God's Perfect Plan

Okay so I read the title of this devotional this morning and already started to tear up.  Pregnancy hormones topped with life right now, whew.  Its as if the Lord KNEW (which I know he does) exactly what I needed to hear this morning.  A little background... we have had our house on the market a week and this past Saturday, (not even a full week after listing it) we received and accepted an offer on it.  Woo hoo! We are ecstatic and are beyond grateful about that BUT, now have to come up with a plan for our life (ahem, pray about a plan) for the next 6-8 months while our new house is built while also taking care of both my babies (the one already here and the one cooking who will probably make her debut before the new house is finished :)).    We wanted to take advantage of the booming sellers market but honestly did not anticipate the house selling this quick. 

You know what though? Our life is God's perfect plan.  Not ours, but his! I can stress about it but ultimately I have faith that it WILL all work out :).  So... what DID today's devotional have to say about all of this?

"The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years.  But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.  For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me in the earnest, you will find me when you seek me.  I will be found by you," says the Lord.  "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.  I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land."   

Jeremiah 29:10-14



 

The Lord reassured his people that he heard their prayers and despite difficult circumstances he still had a great plan for their lives.   You know, we all have times when we need reassurance that God has a plan.  I remember the first few weeks after bringing Paxton home from the hospital asking God, "really? I love this baby - but am I really cut out for this?  Is this what I am supposed to be doing?" I can laugh now - of course He knew EXACTLY what he was doing but in those moments you do wonder.  Whether we go through a short-term frustration or we're battling a long term challenge, there IS tremendous comfort in knowing God has a bigger plan for us and our families. 

 

I'm sure the Israelites in the scripture were thinking 70 years was not a good plan, but God reassured them that he would bring them back to their land and give them a future and hope.  Okay, so in our situation I know we have a future and I have not lost all hope.  We will have a place to live and all of our needs met.  Its just the "not knowing" that is difficult.  Its trusting that it will all work out!   Was this my plan to sell our house in a week and be looking at rental homes to settle into for the next 6 months, hm, no.  But thats ok, because it was God's and I have faith it will all work out.  We can all have assurance that God has a good plan for us and our families! Thank Goodness!

 

This week I will choose to rejoice in the fact that God has a plan for my life, that He has a plan for my children's lives and His plan is a good one!



Prayer from Karol Ladd:
"Powerful God, I praise you, because you have a good plan for my life.  I praise you, because you are able to carry out that plan in your time and in your way.  I trust your love for me.  Thank you for hearing my prayers.  Thank you for the way you work in my life far beyond what I can see.  Help me to continue seek you all the days of my life.  Amen."  





His Glorious Strength

Raise your hand if at one time or another you have felt worn out? Exhausted? Stretched too thin?  Join the club right!?! We've all felt like this at one time or another.  I personally, am feeling this way more than ever recently.  On top of being pregnant and chasing a toddler all day, we are in the process of trying to see our house (which means show ready with 2 dogs, a cat and toddler at all times), preparing for a baby girl and designing and building our new home.  I feel sometimes there are not enough hours in the day and other times I feel like there just isn't enough of me to go around.  This is a busy season for all of us and even when we feel "alone",the Lord sees and understands all of our situations! 

"O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.  Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.  But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint. 

Isaiah 40:27-31 

 

God never grows tired and weary- we do, but he doesn't.  Oh thank goodness for this right?  This means we can lean on him for strength any time.  In the above scripture the people of Israel are told that those that wait on the Lord gain new strength.  But if we're so busy how do we possibly sit back and wait when we have so much that needs to be done? Well, it doesn't mean we get to sit back, twiddling our thumbs and give up our responsibilities.  It means we have faith and trust God in the midst of our responsibilities knowing He will help us.  When we keep our eyes on him and his plan, that is where we get our strength.  We must always remember that we are not alone and that God is on our side. 

 

I've also learned that alot of the time, we are in control of the way we react to situations.  We are in "control" of how we feel.  That is relative... but, when I feel overwhelmed, stressed, worried, etc. I usually (admittedly not always) pray about it first and then do something to take my mind off what is stressing me out.  As moms, our attitudes directly effect our kiddos. Being home with Pax everyday my emotions are exposed to him all day.  We had a showing this morning and so our morning routine was out of whack.  I made it a point this afternoon to do a one on one activity with Pax outside in the sunshine and it completely changed both of our attitudes for the better! 

 

I pray that all of us can get the strength we need when we need it - for our sake and our little ones! :)    

Beautiful Passion

I am blushing before I even begin this post.  This is the first devotional from Karol Ladd that I was apprehensive about blogging.  Its about sex, passion and love!   I am super private and conservative when talking about this subject but hey, if you've had a child or been pregnant the secrets out... you've had sex.  There is way more to us as women than just being a mom.  When I set out to get through this entire devotional and blog about it, the goal was to be a stronger woman and to be a stronger wife and mom.  This is one aspect to that... so, brace yourself... 

Young man: "How beautiful you are, my beloved, how beautiful! Your eyes are soft like doves." 

Young woman: "What a lovely, pleasant sight you are, my love, as we lie here on the grass, shaded by cedar trees and spreading firs."

Song of Songs 1:15-17

  

The two lovers in Song of Songs are full of love and and admiration for one another.  I can honestly admit I had never read Song of Songs before so I got out my bible this afternoon and read it... very steamy.  The lovers in Song of Songs only desire is to bring one another pleasure and the dialogue between them paints a really beautiful picture of marital love and passion.  "Ultimately, their heart and souls are joined together not just through words, but through the physical expression of their love." (Ladd)

Lucky for us, God designed sex to be more than a physical connection but also an intimate connection taking place only between a husband and wife.  It's so sad to me how the media portrays sex as a casual, no strings attached "act" that often times for others leads to heartache not happiness.  As wives (setting mommy-hood aside) and women, Karol Ladd encourages us to enjoy sex as God truly meant it, a beautiful bonding, both physically and emotionally between a man and a woman who have committed themselves to one another for life through marriage.  We're encouraged to not just see ourselves as moms but as the passionate, 'ahem' sexy women and wives we are :)    

Choices to make this week:
- This week I will choose to let my husband know how much I love and admire him, enjoy my husband physically, encourage greater intimacy with my husband.

Prayer from Karol Ladd:
"Most Holy God, I praise you for your pure and holy love toward me! Thank you for showing me what true love looks like.  Thank you for creating sex to be a beautiful connection between my husband and me.  Show me how to bring delight and pleasure to my husband.  Help me to express my respect and admiration for him.  May we grow closer to one another as, together, we grow closer to you.  In Jesus's name I pray, amen."