My Walk Is Not Your Walk

Your life is  unique. Created and planned out according to His will. And what others say you should be, may not be what He wants you to be. For you are apart of His plan, not theirs.

I've seen people of all walks of life and have been tempted to judge and criticize and to be honest I have judged and put them under a microscope......And at times I believe I have all the answers when in reality I have no clue.

My walk is not your walk. I believe I have been called to be a stay at home Mama to 5 precious beings. To homeschool and serve my family to the best of my ability. To love and adore the man that God has given me. And I will not force my walk on any one but, I'm here to give advice and to let you know what has worked for us. And please know you are free to pick and choose what advice you believe to be the best for you.....And I understand that you may not agree with me at all, but I'm good with that. I understand. I'm not the one you should be turning to anyway......I just want you to know I am here for you and this is my walk that God has chosen for me.

I'm a believer that children are a true blessing from our almighty God and they should be cherished and loved and not looked upon as a chore or something that has gotten in your way and complicated your life.  I believe if you ask God to give you a heart for children and you are faithful to Him, He will go above and beyond your expectations.

My walk is not your walk. But I believe that if you have made the decision to have children and God has chosen to graciously bless you with children, then you are called to give it your all. Because those precious souls need nurturing, attention, guidance and care. They were placed in your hands not someone else's. Which means SACRIFICE on your part.

I am most passionate about the God who sent His one and only sacrifice......I believe He is the one that ultimately gives my family and I GRACE everyday. I believe the closer your walk with Him the more you will hear His plan for you and how quickly your plans will fade away.

In my walk with God I have heard Him speak to me conveying His plan in only ways that He can. I have learned that Judging someone else's life and comparing their walk with yours could be devastating to you, to them. He has a purpose in the walk He has chosen to give you. The only way you will find His path for you is to dig deep into His living word. Everything you need to know about living this life is right there written in black and red. You have questions? Do you want to know what His plan is for you? Read His love letter and BE STILL AND KNOW HE IS GOD......

Eight Ways To Redeem Your Time

I write this not because I'm a perfect time keeper but, because I also need to be reminded of how often I let the thieves in to steal my/His precious time!

1. Rise with the Son. Before your feet hit the floor, may your first thought be of Him. Ask Him; How can you be a good and faithful servant Today? And then get dressed and make your bed!

2. Be aware of the time thieves.  How are you spending your time? Take note of all the things that rob you of your real purpose. Ask Him to reveal the things that keep you from having peace.

3. Jot things down. Write what you need to accomplish. Make a list for each day and then cross it off when your finished. It feels good to have a visual of what you have done.

4. Remember who your really serving. Remember your JOY! Serve as though He is right there sitting at the kitchen table with you. Because He is.....He is right there with you!

5. Remember your Blessings.....Count your Blessings one by one. Count them as if it were your last day here on this side of heaven.......

6. And then be thankful....Come to the table with a thankful heart.

7. Clean your kitchen before you go to bed. Wipe the counters, clean your sinks and sweep the floor. Your day seems so much better when you start with a clean kitchen!

8. Don't go to sleep with out talking to Him and telling Him about your day. Have Him search your heart to prepare you for tomorrow.......

Blessings to you today.

Hands and Feet

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going......Ecclesiastes 9:10

We are here for His purpose. His Glory. We are His creation. The work of His hands. And shouldn't we be thankful to the one who gave us life. A gift that can't be out given........Reminding myself often that idle hands are the devil's captives. Reminding myself that what ever I do I am to do with all my might. It is Him I want to serve....Him I want to please.............Because of Him these hands are washed in GRACE........

I watch her feet and her hands as she moves and I want to tell her, I want to show her......

How Beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation. Isaiah 52:7

And this is what I want her to see in my life. I want her to see that I wasn't afraid. I didn't hold back. I worked with these hands in JOY and in LOVE. I served with a glad heart. I walked upon Mountains singing praises of good news.......

And when they find me in the valleys of this life, they find me on my knees looking up. I want them to see my strength wasn't my strength at all, But His........

I am the clay, He is the potter.........I am the work of thy hand.........

He is always In Your Midst

When ever your in doubt and your feeling all alone ......The lord your God is in your midst,
When ever you feel you have fallen from His GRACE...... The Mighty One will save,
When ever you walk in the light of His path..... He will rejoice over you with gladness,
When your life gets loud and you can't seem to get one thought straight...... He will quiet you with His LOVE,
And when you realize you can't live this life with out HIM....... He will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

You can take all the love of this world and it still wouldn't be GREATER, It never will compare, to the LOVE He has GIVEN.....His SON.

Swimming in a Fish Bowl

I haven't always been so transparent. Never wanted my life to be viewed as though I lived in a fish bowl. And yet to be REAL, sometimes you have to swim like a fish....

I tap these words just so you know that I have those days when I struggle at being His child. When my commitment to being their Mama is weak. And no, I'm not even close to being perfect. As much as I show the good in my life I want you to also to see the not so good.....

I want you to see my blurry days right along with my crystal clear days. I want you to know I'm still learning and I'll never stop. I'll never have all the answers but, if you give me a moment or two I will take the time to discover truth. And my fish bowl needs cleaning just like everyone else's. And there are many times it just doesn't get done.

This lovely mess was left over from last night......Waking up to this does not start my day off right but, waking up, talking to Him does.

You may look the world over but you will never find one......no not one who has it all just right. Even the perfectionist, the one that always has the dishes done and the counters wiped. Some where in the corners behind the furniture or tucked away deep in their closet you will find imperfection. And can I just say that many times being a perfectionist is not all it's cracked up to be.....There is heart ache in being wrapped in having things just so.......

So you see I have to be honest. That's what He is calling me to do. He wants you to know that we all mess up. It's knowing in the mess ups that we need HIM. Oh you can live life without Him, if you so choose........

But I need someone to save me from myself and He is the only ONE who can. I need my SAVIOR.

So as I give you a glimpse into my fish bowl from time to time....Just know I always want to be real to show you that I need HIM.

Don't Let The Sun Go Down

I make the phone call ......just like I do every night around the same time. "Come on!" and I hear an "okay" on the other end. Not too long after, they all come filing in. One by one, they wash their hands and then race to pour their tea. My man, his tea has already been poured.

And this is who I am......This is what I do. This is how I love. We all sit down, one child says GRACE and we break bread. I breathe in deep and take in life. Silently watching all who sit around the wooden circle laden with food. And this is our meeting place when the day draws near to a close. This is where laughter, talking and venting takes place. This is where we go through each other's day.

It's a known fact that when families sit together, eat together, communicate with each other.......They stay together. Close together. And they become strong. A house becomes a home when love is the foundation.......And God is LOVE.

It's so easy to let walls go up. A growing family, a close knit family needs an open floor plan. One where they can be together and not separated by stubborn walls.....and slammed doors........

I grew up in a family that said what was on their mind. If someone was hurt, we were taught to speak it. If someone was angry, we vented and not to any one but the person we had the conflict with. Gossip spreads rapid and rumors run deep when others are involved that shouldn't be.......And these words they ring in my ears to this day...My Daddy would always tell me. "Sweetie Pie, don't ever go to bed or say goodbye when your angry. You never know what tomorrow will bring."

And it wasn't til much later in my life that I found those very words written by my heavenly Daddy......

"Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry." Ephesians 4:26

Wisdom comes when you ask.....when your open to it. If your trying to tare down walls and open doors, don't give up.  Your  perseverance will be blessed beyond measure. If there is one thing I have learned....One thing that I know well, it is this: Communication is the heart and soul of any relationship. Without it you have BROKENNESS, HURT, ANGER, FRUSTRATION, and ultimately it could sever the ties.

Family is worth fighting for. Love is worth saving. Relationships are worth mending!

Please Don't let the sun go down another day without trying again.........

Content

Not that I speak in regard  to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am in, to be content. Philippians 4:11

I heard the shattering break. I ran, scared straight to the noise of the broken glass. She was only out of sight for a moment but, a moment is all it takes.......

I met her half way. She looks up at me with those baby blues, trying so hard to tell me. But she is still so young and the words, they just won't form. I scoop her up and she points to the pantry.

And there on the floor, a pretty crimson red. I couldn't get upset. She has seen me come in here to get the grape juice she loves to drink. And in her little heart all she wanted to do is to help her Mama. Help me make the juice. I put her down, give her a hug and let her know it's okay. Then I go to the task of cleaning up the broken mess.

It surely could have been worse. It could have been her crimson red on the floor. As I sop up what has soaked in the creases, I give thanks. Yes, even in this mess, I give thanks. It's the crimson red that poured out all those years ago. The same red that has washed me white. And to see this I can't help but think it.....I can't help but see GRACE written in RED.

I can't help but, to be Thankful. I can't help but, to receive GRACE wrapped in Crimson Red. I can't help but, to extend GRACE. As these years go speeding past I am learning.....I am coming to a place where I am not struggling so much with being content in the state I'm in. I have opened up and swallowed grace. I have received JOY and He consumes my heart. 

Content means: Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; Satisfaction which holds the mind in peace. Restraining complaint and opposition.

You are where you are suppose to be at this point in time. It's up to you how you handle your state of being..........I choose contentment. I choose Peace........

I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13

Your Not Alone, I've Been Where You Are......

I've often wondered if I'm ever all alone. Do I walk this journey alone? This Mama Journey......and I worry if I've done or said something to harm the shelter of their heart. Am I doing enough? Am I doing this right? And the feelings that I feel, am I the only one? That desolate feeling of absolute failure. Because when my first born son came into this world, there wasn't a manual that came with him all wrapped in ribbon. Only that "Mama instinct" that seem to consume every part of my soul and fill all of my senses. But even then I still needed to know that what I was feeling, going through, that all of this craziness of life, with me wrapped up in it..... I still needed to know there was someone out there riding the same roller coaster as I.

One sweet young Mama called today, wanting my advise. And I'm not sure if I were much help or if my words of so called "wisdom" can help her through the busy two's......There was one thing I did leave her with. One thing I could say......."Your not alone, I've been where you are, and you can do this. You will get through. And don't blink, because you will wonder what all the fuss was about all those years ago."

Another Mama friend flies me an email, wanting prayer. Her life is crazy busy and things just aren't the way they should be and could I please pray for peace. I fly one back and tell her "I'm on it, sweet friend." I take that moment and I lift her up. And as I do I wonder if she could feel.....If she could feel the peace hanging on a cloud up above.

Another Mama friend has two sick babies....so worn out and exhausted. Wanting to rock them, but She's been rocking all day and it looks like it's gonna be another long night. And all I can do is tell her I'm sorry.....I'll pray. And I hope she knows she is not alone. I've been there before and I'll be there again. But knowing I don't walk this journey alone brings a peace to the exhaustion. And don't we always seem to find ourselves on the other side  eventually........

I get a phone call from one I seem to share a lot in common with....A Mama I enjoy talking to. Her friendship is a comfortable one....."I just need to hear a happy voice."  I laugh cause I know where she's coming from. I've been where she is five times now. And I share with her, how one Sunday swollen with my fifth child, my emotions were high and ran wild...The woman that my man knew, seem to have checked out...left the building....I scared my kids and I ran into my room and slam the door......But I got through...we all got through it together. And by the end of the phone call I could hear the tone of her voice a little lighter than before. I tell her to call back when the baby blues start kicking again. She laughs and thanks me for my time.....

And today it is my turn to be the one that has been there before......To be there for my Mama friends. to let them know they are not walking this journey alone. And no matter how many days go right, the wrong ones are bound to come your way too....I'm not sure how long they will last, but please know we are in this together. Because today you needed me.....But tomorrow I may need YOU!

He knows your heart, He hears your soul. He's always with you

Keeping my Mama friends tucked sweetly in prayer tonight..................

Who Am I, That I Should Go?

HE may not come to you in flames all a glow, a constant burn, but never burning, never consuming......If you are His child you can be certain He is calling you.......calling me.

And when He calls will I say  "Lord here I am." Or will I be like Moses and ask "But Lord who am I, that I should go?" Exodus 3:11

I have often turned the other way when I know I should of stayed. I've often stayed still when He has told me to move.....I don't want to be just another soul taking up valuable time and space.

But God told Moses, "I will be with you. And this will be a sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." Exodus 3:12

Now more than ever, I am in Prayer to be aware of my little burning tree. I believe every child of God has one, a little burning tree all their own. The kind that's just for them and no one else. I'm in prayer to boldly  follow,  lean on, hold tight to, listen that I may hear. Be Brave, Be Strong, Be His and not ask "But Lord who am I that I should go?"

And when they ask me 'what is his name?'
And then God said to Moses, "I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say: 'I AM has sent me to you.' " This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. Exodus 3:15

I am convinced that when you fill your heart, when your heart bleeds for someone in need, when you follow His lead you won't have time for the self pity and drowning doubt. You'll see beyond the box you have put yourself in. You won't have time for the "what about me?" moments.

You will begin to see so much more clearly. You will witness the hand of God more often. You will be involved, be a part of His Amazing plan and be filled with the Bread of Life, The Great I AM. Come to the water, you who thirst and you'll thirst no more........... And I will worship God on this very Mountain!

I'm not just another soul....I am God's child and I was made for so much more than to waste His valuable time and just take up space!