Worth It

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

My beloved recently told me I’m worth fighting for.

Wow.

Those are powerful words.

Comforting.

I picture peace and safety.

Why?

Protection.

Value.

Then I began to think about God and how He also thinks we are worth fighting for.

Know how I know?

Jesus.

God sent His only beloved Son to die on the cross for us.

Why?

Because we are worth fighting for.

We are valued that much.

Protected.

Loved.

Treasured.

Live like you are worth fighting for.

Because you are.

God, Himself, says so.

Photos by Lina Trochez on Unsplash

 

Gently Leading

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Psalm 119:1

How does a shepherd lead his sheep?

Building trust and gently leading them home.

Protecting their every step along the way.

The shepherd’s physical presence leads by example.

How are you leading your family?

Gently leading by example?  Loving them for who they are?

Providing a restful haven in a world full of chaos?

Or are you demanding they follow you.

Prodding with a giant stick, forcing them to obey your agenda.

Sometimes it’s not so dramatically obvious.

Your temper, your reactions, how you cope with life.

The grace with which you embrace life is what they see or don’t see.

Do I want to be like you, they ask.

Are your beliefs something I want to hold dear as well, they ponder.

You are an example of God to your children.

He uses you to reach them.

God’s mercy and love must flow from your lips and hands.

God disciplines us as well, but His motives are pure.

His ways are perfect.

As human parents, we make mistakes.

We fail our children on a regular basis.

Do we try our best?  Usually.

But unless we ask God to fill us with His parenting wisdom, we will rely on our own strength, which, I can tell you, is faulty.

Weak.

Flawed.

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 I desperately want my children to seek the face of God.

To know Him personally.

Fully.

Intimately.

Because they see God through me, I must reign in my own self, for God’s light to shine.

I must allow God to use me for His purpose – to parent His children.

Comes down to watching my lips, my hands, my eyes.

I must be like a shepherd leading his sheep home to safety.

To rest.

Not demanding one thing while acting like another.

As we ask God to pour Himself into us and our families, our children will take root and those roots will produce fruit for years to come.

 Might not see it for awhile, but it will come.

And it will be very good.

Photos by Tanner Yould, Sam Carter, Judith Prins, & Antonello Falcone on Unsplash

Unseen Footprints

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Your way way was through the sea, Your path through the great waters; Yet your footprints were unseen. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 77:19-20

God guides us by His hand using His plan.

His plan isn’t always what we think He should do, yet He is with us every step of the way.

He guides us and is not seen – but His miracles are.

He works through us to redeem ugly situations.

He guides us through the most unlikely places and leads us safely to the other side.

Imagine the Red Sea and the Israelites standing there, trapped.

Impossible situation in the world’s eyes.

But God is all about doing the impossible.

Step into their shoes and imagine the panic – the fear that would have gripped them,

doubting that God really knew what He was doing when He brought them out of Egypt.

Then, at the last minute, God delivered a miracle we still talk about today.

Life is like that.

Our situation may seem completely impossible – no options, doors all tightly closed.

But God comes through in a mighty way.

We simply must trust He is here with us, going before us.

That’s what trust is – believing in the unseen.  The unknown.

God’s fingerprints are on your life.  His footprints are next to you.

And He has your back as you trust in His unfailing love for you.

Look for Him today.  He’s here.

Photos by Michelle Francisca Lee, Bruno Nascimento, & Hugues de BUYER-MIMEURE on Unsplash

Waiting

Published on by amylinnea6 Comments

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, ensures forever. Psalm 138:8

Ugh. I really don’t like even the word.

Who does?

Wait.

Our children detest the word.

When they ask us something and we say ‘wait’, their faces usually fall, because they just know.

Society buys cars with loans, we buy things on credit, and we don’t bat an eyelash.

Why?  Because we want things now.

We simply cannot wait to save up the money.

Really?

 It’s similar when we need to wait for life.

Pregnancy comes to mind – 9 LONG months of waiting.

Anticipation.

Or when you’re waiting for a planned vacation.

Or, sigh, your wedding day.

 It’s one thing to wait when you have an end in sight – a date in the future when things will change.

Your baby’s due date.

Your vacation date.

Your wedding date.

It’s an entirely different matter when waiting involves the unknown.

You want a baby, but you’re still waiting on God.

You want to marry, but God has not brought the right person, or He has and you’re waiting for God’s perfect timing.

You want a new job, but it hasn’t found you yet.

You want life to change…you want to accomplish His will for your life, but you are still waiting.

The wait can seem simply unbearable.

You are waiting….for what?  When?

Life can almost come to a standstill.

 Don’t let it.

Go back to trust.

Rest in the truth of His Word.

Keep surrendering your dreams to Him and allow Him to reveal them in His timing.

His perfect timing.

Force yourself to remember God has a plan.

Not just any plan,but one just perfect for you and you alone.

 Meanwhile, we must wait.

Ugh, I know, still not crazy about that word at all.

But think about this: God loves you and you are on His mind.

Wait with a smile on your face knowing He has great things planned for you.

Lean back into His arms and smile.

Before long, the wait will be a distant memory.

My family recently waited hours (yes, I did say hours) for my Mother’s Day lunch.

Won’t pick that restaurant again.  But you know what?

We now all laugh and roll our eyeballs at the ridiculous situation!

It’s funny NOW – because we’re no longer waiting.

It’s over.

That’s how it will be with what you’re waiting for.

Soon, your wait will be a distant memory.

And all of the worry in the world won’t have made a bit of difference.

Take your peace and wait.

And remember – each day you wait, you are one day closer to your precious answer.

Photos by Zwaddi, Stefano Intintoli, Todd Quackenbush, Liane Metzler, Derek Thomson, & Unsplash Photo by Kristaps Ungurs on Unsplash

Utter Selfishness

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. Proverbs 20:11

I stood face to face with selfishness last week.

Utter full-blown rebellion, actually.

It was ugly.  Super ugly.

It screamed in my face, demanding attention.

Demanding I cater to it’s selfish whims.

And when I refused,  the reaction was not pretty.

The many witnesses saw how not to act.

How silly it looks to demand one’s way so obnoxiously.

And me, I was thankful the child was only mine during the school day.

But then it hit me – selfishness stinks in any form.

Am I different then the child in my school room?

When I put my own needs before others, I’m no different.

My demands might not be so obvious.

And when I don’t get my way, I never scream.

But sometimes I’m selfish.

And that stinks.

It’s hard to continually place other’s needs before your own.

As parents, we know too well how little time we have for ourselves.

Precious time.

But the next time you are interrupted by someone’s needs,

don’t have an instant reaction to gripe.

Pour yourself out.

Because with God’s strength, you’ll never run out.

God will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is focused on Him.

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Photos by TK & Linoleum Creative Collective on Unsplash

Thankfulness

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:12

It’s easy to thank God when times are good.

When life is smooth, it’s easy to raise our hands to heaven, thanking the One who created all things.

How ’bout when life turns ugly?

When your life hits a speed bump and you are thrown to the ground, what then?

Are we still required to give thanks during those winter months?

Yep.

Seriously?

Uh-huh.

When God places a boulder in your path, thank Him for giving you directions around it.

When God moves you firmly out of one job into another, thank Him for rescuing you.

When God lifts you up and places you down in an entirely different life, thank Him for His protection.

You have no idea what God is protecting you from when He changes your course….your direction.

Thank Him.

He knows all things and is more aware than you realize.

Change your perspective. Begin thanking Him for the storms in your life.

Storms are when God shows up in powerful ways.

Sure, He’s there in times of sunshine as well, it’s just harder to see Him work.

When life is smooth sailing, you don’t need God as much.

When life is hunky dory, dependence on yourself increases.  You become less thankful of the good things, because they surround you.

During storms, little pops of glory are obvious, filling our thankful hearts with hope.

Cultivate a heart of thankfulness.  Regularly communicate your gratitude during your constant conversation with the One who created all things.  The One who orchestrates the music of the universe.

I guarantee your attitude will shift and peace will return to your soul.

God has a plan.  And He will reveal it to you in due time.

In the meantime, thank Him.  Because we owe Him everything.

Everything.

Photos by Ben White, Vladimir Fedotov, & Zwaddi on Unsplash

Mothering

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

In the quiet of my heart, God gently reminds me of how His fingerprints are all over my life.

I look around and see Him.

From when I was a little girl dreaming of my future, I wanted the life I have now.

I wanted to have a pile of kids, a home….create a haven for my family in this crazy world.

Show them how God’s love covers them from head to toe.

Guide them down the path of life and kiss them with grace when they fall.

Read stories snuggled on the couch and bake loads of yummy cookies.

I wanted to make them cozy quilts, dance with them to loud music, and laugh till we cry.

I am so thankful God has given me the very desires of my heart as a mother.

Is life easy? No way.

Has God always been there?

Every step of the way.

Every single step.

I know I’m far from perfect.

We moms are the first to admit we don’t have it all figured out.

But our hearts are here.  We wear them on our sleeve.

We love, we nurture, we try our best to make our homes the safest place in the world.

And when we look back at being a mother, we don’t remember how we failed to wash every dish or wipe every tear.

We grin instead at all the memories.

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Instead of measuring your mom success against the impossible worldly standards…instead of looking at others and comparing your faults to their successes, sit down in the quiet of your soul.

Know your very best is enough.

God chose you to mother your children. You.

And He doesn’t make mistakes, remember?

God’s precious details.

Your children.

Your home.

Your beloved.

When you choose to find them, when you open your eyes and really look around, you will see God’s blessings shouting forth.

Notice them.

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God notices you.

He sees your struggles, your tears in the corner of your eye, your uncertainty as a mom.

That’s right where He wants you.

Depending on Him.

Just as your children depend upon you for their very existence, depend on God for wisdom and strength.

His supply is never ending and He is here to take care of you.

He holds mothers up with His strong hands.

Let Him help you.

Give Him the million rocks you carry and rest knowing He’s got you.

And don’t forget to smile.

Because you are beautiful.  Absolutely stunning.

Photos by Ryan ‘O’ Niel, Hush Naidoo Jade Photography, Annie Spratt on Unsplash, and me.

Yes, God, I’m Listening

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. Psalm 107:9

You’re still holding the reins.  Your life. You still want control.

I do?

Yes.

How do you know?  

Easy.  Every time you don’t see your life headed in the direction you want, you worry.  

When an issue pops up on the horizon, you turn to worry instead of trust.

No – what… I do?  

Yes.

Your car needs new tires and new brakes.  Instead of calmly carving out a bit of time to buy some, you let that issue build into a problem larger than it ever needed to be.  

And I solved your problem, didn’t I?  

I sent you help.  

I worked out the details.  

Your job.  I’m moving you to exactly where I want you.  

Flinging wide the doors and slamming the other one shut.  

Your life is changing into the life I have in mind for you.  

Relax.  I know the beginning from the end.  

And I am with you every step of the way.

Your kids, your future…everything.  I’ve got it all covered.

When your mind begins to focus on the unknown, stop.  

Look back.  

Haven’t I solved things for you so far?  

I haven’t brought you this far to leave you high and dry on the side of the lonely road.  

You are loved and taken care of.  

I created you for My glory and to be a blessing to others.  

You can’t possibly reflect My love to others if you are dressed in fear.  

Fling off that ugly wardrobe and walk with Me.  

Trust Me.  

I will light your steps and help your face shine with wonder.  

Many good things are in store.  

So, you didn’t need to worry your little head at all.  

Drop the reins.  Let me pick them up for you.  

We’re in this together.

Photos by Robert Zunikoff, Taylor Schwartz-Olson, & Piotr Musioł on Unsplash

Already On Its Way

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments. Psalm 103:17-18

Since God has our back and He knows our every thought…

our every need…

our every heart’s desire…

Did you ever think about the fact that His help is already on its way?

Before we even think of our need.

Before we bow our knees in prayer.

His answer is on its way.

Coming at His perfect timing.

Not our timing.

But His.

Unexpectedly wonderful things.

Redeeming us.

Bringing us blessings in all the right places.

He sets things in motion before our first prayer is uttered.

He knows the beginning from the end.

If your heart truly rests with the heart of God, you can be assured help is on the way.

It’s been coming ever since God thought of it.

Which was a long time ago.

He knows all things.

He knows what is best.

And He loves you like crazy.

As you pray and trust God’s provision, be looking for that help to come.

And smile.

Because its already on the way.

Photos by Ümit Bulut, Jonathan Borba, & 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

Security

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Don’t you just love snuggling up with a cozy soft blanket?

Especially when you are feeling ill or a bit glum, wrapping up in a blanket seems so comforting.

It’s almost like we are wrapped up in safety and peace.

An escape.

God wants to wrap you in His arms of love.

Secure under His wings.

Psalm 91:4 also declares He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.

Isn’t that comforting?

You are free to snuggle in under God’s protection.

Cozy and safe.

He wants you there, safe and sound.

You might be surrounded by disaster and drama, but when you abide in Him, your heart will stay at peace.

Why?

Because He has your back.

Your soul finds refuge in Him.

Your focus on the drama is clouded by His presence.

Look to God for your security.

Talk about feeling safe.

He holds you in the palm of His hand.

There’s no place I’d rather be.

Smile. He’s got you.

Photos by Ray Hennessy & Chris Linnett on Unsplash

Grace

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2

By definition, it’s unearned.

Undeserved.

But it’s what we all need.

Desperately.

It’s a blanket of peace that touches our soul.

Where would we be without it?  We’d be shells of bitterness.

Worthless, if you want to know what I really think.

But if you expect grace for yourself – if you crave it because you constantly fall down – you must extend grace personally to others.

Not just once.

But all the time.

Constantly.

Because it’s not about you.

It’s not about what you do and don’t deserve.

People will fail you.

Guaranteed.

And don’t forget yourself.

You need to extend grace to yourself as well.

Here’s a news flash.  Are you ready?

No one is perfect.

Not one.

Jesus was the only perfect man and He’s in heaven.

You aren’t perfect, your spouse isn’t perfect, and the lady at the grocery store isn’t either.

Expect disappointment.

Expect people to fail you.

Assuming we aren’t referring to abuse (which in that case is another matter entirely), grace must be given regularly to others.

Liberally.

How much grace does God give you?

As much as you need.

So how many times should you give grace to others and yourself?

As much as necessary.

That means a lot.

Probably more than you are dishing out now.

Gulp.

But I don’t want to.

It’s more fun to hold grudges and make people pay for hurting me.

Yes I know.

I’ve been to that party.

Ever look around when you’re there?

Look at their faces.

Anger.  Brokenness.  Sadness. Void of emotion. Revenge.

Not the party which I want to stay.

Here’s a thought.

Next time you’re invited to hold a grudge or react in anger, try grace.

Stop your brain dead in it’s tracks and invite Jesus to take control of your thoughts, your reactions.

Grace.

Just speak the word and your brain will begin focusing on it.

Change the thought, extend grace, and you’ll be simply amazed at your peaceful heart.

Let’s stop living in Grudgeville and Poor Me Place.

Move to Graceville.

There’s plenty of room to move right in.

And I hear the weather is simply lovely today.

 Photos by niko photos, Silvestri Matteo, Aaron Burden, Harshil Gudka, Flash Dantz, & sutirta budiman on Unsplash

Whispers of Doubt

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He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. Psalm 18:19

You’re so not worth it.  You’ll never get it right.  

Life will always be one chaotic mess, so why try?  

He doesn’t really love you.  

You’re ugly.  

You’re boss is simply waiting for a chance to fire you.  

You’re parents don’t care.  

In fact, no one cares.  You’re nothing.

Pure lies.

Lies from the pit of hell.

Whispers in your ear.  We’ve all heard them.

Lies whispered into our very heart and soul.

Yet we believe them.

Looking at them in print, they are rather shocking, aren’t they?

Are they more believable as thoughts?

Maybe.

They shouldn’t be.

Lies are lies in whatever form they take.

You shouldn’t believe every thought that marches into your head.

Match up the whispers with the truth.

Are you worth it?

God says you are.

You are so worth it, He died just for you.

Will your life eventually calm down?

Not until your kids grow up and move away.  (Smile)

Is God faithful?  Does He promise to carry you through life, giving you the desires of your heart?

Absolutely! – if you trust Him.  And He is so very good to us.

When you start believing the whispers of doubt, your trust waivers.

Stop.

Whispers of doubt are common.

Too common and before you know it, you are doubting the very path God has placed you.

Before you let the whispers carry you into the pit of despair, marry them with the truth.

Find your list of blessings God has faithfully provided.

Choose to focus on those.

Purpose your mind to acknowledge God and refuse those whispers of lies.

Set your mind to remember God’s truth that you know deep in your heart and those whispers of doubt will dance away as quickly as they came.

Poof.

 Photos by Bruno Kelzer, Paola Chaaya, Nadine Shaabana, Christopher Beloch, & Sagar Patil on Unsplash

Front Row

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Psalm 17:6

Let God do what He is going to do.

Simply be. Relax.

You don’t need to plan how.

Leave that all up to Him.

Allow God to use you as He sees fit.

Feeling anxious?  Ask God to work through you.

Become a vessel through which He can accomplish His great purpose through you.

How?

By giving Him your heart.

And the rest of you as well.

Ask Him to use your hands and feet for His purposes.

You just have to be willing.

Put yourself out there and see what He will do.

How will He use your words of blessings to a friend’s heart?

How will He use your hands to scoop up a frightened child?

How will He lift your child’s pain through your hugs?

Can He use you?

You bet.  You’re important.

A valuable piece of the puzzle.

Can He accomplish His ways without you?

Sure, because He can do anything.

But why would you want to miss out on His blessings?

Why not have a front row seat to His miracles?

Doubt, that’s why.

How can God possibly use me?

I have nothing to give. I’m just a mom.

I’m just an ordinary person. Nothing special.

Stop entertaining lies of your worth.

God created you and He never makes mistakes.

He created you with unique gifts that will bless others, touching their hearts.

When we surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to use us, His blessing flows out into the hearts and souls who desperately need a touch from God.

You can be that touch.

You can be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Why not pull up a chair right to the front row.

It will literally be the best show ever.

Photos by Aaron Burden, Bonnie Kittle, & Aleksandr Eremin on Unsplash

Waiting for Perfection

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

Stuck in the mud because you are waiting for something without flaws?

Asking God for His plan, but waiting until every single duck is in a row?

Hate to burst your bubble – but you’ll be waiting for years.

Forever.

We live in a broken world and nothing is perfect.

No plan, no situation, no person.

We pray and pray for God to reveal His plan to us.

To take our heart’s desires and bring us His blessings.

We expect God to go over our list and produce perfection.

And we wait until He has dotted every “i” and crossed every “t”.

On our list.

When God answers you, He may not provide you with a perfect dish.

His answer might not look exactly like you pictured.

Change your picture. Ask God to fill you with His plan.

Ask Him to fill you with the desires of His heart for you.

Change that pronoun from “my picture” to “His picture”.

The job or plan He has for you may involve something not exactly ideal.

But you just know it’s for you when God lays it on your heart. In His timing.

Sometimes we end up waiting longer than God intends simply because the answer is not perfect.

His answer does not match our list exactly. Ouch.

We assume if it’s God’s will, everything will be in perfect order.

The heavens will open up and Glory Hallelujah will be ringing in our ears.

Don’t wait for perfection.

Pray and trust God will show you His way.

And when He delivers, make sure you’re home.

Or you’ll miss it and wonder why He never came.

Photos by Mikael Kristenson, Danylo Suprun, & Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

Choose to Move On

Published on by amylinnea7 Comments

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

Disappointment is real, isn’t it?

Life isn’t always a bed of roses.

Heck, roses have thorns, but they sure smell wonderful, so it is a mixed bag at best.

Life, that is.

Here’s the bottom line:  since we are guaranteed to be faced with multiple disappointments on a daily basis, how should we react?

Have a plan.  They are going to happen.

Often.

Regularly.

So – have a plan.  That’s half the battle.

Is it ok to be disappointed?

Sure. Absolutely.

It’s a real emotion. But don’t dwell on it.

What?

But that’s fun. It’s fun to feel sorry for myself.

I hear you, but don’t do it.

Feel disappointment, but then let it go.

Give it to God. Talk to Him.

Return to that daily constant conversation and tell Him your trouble.

Ask Him to take it and purpose your thoughts to return to the next task at hand.

When the disappointment sneaks back into your brain, throw it out and think about something great.

Go back to that list of details/blessings you created.

Remind yourself of how great your life really is.

The danger with disappointment is dwelling on it.

When your mind is consumed with it, your emotions fall to the pit and you become a mess.

Everything else in life is suddenly colored in a negative light.

Your entire life is now in the toilet.

Once you fall into the pit of despair, it’s hard to climb out.

It’s the difference of hours vs. moments.

Hours of crying and feeling awful vs. a mere moment of disappointment and moving on.

It’s ok to be disappointed.

It will happen.  So, have a plan.

Purpose to change your thoughts to God.

Talk to Him about it and ask Him to help you.

Move on.

He has your back, so take your peace.

Whether it’s a broken dish, a child’s bad attitude, or a failed marriage, God has it covered.

He holds your future, so live in peace.

The price of despair isn’t worth the moments of self pity.

Trust me.  I know.

Photos by Masako Ishida maco-nonch★R, Stephanie Mulrooney, & Anastasia Zhenina on Unsplash

Disappointment

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5

Why is it that little things can send us crashing to the floor in utter despair?

If we are so dependent on God, little issues shouldn’t even phase us.

Frankly, we shouldn’t notice them.

But we do.

Life is absolutely full of disappointments and we must take each one with a grain of salt.

 Expectations are a double edged sword.

On the one hand, we are full of happy anticipation.  Yet at the same time, we can crumble in an absolute instant when what we thought would happen never even materializes.

How can we be happy one minute and sad the next?

How is it that our emotions are that ridiculously unstable?

Relying on human strength.  Forgetting that God is in control and the author of all things.

How can we possibly forget that?

It’s unfortunately too easy.

Following Jesus, surrendering to His perfect will is a constant process.

Dying to ourselves is constant.  Never ending.

Here’s the good news: if we remember God is in control and He has our back, then we can take disappointments in stride.

What does it matter if things don’t go our way?

What is our way? Is it God’s way?

God is not at all surprised by life. He’s seen it all and knows the beginning from the end.

Relax and take each disappointment in stride.  Recognize life will be full of times that don’t go our way.

Pray about your day before your feet hit the floor.

Remember how much God loves you and wants to help your every move.

Next time you begin to swallow disappointment….the next time your eyes are tempted to well up with tears, beg God to intervene and replace your fear with hope.

That’s what disappointment really is at the core – fear.  We fear (fill in the blank) will never improve or will always rear it’s ugly head.

Notice the words never and always.  Kinda inflammatory, isn’t it?

But that’s how we think.

Look at things from the prism of everlasting life.

From the balcony of heaven, will it matter?

No, it won’t.

All disappointment is significant to us.

But truly, in the grander scheme of life, does it matter?

The next time you are faced with a moment of disappointment, turn it into a smile of expectation.

God is saying no to something so He can say yes later.

And if He has our back, if He wants the very best for us, and if He has a plan, then why not dare to smile.

Later is ok.  Later is best.

According to God, it is.

Photos by Trym Nilsen, Kelly-Ann Tan, Anastasiya Romanova, & Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash

Constant Conversation

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long. Psalm 71:24

God wants all of you.

He wants desperately to be your all in all.

How do you begin to know His heart?  Or know what He wants from you?

Constant conversation. A never ending conversation with God.

You’re kidding, right?

God wants to know about the missing socks, the broken garage door, or the mouse trap?

Yep.

He knows you inside and out and wants you to know Him the same way.

We have the most incredible opportunity in the world to seek God’s face.

We can become His companion.

His actual companion!

My conversations with God are never ending.

Inside my heart, I chat with Him about everything.

In the mornings, I thank Him for hot showers and delicious coffee (priorities!).

I thank Him for blessing me: all the people I love, job, church, and the plethora of material possessions just to scratch the surface.

I thank Him for looking out for me and giving me my heart’s desire.

I ask Him to plan my day and be with me each moment.

I ask Him to intervene in different situations, to lead me down the path He has for me, and give me an abundance of love to share with others.

During the day, I pop in with different things: a thank you for that unexpected surprise on my desk or help when I begin waving that white flag yet again.

Sometimes it’s just a plea for wisdom when those mini moments erupt with 4 children!

The only way I can explain it is constant conversation.  A never ending chat with my best friend.

He knows my every thought. He is as close as the wind on my face.

His hugs and tender peace wrap me up every day.

Try it.

Constant conversation with God.

 Photos by Bundo Kim,  杨 宏博, Flavio Amiel, & Matt Hoffman on Unsplash

Worth the Fight

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

You can’t afford to lay down and die.

You can’t surrender yourself and your family to death or defeat.

You must fight.

Fight like you’ve never fought before.

When your family is pulled under, they are depending on you.

God is depending on you.

Future generations are depending on you.  Lives will be changed forever depending upon your will to fight.

What are you fighting for?  Stability.  Freedom.  God to be ever present during trials.

Walking through with God’s strength.

His peace and deepening trust in the end.

People are watching.  You.

Yes they are. Really? Yep.

Your children, your friends, your church family, acquaintances – “people you don’t know who know your people” are watching.

Sigh, I know, it’s quite the list.

Feeling a little pressure to perform? Well, a little pressure and push to fight is ok, just don’t take on any perfection guilt.

When you surrender your cause to God and allow Him to fight with you, He takes the battles and you are simply the messenger.

You are not performing for others, just your faithful God.

But your testimony stands.

It speaks louder than any word you shout from the hilltop.

When life overwhelms you, when your world is crashing down around you and you instead rise up to fight, people see.

When you fight and allow God to work through you and lift your family out of the pit,  people take note.

It’s your testimony.

Personal trials from real people speak volumes.  Don’t they?

God is real when we speak of His faithfulness through our tears.

God is real when our flesh is marked by trials.

God is real when the battle scars written on our faces show the testimony of our God.

Don’t for a minute think you are only fighting for your family.

No, there is even more at stake.  Your testimony.

And God’s.

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Others are watching to see what you will do, how you will respond, and what God will do for you.

Your fight only begins in your home, but it’s light extends to the world’s doorstep.

Bless yourself, your family, and the testimony of Almighty God by fighting for His work.

It’s a long journey.

Hard to say just how long.

Some of our fights are longer than others.

And weariness can set in at the most inopportune times.

But take heart – God’s faithfulness will endure and with Him by your side, anything can and will happen.

Miracles.

Go out and fight. Don’t give up.

It’s completely and utterly worth it.

Photos by Alicia Quan, Nikolay Maslov, Connor Simonson, & trail on Unsplash

 

Again and Again

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

And again, I will put my trust in Him. Hebrews 2:13

Submitting to God and giving Him every drop of worry will happen again and again.

Over and over.

What?  Why?

Because we’re human and we forget, am I right?

Our minds are trained to worry when our future is unclear.

When life is as clear as mud, we worry.

When we don’t know what is going to happen, we automatically turn to worry.

 Almost every time.

I personally like to plan to the nth degree.  Yep.  I’m a details girl.

Plan the summer vacation in early winter, shop ahead for Christmas and birthday gifts, and meals.

Yes, I once was one of THOSE women who grocery shopped/cooked for an entire month all at once.  Even fruit?  Well no, and I never went as far as freezing milk either, but that’s another blog post entirely.

The point is this: far into the future, I like to know what I will be doing.

I like to be ready. Prepared for anything.

And yes, I was a Girl Scout.

I’m not huge on spur of the moment adventures, so the detour my life took was very uncomfortable.

Extremely uncomfortable.

Why? Because it was not on my radar screen.

And so the pattern begins.

Crisis.

Crying out to God, asking Him to take it away, to solve your every problem.

He is faithful and provides strength and peace.

Not necessarily solving the problem, just providing peace in the storm.

Worry creeps back. Fear enslaves you. Back to panic mode.

You remember God and ask Him again to help you.

He does and peace floods your precious soul.

Daily give your worries to God, again and again. It cannot be any other way.

Why?

Because I can guarantee you worry will creep back into your mind through vulnerable moments that uncover your hidden fears.

When that happens, and believe me, it will, purpose to fix your eyes on Jesus.

Thank Him for your incredible blessings which are proof of His faithfulness to you.

Thank Him for your lessons and how far you’ve grown.

When we go through the fires of life, we don’t come out unscathed.

We have scars.  Battle scars.

But those make us more beautiful.  More real.  More personable and relatable to others.

Even those of us with strong faith have days or moments when our hearts break for the smallest disappointment.

Our minds respond with human distress instead of godly wisdom or peace.

That’s ok.

Allow yourself that liberty not to be perfect.

But in those times, you must recognize that ungodly influence which wants to pull you back down into the pit.

Stand strong and whisper the precious name of Jesus.

Ask Him to relieve you of your burdens and worries.

God will reward you with peace. Sweet peace that passes all understanding.

In return, you must not allow your mind to keep returning to that dark prison of worry and fear.

Don’t entertain thoughts of doubt. Thoughts of worry.

You must choose life.

Trust. Again and again.

Ask God to help you plan your year, your day, each minute.

Ask Him what you should do with your time.

Every time a worry pops into your tired brain, pop it back into the arms of Jesus.

He wants it.  Again and again.

Photos by Caroline Hernandez, Samuel Schneider, Kelly Sikkema, Jon Tyson, Brian Lundquist, & Ryan ‘O’ Niel on Unsplash

Surprised

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14

Why are we surprised when God breaks through?

God promises to be completely faithful – with His faithfulness comes amazing breakthrough and change.

So why are we continually surprised?

Lack of faith?  Maybe.

Caught off guard?  Maybe.

We never know when God will answer our prayers.

We must be ready to meet Him when He slips into the room or comes with thunderous applause.

Expect it.

But wait patiently for His precious timing which is perfect.

Remember how He is in the details?

Those details can surprise us.

A little present from God falls into our lap and a smile creeps along our face.  We’re suddenly reminded how God promised to show up.

Sometimes God comes with a bold answer.  Spoken to your face from the least likely person.

That’s when you know it’s powerfully God.

Those times can knock a person off their feet.

Breathless.

I love answers to prayer.  We all do.

It’s closure.  Peace.

Knowing what God expects of us.

Demands of us.

Wants for us.

The timing may surprise us, but we shouldn’t be surprised God actually answered our prayers.

How do we get there?

How do we find those answers?   We don’t.

God comes when He ordains the time.

We can’t rush life.  Or God.

I know, it’s hard.  Painful, really, not to be in charge.

We must daily submit to God’s will and in that act we will find His peace flooding our precious soul.

Look for the details.

Those remind you God is working.

Then when He shows up in a powerful answer to prayer, you won’t be as surprised.

Look for Him every day.

He’s here.

Everywhere.

Photos by Anita Austvika, Roberta Sorge, & Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Worth

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Solomon 4:7

If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you alone.

He loves you that much.

When He created you, He smiled.

He created you exactly as He wanted. And He doesn’t make mistakes.

Don’t like your hair?  Your body isn’t just right?

Well, what actually is ‘just right’ anyway?

What standard are you using?  The ever changing worldly standard of beauty?

Because the world’s measure of beauty is completely unreliable.  It evolves with the changing of the wind.

One minute bangs are in, the next minute everyone is growing them out. Short skirts or long flowing gowns.  Skinny jeans or bell bottoms.  Flipped out hair or long straight locks.

You must be taller.

Really?

Well, there’s not much a person can do about that.

We can color our hair, slightly alter our bodies through diet and exercise, adorn ourselves with any type of cloth, but we can’t do a darn thing about the height God decided we should have.

Sure we can wear heels, and yes, I do love them! But heels are clothes.

There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own to alter our height.  We must accept how tall or short we are.

Are you more worthy of life and love if you are a certain height?

No.

Are you worth more if you are a size 6 vs. size 12?

Absolutely not.

Yes, we must take care of ourselves, but your worth is not measured by the size on your tag or the numbers on a scale.

Don’t believe me?  You should.

Your worth is measured by God and He loves you very much.  He created you and you are perfect in His eyes.

Beautiful.

Stop comparing your hair or body to others.

From the balcony of heaven it won’t matter what your jean size was.

Why waste a moment with our short time on earth obsessed with things that don’t matter in light of eternity?

Society has bought a lie that our outward appearance is everything.

E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

And we are no different.

We pour our energy into making ourselves look better.

On the outside.

We waste hours and years comparing ourselves to an impossible standard and waste still more years being unhappy with the way we were created.

Completely unhappy.

And why?

We have tricked ourselves into believing our worth is measured in numbers.

Height.  Weight.  Dress size.  Shoe size.

No more.

Take back those years.

Purpose in your mind that you are loved the way God created you and you will no longer allow society to demand you change.

Hold your head high and love yourself the way God loves you.

The way God made you.

After all, God doesn’t make mistakes – His first mistake was not you.

Every time a thought pops into your brain of unworthiness or every time a feeling washes over you causing you to think you are not good enough, thank God for your healthy brain, arms that work, legs that walk.

Thank Him for your painted toenails, soft hair, and eyes that see.

Your curly eyelashes, soft skin, and precious hands.

Focus on how God sees you.

Perfect.  Loved.  Daughter of the King.

A precious jewel who was worth dying for.

Jesus took care of your eternal life.

Live like that matters.

And smile.

Because you are beautiful.

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Photos by Ria Alfana, Saad Chaudhry, Tim Mossholder, Kelly Sikkema, & Ryan ‘O’ Niel on Unsplash

 

God Himself Will Restore You

Published on by amylinnea15 Comments

God Himself will restore you. 1Peter 5:10

Really?

God, who created all things, will personally restore me?  He cares that much about me?

Yes, and more than we could possibly know.

We are in His thoughts.  He knows the number of hairs on our head.

When our lives are turned upside down…..when we don’t know where to turn as life gets messy…..when a pressing issue rears it’s ugly head, God will reach down, scoop us up into His arms, and restore us.  

Make us whole. Return us to a state of regeneration.  Health.

God helps correct our mis-steps and will restore us if we are relying on Him.

If we act before we are certain we have heard from Him, when we are faithful still, He will give us the help we need to turn back.

What?

I thought if we daily submitted ourselves, we would not make any wrong turns.

I know, but we are human.  Not perfect, remember?

The key is to keep submitting yourself, your time, your life to God.  

Because when you mess up, and you will again and again, God will be faithful to always guide you back to His ways.

How will He do that?  Impossible to know.

It’s just a promise we can cling to.

 Will we look the same when he’s done?

Nope.

When God restores, He makes all things new. In other words, even better.

So, not only does God promise to Himself restore us, but He will make all things new.

When you are in the pit of despair, cling to that promise. It will be alright.  

God has your back. Not only that, but He will bring you back to life.

Abundant life.

Sounds great, so how does a person grab onto this promise?

Surrender.  Trust.

Bow before the Almighty God and ask Him to redeem you and lead you into life everlasting.

When you surrender your will to Him, placing your gut level trust into His hands, He will be faithful to restore you.

Incredible.

Photos by Aaron Burden, Francesco Gallarotti, & Ben White on Unsplash

Gut Level Trust

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Yea, though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…..thy rod and staff they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

These words from Psalm 23 depict the very gut level trust God has for us.

When we are completely in the dark…..when we cannot see nor bear to see what is in front of us, God takes our hand and guides us home.

He knows where we are going.

He holds the map, because He created it.

He has our plan, our details all mapped out for us.  

When we cannot see in front of our own hand, we can take His hand and He will guide us.  

While in the dark, would you rather grope around, becoming hysterical because you cannot find your way?  

Would you like to become as a small child throwing a tantrum, demanding your way and throwing a fit until you get it?  

Finally collapse from the intense pressure of needing to know the future and planning for it yourself, making sure to cover every possible detail?

Not me.  No thanks.

I’d rather plead to my God who created the universe to guide me in all things.  I’d rather seek His face and surrender myself to His will and His plans for my future.  

I know my God wants the very best for me.

My joy gives Him pleasure.  My service pleases Him.

He wants to bless me and give me good things – all I have to do is provide gut-wrenching trust.  

I have to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that my God has my back and will guide me in peace to safety.  

Will my life always be in utter darkness?  Will He reveal His plan to me at some point?  Yes.

In life, there are times of light and times of darkness. God is the same through each moment in our lives.  He’s simply standing there, waiting for us to take His hand.

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The darkness is engulfing me.  It has completely taken over my vision and I can no longer see anything.  Where did everything go?  The familiar surroundings have disappeared.  I recognize nothing.  It’s cold and damp.  The ache of loneliness coupled with the loss of vision has brought me to my knees.  I cannot think.  I’m desperate.  I’m lost.  I’m dying.  All I can think of is to speak the name of Jesus.  

He has to be here somewhere.  He’s promised never to leave us.  Jesus.  Jesus.  I need you.  I cannot see.  My life seems to be over and the chaos is overwhelming me.  I can’t breathe.  Jesus…. help.

I feel a gentle touch on my shoulder.  I cannot see who it is, but I feel a peace rippling through my body.  I feel God’s presence in the darkness.  Hope springs up.  Fear leaves.  I still cannot see anything at all, but I feel God’s hand on my shoulder, guiding me to my feet.  I can feel His arm holding mine and my feet fall into step with His.  His gentle presence and strong steady grip release the hold of fear.  I still cannot see anything, but I don’t care.  My God is with me and He will take me where I am safe.  He will surround and protect me.  I am His child.  He cares.  

We walk for months.  Sometimes we stop and take a break, but we keep pressing on in a certain direction.  We have moved away from the cold damp pit.  I don’t know where it went, but it’s far away.  I have God to thank for that. Things are changing in my life,  changes thrust upon me without choice.  It’s similar to the absence of choice leaves have to fall or not from trees in autumn.  But God takes care of those trees.

He lets them rest during the winter months.

That’s what God was doing with me during those dark times.  He let me rest.  Yes, He kept me walking towards His plan, but it was a restful peaceful walk.  He did the guiding, and I did the trusting.  Gut level trusting, because I had no idea where we were going or what we were doing.  I knew I needed to get away from the cold damp pit, but on my own, I could never have found my way out.

 I didn’t have the map.

There’s a dim light now.  I still don’t know where we are going, or what I am to do, but when I trust my God to lead me down the path of righteousness, I don’t care where I am going.  God will lead me where He wants me.  He will provide the job He wants for me.  He will provide the man He wants for me.  He will take care of me and my children along the way and make sure we are all thriving.  

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Trust.

I trust God with all of my heart.

He alone is able to bring us out of the darkness.  He alone will carry us in His arms when our strength is gone.

He will whisper words of peace and love to our broken hearts.  He will dry our tears when our hearts are overflowing with grief.

God is here.

He is waiting for you to trust Him so He can do the very same for you.

All you have to do is lay aside yourself and trust Him.

Gut level trust like you’ve never known before.

The kind of trust that only happens when you are literally in the dark and have nowhere else to turn.  No other options.

But God doesn’t care.

He’s happy to help you whenever you ask.

All you have to do is surrender.  Surrender yourself to Him and let Him do the rest.

Amazing things will happen.  I promise.

Photos by Zack Silver, Chris Hardy, Manikandan Annamalai, Laura Baker, Olivia Snow,  Kelly Sikkema, & Nick Seagrave on Unsplash

Details of Life

Published on by amylinnea12 Comments

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23

God has blessed me in so many ways.

Every time I turn around, He shows up.

 How?

Where?

Details.

He’s in the details of my life.

He’s in the sweet face of the kindergartner who announces to the class, “My teacher has such a pretty face”.

He’s in the email from a new friend encouraging me to seek God’s face for my life.

He’s in the flowers sent from dear high school friends I just ‘happened’ to recently see after way too many years.

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He’s in the job I now have, because He prompted me to get more education and a teaching license knowing I would soon need it.

He’s in my grandfather’s voice on the phone asking how I am and if I’ve been on a hot date lately.

He’s in my son’s voice when he asks me how my day was.

He’s in the math student who declares that I am his favorite part of math class.

God is here.

And He is there with you, too.

He’s here in the small things and big.

When He’s in the smaller details of life, you have to notice them.

Pay attention.

Notice how He has everything all laid out for you.

Everything.

He has a plan and all you have to do is trust Him.

Trust.

Is that hard?  Boy, is it – but it’s all we can do.

Besides, what other option is there if we decide not to trust him?

Worry.

Obsessive detail planning.

Create massive burdens to plan and execute our future.

No thanks.

I’d rather have the God of the universe, the Creator of ALL things plan my future.

He knows the beginning from the end.

He knows all of my options and fits my future together like a fine puzzle.

 I can only imagine the stress of trying to fit my puzzle pieces together on my own.

Besides, I don’t have the finished picture.

And heck, I’d probably lose a piece or two.

Blame it on my sweet dog.

Anyhow, know who has the picture of our puzzle?

God.

Because He designed our puzzle.

And it’s not a puzzle to Him.

Sigh.

Talk about details.

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Photos by Aziz Acharki and Aaron Burden on Unsplash and myself 🙂