Inspired or Discouraged?

In the past when I read about the Proverbs 31 Woman, I would get discouraged.  After going down the list of all that she did, I became exhausted too!  I would read it and wonder how many cups of coffee she downed before her kids woke up.  This woman began her day preparing breakfast for her family before dawn! Let me repeat, before dawn.  The only thing I like doing before dawn is pulling the covers up to my chin and rolling over. Then as you read on in this passage, our Proverbs 31 Woman spends the rest of her day as a seamstress, farmer, real estate agent, property manager, adviser, not to mention wife and mother too. Phew!

I think so many of us ladies read about the Proverbs 31 Woman and feel the same way.  We get discouraged because we don’t live up to her.  We become envious because she is doing so many things that are big and exciting.  I don’t see any passage where it mentions how many times she asked her kids to make their beds or how many times she effortlessly refilled a sippy cup. No, this woman is out buying a field, planting a vineyard, even making her own bedspread!  A wonder woman doing BIG THINGS!

But really, when you dig down a bit deeper, we discover she’s loving, kind, hardworking, energetic, and resourceful. That doesn’t sound discouraging does it? When you take a closer look, past the actual activities and see the qualities that produced her actions, it is inspiring!  And then I realized, I do not need to be making my own bedspread (bless) or planting my own vineyard (I can barely keep up on weeding my garden boxes).  No, I needed to see the bigger picture of who the Proverbs 31 Woman really is…

First of all, she is a picture of the qualities that make up a faithful, compassionate, purposeful woman of God.  She is inspiring to married and single women alike.  Also, it should be noted that this section of Scripture is not just for the ladies, guys can learn from it too!  The Proverbs 31 Woman is a good model of what single, godly fellas should be looking for in a mate.  (“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 NIV)  So let’s dig in and break down what makes this woman so special… 

The Proverbs 31 Woman is trustworthy, kind, and loving towards her family.  Her husband can trust her and she is always looking for ways to bless him (vs. 11-12). She makes sure her family is prepared for the day ahead (vs. 15).  This inspires me to make sure I send my family out the door each day with some fuel in their tanks and a travel mug of hot coffee for the husband. (Listen, I am not up when the rooster crows but I do get up a few minutes earlier than my gang.  It takes a couple minutes to toast up some bread! LOL!).  Also I don’t want to send my gang out grumpy, downtrodden, or crying but in good spirits, ready for the day.  And believe me, I have had a kid walk out the door with tears in her eyes more than once.  I don’t know anyone who wants to start their day that way! So I am working in this area, with the grace of God, to extend grace to my family at 7:49 in the morning when we are in crunch time. 

Next we see that the Proverbs 31 Woman is resourceful, hard-working, and strong.  This woman is out there, each day working hard, making wise decisions, and eager to complete the tasks at hand (vs. 13, 17, 18, 27).  Now for those of you who work full or part time jobs, this could mean doing your job to the best of your ability, remembering that the work you do is for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23).  The Proverbs 31 Woman didn’t have the blues Sunday evening about having to go to work early on Monday morning.  Nope, she was out there, getting the job done (vs. 17)!

The same is true for those of us ladies who stay at home.  The Proverbs 31 Woman wasn’t lamenting the piles of laundry she may have faced that day, or wondering how many more toys she could cram into the closet without an avalanche taking her out.  (Oh wait, that is me!) I need to remember the energy and strength she modeled when I am feeling overwhelmed and flat out tired at the thought of folding up another basket of clothes.  I need to give myself the same advice I gave earlier, remembering that what I do around the house, I need to do it as if I were doing it for the Lord and not my family.  It seriously changes the way you look at everything you do! Would I put Jesus’s clothes away neatly in His dresser or just leave them in a heap on top for Him to put away?  See, it makes a difference ; )

Another quality of the Proverbs 31 Woman is compassion.  Not only does she help the poor and needy, but she loves them.  “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20 (NIV) It’s a wonderful thing to give your time, efforts, and resources to the poor.  It is a beautiful act to show the love of Jesus to those in need.  And sometimes, it may not be a “financial” need but a need for love, encouragement, or a need to have someone to just listen and to pray with you. 

What else can we learn from the Proverbs 31 Woman? Well, she is thoughtful with her words (vs. 26).  When she speaks, it is with wisdom.  When she gives instruction, it is with kindness.  She’s not barking orders or yelling.  You guys, I’m still needing God’s help with this too.  I don’t know about you but if I have to repeat the same request to my kids more than twice, I get frustrated.  Or when I am trying to work through a teachable moment, trying to instill in them a Biblical lesson, and then someone burps (or worse, c’mon, you know what I mean!) I get discouraged. Then the kids chuckle and all seriousness is lost.  It kind of makes you lose the idea of kindness for a moment.  Am I right?  I’m thankful that God is not done working on me and showing me how to handle these moments better, with kindness, grace, and yes, humor too.

So what is the end result for our Proverbs 31 Woman?  What is the great reward for her life lived with faith and purpose? Well let’s see…  Her husband and children praise and bless her! “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29 (NIV) I’m not too sure about you but I would consider it a high honor for my family to say that about me.  Being considered a “noble woman” would be quite the compliment! But that’s not all, the accolades keep on coming for our Proverbs 31 Woman as this section of Scripture wraps up… “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:30-31 (NIV)

Sounds like pretty good stuff to me!  But how about you?  Are you still feeling like you are not enough when compared to the Proverbs 31 Woman?  Feel like you don’t even come close? Well, I have good news for you – that’s ok! The Proverbs 31 Woman is our inspiration.  We are focusing on her qualities and not the handmade bedspreads, business savvy, or pre-dawn meal prep.  We are zeroing in on her life that was lived purposefully and faithfully. 

Let’s not forget too, that God’s it is grace that covers us. With Jesus, we are enough!  It’s by God’s love and mercy and strength that we can go through our days, relying on Him when we miss the mark.  Because we will, at one time or another.  I’m so encouraged when I remember that when we mess up, when we have fallen short, Jesus is there.  He fills in the gaps and fills us with His love and power! Ladies, don’t be discouraged by that Proverbs 31 Woman, be inspired! 

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Post by: Marcy Gates

All the Small Things

Noah and the ark, Moses and the burning bush, Abraham and Isaac, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the furnace... The Bible is full of these big, amazing stories, Old and New Testament alike!

I remember a story a missionary recounted when I was younger, sitting in church one evening. The missionary described a young girl from a foreign country who was demon possessed. He told us about these horrific inhuman screams that would come from the girl at all hours of the night and day. But, God used this missionary and his team to cast out the demon and heal the girl! A real modern day Bible story!

I have heard several more stories over the years, stories that excite me, stories that show just how powerful and glorious our God is! God is amazing and He uses us to do these BIG, amazing things! A privilege for sure.  Along the way though, I realized, I let myself believe the lie that if I wasn’t doing great big things for God then I must not be significant enough. Have you ever struggled with these feelings?

There are some amazing women of God who have set up these beautiful spaces online. I “follow” some of them because they have great big hearts for God and His kingdom and they so encourage me. They have grand influence and beautiful Instagram accounts. These ladies preach fantastic messages that speak right to your soul. Some own/run a business while raising children. These women are saving girls from sex trafficking, housing and teaching single moms and their babies in Kenya, holding 3 day conferences to pour into thousands of women or writing books. They are doing B I G things! I am thankful for their obedience and allowing God to use them. But if I am honest right now, I allow these things to make my life feel small. Have you ever allowed others to make you feel small?

I read these great big Bible stories and look around at all these women writing books and selling beautiful things and tell myself, “Well, I am just a mom.” Or, “I am just a wife, I just lead Bible study, I just have this small home...” And it can make me feel like I’m not doing enough. Have you believed that lie too? That you are “just a”... mom, wife, teacher, barista, etc.

Friends, I’d just like to inspire you today! If you have felt these feelings and thought these thoughts, I want to encourage you with some truth! God sees you. He sees you and He calls you good. He sees all the “small” things, that others don’t always see and He calls them good!

I want to share this passage of scripture with you today. It is one you are likely very familiar with, so I would like to encourage you to read it differently this time. You have probably heard it referred to as “The Proverbs 31 Woman” and I think sometimes our culture can look at this as a “to-do list”. But, today I want you to read it the way it was meant to be read, as a beautiful poem that celebrates all the crazy-hard, beautiful things we do as women.

The Virtuous Wife

Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,

And willingly works with her hands. 

She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar. 

She also rises while it is yet night,

And provides food for her household,

And a portion for her maidservants.

She considers a field and buys it;

From her profits she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night. 

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hand holds the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household,

For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (NKJV)

All of these crazy-hard, beautiful things point back to God, you see it near the end, “But a women who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” The virtuous wife, she cares for her family and so do you! She cares for others and so do you! She is careful and diligent about her words, her work and her purpose and so are you!

You see, all these “small” things, they matter to God.

He sees you when you are scrubbing the dishes and folding the laundry.

He sees you rise early for a moment’s peace before the day begins.

He sees you and every meal you prepare and spread out for your family.

He sees you in the late nights, the sleepless nights, the prayerful nights.

He sees you put your needs aside to listen to a friend or co-worker.

He sees you when you serve in the kitchen, in children’s church or for the pregnant momma’s.

He sees all the “small” things and He calls them GOOD! Stop thinking that you aren’t doing enough because you are doing exactly what God is asking of you.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14 (NIV)

All the crazy-hard beautiful things, the waking up each day and pushing through to the end, it is all Kingdom work. It is all important. It is ministry and it is good!

Praise God for all things!

Praise God for the crazy, big, amazing things and encourage 

those parts of the body who have been sent out.

Praise God for the crazy, “small”, amazing things and encourage 

those who have been called to stay.

Praise God for the parts of the body who do both!

You see God cares about it all! If he didn’t care, then we toil in vain. But it is all to His glory! You are doing the good things God has called you to. Right now. Today. So, keep on keepin’ on, friends! God is so good! 

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

Bloom Where You Are Planted

I’m not sure how it became my motto.  I saw it first on a t-shirt.  Then it started appearing everywhere I turned.  Bloom where you are planted.  At first, I just thought it was a cute saying.  But the more I’ve been thinking about it, it is great advice.

Last summer, we had random sunflowers just popping up all over our yard.  I would be amazed at all the strange places the sprouts would pop up from.  I blamed the scattered flowers on the birds.  I laughed to myself each time I discovered one.

Then one day I spotted one delicate, little sprout leaning towards the sunshine from a crazy corner of my girls’ swing set.  It was a partly shaded spot.  The sprout was protected from kid feet by a neglected corner spot behind the climbing ladder.  I watched this sprout each day, tracking its progress.  Thinking, there was no way that sunflower could bloom where it was haphazardly planted.  I was waiting for it to turn yellow, wither and die.

But that sprout grew.  It grew tall and it grew straight.  The sunflower head widened.  It managed to poke though the side and out of the corner through the swing set ladder.  Always reaching, yearning for precious sunrays. 

I marveled at that sunflower.  Out of all the beautiful flowers we had purposely planted in the flower beds last summer, this “stray” sunflower was my favorite in the whole yard.  I was rooting it on!  Cheering it on in my head as I surveyed its progress each day.  When the day arrived that it fully bloomed, it took my breath away.  This sunflower was stunning.  The golden hued petals astounded me.

And that is when it hit me.  That flower bloomed where it was planted.  It didn’t choose the unlikely corner of a child’s play area.  It didn’t select my yard above all others because it had the best soil or choicest plot of land.  And it certainly did wait for the best time.  Nope.  The seed had no say, no choice in the matter.  It simply was planted and it did what it was intended to do.  It sprouted and grew.  It blossomed and bloomed! 

Ladies, I don’t know about you, but I want to bloom where God has planted me! I long to be deeply rooted in His love.  I desire my life to be a beautiful testimony of our awesome Creator.  I want to do what God has intended for me to do: to love Him and love others.  I’m not going to allow lies and doubt and fear to try to get me to wither and die off. I am excited to grow and blossom!

“Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.” Song of Solomon 2:2 (NIV)

Don’t believe the lie that we have to wait for the “perfect” time or place.  We don’t have to put it off, waiting for this season of life to end and another to begin.  And perhaps blooming right now is the farthest from your mind.  You are just trying to survive each day.  But you know what, like that sunflower, you are exactly where God wants you to be. He has planted you where you are for such a time as this.  Sweet friends, let’s surrender whole heartedly to God, right now, right here.  Wherever you are, allow Him to grow you.  Then you will bloom where you are planted!

Oh what a beautiful garden that will be one day – when we are all blooming for the King!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 (NIV)

Our sunflower, Aug. 2015, blooming in the unlikeliest of spots

Post by: Marcy Gates

This Hot Mess

If you know me for more than like, a day, then you have probably heard me refer to myself as a ‘hot mess’. It’s totally what the kids say these days. I have a dear friend who just shakes her head and giggles at me when I say this about myself, she thinks I’m silly for thinking this way.

One of my most favorite t-shirts says... you guessed it, “Jesus Loves This Hot Mess”. I get compliments every time I wear it. I think I love it so much because it reminds me that Jesus never asked me to be perfect.

I feel like a hot mess a lot of mornings at about 8:55 AM. I am still pouring coffee, throwing food into lunch boxes, trying to get my child’s coat on him, going over the list in my head and scrambling out the door... when I should have been in the car driving out of the neighborhood 15 minutes earlier. “I am always late!” I tell myself. “Ugh, when will I get my life together? I am such a hot mess”

Work’s got you down, feel like a hot mess?

Had a fight with your spouse, feel like a hot mess?

Yelled at your child, feel like a hot mess?

Laundry piled high, feel like a hot mess?

Financial mismanagement,

Haven’t made up with your friend,

Can’t forgive your sister,

Feeling like Monday is on repeat,

Haven’t been to church in months...

Feel like a hot mess?

Whatever part of the spectrum you are on, it is easy to feel like a hot mess. But just like my t-shirt is a reminder for me, I want to remind you that Jesus loves you!

Truth be told, I’m not really a hot mess. Neither are you. So don’t stay stuck there and don’t let it pull you away from God.

Ever tell yourself you are just too messy to be anywhere near God? I know I have. Oh yeah, I have. “I am just too much of a mess right now to (praise, worship, thank) pray to God, He doesn’t want to hear what I have to say.” Allow me to let you in on a little secret, God is not afraid of your messy.

“Then I realized that my heart was bitter and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant-- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you: you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.” Psalm 73:21-24 (NLT)

When David was angry, bitter and confused; he acted like a fool. I am sure he felt like a hot mess. Yet he recognized that he still belonged to God. He belonged to God and God was guiding him, providing counsel and leading David into his glorious destiny!

God is not afraid of your messy!

Don’t let your “sometimes messy” lead you in the wrong direction. Put your faith and trust in the truth that God is right there with you, guiding you, counseling you and leading you into your destiny. Lay your messy down right there at His feet and let Jesus minister to you. Don’t shy away from God when you feel like the ‘Hot Mess Express’ (oh yeah, I had to pull that one out). Recognize, just like David did, that you still belong to God.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

When the world has got you down, let God be your strength. When you are bogged down with life’s blunders and complications, remember who you belong to... forever!

“But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” Psalm 73:28 (NLT)

If you are feeling, or have ever felt, like a hot mess I have the remedy; three parts praise, two parts thanksgiving and one part testimony. Don’t neglect God in those moments, praise God for who He is, thank Him for what He has done, and testify about what He is doing!

God’s not afraid of our messy. He is right there with us, asking us to be faithful. Trust Him, even when your heart and flesh fail you.

You will probably still hear me refer to myself as a hot mess sometimes, but only because I know God is not afraid of my messy. I belong to Him, he is holding my right hand, guiding me in His counsel, leading me into a glorious destiny! 

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

Let the Sunshine In

I went from room to room with a bounce in my step that bright morning, stopping at each and every window.  There was a huge smile on my face as I carefully twisted open the mini-blinds.  Beautiful, glorious sunshine began to pour in. You have no idea how my heart gets giddy in the glow of the sun!  The warmth!  The light!  Sunshine instantly brightens up any room. And it’s different than just turning on a lamp or overhead light.  It penetrates.  It is hard to keep out.  It changes things.  Sunshine causes growth (hello daffodil shoots!) and brings life!

My heart did a little dance in the sunshine for a moment but then my eyes focused on the windows.  More specifically, the dust laden mini-blinds covering the windows.  Then my gaze shot around the room.  There was a ceiling fan with dust-lined blades.  Spider webs in the corners of the room where wall meets ceiling. The smudges and scrapes on the baseboards from carelessness.  All the dog hair that desperately needed vacuumed!

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I like things neat, orderly, and clean. The girls’ toys are put away at the end of the day.  Messes are tidied up.  Bathrooms are clean – usually, lol!  But, there are other household clean-ups where I just can’t seem to get it together. Those jobs somehow get overlooked.  And I think it is because I can’t really see what needs cleaned.  I mean, sure, I can assume that if I haven’t dusted and polished around the house in a while, dust bunnies will take up residence. But isn’t it a shock to really see things in the true, bold, bright LIGHT?!

Do you say these things to yourself like I do??

• I just cleaned that!
• How did I let this happen?!
• Are other people are sneaking their dirty laundry into the baskets while we are not home?!
• We must be the dirtiest people on the planet! How can there be so much dust?!
• No one will be going ________  (insert area here – upstairs, downstairs, in the closet, etc.) anyway so don’t worry about cleaning it!

However, seeing a room bathed in brilliant sunlight changes everything.  Doesn’t it?  And you know what, that made me realize… Seeing our HEARTS bathed in brilliant “SON-SHINE” changes everything too!

Think about your heart for a minute.  Sure it looks just fine at first glance.  But, what happens when you allow the full light of Jesus to completely engulf it?  Do you notice some cobwebs?  Is there a dusty spot or two? Some areas you have ignored?  Maybe a few hurts that you need to allow His Light to penetrate and heal?

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (NIV)

Nothing can hide in the brilliance of light.  And I don’t know about you, but I want Christ’s light to shine brightly in me and from me!  I want to see if there is an area that maybe I haven’t fully released to Him yet.  I want to allow His grace and love to transform those little corners of my heart that may have been neglected.   I need His light to shine on the areas where forgiveness is needed.  I want to live life in the “SON-SHINE”! Don’t you??

Ever mess up and feel like, “I just told myself I wasn’t going to do that!” Or maybe you have closed off a part of yourself out of hurt and figure, “I am shutting the door on that part of my heart. I will lock it away so I don’t get hurt again.” Or perhaps you have let some of the sneaky lies of the enemy slowly work their way into your heart.  You may not have even really realized it until Jesus shone His light and you truly saw for the first time in a while what had tried to take hold.

Sweet friend, let’s allow that “SON-SHINE” to pour in today as if we were opening up the blinds on the windows of our hearts.  Let that glorious LIGHT penetrate your heart, warming you with its brilliance and glow!  Don’t be afraid of what you might see. Don’t shy away from recognizing a little dust or cobwebs.  That magnificent, life-changing light is so worth it…

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46 (NIV)

Let’s pray…

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being the light in my life!  Thank You for lighting up my heart with Your mercy, grace, and love! Jesus, I don’t want any nook or cranny of my heart to escape Your brilliant light!  Reveal to me now what areas may still be in need of healing.  I invite You into those areas that are in desperate need of Your restoration and care.

If there is a sin, Jesus, that I have not brought before You yet, open my eyes to it so that I may bring it to You right now for forgiveness. If there is a grudge I have been holding on to, shine Your light on it Lord. Lead me in relinquishing it and lavishing forgiveness on others just as You have lavished forgiveness on me!

Jesus, if there is a lie I have been believing, shine Your glorious light on it and melt it away.  I pray that I would remember that by Your blood I am forgiven, loved, and set free.  I am forever Yours.  Allow Your grace to flow through my heart and clear out anything I have been holding on to that does not line up with You and Your Word.

I ask too Jesus, please guide me in shining Your light brightly wherever I may go.  May I be like a city on a hilltop shining brightly in the darkness of this world.  May I lead others to You and point them to Your glorious light! It is in Your Mighty Name I pray Jesus…  Amen!

Post by: Marcy Gates

Always Have, Always Will

February is the “Love Month” and shhhhh... Don’t tell my husband but I am pretty sure Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. I know, I know, it’s all “Hallmark”, commercialized, and money making frivolity but for me, it’s simpler than that. There is something about drawing a red heart on a piece of paper and giving it to the one you, “loved yesterday, love still, always have and always will.” This month I have been thinking about God’s grace and what that means for us, for everyone! It always comes back to grace, the simplicity of grace. 

The Hebrew word for grace, in the Old Testament, is Chesed. I give you this word because it is the very essence of God’s love for us and it is translated to mean lovingkindness. 

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

You see it is God’s lovingkindness that draws us to Him. When we were yet sinners, God loved us. When we were yet sinners, God pursued us. We are drawn to His lovingkindness because it is like no other. Lovingkindness also means “loyal love”. This is a covenantal love. A promise, a faithful promise, a marriage covenant.

“I will betroth you to Me forever;

Yes, I will betroth you to Me

In righteousness and justice,

In lovingkindness and mercy;

I will betroth you to me in faithfulness,

And you shall know the LORD”

Hosea 2:19-20 (NIV)

God never goes back on a promise, He never breaks a covenant. And even when we, like Israel, are unfaithful, His lovingkindness keeps us. 

“Again I build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.” Jeremiah 31:4 (NIV)

His grace, His lovingkindness draws us to Him and restores us! This is a love worth celebrating! This is a love worthy of praise! 

Your love has found us

Your love has found us

We are yours forever

Your love has found us

It's all around us

Holding us together

(“Love Has Found Us” - Gateway Worship)

When I think about this kind of love, I can’t help but be overwhelmed. How about you? It is my prayer that we would be daughters who seek to know our Father’s lovingkindness. Let us be daughters who rest in His lovingkindness. Let us be daughters who let His lovingkindness fill us up and overflow from our hearts and our lips!

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

Fixer Upper

Photo courtesy of  HGTV

My absolute favorite show on tv right now is HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”.  I am all about shiplap, French doors, and hardwood floors these days! And don’t even get me started on the stars of the show, Chip and Joanna Gaines.  These two make me want to pack up my family, move to Waco, Texas, and raise baby goats after every episode!

If you haven’t caught the show yet (Which, really, we need to talk. I am available to watch a marathon with you on a Saturday afternoon to get you up speed!) Chip and Joanna take prospective buyers through a few really run down houses.  (Get it – fixer uppers?!) As they tour each house, Chip and Joanna (let’s be honest, mostly Joanna) give their clients their vision of what the house could be. (And y’all, it always involves hard wood floors throughout. Lol!) Then the clients decide which prospective home will work the best for them, purchase it, then let Chip and Joanna go to work.

At the end of every episode, Chip and Joanna do the “big reveal”. They pull back a giant poster of what the house used to look like to reveal in highly dramatic fashion the newly renovated and much improved house.  (Kinda like pulling back a curtain or an unveiling.) Their clients freak out.  They gasp, jump and scream with glee, and/or stare with awe.  They are astonished at the transformation that has taken place on the inside and out of the property. These people are absolutely in love with their new/old house!

This reminds me of what it is like with God and how He is transforming us.  We are sorta like His fixer uppers!  We can’t really see it in the beginning, how He will grow us, change us, and mold us like Him.  But we trust Him.  We trust His vision.  We give Him permission to do what He wants.  We give Him full reign in ourselves.

Sometimes it isn’t easy.  There are times when the project goes long.  Often there will be a few snags along the way.  Maybe a detour or new element comes in to play. You just never know with fixer uppers, what you will run into.  There’s such mystery, so many unknowns.  But yet, you keep trusting the One with the vision, the One with the experience in this kind of work.

And then…  At the end of that major event, that trial, that season, that life… We are astonished and in love with what God has done!

 "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Post by: Marcy Gates