Always Alleluia

May 18, 2012

Perspective

Joining with Lisa-Jo and others to play with our words for just Five Minutes, no editing, not worrying, just link up and encourage others who play along. The prompt today is

Perspective.

GO.

I’ve been looking at things from these narrow eyes of mine, suffering bouts of temporary blindness to the way God works and moves across and in my life. I’ve felt His presence and still been unable to hold onto it, forsaking one view for another, a less accurate, more smeary, muddied up one. My theology being terribly inferior to His I admit, occasionally, I’ve lost my perspective in my less shining moments. I’ve lived squinting through the lenses of fear and doubt.

God’s view of me is surely nothing like my own. How can I begin to see as One who sees all things–for He has made them according to His purposes–

I remind myself that I see only with a flashlight in this life, sometimes, it’s only a pen light, barely bright enough to illuminate the very next step. But He sees all, and seeing all changes things.

Since I cannot see all, I have only one option, which is to fully rely on Him, I have to trust.

As I outlined the letters in my journal it occurred to me, (well really, I think he whispered it to my heart) that trust begins and ends with a cross.

And so I gain a fresh perspective, one that believes without seeing.

STOP

I’m Posting about the weight of discontent today over at Sisters In Bloom. Won’t you come by and say Hi? Join me HERE.

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May 17, 2012

Balance Comes In Seasons {Guest Post}

 Today I am blessed to share with you an encouraging guest post today, from my friend Kelly. When I put out a call for guest posts, Kelly graciously stepped forward to share her heart here and I am so thankful she did. I pray you are as blessed by her words as I am.

As spring flourishes with new life, flowers, and promises of warm sunshine I find myself lifting my face heavenward in gratitude. Part of me wonders why all seasons can’t be as beautiful.

Why can’t the grass stay so green, highlighting rosebuds during summer? Why are the days of summer too hot and dry to maintain the loveliness of the delicate blossoms? Why can’t the vibrant colors of fall shine through the winter? Instead, daylight is scarce with bitter wind biting.

It’s the desolate seasons where my questions grow and my desire for the precious balance of beauty and comfort in seasons such as spring and autumn becomes strongest. I struggle to find balance in all seasons.

Balance has been a phenomenon I’ve longed to achieve for as long as I can remember, a word that frequents my lips.

“Find a balance when choosing a routine.”

“Don’t spend too much time focused on one person or thing; keep a balanced view.”

“Put aside the notion that you are spending too much time cleaning or coddling your children by neglecting your duties. Find a balance and live at peace.”

Yet I never seem to arrive at that peaceful state of balance, no matter how much I try. Then I beat myself up when I can’t maintain balance in my life. I pine away for perfection, yet it seems to be unattainable as the glaring heat of summer blinds my common sense.
So I begin making to-do lists and read of strategies to maintain an organized life, and as winter’s wind howls mockingly at my vain attempts to get this thing called a balanced life in working order, I begin longing for the perfection of spring.

Thankfully, with God’s gift of an early spring this year, He also blessed me with a fresh perspective. Each warm winter day that seemed more like April than January, I soaked up with all of the joy I could muster. I accomplished what was necessary with a promise that the sunshine would eagerly greet me when I was free to take some time to bask in it, and then I let go of my lists and lived in the sweetness of the day. I lived to find the beauty in each part of the day because I knew I wasn’t promised a day such as this one tomorrow. And when that wintery weather returned the next day, I was at peace because I knew that I needed to accomplish more obligations than I had the day before.

At last I have reached an answer to my years of searching for what a balanced life should be. It’s not one season that brings balance. It’s all of the seasons working together. The earth needs various seasons to maintain quality life just as I do. The roses could not bloom if they did not have a winter in which they could rest. The gardens planted in spring must grow through summer to produce their fruit.

Why not accept this as truth in my life? I need all seasons to live a truly balanced life. Times of growth, times of maintaining, times of harvesting, and times to remain dormant – they all work together to create a balance.

As I searched in vain to find the perfect method of always living in the spring-like season, I was missing out. I couldn’t see those days where I felt like I accomplished nothing as part of the package of balance. Now I can view them for what they are – a gift from God where I can take time to breathe and soak in the details that harvest season doesn’t have time to notice. I can be thankful for the busy times because I know my hard work will allow a season of adequate rest in the future.

How about you? Have you struggled with living a balanced life? What helps you find peace in accomplishing what is necessary for each season?

Kelly is a high school teacher turned stay-at-home mom to an adventurous little boy and wife to a God-fearing, life-loving husband. You can join her at her blog, Exceptionally Average, where she encourage other women to cast off their tendencies to dwell in mediocrity or isolate themselves with exceptional circumstances. Instead, she seeks to build community with women like her that strive to be exceptionally average on the journey – a journey to find joy in the simple, balance in life’s craziness, and urgency to live out God’s call for her life.

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May 14, 2012

You Already Have A Ministry

Bent over sifting through the laundry I hear Him inside my chest. He answers clearly with a truth I had forgotten. Lost in pursuit, I completely missed what was right in front of my face–right here in my hands.

“You already have a ministry” He whispered.

Chills ran up my arms, plunged deep in the piles of filthy towels and grass stained socks. How on earth had I missed this?

I’ve spent too many hours looking for another place to serve–another way to be more for Him, to do the next thing and currently I already juggle at least four ministries.

First, I am a mom. Four little souls wake up each day hungry for the feeding. I have the opportunity each day to point them to the cross, to get low with them and teach them how to live life on their knees–even as I am still learning myself.

Motherhood is a ministry. Motherhood serves the highest function in society, though the world will tell us otherwise.

If this were my only ministry, it would be more than enough. But it isn’t. Gently, God brings forward the names and places I serve, beyond these four walls, here, with my words, at church in the nursery and coordinating MOPS, as an Advocate for Compassion and I am stunned at the ridiculous obviousness of each of these and yet I had forsaken them all in blind pursuit of more–

The enemy has perfected the art of telling us that all we have isn’t enough. The temptation for more has been around since Eve stumbled and sought more than pure communion with God.

God knew where I was. He knew the deceptions I believed as my heart turned a blind corner on the various places He has graciously allowed me to serve.

He calls me gently back as I serve my family, washing the clothes, cooking the meals, changing the diapers and ironing the endless mounds of clothes we are blessed to posess. I shake my head at how I came this close to forsaking what fills my arms for the romanticized idea of serving somewhere else, for perhaps more notiriety. I shudder at the thought.

I have a ministry. He reminded me, ” You have a ministry. Serve where you are” .

So today, the day after Mothers Day, I re-comit to serve Him more fully, not asking for more, but rather thanking Him for the abundance gifted to me, even though I don’t deserve it.

Counting on, beyond my 1000 Gifts:

2001. A morning at the farm with the kids, and friends.

2002. Sunshine nearly all week

2003. Sprouts in the garden, rain at just the right times

2004. Lots of time with friends last week, joy for me and my children

2005. Husband who spoils and blesses me, always making me feel treasured

2006. Handmade Mothers Day Cards from the kids, little paper treasure

2007. A day spent in Pajamas. Too rare anymore.

2008. Sharing dreams with friends

2009. The long wait for you Lord to answer. Learning continually to be patient.

2010. The hard, humbling season. That you walk with me through it.

Thank you, to those of you who have sent in guest posts, I am looking forward to sharing your words here, and if you havent yet, there’s still time!

And in case you’re wondering, the hanging plants are still alive–for now.

Joining the community of friends and Ann in giving thanks for all things. Won’t you join in the praise?

 Want to keep up with me? Subscribe to Always Alleluia by Email to get my posts delivered right to your inbox. You can also find me on Facebook and twitter.