Rowdy with Four: March 2015

Live for Today

12:20 PM

As I sit out on my front porch and watch my kids play on the hay bales, I can't help but wonder when life became so complex. Full of worry, stress, and no time to enjoy life. Do you ever find yourself saying...there's just not enough time in the month, week, or day?

{Charlee picked this flower for me today.}

I don't have enough time...use to be my motto. Busy working a full time job, serving in full time ministry, taking care of my home responsibilities and children. There just didn't seem to be enough time in my days to squeeze it all in. Not enough of me to go around.

My Saturday use to be my catch up day. Catch up on the ministry work, house work, endless laundry, buy groceries, TV shows (yes, I know). Before I knew it the day was over just like the rest of the days of the week. I was simply going through the motions of 'life'.

Sunday evening I began to feel stress build up inside me. I didn't know how I was going to get everything done that needed to be done on Monday. Bookkeeping, ministry work, my morning chores, grocery store shopping, doctor appointment for my littlest, and t-ball practice for another. When will I have time for my Bible study?

Trust me, although I'm a stay at home mom now, I still work. In fact, I work harder now than I ever have. Taking care of my home, husband, and children consumes every hour of my days. And, don't forget I have my chickens and garden to tend to also.

God began to speak to me in that moment as I'm making my to do list in my head. Are you really going to allow the devil to rob you of your joy for tomorrow? I moved you here for simplicity. Do what's most important and the rest will be here for the next day. It's the truth! Why did I think it all needed to be done perfectly and on Monday?

Even today I find my old nature creeping in. Thinking my house needs to be spotless on Saturday to be ready for the upcoming week! No. Today we need to LIVE. And the day after that and the day after that. Dirty dishes, scattered toys throughout the house and yard, chasing chickens, picking flowers, and jumping hay bales. Everyday is the day to make memories and enjoy my house while it's filled with my greatest blessings...my children.

This is how I've learned to make life simple...God first (not church or ministries, but GOD), Family second, and everything else LIVE for today!

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34 ESV)

Yet do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:14 ESV)

Believe That God Has Not Forgotten You

8:15 AM

I seriously love how God has been speaking to me through my little chicks and everyday circumstances. Lucy and Ethel are on the road to recovery. Their feathers are coming back nicely after being pecked and exposed by the rest of the pack.

{Click Picture to Learn How Lucy and Ethel Lost their Feathers}

{Before}

{After}

They look happy again. They are best of buds AND they will even come to me! Have you ever been in a situation that was not good for you? Where it left you hurting and in great pain time and time again, but for whatever the reason you just didn't or couldn't remove yourself...Me! That's me! I've been there. More than once.

When I first removed these two from the rest of the pack I was worried. They wouldn't eat at first and they weren't too thrilled about being separated from the rest of their pack. Maybe they felt like they were being punished. They didn't understand that I was doing it all for their own good and protection. Giving them the time and space to grow and recover in a healthy environment from their past hurt and pain. I gave them extra of my attention when they needed it most.

Is this not just like our Heavenly Father? When I was nineteen, I was in a relationship that was not honoring to God. In this relationship I would find myself hurt, broken, and desperate for love that I was blind to the destruction it was bringing me. I knew I needed to remove myself from it, but couldn't. Wouldn't! But, God. God reminded me of the desperate prayer I'd pray during those moments of heartbreak and disappointments. Pleading for my Father's help. Enslaved to sin. I can't. I can't. He answered. God didn't remove me, he removed him.

I remember feeling like my chicks in that first initial moment of deliverance that God provided. I couldn't eat. I complained. Grieving for my sin, I cried countless tears feeling all alone. I wasn't alone though. God was with me the entire time. Giving me his extra attention. Giving me the space and time I needed to heal and grow from my mistake.

Friends, we make mistakes. We will find ourself wandering in destruction that we have chosen to enter on our own. If you are in that desert today, I encourage you to RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS FORGOTTEN YOU! He hasn't. No, He is with you. Call on Him today! He is ready to carry you into His deliverance today.

And how about those times He swoops in when we don't even ask?!? Thank you, Jesus!

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Psalm 46:1

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by."

Psalm 57:1

Chickens Speak Truth

2:05 PM

God has been busy in this old heart of mine. I was telling my husband today I'm like a walking object lesson. I've always loved using objects to introduce a story when teaching children a Bible story. Jesus would teach parables and even now He is using objects to open the eyes of my heart.

Chickens. Yes, God is using my chickens to speak truth to me. I went to bed the other night in tears because I just didn't know what to do for my little featherless chicks. I felt helpless. They had been singled out from the pack and pecked on until they were left exposed. No feathers to cover there brokenness. I didn't understand why chicks would do this to one another.

In my tears God revealed an ugly truth about me. I'm guilty of pecking those that are in my pack (family, friends, and other believers). I'm guilty of pecking away the positive to expose only the negative I choose to see. I was convicted.

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not NOTICE THE LOG that is in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

Ouch! God continues to speak this verse to me, and He's not going to stop until I finally get the message. Here's where it gets good...

So my husband meets us at the park afterschool Monday. I took the kids to play before t-ball practice. He was running late (which I believe he had plenty of time). He pulled up with an attitude of frustration. As we rushed to get my youngest in the car, all I could think was...WHAT A BUTT!!!

Later I loaded up the rest of the kids and heded over to the ball field. I helped my youngest as my husband coached the team. My oldest was not helping with the other two and I began to get frustrated. I went ahead and put them in the car to get a head start home.

I needed to leave as soon as practice was over to be home in time to greet the ladies that were coming over. Well practice was over and my husband was taking forever to load up the team equipment. I had my oldest run over to get the truck keys so I could go ahead and leave. I went to back out but the exit was blocked by another vehicle. I was irritated, and I was letting family my know it! In that moment, God spoke clearly, "Who's the butt now?"

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, and that none of you may be hardened by the deceitful eas of sin." Hebrews 3:13

Yes, Lord! Continue to speak to my heart and teach me your ways. Even if you have to compare me to a chick to do it!

Never Say Never

11:49 AM

Rowdy with Four

Live for Today

Believe That God Has Not Forgotten You

Chickens Speak Truth

Never Say Never

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