Made For People

No one likes to feel alone. Loneliness is a very real and powerful feeling. I think it can be defined best by a lack there of. Loneliness is the lacking of feeling like you belong.

We all have a very real need for people, love, belonging, and community.

We weren't made to be alone, hence why God made Eve. It was not good for Adam to be alone. Whenever I feel my very best it is when I am surrounded by other people who love and understand me.

So, why do we go through so much of life by ourselves? In our own little worlds? A lot of times people try to get in, but we push them away. We live in a time and culture that says, 'I am too busy for friendships,' 'I am an independent person,' 'I don't NEED anyone.' Are we buying into these lies? I know that I have and ultimately it has left me feeling lonely.

We need people in our lives who love us, encourage us, and continuously pull us back to the Gospel. Not only that, but we need people in our lives who we can serve, love, and encourage as well.

I will say it again, we were not meant to do life alone. I really encourage you to take a step, a small leap of faith to become a part of a community. Join a small group at your church, a book club, a music or art class, join a work out group for moms...something that brings you together with people who you will let into your life. You won't regret it!

I Am A List-Maker

I am a person who makes "To Do" lists...constantly. Any time I have more than a couple of things scheduled or due I just have to make a list in order to process it, otherwise it feels like a bunch of things are hanging over my head.

When reading this can you tell I am a person who gets stressed? Easily?

For some reason everything on my calendar and planner has hit me at once and I am feeling a huge weight over me. I have been making to do lists like it's a compulsion!

Nothing really even big is going on, it is just a bunch of little stuff adding up and I am taking it upon myself to solve it all and complete it all. I am, at times, controlling. Can you relate?

Why do I continuously take it into my own hands? It is useless and, quite frankly, a sin. Whenever I get into this mode of 'me, me, me' or 'what can I do to make this better,' God always convicts me and tells me to give it up. Give it to Him.

God's Word tells us to do so,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

All I can say is, what relief! God willingly takes anything we are prone to be anxious about upon Himself and promises to give us PEACE. That is quite a promise and not only must I accept that, but give thanks.

So, I think I will give up the to do lists for awhile and start the praying and trusting. :)

This Is A Call

Can anyone truly define a mother? Dictionary.com's first definition of mother is " female parent." What about a wife? Once again, Dictionary.com's definition is "a woman joined in marriage to a man."

Now are these definitions correct? Of course. But when I hear them put this way it just falls short. As a woman who's main calling in life is to be a mother and wife is this all that I am?

Sometimes when I think to myself about being a mom and wife I think about all the things that I do....

From the moment we marry we are helpers to our husbands. We cook and clean and do the laundry; pay the bills and keep the house in order; we try and please them and support them every way we can.

Then we become pregnant with our first baby! From that moment on we sacrifice our bodies for this baby, we carry him/her for 9 months and go through unsurpassable pain to bring this baby into the world. We then give up our sleep, time, energy, looks, alone time, shower time, new clothes, and even our meal time at times for this child. Not only that, but we continue to cook and clean and do the laundry; pay the bills and keep the house in order; and try to please our husbands and support them every way we can....

And this can get tiring at times to say the least!

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning and jump right into "mommy mode" and begin cleaning up the kitchen and making breakfast, I find myself wondering, 'what is all this for?'

I have been feeling this a lot lately and God has heard my heart. He has answered me in multiple ways. The main one being His Word. As I was reading last night this verse popped out of the pages to me:

*Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²²Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.You are serving the Lord Christ. Col 3:18-24*

The areas in bold are what really stood out to me. By serving my family, by doing all of these things and sacrificing daily I am most certainly serving the Lord! What motivation is greater than that? And not only am I called to serve and love them, but with "sincerity of heart!"

So, the next time you think of yourself as a mother or wife feel honored that the Lord has called you to such great service and know that even vacuuming can be a way to worship God and He will give you the strength to do it!

A Father to the Fatherless

I have the privilege to watch my husband and son interact with each other daily. Sometimes I will peek in on them from the other room to see them wrestling (baby style of course hehe) or reading or playing with Garrett's guitar. It brings such joy to my heart to see the love that Garrett has for Caden. There is nothing like a father and son bond.

While thinking one day about that connection I began to think about how God must love His Son. I don't think we can even imagine it. Their bond is so intertwined and deep...they are one. Yet, He sent His Son to earth to be born in human flesh and die a gruesome death upon a cross...for US. Can you even imagine doing the same? I surely can't. That brings us to the truth that not only does God love Jesus, His only begotten, but he must love us more than we can comprehend!

Psalm 68:4-6 says, "Sing to God,sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the LORD;

exult before him!

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.

God settles the solitary in a home;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land."

God is the "Father of the fatherless." He calls us His sons and His daughters and has adopted us into His family. We are cared for, we are loved with a sacrificial love, he thinks about us and provides for us. A father through and through.

I love the lyrics to this hymn, "How deep the Father's love for us. How vast beyond all measure. That He should give His only Son. To make a wretch His treasure." There is nothing more amazing!

So, the next time you feel your chest tighten with overwhelming love and affection for your child remember the Lord and His true, fatherly love for you. It has the power to change your life.