Whisper, LOUD...

My thoughts may wander through this post... So, I will begin with some questions.

Who speaks grace to you?
Who speaks love to you?
Who speaks peace to you?
Who speaks confidence into you?
Who speaks praise of you?
Who speaks gentleness over you?
Who speaks care and compassion over you?
Who speaks life into you?
Who listens to your heartbeating and the breath sustaining your lungs?
Who listens to your cries?
Who listens to your deepest longings, unspoken?
Who WHISPERS good  loudly into your ear?

As a family, a few years ago we read through some of the Dobson parenting information and were struck by the encouragement to communicate about our family's creed. To kind of choose what it is we stand for and what it is we want to live for and be known for. I will share with you the list that Sean and I came up with several years ago. They encouraged their readers to narrow it to about 5 of the most important qualities we want to exemplify and teach in our household.

1. Love God with all your heart-be virtuous
2. Love the people God has put around us-be patient
3. Forgive others-be merciful, do not judge
4. Respect yourself-be self controlled
5. Defend those who cannot defend themselves-give unrestrained to those in desperate need

God whispers these virtues, these qualities into our hearts when we immerse ourselves into His Word, His Truths.

And as a mom, I have the direct privilege (and also responsibility) to whisper them into my childrens hearts, lives and ears. As my children fall asleep I whisper to them. I whisper words like, "I love you because you are mine...You are God's child...You are beautiful and what is the most important part of you to make beautiful, that's right your heart and how do you make that beautiful, that's right, by loving God and learning more about Him and hiding His Word in your heart" I have said these things so many times that now my girls are starting to know the response before I even finish what I am saying..."You are made by God and HE is so pleased with who you are...You are strong in Him...He will always be with you, sometimes we can't "feel" Him, but we can't base our life around "feelings" we must believe He is true and Truth and we must walk on even if through the darkness till we finally see the light...and He is Light and we WILL see Him on that great day". These are truths I whisper to my children. These are truths we live by. These are truths I work to exemplify.

Today, I wanted to encourage you. If you don't know God, or maybe you do "know" Him but He has seemed more like a distant image than an ever present help...lean into Him. His presence is felt strongest when we trust His Words and when we step closer to Him even when we "feel" farther from Him then ever. Let His Word whisper to your heart. If you are a skeptic, when you want to put your skepticism to the test I encourage you to watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMKOUzYeZ6A&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26frm%3D1%26source%3Dvideo%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CEAQtwIwAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.youtube.com%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DZMKOUzYeZ6A%26ei%3DHKrxT6OKMM_l6gGb5omfBg%26usg%3DAFQjCNEYTDnwTYCpDdjX0_0b4qEnRbFKxw%26sig2%3DemH_VkVbi3DIH4yAWrc9ow  I would love to hear your thoughts on this video if you have never seen it before :)

And, homework for this post is: If you haven't already done so as a family/couple, take tonight before bed (after the kids are asleep, if you have kiddos) and make a "family creed". Speak with your spouse about the 5 most important truths and virtues that you want to function, live and be known by. After you have done that, begin to whisper them to each other each day, each night and to your children, to your parents, to your friends, to your relatives, and to your acquaintances. Be amazed at the life that God brings to your heart through the life-words you choose to lavish upon others whether it's with no words at all, or in gentle whispers! Whisper, LOUD...

Love,
Ab