As moms, our lives are filled with sacrifice: cooking a warm meal after a long day, drinking a cold cup of coffee because the 30 minutes it takes to cool is much too soon to help someone get their lunch, pick up the trash, clean up the sticky substance on the kitchen floor etc, etc. We push ourselves out of our comfort zone for our kids, and grow in ways that we didn’t even think imaginable. All these things take sacrifices that stem from our love for them.

Sacrifice is an outward expression of our thoughts and heart. Our love for the Lord should propel this, yet sometimes we withhold the very things that should come as a thank you for the grace that we receive every day.

In John 12, we are reminded of a time when the Jewish people expressed a beautiful representation of sacrifice. They knew Jesus was coming, so they laid their cloaks and palm branches for Jesus as He rode the donkey down the road to the Mount of Olives. This was not a surplus notion of giving the clothes they were going to donate to the thrift store; this was a humble act of sacrifice.

During the 33 years Jesus walked on the earth, the Jews had cultivated a deep admiration for Him. They had witnessed His miracles, listened to His teachings, experienced His service, and felt His love firsthand. As they laid down their cloaks and palm branches before Him, they were publicly declaring Him as both their King and source of hope.  As they cried “Hosanna” it revealed the longings of their heart, for in Hebrew it means, “I beg you to save.” Though many may have been hoping for an earthly king who would deliver them from Roman oppression, Jesus came to offer something infinitely greater. He came to bring salvation not just from earthly suffering but for our very souls.

Sacrifice was strewn through this story, as not only the cloaks, but also the donkey that Jesus road in on was given in sacrifice. Jesus had instructed the disciples while they were in the Mount of Olives to go to the next village and find a colt that had not been ridden. They were told to take the colt and say, “The Lord needs it.”  God prepared this fellows heart, even to the point of offering part of his livelihood.

Sometimes if we overthink obedience, we may question if we should, but we need to trust that God has already gone before us. Follow the Holy Spirit’s nudges in your life. Seek to understand God’s will rather than being confined by our limited reason. Let the Word of God be your beacon and guide as you put your trust in the ruler who has the whole world in His hands.

These series of sacrifices lead towards the greatest sacrifice of all. In just 5 days, Jesus would be nailed to a cross and be beaten and bruised for our transgression. Christ’s sacrifice would take pain, emotionally and physically. With each step he took towards the cross, He was proclaiming that He deemed us worth His sacrifice and love. He could have caused a fleet of angels to come protect Himself, but love was at the forefront of his mind. If we ever question God’s love for us, remember the cross, and the sacrificial choice that was made at Golgotha.

“Greater love has no one than this, than the one who lay down his life for his friend.” John 15:13

The greatest sacrifice of all was given by the One who shouldn’t have had to sacrifice, yet He willingly gave up Himself to make a way for our salvation.

May we live with open hands and  grateful hearts willing to offer whatever the Lord has entrusted to us in humility to our King, who offered Himself as propiation for our sins out of His immense love for us.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would love that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.” Erma Bombeck

As I faced this obstacle in my life, I was dumbfounded; completely kicked on my backside. So, what to do when you’re left speechless? I put up my surrender flag for a while. Friends, family, life, things that once came so naturally to me, I felt like a complete failure at. I could not maintain a footing on the small ledge I was on.

Have you been there? I didn’t even want to pretend to have it all together. I was tired, and I honestly didn’t care who noticed.

The people God called me to love… everyone, annoyed me. I cringe thinking of the word annoyed, it brings me back to high school, when the worst thing was when someone said they were annoyed with you. I know this annoyance stemmed from having nothing left to give. I was depleted in every sense of the word.

Small dilemmas became big dilemmas. As I ultimately realized the bigger issue here. Did I trust God? Did I fully believe that God holds the world in His hands in every sense of the word… even my own life? In every situation and hardships God has a purpose for them. The most evil that Satan can devise in this world, can never overthrow the omnipotence of a holy and righteous God. Ultimately, God wins, and I am fighting on His team at all costs.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Seasons…

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There was a season for my pity party, and now I must get back up and continue fighting, gathering, planting, living. Living a life that hopefully honors and reveres God. Showing love to others because God first showed love to me.

It is easy to feel hurt, to be broken down by the spiritual warfare that is present. It is kind of part of the package deal called… life. Yet, we have a choice to not let it consume us. We must intentionally seek hard after the peace that God offers, and fight for the things that are of value.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

So I am choosing…

To fight for my marriage, no matter who is right or wrong. To seek for ways to love, and not tear down.

To fight for my kids, even when I’m tired, and feel inadequate for the task at hand. To show them they are valued enough to make time for, no matter the demands on my plate.

To fight for my friends, even if it is a season where I feel I am taking more initiative to keep the friendship going.

To fight for my faith, even when God doesn’t always answer the way I would like. I need to trust Him, that His ways are right and true.

To fight for my convictions, even if I am standing alone.

We need to actively pursue healing relationships, and restoring bonds. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ephesians 4:9). Whatever it takes, whatever the obstacles you may face, it is worth it. We can not let our pain control us. Control our thoughts, our actions, or our life. It withholds us from the greater purpose God has in store for each one of us who live a life of forgiveness. So gather your armor, make ready your shield, prepare your heart for whatever God has in store for you today.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3

Photo credit: GRATISOGRAPHY

The phone buzzes. It’s encouragement from a friend when you have had a really rough week. It may seem that nobody knew what you were going through, but God does and places you on the heart of others at just the right time.

Money is running dry, and you are wondering how the bills will be paid. You are starting to feel the pressure, but an unexpected work day relieves the load. Our finances are not a surprise to God.

Perhaps you prayed you would not be nervous at a speaking event (cough…cough, this is not a personal story or nothing), yet nerves did not evade you. God heard your prayer, but the answer came differently.

It might sound foreign hearing God’s provision coming through an unanswered prayer, but let me explain. God’s desires for our life-and those around us-are not limited by our own comforts. Selfishly, I wish I was never nervous and could command an audience with my boldness and rhetoric. However, the big picture is that it’s not only about us.

There are so many moving parts in each minute we are given in this life. If I step back, I realize someone might have needed to see the rawness of my weakness. God does a lot of great work in our “hiccups”, and shortcoming: humility, genuineness and compassion just to name a few.  Our prayers that don’t go according to our plans may ultimately be the very areas that bring God glory in the future.

Humbling Moment

Confession time…

Roll back a few months ago. I was asked to speak at a women engagement. I prayed hard that I would not be nervous. I asked friends to pray that I would not be nervous. Guess what, I was still nervous. From my end I did everything I could; I prepared, planned, and prayed. The triple “p”s. Yet God said no. As I reflected, I saw this opportunity through a different lens.

I realized my limitations and weaknesses, and my prayer was that God use the opportunity despite me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Quite possibly at that moment, there was someone who needed to see my humanity, nerves and all. Although, I may prefer people to see the perfect version of my myself, perhaps having others see the rawness of our journey allows us to be more relatable. Ultimately, I knew God wanted me to glorify Him through this speech, and if the conduit that was used in that moment was my weakness… so be it.

Provisions in Disguise

We have an all powerful God, yet sometimes we grow weary of seemingly unanswered prayers; the wait has been long and the process has been grueling. In our mind, it makes no sense why these well-intended prayers have not been answered. Yet, if we step back, perhaps we can see God’s purpose and hand weaved throughout the story.

Conversely, recognize that the seemingly unanswered prayers are actually God’s providential hand on the situation. What if we need to learn something in a different route than we initially desired? In the Bible, there is a strong visual of God’s overarching love when Jesus goes out of His way to meet the Samaritan woman at the well, although it was not necessarily the way they needed to go or were encouraged to travel. Yet His love for the woman persuaded Him to go a different direction.

Perhaps God’s love also takes us in different directions then we would like. The sanctification process that we go through is not a one time arrival moment, but a series of moments being refined by a God who knows us. He knows where we need to grow, what our needs are, and is tender with us through the process.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Murray

We Need Not Worry

I love Matthew 6:26, which says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” We don’t have to let our thoughts ruminate on worry; even if it doesn’t go as we planned, we can entrust the plan to a God that cares more about us, then we do about our self.

The understanding that God has the whole world in His hand, and knows our every need, whether physical, emotional, or financial is comforting. He knows the beginning, the middle and the end to our stories.

When we are walking through hard seasons, we need to remember nothing is a surprise to God. God’s goodness can be revealed through our muddled pages of our life, whether we would rather rewrite it or not. So we need to ask ourselves how is God providing for us in this very moment?

One definition of God’s provision says, “The divine act of supplying what is necessary for the sustenance and well being of His creation, both physically and spiritually. It is rooted in the biblical understanding of God as Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide) it reflects in His faithfulness, care, and sovereignty.”

God Provides

God’s provision is a gift, no matter what form it comes in. If we see all forms of provision through the eyes of love, we might start learning to appreciate even the trying seasons of life. As we are reminded that God loves us through the journey, and has the best plan in mind.

Who here has prayed for patience? Or avoided praying for patience… because you know patience is attained by walking through moments that you have to be patient: you find yourself waiting behind a slow driver, or perhaps your hardest patience hurdle is yourself, learning to offer yourself grace for the seemingly never ending mistakes.

The prayers for financial stability are not uncommon. Yet if you feel confident that you will receive a million dollars, you may be left empty handed. Although this is something God is able to do, He clearly does not do it every day. Our answered prayers may look more like having to work a job that wasn’t your first choice, or humbly accepting gifts from others.

The provision of peace may come through forgiving those that have mistreated you, and praying for them. We want the fruit of peace, but the journey it takes to get there can be long and painful. We need to trust God that His love can heal our broken pieces; this not in our own strength, but in God’s. This divine act of forgiveness gives us a tiny glimpse into God’s agape love, a love that far supersedes our own ability.

Be Thankful Always

God’s provision does not always come in the exact way we may think, and if we are honest with ourselves, we know this is a good thing! God will multiply our prayers for things, and include things we didn’t even know we needed. We often will have to work hard to learn things, which in the end will bring a greater appreciation for the things of value.

Be diligent to learn to be thankful in every circumstance. reminding yourself that you serve a God that is so good and faithful. He knows your exact needs even when you don’t, so hold onto the things that are true: God loves you, He is your provider, and He has abundant provision for your every need.

Luke 12:7 is a wonderful reminder, “Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Photo Credit: Lindsay Murray

What ways has God shown His provision to you in unexpected ways?

So if you are offering your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave the gift before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift.

Matthew 5:24

God is love. Sacrificial, faithful, relentless and kind. Sometimes the way we understand love does not always mirror a God-focused-love. We easily get distracted, or try to convince God that we love with our array of good deeds, yet what God is calling of us sometimes requires a greater sacrifice of the heart.

The Forgiven Women

In the gospels, there is a story of a woman who laid before Christ the two greatest things she had of value: her hair, and an expensive alabaster jar of oil. She prostrated herself in a lowly position, and humbly accepted her position amongst the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as tears flooded her eyes, she wondered, am I worthy? Taking her highest things of value and washing the dirtiest part of Jesus’ exterior, his feet. As her heart is laid bare, Simon the pharisee, and the disciples scoffs at this incredulous act. Questioning if Jesus even knew who she was or what she had done. Yet she knew Christ’s authority greater than those around her. Pride blinds our eyes, while humility opens them. To many this act of service appeared as foolishness, yet to the One whose opinion mattered, wisdom.

Christ’s response was a gentle reminder that they we’re not seeing the situation for what it was. Jesus knew his time for his earthly ministry was running short, and this woman was honoring Christ. Those around were thinking skin deep of the practical ramifications of the action; rather than the deeper impact of a heart that was transformed by Christ. He responded, “Why trouble this women, she has done a good thing, For you will always have the poor, but you won’t always have me.”

Her focus was evident from the moment she stepped into Christ’s presence, giving her all to praise and honor Him. While the disciples got distracted by her humanity, and questioned her waste; disregarding her in general, as a throwaway of society. They had forgotten their mission, and needed a reminder that she was who they were to disciple and love.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.

Luke 7:47

Sometimes I think we miss the mark too. Some virtues may come easy for us ; perhaps yours is giving, hospitality, encouragement, or the countless others. However, if you are like me, I have to be mindful to not just do “good” works at the expense of the greater matters of the heart.

Without Love it’s Impossible to Please God

Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.

Matthew 6:15

We cannot define what is love, apart from God, because God is love. So if you remember your brother has something against us, go and make amends with that brother before you serve, before you give. The love we show others, needs to be from an overflow of a heart redeemed, for God’s praise and glory; not to try to earn favor, because that love has already been granted to us by Christ’s blood. So it’s good to ask ourselves, are our offerings for our own benefit or for God’s? We can’t hate our brother, and act as though our love for the Lord is in tack.

When we press forward contrary to the original goal God has for us, our gifts will not be received as a sweet offering. God is a God of order. Forgive first, then let the Lord work in you and through you, whatever He desires.

This is not only for the person we need to forgives benefit, but also ours. The bitterness we are harboring only weighs us down. What a kind God to remind us, He doesn’t just want our gifts, and service, but also our heart. To let us go take care of ourself, heal, be restored, and rest in God’s love before all the todos. Yet, somehow this is very hard. Until we feel the taste of how a healed heart feels like, we almost beg, please let us do all the stuff. Forgiving the person who has harmed us is too hard of an ask. Yet, God loves them,  just like He loves you, with all your baggage, hidden and unseen.

This is a hard truth.

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:5-6

Easy is not the road God asks of us. It is loving your enemies, putting down our offenses for a greater love. Not in our own strength, but in the strength from the One who made us. This will not come easy. If you think sharing what you have is hard, try forgiving someone who stabbed you in the back. Try loving someone who has gossiped and defamed your name. God wants healing of the bitterness we have built up around our heart. We are imperfect people, trying to love imperfect people. So with heads bowed in worship, let us live out the Lord’s prayer, “Lord, please forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Amen.

God is so caring, so we can trust His promises when our hearts hurt. When we want to shout at the wall in frustration, God’s promises need to be our beacon as a reminder.”All things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.” These are the promises that are true and right.

Our vision is sometimes blurred, because our pain doesn’t always play fair. It sometimes takes our heartache and puts claims on us and/or our life, turning our joy into bitterness and our happiness into anger. Thankfully God sees the vast scope and purpose for our pain even when we don’t, “restoring what the locusts has eaten.” (Joel 2:25)

These moments of restoration and healing is a freedom few can compare. When we are in our big, hot mess we don’t know how to get out of, God stops us in our tracks to push us back on the right course. 

My wake up call came with a flood. 

It was not a huge flood but just big enough to be annoying. The rain came down and flooded our basement about 1-2 feet deep. The fire department came. The water left. But as cleanup began I noticed what the flood had ruined… some of my tangible memories.

Memories… lots of memories saturated with water. Letters that I had saved for years of my life. As I laid them flat to dry, flashbacks of this season flooded my mind. 

They were from friendships and loved ones who cared enough to write and build a community in my life. I had lost that along the way. Bitterness and sadness had built bigger walls than I knew. At this point I didn’t even know how to cultivate these relationships, and I had more of these relationships than I could count. 

You can’t compartmentalize pain and think that life goes on as normal. If you don’t let God heal the places that feel beyond repair, you literally will start decomposing in your pain. 

The flood was a visual of my fruit; the blessings that had sprung…from following after Christ… was being ripped away from me; relationship by relationship.

Yet God is still faithful. He heals and restores for His glory. I needed the flood. I needed something to remind me what I was losing, rather than keeping me fixated on what I lost. 

So where are you? Has your pain taken dominance over you? Or have you used that trial and the lessons you have learned to help others?

Everyday we have a choice to allow the healing that God offers to take root, or to continue to use our time and resources on things that are beyond our control.

We may throw up our hands 1,000 times a day in disgust of what was not the perfect story. “Why, God?” “Why them and not me?” “What did I do?” Or we can say, “Here I am, God, send me,” as we hold up our two mites, like the poor women in Mark 12. She could have been more focused on all the money she did not have to give, but instead she changed her perspective. She was going to offer her last two mites, and offer it with a heart of worship.

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

So whatever you have left to offer, do so. Offer up your pain, your gifts, your love, no matter how small it feels at first. You are never beyond repair to be used by a loving and merciful God.

Jesus picks up the broken pieces of His creation. Examining the cracks, scars, frailties, and pieces that don’t seem to fit right anymore He turns it into a mosaic masterpiece. An artistic compilation that only works with broken pieces.

Some Steps You Can Take

• Submit to God and offer Him what you can. Maybe today it’s thinking of one thing you are thankful for. Maybe tomorrow it’s helping out your neighbor. Everyday is a new day.
• Throughout your journey, look for ways to say “Yes” to God. Eventually, when your heart is ready, maybe you will be able to use your pain to encourage someone or empathize with someone.
• You may never be happy that a certain event happened, but there may come a time that you start to appreciate other aspects of your story that have sprung as a result of your pain.

My brother wrote me this note:

Realistically, you can’t just drop everything and go to the movies. Your ten year old is not quite old enough to watch the kids. However, there is an alternative that has worked great for my family, and it may work for yours as well. Drum roll please… a date jar! A date jar is a container full of ideas to do with your spouse. This breaks up the usual routine of “go-to” ideas, and spices things up a bit.

Dates don’t have to be expensive and don’t have to take a lot of time.

Here are some suggestions to incorporate dates back into your marriage. So there is no more excuses for not spending quality time together. :) 

1. Set predefined rules: No skipping out if you aren’t in the mood.
2. If you can, plan a week ahead of time so that your calendars are cleared, and you can gather any supplies you may need.
3. Have kids go in their room by a set time. We choose 8:00, but whatever time works for you.
4. It is fun to plan a date once a week, because there is something to look forward to, and also is not too overwhelming with planning. 
5. Plan some activities specifically for each spouse. A relationship isn’t all about one person. The majority of dates should be ones that you can both agree on, and both look forward to doing. 
6. Plan events that are possible in your house or backyard. 
7. It’s fun to include a bunch of throwback pictures in the date jar, because it reminds you of the fun memories you’ve had. 

Here are some possible date ideas that you could use:

• Have a pillow fight
• Decorate ceramic mugs
• Order favorite takeout
• Buy a favorite dessert
• Read corny jokes and try to crack each other up
• Watch a wedding video
• Buy a small treat for the other person to pamper them
• Have a tasting party
• Have a theme night complete with themed meals, drinks and decor
• Fondue for two
• Play pool
• Play card game
• Play ping pong
• Movie night
• Have a throwback night! Watch some old videos or look through old pictures
• Share goals for at least 1 year ahead, 5 years ahead, and 10 years ahead
• Play air hockey
• Play 20 questions
• Paint and sip: Grab your favorite type of canvas and beverage and spend time together
• Play a board game
• Have a video game tournament
• Watch funny YouTube videos together
• Sit outside and watch the stars
• Have a bonfire
• Make a puzzle

I hope these ideas will make your date night a little easier and more manageable. My husband and I have been planning date nights for about a year now, and we have had a lot of great laughs and memories to show for it. May your relationship not only survive, but thrive!

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Here is how to get started

• Find a fancy jar/basket
• Make your list, and print it
• Then cut ideas into individual strips
• Pick out weekly or however often you decide
• Enjoy each other! :)

Let’s be honest here. There is always work… loads and loads of work. It’s truly never ending because you still wake up the next day to wear clothes, eat off plates, and for some reason there is always dust and debris on the ground even after sweeping the floor. I am still trying to figure that one out. Although the workload is substantial, it can still feel overwhelming to start a routine that includes the kids in the cleaning process because in the beginning it’s more work. It can seem so laborious that many opt out of the teaching process of chores all together.

Yet, you will find the benefits of teaching a kid to do chores is a win, win, win. Persevere through rough moments and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of the labor.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s begin! 

Benefits

1. Helps kids see the bigger picture beyond themself. They see the work and energy poured into keeping the house afloat.
2. You are preparing your kids for when they are an adult. So they don’t have to learn these things when they have the pressure of life and responsibilities weighing on them.
3. They learn work ethic. 
4. Chores help them take care of their stuff and be held accountable if they mess it up. 
5. You will have more time to spend with your kids.
6. Kids will be more appreciative and less entitled when they are a part of the process. I could make spaghetti every day for a year, but then as soon as they help make the dinner, it is the best thing they have ever tried. 

Chore Allowance

In our house we do a chore allowance chart on a spreadsheet and write chores two weeks out. Then, everyday they can check the date and know what their responsibility is for the day. In the beginning, there is more prompting and teaching how to do each skill. So don’t overwhelm yourself or your kids, just slowly introduce something new every couple weeks.

I opt out of a traditional chore on Sunday. They have to still keep up with their room, but they don’t have to do the additional workload.

Then every couple of weeks I review the list to see if anything needs to be altered. 

This is our chore chart ↓

As an incentive we pay them a chore allowance. Half their age for 7 days of work. This helps them learn how to use their money…the goal is wisely. We are still working on that part, but they are learning how expensive things are, and if their coveted item is worth their earnings. They are also encouraged to tithe off the top of the earnings. 

I print out a chore allowance chart and add their names to keep track. 

Make chores a habit

I heard it said, “Anything worth having takes sacrifice.” There are few things in life that are beneficial that do not take some sacrifice to become a habit. Supposedly, it takes over 2 months of doing something before it becomes a habit. This alone can seem daunting, but keep on pressing forward.

I am thankful for chores and for the ability to work together as a team to accomplish a goal, and believe me there is plenty to go around. :)

Chores applicable by age:

3-5

• Match socks
• Put away clothes
• Put away silverware
• Picking up toys/books
• Feed Pets
• Start learning how to make bed
• Dusting
• Ask: what can I do to help?

6-9

• Help prepare meals with mom
• Set/clear the table
• Load dishwasher
• Empty dishwasher
• Vacuum with guidelines and possible supervision
• Clean windows (be careful of the overzealous sprayers) :)
• Fold clothes
• Empty trash cans
• Pull weeds
• Sweep
• Ask: what can I do to help?

10-13

• Possibly cook a meal following recipe
• Clean Bathroom
• Wash floors
• Organize
• Do chores from earlier stages 
• Waking up and doing morning responsibilities without prompting
• Increased lawn care
• Wash car
• Help younger siblings
• Ask: what can I do to help? 

Chores and responsibility are a part of life. There will be days when your kids are frustrated with the whole process, but be diligent to instill the importance of responsibility at a young age. You will not regret it and your kids will be thankful for it. 

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Jesus… the crux of the salvation story. The pillar of the Christian faith. Why Jesus? Why believe in a God you don’t feel you know, and a faith you don’t understand? Would you listen if He prodded your heart? If you fully believed He saw you right where you are at with all your brokenness and baggage, yet still loves you.

There is a biblical account of a Samaritan woman, searching for love, filling her life with empty relationships. Her void in her heart was as deep as the well she sought water from. Yet, Jesus saw her, offering her wholeness, despite the emptiness she felt. Would you allow Him a second of your time to reveal to you, that He loves you despite all the wrongs that you have ever done?

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

A broken heart is sometimes what you need in order to realize the depth of God’s love for you. Your hands spread open as you realize that despite all you have had to offer, good works, talents, and sacrifices have all fallen short.

Your hidden sins are not hidden and your fears have been laid bare as you know one day you will be held accountable. It is through this humbling realization that we rise and realize a need for a Savior.

It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Mark 2:17

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Matthew 12:36

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7

Jesus is the Answer

Many seek for answers they feel like there are no answers to; restless wanderers in a parched land. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does. I have put my trust in Jesus, the author, and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). So if you are searching for peace and hope that your life has meaning; that these short 80 years of your life is not the end, but possibly the beginning. Today is the day to entreat Jesus with all you are and with repentance for all you have done.

It’s unquantifiable, to offer something that we, in ourselves, have no means to achieve, literally impossible; and yet it is freely given. Jesus presents us with this unmeasurable gift..the love, forgiveness, and grace of a merciful God. The beauty of this love will always drive my heart to want to love God more.

Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

Love drove Him to the cross

Love drove Him to the cross to die for you. How often can we be enamored by small tokens of affections from a friend, and yet the God of the universe shed His blood for you, and yet many don’t even allow the time to ruminate on these thoughts. He was not ashamed when He died for you, or when He allowed His accusers to whip His back till it broke the flesh. This temporary pain was worth it because of the high value he placed on your life.

The God I serve is a forgiving, merciful, gracious, unrelenting, tender, caring, thought-provoking God; and though I have made mistakes God has not abandoned me.

If this is the God you would like to believe in, there is a simple promise God made for us and it is laid out in John 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

What must I do to be Saved?

• A – Admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Repent of your sins and turn to a loving God who is forgiving and merciful.
• B – Believe that Jesus came down from Heaven to die for you on the cross so that you may live eternally with him. After three days in a grave He rose again conquering death and the sentence it once carried.
• C – Confess to others that you believe Jesus is Lord and have put your faith in Him.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Spoiler alert… I am not going to promise you more than what this is. This is a craft. It’s not a life changer, but hopefully, it will give your family spritzes of moments to reflect on things that are of value. Honestly, no matter how hard we try and strive for our kids to seek better, live better, love with pure intent, it is an unsustainable goal apart from the love of Christ.

Our kids have to be connected to the Vine just as much as we do; to the One who rewires our heart to love others greater than we do ourselves.  So my task is not just to encourage my kids to do a kind deed here or there, but to get an entire heart overhaul as they allow Jesus to shine through them. My hopes are that these outward displays are a reflection of a deeper heart change.

Apart from Me (Christ), you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Fruit of the Spirit Craft

Supplies:

• Variety felt pack
• Art canvas (whatever size you want, I would suggest at least 11″x14″)
• Staple gun
• Large sheet of light colored felt
• Fabric scissors

Instructions

1. Make a felt board.

I bought an art canvas and some light-colored felt, wrapped felt tight around art canvas, and turned it upside down. I then used a staple gun the felt to tack the felt to the canvas. Super simple. Super quick.

Here is the step-by-step tutorial I used – Felt board.

Front of the felt board

Back of the felt board

2. Cut out the shapes.

Then I cut out little leaves and a tree. These can pretty much be any shape you like. I found that cutting felt is a pain with regular scissors, especially if they are dull. I used my sharpest scissors in the house and they worked well. If you have fabric scissors that would work best.

3. Test it out.
You can get a sneak peek how the final craft will look by putting the leaves on your tree. I really enjoyed the final look of this craft!

4. Share with the kids, and look for opportunities to add leaves to your tree!
The goal of this tree is to highlight the fruits of the Spirit that were being demonstrated in your home. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Some fun activities to do with the tree

• What my family liked to do was assign each kid a colored leaf. Anyone in the family could place a leaf for each other on the tree when they saw someone displaying a fruit of the spirit. You could choose to offer incentives for their kind acts or let their kind act be the reward :)
• Another option is assigning each fruit of the spirit with a different color to see what strengths your family carries.
• Or perhaps you want to do away with the color separation and just add a leaf to your tree when you see someone do a fruit of the Spirit and just work collectively. Whatever way you decide I know this will be a fun craft for your family!

I would love to see pictures of your tree in the comment section and any fun ideas you decided to do while teaching your kids the value attributes of the fruit of the Spirit!

God Has Heard

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5

Jayden means “God has heard”; even as his life was being formed in the womb… God already had a plan for Jayden. Filling his life with prayer, preparing his heart for sacrifice from the very moment of conception. His older sister spent a month in the NICU, and our first child died in a miscarriage. We fully realized the frailty of life and were unwilling to depend on our own strength to help protect, lead and guide this child. So prayer was essential from beginning of his purposeful life.

This did not make his life free from hardships. I have watched him dart in front of a truck, as my blood-curdling scream tried to stop him, yet instead of him stopping it was the truck that stopped on a dime. It was only by God’s grace he was saved. God’s hand of mercy has always been on this child’s life, protecting Jayden and revealing His goodness and faithfulness.

But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

Psalm 66:19

Fighter

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fear can limit us, restricting us from the greater purpose God has for us. Jayden is not absent from being shy and withdrawn, there are times he’d rather not be around people. Yet, when there is a cause, a reason to rise above his fears he is the first person you want fighting in your court. No matter the size of the opponent he will be a blockade to protect another emotionally and physically.

His bravery and loyalty, causes me to step back, as I am constantly granted opportunities to learn and grow myself. Bravery is something Jayden seeks and lives out. It did not surprise me that he came home one day from Vacation Bible School quoting Joshua 1:9 as though it was a proclamation on how he wanted to live.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Sees the Value in Others

Value: the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

When we look at another do we see their value and worth? Do people take precedence over things; does quality time spent mean more than the newest gadget? Sometimes our actions portray a different story than what we desire, or what we hope we are living out. Kids offer their genuine reactions, and I am so thankful that Jayden places value on people over things.

A pair of yellow socks

One season I was in a crocheting mood, anything from blankets that took months… to hats with beards was coming off the Mom assembly line… JJ was on my heart, so I asked him if he would like me to make him anything.

He looked at me with innocence in his eyes, “Could I have a pair of yellow socks?” Out of everything he could have asked. Yellow socks were at the top of his list. This touched my heart. A simple skein of yellow yarn was able to make JJ something of importance because he saw it as such. From that day on JJ could be seen proudly displaying his favorite colored yellow socks for all to see.

Jayden not only showed appreciation but reminded me of a valuable lesson… that I was of value. My time was a treasure to him more than any large gift I could send his way. God used a simple pair of yellow socks to help him feel of value and me. Sometimes we go through the grind and press forward, forgetting our worth and the hearts we impact.

I will always be amazed by the uniqueness of each child, and the irreplaceable value they bring to the family. Every day, Jayden is a reminder to me of God’s love, loyalty, and faithfulness. When I look at Jayden, I smile as his bold words ring through my head. “I am not afraid because God is with me.” I pray that I can walk as boldly in this truth as my five-year-old son.

JJ’s Song

God, you can go in my heart because you are God,
and you know where I go because you are God.
You can save me from my sins because you are God.
I can’t keep up with you because you are God.
I love God, and He loves me.