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Write 31 Days :: Lessons for my Daughters
From the time I was a little girl I always dreamed of being a Mom. I loved playing dolls, thinking of names for my children, and when I was old enough to babysit I took every opportunity that came my way. I loved being around young children and even enjoyed the challenge of caring for groups of them when given the chance. I learned a lot about meeting children’s needs during those opportunities of babysitting and interacting with children and I thought I had a pretty good handle on what it might be like to be a Mom one day. Nineteen months into our marriage I became pregnant with our first…
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Discovering the Purpose for Our Home
Yesterday, I shared the above photo on Instagram and Facebook, and said something like: “This is the only spot in our home that is ‘finished’. And by finished I mean that the pictures are current, the frames have been painted, and I even printed something out from Aliza Latta that I love…” (click here for the free printable she designed)…” While I don’t think our homes will ever be finished, I often feel overwhelmed by my desire to want it to look and feel finished. Decorations hung, furniture in rooms, painted walls, good organization. We move at least every three years, and now with four children it takes awhile before I feel settled.…
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Day 31 :: Concluding Thoughts
This month has been a fun challenge for me to try and write on the same topic every day. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I would make it through the whole month, but here we are and I didn’t miss a single day. I made a deal with myself that I would only keep going if it wasn’t interfering with my family’s needs. The other part of the deal was that I had to enjoy it. I’m thankful to say that I kept both ends of the deal with myself 🙂 But, here are some of my concluding thoughts on Made to Pour, Living a life of Blessing,…
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Day 30 :: Pouring comes from a deeply contented heart
When I am content with what the Lord has given, or taken away, or not yet revealed, I can bless Him. A heart that is content can see the success and joy in others without becoming envious. Envy rots the bones and is a hindrance to blessing others. When I compare my life to someone else’s it becomes very easy to withhold serving and blessing them because I begin to feel they are undeserving. If I want to truly live a life of blessing, pouring out to the Lord and those around me, I must have a heart that is content. “God carries his children through this world through…
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Day 29 :: How to pour when I’m empty
Throughout this month as I’ve been thinking on my topic “Made to Pour” and learning what it looks like to live a life of blessing, there’s been a nagging question in the back of my mind: How can I pour when I’m empty? Maybe some of you wonder the same thing. Life can be so busy and we go and go, give and give, and then we’re spent. Good things can be so draining. In addition, hardship comes to all of us in different forms and these crises cause grief and pain that make us feel needy, not ready to give to others. I’ve been there. I experienced months of…
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Day 28 :: On wondering how to bless
“What is the best way for us to encourage you?” This was how my Mom started one of our evening conversations at the beach last month. After we all joked that Starbucks gift cards, Chick-fil-a meals, or cash worked, we took turns sharing how we feel most encouraged. There were a variety of answers: written notes, a listening ear, words of praise, empathy, truth. In a group of just 8 people we differed in the ways we liked to receive encouragement. So, I concluded that not everyone likes to be ‘blessed’ in the way that I do. And if I’m struggling to figure it out? Just ask. People around…
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Day 27 :: The time I closed the blinds and refused to answer the door
Right before we moved to Florida this summer I had the privilege of attending a Missions Conference at my parents’ church, the church I was raised in. It was so encouraging to be around missionaries from all over the world and hear the stories of relationships they were building with their neighbors, co-workers, random people they encountered. They had a theme song for the conference; the chorus went like this: I wanna be your hands and feet, I wanna be your voice every time I speak. I wanna run to the ones in need in the name of Jesus. I wanna give my life away, all for Your…
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Day 26 :: A Sunday Hymn
Living a life of blessing can only happen through the strength that God gives. And it is my prayer that as I seek to serve those around me, looking out for their needs before my own, that they will see Jesus, not me, through whatever it is that I do or say. This hymn is one of my favorites and I think it summarizes beautifully this idea. May you have a blessed Sunday. May the mind of Christ, my Savior Live in me from day to day, By His love and pow’r controlling All I do and say. May the Word of God dwell richly In my heart from…
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Day 25 :: Blessing others should become a habit
Writing this month has been good for me in several ways, but mostly, it’s been good because I’m learning. And, oh, how far I have to go to truly live a life of blessing. Earlier this week I asked for your input on what a blesser is/does, and I received some great feedback that I wanted to share. Thank you for your input–it has really helped me! Here is what was said: A blesser is one who, by the Holy Spirit’s enablement, brings another to a point of seeing God more clearly for who He truly is, thus glorifying God. A blesser is someone who is sensitive, tuned in to…
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Day 24 :: How a rainbow led to a conversation about hell
Florida weather can change at any moment. This can make planning for outdoor activities challenging, but it also means we get to see some amazing aspects of God’s creation. And when I’m paying attention, these glimpses of God in nature can bring about opportunities to teach my children. As we drove to school one morning, it was starting to drizzle, but up ahead I could see blue skies. I was inwardly praying for no rain by the time Isabella had to walk into school, when I noticed a gorgeous rainbow in the sky. The girls saw it too, I snapped a picture, and we continued on our way. On the…
