Diving head-first

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On Children and Pain

Tonight the conversation at my homegroup moved to children. It could've been because one of our couples is great with child...expecting very soon. The time is drawing near for baby number two...and the rest of us are witnesses to the changes that brings.

Or, it could have been that God turned the conversation that way, because there was something He wanted me to learn.

Having two children, at least having my two children, is hard work. There are many (perhaps too many) moments that I literally cry out loud for Jesus' help in the midst of painful and difficult situations. Just the other day I cried out to Him...standing on the edge of the cliff, no, hanging off the edge of the cliff by my fingernails almost falling into the land where I'm not the kind of mommy I want to be.

There are times that I seriously struggle with my two children. Just being honest. But I'm thankful for those two little ones and all of the other painful, challenging things that come my way in life because they keep me diving head-first to the Cross.




Perfect in Weakness

My life verse is from II Corinthians 12:9,

"But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect is weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

So what if I'm not perfect?

So what if I'm not perfect? So what if I make mistakes? So what if I don't always get it right? His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

So I'm going to boast in it. Guess what?

I'm NOT a perfect friend.

I'm NOT a perfect wife.

I'm NOT a perfect mother.

I'm NOT a perfect employee.

I'M NOT A PERFECT CHRISTIAN!

And I hope I stay that way. If it takes my humiliation, my pain, my weakness on display to make much of Christ...to allow Christ to be at His strongest for me, then here I am in all my glory. NOT PERFECT.

Weak.

Sinful.

Petty.

Stubborn.

Worried.

Jealous.

Scared.

Insecure.

And on and on till forever.

Come Lord Jesus. I'm on my knees. My prayer rug is already worn and there may soon be holes all the way through.

Be strong for me. Cause I'm diving head-first.

What drives you to the cross?

Praying By Name

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Before we get started today, I want to wish a very special friend of mine a beautiful HAPPY BIRTHDAY!



Sandra Peoples blogs from the heart of a minister to women, mother, pastor's wife, and most importantly servant of the Messiah, Jesus. She demonstrates grace, balance, dedication and patience. She has an encourager's heart and I'm thankful to know her. Please go give her tons of birthday well-wishes at her ministry blog Heart for Him. Then go check out the blog she writes with three friends called Today's Housewife. You'll be glad you did.

You can connect with Sandra on Facebook or on Twitter. She tweets as @HeartforHim. Happy birthday Sandra!

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So I've been sicker than I've ever been in my life since Friday. And I'm learning that post-30?? Yea...it takes longer to come out of the fog.

Therefore, no video today. Just a word of prayer uttered from my laptop.

In honor of my friend Sandra's birthday I'd like you to leave two requests for today. One for you and one for a friend.

Join me?

"Father God, You see all and know all. In You we have our life, and breath and being. You are good. You are gracious. You are kind. In You there is no shadow of turning. Even when the rug is swept right out from under us YOU NEVER CHANGE. You bring new mercies every morning. GREAT is Your faithfulness. Today Lord, let our weaknesses drive us to You. Turn our hearts to You with each trial, each pain, each struggle. Bind us to You. Your Word says there is nothing that can separate us from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus. Help us to feel those ties pulling us back when we're tempted to stretch away. Help us to see our sin, repent and move forward in light and truth.

I lift up my friend Sandra to you today Lord. What a treat it is to "know" her and be blessed by those things You lay on her heart to write. I pray that in the coming months You would pour out Your words onto pen and paper through her as she seeks to complete the work You have laid before her. When she is weak, give her strength. When she is sick, give her health. When she is laid low, lift her up and complete the work you started in her.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen"

If you would, please pray that the Lord would give me vision for the future. That simple request encompasses so many things...but He knows...and He sees. I feel Him close. As you look through the prayer requests of others, feel free to pause and lift them up with me or write out your own prayer as you go on the way.

How can I pray for you today? How can I pray for your friend?

Frederica Mathews-Green, A Quote

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Thought for the day...

From Frederica Mathews-Green:



"But for some reason, in the late twentieth century pregnancy came to be seen as an unbearable burden. It became so unbearable that one-fourth of the times it occurred, women sought abortion to escape it.

Was this because pregnancy had become too dangerous to women's health? Was the nation wracked by war or famine? No, America during this period was the wealthiest, healthiest, most secure and comfortable nation in history. Pregnancy became unbearable due to two bad ideas. One was the idea that women should be promiscuous. The other was that women should place career above childrearing."

What are your thoughts on this?

God in the Moments

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Alone in the car, new mercies just forming over the crests of the mountains, I saw it.

That moment intended just for me, the display of His splendor to capture my heart and leave a forever mark on it.

The God of the Universe, Who created this...loves me?



"When I look at Your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that You are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?"

Psalm 8:3-4

Oh the love of God. That richness that woos me. That depth that calls me. That sacrifice that redeems me. God in the moments.

What are your moments? How does He love you?

Wanted: Friends!

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I'm so excited to introduce you to my friend, Sandra, as our guest poster today. Sandra is an amazing woman who graces my life and gives me hope for balance as a mom and writer. I know you'll love her too as she shares in this friendship series.

Wanted: Friends!

If you were going to put an ad in the newspaper for a friend, what qualities would you list? What qualities would you avoid?

Proverbs 22:24 says, "Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man," (ESV) or in the New Living Translation, "Keep away from angry, short-tempered people."

I love that God's Word has so much practical wisdom! Stay away from angry people- that's simple advice. What other qualities should we avoid when we want to make friends?

Anger is listed in Galatians 5:18-20 with other desires of the flesh, "... strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy..." Not a list of traits I want in a friend! In fact, when I think back on problems with friends in the past, one or more of these qualities was rearing its ugly head.

But just a couple verses later, we see a list of traits we should be looking for in our friends: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Ah, just reading that list makes me breath a sigh of relief. It is possible to be a good friend and make good friends. We must focus on growing in the fruit of the Spirit listed here.

Yesterday Brooke did an excellent job telling us why we need friends, and God's Word tells us what we should look for in friends. Praise Him today for the gift of friendship, and pray that the relationships you have will produce the fruit of the Spirit!
  

Sandra Peoples is a stay-at-home mom of two boys, pastor's wife, and lives in Pennsylvania. She blogs about biblical womanhood and strengthening your women's ministry at Heart for Him. You can also find her on Twitter @HeartforHim.

What do you look for in a friend?

Ease or Increase

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How much are relationships worth? Why bother?

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Clean Trough

If friendships come and go...

If being human means that we WILL sin...hurt others.

If loving others means being vulnerable to people who, like me, are sinners...who will hurt me...

Then I'm not sure I want any part of it.

At least that's what my flesh says.

A part of me is overwhelmed at the thought of being in this vulnerable place for the rest of my life. Does it never end? Do I never get to completely let my guard down?

"Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox." (Proverbs 14:4)

A life without relationships is clean. No fighting, no hurting, only me to worry about. And it's comfortable. Less complicated.



But oh, the increase that comes by the strength of relationships. Knowing, shared dreams, discipling, encouraging, challenging, bearing one another's burdens, and having someone else to share life with.

Ease or increase? That is the question.

No Lie - Praying By Name

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What can you pray for me? Obedience. I want to live a life of loving obedience. If you would like to learn more about my motives for this obedience head over to the March issue of Exemplify to read my article entitled, "What is Enough" (pg 40 & 41).

Interested in the book from my video? Pick it up here:



Once again, leave a comment with your prayer request and I promise to lift you up by name today.

You're a blessing to me friends. Thank you for allowing me to bless you back.

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