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Sunday’s Scripture

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For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
-Romans 6:6-7

So many times we get caught up in this idea that we live in a sinful and fallen world and sin is inevitable, and we use it as an excuse to keep on sinning.  But that is not what God’s word tells us!  Yes, we were born in a sinful world.  Yes, we’re born with a sinful nature.  But our old self has been CRUCIFIED!  We are no longer slaves to sin.  That old life is dead, and we are free!  If we stop looking around and instead look within to the Spirit living in us, we can overcome.  We don’t have to live a life characterized by sin.  We don’t have to be captive anymore.  We don’t have to feel weighed down and dejected.  We don’t have to live in our failures and shortcomings.  As the song goes, “my chains are gone, I’ve been set free…”  Live in the freedom, friends.  Embrace the victory.  We can overcome.

Saturday’s Song…

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So, last week I faced one of my biggest fears (public speaking) and shared my testimony at a women’s event at church.  It was such an amazing experience as I felt God in a new way and was able to share His words and the story that He has written for our family.  A friend chose this song to share as part of the day, and the words are just beautiful.  So very thankful for all of the places where grace is… He leaves nothing unredeemed.

Thursday’s thanks…

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It’s that time again- recording the gifts we’ve been blessed with this week.  Here’s my quick list- I’d love to hear yours!

  1. Pulling off a surprise for my girls
  2. A barrage of encouragement from my family in Christ 
  3. Prayer with friends 
  4. Framily
  5. Closing out one chapter of our lives and embracing the next
  6. A full-night’s sleep
  7. The confidence that comes when you surrender to God
  8. Two little ones singing their hearts out together
  9. Watching someone else enjoy my baby like I do
  10. Adult conversation 

My sleepy little one

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 Tonight your little body is worn out from a busy day.  There was no fight in you as you quickly drifted off to sleep.  You feel hot and somewhat sweaty on me as you sleep, and I can still see a hint of dirt on your chunky toes.  As I bend down to rest my chin on your head I catch a whiff of the outdoors lingering on your skin. You’ve played hard today, little one.  You’ve soaked up the sun, felt the breeze on your porcelain skin, and marveled at God’s amazing creation.  You’ve laughed and run and squealed with delight as you explored the world around you.  I watched your eyes light up as the crane flew up out of the water.  I saw your mind at work as we waited for the turtles to push off of the rocks into the lake.  I heard you tell us all to look at the big airplane as it crossed overhead.

You live this life with enthusiasm and strength and joy.  You notice the gifts from above and remind us all to do the same.  You live a brave life, one that defies odds and inspires those around you.  You encourage me and push me to be better- a better mom, a better person, a better daughter of the King.  You do all of these amazing things, little one- and yet you’re still so small.  You have so far to go, so much more life to live and things to do and goals to accomplish- but you’ve already served a greater purpose than I could ever dream.  Thank you, my little miracle, for allowing God to use you so mightily.  Thank you for the blessing of being your mom.

Acting human

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Recently I had one of those total woman moments that I pride myself on not having- I got my feelings hurt.  I was caught totally off-guard, and I grew more and more upset and frustrated and confused.  How could this person respond to me in this way?  What had I done?  What was the deal?  Why??

I let it stew for days.  The thoughts grew in my mind and I convinced myself that I was right.  I was certain that I had done no wrong, had responded most appropriately, and I was most definitely not at fault in any way.  And with that I grew more and more angry and self-righteous and haughty… and alone.  I discovered that I had no one to listen to me vent my “rightness.”  No one at all… But God.

It took longer than it should have, but I did finally start pouring my heart out to the Lord.  I spouted my frustrations and wept over my bruised heart… And as He soothed my soul, He also began to gently open my eyes to a few things.  I could see that my own pride had become a barrier.  I was so focused on my own desires that I had stopped seeing Him at work- He had not stopped working, but my selfishness served as blinders on my eyes.  I was so convinced that I was right in everything that I failed to see how I was falling short in my relationships with others.  I had become so wrapped up in myself that I had forgotten my overall purpose- to love, to serve, to encourage, to forgive, and to ultimately glorify God.

I had gotten so frustrated with another human for acting so… well… human!  We live in a sinful, fallen world surrounded by other sinful, broken people.  Mistakes are made.  Hearts are hurt.  Promises are broken.  Lies abound.  Disappointments lurk around every corner.  Failure in inevitable, and people will let us down- they’re human!  And so am I.

But, praise God, there is One more faithful and loyal and sure to keep His promises.  He is full of grace and mercy and forgiveness and love… when we fall down, when we lose our way, when we hurt, and when we hurt others.  For reasons I may never understand He loves us in spite of ourselves.  He knows our hurts, He knows our fears, and He knows our mistakes and shortcomings… And He makes a way anyway.

The heart is deceitful above anything else, and incurable- who can understand it?  I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.
-Jeremiah 17:9-10

We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses.  You are saved by grace!
-Ephesians 2:3-5

If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
-I John 1:10

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
-Lamentations 3:22-23

Give thanks to the God of heaven.  His love endures forever.
-Psalm 136:26

Oh, Monday

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  • Awoke to an over-emotional preteen angry at the world for spinning
  • Stepped in a pile of little Play-Doh balls sprinkled all over the living room floor
  • Had an audience in the bathroom… every. single. time.
  • Tears over spilled milk (they may or may not have been from mommy)
  • Nap time interrupted not once, but twice
  • Actually had a child call me a witch, to my face
  • Traffic.  (enough said)
  • Drama.  (Again, enough said)
  • Resorted to using the television as a babysitter so dinner could make it to the table.  But once it made it there, no one would eat it.
  • Where are the car keys??
  • Two-year old told me to see the dragon.  Turned to find my worst fear crawling across my living room wall- a lizard.  (I could have handled an actual dragon better.)

Praise God, He gives us a new day tomorrow!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.  -Lamentations 3:22-23

Sunday’s song: Flawless by MercyMe

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No matter the bumps No matter the bruises No matter the scars Still the truth is The cross has made The cross has made you flawless No matter the hurt Or how deep the wound is No matter the pain Still the truth is The cross has made The cross has made you flawless 

Praise God that He made a way!  No matter what mistakes have been made in our lives, we are flawless.  He is bigger than all that plagues us… Our bad choices, our addictions, our pride… Our need to please, our need to succeed, our need to be more or do more… Our broken hearts, our broken dreams, our brokenness… Our anger, our bitterness, our jealousy, our fears… Our messy homes, our messy relationships, our messy lives… All of those things everyone sees and judges us for, and even all of those things no one sees or knows… He’s bigger.  And He loves us bigger, so big that He made a way on that cross to make us flawless.  When He looks at us, He sees redeemed.  He sees righteous.  He sees forgiven.  He sees the ones He loves.  Embrace it, friends- live in the beauty and victory of grace!

Saturday’s Scripture…

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Today’s Word is for the weary mama…

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
–Galatians 6:9

Our God is the God of perfect timing!  And in His timing, we WILL reap a harvest- what a promise to cling to!  But, it’s a promise with a prerequisite… We will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

So, mom who is weary and exhausted… who is sleep-deprived and worn… who has had to stand her ground and be “the bad guy”… who’s changed umpteen diapers this week and completed (or not completed) umpteen loads of laundry… To the mom who hasn’t made it out of her yoga pants this week or the mom who has had to juggle the demands of a career and mommyhood… who has had to fight for her marriage or for her children’s minds and attention… To the mom who just doesn’t feel like she has done enough or is enough or that what she’s doing is making a difference, who doesn’t feel noticed or appreciated or even loved at times… Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, no matter what you are facing- DO NOT GIVE UP!  He is enough, He cares for you, He has a purpose for your life- you matter, and you are making a difference for Him.  Do not grow weary in doing good, friends!

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control or spirit-control?

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

We have finally reached the end of our Fruit of the Spirit study, and we are concluding with the fruit of self-control. However, when I study self-control, I find that it isn’t so much “self” control as it is “Spirit” control. You see, when a woman is living a fruitful life, following the precepts that God has outlined in His word, she isn’t controlled by self any more. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The area of self-control covers a lot of ground. As women, we are emotional creatures. God created us that way, but He does not desire for us to live under the rule of our emotions! While it is okay to experience and express emotions, we should not let our emotions control us. By allowing the Spirit to work in us, and tapping into the other fruits that we have discussed (such as joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.), we can find self-control. If we fail to manage our moods according to His ideals, our emotional instability can ruin our reputations, destroy relationships, and inhibit us from following God’s leadership. And by living a life characterized by emotional outbursts, we are unable to live in fellowship with God due to our sin of disobedience. However, when we turn our focus to the One who created us and our emotions, there is hope. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him. (Psalm 42:11)

Self-control does not always have to be an issue of emotions. For some, self-control may have more to do with financial decisions. Or perhaps food choices and appetites. It could be about gossip, spending time in the Word, watching or listening to things that hinder our relationship with Christ, how we spend our “free” time (if there is such a thing as a mom!)… The list goes on and on. Everyone has some area of their life over which they long to have more control. The areas in which you struggle may be very different from the struggles I face day to day. That’s the beauty of the unique creations that God made in each of us! And that is the beauty of the God we serve- no matter how different we are, or how different our struggles are, He created us. He knows us intimately. He understands those weak areas and loves us through them. And He, only He, can offer us the power that we need to overcome those individual trials.

So, as we conclude our study, I issue you a challenge. Every day, make a commitment to meet with your Holy Father. Open His word, talk to Him in prayer, and hear what He has to say to you. Tap into His power, be fruitful, and pray for your sisters in Christ who are facing challenges of their own on a daily basis. Some days and some seasons may be tougher than others- believe me, I know! But leave your Bible open on the table as a reminder that He’s there. Talk to Him as you take a shower or drive down the road. Post verses around your home in obvious places. Keep praise and worship music on throughout the day. Do whatever it takes to fill your days with Him. And as you do so, you’ll find that He’s right there with you in the every day, mundane, routine “stuff” that you do as a wife and a mother. And He’s ready to equip you with everything you need to love like Jesus, to be an example for your children, to be a woman after His own heart. Become a mom who exhibits love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. And one who isn’t self-controlled, but Spirit-controlled.

 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.
-Titus 2:11-12

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
-Ephesians 4:1

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
-2 Peter 1:5-7

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
-Proverbs 25:28

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
-Proverbs 16:32

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.
-2 Timothy 1:7

 

Thursday’s Thanks…

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It’s Thursday- that means it’s time to take a minute or two and thank God for all of the blessings- big, small, or in-between -that He’s given us this week.  Here’s my short list…

  • One-on-one time with my big girl (even if it was just to Walmart)
  • Finding just what I needed at an unbelievable price at Goodwill 🙂
  • The quick wit of my six-year-old
  • The willingness (and even eagerness) of my baby girl to take her daily meds without a fight
  • My grandma introducing me to a new artist (that, by the way, does not at all sound like a grandma’s kind of music!)
  • Generous neighbors
  • Breakfast at IHOP- love some crepes!
  • Living room movie picnics with my girls
  • Being in sync with my best bud even though we’re miles upon miles apart
  • Giggly sisters excited to play with each other (for a few minutes, at least!)

What’s on your list this week?