by April | Dec 18, 2009 | Encouragement
From the title, you might expect this to be about drugs. Not exactly. Although, it could be argued it is about a kind of addiction that American women, moms in particular, are falling into: busyness.
Nearly every mom I know is suffering form the three O’s: over-scheduled, overtired and overwrought. We are stay-at-home moms, homeschooling moms, some work outside the home (as well as in), some have moved on to the title of grandma—but we all have one thing in common—we are overdone.
What are we all doing? We’re simply taking advantage of opportunities. Our country is a ‘land of opportunity’. We have options open to us that no other country has—more than we know what to do with—and therein lies the challenge.
For generations our ancestors worked hard, night and day, to earn us the freedoms we enjoy. Our parents didn’t have all these choices, and maybe we didn’t even have all these choices, but our kids have every avenue of learning and entrainment open to them. There are camps for all ages—all year long; musical instruction; art lessons; sports for every season; reading programs; after school programs; church programs and the list never ends. However, with great blessing comes even greater responsibility.
Now, I’m certainly not advising saying “no” to everything and live in seclusion (although right now seclusion may sound mighty tempting). We are to be out in the world, being witnesses for the Lord. But follow me, if you will. When we don’t say no enough, we fall into a trap of our own devising. This trap can keep us off kilter with ourselves, out of sync with our family, and most importantly out of communion with God. Those three things add up to one ugly word: STRESS.
“But,” you might say, “I want my child involved in the community. I want to be in touch with other moms, and be part of the action. I don’t want them to miss out.” I think it’s that last part that really niggles at our minds.
To be honest, it’s hard for me to say no. I don’t know why, but a welling sense of guilt begins to build in my gut when I tell my child no. Their eyes fill with longing and a little voice in my head whispers, “They might not get this chance again.” Sometimes I give in and add yet another thing that my schedule really can’t handle.
Lately though, I’ve felt convicted to protect my family. That’s what I’m likening this to: protection. We can’t be all we are supposed to be if we are stressed out, disconnected from our families and separated from the One who gives us strength to face the day. And if we never stop, if we are always on the go, we won’t hear His still, small voice that speaks to us, guides us, empowers us to make it through our day, and we might just miss out on an opportunity God has planned for US. So I’ve decided to pray about every opportunity, and ask “Even though this is good, will it keep us apart as a family? Will it cause undo stress? Will other relationships suffer because of it (my relationship with the Lord, my husband, my children)? And if the answer to any of them is “yes,” then I’m going to ignore my guilt and just say “no.”
I’ll let you know how I’m doing!
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
by April | Nov 15, 2009 | Encouragement
I’ve been pondering our need for happiness. There’s a lot to be said of happiness in our part of the world. Will the right relationship make us happy? The right job? The right amount of money? The right appearance? Obedient children? Good health? We strive after all these things in our western society, often conveniently forgetting that the greater part of our world actually lives in poverty and degradation that we can’t even begin to imagine. And yet we still yearn for happiness and wonder what will bring that often elusive sense of completion and contentment. I’ve come to the conclusion that temporary happiness is a poor replacement for true joy. True joy only comes through a relationship with Jesus and thus, a relationship with God the father. Because trials will come, and do come. Pain comes, illness comes, death comes in our fallen world. We need to have something to hold onto that will not fade, falter or fail us. That something is Jesus, through the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, lifting us when we fall, near to us when we call, who saves us when we cry out to him. He is the comforter who will love us, strengthen us, and provide us with true joy and a secure salvation.
Psalm 145 14-21
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
by April | Nov 12, 2009 | Encouragement
On paper, things don’t look so good right now. But, paper isn’t what I’m thinking of. I’m thinking of God’s provision. I’m thinking of spiritual growth and a changed perspective. Our changed perspective. Here’s the breakdown: I’ve been sick a month, and it’s turned into pneumonia. As it’s my 5th bout of the infection in the past few years, that gives me reason to pause. My left lung takes on infection very easily now. So I must take extra care and precautions. I’ve got some good medications, one of which I don’t much care for the side effects of, but you know I like breathing, so I’m going to take it.
Part two: Today my husband lost his job in a round of layoffs. Now, about five years ago we went through the same thing. I have to admit that five years ago I panicked. I drew in, and I shut down. I knew God would provide, but since I didn’t know how He would do it, I chose to worry. It didn’t do me very much good. In the end, we were greatly blessed. God provided amazingly, and my husband had a job in a month. So this time I sort of expected to feel that sense of panic, I mean, I’m sick, we have a lot of medical needs right now, and my son is on a very expensive diet–but you know what? NONE. No panic. I’ve got a long list of things I could worry about and I could talk myself into it I guess, but as the saying goes, why buy trouble? We’ve been through so much, especially in the past year with my son’s illness. We’ve learned to rely on God for our every need–emotional and physical. Because of that I have NO doubt that whatever is coming our way will be okay. God will provide for our needs. Believe it or not, I’m looking forward to seeing what He will do next!
Mathew 6:25-34
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
