grace | Designing 31

a journey just begun

This post may seem a little disjointed-it’s how I feel at the moment… but thank you for reading. I pray something in it blesses your day.

It’s been a year, a difficult year. The laughter has been sweeter and the tears have been harder to control, because yes- I am one of those people that bottles it up (but I’m getting better).

Of course, I have no idea how long this journey will go on, just that it will only last until I am in heaven with the Lord.

But isn’t this true of all facets of our journey? We feel a whole year is a long time, and we often live as though the rest of our life stretches out infinitely… which it does, but not our earthly life. This life is passing. It will be over before most of us are ready.

And then what? Do you know what will happen to you when your time of life on this earth is finished? Do you have a blessed hope in a journey just begun?

This journey, in which the past year as been rough emotionally, is just the beginning of the greater journey of life with Jesus. Some days I lose this focus, but God’s mercies are new each day and His hope is blessed and eternal.

What I am speaking of here is the fact that 1 year ago, my brother left this life on earth and is continuing his eternal life with Jesus in heaven. Often I am reminded of something my mom shared with me is that a reason for the different outcomes possible in the grieving process is choice: “Where do I want my journey of grief to take me?” I can choose this.

For myself, I can choose to allow the overwhelming sadness that comes in odd waves at the most unanticipated times to draw me to God and allow my heart to grow in His love and compassion for others; or I can push away His comfort and focus on the loss, making way for a root of bitterness to spring forth. I can actually see either of these outcomes before me when the tears burn my eyes suddenly.. and one day we will all be together again, praising Jesus for His unmerited favor torwards us. And this grief on earth will be but a distant memory in light of eternity with the Son of God as our light.

a song that has been a comfort to me at different times of my life:

a song that encourages me to remember God’s control

Psalm 42:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-13
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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a different perspective… then & now

by tpiatt

Wow, I was perusing my post drafts… thoughts on which I never hit the “publish” button… and found this gem. Maybe someday I’ll go into why it wasn’t published 6 years ago when I originally typed it… but as I was reading through it, I found some serious truths that I know I needed to revisit. Maybe they’ll help you, too? (This is in no way belittling the sacredness of a pastor’s position…being sacred is not the same as important.)

~~~~~~~~~~~

in 2012 I typed….

a different perspective: then & now

{I must preface this with saying: My Momma prayed from the time I was a small girl that I would marry a preacher and we would serve the Lord with our lives. I am so grateful for that! She came from a broken background and saw that as being the best for me… and it’s what the Lord allowed to happen! And I love this life the Lord set me in! This post was born from a discontentment at the constant use of the term: “full-time-Christian-service” and a mindset I have discovered (among some) that conveys being employed by a church as somehow superior to other occupations. It isn’t.}

Even when I was a teen, the push often was: you should want to be in “full-time-Christian-service” when you grow up. That meant that, as a girl, I should desire to be a preacher’s wife [pastor of a church or associate or youth pastor], a foreign missionary, or forever teach little children in a Christian school. Those are pretty much the only options.

I had envisioned myself as a foreign missionary when I was all-grown-up. I surrendered to it as a young child. When my husband and I married, we had the plans of serving state-side for a few years and then beginning deputation.

What we did not plan on was God closing the door of foreign work.

We did not plan on that at all. But that’s another story!

But, still, I am considered a “full-time-Christian-service” wife –meaning my husband is employed in a church… and I am his wife.

But really, that is not so high a calling as some people try to imply. It isn’t who I am.

I have a higher calling…. and so do you.

And I would still have this higher calling even if my husband left his job and began working pizza delivery again. I would even have this calling if I were never married.

Because this highest calling of all can -and MUST- be fulfilled by ALL who are saved.

This highest calling involves people becoming doctors and trash collectors.

It involves people becoming delivery truck drivers and law enforcement officials.

It involves some women staying home with their children while their husbands do those things.

It involves people joining the military and crossing our world several times over to protect their country and the liberties we enjoy.

Sometimes, real full-time-Christian-service involves someone becoming the secretary for a law office or taking temporary positions regularly through a temp-agency.

Because REAL full-time-Christian-service is just what it’s name implies.

It is a Christian….. serving the Lord….. full-time.

that means with their LIFE… not their OCCUPATION.

With that being said: are you LIVING in “full-time-Christian-service”?

Am I?

What we did not plan on was God closing the door of foreign work.

We did not plan on that at all. But that’s another story!

But, still, I am considered a “full-time-Christian-service” wife –meaning my husband is employed in a church… and I am his wife.

But really, that is not so high a calling as some people try to imply. It isn’t who I am.

I have a higher calling…. and so do you.

And I would still have this higher calling even if my husband left his job and began working pizza delivery again. I would even have this calling if I were never married.

Because this highest calling of all can -and MUST- be fulfilled by ALL who are saved.

This highest calling involves people becoming doctors and trash collectors.

It involves people becoming delivery truck drivers and law enforcement officials.

It involves some women staying home with their children while their husbands do those things.

It involves people joining the military and crossing our world several times over to protect their country and the liberties we enjoy.

Sometimes, real full-time-Christian-service involves someone becoming the secretary for a law office or taking temporary positions regularly through a temp-agency.

Because REAL full-time-Christian-service is just what it’s name implies.

It is a Christian….. serving the Lord….. full-time.

that means with their LIFE… not their OCCUPATION.

With that being said: are you LIVING in “full-time-Christian-service”?

Am I?

After I finished reading this… ironically knowing that 2 years later we would no longer be employed by a church, I realized even more the truth God was teaching me then. We, as a family, are still serving God with our lives, no matter that my husband’s paycheck comes from a different source-physically.

All paychecks are a blessing and gift from God, no matter whose signature is on the paper.

And all Christians should be serving God with their lives, no matter their vocation.

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[James] let us be strengthened {Ps 15}

by tascha

The last post broke down verse 2… in answering the question from verse 1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

If you missed it, there were some weighty questions I asked myself at the end.

And the thoughts are continued in the next few verses….

3~He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

4~In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

5~He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

I would like to just say up front, these are not easy or very comfortable points to talk about…

Becoming a mature Christian is not an easy path, but God does have a few promises that I would like to point out before I continue:

…lo, I [Jesus] am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

Paul often ended his letters with:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:28

The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:22

Grace be with you all. Amen. Titus 3:15

from Peter:

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10

and a few promises from the OT that apply:

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24

My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psalm 119:28

…the joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Our God WILL be with us; He will strengthen us; and He will fill us with His grace… as we meditate on His Word and place our hope in HIM.

…and these are only a bare scratching of the surface of the promises of God’s help for us when we trust in Him and study and apply His Words.

So, my friend, let us be STRENGTHENED by our God

for this task of maturing spiritually 🙂

Psalm 139:9,10

We will delve into the actual verses in the next post…

I would love for you to share a favorite promise in the comments.

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my split personality: called {motherhood}

by tascha | 1 comment

This is not exactly a “spiritually or Biblically-inspired” post.

It is more a “I wonder if anyone else has ever thought about it this way” post.

And it’s been sitting in my “draft” folder for a while now…

I had a conversation with a sweet new friend last night that prompted me to truly articulate this thought I’ve had for a while now:

Somedays, I truly feel as though motherhood may have given me a split personality {and I am not trying to belittle those with actual mental disabilities here!}.

I realize my children need ME.

But they need ME differently among them. They are each so individual and unique. Yes, I must be consistent in rules and discipline; but things they need, things they forget and need me to remind them of, things they have not yet learned, are ALL different for each one.

My poor oldest child, she is nearly a young woman, and yet I continue to remind her of things that, really, only her younger sisters need help with. I know that frustrates her. She’s so grown up and the others are still “babes”.

My middle daughter has some food and environmental allergies that sometimes means our whole family just misses out on stuff like… peanut-butter pie… because I just can’t chance it being around and her wanting a taste or being sad that she can’t have it. And she’s trying to grow up as quickly as her big sister, but she really isn’t there yet.

My third… a whirlwind of a girl. She plunges head-long into EVERYTHING she does. She has gusto! 🙂 And thinks very little, if ever, before acting. But her little heart is so tender and pliable, I must be restrained when calling a warning at her to not sit on her brother, or some other situation that could cause harm to one or multiple people. lol. She will just loose it, and the whole situation will disintegrate before our eyes.

My youngest is a boy. After 3 girls we have a boy. ‘Nuff said.

To those with more children, I am not trying to ‘prove’ my life is as hard or harder than yours… just stating some observations. 🙂

And then, my husband needs a WIFE, not a mother {he already has an awesome mother!}. And apart from “child of God”-which is my identity at its core- this is where I find my primary role in life – to be the best wife for him. If I’m an awesome mom and a lousy wife, I’ve not become what God created me to be!

And I do have a few friends… who like to speak to me as adult in my own right, not as a mother or a wife….

And so, maybe this is a little bit to be encouraging spiritually

… I need God! You need God! 🙂

If God does not help us in relating to all the most important people in our lives, we are a people most undone!

If I cannot be Christlike to my own family, how can I expect those outside my family to see Christ in me?

I’m not saying I loose it every day, but there is at least a portion of most days where I struggle really hard not to! And there have even been a few hours all strung together that I feel I {MIGHT} have it all together–HAHAHAHA. nope. not really!

And only bending my knee before His throne will help me be “ME”–a child of God–to those around me, whether I feel SPLIT or not. 🙂

my “to do” list… and yours

by tpiatt

my “to do” list… and yours

I do not normally post on Saturdays… and definitely not this late 🙂 but this post was so strong in my heart that I felt compelled to go ahead and post it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is overwhelming: this day-to-day of being a wife and mother, a sister and daughter, a friend, a mentor.

There is pressure from the world to do-all, be-all, have-all…. and if you don’t… well, I won’t go there.

There is pressure from within ourselves, and sometimes even from within our circle of friends, to do-it-right, to-make-it-look-good… and if there’s a crack in that mirage you’re selling to the public, the whole thing comes crashing down one day.

But do you know where none of that pressure originates?

None of that pressure originates from our Lord.

Yes, He does not want us living in filth… never cleaning our home or washing our clothing.

But neither does HE put this pressure into our lives to have this perfect pretense.

I am going to share a portion of a letter a dear friend of mine sent out a while back. She and her family are missionaries and wish to remain anonymous, but what she wrote really spoke to my spirit that day, and has helped me view certain situations very differently since.

I pray that it will be a blessing to you as well {italicized are my own comments}:

~~~~~

I have finally come to realize that in some areas of my life, I am a perfectionist. Not in everything, but in things concerning my personal life, I try very hard to be perfect, redeeming the time, faithful, efficient, and frugal. The only problem is that I can never quite reach my own expectations. {that is SO me!!} I also have three children, which have an amazing way of bringing inefficiently to life. 🙂 {what truth! lol} But during the past few weeks, as I have tried very hard to study [a new language], home-school my children, care for my home, and visit with new friends, my goal of being faithful, diligent, and efficient has brought me nothing but frustration and has robbed me of my joy. {I have experienced this so often. No one can BE everything all the time!}

And then I began to realize that my eyes were in the wrong place. {OH, my spirit smites me!} Hebrews tells us that we are to be “looking unto Jesus,” and, as I heard many times in college, my goal is to be like God, and nothing else. Now my daily goal in life is to walk with Christ, moment by moment – following the gentle promptings of His Spirit. That just might mean that instead of studying one evening, I may be praying for [my mission field], or reading a book to my children, or playing dolls with [my daughter].

Following Christ will not always follow my “to do list,” or line up with my priorities for the day {because sometimes I am so “goal oriented”}, or look the same as other believers {no 2 families are the same}, but it will bring me peace and rest, joy and comfort as I make God my goal, and let Him order my day. As I come to rest in the fact that God desires for me to be faithful, to learn [a new language], to raise my children, to stand by my husband – I can trust Him to guide my steps each day to accomplish these things and much more, as I rely on His wisdom and not my own.

I recently came across the words to one of my favorite hymns, and this verse has become the song of my heart.

I could not do without Thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou, beloved Savior,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power
If leaning hard on Thee.

– Frances R. Haverg

I do not normally post on Saturdays... and definitely not this late :) but this post was so strong in my heart that I felt compelled to go ahead and post it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is overwhelming: this day-to-day of being a wife and mother, a sister and daughter, a friend, a mentor.

There is pressure from the world to do-all, be-all, have-all…. and if you don’t… well, I won’t go there.

But do you know where none of that pressure originates?

None of that pressure originates from our Lord.

Yes, He does not want us living in filth… never cleaning our home or washing our clothing.

But neither does HE put this pressure into our lives to have this perfect pretense.

I pray that it will be a blessing to you as well {italicized are my own comments}:

~~~~~

I recently came across the words to one of my favorite hymns, and this verse has become the song of my heart.

– Frances R. Haverg

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