Tag Archives: Faith

Life on display

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 10 February, 2014 None comments

As I wrote previously on a documentary about drugs I was struck by the fact that what if my life became a documentary? If someone asked to film your life would you feel confident about your life and displaying it for the world to see? Or would you be embarrassed or ashamed? Would you choose to live differently?

Honestly those are some tough questions for me. I know to some degree we would all want to change certain aspects of our life or simply hide them from the world but I also know that I am living my life to the best that I know how and the best that I can at this current moment… Now would I want to relive my past, absolutely not. So, when I ask that question, what comes to mind is every decision I make from here on out should be to glorify Christ and Christ alone. If you feel you can’t be honest with your decisions and wouldn’t tell your friends, acquaintances or your children than you should probably rethink your decisions.

Now I’m not suggesting that all our decisions should be laid our for the world to see, but what small decisions would you change if you knew you were living a life that would one day become a documentary!

My husband and I definitely live our life more on display more than most people- this isn’t always a good thing. :) Between my husband and I, we have some very tough, challenging stories that would make for a good book. Some really sad situations and some really happy and exciting ones. But within those heartaches and memories we are longing to “figure” things out to a point where we could one day help others who suffer through tragedy, feel hopeless and want help finding direction in life. We both feel confident that one day we will pursue this dream of ours and hopefully raise our children to learn what helping others truly means and giving a helping hand to those you want to turn away from; feeling slightly uncomfortable.

When we look back on our life I know we all have moments of guilt and shame, but when you are living your life for Christ, going deeper still, are your decisions being made in accordance to Christ’s will or for purpose of self gain?

White as Snow

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 8 February, 2014 None comments

Oh the cozy feeling of my electric blanket wrapped tightly around me as I look out the window seeing the gorgeous skies filled with a soft blanket of snow. Beautiful trees, snow capped houses filling my view is beyond describable. Last night I felt this peace wrap around me as we shut the lights off outside allowing the soft white blanket of snow to radiate enough light keeping the dark far away. We kept starring outside shocked by the amount of light this blanket had provided.

The more the snow falls the more I realize it’s pure, perfect and without blemish. Isn’t this the exact picture of Christ as he is pure, perfect and without blemish? He has washed our sins white as snow. Do you realize how quickly the snowy roads become trampled and dirty, slushy, and watered down? Is that how your faith in Christ is? Are you believing you are washed white as snow? Or, are you live in the streets slowly losing the temperature of faith and grace, washing you to the gutters and falling through the cracks? Rocks pierce your soul rubbing dirt into our insecurity taking away your white innocence. This is the routine of life that I hope to not fully succumb to.

We all have some amount of dirt in our snow as that is part of our imperfect world but when Christ looks down upon us, we are that soft, untouched blanket of snow. Lets choose to become the path that’s narrow, untouched, and hidden from the main roadways. Lets not throw ourselves to the street allowing the dirt to come near us. It’s impossible to avoid unless you choose the narrow path; the road less traveled. That road is never near the main roadways, it’s usually tucked far away under a tree or off in the distance. Never to be comingled with the wide common path. There is no mistaking which path is the untouched, narrow road.

The amount of light the snow brings is also a perfect picture of Christ. White snow reflects the moon eliciting a sweet glow forcing the darkness to flee; in darkness the enemy stalks. Last night I had an incredible peace as Christ wrapped me in His white blanket clearly showing me a physical form that He has His protection wrapped tightly around me and my family. In Psalms 91 it’s states that “darkness will not come near your tent…” this was a very clear picture to me last night and all day today that Christ brings about light even when our lives seem to be filled with darkness from the trials of this world. I feel blessed with the precious snow bringing about perspective while forcing me to place my busy life on hold and spend time with my family.

Moment of Truth: Christ is the light and in the midst of darkness He shines His light refocusing your perspective back on Him; the pure, untouched light. Stay off the dark black slushy roadways and take the path less traveled bringing about light and life; keeping you white as snow!

When Faith Seems to be Just a ‘Word’

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 3 January, 2014 None comments

When Faith Seems to be Just a ‘Word’

Sometimes I realize my prayers can start to sound the same. Words flowing from my mouth wondering if Jesus is interceding on my behalf. Sometimes I wonder “if I simply prayed differently, used more powerful words, spoke the right things, than maybe, just maybe my prayers would be answered sooner than they are.”

Waiting can be devastating if you allow it to be. Waiting is the place where God transforms lives. Waiting brings character and perseverance.

As I woke last night startled from a dream and hearing my little man tossing and turning, I hurried to check on him. I placed his blankets over him to help bring the warmth back in. As I laid my head back on my pillow I tossed and turned for quite some time. I rested my hand on my husband as I often do when I awake in the middle of the night and began to pray out loud. As my quite words softly came from my lips, I began to question whether Christ was going to answer my prayers. I have been praying the same prayers for over a year now waiting anxiously for this miracle to take place. Here we are entering 2014 and I’m still pleading and wrestling with the Lord for some relief to set in.

When I woke up this morning I began to replay the concerns I had pondered at 4 in the morning. I began to realize first and foremost, the middle of the night is never a good time to let your thoughts wander. Taking them captive as the enemy knows our weaknesses and is quick to let lies seep in is my goal for this reoccurring late night prayer session. The second thing I realized was Christ was and is for His children. I am his child and he promised to protect me and deliver me. How that looks, may be completely different than I could ever dream up; in fact it is 9 times out of 10. The third thing I realized was waiting patiently is a continual battle of exercising my hearts beliefs. When things come easy I quickly push Christ to the side of every activity in my day. The truth of the morning was “Christ hears ME! He will answer! Wait in expectation!”

Praying doesn’t have to have the proper words, depth of knowledge and scripture to make your prayers be answered more quickly. Though we like to think if we changed something that maybe then God would respond. These are lies we have to wrestle with as we speak truth that Christ only wants a humble heart, relaying our deepest fears and desires allowing Him to than transform us. He simply wants us to pray and read His Word. There is no magical formula!

This afternoon I was headed to Costco with my little son playing and laughing in the backseat. The song “Blessings” came on the radio by Laura Story. It can always bring immense power to my heart as I begin to feel that “okay maybe God really is listening” giving me an ounce of hope knowing we will still struggle. If you haven’t listened to the song, please do so now.

A true test of my patience was a phone conversation with my husband this afternoon that started off great. It quickly transpired into an accusing conversation rather than a selfless conversation. My anger quickly started to boil as I felt misjudged. I quickly hung up the phone and replayed this song as it was currently up on my computer screen…it really couldn’t have been more perfect timing. “What if my greatest disappoints or the aching of this life, is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy. What if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights are Your mercies in disguise.” These words convicted me to my soul. This life isn’t about me nor about my husband. We will mistreat one another, we will justify our actions, we will defend ourselves to the deepest part of our core, but why? We want vindication. We want to be right. It’s simply all about SELF. I’m realizing more and more how marriage has really put a tight reign on my tongue. There are many things I used to say when I first started with my husband, now-a-days, my tongue has a leash and I’m only grateful for this. I have to realize if I fight for vindication or to demean my husband, there is a HUGE problem and my pride needs to be laid down before the feet of Jesus and before my husband. My anger and disappointments need to be held in the hands of Jesus as well. He feels the pain and humiliation we go through. He understands our heart.

Today, I want to remind you all that sometimes we are in a period of silence. We believe God is ignoring us, forgot about us or doesn’t care. This deep lie is a test of our faith. None of us deserve the gift Christ has given us, we are all the prodigal child needing constant reminding that we always walk, run and flee from Christ now and again yet he is there waiting to grow our hearts desire for him. Sometimes our perspective is off. God not answering my prayer when and how I think he should is probably the exact reason I am still in the trial. He is more concerned with my heart rather than the issue. He wants to teach me things about myself I would have never learned having not gone through this trial.

Moment of Truth: Change your perspective from what you think God is doing or not doing, to what we know he is doing. And that is healing our hearts to be more Christ filled rather than self filled.

I heard it once said, that we as believers of Christ are either going into a trial, in the middle of a trial, or coming out of a trial. Oh how this is so very true. Embrace the cycle of life knowing one day this world God has already conquered will soon be justified.

Moment of Truth

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 27 December, 2013 None comments

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.
– Helen Keller

Thought to Ponder

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 26 December, 2013 None comments

“Being happy isn’t looking for perfection but looking past imperfection”

I heard this today and it really struck me how we can easily let the little things be “big” things. Habits, routine and self talk can tend to lead you down the path of destruction if you aren’t willing to reevaluate your current state.

Christmas can be a blessing or a curse for everyone. Within our own family both the brothers have an extremely difficult time remembering family and tragedy that has occurred through the years.

The day after christmas can be a massive let down for many reasons. I ask that you look within yourself and motivate yourself to pursue truth today and not look for perfection in those around you but to love them right where they are.

It All Began In A Manger….

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 24 December, 2013 None comments

Christmas Eve began this morning with all the children jumping for joy. “The presents are coming, the presents are coming,” shout the three little children with the wee little toddler scrambling behind. The excitement filled their little tiny minds while they couldn’t wait to see what was to be had below the tree. Could it be, the little gifts I had longed for would fill me with such glee, expresses the confident 8 year old. The four little boys toddled around waiting anxiously for the unwrapped gifts below the tree. As the long day passed, they waited with immense patience checking off their list:

1. Christmas Eve dinner @ 4pm

2. Christmas Eve service at church @ 6:30pm

3. Rush home and pass out gifts, eat snacks and unwrap @ 8pm

The tearing of the Christmas paper began to fill the house with four little boys hovering over each pile of gifts.

This year we decided to not put such an emphasis on gifts for us adults as we want to remember the real meaning of Christmas. “Gifts and stockings are okay, but Jesus is the real reason we have Christmas Day.” As a family we decided we would do more meaningful, thought felt gifts and that is exactly what we did.

We have gifts on Christmas Eve and Santa of course brings the stockings on Christmas morning. Teaching the young, inquiring minds that gifts and stockings are okay is not always an easy distinction for the almost teenager, 8 year old dreamer, and the 5 and 18 month old wigglers. Their priorities are tagged with telling all their friends when they return to school about all the technelogically savy gifts they received. But to their grandparents, it’s more imporant that they pass down a legacy of faith seperating the joy of giving with Christ’s birth. The important disctinction they long to pass from generation to generation has been well established.

My father has always read the Christmas story before we opened gifts to remind us why we have been blessed to give and receive. This Christmas my dad read a snippet of by Max Lucado and this is what is wrote:

It Began in a Manger (Christmas)

by Max Lucado • March 22

Curious, this royal throne room. No tapestries covering the windows. No velvet garments on the courtesans. And, instead of a golden scepter, the king holds a crudely whittled olive-wood rattle.

Curious, the sounds in the court. Cows munching, hooves crunching, a mother humming, a babe nursing.

It could have begun anywhere, the story of the king. But, curiously, it began in a manger. Step into the doorway, peek through the window.

He is here!

The Arrival

The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village. As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets. Vendors were positioning themselves on the corners of the most heavily traveled avenues. Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops. Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts.

The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town. After all, the inn was full, all the beds taken. Every available mat or blanket had been put to use. Soon all the customers would be stirring and there would be a lot of work to do.

One’s imagination is kindled thinking about the conversation of the innkeeper and his family at the breakfast table. Did anyone mention the arrival of the young couple the night before? Did anyone comment on the pregnancy of the girl on the donkey? Perhaps. Perhaps someone raised the subject. But, at best, it was raised, not discussed. There was nothing that novel about them. They were, possibly, one of several families turned away that night.

Besides, who had time to talk about them when there was so much excitement in the air? Augustus did the economy of Bethlehem a favor when he decreed that a census should be taken. Who could remember when such commerce had hit the village?

No, it is doubtful that anyone mentioned the couple’s arrival or wondered about the condition of the girl. They were too busy. The day was upon them. The day’s bread had to be made. The morning’s chores had to be done. There was too much to do to imagine that the impossible had occurred.

God had entered the world as a baby.

Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold.

The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor.

A more lowly place of birth could not exist.

Off to one side sit a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him—so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.

Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is. He can’t remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy. He still hasn’t figured it all out. The mystery of the event still puzzles him. But he hasn’t the energy to wrestle with the questions. What’s important is that the baby is fine and that Mary is safe. As sleep comes, he remembers the name the angel told him to use . . . Jesus. “We will call him Jesus.”

Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph’s saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel,
“His kingdom will never end.”

He looks anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.

She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey!

This baby had overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.

Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.

Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking.

Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?

While my dad finished this story I was sipping my tea in awe of what it would possibly be like in Mary’s shoes. What would it feel like to have a King as your son? Teaching the Creator of the world right from wrong as a young toddler. Holding his hands, knowing they created you yet giving birth to the Son of Man. These questions struck me to the core. The entirety of the story of Christ baffles my mind. “Why? For me? How come?” The unanswered questions reinstate in my ignorant mind that Christ did come as a babe in a lowly manger, suffered persecutation for claiming to be the Risen Son of Man, and dying a painful death suffering ALL the sins of the world upon his lifeless body. Yet he conquored death, saved humanity and gave the free gift of salvation for those who want it…….

What a powerful God we have!

Enjoy your gifts this Christmas and remind yourself this Eve before christmas morning, the journey of Mary and Joseph took on a donkey to bear a child in a stable. The questions and uncertainity they held must have been a story worth hearing….

Merry Christmas!!!

Warnings of Christ’s Return

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 28 November, 2013 None comments

Today is Thanksgiving, there is a lot to be thankful for. Here’s my thoughts for the day:

I have been involved with my bible study this past quarter at church and it is on the parables of Jesus. We are coming to the end of our study before the holidays hit and todays study was on the coming of Christ and the tribulation for those who are still on earth. Reading these warnings from Christ are a deep challenge for me as I do not want to be present on earth when the tribulation hits, but also don’t want my kids or their kids here either. When you think about the depths of life and the purpose of our creation there is no avoiding what’s to come, and it makes it challenging to think of bringing more kids into this world, yet we all have such instinct for growing our families.

When I read about what’s to occur during the tribulation it does put some fear in me. But when I realize Christ has also told us beforehand what to watch for is beyond my imagination. When you think about that, how do you not believe there is a Christ who saved us when he also forewarns us and tells us what to do when these things occur?

This morning I was reading about Israel and the temple ruble that still lays on the ground today; some two thousand years later and this temple still has not been rebuilt. What a powerful thought; the temple crumbled to the ground without one stone laying upon another when Christ rose from the dead and will not be rebuilt until the tribulation begins and Christ’s return awaits. There will be an antichrist who claims to be Jesus and have false prophets that show signs and wonders to deceive. He will also take residence in the temple of Jerusalem, Christ’s holy place. Christ tells us to take heed as he has told us these things beforehand to forewarn what is to come.

Christ tells us not to return home when these things take place, to flee and flee without taking the time to grab belongings and woe to the pregnant women and nursing mothers as this time will be very hard on them. Head to the mountain top and flee immediately; this time will be a time of complete urgency (Mark 13:14-23). The tribulation will last for 7 years, midway through the antichrist will come forth. Christ has promised to shorten the days for his chosen people to help sustain through this period of horror. Don’t take life lightly, there is a real aspect here that needs to be addressed. Society is very quick and strategic on masking what life is truly about.

Let me ask you, when you hear about the end times and Christ’s return, whether you are a believer or Christ of not, how do these things make you feel? What happens to your stomach when you hear about the pain and tragedy that will take place? Do you overlook these historic facts as well as biblical facts? Do you take heed and want to prepare your mind and soul for the truth of life and why we were created? Or do you feel convicted but don’t want to face the reality in hopes you aren’t alive for this? The last thing you should do is find a rabbit hole to hide in, instead, you should do quite the opposite, hunt and search for the truth and hold it tightly.

Christ’s return is no joke and unfortunately since the fall in the garden of Eden, we live in sin and will continue to live in sin until Christ comes home for us. When I step back and look at the bigger picture of life, the little things seem to dissipate and have no true value or concern amongst them. I can choose to worry about the day and things to take place, or I can hold tightly that I am a mother, wife, and follower of Christ and when I die only my soul will go with me, not the tangible things I’ve accomplished here on earth. When I realize what my goal is in life and if I died today, I have to ask myself if I am utilizing my strengths for Christ or for my own glory? That is a tough question but an honest question. I want to strive to lay my head down on my pillow each night knowing I glorified God while being a mother, wife, friend and daughter. This is the legacy I want to leave. I want to leave my son with a heritage of faith, respect and integrity. I want my life to be of value not of material possessions.

I must say I have been really struggling with these concepts of faith and the life around us. Sin is so blinding and sex is filling our society. There are empty souls searching for happiness and my soul literally breaks for our society as I see complete blindness take over everyone. The hunt for something greater is only digging a deeper hole of brokenness. My desire is to express the reality of life that Christ lays out so perfectly in the Bible and impresses on my soul the reality that our life is fleeting. We must talk to those around us and give them a hope in the midst of our fallen society. The more I am learning the more I want to share the truth with everyone. I never really cared before, my faith was mine and mine alone, but the more I learn about Christ and the peace that resides in me, the more I want to share the good news with those out there that are hunting for something greater; a purpose in life. There is a peace to be had, there is a confidence to hold dearly, and a love that is unimaginable.

Am I raising my precious bundle to feel loved, good enough and protected? Am I teaching him how to succeed in this big world around us that we call life? Am I teaching him the things that matter most in life or how to get what he “deserves?” Am I leaving him a legacy of truth and inspiring him to do the same?

Moment of truth: What legacy are you leaving today? If it is not a good one, the good thing is you can change that, take the steps and don’t look back. Leave a heritage of integrity rather than dishonesty and a broken heart. The beginning of the race doesn’t define the end of the race. There is grace and forgiveness to finish the race strong no matter how the race began.