Tuesday in "other" Words

We all have days where we just cant and don’t complete all we need to accomplish....I’ve joked before I need more than a 24 hour day..... but alas... its all I have. I’m sure a very good thing....

Its good to remember we cant do it all, and we shouldn’t busy ourselves so that we forget about what is most important. I have been in that trap many a time. A human doing, not a human being.....

Recently with school, and work, and product, my home, my husband, my children...my family....my church..... my blog....... having to push back deadlines, or dates I wanted things accomplished.... I just wasn’t getting it all in every day... although I tried as I might..... realizing this and desiring to do a job worthy.... I had to back up and re evaluate what I was doing, when and how can I fit it all in.....

These time I have come to realize, are not bad things.... but good.... although I was struggling, these times bring me around to focus on what is important....They remind me of my limitations. When I am busy, busy every day...... it detracts from my focus.......my true focus and priorities....

God
Family
Church/friends/Community

These are my priorities.... yet sometimes they get mixed around. *Ü* But God who is mindful.... brings me back around... and is always gentle... I may be hard on myself for a bit... but He is not... After all the things I want to accomplish is not wasting my time, I just have to be more mindful of my ability.... keep it in check.... and trust the one who is Infinite.

"We leave something incomplete everyday, whether it's an area of housework, school, work, friendship, ministry~ because we are finite."
~ from The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer~

Finite: having definite or definable limits.

This quote is is fitting for me right now... and speaks truth.... I do leave things incomplete. I am finite.... but the good news about all of this... God is not!

"Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. "
Psalm 147:5

He knows me and you. He is mindful of our frame. I know for me, I am very strong and independent, and capable... but I am finite. When I am strong, and I am independent, sometimes I get a head of myself and my incapability’s spring up as a reminder. Its not that being strong and independent are bad attributes, but when they get in the way of my relationship with the Lord or other relationships.... I get a wake up call and I am reminded...I need to be dependant........

My heart should say.....

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.Psalm 73:25-26 (NASB)

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!Romans 11:36 (NIV)

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Take it to the Lord, all you have to give

Tuesday in "other" Words

"Why do our days seem so unimportant, filled not with romance and adventure but with duties and demands? We feel unseen, even by those who are closest to us. We feel unsought--that no one has the passion or the courage to pursue us, to get past our messiness to find the woman deep inside. And we feel uncertain--uncertain what it even means to be a woman; uncertain what it truly means to be feminine; uncertain if we are or will ever be.......And in all the exhortations we have missed the most important thing of all. We have missed the heart of a woman."

Quote taken from: "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge



I feel or sense form this quote why our days might seem so unimportant and not filled with romance or adventure is because we are focused on the wrong things. We get so caught up on the day to day demands of life. Honestly, it’s hard not to. Depending who we are, and where we are in life our struggles will vary.

“We feel unseen, even by those who are closest to us. We feel unsought--that no one has the passion or the courage to pursue us, to get past our messiness to find the woman deep inside.”

I have to ask a question to this statement. Instead of just starting off We feel, I need to ask Why do I feel……I know for myself I have been caught trapped in my thoughts. I have based my self worth off of what I did and what I had accomplished. I have also beaten myself up because of what I set out to do and failed. When I didn’t measure up, I was miserable! When Im not at the top of my game, miserable. So many things, big or small can take my mind captive and focus only on the ugly.

I have since learned I need to focus on what has already been accomplished in me! It can go deeper this, but what I want to point out is our mindset. Who do we trust?

Sometimes we loose sight of what really matters each day and we focus on the wrong things. That could weigh anyone down. I’m am not claiming we wont have troubles if we trust in Christ. No... That is not true. The truth is we need to learn to recognize attitudes, thoughts and feelings and then aligning them to the word of God. Truth!

Who are we pleasing here on this earth? What are we measuring our standard by? What are we as woman deciding what is true of woman and our hearts? Do we rely on what this world tells us or what God teaches us?

When you begin to feel overwhelmed with what ever is coming your way, I encourage you to take time for yourself, reflect, pray, maybe seek wise council from a confidant or older woman from church.....But above all seek God! Remember we limit Him and what He can do and the glorious change He can bring in us if we do not come to Him in these times. He longs for us to come!

Life can get messy and complicated. Some of it is do to sin, other times its just this crazy world tripping us up and our thoughts bashing us in. Either way, we have a Marvelous God who is quick and willing to forgive, restore and set us back on a right path. He is a God of truth and a God of comfort. We have a God who understands.

2 Corinthians 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

Psalm 59:10

My God in His loving-kindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes

Psalm 33:20

Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.


Please visit: As Gold Refined She has her own thoughts along with others who participate each Tuesday.

PS.

I love the song she ha playing on her blog when I went to link! Its fitting. Its called Every time I breath. If you can... listen. It will bless you. Promise!

With Christs Love, Lisa~

Tuesday in "other" Words

"A family without a commitment to the God of the Bible has no hope of stemming the tide of cultural onslaught. If we mix a little biblical truth, a little secular physchology, a little romance novel idology, and a little eastern mysticism, we will get a deadly mixture of lies. Unfortunately, this is what many Christian families do . . . If we are to experience multigeneraltional faithfulness we must come to a place where we throw off the shackles of our culture and live in the fullness that is found only in Christ. We must be people who live the Word in our homes."


~By Voddie T. Baucham, Jr~

Looking back on the last 13 years of homeschooling I can and sadly admit I have not always been the best example for my children. Being home with them 24/7 these kids have gotten to know their momma. The good, the bad, and not so pretty. Honestly, they have seen me at my worst and best! How could they not!

Although, I just shared I have not always been the best example for them, in a contradicting way... I have been. When my kids have witnessed me at my worst, they also witnessed me humble myself and apologize if need be. They see me and witness my struggles yes,but also the victories!!

Romans 3:23-24 says this...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

When we fail and when we succed its important theat we point to the Cross. Jesus... He is the one we learn to lean on, Jesus is the one that sets captaives free! He is the one that can offer peace to my children in this crazy mixed up workd, but I have to live it, not just preach it.

One of those perks of homeschooling I have learned is that daily, I have an opportunity to live my faith in front of my kids. Perfect or not....I have opportunity's to show Gods love and mercies. We can be mindful of the important things, and make sure the value of becomeing children of God is not becoming perfect people, but willing. Every day is a new day! *Ü*

What an opportunity we have!


Deuteronomy 4:9

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

If you would like to read more Tuesdays in other words, please visit Loni here at Writing canvas

Tuesday in other words

One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

I love Elisabeth Elliott! I love this quote! It is so true! Especially this time of year! Party's for work, family and church gatherings, friends.... buying and making gifts, baking, creating.... you name it we as woman try to do it all, thinking we have the time.... right?

I think it is during this season we can sometimes loose focus on our daily lives and look to tomorrow. Stress can soon follow. Its hard to stay focussed on here and now..... I know this all to well! :) When I read the quote for this week this scripture also came to mind.

Luke 10:38-44 (NASB)

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." 41But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Is this not fitting? As we move into the month of December and begin to feel the pull of perfectionism..... looking to what still needs to be done.... Let us remember Christ and take the time to sit at His feet. I know this is a cliche but, Jesus is the reason for the season! :)

So have a "Mary" Christmas!

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Tuesdays in "other" Words

"The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life."~ James L. Christensen ~

I love this quote, it brings to mind Romans 5:3-4

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

I remember when I was a new believer that I had this idea that Christians were always happy, perfect people. Sad.... but true.... I was in need of disciplining, but didn't even know that I did.

The first few years of my conversion were great! Peaceful even.... I was very involved at church.... children's ministry, missions.... care group at our home.... but after a few years.... and during my pregnancy with Rylee joy and peace began to slip away.... I did not understand why. I did not know if I was "doing" something wrong.... I had no idea.... but I was very depressed.....

During my last month of pregnancy with RyLee I was really bad... I remember crying the phone with my mom questioning my salvation, and feeling very far from God. I was desperate..... I know my mom felt horrible for me.... It was bad.... she asked me to read a few different books in the bible... and me.... being so desperate read all she told me too! no kidding.... right after I got off the phone I read Ephesians, Galatians and all of Romans! I was desperate....

I read and I cried... I prayed like I never did before..... I came to a passage in Romans that just lept right off the page at me....

Romans 8:26

Our Victory in Christ In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

For months, I had felt alone... even abandoned because I couldn't feel Gods presence in my life...... remember... I thought Christians were perfect, happy people... no troubles.... so since I had trouble.... I thought I didn't have God anymore... I felt ashamed of myself.... and rejected by God.... I was missing the big picture.....

That passage in Romans clicked with me for some reason..... I think because my spirit was groaning and I didn't know what to 'do' or say anymore..... I could only weep..... and as time past.... probably another year... I began to realize that it was not God who had moved from me.... but me who had moved from God...... I was a human doing.... busy at church... busy at home.... busy with friends.... busy doing church stuff..... but not busy in my devotion to the one I was 'doing" all these things for! it was the outer exterior of who I was... that I had put so much time into.... not the inner. :) like I said.... I really needed disciplining..... but never asked.... nor did it dawn on me that I needed it.... till that point in my life.....

I have been through many valleys in my life since then..... some refining walks through the valley, some trials..... but I have become reassured it is only for a season, these times do not always last for ever and fruit awaits in the end..... a realization that God is shaping me and growing me... loving me along the way.... so that I will be able to rely on Him and handle situations and people they way I should.... through Him and His love and righteousness.

My most recent trial/challenge and character forming situation has been a very personal one. Just in the last few weeks, I have come to a realization about myself and it has been humbling and liberating!

4 years ago... maybe 5.... I began to have difficulty with personal relationships and I started pulling away. I realize now I was doing more than pulling away. I was avoiding. Avoiding hurt and avoiding rejection. I felt I was being made to be the bad people. I was attacked, accused, lied about and I became increasingly tired of these situations. I was hurt and sad...... so instead of confronting, I moved away.... thinking that if I removed myself..... and just kept going forward.... it would all work out..... Ya... right.... funny thing.. God is not a God to leave things undone is He?

I was at a woman's gathering a few weeks ago, and the subject matter had to deal with hurt and rejection..... I was hopeful I would be able to gain wisdom and a plan to overcome my hurt... but didn't even consider the rejection aspect of the message, till i showed up! What I learned and realized..... I have deep hurts, hurts from 4 years ago, deeper hurts from 20 something years ago....... and they were hurts that I have not allowed God to touch in my heart. I realized I had only been giving Jesus access to pieces of my heart.... the ones I am comfortable with.... the painful pieces I had not given over to Him, or allowed anyone in.... I moved Him away from those ones.....Just like I moved away from relationships...... I am tired, and I don't want to feel hurt.... I'm trying to avoid it!

The other thing I realized, was that because I had not dealt with these hurts.... when rejection and or hurt arose..... I would see the situation through old wounds.... The woman at the conference related it this way... she put on her gramas sun glasses..... and these old glasses represented the hurt and rejection in our heart..... now realize they were also sun glasses.... glasses that were hard to see clearly out of. I could not see clearly through my hurt and rejection either... and because it was so far hidden in my heart I did not deal with it... and now I too had blurred vision!

I needed to give God access to the hurt and rejected pieces of my heart.....so I can have clear vision when things arise.... not rely on my old vision.... but a new vision..... to respond.... not pull away.....

I could always talk about the hurts... but I have never really dealt with them. This has been a liberating realization....... and I didn't want to keep God from these places in my heart any lobger..... but to give it to Him completely.... I was very devastated when I realized I truly had not done this yet. Its been 13/14 years my friends.....

I am not a perfect person, nor am I with out fault. I look back at the last 4 years and now realize I could have handled things so much better..... but I was looking at them through blurred vision of old hurts.

I love this verse.

Philippians 1:6

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Im so glad!

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Tuesdays in "other" words

This week's quote is:

"We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle."~ Oswald Chamber~

Ugh... we are built for the valley hu? prove our mettle (vigor and strength of spirit or temperament ) This is a test, it is only a test..... *Ü*

Honestly though.... I do try to think of life situations this way.... it is a test....it is only a test.... some days I pass with flying colors....*Ü* yeah me! Other days...... not so much. OOOOO, I need to work on that........

I have not always approached life this way...... I used to be a bit more negative and beat myself up every time I messed up..... but I realized many, many years ago..... I still learn..... I need to learn.... Just like I did when I was in school! only different.... this is life lesson number.......

When I became a Christina 15 years ago.... I was a pretty messed up young lady..... I wont go into details... but I was bitter, angry and didn't trust anyone.... I could say I was justified to think so too..... but as I grew.... in my faith.... I realized.... I had so much to learn.... embarrassingly to me... it was my thought process and behavior. Things I should have learned while growing up! uh ya....

It was embarrassing sometimes.... I "failed" tests a lot.... I felt like I would be better off living under a rock! As I grew though, I began to understand what it meant to put off the old self... and put on the new..... I was made new.... but it took time for my mind and my heart to be made new. I had many things to learn.... life lessons.... love lessons.... trust lessons.... obedience lessons....it doesn't/didn't happen overnight folks!

Now that I am a little older.... and I hope a little wiser.... *Ü* I would hope that my tests would become less and less frequent( those valleys maybe?).... but ya know what? They don't. They still come daily. Could be life lesson number bazillion and 3 with one of my kids.... could be how I respond to my husband... could be how I respond to the new clerk who is slower than molasses when I am in a hurry....or how I respond to that teenager that just cut me off!!! *Ü* KWIM?

These daily tests shape... and prove who I am. Shapes my character.... my temperament. I cant say I always welcome them..... but then again... I do. I can choose to learn form them... or wilt.... I can grow.... or die.... I can make a choice.... I can decide to think and believe I am loved and fearfully and wonderfully made.... or choose not to. I can choose to see a person for who they are in Christ..... or not.... I can choose to think the worst or the best of a person..... Do I try to be a good willed person? Do I think the worst of people and circumstances? Do I try to see the test in it? I believe we can learn from everything to anything.... that comes our way if we want to. If we want to.

So, although I do not like being in a valley, I do appreciate them. I know they do not last forever, and once I am done walking through it..... I know I am stepping into a season of growth or maybe even renewal. Its like having daily, weekly or when ever AHA moments.

Be Blessed today! No matter if you are in a valley, or on a mountain top! Remember.... this life... is a test... it is only a test.... *Ü*