Making time for the things I want to do

The past few days have kind of been filled with ups and down.  The weekend started out with a lot of ups-  Alia's first sleepover, a sweet Christ-centered wedding, and the girls getting to go with "Nana & Papa Schu"  to see Disney's Princesses on Ice.  Which was then followed on Sunday by Ethan scratching Karaline's eye with a toy crown, a 3 hour trip to redi-med, and having to put eye drops in a screaming child multiple times. There was a sweet moment in the midst of it-  Alia writing a sweet little note to Karaline while she was crying that simply said, "God is with you."  It was one of those special mommy moments that calms your heart and brings a smile to your face.  Yesterday afternoon, after putting more drops in my sweet little screaming child, and struggling to get her down for a nap which I knew she desperately needed, I was feeling drained and was definitely feeling like I NEEDED to get my quiet time/devotions in.  I had a list a mile long of of other things that needed done, the usual things-  laundry, sweeping, mopping, supper, etc.  But I knew if I didn't make time sit and spend time with God, my cup would just keep leaking.  So, I sat down to read my Bible.  I've been reading Revelation, along with Philippians which we are studying in Sunday School, and had such a great reminder.  I know there are people out there who believe that God doesn't exist, and that He doesn't speak to us, but I had such a great reminder yesterday of how wrong that is. 

Revelation 22:1  Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:17  The Spirit and the bride say, ..."Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 
Philippians 3:12-14  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

It was another reminder that I needed, to keep coming to Christ, and to forget about the mistakes I have made, the places I've fallen short, and just look ahead to Christ and do the best I can.  I'm sure many of you other moms out there can relate to being in "survival mode."  I feel like I'm going day-to-day.  I am typically able to get my normal things done-  until something "extra"  gets thrown in there, then I have to step back, re-think and re-adjust my plan.  I think part of why I've been so drained lately-  physically and spiritually is because of being in survival mode.  I haven't been making time for the things I want to do, because I'm afraid to throw "my system"  out of whack.  This, unfortunately, has included my quiet time.  So, my goal, in looking ahead, is to let go of some of the things on my "to-do list"...let some of THOSE things wait " 'til later" , and make time for more of the things I want to do.  Like devotions,  or playing a game of Candy Land with the girls...whatever it may be.  I'm anxious to see what God will be saying to me today!  What has God been saying to you lately??!!

The "When You Are's"

Last night I went to The Chapel for a womens conference where the author and speaker Angela Thomas was speaking.  Honestly, I had didn't know what she was going to speaking on, and am not sure that I had ever even heard of her, but I really felt like I needed a spiritual pick-me up and thought this would be great.  The worship time was great, and as soon as Angela started speaking, I knew she was good, and it was one of those times where you feel like she was speaking directly to me.  She gave her testimony of growing up in a Christian home, going to Bible college, doing everything she was "supposed"  to do to be a "good Christian girl," but 10 years ago found herself separated, divorced and the single mother of 4 young children.  She told of how she cried out to God, saying, "What are you going to do with me, a broken down God-girl," and "Do you still think I'm Beautiful" (the title of one of her books).  She also spoke about Matthew chapter 5-  the "Beattitudes"  and how growing up, she always read those verses "Blessed are the poor in spirit...Blessed are those who m ourn...Blessed are the meek...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..." and always felt that those were the "Gotta-Be's."   You "gotta-be"  poor in spirit, you "gotta-be" meek, etc.  And wondered how you can be all those things all the time.  Then in college, she started feeling like God was saying that they aren't "Gotta Be's,"  but "When you are's."   "When you are" poor in spirit...  come to ME (Christ) and I will and when you are hungry and thirsty, Come to Me, and I will give you living water.  She talked about her days as a single mom, and how she was normally patient and kind and tried to keep joy in the house, but how there were times that she might yell at them, "JUST GET IN THE CAR!"...  and how they would look at her, knowing that wasn't how she usually was, and how at some point she came to realize those were the cries of a spiritually empty woman.  That hit me pretty hard.  Lately, I've been struggling spiritually. My patience with the kids has been, well, lets say lacking lately.   On some level, I've known it was because I wasn't where I need be spiritually, but had trouble getting out of this rut.  It was in some ways, a slap in the face, but honestly, one that was needed.  I felt so challenged, so uplifted, and so encouraged.  She gave a demonstration of all those little things that can quickly drain your spiritual tank, and how we just have to take a drink of the "Jesus Water."  ...the water that gives eternal life, the water that will quench your thirst in a way that we can't even comprehend.  So, today, I've been taking a lot of drinks of that "Jesus Water."  When I feel a bit frustrated, or short on patience, I literally go get a cup of water, take a sip and say a prayer.  Last night coming home, the song "The Power of your Love"  kept going through my head.

"Lord, I come to you.  Let my heart be changed, renewed. 
Flowing from the grace that I found
In You
Lord I've come to know
The weakness I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love
Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
By the power of Your love
Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love as You live
In me
Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds my life
In living every day
By the power of Your love