PUT A (NEW) RING ON IT!

It's now been 14 months since I started this health journey. This Thanksgiving one of my wedding rings fell off my finger and was lost for a day. I realized how loose they were a week ago and was thinking I should have them adjusted...but of course time alluded me for that.

For years I have been blessed to serve God under an amazing leader who battled her own health journey and armed herself with all the knowledge of leading a healthy life. And yes, I have been listening and this entire time I have been getting healthy on the spiritual and emotional side and not really thinking about the physical side. Now this physical side has come into alignment once again.

The one thing I realized is that my self confidence has somehow failed me. Let me explain.
Being confident in who I am, who I want to be and who God has designed for me to be has never been an issue for me. However, because of this confidence I have somehow failed to see some very obvious things in front of me.

Funny how the thing that makes you strong actually makes you weak.

I can remember that during my entire life I have always been confident in who I was. Regardless of what size I wore I knew I could do anything I focused on and desired to. My confidence always attracted friends and always kept me at the top of my class. Now I can look back and see where this confidence actually failed me in other ways. I was asking my husband about what he thought of my confidence when we met and he admitted that he was attracted to me because I always knew who I was and what I wanted and where I was going. He wanted to go on that ride too! lol!

So, this confidence could have very much saved my life as a little girl, helped me cope, pushed me to be the best at school, made me look for challenges and led me to my dear husband. But at some point there comes a moment of inspection to see where this confidence can also make me weak and allow myself a moment of humility where I can grow.

I heard a trainer say "Pain is weakness leaving your body." I had to sit and chew on how profound this actually was. It reminded "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  (2Timothy 1:7)

Maybe mine was just a bit misguided and lacking of self-control but the confidence came from God, grown through some pain and now living in a body filled with strength! Now if I can only get my rings adjusted.....or have my husband "PUT A RING ON IT' ....as an encore of course! ;)


Scriptures to lean on:

Psalm 27:3

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

ps... if Daddy wont... my son will! :)

THE "F" WORD

So, as many of us do…today I was trying to clean house. I have become such an expunger and need to rid myself of excess furniture, clothes, shoes, trinkets and clean house! I ran across our triplet stroller and decided to post it in Craigs List. Soon, I was contacted by a pregnant mom who was in the early stages of her triplet pregnancy and had a few questions. She was interested in the stroller but also was contemplating “reduction” (medical term for early abortion as a means to save the other multiples) as recommended by her Doctor. She asked me how I came to my conclusion to carry all three and how I am doing today. Odd for a Craigs List posting eh? Ok God…..I’m always ready to share!  I didn’t hold back….I told her the story.

The point came that I had to decide what I truly believed in and what was I going to stand on. Facts, Fiction or Faith? 

Doctors had Facts. They gave me statistics and scenarios and even people I could discuss them with that had been on the same journey.

The world had Fiction….was I going to believe what this world was trying to tell me? The lies the enemy was about to put in my head and the insecurity he would try to sell me now?

Faith……the one thing that I knew that I knew that I knew and had not failed me! No, not all my prayers have been answered the way I wanted them to but they had been answered and always to my betterment!

I think we all get to a point in our lives where we are stripped of the exterior and are left to see what truly lives in the inside. Sometimes, we don’t even know what it is until its exposed. Here is what I found:

1. Facts…they constantly change! New discovery, new science and new findings!

2. Fiction…it’s what the world would like us to believe and what the enemy speaks!

3. Faith….is constant….His word never changes! It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)

So, here I am, on the other side of the story. Yes, you may think it’s easy for me to preach this now but know that there was deep loss that we went through along this journey. The journey….this path you are to walk alone with nobody….but God to look to. I can only tell you what the bible says and I can share my life with you. At the end, you have to decide on your own F word. Which is it?

And I venture to say that yes, sometimes it’s ok to even use the 4^th F word…..it’s ok to admit that sometimes things just stink! But you'll have to decide at some point leave that spot, wipe the tears and sweat and walk... or even drag yourself out if you have to! I did.

Scriptures to lean on:

Isaiah 54

You have triplets?????

The question I get several times a week.

I never really know where these start-up conversations are gonna go. It could be plain curiosity, awe, delight, a few times disgust and many more than I can ever count a true ministry moment. Regardless of what my day has looked like, where I’m going and what mood the kids are in ..I have learned to listen to the words that they are NOT saying. I take a moment to chat with them and be open with my story. 

They say that most people aren’t as open to talk about Christianity or open to be invited to church but my life story has Jesus written all over it so I can share that! I don’t have to speak scriptures, wear a cross or tell them what I do for a living. All they have to do is hear my story unfold and the fruit overflow. I like answering questions about how I do things, how tired I must be, how much help I must have, how tired I must be,  how overwhelmed I must feel......how tired I must be!
What keeps me going?? There is an alternate story the enemy tried to tell!  

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) The raw truth is that my story could have been different. Regardless of how tired, stressed, busy and unappreciated you must feel think of the alternative! My husband and I could still be trying to have a family and praying for an answer but instead, we have been given a gift (though bigger than we had ever prayed for) so why would I now turn to Him and complain????

Don’t get me wrong…. Of course we have our moments…after all, we're human…. but I refuse to dwell there!! Who wins?? Instead, I give myself a minute….cry out to God about how tired, stressed, busy or unappreciated I feel and ask for His strength not mine! Then I spend 3 minutes thanking Him for just that.....the fatigue, stress and the business of my life!!! What else could I be doing now if the alternative had been true?! 

This world can quickly turn your biggest blessing into your biggest thorn if you allow it to. So my advise….take a minute and talk to those who stop you because you may be planting a seed or watering a seed but truly they are reminding YOU of your very own story and blessings!  Who are you talking to today and what are you focusing on? Remember, the story is not about you....it might just be about that divine meeting and that person that was specifically sent to you!

Scriptures to lean on:

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! (Hebrews 13:2)