I started rampantly applying for jobs and trying to figure out a plan of how to get us into a new living space. I spent almost all night dwelling on my circumstance. I asked my husband for his opinion and one of my friends for hers, too. I was trying to make a solution to my problem appear. A few days later during my quiet time, I was reminded of this verse: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him” (Jer. 17:7). Reading this verse gave me immediate peace. Why was I putting my faith in myself and others to try to handle my circumstance? Did I not think God was intentional in his timing of our child being created? Did I forget that God is trustworthy? God desires that we place our confidence in Him in all circumstances, especially the situations that seem impossible. Jeremiah 17:8 goes on to say “They will be planted like a tree in water, that sends its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.” After I read these verses, I spent weeks in prayer asking God to provide for us in whatever way He saw fit. I placed my full trust in Him and did not worry about our circumstances from that day forward. God answered every single one of my prayers. I received a job offer and we found a home for our growing family. God is faithful, my friend, in every single part of our life. We do not have to rely on ourselves or other people to handle the difficult things we face. 1 John 5:14 states, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” ““This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV) 
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7/2/2024 0 Comments Conquering Life’s Excuses
However, Jesus warns us, in Luke 14, to not make excuses or be distracted from furthering His kingdom and our relationship with Him. He tells the Pharisees and disciples the parable of the master who invited all of his friends to his house for dinner. All of them made excuses for why they could not come. There will be times where we are exhausted and we need to go to Him for rest. Jesus does understand that our lives are tiring at times. However, Jesus warns that we must not put other things or excuses in front of Him in our lives. This includes our spouse, family, friends, housework, activities and our kids’ activities too. Luke 14:26 says “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” Jesus calls us to be his disciples. A disciple conquers distractions or excuses, and focuses on Christ. While we may not see the choices we make in our lives as choosing our agenda over God, our low prioritization of Him stems from our sinful, selfish nature. When we spend more time with the Lord, we can handle the stress of our daily lives easier because we are equipped to handle them. What small steps can you take this week to put Jesus first again in your life? Whether it is asking your husband to get up with the kids so you can read your Bible, or even heading to church when you are tired and then going to bed early the night after, I encourage you to make a plan of action. Find someone to keep you accountable in seeing your plan through. Dear God, thank you for the blessing of being able to come to You freely and without blame. Please help me to prioritize my relationship with You and to stop making excuses or filling my life with too many distractions. Lead me to think about eternal things and eternal goals. Remind me to always put You first in my life. Amen. “‘And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’” Luke 14:27 (NIV) 
12/4/2023 2 Comments Resting in Jesus
Finally, my mother stepped in on our behalf and stayed up with our daughter while my husband and I slept through the night. I woke up the next day refreshed. It was like I was a new person. David writes in Psalm 23:2: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.” Just as my mother could tell how desperately my husband and I needed rest, Jesus sees our stressful, busy lives and yearns to give us rest. How often do we overextend ourselves, especially as moms? Our days are full of things such as kids’ sports teams, helping with homework, house chores, work, and taking care of our children. We hardly have a moment for ourselves most of the time. Resting in God is not just a luxury for when life gets busy and stressful, but a necessity that can renew our weary soul. Psalm 23:2 shows Jesus leading us to still waters. While my mom initially provided us with the rest we needed, my husband and I eventually balanced taking care of our newborn by alternating the night shift. While Jesus does provide rest for us, we have to be willing to not only accept the rest but to form a habit of taking the time to rest when we need it. Jesus will never force us to rest but instead will gently nudge us to pause and rest. There is rest to be found in the stolen minutes of our lives; a quiet prayer, our morning cup of coffee, or even in the car on the way to our next event. We can find comfort and peace only He can provide when we take the time to rest in Him. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2 
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