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No more feeling trapped

When I first started being a full-time homemaker, it became a snare to me.  I was very hard on myself and put alot of expectations on myself that were not from God.  My husband would get up early in the morning and go to work and I always felt like I couldn't sleep late.  Not that I got up with him but I remember feeling guilty if I slept past like 9:00am.  Honestly, I felt guilty doing alot of things.  Things that if I could of done freely, I would probably be a lot further then I am now in my writing and other giftings that God has given me.  I spent 2 days a week at home cleaning.  The other 3 days, I struggled.  When I would go to the bookstore to read, I felt guilty.  I would think "Is it fair that I get to relax at the bookstore while my husband out working to provide for us?".  Sometimes I would want to go to the Amish market and eat breakfast.  They had a restaurant in the Amish market with great breakfast.  I would ...

The dirty truth about discipline

I got up this morning, went through the 2 hour process of getting my kids ready for school.  Once they were at school I came back home and decided I was going to read my bible, reflect on some things, and write some things down in my planner.  Well guess what?????  A wave of drowsiness washed over me.....................I had coffee in my hand and I still got so sleepy.  So sleepy that I absolutely had to allow myself to drift off into a slumber.  I had scheduled a workout at my favorite workout spot, Orange Theory.  But I was so sleepy that I was tempted to cancel.  Thanks to Orange Theory you can't cancel, the same day, via their app.  You have to call and even then you might lose your class that you paid for.  They normally have a waiting list for classes.  With that said I forced my butt up and into action to get to my class.  I'm so thankful to Orange Theory and the way they promote accountability, especially during this spe...

Depression is......................................

     I went through depression 12+ years ago.  I was in my 20s.  I had just became a follower of Christ.  Not many months after that some dark times followed.  Life seemed well on the outside.  But for some reason on the inside there was a deep gloom and darkness.  It was like living in a dark tunnel with a glimpse of light.  I knew that light was Jesus.  It was only a glimpse of it though.  I didn't understand why I felt the way that I felt.  Something was wrong but I didn't know what.  I felt trapped and unable to get of of the dark gloom that had surrounded me.  Why couldn't I feel happiness and joy anymore??  I didn't understand.  I would suffer from horrific stomach cramps.  My stomach would get in knots.  I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think they would understand.  Hell, I didn't even understand.  I knew they would look at me and say "What reason do you have to be depr...

One God expressed in Three persons

I spoke with my son about God being one God expressed in three people.  I know that there are people that say it's confusing and some have even tried to draw people away from following CHrist, in doing so.  It is not confusing.  There is some mystery to it, but it's not confusing.  If we belive that all creation reflects the nature of God, then we can also understand more about God being expressed in 3 forms (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).  This is totally in line with who He has presented Himself to be in all creation.  Lets take the example of water.  A simple, but necessary, element that is essential to our survival.  Jesus talks about giving us living water (John 4:10).  We know that water comes from God but we also know that water can be expressed in 3 forms: A solid, a gas, and a liquid.  In all these forms it's still water.  In these 3 forms, water is still water.  Now, if God made water to be able to do this and all ...

Testimony - great customers, great tips, $400 refunded from my school, Financial blessings

I had to blog about this.  I couldn't keep this to myself.  Something happened a couple days ago.  Just to share a little bit of the backstory before I tell you, my husband and I had a huge financial crisis about 3 years ago.  Things have gotten better little by little but it takes grind, especially on his part.  He is a great husband and dad so he takes pleasure in providing for his family.  This is a great entry point into what I'm about to share with you.  As we were approaching the beginning of the school year there were some other expenses approaching as well.  My husband and I believe our kids should be involved in extra curricular activities.  As they get older we feel they need constructive ways to channel their energy.  And they need to get away from the constant lure of the Ipad.  This is a big challenge for today's generation and you have to be proactive, especially with your children.  Anyway,  my daughter wa...

There is no point in doubting

Doubting is insanity!!  We all struggle with it at some point or another in our lives.  But that doesn't change the fact that it is insanity.  The foremost expert on this topic says that he who doubts should not suppose that he will receive anything from God.  James 1:5 says that "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (New King James Version). I would call God the foremost expert on the topic.  There are other experts out there.  Psychologists,  New Thought Leaders, Counselors, Minsters, Pastors, Doctors.  Many of them will tell you that "doubting and worrying always produces negative symptoms in your mind and body".  Spiritual Bites ,    Journey to your miracle

What is in a name?

To those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children Of God John 1:12 I keep wondering about this statement "believed in his name".   What does it mean to believe in Jesus's name?   I always hear this statement with something in the middle.   Like "I believe I'm healed in Jesus's name".   What does it mean to believe "anything" in His name? John 16:23-24 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.   The scripture above really caught my attention.  I have read this scripture quite a few times.  But this time some specific words jumped out to me: "in My name".   You know.........in the past, when I have prayed.  I would say "in Jesus name" almost as more of a way you are suppose to close out a prayer like a ...

A glimpse of light in darkness

 One of the most important parts of the morning is my coffee mug.   As I rise early and it's still dark,   I creep downstairs and I know I don't need any other light except the blue light on my Keurig .   I quietly fumble around in my cabinets for a coffee mug.   Then a get my creamer out of the fridge.   As a look at my Keurig, I see the water level is low, but it looks like there just might be enough water for one cup.   I take a chance, risking the disappointment of those flashing words on the screen "needs more water".   But my risk pays off and it turns out I have just enough to meet my need at that moment.   What I blessing it is!!   With pure delight, I run upstairs to my room, quietly as not to wake anyone.   My alone time with God is so important. Still without any lights on, I open one of my blinds.   So I can bring in the daylight thinking about God.   I know that in the morning if I get up and seek Him. ...

Love & Crisis

I am bursting with stuff to share, but really haven't known if it's the time to share it.  Or even if this is the platform.  There have been some foundational lessons that God has been teaching me.  Gosh, I haven't blogged so long.  I don't know where to start.  I long to connect with my readers on  a more personal level.  I don't know how many of you are married.  But statistically marriages will go through a crisis about every 10 years.  It could be health, financial, loss of a loved one, parenting issues, etc.  My husband and I went through our first crisis last year, and guess what?  Last year was our 10th year of marriage.  Ours was financial.  Honestly, it went on for about 2 years but reached the worst of it last year.  We were in danger of losing our home.  The only reason we are in our home today is because God used our family and our church to help us.  But it was rough for awhile and it truly ...

Who are you really???

When you first realize who you are...........  There were certain books that I would not read.  When I saw books on "How Successful women juggle it all".  Or just books on success,  I would say to myself "That book is not for me".  It's funny because the books were for successful people and in saying "This book is not for me", I was ultimately vocalizing that I didn't see myself as a "successful person".  Even though I felt I was a great stay-at-home mom and wife, " I didn't feel like these books were written for me or my life".  I now realize that I felt this way because of an internal belief about myself and, my path.  Well,  God has changed that.  I was drawn to this book recently called "What the most successful people do before breakfast".  For the first time ever, I heard within myself "Your a successful person, so you need to find out what other successful people do." I had never heard that withi...

"Supernatural" vs "natural"

I have this whole thing in mind with the "natural" vs "supernatural".  Is one superior to the other?  Should one take priority over the other?  Do we gravitate more towards one than the other in our hearts?  I say this because to me there is always a inward pull towards the supernatural.  I'm exploring this.  I'm exploring this because I think many times, we do not feed our spirit what it needs.  We actually yearn to feed who we are on the inside.  But I think we end up feeding more of what you can see on the outside.  What's on the outside of me?  Well, I'm a mother so my I have my kids to take care of.  I'm a wife, so I have that, I help my husband with our business, so I have that.These are all things you can see and really these are "natural" roles in my life.  A mother naturally wants to feed her family and be there for them.  There are moms who are unable to do that, because of sickness or addiction but the desire ...

You want to produce "something". But how?

The reward of "no reaction".  Many times in life, when things get rough, or we get uncomfortable, or we have a bad day, we go into "fight or flight" mode.  This can be dangerous when there is no real threat.  "Having a rough day" does not mean you are in danger.  Being uncomfortable with the current season of your life does not mean you are in danger.  I say this because I believe we are so conditioned to react.  We are a culture that wants to medicate everything.  We don't just medicate with medicine, but we medicate with "alchohol", we medicate with "shopping", we medicate with "eating", we medicate with "television", we medicate with "drug abuse".  There are so many things that we medicate ourselves with.  I don't "blame" anyone for that, I'm just saying that it's a toxic cycle.  The fight or flight mechanism in all of us, is there to respond to an immediate threat to us or some...

Destroy lack in your life

During biblical times, the people had a good idea of how kings reigned and what it meant for someone to have their own kingdom. But Jesus did not come as the Kings of this world.  His method of reigning is very different. Matthew 20:20-28 Greatness Is Serving 20  Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21  And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22  But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” [ a ] They said to Him, “We are able.” 23  So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; [ b ] but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for tho...

Seasons & Spice for life

When the shift happens.  What does the current season demand?  How many ways do we fight the season we are in?  What about the Winter time, it's cold and they are not conditions that promote much recreation outside of the home. Do we try to fight that by going out anyway or do we embrace it by staying inside and out of the cold, letting God have His way with that season?  What about the springtime , when the flowers are blooming and the weather is ideal for getting out into nature?  Do we lock ourselves indoors?  Is that what God wants?  The bible says to "everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven".  This is the first time in my life where I want to sit in every season, just the way God designed it, according to God's design.  I don't want to go against the "wind" by trying to go against the weather of that season.  It's like something shifted in me where the fight in me calmed down.  It's like all the sudd...

Liberty in parenting

Today I had a couple situations arise where  I sensed that The Lord was speaking to me.  I am a full-time stay-at-home mom and it's been almost 7 years.  One of the things I have been praying a lot about during those years is the bondage that can form for myself in this particular station in life.  When your kids have so much access to you all the time, it is hard to know how much to give.  You struggle with guilt and uncertainty.  This starts with nourishment when a baby is born.  One of the concerns I have heard from every mom of a newborn I have ever spoken with, including myself, is whether or not the baby is getting enough food.  Are they getting full??  This is the beginning of motherhood.  It becomes a defining factor in everything you do.  The first sense I got that God was speaking to me was this morning.  My 2 yr old son bugs me to play with him every morning while I am trying to eat and do my devotional.  So as ...

The great adventure

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Have you ever looked around at nature,at the outstretched heavens, at the universe and realized that God is exciting!!  God is creative!   He is the Creator!!  God has plans for me and for you.  But those plans are not boring and mundane!  Those plans are not labor some and stressful.  Those plans are peaceful an hopeful.  I believe God wants me to be adventure minded,  I believe He wants me to be open minded to where He wants to take my family and I.  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  I don't have to create my own adventure or be as the world puts it, "spontaneous". The world knows nothing about adventure!  The world makes destruction appear as of it's adventure.  The world tries...

What about Eve???

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”  I believe women struggle with the role that God designed them for much more than men do.  It dates back to the garden when the serpent decided to deceive Eve.  He obviously saw her as an easier target.  I believe Satan still see women as easier targets in some areas.  I find that the biggest debates among married women or whether or not to have children, whether or not to work outside of home or inside of home, whether or not to send kids to school or homeschool them.  These issues stir up the strongest emotions among wives and mothers.  I wonder why???  What side does media lean more towards in these debates???   What does all this have to do with Eve way back when, in the garden???  Well when God created Adam, He gave him a job; to tend and keep the garden.  When God created Eve He did not give her a "job". H...