a prayer for Gavin and Chelsea

Well..it is true that I started looking into this family in order to qualify for a free blog makeover ..but as it happens so often, I found a family to add to my prayer list!

Gavin, Chelsea and their mama all struggle with a chronic disorder called, mastocytosis.  It is a chronic, and life threatening condition. It causes pain to most body systems, aside from long term damage of those systems.

In order to pay for the meds that are necessary for the treatment of the symptoms of this condition, MastoMama does blog design. Reading over their story, I am reminded again how blessed my sweet family is to be free of such long-term struggles, and to be able to bring people like them to God's throne.

Blog design giveaway aside, I wanted to pass along their cause for prayer. The boys and I will be adding Gavin and Chelsea to our prayer books (I cant WAIT to tell you about this great idea for teaching our little ones to pray!), asking God to protect and heal their bodies, as well as soothe their spirit and comfort their hearts in the face of such struggles.

Please pray for Chelsae, Gavin and their MastoMama (link to their family blog)!  

We are praying for you and your sweet babies Carla!

Responsiblitiy, Part 2

I am still pondering this idea of being responsible ...here are my initial thoughts on the subject.

I have been thinking alot about the areas I am feel like I am mismanaging my resources.

{Remember ..stress happens when our resources and what requires our resources are off balance ..if we know and trust that we already have "everything we need" 2 Peter 1:3, then I have believe that if I dont feel God's peace then I am mismanaging what I have been given}

I am still thinking about how it is my responsibility to mange those areas, and how its up to me to make sure the areas that I feel stressed have the correct resources, and the correct amount of resources going to them.

I am thinking about my body as a resource. My body is a very important part of what resources are available to me, as well as how I use them. My energy level, what I need to get all the things done that need doing, is largely dependent on my physical state.

 

{Remember, God uses our physical resources to accomplish His spiritual purpose for us!}

What we eat and drink, what medications we take (or not), what rest we get, how and when we exercise ..these are all areas that we are wholly responsible.

If we feel stressed because we are malnourished, dehydrated, overtired, or overweight ..its is our own responsibility to fix it.

How about our finances? Clearly, our money is a resource that God uses to accomplish His will for us in our lives. It is an area that requires management, control, proper use and care of those resources. It is also an MAJOR area of stress ..when our resources are out of balance with what is needed of those resources.

Because we have been given those resources (just like we have our bodies) ..then we are responsible to make sure they are managed well.  We need to get a plan that works for our resources and family. We have to figure out how to balance those resources ..its our own responsibility.  ..isnt that what the Parable of the Talents is about?  ..its about taking what resources you have been given, and using them the best way you know how.

{God has already given us everything we need in any given area to accomplish His will for us in that area ...He wont ask something of you that He hasnt equipped you for ...it is your responsibility to use what He has given you as it was intended!}

And, finally, think about your time.  We all have the same amount, but it is still a resource that God will use for His benefit. How are you using yours? What are doing with the time that God has given you?

Are you giving away time that is intended for doing things that will work towards God's kingdom  to things that do not? Are you over extending yourself, even doing good things, that dont allow you to focus on the tasks you know God wants you to be fully vested in? 

Only you are responsible for how those minutes are used, only you can say no, only you can plan or manage that time. No one else is responsible for how you use your time.

Responsibility. 

We have been given resources, intended to give us "life and godliness" (2 peter 1:3) ..to prevent us from "being ineffective and unproductive" (vs.8) ..it is our job and responsibility to use them well, to be effective and productive for our God, who supplies  "every good and perfect gift!" (James 1:17)

As always, I am speaking to myself here ...these areas I mentioned are areas I have recognized I need to take responsibility for, and to figure out how to use my resources better. We will look at how we can do that this week! I hope you join me!  ...your being here is encouraging to me!

Responsibility

I will not lie to you ..these last couple of weeks of learning how to integrate Steedly School into our life, has been a challenge. There have been some challenges that have caused some moments of stress, to say the least. We have a five year old that is not loving giving up his life of no worries and all day carefree playing/using his imagination. He has had to adjust to this new life of mommy-imposed school days, where he doesnt get to do exactly what he wants to 24 hours a day!

I have had some moments where I have had to really work on not letting stress effect our school day. Some days I have been successful, many days I have not.

Working through that stress, though, has given me some insight into the degree of responsibility I have in my own stress!

I have realized that when I am in those overwhelmed moments I am the only one who can move myself through it ...It is up to me to do what needs to be done to not feel that way any more. No one is going to do it for me, the world is not going to adjust so that I wont feel so stressed out.

Its not my 5 year old or my dog's fault, its not the banks fault, the car's fault, the lady at the grocery store who cant get my coupons right ...it is my responsibility to not be so stressed out that I effect myself, my children, my husband, my home or others around me.

Despite not being responsible for the situations that are beyond my control, I am responsible for how I deal with them and to what degree they affect my underlying sense of balance and calm.

By saying this, I dont take away from God' role in bringing peace to my heart. God does bring the True Peace to me, my home, my family and my circumstances.  Only He in me can bring about that calm despite of the chaos that may surround me.

However...it is my responsibility to a) accept His peace and b) do what needs to be done to experience it.


Some things that I noted this week that were well within my responsibility ...

* Whether or not I deal with the stresses at all...some days I chose to just let the stress continue, that is my own fault!

* My fluid and nutrition status ...if I dont eat or drink enough or the right thing, I feel awful ..ready made stress waiting to happen

* How much rest I get ...to a degree, of course (I DO have a 4 month old!) but remember that sleep isnt the only way to rest our bodies, and sometimes rest is as or more important than sleep. And, often we can control our sleep, by going to bed earlier or giving up things that keep us up late.

* Whether or not I take my medicine ..I have thyroid problems, and I can TOTALLY tell when I dont take my medication in the morning

* If I take time to pray/read scripture ...you cant blame anyone else if you dont find the time to do this!

* If I dont stop and get control emotionally when I feel like I am out of control ...you chose to deal with your stress!

* Whether or not I blame others, or look to myself for my reasons for stress

* Whether or not I chose to do what it takes to get control, get rid, get over, get a new perspective, or get a new plan*  (the *LPLS Stress Strategies)


If you find yourself constantly under a tremendous amount of stress...you need to look to yourself and find out why. Why are you feeling that way? What needs to be done to decrease that feeling? How do I need to respond that will decrease my own and others' stress right now? Who am I blaming for my feeling of being overwhelmed? Where do I need to look to find the solutions to this feeling?

We have much more power and control when we realize that we can indeed control our stressfulness ...when we make an effort, and do what needs to be done to make it less stressful!

Remember..."I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" Phil 4:8  ..that includes taking a deep breath, evaluating your stress, taking responsibility for it and doing what needs to be done to get you in a better place to be affected by God's peace!

whew!

It has been a busy week ...I hope to have something posted by this afternoon ...this homeschooling/housekeeping/errand running/laundry wife/blogging mama stuff is HARD! ..how do I fit it all in exactly?

See you later today with something deep and insightful...I hope! :)

Thankful Peace

this was originally posted this two years ago today. I went looking for it this morning, because I have been pondering this connection again...

___

While studying recently I stumbled across a little something that I find remarkable!

Read with me for a moment, paying close attention to the similarities in these verses...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is rightwhatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philipians 4:6-9

Again, Paul emphasizes,

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Our state of mind and our thankful heart has so much to do with whether we allow thepeace of God take over our spirits.

Over and over again in the New Testament God connects thanksgiving with peace. Isnt that amazing? He knows us!

He knows that when we take the time to thank him, we will remember our blessings, and rest in the knowledge of His provision.

God is a smart fella.

If your anxiousness today feels overwhelming...stop and thank Him. Thank Him for the home you have to keep, the children who are healthy enough to make the messes, the husband who has committed to your partnership, the money to buy the groceries, the vehicle you have to do the errands you hate doing :)

"And the peace that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." 

Phil 4:6

Welcome ifellowshippers!