Out Sick

So, I am not sick but the bug has hit my house and I am feeling overwhelmed and tired. My working out has gone out the window. My tidy clean house is now nonexistent. Yet some how I have found peace in this chaos. I am learning that this little things don't need to push me over the edge. These little things I would have normally gone off on are no longer holding me hostage. It is a refreshing feeling yet at the same time I haven't had enough time to blog and that is a huge bummer to me... I haven't had time to catch up on others posts. So, I am taking a sick week and not going to try to get everything done all at once. I hope and pray you all have a fabulous week. For those with sick family members I pray they get well soon.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.-Psalm 31:24

Lovingly,

Renewed

The freest woman in the world is the one who has an open heart, a broken spirit and a new direction to travel. It is time to come out of hiding and step into healing. - Deeper by Debbie Alsdorf

Coming out of hiding can be difficult because it may expose your vulnerabilities and struggles in life. I have caught myself editing my thoughts, actions and words so many times in life so not to hurt any one's feelings. As my faith has grown stronger and I have had to deal with certain areas of my life I have been slowly learning to lift the vial and expose certain things.... not to hurt anyone but to heal my heart.

Why are we so worried about what others will think about us?

Acceptance can be a huge struggle for anyone especially anyone who has ever felt rejection or has felt like they didn't belong. Being accepted makes us feel validated and sometimes loved. There was a period of my life in which I would make up things about myself and my life because I thought that is what I needed to do to be accepted. It wasn't until I began to realize I wanted more out of my life that I was able to stop and get real with myself.

No matter what we do or say there will always be people who don't like us or accept us. I have never felt more rejected or attacked since I have become a christian. We have to remember the more we SHINE for Him and the more He transforms our lives & the more we will be attacked... this is why we need to stay firm in His word and in our walks with Him.

As I begin to share my brokenness I am learning I am able to actually work through my feelings, grow from those experiences and eventually let them go. The healing process can be difficult yet it is rewarding at the same time. This past year has been an amazing growing experience for me and in hopes of continued success in being transparent my plan is to focus on His word and promises instead of focusing on the world.

I am amazed at how he uses our pain to help others heal. Debbie's book Deeper was an amazing journey that I am glad I embarked on. I will always remember "to live like it is real because it is!" and each and every morning I pray to be His "everyday vessel" because that is what He calls us to do.

May we all learn to go deeper with our walk and journey through life. May we all learn to let go of those deep dark pains that seem to continually creep up in our lives. May we all learn to look to Him and no one else especially in times of doubt, shame and pain. Lord, thank you for loving us enough to give us chance after chance to start again.

Renewed by His grace,

On Her Knees

Over this past Summer break I came to the realization that I was no longer a mom a of preschool and with this change in my son there would soon be a change in my heart for ministry. About two and a half years ago I began hosting a mom's small group in my home. It was at times crazy because of all the kids running around but it was also a great time of fellowship and building new friendships. However the last session I began to feel the tug to move ahead instead of staying where I was at in ministry.

The first step was hosting Praise & Coffee Night yet I was still meeting with my small group the other 3 weeks of the month. I think I was holding onto my small group in hopes of having another baby and having all these wonderful mommies around to share in the joy. As I began hosting Praise and Coffee the tug to stop small group grew stronger yet I wasn't sure where I would go next until another mom's leader began sharing information about Mom's in Touch. I thought what a great idea to spend an hour a week praying for my son, his school, teachers and principal. Luckily for me there was another mom from my sons school who was looking to do the same thing.

I am so amazed how I feel each and every Friday morning when I spend an hour just praying for our children and their school. I think so many times as moms we think we need to do some many things in order to raise our children up to be followers of Christ yet many of us get so busy we stop praying (or never start) for our precious children. I feel a sense of peace about my son I have never felt before because I know God is watching over him and his whole school. I feel like I am giving him something that he will be able to take with him even after he leaves our home.

As I began praying for my son I also began spending more time in prayer for my husband. I quickly realized that many times when I should have turned to Christ in prayer I instead projected my fears and worries about my husband and his choices at him (which caused many fights). Now I am committed to praying for my husband which has completely changed my own heart. I feel more connected to God and more at piece with my boys since beginning this process.

So many times I have spent too much time looking at my boys critiquing them and picking them apart. Now I look to Him and pray for Him to guide, protect and lead them in all aspects of their life. I know He will never leave them and I know He has a plan for them and us as a family. I feel so blessed with this sense of piece it is amazing.

I pray you can turn to God with your worries, fears or opinions in regards to your husbands (and sons) so that He can work on them ... protect them... and lead them... because He has a plan and His plan is perfect.

Prayerfully,

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for my husband and all the help he has given me this past two weeks. School has been crazy and he has been taking care of Noodle and making dinner... such a blessing to have a loving husband.

2. I am thankful for my Nana and our relationship. I feel like she always takes the time to hear me, listen to my heart and then share wisdom about certain situations. I just love that God has allowed her and my Papa to have such a huge impact on my life.

3. I am thankful for friends that I can call on to listen to me and who care enough to take time to be there for me. I am especially thankful for my accountability partner and all she has taught me about marriage, friendship and life in the past year.

4. I am thankful for my mornings. I have been able to workout and have quiet time this week before the boys have gotten up which is a huge blessing and a great way to start my morning.

5. I am thankful for a fresh new start given to me everyday by God. He has given us the morning to start over and have a clean slate... I am so thankful He has given this to her and to us.

May you have an awesome day!!



Love,

The Tallest of Smalls!

At the beginning of the week I received Max Lucado's new children's book The Tallest of Smalls. I was excited and so was my 5 year old because we are huge Hermie fans however because Noodle is now in kindergarten he is beginning to out grow the cute little caterpillars.

This new book was amazing not only in story but in illustrations. What I loved most about the story was there was this little boy who thought he needed what everyone else had to be "good enough" yet once he got what they had he didn't enjoy it as much as he thought he would and then he fell and was made fun of.... wanting acceptance God came and showed Him what he truly is in God... His and that is the most important gift of all!! Noodle enjoyed the story and even shared the story with a few of his classmates... we will read this book for years to come!!



Happy Reading!!

Invictus Spirit

I have been sick, overwhelmed and just down right tired with life in general this past week. Luckily for me I have been blessed with an amazing father who is there to help me with all my worries, doubt and struggles in life. I have also been blessed with an amazing group of prayer partners who are always willing to send up prayers to our Lord when I am in need... even if I am just struggling with sleepiness or being kind to others. God has given us an invictus spirit (which mean unconquerable spirit) and we should walk in that amazing light each and every day.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank (whatever gods may be) GOD
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus, William Ernest Henley

Please listen to this amazing pastor speak on the invictus spirit ... this really is an amazing teaching and I thought I would share it with you today.

Lord our lives can be a struggle sometimes and sometimes these seasons seem like they may never end. Lord you have given us an invictus spirit and for that we are thankful. Lord please stay close to us now in our time of need. Lord guide our way and help us get closer to you especially when we are going through tough times.

Blessings,

Thankful Thursday

Even though this week has been so crazy that I sometimes felt like I was going to loose my mind I am still feeling very thankful and blessed!!

1. I am thankful for the community and friendship the internet has given me especially from friendship that have become so dear to me and my journey in life. This week I am so very thankful for Karen and her amazing words to me that seem to touch my heart in just the right spot. Thank you Karen for being my friend.

2. I am very thankful for my loving husband and all he does to help me stay sane especially on school nights.

3. I am thankful for the leaders of the mom's ministry and our time in fellowship once a month.

4. I am thankful for Mom's In Touch and praying for my son & his school with other moms from his school.

5. I am thankful for the book Power of a Praying Wife and all it has taught me about praying for my husband and his life.

Thankfully,