Gospel-Centered Mothering

I recently joined a book club organized by some local homeschooling moms.  We had our first meeting this past Saturday, and the fellowship was most enjoyable!  Several weeks ago, when one of the club hostesses told me the title of the book that would be discussed, my attention was immediately piqued!  Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full.  Yes, yes, yes!  That's me!  My hands are definitely full, yet I long to treasure Christ more.

As soon as I began reading this book, I was blown away by how much Scripture was quoted on just about each page.  It was such a refreshing read because every thought, every concept was beautifully interwoven with verse after verse from God's Word.  Familiar verses I've read dozens of time came alive in new ways because of being paired with other verses or thoughts from the author as she related them to grace, and specifically, grace in mothering.

I read this book quickly in order to be finished in time for the club meeting.  However, I would like to go back and read it more slowly the second time to truly savor the truths found in its chapters.  For now, my major take-aways include: 

~ The importance of confessing my sin to my children when I lose my patience with them and speak unkindly.  This is something I should have started doing a long time ago, but for some reason, I tended to justify my wrong reactions to my children's misbehavior because of what they were doing that "provoked" my impatience.  Real mature, huh?  The author shared something similar from her life, and it convicted me.  I have recently tried to be more sensitive to my tone of voice and moments when I don't have the right response and ask forgiveness of my little ones.  It's been amazing to see Isaac's little eyes light up when Mommy asks forgiveness, just as I've taught him to do, and how willingly and graciously he is ready to give it.

~ How integral the Gospel is to mothering.  It's not just about salvation and a starting place for everything else in my walk with God but about so much more, including mothering.  I wish I could elaborate on this point more clearly, but I've tried three times and not found the words.  Perhaps some of the below quotes will lend further insight into what I'm trying to say here.

~ How beautiful grace is, and how very much of it God has available for my every day, every need, every moment!  I came to a renewed, refreshed understanding of the phrase I've heard so often, "My grace is sufficient for thee."  As I understand better and lean more fully on the grace of God, that grace can then pour forth to my children. 

~ My need to lean on the Lord completely, trusting in Him for the kindness, the patience, the delight I want to have for my children.  He is my unlimited resource for all things that pertain to life and Godliness and victorious mothering!

And now for some quotes I highlighted from my first read-through of Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full:

The Gospel stands above and beyond all the most practical, family-friendly, or cost effective philosophies of mothering.  

When Jesus rescued me from hell, he also rescued me to himself.  

“Truly alone” time with the Lord is a gift.  But so are the times when you’re ring-mastering your family circus.  The Lord is just as near to you when you’re using a bulb sucker on a tiny, congested nose and as you’re summoning the wisdom of Solomon to settle a spat over a disputed toy.

It is this love - the love of Christ - that compels Christian mothers to love their children.  The love of Christ in her heart is what overflows when a mother speaks kindly to her children even when they don’t speak kindly back.

A mother’s Spirit-empowered sacrificial love is what enables her to willingly complicate her life for the sake of her children.

Consider how the Lord Jesus Christ willingly and cheerfully complicated His life so that He could share His life with us.  Although He was in the form of God, He “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).  As if becoming God incarnate wasn’t humbling enough for the Creator, this innocent author of life further humbled himself by allowing himself to be crucified like a criminal.

There are times when we are not motivated by the love of Christ, and we fume at our children not because they break God’s law but because they break ours.  

 I am so thankful for how the Gospel frees me from seeking glory in my parenting or in my kids.  My children, although they probably can’t articulate it yet, are relieved that when I treasure Jesus, they are freed from the burden of being the center of my world.  No child should have to shoulder the weight of her mother’s glory and reputation.

Every mother can be freed from seeking her own glory as she loves her children for the sake of Jesus’ name being made famous among the nations.

Spiritual counsel that has “empty calories” or is devoid of rich, biblical doctrine cannot and will not satisfy a soul that was made to be satisfied only with an infinite God.

Motherhood is physically exhausting, emotionally draining work.  Where can a mother find the strength she needs to serve her family?  From God, who is “able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).  Even when our back gives out and our body is tired, God can strengthen mothers “with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Col. 1:11).  Thanksgiving is the proper response to God as He extends to us all the inheritance of grace we have in Christ (Col. 1:12).

I remembered that motherhood is not a blessing given to me because I deserve it.  It isn’t a reward for my good deeds or (as some might suggest) a sentencing for my bad deeds.  God made me a mother because He jealously and rightly desires praise for His own name, and this is how He saw fit to do it.

God’s grace is sufficient for everything He has called us to.  “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).  God makes all grace abound to us through His Son, Jesus.  And it’s through the strength of His indwelling Holy Spirit that we are able to abound in (not just drag through) every good work He lays in front of us.  And as we work, we work with an eye toward eternity, knowing that our work is not in vain in the Lord.  “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

What is Motherhood?

Motherhood is a piece of evidence of God’s triumphant agenda to give life despite the curse of death.  It is a gift that points us to Jesus.  As life marches on to the praise of God’s glory, we see a riveting display of the grace of our Father, who will fulfill His promise to give His Son an inheritance of nations to the praise of His glory. There’s no greater goal than that.

At the end of every day - chaotic and mundane alike  - motherhood is about the adoration and enjoyment of our great God. 

Thought for the Day

In follow-up to my last post, I came across this quote in one of the books I am currently reading entitled, Loving the Little Years, by Rachel Jankovic.  I thought it was rather pertinent. :)

"So while your children are little, cultivate an attitude of sacrifice.  Sacrifice your peace for their fun.  Your clean kitchen floor for their help cracking eggs.  Your quiet moment for their long retelling of a dream that a friend of theirs allegedly had.  Prioritize your children far and away above the other work you need to get done.  They are the only part of your work that really matters."

So.very.true.

Words To Live By

Savor the moment.

Live one day at a time.

Every season has its beauty.

Thought for the Day

A quote from my husband's latest sermon:

God's Word reveals God's mind, so we should learn it.
God's Word reveals God's heart, so we should love it.
God's Word reveals God's will, so we should live it.

A Refreshing Political Perspective from John MacArthur

Nathan and I recently started reading a book together called Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong, written by John MacArthur and the leadership team at Grace Community Church.  It is a book that tackles current controversial issues in the church and society, and as such, has sparked some interesting conversations between us!  I always love hearing my husband's feedback on each chapter. :)

Just a few days ago, we read a chapter entitled God, Government, and the Gospel.  In light of the present political climate, I thought I would post a few excerpts from this chapter that struck me as worth sharing (the underlined portions being ones I especially wanted to emphasize).  So many Christians I know have expressed great worry over the state of our nation and the yet unknown results of the upcoming election.  It is my hope that these paragraphs will provide a much-needed reminder that the end has already been established by One who knows and that we can rest in His plan with utmost confidence.  Let us keep our focus on that which matters for eternity!

~~~~~~~~

"As I write this chapter, our nation is on the brink of another presidential election.  Not surprisingly, the U.S. political scene has reached a fevered pitch.  From conventions to campaign ads, American televisions, radios, and newspapers echo the emotional upsurge we've come to expect every four years...

[Sound familiar?]

As is often the case, much of the evangelical church has eagerly jumped on the political bandwagon.  Pulpits resound with accolades for one or the other candidate and with approval or disdain for certain bills and plans...Some even suggest that to be a Christian means you must be a Republican and not a Democrat, and that not to vote is a serious sin.  After all, they say, good citizenship implies political involvement.

Such political preoccupations are somewhat ironic considering the dominant premillennial eschatology of conservative evangelicalism.  Our end-times theology tells us that until Christ returns, nothing can or will fix this crumbling world system. Yet our political practice suggest we are desperately trying to fix it nonetheless...

Only the Gospel, through the power of the Spirit, can effect real change in society - since it transforms sinners sinners from the inside out.  After all, there are no Christian countries, only Christian individuals.  Hence, our commission is to proclaim that Gospel faithfully in whatever context God puts us in...

...we can trust God regarding both national and foreign affairs.  No matter who is in the White House, the Congress, or the courtroom, God is on His throne.  He is the one of whom Paul exclaimed, "He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.  To Him be honor and eternal dominion!  Amen." (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

A quick survey of Scripture reveals that God is sovereign over all the affairs of this world.  He is sovereign over Satan and sin (Job 1:12; 2:6; Luke 5:21; 22:31), over all governments and military powers (2 Chr. 20:6; Romans 13:2); over nature and natural disasters (Psalm 107:29; Nahum 1:3-6); over sickness and disease (John 9:3; 11:4; Revelation 21:4); and over every human being (Acts 13:48; Romands 9:17-18), including you and me (Prov. 16:9; 19:21; James 4:13-15).  Put simply, God is in control.  He does "whatever He pleases" (Psalm 115:3), and "works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11).

God's sovereignty does not excuse human sinfulness or irresponsibility.  But it should give Christians great reason to hope when they see the society growing more and more wicked.  It should relieve them of anxiety and worry (cf. Matt. 6:25; Philippians 4:6), as well as the misguided notion that it is their responsibility to effect political change.  The Lord is directing our nation within His providential purposes for His glorious ends.  And He is doing the same with every other earthly government.

God has already revealed how this world will end.  In its discussion of the last days, the Bible is clear that society will continue to get worse until the return of Christ (2 Thess. 2:7-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:3).  Yet many evangelicals approach politics as if the degradation of society if something they can stop with legislation.  The truth is that no society will ever be truly made right until Christ comes and sets up His kingdom.  Until then, believers should be surprised to see morally-conservative efforts fail, or to realize that such failures are part of God's sovereign plan.

...National and international affairs can be entrusted to God.  This is not to say that American Christians should not vote, but that in voting they should realize that God has already determined the outcome of every election.  Whatever that outcome may be, believers can be absolutely confident that it accords perfectly with God's sovereign purposes for the future of both our nation and our world.

- John MacArthur

Hardships and Blessings

"To him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon...because he hath wholly followed the Lord." (Deut. 1:36)

Every hard duty that lies in your path, that you would rather not do, that will cost you pain and struggle or sore effort to do, has a blessing in it. Not to do it, at whatever cost, is to miss the blessing.

Every hard piece of road on which you see the Master's shoe-prints and along which He bids you follow Him, surely leads to blessing, which you cannot get if you cannot go over the steep, thorny path.

Every point of battle to which you come, where you must draw your sword and fight the enemy, has a possibly victory which will prove a rich blessing to your life. Every heavy load that you are called to lift hides in itself some strange secret of strength. - J.R. Miller

- Today's reading from Streams in the Desert.

This passage really spoke to me today because I have found its words so true in my six month sojourn here in Bolivia. There have been hard duties, struggles, and sacrifices, yet many, many blessings and lessons learned along the way that I know I never would have experienced otherwise. Praising God today for His sovereign working in my life and His all-sufficient grace that is enough. No matter what.

Oil Along the Way

"Put on as the elect of God, kindness." (Colossians 3:12)

There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him.

People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.

There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil of good cheer to the downhearted one - Oh, how much it may mean! The word of courage to the desparing. Speak it.

Our lives touch others but once, perhaps, on the road of life; and then, mayhap, our ways diverge, never to meet again. The oil of kindness has worn the sharp, hard edges off of many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable and ready for the redeeming grace of the Savior.

A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart. Therefore, "Give others the sunshine, tell Jesus the rest."

"We cannot know the grief

That men borrow;

We cannot see the souls

Storm-swept by sorrow;

But love can shine upon the way

Today, tomorrow;

Let us be kind.

Upon the wheel of pain so many weary lives are broken,

We live in vain who give no tender token.

Let us be kind."

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love." (Romans 12:10)

- Streams in the Desert

The other night, as I was reading the November 26 passage from Streams in the Desert, these words seemed to leap off the page and grab my heart!

*****

"And Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? Who answered, give me a blessing; for thou has given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs." (Joshua 15:18, 19)

There are both upper and nether springs. They are springs, not stagnant pools. There are joys and blessings that flow from above through the hottest summer and the most desert land of sorrow and trial. The land of Achsah were "south lands," lying under a burning sun and often parched with burning heat. But from the hills came the unfailing springs, that cooled, refreshed, and fertilized all the land.

There are springs that flow in the low places of life, in the hard places, in the desert places, in the lone places, in the common places, and no matter what my be our situation, we can always find these upper springs.

Abraham found them amid the hills of Canaan. Moses found them among the rocks of Midian. David found them among the ashes of Ziklag when his property was gone, his family captives and his people talked of stoning him, but "David encouraged himself in the Lord."

Habakkuk found them when the fig tree was withered and the fields were brown, but as he drank from them he could sing: "Yet will I rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of my salvation."

Isaiah found them in the awful days of Sennacherib's invasion, when the mountains seemed hurled into the midst of the sea, but faith could sing: "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved."

The martyrs found them amid the flames, and reformers amid their foes and conflicts, and we can find them all the year if we have the Comforter in our hearts and have learned to say with David: "All my springs are in Thee."

How many and how precious these springs, and how much more there is to be possessed of God's own fulness!

- A.B. Simpson

I could add to that.

Katrina found them in the mountains of Cochabamba.

Passionate About God's Passion

"It was becoming clearer and clearer that if I wanted to come to the end of my life and not say, "I've wasted it!" then I would need to press all the way in, and all the way up, to the ultimate purpose of God and join Him in it. If my life was to have a single, all-satisfying, unifying passion, it would have to be God's passion. And...God's passion was the display of His own glory and the delight of my heart.

It has become clearer that God being glorified and God being enjoyed are not separate categories. They relate to each other not like fruit and animals, but like fruit and apples. Apples are one kind of fruit. Enjoying God supremely is one way to glorify Him. Enjoying God makes Him look supremely valuable."

- John Piper in Don't Waste Your Life

Happy Sunday!

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;

for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation;

He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..."

- Isaiah 61:10 -

Today's Nugget

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

~ Lamentations 3:22-26

Stirring Words Profound in Wisdom

"What is this that I feel sitting here, coursing through me relentless, hot, ardent? I have to seek God beauty. Because isn't my internal circuitry wired to seek out something worthy of worship? Every moment I live, I live bowed to something. And if I don't see God, I'll bow down before something else."

"God is present in all the moments, but I do not deify the wind in the pines, the snow falling on hemlocks, the moon over harvested what. Pantheism, seeing the natural world as divine, is a very different thing than seeing divine God present in all things. I know it here kneeling, the twilight so still: nature is not God but God revealing the weight of Himself, all His glory, through the looking glass of nature."

"Why am I out in this evening field, lying under moon? Is eucharisteo opening the eyes wider, the heart deeper? Is this paradox - that giving thanks for what is, creates an appetite for more - not for more things, but for seeking more of God to give more glory?"

"I look down at the stained skirt of my apron, washed in moonlight. And I think I can stand here? I think I can brave this Beauty? Not an empty, tinny beauty but a Fierce Beauty, Flaming Fire who burns through the thick masks and leaves the soul disrobed. I am naked and I am right ashamed. I know how monstrously inhumane I can be. Raging at children for minor wrongdoings while I am the one defiling the moment with sinful anger. Hoarding possessions while others die of starvation. Entertaining the mind with trivial pretties when I haven't bowed the head and heart in a prayer longer than five minutes in a week. My tongue has had a razor edge and my eyes have rolled haughty and my neck has been stiff and graceless and I have lived the filth ugly, an idolater, a glutton, and a grace thief who hasn't had time for the thanks.

'God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God.' (Matthew 5:8) What am I doing out here? I am filthy rags. Is sight possible? I've only got one pure thing to wear and it's got Made By Jesus on the tag and the purity of Jesus lies over a heart and His transparency burns the cataracts off the soul. The only way to see God manifested in the world around is with the eyes of Jesus within."

"I was lost but know I am found again, Jesus, and I know what I want: to see deeply, to thank deeply, to feel joy deeply. How my eyes see, perspective, is my key to enter into His gates. I can only do so with thanksgiving. If my inner eye has God seeping up through all things, then can't I give thanks for anything? And if I can give thanks for the good things, the hard things, the absolute everything, I can enter the gates to glory. Living in His presence is fullness of joy - and seeing shows the way in."

By Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts

Counting More Gifts...

July 7, 2011

51. Juicy apples

52. Encouraging emails from friends

53. 5 minutes of peaceful quiet in the midst of a chaotic day

"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept...if I make you light-bearers...I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there...shine!" Matthew 5: 14-15 The Message

July 11, 2011

54. An array of beautiful flowers lining the streets ~ a feast for the eyes!

55. The smell of roses

56. The gentle splash of a park fountain

57. Fresh, cool mountain air

58. Delicious tacos for lunch

59. Encouragement and admonition from the Holy Spirit at church

60. Tia Rosa and Tio David's willingness to babysit, giving us an afternoon off

"Joy is perfect acquiesce in God's will because the soul delights itself in God Himself." H.W. Webb-Peploe

July 12, 2011

61. Sunrise over the mountains

62. A hot shower I only had to reset once :)

63. The invention of the whistle

64. A new soccer ball and its ability to make little boy eyes light up with delight

65. A nail through the shoe of J.G. that did not penetrate the foot

66. Jean pockets

67. Morning exercise up the mountain

68. Sweet and spicy hot tea

69. Ladies' Bible study in a beautiful, clean home that seemed like a palace :)

70. Words of wisdom from Beth Moore

71. Skype call with my friend in Canada; edifying conversation

"Serve the Lord with gladness...Enter into His gates with thanksgiving...Be thankful unto Him." Psalm 100:2, 4

July 13, 2011

72. Little D's fever breaking during the night

73. Beautiful vista overlooking the city

74. Palm trees

75. Delicious, meat-filled empanadas

76. The fun of grocery shopping

77. A key to the back kitchen door!

78. A doorknob on my bedroom door!

79. An email from Tara

80. Safety from the Lord during night travel

"God delights to meet the faith of one who looks up to Him and says, "Lord, You know that I cannot do this - but I believe that you can!" Amy Carmichael

July 16, 2011

81. Time at an internet cafe

82. Bright, yellow flowers adding a cheerful touch to tables and bedroom

83. Sweet-smelling hand soap

84. Friendly people to give me directions on the streets

85. Sweet baby smiles and caresses on the trufi ride home from town

86. Volunteer fellowship around the table during a newsletter-stuffing party

87. Soft, scented kleenex - so much easier on the nose!

88. Butter and honey sandwiches - a taste of home!

"And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing." Psalm 107:22

Further Thoughts on Language Learning

Last semester, I acquired an old book from the free cart at school entitled Missionary Life and Work by Harold Cook of Moody Bible Institute. I haven't had the chance to read it until now, and oh, what a gem of a book I'm finding it to be! Even though parts of it are outdated (since it was written in the era when most missionaries sailed to their destination on a ship), there is still a great deal of wisdom to be found in its pages. I am underlining important things to remember all the time! You will probably see some of these portions of the book make their way onto the blog in the coming weeks as they are too good not to share.

But for today, I simply wanted to post a few quotes from Missionary Life and Work as pertains to language learning, for they have been an encouragement to me to keep persevering in this department.

"You must learn to speak to others in their language. Unless you do, you can never really communicate the Gospel to them. A message in an unknown tongue benefits nobody. Even a message in a language that is comprehended with difficulty is largely ineffective.

For example, you may have studied French in school. Then if you go and hear a message given in French, you may be able to grasp some of the facts that the speaker presents. You may gain a small amount of information, but the speaker will not move you to action. You spend all your effort in trying to understand what he says. There is no time to think of the implications of his statements. It is the message in our own familiar tongue that stirs us to action. What we hear then are not just words whose meaning we have to puzzle out. We are scarcely conscious of the words. We are hearing ideas, ideas with overtones of feeling that stir up a response within us.

Language is the missionary's major tool."

"Grammar alone is not enough. It will help you puzzle out the meaning of what is written. But until it becomes so much a part of you that you will apply it without conscious effort, you have not really learned the language. You haven't learned to talk until you cease to think of each separate word. What many people seem to fail to realize is that language is a matter of habits. You learn to express a though a certain way. You repeat it that way over and over until that form of words comes spontaneously to your lips whenever the thought calls for expression...Grammar is the skeleton, vocabulary provides the flesh to cover it, but only constant practice can make the language a living, working body."

"Practice what you have already learned on every possible occasion. This is one of the secrets of the rapid learning of little children. They don't hesitate to repeat what they hear in every conceivable situation. A new word is like a new toy. By practice they find out what they can do with it and what they can't. And they don't worry about their laughable mistakes. This is part of the learning process. If you wait until you can speak faultlessly, you will never speak. It is the one who isn't afraid to talk, in spite of mistakes, who makes the most rapid progress."

Verse for the Day

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

Psalm 107:8

God loves you so much...

He thinks about you more times than you can count!

"How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand..." Psalm 139:17-18

Something I've Been Learning Lately...

"When the answer is not given immediately, the praying Christian must gather courage at each delay. He must urgently go forward until the answer comes. The answer is assured, if he has the faith to press his petition with vigorous faith. Successful prayer must have in it the quality that waits and perseveres. It must have in it courage that never surrenders, patience that never grows tired."

~ E.M. Bounds

The God Who Knows

I just now read this beautiful composition on the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship website. It spoke volumes to me so I am passing it on to my blog readers as well.

I don’t know about tomorrow. Sometimes I wish that I did.

I don’t know whether or not the sun will shine, or it will rain again.

I don’t know if times will get easier or if we’ll lose all we’ve got left.

I don’t know if anything will change, or if everything will. Sometimes I wish that I did.

But I don’t know.

What I do know is that I serve a God who is more than faithful.

I know that He is able.

I know that He is good.

I know that He does not forget.

I know that His way is best.

I know that He stands behind His promises.

I know that He is Jehovah Jireh- the God who has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we can’t even imagine.

I know that whatever happens today, whatever happens tomorrow, He will take care of us.

Most of all I know that He knows.

He knows our needs before we ask.

He knows the desire of our hearts.

He knows what we can take.

He knows the little things that mean so much to us.

He knows what is best, more than anything.

He knows about tomorrow and He holds it, and each day of our future- in His hands.

Troubles come like rainstorms sometimes. They drench the heart, and leave a chill that lingers after the rain is gone. But the same water that drenches, that sometimes chills, waters the ground so that life may go on. So that when the sun shines, new life will spring up. Flowers will bloom and birds will sing again. And every little droplet becomes a diamond of hope in the sun.

“Worry is blind. It cannot see the future.”

But He can. He does. And out of our circumstances, out of our failures, out of our troubles, He brings beauty. Hope. Life.

And so I trust Him. With yesterday’s brokenness, today’s fears, and tomorrow’s unknowns. With the sorrows and with the joys. With life’s unpredictable twists and turns and with the uncertainty that it brings.

I trust Him with my heart. My life. My family. My home. My abilities. My everything.

And He gives, and gives and gives. Wisdom for this moment. Strength for today. Bright hope for tomorrow.

I know this. I’ve tasted it. Experienced it. Lived it. And I know it is true. And that is all that really matters.

- Written by Chantel

Beautiful Truth

"Indeed, none of us has anything we have not been given. Even if in service to God I lose my life and pour out all my blood, yet at my beginning He gave me every drop, and still I have given Him nothing and owe Him all. Existence itself, every loving word, every sunrise, every blossom, every star - and beyond and before all, the blood of Christ that sets me free from the fear of Hell to enjoy all - all these are from Him. I can only praise and thank Him, never repay Him."

~ Maiden Veril, Ashes of Our Joy

Quote for the Day

"No Jesus; no joy.

Know Jesus; know joy."

~ Adrian Rogers