When my flesh takes over, I regard no one according to the flesh, including myself... This is how it's supposed to pan out anyway. I will be honest with you though. I am having a total flesh day today. You ever have those? I have them often. So this post is really for me; I am just sharing with you what God is speaking to me.
Lately my life has been marked by fleshly traits such as fatigue, insatiable hunger (breastfeeding mama here), toddler tantrums, impatience, irritability, poopy diapers, more toddler tantrums... You get the idea. I am not complaining about how all I do is stay at home with needy kids all day and how I need some sort of out or something. What I am saying though, is that I am made up of flesh. My children are made up of flesh. Flesh is everywhere, and I can't escape this reality. So with that comes all the wonderful realities that flesh carries. And I am faced with a decision multiple times per day: Do I define myself by who I am in the flesh or by who I am in the Spirit?
Let's take fatigue for example. I have found myself going on and on about how tired I have been. Someone asks me how I am doing, and I respond with, "I'm tired." Being physically tired is a flesh issue. And while it may be entirely factual that I am tired, there is a greater truth from which I can draw strength. Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
It's all about the power of my mindset and words really. I have to remind myself many times daily who I am in Christ and what is available to me. Often times, I begin my day with 1 Corinthians 13. I am talking to myself (my flesh) and it goes something like this, "I am patient, and I am kind. I am not easily angered and I keep no record of wrongs. I bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things. God's love in me never fails." I do this because I know how unruly my flesh likes to get. And I know how good my kids are at pushing just the right button at just the right time. So it's like I'm calling a meeting with Me, Myself and I. Just letting everyone know that the Spirit will be guiding the ship today.
I am not perfect at this, but I do recognize a difference in my day when I regard myself according to the Spirit and not according to my flesh. And according to God, I am seated in heavenly places with Jesus and I am a co-heir to God's kingdom with Him. I am more than a conqueror through Him. I am the head and not the tail; I am above and not beneath. I prosper and I am in health, just as my soul prospers. I am His beloved daughter, and He loves to give me good things. He gives me the desires of my heart.
So here is my challenge to you, Beloved daughter of the King... Next time you find yourself feeling too tired to go on, I dare you to declare to your soul that God gives you rest! And then see what happens!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Can I Just Have A Minute??? Pleeeeaaase...
Yes, this question is what fills my mind during many minutes throughout my day with three children ages three and under at home with me. If only I could just sneak in a couple minutes to check Facebook or emails or drink a cup of coffee while it's still hot or... But alas, I am interrupted again. Interrupted by a baby who wants to be held and played with and acknowledged. Interrupted by a toddler who needs a snuggle or needs his nose wiped. Interrupted by a three year old who wants my full and undivided attention while she tells me a story about princess castles and horsies. This all to familiar scenario brings me to another, more important question: What is the true interruption taking place here? Are my children interrupting me... Or is there a deficit in my own "need tank", so to speak, that's interrupting my ability to be "all there" when it comes to taking care of them?
Mom, please just hear me out till the end of this post. I (as do we all) need times alone and away from my children to refresh myself and feel full enough so that what's on the inside of me overflows out onto them. That's the key though. I want to overflow onto my children. But some days, I feel like I have to dig down so deep on the inside of myself just to get the bare minimum of what I need to care for them all and keep a remnant of my sanity. Some days, my best feels pathetically inadequate compared to the vastness of their needs. I feel like I fall short over and over and over again.
Am I speaking anyone's language here? Or am I the only mom who struggles to make sure I am taking care of me so that I can in turn give my family my best? I have noticed that I start to claw at every opportunity to catch a break when I have stopped overflowing. It happens when I am in serious need of some "me time" and I am running of fumes.
How do we get full enough to trigger the overflow? And then to remain in overflow mode, if you will. I have found that it takes work. It takes planning and intentionality. It takes realizing that it isn't selfishness; it is the opposite actually. When you make a deliberate choice to take care of yourself (however that looks for you), you can then give your husband, kids, girlfriends, etc. the very best you have. They won't get leftovers...or fumes, which stink!
So what fills you up, friend? Do you guard nap time and bedtime with your very own life, like I do? Do you trade kids with a friend once a week and go enjoy a coffee in peace? Get lost in a novel every once in a while? Maybe your hubby takes care of the kids one night a week while you go walk around aimlessly at Target (and perhaps spend a few bucks). Whatever it is that fills you up, do it! Regularly. Don't wait until you're on fumes to fill up your tank. And remember on those rough days that God's grace is sufficient for you and your family. We can only do this mothering thing by His grace anyway!
Mom, please just hear me out till the end of this post. I (as do we all) need times alone and away from my children to refresh myself and feel full enough so that what's on the inside of me overflows out onto them. That's the key though. I want to overflow onto my children. But some days, I feel like I have to dig down so deep on the inside of myself just to get the bare minimum of what I need to care for them all and keep a remnant of my sanity. Some days, my best feels pathetically inadequate compared to the vastness of their needs. I feel like I fall short over and over and over again.
Am I speaking anyone's language here? Or am I the only mom who struggles to make sure I am taking care of me so that I can in turn give my family my best? I have noticed that I start to claw at every opportunity to catch a break when I have stopped overflowing. It happens when I am in serious need of some "me time" and I am running of fumes.
How do we get full enough to trigger the overflow? And then to remain in overflow mode, if you will. I have found that it takes work. It takes planning and intentionality. It takes realizing that it isn't selfishness; it is the opposite actually. When you make a deliberate choice to take care of yourself (however that looks for you), you can then give your husband, kids, girlfriends, etc. the very best you have. They won't get leftovers...or fumes, which stink!
So what fills you up, friend? Do you guard nap time and bedtime with your very own life, like I do? Do you trade kids with a friend once a week and go enjoy a coffee in peace? Get lost in a novel every once in a while? Maybe your hubby takes care of the kids one night a week while you go walk around aimlessly at Target (and perhaps spend a few bucks). Whatever it is that fills you up, do it! Regularly. Don't wait until you're on fumes to fill up your tank. And remember on those rough days that God's grace is sufficient for you and your family. We can only do this mothering thing by His grace anyway!
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