Last year, for the first time, I took part in the write for 31 days challenge. Bloggers pick one topic and write a post on that topic every day in October. I have decided to take part in the challenge again this year – and it will be a challenge!
If you have read previous posts you will realise I am a little busier than usual. The topic I have chosen to write is one I have found difficult to grasp. Especially in the current season I am in raising little ones. I will be spending the next 31 days in God’s love.
Through experiences and relationships with other people, a lot of us grow up not believing how much God loves us. This can be through a range of reasons:
Hurt from other people
Choices we have made
Broken relationships
Feelings of not being worthy
There are so many references to God’s love in the Bible it can be overwhelming. But then I guess that’s what God’s love is really like – overwhelming! I want to focus on the following over the next 31 days:
God’s love is steadfast and unchanging
God’s love can comfort
God will reveal His love through Jesus Christ
God pours His love into us through the Holy Spirit
Once we know how much God loves us, we are then compelled to love one another
In spending the next 31 days in scripture, I want to go deeper in the knowledge that God loves me. I don’t want to just know this in my mind though. My prayer is that I feel God’s love deep down in my heart. I am also praying this for whoever comes on this journey with me.
Will you join me in delving deeper over the next 31 days in God’s love?
Every single day there is a question someone always asks me. It doesn’t matter if I am walking my kids to school, going shopping, or having a routine visit to the doctors. It’s always the same question…
“Are they twins?“
My devious brain wants to reply back with a quick quip…
“No, actually, they are quads but the other two are left at home”.
Instead, I just smile and nod my head. I’m hoping I can get to where I need to go before the next question gets asked…
“They must be hard work. Aren’t they a challenge?“
When I respond with the fact my babies are actually children number four and five, eyes open wide with shock. I say looking after my other three children when they were younger was more of a challenge than the twins. (I had a three year old, a 23 month old and a newborn by the time my son was born).
How hard is it really?
Often, people ask how hard it must be. My response has been to disagree with what they have said. I bravely put on a smile and make out everything is hunky-dory. However, deep down inside is a completely different story.
Yes, my twins are a challenge. Yes, it is hard work. I don’t want to admit that though. Who wants to admit they are struggling? And when people ask if it’s hard work, do they really want to hear the truth?
Challenge is an understatement
I underestimated how hard looking after twins was going to be. Twice as hard doesn’t even come close to it.
“Having twins is not twice as hard—it’s exponentially more difficult”
I knew what to expect with having three children previously…the sleepless nights…the constant screaming…the never ending feeds. Well, I thought I knew what to expect!
Sleepless nights are taken to a whole new level when two babies are crying. The constant screaming is like having surround sound with the volume turned up! And as for the never ending feeds…I never realised how much milk would be needed. And what goes in must come out, right? Well, let’s just say babies seem to have a way of doubling everything that goes in!
It may be a little bit more than twice as hard, but the blessings I have far outweigh the challenges. I get double the smiles and twice as much love. This is what I try to remember when the going gets a little tough. I’m getting a little help to remember this truth by reading through Becky Keife’s new book “No Better Mom for the Job”.
As a floundering mama with bags under my eyes big enough to prove my lack of sleep, I made a choice to stop fixating on a deficit I had no power to change. After all, God is pretty set on the whole twenty-four hours in a day thing. Instead I decided to concentrate on what was fully within my grasp: my ability to give thanks.
I started to retrain my focus from what stressed me about being a mom to what blessed me.
Becky Keife, “No Better Mom for the Job”
Can I suggest that if you need a little encouragement, go and pre-order Becky’s book? Raising little ones is not easy. In fact, it’s down right hard work. Sometimes it feels like it’s a lonely job. Am I right?
You are not alone
Becky writes about the ups and downs of being a mother to three spirited boys, and I love how she makes me feel like I’m not alone in the job anymore.
You’re probably thinking right now that you haven’t got time to have a shower these days, let alone sit down and read a book. You don’t need to worry. Becky knows too well what it’s like raising little ones, so she has recorded an audio version of her book too! You get to hear Becky’s sweet voice for yourself.
No Better Mom bonus
As a parent I love receiving bonuses, so this one is a fab bonus…If you pre-order Becky’s book before October 1st you get to receive the Audiobook for free! How awesome is that? Order your copy on Amazon or other online retailers today then head over to NoBetterMomBook.com to redeem your FREE AUDIOBOOK preorder bonus!
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This was originally written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content, but only for five minutes (or there abouts).
I couldn’t stick to five minutes on this one though. The word prompt though was “challenge”. You can click here to view what other people have written.
Who in their right mind says they love their muffin top figure? Someone who is obviously happy with who they are in their own skin, and that someone is Lisa-Jo Baker. Lisa-Jo has written a book called “The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Good On You”.
The lowdown on the book (courtesy of Amazon)
In these intimate reflections on midlife, Lisa-Jo invites us to get a good look at our middles and gives us permission to embrace them—beyond what the media, the mirror, or the magazines say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most of us are thinking about marriage, parenting, the bathroom scale, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs.
Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is, because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, kids, faith, doubt, marriage, failure, wonder, and the muffin top—and that these are all good things. She’s not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it for all its wildly ordinary glory.
When I heard someone was happy with the way they looked, including the muffin top thing, I just had to read this book. I would be lying if I said I loved my figure, especially after having five kids (my body is a little bit squidgy around the middle!)
I had to find out what her secret was.
My expectations were set a little awry. I was hoping to find a book that gave a “how-to” guide on coping with mid-life. Living in the thick of it all, I wanted to be revitalised. This is NOT one of those books! I’m so pleased it wasn’t as I always fail on the first hurdle of trying to make myself better.
Lisa-Jo has helped me to realise I don’t need to make myself better. I just need to love myself more.
Through her well-crafted stories, Baker has helped me to look at myself “through the sparkling, wild and wonderful eyes of my children”. All 5 of them!
I have hated my muffin top figure so much because it reminds me of the figure I no longer have. My children often comment though on how much they love my squishy belly. Why? Because it’s a reminder to them that I carried each and every one of them into this world.
How can I forget such a privilege?
Lisa-Jo has helped me to realise I should not be ashamed of my figure. A figure which has housed each of my children safely into this world. More importantly, my squishy body still continues to hold each and every single one of them safely.
Lisa-Jo writes with emotion and you will find yourself being drawn alongside her saying in your mind, “Yes, me too!” You won’t feel like you are coping with your middle on your own anymore.
She writes with such love about how proud she is of her children. I found myself feeling proud along side her with my own children. Every time she cheered her children on, I could feel myself cheering inside willing my own children on.
The heart touching moments Lisa-Jo revealed in her words brought tears to my eyes. Moments that made her look up and realise her children were turning out just right.
Isn’t that every parents dream?
I also felt the warm love of her friendships in my own living room. It left me feeling wanting of my own friendships to be like that.
I recommend this book to anyone who feels they are needing some reassurances on how well they are coping in their middle. You may even find, as you read, you will look at what you’re in the middle of right now in your own life and apply some of what Lisa-Jo has tried out. It’s a bit like a good friend giving you a little bit of friendly advice.
“The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Good On You” by Lisa-Jo Baker is available to buy now through Amazon.
Disclaimer: I was given an advanced readers copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
God called Mary. He called her to do the unthinkable. I’m not referring to giving birth to the Son of God although, that was pretty major! No, I’m referring to God calling Mary to be willing and God loves a willing heart.
Think about it.
Mary had to be willing to do as God called her in the face of adversity. She was going to face her hardest trial yet. Mary was young, poor, not yet married…and was pregnant! People she knew and loved would turn their backs on her.
Mary had never been intimate with a man before therefore, how can she be pregnant? Can you imagine the gossip going around? The looks. The innuendos. People talking behind her back.
What would you do if you were in her shoes?
Well, I feel a little like Mary at the moment. No, I am not pregnant! I feel God is asking me if I am ready to take the next step in carrying out His purpose in my life.
I’ve had a stirring in my heart now for about 3-4 years. I said yes to God for Him to use me and to use what I had been through in my past. It’s been a long period of cultivating my heart and waiting on what God wants me to do.
It’s not been easy. Sometimes it’s been a painful learning process but, God has strengthened me in my healing. He gave me opportunities at various times to share my story.
Over the last 3-4 years, how He has wanted to use me has remained unanswered, and at times this has been frustrating. I want to help other people who have been through similar situations to my own and I know what I have been through in my life will make a difference for others.
Well, this has changed over the last month. I feel a big stirring inside me that something big is going to happen. I’ll be honest though…I am scared!
The scary bit? Being a voice for those who need to be heard. This means being vulnerable and leaving myself open. And that is scary.
I have questioned if this is the right thing for me to do. After all, I could just keep quiet and have an easier life! However, I feel I have this deep stirring in my heart and I need to be willing. No matter how scared I feel. This is what it means to have a willing heart in the moment when God asks something of you.
Could you be like Mary?
Have you been praying for God to use you in some way and has He asked you to do the unthinkable? What would you honestly do?
Are you scared and would you respond by hiding away? Well, God will give you strength.
Isaiah 41:10
Would you say you are not worthy to be chosen? Well, God says you are so worthy.
John 15:16
Or, would you be like Mary and say, “Here I am, Lord”?
Luke 1:38
If you are scared, don’t be. We just need to have a willing heart. God will do the rest. He will prepare us for what is to come next.
This post was originally written for the Five Minute Friday Community which is where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt. We write to our hearts content and only for five minutes (or there abouts).
I couldn’t stick to five minutes on this one and ended up missing the link up! Doh!! The word prompt was “willing” and you can click here to view what other people have written.
Life is one big question. Wouldn’t you agree? We are facing difficult questions at every stage of life. Many uncertainties. We thought we had it hard when we were kids, but we soon realise it doesn’t get any easier as we become adults.
Sometimes, it feels like there is a big question mark hanging over our heads. And from time to time, it feels like the hook on that question mark slips down and is hanging around our necks. It grips so tight, it almost feels like we’re suffocating.
When faced with too many life changing questions, it can cause a whole heap of anxiety. One of the questions I often ask when I feel the weight of all this hanging around my neck is, why? Being a Christian, I thought dealing with life’s challenges would be easier.
So why do I suffer then when I am a Christian?
Why is it when I choose to try and live well, I then suffer?
Why is it I feel under attack when I try to do the next right thing?
We are not protected from suffering when we become a Christian. It’s totally the opposite. I have learnt this so much in my own life. In whatever situation we face, when we step out in faith there will always be something around the corner ready to trip us up.
It’s how we deal with these encounters that helps us to get up and face what is ahead, rather than to fall down and fail. (And even when we fall down, we have not yet failed because we know we can always get back up! *wink*)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
The Answer to our difficult questions
When we face a big question, know that you are not on your own. Satan is always waiting around to taunt you on this. When you feel you can’t take anymore, he is always there ready to pile something else on.
You know those days when it just feels like it’s one thing after the other? That’s him alright! He is trying to get in the way of you realising what you truly need to rely on.
Lean into the One who can provide you with the Answer.
Jesus.
Jesus is the Answer. Don’t let that question mark hang around your neck for it to suffocate you. Turn to Jesus, the One who hung on the cross for all our questions. We will lack nothing if we let Jesus be the One to provide the answers.
This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content. Usually we free-write for 5 minutes, but it’s ok to go over this or just use the word as a general prompt.
This weeks word prompt is ‘question’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘question’?
