Fun Fact: The Rolling Stones recorded 437 songs.
That is a lot of blues-ish rock and roll music minutes.
Pretty cool, huh? Now you have something interesting to share tonight at the supper table. [Read more…]
Serious About Faith. Light-Hearted About Life.
Fun Fact: The Rolling Stones recorded 437 songs.
That is a lot of blues-ish rock and roll music minutes.
Pretty cool, huh? Now you have something interesting to share tonight at the supper table. [Read more…]
Well friends. We have made it.
We have journeyed through nearly three dozen truths about God. Today finds us at the day after Easter, wrapping up with our final, simple yet remarkably important truth our awesome Father:
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…]
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…]
Would you say that you are a trusting person?
For me, my answer would probably lean towards yes. Sure, there are a few folks out there that make me raise an eyebrow as to whether or not I can legitimately trust them, but for the most part I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.
However, there was a point in my life that trusting other people was an issue. Specifically on almost every leadership retreat I ever attended, especially if a ropes course was involved. [Read more…]
Parenting a tiny human is a learning process.
Our daughter is just over a year old now, and while we understand the general logistics about how to keep her alive (eat food, change diapers, don’t chew on electrical cords, etc) it seems like everyday there are new discoveries and questions that we must answer about our parenting “tactics.”
Like how to teach her table manners. (Eventually.) Or how to keep her from exploring her new chompers by taking a chunk out of my arm. And even the little things about how we speak to her and vocabulary that we use.
There are a few things that I want my daughter to hear as she grows and a lot of principles that we hope to raise her around.
One of my big ones that has been on my heart lately is the use of the word “bad.” [Read more…]
I am Sharita, a Jesus-loving minister, spiritual leadership coach, speaker and writer. Welcome to 7 Days time, where we are inspired by the Son-rise and live in His light! Read More...
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