Category Archives: Five minute Friday

Able to Endure ~ some honesty and FMF writing prompt link up

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So…yesterday our state announced they are pushing back the school start date to the week of Aug 24. We were to go back Aug 13.

I might have cried a little.

School was a light at the end of this Covid tunnel for me. A place where chaos can end and normalcy begin again. A time to “get it together” and for everyone to be on a schedule and routine.

One lie I believe, although there is some truth to it, is that I can’t get anything done with all 3 kids in the house (or anywhere near the house). A statement I read last week by a fellow mom blogger resonated so well with me, “Everything I do gets undone.” Yes. That is it in a nutshell.

I also get easily overwhelmed at all I am to be doing with my children– are they drinking enough water every day? (no) Are they eating a good balanced diet? (not always) Did they take their vitamins today? (maybe) Oops did I even feed them breakfast? (mostly) Did they clean their rooms? (nope) Brush their teeth? (there’s always tomorrow) Get off devices? (nope)

Also, maybe if they aren’t here all the time I won’t feel like I’m failing in so many ways.

AHHH.

It’s just all so much sometimes.  Somedays I feel the pressure more than others and want to find a dark corner in the house and hide. (anyone else!??)

I’ve learned of myself, I’m not as consistently self-disciplined or motivated as I want to be and crave the routine and structure the school year brings. But I’ve also learned that I am looking to something else- school- to help me “get it together” and feel normal and in some sort of control.

All these things I’m craving- calm, joy, peace, control, consistency, normal, etc…can be found only in the Lord and Him working in my heart. Nothing else.

He can and will help me create calm, normal and routine in my own home. He will help me endure when all I want to do is not. He will help me set boundaries that are different with each child and say NO instead of this famous “whatever” I’ve had going on for a few months. He will help me care when I don’t feel like I do. He will help me lower my expectations of myself, this time, this world, my kids and my husband.

He is the One. The Answer, the Help, the Hope I need to endure and persevere no matter when we go back to school.

Father God, forgive me of my many weaknesses but thank You for big spaces for You to move and work in my life and my home. May I look to You and nothing else for calm, consistency, routine…may your Holy Spirit equip me to do as You’ve called Your children to do– endure no matter what. May my yes be yes and my no be no. All things through Your Son, Jesus. In His name I pray, AMEN!

What a Relief

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Relief: a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.

Everyday I mess up as a mom. And everyday I am given grace.

What a relief.

Everyday I need something other than myself to help me. Everyday I ask, seek and surrender I am given the Holy Spirit’s help.

What a relief.

Everyday I get it wrong, say the wrong things or think unpleasant thoughts. Everyday I confess I am forgiven.

What a relief.

His death on the cross and resurrection sealed our fate as believers. Eternity with Him.

What a relief.

The words he left behind and how to live this life.

What a relief.

Yes, what a relief it is to have such a God! To send His one and only Son to die for us, to raise Him for us, to send His Spirit to help us, to give us the Bible to guide us. To give us access to Our Great Creator through prayer.

What a great relief it is.

Are we living in this relief today or merely going our own way?

Lord, help us to know these truths and live them out everyday. Thank You for paying the price for our sins and for granting us eternal life, your Spirit and your Word. You have truly given us everything we need to pursue life and godliness this side of our eternal home. What a relief. I love you. In your Son’s saving name, amen.

Motherhood ~ A Living Sacrifice

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We live in a world where self is so important. Self confidence, self sufficiency, self care, self before all else, etc… all so relevant but yet quite contrary to the gospel of Christ.

Yes, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, paying the price for our sins, but over and over in scripture we see the proper place for ourselves and that is last.

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

“Therefore, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God…” Romans 12:1

Motherhood is a high calling of putting ourselves last, of putting our children, our blessings from above, before our wants and needs. Of dying to ourselves and thinking of them first. Everyday we have choice to sacrifice ourselves for the good of our family. We can prayerfully consider how we can deny ourselves in certain situations and go God’s way.

For me, dying to myself as a mom means missing out on events that cut into my family time. It means saying, “No” a lot to others. It also means dying to my desire for control, dying to yelling (such a struggle sometimes!) and putting down my phone (another struggle!). It also means putting my selfish desire to hurry up with bedtime so I can read a book or watch TV aside so I can read, pray and visit with each child. It also means to quit wishing this season away because it is often so hard, chaotic and exhausting.

It’s a continual death and one we will never quite master, but with the Lord’s help, we can do it better, we can be less selfish, we can be more like Christ.

Just as motherhood is a high calling, so is following Christ and we have a choice- sacrifice or self? What will we choose today? Where can we deny ourselves and put others needs truly above our own? How can we present our bodies to Him today to be living sacrifices for Him?

Father God, you are so gracious in all things- THANK YOU. I praise you for the blessing of motherhood. I pray we don’t take it lightly and we allow You to show us our selfishness so we can sacrifice instead. Help us to put our children and families before our own wants and desires. Help us to cherish the moments with our children and not wish for a different season. Thank you for being our ultimate sacrifice and paying the price for us. You are a good, good Father. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

DIRECTION

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img_7614Several times a day, shuffling the kids to school and activities, I am faced with an intersection that has three different paths I can take, all leading to different areas of town. Because it changes based on my destination, almost every time I get to this place, I have to remind myself which way I need to go. I have to think, “Where am I going?” “Which way do I go right now?” I can leave my house, knowing where I am going, but once faced with this intersection, I have to remind myself the direction I am going so I don’t take a wrong turn.

Whether you turn to the right of the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

As Christians, when we choose to follow the Lord, it’s a once and for all decision but also everyday decision to go HIS way and not our own.  Thankfully, we have His Spirit to help us, telling us the way in which we should go.

So today we can ask ourselves, Where am I going? Am I going with the Lord today? In that specific situation where we may be at a loss as to what to do or how to proceed in love, ask the Lord which way you should go…HE will point us in the direction of HIM, He will tell us, “This is the way, walk in it.” 

God’s way is never wrong. God’s way is not always easy. God’s way is normally against the flow of the world and even our own desires. God’s way is always love, forgiveness and grace. God’s way is best found in the pages of His Word.

Heavenly father, so many directions we can go in one day. May we not only take you with us, but may we let You guide us. You, the only One that can set our feet on solid ground. You, the only One who can help us take the direction of love, grace and forgiveness when we get to the messy intersections of life. You long to see Your children walking in the freedom that comes with a deep relationship with You- thank You for pursuing us with your never-stopping love and grace. Thank You for Your faithful patience. I praise you for granting us your continual presence, Your help, and Your voice when we seek You. I pray we all know You through Your Word and choose walk with you today. In Jesus name, AMEN.

W O R L D ~ Five Minute Friday

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God created the world and everything in it;

But how often we look to this world to fulfill us.

To fill this hole inside our souls

An aching to belong and to be known.

When we already are so known, so loved by our Creator.

How often we miss it because this world distracts.

It vies for our attention but leaves us in lack.

Of the goodness and grace of the Father above

Of forgiveness and kindness, gentleness and love.

This world is a world in which sin gets its way

It destroys and deceives and ruins our stay.

But hope has a name, it’s Jesus Christ

None can compare. None can compete.

With the healing, freedom and wholeness He brings

to His children, surrendered, fallen on our knees.

Giving it up to Him this place in our souls

Granting the Maker complete control

One with the world or one with God?

It’s one or the other- which way do we fall?