Purpose

There's a mad race to our big purpose in life.  Have you ever noticed we like to focus on the BIG things?   You can't wait to get to high school and immediately the focus becomes what College you're going to and what will your major be. Or you meet someone and start dating, and could this be the one starts to role through your mind.  Soon comes the questions are you going to get engaged?  Then when's the wedding? After the big day everyone wants to know when the baby's coming? A precious bundle arrives and there's more questions will you have another one?  Is the baby sleeping through the night?  Are you giving him/her cereal?  When will this child start crawling?  Talking?  Walking?  What's the plan for the first birthday?  Preschool?  School?  Driving?  College?  Wedding? and the cycle continues.  I think we focus so much on what we think are the big things we miss out on the important things.  Maybe we have a misconception of what the big things really are?   And because of this misconception some of us are stuck between these big events.  Maybe there is no wedding.  Or no baby has arrived.  Some of us realize we were so excited about the wedding we didn't focus on the marriage.  I think we often forget the important things are the times in between.
I would love the Lord to show me what my BIG purpose in life is;  but I'm starting to realize I have purpose in everyday.  It may not be some big thing that others judge as glamorous or fulfilling but it's my purpose.  There are people that only you come in contact with, and there are prayers that only you are praying.  I'm learning that to just focus on the big makes us miss the little blessings, lessons and joy in everyday.  So maybe today you find yourself rushing for the big things,  or waiting for what seems to be the next "important thing" to happen to you.  You might feel pressure and disappointment not being able to see the next step happening.  Maybe you feel stuck and committed to something you didn't even consider because you were so focused on checking off your "big thing" list.  Let me tell you there's always hope.  God doesn't want us just to consider Him in the "big" things he wants us to see Him at work in every moment.  This week lets try to see our purpose in the in-between, the everyday life that we all live. To know the Lord has a purpose for each of us in every moment and live that purpose out.  Have a great week!

The Journey

Alexandrea has been a little sick this week. So we have had the wonderful opportunity to hang out the last few days.  I already wrote about the party and all the fun we had, but I have to tell you something, I got to witness the perfect example lived out by my three year old. I'm trying my best to apply the statement "life's a journey not a destination." This Wednesday Alexandrea was my teacher. We had decided to make cupcakes. The box of confetti cake mix was in the pantry for this reason. Andy had been waiting expectedly all morning for the moment to start the process. When it was time she quickly and excitedly pushed the chair from the table to the counter. Where she hoped up ready to help. There she removed the eggs, poured water and oil, and emptied the ingredient box. When finished with each step she'd ask with a big smile what's next? When instructed she happily followed directions. She loved placing the baking cups in the tins. Please keep in mind this whole process was filled with sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose. Now it was time to fill the tins with the mix. I could see how proud is was,  such a big girl spooning out the mix. After each spoonful she would ask with a grin, "Can I lick it now?" She happily answered OK as she scooped out some more mix every time I said, "not yet."  Her giggle was priceless when it was time. The cupcakes were placed in the oven and the question came, "Can we cuddle while we wait mom?" I loved how her body relaxed into mine after each time she asked, "are they ready now?" She trusted that I knew best.

Do we trust that He knows best? Do we treat the process of life like Andy treated the process of making cupcakes. Do we readily ask what's next? And do it with a smile? Do we realize ALL there is to enjoy along the way, or do we just want the destination? Can we wait in peace when He tells us not yet? What's funny to me is she didn't even want the cupcakes at the end.  If I went to buy cupcakes from velvet (the best I've had) that wouldn't have been as good.  She wanted the process. On a side note we threw them away because she was so sick I didn't want to chance anyone else getting sick. You think, when we finally get there, when we get whatever dream we're rushing through life for, when we've reached the plateau, that we'll look back and realize ..... the true joy was in The Journey?

Romans 8:15

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?"

Why Not

Alexandrea woke up a very disappointed little girl. She loves her school and would rather not miss a day. Today of all days was party day and sweet little baby had a fever. As I was trying to console this upset daughter of mine a voice comes from across hall "Alex have a party at home!". Isabella, my on point problem solver, had the whole day planned for her little sister in less than 15mins. Before I dropped Isa off at school I was instructed about what crafts to make, where the supplies were, what toys were to be given as gifts and quizzed on all info given to me. Needless to say Alexandrea and I had a wonderful day. We cuddled, we made cupcakes, gave presents, cuddled, ate, cuddled, did crafts, had a dance party, and cuddled some more. Have I mentioned there's nothing she loves more than to cuddle?

Cupcakes we didn't eat (fever)

So here's my question. Instead of spending all our energy complaining about what life hands us why not plan a party? Life is full of disappoints but I believe it's what we do with those disappointments. Sure you can't always make cupcakes and throw a party but why not make the best of it. I love the quote "An unhappy person usually needs a change of heart rather than a change of circumstance." So this week with detours and hard ships ask yourself why not? Are you going to let your circumstances steal a great moment or can you make the best of it?

It's a symptom

Do you ever turn on the TV so you don't have to deal with your thoughts?  It can be a nice distraction at times.  Another diversion I've found is burning the candle at both ends.  As I've said before, I don't believe rushing is the root of the problem I face. Rushing is a symptom. Trying to fix an addiction to rushing through life is like taking Advil to fix a headache caused by your back being out of place.  The headache might go away for a while but the true problem still exists. Sometimes I like to just fix the symptom and not deal with reality. Reality can be overwhelming.  In slowing down I've learned that my reality is to worry. Worry worry worry.  I'm not going to bore you with the list of things I worry about because it could go on forever.  I find this truth discouraging.  I am learning that the opposite of worry is to trust.  I am also learning this is a lot easier said than done.  Because instead of trusting I fill my life with stuff so I feel like I don't have time to worry. Unfortunately this doesn't help anything and usually ends in a bad explosion.  I believe I do this so I don't have to deal with the vulnerability of trusting God.  Yep pretty superficial I know, but it is my reality and I believe that realization is a pretty big step.  I don't like looking at my faults face to face.  But in removing the symptom I gain the chance to learn and change.  I've heard it said "the moment you stop learning is the moment you stop growing." I'm learning to be still and know that He is God.  I'm learning there are things in my life that can no longer be covered by business, or hid by the symptom of going going going.  And I am learning that trust is a moment by moment decision.  

Proverbs 28:25

 A grasping person stirs up trouble, 

 but trust in God brings a sense of well-being. 

Help

As I've said before one of the reasons for this blog is to help keep me accountable.  Last fall I had the privilege of hearing Judy Kennedy speak.  She spoke on the subject of seasons. About how God had reasons for different seasons in your life.  That there is a time to give and a time to receive.  She made a statement that has stuck with me over the these last few months.  "There is nothing you can do to change the season you're in."  I must admit I have wrestled with this statement.  Sometimes I love it and other times I hate it.

You see it was the end of July when the Lord revealed very clearly to my husband and I that it was our time to leave the ministry we were a part of.  We weren't sure what the next step was after this but we knew we needed to be obedient.  This ministry was all we knew as adults.  It had been our lives for the last 14 years.  Some people would tell us don't worry you're being obedient God will show you what is next and it'll be quick. But to my dismay, my fix it you can do anything if you work hard enough self, it has been a time of receiving a season that I cannot change.  I like the giving season and that's where I wanted to stay.  Before I entered this season I could easily judge others in it as lazy.  I have learned that in rushing to fix things on my own I missed out on seeing the faithfulness of God.  I will admit I struggle in this season and I desperately want to do what ever I can to get out it.  As you're reading this, can you see I struggle with PRIDE?  For me stepping out of ministry has been a struggle with title but the only title you need to be in ministry is Christian.  I think sometimes I rushed so much to do "the ministry" I missed the opportunities all around me.

Today I'm struggling.  I want to rush into the next thing that God has for me.  I want to know what it is. I could be content in knowing, but I think God is asking me to be content in Him.  Judy also said "if you rush through your season you'll miss it."  I don't want to miss it.  So I'm going to post some scriptures to encourage myself and anyone else whose struggling with me today.

The title of this is help I'm open to your advice too.

Psalm 46:10 
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I willbe exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 37:7

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him; 

1 Peter 5:7
Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.




*****Disclaimer my mom is not here to proof read this please forgive punctuation and spelling*****

Love you Mom