!

A Real Friend Loves You No Matter What!

"There are 'friends' who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 TLB

Written 2/22/95
Courtney was telling me about her day's events at school. One of her friends had told her "If you look at Dannon's picture (another friend of Courtney's) I won't be your best friend." I told her not to worry, that a real friend loves you no matter what! If she is a real friend, it won't matter.

Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. No matter if we're good or if we fail, He loves us. He is a real friend. He loves us, no matter what!

Isn’t There Something You Need To Tell Me?

This one made me think of Ralph's Sermon this past Sunday ...

"But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, 'Where are you?'"
Genesis 3:9 Amplified

Written 3/30/95
Bedtime again and Courtney wants chocolate! She brought a bowl full of "kisses" to me and asked if she could eat them! "No", I said, "It's to late for chocolate and you'll be up all night if you eat them now. Go put them back in the kitchen." She went running down the hall to put them up (I thought) and I proceeded with my nightly chores. A few minutes later I asked her to come help me do something. She came running to me not saying a word but reeking of chocolate! I asked her "Isn't there something you need to tell me?" She shook her head no -- mouth still shut! I asked again, "Isn't there something you need to tell me?" She opened her mouth and, of course, it was full of chocolate I told her to put up the rest of the chocolate and not get any more, but I thanked her for not lying to me.

God knows when we've been in the "chocolate", but He wants us to come to Him anyway when we've done wrong. Don't try to lie to God; you "reek of chocolate"!

I Can't Take My Eyes Off the Road!

"... And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying 'Lord, save me!' And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt'."
Matthew 14:29-31 NASB

Written 2/2/95
Driving to school, Courtney (sitting beside me) said, "Mommy, look. Is there something on my chin?" I told her, "I can't take my eyes off the road, and we might run in the ditch and have a wreck!"

On our Christian road we can't take our eyes off Jesus or we will most certainly "run off the road" and "wreck" our lives. "Keep your eyes on Jesus" and you can't help buy stay "in the road!"