There is a lot one can learn from a handshake. You can feel physical strength, but also, if you feel with your heart, you can sense the inner strength that resides inside the person on the other end of the handshake. You can tell how much their hands have worked. You will also know the confidence one exudes by their handshake.
There is even more to be learned from an embracing hug. And even more to be discovered through watching one live their life.
I have had a handshake from feeble looking hands who had worked their whole life to feed and provide for generations. A handshake that one would have thought to be dainty and gentle. Instead, it was firm. Very firm. Shook you. Startled you to reality, firm. You walked away knowing this hand had walked through the fire, was confident. You were suddenly aware of your own quick judgement about how that hand might feel. You had underestimated that handshake.
This handshake came from a lady I had known all my life. She was always known to me as Mamaw Beeler. She was a lady who knew who she was and Who she walked with.
She had an embrace that would make you feel like the most loved person, even when everyone else rejected you. She lived a life that quietly, in everyday, taken for granted ways, let you know she was living for her King. And, yes, she had a handshake that was firm enough to make my tough husband wince in pain from time to time. It was firm. It said a lot.
Today, I got to read part of a note her great great granddaughter, Gracie, wrote in a Get Well Soon card from Gracie & her brother as Mamaw Beeler became ill. It said, "Faith is hope, hope is love, love is life. God trust you in life." And later, Gracie wrote a note and left it on her table the day her great great grandmother passed. It said, "She will be in Heaven, a very good place."
What this sweet child had picked up from her great great grandmothers's life was that she was one of God's children. That God trusted her grandmother to be His handshake and His embrace in this life.
She is God's and God is hers. "She will be in Heaven, a very good place."
There is much you can say with your life. You can say who is important to you. You can say if you were happy or if you were bitter. And I wonder often what I'm saying.
I hope when my time comes, that the generation or generations coming up behind me will not hesitate in knowing that, "She will be in Heaven, a very good place."
I want to sit down more often so I can look in the eyes of my children and not only tell them about a God and mother who love them, but show them. Help them feel it. I want to quietly be the embrace that says to someone, "When no one else loves you, I do and so does God." I want to be the handshake that tells people not to underestimate what God can do with my weak body. I want to live the life that says, "I am His and He is mine."
Dear Mom, when you struggle to do everything you think you have to accomplish to be a good mom, remember there is much to be said without saying a word.
Let the dishes go once. Let emails wait.
Let your children see you read God's Word. Let them hear you pray. Let them hear you pray for them. Let them see you worship God, whether in quiet tears streaming down your face or in a joyful dance to your Father.
Dear Mom, if you leave nothing at all for your children but this, you have done well -- That they may know, "She will be in Heaven, a very good place."
**Dedicated to the memory of Mamaw Beeler. May we all live a life like yours. May we all let God's love flow through us.
Jan 12, 2015
Nov 13, 2014
When God Controls Your Steps and Stops
All my life I had been told that God ordered my steps. I believed it in terms of big events. I can't say I didn't believe it for the small things, I'm just saying that maybe I didn't realize how often God ordered my steps and stops along the path of each day to ultimately have my back.
Then today happened.
Normally I would complain about all the things we had to do that were so time consuming or just unpleasant to endure. But I had this strange peace all day. We stopped to take care of some banking, stopped at our favorite car dealership to drop off some paperwork, and took our youngest to get some blood work done. I felt the biggest blessing of the day was actually having success with the lab work as we had attempted it three times before. I managed to even keep calm through that procedure with three kids while my husband did a phone conference with work. I was even calm and remembered to call on God for peace in my heart when the lady registering her couldn't get her insurance to enter correctly on her computer.
We went to lunch as a family and I even kept it together when salsa was slung all over me and the baby... along with the special treat of Sprite we had given her for having to get blood work done.
I went home and took a little break and then had to meet a friend to pay for some tickets for a home school field trip before we took our new kitty, Link, to get his check up. Again, I was frustrated that PayPal has had it out for me since I closed my business and switched to a personal account, and I had to make her meet me... But I did it with a smile and didn't even feel as upset as I might normally have been.
On to the vet... Who does the vet with three kids (ages 10, 6, & 18 months) and a kitten (7 months)? I mean wasn't I just asking for it? Alas, even that didn't phase me much and I managed to laugh it off.
And then God revealed the beauty in all the timing of this day. The beauty in having to do errands, the beauty in technology not working, and the beauty in conversations placed perfectly in my day....
... The masterpiece He had made today into, in order to save my family and our home.
To make a long story short, I entered our home at the perfect time to smell smoke and find the power out due to utility work. I was there when the power came on minutes later and caught our fuse box & meter on fire.
And then God perfectly placed the utility worker in our driveway to remove the meter and turn all power off to our house.
He safely got my husband home just in time to go check that I had gotten the fire to stop and to handle the rest of the jobs and chores associated so I could go comfort our daughters and share with them how our God had ordered every part of our day to provide protection to us and our home and everything He had given us.
Today I learned how things I complain about sometimes are REALLY ordered by God if I just allow Him to control things... To not complain or try to fix it. Rather,to just let Him do what He passionately desires to do... To love, protect, and bless His children. He controlled every step and stop I made today. I'm so grateful for the peace He gave me to just let it be and go with what He was doing.... No small feat for this control freak.
We are all safe. We might be camped out on couches and recliners at my parents tonight, but we are together. We are loved by a wonderful Heavenly Father.
I encourage you to trust those moments when you feel God is moving in the everyday... in the mundane. Leave the control in His hands. I have never had such a moment where I sat back and KNEW God had made the timing of the day perfect for me. Had I not been there when the fire started, our day would be ending differently.
Trust Him when the little elderly lady is going 10 mph under the speed limit in front of you. Trust Him when you get unexpected errands in your day. Trust Him when He chooses to delay an answer to a prayer. Trust Him when He says no. Trust Him when He says to go. Trust Him.
Then today happened.
Normally I would complain about all the things we had to do that were so time consuming or just unpleasant to endure. But I had this strange peace all day. We stopped to take care of some banking, stopped at our favorite car dealership to drop off some paperwork, and took our youngest to get some blood work done. I felt the biggest blessing of the day was actually having success with the lab work as we had attempted it three times before. I managed to even keep calm through that procedure with three kids while my husband did a phone conference with work. I was even calm and remembered to call on God for peace in my heart when the lady registering her couldn't get her insurance to enter correctly on her computer.
We went to lunch as a family and I even kept it together when salsa was slung all over me and the baby... along with the special treat of Sprite we had given her for having to get blood work done.
I went home and took a little break and then had to meet a friend to pay for some tickets for a home school field trip before we took our new kitty, Link, to get his check up. Again, I was frustrated that PayPal has had it out for me since I closed my business and switched to a personal account, and I had to make her meet me... But I did it with a smile and didn't even feel as upset as I might normally have been.
On to the vet... Who does the vet with three kids (ages 10, 6, & 18 months) and a kitten (7 months)? I mean wasn't I just asking for it? Alas, even that didn't phase me much and I managed to laugh it off.
And then God revealed the beauty in all the timing of this day. The beauty in having to do errands, the beauty in technology not working, and the beauty in conversations placed perfectly in my day....
... The masterpiece He had made today into, in order to save my family and our home.
To make a long story short, I entered our home at the perfect time to smell smoke and find the power out due to utility work. I was there when the power came on minutes later and caught our fuse box & meter on fire.
And then God perfectly placed the utility worker in our driveway to remove the meter and turn all power off to our house.
He safely got my husband home just in time to go check that I had gotten the fire to stop and to handle the rest of the jobs and chores associated so I could go comfort our daughters and share with them how our God had ordered every part of our day to provide protection to us and our home and everything He had given us.
Today I learned how things I complain about sometimes are REALLY ordered by God if I just allow Him to control things... To not complain or try to fix it. Rather,to just let Him do what He passionately desires to do... To love, protect, and bless His children. He controlled every step and stop I made today. I'm so grateful for the peace He gave me to just let it be and go with what He was doing.... No small feat for this control freak.
We are all safe. We might be camped out on couches and recliners at my parents tonight, but we are together. We are loved by a wonderful Heavenly Father.
I encourage you to trust those moments when you feel God is moving in the everyday... in the mundane. Leave the control in His hands. I have never had such a moment where I sat back and KNEW God had made the timing of the day perfect for me. Had I not been there when the fire started, our day would be ending differently.
Trust Him when the little elderly lady is going 10 mph under the speed limit in front of you. Trust Him when you get unexpected errands in your day. Trust Him when He chooses to delay an answer to a prayer. Trust Him when He says no. Trust Him when He says to go. Trust Him.
Oct 6, 2014
Whose Report?
Yesterday morning at church I was reminded of why my attitude can be so negative and pessimistic sometimes.... my attitude stinks when I believe the report of the enemy.... my attitude is positive and optimistic when I believe the report of the Lord.
I knew I needed a reminder of this in my house, so I made this and it's hanging on my fridge right now, I plan to print it larger and frame it. I WILL BELIEVE the report of the LORD...
(Please feel free click on the image to download it.)
Sep 11, 2014
Moms & the "It" & Ministry
A long time ago, I titled this blog "About the Journey: How We Get There Matters" because I believe wholeheartedly that it really does matter what happens between point A and point B. I believe that you should do your best all along the way and try to help others as you go. But what happens to a person that believes this but suddenly finds herself feeling that her best is just not cutting it or that she is helping no one?
"It" has been building in my life for months now.
... whatever "it" is.
Maybe "it" is the pressure I feel in my chest when I look around and realize the work I have before me or I jot it all down on my to-do list and realize that I need a whole binder of notebook paper to fit in everything that truly needs to be on that list. Maybe "it" is the fountain of tears that flow out of my eyes on a regular basis when I think of all that has been against me and the family in the past several months - trying to tear me, us.... my relationships apart.
Maybe "it" is that feeling that mothers should just begin to listen to instead of ignore. What if the "it" is God's little way of letting us know we need to take a step back and realize what really matters to us and then do that?
What matters to me? God, my husband, my children, my family, reaching people for God, helping moms, and making a little time for myself so that I can do well the things that matter.
How did I get this list? Getting here wasn't easy. I was running around literally dying inside and not knowing who I was or what my mission in this life was... the mission God Himself had made me to do. I'm still working on it. A whole lot of time being alone with God has ensued and it has been worth every moment.
Then God led me to let stuff go. I hesitated, but eventually listened. I'm still in the process of letting go. And let me tell you, some days, like today, it hurts deeply. Other days, I can feel the freedom I will have when I am all done letting go... it's rising up in me, getting me so excited about what GOD is going to do with me now!
And then, I listened to Laura Ingalls.
Yes, I did.
As I have read her first two books to our daughters as part of our homeschooling, her story about her journey has led me to realize the beauty in little. Her family had little in our eyes but time and again they mention living like kings. Oh, I want that mentality. To realize that I don't need so much, that I am already living like a queen. Things so often cause the "it" to rise up in my chest and hurt.
So today, moms, or anyone else who took the time to read this, I encourage you to listen when the "it" rises up in your chest. We are doing too much, wanting too much, and really asking too much of those around us, as well as asking too much of ourselves all because we feel a pressure from some outside source (society maybe?) that says we have to be and have all those things. We are letting our spouses, children, God, relationships, and self suffer deeply by owning the feeling that we have to be all, have all, and do all.
Maybe today, you have had tears pour wildly down your face because you felt alone in your thoughts. The pressure has been too much and you just don't know how much longer you can deal. You just know you are the worst mother, wife, friend, Christian there is in the world. You feel like you are closing up inside yourself and no one will ever notice the pain you have from feeling like you just can't cut it anymore.
Today, I notice. God notices. And I really believe that we can use the "it" feeling to determine when too much is just too much and it's hurting us. Possibly that means letting go of some things, or talking something out with a loved one, or asking for help, or giving your children more responsibility, or taking time for yourself this weekend, or going to a Bible study, or just hitting your knees and letting your Heavenly Father do what He does best - love on you!
Do not give up mom!
I've told you I have been there. I felt the "it" feeling today and thought I would die from the explosion about to happen in my head. But here's how I cope with that feeling now:
First, I have that instinctual get angry, fight or flight instinct that I have always had. Only now, I take a breath and ask God what He wants me to do in that moment of THAT feeling. Today, He led me to you!... to writing this blog. And here you are reading it.
I hope that you take time today to ask God to help you prioritize life - to help you get to a place that you are accomplishing your mission and yours alone. My current mission is my ministry - my ministry is my children and I do this ministry with my husband. It is the greatest ministry position I have had in my life. It might not be held in high esteem by the world like some ministries, but none the less, it is the most important ministry I will ever be apart of.
If you are there too, in this place of ministry because you have children, then let no one convince you that this ministry isn't important!
"It" has been building in my life for months now.
... whatever "it" is.
Maybe "it" is the pressure I feel in my chest when I look around and realize the work I have before me or I jot it all down on my to-do list and realize that I need a whole binder of notebook paper to fit in everything that truly needs to be on that list. Maybe "it" is the fountain of tears that flow out of my eyes on a regular basis when I think of all that has been against me and the family in the past several months - trying to tear me, us.... my relationships apart.
Maybe "it" is that feeling that mothers should just begin to listen to instead of ignore. What if the "it" is God's little way of letting us know we need to take a step back and realize what really matters to us and then do that?
What matters to me? God, my husband, my children, my family, reaching people for God, helping moms, and making a little time for myself so that I can do well the things that matter.
How did I get this list? Getting here wasn't easy. I was running around literally dying inside and not knowing who I was or what my mission in this life was... the mission God Himself had made me to do. I'm still working on it. A whole lot of time being alone with God has ensued and it has been worth every moment.
Then God led me to let stuff go. I hesitated, but eventually listened. I'm still in the process of letting go. And let me tell you, some days, like today, it hurts deeply. Other days, I can feel the freedom I will have when I am all done letting go... it's rising up in me, getting me so excited about what GOD is going to do with me now!
And then, I listened to Laura Ingalls.
Yes, I did.
As I have read her first two books to our daughters as part of our homeschooling, her story about her journey has led me to realize the beauty in little. Her family had little in our eyes but time and again they mention living like kings. Oh, I want that mentality. To realize that I don't need so much, that I am already living like a queen. Things so often cause the "it" to rise up in my chest and hurt.
So today, moms, or anyone else who took the time to read this, I encourage you to listen when the "it" rises up in your chest. We are doing too much, wanting too much, and really asking too much of those around us, as well as asking too much of ourselves all because we feel a pressure from some outside source (society maybe?) that says we have to be and have all those things. We are letting our spouses, children, God, relationships, and self suffer deeply by owning the feeling that we have to be all, have all, and do all.
Maybe today, you have had tears pour wildly down your face because you felt alone in your thoughts. The pressure has been too much and you just don't know how much longer you can deal. You just know you are the worst mother, wife, friend, Christian there is in the world. You feel like you are closing up inside yourself and no one will ever notice the pain you have from feeling like you just can't cut it anymore.
Today, I notice. God notices. And I really believe that we can use the "it" feeling to determine when too much is just too much and it's hurting us. Possibly that means letting go of some things, or talking something out with a loved one, or asking for help, or giving your children more responsibility, or taking time for yourself this weekend, or going to a Bible study, or just hitting your knees and letting your Heavenly Father do what He does best - love on you!
Do not give up mom!
I've told you I have been there. I felt the "it" feeling today and thought I would die from the explosion about to happen in my head. But here's how I cope with that feeling now:
First, I have that instinctual get angry, fight or flight instinct that I have always had. Only now, I take a breath and ask God what He wants me to do in that moment of THAT feeling. Today, He led me to you!... to writing this blog. And here you are reading it.
I hope that you take time today to ask God to help you prioritize life - to help you get to a place that you are accomplishing your mission and yours alone. My current mission is my ministry - my ministry is my children and I do this ministry with my husband. It is the greatest ministry position I have had in my life. It might not be held in high esteem by the world like some ministries, but none the less, it is the most important ministry I will ever be apart of.
If you are there too, in this place of ministry because you have children, then let no one convince you that this ministry isn't important!
Aug 8, 2014
An Open Prayer for Homeschool Moms
It’s after midnight… and I’m up working on setting up our first year of homeschool. While I taught our oldest for two months at the end of last year, and loved it, I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed with being responsible for the education of two children while still mothering our little toddler roaming around. For goodness sakes, I just went ahead and read 5 Reasons Not to Quit After the First Year of Homeschooling… you know just in case I feel like quitting before I even make it to the first day.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve struggled the past few weeks with tying up loose ends for homeschool. We were met with some very significant needs in the life of a family member that required much of my time and took up a lot of my thoughts and prayer life. That’s another story, but I now feel behind. Enter the beauty of homeschooling! I set my own pace, create my own schedule, and can scratch it all to just start over again if it isn’t working.
But in my desperate plea to God this evening (now morning), I asked Him for wisdom to make the best choices possible for my daughters and our family on this journey. I realized how many more homeschooling mommas just might be feeling some of the same anxiety, frustration, concern, and excitement that I am. This is my open prayer to God for us who homeschool…
Dear Father,
Help us to be a delight to our children; always allowing Your light to shine through in our actions as they will have greater impact on our children than any subject we teach.
Help us to calm our voices & tempers when frustrations are so high that we want to scream and throw papers up in the air; for You are a Father of patience, love, understanding, & compassion to us.
Help us to instill Your word in their hearts so that on days when they feel frustration with their own children, they will know just what You expect of them.
Help us to remember daily, the joy that homeschooling gave us when we first entertained the idea of being the one who taught our children for as their moms we know them best below You.
Help us to relish in the moments when our children flourish under our teaching; for their will come times when finding the way to reach them is hard and we will need to remember that You helped us do it once & You will help us again.
Help us to have wisdom concerning our children; that we might be insightful to their needs, passions, strengths, and weaknesses.
Help us to praise our children’s accomplishments and efforts; for a little encouragement can make a huge difference now and later.
Help us to show our children that we believe in them by choosing to be engaged in their lives, what they love to learn about, what they are saying, and what their minds produce.
Help us make time for ourselves and our husbands so that we can be refreshed and show them a Chrisitian marriage.
And, Father, help us to realize that we are human with faults and that we are truly a work in progress as well… that some days are going to be tough, but some days are going to be magnificent!… let each day drive us onward to the goal of raising beautiful adults who have a heart after You.
Amen
I’m not going to lie. I’ve struggled the past few weeks with tying up loose ends for homeschool. We were met with some very significant needs in the life of a family member that required much of my time and took up a lot of my thoughts and prayer life. That’s another story, but I now feel behind. Enter the beauty of homeschooling! I set my own pace, create my own schedule, and can scratch it all to just start over again if it isn’t working.
But in my desperate plea to God this evening (now morning), I asked Him for wisdom to make the best choices possible for my daughters and our family on this journey. I realized how many more homeschooling mommas just might be feeling some of the same anxiety, frustration, concern, and excitement that I am. This is my open prayer to God for us who homeschool…
Dear Father,
Help us to be a delight to our children; always allowing Your light to shine through in our actions as they will have greater impact on our children than any subject we teach.
Help us to calm our voices & tempers when frustrations are so high that we want to scream and throw papers up in the air; for You are a Father of patience, love, understanding, & compassion to us.
Help us to instill Your word in their hearts so that on days when they feel frustration with their own children, they will know just what You expect of them.
Help us to remember daily, the joy that homeschooling gave us when we first entertained the idea of being the one who taught our children for as their moms we know them best below You.
Help us to relish in the moments when our children flourish under our teaching; for their will come times when finding the way to reach them is hard and we will need to remember that You helped us do it once & You will help us again.
Help us to have wisdom concerning our children; that we might be insightful to their needs, passions, strengths, and weaknesses.
Help us to praise our children’s accomplishments and efforts; for a little encouragement can make a huge difference now and later.
Help us to show our children that we believe in them by choosing to be engaged in their lives, what they love to learn about, what they are saying, and what their minds produce.
Help us make time for ourselves and our husbands so that we can be refreshed and show them a Chrisitian marriage.
And, Father, help us to realize that we are human with faults and that we are truly a work in progress as well… that some days are going to be tough, but some days are going to be magnificent!… let each day drive us onward to the goal of raising beautiful adults who have a heart after You.
Amen
Aug 11, 2013
How Church Went Down... I Found Out Moms Rock!
Church went down like this for me last Sunday...
It was pretty much like a conversation between me & God simultaneously happening at the same time as a conversation between me & Satan. I pictured it much like God sitting on my right shoulder dressed in the purest white robe and Satan on the left shoulder draped in black and smelling pretty gross.
Anyway, the praise team busts into "I See Heaven."
"I see Heaven invading this place..."
I start to open my mouth to sing praises to God and I'm met with that ugly voice from the smelly guy on my left (and I'm not talking about Mr. Fulmer who happened to be sitting to my left and doesn't stink). "You've done so much for God and people and have gotten no where. Everyone just uses you, even God. You don't matter to Him anyway... He just wants you to work your butt off for Him and that's it... no reward for you." And my sleep deprived new momma self just agreed. I just pretty much lost my desire to sing anything then.
Funny how a simple suggestion of defeat and uselessness from the enemy can just make you feel that way.
"I see Glory falling in this place
I see hope restored, the healing of all disease
I sing praises, I sing praises.
I give you honor worthy Jesus..."
At this point my lips are moving and I'm swaying to the music because let's face it, our band and praise team rock... and I'm kinda hoping all the music and swaying will help my baby fall asleep since she had a melt down on the way to church.
Then God...
I'll finish the sentence about what He did, but first just let it sink in that "then God..." He always let's His presence be known in my situations.
Then God spoke. "I see you," He said. "I know what you have done and what you will do. I know the lives you have touched and I know the ones you will in the future. You are a special part of my plans and I won't leave you alone here to listen to the lies of our adversary in your moment of weakness. I have a direction for you, a path, just be patient and I will reveal it to you."
Whoa! What a word from the guy on my right (and I'm not talking about my handsome, stud hubby who happened to be sitting to my right). God knew just what I needed to hear and FEEL.
I find myself in a place that feels uncomfortable for me, but one I know is necessary. I know this time is about to come to a close, but I know God has a couple more things to teach me in this season of my life. I have always, always been heavily involved in some sort of ministry within the churches we have attended.... and I'm not right now. Sometimes I feel guilty. And that's where the smelly guy comes in telling me all kinds of lies to try to drag me down.
But I realized something important Sunday morning when the daughter of the unsmelly guy to my left (Mr. Fulmer) got up and blew "How Great Thou Art" out of the water. Mrs. Fulmer looked at her daughter with the sweetest smile on her face and I thought, "How proud they must be of her."
It came to me, I AM a mom. It is a ministry.
And it's beautiful and great that God gave me this chance to impact lives so deeply for Him. This is my calling. I know that God will place Matt and I in a ministry soon within our church or another He may need us to be at, but for now He is using this season to teach me how to minister better to my own children... and I don't have to believe Satan when He tells me I'm useless or that God won't reward me for my labor in His kingdom. I have three little blessings with red hair and blue eyes... I have a good relationship with a husband who tries his hardest and works 12 hour days for us. I have been rewarded.
I write about all this today because I know there are other moms in the same season as me. You feel overtaken by diapers and dirty clothes. Maybe you even feel like you have no purpose in God's kingdom. Please know that you have purpose... and if you look, you will see it in the eyes of your children. No job you hold in your workplace or position in ministry in a church can compare to the importance of the position of mom in your family given to you by the Big Guy himself.
Lift up your head... even if it needs a haircut and hasn't seen makeup in days. Sing praises to God for this ministry He choose for you. Believe me when I say that I know there are days you feel like you get nothing done but holding a fussy baby or refereeing a sibling arguement. And days when you have to clean all day just to have a big ole mess made of everything in minutes.
I know there are days, mom, when you just cry.
I know.
And I understand.
But I also know that I am a special part of God's plan. And I will not belittle the ministry He has placed me in during this season of my life.
Rock on Moms! We are designed for this job in it's high points and it's low points. Hang on to God when the dishes overflow the sink and the kids ask "why?" ten times in an hour. Teach them about God and show them how to live a life sold out to Him.
You don't have to be perfect at it.
Just be their mom.
It was pretty much like a conversation between me & God simultaneously happening at the same time as a conversation between me & Satan. I pictured it much like God sitting on my right shoulder dressed in the purest white robe and Satan on the left shoulder draped in black and smelling pretty gross.
Anyway, the praise team busts into "I See Heaven."
"I see Heaven invading this place..."
I start to open my mouth to sing praises to God and I'm met with that ugly voice from the smelly guy on my left (and I'm not talking about Mr. Fulmer who happened to be sitting to my left and doesn't stink). "You've done so much for God and people and have gotten no where. Everyone just uses you, even God. You don't matter to Him anyway... He just wants you to work your butt off for Him and that's it... no reward for you." And my sleep deprived new momma self just agreed. I just pretty much lost my desire to sing anything then.
Funny how a simple suggestion of defeat and uselessness from the enemy can just make you feel that way.
"I see Glory falling in this place
I see hope restored, the healing of all disease
I sing praises, I sing praises.
I give you honor worthy Jesus..."
At this point my lips are moving and I'm swaying to the music because let's face it, our band and praise team rock... and I'm kinda hoping all the music and swaying will help my baby fall asleep since she had a melt down on the way to church.
Then God...
I'll finish the sentence about what He did, but first just let it sink in that "then God..." He always let's His presence be known in my situations.
Then God spoke. "I see you," He said. "I know what you have done and what you will do. I know the lives you have touched and I know the ones you will in the future. You are a special part of my plans and I won't leave you alone here to listen to the lies of our adversary in your moment of weakness. I have a direction for you, a path, just be patient and I will reveal it to you."
Whoa! What a word from the guy on my right (and I'm not talking about my handsome, stud hubby who happened to be sitting to my right). God knew just what I needed to hear and FEEL.
I find myself in a place that feels uncomfortable for me, but one I know is necessary. I know this time is about to come to a close, but I know God has a couple more things to teach me in this season of my life. I have always, always been heavily involved in some sort of ministry within the churches we have attended.... and I'm not right now. Sometimes I feel guilty. And that's where the smelly guy comes in telling me all kinds of lies to try to drag me down.
But I realized something important Sunday morning when the daughter of the unsmelly guy to my left (Mr. Fulmer) got up and blew "How Great Thou Art" out of the water. Mrs. Fulmer looked at her daughter with the sweetest smile on her face and I thought, "How proud they must be of her."
It came to me, I AM a mom. It is a ministry.
And it's beautiful and great that God gave me this chance to impact lives so deeply for Him. This is my calling. I know that God will place Matt and I in a ministry soon within our church or another He may need us to be at, but for now He is using this season to teach me how to minister better to my own children... and I don't have to believe Satan when He tells me I'm useless or that God won't reward me for my labor in His kingdom. I have three little blessings with red hair and blue eyes... I have a good relationship with a husband who tries his hardest and works 12 hour days for us. I have been rewarded.
I write about all this today because I know there are other moms in the same season as me. You feel overtaken by diapers and dirty clothes. Maybe you even feel like you have no purpose in God's kingdom. Please know that you have purpose... and if you look, you will see it in the eyes of your children. No job you hold in your workplace or position in ministry in a church can compare to the importance of the position of mom in your family given to you by the Big Guy himself.
Lift up your head... even if it needs a haircut and hasn't seen makeup in days. Sing praises to God for this ministry He choose for you. Believe me when I say that I know there are days you feel like you get nothing done but holding a fussy baby or refereeing a sibling arguement. And days when you have to clean all day just to have a big ole mess made of everything in minutes.
I know there are days, mom, when you just cry.
I know.
And I understand.
But I also know that I am a special part of God's plan. And I will not belittle the ministry He has placed me in during this season of my life.
Rock on Moms! We are designed for this job in it's high points and it's low points. Hang on to God when the dishes overflow the sink and the kids ask "why?" ten times in an hour. Teach them about God and show them how to live a life sold out to Him.
You don't have to be perfect at it.
Just be their mom.
Jan 28, 2013
All growl... a scared lion!
It's been an interesting 24 hours.
I went from bragging on God's goodness to my husband in teaching him to play the piano in an amazing way on an old piano that no one wanted, to sitting in the ER with him waiting to see what had happened to his right thumb… yeah, a thumb needed to play piano for the glory of God. (It's ok, because God's gonna use this for Matt's good… read on)
A host of other little things happened as well. You know, just the kind of things that satan likes to throw into the mix when you're feeling a little discouraged just to make sure you know he's still there.
I woke up this morning with a mess of things going "wrong" and really just thought about taking Maddy to school and then just going back to bed. But instead, I thought on God for awhile. I thought on the amazing church service we had yesterday morning.
Then I remembered a few things our Pastor said while preaching his fourth sermon in a series called "The Movement" about Daniel. Pastor Nick shared that he had once heard another pastor say that the devil may be a lion roaming to and fro, but he's a lion without teeth. Basically, all growl and no bite. He might be able to bite down and "gum" you but he can't really bite you. I thought on this for a little while this morning as I was eating my oatmeal.
I literally felt like my heart was thumping out of my chest with pride as I thought about what "satan lion" really looks like to me this morning because God and his army (that's all of us who believe and follow Him). It's much different than what I had pictured before.
For some reason, I pictured him as a strong, healthy lion with muscles and giant teeth that he flashed at me all the time to scare me and keep from doing what God wanted. Here I am this morning, though, seeing satan as a pretty beat up beast….
I see him with no teeth; no way to tear me apart.
I see him with spots of hair missing; hair that I have pulled out as I yanked him off of my family through prayer.
I see him with swollen black eyes; the eyes I punch when he's throwing out his lies to my face.
I see him limping; limping from the church knocking his legs right out from under him by joining in corporate prayer to see healing and restoration to those he has attacked.
I see him skinny with his ribs showing; so frail from the lack of a feast of victory because God always wins. Period.
The Bible tells us in James 4:7 to resist the devil and he will flee. I don't think I have ever really grasped the power in that verse until now. It tells us to submit ourselves to God and then when we resist the devil, he's gonna leave…. FLEE. What does flee mean? Merriam-Webster defines it this way: "to run away from danger"… ha! Just picture it! You have the ability by submitting yourself to God and His ways to make the devil run, not casually walk away from, BUT RUN because he senses danger… just by resisting him!!! That's a beat up, scared lion running away from you!!!!!!!!!
I say this with warning though. Satan is a sly guy. He wants to attack our minds and get our focus off of submitting to God. Remember if you are submitted your gonna be able to make him run away scared and not allow him to stay around filling your mind up with filth and feelings of worthlessness and doubt. Don't let your guard down just because he's a pretty weak, sad looking, already defeated foe. He wants to distract us so that we don't work to win anyone else into God's kingdom… he might be beaten up but he keeps fighting for that losing case of his.
BE ON GAURD! STAY SUBMITTED AND AWARE OF GOD'S DIRECTIONS!!! RESIST HIM SO HE WILL FLEE!!!
And remember this last little bit of goodness from Pastor Nick's sermon: Daniel's enemies thought they were setting him up for death and defeat by having King Darius sign a decree banning Daniel from praying to his God. They thought they would do away with him. But all they did was set Daniel up for prosperity and a promotion. Daniel stayed submitted to God. Daniel 6:28 tells us that Daniel prospered! Not only that, but King Darius made a new decree declaring his kingdom was to reverence and fear the God of Daniel.
As Pastor Nick said, "It's a set up!! God's plan is always victorious!"
Remember it's a set up of a different kind. Satan thinks he's setting you up for failure and defeat. But really, he's setting you up for the miracles of God to be performed so that you can prosper and grow.
I hope you are encouraged today to stop picturing yourself as the beat up warrior and instead see satan as a beat up lion who runs scared when you resist him and call upon God! I know that some days it feels like we are nothing more than satan's chew toy, but remember the decree (a good, true revelation) that King Darius had…
"…For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which
shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions." -Daniel 6:26-27
I went from bragging on God's goodness to my husband in teaching him to play the piano in an amazing way on an old piano that no one wanted, to sitting in the ER with him waiting to see what had happened to his right thumb… yeah, a thumb needed to play piano for the glory of God. (It's ok, because God's gonna use this for Matt's good… read on)
A host of other little things happened as well. You know, just the kind of things that satan likes to throw into the mix when you're feeling a little discouraged just to make sure you know he's still there.
I woke up this morning with a mess of things going "wrong" and really just thought about taking Maddy to school and then just going back to bed. But instead, I thought on God for awhile. I thought on the amazing church service we had yesterday morning.
Then I remembered a few things our Pastor said while preaching his fourth sermon in a series called "The Movement" about Daniel. Pastor Nick shared that he had once heard another pastor say that the devil may be a lion roaming to and fro, but he's a lion without teeth. Basically, all growl and no bite. He might be able to bite down and "gum" you but he can't really bite you. I thought on this for a little while this morning as I was eating my oatmeal.
I literally felt like my heart was thumping out of my chest with pride as I thought about what "satan lion" really looks like to me this morning because God and his army (that's all of us who believe and follow Him). It's much different than what I had pictured before.
For some reason, I pictured him as a strong, healthy lion with muscles and giant teeth that he flashed at me all the time to scare me and keep from doing what God wanted. Here I am this morning, though, seeing satan as a pretty beat up beast….
I see him with no teeth; no way to tear me apart.
I see him with spots of hair missing; hair that I have pulled out as I yanked him off of my family through prayer.
I see him with swollen black eyes; the eyes I punch when he's throwing out his lies to my face.
I see him limping; limping from the church knocking his legs right out from under him by joining in corporate prayer to see healing and restoration to those he has attacked.
I see him skinny with his ribs showing; so frail from the lack of a feast of victory because God always wins. Period.
The Bible tells us in James 4:7 to resist the devil and he will flee. I don't think I have ever really grasped the power in that verse until now. It tells us to submit ourselves to God and then when we resist the devil, he's gonna leave…. FLEE. What does flee mean? Merriam-Webster defines it this way: "to run away from danger"… ha! Just picture it! You have the ability by submitting yourself to God and His ways to make the devil run, not casually walk away from, BUT RUN because he senses danger… just by resisting him!!! That's a beat up, scared lion running away from you!!!!!!!!!
I say this with warning though. Satan is a sly guy. He wants to attack our minds and get our focus off of submitting to God. Remember if you are submitted your gonna be able to make him run away scared and not allow him to stay around filling your mind up with filth and feelings of worthlessness and doubt. Don't let your guard down just because he's a pretty weak, sad looking, already defeated foe. He wants to distract us so that we don't work to win anyone else into God's kingdom… he might be beaten up but he keeps fighting for that losing case of his.
BE ON GAURD! STAY SUBMITTED AND AWARE OF GOD'S DIRECTIONS!!! RESIST HIM SO HE WILL FLEE!!!
And remember this last little bit of goodness from Pastor Nick's sermon: Daniel's enemies thought they were setting him up for death and defeat by having King Darius sign a decree banning Daniel from praying to his God. They thought they would do away with him. But all they did was set Daniel up for prosperity and a promotion. Daniel stayed submitted to God. Daniel 6:28 tells us that Daniel prospered! Not only that, but King Darius made a new decree declaring his kingdom was to reverence and fear the God of Daniel.
As Pastor Nick said, "It's a set up!! God's plan is always victorious!"
Remember it's a set up of a different kind. Satan thinks he's setting you up for failure and defeat. But really, he's setting you up for the miracles of God to be performed so that you can prosper and grow.
I hope you are encouraged today to stop picturing yourself as the beat up warrior and instead see satan as a beat up lion who runs scared when you resist him and call upon God! I know that some days it feels like we are nothing more than satan's chew toy, but remember the decree (a good, true revelation) that King Darius had…
"…For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which
shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions." -Daniel 6:26-27
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)