Serious About Faith. Light-Hearted About Life.
I remember those argumentative moments like they were yesterday.
It didn’t matter what the topic was, it always ended the same. Whether I was 5-years-old begging for a cookie before supper or a teenager asking to stay out late on a school night or even in college asking for who-knows-what, after a barrage of “why’s” or “why nots” from my end, the conversations with my loving parents almost always ended the same:
“BECAUSE I SAID SO!” [Read more…]
My heart starts to pound. I can feel my blood pressure rising. If you listen really close, I am relatively certain that you can hear the gears whirring at a very high pace within my brain.
Yep, I am getting all wound up about something– again. Just another day in the life of this girl who is constantly seeking His everyday peace.
Le sigh.
Peace is abundantly available in this world, especially from God, but shockingly elusive.
At least for Type A personalities like myself. [Read more…]
I have always been a pretty independent gal and prided myself on being “strong.”
For many people, strong might have several different definitions. Although I have never been athletic, I always tried to do my fair share of the farm work growing up. Fifty pound feed sack over my shoulder? No big deal. Hoisting a heavy western saddle way over my head to saddle the horse? Not pretty, but I managed.
I always wanted to be the “strong one,” both physically and emotionally.
But it didn’t always work out like that. [Read more…]
The words tumble out of my mouth so fast there is no hope for me to stuff them back in…
“WHAT, in heaven’s name, do you think you are doing?!?!”
It happens all the time. I question those around me when I don’t agree with their choices or decisions.
It is isn’t a matter of needing information– it is a combination of frustration, pride, confusion and a little bit of shock. [Read more…]
Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day!
***
Are you patient? I am not.
Although my patience level has drastically improved since walking with Christ, getting married, learning about this army-wife life and becoming a parent, “patient” still wouldn’t make my top 20 most prominent attributes in my personal description.
I am a gal who likes to get things done and get them done now. The sooner the better– then I can move onto something else.
And if it doesn’t happen quick, fast and in a hurry? I might get a little twitchy. [Read more…]
I know, I know… I’ve said it before.
I am a planner. Sure, it might make me a nerd, but I just love the dreaming and the planning and the envisioning that comes with strategizing to reach a new goal or accomplish a task.
Sometimes my plans involve scribbles on a notebook (with an inky pen, of course.)
Sometimes my plans are written on a white board in the kitchen under the title “Weekly Menu.”
Sometimes my plans are meticulously crafted on a color-coded spreadsheet then taped to the wall for me to see daily for accountability.
I love making plans.
But admittedly, my plans aren’t always perfect. Things happen.
Kids get sick. Ministry emergencies pop up. Husband’s work schedule changes. Hey, even I get sick! <– This last one is one of my least favorite things ever. )
I don’t like it when my plans go awry.
Fortunately, God’s plans never get thrown off. Because that is today’s truth:
It’s funny that as I write those words, I am forcing myself to embrace them in my heart. Because as I write this, my color-coded workout spreadsheet plans have been totally thrown off for the last week due to some energy-sucking lung clogging cold virus of doom. And my Beloved husband just texted me to say that he will be working overnight– on Easter. Again this year.
Now what was I saying? Oh yeah. God’s plans. They are perfect.
His plans really are perfect, even if they seem to make our lives more difficult or confusing in the moment. But it all boils down to trust. Do I trust God to get me back on my running schedule? Yes. Do I trust God to give me energy to do a couple of days of solo unforeseen parenting over my favorite Jesus holiday? Yes.
Am I happy about it? Not really. But I do trust Him with it. (And don’t worry about me– give me a few minutes to adjust and I will be able to find the good stuff in the middle of these squiggly plans.)
God’s plans trump our plans– every time. Why? Because He is the One with the big-picture blue prints. He knows the reasons behind why we did (or didn’t) get that “dream job” we applied for. He knows the purpose for a season of trial or pain. He holds the truth to an unknown path or question we are currently facing in our lives.
He holds His Plans in His Hands.
And those plans are perfect.
If this truth about God is one that you particularly struggle with, take heart… Because sometimes I struggle with it too (like today. Le sigh.) But I also know that God has proven time and time and time again that His plans are absolutely perfect– His plans are for us to prosper, not to harm us. Even if we can’t see it in the moment. When in your past have you not understood God’s plans until they came to fruition? I would love to hear all about it. Please join the conversation and leave a comment.
Remember, friends… even if we can’t understand His grand plans today, someday we will… It might be on the other side of heaven’s gates, but we will understand.
So in the meantime, trust Him with His plans– even if they don’t match up to your notebook scribbles or color-coded spreadsheet.
Embracing His Plans,
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Linking up today with my sweet friend Beth over at Three-word Wednesday and also with Walking Redeemed. Oh! And be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday!
As of this moment, we have not yet had any *serious* issues with separation anxiety with our daughter. (Yet is the key word– I am fully aware this can ambush us at any moment.)
Yes, Charis digs the fact that we are her parents (at least that is what I am telling myself– check back with me when she turns 13) but she isn’t stuck like glue to me unless she is afraid or sick.
Unfortunately, she is currently in a season of not loving the dark. [Read more…]
Hate is such a strong word.
And I think it is an overused word, kind of like love.
Consider all of the different ways we use these two power-packed words.
I love those shoes. I hate this weather. I love the K-State Wildcats. I hate lima beans. I love Saturdays. I hate people who cut me off in traffic.
I could probably write an entire blog post (or book!) following that love-hate pattern, but you get the point. Love and hate are pretty common words, and pretty over used ones at that. [Read more…]
I must admit that sometimes I don’t have all the answers.
Google is one of my best friends when it comes to the mundane questions that I have: Can you eat sour cream past its expiration date? How can I keep moss from growing in my yard? What are the symptoms of a mold allergy?
Although Google is a mighty powerful tool, it doesn’t have all the answers either.
Especially when it comes to the hard stuff.
Like the questions I am asked as a minister. [Read more…]
I have loved music for as long as I can remember.
Growing up, my sister and I would spend time playing in the basement listening to old school records while Mom sewed. At night, we would pop in one of those nifty little yellow children’s cassette tapes and listen to tunes about coming around the mountain when she comes (whoever she was), Michael rowing his boat ashore and the like.
But now, over two decades (decades!?!) later, there is one song that still sticks in my head… And heart. [Read more…]
It's been awhile since we have posted a fresh Factor of 7 here at 7 Days Time. We've done a few small ones over the last several months, but we wanted to share one of most recent random acts of kindness with you. Because it was fun. And hey, who … Interested? Read on...
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