Faith

The Grace of God

December 10, 2011 By April 2 Comments

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus…. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2

Let me break this down for you in a way that will humble your ‘worried’ single mom spirit. You see, there are some key phrases in this passage of scripture that reinforce my growing, ‘unseen’ faith in my Jehovah Jireh.

‘Seated us with Him in the heavenly places’ tells me we are placed in the sacred area of the throne, seated next to our Lord. Sin, fear, poverty, worry, need, sorrow… all these things cannot exist in the same space as love, joy, riches, praise and victory. We are already mercifully placed there through Christ! We had to be placed there for us to see His riches and kindness. If you are a Christian, your salvation through Christ is the bridge to that sacred ground.
‘In order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us’ says that your Christian legacy, part of your testimony, is a living example of His surpassing riches of grace from God to future generations. He purposefully seated you in His sacred place where nothing of the devil is allowed, to show others His rich grace through your life story, making your weakness the platform for His mighty grace that others can receive.
‘We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them’ proclaims we are created for good works that God Himself created before, for us to walk in now! We don’t have to wait for our tax check, the next temp assignment, a child support payment or any other thing or person to live in the richness of God’s grace RIGHT NOW!

You don’t have to be a mighty, spiritual hero of the faith to walk in grace with God. This richness is there for everyone no matter their spiritual condition. The best part is God’s grace is a sustaining grace, giving exactly what is needed, when it’s needed, and how it’s needed with RICHNESS! The manifestation of God’s grace is transforming in the single mom life. Grace saves us, keeps us secure, helps us endure the trials of our life and our children’s lives.

Start today walking in faith and proclaim for your family the unseen riches of God’s grace. Prepare to be abundantly blessed!

What has God done lately to prove His grace to you and your children?

Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: Bible, Christian, devotions, ephesians, Faith, grace, spiritual

Fully Equipped, Not Faulty

November 15, 2011 By April Leave a Comment

“Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

After God makes this powerful statement to Moses, Moses still questions God on choosing him for leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and says to God – “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

Moses angered God for questioning His decision to use him. God realized Moses’ lack of self confidence was crippling his ability to have faith in his appointed ministry. So God picked Moses a helper, his brother Aaron, to give the Lord’s messages to His people. So the journey began…

The route to the Promised Land ended up being a lengthy one. I’m sure Moses didn’t expect the obstacles they encountered on their journey. Especially when he thought he was being obedient to the Lord.

Can you see where I’m going with this one? If you’re like me, as a single mom I take care of everything. I’m a Type A personality so everything has a plan, a list, a goal, etc. Divorce was not in my plan.

We all have situations in our lives that definitely do not go our way. Moses grew up in Pharoah’s house wanting nothing. One moment of anger caused him to run and completely change the direction of his life.

God knew all about Moses’ imperfections and his past. Yet He had chose him to be a mighty leader and deliver His people from Egypt. I’m guessing Moses didn’t always lack self confidence. In Pharaoh’s house there was probably no reason to feel you were inadequate. But after living in the desert for forty years away from your people, secluded, with just your wife’s family and your herd, I’m sure you have plenty of time to think about mistakes and how things ended up differently than you thought they would. You’d probably start to think your lack of success and inabilities was your own fault.

After some time you would resign yourself to the fact that this is just what your life is and nothing more. That internal resignation is a form of defeat and surrender to the enemy. But God…. Don’t you just love that phrase? But God had other plans for Moses.

Here is the key point to the story. Moses turned and paid attention to something that caught his eye. What is God trying to use to get your attention? He doesn’t care what you’ve done, the choices you’ve made, or the wrong paths you’ve taken. He is trying to get your attention where you are now. He can take every single thing you’ve gone through and every single flaw you have to do great and mighty things for Him!

That is how God’s greatness shines so brightly. Because he uses imperfect people, like you and I, to accomplish miraculous tasks for the world to see Him through us.

What is God trying to show you?

Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: Bible, Faith, god using imperfect people, moses, spiritual, the burning bush

Worth It

November 13, 2011 By April 2 Comments

“I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud.

And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes.

I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now.

I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my every day to make God belly laugh, glad that He gave life to someone who loves the gift.”

― Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life

I love this quote. This is the goal of how I want to live my life every day. Think about it for just a minute… You love your kids. You would give anything in your power to make them happy, wouldn’t you? If you have ever heard or learned anything about the love of God then you know how much greater and more pure is His love for us as His children. God has already given you everything you need for you to enjoy the life He designed just for you. Stop and fully appreciate all the moments of your life, even ones you think aren’t noteworthy.

One of my favorite moments is before naptime. I know you’re thinking, “Wow she really stepped outside of the box on that one. Who doesn’t love a nap?” I’m not actually talking about the nap and getting to catch up on much needed sleep. I’m talking about the minutes before the nap.

You know what I’m talking about. When you found a moment to stop and sit down, breathe a sigh, and veg out for a minute. You zone out. The temperature in the room is perfect. That slightly cool feeling that makes you want to wrap up in a light blanket, like the one on the end of the couch beside you. The afternoon sky is a touch overcast out the window so the light is subdued with the blinds closed. The white noise of the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer occupy your mind and every conscious thought starts to fade away. All of a sudden your eyes start to feel heavy and your body reaches this state of zen relaxation that can’t be described, only felt. There is something to be said for that state of peace and utter surrender.

For those brief moments you give up control and enjoy the moment. There are others just as enjoyable…. a fresh cup of your favorite coffee, your favorite flower, random cuddle time with your kids, camping under the summer night sky listening to the pulse of nature, that feeling when your favorite worship song comes on the radio and you realize you got home safely and don’t remember the drive, playing in the rain, dressing at Thanksgiving dinner…

Stop and remember our Creator imagined this moment just for you. Drink it in. Enjoy it. Let Him know that His sacrifice was worth it!

What are some of your favorite, simple life moments you appreciate the most?

Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: cold tangerines, enjoying life, Shauna Niequist

Fifteen Years Like a Handful of Yesterdays…

September 17, 2011 By April 8 Comments

And today the 14 year old becomes a 15 year old. Where has the time gone? He’s been studying for his driver’s permit. But I can remember when….

I prayed and prayed I was having a boy. I was afraid of dealing with girl drama. When the ultra sound tech confirmed my wish, I cried. I was in labor all night and didn’t know it. Then in the morning when I started having contractions, I really did know it. I thought to myself, how cool would it be if he was born on his Uncle Nick’s birthday! By that evening, that thought was a reality.

Labor…is exactly what they call it for a reason. But the first time I held him I thought to myself, wow! I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! I was scared to sleep the first week. Then one night I sat straight up in bed so hard and fast that I woke up my ex husband, too. I heard something in my sleep and didn’t know I had. Then I heard something coming from the crib. He had rolled onto his back and spit up and was choking quietly. Thank you, Lord, for small miracles!

I always wanted to be there so he would know without a doubt he was loved. But I thought my mother would freak out the day I purposefully poked him with a sewing pin to teach him a lesson about playing with her pin cushion. I figured the best way to teach him the lesson of leaving it alone-after the 100th time of catching him sitting in a pile on needles-was to prick his hand and let him know why he shouldn’t play with them! We never found him in needles again after that.

We have made it through being hit by a drunk driver, a divorce, the first day of school, the first day of middle school, homeschooling, the beginnings of adolescence, the first day of high school and now preparing for a driver’s permit. My precious little boy who started out 23 inches long and 7 lbs 8.5 oz has grown into a 5′ 6″, 256 lb brick wall on the football field. And heaven help me but he’s STILL GROWING!

He has been the best thing about my life. And thank God I have had nothing to do with it for the most part. I am just a guide. I gave him to the Lord a long time ago because I know what a mess I am. Even in parenting God can do mighty things with the most humble of materials. I am amazed as I watch him grow into the man God is shaping him to be.

I am grateful for every moment I have been blessed with this precious gift from heaven. Why God would entrust me with the charge and care of something so miraculous I will never understand. But I will spend all my days trying to help him recognize the ways of God in his life. And remember to thank God every moment for His smallest and greatest blessing…

Filed Under: Faith, Family, Featured Tagged With: birthday, growing up, moms and sons, son

Happiness is a Choice

September 10, 2011 By April Leave a Comment

“He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live…Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. The soul who sins in the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father…” Ezekiel 18:17-20

Do you know what I see a lot of today? I see people walking through this life choosing to be unhappy, really. Hard as it is to hear, you are choosing to be depressed, burdened, anxious, doubting, without faith, and the list could go on and on.

I know it’s tough sometimes to face the onslaught of everything coming at you from 1,000 different directions. There’s no time for rest between each battle. You start to wonder, why?

Why has this happened to me? Why was this person allowed to mistreat me, abuse me, abandon me? Why do I feel so badly and I have done nothing wrong?

I lived for years as the victim of generational curses. A friend and former pastor of mine encouraged me to read the book, Boundaries. Other than the Bible, there has not been another book that has helped change my life more than this book.

The hurt inflicted on you by someone else stops with your choice to continually remember God’s grace! It’s His grace that saved you. It’s His grace that keeps you motivated every day to live obediently. And it’s His grace that you need to remember every single time you start to feel the victim again.

I want you to be encouraged today. If you are struggling with living life choosing to be happy despite your circumstance, there are a few simple things you can start to do today to help make your tomorrow a little bit happier.

1. Always commit to your quiet time with the Lord first thing in the morning.

2. Read the book, Boundaries, and see if your personal relationship dysfunctions are within your control to some extent.

3. Strengthen your prayer life. Research scriptures on prayer that model strength and power through speaking God’s Word over your situation.

4. Close your eyes, remember the grace God showed you above all else, take a deep breath, open your eyes and let the Love of God wash over you.

5. And even if you weren’t able to hang onto that today, try it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day…. And one day you won’t have to try. You will just be.

How have you learned to be happy in Christ

when your world is anything but a happy place?

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Filed Under: Faith, Featured Tagged With: boundaries, ezekiel, generational curse, grace, happiness