Walking in Truth

III John 1:4- I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in truth.

After nearly 25 years in ministry there is nothing that encourages my heart more than hearing how people that we have had the joy of leading and serving are still faithfully and joyfully serving the Lord and walking in the truth of His Word. Enough years have passed that we have had the overwhelming privilege to hear of so many stories of how God has led people we love, how He has carried them, how they have followed Him during times of joy and sorrow and how they have grown to love Him more and more. I can definitely see how John the Beloved could write these words. 

As a parent, I want the same for my kids. I want them to learn to walk in the Truth. This world has some crazy lies and misconstructed ideas that they will try to get them to buy into, and it's my job for now to teach them how to walk in truth so they don't get side swiped into believing the lies. 

Yesterday I was having a conversation with Tucker (12) and we were talking a little about the struggle of moving and leaving his friends. I let the talk go on for a few minutes because I think it's important for him to share his thoughts and also because he is a boy and he was having "feelings" so I wanted to maximize on listening...but after a few minutes I said, "I know this is hard, but can you see any way God has provided or done anything good during this time?" After a moment he said, "He has already found a friend for me there (new home)." You can't imagine how excited I was to hear him say this. This was the truth. God has already provided him a friend there and Tucker was voicing the truth. Satan would like nothing better for Tucker than for him to believe that this was a tragic situation, that he would be lonely and alone for the rest of his life, that no one would reach out and that he would never find a friend. I know this sounds dramatic but isn't that exactly what the enemy does...makes us believe the absolute worst situation or conflict or circumstance is the truth??? When it's all a big fat lie. 

There is joy when we hear our children are walking in truth, but before the joy there has to be guidance. We have to model the process. We have to teach our kids how to navigate through the hurdles of lies and the roadblocks of deceit that Satan orchestrates. We have to teach them what the Bible says, how to apply it to our lives and how to ask the right questions and seek the right answers when they are faced with a tough situation. 

This doesn't happen by chance. We have to get busy.

Truth Wall

Our 2015 was rough...and when I say rough I mean that we started it out going to a counselor because after 40+ years there's no way you don't need to talk to someone. Seriously. I heartily recommend it! Go before you really need it...which might seem weird...but we avoided making some pretty big mistakes and we were consumed with encouragement by seeking wise counsel. I'm forever grateful for the good Biblical counsel that we received.

Anyhow...but just because you go to counseling.....doesn't mean your problems or heartaches go away...and so even though we were coping better, we were still struggling. But struggling is good...because it means you haven't given up...that you're still fighting...that you want something more...that you have it in your heart to dream again and to believe there is something better ahead..something to live for...

But those in between times can be brutal. And the enemy can feed your soul with lies. Lies, lies, lies.

- You're not good enough
- No one cares
- No one understands
- God can't hear me
- I am invisible
- I can't do anything right
- I'm worthless
- I'm defeated
- God..you couldn't be asking this of me?

You could probably even add a few more of the enemies tricks and lies. He's so full of them.

So I saw these beautiful feature walls on pinterest (go ahead...go search if you're feeling curious) and I knew I wanted to start out 2016 focused on TRUTH. And I wanted my family to have a home that was grounded in the beauty and strength of God's Word. Because for us...and really everyone in the whole wide world...the only place real truth is found is in God's Word.

So I asked for a gift card to Hobby Lobby for Christmas (AKA the Christian Craft Capital) and combined it with a birthday gift card I received last year and I headed out to see what I could find.

$75 worth of gift card purchases later and I came home with this stash of truth goodies. Did I mention wall art was 50% off the day I went shopping...Did I mention I got to go shopping all by myself (that's a blog for another day...but momma's...you know what I'm talking about!)

So today I came home from school and in less than 20 minutes...it was all on the wall. Verses and phrases and truths that I want to ingrain into my head. Truths that will be true 20 years and an eternity from now. I want to write them on my children's hearts and remind them of the solid ground they can stand on no matter what the world throws at them. I want to encourage my husband ...to make home a place he recharges with truth after giving himself away day after day after day. 

And the finished project looks like this...

And I love love love it! I almost can't quit looking at it! I'm praying it will encourage my family to be joyful, and grateful and loving and peaceful and to remember that Jesus is the only thing they need to accomplish any of those things.

So...if you were making a truth wall, what would you want on it? I'd love to hear your ideas.