No matter how dark things appear, light is breaking through, always. The question is, will we see it? When difficulties come, it’s so easy to focus on the challenges and disappointments, and in that, to forget the heart, power, presence, and purposes of Christ. I’ve noticed something lately, something that happens again and again. So […]
Whenever I set New Year’s goals, a part of me knows I won’t accomplish them. But I pull out that new planner anyway, think through all my plans and ideas, and analyze my areas of weakness. Then I summon my inner grit to actually put feet to plans for longer than, oh, I don’t know, […]
Beneath every healthy or dysfunctional relationship, we’ll find boundaries at work. Healthy, God-honoring boundaries lead to increased health; Without them, people begin to hide, trust shatters, emotional intimacy decreases if not dies all together, and isolation grows. When my daughter was younger, one of her friendships turned unhealthy and caused her considerable and consistent pain. […]
Ah–one of my wonderful friends hosted by another wonderful friend. Diana and Jennifer, I am truly blessed to have you in my life.
What’s God asking me to risk? In a nutshell: my independence. Seems as if I keep needing to surrender what I dream about as my preferred life and bravely accept what He wants me to have, and stop the fretting about why He wants me to have a certain lifestyle that for all my life seems to be a variant of the “typical American.”
Oh, that’s a hard one, Elaine! But what a model of obedience and surrender you portray! And I’m not sure about what is the “typical American” but I suspect God’s ways are often quite untypical. 🙂 Hugs my sweet sister!
Elaine! Nice to see you here dear friend. Have you considered that “typical American Normal” doesn’t really exist? If it did we would all be living in Pleasantville. God made each of us unique and a lifestyle to go with it. Embrace the difference. Why? Because you are amazing!
This was beautiful
Momofthree3–thank you–
Diana
Do you take submissions for your blog?
Absolutely! I am a strong believer in community, in Cyber-space as well, and believe we can all grow from one another. 🙂 I love it when we can all share what God is doing in our lives. Shoot me an email. 🙂
Ah Jennifer…you really are a conduit for God’s word…sometimes the words are yours and sometimes the words come from a guest writer…but the words that come through your blog move me again and again. Today, this blog is exactly what I needed to read! Thank you.
Audrey,
It’s amazing how God does that isn’t it? So what does He have you thinking about doing? 🙂
Diana
He wants me to be willing to give up some of my leisurely mornings. What I do with them is less important than my willingness to surrender them to better uses and causes!
Audrey, oh, those would be hard to give up. You’re right it’s the willingness to surrender. Praying for you today.
Diana
I will gladly welcome your prayers! Again, thanks for planting this “nudging” seed within my mind today.
You’re welcome…I think! I feel bad about your mornings. 😦
I think the main key to success (I can only speak for me) is to not try to change the whole world at once. So, I think that I will start with small steps and give up one morning at a time.
Audrey, I think that is an excellent idea!
Audrey, I love hearing how you’re deciding to put action to the way God is nudging you! And I love your focus on obedience and trying not to get lost in the “big picture.”
I’d also add, small steps are great, but I think it is the very act of obedience that leads to success. We only see one part of the picture, but God sees deep into the heart. He also sees well down the road. We may give up a thousand mornings sitting with a single mom struggling to raise her kids.
Perhaps at the end of those thousand mornings she moves, and we’ve never seen “progress” or change. But what we don’t know is, perhaps our thousand mornings did great work inside that ladies heart, a work that God will send someone else to build on. Then perhaps He’ll send someone else to build on that, until one day the sweet woman is connects all those mornings and people to Jesus and opens wide her heart to His salvation and grace.
That, I believe, is when obedience can be hard–when we don’t really “see” the impact or results. And that’s when, like you said, we need to keep taking those steps. 🙂
I must say, Audrey, your series of comments blessed me beyond measure this evening.
So I can pray *with* you via cyber-space. 😉 ..
Holy Father, I thank you for Audrey’s tender heart toward You and the things of You. I pray that You keep her in the palm of Your hand and show her, each day, what You would have her do. And for each step of obedience she takes, I pray You would bless her abundantly. In the name of Your precious and victorious Son, Amen.
Thanks Jen…you touched my heart with this prayer!
I’m glad!