a woman of power

God designed woman as a masterpiece. We are glorious. We were the last thing He created. Now that is pretty special. How many statues, paintings, artwork etc., do you see of men vs. women? Our beauty is a constant reminder of our worth or lack thereof.
Just take a day and stroll through the mall. The emphasis on our beauty is everywhere.
Go to lunch and overhear a conversation between two or more ladies and something relating to our beauty will come up, or picking ourselves a part.

Ladies we were created as a helper and a companion so that man wouldn’t be alone. These are God’s words, not mine. See Genesis 2:18-22. This does not mean we can’t or shouldn’t do anything that man can do (and in high heels you might add). It means our purpose for existing isn’t all about our outward beauty. Although God knew what man would like and since we were created for Him, God knew what He was doing.

A woman who understands the power she is capable of can be a dangerous woman. She needs to wear certain revealing clothes (and allows her daughters too as well) for attention and to feel pretty. This is a shallow woman. Her influence is solely based on her looks. Let’s face it; the temptation to use our beauty to not glorify God is a reality. Even for the “Christian” woman.
Ok, back to our purpose as women according to our Creator. Integrity isn’t in a special bottle anyone can purchase and apply daily for results. There are no 2 for the price of 1 specials on Godly wisdom you can carry around in an adorable shopping bag with a label your friends will be jealous of. There are no mannequins in the mall portraying a noble woman.

A woman who realizes God created her, yes, for beauty is a powerful woman. A woman who constantly cultivates her Godly influence with integrity and character in her marriage, home, school, workplace, the grocery store, the doctor’s office, a restaurant etc. can never be outdone by a supermodel that walks through the door. A woman of power will have these attributes for the rest of her days on this earth. No eye cream is that good ladies, none.

A woman of power is one who honors God with her beauty. The lack of encouragement from other women to fear the Lord is also a reality. This is what God says is true beauty. That’s the secret we should be selling in the malls and marketing to each other on a daily basis.

“The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves!” Proverbs 31:30-MSG

Corrine

the gift of time

I’m celebrating me today. It’s my birthday. I turned 37 amazing years old today. I’m now what would be considered “late” thirties. And to be honest………a number has never ever bothered me. I started my thirties proclaiming that it would be the best decade of my life. Boy oh boy it sure has been terrific.

See, what I don’t understand is if you don’t like celebrating turning older than the opposite of that is not having a birthday…….at all. And, I really like celebrating. I can find any excuse to have a party. But God blesses me with the very breath I have and my heart beating strong and being around to watch my son grow up into an amazing young man. Yeah, that’s worth celebrating another year over. 

This year I asked for time. Time away from “life.”  I took the week off from work. I love camping. So my parents, along with my son, went with me camping at one of my most favorite places on earth, Silver Lake Sand Dunes. I asked for no “rectangles” for four whole days. That means no iPads, iPods, laptops or cell phones. And let me tell you it was wonderful. We took our time cooking in good ole’ cast iron pans on the fire. (I did beg to bring my Keurig coffee machine but Mom protested. I compromised with my French press. I’m not high maintenance but I got to have my coffee.) We roasted many treats and imagine this, had conversation with the people right in front of us. No social networking and we survived. I loved it. We played games with real cards and not ones you slide around on a touch screen.

Time is precious. You can't get back time. You can't purchase it. It truly is a sacrifice to give someone your time. You aren't guaranteed any other moment but other than the one you are in.  It’s worth celebrating.

First thing this morning for my birthday I spent time with God outside. I sat out on my deck overlooking my big beautiful back yard. I asked Him for one specific word for this next year in my life. He is faithful. If you don’t think He can speak to you, I challenge you to take the TIME and just be with Him. Get quiet and listen. He is waiting………always.

why I got an extra scoop of stuffing

Patient waiting might just payoff.  And possibly pay more?  I know anyone reading this loves to wait.  Right?

I went to place a carry out order at a restaurant and had some time to kill before picking up my son from youth group. I WAS NOT in a hurry. Key words here are WAS NOT.  I mentioned this to the waitress and waited quietly on a chair and surfed Facebook on my phone.  It was kind of nice not rushing about.  I didn't feel like fast food so it was worth the wait.

Hhhhhhmmm. Note to self.

The restaurant however was slammed and crazy busy minutes after I placed my order.  It took longer than "it should have" according to the waitress.  I didn't pay any attention because, that's right, I wasn't in a hurry.

Hhhhhhmmm. Note to self, again.

You see she went the extra mile knowing it took "longer than normal" and gave me some extra.  “An extra scoop of stuffing I put in there for your patience.”  I didn’t ask for it.  I didn’t complain how long the wait was but she felt it necessary to top off my “hassle” and give me a little extra. 

As I was walking in the parking lot out to my Jeep, God spoke to me and said every so quietly, “Patient waiting paid off and you were blessed with extra.”  I just wonder what areas in my life He is waiting to give me some “extra” if I would just sit tight and wait.  And not just wait, patiently wait.

I seem to be in a time period of waiting. The phrase "a season of waiting" just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. A season makes me think a few months to a few years.

There's something about admitting how you feel in the midst of feeling it. And in spite of your circumstances declaring it will all work out. Before it does.

It's called faith.

God responds to action when you have not been given any proof or before results are seen.  I think He thrives on it.  It shows trust. Isn't that what the Israelites took FOREVER to learn in the dessert?  Well even if they didn't take ADVANTAGE of the trial to learn to trust God completely at least He gave them a chance. He's faithful like that.  He GIVES us opportunity to learn.  And usually after a situation I am thankful. It just might take longer sometimes than others.

You might think some extra stuffing is silly to learn a life lesson through.  Not this girl.  My Jesus Calling devotion today had the challenge, “Do not reject any of my gifts.  Find Me in every situation.” 

One of my favorite quotes by Joseph Prince is “When you sit still & trust Him, God works. When you work & trust yourself, God sits still.  Which do you prefer?”

To my fellow single mothers:

You are my hero.  Your super hero cape is invisible.  Your shift never ends.  You may never hear thank you.  You may not even get a Mother’s Day present because no one thought to help your child with one (been there).  You do everything on a day-in and day-out basis alone.  If you’re a single mother who works outside the home, I feel your pain.  Summer time comes every year and it breaks my heart.  I am at the office while my favorite guy is home without me.  It is one of the hardest things for me personally.  I remind myself often of how blessed I am with a job, a really good one.  I try to stay content right where God has me for this season.  I don’t always do so great. No one other than a fellow single mom will be able to relate to the feeling of being physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted.  Because if we don’t do (fill in the blank with pretty much anything here), it doesn’t get done.  Sometimes even thinking of whom to ask for help is exhausting, let alone getting it done. Honest.

God designed children to be created from a man and a woman.  He intended for them to be raised by both.  Now I know why.  Death happens.  Divorce happens.  Circumstances that weren’t planned happen in life and then result in single parenting.  It doesn’t change the workload needed to raise those babies by yourself.  One of a single moms biggest fears is the lack of a stable male role model for her children.   One of my prayers was that God would bring Godly men into my son’s life to show him how to be a faithful man, husband, and father.  He answered my prayers by providing an awesome Grandpa, Uncle and friends that speak wisdom into his life and lead by example.  They have been there for me to help nurture my son into a Godly young man.  It is necessary to have influence from the opposite sex if you are a single mom to a boy.  Guys get guy “stuff” and they need each other.  Man to man.  If the father isn’t in the picture or isn’t taking his role seriously, God can redeem that.  Remind your child there is a Father in heaven who loves them more than even you do.  Also, pray that God will send men with character and integrity into their lives to fill the male void that you cannot.

When single parenting was new to me, I was overwhelmed.  What I did find time to do, by making it a priority, was daily getting before God and ASKING for help.  Asking for wisdom.  Worship was my lifeline.  There were hours when all I would do was sit on my floor by my stereo and weep and pray before my Jesus.  He sustained me.  He continues to do that as I seek Him.  Each chapter of your child’s life brings new struggles, as well as joy.  The teen years are so fun and a great challenge with a mother and a father in the home.  The teen years alone are a lot more work.  It has taught me the meaning of unconditional love.  It has taught me how to be a servant.  It has humbled me when I needed to ask my son for forgiveness for messing up.  If you are in this phase, continually ask God for creative ways to show your teen how you can love them.  The best advice I once heard was, “Ask your teen what his/her favorite thing to do with you is…….and do it as much as possible!”

One thing I would also like to encourage single mothers out there to do is to take time for YOURSELF.  It is absolutely necessary.  Don’t feel guilty about it.  Just contact me if you need a pep talk.  SERIOUSLY!  Maintain a healthy balance of your identity and remember you!

BE ENCOURAGED TODAY.

God understands.  He sees.  He knows.  He listens.  He provides. 

My encouragement to you is don’t try to do everything but do what truly matters.  Ask God for direction, discernment and discipline.  Your babies are your priority.  Everything else, is just extra.  Providing financially for them is a priority but don’t let that overtake the priority of being available for them.  Time is one thing that you will never get back.  Money can be made over and over again.
So take off that cape, wash it, iron it and wear it again and do it well!  God is on your side.  You were His idea. Don’t forget to spend alone time with Him.  This is where you will draw your strength.  I have read numerous books and articles.  I have listened to hours of Podcasts and read many devotionals.  Get all the help you can.

An extra dose of encouragement for single moms with very young children:  My son, who is now thinking about college, wrote me a letter that made all the tears I ever cried in times of exhaustion worth shedding.  In the letter he said, “Mom, I don’t know why but God allowed me to be raised by a single mom for a reason.  I know God is building both of us up for something great.  I appreciate all you do and see the sacrifice you make even if I don’t always show it.”  I need to get this letter out a little more often and remind myself that God will redeem a “broken” home.  When the pressure of single parenting is too much for me to handle,  this letter reminds me that God does have a plan for me and my child.  Because we love Him, all things will work together according to His purpose and not our own.

“All things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” Romans 8:28 {AMP}

Rethink Discipleship

These are just my humble observations from growing up in church and experiences into my adult life.

I’ve unfortunately seen much too often the phrase “Go & make Disciples” be over spiritualized by programs, meetings & well those lovely workbooks for a Bible study that you need to “invest” in with your checkbook. I don’t mean to imply any of those means aren’t good.  I just think they are all too often pushed as the spiritual answer on how to make a disciple.  Ya know, to make you feel like you are “doing” something. 

Who’s with me?

Here’s a page from my own story. As a young family we were in “leadership” at the church we attended.  It began when we had been married a little over three years and had a one year old.  During this season I worked second shift & my husband worked first so we didn’t need to put our son in daycare.  My evenings off were Sunday, Wednesday & Saturday.  We were “expected” to be at church two of those evenings.  One night a week for family time wasn’t enough.  We did this for two years.  Our family suffered.  Our marriage suffered.  Of course this was all in the name of “doing” church.  That experience has given me wisdom. 

Now as a single Mom, my son is my priority more than ever.  God has trusted him to me only for a short season.  It has gone by way too fast.  I have so much more to do.  One thing I strive to do is be an example by serving along side my son and he watches me by including him.  I intentionally pick much of my “ministry” time only when he can join me.  This means we spend time together and help others all at the same time. 

I just finished reading lots of the New Testament and observing Jesus.  He simply lived His life and influenced those around Him.  He was intentional about those who He invested in.  His lifestyle and who He was DREW others to Him. 

I have some beautiful friends who are out-of-the-box and don’t take this lightly.  Their kitchen table has experienced more serving and ministry then I have seen in such a long time.  More effective than a group discussion or book study is someone simply living his or her life by example.  Others are drawn to them because their lifestyle is different. It’s refreshing.

So, whom are you being intentional about serving, teaching and investing in?

I think there is a generation of kids out there who sat through meeting after meeting after meeting or rehearsal or praise team practice from their parents “doing” church.  The pressure of being busy for the church has taken its toll on families.  Especially those families in “leadership.”  I say leadership with mixed emotions.  What if I said those who are on the payroll?  I also say leadership lightly because families, I think, would look differently if those in leadership portrayed family as a PRIORITY.

Thankfully, my dad, who has been an Elder in the church, since I can remember, was always there for us.  He served his family first, then others second.  I watched my parents love others, serve others, minister to others all with proper balance.  So, I know it can be done.  From experience.

I also think that same generation hungers for change and I see it happening.  There is HOPE.  If you are blessed to be a parent then you have a big job to do.  Your children are the most important disciples you will ever have.  Be intentional about investing in them. Daily.

I want to honor an amazing friend who has waited a long time to be a momma.  God answered her prayer and she quit her long time career to fulfill this dream.  Her & her husband have sacrificed intentionally to make this decision.  You see she is teaching her daughter by her actions.  She is investing in her through daily, simple, routine actions. That, in my book, is one of the most spiritual things anyone could ever do. 

Here a some pictures of her sweet 16 month old copying her actions when she was babysitting a friend’s 6 month old.

Reading a book to the "little one"

"Feeding her "baby"

“What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Let me encourage you to “GO and MAKE disciples” - Matthew 28:19 and start at home first.

Running while resting

It’s sounds like an oxymoron huh? 

I was listening to a podcast on resting while running on my treadmill.  I kind of laughed a little at the irony.  But, I really was resting.  I have recently found after a long day of work and being a single mom of a teenager that I have loved unwinding by running at night.

True story.

Sometimes resting means taking a break from certain things so you can focus on other things.  Resting actually really looks like productivity.  Society tells us differently.  Let’s be honest, “church” can tell us differently.  Learn the word NO if you need to.

Let’s look at Leviticus 26:34-35. “Then at last the land will enjoy its neglected Sabbath years as it lies desolate while you are in exile in the land of your enemies.  Then the land will finally rest and enjoy the Sabbaths it missed. As long as the land lies it ruins, it will enjoy the rest you never allowed it to take every seventh year while you lived in it.”

After reading this verse I had the thought that I wonder if sometimes God designs not-so-fun-circumstances that force us to rest because He knows what is best for us.  I had never thought of unfortunate circumstances and rest going together.

Busy bodies are counter-productive if they never take a season of rest.  (Or juggling so many things all might be checked off the list but none done “well”) A day every week for rest is what God demonstrated in Genesis 2.  He didn’t need it.  It was an example for us to follow.  It is productive.

A garden needs to rest after season to season to maintain healthy soil.  A tired soil doesn’t produce as good of a crop as a healthy one. 

Let me encourage you to ask God in what areas do you need to take a rest?  A few years ago I rested from all things in life except work and my son.  I just sought out as much possible time as I could with Jesus.  Oh, what a year.  I had to force myself to train my brain to sit out on lots of “stuff.” 

IT WAS WORTH IT. 

I sought Him out constantly and I was quiet long enough for Him to plant a seed deep within me.  He watered it.  And it grew.  It would take a whole blog post just to tell you all the fruit that has been produced from that year.  It still continues.

REST.  Try it!

New Year's Letter

I wanted to share a beautiful letter a friend of mine wrote for the new year.  I hope you are encouraged as I was.  Please enjoy this guest post from Dawn.

Never before have I written a New Year’s letter but, I felt compelled to do so. Winter season to winter season, New Year to New Year leaves many to reflect the events of the coming year. How can I improve self? And we all know it requires action to make change.

As I walked into church today, I was looking at the landscaping foliage that was cold, brown, brittle, lifeless, and dead by all appearances. Yet look again. Berries left over from bountiful days. Petals in a state of withering and decayed suspended in time. This seems to bring a feeling of despair of a loss of days gone by that was full of life, warm, and hope.

I saw something new in the frozen foliage today. New life dormant in the snow and ice waiting to emerge at the first on-slot of the suns warm rays and a gentle spring rains. Life again will spring forth. The foliage will spring up green tender life again, new buds, berries, and flowers. They will sway in the warm breezes of spring and brighten my walk into church with color and life once again.
Life sometimes feels this way: cold and dormant.

Today a gentle reminder from God was given. He said, that there is life waiting under the cold, ice, and snow. This year’s events many times felt to me like that cold seemly dead plant life I saw.

But, I feel a warm gentle breath of God, healing rains, and a son’s light and love awakening my roots. 

Activating life.
 
I will graduate this year, gain employment, and emerge a stronger version of self.

Happy 2013 New Year and may you experience joy, gain hope, and feel God’s restoring love!!