Five Minute Friday: Broken

So, it's Friday and Lisa-Jo's blog broke this week, so she's hosting Five Minute Friday over on her facebook page today! and the word broken just leaves me feeling broken... here is my 5 minutes.

Broken:

Sometimes I don't want to write because I feel like there is not a happy ending to my story yet. I've written on broken before and it's still fresh, because I still feel it.

But the truth is I don't need a happy ending, I need to be happy in the in-between. Not necessarily happy--but trusting in Jesus, content in my circumstances and experiencing the joy of the Lord.

I'm broken because I'm a human struggling with sin. For me, it's selfishness and pride that are the roots that grow into discontent, short temper, laziness.

And every day I expect my children to be perfect, forgetting that they are broken humans, too. And I can't figure out how to "fix them" when I'm still trying to fix myself and I wonder why I can't remember that I'm not really broken any more, that I don't have to live in pieces.

I don't have to live Broken.

Because my Jesus was Broken for me, to pay the penalty for my sin, to make me whole again. And while I know all the right words to say and I believe with all my heart that I can be free from sin, the daily struggle is still here.

So, when I'm feeling like this, I focus on truth as the Psalmist did...

Psalm 34:18  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 147:3  He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Luke 8:48  And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Psalm 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psalm 9:1  I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.


God heals my broken heart, He is near to me. Faith makes me whole, gives me peace. Wholeness comes from His Word. I will continually praise Him and share what great things He has done.

Community Conversation: Do you ever get discouraged with a "thorn in your side"? A sin you just can't seem to conquer? What truth do you focus on?

Be sure to join Lisa-Jo on facebook and share your five minutes!

Belong: take two

When I write my Five Minute Friday in the wee hours of the morning, I don't ever feel that it's my best work... and typically I'm always talking about Allume and the FMFParty community, because I've just spent the last 2 hours chatting with them on twitter. Sometimes it's better for me to wait till morning and collect my thoughts a bit more before I start the five minute timer.  Even before I turned off the light last night, I thought of another direction to go with "Belong" but I had already hit publish, so this is my bonus Belong post.



I belong to Jesus. The days of doubting and insecurity are gone. I know that I am a child of God and I have eternal security. There is NOTHING that can separate me from the love of Jesus Christ... praise Jesus!

But sometimes, I wonder...
Does Christ feel like He belongs in my heart? my home? my life? (tweet this)

Do I welcome Him in with open arms... or just when it's convenient for me?!

When I'm reading books, playing Words with Friends or checking Facebook, is He feeling like He belongs. Or does He wonder why I'm doing all those things, when He is sitting right there waiting for me to spend time with him, to give Him my full attention.

When He prompts me with the verse, "A soft answer turns away wrath," Do I listen? Do I stop, count to 10 (or 100) and then speak softly?

When he gives me the opportunity to be His hands and feet, I say with my mouth that I want to serve him, but my actions say otherwise.  

No, Lord, now really isn't a good time to take a meal to my friend.

No, Jesus, I can't read my Bible right now, I'm too busy reading these great blogs that are telling me to go live my life.

No, Jesus, I can't show Your love to my kids through taking the time to read to them, to snuggle, to play a game. I'm too busy doing data entry, or laundry, or making dinner.

Yes, Lord, really you belong here, I promise... Can you just squeeze in next to that pile of clutter I refuse to take care of? Or can you share the couch with my laptop, I really need that, too.

How can I show The Lord that He belongs here in my life? How can I be the hands and feet of Jesus? How can I use my words to show the love of Jesus?

Jesus belongs to me.

John 15:4-5

⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


This really was just a little "preach to myself" moment, but I thought I would share it with you, too! I need to be reminded of this daily!

Community Conversation: How do you show in your daily life that Jesus belongs to you?

Hot, hot, hot!

I told myself (and you) that I was going to give myself grace this week... so here's to grace and the fact that I didn't blog yesterday. and here's hoping that I can get this short little post written and posted before bedtime.

If you are in my neck of the woods (or basically anywhere in the Eastern United States--and maybe Canada, too) then you are doing a little bit of sweating this week... or probably a lot!

My air conditioning units can hardly keep up with this heat. But I'm trying not to complain, because we are managing to keep the humidity out. I'm just not a fan of sitting and sweating. Also, I'm just not motivated to do anything.

Especially, I don't feel like cooking. Every time I use my kitchen I feel like the house temperature goes up five degrees.. and I'm not even using the oven. But I can only eat so much salad... and we are going through cheese like mad.

It's even too hot to think, which is why nothing is getting done and I'm falling behind on the whole blog every day thing for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

We've been super lazy and the girls even had a pajama day today. It was nice, but it didn't stop me from letting "circumstances rob me of the joy of my salvation." I have been just a little bit on edge, and unfortunately my kids (and my husband) have suffered.

I read truth in God's Word and truth on Ann Voskamp's blog... and then I am in the heat of the moment and *kaboom* I fly off the handle.... just a little frustrating!

Just this morning in my hellomornings study, I was reviewing John 17 and 18...
So I wrote down a few things as a reminder for myself.

John 17:20 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word"  ... That's ME!! Jesus prayed for me!!
vs. 21 "That they all may be one" --When we live in unity, the world will believe that God sent Jesus into this world... so why don't we live in unity?!??!

John 18:20-21 "I spake openly to the world: I taught in the synagogue, and in the temple... Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said."  Do I know what Jesus has said? Do I know His words? Do I live accordingly? so that others see truth in me?

More often than not, I'm like Peter --maybe not denying with my words, but with my chocies and actions.  "Art not thou also one of his disciples?"  If I follow Jesus and His Truth, my life should reflect that. The Fruit of the Spirit should be harvested in my thoughts, words, actions!

Can Others See Jesus in me?!?

A friend of Julia's sang this song at her funeral and I wonder if anyone (my kids especially) could say the same of me?

I saw Jesus in you,

I saw Jesus in you,

I could hear His voice in the words you said-

I saw Jesus in you,

In your eyes I saw His care,

I could see His love was there,

You were faithful,

And I saw Jesus in you,

I write this as a reminder for myself, but maybe you can learn something, too

Community conversation: How are you staying cool in this heat?  Do you have a truth in Scripture that you have a hard time remembering... in the moment?  Can others see Jesus in You?

Less of Me, More of Jesus

So the assignment was...

your “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream is to figure out what you needed less of in your life so that you can embrace more of what God has for you {including your dream}. 

What do I need less of? STRESS? How do I let that go?? haha!  

So I've been thinking about it this week in conjunction with Lent, what can I let go of? what do I need to let go of? what do I need less of for a season? What do I need less of for the rest of all time?

Definitely less of me... less selfishness... less pride... less expectation--on myself and on others... less of ME.

More of Jesus, just give me Jesus!!

He must increase, but I must decrease!

It's been fresh on my mind. I have so many desires and interests that I can't really figure out what my dream is supposed to be.  I keep coming back to Holley Gerth's definition of a God-sized Dream...

My God-sized Dream is... a desire in my heart for more of what God has for me.


And while I don't know if it's a handmade card business, or a writing degree, or an income-producing blog, or being a stay-at-home mom, or if it actually is ALL of these things, I do know that I need more of Jesus.

I joined Hello Mornings this month, and while sometimes it's more of a "hello MID-morning" I've been faithful to spend some time in God's Word each day.  There has been some Soul Detox with She Reads Truth and some Abounding Hope with Hello Mornings. And I've been writing a lot of scripture. It's been good for me, and that's part of the reason why the blog has been quieter and the cardmaking has been nonexistent. But I'm okay with that for now.



In conjunction with Lent, I am also reading through Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey by one of my blog friends, Kris Camealy. I was worried about adding another daily thing to my routine, but I discovered today that it's not a daily reading... it's a journey that I can go through in my pace and I'm looking forward to it.





So, have you been dreaming? What steps are you taking in pursuing your dreams? Is there something I can pray for you about in relation to your God-sized dreams?

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:10-14

And the angel said unto them, 

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Glory to God in the highest, 

and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Five Minute Friday --Voice

It's #FiveMinuteFriday... and I am here... in the same room as Lisa-Jo... and so many awesome #FMFParty friends!!

(I'm not a fan of doing this without thinking for a few minutes... or hours first) I have already thought of new ideas since I wrote these following five minutes on:

Voice

My voice seems so small in this sea of women. But they embrace me. "I hear you, I see you." And the voice of laughter is so refreshing! I laugh and I hear laughter and my heart fills and my throat hurts. But I keep talking and I keep listening and the community grows.

I sometimes wonder if my voice is heard. So many voices out there. But I come here and you know me and you embrace me and we connect. I didn't know you read my blog. And though you follow me on twitter, I think I might get lost in the sea of tweets. But you know me and you hear my voice and I am filled.

"When God gives you a message ... speak it." (Sarah Mae). And I want to speak His words. I want people to see Him in my words. I want to be a voice for Jesus.



Can you hear Him? Can you see Him?

Triumph

2 Corinthians 2:14

Now thanks be unto God,
which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,
and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

I'm claiming victory in Christ!! I have had some ups and downs, but I've seen some imperfect progress, too (many thanks to Lysa TerKeurst for giving me that life giving phrase to focus on) I can not triumph on my own. I will fail every time. BUT in Christ, there is always victory, and all thanks to God for my small victories this week.  ... and when we triumph in Christ, it sends out the sweet smell of the knowledge of Christ to everyone around us... Do people see Christ in your victories?


 

In Christ, there is ALWAYS Victory!! Do you have a moment of victory, a simple moment of "imperfect progress" you can share with us today?

Everything

Hello, friends! Just a quick post because I don't want you to miss this!!  I've been working though a new book, Everything, written by Mary DeMuth, set for release in October!  She is having a pre-order campaign in which you can get free stuff if you order now  (NOW being Wednesday and Thursday)! And if you are anything like me, you like free stuff! So be sure to check it out!

I'm still reading it, so a full review will be  forthcoming, but just to let you know why I asked to be on the Launch team and get a pre-release copy is this... I'm a people pleaser, often more worried about what people think about what I say and do, instead of what Jesus thinks. And that my friend, is NOT living life with  Jesus as my Everything! I know in my head that Jesus has so much more to offer me than my friends and family (everything, in fact), but I'm still learning it in my heart and applying it in my daily life... Won't you join me on this journey to make Jesus our Everything?

This promo video is great, but my favorite is the man who says "I'm supposed to say that Jesus is my everything, but what I have to say is Jesus is becoming my everything." Because that is right where I am these days!

Also, be sure to  check out this Pinterest board! It is filled with impacting quotes from the book!

Remember, to cash in on all the freebies, you must preorder it today or tomorrow. Visit Mary DeMuth's page for all the details!

Divine Promises

Sometimes I don't blog, because I feel like it needs to be long to be important... or at least a little longer than I have time for. But I still have thoughts I want to share, so I might try to post just little thoughts...

As you might know, I have been reading through The Valley of Vision ever since the Allume Fast I participated in back in June.  I kinda slacked off a little bit last week, but I jumped back in this week and continue to be blessed by the prayers and poems in the book. Such an encouragement to me and an example of truths to pray.


Just wanted to share another one with you today!

Divine Promises (p132)

Glorious Jehovah, My Covenant God,
All thy promises in Christ Jesus are yea and amen,
    and all shall be fullfilled.
Thou hast spoken them, and they shall be done,
    commanded, and they shall come to pass.
Yet I have often doubted them,
    have lived at times as if there were no God.

Lord, forgive me that death in life,
    when I have found something apart from thee,
    when I have been content with ephermeral things.
But through thy grace I have repented;
Thou hast given me to read my pardon in the wounds of Jesus,
    and my soul doth trust in him, my God incarnate,
    the ground of my life, the spring of my hope.

Teach me to be resigned to thy will, 
     to delight in thy law, 
     to have no will but thine,
     to believe that everything thou doest is for my good.
Help me to leave my concerns in thy hands,
     for thou hast power over evil,
     and bringest from it an infinite progression of good,
     until thy purposes are fulfilled.
Bless me with Abraham's faith that staggers not at promises through unbelief. (<-- tweet that)

May I not instruct thee in my troubles,
      but glorify thee in my trials;
Grant me a distinct advance in the divine life;
      May I reach a higher platform,
      leave the mists of doubt and fear in the valley,
      and climb to hilltops of eternal security in Christ
         by simply believing he cannot lie,
         or turn from his purpose.
  
Give me the confidence I ought to have in him
     who is worthy to be praised, and who is blessed for evermore.





Believe God's promises today and live like it!

Five Minute Friday --Trust

So, I didn't want to do Five Minute Friday today... seeing as how I've been posting twice on Friday with my Project 52 posts. But I still want to try, because it stretching me... and because I love Lisa-Jo, whom I've never met, but I want to! :)


START

Trust, faith, giving thanks

NOT complaining

Positive Attitude

TRUST

I'm amazed at how these things are all connected and I'm amazed at how I am still working on these areas EVERY DAY. I am always looking for the "Easy" button to living a Christ-like life, but I have to remember that it starts with a simple trust. The belief that God truly loves me as His child and He has my best interests in mind. What happens in my life is NO surprise to him and I must believe that...

Trust Him.

Joseph trusted God in all the ups and downs of his life, when his brothers hated him, when he entered slavery, when people lied about him... he just kept trusting. He gave thanks in every situation and God brought it all about for good, for the good of Joseph, for the good of his family, his father, his brothers, for the Nation of Israel.

I have that same God. My life is nowhere near as hard as Joseph's life. My God is molding me and preparing me so that I can be used of Him... in parenting, in mentoring, in reflecting Christ's light, in bringing glory to the Name of God.

Trust

STOP

PS. If I was to write my 3rd grade son's composition on what he learned in Bible this week, this is what it would have been... It took him an HOUR yesterday to come up with FIVE sentences... Thankfully, his cursive writing was legible and he got a 100, but when we were working on it, I thought I was going to be sent to the looney bin... helping my kids with homework is NOT my favorite task, but I will TRUST that this is a season in my life and I will survive it!!

Now, go read the other great entries to Five Minute Friday, and write your own!!

In the Valley

On top of struggling to get back into blogging, I also fell behind on my regular reading of The Valley of Vision. I missed a day or two, and got busy with stuff, and then just didn't know how to get back into the schedule.  Well, last Monday, I read the following Puritan prayer and wanted to share it with you. I should probably read/pray it every day!!

A Disciple's Renewal (p. 184)

O my Saviour, help me.
I am so slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb;
I am in the foothills when I should be on the heights;
I am pained by my graceless heart,
      my prayerless days,
      my poverty of love,
      my sloth in the heavenly race,
      my sullied conscience,
      my wasted hours,
      my unspent opportunities.
I am blink while light shines around me;
   take the scales from my eyes,,
   grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.

Make it my chiefest joy to study thee,
     meditate on thee,
     gaze on thee,
     sit like Mary at they feet,
     lean like John on they breast,
     count like Paul all things dung.

Give me increase and porgress in grace so that there may be
      more decision in my character,
      more vigour in my purposes,
      more elelvation in my life,
      more fervour in my devoiton,
      more constancy in my zeal.

As I have a position in the world,
   keep me from making the world my position;
May I never seek in the creature
   what can be found only in the creator;
Let not faith cease from seeking thee unitl it vanishes into sight.
Ride forth in me, thou king of kings and lord of lords,
    that I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end.

He was unappreciated

Re-post from July 22, 2005 ... thinking that I need to find this book in my boxes somewhere and read it again!!

I read something totally new yesterday!!  It was something I never thought of before, and it is totally awesome.  I read it in the book Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, by Mary DeMuth.  I just wanted to share it for all of you moms out there who think that Jesus "just can't understand what I am going through!!"

Hebrews 4:15-16  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

"Imagine that!  Jesus was tempted to scream at his disciples just as we are tempted to scream at our offspring.  He was tempted to throw in the linen wrapping just as we are tempted to throw in the kitchen towel. He was exasperated. He felt alone. His glory was unseen. He was unappreciated. He was misunderstood. His own family thought he was crazy.  He endured all that, so he will help us endure. He cried tears intermingled with his own blood; he does not despise our tears of salt water."

I really thought that was awesome and gave me a new perspective on Jesus and how much he can help me with the job that he gave to me of being a wife and mother.  I just hope I can remember it when my kids are driving me crazy and I begin to lose my patience.  I can cry out to Jesus and he will help me keep my focus on God.  He will help me bear my burdens and give me rest for my soul (Matthew 11:28-30).

Have a great day and let God refresh your soul!!!!!

Abide in the Vine

I love Wordles, so when I did a search for "abide in the vine" and saw this, I knew I had to use it! (It's not coming in very big... you might have to go to the wordle site to see it better!)

My #SSMT verse for the month of August (or at least the first half) is John 15:4-5


Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


linking up to Word Filled Wednesday

full of compassion

Psalm 78:38-39

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

So much I want to say about these verses right here!  I am so thankful that my God is full of compassion!  I need his grace EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!  Even now when I look at my prayer journals (when I kept them on and off) I seem to still be praying the same things, like I haven't learned it yet!  But still he forgives me and turns his anger away! 

On that note, I want to have this same compassion for my kids!!  Yesterday was not so good.  I did not turn my anger away! I exploded at my kids, threw toys around and had a little hissy fit!!  I only have them for a little time... I want them to remember me as being full of compassion! ... anybody got some hints on what "works for them"?


for more parenting, homemaking, marriage tips, go here



for more Works For Me questions and tips, go here

Word Filled Wednesday

God has me working on my tongue these days!  I am taking part in Beth Moore's SSMT (Siesta Scripture Memory Team) this year... and I have a feeling a lot of my verses are going to deal with my words!!  This month my verse is

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

I will probably work on memorizing the verses surrounding this verse because they are all good!! :)  Memorizing Scripture "works for me"!

linking up to Word Filled Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday,

Psalm Therapy

My three sweet little girls in the "Cherub Choir" for Christmas

Psalm 92:1-5
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, Lord hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

Psalm 103:1-5, 8
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies: who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

There is nothing like some "Psalm therapy" when you are feeling less than par!!  I have been spending most of my Bible reading time in the Psalms lately... some days it's all I have time for!!  I have been blessed by so many verses lately, but these are a few I wanted to share!!

linked up to Word Filled Wednesday with Internet Cafe

and Living Well Wednesdays with Courtney