My pastor asked me to write a devotional for our church as we go through our Pray First emphasis. I have never done anything like this before, so I thought I'd blog it first while I figure out what I am doing.
Surrender - Turning to God
I juggle a lot of things in my life. I'm a wife, a mother to four beautiful kids, a business woman, a community volunteer, and several other things. I try to do all of those things while being a follower of Christ. My schedule may seem chaotic, my house may rarely (if ever) perfect, and I rarely get to the gym. Sometimes I'm juggling a few hats at once and I usually fail when there's too many things in the air. My problem is usually that I'm using my hands to do the juggling, and I'm just not that coordinated.
A few years ago I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I got the diagnosis after having gone blind in one eye for a while and still trying to function, then finally I was really slowed down by paralysis. I had no use of my arms or legs. In my hospital room I was changing the channel on the TV by blowing into a tube. People had to come feed me. For someone who felt so capable and used to caring for so many others, I felt helpless. I couldn't believe God would allow me, who did so much for Him to no longer be able to do anything.
I was in the hospital for a few weeks. I learned how to function while on the treatments to help me get back to "normal"...or as "normal" as I could get while having lesions on my brain. While I was in the hospital, I had a lot of time to myself...something I wasn't used to in my house full of people. I didn't want to pray because I was mad at God, but the Holy Spirit just wasn't letting go. I had to surrender. I was reminded of the fact that God had everything under control without my "help" every time my kids came to visit me. I was reminded that He was in charge when kids from my Sunday School class came to pray for me. God had all of my juggling balls up in the air without my hands!
It shouldn't have shocked me, but I felt slapped. I began to pray for the use of my limbs again, but I wanted God to be the one to move them. He is so much more coordinated than I am. I wanted him to use me still, but allowing him to be the One who moved me. I had to give up the ability to use my hands and legs so that I would allow Him to use them. He gave me back the use of my limbs, but I gave the use of my limbs to Him.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me”
(Galatians 2:20).
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Missions and Prayer
Becca is going on a mission trip this Summer. I'm kinda doing the mom freak out...still, and I've known since mid-December.
The whole thing started a couple of years ago. Becca saw the flier for mission trips through Teen Missions International. Tony gets it every year because he went a few times as a teenager. At the time it was no big deal because there was no way she was going to go to Florida at 6...and she wasn't old enough to be a Peanut (7-9 year olds are Peanuts there) anyway. She asked to go the next year. I put her off thinking that she would forget about it. The next year she saw the flier and asked again. We were in the middle of Girl Scouts and I put her off again because we were so busy all the time that I was sure we wouldn't have time.
The flier came again for this year's mission trips and she asked again. She came to me with the argument that she isn't too busy this year because she didn't want to start anything new with starting "the hard GATE class" at school. She said she didn't want to be bored this summer and she has been wanting to be a missionary since she was first saved. She did, too. Saved at 6, she immediately felt this burden to tell others. She's very open about telling people about Jesus.
Her argument was valid. I hated to say no. The problem was that the trip is in FLORIDA! I didn't want her traveling across the country! There is no way I'm putting my 8 year old on a plane by herself to cross the country! Sure, there are ways, but I don't even let her cross a street by herself, much less the country.
I prayed about it for a while and talked to Tony. He was just surprised that it's taken me this long to realize that Becca needs to go. She's not your "normal" 8 year old, very mature. I'm just the mom trying to be overprotective when I just can't. She has to do what she has to do.
Anyhoo, Tony and I decided that if she was going to Florida, someone was going to travel with her. Tony can't do it because he won't have enough vacation time. He's going to be taking a week and going to umpire training at Western Regionals this year. Not enough time left after other stuff that is going on too.
That leaves me. We originally started this thinking I'd have someone to travel with us and we'd take a road trip, but that may not work, so we're thinking airplane because I really can't drive out there alone. I'll stay out in Florida doing...I don't know what...for the week while she is there and fly back with her. Yeah, it seems a little weird, but I don't like the other options. I don't have the money to take all the other kids with me and go to Disney World or anything. That would be cool, though. If I had the money, I'd rent an RV for the trip and just take anyone who wants to come, but that's pretty pricey.
So, here I am. I told Becca that she has to raise the money it would cost for her to go on the trip, not my tickets or anything, so her goal is $1000 by May to do the trip. So far in her plans is a lemonade stand, a bake sale, and possibly a dinner. She's also working for my grandma once a week doing vacuuming and stuff for her. I think she's going to make it...I'm just not sure I will.... :)
The whole thing started a couple of years ago. Becca saw the flier for mission trips through Teen Missions International. Tony gets it every year because he went a few times as a teenager. At the time it was no big deal because there was no way she was going to go to Florida at 6...and she wasn't old enough to be a Peanut (7-9 year olds are Peanuts there) anyway. She asked to go the next year. I put her off thinking that she would forget about it. The next year she saw the flier and asked again. We were in the middle of Girl Scouts and I put her off again because we were so busy all the time that I was sure we wouldn't have time.
The flier came again for this year's mission trips and she asked again. She came to me with the argument that she isn't too busy this year because she didn't want to start anything new with starting "the hard GATE class" at school. She said she didn't want to be bored this summer and she has been wanting to be a missionary since she was first saved. She did, too. Saved at 6, she immediately felt this burden to tell others. She's very open about telling people about Jesus.
Her argument was valid. I hated to say no. The problem was that the trip is in FLORIDA! I didn't want her traveling across the country! There is no way I'm putting my 8 year old on a plane by herself to cross the country! Sure, there are ways, but I don't even let her cross a street by herself, much less the country.
I prayed about it for a while and talked to Tony. He was just surprised that it's taken me this long to realize that Becca needs to go. She's not your "normal" 8 year old, very mature. I'm just the mom trying to be overprotective when I just can't. She has to do what she has to do.
Anyhoo, Tony and I decided that if she was going to Florida, someone was going to travel with her. Tony can't do it because he won't have enough vacation time. He's going to be taking a week and going to umpire training at Western Regionals this year. Not enough time left after other stuff that is going on too.
That leaves me. We originally started this thinking I'd have someone to travel with us and we'd take a road trip, but that may not work, so we're thinking airplane because I really can't drive out there alone. I'll stay out in Florida doing...I don't know what...for the week while she is there and fly back with her. Yeah, it seems a little weird, but I don't like the other options. I don't have the money to take all the other kids with me and go to Disney World or anything. That would be cool, though. If I had the money, I'd rent an RV for the trip and just take anyone who wants to come, but that's pretty pricey.
So, here I am. I told Becca that she has to raise the money it would cost for her to go on the trip, not my tickets or anything, so her goal is $1000 by May to do the trip. So far in her plans is a lemonade stand, a bake sale, and possibly a dinner. She's also working for my grandma once a week doing vacuuming and stuff for her. I think she's going to make it...I'm just not sure I will.... :)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year!
It's 2012.
Micah decided that this is the year he's going to change the world. Cool, huh?
This year Becca will be going on her first mission trip with Teen Missions International. She's going to Florida (I know, she's only 8!) to bake cookies and share the love of God to our troops stationed there.
This year Ali and Zoe will finish their first year of school.
This year my business is going to take off (I hope and pray)!
This year I'm going to be doing a weekly blog about my house going from chaos to beautiful...with pictures. I'm going to be brave and post before and after. It's going to be crazy. You should totally watch.
I'm also determined to get through the Bible again this year. I've put off going through the Bible in a year for a few years. I used to do it almost every year but I haven't done it in a while...like, since before the twins were born.
Okay, that's about it. I don't really do resolutions, but it seems like I'm doing that this year. I just feel like I need goals to keep me going for a while. I've been too frustrated without something real and specific to strive for.
Micah decided that this is the year he's going to change the world. Cool, huh?
This year Becca will be going on her first mission trip with Teen Missions International. She's going to Florida (I know, she's only 8!) to bake cookies and share the love of God to our troops stationed there.
This year Ali and Zoe will finish their first year of school.
This year my business is going to take off (I hope and pray)!
This year I'm going to be doing a weekly blog about my house going from chaos to beautiful...with pictures. I'm going to be brave and post before and after. It's going to be crazy. You should totally watch.
I'm also determined to get through the Bible again this year. I've put off going through the Bible in a year for a few years. I used to do it almost every year but I haven't done it in a while...like, since before the twins were born.
Okay, that's about it. I don't really do resolutions, but it seems like I'm doing that this year. I just feel like I need goals to keep me going for a while. I've been too frustrated without something real and specific to strive for.
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