"as for me and my household"...........

As I begin to write today I will be embarking on a new journey…I will be documenting my past, present and future desires etc. which I explained yesterday in my blog post!!  I find myself at a point of BLAH… just a stuck phase I’m ready to be out of and to move forward I believe God has laid it on my heart to get things out in front of me to deal, share, learn, and grow from, also to recognize what he has done in my life and to see how far I have come with him...the love that is covering me and maybe to help another SO HERE I GO…………….  

When I became a Christian in mid-2002 I was just coming out of a life of drugs, sex, alcohol, abusive behavior, stealing, payback is a must, hustling life style….. One that I have been adapted to pretty much the bulk of my teen years growing up….. BUT EXPOSED to all my life………… With the loss of my mother in 2000 to Cancer, I was just 17 and a brother incarcerated at the time….things just kept heating up as I was living a life of madness and chaos!

My big brother and I were raised by our mother, a woman who has had her fair and share of the same lifestyle in her own lifetime x10, with the death of a brother, mother and father by time I was born.. .and left by my father who has also dealt with the same lifestyle. Who has been married 5 times and now has 5 children.

WOW!! Can you see the pattern??...I find this wild –

Not only was my mother left by my father, me and my brother were too. I always wanted him to be apart in my life but, he was just not there as a father should be. This is probably one of the reasons I went looking for love in ALL the wrong places and was used and left by many...and why I hold a slight grudge to this day. I’m a work in progress folks.

I had a OK upbringing…I was well taken care of and loved. But, when I look back on traditions or memories not so much of those, not ones I would like and set as a parent today. Structure wasn’t big in our household and education was not a priority… I have fond memories of  my mother taking me to my 8^th birthday party at a local skating ring …having a good time but… all while she was on the sideline drinking liquor and coke out of a cup.???

Why?? Fond memories that I can’t shake of… her showing up at my cheerleading events, school nights and many other important events buzzed, driving us under the influence, smoking in public areas where it wasn’t allowed.. .back then I was just embarrassed no I’m a bit horrified and mad!!

Yes back then me and my brother knew she was a bit wild and we laughed then but.. .really what was going on!! These things that happened aren’t as big as some things others have been through, but this is my story. It has impacted and made me who I am today how I think, behavior, flaws etc. and still are BIG in my life, overcoming dramatic issues I deal with daily.

Yes I know my mother loved us and we had great Christmas’s , yes I had money left, after I put my tooth  under my pillow, I had a mother who embraced us with “I love you” 10 or more times throughout the day and a mother who was affectionate. One who was beautiful and giving…

There’s no doubt in my mind she didn’t love us. I just didn’t ever know another way of life growing up… besides all the dysfunctional behavior I was given.

My home wasn’t a Christian home as I see my household today. But, I was raised knowing there was a God and I believed. I wasn’t saved till my young adult years. My mother accepted Christ and was baptized days before her death. So thankfully I can rejoice in knowing she is in heaven with our Lord Jesus. But at the same time sadden we didn’t get a chance to grow in the Lord together. My brother CJ accepted Christ in his teen years and grew up in FBC Crosby… he has always loved the Lord .Through many trails ,temptations and demons who have taunted him as he walked…I’m thankful  to know his heart is back where it faithfully belongs. PTL!!! For the Lord is GOOD (Psalm 118:1)

I could go into many topics with this passage about my childhood.

But, there are 2 scriptures that I hold near and dear to my heart when I think of my childhood and the future that God has planned out for me, my family (and you)… how it can be different if we would just choose HIS path and not our selfish paths.

Joshua 24:15

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. NIV

Proverbs 22:6

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. -NIV

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.- NLT

Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost. -The Message

I have put 3 different versions of this verse so you and I will understand. It doesn’t get any simpler.

I have been blessed with my own family, I desire an upbringing different from my own. As many of you today would agree/ relate with me and as a believer ,having a relationship with the Lord, my heart as evolved on how importantly different the upbringing of my children and focus of our household needs to be. As a wife and mother the desire is just as strong. PTL!! For the Lord is GOOD (Psalm 118:1)

The above scripture Joshua 24:15 …is more than words on page in my bible, these words have been a reality since me and my hubby were married.  A ground on which we stand and honor not just because.....but it’s just the plain fact that we are serving the Lord doing so and it’s HIS will in our life.  As it is to all believers!! Which takes me to Proverbs 22:6 , I missed out on the incredible blessing that would have been if I was instructed to know the Lord and how much he loved me, if I was given HIS promises when I was sad, hurt, confused, or in my success.  If Ii had a leader who directed me toward the Lord.

I do not blame my mother, for obviously it wasn’t in HIS plan for me to find HIM that way. And I’m OK with that because look how far he brought me! WOW! Transformed my life and as given me new life...one that serves HIM, not I, one that is protected, honored and filled with LOVE through HIM. Life with a purpose!! And as I can give back myself to the Lord and 100% serve HIM… it is by claiming Joshua 24:15 and Proverbs 22:6 over my life and my family. Praying and desperately seeking it out. Even when I think my way is somehow going to work out better (not!), even when I don’t think we can(not!), or even when I don’t want to(not an option!).  Not for myself but, for the glory of our Lord. It is very important that WE (me and you) live out these scriptures in our daily walk. To have a strong foundation, Christ centered family and teach our children who Jesus is and how much he loves them., How important it is to Love and serve others, prayer, and give them biblical truths/ God word to stand on, to drag them to church even when they don’t want to go and to teach them to FOLLOW the Lord always. Show them love through your marriage, unconditionally and to minister to them … one day lead them to the Lord, or plant the seed in them.  Pray for your children, not just when things aren’t going well but, ALL THE TIME. Praise and worship Jesus together. Above all LET’S (me and you) together let Christ be a reflection of us!!  Let HIM be our example to our children. That is my hope.

We are so thrilled that our Nikki Lynn now 7 asked Jesus into her heart last year when she was 6, during our churches VBS. How wonderful and exciting we are!!  It makes me so emotional to see God working in our home and the hearts of our children. For the Lord is GOOD (Psalms 118:1)   I look forward to the day to see Dylan receive Jesus also. I pray daily for them to have a life that honors the Lord and that they would be seeking servants and have loving hearts for all.

The basic point of this post today is to put it out there and declare (me and my household will serve the Lord and that we will train up our children in the way they should go) regardless on my upbringing or what the world views are, even when I make a mistake or in my weakness .Also to encourage you to either declare with me today these scriptures and or commit to do so today and be ready to receive the blessings of the Lord. And let’s say it one more time…… For the Lord is GOOD! (Psalm 118:1)

I long to hear those beautiful words… well done my good and faithful servant… All for HIM.  Don’t you?!

Are you ready to make that commitment to the Lord?

 Or have you already committed to applying Joshua 24:15 and Proverbs 22:6 for the glory of the Lord.

I want to hear about it!! I want this blog to be a 2 way street with feedback about your truths, thoughts etc. 

I also want to encourage you to write these scriptures down and memorize them!! Are you up for the challenge!! I AM…lets do this!!

With Love,

Cristina