With each new dawn, comes an invitation to be a better version of yourself than you were the day before. Each day is filled with beauty, wonder, mess, madness, and enough grace to cover a multitude of sin. That old adage, everything looks better in the morning, may not, it turns out, be true. It may not look better, but it is your chance to do better.
Of this I am certain: we will live and we will die. All the breathing that is done between those breaths will likely build up and tear down. . .on a day to day basis. This is life. Offenses that offend, slips of the tongue, attitude adjustments, tone of voice needing to be taken down a notch all in the course of the first hour of our feet hitting the floor! All of these infractions causing a slow death of self over the course of a long, sometimes very long day.
But God. It is only when we lean in to the pain, we heed our Father's voice, we ignore the critiques or criticisms of others, we trust that where we are right now is exactly where we need to be. . .only then, can we view the dawning of a new day as an opportunity to do better. To be better. We can rest knowing He directs our paths. He holds us in the palm of His hand. He is cheering us on to complete another day, no matter how good we handle it or how badly we blow it. He already knows tomorrow is a new day filled with unlimited opportunity. . .to do better. To be better.
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.--Hebrews 4:16
Whatever you're going through right now, before you even open your eyes from slumber, pray that God would help you be the best version of yourself for today. Pray that you would feel his mercy and grace cover you, as soft as your favorite blanket. Only then, get up out of that bed to face today with a confidence that you've got this. You and Him are a team and together you can do anything!
Showing posts with label Invitation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Invitation. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
A Silent Invitation
It sits on an antique checker table owned by my great aunt beside my comfy faux leather recliner. Some days it is on the bottom of a stack forgotten by other books I'm reading. Too many times it goes unopened as my cell phone houses my daily devotions and one year bible reading plan. Yet, when all is tidy, books put in their proper place, it clearly sits there with a silent invitation. Come here, open me. Let me speak love, wisdom, and truth into your day. Let me inspire, motivate, give you hope and a future.
The bible beckons all of us. No matter the day, the circumstances, the weather. . .a bible is that silent invitation that serves to entice us into a relational world with our Father. I've found God has a tendency to speak loudest in the silence. . .to be doing the most work in the gaps. He has this way of directing what I need to hear with what I read when I flip open to see how He will speak to me just because. It's a bible roulette, so to speak. Tell me I'm not the only one who plays this way!
We are all waiting for that next invitation to be included, to celebrate, to interact with friends or family, to be engaged with a community for a common purpose. But God. His invitation is a silent one. It comes in the form of His book, the bible. It is just waiting to speak to you whether it is in the middle of your mess and chaos, or in the center of jubilant times where all is well. He is there.
I'm a word girl. I might not be the word girl who knows bible verses verbatim, but I am the girl who knows where to go to find the words I need. Today I'm vocalizing the silent invitation. I'm inviting you to crack your bible open and see what He speaks into your heart and soul. It might just change you forever for good, but it starts with an invitation. Consider yourself invited!
The bible beckons all of us. No matter the day, the circumstances, the weather. . .a bible is that silent invitation that serves to entice us into a relational world with our Father. I've found God has a tendency to speak loudest in the silence. . .to be doing the most work in the gaps. He has this way of directing what I need to hear with what I read when I flip open to see how He will speak to me just because. It's a bible roulette, so to speak. Tell me I'm not the only one who plays this way!
We are all waiting for that next invitation to be included, to celebrate, to interact with friends or family, to be engaged with a community for a common purpose. But God. His invitation is a silent one. It comes in the form of His book, the bible. It is just waiting to speak to you whether it is in the middle of your mess and chaos, or in the center of jubilant times where all is well. He is there.
I'm a word girl. I might not be the word girl who knows bible verses verbatim, but I am the girl who knows where to go to find the words I need. Today I'm vocalizing the silent invitation. I'm inviting you to crack your bible open and see what He speaks into your heart and soul. It might just change you forever for good, but it starts with an invitation. Consider yourself invited!
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Mom Hearts Matter
This weekend history repeated itself and found me at a Mom Heart Conference. . .solo. It's ironic that I was alone as this is the last year of this type of conference, so I finished exactly the same way I started.
Not much has changed in the past five years as far as stepping out of my comfort zone when it came to being alone. I wasn't a fan of the idea, but I was obedient and went even when my babysitting fell apart and my husband had to work. I knew I was supposed to be there even though it may have been easier not to go. But everything has changed in terms of how I mother, and my ideals and standards for my kids. This night away filled me up, inspired me, and reminded me that I am not alone in my ideals. I may have not known anyone but I was supported by over 300 women who have similar values and ideals when it comes to creating a Life Giving Home. In my absence of company, I was reminded of so many truths that I needed to hear again:
Over the course of the last five years, I have led book studies in my home thanks to Sally Clarkson's mentorship. I have become a co-leader of the Mom"s group at our church. I never for a second saw that coming. I'm able to use what I've learned at conferences and through Sally's books to educate, inspire, and lead in my own way. Five years ago I entered that conference alone and I walked out to go on to create a community of support for moms simply because Sally gave us an invitation to go and spread her message. I simply invited women into my home. It was that easy. One never knows what words will land on fertile soil. I am grateful for the years of messages Sally has spoken. I am thankful I found her on an internet that is so vast! Five years ago a shift occurred in my parenting, my view of my role as mom, and my children's lives have changed for the better because of this shift.
Our family doesn't look like hers: it's not supposed to. It's our version of our own story we are co-authoring. It's a story that has eraser marks and revisions. It is a total work in progress, but I am sure it will be the best book ever written...because my kids are the best story I have ever written. It's as messy as it is beautiful. It's ours.
By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
Not much has changed in the past five years as far as stepping out of my comfort zone when it came to being alone. I wasn't a fan of the idea, but I was obedient and went even when my babysitting fell apart and my husband had to work. I knew I was supposed to be there even though it may have been easier not to go. But everything has changed in terms of how I mother, and my ideals and standards for my kids. This night away filled me up, inspired me, and reminded me that I am not alone in my ideals. I may have not known anyone but I was supported by over 300 women who have similar values and ideals when it comes to creating a Life Giving Home. In my absence of company, I was reminded of so many truths that I needed to hear again:
- You can't accomplish anything of value without investing greatly.
- Decide before your darkest time to be faithful through your darkest time.
- My home is my glory. It is a refuge in time of storm. It is a light post of love and beauty.
- Pass on the message you want to live.
- Teach our kids the habit of: working, taking initiative, and stepping out in faith.
- Order our life with what I want them to embrace.
- Trust God to do more than I can do.
- Kids will make mistakes that don't define their lives any more than it defines mine.
- Give my kids the freedom to be whom they are meant to be.
- My investment in eternity will always matter.
Over the course of the last five years, I have led book studies in my home thanks to Sally Clarkson's mentorship. I have become a co-leader of the Mom"s group at our church. I never for a second saw that coming. I'm able to use what I've learned at conferences and through Sally's books to educate, inspire, and lead in my own way. Five years ago I entered that conference alone and I walked out to go on to create a community of support for moms simply because Sally gave us an invitation to go and spread her message. I simply invited women into my home. It was that easy. One never knows what words will land on fertile soil. I am grateful for the years of messages Sally has spoken. I am thankful I found her on an internet that is so vast! Five years ago a shift occurred in my parenting, my view of my role as mom, and my children's lives have changed for the better because of this shift.
Our family doesn't look like hers: it's not supposed to. It's our version of our own story we are co-authoring. It's a story that has eraser marks and revisions. It is a total work in progress, but I am sure it will be the best book ever written...because my kids are the best story I have ever written. It's as messy as it is beautiful. It's ours.
By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.--Proverbs 24:3
With all precious and pleasant riches.--Proverbs 24:3
Friday, January 29, 2016
Your Invitation Matters
I watched my tween expand her wings some this week. I've encouraged her to go to the youth group at church for awhile now, but I don't push it. If I've learned anything in these 40 years it's relationship over religion. More than anything I want my kids to develop their own personal relationship with God. That won't happen better or faster if I constantly force religious type activities. Youth group falls under that list.
But as God would have it, a few weeks ago I dropped off our Mom Group book to a mom who has recently moved to the area and had baby #7. We enjoyed a visit while I was there and found out our girls do somewhat know each other at their public school. This particular mom talked about youth group and her daughter's involvement, she encouraged me to tell my daughter to try it. So of course I brought that up when I tucked her in that night. She looked skeptically at me. Now at least she knew someone, I suggested--she didn't agree or disagree. As is my nature on this topic, I didn't push.
After some minor friend hurt at school this week, she told me she thought maybe she should try out that youth group thing. I smiled and said I'd look into it so I made arrangements that she could attend. As luck would have it, the one girl she knew happened to go home sick the day before the meeting. She asked me if I might text her mom to see how she was feeling. . .and if she was going to youth group. I didn't have a chance between pickups and volleyball. So as the hour approached she nervously wavered whether or not she would go. Ultimately she did.
God met her there. She found a new community of peers with a similar belief system where she felt she belonged. The drama that had dragged her down earlier in the week was forgotten as she excitedly recounted what they had learned and talked about. She was bursting with energy and enthusiasm and I couldn't help but smile and feel my heart grow with appreciation for something that I've prayed about for a long time now. At twelve, my daughter is on the cusp of discovering who Jesus is to her. It is here that the foundation we've laid can deepen because of her own beliefs about who her God is. That is both exciting and terrifying to me!
She is growing up. The day after the meeting she accepted the girl's apology who had hurt her feelings. She forgave her. She marked her calendar for the next youth group date. And all I did was watch from the sidelines. She was figuring the hard stuff out on her own.
I realized it doesn't matter if you're 5, 12, 20, or 40. . .an invitation from someone you know to do some new thing or go to a new place is softened when it starts with an invite. My tween tried something new because just the thought of a familiar face comforted and intrigued her. She will go back because the group encouraged and asked her to. Invitations are always nice to receive and one never knows what treasures will result from accepting the invite. Who might you offer an invitation to today?
But as God would have it, a few weeks ago I dropped off our Mom Group book to a mom who has recently moved to the area and had baby #7. We enjoyed a visit while I was there and found out our girls do somewhat know each other at their public school. This particular mom talked about youth group and her daughter's involvement, she encouraged me to tell my daughter to try it. So of course I brought that up when I tucked her in that night. She looked skeptically at me. Now at least she knew someone, I suggested--she didn't agree or disagree. As is my nature on this topic, I didn't push.
After some minor friend hurt at school this week, she told me she thought maybe she should try out that youth group thing. I smiled and said I'd look into it so I made arrangements that she could attend. As luck would have it, the one girl she knew happened to go home sick the day before the meeting. She asked me if I might text her mom to see how she was feeling. . .and if she was going to youth group. I didn't have a chance between pickups and volleyball. So as the hour approached she nervously wavered whether or not she would go. Ultimately she did.
God met her there. She found a new community of peers with a similar belief system where she felt she belonged. The drama that had dragged her down earlier in the week was forgotten as she excitedly recounted what they had learned and talked about. She was bursting with energy and enthusiasm and I couldn't help but smile and feel my heart grow with appreciation for something that I've prayed about for a long time now. At twelve, my daughter is on the cusp of discovering who Jesus is to her. It is here that the foundation we've laid can deepen because of her own beliefs about who her God is. That is both exciting and terrifying to me!
She is growing up. The day after the meeting she accepted the girl's apology who had hurt her feelings. She forgave her. She marked her calendar for the next youth group date. And all I did was watch from the sidelines. She was figuring the hard stuff out on her own.
I realized it doesn't matter if you're 5, 12, 20, or 40. . .an invitation from someone you know to do some new thing or go to a new place is softened when it starts with an invite. My tween tried something new because just the thought of a familiar face comforted and intrigued her. She will go back because the group encouraged and asked her to. Invitations are always nice to receive and one never knows what treasures will result from accepting the invite. Who might you offer an invitation to today?
Monday, January 25, 2016
Day Dreamer
Sometimes I'm in awe of dreamers my age. I'm in even more awe as I watch and listen to the dreams of my children around the dinner table or after they've been tucked in at night. Their dreams are so big and crazy and a little bit impractical perhaps, but they voice them aloud as if they might actually take flight. They believe in their spoken words. They believe that the dream has the potential to be reached if they work hard and it is God's plan for their life. Their dreams have no boundaries. They are limitless. Their dreams are simply magic.
Yet, here I sit seeking some kind of direction for this next phase of life. If I allow myself to really dream big, there is this whisper called wisdom that sneaks into my reverie and pulls me out of the clouds. There are all of these reasons why my dream might not "work." The red tape, the season of life we're in, the lack of connections, resources, etcetera, etcetera. I just want that voice to be silenced. I want those moments of full fletched dreaming big no matter how far fetched and out of this world dreams may be. Because with God anything is possible.
Isn't this the lesson we've inundated our children with? Aren't there bible verses that support this truth?
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."Matthew 19:26
For with God nothing shall be impossible.--Luke 1:37
And of course, Bubba's life verse: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.--Philipians 4:13
If I believe these to be true, why not allow myself to dream outside the box? The magic of a moment will be better than not having experienced it at all. Maybe a dream is like a seed. It has to be planted and watered to bear a bloom or fruit. Perhaps nothing can develop of a dream if it is simply buried in the recesses of the mind, or saved for another time in our life that might better suit it. Perhaps the dream alone is the best part of the process. It is in this stage that we can imagine, explore, build, design and let our imaginations run wild with possibility. The dream might just be enough. . .even if nothing ever comes from it.
Dreams. I'm in the middle of living the best one I have physically ever birthed. However, the dreams that reside in the recesses of my mind are bursting with possibility and potential. It's time I invite them out to play, even if it's only for a day trip. It's time.
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