Finding Light through the fog

The other day I got woke up nice and early by my little brother wanting juice. And if you know me, you know I don't sleep well the way it is so you can imagine I didn't start out very happy about this at all. Buuuutt I got up anyway to get Jedidiah some juice and after I got up I realized the sun was starting to rise. And it just so happened to be a very foggy morning. The morning air was filled with moisture! It was just beautiful! So being me, I thought it would be a good opportunity to capture some good pictures.

So I went out and started snapping away and as I was looking through the pictures I noticed in every one of them the sun just glistened through the fog. It completely over-powered it. No matter how thick the fog was, the sun made its way through! It really got me thinking....

How often in my life does it seem like there is a thick fog over everything? How often is my perspective clouded by some trial or mess? How often is my life just like the fog that is clouding the view of the sunrise?

So often I let things get in the way of my view of God, and the things He is trying to show me. I live a life clouded by fog, by trials, by circumstances. I let pain, and hurt, and evil, even people(!) cloud my view of God. Instead of looking through it, I let it blur my view and drown out the light that is seeping through.

Have you ever noticed that as soon as the sun comes out the fog disappears? Well Jesus, the Light of the world(John 8:12-"Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."),can wipe away the foggy, clouded mess of our lives, just like the sun does to that fog. We just have to look past it to see the light. Allow Him to seep through the fog of things and light up your world. If we would just look to Him, our vision, our perspective, would no longer be clouded, but full of light.

So just as I started out my morning, unhappy and looking at things the wrong way, I let my vision be clouded. I let the fog cover up the light. I let my own perspective keep God from shining His light on me. I saw being woke up that early as a terrible thing. But when I finally looked passed the fog, I saw His light. I saw the beauty of that morning and the beauty of His lesson to me. I saw the Sun shine through the fog. I saw the Son of God, the Light of the world, shine through my fog-filled vision, and give me view of His light. And once I took that in, I was able to rejoice in being awake so early. I got to praise God for such beauty and for such a wonderful opportunity! The morning was no longer terrible, it was a blessing.

So I challenge you, along with myself, to not let the challenges and trials and messes of this life fog out your vision of God, but instead, look through them and see the Light shining through to you. God's Light overpowers all things, just as the sun overpowers the fog... :)

For the love of a mother

Well Mother's day is over now and I'm pretty sure, actually I know for a fact, that my mom has probably had better mother's day celebrations in the past. Not only do I feel terrible about that but I also feel that she, along with all mothers, deserve more than just one day of extended love. They should know each and everyday what a special place they hold in each of our lives. After all, God placed you in her womb for a reason right?

moth·er  

A woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.-

Yes, my mother gave birth to me...and to my siblings. But I'm not sure this definition fully describes what a mother or, more specifically, what MY mother is to me.. and to us.

She gave birth to us, but she's been so much more than just a birth mother to us. She has been a mother of many things. Not only does she cook, clean, and do laundry for us, she provides encouragement, love, support, hugs, kisses, and discipline that provides character in each of us. She sacrifices everyday for my dad and for us. She wakes at the crack of dawn, even though she has been up all night giving love to little ones who can't sleep, sometimes even big ones like ME who can't sleep, just to continue the process of caring for us, her children. Being a mother for her not only means making sure her kids are fed and have clothes on, but it also means helping my dad with our business, even if it does run her so thin she can't function, just to make sure things run more smoothly so we can be provided for. For her, it also means homeschooling us and giving us an education so we can know something and be somebody. For her, it means going out of her way just to make us happy and give us enjoyment. For her, it means sitting at the table with us everyday sharing the Word of God with us so that we might come to know Jesus and live a life worth living. Being a mother to her means putting aside her own hurts and desires and listening to ours instead. It means taking the hurt of her child and making it her own. It means shedding tears and praying thousands of prayers for the life of each child. It means setting aside her important work just to listen to the need of a precious life. She doesn't look at it as a burden or pain, she looks at it as joy. She would sacrifice at any moment for each of us.

To me, she isn't just a mother. She's a friend. A best friend. When everyone seems to be gone, she's there. She knows when I'm hurting and when I'm in need of someone to come along side me. She's always the first to arrive and the last to leave. She gives me the much needed truth even when it hurts. She gives me support and prayer. She gives me an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on... and best of all, she brings hope and joy to everything. Laughter and love are always flowing from her!

My mom has shown us the love of Jesus and the grace of God. She has shown us living a life of sin isn't a life worth living.  She has shown us life isn't easy, but a life with Jesus is a life worth fighting for. She has shown us life isn't about yourself but about others. She has shown us the importance of family and the bond that can be built when love is given. She has shown us being a mother isn't just about giving birth, but it's a life-long bond given to you for your child. She has shown us many things, even without trying. She has shown us she isn't perfect.. but she's an example worth following.

Not only has she shaped our lives...but I'm pretty sure we've shaped hers as well. Not only is she a gift to us, but I know we're a gift to her. That's what is so amazing about my mom. She sees motherhood as a rare gift. One not to be taken lightly or for granted. She sees the gift of life in each of us and knows that motherhood isn't just about having a child, but about giving that child life and love. She sees it as building a life-long relationship with the child, a bond that can never be broken.

I know God had a special plan when He placed me, along with all my siblings, in the life of my dear mother. I get to hear stories all the time of how she as always wanted to have babies and be a mom. She's desired from a very young age to have each of us in her life. I can't explain to you the joy of knowing you've been loved before you were even born! And now here she is, a mother of ten! My mom has gone through great lengths to give us a life. A life of love, a life of memories, and a life filled with Jesus. A life truly filled with joy. I can see through her life the love she has for each of us. The love she has always had for us. The love she will always continue to have for us. And I'm truly grateful for the love of a mother. The love of my mother!

So as it turns out the definition of a mother, our mother, is wide for me. My mom, mother, momma, mommy is truly amazing. She has taken this frail heart and life of mine and shown it great love and care. She listens, she loves, she corrects, she guides, she supports, she prays, she cheers... she mothers. She is the best mom I could ask for! And she deserves love and appreciation everyday. Not just one day of the year. So to the wonderful mother she is, thank you! And all praise be given to the great God who works out all things for the good of His purpose! All glory to Him who has placed us in the hands of His daughter, our mother.

Do not be dismayed (For all you single ladies)

"Are you so busy drowning your woes in bitter longing that you can't see your single years for the beautiful stage that they are to glorify the Lord in an exciting context?"

As I have learned from my own life, and from the conversations I've had with my other girls, it seems it's so easy for us girls to become discouraged in our time of waiting for Mr. Right to come along. We see everyone else's stories come together, yet ours still hasn't. It's hard to be patient and wait for that time to come. It's hard to not get discouraged. It's hard to persevere and hold your head high. I know it is. But I'm here to tell you today...Do not be dismayed.

Do not be dismayed. For you are not alone. There are so, sooo many girls out there waiting just like you for the right man to come along. You can't always see it, and most of the time you think no one else knows what it feels like, but you're wrong. You are not alone.

Do not be dismayed. For now is a time to draw near to the Lord. "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." James 4:8 ...Mr. Right isn't here yet, but God is. It's time to fill your longing for a future husband with a longing for God. How can you fully love someone when you don't fully love God? Love God first, then He'll give you the love you need for someone else. "May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ." 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Deuteronomy 6:5:
"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."

Do not be dismayed. For now is the time to learn contentment. "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." Philippians 4:11.. If you aren't content now, how will you be content when your married? You must learn to be content now, in this stage. You must learn to be content being single and you must learn to be content in whichever state you are in. There will be stages in marriage that will flare up huge opportunities for discontentment.. but if you can learn to be content now, you'll be all the better off when those times of discontentment arise in marriage. Contentment now, brings contentment later. "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." 1 Timothy 6:6

Do not be dismayed. For now is a time to prepare yourself. This is a time to learn skills of being a wife and a mother. A time to learn to cook, clean, do laundry, care for a family, and care for a home. And most of all, a time to learn how to serve your husband. Don't sit around looking for guys and worrying about who it could be, or why it's taking so long. Get up and prepare yourself. Cook a meal, babysit someone's kid, help your mom or dad with something. There are numerous things that being a wife is going to consist of. And you most likely aren't prepared for a lot of those things. So start preparing now. Now is the time to develop the numerous skills necessary in being a wife. Study Proverbs 31. Learn what it means to be a true, serving, God-honoring wife and mother. Now's the time. What a sad thing it would be if the right man came along and you weren't prepared to serve him the way he needs to be served.

Do not be dismayed. For now is a time to fix any flaws you have. Wouldn't it be nice to have those awful habits and sins gone before the man you love comes into your life and has to deal with them? We aren't perfect and never will be... But there is so much we can work on and rid ourselves of. And now is the time to start. You know what you need to work on...And if you don't, ask your parents. Or a close friend that really knows you.  If all else, just work on beauty within. Work on becoming a woman of obedience, submission, and reverence. Work on building character and a tender heart. Work on developing a gentle and quiet spirit. 1 Peter says, "Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

Do not be dismayed. For now is a time to serve. Now is a time to use YOUR time to serve God. Ask Him what it is that He wants you to do. There are many ways of serving. "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 4:10

Romans 12:11
"Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."

Matthew 20:28

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Do not be dismayed. For now is the time to pray for your future husband. Pray, pray, pray! You can be praying right now for the life of your future husband, even if you don't know who it is! Pray for God to give him a heart that desires to bring Him praise. Pray for his protection. Pray for him to have strength and discernment. Pray for him to have patience to wait for you. Pray that he would resist temptation. Just pray for Him. I know for a fact that he needs your prayers. God is using you to serve him right now, even before you meet! And He is doing it through your prayers! I highly recommend the book "Praying for your future husband" by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer.
Psalm 65:5
"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas."

1 John 5:14-15
"And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. "

Do not be dismayed ladies. For now is an opportunity for many things. God has you here for a reason. Rejoice and conquer in it. Who you are as a single lady will be who you are as a married woman. If you not content, you won't be content in marriage. If you are lazy, you will be lazy in marriage. If you aren't submissive to your parents and authority, you won't be submissive to your husband. If you're a liar and disrespectful, you'll be both to your husband during marriage. So start now, prepare yourself. Love God, and serve Him. Instead of spending every minute of your lives thinking of that man or of who he'll be, look into your own life and start preparing for when he comes. I highly suggest reading the book "Preparing to be a Help Meet," by Debi Pearl for more insight.

Also we need to not look at every guy as a possibility, but instead, look at them as brothers in Christ and develop healthy friendships with him instead of making everything into a love game.

Remember, you aren't alone. There are many of us waiting and there are many of us preparing. I am one.

"To spend my unmarried years discontently counting the moments until I'm married-if I marry- missing out on all the blessings and opportunities the Lord has provided for me here and now, for his glory...that would truly be a waste." Jasmine Baucham

Isaiah 40:31
"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint."

*top quote by Jasmine Baucham as well*