I asked God this morning what He wanted to say to you today, the day you read this blog post. Google has its algorithms, web masters know whom to target and what time of day is best to hit their demographic and magazine editors plan what season to cover certain subjects. But God knows exactly what you need to hear on this day, right now at this moment.
So I asked Him.
I sat in my backyard and listened for His answer to the question.
And then I argued with His answer.
“But God…” (Red flag phrase if I ever heard one!)
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This is the first post I wrote for 5MFF. I thought it might be a good time to share it again. A reminder that He will never leave us to cry alone. If you’re hurting – physically or emotionally weak, tired, or worried. If you feel like you’re alone….
I remember the birth of our first child like it happened yesterday. She was born on her due date, following a mercifully manageable labor and delivery. Her first cry was strong and healthy, and her daddy and I praised God as we cried right along with her.
Over the next few days, she stayed in my room, and I learned more and more about caring for her, her unique needs, and how to best soothe her.
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Last month, here on 5 Minutes for Faith, I wrote about the day God stopped me in my tracks. He reminded me that no matter what I think I know, only He knows the full and complete picture of His plans.
That same day, although I don’t remember what I was reading at the time, this verse was put in front of me.
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
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Are you successful? What do you feel makes you successful? How do you define it?
The dictionary defines success in this way:
• the attainment of popularity or profit: the success of his play.
• a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity: I must make a success of my business.
• archaic the outcome of an undertaking, specified as achieving or failing to achieve its aims: the good or ill success of their maritime enterprises.
Often while praying with friends, these women of wisdom that the Lord has placed in my life, will ask Him to help me to not put unrealistic expectations on myself.
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I look down at my “to do” list and it is daunting. Managing a family of 7, partnering with my husband in ministry, and the trials of normal life makes it seem that the “to do” list gets longer as the day goes on instead of shorter. I get caught up in running too and fro in the tyranny of the urgent. I easily lose perspective on what is important – what is eternal – in my continual strife to “keep up.”
Do you find yourself feeling that way? Do you find the demands of life so pressing that it is hard to pull back and see the larger picture?
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It’s been a rotten day. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. There are all kinds of self-destructive things you could do in response, but you know you’ll end up feeling worse.
When you find yourself in the middle of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, what should you do?
Laugh
I was a college student on the way to my summer job one morning when my car ran out of gas. This was before cell phones that would have enabled me to let my boss know I was running late or to call for help.
I got out of the car and realized I would have to walk to the nearest gas station.
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Sometimes it can be hard to slow down. To be still. To cherish the moments in front of us as the gifts that they are.
Take a minute and be encouraged by the moment I almost missed, moms.
And in your slowing down, I hope that you not only find quiet joy in your journey as a mom, I pray you hear God’s voice like never before…
Genny Heikka – On The Moment I Almost Missed from Genny Heikka on Vimeo.
“Be still and know that I am God.” -Psalm 46:10
Hugs to you!
Genny
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A friend of mine often reminds me that “no” can be a complete sentence.
My urge to supply ample explanation and curry favor with the delivery of my dissent is strong. I fear rejection, disappointment, and disapproval. Sometimes, meanness and retaliation may occur to my “no.” Pouting too.
This creates a cloud of overwhelming emotion. It becomes confusing to know what to say.
Which is when my friend reminds me to just say no.
This is rooted in scripture too:
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
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