Perfect Peace

There is nothing perfect about my life. Ideal yes, but not perfect. It really strikes me when I read...

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Ahh- the magic word "perfect" followed by another wonderful word- peace. Where do you find rest? How often do you purpose yourself to rest? Being in the ministry, Sunday is not always a day of rest for us. In fact some Sunday's we are exhausted by the end of the day. That is why I rarely schedule anything on Monday. That is my husbands day off, and therefore its our "seventh day" our day of rest, our day of peace. I search for peace, and rest. I don't always find the entire rest that I need, nor the peace, but the good news is... it's there. Waiting for me! I have to ask the Lord to remove more of me add more of him in my life. 

I strive for perfection in so many areas of my life. I don't always achieve it, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it. I know that I can't be perfect. I can't have the perfect house, the perfect kids, or the perfect body- or even the perfect spiritual health. I do know that one thing I can have is "perfect peace". Which in this day and age is quite a lot. 

Over and Over

This weekend I took time to clean the garage out. Thanks to my darling husband we were able to get it back to the way I like it! After cleaning it, we used the leaf blower to blow out the dirt and leaves that the van brings in. I then decided I could blow the leaves all together around the paved area so that I don't carry more leaves in when I drive over it. Once I got a nice line of leaves I took the rake and begin to make piles. I finished with just 6 piles and only covered a small area of the ground! One thing I noticed as I raked, not all the leaves were brought into the pile. Some were broken into smaller pieces and left on the ground. I learned in a few minutes that it was impossible to get every leaf fragment up off the ground. I was even a bit discouraged when I turned around and realized how big my front yard is and how many leaves I had to still rake. The more I raked, the more my mind begin to drift into the ways of the Lord. It never fails- anytime I am out working in the yard, or close to nature I feel closer to God! Maybe because he created it all, or maybe because I don't do it often and so it's a break from the norm. Either way I always can feel the Lord speaking to me during those times. 

As I thought about those broken pieces and how I could not pick them up, I realized that they become part of the ground- they in fact create carbon dioxide. Over time, decaying leaves release carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide! So the very thing that seams dead and somewhat a pain, becomes something life giving. Okay so if you aren't following me just yet, hold fast it's coming!

There are parts of our past and our history that have just crumbled before us, we've seen pain and thought we could never get up all the broken pieces of our lives or our hearts. Then we feel defeated, as I did with my yard, and then the light comes on. Joy seeps in,  you see that God can use your pain for his purpose. God will not waste your pain. Your season of defeat, depression, despair can all be used for a Kingdom purpose. 

What an encouraging thought. We may not understand our pain, nor his purpose, but we can trust the process! Let those broken pieces be used for good. It is not God's desire that we have pain and suffering in our lives. Lawlessness brought that on. We live in a very broken world. Most all of us are broken vessels. Some brokenness we have came from choices we made and some from choices others made. Either way we can't change what happens to us, we can only move forward and allow God to use it for his glory. 

Isaiah 43:19 ESV

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 

Thank you Lord for doing a new thing in my life and in my heart. Thank you for making a way when there seems to be no way! 

Be encouraged, 

Staci

Ding, Ding, Ding

My van has this wonderful contraption built into the system. It keeps me on track. It helps me do what is right and prevents me from having my day interrupted intentionally. The magical ding ding ding sound that comes when I leave my keys in the ignition. What a wonderful invention! I found myself smiling today as it made the sound over and over. It was a great reminder that I needed to remove my keys before removing myself and locking the doors. This made me think of the Holy Spirit and how he prompts us. When our soul is being pulled into an area of danger or sin, the Holy Spirit will begin to warn us. Yet just like those dings we hear in our automobiles, often we ignore them. We often tune it out and act without taking heed to the warning. Then we are frustrated that our keys are locked in our vehicles or that our battery is dead (the ding occurs too if the interior lights are left on) and we begin to ask WHY? We feel as if we have been let down, forgotten about and often we get angry. All because we didn't heed the warning of the ding! Think about how we react when we've lived in sin and had behaviors that do not bring Glory and honor to the Lord. When we finally stop and look around we get angry that the Lord allowed us to endure a pain or go through something. Often times the pain we carry is not from the choices we make, but there are times when we in fact brought the pain on ourselves. We chose not to die to self that day and therefore we lived in the flesh. Then we ask God where he was when _____________(Fill in the blank) happened? And though our God is a loving a merciful God, I'm sure at times he would like to respond with "I am right where you LEFT ME." Ouch. Toes officially stepped on. If we start our day with the thought that we belong to the Lord and invite him to be not just a part of our day, but be our entire day. If we give the Holy Spirit full reign in our lives to do as he pleases, then when things happen to us through out our day we can COUNT IT ALL JOY. Whoa- did I just type that? Deep breath- and big girl pill please! This scripture in Romans helps us to understand better....

Romans 8:16-26 (New Living Translation)

16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. 17And since we are his children, we will share his treasures -- for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. 21 All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

So you see friends, we all want the blessings of God, but we don't want the sufferings that go along with it. Yet most of our sufferings are not brought onto us because of the cross we carry- it's more about the cross we forgot to pick up. We ignored the DING DING DING. We walked out without the armor. We are stark naked and the enemy is fully aware of it too. There are those we read about who truly suffer for the cause of Christ. Typically we are not those people. We have yet to embrace that type of relationship with the Lord. That closeness. Some would be scared to be that close to the Lord. Why would we want to encourage pain and suffering? We are not people who enjoy pain. We are not people who call on suffering and invite it over for tea. We push it away. Scream for it to leave. Fight until it's gone or until we can't fight any longer. 

We must ask ourselves what is in the way of me and The Lord? What is one area of my life that I have yet to give over to the Lord to work? Am I willing to let that part go and let him have his way? Am I willing to TRUST him. Trust that he will not only see me through- but I will behold all the riches that the Lord has for me?  He didn't create us to destroy us, as my boys do with their Lego towers. He created us to please him. Why would he want us to endure anything we didn't have to? Why would he want us to deal with something so harshly that we turn away from him? We often point the finger at the wrong person. We point at the Lord and say WHY WHY WHY.... instead of putting pain-blame where it belongs... to the enemy of our souls. He seeks to kill, steal and destroy. He offers no promises and no hope for a future. Yet we bow to him daily when we fail to take up our cross. OUCH again. Still preaching to the choir. Lord help us. Be our NUMBER ONE. Help me. Teach me how to seek you with my whole heart. 

Remember, and remind me dear friend, that our biggest victories are not won on our feet, but on our knees. The clean houses, empty sinks, and organized homes are a good thing, but not the best thing. I've never worn out the knees of any pair of pants from prayer... have you? 

Convicted,

Staci

Fully Aware!

Today I listen to a podcast from Andy Stanley. The whole message was about family. He made a statement that his wife says often "The days are long, the years are short." This really stuck to me like bubble gum sticks to the bottom of your shoe on a hot summer day. That quote really sums up my life! Just this week my darling and I were talking about how we lived in Seguin for 5 years. We are celebrating our 4th year here in Mississippi this summer! It's so strange how time goes by faster as you age. The 5 years we did in Texas seemed sooooo long compared to the time we've been here. It's not that we enjoyed being one place more than the next, I am certain it has to with having Children and us being older. Having Children in school makes the year fly by! Everything you do is based on that school calender year. Your vacations, where you go during the day, the appointments you make. Everything has to coincide with the school. So you operate from August to May instead of Jan- December. I am shocked that the kids are approaching their 100th day mark again! Didn't that just happen last year? Each year goes by so fast. Yet there are some days that seem to never end! How do you figure? Ever have a day that just won't stop? The sun wont set fast enough and you can't get to your bed fast enough? I've looked at the clock at 6:45 pm and thought it was surely 10 pm. Only to be disappointed that it was barely dark. I have days that I can't get everything I want to get done and those days seem to go by fast. There is a Facebook page titled "hands-free revolution" and that page has helped me keep things in preservative when it comes to my children. It encourages you to be fully aware when you are with your children (or others for that matter) I have been guilty of catching up on Facebook while watching a show with my children, or while they play. I think I'm being a supermom because I am multi-tasking. I am able to keep up with friends while I spend time with my family. Then one day it hit me, in a few years I will be the one wanting the kids to spend time with me and put their devices away- talk to me not their friends. I will want to be the important one in the room. I was truly convicted of my behavior. I had justified my phone usage because I'm usually not playing games or "wasting time" but actually encouraging others, or giving of myself to them. There in lies the problem. I am giving of my time to others while my beautiful children sit next to me cuddled up. Oh how these days will be days missed  in the future. The not so distant future. I need to take time to cuddle, take time to laugh- to look at the things my kids ask me to look at. Remind them that I am their biggest fan. Cheer the loudest and encourage the most. There is a time for everything, how do I know that? Well the Word of God tells me in Ephesians. A time for everything....

Ephesians 3:1

There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under the heaven,

Right now the time is for my children and for me to embrace them as little ones. For they will never be little again! They will spend more time being an adult than a child! It's my turn to be the influence in their life. I need to be there. Be fully aware. The days may be long- but the years are short.... let it sink it. 

R-e-s-p-e-c-t

In our girls youth class last night we talked about true purity. We discussed Respect and if it was a need or a want.

1 Peter 2:3 When Jesus was reviled he did not revile in return.

We are suppose to be more like Jesus. So when we are treated poorly, we are not to fight back and justify our behaviors. We are to look to The Lord's strength and pattern our response like his.  This hit close to home for me. Just this week I spoke to another person about how my mouth can get me into trouble. If  I feel like my side of the story is not shared I feel the need to tell it. If my personal view is being attacked, I feel the need to talk back and prove them wrong. This is not the case when it comes to the way Jesus handled things. 

Help me Lord to be more like you! 

Holding my tongue, 

Staci

Commit

Most people are afraid of making a commitment, but not receiving one. I can only image how many times the Lord has heard someone say that they will commit to doing something, only to fail the very next thought, breath, or step. Making a commitment to me and making one to the Lord are two very separate things. You see when we commit to the Lord, he has a promise with it... that he will ESTABLISH your plans. 

Websters defines Establish: to cause (someone or something) to be widely known and accepted. : to put
(someone or something) in a position, role, etc., that will last for a long time.

This sounds a bit like FAVOR. 

Don't we all seek favor from the Lord? This is exciting for me! I am at a place in my life now where I am not sure what the Lord wants my hands to be busy doing. There are many ministries that I enjoy and many that I would miss, but I don't want to spend my life not doing what God designed me to do! My heart at times feels like it could explode. I desire to be in the perfect WILL of God, and sometimes get caught up in the little things. I am thankful to know that I can commit to the Lord and he will establish my plans. This has been on my heart for the past few days. Just knowing that as God is the center all will work out, I've preached it, taught it and prayed it for years, but it means something to me now. Now that I see it in the word- knowing that it's not just some Christian cliche, it's actual Truth, it has increased my faith! Thank you Lord for this promise!  I need to make a little notebook or a notepad on my phone that keeps up with the promises that I find this year! Then I can have a quick reference guide when I feel discouraged or uncertain!

Growing in Grace,
Staci

I thank God for YOU!

Today is my 13th anniversary. I am so thankful for my sweet husband and the Joy that comes from being his wife! We have traveled down many roads and have been blessed. When we married each other in 2001, I had no idea where God would take us and how our marriage would impact others. We both desperately wanted to be used by God for his Glory! I stand amazed at times at how much we grown as a couple in the past 13 years. We started dating 15 years ago, even then our relationship was more mature than that of some of our friends. We didn't fight, argue or play games with each other about "breaking up" we were serious about getting to know each other and had marriage in mind. When we got married I didn't feel like we were too young, I felt like it was perfect timing. Now when I see couples marry at an early age it makes me nervous for them, especially those who don't know the Lord or have him in the center of their lives. We also didn't start having Children right away either, we purposefully waited 4 years before we even begin to try. We needed time to get to know each other, even after the honeymoon phase! We wanted to be settled, buy a house and be established before bringing a child into the world! God still had other plans for us, when we had 2 children and then moved from Texas to North Carolina, but still- his hand was guiding and leading us each step of the way. I'm so blessed to have a husband who prays with me, walks with me, laughs with me, talks with me, listens to me and my l-o-n-g stories that are pointless, and still wants to hold my hand. I love you my darling Chris. Happy 13th Anniversary. Way to find favor with the Lord!!!

Proverbs 18:22

22He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.