for inspiration
The desires of your heart
This morning I read Psalm 37 again. It is so interesting how what leaps off the page at you changes as you change. The first time I read this Psalm I was inspired by verse 4 which says, "If you will delight yourself in me I will give you the desires of your heart." The desires of my heart at that time were marriage and children. That's it!
Today many other promises jump off the page, and the word "desires". I realize that there are more things that God wants to give me. Additionally, I have many more desires now. What changed? I did. My worldview, my experiences and my understanding of how the world works has all changed. Consequently, my passions and desires have increased. Because God is sovereign and we are not, we must trust Him to give us desires that not only line up with His will for our lives but also line up with the person we will become. The word "desires" here does not mean that God is our Santa Claus, it means that we become moldable in His hands.
Today I am taking note that God did not replace my original desires, they are still there. He increased them as He has increased me.
Psalm 37:4
"If you would delight yourself in me I will give you the desires of your heart."
women of the well (helping women find their voice )
Love without boundaries
Yesterday my pastor preached about love. There was a time when I would I tune out during these messages but I have learned that the concept of love is not as simple as it sounds. My mind immediately went to this scripture as he was talking.
"But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons (and daughters) of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your bretheren (or sisteren) only, what do you do more than others? Therefore you shall be perfect (or mature), just as your Father in heaven is perfect (or mature).
Too often we hear messages on love and we decide to love our children more, our spouses and our neighbors. But this love, though important, is not the only thing God is calling us to in this hour.
Several years ago I found myself working with emotionally disturbed children. It was so easy to become angry and frustrated by their behavior since they often hit, spit, kicked and call us horrible names. And then we would read their history. It changed my perspective and helped me to understand and have emphathy for them. It even caused me to fall in love them. Through this wilderness experience (that lasted 8 years) I learned unconditional love.
My question is this. Can you love someone outside of your circle? Can you love someone who doesn't act, think or look like you? Can you love someone whom you have been taught your entire life was your enemy? These are the characteristics of mature a Christian.
read to and with your children
literacy: the next civil rights issue
If you haven't seen it yet, you must see the film "The Right to Read", produced by Kareem Weaver. I have seen it three times. It truly gives a candid look into the state education, particularly in the black and brown communities. As a busy mom of a struggling reader, I know some of these struggles firsthand. They say that more than 40% of our children are now behind three grade levels in math and reading.
According to the film, teaching children to read is a struggle for all communities but not all communities have the resources to pay for tutoring and extra help for their children. Consequently, we must begin to tutor our own children so they can be successful.
A few things we moms are often not told. For the first four years of school children learn to read. Starting in 4th grade children begin reading to learn. If they cannot read on grade level by 3rd or 4th grade they will most likely struggle to learn throughout their academic career. It makes sense then that some would drop out and find other ways to survive. It also makes sense that the 3rd and 4th grade level reading levels would be used to estimate the number of jail/prison cells that should be built.
Reading is a foundational skill that we need in order to do just about everything. In my 18 years as a parent, I have learned that teaching our children to read is no longer something we can trust the school system to do.
A few things I did to help my son who is now two, instead of three grade levels behind in reading:
1. I purchased an online reading program so he could listen to stories at his leisure.
2. I read books to him while he ate a snack or colored. (He now reads on his own)
3. I made sure he could recognize and spell all the Dolce words. (Fry Words work too)
4. I used online sources to make sight word cards for his grade level and quizzed him. (He earned a penny for each one he got right.)
Much success as you form your own reading circle.
Dr. Phyllis
