Archives for January 2014

Finding the Hero in Your Husband

January 31, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

It was late, and I’d been up most of the night cleaning up our daughter after multiple episodes of the results of a ravaging stomach bug.

This time, it was my turn.

I heard him coming. Big heavy steps down the hallway. Unassuming, he walked into our bedroom ready to turn in for the night after a long day at work.

What he heard, saw, and smelled should have made him turn back around but instead, he came right to my side.

My husband, my hero.

It was an awful evening that, before it ended, included another round of the ravaging stomach bug for both myself and our 4 year old.

And yet, he didn’t complain. Not once. He just served, just like Jesus.

—-

A week or so ago I found myself chatting with co-workers about our husbands. I immediately praised my husband Chuck, grateful for all he does for our family, how wonderful he is with our children, and how committed he is to making our marriage one of the great ones. I was floored when I was met with rolling eyes!

Not everyone views their husband as their hero. Maybe that is part of the problem.

How do you feel when someone believes in you? Supported, valued, loved, and ready to face the world!

This is the same for our husbands. When we speak life into their lives, letting them know we believe in them and know they can change the world, we elevate them to hero status. Not because of what they do first for us, but because of what we are empowering them to be – the best version of themselves.

When we speak life into our husbands, we elevate them to hero status.

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Take a minute to identify one way you can praise your husband today – to him directly or in front of others. Watch how God softens your heart to see the hero qualities He has placed in him!

*This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker’s 5 Minute Friday series, where she empowers bloggers to write for 5 minutes each Friday on a specific topic. Free writing. No edits. Writing just for the sheer joy of it. Today’s topic was “Hero“. Also sharing with Beauty Observed, Fellowship Fridays, Heart-Filled Fridays, Faith-Filled Friday, Family Fun Friday, Essential Fridays, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, Fridays Unfolded, Make My Saturday Sweet, Recommendation Saturday, Saturday Sharefest, What to Read Wednesday, and The Coupon Chronicles.

I’m Sticking Around

January 26, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Do you ever feel like giving up?

Like what you’re doing isn’t making a difference?

My dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIRV)

So, I’m sticking around. Not giving up. Waiting for God to listen to my cries and trusting Him to make things right.

How about you?

But me, I’m not giving up.
I’m sticking around to see what God will do.
I’m waiting for God to make things right.
I’m counting on God to listen to me. Micah 7:7

{Sharing today with Sunday Stillness, Scripture & A Snapshot, The Sunday Community, The Weekend Brew, BbyCW Sunday Share, Still Saturday and Sacro Speco.}

What are you sticking around to see God do in your life? Do you have a story to share about a time when you patiently waited for God’s timing and He made things right? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another today!

When Life Is More Than You Can Handle

January 24, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

It was not as picture perfect as we might imagine.

Mary, visited by the angel to share the good news that she would carry and give birth to Jesus, God’s son, who would redeem the world.

She was a teenager! Confused and scared.

The angel had to specifically tell her not to be afraid.

So instead of fear, Mary chose to trust. With no other options, she could only act in obedience and trust God to provide. And provide he did – Elizabeth for companionship and Joseph for support.

But what about us?

We’re not visited by an angel when we’re in the midst of an overwhelming life situation. Instead, we comfort ourselves with the common Christian saying, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle so he must think I can manage this on my own.”

Oh friend, this is so far from the truth!

I’m convinced that God DOES give us more than we can handle so that we will have to rely on Him. [click to tweet]

This week I had lunch with a dear friend. As I recapped my year, she was quickly able to see how challenging life had been on a day to day basis for our family – finances, relationships, spiritual life – the whole bit.

As I poured out my heart, I realized the only way I made it through that tumultuous year was by releasing my firm grasp on my illusion that I can control my life and instead embracing faith that God really does keep his promises and would take care of us. There is no other explanation.

Moving forward, I’m learning the joy of freedom in not knowing all the answers but trusting the one who does.

Like Job, I had heard of the Lord, but now I see him. (Job 42:5)

My ears had heard about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Job 42:5 image credit

*This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker’s 5 Minute Friday series, where she encourages bloggers to write for 5 minutes each Friday on a specific topic. Free writing. No edits. Writing just for the sheer joy of it. Today’s topic was “Visit“. Also sharing with Essential Fridays, Faith Filled Fridays, and Beauty Observed.

I pray today that you will choose to experience the joy and freedom of releasing your grip of {perceived} control on your life and instead allow God to control you from the inside out and give you unfathomable peace.

Love the topic of moving from fear to freedom in Christ and pursuing purposeful Christian living? Sign up in the side bar to receive blog posts by email.

Undivided: Motherhood In A World of Distractions

January 21, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Oh, dear fellow momma. Do you realize the magnitude of this statement? That you – with your hair pulled back in a ponytail because you didn’t have time for a shower this morning, with kiddos running around with marker on their faces, and with dinner not quite ready on time – are contributing to the kingdom?

God doesn’t call us to be perfect as mothers. He calls us to align our hearts with his and impress the truth of Jesus’ radical salvation on the hearts of our children.

Here are God’s words spoken to us as daily direction:

And yet, my heart, my being, and my strength are so divided; distracted by the things of this world that promise comfort, entertainment, or validation.

Instead of viewing my children as blessings, sweet souls who need guidance and direction to be more like Jesus, I at times see them as interruptions to whatever my priority is at the moment. Oh how it pains me to see that written down in words – the truth of my selfishness.

So daily, I struggle to lay aside my plans, die to myself, and walk in grace to be the mother and Christ-follower that God has called me to be.

To be undivided.

With the constant distractions of our world, it is not an easy path. I’m convinced it’s a path that requires mothers to support one another in community and to share resources that help guide us along the way.

Today I’m excited to be sharing a resource with you that will help us all take immediate action on our desire to be more intentional, less distracted, more Christ centered moms.

Kayse Pratt writes about faith, family and real life on her blog KaysePratt.com.

Her book Undivided Mom: Finding Christ in the Chaos of Motherhood is a devotional based on the book of Luke and is a breath of fresh air for young moms.

Here’s a taste of the book in Kayse’s own words:

Undivided Mom is a devotional for moms who feel distracted, pulled in a million different directions, and really just desperately need Jesus to keep them from losing their ever-loving minds. It’s about mothering with a vision, with a purpose, for His glory, and through His strength. This is a book for anyone who is longing to find a glimpse of Christ in the chaos of everyday motherhood.

It’s for you. For me. For all of us.
(Except for those moms who have it all together. It’s not really for them.)
(Except they don’t, so it is.)

I was blessed with an advance copy and gave it an honest review on Amazon:

The e-book is available as an immediate download either as a PDF to view on your computer or print out or as a Kindle version (for less than the price of a fancy coffee!). You don’t have to own a Kindle to use the Kindle version – you can download a free Kindle app from your smartphone app store for a super-portable version of the book for your personal quiet time.

I pray this resource is a blessing to your life as a mom striving to create a Christ-centered home in the midst of a crazy, distracted world. We can all use encouragement and the reminder that we’re on this journey together.

Note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Links to the book are an affiliate link, meaning I will receive a small percentage of the cost of the book. Your cost is the same and by clicking through this link, you help offset the cost of this blog. Thank you for your support.

Sharing my Un-Word of the Year {Un-Divided} at Life{in}Grace and linking up with Titus 2 Tuesday, Teaching What is Good, Domestically Divine, Unite and Titus 2sday.

In the Stillness

January 19, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

It is in the stillness that we can hear God the loudest.

Away from the noise, the chaos, and the distractions of daily responsibilities and endless smart phone notifications.

It is in the quiet moments that he speaks to our soul and beckons us to draw near to him.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 image credit

At times, I don’t hear him. And I wonder, where are you God? Why do you hide your face from me? Why, when I’m doing all the ‘right things’ do I not hear your voice?

And then the answer comes. So simple, yet profound. I’m not listening.

Oh, I’ve done a great job at convincing myself I’m listening. I get up early in the morning for Bible study…but then get distracted by my Twitter feed. I crack open the Bible and read the verses…but forget to ask God to speak to me through them. I read my devotional book…but then think about how the words are applicable to some other person I know instead of me.

So yes, sometimes it’s hard to hear God’s voice.

But I am learning the difference between the times when I can hear him clearly and the times when he seems so silent.

A few months back, a situation that has challenged me for over a year finally came to the point of apparent resolution. It was something that weighed deeply on my heart and I was anxiously awaiting an answer as to the result. But instead of waiting patiently for his timing and trusting him to work, I focused on all the things I could do to control the situation. How do you think that worked out for me?

So I learned. The more I try to keep a tight grip of control on a situation that is completely out of my control, the less I am open to hearing from God in the situation.

In the middle of my greatest time of anxiety and worry a wise and godly friend texted me this simple verse: Be still and know that I am God.

It was in the midst of this challenging time, full of crippling anxiety, that I began to learn the power of releasing my perceived control and instead embracing the opportunity for peace that God offers to his children when we are still before him.

And there it was, in the quiet. His voice.

“I love you and everyone in this situation. I have complete control and will resolve it in my time. Rest in me.”

And so my heart is learning to rest in the only one who can truly provide peace. To be still and listen in the quiet for his voice. The situation is still not resolved, but now I am trusting God fully that he is in control and knows the outcome.

It’s his job to work. It’s my job to trust, listen, and obey.

{Sharing today with Sunday Stillness, Scripture & A Snapshot, The Sunday Community, The Weekend Brew, and Sacro Speco.}

When and where do you hear God the clearest? Do you also struggle to be still and listen for his voice? Take a moment to share in the comments. Your words could be just the encouragement a fellow Christ-follower needs today!

When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

January 17, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Sometimes life just doesn’t make sense.

Some days are just a struggle.

We wonder why this is happening to us. And then we try to control the situation. We google answers to our problems instead of seeking the only One who can make sense of it all.

Wednesday was one of those days. It was a handful of little things piled up that turned into what felt like a big thing. An overdue oil change. A broken oil pan. A broken belt. A tow to the auto shop. A week without a car. Wondering how to pay for it. And what to do when it doesn’t run anymore.

And then, there it was. Perspective.

A friend with worries of her own. Bigger ones than mine. Real life stuff. Not temporary things like broken cars or not enough money. But relationship struggles and wrestling with God. A longing for direction and clarity and stability.

And yet, in the midst of our own unique struggles, we built one another up.

No judgement.
No pretense.
No comparison.

Just life-giving words of affirmation.

ENCOURAGEMENT.

It will work out. God provides. He sees the bigger picture.
You are good enough. You are worthy. You are headed in the right direction.

A commitment to pray for one another. To continue to journey in this life together. Through the ups and the downs, the struggles and the triumphs.

I pray that today you choose to serve someone passionately with your words. Use words of grace and love to encourage someone and build them up. Choose life-giving words. Reject the fear of saying the wrong thing {my struggle} and instead walk in faith that Christ will give you the words to say, today and each day.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 image credit

I’m writing in community today with Lisa-Jo Baker’s 5 Minute Friday series, where she encourages bloggers to write for 5 minutes each Friday on a specific topic. Free writing. No edits. Writing from the heart. Today’s topic was ENCOURAGE.

Also sharing at Essential Fridays, Faith Filled Friday, Beauty Observed and Fellowship Friday.

Love the topic of moving from fear to freedom in Christ and pursuing purposeful Christian living? Sign up in the side bar to receive blog posts {encouragement!} by email.