Christmas in the Real World

I shared this quote in our Christmas letter in 2008.  It has remained with me and I wanted to share it with my blog friends this year.

"Let us avoid the temptation to make our Christmas worship a withdrawl from the stress and sorrow of life into a realm of unreal beauty. It was into the real world that Christ came, into a city where there was no room for Him.


He comes to us, not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us the courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace - His peace - in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace." ODB

Into the real world He came, to save us.

When we make room for Him,

our real lives He changes.

I wish for you, real reading friend, a peace-filled CHRISTmas...

the kind of peace that is a gift only He can give!

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don't be troubled or afraid." ~ Jesus

(John 14:27)

Let's Get Real! ~ Repost

This is a repost from March 8, 2011.  Read it myself this morning and felt the urge to repost it...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to look at someone else’s life and think they have it “all together”…that they’re so happy…so “perfect”…doing so much better than us? Looks are often deceiving!

A friend told me a while back that she sees me and my life as “perfect”. I gasped and almost laugh out loud when she said it. “What? Get real!” I said.

My friends comment bothered me because I thought she knew me better than that. She knows my past (because she was there with me through some of the worst of times), but I guess she doesn’t really know my present.

She sees the thankful and cheerful Facebook posts, pictures of me and my smiling family. She sees the yearly Christmas letters and Christian blog posts. She doesn’t see the in and out, everyday life that I live. The dirty diapers, wiped tears and toilet scrubbing. She doesn’t see the messes. She doesn’t see me tired and weary. She doesn’t see my bad attitude and temper flare up like (it pains me to say) my husband and little sons do. These aren’t things that we tend to post on Facebook or put in Christmas letters, now are they? Nope, we tend to only put the best “out there” for the world to see, don't we?!

Although I’m very, very thankful for all God has done in my life, for His salvation and blessings. And although I continue to grow, learn and draw closer to Him as the days pass, I am not “perfect” and life is not constantly bliss. And I certainly hope that I’m not giving that ‘fake” impression to people. I want to be real! I want my friends to know that they are not alone in their struggles! We may not have the exact same struggles, but we all have some. If I'm always giving off this "better than thou" impression, it makes it difficult for others to be real with me. I don't want that!

I AM forgiven. I AM loved. I AM free in Christ. But, perfect I am not. The only perfect one is God and anything that is good in me, comes from Him.

The day I surrendered my heart and life to the Lord all of my struggles did not vanish. It is a daily process. Life is hard at times. I am all too human. There are times when I don’t feel very “Christian” (mainly when I take the focus off of my Savior and put it on myself). Have you ever been there?

There are days when I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders even though I know it’s not a weight I have to bear alone. Times when I don’t feel like praying although I’ve learned that’s when I need to pray the MOST! Sometimes past habits, thought processes and feelings rise up within me. There are areas where I feel like I should be stronger, more mature, yet I am not. I want to do better, but I battle my sinful human flesh. That’s because I haven’t “arrived” and the truth is I never will. And neither will anyone else, on this side of heaven. My friend is comparing what she sees on the "outside" of me with what she knows is on the "inside" of her.


Let’s get real! Life is not easy. God never promised us that life would be easy.

So what’s so great about being a Christian? God did promise us that if we choose to follow Him, He will be with us and give us the strength we need . Because I know the Savior, I know who IS good! God is good and I know He lives within me! The “old me” didn’t have the reassurance and peace that I now know. The “new me” wants to do better!

Today, despite what I feel or what struggle I’m facing, I know where to turn. When I feel those bad attitudes rising up inside of me, I know WHO can help! No matter where I am or what I have done, I know He is good and will forgive me when I sincerely come to Him. I know He is faithful!

When I feel unlovable, He loves me anyway. He is my loving Father who will never leave nor forsakes me…so in reality I have no need to be lonely or to give into my fleshly desires. When I am weak and weary, He will give me the strength I need. I have no reason to worry, I can cast all my cares on Him. Although I am not perfect, I am covered by His blood. There is hope for me because He is sooo good! Isn’t it reassuring to know we don’t have to be perfect to be forgiven?!

Let’s get real! My life is not “perfect” and I am not "perfect" (whatever that is)! But, His love IS perfect…and that’s what is real!

Do you know where to turn when you feel so much less than perfect? Do you realize that you’re not alone in your struggles? Do you know you are loved? Let’s get real with one another! Let’s turn to the one who IS perfect…and let Him change our lives forever!  Let's love each other through all the imperfection...and grow together!

God is love, and all who live in love live in and God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear… I John 4:16-18

Rise & Shine ~ He did it again!

It's hard to believe it has been a whole week since Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '11!  After a full year of planning and praying, the day came and went.  But, OH, what a day it was!!  

I wish I had the right words to express the praise that is in my heart.  I wish I could tell you just how thankful I am, how faithfully God answered our prayers, how powerfully He worked that day!  I was, once again, blown away by all that took place there.  But, this time it was different for me.  And I can't put words to it yet.

The Rise & Shine Leadership Team with Susie Larson

(Leanne, Tammy, Susie, Judy, Rachel/me. Not pictured: Polly)

I thought I would have time to sit down this week and "hash over" my feelings.  I thought things would slow down a bit once Rise & Shine had passed.  Yeah, not so much!  I must have been in denial. :)  Life is busy (in a good way) and my days are full.  So, today, I sat down with my notes.  I honestly couldn't write fast enough while Susie Larson spoke last Saturday.  I have scribbles everywhere.  So many Holy Spirit filled words of wisdom to take in...and to pray will sink in deep!  The way God spoke through her was absolutely AMAZING!  How do I sum it up?!  I don't know if I can.  Thankful for her!

So, today, I write this blog post to tell you that I don't know what to write!  Sorry to disappoint.  On second thought, pehaps I do have something to write. 

I serve an absolutely AWEsome God!! 

10 praise points (in random order):

1. Susie Larson: absolutely the right speaker for this event!!  One scripturally ground, Holy Spirit filled speaker!  Such a delight to work with her.  She is the real deal!

2. Answered prayers!  Glory, glory, Hallelujah!!  Too many to list!!
3. Twenty to thirty women made a decision to follow Jesus Christ...at a Christian women's conference, ya'll!! 

4. God gave us a word as we prayed for R&S, emancipation.  I believe that word fit the day very well.  Lives truly were changed and women were set free.  One of my favorite things from the day was praying with women up front.  A powerful time.  Praise the Lord!

5. Hannah Burkle from Rapha House did a great job educating us on sex trafficking and how we can help.  
6. A personal one: I was sick an entire week before R&S.  The night before I coughed and coughed, even kept my husband awake coughing at bedtime.  On the day of R&S, barely any coughing...and I didn't cough at all when I prayed and introduced our speaker.  That's an Ah-mazing answer to prayer! 
7. Fabulous volunteers, including a wonderful worship band that blessed our socks off!  And a production team that got the volume just right!
8. Can anyone say, Scratch Cupcakes?!  Wowsers!
9. Sally Baker wrote (just for Rise & Shine) "Conversations With God", a devotional/prayer journal that we gifted to each woman who attended.  What a terrific way to help women beyond just that one day!  It is so cool to me how God brings so many talented people together to make all of this happen.  I love the Rise & Shine leadership gals!
10. Getting to spend the day with so many (almost 400) of God's girls.  Wow, what a blessing!!

More later.  Now, I will sign off with one last sentence.

All glory and honor to Jesus Christ!!

Rise & Shine: Emancipation

It's hard to believe that after a year of planning, Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '11 will be here in only 8 days!  I am getting excited!

We've been praying for the retreat all year, but recently a small group of us started gathering to pray together.  And this week we started praying for every woman who will attend by name.  It's an amazing privilege to pray for these precious gals...and, in the past, it has been awesome to see how God faithfully answered!  We're anticipating great things again for the third Rise & Shine Women's Retreat.

BUT something hightened my anticipation last week.  When we were praying, one of our prayer warriors, Betsy, started crying as she prayed, then she shared a one word vision for Rise & Shine '11:  EMANCIPATION!

e·man·ci·pate  (/iˈmansəˌpāt/)  Verb: 1.Set free

Synonyms: liberate - free - release - deliver - set free

This excites me!  I love it when God gives us glimpses into what He is doing, so we can sit back and watch Him at work. 

I am anticipating women being released from self-doubt and insecurity at Rise & Shine Women's Retreat...delivered from condemnation...set free from the strongholds of the enemy...liberated by God's abundant love...to "Rise" up and "Shine" as ordinary, yet extraordinarily loved women in a dark world, all to the glory of God! 

Yes, we're praying BIG for Rise & Shine '11 and we're believing BIG too...because we serve a GREAT BIG wonderful God who faithfully answers!   

Later, Betsy shared this verse with me:  Isaiah 61:1b-3a "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

You still have a chance to join us, get your registration mailed in...the cut-off is tomorrow (October 22nd).  Click here to learn more.  We would love to see YOU there!

Another Lesson from my 4 year old...Forgiveness

Oh, the things I learn from my children!

A few days ago I raised my voice at my 4 year old.  Yes, I know, I shouldn't do this.  And, yes, I know how important my words are...and that it's not Christ like to yell...and that I wasn't setting a good example for my children.  Yes, I know.  I am ashamed of it.  But, the truth is, I did what I know I shouldn't.

I'm sure you didn't assume I was perfect.  Of course, this all out proves that I am not.  As much as I love my boys and as much as I want to be the perfect mom, I still blow it more often than I'd like to.  Thankful for God's grace...and for continued growth. 

After I raised my voice, I felt terrible.  I asked the Lord to forgive me.  Then, I went with a repentant heart to ask my little Andrew for his forgiveness.  I said, "Andrew, I'm sorry for raising my voice at you.  That was't right.  Will you please forgive me?"  He said, "Yes, I forgive you, Mommy.  It's okay."  I said, "No, it's not okay, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you."  He looked surprised as he replied, "It's okay, Mommy.  I forgive you."  I told him thank you and out of my own shame said I was sorry again.  He said, "I forgive you, Mommy.  It's okay.  I already forgave you before you even asked."     

Did you catch that?  He already forgave me before I even asked! 

Wow!  Tears flooded my eyes...unmerited, undeserved forgiveness before I asked...just because he loves me!  What a relief!  What joy flooded my heart!   

I need to take a lesson from my 4 year old!!  Do you also?

Instead of taking offense, holding a grudge, and critically looking at another's faults; how much better to overlook and forgive...without being asked...not because it's merited or deserved...just because of LOVE!

Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 

Colossians 3:13

Potential

This summer we had an impromptu MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) picnic at a local park.  Five of us moms and our children gathered together for a little fellowhsip time.  I took this picture during our time together.

A couple of weeks ago I was looking at this picture and thought about each of these kids - each so cute, so uniquely created by God (knit together in their mother's womb), each such a blessing, so loved and so special - especially to their mamas and especially to GOD.  They have so much potential!  One may grow up to be a doctor, another a teacher, or a missionary or the president of the United States (Lord, help them!)...and most likely many of them will grow up to be moms and dads.  They could grow to be very influential people!

Then, the thought came to me, they're not the only ones with potential.  God has a plan for each of our lives...and part of that plan for us moms is to be the best mom possible.  MOPS Internationals slogan is "Better Moms Make a Better World" and it's so true.  But, whether you are a mom or not, God has a plan for your life and you can make a difference in this world by touching the lives of those around you!  You have so much potential in Christ!  You can grow to be an influential person!

I only wish we could see ourselves, the way our Heavenly Father sees us.  Our face doesn't blend in with all the others in "the picture".  He loves each of us personally.  He knows just why He created us the way He did.  He cares about every detail of our lives.  He KNOWS we have so much potential IF we will surrender our lives to Him and follow His lead.  He has big plans for His children, plans that might surprise us...but we must look to Him or we will never fulfill them.  We don't have to worry, He will give us all we need to accomplish these world changing feats if we follow Him closely day by day and moment by moment!

Now, let's live up to our potential!!  Seek Him and His will and nothing will be impossible for you!

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

 Philippians 4:13

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those

who love Him"

I Corinthians 2:9

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11 

P.S. There is a registration GIVEWAY over on the Rise & Shine Women's Retreat blog.  You could win a FREE registration for you and a friend!!  Rise & Shine is a great place to learn more about growing to your full potential.  The theme for this year is: "Making An Ordinary Life Extraordinary"!  :)  CLICK HERE to find out how to enter to win!

Equipped

I am the wife of one busy farmer. I am the mom of two energetic little boys. I am also a women's ministry leader, helping to organize a yearly women's conference. I am currently leading a women's Bible study. And recently I took on the role of coordinator for our local MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) group.

Last week as I thought about all of my roles, I started to feel a bit overwhelmed. Especially as I looked at my to do list for the rest of August, September and October. As I have been facilitating a book about “Balance” for our Bible study, I wondered how on earth I was going to balance it all. I felt ill-equipped and unsure of myself.

But then, I remembered the call to each of these roles. I know with out a shadow of doubt in my mind that God called me to each of these ministries.

He gave me my wonderful husband and precious children. To be a wife and mom is a high calling indeed! He knew I was the right wife and mom for them...and no other can fill that role like I can. I take this role seriously because I know God does too. No other ministry tops this one in importance!

Recently I shared here about how the Lord clearly called me to be on the leadership team for Rise & Shine Women's Retreat. What an honor to be on this team for a third year!

A while back I felt Him prompting my heart to start a new women's Bible study. I have seen confirmation after confirmation that it was the right choice and am incredibly thankful.

Then, about a month ago, I again felt the lord pricking my heart to step up to the role of coordinator for our local MOPS group. A role I said “no” to at first. I thought I was too busy and had too much on my plate, but as I read “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby, I felt the Lord stirring my heart that I had said “no” too quickly and that He wanted me to join Him in His activity there. Funny, I was praying that leadership for MOPS would rise up to fill the call. He answered my prayer...just not the way I expected! I stepped into the role and gave up teaching Sunday school for a while.

STILL, I wondered if all of this was too much! Why did God call me (little ol' me) to fill all of these roles? Did I hear Him right?  Could I handle it all?

Then, I read this, “When Jesus asks us to get involved (calls us), He already knows how He will accomplish His work through us. What we need is faith and vision – the ability to see that God wants us to be His instruments, and the He will supply what we need.” Randy Kilgore

Then, this, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your cause like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:3-6

Then, I read this, “Jesus stressed a daily reliance on the Father, who provides for His children day by day...As the Israelites wandered in the desert, they had no way to get food. Miraculously, God provided manna that appeared on the ground each morning. God's provision was sufficient for one day at a time...God wants us to trust Him...it keeps our relationship with the Lord in its proper perspective as He reminds us daily of our dependence upon Him.” Henry Blackaby

THEN, (only one more!!) I remembered hearing Renee Swope speak these words at Rise & Shine Women's Retreat '09, “God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called.”

I am CALLED and, therefore, I am equipped! The truth is: I can't do it, not on my own! But, through Christ's strength and the Holy Spirit dwelling within me, I (along with others) can accomplish His will. As I submit myself to Him, He will give me what I need from day to day, reminding me of my utter dependence and constant reliance on Him. If I will trust Him and commit all that I do to Him, I will see a righteous reward...spiritual fruit. Thank you for that promise, Lord!

The same is true for you, my friend! Each of us are called to fill certain roles in this life. Although we DO have to be careful about overcommiting ourselves, we also have to be open to what He has for us. What is God calling you to? Are you willing to join Him in His activity? If you don't know where He is leading you, ask Him. Then, be prepared to follow. Do you feel ill-equipped? Get in His Word and spend time in prayer. Remember He will equip the called...and go forward in faith!

One more Henry Blackaby quote, “God is looking for absolute surrender. We must have a willing heart to do whatever He asks, and then trust Him to enable us to do it...He loves us enough to involve us in His work, and He refuses to leave us where we are when He knows we could be experiencing much more of Him...” SOOOO TRUE!! Looking forward to experiencing more of Him, how about you?!

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

II Thessalonians 1:11

AMEN!