Our Family For His Glory

Joy for Your Weekend

May 18, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Because sometimes we need to choose to find joy!

Isn’t she cute!?

This newly turned seven year-old chose Daddy to take her out on a special Birthday date, leaving this mommy behind. As I gazed longingly out the window, big sister consoled, “Don’t worry, Mom, you get to take us to the dentist and the doctor and all those other special places.” :)

* * * * *

If you have a few extra minutes, these are worth the read…

12 Things Your Daughter Needs You to Say – Love this from Chatting at the Sky, and One Thing Your Daughter Doesn’t Need You to Say {still chewing on this one!}

What Elderly Tennis Players Can Teach Us About Motherhood – Oh, so true!

She Had the Perfect Kitchen, But I Have Sinful Heart – from a while ago, but Trisha has such a beautiful way of writing truth.

Simply 3 Words for Every Day – Beautiful!

And this – For When You Do Not Know What to Do – needed to read this again slowly, with Bible in lap.

* * * * *

And in case you missed it – here’s the picture my father-in-law posted of our precious kiddos with the caption, “Pleeeeease get us a bigger pool, Daddy!” :)

Have a blessed weekend!

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Favorites, For Your Weekend, Just for Fun ·

For When You Do Not Know What to Do

May 16, 2013 · 16 Comments

Because sometimes, sometimes (often times?) we just don’t know what to do.

We’re too overwhelmed to move, too shocked to cry, too tired to speak, too exasperated to try yet one more thing…

Head in hands. Deep breath. Eyes to Him.

Words barely audible –

“I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!”

Words poured out by King Jehoshaphat thousands of years ago.

Words whispered in my heart daily and sometimes, sometimes screamed right out loud.

“I don’t know what to do, Lord… help!!!”

Up half the night, sleep-starved and grouchy, and wake to complaining, whining and arguing…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

The baby’s crying, the toddler’s screaming and the others try to be heard above the noise…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

A calendar so full there aren’t enough hours in a day or days in a week to fit everything in…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

An Everest of laundry and dishes and sweeping and toilets and mopping and dusting and vacuuming – like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Souls bleeding from harsh words, lying tongues, and selfish hearts…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Husband distant. Friendships wavering. Loneliness prevailing…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Lost jobs and finances aching…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Choices for schooling completely overwhelming…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Disobedience. Sick children. Temper tantrums in front of the whole church reigning…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Bedtime battles and late night phone calls with choked out words of “Are you sitting down?”…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Being hurt. Being wronged…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Failing. Failing. Failing…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

Band-aids and lollipops and Boo-Boo-Buddies too little to heal the hurting…
I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!

And Jehoshaphat sat TERRIFIED as a mighty army declared war on Judah.

And so they came – a humble king and all his men – bringing their little ones, wives and children. {I love how they ALL came!!!}

They came before the Lord. Powerless. Begging for guidance.

And they cried out…

“We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chron. 20:12)

They came before God, took their eyes off of themselves and looked onto the only One who could truly help them!

And God heard!

“Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

No need to fight this vast army, for God was with them!

All they needed to do was…

TAKE THEIR POSITIONS,

STAND STILL

& WATCH THE LORD’S VICTORY!

And the next morning, the army went out taking their positions with singers walking ahead of the army.

And just at the very moment they began to sing and give praise to God, the Lord caused the other armies to fight amongst themselves. When the army of Judah arrived at the look-out point, they looked and saw that every single one of their enemies was slaughtered on the ground!

An incredible display of the Lord’s victory!!!

And here I sit.

Head in hands. Deep breath. Eyes to Him.

Words barely audible –

“I do not know what to do, but I am looking to You for help!”

Before the Lord. Powerless. Begging for guidance.

And He hears.

And He guides me to go out and take my position… opening up that slammed door, grabbing the Kleenex, hugging a child, giving a smile to a husband, picking up a broom while tuning in to praise music…

Standing tall and brave knowing He is with me.

Praise rises from my heart and bubbles out my lips.

“Give thanks to the LORD;
His faithful love endures forever!”
-2 Chronicles 2:21b

I need only be still and watch the Lord’s victory!

And wow! His victories are amazing! Maybe through patience to wait a bit longer, strength to give a gentle and gracious answer, guidance and wisdom to do the right thing, or faith to trust Him more with my heart aching!

Dear friends, have there been times you just don’t know what to do (even within the last 24 hours)?? I would be honored to call upon the Lord together with you. So that we can confidently take our positions, stand still, praise our God and watch the LORD’s victory!

16 Comments · Filed Under: Bible, Encouragement, Faith ·

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Girl!

May 12, 2013 · 5 Comments

Dear Sweet Kayla Ann, The girl with the big blue eyes and the smile that lights up a room – The girl who seven years ago taught me to breathe through grief and find joy in sorrow – You will always be a precious reminder that God is good… all the time. That first Mothers’ [...]

{Continue reading…}

5 Comments · Filed Under: Our Family, Pictures ·

What Makes a Mother?

May 12, 2013 · 2 Comments

For all of you mamas with precious little ones that have filled your womb, your home, or your heart – your labor of love and prayers and kingdom work matters! Little hands work busy, creating love from an egg carton. Scribbling words that make this mama’s heart melt. “To the best mommy ever.” Words written [...]

{Continue reading…}

2 Comments · Filed Under: Encouragement, Motherhood ·

One Most Important Thing I Can Do as a Mother

May 8, 2013 · 12 Comments

Hours before that little one pulls herself up at my side and snuggles into the covers to join my quiet moments with God. Before her big brother clomps down the stairs, peeping his big blue eyes around the corner, scrambling up and under. Before the changing and the feeding and the teaching and the playing [...]

{Continue reading…}

12 Comments · Filed Under: Family, Marriage ·

Learning to Breathe Through Grief

May 2, 2013 · 13 Comments

I felt the knots tight. With belly swollen round and abdomen bulging so as I couldn’t see over or around or through. Two babes toddled at my feet as I inhaled and exhaled the pain. Five minutes and I felt the contractions deep once again. Searing as I tried to play a game of peek-a-boo. [...]

{Continue reading…}

13 Comments · Filed Under: Encouragement, Faith, Fathers, Grief ·

Ways to Bless a Mom

May 1, 2013 · 6 Comments

Some simple, tangible (although sacrificial) ways to bless a mom. Because sometimes we all need some love on those good days, normal days, and not-liking-being-a-mom days. {And because you precious older moms and even some husbands have asked.} ~Jessica Pray for her. Pray with her. This may seem a bit wishy-washy and like a Sunday [...]

{Continue reading…}

6 Comments · Filed Under: Encouragement, Motherhood ·

For When You Don’t Like Being a Mom

April 24, 2013 · 30 Comments

She asked if I ever just didn’t like being a mom. If I ever just wished for a different life that was grander, more beautiful, quieter, better. Whispered of a life free from a five year-old crumpling on the floor with piercing screams because you won’t let him have a piece of gum at 7:13 [...]

{Continue reading…}

30 Comments · Filed Under: Encouragement, Motherhood ·

How to Survive the Little Years

April 18, 2013 · 4 Comments

Surviving the little years – from sobbing on the bathroom floor, to babies in the NICU, to digging out that shiny gem found in my little boy’s nose. :) (Alyssa and Elliana in the NICU over eight years ago.) I’m so honored to be writing over at “When You Rise” today – sharing my heart [...]

{Continue reading…}

4 Comments · Filed Under: Encouragement, Guest Post, Motherhood ·

To You Sweet Mamas Who Are Striving So Hard

April 16, 2013 · 26 Comments

I’m writing to you, sweet mom, on the other side of the screen, the day after our hearts have been crumbled anew into a million tiny, heavy pieces. A day when we realize once again how fleeting our days are, leaving us with an urgency to treasure our children more deeply and to love them [...]

{Continue reading…}

26 Comments · Filed Under: Encouragement, Letters, Motherhood ·