Your stories and prayers moved me so much yesterday. I have prayed and continue to pray these words for you and your families…“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19b.
My 13yr old son taught me something that has encouraged my heart as a mom and as a woman. I shared it as a D6 story recently during my D6 Conference video session. I’d love to share it with you. You can click on the the arrow (on my face below) to watch a 2-minute video of me telling it.
At first, this was a lesson I was able to share with Joshua as a D6 story, but over time it’s become a lesson God has challenged me to really think about.
Sometimes my perspective gets discolored and, like my mom, I don’t like how things look. I become critical of myself, my circumstances or people around me. There are days when my emotions and hard situations tempt me to focus on life through my human eyes, keeping me from seeing through God’s perspective.
The verse Joshua and I discussed from 1 Samuel 16 about man looking at the outward appearance but God looking at the heart, is a truth I want to apply- being careful what I look through before judging what I see…
when I look at the outward appearance of my circumstances,
when I look at the outward appearance of my decisions,
when I look at the outward appearance of my future,
when I look at the outward appearance of my kid’s choices,
when I look at the outward appearance of my choices.
I don’t want to judge how things will turn out just from my perspective. I want to see through God’s perspective – having hope even when things don’t “look” the way I think they should.
I am asking God to help me see, not just the outward appearance, but more importantly the heart of situations, relationships and circumstances through His perspective. I am being careful what I look through before I judge what I see, trying to view life through His “lens” instead of mine.
Are their circumstances in your life where you need God to give you His perspective?
Copyright 2009, Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
Today’s AMAZING Mom Give-Aways
We’re giving a copy of Lysa’s TerKeurst’s “The Bathtub is Overflowing but I feel Drained” a “perspective-changing” book full of hilarious stories and great parenting insights. For another winner, we’ve got two tickets to the D6 Conference and a year’s worth of Family Devotional Magazines from D6.
Also, Girls Night Out sold out, so we’ve added a Girl’s Day out . I have two tickets to give away! It’s from 11:30am-2pm with the same line-up, including Kate from TLC’s Jon and Kate plus 8, Lysa TerKeurst, Ayiesha Woods, Jason Catron, and me (who by the way is quite nervous about speaking in front of 4000 people! Me, the one who told God I wouldn’t even get up and pray in front of 20 people 10 years ago.)
To be part of today’s give-aways, click on the words “comments” below this post. PLEASE include your email so we can get in touch if you win, your city, and let us know which prize you’d like to win in your comment !
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thank you so much for your views. It always seems that you are talking about just what I need to hear at the right moments.
God Bless You.
Your blog is such a blessing to me. God bless you.
Susan Lanthrip
[email protected]
Mongtomery, AL
Thank you for sharing that story with us. My prayer today is that I can become a mom who can use everyday situations and stories and turn them into D6 moments. I think throughout this month your blog may help put me in the right mindset and allow me to “train” myself to teach my children in this way. Unfortunately, before starting to visit your blog, these types of interactions and sharing the Truth with my children in this particular way, did not even occur to me.
I’m praying that I can become a D6 mom. My children are at such an impressionable age (5,4,2,and 10 mos.) and they soak everything up like little sponges. I constantly struggle with frustration and impatience because I am pulled in so many different directions. I have little to no time to recharge my own batteries physically or spiritually, which results in raising my voice and inconsistancy in dealing with the everyday conflicts between the children. That is not the kind of mom I want to be.
I am trying to be more purposeful in my interactions with them and am always trying to apply sound Christian parenting techniques. D6 parenting is now a goal of mine. Each day your topics have really spoken to me. I have been touched deeply by each one and have been refreshed and encouraged each day. I have been so blessed and helped by the D6 info and will continue to pray that I can become a D6 mom!
[email protected]
Plain City, OH
Oh to see things through the lens of God’s love. Beautiful story.
It was so precious to hear your voice again! :o) Love ya so much. Continuing in prayer.
Blessings,
Joy
PS Even if your hair had been a little red…there’s nothing wrong with that – spoken from a true redhead :o)
So insightful!
-Michelle
Dallas, TX
[email protected]
Once again I am blessed in spite of my pain in my loss of my son.This devotional hit home again to me at what the Lord has been impressing on my heart.I have had to pray and tell the Lord that I do not know how to grieve let alone feel.I have sensed that God wants me to just let Him live through me and that he knows these horrible circumstances and how I should grieve and feel and live and that He will see me through and my family besides.Thanks for your prayers.My husband is struggling with memories from what he saw after and I can not help him and he can not really deliver me either from my thoughts and questions.We covet your prayers on our [email protected]
Thanks so much – I have been hearing that song on our local radio and can definately identify w/ it.
Hanna
Houston TX
[email protected]
Renee
I forgot to add my city:
Littleton, NH
I struggle with my “glasses” a lot. Hormones, moods, and just circumstances color my life and put things out of perspective. Thanks for sharing.
Brittany
[email protected]
Thanks for another great post. I tend to struggle with this sometimes. Your son sounds amazing. You are so inspiring. I wish that I was in the Houston area. 🙁 Everybody is going to have such a great time. I’ll pray for you. One day, maybe I’ll get to travel from Idaho to come to one of your fabulous events!
[email protected]
Awesome story Renee. I pray that I can take off my distorted glasses especially when dealing with my children and see them as the gifts they truly are from God. I have had a tough time with them lately and I have been not so kind.
I am physically and mentally and realized spiritually drained and what comes out of our mouths is what overflows from our hearts and my heart has not been too full lately.
I am praying and trying to make a concerted effort to be more loving and understanding to my kids and trying to make a point of spending time with God…tho somedays it ends up being very little time and I flounder on what to study/read etc
Blessings
Kim
[email protected]
Unfortunately I live in bitter cold IL…bbbrrr
Renee
Thankyou for sharing this.. I remember that from the Camp Berea retreat also.
It is so easy to jusrge outwardly instead of looking at the heart of the matter.
I think sometimes with my kids.. I need to step back and really look at what is going on.
With 3 kids so young it is easy to get caught up in who did this to who.. instead maybe we should look at their hearts more….
As a mom.. we sometimes focus on what is not soo important.
Please pray that we can discern inward motives and focus more on changing the heart.. so that they will grow to love Him.
Chrissy
[email protected]
Sorry Renee I forgot to put my email address.
Have great day and weekend!!
[email protected]
Hi Renee,
I sent you a prayer request yesterday for my daughter who has Ulcerativecolities. Your story spoke to my heart. I pray that God will work on my heart to see the future for Jennifer through his eyes. I know alot of times I’m looking through distorted glasses. I will trust God to show me how to see circumstances and decisions I need to make through his eyes. Thank you for sharing your story with us today.
Hi Renee,
I was one of the ones that left a prayer request yesterday. Amazingly, God has spoken to me today through your blog and has eased my worries. I will continue to trust Him and have faith.
Thank you for your blog on D6. I live in the Dallas area and would love the opportunity to come to the conference if I’m chosen.
Lori J
Dallas, TX
[email protected]
Thanks for that story. I know more times that not, my family is looking through distorted glasses. Sometimes they are rose colored sometimes they are just black. I think I need to add to my prayers to let me see without the distortions. What a great thing to remember.
Everytime I read this story of your mom and the sunglasses, it really makes my heart skip a beat. Because I pray everyday that my son can be as Godly as your Joshua. He is only 2, but I know I am building a man of God. Thank you for continously sharing this wonderful story. It has really touched my heart.
Thank you for sharing that story with us. My prayer today is that I can become a mom who can use everyday situations and stories and turn them into D6 moments. I think throughout this month your blog may help put me in the right mindset and allow me to “train” myself to teach my children in this way. Unfortunately, before starting to visit your blog, these types of interactions and sharing the Truth with my children in this particular way, did not even occur to me.
I’m praying that I can become a D6 mom. My children are at such an impressionable age (5,4,2,and 10 mos.) and they soak everything up like little sponges. I constantly struggle with frustration and impatience because I am pulled in so many different directions. I have little to no time to recharge my own batteries physically or spiritually, which results in raising my voice and inconsistancy in dealing with the everyday conflicts between the children. That is not the kind of mom I want to be.
I am trying to be more purposeful in my interactions with them and am always trying to apply sound Christian parenting techniques. D6 parenting is now a goal of mine. Each day your topics have really spoken to me. I have been touched deeply by each one and have been refreshed and encouraged each day. I have been so blessed and helped by the D6 info and will continue to pray that I can become a D6 mom!
[email protected]
Plain City, OH
Thanks so much – I have been hearing that song on our local radio and can definately identify w/ it.
Hanna
Houston TX
[email protected]
Everytime I read this story of your mom and the sunglasses, it really makes my heart skip a beat. Because I pray everyday that my son can be as Godly as your Joshua. He is only 2, but I know I am building a man of God. Thank you for continously sharing this wonderful story. It has really touched my heart.