Moving on

Have you ever just felt defeated?  If so, I have something to share with you that hopefully will encourage you.  There are so many things that can happen to discourage us or make us feel defeated. We end up living with a victim mentality and before we know it, we can't even see the hope that is in front of us.  The enemy would love nothing more than to keep us in this place but I am ready to see people, including myself, rise up and be over-comers! 

There are so many things that I could meditate on and ask the question, "why did this happen to me?", but I don't want to live there.  I want those circumstances in the past to be in the past and to be used to encourage people.  When people see my life I don't want them to see the unfortunate circumstances but instead see someone who stands strong, looks defeat in the face with boldness and says "I will not back down in my faith".  I want to be the person that says "fear will not hold me back anymore more." 

The best example we have of an over-comer is Jesus.  Look at what all He endured.  Everything He did was ridiculed by the pharisees, he was beaten and killed for no crime whatsoever but he did it for us.  Guess what?! He conquered defeat for all time.  He suffered a billion times over anything we could ever suffer but He did not live as a victim of His circumstances.  He is our example.  

So, if you feel like you have been living in defeat all you need to do is reach out to the one true over-comer.  Release whatever is holding you down and make a decision to choose joy.  When we decide to live this way our lives and everyone around us will be so much better.  We can be world- changers with this kind of attitude.  After all, Jesus was.

1 John 5:4 "everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."

From a mom to a mom

Anyone that is a mom is certainly a full-time mom. I just really want to give a shout out to full-time working moms this week.  I get the privilege to work only three days a week and there are many times that I feel that is too much.  For the last week and over the next several weeks I'll be working every day and I gotta say, it is difficult.  I love my job.  That's not the problem. The problem is that I feel guilt over missing my child, missing those two very sweet days that I get her all day to myself!  Just her and mommy. I want to be with her all the time so it's just so hard.

 I also have a little anxiety over my messy house.  I do not know how people keep a spotless house with a child or children but I especially don't know how moms who work full time even have time to do a load of laundry.  All I have to say is props to you gals who juggle it all!  I thought I was super busy but you full-timers really got it going on.  If you are a stay at home mom, please just know how blessed you are!  I know you are super busy and the job never stops for you either.  I know that there are days that you may feel like just one day at work, out of the house would be amazing but it's so worth it.  Last night Daniel said to me "it is a huge responsibility to raise a child.  We are shaping their personality and every little thing."  It is so true.  Thank God for grace, right?! 

So, whatever kind of mom you are, be encouraged! Be encouraged that there is grace for days when you work all day and miss sweet moments.  There is grace when you might mess up or when your kids are being difficult.  There's even grace when we feel like we don't deserve it. That's what grace is (unearned, unmerited favor).  Receive it, let your children receive it. 

Seasons

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  Some of our forever friends and my family drove up to Hendersonville to surprise one of my most favorite people.  We all grew up together in youth group, aside from a few spouses.  Steve and Shelly were our youth pastors for several years and we all still adore them.  As I was writing in Shelly's card I started to think about all they had done for us and I have to say I was overwhelmed.  They spoke the word into us and prayed over us at a time in life that is so pivotal.  Teenage years!  Last night we didn't get home until midnight and I joked with Shelly about not knowing how they made it all those years staying up late, especially with two small kids.  Now that I'm an adult I feel like I can truly appreciate that!

Last night as I was getting ready for bed I started thinking about seasons.  Some are short, some seem to last forever.  Some may be easy breezy, while some may leave us gasping for air.  In the past few years I can attest that Daniel and I have been through several seasons and many of those were difficult.  There was even a time last year that I didn't want to live anymore.  Thankfully that was a very, very small season.  It's shocking even now as I'm writing it out.  I let my circumstances cloud all the lovely blessings in my life.  My perspective was way off and I certainly wasn't looking for the joy in the situation. Eventually I tapped into God's love and grace and was restored.  

I just want to encourage someone that may be in one of those difficult seasons to look up! Be encouraged! There's a new season coming.  If we can choose to focus on the good things I believe we can always walk in a season of peace and hope.  If we can change our perspective, I believe it will change our lives completely.  We never know who will be changed by the way we walk through a season.  Let's not live life in a hurry through every season. Let's learn to find the joy in each circumstance. 
"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

I'm so thankful for the way Steve and Shelly walked through their season at LCOG.  My life and many others were so enriched by them in ways that I'm sure they never even thought was possible at the time.