Information overload...

is just one side effect I suffer from for being a mom. With the noises boys make (from all orifices of their body), to the jumping, throwing, bounding, cheering, arguing, and delightful laughter, the noise pollution alone in a house with four boys is to be rivaled by any large piece of machinery. To add to that information there's the smell pollution. Add to that the fact that my mind must be split in four directions listening to everything that's said, in order to bear witness, praise, and guide the boys in social and spiritual etiquette. Of course I can't leave out the scheduling of their social life and taxi requirements. It's no wonder I'm not fully crazed from this less than complete information overload list.

Lately the information overload is coming from God. This is the good kind of overload. He's trying to get my attention and answer my prayers.

The Lord is sending me so much great information to help me raise our boys in the manner He sees fit. I'm overwhelmed with the feeling that these great tools need to be part of our everyday life, RIGHT NOW!!! In reality I know that God doesn't intend for me to stress about it.

One source God is using to get my attention is a Bible class taugh by Steve and Patti Sikes. They are teaching a class on Wednesday nights "How God Does Family." These classes are action packed, information crammed, and spirit filled. What a blessing they are to me, and hopefully our boys as I implement the ideas I'm learning. I know Patti has blogged about some of the information in class. I would love for Steve to do the same (hint, hint):-} Mr. Steve! Maybe the two could do a dueling blog kinda' thing. Well, on second thought, maybe not! Just a complimentary blog kinda' thing would be nice.

For some time now the Lord has been getting my attention for something I do, and have passed onto my children. Teasing and jesting! I was raised in a home where a great deal of playful teasing went on. I remember it being hurtful as a child, but then I just matured and it didn't bother me any longer. I also learned how to tease and jest back. I have friends that I banter with, and Chuck and I certainly banter playfully. But, I also have friends that accept me in spite of the fact that they don't like this character flaw in me. I've toned it down some over the years, but it's not gone.

I believe the Lord wants it completely removed from my life. He's embarrassed me on many occasions with the things my kids say. Oh, yes, they've learned very well my flawed habits. Why, oh why don't they easily learn my positive habits? Now I'm questioning, are there any?

What the Lord's been saying to me is-- "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak they shall render account for it in the day of judgement." Matt 12:36 (NAS) Just tonight in bible class He said "But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints, and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or course jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving thanks." Eph 5:3-4 Then of course there's the one in James about how can bitter water and fresh water come from the same fountain. (I can't place my mind on the exact scripture)

Whoa!! I'm convicted. It's embarrassing to admit that I use careless words, and struggle with silly talk and course jesting. This really fits into the Allelon assignment devotions the boys and I are using for the next 26 days. But, we're going to take a detour in our morning devotions to fully focus on these two scriptures and then tie them into our Allelon assignments.

Believe it or not this reminds me of my Shakespeare class. We are studying the four historical plays Richard II, Henry IV parts I & 2, and Henry V. In these plays (actually in all of his plays) there's a great deal of emphasis on language. The court used mostly blank verse (eloquent fluid poetic language) when speaking, and the peasants used prose (choppy, not at all poetic) language. There was a definite difference in their way of speaking. One knew if you were from the court or not just by the way you spoke.

This is similar to our modern American accents. We know someone is from the south because they have an accent different from ours, or they use the word "ya'll" (not a word by the way). Likewise, we know someone is from the north because of they have an accent and they say "yous" (also not a real word).

In Shakespearean plays there's the never ending undertone debate of who was superior by their manner of speaking. We do the same today in our society. We make fun of others with accents or word choices different than ours.

According to scripture how you speak is important. Not necessarily how it was defined in the Renaissance or in modern times, rather how it's defined by God in scriptures like, "Whatever is is true, whatever is is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Phil 4:8

Since I'm an heir to The King, I want to use language fit for a King!