A Hard Lesson Learned

Man, life has been crazy the past two weeks!  I have been so very blessed though.  I was able to spend a lot of time with my brother, sister-in-love and niece before they moved to Texas.  I even got to spend time with other family and friends, and visit with my sister-in-love’s dad and younger brother.  I have to say, her dad is a true Texan!  He fits the image most people conjure up when they think of Texas.  Even better than the image, he has a heart as big as the state he lives in.  I have been blessed every time I have been in his presence.  He truly is a great man.

Beyond the amazing time with my family and friends, I have been able to carve away some special time to spend with my girls.  We have played dress up, done manis and pedis, picnicked in the living room, and spent a day playing at a local water park.  I cherish every moment I have with my girls because I know that all too soon they will be grown.  One of my biggest fears is looking back over their childhoods with regret.  So I take advantage of every second I can while they are still mine. 

One truly amazing and life changing thing happened to me this past week.  I was blessed with the opportunity to visit with a group of ladies at Priscilla’s Place, a local home for teen girls.  Priscilla’s Place is a part of Teen Challenge, a Christian residential service helping people deal with life-controlling addictions.  The young ladies we met with have a wide variety of backgrounds.  Many of the young ladies were there dealing with drug and alcohol abuse and addictions.  Some of them were there by court order, others because family love them enough to send them there. 

We entered a large Victorian style house and met with the facility director.  She told us the history of Priscilla’s Place and the stories of a few of the young ladies we were about to meet.  After a very informative discussion we joined the young ladies in their Thursday morning chapel service.  It was more of an informal bible study lead by woman from a local church.  She comes every Thursday to share the Word with these young ladies, and love on them.  As I sat and listened to her teach from Isaiah 43, I watched the faces of the young ladies in the room.  Some listened intently.  Some were there because they had to be.  Regardless of why they were there, they were all hearing the Word, which we know will not return void.  Lives were being changed that morning, including mine.

After the study was over, myself and the other two ladies visiting were invited to join a prayer circle, each woman in the room praying for God’s blessings and direction for the young ladies at Priscilla’s Place.  After our prayer time we were able to visit with a few of the young ladies before they headed to class.  They have daily classes ranging from biblical studies to daily life.  That particular day they had a theology class called “What We Know”.  I wish I could have sat in on the class, but we were blessed with a tour of the house during that time.

The entire time I was in the house my thoughts kept going back to 3 particular young ladies.  I didn’t know their stories and had no clue why there were at Priscilla’s Place, I just knew that my heart was drawn to them.  We finished our tour and were asked to sit it on a sign language class practice.  They young ladies learn and perform sign language to praise and worship songs.  As I sat and watched them, the words of the songs had all new meaning to me.  The ladies truly worshipped as they practiced, singing the songs of celebration and promises to the Lord.  I was not prepared for such an amazing time of worship in the middle of my week, but was so grateful to have been blessed by these amazing young ladies.

As I drove away I started crying and praying.  How am I supposed to be involved with these ladies?  What I am supposed to do to reach out to them?  I knew the Lord had not brought me to Priscilla’s Place that morning just to meet new people.  He brought me there for a reason.  He has something in store for me and the young ladies at Priscilla’s Place.  I am still praying for wisdom and direction, but am confident the Lord will show His will in His timing. 

The director of our Women’s Ministry and I plan to attend graduation in a few weeks.  Once the ladies have completed their time at Priscilla’s Place, they hold a special graduation ceremony for the young ladies.  We were asked to attend graduation and see how family and friends are impacted by the ministry at Priscilla’s Place.  I am looking forward to attending and visiting with these lovely ladies once again.

My visit really has me evaluating things in my life.  How am I giving to those in need?  How am I loving on others the way the Lord loves them?  What sacrifices am I making that show others how much they are loved?  Sadly, I am doing little.  Even worse, I am not teaching my daughters to love and to give.  I know that one person cannot change the world, but I can change the world to one person.  God has called us all to love others the way Christ has loved us.  Sacrificially.  Selflessly. Completely. 

While I am still processing my visit and asking God to show me how to get more involved, I hear several references to Kyle Idleman’s book “Not a Fan”.  I have wanted to read this for some time now, just have not made it that far down on my “list of books to read” yet.  I have researched the book and asked others about it.  I keep hearing the same thing… “it will change your life.”  Well, I am ready for that to happen.  I no longer want to be a fan of Christ, I want to be a true follower.  I want to live my life completely for Him, for His glory.   I know it is a life long process and journey.  I know that I will struggle daily.  I know that I will fall on my face some days.  However, I was made by my creator, for my creator and I need to live my life for Him.  In doing that, I need to love and sacrifice for others.  I need to let others see Christ in me.  I need to stop worrying about myself and what others think and focus only on what He wants me to do.

What has the Lord called you to do?  Are you doing it?  What are you afraid of?  Are you loving and giving as He has called you to love?  Are you serving and reaching out to others in need?  What can you do today to be a blessing to someone around you?  Don’t be afraid.  We were not given a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love and a sound mind.  Get out there and be His hands and feet!  Come back and share with me the good works you are doing for His name! 

BLESSINGS!

No Ordinary Woman

These words were written in a poem given to me by a dear sweet friend.  The poem is a description of a Daughter of the Most High King.  She walks in strength and dignity.  She is confident, but not in herself.  Her confidence comes from the Lord.  She is beautiful, but her beauty cannot be compared to worldly standards.  Her beauty radiates from a heart that is passionately in love with her Lord.  She is strong, but not in her flesh.  Her strength is grounded in her Savior.  She is caring and gives without a second thought.  She loves others the same way her Heavenly Father loves them, sacrificially.  She has been blessed by family and friends, and has every reason to be proud of her accomplishments in life.  Yet, there is no pride to be found in this woman.  She is humble for she knows that everything in her life is a blessing from Lord, gifts of love and sacrifice poured out on her.  She is not worthy of anything she has received in this life, but never fails to thank the Lord for all He has done.

There are a few women in my life that come to mind when I think about the description of a Daughter of a Most High King.  These women are truly in love with their Savior and serve Him without hesitation.  They live life with great passion and strive only to bring glory to the Lord.  I am confident they will one day hear the sweet words “well done, good and faithful servant”.   My heart rejoices now as I envision seeing them before the throne, receiving blessings for their life of love and service.

Are there women in your life that fit the description above?  If so, tell them!  Let them know that you see their heart, their sacrifice and the love they have for others.  Tell them that you cherish the example they are.  Then, learn from them!  Draw close to them!  Love on them and watch the amazing things God will accomplish in you and in your new friendship.

I can say that my heart is for others to see Christ in me.  I struggle daily with my flesh, and sometimes lose the small battles.  I have chosen to learn from those losses and be better prepared for the next round.  No one is perfect.  Even the ladies that fit this incredible description lose battles.  They struggle the same as every other women.  The difference though, is they have set their hope firmly in Christ and will not be shaken. 

She is no Ordinary Woman,

She is the Daughter of the Most High King.

Let that soak in for a moment.  We are daughters of the Most High King.  There is no reason to walk around in doubt and gloom.  There is no reason to always look at the glass as half empty.  There is no reason to compare yourself to other women and continually as yourself “what if”.  We are all Princesses of the same Father.  We are all loved deeply, passionately, sincerely and equally.  Each of us have been clothed in strength and dignity.  We are all loved with an everlasting love.  We will never be left or forsaken.  We have a Father who is our Defender, Redeemer, Provider, Shelter, Rock, and Lover of our Souls!  We are no ordinary women for we are the daughters of an extraordinary Father.  Stand strong in that truth and never let it be taken from you. 

Blessings

This week has truly been amazing!  There is a lot to share, but I will give you the Reader’s Digest version…  trust me, you will thank me later!

• I have been able to spend a great deal of time with my family this week, particularly my brother and his family.  I am soaking up every second I have with them before the move to Texas. 
• I was loved on by my in-laws this week.  It struck me funny that they are so overprotective of me, but realized that they raised two boys, so having a daughter help out with yard work was new for them.  I think I surprised them just as much as they surprised me!  They are good people!
• Our church had our 3^rd annual Kids Clothing and Equipment Sale this weekend.  It was a lot of work, though I did not do near as much as the others that worked to make it happen.  We made more this year than last year, and I had the opportunity to spend a little time chatting with an old high school friend.  No major conversational topics, but still a good time just hanging out and talking about random topics.
• After 4 years, I finally had a girls night with my Sister-in-Love.  We had such an amazing time!  Good Mexican food, tattoos, and ice cream.  Yes, you read that right, tattoos.  This is something I have wanted for 5 years and I finally decided that now is the time. 
• After dinner and tattoos, we shut down Dairy Queen!  We sat outside with our Blizzards and talked for hours.  We had funny topics, serious topics, good laughs, a few tears, and a lot of bonding.  I hate that it has taken us so long to spend time like this together, but I am so glad that God gave us this time before the move. 
• Tonight, after a nice 2.5 hour nap, I was able to spend time playing dress up with my girls.  It was so much fun!  After we fixed each others hair and put make up on, the girls put on my dresses.  We danced, played, and even made a last minute trip to McDs to get ice cream.  I mean, how sad is it when you get dressed up and have no place to go?  They were so excited to get to go out dressed up!

This past week has made me realize how short our time here on earth is, and how we need to take advantage of every second God gives us.  We have to enjoy our families and friends, and even take the time to get to know new people.  I truly believe this is how we make the biggest impact for our Lord.  Jesus spent time getting to know sinners, and special time with his disciples.  This is how they knew is heart and saw him for who he really was.  The same applies to us.  If we are not investing in the lives of others around us, they will never get to see who we really are.  Not only that, but we will miss out on the blessings of great relationships, even with those we think we would never be able to get close to.  This week, make it a point to spend some extra time with a friend or family member.  Maybe even step out of your comfort zone and get to know someone new.

A Grateful Heart

Looking back over each week and thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given me has really changed me.  I am learning to be more grateful for the small things in life, and worry less about the little things that seem to get in my way.  Reminds me of Francesca Battistelli’s song, “This is the Stuff”….  “In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I’m blessed”… SO TRUE!  I enjoy my time of reflection because it makes me refocus my life on HIS blessings, which are the things that bring me joy and carry me through every second of every day. 

This past week has been different, to say the least.  But, in the highs and lows, I know the Lord is sustaining me and training me for what lies just around the corner… that is both scary and exciting!!!!

• Monday night I got to spend some quality time with my girls, parents, brother and niece cleaning up the camper and boat from our last camping trip.  It was a good reminder of fun times I had when I was a kid.  I had some good chats with my brother about his move to Texas, and really soaked in the reality of the move.  With each event and conversation God is preparing me for the move, and for the work that must be done here after they leave.
• Tuesday my mother sat at our house for several hours waiting for our new washer to be delivered and installed.  She is such a blessing!  She gives all she has, even to the point of exhaustion.  She thinks of others first and does everything she can to make life better and easier for those around her.  I have watched her give of herself until she is literally sick in bed.  Though I try to stop her from doing so much, I see her heart and desire to serve.  Who am I to take that away from her?  I pray that I grow older I have a heart of service like she does.  We all have our faults, but faults aside, she is an amazing woman and such a blessing to me. 
• Wednesday morning I took my youngest daughter to her post-op neurosurgeon appointment.  The surgeon was amazed at her healing and discharged us from his care.  He was pleased with how the surgery went, with how she is recovering, and with the very minimal risk of her venous malformation returning.  She was just as excited as I was to know that she is now “officially” a “normal” kid again.  She is such a precious blessing to me. 
• The same morning we got good news about my youngest daughter, my oldest daughter broke out in a rash from head to toe, had a low grade fever and a nasty case of Swimmer’s Ear.  I am happy to report that she is now better and back to being herself. 
• Between doctor appointments and rashes that keep little girls from daycare, I managed to stay home Wednesday so my husband could go to work.  I did some work from home, but while the girls rested and watched movies, I did some MAJOR house cleaning.  I cannot begin to tell you how great it feels to clean out closets and throw away the junk that accumulates.  I don’t need that clutter in my life and was happy to get rid of it!
• Thursday I was able to celebrate a small victory!  I have been struggling with my weight my entire life!  I lost 85 pounds after my second daughter was born, kept it off for 2 years, then it started creeping back up!  I gained 25 of those ugly pounds back and have struggle for almost 2 years now to get it off.  I finally started in the right direction on my scale, after doctor visits, long talks with my WW leader and encouragement from my dearest friend.  .4 pounds is not a lot, but when you are constantly gaining or staying the same, it is HUGE!
• Friday I learned that a dear friend of mine had an incredibly tough week.  Actually, she has had a tough year.  But, in the midst of all she has faced, she has been an amazing example of God’s strength and dignity poured out in flesh.  Even when she is struggling and wants to throw a pity party, she continues to look to the Lord and praise Him.  She speaks with wisdom and acts with honor.  She is my mentor and such a blessing to me.  I love this dear woman and her husband as though they are my own family, flesh and bone.
• Saturday was one of the best days of the week!  We worked so hard inside and outside of the house, finishing up projects that have been on our “to-do” list for months!  At the end of the day we had a very clean house, freshly painted posts on our front porch, a yard cleared of a dead tree, and a completely planted raised garden.  I am so grateful for the health the Lord has given me to be able to work so hard, for so long. 
• After a long day of work, we treated ourselves to ice cream and just relaxed, cuddles up on the couch, and fresh pedicures!  This time I got brave.... teal toesnails!  GOOD STUFF!
• Sunday service was amazing, a true celebration of our Independence Day and the service men and women who fight for our freedom!  We are so blessed her in America!  The sermon really called me to the carpet on a few things the Lord has been dealing on me with.  It is time to stop sitting on the back pew, wising I was doing what He has called me to do, and get on my feet and start working.  I am super excited to see what is just around the corner!!!!
• Sunday afternoon while my family relaxed I reflected on my week, the sermon, and my future.  I began working out the details of a few things the Lord had laid on my heart, and really just say and listened to Him.  It was refreshing!
• Sunday night I found myself almost in tears as I watch the joy and wonder on my daughter’s faces as we watched fireworks go off in our neighborhood.  We saw a storm coming in, so we went in the house and got ready for bed.  Before we tucked the girls in, I took them upstairs, sat them on the bed with me, and we watched more fireworks form my daughter’s bedroom window.  We snuggled, talked about the pretty colors, and about the fun-filled Fourth of July we were going to celebrate the next day.  They were both so excited they had a hard time going to bed.  I was reminded of those times I shared with my brother.  The nights we were so excited about the events of the following day that we could not sleep.  And the nights that we stayed up all night long just being silly.  Those are memories that I will always keep tucked away in my heart.
• Monday we celebrated our Independence Day.  I had a little talk with the girls about the importance of the holiday and the importance of the military that keeps protecting the freedoms we have here in America.  I am so blessed to have several service men and women in my family.  They make me very proud!
• This marked the last time I would celebrate Independence Day with my brother, sister-in-love and niece here in Kentucky.  As I enjoyed the day, that thought kept creeping up.  So I soaked in every second and enjoyed the time I had with my family.  My sweet husband was so sick he could not enjoy the celebrations with us, which really took some of the fun of the day away, but he did what he could. 

After some fun times at a carnival, eating ice cream, playing with sparklers and watching fireworks, we all crawled in bed… completely exhausted.  All I could think about as I laid in bed that night was how truly blessed I am.  I deserve nothing good, yet God continues to pour out His love and blessing on me.  I pray that I never take them for granted and always have a grateful heart.