When I first began reading the Christmas story, I’d always start at Matthew 1:18, “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about”. A few years ago, I decided to read the genealogy of Jesus recorded in Matthew 1: 1-17, and I was beautifully reminded how gracious, merciful, and loving God is to us. How thoughtful and compassionate. How overwhelmingly sweet. How grateful I am that God stopped my skipping and put a spotlight on the people on that list.
I find kindred spirits in that genealogy…people who were weak, disobedient, and chose to turn their back on their faithful Father. God put broken people in the line of Christ so that we could understand that no matter our failings, God doesn’t kick us out of the family.
See, I have voices that wander around in my brain that tell me I’m not enough, I’m a failure, I’m weak, I’m a mess, I’m unworthy, I’m not lovable. I’m not capable, wise, or discerning. I’m only worthy of scraps from the table rather than sitting at the banquet.
These are definitely not from my Father. These are thoughts to take captive. Bind up and toss away. They are awful untruths that do not define me. They only fill me with fear and give me a hopeless perspective that no child of the King should have.
Throughout the years, I’ve made lists and even written about who we are in Christ…who I am and Whose I am. I think I could jot down a fair number off the top of my head. Sometimes I wonder if I just think that those descriptors are only true of the Believers who live lives that are not fraught with missteps and mistakes. But then I look at the lineage of Jesus, full of sinners and scoundrels – just ordinary people like us – and I am reminded that God finds us all valuable and worthy, that God’s love is not just for the successful, seemingly sinless people. He loved us so much that He gave Jesus a record of ancestors that we can all relate to pretty perfectly because they are imperfect just like us.
Here are just a few to consider….
Judah was Joseph’s brother. Joseph had a story of tragedy and redemption that is awe-inspiring, but his brother Judah is in the line of the Redeemer. Judah, who sold his brother into slavery, allowed his father to believe his beloved son Joseph was dead, and slept with a prostitute who turned out to be his widowed daughter-in-law (yuck) (Genesis 37-38).
Her name is not listed in Matthew, but Judah’s mom was Leah, the one less beautiful than her sister Rachel, the one whose husband was tricked into marrying her, the one whose husband preferred her sister more, the one who knew loneliness and hurt (Genesis 29).
Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. She hid the Israelite spies, helped them escape, and saved her entire family by trusting in the Lord (Joshua 2-6). Her son, Boaz, married Ruth, a widowed Moabite who had followed her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. Moabites were pagans who did not worship God, but Ruth did. Her son was King David’s great-grandfather, Obed.
David was a “man after God’s own heart” and a hot mess. An adulterer, murderer, and father who did not protect or defend his daughter, Tamar, when her half-brother Amnon raped her. His children struggled and his family fell apart because although he loved the Lord, he did not always follow Him well.
King David’s son, Solomon, was the product of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. Although she is referred to as Uriah’s wife in Jesus’ lineage, not David’s wife. Uriah deserves to be mentioned – he had been one of David’s Mighty Men whose loyalty to both David and his men was admirable. David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, had him killed, and then took his wife as his own. Solomon struggled with lust and the number of women in his life was astonishing!
And, maybe the most poignant for me, are all the people I don’t know anything about…all the “nobodies” who are somebody because God loved them fiercely, completely, and put them in the lineage of Jesus. We are those somebodies because God chose us. All our hang-ups and hurts, all our bruises and brokenness, all our insufficiencies and insecurities, all our off-base thinking and off-hand comments, all our actions, and reactions made in haste without thought, all our trips into temptations and swings into sin…none of those keep God from loving us, using us, and making us His own.
If we could only grasp the depth of God’s love for us. If we could only understand how deeply, passionately, and completely we are loved. God’s love is never unfaithful, never hurtful, never condemning, never wrong. He doesn’t love us in spite of who we are…He loves us as we are…His precious children. His dear ones. The apples of His eye. Chosen by Him for Him. He sacrificed Himself to take on the penalty of our sin. Thank you, Lord! But, He also was born and lived and died for us because He wants us to be His…to know His love, His presence, His peace, His hope, His joy. He wants us to know Him and by knowing Him, love Him.
And now, we are His children! In His family just like all those amazingly imperfect people in that geneology of Jesus.
What wondrous love is this!
He doesn’t love us in spite of who we are…He loves us as we are…His precious children. His dear ones. The apples of His eye. Chosen by Him for Him.
Recently someone asked me what God is doing in my life. What big things has God done? And I had to think…
Sometimes it feels like I’m in a perpetual state of weary and I can’t see beyond the next moment…and other times I’m so desperate for a change that I look ahead with either dread or longing…depending on the day.
But really, God is always working, so the problem is I’m not looking. I’m not paying attention to Him working in my life.
No wonder I feel overwhelmed and sometimes alone in the struggle.
Many nights I lay in bed pondering things. It inevitably leads to anxious thoughts. There are things I can’t figure out, decisions I’m afraid to make, and situations I can’t fix. I tumble them all around in my head and wonder if I’ve missed God’s plan. If I took a wrong turn…
But I believe that God is sovereign so is there really ever a turn made that God can’t use for good? Is there a turn I’ve made that He did not already see coming? Nope and nope. I am where He knew I would be all along. This struggle is no surprise to Him, even if it is shockingly surprising to me.
Many, many times God has reminded me of the value of being thankful. And I am thankful, so thankful for my children, my home, my job, my friends, my family, my life. For love.
It does seem that those very things I am most thankful for sometimes are also the very things that cause the most angst in my life. I wrestle with feelings of fear and failure. I struggle with loneliness even when I am so very not alone.
Sometimes it feels that I stand on a battlefield alone. Arms too tired to raise. Weapons dull and shield cracked. Armor missing. And I wonder why?
I am not alone. How often has God reminded me that He will never leave me nor forsake me? A lot.
In fact, this past week someone anonymously paid a bill I had…a big bill. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed, surprised, and thankful I was. I wish I could find that person and hug them tightly. It was as if God said, “See sweetheart, I am going to take care of you…even when you forget to ask.”
I forget to ask.
I forget to say thank you. I forget to drop the burdens at His feet. I’ll talk to Him and share my struggles and study His word and worship in song, but then I return to the day with the burden still solely on my shoulders.
Sometimes I so want a husband to walk up beside me and put his shoulder under the burden with me, grab my hand, and say, “Dearest, we will fix this together. You are not alone in this.”
It isn’t a ridiculous desire, but I believe that God wants me to truly understand that Jesus is the one who will bear my burdens.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble myself under the mighty hand of God? The hand of God could mean discipline or deliverance. In my suffering am I willing to place my trust, my life, my heart under the mighty hand of God? Am I willing to trust that He will do the best for me? Am I willing to let Him be in control? Am I willing to drop my burden and let him take care of me and mine? Can I let go of my control (imagined control) and my concerns and my cares and let Him have it all?
These past several years have been a continual struggle between trusting God and trying myself. Of thinking I should be able to handle this without so much anxiety, worry, fear, and sin. Of wondering why God hasn’t stepped in and made this all easier by now. And yet, God.
God who blesses in unexpected ways.
God who provides when I forget to ask.
God who makes ways where none seem to be.
God who loves me no matter what.
I have thought a lot about things to thank God for…in fact it is something I repeatedly have to remind myself to do. Today, I want to think about God. I want to know Him better. I want to understand the love of the Father. I want to learn from Jesus how to live gentle and lowly in heart. I want to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit…no, I want to overflow with it.
I want to stop worrying and start living. I want to stop thinking about being thankful, and start living thankfully. I want to stop looking for answers and help from others, and start trusting in Him for the answers and the provisions and the courage. I want to stop living struggle, and live strength.
Father, You are enough. You are more than enough. And because of You, I can live a victorious life. No longer a victim of my circumstances, but rather a victor in my circumstances.
I don’t need someone to step in and rescue me. I just need to trust that Jesus already did!
If that isn’t an hallelujah I don’t know what is!
So, I guess even though my circumstances aren’t considerably better than three years ago, God is working in them to strength me and love on me.
God is always with me, always working, always blessing, always loving, always faithful.
I am blessed. I am loved.
I am His.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
It’s a gloriously slow, snowy morning…quiet and peaceful. All my sweethearts are warm, cozy, and asleep. Me….warm and cozy in my comfy chair, pondering the truth of God’s love.
Recently a friend challenged me to consider what love really is. What does it mean to be loved by God? What does it mean to be loved by another? What does love look like in a relationship? What is it supposed to feel like? I think those were all her suggested questions for pondering…there were probably more, but you get the idea.
I am accepting that challenge.
It’s something I want to understand. I need to understand. Sometimes I struggle to allow myself to be loved. I think in the back of my head and heart I’m waiting for someone to say, “Nope. You aren’t worth it. I thought I loved you, but you just really haven’t lived up to my ideals. You are not ideal.”
Maybe it’s because I’m so intimately acquainted with my failings and my fears and my frustrations…I know myself.
Maybe it’s because I don’t really understand how I can be loved for me, not just for what I do or say or don’t do or don’t say.
Maybe it’s because I don’t understand how much the Father really and truly loves me. I can’t comprehend it. I can’t grasp it. I can’t believe it.
Intellectually, I believe it. But in every other way, I don’t seem to get it.
Why in the world does He want to love me, much less actually love me?
What is it about me that is lovable? What is it about me that is beautiful to Him?
My life has been marked by conditional love…if my behavior, my actions, my accomplishments, my looks, my work, my spirituality, the circumstances all work out, if no one else is available…then I’m quite lovable to some. But if the stars aren’t aligned then not so much…
I think I’m finally understanding that I can’t make people love me (nor should I) and wondrously I can’t make God not love me.
Sigh. There is so much comfort in that. I wish I knew how to live like I know it.
Love….such a huge concept, and yet so simple.
It all comes together in three little words.
God is love.
Three profound little words. Three syllables. Three short little words in a short little sentence that encompass all the meaning the world could ever truly need.
I need love because I need God.
I am daring love to change me. Daring love to strengthen me.
I can do this, because I believe that God speaks truth when He says that He is love.
Love isn’t some feeling I have to feel to live. It is a Person I have to know to survive.
A capital P person.
I keep thinking that some little p person is going to help me understand love. How unfair of me! No one can possibly love me like Jesus does. They can try…and honestly please do! But I can’t expect the love-longing I have in me to be filled by any person.
What person could possibly love me perfectly?
I love my children more than I thought I could possibly love another human being and I fail miserably at it. Daily. How is another person supposed to step into my far less than perfect life and love me perfectly?
What would someone loving me perfectly look like anyway? I mean really.
Sometimes I think I really want the Hallmark movie love…the fairytale, pursue me, happily ever after kind of love.. I thought I had that…but clearly I did not. I kind of had the Lifetime movie love…drama, adultery, betrayal.
But really and truly I want the kind of love that God talks about…the lay-down-your-life love. The no-fear love. The unconditional love. The you are such a mess and I love you anyway love.
Already have it.
Have always had it.
Just keep forgetting it.
I believe that when I grasp how loved I am by God, I will be better at receiving love from others. When I understand that I’m worth loving because I’m the me God made me to be, then I can love without fear.
And be loved without fear.
I’m working on it. I’m making an effort to allow myself to be loved and to not try so hard to earn love…to let go of the trying. To let go of the working at being lovable.
I’m probably more lovable when I’m not trying so hard anyway.
There are verses about love that I love. Verses that remind me that love is more than just feeling warm and cuddly. Love is bold and daring. Love is action. Love is strength.
There is no fear in love because perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
I love you Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1
I have loved. I have trusted when it was really, really difficult to trust. I have leaned in to anxiety and pushed through fear and determined to know how to love well and received love well and see God work
I have succeeded and I have failed. I have opened up my heart and I have closed it as quickly…only to break it back open again. I have softened my heart and hardened it…and allowed it to be massaged back to tenderness. I have laid awake with fear and closed my eyes in prayer for peace. I have determined to understand this thing called love.
It is challenging. It is terrifying.
Love is all the beautiful things and all the heartbreaking things. But isn’t that life? Isn’t life about living messy?
Love is messy..
When Jesus was beaten, whipped, and bloodied for me, it was messy.
When Jesus carried that horrific cross down the Via Dolorosa, it was messy.
When Jesus hung on that scandalous cross dying, it was messy.
A magnificent mess of love.
God loves me in my messiness. God loves me in my chaos. God loves me in my fears, doubts, anxious thoughts, and frustrations. God loves me regardless of how well I love Him.
He will always love me.
I pray my heart grasps the deep, deep love of Jesus.
I pray my heart opens wide for that love.
I pray my heart learns from that love how to give and receive love well.
About three months ago I began a program to get my teaching license and eventually my Masters in Education. At the time it seemed like a really good thing…even though I don’t have the money to pay for the program nor is the time to do it clearly evident. In fact when I was interviewing with the head of the program, he questioned whether it was possible for a single mother of 5 to do the program much less teach full time. I assured him it was possible – I had actually already done it…totally a miracle by the way.
And I need another miracle. I need help!!!
O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me. Psalm 71:12
In every form available.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1
I have to be honest I’m having one of those days when it just seems like nothing is going to be doable. And getting my children to seriously put some effort into helping is more than frustrating. And the house seems to be crashing around me at the same time everything I have to do is crashing as well.
And today I have a fever, a wicked bad sore throat, body aches, and I just want to lie down and sleep…well, actually at the moment I want to lie down and cry.
I didn’t use to be prone to tears, but lately I feel like I’m on the verge at all times. It just seems like I can’t possibly handle everything God has given me. And the future just looks harder and harder…
Today my Bible study was on Philippians 4:6-7. I’ve been studying Philippians for months so I knew these verses were going to show up sooner or later. They used to be my mantra, but then I decided to put my big girl pants on and actually live by them not just chant them to myself.
Apparently I’ve forgotten how to do that of late. I’m just an absolute mess of fear, worry, anxiety, sorrow, and frustration. I don’t want to be this girl.
Just now I was downstairs trying to get my children to do something, anything, to help…I was tripping over dogs, cars, toys and clothes (which is hazardous with a broken foot). There are dishes in the sink and more laundry than you can comprehend. Even though today my little girls are outside without jackets, in two days we are expecting more snow and sleet so I can’t put all those blasted coats, scarves, boots, and gloves away. And they are all over the place. I finally just designated a room for them to be everywhere…the foyer was embarrassing. I know taxes are going to be due about the same time as tuition…that is another God sized task…huge. (There is actually a part of me that is excited to see how God provides for them! The other part of me is terrified.) The other day I met with a school official about one of my children and the learning issues she has – I drove home in tears (shocking…tears). In the next few weeks I have to fit in practicum hours and I can’t even figure out where they are going to magically appear. What is going to drop so I can do that? Something’s gotta give.
I kinda feel like I’m just the one giving lately. I don’t think I have much more to give.
Unfortunately at this moment I feel like giving up. I feel like just crawling under the covers and forgetting about deadlines, appointments, assignments, finances, houses, issues, illnesses, learning issues, and everything else.
I hate being like this. I don’t like using that word “hate” but it fits. I really don’t want to be this way. I want to live in victory. How can I feel so defeated when I have God? It is so hard to keep my focus on Him.
I started today with Him and tonight I will end with time with Him. But somewhere in between I keep getting sidetracked by all the minutia of the day…who am I kidding it isn’t just the day…it’s everything all the time.
It’s so much. I can’t keep up mentally, physically or emotionally. I just can’t.
I’m crying UNCLE!
So now what?
I don’t know. I can’t really call uncle…just because I give up doesn’t mean things stop or go away. I’m still a single momma. I still have 5 children. I still need to take care of them and our home and our finances and our future. I still need to get up and live this life.
Lord, how?
How do I move forward when I feel so overwhelmed?
You say that I can trade burdens with you – that yours is easy and light. I want that. I want easy and light. Lord, what does that look like…I mean practically? When there is just so much to do and so many emotions and thoughts rolling around inside of me? How do I untangle the mess of me?
Lord, I think I can’t just give you a burden…I think I need to give you me. I want to jump in your arms and rest…sleep. I want you to handle everything for me. I can’t hide though Lord. I have to DO something? What do I do?
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.
2 Chronicles 20:12, 15, 17
I’m really praying about this.
I think what I do is just do this day…just take this day and its mess and do it…and rest in the fact that God has my tomorrows.
Do what I can…honestly, right now there just seems to be too much to do…too much for one person with limited resources.
I think the thing I need most is time. Time to do all the things that need to be done so there isn’t so much to do. Do you know what I mean?
If I could just get rid of some things, de-clutter, organize, and take care of all the house projects that stare at me daily, maybe that would help me get past some of the stress. Maybe. I hate to use the “if I could just…” phrase, because part of me thinks that I just have to learn to let go and let God. Just not sure what that means…you know, what does that look like?
I have a basement that should be dealt using a shovel and dumpster…a car that needs to be power washed on the inside…an office that has way too many papers all over the place…and children’s rooms that have been taken over by clothing and damp towels…honestly…it’s enough to drive me bonkers. I think I’m pretty close to bonkers. And that’s just annoying little stuff. Why does that stuff make me so nuts?
The other day there was a tornado warning and I thought for a moment, “Hmmmm….”
Like that’s a viable options!?! I could just take my kids, the dogs and a very few precious things and the wind could have the rest.
We’ll cram into a little apartment and just be us and a few things. That sounds lovely…it’d probably only be lovely for about 2 hours and then I’d regret it.
I know from emails and messages that many of us are feeling overwhelmed by our circumstances…and those circumstances include all the pain and sadness of divorce and single parenting.
That pain and sadness get better…I don’t think I’ll ever not have sadness at what my children have lost, but God is healing me and He is showing me His love and faithfulness in amazing and beautiful ways.
I know that it’s so difficult to see past the situation now. I’m struggling with that very thing. I’m overwhelmed by my circumstances and my fears. And honestly it baffles me. I know better. I know the God who I love and who loves me. Why in the world am I struggling? Why can I not just rest in his presence? Why do I get all wound up?
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:5
I will tell you that as I have been writing God has brought to mind so many scripture passages. The one I shared earlier, 2 Chronicles 20…do you know what happens after God answers the people by saying do not be afraid? People are appointed to sing to the Lord and praise Him!
“Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so they were routed. 2 Chronicles 20:21
Oh my goodness! I’m so excited how God has used His word to show me His love again! So as I’m typing that verse out I’m remembering that this morning I was studying Philippians 4:6-7
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and yours minds in Christ Jesus.”
THANKFULNESS.
Could that be the answer to our current states of distress? Could it be that simple…and difficult?
Could I choose thankfulness? If I cannot find anything to be thankful for in this world, could I focus on the next? Could I focus on Christ? Could I focus on my new identity in Christ – not this discouraged divorced, single mama, but that beautiful child of the King…loved, cherished, precious, chosen, forgiven, and redeemed? I think if I truly grasped how amazing that is, I wouldn’t be able to become discouraged by this world…I could live within a different paradigm. I could find my strength – emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually – in the Lord.
Oh friends, the answer is there. It’s Him. Find Him in His word.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! Psalm 119:28
Say His words back to Him – say those promises out loud. Pray and find Him in the chaos and the quiet.
I cannot begin to tell you how just in this time of writing God has calmed and quieted my heart through His word. There are so many more verses I want to share but I’ve already gone way past the word limit I set for myself.
But here’s two more to encourage you…
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon the rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
He is faithful…He is good…He is kind…He loves you. Rest assured He will walk you through this…
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. Isaiah 43:1-4
Done with disrespect and disobedience and difficulties.
Done with trying to reason with teenagers.
Done with trying to reign in kindergarteners.
Done with trying to make decisions.
Done with trying to get organized.
Done with cleaning up the mess my ex-husband has made.
Done with trying to understand how to parent all these children alone.
Done with trying to figure out how to do this life with any sense of grace, composure, or patience.
Done.
There are so many things to think about and do…I’m tired. I just wish I could take a timeout and have a replacement come in for a bit of this game. Being a single parent is hard.
I had to confront a child today on cell phone usage and school issues. Golly, you would have thought that cell phone was her only source of oxygen.
I wanted to work with her and help her develop a plan to exercise responsible use of her phone and her schoolwork. Instead I was met with all those stereotypical teenage responses. Those responses which make my head close to exploding.
Until about 4 months ago, my daughter was not stereotypical…and then boys entered the picture, and cheerleading, and that blasted cell phone.
I hate technology.
I want my children to be able to contact me while they are with their dad, but…ugh…I hate cell phones.
Unfortunately it has become, to some of my children, a right not a privilege. And what a colossal waste of time this “right” offers!
She is avoiding responsibilities and school work. My sweet, sweet daughter has become a very entitled, insecure young woman. She does not believe she is smart and therefore has no vision for what her life can become. At 15 that is a bit disconcerting. I know that her self-esteem and image issues have a lot to do with our family’s situation, but it doesn’t help me know how to deal with them.
I have had the most wonderful relationship with her for so long I’m floored by this new turn of events. I know my dear daughter is in there somewhere…Lord, please help me reach her.
I do know that some of her behavior is ordinary teenage angst, but I want my daughter to be extraordinary. I believe she is.
Everything I say to build her up she calls a “mom lie.” She says it’s like a mom telling her daughter she’s pretty even when she isn’t. Ugh. That so isn’t true. My daughter is smart, talented, and beautiful inside and out. She just doesn’t see it or feel it.
I’m broken-hearted for my darling daughter. I cannot be her father as much as I try to…I’m a miserable failure at it. I cannot give to her what her dad was designed to provide.
But even as I write in my despairing state, God has laid it on my heart that He is the perfect Father for my daughter. Oh that she knew that to her core. She does not. Her faith is wobbly at best and I’m afraid I’ve failed miserably there as well. I felt certain my children would be firm in their faith because of God’s faithfulness throughout our challenges…unfortunately, I think some of my children still only see the challenges.
I’ve not pointed out His care and provision often enough. I’ve been praising Him to everyone but my children. Father, forgive me and may your grace pour over my children and all my parenting mistakes.
A friend reminded me the other day how important prayer is…how it’s vital that we pray with our children and allow them the privilege of seeing God answer. I’m sitting her realizing that although at this point my daughter and I have made up, we have not prayed together. How is that even possible that I didn’t pray with her?
I think I best stop typing and go pray with my daughter…to show her that my strength and hers is from the Lord…that He cares about all these big and little issues…and He will answer. And I think I’ll also remind her of who she is in Christ…beloved, precious, God’s workmanship, more than a conqueror, able to do all things in Christ, forgiven and saved. She cannot say that is a “mom lie.” God said it!
Before I go, thank you so very much for listening…for allowing me to process my thoughts through my fingers, and come, as always, back to my Faithful Father and His love for me and my dear children.
Recently someone asked me what God is doing in my life. What big things has God done? And I had to think…
It’s a gloriously slow, snowy morning…quiet and peaceful. All my sweethearts are warm, cozy, and asleep. Me….warm and cozy in my comfy chair, pondering the truth of God’s love.
About three months ago I began a program to get my teaching license and eventually my Masters in Education. At the time it seemed like a really good thing…even though I don’t have the money to pay for the program nor is the time to do it clearly evident. In fact when I was interviewing with the head of the program, he questioned whether it was possible for a single mother of 5 to do the program much less teach full time. I assured him it was possible – I had actually already done it…totally a miracle by the way.
uptomytoes 