Words of Grace or Words of Wrath – You Choose

Published on by Danielle Category: Family Life

Today I was able to get in some Bible reading before the kids got up (were released) and started in Proverbs, but ended up in James. I started to think about my words and my attitude. How even if my children see me reading God’s Word, but hear harsh words out my mouth, I’m not conveying the Gospel of Grace to them.

I went to James 1 because a particular verse that I need to remember as much as my children need to memorize, was brought back to mind. Now, I’m going to change a word, please don’t get offended. It’s to make a point.

James 1: 19 – 20

                     “…Let every mom be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; (20) for the wrath of mom does not produce the righteousness of God. 

I know this isn’t exactly how it’s written. But I wanted to emphasize that this verse is for us as mothers. Sometimes I’m guilty of applying this verse when dealing with others and not my own children.

For instance, my son told me something today that made me realize that I haven’t been living this verse out, but have been doing just the opposite. I have been using a statement on a regular basis that has wounded his little heart. I said “I don’t care”.  Just Three words. Three words that have made my son think that I don’t care for HIM. I didn’t care about the mud on his shoes, or that he was sweaty, or that he was hungry. I said those things out of exasperation, out of frustration, and because I didn’t want to be inconvenienced. But in the end what I was really saying was that what was important to him wasn’t important to me.

God allowed me to see this while my oldest is six and not sixteen. by God’s grace alone, I pray that I will not use those horrible three words again.

 

The King’s Heart

Published on by Danielle Category: Family Life, Random Musings

These past few months have been rather difficult on the job front. My husband has been stretched to the max. 7 o’clock mornings and 6:30 evenings. Home just in time to eat supper and then off to tag team putting the kids down for the night. By that time he’s exhausted and I’m at a loss as to how to help him.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, he was approached by HR about another position – as an individual contributor instead of a manager. I’d been praying for a long time that God would tailor-make a position for him. One that would utilize his talents and wouldn’t wear him down. And, I know that this job is the answer. He accepted the position. But because of different factors, he is now acting in both roles and a new hire will not be available until sometime in the fall.

When I heard this, that he was now working two jobs instead of one, that his hours would now be just a little longer, that he would have more stress – I wanted to march right in to work and talk to his boss. I wanted to write a note, an e-mail, anything. But I had to stop. My husband doesn’t need to me to do anything. And if I believe that God is in control of everything, shouldn’t I just rest in that?

Proverbs says that the King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, but in this case, it’s t he heart of his boss. What I’m trying to say is that I just have to trust that God has this covered. He has this under control even if I don’t ‘feel’ like He does. My own understanding says to run headlong at this thing and try to subdue it all myself. But trusting in Him means to not worry but to pray with Thanksgiving. Then and only then will peace and rest come.

34 things to know about me…

Published on by Danielle Category: Random Musings

34 Things to know about me…

1. I’m a mom to 7, 4 littles, 6 and under, and 3 babies with Jesus.

2. I didn’t learn to drive until I was 21.

3. I have the most handsome husband in the world 😉

4. I am an Army brat (enlisted, thank you very much).

5. I’ve kept a journal since I was 14.

6. I’ve lived in Germany.

7. I’ve seen the Thinker’s backside from the window of a bus.

8. I’ve been on a whirlwind USO tour to Paris. (why I’ve only seen the Thinker’s backside)

9. I claim Missouri as my home state.

10. I’ll drive 20 minutes to get pastured eggs.

11. I have a BA in Counseling – I’ve never had a technical job in Counseling (unless you count refereeing the 4 Littles)

12. Cheese is my favorite food.

13. I am an introvert – INFJ

14. I love to research.

15. I love lists 😉

16. I’m going/have gone to Allume in October.

17. I have a passion to fight human trafficking.

18. I’ve had all 4 of my babies naturally. The giving birth is the easy part. It’s the raising that’s hard.

19. My favorite color is Teal.

20. JJ Heller is my favorite female vocalist.

21. I only realized that there isn’t anything really wrong with Contemporary Christian music in the last 10 years.

22. I could drink coffee all. day. long.

23. I have small hands and can barely palm a softball.

24. I love to wear skirts.

25. I met my husband in college.

26. My left femur has a rod in it – broke it in a car crash.

27. I love to read.

28. I love to read to my kids.

29. We’ve lived in the same house for 10 years.

30. That same house has been undergoing a sanctification (aka ‘renovation’) process for the same number of years.

31. I absolutely love the view from my kitchen window – I can see my favorite people through that window.

32. Sometimes I am too sentimental.

33. I am a deep ‘feeler’.

34. I can keep a secret.

 

And, most importantly, I am a daughter of the King. He is my hope and my salvation. Everything I do is devoted to Him, faults and all.

 

Thanks for getting to know me a little.

 

Trust

Published on by Danielle Category: Marriage

Beach

Trust is a funny thing. Over time it can be built up or it can come crashing down in an instant. There are times when I find that I don’t trust that man of mine. That tall, ruggedly handsome, jack-of-all trades. Why do I let the fear taint the everyday? Why is it that when he gives me a fantastic gift  the first thing that runs through my mind is ‘Why, what has he done?’ Not, amazing gratitude. Why is it that when he offers to help someone carry signage away from the picnic pavilion, I see him helping a beautiful woman, who obviously isn’t carrying around the marks of giving birth to 4 children in 5 years, instead of just helping someone in need. I question his motives.

This lack of trust curls around my heart and wafts through almost every area of my life. Does he know what he is doing with our finances, why hasn’t he fixed the house yet, is it really best to let the kids have those suckers…

This lack of trust in the man that God has given me, is it really a lack of trust in God? For me, in the end, it is.

A verse that keeps running through my mind is Proverbs 3:5, 6. If you’ve grown up in Christian circles, then you will have memorized this when you were 3 and can recite it backwards and forwards while doing a handstand. It is amazingly deep, but sometimes with familiarity, comes forgetfulness.

But, if you aren’t familiar with the verse, here it is:

Proverbs 3:5,6 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

(emphasis added)

          You might be wondering why I’m starting out with a verse about trusting God and not about my husband. But I think that unless I’m truly trusting in the Father, I can’t completely trust my husband.

God is always faithful – ALWAYS. There is never a time when He is not. I thought that it might be a good idea to look up the word ‘faithful’ and see what it really meant. On my search, I found that the word ‘faithfulness‘ is often paired with the phrase ‘steadfast love’. Well, what does that mean? So off again to the dictionary to see what exactly ‘steadfast’ means. Most of us know what the connotation of the these two words are but maybe not the denotation. ‘Steadfast’ means ‘fixed’ or ‘unwavering’. And, ‘faithfulness’ means ‘true to one’s promises’. So,

God’s love is unwavering and He always keeps His promises.

When I look at my love for my husband in this light, I realize that I fail on a daily basis. Now I know that this article is supposed to be about me trusting him and his love for me, blah, blah, but I’m finding that God is using this to call me out on the sin in my own heart. How many times have I wavered in my love for my husband and how many times have I not been true to my promise?

Now that this has come to light, I want you, if you’re willing, to walk part of this path with me. Over the next month, instead of doubting our husbands, let’s look into our own hearts and see where we are doubting God, and where we could improve on being steadfast and faithful. Beware, fear is going to take hold, pride too, and will try to get our focus onto what (we think) our husbands are doing wrong. But know this, I’m praying for you, and more importantly, we have an Advocate with the Father who is interceding for us right now.

 

 

Image Beautiful Stolen Moments

Published on by Danielle Category: Family Life Leave a comment

BabyThis afternoon there was dirt and grime all over the kitchen floor. Little Miss had been playing in flour pilfered from the pantry and had tracked it back into the kitchen. Mess was everywhere. So I grabbed the broom and dust pan and once again set into that never ending task of sweeping.

No sooner had I begun when I heard the familiar sound of Baby V scooting around the corner. She smiled and motioned to be picked up. I put my task aside and gladly complied.

I felt like I was stealing something. As if that moment wasn’t mine to take. I played with her for several minutes, enjoying the baby giggles and cuddles, then reluctantly put her down to finish my job.

Later the thought came back to me again that what she and I had was a stolen moment. That thought stopped me and gave me pause. Isn’t something stolen not mine to begin with? And if it wasn’t mine whose was it? I realized, in my flawed thinking, I was stealing time from my task. In essence,  I was making the sweeping up of dirt more important than lavishing love on my baby.

With God’s grace my thinking will be renewed. The tasks of Mothering elevated above the inane task of sweeping.

Has there ever been a time when you felt guilty for spending time with your children because there were more ‘pressing’ duties to attend to? How have you combated those feelings?

Image Starting Out

Published on by Danielle Category: Random Musings Leave a comment

Starting a blog is no easy task. Some things are easy – what color do I want it to be? Do I want to write about recipes and such? You get the picture, right? Then there is the not so easy things –  who am I writing for? Why am I writing? Will I purpose to not let stats matter?

And, as I sit down once again to ponder these questions, I am wrestling with the answers. I’m writing to you and to myself. I’m writing to women, specifically the woman who needs encouragement, who needs community. I’ll write about perfectionism, loneliness, and the need to connect. (And coffee, there will definitely be talk about coffee). These things will be written about because they are areas in which I’ve struggled. It’s taken me a really long time to realize that community is necessary, and even then it is no less scary.

These words I’m pouring out, this giving of myself is to build you up. It is a love offering of sorts.  These words are to build up the first time mom who doesn’t have any family to help out, the SAHM who is in the thick of it, the career woman who needs connections – life giving connections; and for the working mom who has 2 full-time jobs. It’s for all of us who need community.

WELCOME.

 

Danielle