Thursday, May 29, 2014

Healthy Parent vs. Sick Parent


So, I've come to find, when you're a parent, there really isn't that much difference in what is required and expected of you when you are healthy versus when you are sick.

Allow me to expound upon the two and also, to say in advance, I'm proud of all you moms and dads out there who persevere no matter what hand they are dealt on any particular day:


Typical day for a healthy stay-at-home parent:

Getting the kids up & ready for the day
Playing with the kids
Image by Asif Akbar via Free Images
Making breakfast&lunch
Playing with the kids
Cleaning the house
Playing with the kids
Making dinner
Playing with the kids
Wiping tears
Playing with the kids 
Wiping butts
Playing with the kids
Wiping noses
Playing with the kids
Making desserts & snacks
Playing with the kids
Waking up in the middle of the night
Please no playing!
Waking up early in the morning
Playing with the kidsHelping with homework
Playing with the kids
Being there when they're sick
Playing with the kids
and, finally, 
Learning what you're made of...and most likely again, playing with the kids!


Typical day for a sick stay-at-home parent:

Getting the kids up & ready for the day
Playing with the kids
Making breakfast&lunch
Playing with the kids
Cleaning the house
Playing with the kids
Making dinner
Image by Sebastian Smit via Free Images
Playing with the kids
Wiping tears
Playing with the kids 
Wiping butts
Playing with the kids
Wiping noses
Playing with the kids
Making desserts & snacks
Playing with the kids
Waking up in the middle of the night
Please no playing!
Waking up early in the morning
Playing with the kidsHelping with homework
Playing with the kids
Being there when they're sick
Playing with the kids
Realizing that you are likely sick because your kid was and knowing full well that you'd do it all over again if it meant you get to be with them like you have
And, finally,
Learning...more than ever...what you're made of...and again, most likely, playing with the kids!

Being a parent is hard work, but it's also the best job I have ever had in my life.  Never have I learned more and transformed more than I have since the day my first was born.  What a blessing, what a gift to be here, in this position.  What a blessing, what a gift to be challenged the way we all are, in some ways the same and in others quite different!

No matter how we each are challenged today, 
let's decide now to be grateful 
and to persevere through whatever today's particular hurdles may come to be!  
And if you find yourself on the sick side of the equation today, 
I pray for speedy healing and wellness 
so that you can healthily do the job God has specifically chosen just for you...
Parenthood.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

21 Verses to Help You Stay Focused on God

Wake up.  Take a moment with God.

Bust it downstairs and wake up my son for school.

Have a love snuggle with my husband (ahhhh, NICE!)
Head for the kitchen, put dishes away.

Go wake up son again for school.

Get breakfast started.  Get out stuff to make lunch (while seriously applauding all who've figured out how to make it the night before!)   

Knock on son's door to see how it's going...
WHAT?!  
He's still under the covers??  
He needs to be on the bus in 15 minutes, people!

Make lunch...don't forget the napkin note!

Call to son who has just now left his room. 
Sa-weet!!  
Wait...WHAT?!  
He's still in pj's & sportin' his peacock hairdo' from the night before?! 
Tic-toc. Tic-toc!

Lunch made...Oh my gosh, his homework!  I never got to check it last night...again!!  Speed-check homework and hope for the best.

Call to son.

Get breakfast on table.
Call to son 
There is NO WAY I'm waking his sister and driving him to school...
Ok...
He's here!  He's in the kitchen!!
Eat!  Eat!  Eat!

Shoes!  Shoes! Don't forget your shoes!
Get school folder and lunch in book bag...Why won't it fit?!

Okay, shoes...lunch...book bag...Your violin!  Where's your violin?!  
Okay, bus is coming!  
Give me a kiss!  
Love you!  
Bye!!

More or less, that's a typical first hour of awakening in our home!  Surely we can't be the only ones who hustle like this to get our days (& our families) rolling out that door!

So, how do you keep your focus on God during all that wildness?  

I mean, for real, if that's just the first hour of the day, how do we even stand a chance of keeping our eyes on the prize of Christ when the flurry around us is a constant, never-ending (albeit beautiful) frenzy of demands and time constraints?

Why not settle your heart into one of these verses, and let God take it from here...After all, it's only through Him that we'll find the peace, strength, and clarity that we all so desperately need!

Image by Dean Smith via Free Images



Look to The Lord and his strength;
Seek his face always.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?  Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you,
never will I forsake you."

This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the LORD."

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
To the one who seeks him;

Mark 9:23
"'If you can'?" said Jesus.  "Everything is possible for one who believes."

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life... 

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding. 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm. 

Be strong, and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD. 

Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.





Wednesday, May 14, 2014

5 Bible Verses for When Your Flat-Out Exhausted

Like all mothers out there, I'm exhausted.

Most mornings, before my feet even hit the floor, my thoughts dance to the reassurance that I'll surely get to bed earlier this coming evening...earlier, at least, than the nights before!

As if you couldn't guess, that actually never happens, but it seems to trick me enough to get my feet on the floor and moving!

One thing I've noticed about "Mom exhaustion" is that nobody cares...
How's that for harsh?!
I mean, of course they care, 
but when it comes to kids, that caring is shown in an 
"Awwww your tired? ....Soooo, what's for breakfast?" kind of way!  

To be honest, even this I love...
                           It makes me feel hardcore and like I've made it as a mom.  
Kids will push you to your limits 
and make you realize 
you are far more capable than you ever dreamed!  
They are the best life coaches any of us could ever ask for.  
They make you dig down deep...real deep, sometimes... 
but it's in those moments that you both discover who you are 
and hopefully surrender to who God has designed you to be.

I believe God has, by far, used my children the most in order to reach and refine me for Him, and I find my little personal trainers for Christ simply awesome!

Still...I do get exhausted...
and it's these verses here that have the power to lift me up.  
May they do the same for you as well...
Image by Jessica Bowden


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary,
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not be faint.

This is what the LORD says:
"Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
For your work will be rewarded,"
declares the LORD...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me with your word.

You know, come to think of it.  
I really need to have these verses by my bedside...
Rather than reassuring myself falsely of more rest to come, 
how inspiring it would be to start my day off with 
His promises feeding my heart instead!




Wednesday, May 7, 2014

6 Bible Verses to Boost Your Prayer Life


Strewn throughout my life experiences, God's perfect timing has been more than evident.

Sometimes it's "right on", according to my flawed human standards...

Sometimes, in the moment, I find it too slow 
(only to find out later that His response was exactly when it needed to be)...

and yet, other experiences prove His timing to be quite comical...

but always, when I look back, I see that He was there, 
answering my prayers all the while
(even if it wasn't in the way I expected).

Two such instances of His perfect timing have come quite recently..

The first, during last week's post of Bible verses that reminds us we are not alone..
..and the 2nd has come tonight for this post at present..

In both cases, I was struggling.  

Last week had me struggling with feeling His presence, and while I was praying about that, I remembered the  book of Bible verses I'd made for my husband.  
First section of the book was titled "God With Us".  
I don't believe in coincidences.

This week, my struggles surround my prayer life...
I've been feeling like my quiet time with God has been lagging...feeling at a loss about what to pray for, knowing I need to listen more and babble less...falling asleep in the middle of it (*sigh*)...
So, coming to the next section of my husband's book and seeing the title "Fantastic Prayers" just makes me chuckle.
I mean, God is so crazy cool with how He works!

With all that said, here's a few verses for you (&me!)...
If you're struggling in your prayer life too, 
maybe these will give us both the jump start we need!
Image by Jesper Noer via Free Images


Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 57:1
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.

Psalm 119:10-11
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:28
My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.

Psalm 119:33-37
Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.

Now, I know that there are more verses out there which fit under this topic, 
so if you guys have got some more for me, let me know!  
If I get enough of a list going, I'll gladly update my post!