God, My Standard Issue of Faith Gear is Busted

Sometimes I wonder if God forgot my personal force field when I accepted Him as my Savior. Maybe, it's defective and it needs to go in for a repair or two, or maybe I need to be issued a better instruction manual. You know the Scripture that talks about our personal force field right? 

¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Ephesians 6:11-13.

The pressures of motherhood, personal issues that I can't seem to let go, and old wounds have been reopened. The problem is that I still believe life would be better, if not safer in the arms of Christ. Here is the reality check, God didn't promise a safe life filled with roses and problems nonexistent. He brought my reality check this morning when I happened to have read a devotional email for mommies:

Beloved, do not be surprised as the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12.

Instead, He reminded me to renew my mind daily by talking with Him. Not just going through the motions of reading my Bible and sending up a quick prayer; but to really sit down and tell Him what's on my heart. When we spend time with Him, it's like we buff our armor and ensuring it fits correctly. 

Because we are going to have trials, via tantrum prone kids, venomous encounters with not so friendly people, financial strain; we can rest in knowing that He has provided what we need, when we need it. We can rest knowing that our force field will protect us through trials and will shape our spiritual life, tempering it, and strengthening our resolve. 

Go on, talk to Him about your day, talk to Him about what is on your heart. This will give Him the opportunity to prepare you to walk through the next trial with Him Shielding what needs shielded and helping you battle what needed battled. 

Deepening the Tide: Prayer Confessions and Sessions

 I don't know about you but I'm one of those gals that doesn't ever really get around to praying except at meal times, church, or it's on going argument of some sort with our Almighty Maker. I have to say that was me until recently. The dynamics of prayer time has changed and so has my heart towards it. First I'd like to say God does hear all of our prayers, every one of them. Secondly prayer time is a way to build your relationship with Jesus who intercedes for us. And thirdly, it awakens the power that was instilled within us when we said yes to our Savior.

    The change in my prayer life happened with the loss of my baby, I wasn't able to sleep, there were so many questions I wanted to ask God. In the midst of another night of insomnia, I muttered that I didn't understand His reasons for allowing it to happen. That's when I heard ever so faintly, "Why is it that only in a crisis do I really hear your thoughts?"

OUCH! "Wait a minute, I talk to you all the time, what about when I'm working out, doing dishes, for heaven sakes, what about all those extra minutes in the shower?"

     "Do you ever take the time to hear me respond?"

      "What about my ministry and those prayers?"

     "Do you know My heart for you?"

     "Okay You got me there, because I totally don't get this!"

     "Meet Me in the morning."

      "What are you talking about? I don't have time in the mornings!"

      "For My Word says, Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may sing and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14).

    With that scripture verse, I also received an impression of Jesus sitting downstairs on my couch with my cup of coffee, waiting for me to descend to tell Him my joys, fears, who I want Him to intercede for and just wanting to know my thoughts. With this conversation and impression, I begrudgingly began testing this theory and I cannot begin to tell you what He has awakened within me.

    Though this trial has been fairly recent, the differences are night and day. While you may not be in the same place as me in terms getting up early, or maybe you're aren't quite ready to make a big commitment like this, but it is so worth the lost hours of sleep.The relationship between me and my Jesus is so much more that what it was. I encourage you to ask God where He wants to take you.

Revelations Of A Mama Prayer Slacker

     I bet the word 'confessions' caught your eye so you decided to read a little further. Sorry sister, nothing juicy or too exciting here unless you count how the enemy is plotting against me. By enemy, that generally means Satan or the kids, but in this case, Satan!
    The enemy is constantly dogging my conscience about what a better christian I should be. He is especially good at making me feel like a failure at setting that example for my kids. I must confess that my prayer life ebbs and flows with my daily existence, and yet I strive to constantly be in prayer and mindful of God speaking to me. Where I fail is thinking I need to be busy with Bible studies, sitting on church committees, and leading women. What I do not understand is why I seem to think those things are priorities. Can you find anything in the Bible that says any of that busyness will satisfy God's desires for me? If you do, please call me! You and I both know it's much more simplified than that.
    It's about communication, and an open heart...It's about prayer. Prayer is communicating your heart, thoughts, desires, dreams, failures, and worries to God. It opens the line of communications directly to your spirit. Without prayer, we cannot be sure of what God wants from us or for us. If you're like me, you'll open your Bible, but nothing makes sense. You'll bumble about your day feeling satisfied because your spirit hasn't connected with God.
   Here's a few tips that you can not only incorporate into your daily life but into the lives of your kiddos too.

1. Set up a pray alter. Purchase scripture cards and a small notebook, each more pull a card out, read the verse and write out your prayers in the notebook. Instruct your whole family to do the same. Before you leave for work or as you go about your day, you can refer back to the prayers of your family.
• If you have little ones, simplify your prayer/scripture time. For example, our kids memorized Philippians 1:6 last week. The verse reads, "Now being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." Our kids memorized it as "God is working in me."
2. Take small business sized note cards with you full of scriptures and prayers, set them about your home. As your eye reads them, send up a prayer to God on what that scripture prompts you.
3. Have an accountability partner. Meet or call a friend once a week to prayer for each other and help each other strive to pray daily. 

Are you a prayer warrior? Leave a comment with how you incorporate prayer in your daily life? Have kids? What do you do to teach them the importance of prayer?

Daddy's Girl

One of my deepest desires was to have a Dad. I had a Dad, but because of his issues and addictions, I haven't seen much of him since I was 12. He came to see me at graduation, then I visited him in Arizona when I was 22, and then I saw him again a few years ago for my sisters wedding. Each visit was less than an hour spent with him because of his drinking issues. However things are now different! There is much to be thankful for during the season of Thanksgiving. One of my prayers for many years has been that God would restore and redeem my family. Although there are a few strained relationships, God has answered the deepest desires of my heart. For the first time since I was 12, I get to spend time with my Dad. Not only do I get to spend time with him, I get to be Daddy's girl.


This prayer has been answered because my father surrendered to God and allowed Christ to be the center of his heart. Gone are the days of addictions and self centered. It's be replaced by a passionate fire for our Almighty God. My brother and I picked up my Dad from the airport last night. As nervous as I was, there was peace. Peace because I knew that my Dad had changed. Peace because I knew I wouldn't have to walk on eggshells. Peace because our time won't be ruined with the need of alcohol or other recreational drugs.

It may seem small or insignificant to those of you who have fathers or don't have a desire for the love of your family; for me it's one of the greatest gifts of all time that both my Father God and my Dad can give me. Finally at the age of 29, I get to begin a relationship with my Dad. Together we get to share moments with my children and my kids get to call him Grandpa... So let the season of thanksgiving begin! With these thoughts, I leave you with one of my favorite songs that encompasses prayer and lifts your mood!

Moral Outcry, 1st Graders to Be Given Condoms.

     The moment we become parents, we live and breathe for our children. We only want what is best for them. When God enters the picture, we want a holy, scared, spirit filled life. God is becoming increasingly less common in hearts, homes, and now schools. Over the last few years a clear distinction has been made between church and state. Kids aren't even taught to say "Under God" during the pledge and now a school in Massachusetts is saying yes to children as young as first grade to be given access to condoms.
      Sex is scared, it was intended for pleasure, intimacy, procreation, and fun in the bedroom between husband and wife. With our culture ever becoming more grey with the saying, "If it makes you happy, do it." No longer is it our connection with God as our moral compass. After reading this article, I am ever more thankful my husband and I are living for Christ Who has a clear set of rules, guidelines, and boundaries intended for our good. I'm also so very thankful we can send our daughter to a faith based private school where God is honored. Check out the link below and feel free to leave a comment about it.
Boston Channel, 1st Graders to be given condoms.

Thirsty?

   

         These last few months I have been hanging on by a thread to get through the daily domestic duties of mommy hood and life itself. The very idea of grocery shopping or playing with my kids wore me out. Tired and irritable were the words that described how I felt. Within an hour of being at the Women's Weekend Retreat, I was able to put a finger on it. I was spiritually burned out.
          While I was there God impressed on me through workshops, prayer, worship, I was running on empty. Empty as in this clay jar was cracked and couldn't hold any water. I enjoyed being in the presence of God and didn't this joy and sense of being poured into to leave me. So why was I so dry? I hadn't taken the time to fill my cup. Sure I read my bible, went to church, and sent up a few 'Help me' prayers; but that left me dry. Without posturing myself to hear from God and actually spending time with Him, what can I expect? So this week I tested my theory. Each day when I laid the kids down for nap (asleep or not), I got my journal and got alone with God. The outcome was a much happier, less irritable Mommy.

Going Crazy...Wanna Come?

If I get called "Crazy" one more time this week. I may literally go off the deep end. Keep in mind as I write this that I am smiling. I am smiling because I was crazy and because of this craziness, numerous people were praying for me. Five years ago today, I wandered into an old movie theater that was converted into a place of worship for young adults and college students. That night, a bolt of lightening hit my body and left a fire burning in my heart. This fire began burning out all the weeds that had taken root in my heart. It wasn't just a small fire, it turned into a prairie fire! Prayers of strangers and new friends is what fueled the blaze to continue to burn out the weeds, and create new rich soil in which God used to plant new life and new seeds to restore and heal the "Craziness" out of me.
I had two interesting and recent encounters with new and old friends who couldn't believe how much I have changed over the few years and how much they see God shining through me. It brought me to tears. I was sitting in April's chair at the Salon chatting about bra sizes, kids, and tattoos; when her sister Star came over to chat with us as well. She wanted to know how my kids were doing because Star used to take care of Cheyenne when she first started attending daycare. Cheyenne smiled her way into Star's heart, and in turn she began praying for that precious little girls' parents. God gave Star a word back then that "A little child shall lead them". 'Them' being, my husband and myself. April too began praying for God to heal the bitter wounds of my heart after I starting regularly attending The Gathering Place in that old theater. What is even crazier about all of this is how God began healing their hearts as they began praying for me. They saw a little of themselves in this not-so-happy, embittered-in-need-of-a-new-heart- creature!
What is so wonderful about all of this is that we all have gotten to see how God used their prayers to intercede and deliver me from more than my fair share of troubles. We also get to see his faithfulness in walking with me and watch Him continue the work He so faithfully started. My deliverance came along with their thanksgiving and has enriched their faith that God does and can move mountains or return the insane to sane! This allows others to put their trust in God so He can restore their hearts as well. God is so GOOD!
"I couldn't believe it when I saw you on facebook and saw that you were a Jesus Freak, I was like, NO WAY....You used to be so CRAZY", my friend exclaimed from across the table at Old Chicago as my husband and I sat across from Chelsea and her husband. We got a rare opportunity to sneak away from the kids and visit with her for the first time in three years. As tired as I was, she was amazed at the overhaul God invested into my life and changed me from the crazy hallow shell she used to work with daily for two years. It's these moments that confirm that whether or not I see God's hand, I am changing on a daily basis and growing closer to the savior that saved my life. I can now rest, and stand strong on His promises...and not feel so crazy!

This is my heart's cry, this text has been written on my heart and applies so well to my post today! "Come and listen, all you who fear God; I cried out to Him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; But God has surely listened and heard my prayer. Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" Psalms 66:16-20.