Our family has been through quite a bit in the last few weeks, culminating in a hospital stay for our oldest over the weekend, after a 911 call because he stopped breathing and then passed out.
I've started to write this post several times now and frankly am just to tired for it to make any kind of sense at all. . .
What I wanted to say though is this:
Even in the middle of our trials, God is there.
In the middle of chaos, God is there.
Grief, anxiety, pain, sleepless nights. . .God is there.
While sitting in C's hospital room yesterday I watched the sun come up and just had a chat with the Lord.
Thanking him for taking care of my boy. For taking care of us.
For never moving from His throne.
The sun still came up, the world still turned even in the midst of all our pain.
God never moved.
Never wandered away.
He poured out his love on us, even though what was happening was scary and difficult.
These are some verses I reflected on while watching the sunrise, maybe you need to hear them too. . .
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart;I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised! Ps 113:2,3
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Ps 91:1,2
My prayer is that these verses bring you as much peace as they have me.
Blessings,
Oh what a whirlwind September is turning out to be.
And not a good on either.
A rip everything apart and toss it all about kind of whirlwind.
My oldest is the grip of a major illness that has derailed him for the past three weeks.
Lots of meds and several doctors visits later we still ended up in the ER last night after he stopped breathing for a few moments.
That was after I had been in Urgent Care with our middle son, who's eyes mysteriously swelled shut last night right about dinner time.
Yes, for those of you keeping score at home, that was two trips in one night.
The physical and emotional toll all this can take on your body and spirit can't be underestimated.
My precious girl was sitting at the table drawing.
She made a lovely little scene, complete with bright sunshine.
Nothing to unusual for a little girl.
What struck me though was when she took a grey crayon and added some big, fluffy clouds.
So, I asked why she was adding those.
Her reply took my breath away.
"Momma there is always some clouds with the sunshine. We just have to remember the sun is still always there."
Truth from the little people of life.
Even when life is bearing down on us, wearing us down and seemingly never going to stop.
The sun anD-THE SON- is always there.
He sees. He hears. He knows. He understands.
Choose to believe.
I am today, even when it's difficult. I will believe that even when the clouds roll in, the SON will always shine through.
Blessings,
And not a good on either.
A rip everything apart and toss it all about kind of whirlwind.
My oldest is the grip of a major illness that has derailed him for the past three weeks.
Lots of meds and several doctors visits later we still ended up in the ER last night after he stopped breathing for a few moments.
That was after I had been in Urgent Care with our middle son, who's eyes mysteriously swelled shut last night right about dinner time.
Yes, for those of you keeping score at home, that was two trips in one night.
The physical and emotional toll all this can take on your body and spirit can't be underestimated.
My precious girl was sitting at the table drawing.
She made a lovely little scene, complete with bright sunshine.
Nothing to unusual for a little girl.
What struck me though was when she took a grey crayon and added some big, fluffy clouds.
So, I asked why she was adding those.
Her reply took my breath away.
"Momma there is always some clouds with the sunshine. We just have to remember the sun is still always there."
Truth from the little people of life.
Even when life is bearing down on us, wearing us down and seemingly never going to stop.
The sun anD-THE SON- is always there.
He sees. He hears. He knows. He understands.
Choose to believe.
I am today, even when it's difficult. I will believe that even when the clouds roll in, the SON will always shine through.
Blessings,
I attended my first MOPS meeting toady as a MENTOR MOM.
(Hello reality check that time is passing by so quickly! Mentor. .unbelievable)
Of course in a MOPS group of any size at all there at mommy's with babies either in their tummy's or ones who have just had those precious little ones, and today was no exception.
There was Sweet Thing there who had her TWO WEEK OLD with here ( I would've still been in my PJ's at two weeks. . .).
When it came to time to feed the little guy she had a darling modesty drape (I'm sure they have a cuter name but I have no idea what it is) that she used and then just kept on her the rest of the morning.
At one point she'd thrown it over her shoulder and I was tickled as I saw it, because it looked like a superhero cape.
I'm sure that was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment, but it was cute.
As, I've been thinking on our meeting and that precious one, I can't help be think that not one mom in that room felt like a superhero.
Inadequate-yes.
Impatient-yes.
Unqualified-yes.
Tired-yes.
Superhero-not so much.
But, the room was filled with them.
Mommy's who sacrifice their needs for their children's.
Their beds so a little one can snuggle in the middle.
Their sanity as they sing a long with Barney.
Their privacy as the bathroom door gets thrown open every time it's closed.
Their dignity as they pick a screaming two old off the floor of Target.
Their wardrobe as everything has a spit up stain down the back.
Maybe, you're reading in this and you're still in your PJ's, haven't been able to shower today and don't even ask when the last time you shaved your legs, and you think "Yes, Mom's might be those things, but not me.".
If you love your baby, put that thing first, ever been pooped on, lost a nights sleep so you could rock a sick one, kissed a stuffed animal goodnight, ate a chicken nugget because that's all there was. . .
YOU ARE A SUPERHERO.
Don't give up now.
Have a good cry if you need too, but don't give up.
The days are long, but the years are short.
Blessings,
(Hello reality check that time is passing by so quickly! Mentor. .unbelievable)
Of course in a MOPS group of any size at all there at mommy's with babies either in their tummy's or ones who have just had those precious little ones, and today was no exception.
There was Sweet Thing there who had her TWO WEEK OLD with here ( I would've still been in my PJ's at two weeks. . .).
When it came to time to feed the little guy she had a darling modesty drape (I'm sure they have a cuter name but I have no idea what it is) that she used and then just kept on her the rest of the morning.
At one point she'd thrown it over her shoulder and I was tickled as I saw it, because it looked like a superhero cape.
I'm sure that was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment, but it was cute.
As, I've been thinking on our meeting and that precious one, I can't help be think that not one mom in that room felt like a superhero.
Inadequate-yes.
Impatient-yes.
Unqualified-yes.
Tired-yes.
Superhero-not so much.
But, the room was filled with them.
Mommy's who sacrifice their needs for their children's.
Their beds so a little one can snuggle in the middle.
Their sanity as they sing a long with Barney.
Their privacy as the bathroom door gets thrown open every time it's closed.
Their dignity as they pick a screaming two old off the floor of Target.
Their wardrobe as everything has a spit up stain down the back.
Maybe, you're reading in this and you're still in your PJ's, haven't been able to shower today and don't even ask when the last time you shaved your legs, and you think "Yes, Mom's might be those things, but not me.".
If you love your baby, put that thing first, ever been pooped on, lost a nights sleep so you could rock a sick one, kissed a stuffed animal goodnight, ate a chicken nugget because that's all there was. . .
YOU ARE A SUPERHERO.
Don't give up now.
Have a good cry if you need too, but don't give up.
The days are long, but the years are short.
Blessings,
Oh my what a week it's been!
Between usual family stuff; school, homework, soccer practice-all the STUFF that comes with having three kids. . .
There has extended family turmoil that with the turmoil brought strife, and let's just say it's been overwhelming.
Of course, then there is ministry to do(which is my privilege and honor), first Bible study of the season was yesterday and a women's event that I brought the devotion for last night.
Hard to believe this has been a 'short' week.
Oh and the icing on the cake, our oldest is really battling all sorts of asthma J U N K right now.
I imagine if you and I were sitting down over a cup of coffee right now, your list of frustrating, sad, difficult things would be as long, if not longer than mine.
It truly feels as if every time I turn around someone is telling about some tragic or EXTREMELY difficult thing they are going through.
Yesterday I was reading in John 14 and in the first verse Jesus is talking to his disciples and he says "Let not your heart be troubled", see he had just gotten done telling them all sorts of hard things that were about to happen to them.
(And, I've known that verse since I was a little girl, but the powerful about God's word is how alive it is and how we can see with fresh eyes something that's been there all along.)
What struck me about this verse was how Jesus didn't say "you have nothing to worry about" or "you have no reason to be troubled". He's acknowledging that they indeed do have troubles.
I love that about Christ. He knows how human and frail we really are deep down inside.
The second half of verse one say "you believe in God, believe also in me."
Home where you're safe while the battles of the world rage around you.
Maybe your earthly home is the LAST place you'd find those things, but when we know Christ we can know that of all the blessings He's promised us-HOME is one of the best.
Between usual family stuff; school, homework, soccer practice-all the STUFF that comes with having three kids. . .
There has extended family turmoil that with the turmoil brought strife, and let's just say it's been overwhelming.
Of course, then there is ministry to do(which is my privilege and honor), first Bible study of the season was yesterday and a women's event that I brought the devotion for last night.
Hard to believe this has been a 'short' week.
Oh and the icing on the cake, our oldest is really battling all sorts of asthma J U N K right now.
I imagine if you and I were sitting down over a cup of coffee right now, your list of frustrating, sad, difficult things would be as long, if not longer than mine.
It truly feels as if every time I turn around someone is telling about some tragic or EXTREMELY difficult thing they are going through.
Yesterday I was reading in John 14 and in the first verse Jesus is talking to his disciples and he says "Let not your heart be troubled", see he had just gotten done telling them all sorts of hard things that were about to happen to them.
(And, I've known that verse since I was a little girl, but the powerful about God's word is how alive it is and how we can see with fresh eyes something that's been there all along.)
What struck me about this verse was how Jesus didn't say "you have nothing to worry about" or "you have no reason to be troubled". He's acknowledging that they indeed do have troubles.
I love that about Christ. He knows how human and frail we really are deep down inside.
The second half of verse one say "you believe in God, believe also in me."
Belief requires faith.
Down farther in the chapter in verse 15 we read:
If you love me, keep my commands.
Faith requires obedience. (Jesus doesn't give us choice, he telling them Believe in me, trust me.)
Then down in verse 23 it says.
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Love = obedience
Obedience=Fellowship with God and Christ
Fellowship with God and Christ= Home
And isn't home what we all long for?
At the end of the day, when we're sick, things are going wrong, hard day at work, don't we all just want to go home?
I love words, so even though I know what 'home' is, I thought I'd look it up in the dictionary just to see if there were any other definitions than what I'd typically think of and I loved what I found.
Home: a familiar setting : a congenial environment.
And isn’t that what we all want?
Home where they know us and love us anyway. Home were it's peaceful (or at least it's supposed to be)Home where you're safe while the battles of the world rage around you.
Faith, Obedience, fellowship, HOME.
I pray we will all find ourselves ‘Home’ this week.
Blessings,
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