Strength from the struggle...

Bowden got the opportunity in his kindergarten class to watch the hatching process of some little chicks. Every day he would come home and let me know how many days until the chicks would hatch. 

Then it finally happened! He was thrilled to tell me that the little chicks had finally made it out, but that he had learned something really important. He learned that it was really important that they watch the chicks hatch, and not help them out of their shell. I asked him why, and he told me that if they helped the little chicks out, they might not be strong enough to survive.

The baby chicks strength for life came from the struggle.

The struggle produced something.

What a beautiful way to reframe the struggles in our lives. 

If I can be transparent, I don't want the struggle. Nobody does. 

But if the struggle produces the strength that we need to walk in the calling and purpose that Christ has set before us, then suddenly the struggle takes on a new meaning. A new purpose. The struggle isn't there to make us feel less than or miserable. The struggle is there to produce a strength and determination to finish the race that He has set before us.

Your struggle has a purpose. Don't lose heart. Don't let the enemy keep you staring at the struggle. The God that you serve is more than able to equip you to overcome. He is the ultimate overcomer. Lean on Him, press into Him, seek Him. He will never leave you or abandon you. In the midst of your struggle, you are being strengthened for a mighty work. You are going to come out of this stronger. You are more than a conqueror. 

Father help us to not feel defeated in the struggle, but to search for Your strength in the midst of the struggle. Amen.

Romans 8:37 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]."

John 16:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

Romans 5:3-5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; 4 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. 5 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Untangled...

This morning Caven was asking me for some help untangling a cord. I am a master cord untangler. However, bless his little heart, he was trying to help me and it was making it very difficult for me to actually make progress.

His eyes and hands have not been trained to weave the cord in and out of the turns and loops that were obstructing the length and full potential of the cord. 

As I was helping him, the Father showed me something. 

How many times have I come to Him, asking Him to help me untangle a situation, and I still try and hold on and fix it myself? I keep my hands intertwined in the mess, because I am just not quite certain that He is completely capable of fixing it. 

He is though. Masterfully trained and capable of taking whatever mess you find yourself tangled in today, and using it for your complete good. It doesn't matter how big it is, how much it may be your fault, how long you have tried to untangle it on your own. 

If you will take your hands out of the mess and lift them up towards your Father, He will come, pick you up, and use His wisdom, truth and grace to lift you and set you on solid ground. 


Romans 8:28 (AMP)
28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

Psalm 86:15 (AMP)
15 But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

Psalm 40:2 (AMP)

He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.

just enjoy the ride...

Oy. Riding with the kids sometimes. I mean seriously, when did they become seasoned, know all the right roads to take, little GPS's. Anyone have this precious situation happen...?

You're driving along, knowing that bumper to bumper traffic is looming in the distance, so you turn to take an alternate route.

The children lose their minds.

"MOM, where are you going?!?!"
"This in NOT the right way!?!?!"
"I want to go to the Y!!!!"
"You aren't supposed to go this way!"

To which I patiently respond...

"Dear children of mine, please just sit back and enjoy the ride..."

NOT.

The capslock and exclamation mark buttons on my computer would break if I gave you nothing but the truth. But I am sure you can relate and use your imagination:)

I couldn't help but think today, when this situation arose for the 8 millionth time in our car...how many times have I done this to my Heavenly Father?

You know how it goes. Life is seamless. Everything has a purpose and you know what lies ahead.

And then a sudden turn.

It's unexpected and throws a wrench in our daydreaming and planning. We find ourselves saying to the Almighty, "Ummm, excuse me, I don't know if You were aware, but we were supposed to be heading in THAT direction. You can turn around at the next street."

But how amazing that just like us, who take different turns to maneuver around traffic, accidents, and delays that our dear children can't see and don't understand, our heavenly Father does the same.

Those unexpected turns in our lives, the unforeseen stops and pauses have a purpose. And it is never to take us away from our destination, oh no...quite the contrary. They are meant to bring us safely to our purpose and dream.

So dear one, let go, know that you are in the hands of the One who created and birthed your dreams. You are in the hands of the One who made the sunsets and snowflakes. You are in the hands of the One who dreamed YOU.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. He knows where He is taking you...

Proverbs 3:5-6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
[a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]."

Proverbs 16:9 Amplified Bible (AMP)
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.

Open our eyes...

This week we were up at the cabin. I love that place. Time up there is always to short.

We were packing up and just about to leave, when Bowden, got something in his eye. We could all see it, and it was causing him intense pain. There was something stuck right in the middle of his eye, and it was not moving.

I stood there, holding him, feeling helpless.  I knew we needed to pray, and so before I said anything to Bowden, I said my own prayer. A prayer I think we have all said at one time or another.

Father, I need you to come through for Bowden. I need him to know that You hear him, You care for him. If he prays, I need You to answer. Please.

So we prayed.

And his eye still hurt.

So I told Bowden, we need to look for HOW God is going to answer your prayer.

Amazingly, Grandma had some eye drops in her purse that when we put them in, Bowdens eye began to feel better. And better. And better. Till the pain was completely gone.

I asked Bowden, "How did God answer our prayer?" and he said, "with medicine."

Sometimes the answer we are looking for, isn't the way He is going to answer.

I learned through this experience that I do not need to be worried about whether or not God will answer my prayers, or my children's prayers. He will answer. The question is, are my eyes opened to see His answer?

What is the prayer, the question, that you are waiting for Him to answer?

My prayer for us today is that He would open our eyes to the unexplainable creativity He has when He responds to us. He is moved by our prayers and requests. Never doubt that. Never doubt that He is listening attentively. Don't miss His answer because it doesn't come the way we think it will.

Father, open our eyes to see Your goodness that is all around us. Open our eyes and our hearts to see and remember that You are a good Father, that has good intentions towards us. Your answers are always good and always perfect. For that person that has been waiting on You, I ask that You would bring about the answer to that question, that prayer. And I ask that they would be blown away by the protection, compassion, and purpose that Your answer has. Amen.

Psalm 69:16
"Answer me, O LORD, for your lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of your compassion, turn to me."

Psalm 119:68
"You are good, and what you do is good; Teach me your statutes."

Psalm 145:9
"The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works."

1 Chronicles 16:34
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Our Little Arrow.

Today was Bowden's first day of kindergarten (no joke, I almost spelled kindergarten wrong on his little chalkboard.) There were a lot of emotions, but mostly pure pride in the amazing kiddo that we have as a son. 

There is a scripture verse that God has given to me and Nate for our boys. It really started to take root when Lexon was born. The verse is Psalm 127:4, "like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." 

Our children are our arrows. They are what we have to combat the fallen world that we live in. They are what we have to spread light into darkness. 

What an honor and responsibility it is as parents, to have those precious arrows in our hands. We influence greatly the speed, trajectory, and targets of our little arrows. At times that idea feels overwhelming, but in those moments, let us remember something.  We are arrows as well. And we are in the Hands of an Archer who never misses.

Today we took the first step of releasing our first little arrow, I imagine it will be a process from now till eternity. My prayer is simply this. May our hands be guided by Him as we release our arrows, and may they accomplish what You have uniquely purposed each one of them for.  

We were pretty proud of ourselves for making it through without crying :)

Hope.

So, last night I was a bit overwhelmed. Not with the kiddos, not with the daily grind of cleaning the kitchen for the 14th time, but with my state of hope.  

 

My newsfeed has been overwhelmed as well. 

Overwhelmed with news, comments, and conversations that have sucked the hope right out of me. I glance now at the trending column we all can see, and the top two are enough to send me into free flowing tears for the overwhelming heartache that so many are feeling right now.

My heart aches to its depth for you. 

Amongst all the sadness and confusion, that still, small, beautiful voice spoke up in my heart and reminded me of a text I had gotten from a friend of mine earlier this week. It simply said this...

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19

The Amplified version says it this way, "Now we have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps upon it-a hope that reaches farther and enters into the very certainty of the Presence within the veil."

I am so thankful for access to that kind of hope. A hope that is resilient when it has no reason to be. A hope that springs up stronger after it has come under crushing circumstances. 

I am praying for that kind of hope to take deep roots in my heart, and in yours.

May we always remember that He is the anchor for our souls. Though we may sway with the waves of mourning and confusion, He is our anchor that is firm and secure.

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMP) "He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end."

Lift Me Up....

This is Lex ready for me to get him out of his crib:) So cute right? As I was lifting him up out of his crib, I had a thought.

Sometimes we are in a place where we are waiting, with our arms stretched high, for our Lord to come and pick us up. To lift us up out of something.

I'm not always able to get Lex right at the minute that he wants out, usually because I am preparing something. Dinner, a bath, coffee...to name a few.

Sometimes the Lord doesn't lift us up out of our situation right away, because He is preparing something.

And His somethings are always worth the wait.

I want to encourage you to stay standing, stay reaching towards Him, because at the right and perfect time, He is going to come and scoop you up and out, and then set your feet on solid ground!

Psalm 40:1-2
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand."

Here is a great song to go along with this....