Strong and Courageous - He's calling....



God works in some amazing ways.  I posted this verse in my last post.  Since that time, I have come across it 4 times.  SERIOUSLY....4.  Each time I just smiled.  I get it God.  It's not coincidence, it's you.  (grinning even as I write this!)   

I went back this morning and just processed it some.  In context, this was after Moses had died and God was calling Joshua into leadership.  Not once, but twice, within a couple of verses, God reassures Joshua of the call he has put before him. 

I'm like that.  I need reassuring sometimes.  I need God to tell me things, sometimes more than once.  Sometimes, 4,5,6 times.  Sometimes he does this in a matter of a week. Sometimes it is over years of learning. 

I'm so blessed to know a God who cares to weave such an intricate plan for my life.  Thank you Lord.  Really....  It's ovewhelming to think of how he loves us!

So.... I'd love for you to share.  How is God calling you to be strong and courageous.  What is he calling you to?  What has he asked you to do that you are thinking... Really?  Me God???

If you're not sure he is... listen closely.  Maybe it's the gut feeling you have, or more apparent things.  BUT HE IS CALLING YOU.....  Please leave a comment!  I'd love to be able to pray for you!   

Stil Crying Tears... BUT...

It was a little over a year ago I wrote this post.  http://simplygracejen.blogspot.com/2011/05/every-tear-i-cry.html

Tonight, I'm reminded that no one said life would be easy. No one said life would be fair.  No one said being a mom would be easy...  No one promised no more tears.  (At least not in this earthly flesh) 

I'm recalling laughter, but drawn to tears... again.  I'm rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord, and yet crying out. 

Today hurt hits my heart.  Hurt that numbs me... again....  But the smile goes on, and graduation parties are attended, and I blink... quickly... so the tears don't come. 

And the verse/song - Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous is in my head.  (btw - thanks awana teachers:-)) 

Here's the deal... I'm not so good at fake.  And I'm not so good at pretending to be happy.  But, I also love my kids and don't want them to see the tears.  Don't want them to know how worried I am about them.  It's ok that they know I am up early praying for them, it's ok that they know I am sad, it's ok that they know that I love them even when they are struggling.  It's even ok if they see me cry some. 

But....  it's not ok.  It's not ok that these attacks keep coming.  on our kids, on us, on our integrity, on our faith walk, (and on and on)  It's not ok that even when we think we have crossed hurdles, and obstacles, we digress in big ways.  It's not ok that people treat us differently for what wasn't our fault.  It's not ok. 

But.....  Our Jesus, Our God, and Our Holy Spirit.  He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  And so.... we are ok.  In fact, we are more than ok.  We don't have it all together. Our kids aren't perfect.  We have hard roads ahead of us, and lost friends behind us who haven't even asked.  BUT....  each day we learn and fall more in love with Jesus.  He holds us up.  He heals us.  He sees each tear, hears each prayer, and loves each part. 

Today, I am not just standing on my rock.  I feel like I am laying down on him.... holding on for dear life with my face to the ground.  Lord I seek your wisdom.  I need to know how to do the things I need to do to help my kids.  I need to know what to say to my husband when the attacks come, I need to know your Word, and your Truth better, so that it is the first thing that comes to mind. 

So.... I may still be crying tears, BUT, I'm also turning my eyes upward and knowing that he will sustain us.  He has blessed us SO much in the last year.  In spite of the tears, he has shown us more in one year than I ever could have imagined.  He has strengthed our marriage in ways I could only have dreampt of....  HE.... is ALL THAT MATTERS.... If I draw closer to HIM.... He will draw closer to me.  And if HE is closer to me.... his wisdom will be in my heart.... 





Living in Excess...

So... this post is written with GREAT humility.  I've been arguing with God abe about it for a couple of days and saying, really God, I get it, I don't need to share on my blog...  But, he says, I do, and so... I do. 

You see, I've been doing Spring Cleaning this week.  (yeah me!)  One of the things I decided to do was to go through ALL of our closets and clothes.  The kids helped with their items the other night, and Tom and I did our closets yesterday. (including me cleaning all the shelves and drawers and everything:-) 

A few things you should know about us first.
 1)  nearly ALL of our clothes come from 2nd hand stores.  Most of my life I have done this.  I grew up a child of the 80's farm crisis.  Need I say more?  Anyway, I'm a bit frugile and just can't justify what some items of clothing cost. 
2)  If you asked me, I would say that Tom does not have many clothes.  In fact, we have friends that joke that he only wears "free" t-shirts because that is all they ever see him in:-)   
3) I did approach this a little more 'serious' this time, than other times I've cleaned out...  But I do clean out 1-2 times/ year.  (just not to this degree:-)

SO... as we were sorting and folding and packing it up to go to the local second hand store (which by the way, allows us to have an account for HOME Ministries, so I donate under that name and then when we have people we encounter who have a need for clothing items, we just let them go and shop...) 

ok - sorry - back on focus...  As we were packing it up, I decided to keep track.  (THUS BEGINS THE 'BAD IDEA" piece)  I can honestly say that it is beyond embarassing. 

Tom                                                     Jen
Pants - 8                                               Pants - 15
Shirts - 29                                            Shirts 45
Shorts - 15                                           Shorts/Slickies - 15                                     
T-Shirts - 35                                        T-Shirts 42
Slickie's 3                                            Dresses - 10
                                                            Purses - 6
                                                            Sweaters/Sweatshirts - 38

OK - now seriously.....  that is what we got rid of.  That is beyond rediculous.  We could clothe an entire village somewhere with what we weren't even wearing.  How is it that we get that much "stuff" and don't even realize it?  Why on earth, with that many "things" in my closet would I buy ANYTHING else?  Why would I say that Tom doesn't have "any" clothe?  We live in such excess taht this seems normal?  REALLY????? 

And we aren't sitting here with empty closets and drawers.  We STILL have more clothes than we need.... 

Needless to say, God and I have spent some time talking this out...  Well, most of it was me apologizing for my life of excess.  Anyway... what I kept hearing him say is this...

Do you think you're the only one living in excess?  How many other people would have similar experiences doing the same thing? 

So... I am left with the question - what am I going to do about it?  What will I do differently?  It would seem that the obvious answer would be this - DO NOT BUY ANY MORE CLOTHES!  And that is one of the answers.  I kept thinking - so what... So I don't buy anything else.  Who does that help?  What changes in the big picture?  and on and on.... 

HOWEVER, here's where I've landed. 

Whenever I do buy anything, whatever I spend I will commit to donating the equivalent amount.  This in essence means that I'm committing to doubling the cost of everything I buy.... 

I'm still processing and hiding my face a bit.  It REALLY is humbling.  Here's what you can do to help me.... look in your closet. Do some SPRING cleaning of your own. Where is your excess?  and bettter yet... where should it be?