I read the following blog post written by Catherine Larson on her blog “Live Expectantly.” It captured so many of my feelings as a new mom that I had to share it for the Wednesday Wisdom Well. (She also wrote a book for expectant moms entitled Waiting in Wonder that looks really good!)

This morning at four a.m. (yes, you read that correctly: FOUR!), as I was nursing Olivia due to a six-month growth spurt, I kept thinking about Larson’s line,”These are my beautiful, prayed-for, longed-for and desired interruptions.” I also was thinking about the words hanging on a cross in Livi’s room, “For this child I have prayed” (1 Samuel 1:27). No part of me wanted to be awake at that hour but I am trying to keep the perspective that this is a season and it’s also a season I longed for and thought would never come. So I am learning to accept the cranky days and early mornings along with the cuddles and smiles, and thanking God for the opportunity to be a mom. Even if this role brings many interruptions.

“It’s almost 9 pm by the time I get my three-year old to bed. I come downstairs wash a few dishes and sit down to face a blank page, praying for some words to encourage you and the fortitude for a finished thought. Finally, some quiet. Finally, some time alone. But almost as soon as I sit down, my 16 month old starts crying. His bed-time is earlier and for some reason he’s woken up.

I give him a few minutes to see if he won’t settle down and go back to sleep, but he doesn’t. And somehow creative thoughts aren’t flowing freely while I hear my baby’s cries grow more insistent. I check on him, which only upsets him more. I try to rock him and he flails. I opt to put him back in his crib and rub his tummy to see if he won’t settle down. He does and I quietly tip-toe out of the room. But as soon as the door shuts, he’s wailing again. I give him a little while to see if he won’t calm down and go to sleep on his own. But he doesn’t and because this is unusual for him and he’s just recently had an ear infection, I decide to err on the side of some Advil and a bottle. Finally, an hour after it began, he quietly puts himself back to sleep.

By now, it’s 10 pm and I’m running on fumes. The night before, my older son had a night terror. “Stay with me a little while, Mommy” turned into me sleeping on the floor by his bed until he fell back asleep. I woke up cold and stiff around 4 am and snuck back to my own bed only to have the little one wake up before 6 am, ready to go for the day.

So as I settle in to write, somewhere north of 10 pm, after a long day, and the interrupted sleep of the night before, somehow I can’t help but think about interruptions.

Interruptions are a constant part of a parent’s life. We can’t finish a conversation with a spouse, a meal, a bathroom break, a phone conversation, or a night’s sleep without someone melting down, falling, snatching a toy, crying, or needing a diaper change. We can’t even remember how to finish our sentences we’re interrupted so many times. (Here, I’m not talking about the child who is the habitual sentence-interrupter. That’s certainly something we need to work on training them not to do. But rather, I’m focusing on those everyday interruptions that are just a part of having children.)

And sooner or later, we start learning that it’s not in the goal or the plan, but in the interruption where ministry and real life are happening. It’s in the hours when we rock a fussing baby or hold a boy’s hand until the bad dreams recede. It’s in the moment where we must stop everything to discipline or when dinner gets burnt because we take a few minutes to stop and share our child’s joy in the just-finished Play-doh creation.

With each of life’s interruptions, our children are learning about what we value most. Is it them or the finished task? Is it keeping schedule or cultivating closeness? Is it our own comfort or their well-being? They are learning whether we view them as precious souls or as exasperating obstacles to our goals.

I’m not there yet. Too often I sigh or groan or lose my cool when I’m interrupted. I’m a completer, by nature, and leaving things unfinished just kills me. But little by little, God is showing me that when I view the ordinary interruptions as exasperations that I’m really just viewing my children that way. These are my beautiful, prayed-for, longed-for and desired interruptions. These are precious souls whose nurture and care is the main business of my life… my calling.

So God, give us the grace to embrace these interruptions as opportunities, to see them as the moments where we have the chance to show our children how you view them when they knock, plead, or find themselves in need. May we bear with sleep-deprivation, unfinished goals, lost thoughts and conversations, with grace and perspective. And may our children never question their value in our eyes or yours.”

The Rabbi’s Heartbeat by Brennan Manning, pgs 37-40

“God created us for union with Himself . This is the original purpose for our lives. And God is defined as love (1 John 4:16). Living in an awareness of our belovedness is the axis around which the Christian life revolves. Being the beloved is our identity, the core of our existence. It is not merely a lofty thought. It is the name by which God knows us, and the way He relates to us (Revelations 2:17).

If I must seek an identity outside of myself, then the accumulation of wealth, power, and honors allures me. Or I may find my center of gravity in interpersonal relationships. When I draw life and meaning from any other source than my belovedness, I am spiritually dead. When God gets relegated to second place behind any bauble or trinket, I have swapped the pearl of great price for painted fragments of glass.

“Who am I?” asked Thomas Merton and he responded, “I am one loved by Christ.”

Mike Yaconelli, cofounder of Youth Specialities, tells about the time when dejected and demoralized, he made a five-day retreat to a religious community for mentally and physically handicapped, under the preaching of Henri Nowen.

Yaconelli tells his story:

“Finally I accepted my brokenness…I knew I was broken. I knew I was a sinner. I knew I continually disappointed God, but I could never accept that part of me. It was part of me that embarrassed me. I continually felt the need to apologize, to run from my weakness, to deny who I was and concentrate on who I should be. I was broken, yes, but I was continually trying to never be broken again–or at least get to the place where I was very seldom broken…

At L’Arche, it became very clear to me that I had totally misunderstood the Christian faith. I came to see that it was in my brokenness, in my powerlessness, in my weakness that Jesus made me strong. It was in the acceptance of my lack of faith that God could give me faith. It was in the embracing of my brokenness that I could identify with others’ brokenness. It was my role to identify with others’ pain, not relieve it. Ministry was sharing, not dominating; understanding, not theologizing; caring, not fixing…

There is an anticipation, an electricity about God’s presence in my life that I have never experienced before. I Can only tell you that for the first time in my life I can hear Jesus whisper to me every day, “Michael, I love you. You are beloved.” And for some strange reason, that seems to be enough.”

We are looking not at some spiritual giant of the Christian trandition, but at an ordinary evangelical man who has encountered the God of ordinary people. The God who grabs scalawags and ragamuffins by the scruff of the neck and raises them up to seat them with the princes and princesses of His people. Is this miracle enough for anybody? Or has the thunder of ‘God so loved the world so much’ been so muffled by the roar of religious rhetoric that we are deaf to the word that God could have tender feelings for us?

Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This it true self. Every other identity is an illusion.”

One of my dear friends recommended the book Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. I am only half way through it but really enjoying the short chapters of insight for parents of little ones (like me!). I particularly liked the chapter entitled “Spirited Riders” about teaching a little girl about her emotions (and I think it’s relevant  for big girls too!). Here is a snipet from the chapter:

Loving the Little Years, pgs 27-30 by Rachel Jankovic

“When it comes to little girls and their emotions, A does not necessarily cause B. But when B is what needs to be disciplined, it can feel frustrating to have no clues as to what member of the alphabet actually caused it…

Say it is someone else’s birthday. Say your child wants a present too. Say they start fussing about it. Imagine that then you say, “Don’t do that. That is bad. Don’t be a fusser. Deal with it.” How did that help anyone? The child is taught that if the feeling comes over them, they have already failed. That is bad! But what am I supposed to do with it? It doesn’t just go away by itself. Little girls need help sorting out their emotions–not so they can wallow in them but so they can learn to control them.

We tell our girls that their feelings are like horses–beautiful, spirited horses. But they are the riders. We tell them that God gave them this horse when they were born, and they will ride it their whole life. God also set us on a path on the top of a mountain together and told us to follow it. We can see for a long way–there are beautiful flowers, lakes, trees, and rainbows. (We are little girls after all!) This is how we “walk in the light as He is in the light, and have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7).

When our emotions act up, it is like the horse trying to jump the fence and run down into a yucky place full of spiders to get lost in the dark. A good rider knows what to do when the horse tries to bolt–you pull on the reins! Turn the horse’s head! Get back on the path! We also tell our girls that God told us if we see one of them with her horse down in the mud puddle spitting at people who walk by, it is our job to haul them up, willing or unwilling, back to the path. The ways that this has helped me as a mother are pretty obvious, but I will share them anyway if you will bear with me.

First of all, the horses are not the problem. There is nothing wrong with the emotions. If we have a little rider who is woefully unprepared to control her horse, well them, we had better start with some pretty serious riding lessons. Talk to your daughters about how they might feel, and what you want to see when they do. Give them practical handhold; be a coach. Anticipate moments that might be hard, when the horse might bolt, and help them learn to anticipate it too. Take a little break to say, “Hey sweetie, we are going in this store, but we aren’t going to buy any toys today. If you start feeling like you want to fuss about it, what are we going to do?” Make a plan. Use code words. Wink. Encourage. Give lots of praise when you see her overcoming little emotional temptations. Be right there with her as she learns to recognize what is happening. Little girls can be scared out of their minds when their emotions charge off with them. They need the security of parents pulling them back.

The goal is not to cripple the horse, but equip the rider. A well-controlled passionate personality is a powerful thing. That is what dangerous women are made of. But a passionate personality that is unbridled can cause a world of damage. If you see a lot of passion in your little girls, don’t be discouraged. It is just wondreful raw material…”

I am so grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to teach these things to my little girl!

How I wish I had more time to write about what I am learning about being present in my season of life. I started writing a blog post about two weeks ago but with traveling to Chicago and daily life with Olivia, I have not made much progress on it. And now as I sit to type, I hear Olivia waking up from her way-too-short nap, so I must end this before I ever really got started!

However, my main goal in writing was to pass along this blog post written by someone I don’t know but definitely respect. You may have seen it circulating on Facebook if you peruse there but I thought it was so good that I wanted to repost. It was written on the blog “4 Little Fergusons” by a mom. She also posted a blog before that entitled “Dear Dad on the Recliner.”

“Dear Mom On the iPhone,

I see you over there on the bench, messing on your iPhone.  It feels good to relax a little while your kids have fun in the sunshine, doesn’t it?  You are doing a great job with your kids, you work hard, you teach them manners, have them do their chores.

But Momma, let me tell you what you don’t see right now…..

Your little girl is spinning round and round, making her dress twirl.  She is such a little beauty queen already, the sun shining behind her long hair.  She keeps glancing your way to see if you are watching her.

You aren’t.

Your little boy keeps shouting, “Mom, MOM watch this!”  I see you acknowledge him, barely glancing his way.

He sees that too.  His shoulders slump, but only for a moment, as he finds the next cool thing to do.

Now you are pushing your baby in the swing.  She loves it!  Cooing and smiling with every push.  You don’t see her though, do you?  Your head is bent, your eyes on your phone as you absently push her swing.

Talk to her.  Tell her about the clouds, Mommy.  The Creator who made them. Tickle her tummy when she comes near you and enjoy that baby belly laugh that leaves far too quickly.

Put your eyes back on your prize…Your kids.

Show them that they are the priority. Wherever you are, be ALL there.  I am not saying it’s not ok to check in on your phone, but it’s a time-sucker: User Beware!

Play time at the park will be over before you know it.

The childhood of your children will be gone before you know it.

They won’t always want to come to the park with you, Mommy.  They won’t always spin and twirl to make their new dress swish, they won’t always call out, “WATCH ME!”

There will come a point when they stop trying, stop calling your name, stop bothering to interrupt your phone time.

Because they know…

You’ve shown them, all these moments, that the phone is more important than they are.  They see you looking at it at while waiting to pick up brother from school, during playtime, at the dinner table, at bedtime…..

I know that’s not true, Mommy.

I know your heart says differently.

But your kids can’t hear your words, Mommy. Your actions are screaming way too loudly.

May our eyes rest upon those we love, first and foremost, and may everything else fall away in the wonderful, noisy, sticky-fingered glory of it all.”

***

One of the quotes that I keep stumbling upon is “Wherever you are, be all there” (Jim Elliot). God has been reminding me to “be all there” and be present in my daily life with Olivia. I definitely don’t get it right every day (or even every hour) but I am growing in the practice of being present in this season. Hopefully you will hear from me again soon in greater detail about these thoughts! Until then, I leave you with a simple, inspiring poem that I want to frame in my kitchen:

Let’s each choose to embrace the season God has given each of us and “be all there.”

For Christmas my sister-in-law gave me a relatable book for my season of life: The Mommy Diaries: Finding Yourself in the Daily Adventure. I actually had time last evening to sit down and read a few chapters and I resonated with much of what was written in the short excerpts about motherhood. I especially enjoyed the story below because I could see how easily I could lose myself in the daily grind of motherhood. Her words were inspiring to me as I begin this adventure. I pray they’ll encourage you as well no matter where you are on the journey of motherhood.

The Mommy Diaries: Finding Yourself in the Daily Adventure edited by Tally Flint

“The High Chair Day” by Jane Rubietta, pgs 13-17

“…Once babies are born, priorities shift. No longer are we our first concern. And this is a good, growing, turning point. Our helpless infants become our raison d’être, our reason for being. And while we are helping them grow emotionally, physically, and spiritually, it is so easy to neglect the same growth frontiers in our own lives. The result may not be pretty…

I’d lost myself in the parenting equation. In those rules of good mothers, no one told me that my identity as a woman needed attention, just like my kids…If who I am is what I do, well, I spent a lot of time changing diapers, shoveling food off the floor and feeding neighborhood children…I knew I wanted to grow in my role as a mother. I hadn’t realized that if I want to grow in my roles, I first needed to grow in my soul. That morning my inventory revealed seriously bare emotional cupboards. No one fed into my life; no wise women mentored me. My reading consisted of board books and occasionally a fast-food Scripture, but no serious depth reading that nurtured my soul or emotional needs.

I  said yes to everything that came along. Yes to the person wanting to offer a party-plan home show. Yes to the leader-less committee at church. Yes to the substitute Sunday school teaching. Yes to the undones my husband couldn’t finish. Yes to the neighbors, yes to anyone, everyone–because good women said yes. But I never said yes to myself.

This partially explained my hunger that morning for silence, my spurting anger over one more request for help. My rage was over my lost self. We react out of our wounds. In the stillness, I acknowledged the wounds behind the anger. I needed help working through some ancient pain, so I sought a support group. Each Thursday for a few hours was my own, and if Rich wasn’t free to be with the children, then I swapped time with a neighbor. I created boundaries to protect this fragile person developing within me, just as I would protect my own children. I never said yes to anyone else on Thursday night because healing was my first emotional priority.

And with equal vigilance I guarded time each morning for my soul. If a boundary protects the unique identity God has given each one of us, then we are the only people who can do that for ourselves. Kids, husband, neighbors, church–these people will not protect that special identity.

That day began an internal listening process. Parts of me were dying, withering away like muscles long ignored. Gifts I neglected, hopes I discarded, interests I set aside that brought life and rounded out my soul. To listen better, I started journaling for emotional, spiritual and artistic health, taking notes on my soul, on my parenting mess-ups, on my disastrous attempts at wholeness. I practiced noticing sunsets and describing them, and I read everything possible out loud to the children. Journaling taught me to notice my needs, to practice honesty, to work through emotional radioactivity.

Children’s voices, sweet and strident as they are, drown out those internal longings. Who else are we besides mothers? What hopes and gifts nestle inside, buried treasure waiting for discovery. Creating space to listen helps us to develop those gifts and hopes.

As a woman who put great stock in doing for others and ignoring herself, I needed enormous practice in becoming–being the woman I was called to be, before a husband and children took up residence in my heart.”

If you’re friends with me on Facebook, you may have noticed I am taking the 30-Day Thankful Challenge because I want to cultivate a more thankful heart. On Monday I wrote:

“Thankful #5: Today’s post didn’t come as naturally … After we had our lawn worked on today, I realized we didn’t have a working TV or internet…and found out after a phone call to the cable company that they couldn’t come out til Friday to fix the problem! That felt quite long to this ready-to-pop-preggo! So, first, I realized I am thankful for the amentities we have (esp in light of what many Easterners are going through). And second, thankful to read with my husband tonight instead of watching Monday Night Football.  And third, thankful to find out the cable co. can come tomorrow afternoon.”

The book we read was Love and War: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of by John and Stasi Eldredge. Jared and I both resonated with this concept I typed below about looking to each other (or other variables like children, work success, etc.) to fill us instead of God alone. I thought you would appreciate the insight as well.

Love and War, pgs 66-69

“The human heart has an infinite capacity for happiness and an unending need for love, because it is created for an infinite God who is unending love. The desperate turn is when we bring the aching abyss of our hearts to one another with the hope, the plea, “Make me happy. Fill this ache.” And often out of love we do try to make one another happy, and then we wonder why it never lasts.

It can’t be done.

You will kill youself trying.

We are broken people, with a famished craving in our hearts. We are fallen, all of us. It happened so long ago, back in the Garden of Eden, so early in our story that most of us don’t even realize it happened. But the effects of the Fall are something we live with every day, and it would be best for both of you if you understood what it has done to the soul of man and a woman.

Every woman now has an insatiable need for relationshp, one that can never be filled. It is an ache in her soul designed to drive her to God. Men instinctively know the bottomless well is there, and pull back. I don’t want to be engulfed by that. Besides, no matter how much I offer, it’ll never be enough. This is Eve’s sorrow. This is the break in her cup. She aches for intimacy, to be known, loved, and chosen. And it also explains her deepest fear–abandonment.

Men face a different sort of emptiness. We are forever frustrated in our ability to conquer life. That’s the “sweat of your brown…thorns and thistles thing.” (Genesis 3:17-18)

A man aches for affirmation, for validation, to know that he has come through. This also explains his deepest fear–failure.

Now, take these fears, brokenness, and this famished craving, throw them together into the same house and lock the door. What ensues is the pain, disappointment, and confusion most people describe as their marriage. But what did you expect? I  mean, are you really surprised?

…Two broken cups cannot possibly fill one another. Happiness flows through us like water through a volleyball net…

The good news is, of course, you aren’t enough. You never, ever will be. This should come as a tremendous relief, actually. Oh, I thought it was just us. That somehow we’d missed the class on marital happiness and now we’re flunking the whole course. Nope, it is not just you. It is everyone. Knowing this allows you to take the report card away from your spouse. How your spouse is doing is not the verdict on you.

Let that sink in for a moment–how your spouse is doing is not the report card on you.

Your spouse’s unhappiness doesn’t mean you’re an “F” as a person, as a spouse. Your spouse’s unhappiness–and yours–means you both have a famished craving within you that only God can meet. As this begins to come clear to you, it will be an enormous relief that you cannot possibly make your spouse happy. “Of course you’re disappointed, dear. I understand completely. This isn’t my fault. Go to God.”

Now, we are not suggesting a swing off the other side of the cliff. We have a few friends whose deep pain in their marriage comes from the fact that their spouse is totally and utterly unreachable. “I don’t need a thing from you.” It has nothing to do with God. It is his or her style of relating: “I won’t let you get to me.” This kind of utter self-protection is the very antitheseis of love.

What we are saying is simply this: You have to have some place you can turn. For comfort. For understanding. For the healing of your brokenness. For love. To offer life, you must have life. And you can only get this from God.

“My soul finds rest in God alone” (Psalm 62:1).”

I have always been passionate about the topic of mentoring. I have loved meeting with girls and leading Bible studies over the years and watching their lives grow and change. Recently, I have had the opportunity to be a part of the launch team for a new book entitled Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified. I couldn’t wait to dig in, but to be honest, between preparing the baby’s room and traveling to baby showers (both of which have been so fun, I might add), I have not had much time to read or reflect. Today I finally sat down and began reading this book by Elisa Pulliam, and I have to say, I’ve been inspired and encouraged. I’ve been thinking all day today about this concept of mentoring and since I can’t get it off my mind, I thought I should share this book with you today for the Wednesday Wisdom Well.

Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified by Elisa Pulliam

In her preface, Elisa explains the reasoning for the book, which totally hit home to me:

“Most women can come up with at least one excuse why they can’t mentor. Most of their excuses, however, are not rooted in the Truth. The Father of Lies doesn’t have to work very hard to get into a woman’s secret thoughts and render her utterly insecure about mentoring.”

Ouch. What excuse do you have that keeps you from formally or informally mentoring others? For me, busyness tops my list. Especially right now as we settle into a new house and new city with baby on the way. It is easy for me to tell myself, I just don’t have time. And yes, I do believe there are seasons where maybe we need to step back and not add more to our plates. But I am learning how key it is for me to talk all of these issues over with God. So today, that’s what I am doing. I am asking Him to show me who does He want me to formally or informally mentor? And I am asking Him to make it really clear to me so that I don’t just react because I see a need but that I clearly feel led to pursue the direction He’s leading me. I am praying the same for you. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have them regarding this issue. It’s such an important one!

If you’d like to read the first couple of chapters of Elisa’s book, click here.

Last winter when Jared and I were in waiting and trusting mode for a baby and a new job, there was a particular song that spoke deeply to us. “Not For A Moment” by Meredith Andrews became a personal song for us both and when we sang it at church throughout the winter it was as if God was reminding us He was very present in our circumstances though nothing was changing.

The first time we sang this song at church, I came home and searched online for the lyrics but found out it had not yet been released. Since moving, I still have thought of this song and wondered from time to time when it would be released to the public. Well, Monday, I got back in my car after a little stop at Target and I recognized the new song on the radio. As I listened to it for a couple of seconds, I realized it was “Not For A Moment!” I was so elated to hear that song again–not only because I love the sound but because the words minister to my heart and remind me of God’s faithfulness, especially now several months later as God has answered our prayers for a baby and a job. I pray this song encourages you in your journey and if you need a reminder today that God is faithful, I hope you take a moment to listen to these words. (You can listen to it by clicking on the song below.)

Psalm 117:2 “For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.”

Not For A Moment by Meredith Andrews
You were reaching through the storm
walking on the water
even when I could not see
in the middle of it all
when I thought You were a thousand miles away
not for a moment did You forsake me
not for a moment did You forsake me

CHORUS
after all You are constant
after all You are only good
after all You are sovereign
not for a moment will You forsake me
not for a moment will You forsake me

You were singing in the dark
whispering Your promise
even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me

and every step every breath you are there
every tear every cry every prayer
in my heart at my worst
when my world falls down
not for a moment will You forsake me
even in the dark
even when it’s hard
you will never leave me
after all

CHORUS
not for a moment will You forsake me

I have mentioned in the past that one song that has been very special to me is “How He Loves” because God has taught me much about His unconditional love for me even in the midst of deep hardship. Interestingly, there is another song that we began singing at church recently and is now playing on the radio that has the same theme of God’s love: “One Thing Remains.” It has become equally as special to me. I posted the lyrics below and love to sing this song over and over again in my head as a reminder of such truth.

Two weeks ago, I received a package in my mailbox addressed to my Baby Girl from our dear family friends. How sweet, I thought as I brought the box inside. I opened it up and saw a freezer bag with two adorable pairs of baby booties. How cute! Then I looked at what was written on the bag and I literally gasped out loud: “Michelle started chemo 2-16-12; We bought 2-17-12.” Tears instantly formed in my eyes and soon turned into sobs. I sat at my kitchen table and wept. I realized I was crying because while I was enduring one of the most difficult times of my life, my friends were believing that joy would come after this storm. And a baby girl at that!

After I calmed down, I got in my car to drive to meet the rest of my family at my parents’ house. The minute I put the key in the ignition, “One Thing Remains” began playing on the radio. Tears began falling all over again as if God was saying to me, “My love never fails. I loved you through that excrucriating season and I am loving you in this new, exciting season.” It was more than my heart could take and I cried the whole trip as I soaked in the truth. I pray these words encourage you as well. His Love never fails no matter what season of life we’re facing.

One Thing Remains by Jesus Culture

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing… Remains

[Chorus:]
Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me [3x]

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains

[Bridge:]
In death, In life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love…

I have to confess that a few days ago I was feeling quite stressed about my lengthy to-do list and all I need to accomplish before my sweet daughter arrives. I know, I know; she could care less if the bedding matches the window treatments or if I choose the perfect fabric for the glider. But between preparing the baby room and still settling into our new house, I was a little overwhelmed. (Okay, I still am.) I decided to take a bath and bring my Bible study with me to read some good truth. Actually, I brought two books: Faithful, Abundant, True by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore and Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I loved how God used both of the books to combine the truth into what I needed to take to heart.

Faithful, Abundant, True by Priscilla Shirer, pgs 96-98:

“Every single thing that concerns you concerns God. That’s right; all of it. Every little detail of your life is on the mind of God. All this talk about the grandeur and greatness of God may tempt you to think the little things in your life might not cross His mind. But you can rest assured that He cares about it all, not just if it’s big but also if it’s small…

Our attitude and ability to find peace in the midst of situations may often be directly tied to our understanding of prayer. Philippians 4:6 states, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” We can needlessly suffer anxiety due to our unwillingness to hand over our requests and petition to God…

Romans 8:32 asks, Since God delivered His Son up for us all, “how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (NASB). In other words, “If I loved you enough to die for you, don’t you think I love you enough to take care of you? Don’t you think that the little things that concern you are things that indeed concern me?” And honestly, there really are no small concerns, are there? Because if it’s something that’s bothering you, it is not small, is it? It certainly doesn’t feel that way. If it’s important to you, then rest assured that it’s important to God…

God has great appreciation for what we may consider the small details of life. Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus pointed out how little earthy value is placed on sparrows. Yet despite their earthly value, the Father is keenly aware of their activity. Isn’t it comforting that our God is not just equated with generalities but is also concerned with our specifics as well?”

***

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, pg 220, July 29 entry

“Come to Me continually. I am meant to be the Center of your consciousness, the Anchor of your soul. Your mind will wander from Me, but the question is how far you allow it to wander. An anchor on a short rope lets a boat drift only slightly before the taut line tugs the boat back toward the center. Similarly, as you drift away from Me, My Spirit within you gives a tug, prompting you to return to Me. As you become increasingly attuned to My Presence, the length of rope on your soul’s Anchor is shortened. You wander only a short distance before feeling that inner tug–telling you to return to your true Center in Me.

Hebrews 6:19: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.

Matthew 22:37: Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

***

God reminded me that He wants me to bring everything that concerns me to Him in prayer and at the same time, to keep my eyes focused on Him as my Center. I have been breathing a little easier the past few days as I try to keep God the main thing in my life and give Him the other details floating around in my mind (like hanging pictures, picking paint colors, and organizing piles).

I may need to read this entry again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that to remind myself of this truth all over again!