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Great is His faithfulness
As many of you know, we moved away from our lifelong home six months after we got married--leaving behind us our families, friends, church, and everything we knew. We stepped out in faith to begin a three-year journey through law school in strange town with no friends, no jobs, and little money. We saw God be faithful, our trust in Him was deepened like never before, and our marriage was strengthened so much because all we had was the Lord and each other. It was a lonely time, it was a stretching time, and above all, it was one of the most maturing experiences we've ever been through. After law school, our heart's desire was to move back home; we had a toddler and another baby on the way by then and we were dearly missing our families and community we left behind. But the Lord had other plans. He moved us to Kansas City where we endured a grueling six months that brought so many bizarre circumstances and trials you'd probably think we were making it all up. Only problem was, we weren't. Again, our faith was tested. Again, our marriage was strengthened. And again, we saw God prove Himself faithful through it all. In August of 2007, it appeared the Lord was opening the doors for us to move back home. We were beyond elation and quickly started getting everything in order to move. Only a few weeks before our expected move date, everything fell through and we knew this was not God's timing. We were both crushed. To see our dreams shattering in a hundred pieces before our faces, to come so close only to have it all pulled away was especially hard. I wanted so badly to trust God in the midst of this, but, I'll be very honest and say that my faith wavered a great deal. Yet, God was faithful, in spite of my unbelief, my doubts, and my fears. Little bit by little bit, we started seeing some rainbows through the rain, though: after three months of unemployment, my husband was able to get steady work; the Lord provided friends to help lift us up and encourage us when we were so beaten-down and weary; and God used His Word to rejuvenate our hearts. For months, we waited, prayed, applied for jobs, and prayed some more. Many others joined us in praying. We held onto the hope that if the Lord wanted us to move back home, He would clearly open the door for us. We wanted it to be His timing, not ours. We also learned many of the lessons I shared last week about embracing today. We didn't know what the future held, but that didn't need to stop us from making the most of today. We continued to pursue the possibility of moving back home, but we also asked the Lord to give us patience and contentment for today. Two months ago, the Lord strongly impressed upon both of our hearts that it was time to earnestly begin praying about moving back home. We spent hours on our knees before the Lord praying for direction, for Wisdom, for guidance and clarity. We truly wanted His will, not ours. Out-of-the-blue, a job opportunity presented itself--one we weren't seeking and something we weren't even considering. But after more prayer, we knew this was where God was leading. He continued to open all the doors and keep all the lights green. Last Saturday, we finalized the job details and signed a contract on a beautiful rental house (just another of God's blessings--it was right in our price range, perfectly suited for us, and in the exact location we were hoping for!). After years of hoping, waiting, and praying, the Lord has given us the desire of our hearts and the answer to our prayers. We look back and realize how this past year--hard as it was--was perfectly preparing us for what God had in store. God is good. All the time. Even when I've doubted, even when my faith has wavered. He knew all along and He was absolutely in control at every moment and step of the way. I'm excited to see what the future has in store! Note: Lord-willing, we'll be moving October 18, 2008. It should be an interesting next month--especially since I'm right at the peak of morning sickness--but I know that the Lord will sustain us and carry us through! Labels: Encouragement
Embrace Today: Make the most of where God has you!
 One way I'm seeking to "Embrace Today" during this first trimester is by making the most of today. Instead of focusing on all the things I can't do because I'm feeling sick most of the time, I'm seeking--with God's help--to focus on what I can do: :: I can use the hours spent lying still to help curb the nausea to devote extra time to prayer, reading God's Word, and meditating on Scripture. I've found that even when the nausea is at its worst and I'm incapable of doing nothing else, I can still pray. What sweet times of fellowship I've had with the Lord as a result! : : I can invest much more time than usual into just being with the girls. While we've spent almost all day every day together since the girls' birth, many of those days have seemed to rush by so quickly that we don't take enough time to just sit and talk and read and laugh and play together. I'm seeking to seize this short season of simplicity to spend more time with the girls. When I need to lie down and rest right now (which is often!), I'm encouraging the girls to come pile on the bed or couch with me and just spend quality time with Mom--talking, playing, practicing sign language and words with Kaitlynn and reviewing ABC's and counting with Kathrynne, reading, and most of all, just being together. :: I can be a cheerful wife and mother. Just because I'm feeling poorly doesn't mean I have to be grumpy! I'm trying to look for the positive things, count my blessings, and find humor in anything that might be remotely humorous. And I'm constantly looking to the Lord to keep me cheerful and joyful in Him. When I took the time to think of it in terms of things I can do during this time, it made all the difference in the world for me. Believe it or not, I actually started even getting a little excited about this season! What about you? Where does God have you right now? How can you embrace today and make the most of it--no matter what season of life you are in?Maybe you're a young woman just finishing high school who is searching for direction for the future. Or an unmarried woman in your twenties or thirties giving your life ministering to other families when you would love nothing more than to have a family of your own. Perhaps you're a wife who longs to be a full-time mom and homemaker but God hasn't given you children yet or worked things out so you could come home full-time. Maybe you're the single mom who is struggling to make ends meet. Some of you are probably in a similar place to me today--you're a young wife and mom with little children in the throes of morning sickness. Or maybe you're a busy homeschooling mother of many feeling stretched very thin. Wherever you are at in your Christian journey, God knows. He sees your struggles; He knows your longings. He hears your cries for help, for grace, for encouragement, for direction. He wants you to find your delight first and foremost in Him. He can give you joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in spite of pain, strength to endure, and enthusiasm for life! Will you join me? Let's choose joy, keep our eyes focused on Christ, and embrace today--no matter the struggles or difficulties! "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:1-2) "I delight to do Thy will, O my God..." (Psalm 40:8) Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Encouragement, Pregnancy and childbirth
Embrace Today: Choose Joy!
 Incessant nausea and exhaustion during the first half of pregnancy is not something I'd ever pick for myself, if given a choice. Make no mistake, I love being a mom and am more than willing to go through this ten times over because the reward at the end is so worth it. However, the last two pregnancies I spent a lot of time wishing I could fast-forward to the end of the nine months--or at least to the end of the first twenty weeks. Wish as I might, though, there is no fast forward button on life. I can either muddle through this difficult season with a grumbling attitude, or I can choose, by God's grace, to embrace today--nausea and all! And so, I've landed upon a new motto for this pregnancy: "Embrace today!"Choosing to cheerfully endure and make the most of this season won't necessarily mean that it goes by any quicker or with less nausea, but a joyful spirit in the midst of it certainly won't hurt anything! Maybe you're not experiencing morning sickness today, but I'm sure every one of you is going through some sort of trial. Perhaps you are struggling with infertility or the recent loss of a child and you would love more than anything to be in my place. Or perhaps you are going through financial difficulties, or family struggles, or misunderstanding, disappointment, heartache, or hurt. Whatever the season and struggle, I want to encourage you to commit to choose joy in the midst of difficulty. Ask the Lord to fill you up with true peace and joy in Him--in spite of trying circumstances. He is faithful to provide exactly what we need, when we need it. Look to Him! "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places..." Habbakkuk 3:17-19a "...The joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Encouragement, Pregnancy and childbirth
Embrace Today!
 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 It is so easy to pine away precious hours of our lives looking ahead to tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. We dream of when our husband gets that raise or promotion or new job, when we get that new house or new car. Or when we get married, or have that baby, or find a good church, or meet some like-minded friends. And on and on it goes. Often, while we are so wrapped up in looking ahead and longing, dreaming, and wishing we miss out on today. This is the day that the Lord has made. This is the moment we are living in. Let's live it to the fullest! "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." -Jim Elliot The next few days, we'll be talking about "embracing today", and I'll be sharing more of how God is teaching me this in my own life right now. I hope and pray that these lessons might be an encouragement to many of you--no matter what season of life you are in. Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Encouragement
Overcoming loneliness
 I wondered if I could ask you a personal question. I know that you made a move when Jesse went to school and were kind of out on your own. I'm really struggling with that right now. We moved almost 2 years ago and I just can't seem to get it together. I am a little lonely for like minded families. We go to a church that is a 30 minute drive, but it isn't close to what we would like. We haven't found anyone near us like minded as well, even with homeschooling groups we have visited with. My brain tells me that I should find my fulfillment in Christ, but I'm afraid I have allowed myself to become full of self pity some days. -Melissa The last 3 years of my life have definitely been a learning and growing experience, to say the least. When Jesse and I moved to this town, we left behind a wonderful church fellowship, lifelong friends, and dear family. I felt as if I was cut off from everything familiar and plunged into a completely unfamiliar, unfriendly environment. For years, we'd had more fellowship opportunities than we knew what to do with and since I'd never moved before, I was naively very excited about the possibility of meeting new people and developing new friendships. However, after a few months of meeting lots of new people but developing almost zero friendships, I began to feel extremely lonely. We tried to reach out, have people over, minister to others, etc. but it seemed that most people were just too busy. We were used to spur-of-the-moment types of fellowship ( "Hey, do you all want to come over for icecream and games tonight?" or, "The thrift store is having a sale today, do you want to come with me?" etc.) with our friends back home and regular get-togethers just to fellowship. When we would ever suggest something of this sort to the few families we had gotten to know a little bit, we received lots of odd remarks or looks. It seemed no one got together for getting together's sake. Everyone was too busy with sports or other commitments. How we missed those times of fellowship, sharing, discussion, and just plain fun! The first year was extremely hard for us--me especially. Here we were, newly married, trying to make it through law school, barely squeaking by financially, and living with almost no support system at all. I remember many times seeing someone at the grocery store who looked friendly and just wanting to run up to them and say, "Hi, can I be your friend?" But, in spite of the difficulties, we learned so many wonderful lessons and grew so close to each other during that time. If we had had a huge group of friends, we wouldn't have been forced to rely so much upon the Lord and each other. In addition, going through this made us much more sensitive to others' loneliness: I have such a heart to reach out to those who appear lonely that I never would have developed had I not experienced acute loneliness myself. The Lord also used this time to open my eyes to how special good friends are. I think that up to this point, I'd always taken them for granted. I've never done so since. Anytime we are privileged to spend time with dear friends, I come away so thankful for the opportunity. We still do not have scores of friends here, but as time has gone on, things have gotten much easier. In fact, even though for the past two years many weeks have gone by with very little times of fellowship outside of church on Sunday, I rarely feel lonely anymore. One thing that helped me to get over my loneliness in the first place was to stop feeling sorry for myself. I stopped trying to create "something out of nothing", and started just enjoying my family. Instead of feeling sad when I wished we could have an evening of fellowship with other families and we had no one to invite, we'd have an evening of fun and fellowship as a family. I also realized that friends could never bring the fulfillment that only Christ could. So, I needed to look to Him to fill up emptiness and loneliness in my heart first, before looking to people to do so. I also sought to make the most of every opportunity for fellowship. If someone needed help or if there was anything I could find to volunteer for, I signed up. I think the thing which has helped me the most is learning that, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly."I realized that I had a selfish view of friendships; I want friends so that I could have fellowship, find encouragement for myself. Although this is not bad, in and of itself, I realized that I had to stop looking at friendships as "What's in it for me?" and instead seek to reach out and help another person. When I started reaching out and giving to others without a motive of personal satisfaction, I found much blessing in return. As time has gone on, the Lord has brought friends into my life who I can fellowship with and be encouraged by. And God continues to bring more and more dear friends into my life. In fact, in the last month, I'm getting to the point of having to say "no" sometimes to fellowship opportunities! Hang in there, Melissa! God has a special plan and purpose for where He has you right now. Enjoy today and make the most of it. Pray for opportunities to minister to others, pray that the Lord would fill you up with His fullness, and be excited about what God has in store for you! I'd love to hear from others who have gone through lonely times in their life. What has helped you overcome loneliness? Any thoughts or encouragement for Melissa? Originally posted September 2006.Labels: Encouragement, Service and ministry
If Only I Were Perfect
I've wished so much recently that I could find a way to have a spotlessly clean, organized, and well-decorated home, serve delicious and elaborate meals on time three times a day, spend the necessary time to maintain a business, while at same time not in any way neglecting my relationship with the Lord, my husband, or my daughter. I wish I could get out of bed every morning at 5 a.m. to an immaculately clean home. I wish I could shower, dress, and fix my hair before anyone wakes up. I wish I could spend a solid hour of uninterrupted time reading the Bible and praying before I begin my day each and every morning. I wish I could have the house all perfectly cleaned and in order by 8 a.m. every morning (though, I guess if I woke up to it immaculate, I wouldn't even need to clean!). I wish that the laundry and dishes magically washed themselves and put themselves away or that I had a live-in maid. I wish that I never said an unkind word or had an unkind thought. I wish that I would never disappoint my husband. I wish that I could spend all day everyday playing with my daughter. I wish I were never tired and had a boatload of energy all the time. I wish that I could live on 3 hours of sleep or less every night. Instead, I'm just me. My house is often messy and always in need of some type of cleaning. I'm always behind in some area. I never get to spend as much time playing or reading with my daughter as I'd like. I'm forever behind on the ironing. My husband comes home some nights and I'm exhausted, the house is messy, dinner is only a figment of my imagination, and I'm still in my pajamas. I often say and do things that I regret. I fail in some area on an hourly basis and can easily become discouraged and overwhelmed. Yes, sometimes I wish I were perfect. But, then I realize that if I were perfect, I'd never have anything to trust God about. I'd never need anyone to pray for me. I'd never need anyone's help. I'd never have to cry out to God for mercy when I'd failed yet again. I'd never need comfort from the Scriptures. And, I'd never know the depths of God's grace and mercy to one so undeserving as me. Originally posted March 2006.Labels: Encouragement
 The words of this song have been really meaningful to me recently. May they encourage you as well today: O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; O'er us sin no more hath dominion-- For more than conquerors we are! His Word shall not fail you--He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Refrain: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. -Helen H. Lemmel Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Encouragement, Faith
"No greater ministry"
I found this excellent radio interview Nancy Leigh DeMoss did with Janet Parshall in May and I heartily encourage all of you women and young women to take a few minutes to listen to it in the next few days. Here's a snippet: I used to laugh because the end of a two-week period would come, and if you use the paradigm of the world, after two weeks, uh, there's no paycheck. There are no bonus payments here. I don't get an advancement in my job. Yet it's interesting because, as I remember, at the time someone had written an article doing a side-by-side comparison of what an at-home mother's worth would be compared to a woman who's out in the work world. If you were to hire somebody to do everything I was doing at home, I far outdistanced what I think Craig or I would have been able to pay for, number one, and outdistanced what I would have gotten had I been out working in the field of my endeavor. So, just for the economic reasons, the socio-economic reasons, there was substantiation to being home. But more importantly, it really was a matter of not listening to the world but listening to the Word--that still, small voice, as we love to refer to Him--our precious Father who wooed me to a place when He said, "These are treasures. These are irreplaceable treasures. I'm giving you a privilege, to take care of these minds, these hearts, to raise them in My nurture and My admonition, and to teach them My ways." I have to tell you, Nancy, I was the salmon. I was swimming upstream, cross-cultural of what was happening out there--magazine story, and magazine story, and magazine story--but can I tell you how good God is? Little did I know that those years where I was in the kitchen, and I was in the family room, and I was in the playroom, and I was in the carpool, God was teaching me. Nothing is ever wasted in His economy. Oh, if I can just get that point across to our friends, particularly those that are in a different season, a younger season than where I am right now. Everything is to His glory, His purpose, and His honor, and God is a profound Teacher.
You can read the full transcript here, though I'd encourage you to listen to it if you have the ability to do so. Labels: Confronting Feminism, Encouragement, Mothering
The ministry of encouraging words
 Amy had some wise words (like usual!) to share last week on how to make the Mommy Wars progress: Let's do this. Next time you see an 18-month-old running around with a bottle, resist the urge to gasp in horror and discuss orthodontics. Try this instead, "You are so patient with your kids. That's awesome." It's a step in the right direction. I have this theory--moms who are not beating themselves up all the time for their deficiencies have more time to research bottles and cups and dentists. (Or concentrate on the stuff of life that really matters.) Look, I don't want you newbie moms--you know I love ya--kicking yourself when you realize how hyper you were. Just calm down now and save yourself the apologies. We moms need to stick together. We can hear each other better when we're building up one another.
Read the full post. While there is a time and a place to speak words of exhortation or even reproof, I want to challenge all of you to make an effort to speak words of encouragement to those around you today. Let's be that breath of fresh air to those who are weary and minister grace to everyone we come in contact with. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)
Excellent posts on the subject of blessing and encouraging others: Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness by Life as Mom and I Want You To Read This by Rocks in My Dryer (an incredibly inspiring testimony of knocking the socks off of someone else!) What's something someone has done to bless and encourage you recently--maybe it was a kind word, a thoughtful deed, or even just smiling at you? Tell us about it!
Graphic from AllPosters.comLabels: Encouragement
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