Tag Archives: Christianity

Victor Indeed-The 39th Day of Christmas

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On the 39th day of Christmas my true love gave to me a promise of Satan’s defeat—Genesis 3:15.

I love watching movies where the underdog wins: the homely girl becomes the most popular; the wimpy guy saves the sports team; the guy from across town is smarter than his private school classmates; the girl on the other side of the tracks gets THE GUY. The underdog winning always makes for a good storyline. Though I know the Lord Jesus Christ has never been the underdog, he placed himself in that position, one of humility, for the love of mankind. When I read the gospel accounts of his rejection from man, the cruelty he experienced at our hands, I grieve but soon remember the end of the story, that the seeming underdog wins; he defeats death, nixing Satan’s plan to destroy mankind’s savior, the prophecy of his coming we first see in Genesis:

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.—3:15

The ‘he’ in this verse refers to Jesus Christ and the ‘you’ refers to Satan. The ‘bruise’ symbolizes the fight between good and evil, one that Christ’s descendents and Satan’s descendents will also engage. The woman was directly referring to Mary, the woman who would carry and birth Jesus Christ’s physical body, but, like Mary, you are a descendent of Eve. As Christ’s descendent, how then how have you handled your struggle between good and evil? As Eve’s descendent, a woman, how have you specifically handled those struggles between good and evil that uniquely affect women? Have you successfully carried Jesus in you and then allowed him to manifest in your life?

I know in the heat of daily moments I feel like the underdog: I may snap at my kids for doing kid stuff, begrudge my season after changing what I believe is too many diapers or lament over my bulging belly that I have yet to get back in shape since having my baby. These are my present women’s struggles between good and evil. I can choose to snap, begrudge and lament or I could choose to speak life, be satisfied and think on good things. Instead of trying to conjure up some strong black woman spirit to help me, I choose to remember that I have Jesus in me through the power of the Holy Spirit; I am not the underdog.

On this 39th Day of Christmas, I hope you join me in remembering who you are and that your Savior was slated for you thousands of years ago. You may look like the underdog, but you are a victor indeed.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

The Growth Plan

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Do you want to grow up? I mean really seriously grow up? Not just changing for one moment something you usually do so you can immediately please the person you may have offended. I’m talking about a holistic change that will help you go to the next levels in your life. This is the type of change I told you at the beginning of the month that I was instituting in my life. I wasn’t going to wait until January, but what I saw needed fixing now would be fixed now and, with hope, forever. I told you I would help you develop your own plan. By reading all my posts, I hope you got some insight to develop your own plan. If not, here is my plan in sum that you can modify to create your own.

First, get a vision, understand the vision and then practice it.

Second, develop habits that will facilitate your vision.

Third, remember God’s grace.

Fourth, spy out God’s mercies.

Fifth, remember that God is omniscient.

Sixth, if married, publicize your husband’s good points.

Seventh, intentionally teach and model for your children, including how to be mission-minded.

Eighth, know that your plan may get interrupted, but God’s grace is sufficient.

Ninth, make daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual time for yourself without apologies.

Don’t wait until January to start afresh. I didn’t and have already seen results. Flynn is even asking me about my daily half hour alone time. Yes, even he is catching my vision and helping me to facilitate it. Have you already developed your plan? Is it working? Let us know. I know I want to celebrate and encourage you.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

Do It For You

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My mom used to hire a babysitter so she could take a nap. I was too young to remember this, but my mom relayed this to me in my adult years. I used to think what she did was extravagant but only said to her “Really?” Why spend good money on a sitter and you are still at home? Of course, now having little ones of my own, I completely understand. While I haven’t yet hired a sitter to take a nap, after coming home from running errands a sitter has offered to stay so I could take a nap. I have taken advantage of some of these offers, but other times in my twisted strong black woman way I refused because I thought if I am physically present I SHOULD be able to take care of my own kids. Continue reading →

Plans of Mice & Men

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Today I was set to tell you the plans I have to keep my children occupied. I was going to share my daily agenda and the “astray” agenda for when those plans of mice and men go that way. But I decided to keep my list of songs and dance and ways to combat those frenzied days after having an awry astray day today.

The kids woke up before the break of dawn, me still yawning, sleep still calling me hard. They are still awake as I write, with worried whines of itchy arms, runny noses and batting eyes trying hard to stay awake. Today there were no songs or dances, just prayers and plates of food filling our souls and bodies with what we need. They are playing now and I’m still praying that I recognize that God’s grace is always sufficient, that God’s intents trump my God-blessed plans when He has a higher order for the day for me. Then is when I can breathe and be okay when my kids’ agenda-filled day goes by the wayside, tumbling away from me.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

Husband Publicity Plan

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“My guy’s a keeper and I’m going to do all I can to show him I’m glad he’s mine.” This was the closing line from my blog post “The Loving Husband.” So how do I plan to do all I can to show him I’m glad he’s mine? I’m going to amp up the best of what I do, namely serve him and speak well of him. Check out my post “10 Ways to Nurture Your Husband” that details all these, but in this post I want to elaborate on speak well of him. Continue reading →