Happy Father's Day! God has blessed us with the gift of seeing so many great dads! I am so glad that God placed me in the home of a wonderful Daddy! He lead our home with integrity. I remember a few times when my siblings and I seemed to have different stories so he would line us all up until he got down to the truth.
Mama told me the story of when Dad got saved when I was a little baby. He would accompany my mom to church but whenever it got close to the altar call I would begin to cry (still not sure if he pinched me or not) and he would take me out of the sanctuary. Finally one time my mom said, "Let her cry" and he faced his conviction and accepted the Lord. He meant it, too. Every time the church doors were open we were there ... and he lived it at home. The church was my second home. I had wonderful Sunday school teachers and wonderful examples of Godly fathers leading their homes.
I grew up and God blessed me with three amazing kids. Five years ago I was suddenly a single mom and although not so gracefully, I embraced my role as mom and dad. For those who really know me, you know that my initial reaction is to "freak" but lately those times don't last as long before I accept reality and call on the Lord.
One of the first huge changes was driving. One of the best gifts I had ever given my husband was a GPS (just a few months before he left). I acquired that wonderful gift and it sure did help. Whenever we went anywhere together he just automatically drove. I was good with driving around our little town but I was suddenly thrown into taking the kids to all kinds of appointments beyond my comfort zone. I was very excited when I survived the trip to St Pete by myself ... haha, still not thrilled with Ft Myers ... but I do it! Each trip is a little empowering.
Church was never an issue because I always made sure we got up and went to church. There was never an argument but the weight of raising these children alone and making sure that they remained Christ centered was an overwhelming thought. How many times did I belt out the prayer, Lord LEAD ME!
I struggled with the family leadership/discipline at first. I kept thinking "wow, the kids have been through so much..." and I wasn't as strict at the beginning as I should've been. This is all following an incident where we had all gone to the store. One of my children was in the car with their dad and grandpa. I came out to the car with my hands full and that child locked the door. I am standing there and my husband said, "You're the mom, what are you going to do about it?" while he and grandpa was in the car laughing. How was I to lead them when that is what they knew? Thankfully the Lord in his redeeming love helped us to survive the last 5 years and we are amazed at how far we have come.
We have pulled together as a family. This point was once again proven when, at midnight, I hear the dreaded "Mom, there's a spider in the house." Okay, Michigan friends, when a child in Florida says spider, they are not talking about a daddy long leg. The words I heard last night were "it's as big as my face!" "don't let the cat out, the spider will eat it!" It's that kind of spider. You don't want to get to close because they jump. One time my daughter video taped me as we worked at getting the spider. I stood frozen with a broom in my hand as my son is shouting instructions that if I use the broom he will disappear and we won't find him. Ugh, four hours later we had one dead spider but my room was torn apart, golf clubs laying all over, shoes in disarray but we got him!
This is what I am talking about when I say SPIDER!
Last night we got him, too! It went much quicker this time. We only had to use a mop, a broom, hairspray, wasp spray, one shoe, a yearbook and a knife. I'll put the kitchen back together this afternoon. Through it all we screamed together, we prayed (okay, we shouted, Lord empower Katie), we screamed some more, we did the "we don't like spiders dance" but we did it all together.
Ethan stepped into his role of "man of the house" (well, except for maybe the spiders) and I am amazed at how God equipped him with knowledge of things I never taught him. He just knows things. I asked him the other day how he does it. He simply said, "I taught myself". Works for me.
One day God may bring a man into our family ... until then, God is empowering us to do things and giving us the strength to accomplish things we never knew we could do before...and we are so grateful!
Happy Father's day to all those godly men who accepted the gift and are leading their families ... who love, support and encourage. To all those who get the spiders and chase the snakes. This is your special day! To my kids, Happy Father's day to you, too! You've jumped right in and helped to make us the family we are today! I love you!!!!
My prayer ... Lead Me by Sanctus Real
Until next time ... whether single or married ... male or female ... pray for the Godly men that were placed in your life.
To protect ... or be still? That's a question that perhaps should be asked and have an answer in place before you actually need it. However, there are times when circumstances arise and you just have to go with what you feel is best at the time. I think if you are focused on the things of God and in tune to how He wants you to live I believe you will still react out of love, as He would.
We ran into a situation recently. My eighteen year old needed me (that in itself caused my heart to soar) and I had to quickly ask myself the question "Do I protect her?" "Do I let her handle the situation in her own way?" "Do I just be still?" Soon she will be leaving my home to go to college. I have been assured that she will be calling me to ask my opinions and seek my advice. I know the calls will likely dwindle as she spreads her wings and gains confidence but during this situation, she was still my little girl and she needed her mother.
Although she was raised knowing about Jesus and how to react, she knows how to handle herself and can be a little feisty. Not a bad thing ... she thinks I'm too nice. :) Anyway, after hearing how she was going to respond, I felt that the best course of action was to deal with the situation in a proper, firm but loving way ... TOGETHER. We mixed her feisty with my calm and together as a mother/daughter team we stood united.
As most things in this world, it didn't end in the most desirable outcome. We still don't know what repercussions will develop from this situation. What we do know, however, is that God will fight for us. He is there for us and we know that we have each other. She knows that her Mama loves her and will back her up, support her and protect her even if that means she has to dig deep for a little feisty. She knows I will be there to hug her even when she doesn't want to be touched but I know she really needs it. We know that we can respond in love, even when it's difficult. We have no control over the reactions of anyone else ... we can only control how we respond.
We didn't respond immediately either. We took time to breathe, to discuss, to talk about how Jesus would want us to handle it, to calm ourselves so we could think more clearly...then we responded and knew we needed to simply 'be still'. Haha, okay, I am not sure she feels that same way ~ yet...but the more she seeks God and can rest in Him, she will get there. She amazes me every day.
Because You Loved Me
A Mother's Love
Until next time ... take time to breathe, pray and think ... then respond with love
Despite all the bad in the world, there is also a lot of good. There are days that you may have to look a little harder to find your "happy" but God blesses us each day. It's up to us to accept it.
This past week a few friends and I have been doing an online Bible study, going through the book of Proverbs. Although I have read portions/verses from Proverbs in the past, I have never read the entire chapter or book before. I am absolutely stunned at the amount of knowledge and wisdom is contained in each chapter.
I have been reading from several versions to try to get the most understanding. I have also been talking to a friend outside of the study, who reads a chapter a day and reads through Proverbs every month, about some of the scripture and it's such a blessing to hear their insight.
My friend is writing her thoughts in her blog and I just absolutely love what she wrote about Proverbs 3:5-6 (Click here to read Linda's thoughts).
As I get a glimpse of the news and the tragedies that so many are facing I am glad that God is in control and I can look for the blessings He provides every day. I am so grateful for Christian friends ... who pray without hesitation ... who encourage ... who bring laughter and wisdom. I am thankful for the support of pastors and mentors who guide and love unconditionally. I am blessed to see my children growing and establishing deepening relationships with each other. I am happy about renewed and improved friendships ... for special projects to work on and a new life adventure. Most of all I am forever grateful that God is ever present. His wisdom and direction is there, if we just ask and seek Him ... and that offers a peace that I simply can't describe...a peace that passes all understanding.
Until next time ... do you need direction? Seek Him with your whole heart ... and ask!
It seems like when I post or give praise or I feel like "I've got it", Satan has been waiting patiently to attack and mess with me. I don't like that my initial reaction are tears. I'm happy, however, that I am a lot quicker at recognizing these attacks and where they come from.
A couple days ago I wrote about how sometimes I just can't understand why God wouldn't do "such and such" as it would be so easy for him to do and it would make my life so much easier. I went on to say that during those times of waiting and not understanding that God is actually equipping us and strengthening us.
Yesterday I received the long awaited phone call from the surgeons office. When we learned in January that my son would need major surgery I had it all planned out ... as soon as school let out we would have the surgery so my family would be here with me to help out and offer support. It was a perfect plan. A few months later I learned that his surgery would be delayed because his other doctor wasn't ready to release him for surgery. Not a big deal. I adjust my "perfect" plan and realized that maybe my family wouldn't be here during the surgery but maybe my dad would come back.
I then was told that his surgery would be August 25th! Two weeks after school starts back up ... two days after I take my oldest to college for the first time (who, by the way, refused to go to camp this year because she insisted on being here for the surgery and helping her brother throughout his journey of healing). Because of my new position at work I have to be at work and it all just seemed as if my perfect plan exploded! My initial reaction ... I sat at my desk and cried.
As I said, those moments quickly pass (much better than I used to be). I called the school to inform them that Ethan will be missing 4-6 weeks of school and then, once back, will be on restriction. They already have a plan in place. I just need to apply for the Hospital Homebound services, in which a tutor will come to our house a couple times a week. We hit our first snag when I informed them that we live in another county and we reassigned to their school. Just another opportunity to grow my faith and trust that He already has it worked out. I've had my house for sale for seven months. The plan was to move into the county where we work and attend school. Thus far, that hasn't been in God's plan either.
He's growing me ... He's stretching me but I can see that if my perfect plan were in place, yes I would praise God but how much more glorified will he be when we get the miracle of seeing His plan work out. I was told that they don't typically send teachers out of county to tutor ... but she believes she will be able to work it out. I desperately needed someone at work to help fill in and yesterday a miracle happened and I was blessed with a substitute teacher in place. God doesn't always let us have the easy road ... but wow, to witness miracles happen amidst the bumps is amazing.
What Faith Can Do I've seen miracles just happen ....
Until next time ... it may not be easy but it's so worth it ...
Plain and simple, we don't see the whole picture. There's no way we can fully the mind of God but He has assured us that He loves us, He will never leave us and He will give us answers and wisdom if we ask for it. So many times I have prayed, knowing how easy it would be if God would just do "this" or "that". At the time I only saw what was in front of me. Later things became clear and I am so grateful God didn't always give me what I asked. Other times I still don't fully understand why He didn't answer in the way that I thought best.
My best friend is so good at reminding me to just keep my eyes on Him and wait for His timing. A short time ago she sent me a devotional. Here's an excerpt from it: You are asking God to do something and know He can do it, but it doesn’t
happen the first time you ask. It may take days, months, or even years.
Don’t give up when you aren’t successful the first time. Keep praying.
Keep seeking God. He will answer your prayer in the way and time that is
best for you. Don’t lose heart and keep praying. What’s one thing you
have been asking God for but He has yet to answer? What can you do to
ensure you don’t give up in asking and seeking God through prayer for
this thing? Keep seeking God ... keep trusting that He knows best.
She also actually wrote a sermon: God Size Faith Although she was referring to building God's church I think it could easily apply to any area of our life where God is challenging us to have big faith. I encourage you to click on the link and read the entire thing but to highlight a few points ... God gives us a dream. If you don't already know what that dream is, ask Him. Pray and seek His face. He can put that desire within us but He doesn't just want it to sit there. He wants us to pursue it, to have faith that He can turn that dream into reality and accomplish it through us as we continue to trust in Him. Next we need to claim it. She said it best, "No matter how big the dream is He has for us; no matter how unobtainable
it seems, if God gives us the dream, we will be able to see it
fulfilled if we just have faith in Him!" The hardest part is waiting! I've shared before about stories in the Bible where they got tired of waiting so they went out on their own. That pathway lead to heartache and broken relationships. It is always best to waiting on Him ... even when it's hard.
I recently received a text from a friend who shared that he will fully trust God's plan even when he sometimes doesn't understand it. So simple ... yet, at times, so hard! It may be easier to remember that it is during the times of waiting that they are most influential in shaping our faith. Hold on to the knowledge that he wants to bless us ... he will be glorified ... he always hears our prayers.
What Faith Can Do
Steady My Heart
Before the Morning
Until next time ... don't be afraid to stretch your faith ... accept God's dream for your life ... claim it ... trust that he is busy equipping you now during this time of waiting so you will be ready when his amazing plan is revealed!
