Denise Hildreth Jones is a Nashville author and an international speaker. Her writing credits include two novels, Savannah from Savannah and Savannah Comes Undone.
In 2007 after Denise’s divorce she went on a fervent attempt to reclaim her shut-down heart. After spending years traveling and speaking and leading Bible Studies, Denise knew that if there was one message she would want to share with people it would be how important their God designed heart is.
In 2011 she began a nonprofit called “Reclaiming Hearts Ministries” whose mission is to provide men and women Biblical Teaching and resources that reconnect them to their God designed heart. In 2010, Denise married Phily Jones and became a “bonus mom” to 5 children.
Do you ever feel distressed by your own shortcomings.
You don’t want to let the enemy accuse you or condemn you or make you feel bad about yourself. You are the righteousness of Christ Jesus. He has made you a saint and you can walk free of your sin. In areas of your life where there is sin, His Holy Spirit will convict you and lead you to a fresh start.
The Message Bible communicates II Corinthians 7:10 in this way:
Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.
It may be “distressing” to begin to walk in the light and to call any of your fleshly patterns “sin”, but in the long run it will lead to freedom. Let Godly sorrow do its work in you and turn you toward His loving, forgiving heart. God never shines His light to expose you or condemn you. It is much the opposite. He shines His light in your heart to drive out the darkness. His way is light.
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Do you ever find yourself saying “I’m sorry” for the same thing?
True repentance is more than just saying “I’m sorry”, and then doing the same thing a couple of days later. The Greek word for “repentance” is metanoeo (where we get our English word “metamorphosis”), which means “relating to or involving a change in physical form, appearance, or character” (Encarta Dictionary). To repent means to turn around, to change. True repentance is evidenced when we change in three dimensions: 1) we change our minds; 2) we change our hearts (will and emotions); 3) we change our actions.
Matthew 3:8 says,
“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God”
Our repentance needs to be openly seen. In order for that to happen, we need to walk in the light and admit when we have sinned. When my children were smaller there were a couple of things that I did to bring my sin our into the light. If I would have an angry outburst, I would put myself in the “time out” chair and have my children pray for me. I didn’t want them to think that just because I was older it was fine for me to misbehave. I would also bring it up in front of my husband and children sometimes at supper. God can give you a strategy for you to bring out into the light your sin. If you bring it out in the open, the light of God will illuminate the situation and help you overcome in Him.
Children are usually already well aware of their parents’ shortcomings. It is important that you admit when you have crossed boundaries and treated your children inappropriately. If you rationalize your behavior by thinking “he deserved it”, then you deceive yourself about your own harshness. Part of getting free from angry outbursts is to admit that you have sinned and to confess it. I John 1:9 says this:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Greek word for “confess” is homologeo. It means “to say the same thing.” To call it what God calls it. Sin comes out of a repentant heart through confession with our mouths. Confession is your part to do. When you do that, you begin to see that He is faithful and just. Not only will He forgive you, but He will cleanse you! He always does His part.
The only way we can walk in God’s love on a daily basis is to be empowered by God’s spirit. You could use this translation of I Corinthians 13 (and add the word “mom”) to describe a Spirit-empowered mother’s love:
Mom never gives up.
Mom cares more for her children than for herself.
Mom doesn’t want what she doesn’t have.
Mom doesn’t strut,
Mom doesn’t have a swelled head,
Mom doesn’t force herself on others,
Mom doesn’t say “me first,”
Mom doesn’t fly off the handle,
Mom doesn’t keep score of the sins of her children,
Mom doesn’t revel when her children grovel,
Mom takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Mom puts up with anything,
Mom trusts God always,
Mom always looks for the best,
Mom never looks back,
Mom keeps going to the end.
Love is the most excellent pathway for a mother to walk. A mother who walks in love remembers with great gratitude that God Himself has been patient with her imperfections. It is His love flowing through you that empowers you to be patient with the imperfections of your children. Love believes the best about your children. Love fuels your Spirit-empowered ability to train them up in the way of the Lord. His way is love.
http://www.christianmomtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/582094_3434954116761_776927505_n.jpg402604Sue Detweilerhttp://www.christianmomtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CMT-Trans-1-300x93.pngSue Detweiler2013-09-02 19:00:582013-08-11 16:17:32His Way Is Love
Do you have a personal knowledge of the love of God, the Father?
God is love. Even when He is correcting you, He does not shout and scream. Everything He does in your life is for your good, and is not based on His convenience. Knowing, experiencing, and receiving God’s love makes an impact on how you parent. If you have been abused, abandoned or neglected by those you love, it is so important to go through steps to your own personal freedom so that you are able to give God’s love to your children.
The walk of love is beautifully described in I Corinthians 13:4-7. The Message Bible reads:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Let the words from 1 Corinthians 13 wash over you, not as an impossible list to live up to. Rather, let it be a mark of the powerful transformation God is able to work in each one of us, as we surrender our lives to Him.
Denise Hildreth Jones is a Nashville author and an international speaker. Her writing credits include two novels, Savannah from Savannah and Savannah Comes Undone.