Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom

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This week will conclude our series on confessions.  I hope this series has filled you with God’s truth.  We can walk away from our comparisons of each other and rejoice in God’s truth for us in who He says we are.  We don’t have to wait to be accepted by the world or for our circumstances to change, we are worthy and valuable just the way we are.  He has a divine and specific purpose for each and every one of us.        

Whether we are called to be married, single, a working mom or a stay at home mom there is meaning a purpose in God’s calling for us.  Here is an interview of a stay at home mom who shares her heart with us.

How did you decide being a stay at home mom was God’s calling for you? Children are God’s greatest gift to us, their hearts are a mother’s classroom.  Investing in our children reaps rewards that are immeasurable.

What is the number one thing being a stay at home mom has taught you?
Being a stay at home mom is a constant dying of oneself.  It is a continual process of learning how to be selfless, learning how to be content no matter what and knowing I am still contributing to society even though I am inside the four walls of my home.  Also learning how to find joy in every moment, the good and the bad. God teaches me through thankfulness. When we are thankful, then we are more likely to find joy in each moment, which is what God wants for us.

What is the number one thing you struggle with as a stay at home mom?
Isolation and not getting a break.  Isolation can be the tool of the devil.  It can be a downward spiral that gets out of control quickly.  When I start to feel this way I know I need to pray and seek support of other moms who are going through the same thing.  I try to be proactive in recognizing triggers which amplify my struggles such as getting out of routine (holidays), bad behavior or sickness.

What did you do before you were a stay at home mom and how many years have you been a stay at home mom?  How many children do you have?
I used to work as an Early Intervention Speech Pathologist for five years before raising children.  I have been a stay at home mom now for 9 years.  I have 5 children, four boys (ages 2, 3, 7 and 9) and one baby girl.

That’s very admiral, you possess a master’s degree and walked away from a career to raise children.  What is the best advice you can give to other stay at home moms?
Do the best you can with the knowledge you have now.  The knowledge you have in the moment is enough to accomplish what God has planned for you.  God has entrusted you with their lives, he has put your children in your care for a reason.  God will continually equip you with what you need at every given time.  He has chosen your family and has great plans for you and made each of us with a purpose.  You don’t have to do something that is newsworthy or career savy to contribute to society.  What you do inside of your home, is just as important as what you do outside of your home.  We can support each other by not comparing and encouraging one another.

What is your greatest reward you have received as a stay at home mom?
God has called me to equip the next generation of warriors in his army with His armor, character, love, and grace. I can only do this when I lean on God for wisdom and peace and in humbleness, admiting I CANNOT do it alone. As mom’s we often fall into the trap of “I just need to keep going”. That is a red flag for I need a break, need help, or need to let go. God provides us with help in the form of His word, friends, family, spouses. Seek counsel of other women and pray hard!

What do you do as a stay at home to get a break?  I try to leave the house to get a break or escape to my craft room and work on a craft project.  Sometimes the only break I get is going to a private room or outside to pray. Finding a positive outlet for feelings helps as well as leaning on God for His strength. Be proactive in communicating with spouse and children in calm, respectful way to express a need for breaks. Because if mama isn’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. It is a sad but true statement. Taking care of oneself will help the entire household–do so without feeling guilty.

What are your favorite Bible verses that help you?

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

“Encourage one another build one another up”  (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

“In all work you are doing, work the best you can.  Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people”  (Colossians 3:23).

“Do everything in Love”  (1 Corinthians 16:14).

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”  (Romans 12:9-12).

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”  (Matthew 11:28).

Being a stay at home mom is a busy 24/7 job that rarely gets recognized as being a job.  Whether we are a working mom or one that stays at home, instead of judging or comparing ourselves and each other’s children, we can all be encouraging one another, because we are all apart of the same team (quote from Cindy Bultema)!

God has called every one of us for a specific meaning a purpose.  Carrying out God’s calling for you, gives your life more meaning and purpose than anything in this world.  

God has great plans for you.

Do you know God’s calling for your life?

What has God called you to do?

If you are a stay at home mom please share how being a stay at home mom has impacted your life, So we can be encouraging one another!

A special thank you to my twin sister for sharing her heart with us for this post!  

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Confessions of a Married Woman

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Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Romans 15:7).

Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts.  Yet sometimes marriage can not feel like much of a gift.

Marriage has been around since the beginning of time when God created Adam and Eve.  God  designed marriage to fulfill our need for companionship and demonstrate what it means to be in a covenant relationship with God—to be in union with one another (1 Cor. 6:17).  Our marriages are an earthly model of our spiritual relationship between Christ and His bridegroom (the church) [1].  (Ephesians 5:25-27, Isa. 61:10, 62:5)​

It amazes me how God thinks of everything.  He designed us to be in relationship with another so we wouldn’t be lonely, but also fulfill a greater purpose to be in a relationship with Him.

We were challenged by our pastor this past week, to ask ourselves the question—Does your marriage possess a biblical love like God loves us?

As a married couple of of over 15 years, we strive to love each other the way God loves us.  However, we are not perfect and have flaws.  There are times we don’t always get it right. We sometimes treat each other not so nicely and take things out on one another.  This question made me think of those married in the Bible.  What did they do in their not-so- lovely moments and what do these moments teach us?

I wonder…..

Did Adam and Eve’s argument continue on for days on end?

Did Abraham and Sarah ever argue about infertility?

Did Jacob and Rachel ever have unlovely moments?

Unlovely moments make me think of Gomer (Hosea’s wife) and the Israelites when they strayed away from God.  Gomer had become an adulteress and Israel was worshipping other gods besides God.  I love how God teaches us about the power of His love in these unlikely moments.  

The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes”  (Hosea 3:1). 

Hosea’s love saved his wife from a dead empty life of adultery and pagan worship. God’s love gave Israel a second chance for redemption and restoration.  Just as God’s love was the key to redeem and restore the covenant relationship with Israel, Hosea’s love (a biblical love) was the key to redeem and restore the covenant of his marriage to Gomer (Hosea 3). Unimaginable!

We all have unlovely moments.  Oh how I have been unlovely before.  I want to be loved even in my unloveliness.

God used Hosea (which means salvation) to show us what happens when we love and accept others in the face of unloveliness.  By Homer choosing to love and forgive his adulterous wife Gomer, he wasn’t condoning or accepting her sin—he was obeying God allowing an opportunity for His redemption. Even in Gomer’s not-so-lovely choices, God called Hosea to love her.

God uses these unlovely moments to teach us so much.  

Loving and accepting each other in ugly moments allows grace to fill the unloveliness with God's redemption and restoration (Click to Tweet)Click To Tweet.  

God shows me that when I seek him, He is able to turn my unlovely moments into something so much better than I ever can. 

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”  Jeremiah 29:12-13

There will always be an unlovely moment.  How will we respond?

With Love. God’s love makes our marriages perfect and complete in Him.  In God’s love we lack nothing (Colossians 2:10).  

The enemy would like nothing more than to divide our marriages by magnifying our unloveliness to each other.  Choosing God’s love in the face of unloveliness, invites God to build long lasting marriages rooted in His biblical love for us. 

Prayer-
Thank you Jesus for the wonderful gift of marriage.  Thank you for loving me in my unloveliness.  Thank you for teaching us so much about ourselves and our marriages in these moments.  Thank you for showing me it may take forever before we get it right, but that’s okay.  Help us to seek you God in our not so lovely moments and stay rooted in your biblical love for us.  Your love never fails.  I praise you God, in Jesus name, Amen.

How will you choose love in the face of unloveliness?

What have unlovely moments taught you?

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In case you missed it here is the 4 part series of Confessions:  Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom,  Confessions of a Skinny Girl, Confessions of a Working Mom.

I would love to hear from you!  Leave your comments below. Have a Blessed Week!

A Marriage Prayer-  Pray this verse together this week.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

Dear Lord,
I pray our love is patient, it will always be kind.  I pray it will never envy nor boast that it will be ridden of any pride.  I pray our love for each other will never be rude or self-seeking.  I pray our love will not be easily angered or keep a record of wrongs.  I pray our love will never delight in evil but rejoice in the truth.  I pray your love will be the center of our marriage and always protect, always trust, always hope and always perseveres.  Your love never fails, Lord.  Thank you for your faithfulness Lord.  We know there is nothing greater than your love.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Confessions of a Working Mom

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Sometimes I struggle as a mom who works outside the home, with not always having all the laundry done, all the dishes washed in the sink or homemade well balanced hot meals sitting on the table ready for my family to eat before 6 o’clock.  I struggle with not being at all the class parties, field trips and being able to go on mom coffee dates.  Truth is most days there are piles of unwashed dishes in the sink.  Sometimes we have sandwiches for dinner.  

I am so thankful for my husband, because without his love and support I wouldn’t be able to function as a working mom.   We try our best to run our household working together as a team.   

However, do you ever have those days where things just don’t run so smoothly?  You know before starting the day (before 6:30 am), there is a mile long of things that need to be done before leaving the house like feeding kids and dogs, brushing teeth and making sure lunches are in backpacks?  And after working a whole day, kids need picked up from school, dinner needs to be made, kids need help with their homework, the kitchen needs to be cleaned, lunches need to be prepared, then it’s time for bed!  Then the whole routine is reapeated over the next 4 days until the weekend comes!

As mothers and wives, we don’t do things to be commended.  But it would be nice to hear the words ‘thank you’ now and then.  Whether you are a mom who works inside the home or outside of the home, being a mom can be an exhausting, thanklesss job.  Especially the job of a stay at home mom, because their job isn’t always recognized as being a job most of the time, because they don’t receive a ‘paycheck.’  I have to give credit to stay at home moms, I don’t know how they do it.  They have one of the hardest jobs of all.

As a mom, can you relate?  We may question, is this God’s calling for us? 

We may compare ourselves to each other by what another accomplishes and achieves, and use that as a determination of our worth.  I promise you this is not how God sees us or how our worth is measured.  God desires us to seek him for our acceptance, our approval and our worth, not in our comparisons of one another.

So where is the worth and value in our work when we don’t receive grattitude?

“In all work you are doing, work the best you can.  Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not people”  (Colossians 3:23)

Even if we don’t recieve a ‘thank you,’ there is still value in our work when we do it for the Lord.  Finding value in our achievements is an endless, empty path.  I can guarantee you there will always be another pile of dishes in the sink, another load of laundry to wash, another meal to prepare.  Where is the value in our endless tasks?

We don’t have to live in the comparisons of others or our achievements to find our acceptance and worth–In God’s love we lack nothing, in him we are made complete (Colossians 2:10). 

Being a mom who works outside of the house continues to teach me to be content in whatever situation I am in (Philippians 4:11).  

If I wait until my house is clean to invite a friend over, I miss out on an opportunity to spend time with a dear friend.

If I wait until I have achieved something great, I miss out on all the joys God has intended to fill me with.

There is value and worth in God’s calling for us.  It doesn’t matter what our circumstances are, in God we receive the fullness of joy in every situation.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Psalm 16:11.

When God’s desires are our desires, we are fulfilling God’s calling for us.  

Seeking God to fill us with His desires, we will always be satisfied in who God says we are.  “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” Isaiah 58:11.

Being a working mom (outside of the house and inside) may be a challenging, tough job.  Know that whatever you do, you are doing it for the Lord and that you are loved even if your house is dirty!

If you like this blogpost, Please share with others!  Want more encouraging messages sent right to your inbox?  Subscribe to my blog and receive a weekly Monday Message or like my Author Facebook page to catch the latest posts.

Join me over the next 4 weeks for the 4 part series of Confesions of a Skinny Girl, Confessions, of a Stay at Home Mom, and Married Woman!

I would love to hear from you!  Leave your comments below.  Have a Blessed Week!

Sometimes moms just need a pat on the back and hear the words your doing a great job!  To all the hard working moms know that you are loved and are doing a great job!  Encourage another mom today.  Let her know she is loved and doing a great job!  Print out these printable post-it notes by Cindy Bultema or download and share on social media #LiveFullWalkFree.  These printables are from the Bible study I am reading right now Live Full Walk Free by Cindy Bultema by Thomas Nelson publishers.

Click here to download PDF

Download PDF file above and share with others!

Share on social media with #LiveFullWalkFree or tag @CindyBultema

Confessions of a Skinny Girl

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How was your Thanksgiving?  Most of us are probably not feeling too skinny right now after eating tons of turkey, pie, mashed potatoes or whatever thanksgiving goodness we piled on our plates.  And then there were the pies!  Of course we have to try them all!

I am known as the skinny girl.  The one who has skinny arms, legs and non-existent hips. When people meet me,  I know what they are thinking….  That skinny girl looks like she has it altogether.

What struggles could she possibly have? 

Don’t be fooled by this small petite frame that there aren’t deep struggles that lie beneath.  Just because outwardly I’m small, doesn’t mean that inwardly my struggles aren’t big.

Truth is, this skinny girl ate way too much turkey and pie at Thanksgiving, that I can barely button my pants! If I could, I would eat a whole plate of fried pickles if my body wouldn’t hate me later.  I love chocolate cake—lots of it.  

Oh how I have flaws. I’ve wasted years of my life wishing I was taller, wishing this scraggly body looked like the voluptuous woman on the front cover of magazines. I have learned the hard way, in my indulgence and lack of self-discipline there are great consequences that lead to more emptiness and destruction.

Then I fall at the feet of Jesus and confess to Him all my flaws, my ugliness and mistakes.  He then says, “Dear child you will never find your self-worth and acceptance in this world, only in me.”  

“I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5 GNT).

He first chose me.  He knew me before I was even born.  

Only in the arms of God’s grace will my flaws and shortcomings be accepted.  

Only in the boundaries of God’s love will I find my worth—not in the size of my waist, otherwise I wouldn’t be worth very much.   

On the days I feel l have failed either as a wife or a parent, I am thankful my worth isn’t measured by my performance.

If I wait until I look a certain way, I miss out on the freedom God desires for me.

And thank God my value isn’t weighed by how clean my house is, otherwise I would be bankrupt.  

As years have gone by, I’ve to learn to accept God’s will and design for me.  God did not design this 5’ 3’’ petite frame to be on the basketball team.  His plan isn’t for me to be something I’m not.  I have a choice—keep trying to live up to worldly standards in who this world says I should be, or accept and live in God’s design for me.  Only one of them offers a life that is forgiving and filled with grace.   

When people meet me, they look at me and say I used to be a lot skinnier.  Our value and worth will never be found in our comparisons of each other.  We can break the chains of comparison by walking away from the lies of the enemy.

God made us exactly who we are for a specific reason and purpose all for His glory, not ours.

It doesn’t matter what size we are.  We are loved by Jesus who loved us first. (1 John 4:19)

In our flaws God sees our BEAUTY. (Ezekiel 27:3)

In our shortcomings God sees His PERFECT PLAN. (Jeremiah 29:11)  

In our weaknesses, God’s POWER is perfected. 

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me”  (2 Corinthians 12:9).  

In our messiness, God’s love sees us as blameless (2 Peter 3:14).

These three truths will always set us free.  

You are loved.

You are accepted.

You’re value is immeasurable in the eyes of God.  

You’re life has meaning and purpose.  If God didn’t deem your life as worthy, He would have never sent Jesus.  You were worth dying for.  

By His grace we have been saved.  

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”  (Ephesians 2:9).

Thank you Jesus, for loving me just the way I am!  You are loved my friend! 

What truths has God showed you?

Do you know how valuable you are in the eyes of God?  

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7 Things the Enemy Can Never Change

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Lately, it seems everywhere I look I see the enemy reeking havoc in this world.  I see his relentless attacks on marriages and relationships.  There is nothing holding the enemy back from targeting our children, the helpless, the vulnerable.  The enemy has been coming on fierce and strong using all tactics to carry out his evil plan to make us believe his lies.  Sometimes I fall victim to what the enemy is trying to do.  I become weak and weary from fighting against his evil schemes.

Then God reminds me, there is nothing the enemy can do to ever change what He has already done for us.  We can rest in His plan, that one day there will be no more sorrow, or pain that we can rejoice because of what He has done for us (Rev. 21:4).

God reminds me in my weariness, that my fight isn’t against flesh and blood, but against all the powers of this dark world (Eph. 6:12).  He tells me to keep fighting the right fight with my prayers, not my weak self.  He tells me to keep standing firm in his truth;  it will protect and provide us with peace.

No matter how bad things get in this world.  No matter how bleak our situations may seem, we can trust in God’s truth and promises of who He is and what He has already done.  We can rejoice among all the chaos.

7 Things the Enemy Can Never Change:

​1.  God Will Prevail-  The victory has already been won.  Nothing the enemy can do, can ever change the resurrection of Jesus.  “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die,  Do you believe this?”  John 11:25

2.  God is All Powerful-  Nothing is stronger or more powerful than God’s strength.  “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  Psalm 27:1.

3.  God’s Love- Nothing the enemy can do, can ever change God’s love for you.  His love, loves you unconditionally.  Nothing is bigger or better than God’s love.  Nothing you can do can make God love you less or more than He already does.  You are loved and accepted for who you are right now.  Only God’s love has the power to redeem, restore, renew, forgive and love unconditionally.  Something the enemy can never do.  God would have never sent Jesus if He didn’t love you.  “For God so loved the world, He gave his one and only son, who ever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life!”  John 3:16

4.  The Light of Jesus-  No matter how dark it gets in this world, nothing can never extinguish the light of Jesus.  In fact the darker it gets the brighter the light of Jesus shines.  “…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

5.  God’s Truth-  God’s truth never changes.  It stays the same.   God’s truth is eternal, everlasting.  When the things of this world fade away, rust, mold and decay God’s truth still stands, nothing can destroy it.  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

6.  Your identity in who God says you are-  You are accepted and loved no matter what the enemy tries to tell you.  Don’t believe his lies, you are loved!  God does not make mistakes.  He has made you the way you are, for a specific reason and purpose.  “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:14

7.  He is the Source and Provider for all Things Eternal-  God is the source and provider of our eternal joy, love, hope, peace, freedom and life.  Nothing the enemy can do, can change God’s eternal plan.  On earth, the enemy will try everything to take away your joy, your freedom, your hope.  We can rejoice even in our suffering like Jesus, because when God is our provider, we have an abundant supply of everything He has to offer.  We will never be hungry, thirsty or depleted of joy or hope when God is our provider. Everything He provides is abundant and eternal.  “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”  John 6:35.

When you feel the heat of the battle turning up you can rejoice because….

God Will Prevail.

When you feel like you are in the trenches fighting hard against the enemy.  You can rejoice because…..

God Will Prevail.

When you feel the relentless attack of the enemy armies coming on fierce and strong, you can rejoice because…..

God Will Prevail.

Keep holding onto God’s truth and promises.  They will provide you with the strength and peace you need when facing your battles.

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There is Victory in our Thankfulness!

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Have you ever had one of those days, where you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed?  You started your day in a foul mood and just couldn’t seem to shake the bad attitude?  I sure have!  I can always tell when I start the day off to a wrong start when I am in a pattern of complaining.  Each complaint takes my day towards a spiral downward in the wrong direction!

It isn’t until I have stopped to acknowledge God for all I am thankful for, that my perspective starts to change.  He gently reminds me that He’s got it and I need not to worry how things are going to work out. I just need to trust in Him.

When I am in a pattern of complaining I am reminded of the Israelites wandering in the desert for all those years.  The Israelite’s were concerned how they would be provided for.  They turned to Moses, who was leading them through the desert, asking him for food and water.  Each time they went to him with their requests, they were provided for by God, in more ways than they even realized.  In all the times they were provided for, not one time did the Israelite’s give thanks to God to all He had given them.  They were in an ugly pattern of complaining and ungratefulness.

Oh, how convicted I am when I read their story.  How many times have I been in this pattern not stopping to thank God all I am thankful for? The conditions in the desert were not the most desirable, but the Israelites were always provided for.  Yes, I am sure it was hot and even uncomfortable wandering around in that desert.  But the Israelites never went hungry, their clothes never became torn or tattered, and they even had water to drink.  They may not have liked their circumstances, but their circumstances became so much worse when they grumbled and complained, leaving them unsatisfied, wanting more.

God was trying to teach the Israelites that He is the provider and maker of all things.  He is the source of anything we could ever need.  God was showing them true happiness isn’t waiting for perfect circumstances to occur but learning to be happy with what you have right now.  

There is Victory in Thankfulness!

It is hard to complain and be thankful at the same time. Thankfulness can turn struggles, troubles and tragedy into hope.  Only God can turn our valleys of troubles into a door of Hope (Hosea 2:15).

There is always something to be thankful for no matter how desperate our circumstances.  Focusing on what we’re THANKFUL for, turns our circumstances in an UPWARD direction back towards God.  It helps us STAY FOCUSED on what He has provided for us.  We may not always have the best of circumstances or even like them, but know God has it all worked out.  He has the best plans ever!

Thankfulness could have not only helped change the Israelites situation but really helped changed their hearts as well.  Focusing on what we don’t have will always leave us unhappy, dissatisfied and wanting more.  Thankfulness turns what we have into enough, a meal into a feast and a stranger into a friend (quote Melody Beattie).

How has thankfulness helped change your perspective?  

When I am thankful it turns my grumbling heart into a happy heart.
When I am thankful it turns my complaining into gratitude.
When I am thankful in my storms, God turns them into something beautiful.

Psalm 118:24 NKJV
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Trust in God’s provision for you, be thankful for it, it will transform your circumstances and your heart!

'Be joyful, pray continually, Give thanks in all circumstances.' 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIVClick To Tweet

Want to read more about Thankfulness?  Read Psalm 100 and Psalm 145.  

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Finding Victory in Our Messes

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I have a confession to make.  There are certain areas of my life that are in a state of continual mess.  My desk is one of them.  I probably shouldn’t admit this, but there is something very comforting about my messy desk.  Maybe because it doesn’t demand me to keep a certain appearance of having it all together all the time.  Or maybe because it doesn’t nag me to clean it up?

Do you have an area of your life that is in a continual messy state?  

I struggle to keep my messy desk organized.  One piece of paper out of place leads to a pile, which leads to a mountain of open books, to a point I don’t know where anything is!  My messiness impedes progress to move forward in completing projects.  I get to the point where my desk is so messy I am forced to organize it.  Even though there is a place for everything, somehow in my busyness and distractions my desk becomes messy again.  The time I need to organize and put away things is easily replaced by other activities or commitments.  I have good intentions to keep my desk clean, but somehow the piles seem to always appear!

My desk is a reminder of how my one decision to not put something away, leads to a big mess!

Can you relate?

There lies a constant struggle within all of us, to keep our lives without messes.  Is this a realistic achievement to have a life without messes?  I don’t think so. I think messes are apart of our lives, whether they are physical or spiritual.  I think our messes are apart of our stories in which God has written.

My mess makes me think of Joseph in the Bible when his brothers sold him into slavery.  His brothers did not like Joseph because their father showed favoritism towards him.  Their jealousy took a turn for the worse when they plotted an evil plan to kill him.  Thank goodness one of their brothers had the sense to spare his life.  Instead, they plotted to throw him in a well and sold him to the Ishmaelites traveling to Egypt.  The brothers then decided to deceive their father, making him believe his beloved son was killed and devoured by a wild beast.  They even killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s coat in blood to show their father, to make their whole story seem more believable (Genesis 37:12-36).

What a mess!  Their evil plot to kill turned into a lie, which turned into a conspiracy of deception–selling their brother into slavery!  I can’t imagine how their father felt, thinking his son died, but was really deceived by his own sons and didn’t even know it!

Oh, what God can do with our messes.  

Little did Joseph’s brothers know, what they intended for harm, God intended for good to accomplish His greater plan (Genesis 50:20).   What the brothers thought would be the downfall of Joseph, God used to equip Joseph all for His glory.

Joseph had been a slave in Egypt for about 13 years.  In that time he learned much because he was a servant of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.  He gained favor with Pharaoh when he was able to interpret one of Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41).  Joseph’s dream saved Egypt from a great famine that devastated many lands around them.  Unknowingly, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt looking for food, not knowing their brother Joseph was there, in a place of power.

In Genesis 45, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, letting them know he indeed was still alive and had power in the land of Egypt.  He was able to spare his family from the famine by supplying them with much food, and land for their flocks and herds.

What an amazing surprise for Joseph’s father Jacob, to discover his son Joseph was still alive!  Joseph could have repaid his brother’s with revenge, but instead, he chose to love them despite selling him into slavery.  Even though Joseph’s brother’s intended to harm him, God was at work the whole time.  He turned the brothers’ horrible decision into one of the most glorious plans ever!  

There is Victory in Our Messes!

Can you relate to Joseph’s story?
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Have you been in a mess and felt like there was no way out?

I promise you can trust that God is at work in your life.  If God can deliver Joseph from slavery making him a powerful ruler over Egypt he can deliver you from your circumstances.  Stay faithful in prayer, I promise God is listening!  We may not always see what God’s plans hold, but can trust he has something better for us just ahead!  (Jer. 29:11).

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3 Things You Don’t Need to be Victorious in Jesus

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“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:14

I don’t know about you, but there are days where I feel like I have fallen short.  Days where I feel like I have failed.  Days when I can’t seem to get anything right.  Can you relate?  I am so thankful we can find rest in who God says we are, not in what we do on our own.  Because every day I would fall short.  God makes everything beautiful.  He does not make mistakes.

The world says you have to be something great to be accepted and loved.  The world says you have to be successful and perfect.  The good news is, we don’t have to wait or rely on the world in order to be loved and accepted.  God loves us just the way we are, right now.  We can rejoice in who He says we are.  In Him, we can always be victorious no matter what our circumstances are.

Here are 3 Things You Don’t Need in Order to Be Victorious in Jesus:

1.  Perfect and Sinless-  “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”  1 Timothy 1:15 NIV

Myth:  In order for God to love us, we must be perfect and sinless.

Truth:  God’s love is unconditional and loves us despite our imperfections and sin.  God loves sinners. He doesn’t love sin.  But loves us even in our sin.  Truth is God created you.  You were loved even before you are born into this world.

2.  Have it all Together or Achieve Something Great-  “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”  Romans 15:7 NIV

Myth:  In order for God to accept us, we must have it all together and achieve something great.

Truth:  You are accepted and loved no matter who you are, who you were, who you will be or what you achieve.  Your success and worth are not dependent on what the world says, but in who God says you are.

3.  Do Good Works-  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Myth:  I must accomplish good works to earn God’s love, approval and entry into heaven.

Truth:  You do not ever have to earn God’s love.  It is His free gift He offers to everyone who is willing to accept it.  Your good works do not guarantee you entry into heaven;  your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Savior does.  No amount of good works will ever be enough to earn God’s love.  When you accept Jesus as your Savior, good works overflow from within you, from Him;  not something you do on your own.  When Christ lives in you, His love is what overflows from you, producing good works.  God receives the glory when good works are done as a result of His love living within us;  not us.  It is through God’s grace and our faith in Him we have been saved, not by something we have done on our own.

You are victorious in who God says you are. There is victory in God's love. Click To Tweet

There is nothing the enemy can do to change what God has already done for you.  There is victory in what God has already done for you.  

How do you live a life that is victorious in Jesus, no matter what your circumstances?

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There is Victory in Celebration!

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“Everything has its time.  “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted:  A time to kill, And a time to heal;  A time to break down, And a time to build up:  A time to weep, And a time to laugh;  A time to mourn, And a time to dance;”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

It’s Time to Celebrate!  This season we are celebrating…..

  • The Start of a New School Year
  • One year of blogging!
  • A New Bible Study:  “The Victorious Life”

A lot has happened over this past year.  It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since I took a step of faith and started blogging on heathergillis.com.  God was calling me to write.  I had no idea what I was doing, no idea how to get started.  But then God stepped in….. He made everything happen.  I only had only had to take one step of faith and God opened the many doors of opportunity.

Our steps of faith are meant to be celebrated.  Our steps of faith lead to God’s greater victory.  

If we never took steps of faith, we would never see all that God can do.  We would never see how all-powerful God really is.  You may be enduring a trial that seems way too much to handle.  Or carrying a burden that seems way too heavy to carry.  You are not meant to go through these trials and burdens alone.  God is with you and will be your strength and your comfort.

There is Victory in our Trials and Burdens.
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There is Victory in our Steps of Faith.  

Keep holding onto God’s promises.  His love and truth mends broken hearts, eternally heals, and allows us to be filled with His abundance of everything He has to offer. You can rejoice even in your circumstances because of God’s love for you.  Here are 10 reminders when life has you feeling defeated.  Don’t allow the lies of Satan to keep you defeated.  You are victorious!  Nothing in this world can ever change God’s love for you!

10 Victory Bible Verses to Remind you:  You Are Victorious!  1.  “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”  Psalm 118:14 NLT

2.   “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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 Corinthians 15:57-58 ESV

3.  “I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”  1 Peter 1:6-7 MSG

4.  “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV

5.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

6.  “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

7.  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 NIV

8.  “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, 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.”  Romans 8:37-39 NIV

9.  For the Lord takes delight in his people;  he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.  Psalm 149:4-5

10.  “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.”  Proverbs 21: 31 ESV

“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 victorious right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10, RSV).  

We are over-comers in our faith.  These trials refine us like pure gold, building our strength, preparing us for greater things to come, which give birth to something new.

When we celebrate what God has done for us;  it leads us from defeated to victorious.  You are meant to live the most victorious ever in Jesus.  No matter what your circumstances are, you can celebrate because of what Jesus has done for you!  It’s time to celebrate!

There is Victory in Celebration.    

Jesus changes everything. In Jesus, we are never defeated! Click To Tweet

What are you celebrating?

Has God called you to take a step of faith?  

How has Jesus changed your life?  

Did you like this blog post?  Please share with others!  If you would like more encouraging messages sent right to your inbox, Subscribe to my blog and receive a weekly Monday Message or like my Author Facebook page to catch the latest posts.  Have a Blessed Week!

I would love to hear from you.  Leave your comments below.

Free Printable Bookmark. Click on the link to download. Victorious Bible Verses-3.  

  

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Finding Victory in the Storms

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“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.  There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be Still!”  then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “Why are you afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”  They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him!”  Mark 4:35-41 NIV

Have you ever felt like the disciples before, being caught in a storm and didn’t know what to do?  The storm came upon the boat fast and furious, filling the boat with water.  The disciples’ fears of sinking and drowning were soon going to become a reality if something didn’t happen to change their situation.  The disciples then wake Jesus to ask ‘Don’t you care?’  Jesus responded not to the disciples but to the storm itself and says only three words, ‘Quiet, Be Still!’  

It wasn’t until the disciples turned to Jesus, that their situation was changed.  They could have lingered in the ‘what ifs’ or the sinking of their boat, but that would have never changed their situation and put the trust in themselves.  It wasn’t until they turned to rely on Jesus and asked Him for help, that the storm was calmed.

Jesus then asks the disciples, “Why are you afraid?  Do you not have faith?”  Jesus is basically saying, ‘you silly disciples, haven’t I taught you anything?’  ‘I am right here with you in the same boat you are, why do you fear the storm?  Why are you putting your faith in what you see?’  Up until this point Jesus had already performed many miracles, such as His disciples catching a large amount of fish (Luke 5:3-10), to healing many such as a leper (Luke 5:12-15), a paralyzed man (Luke 5:18-26) and raised a widow’s son from the dead! (Luke 7:11-17).  Jesus is saying, ‘Hello!  What else do I have to do to prove my abilities to you?  I can make all things possible!’   Jesus was trying to teach the disciples, stop relying on your circumstances in which you see and start relying on and depending in Him!

There is Victory when you put our faith in what God can do.  

Maybe you have been there before, in a middle of a storm and all you see is your circumstances bringing you down.  Oh, how I have been there many times before, where all I have seen is a hopeless situation.  It is in those hopeless moments, God uses them to display his divine intervention.  God doesn’t want us to put our hope and trust in ourselves, He wants us to put our hope and trust in Him.  We will never know the abilities of God if we don’t let him handle our storms.

If Jesus can quiet a storm by merely saying three words, imagine what he can do in your situation if you just ask Him?

Nothing is impossible for God.  He is capable of all things.  

There is Victory when we allow God to handle our storms. Click To Tweet

Even if we can’t see how it is all going to turn out, it doesn’t matter.  God knows and sees the bigger plan.  Putting our faith in God’s abilities will always lead to a victorious life in Him.  

Where do you find your hope in your storms?

Do you allow God to handle your situation or do you try to handle things on your own?

Did you like this blog post?  Please share with others!  If you would like more encouraging messages sent right to your inbox, Subscribe to my blog and receive a weekly Monday Message or like my Author Facebook page to catch the latest posts.  Have a Blessed Week!

I would love to hear from you!  Leave your comments below.  

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