One of the things I love most about God is the fact that he gets us. He knew thousands of years ago that we would struggle, and he knew we would need a guide: The Bible. God's Word is living and active. It applies to every part of our lives,then and now. I love that about God, that he thought of everything and cares so much that he wants to give us every tool to be successful.
Recently in my studies, I have revisited a verse that I memorized years and years ago and it has spoken to me anew.
It's no secret that we as humans struggle. All of us. We all struggle. God's Word reminded me recently the truth about my struggle.
Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."
This is certainly not the first time I have read this, but recently when I read it, it was as though a light bulb went on inside me. My struggle is not against flesh and blood. This applies in a few ways but the way it applied to me in this season of my life was new.
My struggle. Oh how I struggle. I have been struggling for a year in a specific area. Parenting. I have struggled with frustration and anger. I have struggled with how to teach and discipline my little guys. I have struggled with finding balance. I have struggled with being overwhelmed. I have struggled.
And all the while, I have been wrong about the source of my struggle. I have been struggling with myself. I have been blaming myself. I have been trying to do it all myself. Now, I have cried out to God for help many many times. But even then, I was expecting me to be able to overcome this struggle.
When I read this verse last week, I suddenly realized I have been trying to do it all myself. I have been struggling against flesh and blood. Reading this verse opened my eyes to the trap I had allowed myself to fall into.
I was blaming myself for struggling. Let's read the rest of the verse.
Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
I misplaced the blame. The enemy had me so distracted in the blame game and had me fighting against myself instead of him.
Sound familiar. Another way this can happen is when we get so distracted blaming others, and being mad at others, that we get caught in a cycle and take our eyes off the real battle.
Bottom line is we are all going to mess up and make mistakes. But if we get so caught up in blame and anger, we forget where the real struggle is. The real struggle is with our enemy who is just trying to distract us. When we get caught in this trap either with ourselves or with others, then we forget that we are supposed to forgive and love our enemies and do everything we can to live at peace with others. This is exactly the enemy's game and he is very good at it.
Yes I make mistakes. Yes I make poor decisions that hurt myself and others. People are always going to be imperfect.
I learned long ago that people will hurt me and I will have to choose to continue to love them and others when (not if) that happens. I also have to apply that to myself. I have to forgive others and continue to keep my heart open to love so that I can walk in the ways of the Lord. I also have to forgive myself, and learn to love myself, so that I can walk in the ways of the Lord.
I am not a perfect person (as much as I want to be). I am not a perfect mother (as much as I want to be) but I am worthy of love and forgiveness. I am still a person and I am still a mother.
The enemy was able to get me off track a bit by making me feel like my struggle was with my own flesh and blood. But my struggle was never with myself. It was always with the enemy who wanted to make me feel like a failure. I'll be honest. He succeeded for a minute.
It makes me so sad to realize that so much of my struggling over this past year has just been an energy waster. But I cannot get stuck there. I have to pick myself up, forgive myself, and begin the battle where it should be.
Friends, I desperately want you to learn from my mistake. Let's not waste energy being mad at our selves or others for the hurt. Let's understand that this is the enemy's plan and let's not allow him to win.
People are going to make mistakes. We should be ready with forgiveness and love when this happens. Yes it hurts and we should take time to deal with the hurt, but if we are already armed with forgiveness and love, then I believe with all my heart that the hurt will be less.
Father,
Thank you for Your Word and for speaking to my heart. Thank you for fresh understanding. I pray that we would all be armed with forgiveness and love. I pray that we would be able to identify the traps of the enemy quickly through your Word and that we would not waste time struggling against the wrong things. Lord help us to see clearly and help us to be brave enough to love wide open and forgive endlessly. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
What I GET to do on Wednesday nights
It's Wednesday evening and we have just finished dinner and are ready to go to church. Wednesday night is one of my favorite nights of the week. This is because I GET to teach STARS class. Stars is a group of 3rd-5th grade girls. These girls are some of the most creative and fun kids ever.
When I started in ministry, the first thing I got involved in was teaching STARS. I was the helper actually, because I knew NOTHING! I learned so much during those first years helping to teach that class. I learned probably more than the girls we taught.
Currently, we are learning about integrity and it has been one of my favorite units we have done so far. My prayer is that these girls are learning things that will help them grow into women who love and serve God with their whole heart.
I will confess that there are nights that I feel so incredibly inadequate to teach these girls. They are so smart and so special and there are times that I find myself wondering what on earth God is thinking letting me teach them.
I am humbled and constantly reminded that I have nothing to give but God has everything to give. I just have to work to not get in His way.
My biggest struggle is in the department of creativity. I struggle to come up with FUN ways to teach and fun things to do. I am good with the actual teaching and application of the lessons. I am good with hanging out with the girls and encouraging them. I am lacking in the creative department.
I have no idea how I taught Stars so long ago (15 years) without Pinterest and Google! Seriously, I cannot remember how I managed to come up with anything fun!
I am blessed to teach along side a wonderful friend, Heather. She has no idea how much her being in this class with me means. She is kind, gentle and such a calming force for me, and she is very good at the creative! I am beyond thankful for her and her willingness to serve these girls with me.
I learned early on in ministry that we GET to do things for the Lord. We do not HAVE to! We GET to! This is truly how I see the ministry opportunities that God gives. This attitude changed my Christian walk.
I believe that when you are working and being used, you feel useful, and that feeling alone can transform your life. It feels good to be useful in the Kingdom of God. We can all be useful somewhere in the church.
Are you listening to the voice of the Lord to hear where He wants to use you? Are you asking Him what He has for you to do? I hope so!
Lord,
My prayer tonight is that you would help me to slow down and see these girls. Help me to speak life and encouragement into their lives only. Lord us me and my friend Heather to minister to these girls and be what they need tonight. Thank you that we get to be your arms hugging them. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of their lives. Use us Lord, each week I ask that you use us. I pray for every reader, Lord, that they would seek you to find what you have for them to do. Let us all be useful in your Kingdom Father. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen
When I started in ministry, the first thing I got involved in was teaching STARS. I was the helper actually, because I knew NOTHING! I learned so much during those first years helping to teach that class. I learned probably more than the girls we taught.
Currently, we are learning about integrity and it has been one of my favorite units we have done so far. My prayer is that these girls are learning things that will help them grow into women who love and serve God with their whole heart.
I will confess that there are nights that I feel so incredibly inadequate to teach these girls. They are so smart and so special and there are times that I find myself wondering what on earth God is thinking letting me teach them.
I am humbled and constantly reminded that I have nothing to give but God has everything to give. I just have to work to not get in His way.
My biggest struggle is in the department of creativity. I struggle to come up with FUN ways to teach and fun things to do. I am good with the actual teaching and application of the lessons. I am good with hanging out with the girls and encouraging them. I am lacking in the creative department.
I have no idea how I taught Stars so long ago (15 years) without Pinterest and Google! Seriously, I cannot remember how I managed to come up with anything fun!
I am blessed to teach along side a wonderful friend, Heather. She has no idea how much her being in this class with me means. She is kind, gentle and such a calming force for me, and she is very good at the creative! I am beyond thankful for her and her willingness to serve these girls with me.
I learned early on in ministry that we GET to do things for the Lord. We do not HAVE to! We GET to! This is truly how I see the ministry opportunities that God gives. This attitude changed my Christian walk.
I believe that when you are working and being used, you feel useful, and that feeling alone can transform your life. It feels good to be useful in the Kingdom of God. We can all be useful somewhere in the church.
Are you listening to the voice of the Lord to hear where He wants to use you? Are you asking Him what He has for you to do? I hope so!
Lord,
My prayer tonight is that you would help me to slow down and see these girls. Help me to speak life and encouragement into their lives only. Lord us me and my friend Heather to minister to these girls and be what they need tonight. Thank you that we get to be your arms hugging them. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of their lives. Use us Lord, each week I ask that you use us. I pray for every reader, Lord, that they would seek you to find what you have for them to do. Let us all be useful in your Kingdom Father. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen
Monday, May 21, 2018
What God can do with simple willingness
Recently I have seen women in our church step out and say "Yes" to God.
It reminds me of years ago when I began dipping my toes in obedience to the Lord and began serving in the church.
You see we all have to start somewhere. And we all start at basically the same place...a simple willingness to be obedient to the Lord.
You don't always have the confidence you'll have later when you take that first step. But the confidence will come and God will meet you exactly where you start, and then every step of the way.
It has been PURE JOY to watch as our women take step after step after step in obedience to the Lord.
I am literally watching them bloom before my very eyes and it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
And just like me, they are starting with simple willingness and a step of faith. And I pray that we will all continue to take those steps and go where God leads, because there are people who need us.
When I started my Christian walk, I would never have imagined where I would be right now. I would never have dreamed that I would have served on staff as a Children's Pastor or be married to a full-time Children's Pastor, co-lead a Middle School small group, or have the passion and fire that I have for speaking to and leading women. If anyone would have told me those things, I would have laughed right in their face. Yet, here I am, doing things I never dreamed of doing and having such big dreams to do more, to do as much for the Kingdom of God as I can before I go to Heaven!
And to top that off, I get to watch as ladies all around me take the same timid steps of faith or bold steps of faith and BLOOM as they walk in obedience.
I am watching ladies encourage ladies, pray for each other and be present in each other's lives. It is so incredibly humbling to get to be a part of what God is doing. It is incredibly humbling that God would pick me to be a part of His Kingdom and do anything that I can to uplift, encourage, grow and propel others in His Kingdom as well! What an absolute honor.
Maybe you are reading this and you have thought, "maybe I should do this or that," or maybe you feel the tug of the Lord to do something that is well outside of your comfort zone. Let me encourage you right now. Go! Do! Take that step! You may not be fully confident right now, but, I promise, as you say yes to the Lord the confidence will come. Every time you say yes and try it or do it, the confidence will come.The strength will come. The anointing will come.
You don't have to be anything or anyone but YOU. You have something to offer that NO ONE ELSE can...YES, YOU!!
You, oh broken woman of God. You, oh hurt woman of God. You, oh scared woman of God. You! You! You! You!! You have a story like no one else, experiences and talents like no one else.
Please hear me dear woman of God. Please do not compare yourself to anyone else. I have found myself lost in that trap, and debilitated by that trap. Please don't go there. I know it is hard, but don't allow that trap that is set by the enemy to get in your way.
God is calling YOU...and I pray that YOU will simply be willing to say YES to the LORD and then watch what HE will do in and through YOU!
Father,
I pray for every reader that he or she will see themselves through YOUR eyes and be willing to say Yes and be open to do and try new things. I pray that you would stir up a passion and fire inside of them as they step again and again and again! I pray that you would speak clearly to them the things that you have called them to do and give them your supernatural courage and faith to do those things. And Father I pray that every single time they are obedient to you that they would physically feel their spirit woman or man getting stronger and stronger. Lord have your way in us. Lord use us. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen
It reminds me of years ago when I began dipping my toes in obedience to the Lord and began serving in the church.
You see we all have to start somewhere. And we all start at basically the same place...a simple willingness to be obedient to the Lord.
You don't always have the confidence you'll have later when you take that first step. But the confidence will come and God will meet you exactly where you start, and then every step of the way.
It has been PURE JOY to watch as our women take step after step after step in obedience to the Lord.
I am literally watching them bloom before my very eyes and it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
And just like me, they are starting with simple willingness and a step of faith. And I pray that we will all continue to take those steps and go where God leads, because there are people who need us.
When I started my Christian walk, I would never have imagined where I would be right now. I would never have dreamed that I would have served on staff as a Children's Pastor or be married to a full-time Children's Pastor, co-lead a Middle School small group, or have the passion and fire that I have for speaking to and leading women. If anyone would have told me those things, I would have laughed right in their face. Yet, here I am, doing things I never dreamed of doing and having such big dreams to do more, to do as much for the Kingdom of God as I can before I go to Heaven!
And to top that off, I get to watch as ladies all around me take the same timid steps of faith or bold steps of faith and BLOOM as they walk in obedience.
I am watching ladies encourage ladies, pray for each other and be present in each other's lives. It is so incredibly humbling to get to be a part of what God is doing. It is incredibly humbling that God would pick me to be a part of His Kingdom and do anything that I can to uplift, encourage, grow and propel others in His Kingdom as well! What an absolute honor.
Maybe you are reading this and you have thought, "maybe I should do this or that," or maybe you feel the tug of the Lord to do something that is well outside of your comfort zone. Let me encourage you right now. Go! Do! Take that step! You may not be fully confident right now, but, I promise, as you say yes to the Lord the confidence will come. Every time you say yes and try it or do it, the confidence will come.The strength will come. The anointing will come.
You don't have to be anything or anyone but YOU. You have something to offer that NO ONE ELSE can...YES, YOU!!
You, oh broken woman of God. You, oh hurt woman of God. You, oh scared woman of God. You! You! You! You!! You have a story like no one else, experiences and talents like no one else.
Please hear me dear woman of God. Please do not compare yourself to anyone else. I have found myself lost in that trap, and debilitated by that trap. Please don't go there. I know it is hard, but don't allow that trap that is set by the enemy to get in your way.
God is calling YOU...and I pray that YOU will simply be willing to say YES to the LORD and then watch what HE will do in and through YOU!
Father,
I pray for every reader that he or she will see themselves through YOUR eyes and be willing to say Yes and be open to do and try new things. I pray that you would stir up a passion and fire inside of them as they step again and again and again! I pray that you would speak clearly to them the things that you have called them to do and give them your supernatural courage and faith to do those things. And Father I pray that every single time they are obedient to you that they would physically feel their spirit woman or man getting stronger and stronger. Lord have your way in us. Lord use us. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Change is coming
As I sit here with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the air and the sounds of my boys playing, I am thinking about the change that is coming.
I am excited but also a little bit nervous because...
EXCITED: WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE AND WE'RE MOVING SOON! IN A MATTER OF WEEKS (TWO TO BE EXACT)!!
NERVOUS: OUR ROUTINE WILL BE DIFFERENT!!
I am a person who thrives on routine and my two year old is the same way!! As I was sitting here enjoying my coffee and having my devotion time while the boys play, I thought, " Oh my, in just a few weeks, this will look different. I won't have a living room where my boys are gated in. It will be open, our ROUTINE IS GOING TO CHANGE!!"
As excited as I am to buy a house and to have this particular house that we are buying, I am just as nervous about creating a new routine. What will our days look like until we have that new routine set and it becomes comfortable?
You see, we love comfort. Humans love comfort. We look for it everywhere and often times we are not open to giving it up for right things.
Am I so attached to our routine that I have thought about foregoing the new house so we can just stay right here where we are comfortable? Almost...but NO. I know this seems like a silly question but it happens so often.
We are not willing to give up a certain way we are comfortable living to do something God is asking us to do.
Change your Sunday morning routine so that you can volunteer at the church somewhere.
Yeah, feel that? That slight punch to your gut. That's what I'm talking about. Initially we feel that and think, "No,I can't. This is how we do things. I like the way things are going right now. I am comfortable." Maybe, you have just reached that place of comfort...like me.
I spent the last year completely overwhelmed and we are just getting to the place where I have moments like these to sit and drink my coffee and read my bible or write without my littlest man screaming the ENTIRE time.
Will it be hard to let go of that and try to find something new? Yes! It will be hard for us to move out of one routine and find another. Yes, it will be hard, but I am willing.
I don't know if any of this makes any sense to anyone. Maybe I am the only one who thrives in comfort and routine.
I doubt it truly because I have learned that every time I think I am alone in something...I am not!
So change is coming and I don't know if I'll have moments like this once we move and that is OK. Because I fully believe that God has great things for us in the new house. Our routines will look different but different is not bad, it's just different.
Yep, that is my mantra when change happens...I HAVE to tell myself repeatedly, "Change is not bad. It is just different."
Change is quite good I have learned.
Change may always be hard for me but not as hard as it used to be. And each time I learn something new about God and myself.
Lord,
I pray that I would never get too comfortable and I pray that I would always be willing to follow you no matter how hard or how uncomfortable. I thank you today for this new house and I pray that you would help us find a new routine that helps us all to grow closer to YOU!! Lord I love you and I want to LIVE TO SERVE YOU!! In Jesus name. Amen.
I am excited but also a little bit nervous because...
EXCITED: WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE AND WE'RE MOVING SOON! IN A MATTER OF WEEKS (TWO TO BE EXACT)!!
NERVOUS: OUR ROUTINE WILL BE DIFFERENT!!
I am a person who thrives on routine and my two year old is the same way!! As I was sitting here enjoying my coffee and having my devotion time while the boys play, I thought, " Oh my, in just a few weeks, this will look different. I won't have a living room where my boys are gated in. It will be open, our ROUTINE IS GOING TO CHANGE!!"
As excited as I am to buy a house and to have this particular house that we are buying, I am just as nervous about creating a new routine. What will our days look like until we have that new routine set and it becomes comfortable?
You see, we love comfort. Humans love comfort. We look for it everywhere and often times we are not open to giving it up for right things.
Am I so attached to our routine that I have thought about foregoing the new house so we can just stay right here where we are comfortable? Almost...but NO. I know this seems like a silly question but it happens so often.
We are not willing to give up a certain way we are comfortable living to do something God is asking us to do.
Change your Sunday morning routine so that you can volunteer at the church somewhere.
Yeah, feel that? That slight punch to your gut. That's what I'm talking about. Initially we feel that and think, "No,I can't. This is how we do things. I like the way things are going right now. I am comfortable." Maybe, you have just reached that place of comfort...like me.
I spent the last year completely overwhelmed and we are just getting to the place where I have moments like these to sit and drink my coffee and read my bible or write without my littlest man screaming the ENTIRE time.
Will it be hard to let go of that and try to find something new? Yes! It will be hard for us to move out of one routine and find another. Yes, it will be hard, but I am willing.
I don't know if any of this makes any sense to anyone. Maybe I am the only one who thrives in comfort and routine.
I doubt it truly because I have learned that every time I think I am alone in something...I am not!
So change is coming and I don't know if I'll have moments like this once we move and that is OK. Because I fully believe that God has great things for us in the new house. Our routines will look different but different is not bad, it's just different.
Yep, that is my mantra when change happens...I HAVE to tell myself repeatedly, "Change is not bad. It is just different."
Change is quite good I have learned.
Change may always be hard for me but not as hard as it used to be. And each time I learn something new about God and myself.
Lord,
I pray that I would never get too comfortable and I pray that I would always be willing to follow you no matter how hard or how uncomfortable. I thank you today for this new house and I pray that you would help us find a new routine that helps us all to grow closer to YOU!! Lord I love you and I want to LIVE TO SERVE YOU!! In Jesus name. Amen.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Rain
The past two days in a row it has rained. This is a good thing. I hadn't even realized how much we needed the rain until it came, and I realized I had not seen rain in a while.
You know sometimes we are cruising along in life, and one day we look up and realize we have been riding the struggle bus, and we didn't even realize it. Sometimes it is hard for us to see that we've been frustrated and angry more often than not.
I remember in the spring of last year, I was captain of the struggle bus. I found myself frustrated, angry and overwhelmed...ALL OF THE TIME.
I remember the very moment that God sent the rain that I so desperately needed. We were two days into our new church's camp meeting (where we have revival type services every night) and I was standing at the altar full of confusion and terror. You see, I was overwhelmed with my roll as stay at home mom to TWO under TWO. I would be angry and frustrated at my boys all day because I had no idea what I was doing. I had a strong-willed almost two year old and a screaming infant. My responses to those difficult little beings was to scream back and loose my cool...all day. But then at night, we would go to church and have these amazing kids services where God would use me to minister to these kids in such big and wonderful ways. I mean the Spirit of God was really moving in our services.
So there I was, standing at the altar during adult worship one night, full of confusion and terror, wondering how on earth I could be one person during the day and another at night. THEN CAME THE RAIN.
God poured out His Spirit onto/into me and it was as refreshing as a summer rain after a long drought. Until that moment I didn't realize exactly how much drought I had been in. I just BROKE and allowed my tired spirit to be drenched in God's rain.
I was reminded that I am not two people, but one broken and growing CHILD OF GOD just trying to do the best I could to glorify Him. Yes I was failing but the battle wasn't over yet. And right then, when I needed it most to keep fighting, God sent His rain.
Here I am, a little more than a year later, and I am no longer completely overwhelmed by my wonderful little crazies. We laugh most of the day....I LAUGH MOST OF THE DAY now and we get out of the house and play and do things.
I am no longer captain of the struggle bus, though I do hitch a ride on occasion. But without that moment with God, that spiritual drenching I do not think I would be at this point.
God brought the rain but I had to allow it to saturate me. I had to admit that I NEEDED IT DESPERATELY.
I am still not the mom that I want to be. I still have a lot of work to do. I still want to be more gentle and react less out of frustration and anger. I still fail and I still make mistakes. But the difference is...I no longer feel hopeless and I am able to see clearly that God is right here with me and that he sees me.
Many times these days we will stop right in the middle of a melt down...mine or the boys'...and we invite Jesus into the moment. Friends, let me just tell you...THAT MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE.
So maybe you are reading this and you realize you're in a drought. That you haven't seen the rain in far too long. That you haven't invited Jesus into your moment, into this stretch of your journey...I want you to know. It's not too late. God is ready to pour out the rain. He desires for you to be refreshed and ready to continue to battle. You are not alone. I have been there and we can walk this road together with Jesus captaining the JOY WAGON!!
Won't you join me here on the JOY WAGON?
Lord Jesus,
I pray for this reader, the one who is at wits end and needs YOUR RAIN. I pray for JOY, HOPE, PEACE and LIFE to flood them at this very moment. I pray they would feel your love pouring down on them like warm sunshine right after the most refreshing rain. I pray for a flooding of the Holy Spirit to refresh and revive them. I pray that they would know in their knower that they are not alone. Be all that they need in this moment and in every moment. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
You know sometimes we are cruising along in life, and one day we look up and realize we have been riding the struggle bus, and we didn't even realize it. Sometimes it is hard for us to see that we've been frustrated and angry more often than not.
I remember in the spring of last year, I was captain of the struggle bus. I found myself frustrated, angry and overwhelmed...ALL OF THE TIME.
I remember the very moment that God sent the rain that I so desperately needed. We were two days into our new church's camp meeting (where we have revival type services every night) and I was standing at the altar full of confusion and terror. You see, I was overwhelmed with my roll as stay at home mom to TWO under TWO. I would be angry and frustrated at my boys all day because I had no idea what I was doing. I had a strong-willed almost two year old and a screaming infant. My responses to those difficult little beings was to scream back and loose my cool...all day. But then at night, we would go to church and have these amazing kids services where God would use me to minister to these kids in such big and wonderful ways. I mean the Spirit of God was really moving in our services.
So there I was, standing at the altar during adult worship one night, full of confusion and terror, wondering how on earth I could be one person during the day and another at night. THEN CAME THE RAIN.
God poured out His Spirit onto/into me and it was as refreshing as a summer rain after a long drought. Until that moment I didn't realize exactly how much drought I had been in. I just BROKE and allowed my tired spirit to be drenched in God's rain.
I was reminded that I am not two people, but one broken and growing CHILD OF GOD just trying to do the best I could to glorify Him. Yes I was failing but the battle wasn't over yet. And right then, when I needed it most to keep fighting, God sent His rain.
Here I am, a little more than a year later, and I am no longer completely overwhelmed by my wonderful little crazies. We laugh most of the day....I LAUGH MOST OF THE DAY now and we get out of the house and play and do things.
I am no longer captain of the struggle bus, though I do hitch a ride on occasion. But without that moment with God, that spiritual drenching I do not think I would be at this point.
God brought the rain but I had to allow it to saturate me. I had to admit that I NEEDED IT DESPERATELY.
I am still not the mom that I want to be. I still have a lot of work to do. I still want to be more gentle and react less out of frustration and anger. I still fail and I still make mistakes. But the difference is...I no longer feel hopeless and I am able to see clearly that God is right here with me and that he sees me.
Many times these days we will stop right in the middle of a melt down...mine or the boys'...and we invite Jesus into the moment. Friends, let me just tell you...THAT MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE.
So maybe you are reading this and you realize you're in a drought. That you haven't seen the rain in far too long. That you haven't invited Jesus into your moment, into this stretch of your journey...I want you to know. It's not too late. God is ready to pour out the rain. He desires for you to be refreshed and ready to continue to battle. You are not alone. I have been there and we can walk this road together with Jesus captaining the JOY WAGON!!
Won't you join me here on the JOY WAGON?
Lord Jesus,
I pray for this reader, the one who is at wits end and needs YOUR RAIN. I pray for JOY, HOPE, PEACE and LIFE to flood them at this very moment. I pray they would feel your love pouring down on them like warm sunshine right after the most refreshing rain. I pray for a flooding of the Holy Spirit to refresh and revive them. I pray that they would know in their knower that they are not alone. Be all that they need in this moment and in every moment. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Aaahhh Nap time
Oh the peaceful bliss that is NAP TIME!
I am a mom to two wonderful boys...E is 2 (almost 3) and G is 1. My boys are 17 months apart and we are just getting to the place where I can breathe again and be somewhat sane.
When we added G to the team....well, my world turned upside down quickly and it has taken over a year to get it turned right side up again.
I have managed to get us into a good routine that does include both of the boys napping at the same time for at least 2 hours. THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS MY SANITY!
They are truly wonderful little boys though. Both are so very smart. So smart that I fear they will out smart me very soon and oh what a pickle that would be for sure.
E is my independent, strong-willed, incredibly smart big boy. My Sweet Face. He is a daddy's boy and has been almost since birth. He loves firetrucks, planes and BEING OUTSIDE!
G is my clingy, screaming, paci loving smart, smart lil man. My Squishy. He is a mama's boy but has recently really begun to think about being a daddy's boy. He always wants to be close enough to touch you and has just recently stopped screaming when you are not close enough. HE'S ONE YEAR AND 4+ MONTHS PEOPLE!!
Yep, you got it. That's why we are just now getting our world turned right side up again...well that, and the fact that I HAD/HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PARENT TODDLERS! We work with elementary kids not toddlers!
Today was one of the good days! The boys played sweetly while mommy got things done. There was very little fighting or screaming! I call that a win, even if the tv was on to help. (Don't judge. It's a Wednesday and I have a STARS class to teach tonight. Things needed to get done!)
So here I am sitting in the dark, listening to the thunder and enjoying the quiet that is nap time. I work very hard to get all my house chores or running around done so that when nap time arrives, mama gets to do whatever she wants! Sometimes I lay on the couch and watch the Hallmark channel. Sometimes I dive deep into my bible and journal. Sometimes I study for church or a women's speaking engagement. Sometimes I paint set pieces for a new children's church series. Sometimes I play on my phone. Sometimes I film videos for my women's ministry Facebook page. You know, I just do whatever I want to do. This is my me time and it is my SANITY!
I learned before children and marriage that I am a person who requires a certain amount of alone time to recharge and regroup. When it was just me and Mr. Wonderful (what I call my husband), that was fairly easy to come by, but once we had kids...YIKES! I have to work at it very hard but I have managed to pull it off and we are all better for it.
I get it most days but not everyday. When Mr. Wonderful is off, family time is the priority and we enjoy every moment and adventure. I have had to give myself pep talks and remind myself that it is okay to break routine on family days and on occasion. This is hard for me and E. We LOVE routine and we thrive in it. Mr. Wonderful and G are cut from the same fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants cloth, so we are all learning to find the balance in that for all of us!
Oh this life...IT IS GOOD!!
Jesus is our center, our core, our Salvation and Joy! We are loving living out our dream life. We dreamed of fulfilling our calling and getting to be in full-time Children's Ministry while I get to stay home with the boys and we are living that life everyday and LOVING EVERY MOMENT!
Today I just feel so THANKFUL for this life we get to live and for all the ways we get to serve our Faithful and Loving God.
Lord,
Thank you for your faithfulness and for bringing us to this place in our journey. This road has not always been easy. In fact you saw us through a really dark valley before getting to this place. I find myself so full of LIFE and JOY and there was a time both of those things were such a struggle. Thank you Father for walking us through the valley. Thank you for allowing us to love your people and serve you as parents and in ministry. Help me to be the best MOM and Minister that I can be. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
I am a mom to two wonderful boys...E is 2 (almost 3) and G is 1. My boys are 17 months apart and we are just getting to the place where I can breathe again and be somewhat sane.
When we added G to the team....well, my world turned upside down quickly and it has taken over a year to get it turned right side up again.
I have managed to get us into a good routine that does include both of the boys napping at the same time for at least 2 hours. THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS MY SANITY!
They are truly wonderful little boys though. Both are so very smart. So smart that I fear they will out smart me very soon and oh what a pickle that would be for sure.
E is my independent, strong-willed, incredibly smart big boy. My Sweet Face. He is a daddy's boy and has been almost since birth. He loves firetrucks, planes and BEING OUTSIDE!
G is my clingy, screaming, paci loving smart, smart lil man. My Squishy. He is a mama's boy but has recently really begun to think about being a daddy's boy. He always wants to be close enough to touch you and has just recently stopped screaming when you are not close enough. HE'S ONE YEAR AND 4+ MONTHS PEOPLE!!
Yep, you got it. That's why we are just now getting our world turned right side up again...well that, and the fact that I HAD/HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PARENT TODDLERS! We work with elementary kids not toddlers!
Today was one of the good days! The boys played sweetly while mommy got things done. There was very little fighting or screaming! I call that a win, even if the tv was on to help. (Don't judge. It's a Wednesday and I have a STARS class to teach tonight. Things needed to get done!)
So here I am sitting in the dark, listening to the thunder and enjoying the quiet that is nap time. I work very hard to get all my house chores or running around done so that when nap time arrives, mama gets to do whatever she wants! Sometimes I lay on the couch and watch the Hallmark channel. Sometimes I dive deep into my bible and journal. Sometimes I study for church or a women's speaking engagement. Sometimes I paint set pieces for a new children's church series. Sometimes I play on my phone. Sometimes I film videos for my women's ministry Facebook page. You know, I just do whatever I want to do. This is my me time and it is my SANITY!
I learned before children and marriage that I am a person who requires a certain amount of alone time to recharge and regroup. When it was just me and Mr. Wonderful (what I call my husband), that was fairly easy to come by, but once we had kids...YIKES! I have to work at it very hard but I have managed to pull it off and we are all better for it.
I get it most days but not everyday. When Mr. Wonderful is off, family time is the priority and we enjoy every moment and adventure. I have had to give myself pep talks and remind myself that it is okay to break routine on family days and on occasion. This is hard for me and E. We LOVE routine and we thrive in it. Mr. Wonderful and G are cut from the same fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants cloth, so we are all learning to find the balance in that for all of us!
Oh this life...IT IS GOOD!!
Jesus is our center, our core, our Salvation and Joy! We are loving living out our dream life. We dreamed of fulfilling our calling and getting to be in full-time Children's Ministry while I get to stay home with the boys and we are living that life everyday and LOVING EVERY MOMENT!
Today I just feel so THANKFUL for this life we get to live and for all the ways we get to serve our Faithful and Loving God.
Lord,
Thank you for your faithfulness and for bringing us to this place in our journey. This road has not always been easy. In fact you saw us through a really dark valley before getting to this place. I find myself so full of LIFE and JOY and there was a time both of those things were such a struggle. Thank you Father for walking us through the valley. Thank you for allowing us to love your people and serve you as parents and in ministry. Help me to be the best MOM and Minister that I can be. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
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