fourteen eight

Happy Mother’s Day 💐
God has placed so many wonderful women in our lives to guide and teach us as we walk with Him. I am grateful for each & every woman in my life, and for how they have shaped and molded me into who I am today… and for how those women continue to shape me. I love this verse in Isaiah that shows part of the beauty of motherhood in the way that it reflects God’s love for his people. Some of us may have heartache and sorrow today, (and maybe even more often than that) due to grief, estrangement, or just a difficult season of life. You are not alone. You are loved. You are seen ❣️May God pour out his numerous blessings on you and yours today 💕

I have this cute (okay, not so cute) habit of ruminating on situations and working my mind into a big frazzled knot. 🫠 My brain and my heart just will not let it go. It usually ends in tears and shame. I have struggled with this over the years at varying degrees.

Unfortunately, I sympathize with Paul in Romans 7:15 where he said "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”

It’s all too easy to tell God about it, get temporary relief, but keep ahold of it, ya know… just in case. I admit, I may be a teeny bit of a control freak 😬😅

But in all seriousness, this boils down to a trust issue. Do I trust God with my pain? Do I trust Him to not make a mess of my life? (By the way…God doesn’t make messes- he just cleans them up.) Do I trust him to give me peace despite my circumstances?

Or am I seeking to be my own peace? If I am, I am seeking a counterfeit peace.
It will not last, it isn’t reliable, and it relies on a very inconsistent source: myself.

I need to continue to learn to meditate on the Word of God and rehearse that in my mind, instead of rehearsing anxiety and trying to unravel the uncertainty of my future- something I have no control over.

Who am I trusting to provide for my soul? Am I leaning on my own understanding or am I seeking His peace?

Jehovah Jireh.
I just need to let Him!

“Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 34:14

Jesus sits and holds the heartbroken mother, the neglected widow, the abused daughter, the grief-stricken friend, the shattered divorcee, and the anxiety-ridden sister. He cheers with the woman who sees two pink lines, the newlywed, the college graduate, the teacher, the marathon runner, and the female CEO. Jesus rejoices and weeps with each of those and every other woman He created... and He celebrates who He created us to be as we put our best foot forward in a broken world that has not always treated women as it should (and still doesn't at times.) Jesus is the ultimate advocate, for women and men alike. You have only to lay your burden down at His feet.

Do you ever struggle with this?
You and me both.
So, just in case you need to hear it...
You. Belong. Here.
You have a seat at this table... at His table.

God can do wonderous things through you.
Don't grow weary, and don't give up.

Romans 8:28
2 Timothy 4:8

I love you.

Like many people, every year I choose a word to focus on and strive towards for the next twelve months. This year, the word that seemed necessary was
Simplify.
It seems like I am perpetually
Overbooked.
Overcommitted.
Overworked...
and as a result, I am exceedingly
Overwhelmed.
And that is on me.
I have a hard time setting boundaries, and a book I finished just as we rang in the New Year influenced me as I set my one word.

I am not like God in his timelessness. I am not infinite. I am human, and I AM bound by time.
I NEED rest.
I NEED to respect the boundary that God has placed on my body.

I have to tell myself that it is not lazy to take a break. It is not lazy to need a day off. If I am to redeem the time, I must first own up to the fact that I have spent it foolishly, trying to overspend a resource that I have no control to alter. When I say yes to everything (even if they are all good things) I leave no space to breathe and meditate. I leave no space for my family (my closest and most prioritized ministry as a wife and mother), and I leave no space for my mind to grow.

The point is, I need to learn to simplify the things in my life so that I can carve out time for what glorifies God in my schedule. Me overbooking myself does not glorify God.

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. "
Ephesians 4:15-17

I plan to take time to stop and rest in His word, His goodness, His love, and His promises this year. I hope you will, too.

New year. New name. New goals.

I love the simplicity of this verse. I want Jesus to be able to say this about me at the end of my life "...she has done what she could..."

I'm praying that 2023 is the year I finally step outside of my comfort zone and share what is on my heart and mind.
I hope you will join me.