A Mind Stayed on Him

aren't these pictures beautiful??

Mothering is mental anguish.  "I should have done this."  "I should have done that."  "If only I could this."  "If only I could have that."  "Why can't I just this."  "Why can't I just that."   All. Day. Long.

I go to bed exhausted each night not necessarily from the demands of my children (although that is a big part of it!), but I go to bed each night exhausted by my 'if onlys' and 'should haves' and 'why can't I justs".

But, I was reminded of a verse this morning that brought help to this madness. 

Taking every thought captive, I need to stay my seemingly well-intentioned mothering thoughts back to Christ...what He accomplished for me.  What "I should have done", He did.  "If only I could have", He is.  "Why can't I just", He finished.  There is hope because all our mothering inadequacies have been paid in full at the Cross.  We can't add anymore or detract anything from His completed, perfect work accomplished for us.  We are only to receive this grace and trust Him and daily stay our minds on Him.   

The Call From the Cross

This moment is central in all of mankind's history. This image is a brutal call to awaken to the reality of life.

Christ is at the center.

He is man. "I am thirsty."

He forgives. "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

He cares. "Woman, behold your son!"

He grants. "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

He fulfills. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

He entrusts. "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit."

He is God. "It is finished!"


All of mankind are the thieves on either side of Christ having attempted to steal His glory.

Either you are on one side hurling abuse at Christ until the moment you die.

Or, you are on the other side, realizing your just punishment, yet crying out for His mercy.


Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Fear, Flies, and This Female's Feeble Faith

Facing our fears by picnicking with flies, our soon-to-be friends

I found encouragment from Carolyn Mahaney's message to mothers entitled "The Lord is in Your Boat" .... www.girltalkhome.com/resources... She used the story of Jesus and the disciples in the boat when they encountered a storm at sea. From this story, she pulled three truths for mothers to preach to themselves in the storm of motherhood. (smile)

1. The Lord has taken you to this particular storm and is with you in the storm.
2. The Lord upholds you with His great power in the storm and will deliver you from the storm.

3. The Lord is strengthening your faith in the storm.

God strengthens our faith when we ....

1. Refuse to sin.

2. Apply His promises.

3. Stand firm.

Storms teach us about God and exercise our feeble faith. (smile again).

Back to Reality

"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Tomorrow I head back to reality!!! He has refreshed and it is very tempting to want to stay in a comatose state. I am human, so He has lovingly let me stare at the wall a few days, but now its time to fix my gaze back on Him.

This isn't necessarily a profound thought, but I have realized this week that it is hard to rest at home. Because my home is my work. And, even in the evenings when the work is done for the day, my mind races about what I should have done, and its hard to relax.

But, I do have time set aside throughout the day when I can rest by looking to Him. And, I need to intentially guard that time. When I fail to look at Him every day, I easily become weary, lose heart, and my mind gets muddled by everyday life and I start thinking and living as if there is no joy set before me. So, as I head north tomorrow...praying for God's grace to help fix my eyes upon Jesus as I go back to and about my work.

Meditation: Commands...Because God Is

Trust in the Lord because God is faithful.

Do good because God is full of mercy.

Dwell in the land because God is with you.

Cultivate faithfulness because God is worthy.

Delight yourself in the Lord because God is altogether lovely.

Commit your way to the Lord because God cares.

Trust (again) in the Lord because God is faithful.

Rest in the Lord because God is sovereign.

Wait patiently for Him because God is all-knowing.

Meditation

(mine are going to be pink at the end of this week...)

"Trust in the LORD and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

and your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him..."

Psalm 37:3-7

Quietness

I am on vacation!!! My Mom and Stepfather graciously invited my family to join them for a week stay in South Carolina. Adam could not go due to his work schedule, but the kids and I very quickly agreed to the invitation. I had a thought this morning while I was getting ready that I should post a picture a day for a glimpse into our fun, but then I realized I had forgot my usb cord. Perhaps this is a good thing, because my pictures are not very pretty. So, I will just stick with writing.

Because of my four small children, my life is very active and LOUD. So loud in fact, that I find myself wincing as I go about my day caring for these little people. I love them dearly, but I find myself yelling "Quiet"....yelling 'quiet'...that's not very consistent, is it? The loudness grates on my soul and I long for quietness.

So, this week, more than anything, I want to be quiet. Not while my children are up, of course, and yes, our downstairs neighbor has already complained. Because when you are six and under, there is a lot of splashing, squealing, running, jumping, digging, and marveling to be done. But, in the early morning, at nap time, and after these little love muffins are tucked snugly in bed, I want to be quiet in His presence allowing His Word to minister to my weary heart.

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know he is our Father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of his unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still

(love that song... by Steven Curtis Chapman)

Help for Each Day

"Jesus is the radical, absolutely complete, living answer to all our if-onlys and if-I-could-justs. His unwavering, unchanging, unconditional love and acceptance of us is what we are really looking for. 'For in Him all the fullness of the Diety dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete' (Col. 2:9-10). When my patience is gone, He offers to be patience for me. When my strength is spent, He becomes strength in me. When my faith is small, He believes on my behalf. Every time." - Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman