One of our holiday traditions includes sending Christmas cards to friends and family. Recently I ran into a friend who had received this year’s card. She thanked me for the card, and then said, “I smiled reading your note; you sound so happy.”

I thanked her and then rambled on, “I have my moments, but the kids help me appreciate the simple pleasures in life.” She then added, “Reading your note, I thought, she’s so happy and I’m so not. I wonder what her secret is.” I gave her an awkward smile, and then I bombed. This friend, a fellow parent and someone who is not saved, had given me the perfect opportunity to share the Gospel with her.

In my head, I silently shared, Jesus! Jesus is my secret. But I bombed. I don’t remember what exactly I said to her, but it wasn’t the Gospel. Shame on me.

Later that I day I was beating myself up, disappointed that I didn’t share Jesus with her, and that I didn’t trust I Corinthians 2:4 “my message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” Why did I not rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel?

But God is merciful. And He was quick to remind me of the details of that card and note. In the note, I spoke of how God has blessed my family. I wished blessings upon her family, and I even included a personal invitation to our church’s Christmas program. No, I did not share the Gospel that day, but I shared my life with her. With a kind note and a gracious attitude, I lived to show Jesus in my heart. Only God knows my friend’s fate. I have been praying like crazy for her and her family. After all, her words, though few, said so much: she is so happy, and I am so not.

I pray that next time when I am given the opportunity to share Jesus, I trust the Holy Spirit, remembering that it is His power that delivers the message. Until then, I will continue to rely on God to help me through the daily battles of parenting, and to allow me to find happiness in simple earthly pleasures. I also pray that I live in such a way that other parents can see my secret . . . Jesus.

Gospel Tip: Write out a one page personal mission statement for 2010. Not so much a list of resolutions but a testimony to where God has brought you and how you plan to follow Him in 2010. It will make it easier to verbalize when you are in the situation described above.

Priorities by Mary Southerland of Girlfriends for God

Learn to leave the “lesser” things undone. This lesson is especially hard for me because I actually believe I can do it all. The key to Godly discipline and right priorities is learning what my “all” is and doing all of that; my trusty “Superwoman” cape is never far away.  Admittedly, it is a constant battle for me to ignore the presence of that cape, choosing to embrace and employ God’s priorities – not mine.  But it is definitely a battle worth fighting.  Families, marriages and souls are on the line.

A right perspective is the direct result of Godly discipline. In order to have right priorities, we must have right perspectives. Godly discipline brings a holy scrutiny to priorities and perspective: Does it really matter? Is it eternal? Will it impact lives for God?

Evil used events and choices from my past  to try to ruin my chance at purity across the board. Just the thought of doing this study with her started my tears flowing, palms sweating and heart racing. Thoughts rush at me, trying to make me feel like a piece of garbage: “You are such a sham.”  These are the types of lies that I must fight to have this conversation with my precious daughter.

Thankfully God, who forgives all our sin (Colossians 2:13),  loves me as a unique individual and desires the best for me. Because of this, I am choosing to stay in the place where I am precious daughter of the King (1 John 3:1). I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). There is victory in bringing things long hidden out of dark into healing light (1 Peter 2:9). God’s desire for me is the abundance of restoration not condemnation or shame  (Isaiah 61)

While I may feel inadequate to talk about this, I can be used by God to encourage my daughter. He is able to speak to and help her as she grows (Ephesians 3:20).  I will discuss purity  of mind, body, soul, and spirit because living in the light brings freedom. It is not a easy thing to humbly admit inadequacy in any area, but I refuse to live in shame. I will not pass that on to my kids nor model condemnation to them; that is not what God desires for me or our home.

I spent most of the time during our first devotion time together choking back tears. I don’t know if she understands why, but she will understand more as we study and grow together. I trust God to reveal to us what we need to discuss when we need to discuss it and will pour out His Spirit to enable us to do so in love.  That’s what the King does for His Princesses.

Resources:

The Princess and The Kiss by Jennie Bishop.  Life Lessons From the Princess and the Kiss by Bishop and Henson.

The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop. Life Lessons from the Squire and the Scroll by Bishop and Henson