My heart rolls like a wave hitting a wall. Its now at the base of a wall that it cant climb or go around. I have no tools to get me over it and the weight of emotional hurt, betrayal and despair seem to chain me to the ground. I call to my Father. He comes. " Shhh" He quietly says. His voice bringing comfort. "Father, please break theses chains and tear down the wall that is in my path" I ask. "Shhh" He says again as he sets my on my feet, like the hurt child that I am. Peace surrounds me followed by a still small knowing. My Father isn't going to break down this wall ( although He could). Instead, Hes going to meet me here where I am. At the base of this obstacle. Everyday. For as long as it takes. We will talk & share as daily He gives me the tools I'll need, and teaches me use His Power to break through the heavy chains that tie me down. When I finally reach the point where I'm ready to climb over the wall that's in my path, He will be with me. Encouraging me. Strengthening me. Never leaving me, He will come along side me as we face this obstacle together. So that one day I can do the same for one of His other children, who might be facing a wall of their own. 1 Kings 19:12 After the earthquake, there was a fire. But that fire was not the Lord. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and be brave. Don’t be afraid of those people because the Lord your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. Matthew 28:18-20 So he came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.”
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The other parent. A touchy subject. I'm not talking about the other biological parent. I'm talking about your co parent! What? You thought that just because your the parent in your home that means you are the only parent in your home? Wrong. Us single Mama's need to remember we are never doing this alone. Never. Not for one second have you or your children been unattended by your Heavenly Father. We are Co-parenting with God! In Psalm 68:5 God promises to be a father to the fatherless. For most of us, even though we are not fatherless, we may have a fatherless home. Sometimes its easy to get wrapped up in life as we are providing for our children. We forget that we are not the one in charge here. Mamas are put on this earth to kiss the ouchies and make them better. To comfort broken hearts. To encourage laughter. To help our kids see joy and love. To help them feel safe and protected. But our main job is to show them that their Heavenly Father has so much love for them. He knows how many hairs are on their head!( Matthew 10:30) Now Mama, you'll all agree, we love our babies bunches....but seriously. My babies are 13 & 12 and I have NO idea where to even begin counting hairs! But the other parent does. That's how much time He spends with them. I have been given these sweet children as a gift, entrusted to me but for a while.They are His children. We are called to raise them the way He would have us. What does this mean? Trust Trust God to equip you. You are not raising these precious children alone! (Hebrews 13:20&21) Trust that our Heavenly Father has a plan for your child's life. Pray that he will show you how to guide them in the way He wants them to go. (Proverbs 2:6) Trust that He will make His plans known to your children in His time. ( Proverbs 3:5&6) Some times I feel like my sweet kids have endured so much in their few years on this earth. My heart hurts to make every bad experience go away. On days like this I turn to Romans 8:28~ We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan. And then to James 1:2-4 ~ My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be. Through the hurts in their lives my children can still be all that God wants them to be. I choose daily to Trust God with my children's lives. I Trust Him with my own life. This does not mean I have a laid back attitude on mothering. On the contrary! God has called me to do this and I take my work for Him very seriously. But I Trust, and I pray. And I don't worry ( most days) about what my children will grow up to be like. Because I choose to Trust that where my parenting skills are lacking, that is the part that my co-parent has covered. This may or may not have anything to do with being a single Mama...but I have a had time receiving help graciously. My mother says this is just hereditary :-) When help is offered....It makes me uncomfortable. Feelings of inadequacy swell. It often makes me sad. I feel the giver is seeing into a part of me that I don't want to share. Im an avid DIY ( Do it Yourselfer) You see the DIY all over Facebook and Pinterest. All theses projects made to Do-It-Yourself. No help needed. No reason to rely on anyone else. All these DIY suggest that we dont NEED others that we can do it all ourselves. Now putting those wonderful DIY projects aside...lets talk life. Scripture never expresses for us to go through life with a DIY attitude. The path to salvation alone reflects a need to rely on another.. Our Sweet Savior. In fact it plainly says in Hebrews 10:25 that we are to meet with each other to be an encouragement to each other. 1 John 1:3 calls us to have fellowship with other Christians. James 5:18 says we are to confess our sins to each other and pray together. Hebrews 12:15 tells us make sure that no one misses out on God grace, that not having Grace and Faith is the root of bitterness. Christians were never meant to Do It Ourselves. We are called to interact, to fellowship, to show grace. We're to be the fruit of Gods Spirit showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. So what do all these things have to do with my stubborn ( possible hereditary) attitude of not accepting help? When I choose to refuse the help offered me, whether that be a meal, an invitation to help with the kids or the house, providing something that we do in fact need, or even my most uncomfortable...monetary help. When I choose to refuse the help I'm refusing to show grace to the giver. I lose my joy that God asks me to show, I let it steal my peace and often my self control. And does the well- meaning- sincere- of -heart- giver of the blessing see me as showing love at their help? 9 times out of 10 probably not. Psalm 121 says that my help comes from The Lord. When I pray and ask for help it isn't always His plan to have my needs fall from the sky. I'm learning that sometimes those prayers are answered through the blessings I receive through others. My help comes from The Lord in the way He so chooses. With every blessing I have the choice to show grace or plant a seed of bitterness in myself or in the giver. Knowing these things still does not make it easier to receive help. All I can do is ask that My Sweet Savior will please keep showing me and my family how to receive blessings with Grace and to have the will to then bless others. A few people who daily bless me and how they help me!
Do you know Jesus as your Savior ? Your Eternal, Forever Father & Faithful Friend? 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. God’s purpose is life and peace: God desires for you to have life and peace now and for all eternity.”I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b Recognizing the problem: sin and separation: We were created to know, love and glorify God. When we choose to go our own way, living life in willful disobedience to God, we are choosing to be separated from God both now and for all eternity.The Bible says we are sinners…“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 But God is love…“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 And God is also just…“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 We cannot save ourselves: Because God is Holy, He cannot allow sin to enter into Heaven. Most people attempt to save themselves by their own efforts, good works or church attendance. The Bible says…“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 How then can a sinful person enter Heaven where God allows no sin? We are saved by grace: The good news is… in spite of our sin, Christ died for us.“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9” But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 Responding to God’s gift by faith: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 Would you like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life? “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5 If you would like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life, you can pray the following prayer: Lord, I confess that I have sinned and I ask You to forgive me. I’m sorry that my sin has hurt You and other people in my life. I know that I can never earn salvation, but I come to You and trust in what your son Jesus did for me on the cross. I believe that You love me and that Jesus died and rose again so that I can be forgiven and come to know You. I ask You to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I trust You with everything, and I thank You for loving me so much that I can know You here on earth and spend the rest of eternity with You in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen. What do I do now?CELEBRATE! Cause the angles in heaven sure are! Your now apart of Gods family and I'm delighted to call you my sister - in - Christ! Now...Just like a new baby needs to be cared for and nurtured in order to grow physically, a child of God needs to be nurtured in order to grow spiritually. Here’s how you can begin growing in Christ: Tell someone: Tell a pastor or Christian friend who will help you grow and find your gifts of service. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11, 12 Be baptized: This is your first act of obedience. “So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:48 Join the church: The church is where God’s family encourages and supports one another.”How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 Pray and read your Bible daily: God communicates His will for your life through His Word and prayer.”Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 Seek a godly mentor: A mentor teaches you the ways of God and how to live a holy life. “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” Titus 2:3 Its a nice idea, to surrender all our sin, cares and burdens to our precious Savior. But how often do we REALLY surrender all? Being a single Mama I struggle with control. I LOVE to have a plan, schedules, guidelines, knowing what is coming next and at what time. Between jobs, kids, school, sports and church activities there are a lot of ducks that need to be in nice neat rows sometimes :) Its easy to say " Well God made me this way...a control freak". But really that's just an excuse to behave the way I want. God didn't make me to be in control. He made me to surrender my life to Him and in turn allow Him to control everything in my life. He comes right along side me on every road I'm on, but I know from experience that if I don't take time out to get direction from Him we will all go off roadin' really quick! Hes always there with me, but until I surrender everything in life to Him my family will never be on the road that He wants us on. This is a daily struggle for me. But I am thankful because my Jesus is Patient! Hes working on me and through me! "People might make many plans, but what the Lord says is what will happen." Proverbs 19:21(ERV) This is a picture I captured while sitting on my porch swing last night. Like normal, it had been a busy day and I was tired. Not sure what made me go outside after the kids were in bed but I'm so glad I did! I sat there on the swing gazing at the beautiful gray clouds, feeling the breeze blowing, hearing the crickets singing. So still, so quiet. It was perfect. Peaceful. And that got me to thinking...How can I feel peaceful? My life totally upside down right now! I don't know if it will ever flip right side up again! How could I possibly feel peace when facing so much uncertainty in my life, so much stress, and pain. But what gives peace at impossible times? Only one thing... Jesus. Its His gift to His precious children. I might not know where my sweet kidos and I will live, or how He will provide. But one thing I know is that He will provide!Physically, mentally, spiritually He provides. All that's asked of me is to put my family, future, faith and trust in Him. Thank you Jesus for your peace which surpasses all understanding! Scriptures for Today: ~Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Isaiah 26:3 God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. Like most moms I find myself constantly running on empty. The gas tank gets empty on the mornings when I am running late and don't have time to stop. The cabinets and fridge always seem to become empty during the weeks where I don't have the time and energy to go to the grocery store. The closets and dressers get empty and when that happens it means the laundry room is FULL so that's not good either! I'm sure most moms can relate to all of this plus much, much more.
All of these things sometimes leave me feeling mentally & emotionally empty. Like yesterday, we had a GREAT Memorial Weekend with my cousin and her family. So much love and laughter going on for 2 days made the kids and I so happy & lighthearted. And then we had to say goodbye. We head down the road and the empty feeling sets in around me. The feeling of missing my family already. The heaviness of knowing that I'm going home to a pile of dirty clothes and a roof that will be leaking weighs down my mind and heart. The reality of the week ahead and the bills that are due totally empty's that happy lighthearted feeling that I'd had. Then the kids fall asleep and then the car really seemed empty. Its and hour and a half drive home and I was running on empty ( not the gas tank this time though thank you Jesus). But He used this empty moment to teach me. As I was driving the scenic rout through the Hoosier National Forest the sun was shinning through the trees, the beauty of creation showing all around and I started to talk to Jesus about my empty feeling. I started to tell Him what was making me feel empty. I was honest with my Heavenly Father. I didn't have to hide the empty feeling from Him. I didn't have to really explain it to Him either! He knows already because he knows my heart. He knows my heart because I chose to let him live there. I chose to let him fill me with His Holy Spirit, follow Him and accept the position He gave me as His precious daughter. I am never truly empty because I am His! Jesus is always there ready to fill me if I just ask Him. That place where we feel empty is never out of His reach. Its my choice to live in emptiness or live in the fullness of Jesus. I'm thankful that yesterday He took one of my empty moments to remind me of how full I really am when I'm looking at Him. Scriptures for Today: ~ 2 Corinthians 6:18 " I will be a father to you and you will be my sons and Daughters, says the Lord Almighty". ~ Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit . ~ Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.. As a single Mama I feel I have a major enemy in business. Satan will use business in life to rob me of the joys of the day. Yesterday was one of those busy days. We had school and work. An Afternoon of errands to run, meetings, church and somewhere in all that I knew my sweet kidos would need supper! By the time we got home we were all ready for bed. But after Id tucked my sweet kids in I turned from their rooms and saw my house! This same house that I had spent hours cleaning just days before promising myself the entire time that Id NEVER let it get that messy again. But there it was, on the verge on looking like the same mess Id already cleaned. So not wanting to feel defeated I start to the kitchen. I grabbed the Dawn and started with the dishes. I know its silly but some of you will get it- I would have rather stood there in one spot washing dishes then make numerous exhausting trips back and forth from dishwasher to cabinet to draw unloading it. So I stand there, felling zapped from the busy day and an old song pops into my head, so I start to sing: The joy of the Lord is my strength The joy of the Lord is my strength The joy of the Lord is my strength The joy of the Lord is my strength. I notice as I'm singing that my mind feels clearer, my heart feels full of peace and my body feels so much lighter. This was a moment of wonderful joy for me.! Alone with my Jesus ( and a sink full of dirty dishes) I was able to bask in His love and find joy in Him! Weariness and business did not win, they weren't allowed to steal my joy last night! I had sought only strength to take care of the chores at hand, but He blessed me with so much more. ~Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, " Go and enjoy the choice food and sweet drinks and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, For the Joy of the Lord is your Strength." View "The Joy of The Lord is my Strength" Song The reasons I chose the name Single Mama for Jesus for this blog were various. 1~ Single I'm currently going through a divorce. Very sad when a family crumbles, however how freeing spiritually it is to be placed in a position to grow in Jesus alone and as a single individual depending solely on Him! 2~ Mama I'm Mama to my sweet kidos. As is my own mother my Mama. My whole life there has been something so soothing and comforting in that name. Occasionally I'll get a Mom, Mommy, or in a moment of their pure irritation a MOTHER! But for the most part I'm Mama and always have been. It is a joy to hear my children call me Mama and I can think of no other name Id ever love better! 3~ For Jesus Jesus GAVE me these to precious gifts. They are under my care for a little while but they are His children! He loves them way more then I could ever even imagine ( just as He does all His children). He's entrusted them to me to teach and train them so that they will grow in Him and share Jesus with others. But most important Hes called me as their Mama to lead by example. So its up to me to learn, lead, an practice what I want them to know. I want them to know that without Jesus we can do nothing. I want them to share that with Jesus all things are possible. I want them to remember that we are never alone He is always with us . I want them to believe in Jesus and know that all salvation rests in Him. I want them to know, share, remember, & believe that the greatest thing in life is to love God, love others and let that be what changes the world. So what do I need to do as a Single Mama? I need to know that I cant do anything without Jesus! I need to share with others how all things are possible when you have Jesus in your heart! I need to remember that no matter what I'm walking through I'm not walking alone, my Jesus is right here with me! I need to love God with all my heart! I need to show love to those who ,lets face it, are not so lovable at times.....even when in the checkout line at Walmart! Can I do any of this on my own power? No. And that's ok. In fact that's better then OK! Cause my Jesus can do anything! Even use a simple single Mama like me. Scriptures for today~ John 15:5 Philippians 4:13 Isaiah 41:10 Acts 16:31 |
AuthorI'm a single mama of 2 great kidos seeking and searching for Gods will in our lives :) Archives
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