tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82197479579174117752024-02-18T19:37:54.258-08:00Raphah Mama
Learning How to "Let Go and Let God" in Motherhood, Marriage, and LifeMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-83100614484842656112021-01-26T15:52:00.000-08:002021-01-26T15:52:04.177-08:00Fearfully and Wonderfully Made<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr_eHM-zGsbdxoqXrdWAiLLntKAwNabFilKgUKM44hMflsLqmoxBJD8wR4CaI3ga-61LUItM8UTbOxAxZ4wSiV77edVt2KF53O0ufm18hkZ8PcuPRgLqs1KyEAsjeVFw2NcZTSQD1FhN7/s2048/ECE49AB2-24F6-4372-80EE-210CA1B62243.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr_eHM-zGsbdxoqXrdWAiLLntKAwNabFilKgUKM44hMflsLqmoxBJD8wR4CaI3ga-61LUItM8UTbOxAxZ4wSiV77edVt2KF53O0ufm18hkZ8PcuPRgLqs1KyEAsjeVFw2NcZTSQD1FhN7/w400-h400/ECE49AB2-24F6-4372-80EE-210CA1B62243.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18.24px;">This verse has been showing up in my life a lot lately, and I love it. The entire Psalm is such a treasure of God’s love and care for His people; it’s actually pretty overwhelming to take in! Something in particular that has stood out to me lately is that the “fearfully and wonderfully made” part doesn’t only relate to our physical bodies. We were each designed on purpose, inside and out, and declared wonderful creations!</span><span style="font-size: 18.24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;">The color of our hair was not an accident. The way our bodies work and move and look was divinely ordained. Our personalities, and the ways we think and feel, were not made by some kind of random accident. God purposely thought out, planned, and executed the design of YOU and ME, from the color of our eyes to the things that make us laugh; from our heights (or lack there-of, says the not-even-5-foot sister over here)</span><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;"> to our dreams and goals; from our one-of-a-kind face shape to our unique talents and abilities. God shaped and formed all of that and knit it all together into the creation that is US, and through David in this Psalm pronounces us WONDERFUL. Pretty astounding to really think through, right? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;">You, Dear One, are wonderfully made. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;">Now, this doesn’t mean we are perfect. We live in a sinful world, and have ourselves been infected by sins that warp and twist God’s perfect design into what He never intended. But that doesn’t take away the intrinsic value and worth that we hold as His creations at all! Every person was purposely planned and created by God to reflect His glorious image, and that fact in and of itself means we are priceless. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21.8px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 18.24px;">What would happen if we could each really grasp this, be rooted in the value and worth we have to our loving God, stand confidently in our design, and go out and walk the special journeys He has set before us? I think we’d see some pretty incredible people doing some pretty incredible things, don’t you? Let’s be those kind of people, believing what He has declared over us, allowing Him to prune and refine the “rough edges” and blemishes that exist from living in a sinful world, and be the wonderful creations He envisioned us to be. </span></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-8624230519796799702021-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:002021-01-19T16:55:41.946-08:00Quicksand Fear<p>I read a Facebook post today from one of the authors I follow and admire, Lisa Jo Baker, and in her post she talked about fear. She shared some of the things she was feeling fearful of--everything from her daughter's loneliness to the political unrest in DC this week. Then she said something that I could absolutely relate to:</p><p><i>"Fear is a quicksand that can suck you in so fast, you hardly have time to catch your breath."</i></p><p><i>Fear is a quicksand. </i>Goodness, I don't think I've ever heard a better description of fear. </p><p>I myself have been battling all kinds of fear lately. It is a fear-filled time to be alive in general, with so much uncertainty and unrest and grief carrying over from last year, and I feel that; on top of that, though, my anxiety has exploded in the last few weeks and brought with it a daily battle with all kinds of worries and fears. I'm afraid of my kids getting hurt, of loved ones getting upset with me, of my husband's long work trips, of unintentionally hurting people I love.... On and on it goes, until I literally can't breathe at times with the weight of it all.</p><p>Yes, quicksand is a very accurate description of what fear does. It sucks you down so fast you don't even know what hit you until it's too late and you're in over your head, flailing around for something--anything-- to grab onto. We've seen a lot of that lately, right? A lot of people desperately grabbing for whatever they can "control" because they are just terrified.</p><p>It turns out, though, that is the opposite of what we need to do in order to be freed from "quicksand fear." Lisa Jo continued on in her post:</p><p><i>"In my boys’ favorite travel guide 'The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook' they share this on how to escape from quicksand:</i></p><p><i><b>'When walking in quicksand country, carry a stout pole- it will help you get out should you need to. As soon as you start to sink, lay the pole on the surface of the quicksand.</b></i></p><p><i><b>Flop onto your back on top of the pole. Place the pole at a right angle from your spine to keep your hips afloat.'</b></i></p><p><i>Did you get that last point? They advise you to lie down on top of the quicksand. Not to try and run away. Not to try and pull yourself out. Not to struggle. But to surrender and be still."</i></p><p>There are two things I noticed in this comparison. The very first thing is that in order to deal with the fears of this life, we need a "stout pole" to help us navigate the paths in "quicksand country", and also to support us and keep us afloat should we happen to get caught up in some quicksand fear. There's only one thing--One Person--we can count on to do this for us, and I'm sure you all can guess Who it is. </p><p>Listen to these words:</p><p><i>"My hope is built on nothing less</i></p><p><i>Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;</i></p><p><i>I dare not trust the sweetest frame,</i></p><p><i>But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.</i></p><p><i>On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;</i></p><p><i>All other ground is sinking sand,</i></p><p><i>All other ground is sinking sand."</i></p><p><i>~Edward Mote, "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand"</i></p><p><br />So that's first, then: make sure you have the solid support of Jesus with you at all times and are relying on Him to get you through these fearful times. There's just no way to safely get through without Him.<br /><br />Next is the hard part: Surrender. Be still. </p><p>I know that's probably the very last thing any of us feel like doing when we are afraid, right? It goes against all of our natural inclinations to give up even MORE control, to release our death grip on things and to give in to anything at all when we are drowning in fear. But that really is the only way to keep ourselves from sinking further into the muck! This means we stop striving, stop trying to "figure it out" or "prevent" or "prepare"...just rest yourself on the stable and sure support of your Savior, surrender, and be still. </p><p>It comes down to this: do you trust that Jesus can hold you up? Even if that quicksand bubbles up deeper and thicker and worse than we ever could have thought; if all of our worst fears are realized; if things get even worse...do you believe He will be there to hold you securely above it all? </p><p>I'm in this with you guys, slogging through some of the most intense quicksand country I've ever imagined. May we keep Jesus as our Solid Guide as we navigate this season; and should we stumble into some of the mess, may we trust our Savior enough to lean on Him, surrender, and be still.</p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-19877787073333338752020-12-02T12:14:00.000-08:002020-12-02T12:14:00.393-08:00A Thrill of Hope<p>We are in the first week of Advent, and the focus of this week is hope. This year I've felt very drawn to that line from the song "O Holy Night" "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices." It just seems so, so relatable this year, don't you think? Our world is weary, worn down from the anxiety and turmoil and grief of this past year, longing and aching for things to improve. I'm sure all of us could use some hope. </p><p>I've been reading the book of Romans, and this week one of the verses caught my attention as it pertained to hope. Romans 5:3-5 says, "Not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." </p><p>Did you guys catch how hope is produced in us, where it originates from? It's from suffering. When we suffer, we develop endurance, which develops character, which develops hope. You could almost say that without suffering, we can't really have hope. A little later in Romans, we read some more about hope. Romans 8:24-25 says, "For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." When everything is peachy-keen and happy, we don't really need hope; we don't hope for what we already have before us. But when things are at rock-bottom and we are struggling and hurting, we look ahead longingly to when things will be better; we hope! With the amount of suffering in our world right now, can you imagine the coordinating level of hope there is? How much more do we long for God's mercy, goodness, help, and deliverance than we have in earlier seasons? </p><p>I think our world needs hope so desperately right now. I know that I do! As God's people, filled with His love and Spirit, we can share hope with others around us who so desperately need it. I was actually on the receiving end of this just this last weekend at church. Sunday was a rough day for me this week because we were preparing for Jed's big work trip to Chicago the next day. I was dreading the thought of him leaving and felt overwhelmed at the prospect of parenting alone for almost 2 weeks. The thought that kept running through my mind was, "How am I ever going to do this, God?" <br />As I walked into church, a sweet friend came over and told me that God had laid me on her heart that morning, and she asked if I needed a hug. This simple gesture was such a blessing to me because it reminded me that God saw me, and He would provide what I needed in the upcoming season of parenting solo. It gave me "a thrill of hope" for a time that I was feeling a lot of anxiety and dread.</p><p>Just like my sweet friend did for me at church, we can each provide "a thrill of hope" to the people in our sphere of influence. As I close today, I want to leave you with a couple of questions that I hope will help you stay focused on hope in this first week of Advent.</p><p>1. What are some "thrills of hope" God has provided to you throughout the sufferings of this year?</p><p>2. How can you share a thrill of hope with those around you in your daily life? <br /> </p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-71697668415934574252020-08-25T16:17:00.000-07:002020-08-25T16:17:00.677-07:00Where is Your Trust?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaItGwzTMuo-hFyKKUPSwFF1n4PvkWf2rSWRJBx9P13eWb1N0W_BG3J5-91_qDHMsNbI40HYbXEqjb6mQ_sJnyLKyGnZM5_snsuY7OdWGn7mzpUDKOFDV3fMHEmqdrYtTZsPN64B4UQ9Zq/s1280/landscape-192987_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaItGwzTMuo-hFyKKUPSwFF1n4PvkWf2rSWRJBx9P13eWb1N0W_BG3J5-91_qDHMsNbI40HYbXEqjb6mQ_sJnyLKyGnZM5_snsuY7OdWGn7mzpUDKOFDV3fMHEmqdrYtTZsPN64B4UQ9Zq/s640/landscape-192987_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>If I were to ask you, "where is your trust?" what do you think you would answer? I think there are countless ways we <i>could</i> answer this, but the Bible seems to focus on one main contrast: trusting in man versus trusting in God. There are many, many verses that warn us against trusting in man rather than God, and several stories that illustrate just what happened when Bible characters fell into this trap. Maybe you've wondered, though, what exactly it means to trust in man? As I've thought about this and prayed through it, I think there are 3 ways we fall into this:<p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>We trust in man when we turn to close human relationships rather than or before God for help, comfort, or other needs. </b>Please note, this does <i>not</i> mean it is wrong to ask other people for help, or to desire advice or comfort from others. God places us in families, communities, and other groups of people precisely because He knows we need each other. <b>I think it's really a heart issue here:</b> when troubles come and you are hurting, suffering, or afraid, who do you really rely on, deep down? Who do you seek out before all others? Your spouse? Your parents? A good friend? <b>Is God your go-to source of help, wisdom, and comfort; or is He an afterthought?</b> It isn't that our need for other people or desire to have human connection and "tangible" help is wrong in and of itself; rather, <b>it is when this natural need and affection takes God's place that it becomes a problem.</b> Earlier in Jeremiah, we are given a clear picture of this: <b><i>"for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that hold no water." (Jer. 2:13) </i></b>Only God is the source of living water, of all that we need and long for. Seeking other people to fill or carry our needs is like relying on a broken vase to hold water; eventually it will fail, and we will be left without what we need (and a mess to clean up, too!)<br /><br /></li><li><b>We trust in man when we seek the advice, opinions, or solutions of professionals and human leaders over God.</b> I think we have been seeing this a lot lately, right? We are living out the consequences of what happens when people turn to human authorities for solutions to major problems rather than humbly seeking God and His wisdom. No matter how gifted a person is, no matter how long they studied a subject or how specialized they are in their craft, nobody has all the answers. Only God does, and only He can guide us through any and all situations we may face. <b><i>Psalm 146:3 NLT says, "Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there."</i></b><br /><br /></li><li><b>We trust in man when we rely on ourselves--our abilities, our strength, our wisdom--rather than going to God in humility and asking for His help. </b>Our society really pushes the idea of self-sufficiency, independence, and not needing anyone else. We are told that we need to look out for ourselves and are applauded when we push through challenges without assistance. Is this really Biblical, though? Aren't we told to live in humility, and that we can do nothing apart from Christ? <b><i>"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)</i></b> Really, Guys, there are countless verses that tell us not to rely on ourselves. We are just too sinful and flawed to be able to work things out ourselves. <b><i>Proverbs 28:26</i></b> puts this pretty bluntly: <b><i>"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." </i></b></li></ol><div>So obviously God doesn't want us trusting in man! Just to really solidify this, though, let me share a pretty intense contrast about the consequences of trusting in man versus trusting in God. It's found in Jeremiah 17:5-8.</div><p></p><p><b><i>"Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. </i></b><b><i>Blessed is the man whose trust is in the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." </i></b></p><p>Guys. Are you as struck by this as I am? A scraggly shrub in an ugly desert, versus a thriving, full, fruitful tree by a bountiful stream. Does it get any more opposite?! Let's think through the implications here...</p><p><u>Someone who trusts in man...</u></p><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>is like a shrub in the desert. If you've ever been around a parched, dried up shrub, you know they aren't very secure; it is very easy to pull them up.</li><li>won't see any good come. Basically, there's no hope for things to get better.</li><li>will dwell in parched wilderness and uninhabited salt land. To me, this gives the picture of living in a place where you don't have what you need, and there is nothing and no one around. Loneliness, isolation, and lack in every sense of the word.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kLJBSKZyFO6srIM_Cu10PGulNOqHgVCYzLz-JLsmEFaoy4vynqTIQ7WkQ3RPMqMQOVt9Euu6KqvIgvG9-jibktTEL0UMec5Joogjd5dCfWQ1W57eUFdToW8qWCH_yWH_ONh_YXJfGKZY/s1920/barren-1149975_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kLJBSKZyFO6srIM_Cu10PGulNOqHgVCYzLz-JLsmEFaoy4vynqTIQ7WkQ3RPMqMQOVt9Euu6KqvIgvG9-jibktTEL0UMec5Joogjd5dCfWQ1W57eUFdToW8qWCH_yWH_ONh_YXJfGKZY/s640/barren-1149975_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>So, trusting in man leads to us being like a shriveled, ugly shrub without good roots that is barely surviving in a barren land where we are alone and don't have what we need. Let's contrast that with what trusting in God brings.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><u>Someone who trusts in God...</u></div><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>is like a tree planted by water with roots soaking in the stream; it is solidly rooted and isn't going anywhere!</li><li>has no fear even when "heat" comes because all needs are being met still.</li><li>is not anxious for times of drought and doesn't cease to bear fruit. </li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3x2I-YX8l04pKy61U_BSeku812Q9DEh_ds-BN14XtkjoorghsV3X1Rq1hyQH5rMUNZuWWKV2yx-ai8w1NXeQVKSDabYDwpvlOIAmtCVg7qY0TBNavFMC05Y6sLQUGsubbyhIcK2qs396/s1920/waterfall-2811052_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3x2I-YX8l04pKy61U_BSeku812Q9DEh_ds-BN14XtkjoorghsV3X1Rq1hyQH5rMUNZuWWKV2yx-ai8w1NXeQVKSDabYDwpvlOIAmtCVg7qY0TBNavFMC05Y6sLQUGsubbyhIcK2qs396/s640/waterfall-2811052_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>So, trusting in God leads to us being solidly rooted and immovable; we have all that we need, which makes us confident and hopeful, no matter what comes our way; and even in hard challenges and intense seasons, we are still equipped to bear fruit for God! What a beautiful, hope-filled picture this is. I want this; don't you all? So let me ask again, where is your trust? Let's pray that our answer can always be that our trust is in God.</div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-56435326468101516022020-08-11T11:14:00.000-07:002020-08-11T11:14:21.534-07:00Fear Not<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsH_l_pixAJ0oF11p7-Sqmf_mfgeJucpolLlxNSvsFIt7UnvIAZRc1y4Hstd5t9PQ8ZPYK8oCpzT-25PSagqRhRxkxaaYgLrmu5OISQa-mX_y_xKJbBq4WluvXQhq3DdXkfhKrqbmpzQq/s1280/Fear+Not.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsH_l_pixAJ0oF11p7-Sqmf_mfgeJucpolLlxNSvsFIt7UnvIAZRc1y4Hstd5t9PQ8ZPYK8oCpzT-25PSagqRhRxkxaaYgLrmu5OISQa-mX_y_xKJbBq4WluvXQhq3DdXkfhKrqbmpzQq/s640/Fear+Not.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Do you guys know what the most frequent command of the Bible is? The answer might surprise you: <b>"Do not fear."</b> That is what we are told more often than any other command in God's Word, so obviously this is something God knew we would need to be reminded of. While I was reading one of these reminders recently, I realized that <b>almost every time God tells us not to fear, He gives a reason why. <i>"Fear not, FOR (fill in the blank)."</i></b> There seems to be a few specific reasons that God gives us not to fear, and what's really awesome is that they acknowledge a lot of very common anxieties and worries that I've experienced or heard from others. Here are the things He showed me, and what I'm honestly preaching to myself as I grow in "fearing not."<b style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUEBBbGRYxZUWIJLH4FjmfAGiKTJntIV0jva0wom7XFOKTnf-1s7cgX1bXyRjunalOoyT_X6u1QZ9Vwrutd7N0tKab7xl2JEfXXrbZb3YiDXgc4S5ri7IWxHowy2vhjDA5JoUXnRltujA/s1920/map-846083_1920.jpg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUEBBbGRYxZUWIJLH4FjmfAGiKTJntIV0jva0wom7XFOKTnf-1s7cgX1bXyRjunalOoyT_X6u1QZ9Vwrutd7N0tKab7xl2JEfXXrbZb3YiDXgc4S5ri7IWxHowy2vhjDA5JoUXnRltujA/s640/map-846083_1920.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUEBBbGRYxZUWIJLH4FjmfAGiKTJntIV0jva0wom7XFOKTnf-1s7cgX1bXyRjunalOoyT_X6u1QZ9Vwrutd7N0tKab7xl2JEfXXrbZb3YiDXgc4S5ri7IWxHowy2vhjDA5JoUXnRltujA/s1920/map-846083_1920.jpg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="display: inline; font-style: italic; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black;">Fear: The Future is So Uncertain </span></span></a> <br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUEBBbGRYxZUWIJLH4FjmfAGiKTJntIV0jva0wom7XFOKTnf-1s7cgX1bXyRjunalOoyT_X6u1QZ9Vwrutd7N0tKab7xl2JEfXXrbZb3YiDXgc4S5ri7IWxHowy2vhjDA5JoUXnRltujA/s1920/map-846083_1920.jpg" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black;">Fear Not...For He Has Good Plans for You</span></span></b></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUEBBbGRYxZUWIJLH4FjmfAGiKTJntIV0jva0wom7XFOKTnf-1s7cgX1bXyRjunalOoyT_X6u1QZ9Vwrutd7N0tKab7xl2JEfXXrbZb3YiDXgc4S5ri7IWxHowy2vhjDA5JoUXnRltujA/s1920/map-846083_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><b></b></a></div></div><div><i>"After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: 'Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.'” ~Genesis 15:1</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>“</i><i>And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'" ~Luke 2:10<br /></i><i><br />"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." ~Luke 12:32</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I think this is probably one of the most common fears. All of the "what ifs" that rise up in us about the coming days cover a variety of anxieties: "What if we don't have what we need?" "What if something awful happens?" "What if I fail?" "What if nothing works out?" <b>The future is completely unknown to us, so it makes sense that it is a temptation to fear it. </b>We need to remember, though, that it isn't unknown to God. <b>He knows what's going to happen, and not only that, but He is the one who orchestrates it all to be for our ultimate good.</b> As our family has gone through the process of selling our house and buying a new one, there have been many, many temptations to fear the future. <i>"Will our house sell in time?" "Will we get when we need from the sale?" "Will we find a new home?" "Where will we go between selling and buying?"</i> Throughout these weeks of transition, though, I have seen God provide and guide us in amazing ways, and <b>over it all I have strongly sensed Him saying, </b><i><b>"Just wait. Wait until you see what I have for you!"</b> </i>Have any of you had the experience of getting an awesome gift or surprise for someone you love, and the barely tolerable excitement of waiting for them to see it? That's the sense I get from God: <b>He's an excited Daddy who can't wait for His kids to see what He has in store. </b>How could we ever fear what is to come when we keep that picture in mind?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRY4RFuY3I5YcYRpanBGdKLrLi3cS9xZ4zc3PJ6KMBbNxaAtH_n5RyLE4q-b3mRzuGTZcNXDzn8SvkmWRF4SawI8IiV836dQWItRp3iLAVtA6d00pBS9MAMmgiw50-YOWv6s7usBXH5K2/s1920/child-918582_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRY4RFuY3I5YcYRpanBGdKLrLi3cS9xZ4zc3PJ6KMBbNxaAtH_n5RyLE4q-b3mRzuGTZcNXDzn8SvkmWRF4SawI8IiV836dQWItRp3iLAVtA6d00pBS9MAMmgiw50-YOWv6s7usBXH5K2/s640/child-918582_1920.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><i>Fear: I Have No Value</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Fear Not...For You are Precious to Him</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1<br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div><i>And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” ~Daniel 10:19</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." ~Matthew 10:29-31</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Insecurity. Low self esteem. Social anxiety. Call it what you want, this is another very common fear for us as people, though maybe not one we are as readily willing to confess. <b>As people, we are wired to know and be known, to experience relationship with others that allows them to see "the real us" and still enjoy and love us; and for some of us, the thought of rejection is the worst fear we hold. </b>I can vouch for the anxiety, pain, and distraction that all of this can cause! So what is the remedy? Well, in my experience, <b>there is nothing as healing and freeing in this arena as recognizing the truth that God not only knows us as we long to be known, but He values us and loves us.</b> He created us, forming us exactly as He wanted to; He knows everything we like and dislike; He knows our physical forms; He knows the worst things we have done, and the moments we have been most like Him. We don't have to explain ourselves to Him, or find excuses for our quirks, struggles, or failures. He knows. And He still loves us, delights in us, considers us precious to Him. This week I read a verse that sums this up so beautifully: <br /><i><br /><b>"On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 'Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." (Zephaniah 3:16-17)</b><br /><br /></i>This is how God feels about you, and about me. He rejoices over us, to the point of full-on singing. There is nobody on earth who will come close to valuing you like He does, and He has the final say. So how could we ever fear that we have no worth?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpoyL5_lapIWxWEOds947BlSdchA6_S5ElvZazcUuTL-gAJWn-KGTjYIyBmjGzO1iY8m5FREsody-Ig_88yUQmOXiukkFvIh4wEqRz7KQ5F_N37L1UWsXHfHVv5AemF1yG2WsyAim1vrk/s1920/girl-2619115_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpoyL5_lapIWxWEOds947BlSdchA6_S5ElvZazcUuTL-gAJWn-KGTjYIyBmjGzO1iY8m5FREsody-Ig_88yUQmOXiukkFvIh4wEqRz7KQ5F_N37L1UWsXHfHVv5AemF1yG2WsyAim1vrk/s640/girl-2619115_1920.jpg" width="640" /><span style="color: black;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><i>Fear: I Can't Do What He's Asking Me To Do<br /></i></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><u>Fear Not...For He Helps You</u></b></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you." ~Isaiah 41:13</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel." ~Isaiah 41:14</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen." ~Isaiah 44:2</i></div><div><br /></div><div>At times it can feel like the work God wants us to do is impossible, right? Whether it's a huge task like leaving home to share the Gospel in a foreign country, or the daily work of training a child through a challenging behavior season,<b> I think we have all come up against times when the work God gives us feels overwhelming.</b> You know what, though? For every single mission or task that God gives us, He promises His help, and the harder the "job", the more He takes over and ensures we accomplish what He asks. <b>I've heard it said that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, but the truth is that sometimes He does. We aren't meant to do the work on our own; we were made to rely on Him and to learn more and more how much we need Him to equip us.</b> As soon as we recognize that we can't do it and ask Him to take over, He sets to work assuring that we succeed. I saw this played out in huge ways on my mission trip to Ecuador this last fall. Guys, I was terrified. So terrified that I spent almost the whole trip out there crying, believing it was a mistake that I went, and begging God to just let me go home. Obviously, I was not capable of this work on my own! Honestly, though, all of that weakness just made this truth even more evident: <b>He comes in where we are the weakest and least able, and He takes over and equips us to do what He calls us to. </b>And it's beyond incredible to witness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNxzC3XpTHoe12VMoMy31xFnNRmw_lvAFXmx0mw7yTXRCsLu3lULEMoiRyn5cgG5Zwd0F-UCoB2TSK6LaWZtcY_dks8TMeDRlLrpwuKil1oiwxeoONo2UGiScmI9slZbybtzGCAC3cy5L/s1920/sword-1557814_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1272" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNxzC3XpTHoe12VMoMy31xFnNRmw_lvAFXmx0mw7yTXRCsLu3lULEMoiRyn5cgG5Zwd0F-UCoB2TSK6LaWZtcY_dks8TMeDRlLrpwuKil1oiwxeoONo2UGiScmI9slZbybtzGCAC3cy5L/s640/sword-1557814_1920.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><i>Fear: I Can't Win This Battle</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Fear Not...for He Fights for You</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again." ~Exodus 14:13</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory." ~Deuteronomy 20:3-4<br /><br /></i></div><div><i>"Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4<br /><br /></i></div><div>I think we can all think of times when we were battling something, right? Temptation, addiction, depression, anger...<b>this life is fraught with things that are eager to take us out. The truth is that as Christians living in this world, we all have a very real enemy who is bent on destroying us, using whatever means necessary to accomplish that, and there will be times in our lives when it seems like we are going to lose the battle.</b> Last year I faced a few very intense moments of battle with my depression, and I will never forget the deep, core-level fear that I experienced when I thought I really might be defeated. I can testify to the truth, though, that God really does fight for us, even when we ourselves have nothing left to give to the battle. When I had no one else to turn to and nothing left to fight the battle myself, I experienced God's rescue like I never had before. There is a song called "Rescue" by Lauren Daigle that I think perfectly captures God's protective, warrior heart for His people. This is the chorus:<br /><i><br /><b>"I will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night it's true, I will rescue you. I will never stop marching to reach you in the middle of the hardest fight, it's true; I will rescue you."</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div>God is an incredible Rescuer, and He promises to save us in the midst of even the worst battles we face; we don't need to be afraid of defeat with Him on our side.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01DLHFdXMLJUmLwOOGLFnsgJxln9A5PKo3aOg9NBNoBLUSC6tdThHEi4k0fb_Ar_H7ZmmBv-60LrHj05PaxGhO5Rj5KV4h5wAsnPOQok8H4Ie883fvalMCEFoEws9wxppTI4LDreik1de/s1920/glow-2826154_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01DLHFdXMLJUmLwOOGLFnsgJxln9A5PKo3aOg9NBNoBLUSC6tdThHEi4k0fb_Ar_H7ZmmBv-60LrHj05PaxGhO5Rj5KV4h5wAsnPOQok8H4Ie883fvalMCEFoEws9wxppTI4LDreik1de/s640/glow-2826154_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><i>Fear: ANYTHING AT ALL</i></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Fear Not...For He is with You</u></b></div><div><br /></div><i>"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” ~Deuteronomy 31:8<br /></i><i><br /></i><div><i>"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9<br /><br /></i></div><div><i>"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." ~Isaiah 41:10</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>This seems to be the main reason we are told not to fear, and it covers any thing we could ever be afraid of: because God is with us.</b> He never leaves us. He is never distant, or unaware of what's happening, or distracted. He was there in our past with whatever happened; He is here now in our current situations; and He will be there with us in whatever future trials or struggles we may have, all the way through our dying day and into eternity. He isn't going anywhere. <b>The God of the universe and Creator of everything, with more power and might and strength than we will ever fathom is always here with us.</b> Why should we be afraid of <i>anything? </i>How can we fear at all when we have this at the forefront of our minds? <br /><br /><b>I think this all boils down to a choice: to focus on the fear itself, or on the reason to fear not. </b>It isn't easy, nor is it automatic to suddenly never fear or have anxiety (believe me; I've been at this whole "fear not" battle for several years!) Ultimately, though, I am commanded not to fear--all of us are. And in His goodness, God has given us many, many reasons why we don't need to. The only thing to do now is to obey, and that's exactly what I want to do. How about you guys? <b>Let's move forward together resolved to fear not, for all of the beautiful reasons our faithful Lord gives us.</b></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-60204735981620981422020-06-30T13:53:00.000-07:002020-06-30T13:53:24.783-07:00Sink or Swim?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZDXJ2HugIWzsDQdMxt4qqBoiyB-MyCNSBXOGKnZmkPmHGEK36O8PITJ0NMaZyfM6ztNnQyaPv07Za3VRbs03Hi_h-BeV8YUzvsnKSUKGmNhepuEUjLcM8GnnXSc4JTjdE3ZhOMyOA_K3/s1920/sea-2562788_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1920" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZDXJ2HugIWzsDQdMxt4qqBoiyB-MyCNSBXOGKnZmkPmHGEK36O8PITJ0NMaZyfM6ztNnQyaPv07Za3VRbs03Hi_h-BeV8YUzvsnKSUKGmNhepuEUjLcM8GnnXSc4JTjdE3ZhOMyOA_K3/w640-h338/sea-2562788_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Last week I was stunned by a sudden, persistent thought: <b>"I want to quit." </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Quit what? I tried to puzzle through that vague-but-startling declaration, and after some time and prayer, I realized what I meant. The last few months have felt like swimming through an ocean of changes, chaos, fear, and grief. I've done my best to "just keep swimming" and to stay afloat; to stay above the current of hurt and panic all around me without adding to it with my own fears and heartache by staying positive, encouraging others, counting my many blessings, and otherwise striving to be a light in this dark time. All of these are good things! All of these are things I think God wants us to do! At some point, though, I think I must have made one grave mistake:<b> I started swimming through all this stuff in my own power rather than relying on God.</b> See, He knows I'm a human. He knows that just as everyone around me has been struggling and hurting, I have a whole heap of intense grief and loss that has completely wracked me inside, too. Rather than pausing long enough to let Him or anyone else recognize that or help me, though, <b>I've been determined to keep moving forward and to "just have a good attitude" in spite of everything. </b>The result? This week I fell apart. For no apparent reason. My heart and my mind just kept screaming, "I want to quit! I want to quit!" over and over. As I recognized that, <b>I literally envisioned myself flailing away in some deep, dark sea, and then just suddenly stopping and sinking down, letting all of that grief and fear and anger and loss close in over me while I sink to the bottom and can just <i>rest</i>.</b> <br /><br /><i>"That's what I want to do,"</i> I confessed to God, <i>"I can't keep doing this. I'm too tired; tired in every way a person can <u>be</u> tired. I want to quit."</i><br /><br /> And you know what? As soon as I thought that, <b>I felt Him whisper,<i> "What if you did? What if you just quit? What if you <u>just stop swimming</u>?"</i></b></div><div><br />I was shocked. "<i>Wait, God. You WANT me to sink? You want me to cave in to despair, and get sucked into all the craziness, and just accept that life is terrible?"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I think He probably chuckled a little bit. <i>"Who says the only options are to sink or swim? <b>What about floating? Why don't you let me carry you for a while.</b>"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Now one of my favorite things in the entire world is to float on water. A favorite memory with my husband was when we rode float tubes down the Deschutes River together; one of my very best birthdays was spent paddle-boarding with a dear friend; and most of my favorite summer memories last year had to do with kayaking on lakes and rivers with my kids and our friends. So <b>the invitation to float rather than sink or swim? That's one I can definitely take God up on.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r9PR-jHvdPuOuT5AafRBLaGLpk7dKQHYcSeUNh7BfZW95ENIF4cV2xMNJ_QImE7C4cQeebxEhyphenhypheniAXduccqHqEr1mv4OwhIARLPMhtuiOgUeErYdLSIRN1yOqIhyFCVPU4gstoHOCbuzD/s1920/shades-of-blue-2601946_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1920" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r9PR-jHvdPuOuT5AafRBLaGLpk7dKQHYcSeUNh7BfZW95ENIF4cV2xMNJ_QImE7C4cQeebxEhyphenhypheniAXduccqHqEr1mv4OwhIARLPMhtuiOgUeErYdLSIRN1yOqIhyFCVPU4gstoHOCbuzD/w640-h278/shades-of-blue-2601946_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div>I think most of us can relate to this scenario, right? The world and all of our circumstances right now are very much like a really big, very tumultuous sea of change and chaos, fear and panic, grief and loss. And even if we haven't been personally affected by current events, I think all of us can look back on a time when life felt as overwhelming as a raging ocean. <b>All of us have to find some way to navigate these rough waters, and it seems to me that we have three options: Swim, Sink, or Float.</b><br /><br />What would each of these look like? Well, to me, <b>swimming means doing all of the work in my own power; ignoring the pain and hurt; just putting my head down and pushing ahead no matter how tired, weary, and sad I feel. </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It's facing every moment of loss with an automatic reminder to count my blessings, without allowing much time or thought for the pain or grief.<br /><br /></li><li>It's stopping any acknowledgement of how hard the season is by reminding myself, "Others have it so much worse! You have no place to complain."<br /><br /></li><li>It's shoving aside the deep ache I feel in missing things that have changed with "it's done and over with, and it's never coming back; you need to just look ahead."</li></ul></div><div>The opposite extreme is sinking, which means <b>not only acknowledging that the waters around me are intense, but choosing to just let them take over while I give up.</b> That looks like...</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Letting those moments of loss absolutely drown me in sorrow and grief, until that grows into resentment towards God as some kind of harsh, cruel "Taker", which consequently hinders my faith in Him.<br /><br /></li><li>Complaining about how hard things are, to anyone who will listen, without taking time to ask God for help to get through it and seeking ways to make this season work<br /><br /></li><li>Pining after my old life, refusing to move ahead, and stewing in discontentment and anger because this is NOT what I wanted.</li></ul></div><div><b>Somewhere in between those two options, though, is that invitation from God to just float. It's recognizing the circumstances we are facing, and also the fact that we are not equipped to handle them, and then turning to Him for help.</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When I face grief and loss, I can respond with, "Lord, this hurts so much. I don't understand it. I know, though, that you are good, even in this loss. Please give me your comfort." <br /><br /></li><li>When life just starts feeling like too much to handle, I can cry out, "Father, this is such a hard season. I wish I didn't have to deal with these things. I'm thankful for the mercy you've shown and that things are better than they were, and at the same time I am struggling so much. Show me what to do, and strengthen me." <br /><br /></li><li>And when the thought of so many things changing brings with it the awful, deep ache that honestly takes my breath away sometimes, I can confess, "Jesus, I miss my old life. I miss my friends, my routine, my dreams. I don't know how to move ahead in this season, but I know you have me here for a reason. Help me to be content."</li></ul><div>As I was talking to a friend of mine this week about all of this, she shared some very cool insights about "just floating". When we float, we are able to rest and notice things around us more, whether that is the scenery around us, or even others around us who may need help. <b>Floating puts us in a better position to be aware of the beauty still around us, and also available for what God wants us to do, because we aren't so busy fighting through the waters ourselves. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The verse I've chosen as my life verse is <b>Psalm 46:10, which says, <i>"Be still and know that I am God." </i></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Another translation says, <b><i>"Cease striving and know that I am God."</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div> If you, like me, have been striving with all your might to swim through challenging waters on your own, <b>will you take that invitation from Him in this season? Cease striving, be still, and let Him take over. <br /></b><br />And if you've allowed the sea to overwhelm you and cause you to sink down, I can tell you that I have been there before, and I know that <b>if you call out to Him, He will <i>"draw you out of deep waters"</i> as Psalm 18:16 tells us. </b>Let Him pull you up and show you the good things that can be found when you rest in Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seasons of rough waters are intense and overwhelming at times, Guys, but we serve an incredibly faithful God who promises to never leave us or forsake us, and who says that He will equip us for every good work. <b>We can trust Him to carry us through; all we need to do is float.</b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JyErJbHgzY2lLoEsALlsIP3cRUh4jvy7VmOQcxvEd05KL0hnPR4MkaTvyEoFF5FmJQzwKq5cphle2cdWvLdT799AW7YHt3Vd-Pg3iYm6gc3r0Xu5_sgGzevoy0-MrDjselgpK9oXij1j/s1920/ocean-3605547_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1920" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JyErJbHgzY2lLoEsALlsIP3cRUh4jvy7VmOQcxvEd05KL0hnPR4MkaTvyEoFF5FmJQzwKq5cphle2cdWvLdT799AW7YHt3Vd-Pg3iYm6gc3r0Xu5_sgGzevoy0-MrDjselgpK9oXij1j/w640-h416/ocean-3605547_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-65339594997870907252020-06-17T06:59:00.000-07:002020-06-17T06:59:02.692-07:00Worth the Loss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q_BbT08ZphGBYyIPP6znvi_MKv0GKVbSE8rGvreo0O0CxfiMdtSIl0W6UZlcU7KfAl0oSvR1isBuQVYjnYqHTPfQnwaK7BBozEwHbls6c0WL6WHUXRXpKpHtuKmfWJBqaKhBWT5kg_-i/s1920/Loss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q_BbT08ZphGBYyIPP6znvi_MKv0GKVbSE8rGvreo0O0CxfiMdtSIl0W6UZlcU7KfAl0oSvR1isBuQVYjnYqHTPfQnwaK7BBozEwHbls6c0WL6WHUXRXpKpHtuKmfWJBqaKhBWT5kg_-i/w640-h426/Loss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I think all of us are acquainted with loss to some degree or another. Some of us have lost tangible things, like jobs or homes; some of us have said goodbye to relationships or loved ones; and some of us have seen dreams or goals fall apart in front of us. No matter what type of loss we face, I think we can all agree on one thing: it hurts (sometimes unbearably so). This week when I was reading in Philippians, though, God gave me a very different view of loss--in fact, pretty much as opposite a view of loss as a person could have. </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ....one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:7-8, 13-14)</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div>To me, it seems like God views loss in a very different way than most of us do. Here is what I took from this passage.</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJlzknFajf9pCqJM4kao4WfnunCL6g7lhXCHyAKYLYnM5fmJzKTo5cYMyNt-x6LDjMLdDmRb6ZjepKrLG0pO1R-_wG9cSfHK3e1WKySJBDvvW9b8P5CdJgM2nuJMIqxY0ygwuaNCtoKEC/s1920/people-2604829_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJlzknFajf9pCqJM4kao4WfnunCL6g7lhXCHyAKYLYnM5fmJzKTo5cYMyNt-x6LDjMLdDmRb6ZjepKrLG0pO1R-_wG9cSfHK3e1WKySJBDvvW9b8P5CdJgM2nuJMIqxY0ygwuaNCtoKEC/w640-h428/people-2604829_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>1. Nothing holds as much value as knowing Christ more. </u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." </b></i>Nothing compares to knowing Jesus more. Nothing. Do you believe that? No earthly relationship, no matter how close and enjoyable; no astounding success, no matter how hard you worked to get it; no victory or triumph, no matter how hard the battle was that led to it; no dream realized, no matter how incredible it seems...nothing. <b>It doesn't matter how much you think that thing you want most in the world will make you happy; in comparison to knowing Jesus, Paul says it is rubbish</b> (literally waste, food scraps, and one translation even says excrement!) We have to get this main point down, let it sink into our hearts and take over completely, in order to really understand what Paul is saying in the rest of this passage. <b>If we don't, we will stay stuck where loss will always mean grief, suffering, pain...and we will never be able to move forward into the "gain" Paul tells us about.</b> <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4Uwc3nGEyzCI7P3PtJeiQH8qRv5r1dWVAyhxHlMwolCIV8uI1IWL8_HSzKl-pQh_eCDihl04FmMi_bjrzmhSHiP1OO9hLPTw7ovQuVmS9jmqnzVIE-gtFSnW2tlU0gQS0OvfgJwx2gHo/s1920/girl-1822702_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4Uwc3nGEyzCI7P3PtJeiQH8qRv5r1dWVAyhxHlMwolCIV8uI1IWL8_HSzKl-pQh_eCDihl04FmMi_bjrzmhSHiP1OO9hLPTw7ovQuVmS9jmqnzVIE-gtFSnW2tlU0gQS0OvfgJwx2gHo/w640-h428/girl-1822702_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>2. Loss still means suffering</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Paul says that he "has <i>suffered </i>the loss of all things"...he suffered. <b>It still hurt to lose those things. It's ok that we hurt when we lose things.</b> I don't think that God is telling us that we can't grieve or feel sorrow over things being removed; in fact, He even tells us that there is a time to grieve. <br /><br /><b><i>Ecclesiastes 3:4-- </i></b><b><i>"[there is] a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." </i></b><br /><br /></div><div>Remember, <b>when God first designed the world, He never intended for there to be grief or loss or death or sadness. Loss is a result of sin, and it <i>hurts</i>.</b> Something else I've seen is that the things with the most intrinsic <i>good</i>--the closest relationships, most impacting jobs, most fulfilling dreams...those hurt the most to lose. So it isn't that Paul is saying these things are rubbish in and of themselves, things not worth crying over or getting upset about losing; it is that <b>they just can't compare to the incredible gift of knowing Christ and growing closer to Him. </b>So please don't take this as me saying you can't grieve or feel upset when you lose things (if I did that, I would probably be the biggest hypocrite ever!) but rather an acknowledgement of the fact that while loss absolutely does cause suffering, we don't want to stay stuck there.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI9Og0Kw3upAOsGPU83rfTVKyAb87SWprz5JtTVIHwjf8dZpuvciFFPYmrfOx7ndDOS26qUEfV_sXetI_pNlsYHxv5GzJQ8-JiLXs5-w4jq4SEVs_zDsup3nl8t7M_ZXgtCrC86WmlJw0/s1920/woman-2100082_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI9Og0Kw3upAOsGPU83rfTVKyAb87SWprz5JtTVIHwjf8dZpuvciFFPYmrfOx7ndDOS26qUEfV_sXetI_pNlsYHxv5GzJQ8-JiLXs5-w4jq4SEVs_zDsup3nl8t7M_ZXgtCrC86WmlJw0/w640-h426/woman-2100082_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>3. Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead.</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I think we have this expectation that things here on earth will last forever (or at least for our lifetimes) when God has something much shorter-term than that in mind. We want a family business that extends through generations; a legacy home that is passed down to grandchildren; relationships that we grow old with...basically, we want things to <i>last.</i> But...what if God has other plans? What if His timeline is shorter than ours? What if He gives us some beautiful blessings to enjoy and learn from and savor for a season...but then He gently tells us it's time to be done, and He removes them in order to help us know Christ more? <b>Maybe those things that we want to cling to and make last forever would end up somehow turning our hearts from Christ, or at least keeping us stunted in our growth and knowledge of Him.</b> I know for me, the times I have experienced loss are the times when I have pressed in even closer to God and have learned things about Him that I either never knew, or needed to experience in a deeper way; and I never would have learned those things if He hadn't allowed the loss to take place.<b> I think that's how loss somehow becomes gain; it isn't that having that beautiful blessing in and of itself was bad or wrong at all; it's that keeping it outside of the season set by God for it could cause us to grow stagnant in our faith and growth, and Him removing it allows us a deeper fellowship with Him. </b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxgE6ij0qrAJYOabelpRIGnO4IVNEEKYt464cF4kj37U5ULFadMuKJUrAUGNru4EbvVz8Ny57Rpe_4ZiB3BN-h0X4LnyOXUdbYuz71a0x0wxHLLxwRPe259rnXZrNX2F0q6WdrAabIaKc/s1859/Sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1859" data-original-width="1395" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxgE6ij0qrAJYOabelpRIGnO4IVNEEKYt464cF4kj37U5ULFadMuKJUrAUGNru4EbvVz8Ny57Rpe_4ZiB3BN-h0X4LnyOXUdbYuz71a0x0wxHLLxwRPe259rnXZrNX2F0q6WdrAabIaKc/w480-h640/Sticker.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div>One of the gifts I got for my birthday this year was one of those cool stickers you put on water bottles, and I don't think it was a coincidence that I received this gift the same day that I read this passage in Philippians. God likes to reiterate important lessons in my life by repeating the message to my heart, and I'm pretty sure this was one of those cases. The sticker simply says, <b>"Jesus is worth everything you're afraid of losing."</b> He really, really is, Guys. Let's choose to believe that and live it out through every loss-made-gain.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Lord, thank you for giving us things that hurt to lose. Thank you that we get to experience blessings and gifts that are so good and meaningful that we really care when they end. I pray, though, that we will not let that ache and suffering keep us from releasing them to you or leave us stuck in what you want us to leave behind. Help us, Lord, to strain toward what lies ahead, to see the great gain of knowing you as far surpassing any loss we experience in this world. Keep us in mind of your goodness and faithfulness, meet us where we're at with loss, and allow us the amazing benefit of gaining Christ through every loss. AMEN."</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-72626922203259600652020-06-13T09:35:00.001-07:002020-06-13T09:36:24.987-07:00Confident Expectation<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt53j1QYoEg1-cfANbcRvaGIZ15_rzOZ_pHy8v4nXFB5XBQquTpAP8WVCgk8FAJD5ttRygvuo9CqJXT4VRGYTqeylK-SvH_RwWxOYjxt2CwtiC6a5EyE3DfV2pjk-dcWqVnhZbCh7Gf2I/w640-h426/Title.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="640" /></div><br /><div>I was reading in Romans last week for Bible time, and I was struck by some verses in chapter 15. </div>
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<b>Verses 4 and 13 say, "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have <i>hope</i>....May the God of<i> hope </i>fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in <i>hope</i>."</b></div>
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Did you notice the ongoing theme here? <b>The word "hope" is repeated three times in these two verses, and something that I think we could all use in this season of life is hope.</b></div>
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John Piper explains that <b><i>"Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future — it expects it to happen. And it not only expects it to happen — it is confident that it will happen. There is a moral certainty that the good we expect and desire will be done."</i></b></div>
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<i>A moral certainty.</i> This isn't flimsy, maybe-or-maybe-not, "it <i>could</i> happen" hope. No, this is solid, assured, confident hope that anchors us solidly in place, no matter what happens in the world around us.<br />
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I want that. Don't you guys? <br />
So how do we get this kind of hope? Is it something that we can conjure up ourselves if we just have enough will power and positive thinking? Or is it something we just sit around and wait on God to provide?<br />
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I think the verses I read actually give us some pretty cool insights into how we get hope.<br /><br /></div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5K5iLYQ6Pxx20He8ymkIMEXV4Kj4YuDpsOVrR_b-Q0UgyvnfMNG1vAFk-W-97CvH5Nxivrv9DHoyLKRtdoAZ2feS2232YtVE2H4BpKv3TKnBF9vfhnfIhXUJqP1bK_2qFEUJyt3zDrlI/w640-h426/God.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<b>1. Hope comes from and is realized in God Himself</b></div>
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First, we should recognize that <b>hope is something that both comes from God, and is actually perfectly realized in God Himself.</b> It is a gift that He gives to those who follow Him, the One who is ultimately our true hope as the Rescuer and Redeemer of our souls. He provides us with the more temporal hope needed to live life in this broken world, but is also the Eternal Hope that is promised to us when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Our hope is not in wealth, relationships, security, health, or peace on earth...it is all in God Himself, who is the Provider of all we need for living here and now, and the Reason "here and now" isn't all we have to cling to!<br /><br /></div>
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEMXmDc6xHNKVY9ft0LkwMMS5Bpq_SwYVTytE18M0UL4D-FX-Z7v0lgexUDOcFYWpnD_vyEyv7zBxFg1TMfPcRM9_cYJ0aQtN8JtK0QWQKRMFb2W92GZyv6lw0OUs7Uobxd0dg092J4Ni/s959/Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEMXmDc6xHNKVY9ft0LkwMMS5Bpq_SwYVTytE18M0UL4D-FX-Z7v0lgexUDOcFYWpnD_vyEyv7zBxFg1TMfPcRM9_cYJ0aQtN8JtK0QWQKRMFb2W92GZyv6lw0OUs7Uobxd0dg092J4Ni/w640-h426/Bible.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>2. Hope comes through the encouragement of Scriptures</b></div>
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I can't even count the number of times I have faced a challenge or felt lost in grief or confusion and been encouraged by something in God's Word that brought me hope to keep moving forward. One of the ways that God often chooses to provide hope to us is through the truths found in the Bible. Another translation of verse four says, <b><i>"For whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."</i></b> The consolation, instruction, and promises found in God's Word bolster us up in even the hardest storms of life, giving us hope to cling to for today and for eternity.<br /><br /></div>
<div><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="959" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREprNt4EesE-FZ7xTx0bTv-O6j74SyZuSU1NqxeuBhjVvTrBlWXSp_UCSuwtmAEXC9QgPjtrzAbR9m5a7JzNMhza-Jr2vXK6HvYym0hnekb81MooDQfy6DYWp6QhCVSgOOFk_vNs1df20/w640-h392/Holy+Spirit.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<b>3. Hope comes by the power of the Holy Spirit</b></div>
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In a lot of ways, there is no way we can hold on to hope without the power of the Holy Spirit equipping us. It is not an easy thing to cling to hope in the midst of intense trials, to keep moving ahead when our flesh screams at us to quit, to strain our eyes looking for light in the darkest seasons. We need to be supernaturally empowered to do this, through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Much like with the fruit of the Spirit, I believe that the trait of hope grows in us as we allow His Spirit to work in and through us in the many different circumstances of life. <b>We can't create hope ourselves; it has to be planted, tended, and grown in us by the Holy Spirit.<br /><br /></b></div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tlrZdh6f8RL5q924eBAOG6QQ6YzS9I5aucm0peZkiSWPON0Rl85Rk6rPogkyGrGC6GsiYXUgydz-EbpGwmFBS8rkib4wopisB_HyuRmeeqrzu_pD6EkYcAyczrQdQl3dM_V_xUin5Dmk/w640-h426/Endurance.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<b>4. Hope comes from endurance</b></div>
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Up to now, the ways we've talked about how we receive hope have had very little with us doing anything. It seems to be in large part something that God gives to us and equips us to hold onto, and isn't something we can conjure up on our own "fake it til you make it" style. No, <b>real hope has to be given by God Himself.</b> Does this let us off the hook then, and allow us to passively sit around waiting for Him to drop hope into our laps? Not exactly. Like most of Biblical living, <b>we do have a part to play in the gifts God gives us.</b> In this case, one of the ways we receive hope is through endurance, or "brave perseverance" as another translation says. When we face trials and difficulties in this life, we have a choice: to be a victim of our circumstances, or to bravely persevere. Earlier in Romans, we read that <b><i>"we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4)</i> </b></div>
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<b>The way that we respond to our suffering has a direct impact on whether or not we will have hope.</b> In this way, we do have something of a "say" in how much hope the Holy Spirit will be able to grow within us. If we choose to give up, play the victim, and stop trying, the Spirit doesn't have much to work with, does He? But if we endure our struggles (even if all that looks like is crying on the floor and begging God for help and hope rather than giving up...I've been there), that will lead to stronger character, and that will result in hope.<br /><br /></div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaKpp8g7uEJfZx5LWmf8zUo5B8NqtpkYqSQCIBCig_720-1SvVi9v38DAmP7cV-2V0uB70n8dmwUsvRGAnBH9BmC2sliZjbQHdz7EievesG5VQT0BowX_JE6t94sPdO8d6hQNw5MI9_NO/w640-h426/Joy.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<b>5. Hope comes from joy and peace in believing</b></div>
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In order to receive hope, we must believe--believe what? From what I've studied, <b>Paul is speaking here about a belief in God that results in complete trust and faith in Him, reliance on His provision and goodness, resting in Him and knowing we have peace with Him.</b> Maclaren's Exposition of the Bible tells us that <i>"the attitude of trust is the necessary prerequisite condition of God’s being able to fill a man’s soul, and that God’s being able to fill a man’s soul is the necessary consequence of a man’s trust." </i>It is only in believing in God--in all that He says He is and all that He tells us in His Word--and seeking to live in a way that we know we have peace with Him that we can have hope. Even in the worst trials, deepest griefs, or hardest challenges, we can have hope as long as we know we are "right with God." On the other hand, if we are living apart from Him, not in line with what He tells us to do, not relying on Him or trusting in Him, then even the best circumstances will hold no peace and no hope for us.</div>
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So you see, there seems to be a little bit of give-and-take when it comes to having hope. It is a gift given by God and realized in Him, through His Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, in order to be able to receive this gift and have it flourish within us, we are called to endure our sufferings and to live in complete trust and reliance on God. Even here and now, with the intense circumstances of our world and the personal and widespread trials that have resulted, we can have hope. And when we have hope, it often causes others around us to stop and take notice, and to ask us how we could possibly have hope right now. <b>1 Peter 3:15 tells us, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have..."</b> <br />
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What a gift it would be to be able to share that hope with others! I pray that we will be those people who not only have hope, but are able to share it with a world that desperately needs it.</div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-25947158513269219442020-06-09T16:16:00.000-07:002020-06-09T16:16:03.553-07:00Make Summer 2020 Count, Part 2: 20 Books Read in Summer 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucBlF-ou9BESx4KCrY46mR7BXpq4e-Nzjrq4PVCW46Vyg-NaCQt5h-IhhFXJFoPcL76bt0l5gXCh1GWrbsnDgcOwgBfEEYINujltQAO2IN3u0wW7-M1lm59agBmdkz3JpMq1q_FonMb0P/s1920/book-1659717_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1920" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucBlF-ou9BESx4KCrY46mR7BXpq4e-Nzjrq4PVCW46Vyg-NaCQt5h-IhhFXJFoPcL76bt0l5gXCh1GWrbsnDgcOwgBfEEYINujltQAO2IN3u0wW7-M1lm59agBmdkz3JpMq1q_FonMb0P/w640-h368/book-1659717_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Our next post in the summer collaboration with <a href="https://raisingrices.com/makesummer2020count/">Raising Rices</a> is all about something near and dear to my heart: reading!!<div><br /></div><div>Helping my kids develop a love of reading is such a big goal of mine. I want them to be able to gain the same joy, excitement, and sense of "escape" I get to experience with reading, and I also know the important benefits that come from being an avid reader.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Why Read?</u></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Reading sets the stage for the rest of a child's learning. Children who read more have an easier time learning different skills, and they are also able to learn more independently since they can read and understand directions for homework.<br /><br /></li><li>It allows kids to develop their own interests and passions, and gives them the chance to do their own research and learning about things that they love. <br /><br /></li><li>It is physically relaxing. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, reduces stress, and makes it easier to fall asleep.<br /><br /></li><li>It grows vocabulary, giving them more understanding of words we use on a daily basis as well as introducing them to new words they may not otherwise encounter.<br /><br /></li><li>It helps us to grow in empathy with others. When we read about people in stories, and especially the way they think, feel, and respond to different circumstances, it helps us to grow in seeing other peoples' views and to understand how they may be feeling.<br /><br /></li><li>It gives us more connected relationships. Reading together as a family can be a very sweet and special time of bonding and connecting, and has the potential to build sweet memories.<br /><br /></li><li>As believers, reading can strengthen our relationship with God and help us to grow in character and faith, first and foremost through reading His Word, and also when we read devotionals, Christian living books, and other faith-building material.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGdf4ba2VIAOc31t4pGx0E2W7kNRMQt828V5amp7RpZF2DdpYppVQhUGRFAV5NeMNLnU6KD8_Jm7wllIDmE0BfQVBnsR2ZVOia5K6Xb_4MtmpgFO32VniIhvw7g9QXdKyE-O3GZwV_Y47/s1920/child-945422_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGdf4ba2VIAOc31t4pGx0E2W7kNRMQt828V5amp7RpZF2DdpYppVQhUGRFAV5NeMNLnU6KD8_Jm7wllIDmE0BfQVBnsR2ZVOia5K6Xb_4MtmpgFO32VniIhvw7g9QXdKyE-O3GZwV_Y47/w640-h426/child-945422_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>So hopefully I've convinced you that making an effort in reading is worth it! Here are some ideas to help you fill your days with some great reading:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Make reading time a special, comforting time. Maybe you can set up a little reading corner for your kiddos, or make your kids their own little "book baskets", filled with some books to read, a little blanket, a drink, maybe a snack...If reading is done along with other happy and comforting things, it will help kids to see it as a joy and not a chore.<br /><br /></li><li>Sign up for summer reading! Even this year with libraries and bookstores closed, there are summer reading programs available! Some libraries are offering their programs online, and a few have opened up enough to allow for in-person pickup of reading charts. Look up your local library and see how they are handling summer reading this year. It's amazing what a fun sticker chart can do in inspiring kids to read!<br /><br /></li><li>Let your kids help you choose which books they want to read (if you're worried about them choosing something you won't approve of, or will be overwhelmed by all the options, have them select from a set of books you've already approved.) If a kid chooses the book, they are much more likely to have a vested interest in it!<br /><br /></li><li>Make reading a family affair. Read aloud to the kiddos while cuddled on the couch, or curled up on a blanket outside. Or, have a "reading party" where everybody grabs a few books and sits together reading on their own (or looking at pictures for pre-readers). I am particularly fond of this option because it means I get to read a book I love while still enjoying time with my kids.<br /><br /></li><li>Use the awesome (and totally free) printable from <a href="https://raisingrices.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-20-Books.pdf">Raising Rices!</a> This fun sheet has a wide variety of different books for kids to color in after reading them, making it super easy to ensure our kiddos are getting a nice wide range of genres to enjoy. </li></ul><div>Our goal this summer is to have our kiddos read 20 books! This might seem like a big number, but if you tailor the lengths of books to your kids' reading level, it should be totally do-able! We hope you will join us in making this summer count by growing a love of reading in your kids (and yourself, too!)</div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-2107315299395525622020-06-07T16:20:00.002-07:002020-06-07T16:20:29.377-07:00It Will Be Worth It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1wo_8Zb_SdGHeGwI7zCvJRVZmNEg3VbM1k455kggGQ9sPc2xs0HRGScpe3q7KFORgvUYgUyQn-6HEMZTBEJolLlC-fzU_4k4Xy001R4o5WINbE2F_ZjPJOPfrS1iyfXAM-wtiam5A8oZ/s1146/Mirror+Lake+Title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1146" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1wo_8Zb_SdGHeGwI7zCvJRVZmNEg3VbM1k455kggGQ9sPc2xs0HRGScpe3q7KFORgvUYgUyQn-6HEMZTBEJolLlC-fzU_4k4Xy001R4o5WINbE2F_ZjPJOPfrS1iyfXAM-wtiam5A8oZ/w640-h480/Mirror+Lake+Title.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Back in February, I got the chance to have a girls' getaway on Mount Hood with some sweet friends. We had a great time going out for dinner, playing games, and just catching up, and then after spending the night in our cute little cabin, we packed up and drove further up the mountain to find a good spot to enjoy the snow. On our way, my friend Nicole made a suggestion, "Hey! What if we did a little hike to Mirror Lake? It's really beautiful, and not too long of a hike!" I was up for anything as long as I could be with friends, and our sweet friend Susan agreed with that plan, too; so we all headed over to the snowy-but-beautiful Mirror Lake trail. We made it to the parking lot and starting getting into our snow gear: layers of thick coats, snow pants, and heavy snow boots. Then we began tramping our way down the trail, stopping every now and again to stare in awe at the literal "winter wonderland" surrounding us. The trees were dripping with icicles, a pristine blanket of snow glimmered on the ground, and there was an almost-holy hush in the woods as we picked our way along the path. We whispered to each other in wonder, taking it all in and stopping to snap photos (not that any picture could adequately capture the beauty God had placed before us), and continued cheerfully on. <b>This was the way things went for a good while, just enjoying the scenery and breathing in the crisp air, happy to be out in nature and literally worshiping God as we witnessed His workmanship. </b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlOKgjkICvCwlrNL-zbLbkuZhG2Ih7NObrzph9boVqVL-DZ4fjBmVW2HZOY0FrIV9S_FRE-ZtV6MzydUrUeRMAbP83872_eRkL2AYtadzERNhTpS93woctSKQr1a8nn5YZA_qxjd8XkLF/s1204/Winter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1204" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlOKgjkICvCwlrNL-zbLbkuZhG2Ih7NObrzph9boVqVL-DZ4fjBmVW2HZOY0FrIV9S_FRE-ZtV6MzydUrUeRMAbP83872_eRkL2AYtadzERNhTpS93woctSKQr1a8nn5YZA_qxjd8XkLF/w640-h480/Winter+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>After some time, though, I started to feel the physical strain of wading through the deep snow in heavy snow gear; being under five feet tall does not lend itself well to traversing snow drifts, and it wasn't long before I was sweating and even gasping for breath a little! This was hard work, and I started to doubt my abilities to get all the way to the lake. I asked my friends if they knew how much further it was. "Oh, it's just a little ways! We're more than halfway there!" Nicole chirped from the front, easily stepping over a pile of snow with her long legs that I knew I would have to plow through head-first. Still, I wanted to try to make it to the lake, so I said nothing more as we moved forward. A while later, we came to the bottom of a very high hill, with the trail winding its way back and forth across it in dozens of steep switchbacks that made me literally tear up in despair. "Wait. We have to climb that?" I choked out. My friends picked up on my discouragement. "I'm sorry, Mary, I really thought it was closer!" Nicole lamented, "I think they must have had to make a new path, and the shorter one was buried in the snow..."<br />
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Do we need to go back?" asked Susan in a concerned tone.<br />
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As we were talking, a few people passed by us, coming down the trail from the lake. One of them paused, seeing the expressions of doubt we wore, and he said earnestly, <b>"You guys are almost there! Just up this trail and over the top. It's worth it. I promise."</b> With that message of hope, the three of us decided to continue on. I won't lie: that was the hardest hike I have ever done, and it wasn't fun. I shed literal tears of frustration and exhaustion, angry that I wasn't able to handle it more easily and seriously doubting that any view could be worth something this hard. I didn't think it would ever end as we took turn after turn after turn, winding our way slowly (I mean <i>agonizingly</i> slowly) up the hill. We didn't talk. We didn't notice the scenery. <b>We just kept our heads down and plowed desperately ahead, one heavy step at a time.</b> Finally, after what felt like hours, the ground leveled out, and we could see a clearing through the trees just ahead. We stumbled our way over the last few snowdrifts and came out on the other side of the forest, and were immediately struck dumb by what lay before us. <b>The view was breathtaking: a glimmering clearing of fresh snow, surrounded by white-capped trees rising up on all sides. </b>We could see the beautiful blue sky streaked with swirls of wispy clouds, and rays of sunlight fell slanting all over everything, giving it all the appearance of a field of glitter. We stood there catching our breath and staring around at everything, drinking it all in with so much gratitude and wonder, and also a resolute agreement: <b>it was worth it.</b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZkSCQ6VrC0rw54T7Ia6LDs4EEyE4FamUdPPJ7M3PRMRlpd0AUzsC-IY2nx2tfz7oYvcllfcsE_eyQk0X-eCoT7GpvsSBylsf8hcoHtJciCONehiNt9khb4dCrowC-_zFTvW8ewBFEX_2/s1204/Mirror+Lake_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1204" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZkSCQ6VrC0rw54T7Ia6LDs4EEyE4FamUdPPJ7M3PRMRlpd0AUzsC-IY2nx2tfz7oYvcllfcsE_eyQk0X-eCoT7GpvsSBylsf8hcoHtJciCONehiNt9khb4dCrowC-_zFTvW8ewBFEX_2/w640-h480/Mirror+Lake_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I think back on that day, I can see so many similarities in that journey up the hill to the lake and this season of life we are all facing. <b>This is a hard, hard time in history.</b> Worldwide pandemics; enforced quarantines and curfews; job loss; economic turmoil; unbelievable tales of social injustice; and so much grief, anger, fear, and confusion in the world that it literally takes your breath away. I don't know about you all, but <b>there have been many, many times I have wished we could just go back</b>; turn back the clock, forget we ever got on this stupid path, and go back to the security and peace of everything before this. Here's what I keep coming back to, though; it's going to be worth it. <b>I don't know what things will end up looking like, and I don't know <i>how</i> it's all going to work out; but I do know this: </b></div>
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<li><b>God has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)</b></li>
<li><b>He will cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28)</b></li>
<li><b>He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11)</b></li>
<li><b>His steadfast love never ceases, and His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:21-23)</b></li>
<li><b>Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed (Rom. 8:18)</b></li>
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I believe that God is working through all of our current events in a myriad of ways: bringing people to faith who would otherwise never know Him; drawing families closer to each other and to Him; helping us all reassess our lives and figure out what we want them to look like; and revealing things we would have been to busy to see before (like sins to overcome, skills and talents to share, or beliefs to reevaluate). And beyond the work I believe He is doing here and now, I also know that we have the hope and promise of eternal life with Him. <b>Even if this broken world never gets better, we get to go Home to a new world where there is no sickness, no death, no pain, no hate, nothing bad at all!</b></div>
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I know that right now things are so hard for so many people that all they can do is put their heads down and power through one step at a time, but I hope I can encourage you, like that man on the trail to Mirror Lake encouraged me, to just keep going; while I may not be able to see or explain what God has in store for us after this season, if the view is anything close to what we experienced that day in February, I promise you all...<b>it really will all be worth it.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rvwSxf6f5zOYJpHoRq_G49iJqCu0KGdik2YUerVzwAAn77pnSHktekvvcfs-nmAFehARwmX2PY2gTbXNzd-daD8M7pUeZ6hRL2fzhHCXck1DXuoJrE4i1QJbagcTgRu100ur9e2yEhs-/s1204/Mirror+Lake+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1204" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rvwSxf6f5zOYJpHoRq_G49iJqCu0KGdik2YUerVzwAAn77pnSHktekvvcfs-nmAFehARwmX2PY2gTbXNzd-daD8M7pUeZ6hRL2fzhHCXck1DXuoJrE4i1QJbagcTgRu100ur9e2yEhs-/w640-h480/Mirror+Lake+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18</i></b></div>
</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-60126909648184119942020-06-01T19:01:00.003-07:002020-06-01T19:01:45.752-07:00Make Summer 2020 Count, Part 1: 100 Hours Outside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhXqD0M9Cia86kOfRvJAHaez0cJs9lmuDoMbx32DC_tn85xLRBxzYiXFIPV-lzbPE7mDMg_RHJFMR58cSs5gr304NFLuU7LF2a0VlQ64xO3hwlA7aOdxqA4rKdy3eYKw1HdNbRd2DT2U_/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhXqD0M9Cia86kOfRvJAHaez0cJs9lmuDoMbx32DC_tn85xLRBxzYiXFIPV-lzbPE7mDMg_RHJFMR58cSs5gr304NFLuU7LF2a0VlQ64xO3hwlA7aOdxqA4rKdy3eYKw1HdNbRd2DT2U_/w640-h480/park-1307338_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Welcome to the next post in our collaborative series for summer! I am working together with my friend Marissa at <a href="https://raisingrices.com/make-summer-2020-count/">Raising Rices</a> to create a series of posts all about having a purposeful summer, and Marissa came up with the perfect tagline for this summer: <b>Make Summer 2020 Count!</b> Last week I posted all about planning for a purposeful summer, and Marissa shared on her blog the <a href="https://raisingrices.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/June-100outsidehours.pdf">first printable</a> she created to help us all track how we are making this summer count! Our first goal that we hope to work on with our families is getting in 100 hours outside each month (or a little over 3 hours a day). That might sound like a lot, but we are hoping that after reading this post, you will see the many benefits of outdoor time for kids and will come away with enough ideas and motivation that getting in those 100 hours will be easy!<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zOyyAkqk4wFPfB5VSk6MZoO4TwkLE4AlUVB3wFrQKZ9FkN7p4qa2_UIz7kFwysP7ZU6hSGRrG_G0P_Y7QXONLmGnE16OeM91n1LPQT43iymV21wOEWMUqLiIh1ckeUq-T0QXp2yquwcO/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zOyyAkqk4wFPfB5VSk6MZoO4TwkLE4AlUVB3wFrQKZ9FkN7p4qa2_UIz7kFwysP7ZU6hSGRrG_G0P_Y7QXONLmGnE16OeM91n1LPQT43iymV21wOEWMUqLiIh1ckeUq-T0QXp2yquwcO/w640-h426/child-997231_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u>Benefits of Being Outdoors</u></b></div><div><br />I am blessed to have a wonderful resource in my family to keep me appraised of how good it is for kids to play and learn outdoors. My "mother-in-love" Velvet received her doctorate just last year, and she wrote her dissertation on encouraging teachers to use outdoor learning environments. I was able to sit down with her recently to discuss the many benefits kids get from being outside. Here is a brief overview, just to help us understand the "why" behind making this a priority in our families:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Physical Benefits:</u></b> being outside means that kids are just naturally going to be more active! <b>We all use our bodies more when we are outdoors</b>, but kids in particular are more likely to run, jump, climb, and use all of those gross motor skills that are so important for them to develop and grow in. This means that <b>they get aerobic exercise</b> that prevents obesity and heart disease, and allows their bones, muscles, and organs to develop and become stronger. </div><div><b>Being outside in the sun also provides Vitamin D</b>, which is something that many people are deficient in. Kids need Vitamin D in order for their bones to absorb calcium and grow, and also to help their immune systems regulate themselves. </div><div>Children who spend time outside are able to <b>develop their 5 senses much more than kids who stay indoors.</b> Being outside often requires us to use all 5 senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch), sometimes all at once, and isn't something that we get to "practice" as much while indoors.<br /></div><div>Finally, when kids play outside, <b>they gain unique skills they cannot learn as easily any other way</b>, like swinging, pushing/pulling heavy things, balancing, and throwing/kicking a ball.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Cognitive Benefits:</u></b> Being outdoors has been shown to <b>reduce symptoms of ADD and ADHD</b>, and <b>helps kids grow in their attention spans</b>. They are also more likely to begin self-directed play (making up their own games rather than requiring an adult's input), and <b>grow in their abilities to be creative, problem-solve, and plan.</b></div><div>While being outside, <b>kids do a lot of hands-on learning that helps them "cement" a lot of what they have read in books or heard from teachers.</b> While they may have heard that ants live in a colony and work well together, actually seeing a line of ants carrying food to their ant-hill deepens kids' understanding. Kids might have read about the water cycle in school, but seeing the rain fall and then later watching the puddles evaporate in the sun gives them a very concrete understanding of what they've heard. <b>Learning in this experiential way adds a deeper layer to kids' knowledge and helps them remember things more.</b></div><div>It may be hard for some of us to consider this next point a benefit, but it really is! While being outside, <b>kids also take part in "risky play", which means they assess whether a situation is within their physical abilities, and grow in learning what is too risky.</b> This also means that <b>they are able to learn cause and effect in very memorable way</b>s: when I jumped off of that tree branch and landed, I hurt my leg. That was too risky! I won't do that again." The reason this can be hard for us as parents to allow is that nobody wants to see their child get hurt! The fact is, though, that <b>our kids need to gain these skills and abilities now, while the consequences are more minor, so that they can have strong risk-assessing and decision-making skills later in life. </b><br />(Please note: I am <u><i>not</i></u> saying we should willingly allow our kids to get into truly dangerous or life-threatening situations. <b>There is a definite balance here for us as parents to find: to stay aware of our kids and make decisions for them if they are being <i>too</i> risky, but to allow smaller consequences when we can so that they gain the learning opportunities.</b> Something that has helped me in this arena is to pause for a moment when I feel an urge to step into a non-life-threatening situation for my child, and to ask myself some questions. "What are the potential consequences? What is likely to happen? Does that consequence outweigh the opportunity for my child to learn this lesson?" After that, I will then sometimes ask my child some questions to help them think through their decisions. "Are you feeling safe right now? What do you think could happen? What should you do now?")</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Emotional Benefits:</u></b> Most people are able to relate to the experience of just feeling more at peace and being happy while out in nature. One of the reasons for this is that outdoor sunlight stimulates a gland in the brain called the pineal gland, something that keeps our immune systems strong and also makes us feel happy! <b>Being in the fresh air reduces stress levels, and the ability to have free play with lots of space and opportunities helps kids feel calmer and happier.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Relational Benefits:</u></b> The unique ways to play outside with others helps kids to develop stronger social/emotional development. <b>Unstructured outdoor play teaches kids several social skills</b>, such as taking turns, cooperating, sharing, and working as a team to get a task done. Besides that,<b> many times the very best memories kids create with friends and family are made outdoors!</b> If you think about your favorite childhood memories, how many of them are based in an outdoor setting? Camping, swimming, playing at the park, going on "adventures"...<b>There is just something very unique and special about being with people you love outdoors that leads to stronger relationships and some of our most cherished memories.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxA5pxp3tyn10CqL7k023zRzHtcAs0faEu31jE8kfZS0OtQbevlJ91feGf43lY5W1TJH7xC4KFdy7fGap4ZzNiJmbrmHAySCoM5DM09jus0azhm0JbDt8xJaOtb3-hRXZ_FC7uQyxYF0c/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxA5pxp3tyn10CqL7k023zRzHtcAs0faEu31jE8kfZS0OtQbevlJ91feGf43lY5W1TJH7xC4KFdy7fGap4ZzNiJmbrmHAySCoM5DM09jus0azhm0JbDt8xJaOtb3-hRXZ_FC7uQyxYF0c/w640-h426/kids-1338627_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><b><u>How Do We Do This?</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, so we've convinced you of the importance and benefits of being outside. So now, how do we do this on a practical level? Well, the short answer is: <b>just let them go outside.</b> Kids are amazing at figuring out what to do once they are out there; we just need to give them plenty of opportunities to do it. Schedule outdoor time into your day and make it a priority. You can even combine activities if your schedule is busy: eat meals outside, or do school/learning/reading outside. </div><div>If you want more specific tips and ideas, I totally get it! Here are some of the things we have done to make outdoor play an ongoing part of our day.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. First, <b>here are some supplies that would be good to have on hand:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>First aid kit (see above benefit on "risky play")</li><li>Drinking water (all of that playing means kids need extra hydration)</li><li>Snacks</li></ul><div>That's really all you need to have. For real. <b>Kids can find all kinds of "play things" in nature itself</b>:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>sticks</li><li>rocks/stones</li><li>dirt/sand/mud</li><li>water</li><li>tree bark</li><li>flowers/plants</li><li>grass</li><li>tree stumps</li></ul><div>Still, if you want to give kids a "creativity boost", <b>some of my kids' favorite "bonus tools"</b> are these:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Shovels</li><li>containers of some sort (bucket, pot, dish, cup)</li><li>Spoons/ladles</li><li>Knives (for cutting plants or limbs; use your discretion as far as kids' ages and ability to use safely)</li><li>Rulers (to measure plants, bugs, etc)</li><li>Notebooks and pencils (to record their findings, make a treasure map, draw an insect/bird, etc)</li></ul></div><div>2. Usually kids are great about finding things to do just by being outside (and it's important for adults to let them have this self-directed play rather than telling them what to do!) But <b>what about if the kids are struggling to figure out what to do, or just don't want to be outside?</b> My kids definitely have these times, and they usually respond well to "challenges". <b>Here are 10 ideas to help "jump start" kids' creativity.</b> You can even make them an "outdoor challenge" for this summer and have kids check them off as they do them, or write them on slips of paper to put in a jar and have the kids choose one when they need an idea. </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Build a fairy/mini person house</li><li>Create new "recipes" using only things found in nature</li><li>Create an obstacle course and go through it</li><li>Go on a scavenger hunt/treasure hunt</li><li>Pretend to be explorers in a new land and record your findings</li><li>Make a maze/obstacle course for an ant</li><li>Outdoor school, where you can only teach/learn using outdoor items</li><li>Outdoor "tea party"</li><li>Nature art (create something using mud, flowers, dirt, rocks...)</li><li>Make a game out of things found in nature (tic-tac-toe with sticks/rocks, for example)</li></ul></div><div>3. <b>There may be a few things to consider for different weather,</b> (because not every day is going to be a perfectly clear and sunny 75 degree day). Rain is a very common occurrence where we live, and we have also had our share of 90+ degree days! <b>When this happens, we may need to make some adjustments, but we still try to make outdoor time possible.</b> On rainy days, as long as there is no lightning or other dangers, my kids just treat it like any other day. We have rain boots and rain jackets, but they don't always use them; <b>I have plenty of photos of my kids getting drenched in the rain outside, perfectly content and laughing.</b> I make sure to have towels ready for them when they come inside, but that's about all that changes. <br />On particularly hot days, we have done a few different things: we try to get our outdoor time in earlier in the day before the heat really hits, or spend the day near some water (river, lake, etc) to help us keep cool. We also try to stay in the shade as much as possible, and wear sunscreen and/or appropriate clothing to protect us from the sun, as well as drinking lots and lots of water.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. I've mentioned this a few times in this post, but it bears repeating: <b>let your kids direct how they are going to play.</b> It's great to give them a few tools and ideas to get them started, but once that is done, step back and let them figure it out. <b>Kids will miss out on a lot of the benefits of outdoor play and learning if all they are doing is what you tell them to.</b> So let go of the reins, step back, and enjoy watching these kids learn, grow, develop, and create.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. One last idea for filling in some of those outdoor hours is to <b>provide kids with some age-appropriate outdoor chores. </b>Just about any age is able to pitch in somehow to help maintain your outdoor spaces, as long as you are able to supervise and give adequate instruction. Here are a few ideas for "outside jobs" that kids can help with, starting with ones that even little guys should be able to do, and ending with those that are more appropriate for older kids:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cleaning up the yard before a parent mows (toys, rocks, sticks, etc)</li><li>Cleaning up grass after a parents mows</li><li>Watering plants</li><li>Planting seeds/plants</li><li>Weeding</li><li>Wiping down outdoor furniture</li><li>Helping to wash the cars</li><li>Hosing down the patio or sweeping it off</li><li>Setting up the sprinkler</li><li>Mowing the lawn </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDg9UfJx3g8lI17Ghl7ps3fuw1qOpXZL7DGEbcZH-Pc88nd0q33-tR3qe-pEsha9OvrwlDzLlyMnhGFPyYqOVz_suMDDxcQrf_86b0ERgCQfog7rGc3-JfeFKoDSPSWzSAx7HzhQcCtzi/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDg9UfJx3g8lI17Ghl7ps3fuw1qOpXZL7DGEbcZH-Pc88nd0q33-tR3qe-pEsha9OvrwlDzLlyMnhGFPyYqOVz_suMDDxcQrf_86b0ERgCQfog7rGc3-JfeFKoDSPSWzSAx7HzhQcCtzi/w640-h480/vanuatu-80769_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Raising Rices and I hope that you have gained some helpful tips and ideas in this post to help you get started in getting 100 hours outside! Don't forget to go to <a href="https://raisingrices.com/make-summer-2020-count/">Raising Rice's</a> blog to grab your free outside hours tracker! There is a printable version to mark off for the entire month, as well as a digital daily image to post on social media. <b>We hope you will join us in 100 hours outside and making summer 2020 count!</b><br /><br />We will see you back here later this week for our next post in the series: summer reading!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-62200317077332907262020-05-26T13:20:00.000-07:002020-05-26T13:20:09.804-07:00A Happy Summer (Even with COVID-19 Around)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4TLbxWr_QYJWslH0umGWfcJQENp-2QYUvp5HAak0C8LqW2n5o8L2-T4PraIXBTiLS_K9W50bR_5RtkWUudoGuDSBvktsh4h_hjIKx96K6Xu5J5VS1CbXRfUtTTSiqy6RANsCUOcT5dOW/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1920" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4TLbxWr_QYJWslH0umGWfcJQENp-2QYUvp5HAak0C8LqW2n5o8L2-T4PraIXBTiLS_K9W50bR_5RtkWUudoGuDSBvktsh4h_hjIKx96K6Xu5J5VS1CbXRfUtTTSiqy6RANsCUOcT5dOW/w640-h312/Happy+Summer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>At the start of COVID-19 and the resulting lock-down, I thought that surely things would be back to normal by the summer. Now that school is wrapping up, though, my home state has still only barely begun to enter early phases of opening, and many of our family's favorite summer events have been cancelled. This has been a hard pill to swallow, for sure, and it's been tempting to kind of just give up on the idea of still having a fun summer. I've come to realize, though, that just giving up and postponing any kind of "real life" until things settle down is just going to lead to discouragement and depression for my family. Rather than giving in to that, my good friend over at <a href="https://raisingrices.com/about/">Raising Rices</a> and I have decided to team up and try to see how we can plan for a fun, purposeful summer even with COVID-19 still going on. Over the next few weeks, we hope to share ideas, resources, and a bit of a layout to help us all in seeking the goal of still enjoying the special season of summer! For today, I want to share some ideas and inspiration for you to start planning out a purposeful summer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjsK3UaKkHmpL_sdBkK6B5CBkKYynYrkP_yvIXbsyiANfHTi15cgLcKrAVdYWplQhyphenhyphenZOtkZ_PfATkXCsrM2cjGloMVsMDc-XvnVQ8JK0j2yfnPyHzeyZ-lvDg-Aim0AwuGtSF5fnj7mQY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjsK3UaKkHmpL_sdBkK6B5CBkKYynYrkP_yvIXbsyiANfHTi15cgLcKrAVdYWplQhyphenhyphenZOtkZ_PfATkXCsrM2cjGloMVsMDc-XvnVQ8JK0j2yfnPyHzeyZ-lvDg-Aim0AwuGtSF5fnj7mQY/w640-h426/female-865110_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><font size="4"><b><u>1. Process</u></b></font></div><div><br /></div><div>Before we get to the practical ideas, I think we all have some processing to do. <b>This is a very unique summer, with both incredible potential and also very real loss/grief</b>, and before we can really put any kind of purposeful plan in place, we need to acknowledge a few things.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>This summer could hold some disappointment and grief. </b>There are things that we were looking forward to that are no longer going to happen. Festivals, concerts, graduations, sporting events, vacations, summer camps... Just like at the beginning of quarantine when many things were cancelled and we all felt tremendous loss and grief, I believe that's probably going to happen again for this summer. I, for one, don't like feeling grief and sadness, but I'm recognizing that trying to ignore loss doesn't do me any good. I think the best thing to do is to <b>recognize that there is loss here, things that we wanted to do and are sad to not have, and go ahead and grieve them.</b> Let your kids grieve, too; I'm sure they had things they were hoping for from summers past and may need to talk through not having them this year. </li><li>At the same time that we grieve what we don't get to have this summer, <b>we want to make sure that we keep the following in mind: God is in control, His plans are better, and He has unique blessings and opportunities for this specific summer.</b> Don't let the grief of what you don't get to have blind you to the gifts and opportunities that God has for you and your family!</li></ul><div>I really believe that both of these steps are important in order to be able to have a purposeful summer this year. We have to get through the phases of grief and come to a place of acceptance in order to have the motivation, energy, and clarity needed to move ahead. Something to consider might be to write down the things you and your kids/family are grieving and then pray over them, sharing with God the sadness you feel and then giving them over to Him and submitting to His plans and purpose for your summer. I promise you, this is a prayer He will be happy to answer.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge." <br />~Psalm 62:8</i></b><br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUSt1pdybnGz92cXgvFjGrK4DJRzuaVlRsgw6bxBYQOwczzpvkz7KvzuUdPzRKnxomxpYH0EGr1U-snXCzU3x-36qIMfe4yvm5TXkW36aUXN1SKWLP_e6DqB13e-McwL01KcfW7_Tj6kr/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUSt1pdybnGz92cXgvFjGrK4DJRzuaVlRsgw6bxBYQOwczzpvkz7KvzuUdPzRKnxomxpYH0EGr1U-snXCzU3x-36qIMfe4yvm5TXkW36aUXN1SKWLP_e6DqB13e-McwL01KcfW7_Tj6kr/w640-h426/brainstorm-1076587_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><font size="4"><b><u>2. Brainstorm</u></b></font></div><div><br /></div><div>Once you have processed things and asked God for His direction, it's time to do some brainstorming. Maybe even have a little family meeting and try to see what kind of plan you can come up with for your summer in quarantine. Here are some questions to think through and discuss to help with your planning:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. What are your three favorite things about summer?</b></div><div><b>2. If we could do anything this summer to make it special, what would it be?</b></div><div><b>3. What special events and activities are we the most disappointed about being cancelled this year, and what can we do instead?</b></div><div><b>4. What are some outside activities we want to do?</b></div><div><b>5. How can we learn this summer?</b></div><div><b><span> ~Books to read</span><br /></b></div><div><span><b><span> ~Subjects to Explore</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span><span><b><span> ~Skills to Learn</span><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b>6. Which people should we reach out to and bless?</b></div><div><b>7. What are some special things we should do that we could only do this year in quarantine? How can we make this year unique and special?</b></div><div><b>8. What special events are happening this summer, and how can we celebrate them?</b></div><div><b>9. What do we want to accomplish each day?</b></div><div><b><span> ~Chores</span><br /></b></div><div><span><b><span> ~Activities<br /></span><span> ~Priorities</span><br /></b></span></div><div><b>10. What do we want to make sure we do each week?</b></div><div><b><span> ~Chores</span><br /></b></div><div><span><b><span> ~Projects</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b> ~Activities</b></span></div><div><span><span><b> ~Weekly Learning Themes</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Once you've answered these questions, you probably have a pretty good idea of the things that are most important for you and your family to focus on this summer!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9<br /><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9lCiOVwj9NHf6Hi7LR4hOXKEv0qxs8r-YBKaGIsILidcLikV7mTi7a47iP1mNzilXRwxVIWdClC_3e0MQ9o7wNH-5yRG1oZqTGtKy_jdSNmFZi_TLHK1t1WQnLZKLKmWfdptvAB7SiEa/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="1920" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9lCiOVwj9NHf6Hi7LR4hOXKEv0qxs8r-YBKaGIsILidcLikV7mTi7a47iP1mNzilXRwxVIWdClC_3e0MQ9o7wNH-5yRG1oZqTGtKy_jdSNmFZi_TLHK1t1WQnLZKLKmWfdptvAB7SiEa/w640-h420/august-3485999_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><b><u><font size="4">3. Scheduling</font></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Next up, it's time to plan! I know that calendars and planners have seemed kind of pointless in this season of quarantine, but don't throw them out just yet. You can still use them to <b>plan out what you want to do this summer, even if that means still being at home more than usual!</b> </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Daily Routine</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is where you look at how you and your family answered the question "what do we want to accomplish each day?" and put a plan in place. Some families like to have a full-on schedule, assigning different tasks to specific times of the day, and others prefer to just have a routine in which you do the same activities in the same order, but not always at the same time. Try to see which one works for your family and write out a plan! A few things you might want to include:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Wake Up/Get Ready</b></li><li><b>Bible Time/Devotional (individual and/or family)</b></li><li><b>Daily Chores</b></li><li><b>Meals and Snacks</b></li><li><b>Learning Activities (reading, skill-building, summer workbooks, etc)</b></li><li><b>Outside Time</b></li><li><b>Quiet Time/Rest Time</b></li><li><b>Free Play</b></li><li><b>Exercise/Active Time</b></li><li><b>Family Time</b></li><li><b>Mommy/Daddy Time</b></li><li><b>Bedtime Routine/bedtime</b></li></ul></div><div><b>Weekly Schedule</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is where you answer "what do we want to do each week?" Weekly chores, recurring projects, or different skills to practice are all things you can consider. I've seen some fun summer-themed weekly schedules that switch up activities for each day of the week, too, and that can be fun! Here is one we are considering for this year:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><u>Make-it-Monday:</u></b> make something together! That can mean a meal or treat, or trying a new craft kit or art project!</li><li><b><u>Take-a-Trip Tuesday:</u></b> while we may not be able to actually leave the house as much, we can still learn about new places through books, virtual field trips, movies, and new foods.</li><li><b><u>Water Wednesday:</u></b> play in the water! Even at home there are sprinklers, water balloons, water guns...and rainy days are perfect for splashing in puddles</li><li><b><u>Thinking Thursday:</u></b> Take the chance to learn something new. Use learning games or printables, research a new subject, or do a book report on a book you read this week</li><li><b><u>Foodie Friday:</u></b> Cook a meal together, bake a treat, or order take-out from a new restaurant you haven't gotten to try before. You can also use this day to teach cooking skills, manners, how to set/clear the table...</li><li><b><u>Service Saturday:</u></b> Do something to bless another person or family (we will share some ideas for this in a later post!)</li><li><b><u>Sabbath Sunday: </u></b>Rest together as a family and learn more about God through church (even if that means streaming a service from home)</li></ul></div><div><b>Special Events</b></div><div><br /></div><div>While there have definitely been quite a few cancelled events and trips for this summer, <b>there are still things to celebrate and enjoy that can be done within the boundaries of this new reality. </b></div><div><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><u>Holidays:</u> There are the more well-known ones like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day; but did you know there are also some national days that are lesser-known but can still be celebrated? For example, did you know that the first Friday in June is National Donut Day? Or that July 30th is National Cheesecake Day? You can use this website to see what kinds of national days there are, and pick some to celebrate! <a href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/calendar-at-a-glance/">https://nationaldaycalendar.com/calendar-at-a-glance/</a></li></ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><u>Birthdays:</u> While big parties may be out for a while still, that doesn't mean birthdays can't be celebrated this summer. There are drive-by parades, zoom parties, socially-distant meet-ups...be creative and see how you can celebrate that special person!</li></ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><u>Family Vacation: </u>That awesome Disney vacation may be out this summer, but you can still find a way to do a family trip. Take a road trip to see new sights from your car; search for "drive-thru experiences" in your state; or do a backyard camp-out. </li></ul><div><b><i>"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." ~Proverbs 16:3<br /><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOJu71k64NAkOlbSrQCDcxFiOkxq1YxkPXjBn2C-CPLlIoC0801yQv9LkhyjQTUGSaNOB_ADk4gjL6obCVnUHIHV_XqukgyiawdKDeZquDMICLFdRrORTbvukGYMjPRQmVL3chx9TTvdR/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOJu71k64NAkOlbSrQCDcxFiOkxq1YxkPXjBn2C-CPLlIoC0801yQv9LkhyjQTUGSaNOB_ADk4gjL6obCVnUHIHV_XqukgyiawdKDeZquDMICLFdRrORTbvukGYMjPRQmVL3chx9TTvdR/w640-h426/spring-2298279_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div>I hope that as you've read this post you've felt encouraged and inspired to have a purposeful summer this year, and also that you have some ideas for how to make that happen!</div><div>In the coming weeks, Raising Rices and I hope to share three specific goals we have for this summer mostly-at-home with our families, and will include free resources to help you track these goals for yourself should you choose to join us! We hope to cover:</div><div><br /></div><div><u>1. 100 Hours Outside Each Month </u></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We want to share the benefits of being outdoors (for kids and parents), the specific ways kids learn outdoors, and practical ideas and tips for adding more outdoor time to your day</li></ul><u>2. 20 Books in Summer 2020 </u><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A fun way to track reading this summer, ideas for getting a variety of genres for your kids to read, and ways to motivate reluctant readers</li></ul><u>3. 12 Summer Service Activities</u></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We want to teach our kids the importance of serving others and sharing God's love with the world, so we want to come up with different ideas or how our kids/families can find ways to do that this summer.</li></ul><div>We hope you all will join us in the coming weeks for this fun series, and that it will help you and your families have a purposeful, fun, memorable summer even in spite of this crazy season. We pray that this summer will be one filled with God's grace, blessings, and opportunities, and that it will be one that you and your family look back on with very fond memories (and maybe as one of the very best ones!)</div></div><div><br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-34404435651357483422020-05-23T11:39:00.001-07:002020-06-02T15:22:12.815-07:00Faith Like a Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYwkxNVG4KszXQ2ZC7McYv3Fp8TRWOPmt75cWr9VBVMC8zPkPTCGUavXL8HOaPvG6q6oWkhiRlO1sr-HRzL-s-ECE-WXsHfV_QNqUXtkbx_0HruMAQ738iijLMHCWG2QqoHJUcJFl2djl/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYwkxNVG4KszXQ2ZC7McYv3Fp8TRWOPmt75cWr9VBVMC8zPkPTCGUavXL8HOaPvG6q6oWkhiRlO1sr-HRzL-s-ECE-WXsHfV_QNqUXtkbx_0HruMAQ738iijLMHCWG2QqoHJUcJFl2djl/w640-h480/people-2572105_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Something I love about being a mommy is getting to learn faith lessons from my kids. The faith and trust that kids have is just incredible, and we know from God's Word that it is something He wants us as adults to emulate.<div><br /></div><div><b><i> Matthew 18:1-4 says, "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I witnessed an example of amazing childlike faith from my oldest son Zeke recently. As some background, Zeke is a very relationship-oriented kid. He loves to spend time with others and build connections, is a very faithful and thoughtful friend, and loves others with all of his little heart. With all of that, <b>this time of quarantine and social-distancing has definitely been hard on him.</b> He isn't always very vocal about sharing how he is feeling, but even with that there have been many, many times that he has tearfully shared that he misses his friends. We've done what we can to try to help him, but <b>I know that his heart has still been hurting</b>, and he is eagerly awaiting the times when he can be with "his people" again. </div><div><br /></div><div>Recently my church was able to offer a few midweek services, broken up into small groups of people in three time slots, and I took the opportunity to take Zeke with me for the very first service. On the way there, he told me he was very excited to see his friends again, and even in that moment, my mama-heart ached for him. I didn't know who all would be at this service, and I knew that even if his friends were there, we would likely have to be separate. I tried to prepare him for that, and told him that even if none of his buddies were there, I was looking forward to having some special time for him and I together. Sure enough, when we got to the church, <b>he ended up being the only kid there.</b> I watched him cautiously to gauge what his response would be, but he simply shrugged his shoulders, and contentedly grabbed a coloring sheet before sliding into the pew with me. <br /><br /></div><div>We enjoyed the service with the small group gathered together throughout the room, soaking in the simple gift of being <i>in church</i> again. Zeke sang worship songs with me, colored while we listened to God's Word, and even asked for prayer for one of his friends when everyone shared prayer requests. After service he asked me if we could wait in the parking lot for the next round of people who were coming because he thought maybe some of his friends might come, and we could at least wave and say hello. I agreed, and while we did get the blessing of seeing many wonderful members of our church family, <b>none of his good friends ended up coming to that service. </b>After several minutes of waiting, the cold started to get to us, so I quietly told him it was time for us to go. <b>I think I was hurting for him more than he was, </b>because he simply nodded and followed me calmly to the car. Still, I know that my son tends to hide his emotions sometimes, and I didn't want to brush these circumstances off. After we got in the car, I drove to get us both some ice-cream, and he started talking about a happy memory he had with one of his good friends, so I took that as an opportunity to open up a conversation. "It's been hard, not getting to see your friends as much, huh?" We talked about the different reasons he can't be with his friends right now and how glad we are for happy memories with them, and then I felt prompted to share something that God has been teaching me recently with relationships.</div><div><br /> <b>"Sometimes, God has relationships for us for just a set amount of time, for a season of life,"</b> I said, "and then there might come a time where we aren't able to enjoy them the same way. It isn't always that we aren't friends anymore at all, it's just that for whatever reason we can't spend time together. Maybe somebody moves away, or starts having different interests, or other things happen that make it harder to spend time together or connect. But, <b>when God has to remove something, He always has a really good reason, and He often replaces it with something else that's even better!</b> Sometimes there's a different relationship that He wants us to focus on, or sometimes <b>He uses times when we feel lonely and miss people to help us grow closer to Him.</b> He doesn't always do that right away, and we have to trust Him even when we don't understand. But we can always remember that He loves us and cares about us, and He knows exactly what we need."</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, this is a lesson that has not been easy for me to accept or learn in my own life. <b>I wish I can say that I've accepted His "changing up" my relationships with grace and trust and peace, but I've been far more like a tantrum-y toddler, demanding to know why He is doing this and struggling to trust Him.</b> I think that's why my son's response was so humbling and impacting to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>He was quiet for a moment, taking in my words. When he spoke again, his reply literally made me catch my breath. <i><b>"God gives...and He takes away."</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div>He didn't say it with bitterness or sadness. He wasn't upset, or confused. <b>He spoke that truth with such genuine faith and peace, as if he truly believed that even though God has "taken away" his connections and time with friends for this season, it is for the best.</b> I smiled at him in the rearview mirror and choked out a teary, "Yes, Bud. Exactly." </div><div><br /></div><div>My son's faith convicted me so much.<b> I very rarely let go of things with such acceptance and peace.</b> It typically takes me a long time to "be ok" with God choosing to remove things from my life, whether for a season or for this lifetime. In just a short 20-minute car ride, though, my son had learned and accepted a lesson that has taken me months to learn: accepting God's will and trusting Him in it, even when it means He removes something we love. <b>I want to be more like my son, remembering how very much God loves me, and trusting that He gives and takes away, but it's all for my good. </b>I'm so humbled and thankful for the sweet example of submission to God's plans and trust in His care that my son gave me; I hope I can grow to have more of a childlike faith like his.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tYpXay676SioVqXIJoyNa9rktgNGx-mX168QpmrPLxB4UfVUfYSidY-1yKPgRer3dYlCbrp6hsAQwJP6O4dYsbQ0W8NFOqQl4YXvNBHkheXfOZEueb_ddMeRJOWC-HVmdvB-QLeuLne_/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tYpXay676SioVqXIJoyNa9rktgNGx-mX168QpmrPLxB4UfVUfYSidY-1yKPgRer3dYlCbrp6hsAQwJP6O4dYsbQ0W8NFOqQl4YXvNBHkheXfOZEueb_ddMeRJOWC-HVmdvB-QLeuLne_/w640-h426/harvest-1603122_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>UPDATE: One week after I had this conversation with my son, God showed us both a beautiful example of rewarded faith when Zeke got to spend the afternoon with one of the friends he was missing so much. I didn't tell him that we were meeting up with his friends' family so that it could be a surprise, and I will never forget the moment when he realized who we were meeting, or how the second I parked the car he burst out the door and raced to his friend to hug him. It makes me tear up just thinking about it! I know that God doesn't always reward us this way when we choose to give something up to Him, but I think it such a beautiful and precious thing that He did that for my son. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNz2eTYhqiGsJr48rY93YakxfKwnXAQjQhj-NpREHi2csbip6e5OUGqbiB_IY0pwI0rQ0BzPmFe4vF3grOt1U-d300oXrxdaf_3Hv6iw7AdeigecQ6Ulr07YIgwzEYxOOhpnN66sJVqgi/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNz2eTYhqiGsJr48rY93YakxfKwnXAQjQhj-NpREHi2csbip6e5OUGqbiB_IY0pwI0rQ0BzPmFe4vF3grOt1U-d300oXrxdaf_3Hv6iw7AdeigecQ6Ulr07YIgwzEYxOOhpnN66sJVqgi/s320/Zeke_OwenBW.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-17865879133238399722020-05-13T21:44:00.000-07:002020-05-13T21:44:10.691-07:00Two Months in Quarantine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjneVims-mVyoDl3t6X0j0pc1wnEIKOmtk9I6sPCCaVj3FA78uj7-1sFtHFsnI3ZHdA55fejCELyEYs-CRY_rmTUJPALGsNDpJA7X92wfKdZ0i4Yu1yxpcxl6JgVoGONLOWkmick8LcmXW/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjneVims-mVyoDl3t6X0j0pc1wnEIKOmtk9I6sPCCaVj3FA78uj7-1sFtHFsnI3ZHdA55fejCELyEYs-CRY_rmTUJPALGsNDpJA7X92wfKdZ0i4Yu1yxpcxl6JgVoGONLOWkmick8LcmXW/w640-h480/pandemic-5023592_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's been 2 months now since our family started quarantine. This month was harder in a lot of ways than the first month, I think because the "newness" wore off and reality set in more, and that reality hasn't been easy to swallow. It's been good for me to process and think back on the ways God has worked, though, and the things He has placed on my heart as we wrap up another month of quarantine. Here are the lessons He shared with me each week this month.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_06_EoOf3sYL8TjXY2FSlpCTMtAnRVrr7Ac3s72Ay-0UjWH5fHmh8p94r8ozdz5D3ruvofdCjXbyWrS2qaC5dZF_uqvE6HHIkBVxB63B7lQnu2Egs_4J2sNv3RQEDB_t-C6RTX4oCrFr/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_06_EoOf3sYL8TjXY2FSlpCTMtAnRVrr7Ac3s72Ay-0UjWH5fHmh8p94r8ozdz5D3ruvofdCjXbyWrS2qaC5dZF_uqvE6HHIkBVxB63B7lQnu2Egs_4J2sNv3RQEDB_t-C6RTX4oCrFr/w640-h426/sunset-401541_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><b><u>Week 6: Who Do You Think You Are?</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I think there are a lot of people who have found that with all of this extra time, there has come a lot more understanding about ourselves: the way we were created, the reasons we do what we do, the beliefs we hold. I've had the same experience myself throughout this quarantine, but I think it kind of came to a head in this week. I have been reading a very good book called <b>"A Million Little Ways" by Emily P. Freeman</b> and in reading this little book, God has taught me A LOT about myself. The gist of the book is that every single person has within them a unique way of expressing God's creativity (this covers a lot more than painting or writing or crafts; it entails <i>whatever</i> creative expression that makes us come alive and create beauty, everything from cooking a delicious meal to organizing a closet), and it goes over the things that hold us back from believing that, as well as the ways we can grow in fulfilling our place in His creation. During this week, I read a section that felt like a sucker-punch to my heart, but was such an important lesson from God. The author was sharing a few different questions we may ask that hold us back from creating and displaying the art we were designed to share, and the very last question she posed still makes me tear up because it's one I've heard so many times in my own heart: <b>"Who do you think you are?" The author gives some pretty awesome encouragement for what to do when this question pops up.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"[First] Pay attention to what you're doing when you hear it. I bet you one million dollars you aren't watching TV. <b>We have an enemy who wouldn't bother to threaten you if you weren't dangerous. So the question who do you think you are? only comes on the cusp of risk.</b> Let that question become a signal to you: perhaps this work, this relationship, this dream, this effort has some life in it....The second action to take when this question comes to your mind is this: answer it. <b>Rather than push the question aside or crumble under the implications, demand that it be a reminder of your belovedness. Let it encourage you in your identity. Who do you think you are? Answer it</b>...Fight that question with answers before it has a chance to fester. Who do you think you are? You are made in the image of Creator God and carry the presence of his Holy Spirit with you wherever you go. You are a poem written inside the person of Christ and exist to carry out his inner desire. You are an image bearer and you have a job to do. Don't let that question derail you. <b>You are the beloved. So be the loved. Receive your belovedness and then hand it out, receive grace and be gracious to others, remember your image-bearing identity and move into the world with a job to do.</b> Show up as you are with what you've been given. And don't allow the voice of doubt and discouragement hold you back." (Chapter 8, "Show Up", emphasis mine)</i></div><div><br /></div><div>God has chosen us to do His work, Guys, and Satan wants to stop us. <b>He wants us to doubt who we are, how we were made, if we are "too much" of this or "not enough" of that, and I think the thing that makes all of this so hard to battle is that it has a tiny seed of truth in it.</b> We <i>are</i> too much sometimes--too selfish, too angry, too jealous. And we <i>are</i> not enough: not patient enough, not forgiving enough, not faithful enough. <b>But we can't stop there</b>; that's what Satan wants. What we have got to remember, and what we have to throw back in Satan's ugly face, is that <b>we aren't just <i>us</i> now. Because we believe in Jesus, and have been washed by His blood and filled with His Spirit, we are no longer the same! <br /><br /><i>"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)</i></b><i> </i><br /><br />God has come in and taken care of all of the "too much" and "not enough". Yes, we will still slip up, because we live in a sinful world, and God will be continually refining us and perfecting us until the day we go Home. That doesn't mean that He hasn't shaped and equipped us for special work <i>right now</i>, though. <b>This week God helped me realize that I've let a lot of doubt and uncertainty dictate the way I view myself, as well as the things I'm willing to step out in faith and do for Him, and He very clearly answered the question of who I think I am, as well as who I truly am in Him. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7joCq-RzAhT3rG_M2vtEMqU8YYF4vf5MASxlhmTh7scTwvCSk6tP6Ckepy69I2lUuw5m5rcC9NZHcHE-7cSfa180uWrTKu9QhPYuCTWFmrLKpMVsMHUUlL07XCcj4d2-nZFcmrpJ0kv-Z/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1920" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7joCq-RzAhT3rG_M2vtEMqU8YYF4vf5MASxlhmTh7scTwvCSk6tP6Ckepy69I2lUuw5m5rcC9NZHcHE-7cSfa180uWrTKu9QhPYuCTWFmrLKpMVsMHUUlL07XCcj4d2-nZFcmrpJ0kv-Z/w640-h380/no-3442954_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Week 7: Stop Stamping Yourself Out</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Carrying on from last week's lesson, this week God really opened my eyes and challenged me to rethink a few things about myself that I have always thought are wrong; things that I assumed reflect a weak faith, or misplaced priorities, or broken thinking that needs to be "fixed". Now, I do hold some of these kinds of traits; I am very much a fallen, sinful human in need of God's grace and redemptive work!<b> It kind of breaks my heart, though, to think of some of the things I have been ashamed of and tried to stamp out of myself that were actually just unique reflections of my Heavenly Father that He hardwired into the core of my being.</b> Things like viewing the world more emotionally than logically; a bigger-than-typical need/desire for relationship, connection, and support from others; and a very easily broken heart (yes for myself, but also for others). All of these traits can definitely be taken too far and enter into the realm of sin: emotional thinking can spiral down into depression and despair; a longing for connection with people can blind me to my need for God; sensing others' emotions and trying to protect them from hurt can snowball into people-pleasing. I've found, though, that <b>rather than avoiding the sinful extremes that these traits can slide into, I've tried to stamp them out entirely.</b> In order to not let emotions rule over me, I've stuffed my feelings down and beat them back with the harsh rod of logic and "maturity"; to prevent any idolizing of relationships, I've held back from asking others for help, no matter how dark and scary things may feel for me, because "I should be able to handle this with JUST God helping me" (never mind the fact that God often uses His people to share His love and help in tangible ways); and rather than confessing my sensitivity and fragile heart, I berate myself for what I feel and talk myself out of "being offended" or "too petty". Here's what I'm learning is true, though: God put these things in me for a reason. Each of these traits reflects a truth about Him that others won't get to see in me if I continue to hide them, and the same is true for each of <i>you</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i><b>Sometimes those things you struggle with about yourself are sin, yes; but sometimes, they are something God purposely placed within you as a special reflection of Him!</b> <br /><br /><b><i>"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14)</i></b><br /><br /> Again, the book "A Million Little Ways" spoke to my heart in big ways regarding this. The author shares something that her dad said that deeply resonated with me when I read it: <br /><br /><i>"<b>Just because I don't like something about myself doesn't mean it's sin.</b> Sometimes I worry more over those parts than the parts that are sin. Isn't there enough of the sin to worry about without micro-managing the unique aspects of your personality? If who you are is random, then yeah, go on a self-improvement program. <b>But if you think God is in control of the whole thing of you, and he made you on purpose for a reason, and you try to be someone else, who will be you?</b>"</i> (Chapter 10, "Offer", emphasis mine)</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still learning the difference between a sinful trait that I need to give up to God and repent of, and a personality trait that is simply part of the way God designed me; I think, though, that God made some pretty awesome headway this week! <b>I want to move ahead, from this week on, learning more about how God designed me to reflect Him and not trying to hide those things away just because I sometimes struggle to appreciate them. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0j5ualX96ecnjB1OUQDkv8FXo2i2fLuOOmTDHyvXgwPH4ni1A9efl7DdZz2p8IW53XonQOtbKhmBtJY60cE4awtxFVIZJBPo17QiihXJeupgSyMYnWIrTaDLGyU-JAVmxiKAI0rTTF9r/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1920" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0j5ualX96ecnjB1OUQDkv8FXo2i2fLuOOmTDHyvXgwPH4ni1A9efl7DdZz2p8IW53XonQOtbKhmBtJY60cE4awtxFVIZJBPo17QiihXJeupgSyMYnWIrTaDLGyU-JAVmxiKAI0rTTF9r/w640-h324/farewell-3258939_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><b><u>Week 8: Things Will Never Be the Same</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This week was a hard one. Somehow things just "clicked" more and I really came to realize that<b> I'm not going to get my "old life" back.</b> Things aren't going to go back to the way they were before. Businesses will have closed down, or will at least have new rules to follow; schools and extracurricular classes will have new guidelines and safety measures in place; the economy will be different; and several relationships have already changed in my life and their future is uncertain. With this realization, there has been definite grief. <b>I liked my old life, a lot. I had a "good system" down, was able to work towards goals and build relationships fairly easily, had plenty of opportunities to minister to others and connect with them...I was happy.</b> Losing those things and struggling to figure out how to get them back in this new lifestyle has been intensely hard in a lot of ways, and I've honestly even come to the point of questioning if I will ever really be happy again. Don't get me wrong; I have had so many sweet, memorable, GOOD moments even in this crazy season; I have never been at a lack of finding blessings when I look for them (God is so good, isn't He?) I think what has happened is that <b>I am getting yet another opportunity of learning to let go of what was, and trust God to bring good things again.</b> It's not like this is the first time I've had to do this, right? I mean, <a href="http://raphahmama.blogspot.com/2018/08/raphah-learning-to-let-go-at-beginning.html" target="_blank">this whole blog has been based on letting go and trusting God</a>! Still, the reality of the matter is that it is hard, hard, HARD to do this. I don't want to let go! I liked what I had! And <b>this is an "in between" season, one in which there's a lot of "taking away" but not yet very much "replacing". God is emptying my hands and heart of the things I loved, and it isn't until He's cleared that space out that He will start replacing things with what He has in store.</b> In the midst of the taking away, on top of mourning the loss of those things I've held so dear, I can't imagine how His replacements will ever be as good...even though I've seen Him do it so many, many times before this. Isn't that funny?<b> It comes down to this: Do I trust God enough to let Him do this?</b> Do I believe that He is good, and that he wants good for my life? Do I have faith in His plans, relying on Him to take out what He needs to, even if that feels like He is taking pieces of my heart? Do I trust Him to take the space that each little thing has held and use it how He needs to? <b>Can I live in enough submission and faith that I can say to God, "your will be done", even with the most precious blessings I hold?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13)</i></b><br /><br /></div><div>This week I learned that I have a choice to make, here; we all do. <b>We have to accept that things will never be the same, and grieve those losses; but after that, will we stay stuck in that mourning and pain, trying to clutch at the shreds of what remains? Or will we trust that God is in control, open up our hands and hearts to release those things He wants to take, and believe that He loves us and will replace all that He takes away with things that are truly for our good?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAus86dtaFGVl4OM7Dfj_hmth1lMqKXvRQxSKI6kcbcWQ3VyYh1ZcV159mqKgLdZtb3MplbYmCXc4MsPqHn9JpK5bSsIB37FnN9A9MSeuTC2R2hadcgyxzdTL6gR0Unr3ke8LokOkxud1/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAus86dtaFGVl4OM7Dfj_hmth1lMqKXvRQxSKI6kcbcWQ3VyYh1ZcV159mqKgLdZtb3MplbYmCXc4MsPqHn9JpK5bSsIB37FnN9A9MSeuTC2R2hadcgyxzdTL6gR0Unr3ke8LokOkxud1/w640-h426/background-1517622_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><b><u>Week 9: It's Time to Live</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still right in the middle of week 9 as I write this, but I think I can really sense the thing that God is wanting me to focus on and learn this week, and that is to <b>stop looking back at my old life, or ahead to what comes later, and to instead really <i>live</i> in the here and now.</b> I grieved the loss last week, and I think that was perfectly acceptable and even good; trying to pretend like I'm fine with losing so much that I've loved and enjoyed is basically lying, and keeping that bottled up in my heart doesn't leave room for the new lessons that God wants to put there. Now that there has been a little bit of time and acceptance, though, <b>I sense that God is telling me, "Ok, Love. It's time. Let it go, stop looking back and longing for what I've ended. And stop putting life on hold until things get better later. Let's move ahead together, right now in this season; I want you to really <i>live</i> rather than just survive."</b> So with that, I've been trying to be more purposeful in making this season work better, to make it be more enjoyable and happy rather than just "survivable." I think up until now I had in my head that my "real life" was everything from before quarantine, and it won't come back until after this season when things open up more and I can be "free." Instead, <b>I need to realize that this weird, crazy time in history is still my life; it isn't just a waiting period to kind of float through and try to survive.</b> Sure, there is definite waiting, and all of the unique growth and lessons that God teaches us in times of waiting, but <b>waiting doesn't mean "stop living". </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been trying to process and think through the things I miss the most from "my old life" and the things I've put on hold for "my new life", and am trying to find ways to include what I can in the here and now. Sure, it looks different still; the reality of COVID and quarantine and social distancing mandates are all still very real, and I have to live my life within those realities. <b>This week I'm learning, though, that I really can (and should) still<i> live</i> within those realities--truly<i> live</i>, not just survive and wait until this season ends.</b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WcEpt150Ymp__LxaHulem0q0XOrEAjF4-C-jSIL0QhMkaXojpbqXdyOMIcL-NqjDdxdfoaux0fQAECtgModRItBDHFKnxRj5GnqOw-MS4IqdEfEtrsc94U2EjkVR-Xv3WoOC-bbStQ9V/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WcEpt150Ymp__LxaHulem0q0XOrEAjF4-C-jSIL0QhMkaXojpbqXdyOMIcL-NqjDdxdfoaux0fQAECtgModRItBDHFKnxRj5GnqOw-MS4IqdEfEtrsc94U2EjkVR-Xv3WoOC-bbStQ9V/w640-h480/calendar-660670_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div>It still kind of blows me away that this quarantine has been in effect for 2 whole months! I'm also recognizing that I likely have 2 or more months to go, which is something that would have sent me into a tailspin last month! As time goes on, though, I'm continuing to see and feel God's faithfulness in providing what I need, and in teaching me so very much in this season. I still can't wait for COVID quarantine to be a mere memory, and I'm especially eager to be allowed to go back to church! In the meantime, though, I know that God will continue with His incredible love, faithfulness, and grace; He will deliver us out of this season at the right time, and He will sustain us until that time comes. <br /><br /><b><i>"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-27922094784793651252020-04-30T22:26:00.001-07:002020-04-30T22:26:50.045-07:00Dancing Before the Lord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For as long as I can remember, I've struggled with worrying about what others think of me. I remember even as a little girl, my parents would constantly have to remind me not to be a people-pleaser, and not to let others' words or opinions of me stop me from doing what God was calling me to. See, I love people! I want to be a blessing to others, and I want them to like me and to see me as a "good person" (whatever that means!) Can anyone else relate?<br />Well this week I read a story that really struck me and made me recognize this ongoing theme, as well as the remedy for it. In 2 Samuel 6, King David is bringing the Ark of God back to Jerusalem, and in the process of doing this, he is celebrating big time! The passage says he danced before God "with all his might" (verse 14) and was even leaping around in joy (verse 16). He was pretty much living out that quote "dance like no one is watching!" In the midst of this crazy dance party, David's wife Michal was watching, and she didn't like what she saw. There are a few different reasons that Bible translators have given for her disgust, but the overall consensus is that she didn't feel that he was behaving as a king should, and was basically making a fool of himself in front of the "common people." So here we have David, who is overjoyed at the ark being returned to his city, and has lost himself in worship and praise; and on the other side we have Michal, who sees this display as inappropriate and unbecoming for a king. This is their interaction when David returns home:<br />
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<i>"And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, 'How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows uncovers himself!' And David said to Michal, '<b>It was before the LORD who chose me</b> above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD--and <b>I will celebrate before the LORD.</b>'" </i>(2 Samuel 6:20-21, emphasis mine)<br />
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Michal chastises David for his actions, and what is David's response? <i><b>"It was before the LORD; I will celebrate before the LORD." </b></i><br />
<br /><i><b>"Before the LORD."</b></i><br />
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David wasn't even paying attention to any of the other people. He wasn't dancing before <i>them</i>. In his mind, it was just him and God, and he was praising <i>Him, </i>without care for any onlookers. He didn't let Michal's false impression of him and misplaced judgement change his actions, and he didn't apologize for them; he knew what his motives were in what he had done, and was focused only on what God thought. <b>He danced before the LORD, heedless of who else was watching, and careless of their judgement.</b><br /><br />Guys. That's how I want to live my life. I want to live my life before God and not pay so much attention to what others think or say. To live that way sounds so, so freeing! My question is, how do we get there?<br />
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<b><u>1. Remember Who You Can Control</u></b><br />
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We have to remember that <b>we can't control what other people do, think, say, or believe.</b> I've realized that striving to make sure that others perceive me in the right way is really a losing game, because I can't make them see me the way I wish they would; I can't make them believe me when I share my motives for what I do; nor am I able to alter their opinions once they've made up their minds about me. <b>All I can control is what I do, what I say, what I think, and how I choose to treat them.</b> If we choose to ignore that fact and continue in this ceaseless striving of trying to force people to see us in a good light, there are so many sad repercussions: missed opportunities from fear of people "taking things wrong"; lack of depth in relationships ("if I admit how I'm feeling, they'll think I'm selfish/petty/jealous/insecure/fill-in-the-blank"); endless cycles of anxiety, depression, frustration, and stress; and even physical symptoms like headaches and stomach issues that stem from the emotional toll. <b>The very first step in getting freedom from this is in accepting that we cannot control other people, and that includes the way they might view us/their opinion of us.</b><br />
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<b><u>2. Know How to Take Correction</u></b><br />
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I'm not saying that we shouldn't be willing to accept loving correction from people, or seek wisdom from them, or listen to others' concerns; <b>there have been many, many times when I have been blind to my own sin until another person lovingly pointed it out to me and helped me recognize it.</b> God does use other people to speak to us, correct us, and guide us. I think the balance here is to <b>not live our lives preemptively worrying about what others' opinions <i>could</i> be and thereby being held back from what God wants us to do. </b>I think this is what is hard for me! For whatever reason, I spend a lot of time and energy striving to appear like I never sin! The truth, though, is that of course I do. <b>We are all sinful, fallen people who are prone to mess up, and we all need God's grace and forgiveness.</b> To seek to appear as anything more than that really boils down to pride and deceit. So, <b>we need to expect to make mistakes (and to have others point them out).</b> The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can be free from the impossible task of trying to appear like we never slip up.<br />
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<b><u>3. It Comes Down to the Heart.</u></b><br /><br />
So how should we respond when others view what we do in a way we never intended? Do we brush it off and just assume they "don't get us" and chalk it up to that? Or do we automatically accept that we had to have been wrong if someone else saw it that way and change our plans/thoughts/personalities to fit that opinion? I think there's a little bit more of a middle ground then those two "extremes". <b>When other people do share their concerns or opinions of our actions with us, I think it should cause us to search our hearts and to seek God and ask Him if our <i>motives</i> were sinful or not. </b>Afterall, that's what God looks at: the heart. <b>People can only see the outward actions, not the heart behind it.</b> I think a regular prayer we should share with God is the one found in Psalm 139:<br />
<br /><b><i>"O LORD, you have searched me and known me...Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead in the way everlasting!" (verses 1, 23-24)</i></b><br />
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Remember, <b>people can only see our outward actions; they can't always see our heart or the motives behind the things we do, so they're going to take things "the wrong way" at times</b>, like Michal did with David. Those times do hurt, of course, and are probably harder for some of us to deal with than others. However, if we are continually seeking God and asking Him to test our hearts and thoughts (the things people can't see), and if we submit to His guidance, then we are likely to be following the right path. And if our hearts are right with God, we are striving to follow His way, and we are open to correction but not enslaved to people's opinions, then I think we can live in real freedom. Remember, <b>God has already searched us, and He knows us better than anyone else; even if nobody else understands us or views us well, God does.</b> And He holds quite a bit more sway than any single person on earth.<br />
The flip side of this is that <b>we need to remember that we don't see other people's hearts, either.</b> Don't be quick to assume the worst in others; remember it isn't our "job" to convict or change people; and remain humble in any case where you may feel the need to share a concern or offer correction to another. Treat others the way you wish they would treat you, right?<br />
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When I read the account of David and Michal, I was struck with the assurance in his reply. He knew that he hadn't done anything wrong; his motives had been pure and his heart was at peace. <b>He didn't have time or energy to worry about how his actions looked to others; in fact, he was so lost in the love and joy he had in his God that he barely even noticed anyone else.</b> That kind of deep, all-consuming love is exactly the way I want to live my life. <b>I want to be completely focused on God, smitten by Him and consumed by what He calls me to, so that everyone else around me is just a dim blur.</b> Dancing before the Lord sounds like a pretty freeing and joyful way to live; anyone else want to join me?Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-23080824902668308032020-04-21T22:14:00.000-07:002020-04-21T22:14:00.938-07:00Quarantined Rabe's: How Our Family is Surviving the COVID-19 Lockdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I shared the lessons that God has taught me personally after a month of quarantine, so this week I thought I would share the practical ways our family has been making it through this unique season. This is a little bit of a different post than I typically write, but I'm hoping it will be helpful and encouraging nonetheless! <b>One thing to note: we definitely don't have this quarantine stuff "down" by any means, and I promise you we still struggle big time some days!</b> With time and lots of prayer and God's grace, though, we have found a few things that have helped, so I want to share those things in case they can be helpful to others.<br />
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<b><u>1. Routine or Schedule?</u></b><br />
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Early on in the quarantine we started seeing lots of really awesome examples of routines and schedules popping up for this time, so one of the very first decisions our family made was whether we needed a fairly set schedule (assigning each activity to a set time) or if we wanted to follow more of a routine (doing the same activities in the same order, but not necessarily at a set time). Our family has always done better with the flexibility of a routine, so we chose to move forward with that. Our weekday routine in quarantine looks something like this:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Quarantine Routine</td></tr>
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Now, we don't even follow <i>this</i> very strictly (particularly the specific snacks and meals. Some days just call for the ease of cereal for breakfast...or lunch...or dinner...am I right?) but it helps to have it semi-planned out so that we can kind of stay on track and get the important things done. As for the weekends, that's really more of a "free-for-all" since Daddy doesn't have to work and we let him decide how to spend those days. <br />
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I'll do a quick walk-through of our routine to cover anything that needs more explanation:<br />
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<li><u><b>Breakfast and Bible:</b></u> I usually read a little devotional or Bible story while the kiddos are eating breakfast. This way they are semi-contained, and they tend to pay more attention while they are eating! We also saved all of the Christmas photo cards we received this year and we choose one each morning and pray for that family. </li>
<li><b><u>Morning Chores:</u> </b>These are just the daily responsibilities I want the kids to complete before we can start school. My 8-year-old does most of these (feeding the cats, cleaning the litter box), but my 6 and 4-year-old help with getting the cats water, cleaning their rooms, and getting themselves dressed and ready for the day. (I will say, I often let the kids have a "Jammy Day" if they ask. That's one of the happy parts of being at home, right? Goodness knows I like to just stay comfy sometimes, too!)</li>
<li><u><b>Regular School:</b></u> This is our set curriculum that we already had started this school year. Because we are so far into the year, all we really have left to work on is math, reading, handwriting, and a little bit of spelling and language arts for my oldest. Only my older 2 kiddos have actual school to do, and <b>I like to divide them up and teach one at a time so we can really focus and I don't have to have my attention divided</b> (I tried teaching both at once early in the year and it was just way too much!). So <b>I start with one kiddo and send the other one out to either work on a chore or play with my youngest</b> (so it kills 2 birds with one stone, because otherwise my little dude tends to get into a bit of mischief!) School usually takes us about one or two hours, depending on the kids' attitudes and willingness to work. That's the cool thing about schooling at home; because I only have to focus on one kid at a time, we can typically get through the work pretty quickly!</li>
<li><u><b>Bonus Chores:</b></u> I found that it's easiest for me to keep up with chores if <b>I assign a specific one to each day of the week.</b> After school we work on whatever the chore of that day is (or sometimes whichever kids aren't doing school will work on their "bonus" chore while I am teaching the other kiddo.)</li>
<li><u><b>Snack:</b></u> For whatever reason, my kids are pretty much continually starving. So if they have gotten school and chores done by a decent enough time, we squeeze in a snack between breakfast and lunch. This doesn't always happen, though; <b>sometimes if we wake up later or school takes longer, we skip this and just have a bit of an earlier lunch.</b></li>
<li><b><u>Bonus Activities/Outside Time:</u> </b> For us, bonus activities include things like extra school subjects (like science); specific things we never had time to do before (like baking/cooking lessons); and just fun little things to brighten the sometimes lonely/challenging days of being away from those we love. I'll explain a lot more about our bonus activities in the next section. If the weather is particularly nice or I have to work on chores a little longer, I'll send the kids outside to play and we postpone the bonus activities for the afternoon.</li>
<li><b><u>Quiet Time:</u> </b>Every day after lunch the kids go to their own spaces for a couple of hours and have some time to rest and play quietly, and I work on my own projects that require a little more focus. Often my older two kids play together during this time (as long as they can get along), and I always let them choose a toy from our garage (where we store all of their toys). <b>Since they don't get to play with the toys any other time, it usually holds their attention for a good while!</b></li>
<li><b><u>Screen Time</u>: </b>Once the kids have cleaned up their toys and put things away, I let them watch a TV show (or sometimes two, let's be honest!) and have a snack while I finish up whatever project I was working on and/or start dinner. After that, if we haven't done our bonus activities yet, this is when we do them. </li>
<li><b><u>Family Time:</u> </b>After dinner we try to spend time together as a family. <b>This is another part of the written routine that we don't necessarily follow exactly</b>, because we leave it up to my husband how he wants to spend the time. If we are short on ideas, though, we have this layout to help! </li>
</ul>
So what about you? <b>What are the important things you'd like to get done each day in quarantine, and would your family do better with the guidance of a set schedule, or the freedom of a routine?</b> Each family is different, so try to experiment and see what works for you!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lCgmDjgg4aMnVnh6gz8QL1bztolFaYBlplC4DRRnL4hvwKr0Zm81eZnOGC0Q1EOJTXquX4z3DfkquGUgxQCALPEfxKfK_BYcJRwhs5F54oImKg7WdOpnizXRnLzthuSGf6jU-wrP02Q3/s1600/2020-04-05_10-11-03_116.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lCgmDjgg4aMnVnh6gz8QL1bztolFaYBlplC4DRRnL4hvwKr0Zm81eZnOGC0Q1EOJTXquX4z3DfkquGUgxQCALPEfxKfK_BYcJRwhs5F54oImKg7WdOpnizXRnLzthuSGf6jU-wrP02Q3/s640/2020-04-05_10-11-03_116.heic" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Activity Jar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u>2. Bonus Activities</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>At the beginning of this quarantine, I assigned specific learning themes and activities to work on after our "regular" school was done.</b> We enjoyed doing a rainbow theme, a weather theme, and a spring theme, and I chose a specific type of activity for each day of the week:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><u>Monday:</u> cooking/baking (usually a snack related to our theme for the week)</li>
<li><u>Tuesday: </u>learning games/printables (pattern blocks, bingo, math printables)</li>
<li><u>Wednesday:</u> sensory time (playdough, slime, bubble foam, etc.)</li>
<li><u>Thursday:</u> experiments (whatever science I could find for our week's theme)</li>
<li> <u>Friday:</u> art (painting, coloring, chalk, drawing, etc)</li>
</ul>
We really enjoyed this for the first three weeks, and then during Easter we switched it up a bit and have been trying a new "method". <b>Now we use the "activity jar", a little jar that I filled up with slips of paper that have different activity ideas on it.</b> Our family has loved both of these ideas and will probably swap back and forth a few times, since they both have some great benefits. The perks to choosing specific themes and activities is that you can be really detailed in exactly what you hope to cover during the week (like teaching specific skills or trying an activity you always wanted to do). The upside to doing the jar is that it takes A LOT less time to set up, and it's kind of fun to be surprised each day with what you get to do. <b>If you need some ideas or a quick way to get started, I have included both the chart I used for our weekly themes, and a document with activity ideas to cut out and put in a jar. </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KDs_dPAtwuxzjHD6UqaisuDm1QsVw4Vw/view?usp=sharing">Weekly Themes and Activities</a><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrvyJTDDpBeSiovjCbN2ye8_ZtiSbrEP/view?usp=sharing">Activity Jar Printables</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmIiavCXQd1XNQ2_bvsRHOYJHzZVNWtSLxrsiDea3RjPt2uCS6mpmrESFp612vJBasCo4yg-3tI7QlhfVc09JwPfKesKMZL4CwukSHpoH8h0D4enGZ9PpZyRuxSCLk7BYo5lUiyQcokv6/s1600/2020-04-14_09-48-54_790.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmIiavCXQd1XNQ2_bvsRHOYJHzZVNWtSLxrsiDea3RjPt2uCS6mpmrESFp612vJBasCo4yg-3tI7QlhfVc09JwPfKesKMZL4CwukSHpoH8h0D4enGZ9PpZyRuxSCLk7BYo5lUiyQcokv6/s640/2020-04-14_09-48-54_790.heic" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free printable pack by The Mom Creative</td></tr>
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<b><u>3. Processing and Documenting the Times</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>We are living through a historical event.</b> Sometimes I think that is really neat in ways, and other times I just hate it and want to have my normal life back. Nevertheless, <b>this is a very unique season we are in that will leave a permanent impact on us, our families, and likely the entire world.</b> Because of the magnitude of this event and the intense effects it's having, our family has found it really helpful to process it and also to document it. These are some of the ways we are doing this:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><u><b>Weekly one-on-one walks with each kiddo.</b></u> I am very blessed that my husband can work from home the majority of the time, so a few times a week I take one of my kids out of quiet time early or let them start it late, and we take a little walk around our neighborhood together. <b>I try to use this time to help them talk through what they might be feeling.</b> I ask how they are really doing, if there's anything or anyone they miss particularly, if they can think of ways to make the time easier, as well as what things they have enjoyed and are happy with. The last time I took my oldest on a walk, he surprised me by asking <i>me </i>what I've enjoyed and what's been hard. These walks only take 10-15 minutes, but they have really been a sweet time for us.</li>
<li><u><b>Taking photos.</b></u> I've always loved using photography to capture moments and memories, and this season has been no different. <b>There are things about this time that I don't want to forget--both sweet blessings and also painful challenges.</b> Someday I would love to share the pictures I take of empty store shelves, "window visits" with dear family and friends, and neighborhood chalk art with my grandchildren so they can understand in a more real way what it was like to live through COVID-19 and how God worked through it all.</li>
<li><b><u>Journaling.</u> </b>Another way I personally process things is through writing, so <b>I made a special page in my bullet journal broken down by weeks to jot down specific thoughts and feelings I have had each week.</b> This helps me to see any specific struggles I need to pray about and work on, as well as any blessings and growth. </li>
<li><u><b>Posting up the week's biggest blessings.</b></u> Every Friday evening I choose 9 of the biggest blessings from the past week and make a collage of photos relating to them, and then I post them on Instagram with a short description. <b>This simple practice helps me keep God's goodness in mind even in the most challenging weeks</b>, and it is also my heart to encourage those that see it and to help them to also see the goodness and faithfulness of God in the midst of this pandemic.</li>
<li><u><b>Special printables.</b></u> Something that has been so helpful and special for our family in this area is the use of printable packs that others have put together specifically for the purpose of processing and documenting this time as a family. Right now we are using two very good resources that I would love to share with you. First, <b>the Mom Creative has a free printable pack</b> with lots of great journaling prompts and a fun idea to turn the pages into a time capsule to look back on in twenty years. I included a photo of the cover page above! <a href="https://www.themomcreative.com/2020/04/coronaviruscapsule.html">You can get this product by signing up at her website here</a>. <br />Second, my very good friend over at <b>Raising Rices designed a wonderful faith-based printable kit</b> with 46 pages of more terrific journaling prompts, ideas for how to love/serve others in this season, Bible verse coloring pages, a Mad Lib (that I actually had the honor to write for her!), and prayer pages. While this product isn't free, it is very affordable at only $5.00, and all of the proceeds will go towards helping my friend's husband attend seminary! Here are a few photos of this resource: </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZhuDmvjRtykz3VsagQtR-hYvE8ABg1ahRhoDrdihfwkkQFmFOImqWR5cYbBqwUSbHh_UeCN0Xe0PwyJXfWgDPtZyd4Uf5oQZPhiTZNTScbYS_pthpieybYn2J1SrgsN7jGnGgtFoWVEz/s1600/oKEaaUjZTserdCWSsALRZg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="632" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZhuDmvjRtykz3VsagQtR-hYvE8ABg1ahRhoDrdihfwkkQFmFOImqWR5cYbBqwUSbHh_UeCN0Xe0PwyJXfWgDPtZyd4Uf5oQZPhiTZNTScbYS_pthpieybYn2J1SrgsN7jGnGgtFoWVEz/s640/oKEaaUjZTserdCWSsALRZg.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the awesome pages included: a couple different blessing trackers, some pages about processing the hardships of this season, ideas for how we can show blessings to others, a page about a day in our life...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nZj0WZrfput0CkNqQ2M8vUcVDzcygwo9sFaFzteQmJdGnqAebDhzfXBKm8lwvxJMk_oxAWOEr700zD5smTzFawh2WmPrR5jdQ9HLtekxCznHNVmgiCUrmGcAshiz6FpW9eUeT0M6LT5D/s1600/7CEgoxdCQsiNplh7txuLOw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="633" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nZj0WZrfput0CkNqQ2M8vUcVDzcygwo9sFaFzteQmJdGnqAebDhzfXBKm8lwvxJMk_oxAWOEr700zD5smTzFawh2WmPrR5jdQ9HLtekxCznHNVmgiCUrmGcAshiz6FpW9eUeT0M6LT5D/s640/7CEgoxdCQsiNplh7txuLOw.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pages can be printed in color or in black and white, and they turn out adorable either way. This is the "About Me" page that my oldest is working on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t5Z1GQyOWK8A0nWznpOPvhd6tO5uByW7oZZcB4veemEKzrA6PqU9DGTdBuuOJkea-sV222AWmxyvw0VAEtQFg1If9Pg_WWeKJOgkCKV1LT0Vg0iWdww6xP1jRye2Iqj3Xmu4CuPgaYAW/s1600/4QXQIIrMRPOYejvquVK2rg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="633" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t5Z1GQyOWK8A0nWznpOPvhd6tO5uByW7oZZcB4veemEKzrA6PqU9DGTdBuuOJkea-sV222AWmxyvw0VAEtQFg1If9Pg_WWeKJOgkCKV1LT0Vg0iWdww6xP1jRye2Iqj3Xmu4CuPgaYAW/s640/4QXQIIrMRPOYejvquVK2rg.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the beautiful Bible verse coloring pages that are included. My daughter did this one!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucuFJCF9F1RnUo_jdgVrtsktrsgmox487hBD05lV2G0IqaMYNvpMgGK-PGgSIqpsUXcduL-fKMYDSIE77H0k7YwqR1Bv7begzb3d_HIR1eIDS0RY569GZOmFcDZyp2bAMaTrIWmOY67Nv/s1600/til_mxvqTsuRebYTvbGj-w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="631" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucuFJCF9F1RnUo_jdgVrtsktrsgmox487hBD05lV2G0IqaMYNvpMgGK-PGgSIqpsUXcduL-fKMYDSIE77H0k7YwqR1Bv7begzb3d_HIR1eIDS0RY569GZOmFcDZyp2bAMaTrIWmOY67Nv/s640/til_mxvqTsuRebYTvbGj-w.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My littlest guy coloring in the adorable puppy on the "how can we love others" page.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://raisingrices.com/product/covid-19-resource-packet/">You can get this awesome resource by clicking here!</a><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Post-Quarantine Bucket List. </b>Any time we think of something that we wish we could do but aren't able to right now (park playdates, dinner with grandparents, seeing a movie at the theater) <b>we write it down and put it in another jar that we set aside</b>, and after things are open again and we can see people, we can pull an idea out every few days and celebrate that we can enjoy that activity again! This helps us to keep in mind that <b>this season isn't forever; we will have a chance to do these things again someday</b>, God-willing. And I think we will enjoy them with even more gratitude and joy because we will remember how it felt to not have that freedom before. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvqi-mBGgIiIZdwaGYtHaJK3vmA-oSL2hTCbu2zZ64luoUfnShR9Zzwri1fk0LpLSIR9gqYhePkktOAoF2TGWgsjTM69CYAc0djUSUs42tmhldlodKLyW1moR9JuVik32m4oRBO56CXvZ/s1600/2020-04-16_19-04-04_143.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvqi-mBGgIiIZdwaGYtHaJK3vmA-oSL2hTCbu2zZ64luoUfnShR9Zzwri1fk0LpLSIR9gqYhePkktOAoF2TGWgsjTM69CYAc0djUSUs42tmhldlodKLyW1moR9JuVik32m4oRBO56CXvZ/s640/2020-04-16_19-04-04_143.heic" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the chalk activities we set up for the neighbors</td></tr>
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<b><u>4. Brightening Days and Being a Light</u></b><br />
<br />
Everyone knows that there are some truly painful, scary, discouraging, and downright dark moments in the midst of this season. We can all relate, at least on some level, to the challenge of living through this event. Because of that reality, <b>it's been so important for our family to find ways to both discover little bits of joy and light, as well as creating it for others.</b> Here are some of the things that we have done.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>The best way that I've found to brighten the darkness and be equipped to be a light for others is to spend time with the Light of the World</b>. It's been a hard adjustment for me to no longer have as much opportunity for extended one-on-one time with God, but <b>something I've found that has really helped is taking Bible/prayer walks each day</b>. Because my husband usually works from home now, I can easily slip away for an hour (either before the kids are up or while they are in quiet time/watching a show) so that I can walk around my neighborhood, listen to my Bible reading through the YouVersion app, and take some time to pray through my prayer list and share prayer requests and prayers with others via the Marco Polo app. This practice has had so many benefits for me: I am getting a little bit of exercise and fresh air; I have the chance to get away and focus on God for a while; and I also often have opportunity to connect with others who build me up in my faith when I listen to their video messages and get to reply back. It's amazing the difference it makes in my ability to love and serve my family and others when I have taken the time to let God minister to my heart and equip me for His work first. <b>After all, God has everything that the people all around me need in this season; it isn't really possible for me to effectively help others and be a light in this darkness if I haven't first been equipped and filled by the One they need most of all. </b></li>
<li>For the kids, <b>I have tried to budget for and find little "surprises" each week</b> from our local bookstore (that way I can support a small business, and I also get my items that day or the next because they offer free local delivery! A lot of small businesses are doing this, so definitely check them out!) Usually they are just $5-$10 little activity books (stickers, hidden pictures, scratch & sketch, etc) and they always make the kids' day when they get them (and buy me some extra time, too, since it keeps them engaged.)</li>
<li>I also will <b>sometimes get little surprises for myself</b>, for the same reason as I get the kiddos' stuff: just to bring a smile. Something I've noticed in this season is that <b>even little things just feel a lot happier than they used to</b>, and it can really boost my mood to get a little package in the mail with a goody for me!</li>
<li>For our neighborhood, we have gotten to <b>draw a fun chalk obstacle course, paint our window with encouraging words and happy pictures, set out teddy bears to help with a bear scavenger hunt our community held, and most recently went around and left chalk hearts all around the neighborhood as well as a message challenging others to find them!</b> We have been very blessed by the little things our neighbors and communities have done for us, and we have SO much fun doing these things for them!</li>
<li>For friends and family, we have <b>ordered little surprises to be delivered to them to brighten their days, made Easter cards and delivered them, done a few drive-by "hellos" (just driving by their houses and rolling our windows down to have mini visits and say hi), and written letters to tell them how much we love and miss them.</b> Again, it is so amazing how much joy it brings to get to bless other people that we love! Try it and I'll bet you'll feel the same.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOVpS-L8YvmTKkT0-FXQMpSLNDoL_EKr_WNctFXc4fKD01iF6zIHtCQNL7houqg_Gyv8TdzYzv_UuYanHyEQihBNxePxLdw47SObxwCWRe9ZtcF2vQVhYFxbY-p6YKIoZkZsMTuwliy3d/s1600/2020-03-19_13-33-12_608.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOVpS-L8YvmTKkT0-FXQMpSLNDoL_EKr_WNctFXc4fKD01iF6zIHtCQNL7houqg_Gyv8TdzYzv_UuYanHyEQihBNxePxLdw47SObxwCWRe9ZtcF2vQVhYFxbY-p6YKIoZkZsMTuwliy3d/s640/2020-03-19_13-33-12_608.heic" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staying connected with those we love</td></tr>
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<b><u>5. Staying Connected</u></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By far the hardest part of quarantine for our family (and probably most of you, too) has been the heartache over missing "our people". Worshiping and learning with our amazing church family; dinners with the grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins; playdates with sweet friends...<b>each and every one of us has felt the loss of not being together in person with those we love. </b>We see messages all over the place about the importance of staying connected; the question is, how? Here are a few things we have done:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>First, the obvious choice that most of you are probably already doing: <b>video chat.</b> Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts...all of these are great options for seeing some loved and ones and hearing their voices. We've done virtual coffee dates, Bible study groups, meetings, and are even planning some virtual playdates! <b>We have the technology; let's use it!</b></li>
<li>Something that has been a huge help for my kids is the <b>Facebook Messenger Kids app</b>. It is linked to the parents' account, and the parent is the one who adds/approves every single contact. <b>The app allows kids to do video chat, regular chat, a "guess this drawing" game (probably my oldest son's very favorite perk), and some other cooperative games to do with whoever they are messaging.</b> Right now I only allow my oldest son to use this, but the other two kids are allowed to watch (and of course they jump on whenever he is video chatting a grandparent!) <b>We only allow the kids to use this app while sitting in the room with us, and we check the messages carefully.</b> If you are comfortable with your child using this technology and have safeguards and rules in place, it can really be a big help in letting them feel connected.</li>
<li>While our new video-messaging technology options are awesome, <b>don't discredit "older" ways of communicating and connecting.</b> We've grown a lot in <b>having phone conversations </b>again in this season, and I have even gotten to start a <b>"pen pal" email relationship</b> with a newer friend! And tried and true <b>"snail mail" is actually really, really awesome in this season.</b> I had a friend send me a letter a few weeks ago, and I was surprised by the level of joy and connection it brought me! Don't discount the power of a handwritten letter! </li>
<li><i><b>***DISCLAIMER: These next ideas might be controversial.</b> First and foremost, be sure that you are following the laws and guidelines set down by your particular state/country's leadership. I recognize that some places need stricter boundries in order to protect people, so always defer to your unique location's needs when considering how to follow social distancing. Also, keep in mind that everyone's comfort levels and convictions are going to be a little bit different when it comes to social distancing. <b>Please don't use any of these ideas to shame another person</b>, either for being "more fearful" than you because they aren't willing to do them, or for being "too careless" because they are willing to do more than you are comfortable with. <b>We can't say we are "in this together" if we are too busy nit-picking each other's choices in how we can/cannot connect in this season.</b> Each of these ideas are ones that still follow social distancing guidelines in my state of Oregon (maintain a distance of at least six feet from others, no gatherings of more than ten people, stay home if you have any symptoms) but I know that some could view them as still taking too much risk. Pick and choose ones that you think would work for your family, but don't worry if they don't feel ok for you!***</i><br /><br />~During my first virtual counseling session, my counselor suggested some ways to connect with people in a more "face to face" way, knowing that our family was struggling with only getting to connect over a screen. Her suggestion was to <b>try doing things while being quarantined in our car still</b>, like car coffee dates with friends. I have gotten to do this with my parents for a little icecream outing with the kids, one friend for a "lunch date", and another for a coffee date, and have also seen others parking their cars six feet apart and sitting in their trunks just to talk for a bit. <br /><br />~Something else we have done a few times is to <b>drive by friends' houses and roll down our windows to talk.</b> <br /><br />~I have also <b>gone on some walks with people</b> (again, maintaining that six-foot distance)<br /><br />~We have had several sweet <b>"window visits" with family and friends who come up to our big front window at home</b> to talk for a few minutes. <br /><br />It's been pretty amazing to see the difference in our family's overall mood, disposition, and hopefulness just from getting a few opportunities to see people we love face to face. Now, <b>these are probably ideas that should be saved to do just once in a while; the very best way to stop the spread of this virus is just like they have been saying: to stay at home.</b> I also know, though, that there are a lot of different things to factor in when it comes to staying healthy and being able to continue this lifestyle long-term. I think the main things to do when it comes to figuring out ways to connect in this time are to <b>pray for wisdom and discernment, seek to truly love and serve others, submit to governing authorities, and then make these circumstances work for your family. </b></li>
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Now that we've been in the COVID-19 season for over a month, our family is starting to settle a bit more into this lifestyle. Things are still hard at times, of course, and we have good days and bad days; <b>we still pray "for the sickness to go away"</b> in the words of my sweet kiddos, and we can't wait to give hugs to our people again. In the meantime, though, <b>these things have all been very helpful in "surviving" the lockdown, and I hope they have given you all some ideas and encouragement to make it through this time, too.</b>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-24762995859217297402020-04-15T20:33:00.002-07:002020-04-15T20:33:29.275-07:00One Month in Quarantine<div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">This week marked one month of quarantine for our family. It's come to the point now that most of the things I did before quarantine seem like another life entirely, and I feel like a different person, too. It's been an intense season, with so much learning and grieving and growing; I think that's probably true for a lot of people, right? </span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Something I've done that has helped me with processing all of this has been to jot down a few thoughts and emotions I've had for each week of this quarantine. As I look back on it, I can see some main themes and lessons that each week of quarantine taught me, and I want to share them with you all here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: black; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBX6QjXJKzog9JcOKdJ2NDR8Z7KhAoUomtXkkC4ZZobvJIcpZvRhLul-F8xFz_LCXGGDCUTZRyx9jsUkvn_-dJbND5dKgb_bbI812lKW9BbkImkX71dTOHXp4MDSrQYN_CdSzI_nb9GrK/s400/person-1209310_1920.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><b><u><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Week 1: In Times of Unsteadiness, God is Our Rock</span></u></b></span><br />
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The first week that the COVID-19 "stuff" started becoming real was a whirlwind. There was a pretty wide range of responses from people, everything from laughing it off ("guess we get to take advantage of the cheap airline tickets now!") to sheer panic (goodbye, toilet paper). My thoughts and emotions </span>were a bit of a see-saw, mirroring the varied reactions around me. I would swing from fear ("what are we going to do stuck at home all the time?") to hopefulness ("it might be kind of fun, doing things as a family.") The event itself seemed to be changing every other day, too. One day we were still allowed to meet with others as long as our group didn't exceed 25 people. The next, we were all told we had to stay at home and couldn't see anyone outside of those we lived with. And the timeline was constantly shifting, too; first we were told it would only be for the month of March...then by Easter...then by the start of May...<b>Basically, nothing was settled. Everything was shaky and uncertain, like standing on a shifting mountain of sand. Everything, that is, except for God.</b> <br /><br /><b><i>Psalm 11:3-4, "'if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?' The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD's throne is in Heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man." </i></b><br /><br /><b>In that first week, a lot of foundations were being destroyed</b>: the foundations of security, earthly relationships, good health, knowledge, and SO many more. As that was happening (and continues even now), though, <b>God was still in His Temple, still reigning from His throne in Heaven. His eyes saw, and continue to see, everything happening. </b>He is in control, and He will not be shaken, no matter how much other foundations may be. <b>The first week of COVID-10 quarantine taught me to keep God as my foundation; even when everything else becomes shaky and uncertain, He remains firm.</b></span><br />
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><b><u>Week 2: Beware of the "Shoulds"</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The second week of quarantine was the hardest for me. I think I'd gotten by ok the first week because it didn't seem like it would be too long, and I was intrigued by the "newness" and the different opportunities the situation offered (more family time, not having to wake up early or rush to be anywhere, etc.) But <b>that wore off pretty quickly, and was replaced with an overall feeling of "what's the point?" I was extremely discouraged and disillusioned, and felt like it didn't matter what I did</b>: it wouldn't make a difference if I was purposeful with my family or just turned on the TV to entertain them; </span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;">it didn't matter if I tried to get a workout in or just </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">lay around scrolling through social media all day; it wouldn't make a difference if I made healthy meals or just ate what sounded good (hint: it wasn't vegetables.) Yet allowing myself to fall into that "funk" led to another problem: all of the "shoulds".<br /><br /><i>"I should be taking the kids outside every day." <br /><br />"I should be working out more." <br /><br />"I should be reaching out to more people." </i><br /><br />All of this "should-ing" led to one overall feeling: <b>"I am failing at quarantine."</b> Of course I knew how ridiculous that sounded! How could somebody possibly fail at quarantine outside of not actually DOING it? But the burden remained, because I saw so many others that were "doing quarantine" better: working out every day, making sure their kids got outside time, sticking to a healthy diet, making sweet memories... Tell me that isn't familiar to some of you! I fell into the comparison trap, and I fell HARD. I learned, though, that my focus needed to be simply on me and my family. <b>Everybody was going to handle this season differently, and it did no good to compare myself to them. Heaping guilt on myself when I was already feeling defeated was only going to make things worse. </b>I knew that I didn't like how this week turned out (ironically it DID matter what I did, as it had an impact on not only my mood but my entire family's!) and I knew things needed to change, but I wouldn't be able to move forward by getting buried underneath comparison and "shoulds." <b>Week 2 taught me to avoid comparing "my" quarantine with others, and to instead seek to do what works for us. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: black; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8WMFWiAHpiZWS-wE8l-gFN42BT6Li3VizC9VEvlYmd-U32CkT1hMQzte0hWaOJiwh1vkw4IBFx841BBWuFavfocdiu5pVv0KIPXMsyVb9M7mR_IweA32r7qFlVwRI4e3nvABeZ-2AB4u/s400/beach-768642_1920.jpg" width="261" /></span></div>
<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><b><u style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Week 3: Do the Next Right Thing</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Our family, like many others I imagine, has been pretty caught up in the new movie "Frozen 2" that was released by Disney early in light of COVID-19. This is actually one of my favorite new movies because I can relate so much with one of the characters, and I also love the music. One song in particular has resonated with me pretty strongly, and I think a lot of other people can relate to it as well in this season.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">"Just do the next right thing</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Take a step, step again</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It is all that I can to do</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The next right thing</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I won't look too far ahead</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It's too much for me to take</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">But break it down to this next breath, this next step</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">This next choice is one that I can make</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">So I'll walk through this night</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Stumbling blindly toward the light</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">And do the next right thing</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">And with the dawn, what comes then?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">When it's clear that everything will never be the same again</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Then I'll make the choice to hear that voice</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">And do the next right thing"</i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">Sometimes my mind wanders to the fact that this quarantine could be my reality for the foreseeable future, and I immediately feel panic begin to rise. "I can't imagine doing this for another DAY, let alone weeks and weeks! I miss my parents! I miss my friends! My kids are bored, my house is trashed, I want to run away." <b>It's so easy to fall into a spiral of discouragement and losing hope when I try to think ahead to the coming weeks or days (or even hours, honestly.)</b> When that happens, the most helpful thing to do is to stop. Take a breath. And ask, "What can I do next that will be most helpful?" Is it taking a walk with the kids? Is it cleaning up ONE room? Is it calling a friend? One thing feels way less overwhelming than the hundreds of things it will take to get through this, but it is exactly by doing just one good thing that we will make it through. <b>Week 3 taught me to break things down and to take one step at a time rather than thinking too far ahead.</b></span><br />
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><b><u style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Week 4: It Isn't Up To Me<br /></u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box;">In the 4th week we faced a pretty challenging situation: my husband had a family emergency that required him to travel to another state, leaving me to continue the quarantine solo with our three young kids. I've done plenty of "solo mommy adventures" since my husband travels pretty extensively for work, but doing so without the in-person support of other family or friends, and without the distraction of fun outings, was definitely a new level of intense! The first day he was gone went ok for us; the kids and I had fun working on an art project, and we got to do a drive-thru icecream run with Grandma and Papa, and had a nice movie night with popcorn for dinner. Just before bed, though, things took a bit of a crazy turn. The kids flooded their bathroom during bathtime, broke a picture (complete with needle-point shards of glass), and then busted up my daughter's bed. As I was trying to lift her mattress up to get it settled back in place, I hurt my wrist, and suddenly was overwhelmed with one specific fear: <i><b>if something happens to me, then what?</b></i> We had no other adults at all who could come in and help; I was IT. If I got hurt, or sick, or ANYTHING...what then? I went to bed that night with that burden resting on me like a dead weight. I really shouldn't have been surprised, then, when <b>I woke up early the next morning with one of the worst migraines I have ever had.</b> I couldn't even open my eyes, or talk, without getting sick. I spent that day in my room, alternating between sending out desperate pleas for prayer to my family and church, and throwing up from the intense pain. <b>It had happened: I, the only grown-up available to care for my children, was out.</b> And God answered that question I had so fearfully asked the night before: what would happen? Well, a few things happened. First, my oldest son stepped up in a big way. He got all of the food for him and the other kids; he turned on the TV to keep them entertained; he went to the porch to get the medicine my mom had dropped off for my headache; and he brought me crackers and a drink (complete with a little straw! I mean, how sweet is that?). Second, my next door neighbor left ginger ale and crackers on the front step and texted me lots of encouragement. And lastly, my church family stepped in with prayers, texts of support and love, and even sent one precious lady out to us with dinner and Oreos for the kids, and Gatorade for me. <b>What happened was that God showed me something so important: it isn't up to me.</b> </span></span><b>Week 4 taught me that all</b><b> of the caring and all of the helping and all of the day-to-day work of a stay-at-home mom isn't all on my shoulders; it's on His.</b> I don't have to hold it together or carry everything on my own. He is in charge, He is the ultimate Provider and Caretaker, and He is so faithful to come through for His children. </span><br />
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><b><u style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Week 5: Our Struggles Lead to Character</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week a friend of mine was sharing with the mom's group at our church over our weekly Zoom call, and she talked about how <b>seasons of being "unsettled" or "shaken up" often wind up revealing a deeper place of character and content within ourselves</b>, and I can see that so evidently</span><span style="font-size: small;"> in my own life as I look back on the last month. It wasn't (and isn't) at all fun to go through the process of being "shaken up" and refined, but we are promised in God's word that it all leads to so much good. <br /><i><br /><b>"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4)</b></i><br /><br />There is a lot of suffering happening right now, for just about every person you might talk to. It's hard. It's painful. But you know what? It's teaching us endurance. And endurance produces stronger character. <b>And with stronger character comes something I think we all want more of: HOPE. </b>I haven't yet finished out all of week 5, but I still really feel like the main theme and lesson of this week is a little taste of the fruit that comes from seasons of trial and struggle. <b>Week 5 is teaching me to hold on through the suffering, letting God produce more endurance and character within me, and looking forward to the beautiful hope it will all lead to. </b></span></span></span></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-1559282427076166272020-03-16T16:01:00.000-07:002020-03-16T16:01:16.902-07:00For Such a Time As This<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The world feels pretty crazy right now, huh? In just the last week, it feels like all of life has suddenly shifted in huge ways and gone completely topsy-turvy. As I’ve been processing and praying through all of this, here are some things I’m trying to remember right now, and that I thought might be helpful to you all as well. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>1. God knew about this. He isn’t surprised, and He isn’t worried. He has everything under control, even if everything feels out of our control.</u></b></div>
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<br />I think one of the hardest parts about this whole thing is the feeling that everything is falling apart. Events are cancelled left and right; stores are empty (I mean, we can’t even get toilet paper for goodness’ sake); things we took for granted aren't easily available; and there is just a lot of fear and panic happening. In spite of that though, <b>the truth is that God is still in control. He isn’t shocked by this thing. He isn’t up in Heaven wondering how we will ever make it through. He’s got this.</b> Rather than looking around at all of the chaos and fear, let’s look to Him and remember Who He is:<ul>
<li><b>He is our Provider, and promises to give us what we need.</b> We aren’t going to go without; He will take care of us. <br />~Matthew 6:26. "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"<br />~Philippians 4:19. "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."<br /></li>
<li><b>He loves us more than we will ever be able to grasp</b>, and nothing can take that away or change it!<br />~Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, nor heavenly rulers, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”<br />~Isaiah 54:10 “10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”<br /></li>
<li><b>He has good plans for us,</b> and nothing that happens in this world will change them.<br />~Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”<br />~Jeremiah 29:11 “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.”</li>
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<b><u>2. You have power to decide how this season will go for you</u></b><br /><br />As helpless as you may feel right now, <b>you actually have a pretty significant amount of power</b>: <b>you have the power to choose how this time will be for you.</b> While we can’t always control our outward circumstances (kids home from school, enforced/strongly encouraged quarantines, stores out of our favorite food, etc), we can control how we respond to them. </div>
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<li>We can decide to live in fear, worrying about how we will be taken care of; we can be grouchy and irritable, upset that our plans are “ruined” and we have to do what we don’t like; we can focus on the disappointments and stresses, and complain about them...</li>
<li>OR, we can strive to search for the good (even if it might be hard to find); we can purposely put our faith into practice and live like we really believe that God has got us; we can pray for eyes that are open to every single blessing, and take advantage of the opportunities these changes have brought (maybe there’s extra family time, a chance to build relationships more, more time to work on projects that would have never gotten done?)...</li>
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Please don’t read me wrong here; I’m not saying this isn’t hard. I have had many moments of feeling fearful, overwhelmed, and grouchy, and have definitely muttered some complaints under my breath and shed a tear or two (ok, more)! <b>This IS hard. This is different and uncertain and requires an entire overhaul of life for some of us!</b> Instead of just complaining about the hard things, though, and plodding through this season in survival mode, what if we tried to be purposeful? <b>Don’t ignore the hard things, but see what can be done about them. List out the biggest struggles right now and see what would help make it easier.</b> For example, my biggest thing is with the need for social distancing. I am going to sincerely miss other people (I already do, and it's only been a few days!) I’m used to having daily interaction with others that I love, and the thought of going weeks without that literally makes me cry! So to remedy that, some friends and I are planning to do some “digital” coffee dates. We are going to find a quiet hour, get a yummy drink, and use FaceTime or Skype to just chat together and reconnect (if you want in on that, let me know! I'll do all the digital coffee dates in all the land!) We are so, so blessed to have the different options available to us in this day and age, Guys! <b>So let’s be creative, use our resources, and make the best of this thing, not just barely survive it.</b></div>
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<b><u>3. We were placed in this time for a reason. </u></b><br /><br /><b>“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)</b> Ok, so we haven’t exactly been put into a royal position for this season, but <b>we <i>have </i>been put in this place, at this time, for a purpose. </b>God knew you would be here at exactly this time, and it was not on accident.<b> What can you do, now, to take advantage of this season? How can you encourage, help, and shine for Jesus? How can you use your gifts, strengths, and resources to lift up, bring a smile, or ease a burden?</b> There are so many people that need those things right now! Think of this as a mission opportunity, Guys! People that would otherwise have never gotten a glimpse of Jesus’ love in action might get to finally see that, thanks to Him using YOU. </div>
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<li>Do you have some extra finances from not using gas or spending money out and about? Use them to buy a giftcard from a struggling business and send it to a friend!</li>
<li>Do you have a good sense of humor? Find some funny videos or memes and text them to someone who needs a boost. </li>
<li>Are you good at writing? Send some encouraging cards to others who are lonely. </li>
<li>Do you have this whole “new routine and schedule” thing down? Share your ideas with others who are overwhelmed at the thought of somehow managing to work from home, or having their kids home from school</li>
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The possibilities are seriously endless. Imagine how awesome it would be to look back on this season and be able to see that God used YOU in a national crisis to shine His light well. <b>“Well done, good and faithful servant”, indeed.</b></div>
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In some ways this seems like it’s going to last forever, and that can be so overwhelming. In the grand scheme of things, though, <b>this is not long at all.</b> We will get back to normal, even if it’s a new normal. It won’t always feel this hard. In the meantime, <b>let’s strive to tackle this thing well, trusting our awesome Heavenly Father, enjoying the opportunities, and shining for Him in all we do. </b>Love you all!!</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-73477996593795159512020-03-14T17:26:00.001-07:002020-03-14T17:26:43.335-07:00At the Command of the LORD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Numbers 9:22-23 "Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses."</b><br />
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"At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out." I love this example of following God's leading. He used the form of a cloud hovering over the tent of meeting to let the people know when He wanted them to stay in camp, and when He wanted them to move to the next spot, and the Israelites did not move from their camp until they saw the cloud move--no matter how long it took or how short the rest was.<b> I don't know about you guys, but this is exactly how I want to live my life. When God says to stay, I want to stay put, and when He says to move ahead, I want to obey.</b> I think so many of us have the desire to do this, right? So what stops us? I think there are a few things that come against us and make this desire harder to carry out.<br />
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<u><b>When God tells us to stay put...</b></u><br />
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<li><b>We get bored.</b> We want a change of pace and scenery; we want something different to happen; we want some kind of excitement and to not be stuck in the drudgery of everyday life. I think it's almost like getting cabin fever, but with life's circumstances.<br /></li>
<li><b>We get discouraged.</b> We are tired of the same battles, the same trials, the same pain. We are desperate to get to a different season of life and to move ahead from the things that never seem to get any better. We might question why we still haven't learned what we need to, and start to feel defeated and hopeless.<br /></li>
<li><b>We get antsy.</b> Maybe we know what God wants us to do, and we have a vision and goal from Him that we just can't wait to get started on! Waiting where we are at when we know what "could be" is torture; it's really challenging to stay faithful in the current task when the new one seems so much better.</li>
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<u><b>On the other hand, when God tells us to move on...</b></u></div>
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<li><b>We feel afraid. </b>We don't know what is coming up, and things feel so secure and safe here. We are content and in a good place; why would we want to shake that up? What if doing that means we "ruin everything", or the things up ahead aren't as good as what we already have?<br /></li>
<li><b>We feel grief over leaving things behind.</b> Maybe moving ahead means letting go of people, places, or things that mean a great deal to us, and it's intensely painful to even think of losing them! We don't understand how God could have given us such good things, only to ask us to leave them now.<br /></li>
<li><b>We are exhausted. </b>It feels like we've already had to journey so, so much, and the thought of moving into more growth, work, and spiritual "travel" is overwhelming. We are so weary we can't fathom taking another step in faith. We just want to sit down where we are at and rest!</li>
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<br /><b>I think God often calls us to simultaneously stay put and also to move ahead in different arenas of life. </b>Maybe He says to stay where you're at when it comes to a challenging relationship (that you'd much rather just give up and move on from), but He is calling you to move ahead into new opportunities and work in your ministry or job. Or maybe He wants you to be content in the teeny little house you are living in (when a bigger, better home is calling your name!), but He says it's time to release those old habits that are keeping you back from fully following Him. <b>We need to have every facet of our lives surrendered to Him and be ready to either go or stay as He calls us.</b>The question is, how do we let God lead and follow Him without trying to go ahead of Him or lag behind so He has to drag us forward? The answer depends on whether our struggle is with the staying put or the moving ahead.</div>
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<b><u>The Key to Obeying God in Staying Put is Contentment<br /></u></b></div>
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<b>I think the thing to focus on when it comes to staying put is contentment.</b> <br />God has us "camped" where we are for a reason, no matter how much it feels like drudgery, and how much better things up ahead seem to be. <b>There are lessons to learn, relationships to build, work to accomplish, and even blessings to experience right where we are, and we will really miss out if we are too busy pining for what's next to be aware of our "here and now".</b> Instead of complaining about how long we have to stay camped out, what if we instead try to find contentment in where we are at? I'm not at all saying this will be easy; in fact, it probably isn't even possible in our own strength. Even Paul mentions how impossible it can be to find contentment in every situation, but he also tells us in Philippians 4:12-13 what the key is to doing it:</div>
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<b>"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."</b> We need to seek God to give us the grace and ability we need to stay content for as long as He calls us to stay put.<br /></div>
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<b><u>The Key to Obeying God in Moving Forward is Faith</u></b></div>
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So what about when it's time to stop "camping out" and instead start to move forward into new things? Well, <b>I think the key in this arena is faith</b>. <b>"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. We must have faith that when God calls us forward, He will take care of us, provide for us, and protect us; that He has better things ahead for us than anything we leave behind; and that He will equip and strengthen us for the journey, no matter how weary we may feel. </b></div>
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None of this is easy, Guys, but I'm finding that very few things in a life poured out to Christ and devoted to His will really are! This is why we cannot rely on ourselves AT ALL. <b>Everything that we do must be done through the power of God at work within us. It is only in relying on Him and asking Him to equip us that we will have victory, whether we are staying put, or moving into the new adventures He has in store for us.</b> My challenge to you is to really reflect on where God has you and what He is calling you to do now. Does He want you to stay put and learn the practice of contentment? Or is He calling out a growth of faith so that you can move ahead into the unknown with Him? I hope that as you rely on Him, you can follow through with obedience in either situation. </div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-63106166394021771682020-01-24T15:59:00.002-08:002020-01-24T15:59:20.994-08:00Tending Relationships<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQK8TPYCpap9WT_VDKEsrlJ8tLZNMD1iIoY9rG9TWnh8tIfr5-mM7eMAaEXmBelgWsB9JwiJ5UTEXB4ce3F21EdAdNyayyxR4xrNVFjDwvxHBbQKw4F49_1OLgrFPSrBnvbJo-sWFhOxBH/s1600/spring-3355033_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQK8TPYCpap9WT_VDKEsrlJ8tLZNMD1iIoY9rG9TWnh8tIfr5-mM7eMAaEXmBelgWsB9JwiJ5UTEXB4ce3F21EdAdNyayyxR4xrNVFjDwvxHBbQKw4F49_1OLgrFPSrBnvbJo-sWFhOxBH/s400/spring-3355033_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Recently I was talking to a wise friend (who also happens to be my amazing <a href="https://www.christianenneagram.coach/">enneagram coach</a>), and we were discussing relationships. Relationships are definitely a central focus for me and something I care very much about, so I really appreciated her walking me through things and helping me gain more understanding. We ended up coming up with a really neat visual that helped me grasp some relationship dynamics better, and I think it could be very helpful to others, so I want to share it here.</div>
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The picture my coach and I discussed is of each of our relationships being like a little plant. Starting a new relationship is like planting a seed in a plot between two people, and in a healthy relationship, each person tends the little seed: every act of kindness, purposeful time spent together, loving word, offer of help, etc. is like "watering" it, and with time and care, the seed sprouts and becomes a lovely little plant. The more attention and care their bond is given, the bigger and stronger it grows.<b> Each of us is given a garden of these relationships by God and is called to tend them and help them grow.</b> In a perfect world, we would be able to do this with no problems, and would all end up with beautifully full and colorful gardens. As we know, though, we don't live in a perfect world. We have struggles and pain to deal with; little (or big) "weeds", that make tending relationships challenging. Here are some of the things that have prevented me from successfully tending my relationships, and what God has been teaching me to do instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetRcJiYuJRJFAj5lYqobMHXc2tgCnx7TayLcuH_wgtf8v_-nyTtb7vO5SBgMVIy2C_Ucl-A54_TwyZtdGZmSCijTaE8hz0dtTpnl2SYnB8e4Q0TGLr0sEYZ5kxvsMzAIbq55WDgf9nxEP/s1600/rose-4574293_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetRcJiYuJRJFAj5lYqobMHXc2tgCnx7TayLcuH_wgtf8v_-nyTtb7vO5SBgMVIy2C_Ucl-A54_TwyZtdGZmSCijTaE8hz0dtTpnl2SYnB8e4Q0TGLr0sEYZ5kxvsMzAIbq55WDgf9nxEP/s400/rose-4574293_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><u>1. Conflict and Communication</u></b></div>
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<b>Every relationship has conflict, and the way that we handle it will either help or hinder the bond we hold.</b> Ever since sin entered the world, there have been things that cause damage to our relationship plants. Sometimes it's just a small thing, similar to when a scorch mark shows up on a plant, or a leaf falls off; other times, serious harm is done that threatens the life of the entire relationship. At times this damage happens on both people's side of the plant and is pretty obvious to both parties, and other times it isn't visible to one person...unless the other shows them. <b>Communicating hurt or offense to the other person is like holding up a mirror for them to see our side of the plant;</b> <b>unless we do this, it isn't fair for us to assume that the other person sees the damage, and then get upset when they continue on as if nothing is wrong (after all, to them the plant probably looks great and nothing <i>is</i> wrong!) </b><br />
Now, you don't need to be aggressive or mean about sharing your view; taking the mirror and smacking the other person with it is just going to do more damage to the relationship! However, not saying anything at all would be like trying to glue the leaf back on or hide the little scorch mark on your own, and it can lead to worse damage later. <b>Eventually the hidden pain begins to rot the plant from the inside out, until the poor little thing begins to wilt and die</b>, and the other person is left wondering how on earth this happened. <br />I can't even count the number of times I've slipped up in this area, choosing to hold back from sharing my hurt feelings or staying silent because I didn't want to "start anything." I'm really trying to grow in this area, though, and to realize that <b>it is much, much harder to heal a relationship plant that has rot throughout it, and it is so much better to just alert the other person early on so they can help heal the "little" issues. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUmy8pNuIAs2fMX553jxk6FA3bn80cx9jurA7Iw_cRT4FH0UDKKx4xmVLfkF3pj5FFgviBXNjx7Ntg85uhPRJZGdSrmH_EhTlUrtdx7lWf7Ovyf9m3yWO4ELKV6rELxYulvV68AD4W8zJ/s1600/montenegro-2429140_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUmy8pNuIAs2fMX553jxk6FA3bn80cx9jurA7Iw_cRT4FH0UDKKx4xmVLfkF3pj5FFgviBXNjx7Ntg85uhPRJZGdSrmH_EhTlUrtdx7lWf7Ovyf9m3yWO4ELKV6rELxYulvV68AD4W8zJ/s400/montenegro-2429140_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><u>2. Recognizing Poisonous or Fake Plants<br /><br /></u></b></div>
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We live in a fallen world, with fallen people, so <b>not all of the relationships we may seek to have are going to be the best for us.</b> Some of these are pretty obvious--abusive relationships, people that cause you to compromise your faith or morals, or those involved in illegal activities are very obviously "poisonous" plants that we need to use caution with. <b>Sometimes God will still call us to a relationship with some of these people in order to help draw them to Him, but we have to be so, so careful to not wind up being "poisoned".</b> When a gardener deals with a dangerous plant of some kind, he often wears gloves and other protective gear, and is very careful in how he handles it. <b>This is how we should view these relationships, too: either keep a safe distance away, or handle with great care and stay alert so we don't get poisoned. </b><br />
Another issue that might be less obvious is with "fake plants". <b>These relationships require extra discernment and caution because they hold a risk of using up our limited time, energy, and relationship resources.</b> Some examples of these would be relationships that are based out of guilt rather than love; relationships in which one or both people are "using" the other and are focused on what they can get rather than mutual care; or those in which one person values the relationship considerably more than the other and does the majority of the tending. In each of these examples, <b>the relationship is not truly a living plant; instead, it is simply a fabric flower that one of us stuck in the dirt to hide the fact that the seed we so desperately wanted to see bloom never even took root.</b> It can be very hard and even painful to realize that a relationship is false. Still, how much better is it to see the truth so that we can stop pouring so much into it, and can reserve our energy, affection, and time for the other real and meaningful relationship plants we have? And who knows: our God is an amazing God who brings life out of what once was dead; He absolutely has the ability to change these relationships into something beautiful and thriving! <b>So don't lose hope in these relationships; just seek to have wisdom and caution in tending them.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JepY-eLHPD3XFp88Dw0LbwYiQTong9qIEgoTfsBiKPHQJw-W-vWEgmJEgSO1G_6FQJmOI9dl4D7424WsS4OCbgTSMDzc3clYFXvBR7O0ACipiG83bcMhVeDVktMojdyRZr2QjWggwCQg/s1600/heart-3288274_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JepY-eLHPD3XFp88Dw0LbwYiQTong9qIEgoTfsBiKPHQJw-W-vWEgmJEgSO1G_6FQJmOI9dl4D7424WsS4OCbgTSMDzc3clYFXvBR7O0ACipiG83bcMhVeDVktMojdyRZr2QjWggwCQg/s400/heart-3288274_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><u>3. Accepting What Others Can Give<br /><br /></u></b></div>
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Something I want to clarify about that last example of "fake plants" is that there are different seasons in relationships where this one-sided care can happen for a while, and that's normal; <b>it isn't realistic or fair for us to expect that our relationship will always be the main focus for the other person. After all, we each have an entire garden of relationships to care for! </b>We also should strive to remember that <b>just because somebody isn't pouring the same amount into the relationship does not mean they aren't caring for it.</b> God has designed each of us with different gifts and abilities, and some of us have been blessed with large "watering cans" by God, so we have the capacity and capability to pour more love and care on others, and are able to use those gifts to help our relationships thrive.<b> Other people, though, may have not been given the same "size" watering can. </b><b>They may be pouring all they can into the relationship, but what they pour out does not equal the same as what we do because they didn't have the same amount to give in the first place.</b> Or, maybe they aren't using the same tools and techniques as us in their care of the relationship (an example of this would be using a different love language than we actually have). This does not mean they don't care about the relationship, at all; <b>they are doing their best to tend the plant with the tools they have.</b> For us to get upset and angry and pull our own care and love away from the plant because the other person isn't "doing things right" is not only unfair, but will greatly damage the relationship. <b>Rather than holding expectations for how our relationship "should be" tended by each person, let's try to look for all of the ways the other person is caring and working with us to help the relationship flourish. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytMe80Yx3VY9TlUWsMW05xh6AUJG_ijdnzthmqS4Dr4HIEnlkZtIoO35E8xZjFedv-aGcDV6oPzTuWU3N2B2njyNbpBU24vBdERuOAJtqNeGsEXkHh6KCeqm4_Yh8qEwfCWjc13iPg4hx/s1600/plant-1474807_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytMe80Yx3VY9TlUWsMW05xh6AUJG_ijdnzthmqS4Dr4HIEnlkZtIoO35E8xZjFedv-aGcDV6oPzTuWU3N2B2njyNbpBU24vBdERuOAJtqNeGsEXkHh6KCeqm4_Yh8qEwfCWjc13iPg4hx/s400/plant-1474807_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><u>4. Remembering to Care for All of the Plants, Not Just One </u></b><br />
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So much damage can happen when we focus all of our time and attention on one "plant", and allow the others in our relationship garden to wilt. This is something I've had to learn a few different times, as sometimes my desire to love and serve others can cause a bit of "tunnel vision" and lead to me hyper-focus on just one person.<b> God gives us multiple relationships to tend and care for, the most important of which is the one we have with Him, and each of us has a limited amount of love, time, energy, and attention to pour out of our little watering cans. </b>I don't think God ever intended for us to limit our relationship-tending to just one person; it can lead to unhealthy attachments, codependency, and even idolatry if we allow any relationship to take precedence over the one we have with our Heavenly Father. I have had to learn this personally, and it is a lesson that is so very important to grasp! <b>People were not created to be our "all-in-all", nor do I think any person can handle receiving our all for any great length of time. </b>It isn't healthy or honoring to God when we choose to dump all of our limited resources onto one relationship. This will lead the other relationships in our life to dry up and wither; that one relationship has a real danger of getting too much water and drowning; and we can be left with an entire plot of suffering plants instead of a bountiful garden to enjoy. <br />
Now, of course there are seasons when a certain relationship needs a little more love and attention; just like in real gardening, sometimes we spend a little more TLC on a specific plant, for whatever reason. <b>We need wisdom and discernment to know how much to give to each individual "plant" and how to have balance in tending the many relationships in our lives</b>, and thankfully that's something I know God loves to help us with. This leads me to my final point, and probably the biggest lesson I want to keep in mind with my relationships.<br />
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<b><u>5. Seeking Help from the Perfect Relationship Gardener</u></b><br />
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There are several Bible verses that describe God as a Gardener, and it is such a relief and blessing to remember that <b>He is the Creator of every relationship we have, and He knows exactly what we need to do in order to help each one flourish.</b> He doesn't give us these little gardens of relationships and then leave us to figure out how to make it all grow; <b>He is right there with us, waiting for us to ask Him where and when to plant each seed, what kind of soil to use, how much water to pour out...He has all the wisdom and skill we need to succeed in relationship "gardening", and He is happy to share it with us.</b><br />
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<b><i>"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5)</i></b><br />
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<b><i>"'Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead [your people] properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?' God said to Solomon, 'Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested." (2 Chronicles 1:10-12)</i></b><br />
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There is a lot to being a good relationship gardener, isn't there? But how wonderful it is when we can step back and see the beautiful garden of relationships that God has blessed us with and helped us to tend! Let's seek to care for each plant He gives us to the best of our abilities.<br />
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<i style="font-size: small;">***I want to take a moment to talk a little more about my friend and enneagram coach who inspired this post, since it was my discussion with her that helped me understand some of the relationship struggles I have and how to overcome them. Kim Eddy (aka The Christian Enneagram Coach) is a wonderful resource for those who want to learn more about the "why" behind what they do and how to grow by using a gospel-focused and Jesus-centered version of the popular personality profiling system called the enneagram. Kim is a life coach who truly cares for others and is passionately devoted to Jesus Christ and keeping Him the center of everything. I've been so blessed by her coaching, Instragram page, and podcast; and have even gotten the exciting honor of being a founding member of her new Christian Enneagram Club group. It's so exciting to me how God has used what I've learned about the enneagram as a tool in my life, revealing my motives, strengths, weaknesses, and things I didn't even realize were going on in my heart to help me grow more into His likeness. If any of you are interested in learning more, you can visit Coach Kim's Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/christianenneagram.coach/">https://www.instagram.com/christianenneagram.coach/</a>. She also has a podcast called The Christian Enneagram Podcast, and her coaching website is <a href="https://www.christianenneagram.coach/aboutkim">https://www.christianenneagram.coach/aboutkim</a>. I definitely recommend her, and have appreciated her insight and wisdom ( and the fact that she always seeks to keep the Gospel "the main thing").***</i></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-43488484903295381902020-01-15T17:04:00.001-08:002020-01-15T17:09:08.794-08:00Laborers of the Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><u>"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." ~Luke 10:2</u></i></b></div>
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This is one of those verses that I have read many, many times, but only recently understood more. Within the last week, God opened my eyes more to the truths in this passage, and they had such an impact on me that I want to share them with you all. Here are some things God has been speaking to my heart about His sending laborers into His harvest. </div>
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<b><u>1. We are all told to pray for God to send laborers.</u></b></div>
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Even if we ourselves don't feel the call to missions, it is still something so near to God's heart and is something He wants us involved in. He tells us to pray, and not just that but to pray <i>earnestly</i>; this implies that <b>we should genuinely care, that we ache for people to go out into the world to share His love with others, that we have a big enough worldview to realize that our "here and now" is not all there is to life and that there are so many other people, places, and lives that desperately need Jesus. </b></div>
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Before I went on my first mission trip, I didn't really "get" this. Yes, I supported missionaries. Yes, I prayed and gave money and listened to their messages. Yet it wasn't until I got to be a short-term missionary myself, and my eyes were opened to the world in an all-new way, that I understood this at a heart-level. Ever since I got home from Ecuador, I have felt a tugging on my heart from God. <b>Being in a different country, meeting new people, and hearing God's truth shared in another language completely altered my whole worldview. I have a new heart for the world, and for missions, and for those sent out by God. I have a new understanding of God loving every tribe, tongue, and nation, and a deeper longing to see the Great Commission fulfilled.</b> In the weeks since I've gotten back, God has done a lot to speak to my heart, specifically about missions and sharing His love with the nations, and I understand now more than ever how much it really matters and how much He cares.</div>
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<b><u>2. There is often personal cost to this prayer.</u></b></div>
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I never really fully understood the real "cost" to this prayer until this last year as I began to be called to let go of people I love who are being sent into the harvest. As of this writing I have one friend and her family that are actively working towards being overseas missionaries; a wonderful church leader and his sweet family who have stated their intention to begin this process in the next few months; and a very dear friend who hasn't yet received the details of God's plans, but has a very deep, strong calling to be a missionary that her husband and children are on board with, and I know they will be on that path soon. On top of that, I have other sweet friends that have been missionaries to other countries for a while now, and that we get to support. All of this is a good thing, something I am so honored and blessed to be a part of.</div>
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<b>And...it hurts. As a fallen human who loves others and aches at separation, <i>it hurts. </i></b></div>
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Sometimes I am taken aback by the level of grief I feel when I consider the truth of what sending laborers means. <b>It means that we are often separated from those we dearly love while on this earth. It means being willing to let go of even our most cherished family and friends if they receive the call to go. It means we don't get to enjoy some of our favorite people on a regular basis in this lifetime. </b>Guys, that is such an ache, both for those precious laborers who leave behind everyone they love, and for those same loved ones who willingly release them. </div>
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<i><u>And yet...</u></i></div>
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<b><u>3. When He answers this prayer, it is cause to rejoice!</u></b></div>
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The separation that brings that agonizing ache is literally an answer to prayer. <b><i>"Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers."</i> That's what He is doing; He is sending out laborers, and those laborers happen to be those we love.</b> Oh, what a quandary! Did we mean those prayers? <b>Did we really want Him to send out laborers? Or did we add stipulations to it?</b> <br />
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<i>"Send laborers, Lord...as long as it isn't someone I personally know."<br /><br /> "Send people out, Lord...just don't let it mean pain for me."</i><br />
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Isn't that kind of what it boils down to? Oh, guys. I am wrestling with this so much. I love my people. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my friends and family and enjoying sweet fellowship with the amazing people God has given me. To be separated from them is agony; I'm crying even as I write this! So please don't think that I say any of these things flippantly or from some kind of emotional distance. This is not an easy task.</div>
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It comes down to this, though: <b>God is answering our prayers when He sends "our" people out (for really, they are <i><u>His</u></i>, and not ours, right?)</b> I don't think there's any way we can flip a switch and move totally into praise for this; I think that instead, <b>this is one of those "sacrifice of praise" opportunities.</b> It hurts horribly to face separation, but we choose to still praise God in the midst of that missing and ache because we know that ultimately, this is an answer to prayer. This is something that brings Him glory. This is something that leads to eternal good for so, so many. And <b>bearing that in mind helps us to see that His answer to this prayer is cause to rejoice, even as we also walk through the grief of loss.</b></div>
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<b><u>4. We are all called to a harvest.</u></b></div>
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I will confess that getting back from that mission trip and then being faced with the "sending" of so many people I love has thrown my heart into some turmoil. At one of our church services a few weeks ago, I found myself kneeling at the altar, absolutely weeping with the combined ache of releasing loved ones into ministry, and confusion/grief over what God's call was for me myself. <b>Part of me felt almost angry at being consistently called to be a "sender" and to watch others become laborers sent out into the harvest when I also longed to do something for Him; I was tired of being on the sidelines, so to speak.</b> </div>
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<i>"Well do you want to be sent?"</i> God seemed to ask.<br />
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<i> "I don't know! I don't know what I want. I don't know what <u>you</u> want!" </i><br />
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He didn't have much of an answer for me. All I sensed Him say was, <i>"Wait, and pray." </i></div>
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<b>I don't know what God has in store for me yet. I don't know what He wants me to do about this ache I carry for the nations now. </b>Does He want me to become one of those laborers sent into foreign land? Does He want me to stay here but make short-term trips an ongoing part of my life? Does He want me to simply continue sending beautiful laborers out and support them with prayer and finances while I continue ministry here at home? <b>I don't have those answers yet. All I know is that God wants me to be open, willing, and ready.</b></div>
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I have been reading the devotional book "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, and this week I was struck by one of the readings. It was based on <i><b>Isaiah 6:8,</b></i><b style="font-style: italic;"> "'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then said I, 'Here am I; send me." </b>Chambers goes on to explain:</div>
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<b><i>"The call of God is not for the special few, it is for everyone. Whether or not I hear God's call depends upon the state of my ears; and what I hear depends upon my disposition. 'Many are called but few are chosen,' that is, few prove themselves the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ whereby their disposition has been altered and their ears unstopped, and they hear the still small voice questioning all the time, 'Who will go for us?' It is not a question of God singling out a man and saying, 'Now, you go.'....If we let the Spirit of God bring us face to face with God, we too shall hear something akin to what Isaiah heard, the still small voice of God; and in perfect freedom will say, 'Here am I; send me.'"</i></b></div>
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God has called all of us to a harvest of some kind, and we don't always have to go overseas to find it. <b>I think it's so important to keep something of a "missionary mindset" about us wherever we are called--even here in "normal" life.</b> Not everyone will be called to leave everything behind and move to another country, but that doesn't mean we can't have the willingness and courage to tell God, <b><i>"Here I am, send me: to whoever, wherever, and whatever you want."</i></b></div>
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<b><i><u>"Here I Am; Send Me"</u></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I am called by God, I know not where</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Nor what His plans may be</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Yet this response my heart still bears:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The special work He's called me to</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I have yet to fully see</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Yet my response, forever true:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Whether His call is close to home,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Or 'cross the raging sea</i></b></div>
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<b><i>My resolution, this alone:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Perhaps He'll say, "Go share with all,"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>or "Just these two or three."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>My heart longs to obey His call.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>His call may be to far away</i></b></div>
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<b><i>To people not set free</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Or perhaps His will may be to stay;</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Still, "Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>If He says, "Your ministry is here</i></b></div>
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<b><i>To friends and family."</i></b><b><i>My response will be to serve those dear.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>In work and serving where I am</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Or in a new country</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I'm open to His loving plan</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I know the plans He has are best</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And He has great love for me</i></b></div>
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<b><i>That's how I say, with trust and rest</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>So through my life, in all my days</i></b></div>
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<b><i>'Til my Savior's face I see</i></b><b><i>I'll serve my King in all my ways.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Here I am, send me."</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>~Mary Rabe~</i></b></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-72777425716633122602019-12-27T15:34:00.002-08:002019-12-27T15:34:40.281-08:00Ecuador, Part 4: I Know You<div style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
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It's hard to pick one thing that was the most impacting for me on my trip to Ecuador, but if I had to choose one I think it would be the very last thing that God allowed me to learn in a deeper way there. In fact, it left such an impression on me that it shaped the focus I chose to have for the coming New Year. That final loving lesson from my Heavenly Father was...<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />3</span>. <span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I Know You<br /><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On our last few days in Cuenca, God absolutely overwhelmed me with the simple knowledge that He knows me, deeply and personally, and that was the ongoing message as I prepared to leave this beautiful country and sweet people I had fallen in love with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To explain the depth of this lesson best, I have to do a little more </span><a href="https://raphahmama.blogspot.com/2019/12/ecuador-part-1-boasting-in-my-weakness.html">"boasting in my weaknesses" </a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">first. The sixth day of our trip was probably the hardest day I experienced during the actual mission work itself. On this day we were hosting a medical clinic for the people in a small town called Quingeo, and this little spot was my first experience with "third-world country" life.</span><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> I was overcome by the number of people there were who needed help, the kind of situations they were living in, and the simple fact that I could not do anything at all to help--not even really communicate with them.</b><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> I had started the morning playing games with the kids and doing what I could to keep them busy, but after a few hours I found myself once again without anything to do, and felt the familiar feeling of anxiety stealing over me as a result. I sat on the steps behind the triage tables and tried to settle myself down. I couldn’t even put to words what was happening; all I knew was that </span><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">I was suddenly terrified to go out among the people, unable to understand them or communicate with them, surrounded by hurting people I couldn’t help or even reassure. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing Duck-Duck-Goose with the sweet kids at the clinic</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Meghan saw me sitting there and came over to check in.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Hey. Are you praying? Or being anxious?” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I contemplated my answer for a moment, and then replied, “Both.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Well, stop being anxious. You gotta let the Holy Spirit take over and do His thing!”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “You gotta start praying for that to happen, then, cuz I need it,” I muttered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“YOU go pray. Go walk out there and pray for the people.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The thought of leaving those steps and having to be out among the people again made my anxiety skyrocket. I felt the tears coming, which only made the anxiety worse, so I just shook my head and simply whispered, “I can’t.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Yes you can. I’m not asking you to talk to anyone. Just go out there, walk in the park around the trees, and pray.”<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> In spite of my best efforts, the tears started to fall. I was completely mortified but all I could do was whimper, <b>“I can’t communicate. I don’t want to do this.”<br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was pretty much exactly what I had been afraid would happen: being too anxious, weak, and afraid to do something I was asked to do. I couldn’t believe it actually happened, and I felt so ashamed; I couldn't even look up, but kept my gaze fixed firmly on the ground. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was hoping that my confession of inability would mean that my team leader would just let me sit there and "wallow", but <b>God had work to do in me with that constant anxiety of mine</b>, and He used her to speak what I needed to hear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Look, I get that sitting apart from everyone is an effective coping mechanism, but <b>God has you here for a reason. You can’t just sit there and hole up inside of yourself and still be able to do His work. You need to make a choice.</b> If you really need to just sit and cope for a while, then you can stay there, or even move up to the other stairs over there so no one can see you and you can be left alone for a bit. Or you can go walk out in the park</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> away from everyone and just pray for this city. You don’t have to interact, or talk, or anything. It's up to you. What are you going to do?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />I couldn’t even lift up my face to look at her, I was so embarrassed. I knew even then that she was completely right, though; <b>God had sent me to that place for a purpose, even if it was "just" to pray, and I was not fulfilling that calling by sitting on those stairs. </b>Finally I tearfully mumbled, “Ok. I’ll go pray.” <br /><br />“Ok then. Do you need a lollipop? I'd give you chocolate but all I've got for a sugar fix is the dum-dums for the kids.” <br /><br />I laughed a bit through my tears and nodded yes, so she pulled me up to stand, gave me a big hug and a lollipop, and then sent me out to go pray. I weaved my way through the crowds of people, still staring at the ground so nobody could see I'd been crying, and made it into the relative peace and quiet of the park. <br />Honestly, I spent the first half hour of my time in that park just crying and praying through my shame at falling apart like I had, trying to work through my thoughts and worries. Anxiety is frustrating, exhausting, and embarrassing to deal with in a normal situation, but this one really did me in, and I was very discouraged. After a while, I took out my phone to read my mission trip devotional and some Bible verses, and that gave me enough peace to be able to pray for the people I saw and the city overall. Still, I ended the day feeling rather defeated at how fear and anxiety had attacked me and seemingly won, and how at that moment it felt like that first lie Satan ever told me about this trip was somehow confirmed: <i><b>“See? You ARE a liability. Look at what you did. There’s no way anyone wants you here now. You are weak and afraid and weren’t any use today.”</b></i><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oeVfvh1ZXtwO7fBriM02F6WUAbGOB51gpVdmthCTOENYjSQoEEkPMCG8zwN1Q_E0GEAWQLTrTPrttxbA_F0pwMHh6LFJky9h98kyXkJ1AzZOnBN6_2f4Oa-DkcqeSpB7Qgip0uYlhl7l/s1600/IMG_E0842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oeVfvh1ZXtwO7fBriM02F6WUAbGOB51gpVdmthCTOENYjSQoEEkPMCG8zwN1Q_E0GEAWQLTrTPrttxbA_F0pwMHh6LFJky9h98kyXkJ1AzZOnBN6_2f4Oa-DkcqeSpB7Qgip0uYlhl7l/s640/IMG_E0842.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some purple flowers I saw while walking through the park. They were a sweet little comfort from God in a hard moment.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next morning I was once again woken up by a message from my friend.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i>“I just want you to know that I’m thankful for your presence here even though yesterday was a lot more anxiety-filled. The Lord is doing big things in and through you. He’s growing you and showing you. He gave you a great big heart that aches to be able to serve Him and His people. So we go away from here and we try to get more prepared and equipped to help and we come back. We are faithful to Him and he does big stuff.”</i> </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">God knew my broken heart and the specific fears I had, down to the worry that others would regret my coming on the trip because of my anxiety. I was so thankful for that reassurance and comfort from God, and how He addressed the lies Satan whispered to my heart and reminded me of who I really am.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWMN8gsnop7Sf_qH1fTdMOa6TDOwhjraAoFW6ZoYHc1dH6bnXixykHvgco2POlDaIRv0EObHfsS-zqJQR9jjKk0IlzbL2idKu6XhqBXponbrKqNGKYd0Z4Nbd6HW9gsUji4FFHXnZlW4k/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWMN8gsnop7Sf_qH1fTdMOa6TDOwhjraAoFW6ZoYHc1dH6bnXixykHvgco2POlDaIRv0EObHfsS-zqJQR9jjKk0IlzbL2idKu6XhqBXponbrKqNGKYd0Z4Nbd6HW9gsUji4FFHXnZlW4k/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a small part of the team that put on the medical clinic</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As if that wasn't wonderful enough, God continued that sweet ministry to me at the church service we attended that morning. It was our last day of ministry, and we were going to a local church where Meghan would be sharing the message. We all filed in together just as they were praying over the service, and then we found seats as the worship began. The very first song they sang was one that I was familiar with in English, and my team and I sang along with it in our native language as the rest of the church sang in Spanish. It was so amazing to hear the beauty of two different languages singing the same praise to God. As they began to sing the next song, I noticed that my friend Anne, who was next to me and spoke fluent Spanish, had tears in her eyes and was watching me. She leaned over and asked me, "Do you know what the words are?" I shook my head no, and she whispered that the words to the song meant, <b>“My God is my rock and strong tower when I am afraid.” </b> Anne had been my roomate for the entire trip and knew all about my anxiety and how much I had struggled, especially the day before at the medical clinic. She and I were were both deeply impacted that God allowed that particular song to be a part of the service at a time when I most needed that reassuring reminder. I was blown away that He used a song spoken in Spanish, in an Ecuadorian church, to reassure me in my ongoing struggle with fear. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGX-qOa7NBVqFxpsyzWPosDcIYnb0d4GpPh3WKKde9LZbGIICU3666l7p5HqaLbyVZh_69As92x8syLPU9gHSX_HtdlzwH3kwWGlkhpI10bwjyOJengznDaQacbPmfJvMFkHK3FJsydmL/s1600/IMG_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGX-qOa7NBVqFxpsyzWPosDcIYnb0d4GpPh3WKKde9LZbGIICU3666l7p5HqaLbyVZh_69As92x8syLPU9gHSX_HtdlzwH3kwWGlkhpI10bwjyOJengznDaQacbPmfJvMFkHK3FJsydmL/s400/IMG_0941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our team having tea at the church service</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After Meghan shared her wonderful message with the church, we all met up in small groups to get to know each other more. We went around the circle sharing our names and telling about our families, and when I told everyone that I had three kids and homeschooled them all, the pastor of the church smiled at me and remarked that I am very brave. I laughed and said, “Thank you. Sometimes I feel more crazy than brave!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But his response showed me again how much God knows me--more than I know myself, even. He said, <b>“No, you are brave to come on this trip, to be so far away from your family. <i>You are brave.” </i></b><br /><br />As he said those words, they felt like more than a simple opinion, or passing remark. It was almost as if he spoke them <i>over</i> me, <b>proclaiming a truth about me that I didn't know...but God did.</b> I was a little bit taken aback, but I smiled at him and told him thank you, then sat and pondered with God for a while.<br /><i>“Brave, God? Me? Didn’t we just yesterday have to deal with how fear is holding me back? Didn't you see how scared I was, and how much I let you down?”</i>Then I remembered something I’ve told my own kids over and over about bravery: <b>“Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. It means that even though you are afraid, you still move ahead. You have to have fear in order to have bravery.”</b><br />Something shifted in me that day. I have always felt somehow held back by my fear, ashamed of how my anxiety shows up and showcases my weaknesses to everyone; and honestly sometimes I have used it as an excuse to not even try scary things. But I realized then and there that in reality, <b>God has made me brave.</b> To live with constant fear and anxiety and continue to move ahead and do things anyway, requires being brave. <b>This isn’t anything I’ve done myself</b>; like I said, if I had been left to myself at that medical clinic and God hadn’t used my friend to push me out of my "fear bubble", I would have stayed huddled up on the steps completely cocooned into myself and letting fear win entirely. <b>God’s Spirit, though, equips me and enables me to move ahead in spite of feeling that fear. And that, my friends, is bravery</b>, and is something I never knew about myself...but God did; and he used the pastor of that Ecuadorian church to share it with me and change my self-perception big time. I still struggle with anxiety, and I might always have to; it's part of living in a fallen world to have emotions and thoughts that don't always work like they were intended to. <b>Anxiety isn't part of my identity now, though; it's just a symptom of having a broken body and living in a sinful world. My identity--who God knows I am and is teaching me more and more to live as-- is someone whom He has made brave. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KBEzBAWY3RhyRXsBolyGFSXf2rbWoqt7JFXcJOwxm7VRQS3i_VfGl4Ug5tjATAx00JR5C5ziHMG5eSUL0uCVaTZhf9QNMRNMWZ42kzltKjr2yAcBQfpeJF8bh-UPGeHAaxUX4WD6npK6/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KBEzBAWY3RhyRXsBolyGFSXf2rbWoqt7JFXcJOwxm7VRQS3i_VfGl4Ug5tjATAx00JR5C5ziHMG5eSUL0uCVaTZhf9QNMRNMWZ42kzltKjr2yAcBQfpeJF8bh-UPGeHAaxUX4WD6npK6/s400/IMG_0940.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting in small groups getting to know each other after the service.<br />
The man in the red jacket is the Ecuadorian pastor who told me I am brave. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On our last day in Cuenca, as I came down for our last breakfast at the hotel, one of my teammates pulled me aside and asked me to sit with him. We chatted a little bit about the trip and how God was working, and then he told me he had a verse for me to take home and remember. <b>“’He knows your frame, that you are only dust.’ [Psalm 103:14] But he works through you. Even with your weaknesses and how you struggle with fear and everything. He knows you, Kiddo. And he uses you.”</b> I felt that that verse was a pretty amazing way to sum up the week, and resolved to do as he said and take it home with me. But God wasn't done yet.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx9PSh4Wb-uLpxgoc_sCtXdeT2F0E0vvTk5SDb6TMfFMzHBaiWHx6jUXMc7Pls9Vtssv7kz3VO3C6bnTaXwOSVvTwlF3vz5XXaWdF5MVw7_CcbsONB3E4JgoSkCSoy2xkG3Jr0JnYmMPL/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx9PSh4Wb-uLpxgoc_sCtXdeT2F0E0vvTk5SDb6TMfFMzHBaiWHx6jUXMc7Pls9Vtssv7kz3VO3C6bnTaXwOSVvTwlF3vz5XXaWdF5MVw7_CcbsONB3E4JgoSkCSoy2xkG3Jr0JnYmMPL/s640/IMG_0962.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying that awesome pumpkin spice latte!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we were getting ready to head out for a fun day of shopping, one of my new friends, Karri, came to the hotel with something I never expected to have in Ecuador but absolutely love: a pumpkin spice latte. They do not have pumpkin in Ecuador, but Karri knew a barista there who made her own pumpkin spice syrup and went to her for her pumpkin spice latte needs. On this day, though, she wasn't in the mood to finish the drink she had hardly touched, and asked if anybody at the hotel would enjoy it. I was ecstatic. It wasn’t a huge gesture to her at all to offer me the rest, but it brought tears to my eyes to be reminded that <b>God knows me so intimately, even little details</b> like how much I love pumpkin spice, and brought me that little gift all the way in Ecuador.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We spent that day shopping in the city and finding sweet mementos and gifts to bring back home with us, and then enjoyed lunch and icecream with our ministry friends before saying goodbye. It was emotional and hard to have to leave these sweet people; even though it had only been a week, we had built some amazing relationships, and I knew I would truly miss them all. As we were getting ready to head to the hotel to get our suitcases and get on the bus, my friend Ed pulled me aside and said he had something to share with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You know that kids’ song ‘Jesus Loves Me This I know’? Well, lately I’ve been thinking of it as, <b>“Jesus knows me, this I love. And I want you to take that back home with you, and remember that God knows you, and He loves you.”</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-df5OIghA82K-svoht_sBJ8nj6yzojEWbiiaN2UmGAju9LEQb_qUPZOMzFwVR8iVN6jQsJyG_Z3y88iPkHLprL1WO9clZRPYbV2jXY5pbATxj2YPeg0a65jhm5xJ6LI4zZJeXLeWMSJ/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-df5OIghA82K-svoht_sBJ8nj6yzojEWbiiaN2UmGAju9LEQb_qUPZOMzFwVR8iVN6jQsJyG_Z3y88iPkHLprL1WO9clZRPYbV2jXY5pbATxj2YPeg0a65jhm5xJ6LI4zZJeXLeWMSJ/s400/IMG_1028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye to our wonderful friends</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I can’t believe I was able to hold it together as well as I did. To be told very specifically the message that God knows me twice that day, by two different people at two different times, hit me so powerfully. <b>God does know me. He knows my frame, that I am dust; He knows that I struggle with anxiety, that I constantly wonder what others are thinking, that I am often held back by my insecurity, and that I will let Him down so much.</b> <b>Yet, in spite of that, He loves me.</b> <b>He uses His deep, personal knowledge of me to bless me and remind me that He cares (even with little gifts like pumpkin spice lattes). There is absolutely no one else who knows me like God does, and He loves me intimately.</b> For someone like me who truly fears that I would be unloved if I was truly known, this message is intensely powerful. If I can live this out, truly believing that God knows me—that I don’t have to prove anything to Him, or try to hide my weakness, or be afraid to fall apart—I can’t imagine what kind of life I could have. And isn't that true for all of us in one way or another? <b>As scary as it is, I think most of us really do want to be known--to be seen and understood and unconditionally loved even in our weakness.</b> We hope to have it from other people, and sometimes they can come through in big ways, but ultimately they will fail in this area, over and over. Instead of looking to others or even ourselves for that desire to be fulfilled, what if we just <b>lean into the beautiful truth that God knows us--so much more intimately and personally than we could ever imagine--and move forward with confidence in that amazing identity? <br />"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty to attain." (Psalm 139: 1-6)</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY8mo-2nuJ420YhH8OJKXj-KJegXjJWIdxTS1xDgmkhAM0DYjJMPyVv9FFfdkT7mW3a9-6dOcu8qTC91830RzXVfPukxT1xi2uAQZLjk12FsbZino4MxiPpSzGlyzsN-dcJ29t_8fOafX/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY8mo-2nuJ420YhH8OJKXj-KJegXjJWIdxTS1xDgmkhAM0DYjJMPyVv9FFfdkT7mW3a9-6dOcu8qTC91830RzXVfPukxT1xi2uAQZLjk12FsbZino4MxiPpSzGlyzsN-dcJ29t_8fOafX/s400/IMG_0688.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing after trying cuy (guinea pig!) earlier in the trip. I love this picture because it captures the joy and happiness I felt getting to experience all that God taught me in Ecuador!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes it's hard to explain the depth of change the lessons I learned in Ecuador had in me, but I think it might just be something that can't really be explained with things like words or even pictures. <b>These things have to be experienced, again and again, by each person in order to be grasped.</b> My prayer for each of you is that God brings you into opportunities where you, too, can learn that He chose you for good works, He loves you and will provide for you, and He knows you so, so deeply. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think the perfect ending to my mission trip story is the lyrics to a song I heard just a few days after returning home. I still cry when I hear it because it so completely captures the sweet message God spoke to my heart on this trip. I hope it will help others grasp His love, acceptance, and grace too.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLYB0F4Uzeo">"I Knew What I Was Getting Into"</a><br />~Misty Edwards~<br /><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I called you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still want you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still chose you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still want you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still said Your name, I said it just the same</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am not shocked by your weakness</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am not shocked even by your sin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am not shocked by your brokenness</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into and I still want you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into and I still like you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cause only I can see the end from the beginning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And only I can see where this is going</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Only I can see the end from the beginning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I see anew the seeds of love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I see in you strength</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When all you see is your failure</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And all you feel is shame</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can see deeper than that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know you better than, better than that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I called you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, I said it just the same</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still want you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still like you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You're only at the beginning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You've only just begun</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I know where you are going</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And all you can see is the moment that you're hurting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And all you can see is the moment that you're aching</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But listen;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I called you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still want you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still like you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, when I called you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just don't give up</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And don't give in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you don't quit, you'll win, you'll win</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everything is in my hands</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's gonna be alright</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everything is in my hands</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's gonna be alright</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's gonna be okay</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everything is in my hands</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's gonna be alright</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's gonna be okay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And you don't have to pretend to be something or someone that you're not</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cause I know you better than that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even better, even better than that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Listen my beloved;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I called you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, I said it just to say</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still like you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew what I was getting into, and I still chose you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful view on top of the New Cathedral in Cuenca, Ecuador</td></tr>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-42707972303130983982019-12-27T15:18:00.001-08:002019-12-27T15:35:19.023-08:00Ecuador, Part 3: I Love You and Will Provide For You<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBskfzE3XHskpoAnagmWP3WqCSZ-_gBzlP1XriVp0RjHs-YPfXbMsv4ikJ3qSiiD8CUZT08conUEyk-Xhjk-r5As6P9vf1z-cSZSyEwRJcwfNgvVnito0hOiTEmMBw3_cD_5l9UtaE6CSA/s1600/Ecuador+Part+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1134" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBskfzE3XHskpoAnagmWP3WqCSZ-_gBzlP1XriVp0RjHs-YPfXbMsv4ikJ3qSiiD8CUZT08conUEyk-Xhjk-r5As6P9vf1z-cSZSyEwRJcwfNgvVnito0hOiTEmMBw3_cD_5l9UtaE6CSA/s640/Ecuador+Part+3.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
Something that God has spent a lot of time teaching me through most of this year is how faithfully He provides for His people. I've always known that He will take care of my needs, and have been blessed by how He's given me things I'd hoped to have. On my mission trip, though, <b>He showed me an all new level of provision that really enlarged my view of His wonderful care.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>2. <span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I Love You and Will Provide for You</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back at the airport on our first day of travel, beyond that struggle with the awful fear that I had made a mistake in coming, I was also just terribly homesick and missing “my people”, my husband and kids and parents and siblings, and the security of belonging and being wanted and regarded. I went into the trip trying hard to just focus on doing the work, being a team player, and staying reliant on God, and didn't realize at the time how much I was holding myself back from also relying on my team. I am very much a "people person"; I love to help and care for others, but I have to be very careful to not let my fear of adding stress or inconvenience to them drown out the needs I have for help and support. It fills my heart in amazing ways when others take time to care for me, and I find that one of the most impacting ways I grow closer to God is by experiencing Him through His people, but I struggle with allowing Him to do that in my life when I get too caught up in my own insecurity. <b>At the beginning of the trip, I was so focused on supporting my team and avoiding any hint of being a "liability" that I didn't even ask God to provide me with His love and care through them. It was amazingly humbling and heart-filling, then, when God did that for me anyway.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii_lUEy09lsVVhkFa0X3eRFkbGVMug6IDFvvo0wKBJMnLK2VdN2wBMg3uFAi2xBz_rN13iRvE3Wuasct2QOTWsxjp4SaNU7ahQSKyi5adaM8NUm7jrYc0dGNMzwLfw9dTq5TBZGmP1nWQ/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii_lUEy09lsVVhkFa0X3eRFkbGVMug6IDFvvo0wKBJMnLK2VdN2wBMg3uFAi2xBz_rN13iRvE3Wuasct2QOTWsxjp4SaNU7ahQSKyi5adaM8NUm7jrYc0dGNMzwLfw9dTq5TBZGmP1nWQ/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful team, left to right: Dave, Ron, David, Meghan, Averie, Me, Julie, and Anne</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From my team members to the other missionaries to the beautiful Ecuadorian people I encountered, I was so blessed with physical representatives of God's love. I got to room with a wonderfully sweet lady from my team who happened to have a daughter my age, and was such a source of wisdom, encouragement, and love. One of the men on my team would consistently check in with me to make sure I was ok and not feeling overwhelmed or anxious. And everyone in Ecuador greets each other by hugging and kissing on the cheek, and that simple physical affection was truly a sweet gift to my sometimes-lonely heart. A time that I had prepared to just survive alone and get through ended up being such a blessed time of fellowship and grace and growing in relationship with other people. I never thought of asking God for that blessing, but <b>because He loves me, I didn't even need to ask; He is simply a good, good Father who is faithful in providing for His children's' needs and delights in giving them blessings. </b></span><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">"Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights..." (James 1:17)</b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shoulder rub "train" after a long day of work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my beautiful Ecuadorian friends, Cici</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my sweet "roomie" Anne</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our team at the (way cool) fireworks museum with some of the amazing Ecuadorian people</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One thing that especially blessed and helped me on the trip was actually a bit of an ongoing joke: from the first day we were in Cuenca and began meeting new people, <b>my friend Meghan was constantly asked if I was her <i>daughter!</i></b> She isn’t even three years older than me, nor does she look that much older, but it was a consistent, daily occurrence. She and I would be standing with her <i>actual</i> daughter Averie, and it would begin:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "Your daughter<i>s</i> are so sweet." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Do your daughter<i>s</i> speak Spanish?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"How sweet that you brought your girl<i>s</i> with you." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We weren't exactly sure why people were so convinced of this (we thought it was a mix between the fact that I look a lot younger than I really am, and the point that Meghan is “aggressively maternal” as she titled herself) but we decided to just roll with it, and throughout the week Meghan was my “missionary mom” and Averie was my "hermanita" (little sister). <b>It was silly, funny…and so very much what I needed. </b>I needed to know that I belonged and was wanted, and to have people that I knew loved me and would take care of me. That homesickness I had for my family was debilitating at the beginning of the trip, as was the anxiety of feeling out of place in a new country; <b>I didn't even know how much I needed a surrogate family there in Ecuador until God provided it for me through my friend's family, and it was one of the biggest blessings God gave me on the trip.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meghan did my hair for me just about every morning during breakfast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture of me and my "hermanita" Averie<br />
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There were a lot of little ways God used my "Ecuador family" to take care of me and bless me--especially the sweetness of getting to have a little sister for the week to laugh, be silly, and talk with. Almost every day after breakfast, Averie and I got to go up to the roof of the hotel to just talk together and prepare for the day, and I loved those sweet moments so much! <b>It was wonderful to have a little friend to spend time with and experience all of the "newness" together.</b><br />
God also used these friends of mine to provide care and security when I needed it, and one event in particular stands out above the others. Before I even left on the trip, I had one specific fear that probably sounds silly, but was something that I could not let go of. I knew that we would be taking a lot of bus rides into different parts of the country, and also that the bus drivers there tend to be a little...<i>aggressive. </i>The bus rides in Ecuador are infamous for being "exciting", and I tend to get horribly carsick on just a normal drive. <br />
"No problem," you might say, "Just take Dramamine and ride it out!" <br />
Ah my friends, therein lies the problem. <br />
You see, when I take Dramamine, I don't just get a little drowsy. That stuff is like general anesthesia for me: one second I'm awake, and the next I am out cold. <b>My big fear was that I would take the meds I needed in order to avoid panic on those bus rides, and then would slump over, unconscious in the back of the bus...and somehow get left behind by my team.</b> I realize how unfounded that fear is now, of course, but before the trip it was a very real anxiety! I shared it with Meghan, to which she replied that she would sooner load me into a baby carrier and haul me around unconscious before leaving me on a bus; but still I decided to attempt using the non-drowsy version of the meds just to be safe. For most of the trip this worked fine and I was able to get along ok, but one evening Meghan pulled me aside and said, "You know...the drive tomorrow is pretty intense. It's got super twisty roads, and goes up a mountain with not many guard rails and such...<b>this really might need to be the drive that you knock yourself out for." </b></div>
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I had already had a mini panic attack with the bus ride from that day, so I had to agree with her. "Yeah...you're probably right."</div>
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So the next day we got on the bus and sat together, and I took that dreaded knock-me-unconscious pill. For a while I felt totally normal and was able to enjoy the scenery and chat with the rest of the team. Soon, though, a sudden wave of fatigue hit me, and felt myself nodding off. For a split second, panic set in. I bolted upright in my seat, looking around a bit wildly, feeling disoriented. Meghan caught my eye and asked, "Hey. Do you need to sleep?"<br />
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I think I shook my head no, and then yes. </div>
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"What do you need? Do you have a blanket? Pillow?"</div>
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I don't remember what I said, but I mumbled something in response before I finally just rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes, trying to settle my anxiety. It was then that I felt God speak gently to my heart. <b>"I've got you. You're safe. Just rest."</b><br />
And with that, all of the anxiety was gone. <b>I actually can't remember a time that I've felt more secure and at peace, which is amazing to me considering it was in the exact setting that I expected to hold so much fear for me. </b><br />
I slept for the entire drive to our destination, and then the medicine wore off enough that Meghan could wake me up (no need for that aforementioned baby carrier, thank goodness) and I went about the day a bit drowsy but otherwise just fine.</div>
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Even now, whenever I think back on that drive and God's amazing care for me in that situation, my heart is so full. <b>He took a moment of scary vulnerability and turned it into one of my sweetest memories of His love and care.</b> Even with my silliest fears and anxieties, He has compassion and grace on me and provides what I need to get through. </div>
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<b>2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us, "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." </b>That is exactly what God did for me on my mission trip: He blessed me abundantly (with things I didn't even think of asking for), and He gave me all that I needed in order to do the good work He had for me there. This is a promise He gives to each of His people, whether we are on a mission trip in another country, or serving Him faithfully right here at home. <b>God gives us everything we need, blessing us abundantly, in order that we may do His good work.</b> As you go about the work He has for you, I hope you can remember this promise of provision, and trust Him to carry it out for you just like He did (and continues to do) for me. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "Ecuador family", one of the biggest blessings I had on the trip</td></tr>
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<a href="https://raphahmama.blogspot.com/2019/12/ecuador-part-4-i-know-you.html">Click here to read part 4</a></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-7544781901495249152019-12-27T15:09:00.000-08:002019-12-27T15:18:57.936-08:00Ecuador, Part 2: I Chose You<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairs at Mirador Tres Cruces, one of the first places we stopped on our trip. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A major theme I think I learned on my mission trip was a deeper, more intense knowledge of things I have actually known most of my life. I think that anyone who has been a believer for very long at all knows a great number of things "in theory" that we may not ever really "get" until God takes us out of our ordinary life and into something that opens our eyes more to Him and His ways. That was certainly the case for me. There are 3 things I've known about God that He rooted even deeper into my heart on this trip, and in this post I want to share the first one.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>1. I Chose You for Good Works and to Leave a Mark for Me</b></u></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just taking in the beauty on one of our team bus rides. Wow God is an amazing Creator!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You guys remember that I went into this adventure really struggling with the thought that I was going to somehow hinder our team. I knew that God wanted me there, and I was stepping out in obedience and hope that He had something He wanted me to do there, but I was still very shaky and insecure just the same. I wasn’t nearly as anxious or uncertain thanks to that <a href="https://raphahmama.blogspot.com/2019/12/ecuador-part-1-boasting-in-my-weakness.html">amazing message God sent through my friend on our first morning in Ecuador</a>, but I still felt a bit out of place and uncertain. Even on that first day, though, <b>God reassured me with the promise that He had me there for a reason.</b> <br />We had headed over to
the café a few of the Ecuadorian missionaries ran in order to meet the people
we would be helping in serving, and as we were all waiting for dinner and getting to know each other, one of the missionaries I
hadn't even met yet came over to me, holding his phone in his hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Hey. I’m
Ed. I know we haven’t really even met yet, and this is gonna sound so weird,
but…<b>I know your doppelganger.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but I was definitely
curious. I laughed and said, “Oh yeah? This is intriguing. Can I see?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He
turned his phone over and showed me a photo of a young lady, about ten years
younger than me, who was indeed eerily similar to me. “I mean, you have the
same face, same eyes, and you totally act like her.” He laughed. “Her name is
Morgan, and she used to come to my youth group. You guys have a lot of the same mannerisms and just...yeah. It kinda freaks me out!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Oh wow! That is awesome!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As
the evening wore on, Ed jokingly asked me if I would be willing to do a little
project. “I think it would be so awesome and funny to do a video for Morgan,
acting like you are her from the future.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m always up for a little fun, so I eagerly agreed; and even in that moment, <b>I felt a gentle prompting to take advantage of this opportunity. "Could I also maybe tell her some encouraging stuff, too? After we do the silly part?"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Of course!"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Meghan, and Ed (showing off his silly side)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few days later we set the plan into motion. After a few minutes of discussing how we should make this work, we finally decided to make it a "survival" video, where I would be in some kind of peril and would have to tell Morgan all the things she would need to know in order to get through it. We were at an old schoolhouse that our team was helping to fix up and paint, so the backdrop was perfect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Now, when I am tasked with something, I'm pretty much all-in.</b> This was supposed to be a survival video, and I was determined to look the part. I smeared dirt on my shirt, let another leader smash a wad of mud into my face, and tried to ignore the fact that the local Ecuadorians were watching me in stunned curiosity (and one had even pulled out a phone to tape the crazy missionary girl smearing mud all over herself). We went into one of the rooms that had already been cleaned, and successfully pulled off our silly "warning" video, somehow managing not to lose composure and laugh ourselves silly. Then after taking a moment to "pull it together a bit", I asked him to turn on the camera again, and then <b>I got to share with this dear girl I had never met that God loves her and has amazing
plans for her life, and that He has her exactly where
He wants her for a reason.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "Obviously I'm not really you from the future," I laughed, "but even still, I do know you have a good future ahead. God has plans for you, and special things for you to do."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later on, Ed pulled me aside to thank me, and explained that Morgan was in a rough season at the time, and could definitely benefit from that kind of encouragement. <b>This was one of the most impacting things on the trip for me, because this little project was something no one else could have done. One of the reasons God chose me to go to Ecuador was to reach a young lady who looks, acts, and speaks just like ME. I mean, it doesn’t get much more personal than that.</b> I am still so blown away by how God did that for me, and how He said loud and clear that not only was I not a liability or a hindrance; I was chosen specifically for this time and this place by Him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />On that same day, God gave me one more very sweet picture of how He was using me in Ecuador. After making the video, I went into the other schoolroom where my friend Meghan had been spending time painting
the walls so I could tell her about what I'd been up to. As I entered, I saw that she had gotten to create a sweet little mural for the kids of the school, and I
joyfully exclaimed, “Oh wow, Meghan! That is so special! You get to leave
something behind here in Ecuador that will bring so much joy to these kids
every time they see it. <b>How cool that you got to leave a mark here!”</b><br />She turned
to me, a little surprised. “Oh wow,” she said, “I hadn’t thought of it like
that. Way to put a cool spin on it!”<br />She went back to work for a few minutes while I told her about the video, and then
she asked me to go get one of the ministry leaders. "I have an idea," she said, "and I want you to be part of it." When I returned
she asked the leader, “How do you feel about me putting handprints on this wall?” <br />“Sure,” the leader replied, “You have free reign. Go nuts.” <br />Then Meghan told me, “Put some
paint on your hands and follow me.” <br /><br />Both of us smeared the thick paint on our hands, and then she led me to a blank wall and pressed one of her
hands on it, indicating I should do the same. So I stuck my hands on the wall,
and smiled at the colorful prints left behind. We repeated this a few more times and then Meghan grabbed
another color of paint as she grinned at me and said, <b>“There. Now you’ve left something behind, too.” </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In that moment I was struck with God’s small voice whispering, <b>“You’ve left a mark for me here. Not only on that wall, but all over this place. I am using you to make an impact.” </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the next thirty minutes my friend and I left multi-colored handprints all over that wall, and she wrote the message, “You Are Loved” above them. In that half hour, between painting our hands, and then having to pour gasoline and powdered soap over them, laughing as we tried to scrub that sticky, oily paint off, I realized that <b>this was one of the most meaningful moments of the whole trip. God allowed me to leave a physical mark in Ecuador, in pretty-much permanent paint, to show His love and care to the people there, and He let me see a very visual image of the truth that He was using me to impact others.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meghan and I with the finished "handprint wall"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." </b>Just like God had specific missions for me to do in Ecuador, God has specific works for each of His people to accomplish exactly where they're at--for each of you. There has been a few times now that I've heard the quote, "If you have a pulse, you have a purpose." and whether that means going on a mission trip, raising up godly kids, blessing your neighbors or friends, ministering to people at work, or a whole myriad of other possibilities, I hope that inspires you like it does me. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously overjoyed at getting to leave an impact for God</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later I'll share the second thing God taught me in a deeper way through my mission trip, but for now, I hope you all can really soak in the truth that <b>God has very personal plans and purposes for you, and realize that this is really a perfect time</b> <b>to ask Him what those are in this season of your life.</b> I can't wait to hear about what amazing things He does in and through each of you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://raphahmama.blogspot.com/2019/12/ecuador-part-3-i-love-you-and-will.html">Click here to read part 3</a></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219747957917411775.post-77104444804220756982019-12-27T15:06:00.000-08:002019-12-27T15:10:36.277-08:00Ecuador, Part 1: Boasting in My Weakness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top of the new cathedral in Cuenca, Ecuador</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">November 2-12, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve only had a few experiences in my life that I would consider to be life-changing, and each experience has proven so rich and full and impacting
that it’s hard to put words to. My first mission trip was one of these times,
without a doubt. Still, I am a “words” person, so I want to see if I can try to
share at least a glimpse of the amazing, wonderful things God did in and
through me in Ecuador. I could probably share dozens of times and not be able
to cover all that He did in that 10-day span, but I’m hoping I can give at least a glimpse so that others can be encouraged and
inspired at what our awesome God can do.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2AtbxtLfymRe7M5hP2qoQr2MjOB_eMvwUb-WQJlwIeQLN2bTveeipgpkZF_JOXKm7impMaHqIr2EwrCAbHjtNpKmhsp7-macdsfhGMp3DYpQ9pxAkJrjfa-dej6fYNkyMEL_3luAdpqL/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2AtbxtLfymRe7M5hP2qoQr2MjOB_eMvwUb-WQJlwIeQLN2bTveeipgpkZF_JOXKm7impMaHqIr2EwrCAbHjtNpKmhsp7-macdsfhGMp3DYpQ9pxAkJrjfa-dej6fYNkyMEL_3luAdpqL/s400/IMG_0163.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful scenery at Mirador Tres Cruces in Ecuador</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember as a child telling my parents I wanted to be a
missionary when I grew up, and I have had on my heart to do a mission trip of
some sort for a while now, so when the opportunity to go to Ecuador with my
church came, I jumped on it. My very good friend was leading it, it was to the
country that another friend would soon be moving to in full-time ministry, and
I wanted to take this next step in my walk with God. From the very beginning of
this process, though, all the way back to last year when we had our very first
informational meeting for the trip, <b>I struggled with knowing for sure if I
really should go. Even the night before that first meeting, Satan whispered one
awful, debilitating message to my heart, “If you try to do this, you will be a
liability to the team and to the work God wants to do.”</b> He continued that
message for the entire year, always adding another strand to it: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“You will hold the others back, and ruin what
God wants to do." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"You are too weak, too afraid, and too much to handle." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"You will
only add stress and challenge to the leaders and the others, and won’t be of
any actual use.” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though I tried to dismiss those words and move ahead, they
still left an impact. I struggled intensely with the fear that my going on this
trip would lead to the team being somehow hindered in their work, so while I went to
the meetings, helped with the fundraising, worked on my Spanish, and did all I
could to prepare for this trip, all the time my heart was quaking with the fear
that I should not go. <b>Deep within, though, I felt God leading me forward,
urging me to step out in faith, reminding me in so many little ways that He
wanted me there.</b> It was only by His grace and mercy that I was able to get through
all of the preparations and ended up sitting with my team on a plane, headed
out for my first time out of the country without family, and the longest I had
ever been away from my kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought that by getting on that first plane and
taking that huge leap into doing what God said, I would have defeated that
awful “liability” message once and for all, would be able to overcome my
tendencies toward fear and anxiety, and would be able to get through without
any trouble. <b>Basically, I thought it would be easy.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkFewUkMiHEYGtdgndxGbFxE90U6iqgSwQgZSr6otPeomrjts83qhqCJMkRAb7VP9jJyoQr9oeJTmBUrknmthyLMEb_k1R7dgTI2umnZYcKoEMjW27kWATHyOWEXcX2cPgRBaUfQd6GMG/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkFewUkMiHEYGtdgndxGbFxE90U6iqgSwQgZSr6otPeomrjts83qhqCJMkRAb7VP9jJyoQr9oeJTmBUrknmthyLMEb_k1R7dgTI2umnZYcKoEMjW27kWATHyOWEXcX2cPgRBaUfQd6GMG/s640/IMG_0111.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting at an airport on one of our three layovers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we landed at the next
airport though, and the rest of the team was in line for lunch, I sat at a table
and was suddenly overcome with awful homesickness and anxiety. As tears started
to burn my eyes, I heard that terrible message again: <i>“See? What did I tell
you. It’s happening, even now. You aren’t even out of the country yet and
you’re already making a fool of yourself, distracting the team, adding stress.
I told you. You are a liability and a hindrance.”</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I fell apart worse than I can
ever remember doing in a public place. I could not stop crying, as much as I
tried to smash the tears away and settle my heart. I was so angry with myself,
and felt that Satan’s message had been true all along. <i>“This was such a
horrible mistake.”</i> I couldn’t even explain to my team what was happening, I was
so upset, embarrassed, and mixed up inside. Still, they did all they could to
help: sharing their lunch, praying with and for me, offering hugs and words of
reassurance. Somehow we muddled our way through and after 14 hours of travel,
we made it to Ecuador and our hotel for the night. Even then I was so, so
unsettled, and had no idea of how I was going to make it through the next week. As I fell asleep that night, I cried out to
God and begged Him, <b><i>“Please, Lord. Please show me you want me here. I can’t do
this unless you tell me, very specifically, that I belong here; that this wasn’t
a mistake.”</i> </b>That was honestly one of the most desperate, terrified prayers I
have ever said, and one of the most intense moments I have ever had of
recognizing my inabilities and “humanness”.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXfD-e0kYRV9_uOKbI0JG9thWDyscQ-iRIZvNChAoHJP43d9S_roFKFNI5ZyUG45L1gw623XpYs3_DvrZ7GFwYJSLYHM1UZK3W1fTWTQ4MQqML6DAAg25G2kSqb7mkfwhuHU30IoGIMJY/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXfD-e0kYRV9_uOKbI0JG9thWDyscQ-iRIZvNChAoHJP43d9S_roFKFNI5ZyUG45L1gw623XpYs3_DvrZ7GFwYJSLYHM1UZK3W1fTWTQ4MQqML6DAAg25G2kSqb7mkfwhuHU30IoGIMJY/s640/IMG_0186.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the most accurate photo of how I was feeling during the day of travel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Somehow I was able to get some
sleep, and when I woke up the next morning, I was greeted by a message from my
dear friend and team leader. She had been writing it at the exact time I was
crying out to God the night before, and when I saw the words she sent, I was
deeply impacted: <b><i>“You were called to this place for a purpose. It was not a
mistake. Your Heavenly Father knows all the things you’re worried about and He
has got you.”</i></b> Needless to say, I cried; but this time, it was out of sheer
gratitude and awe in how God had answered that desperate prayer. I hadn’t been
able to explain to anyone what I was feeling, and yet God used my friend to
share with me exactly what I begged Him to tell me. <b>From that moment, I felt immense
peace, grace, and boldness to do the work God had for me.</b> There were still a
handful of moments when I struggled, of course, but I never again had any doubt
that God wanted me there, and I was able to carry out the resolution I had made
to say “yes” to whatever He asked me to do on the trip. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgHNLwpYSYpPYp59JP5Z2FSdvBC9SDRbkayYYstng0ioN-ejiiAadMMiAAVTqERWwV9Mae7mgN5SqocWqm055RYmwAuzAf3XaiYlCy79R3gfO_DtizVmmeUG5Ra7AxYIb67v6OKsQ7GrN/s1600/IMG_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgHNLwpYSYpPYp59JP5Z2FSdvBC9SDRbkayYYstng0ioN-ejiiAadMMiAAVTqERWwV9Mae7mgN5SqocWqm055RYmwAuzAf3XaiYlCy79R3gfO_DtizVmmeUG5Ra7AxYIb67v6OKsQ7GrN/s400/IMG_0811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my wonderful friend (and the team leader) Meghan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going through that
first day and night of pain was hard, but looking back I know it had a purpose.
I believe that God allowed me to face that utter desperation and inability at
the airport in order to show me and others that anything that was accomplished later
on was all by His power. My team and I came face to face with who I am at my
worst: <b>on my own I am fearful, weak, and insecure. But when God takes over, I
am bold and passionate and brave; and what a gift that God allowed us all to
see both of those extremes on this trip so that there was no doubt Who was at
work! </b>Any good thing that I did was all because of how God equipped and
empowered me, and I found that to be true for each member of our team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>2
Corinthians 12:9 expresses this truth so well: “My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”</i></b> I know weakness isn’t something our culture
teaches us to admit to, but in God’s kingdom it’s different. In God’s kingdom
our weakness is just a better showcase for His power, and it’s pretty
incredible to get to experience that firsthand. Because of that, I can honestly
say <b><i>“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ’s power may rest on me.”</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what do I want you guys to take from this? Simply this: <b>don’t think that any
kind of inability or weakness can stop God from working through you.</b> I promise
you, no matter how unable, afraid, weak, untalented, or unmotivated you are,
God can do incredible things through you. God isn’t surprised by your brokenness,
sinfulness, or fragileness. He made us, and He chooses to call us and use us in
spite of all of our downfalls. I can’t wait to share some of the incredible
ways He did that in my life on this mission trip.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuw4ylrbrMM3eaJk4MbQNRTjXRAaRDPw708QxODnSOOI8as8nniW09WnKNgSAXm_3iF15gxL0oaxfuyXs5k_cXJUYmDHwbhokIpanCjmlaMWKsMxpfHt4jE_4GclZ96MouZ6NgZn-XkmG/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuw4ylrbrMM3eaJk4MbQNRTjXRAaRDPw708QxODnSOOI8as8nniW09WnKNgSAXm_3iF15gxL0oaxfuyXs5k_cXJUYmDHwbhokIpanCjmlaMWKsMxpfHt4jE_4GclZ96MouZ6NgZn-XkmG/s400/IMG_0138.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An outdoor market in Guayakil, Ecuador</td></tr>
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<b><u><i><a href="https://raphahmama.blogspot.com/2019/12/ecuador-part-2-i-chose-you.html">Click here to read part 2</a></i></u></b></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069133855421665280noreply@blogger.com0