Tag: spirit

Barefoot Devotions

Unshakable Faith

Hannah B.

We have had a hard time finding a church since our move almost a year ago. We have visited several churches and with the amount of time we have traveled back home on the weekends, we have been absent a lot from our search.

Lately, God has been dealing with me on tithing and I could not stand the feeling of this being between God and myself. Finally, on Sunday we were able to tithe and it was such a relief to place the check into the offering plate.  You can say Sunday was peaceful, a weight lifted, and all was right in the world. Right?

Monday was an emotional day as my husband left to go on a mission trip to another country.  It felt that everything that could go wrong, it did.

Tuesday. I woke up sick but somehow managed to keep the kids alive, oh and myself too (barely). I realized all the things I forgot to do on Monday and Tuesday and sure enough Tuesday afternoon I had noticed car problems. AND I know nothing about cars. No husband. No family here. Just me and my kids in a foreign land. By the end of this day, I felt like I was dodging bullets.

No big deal, right? This is life. 

In my mind, I began to think, how funny is it that I finally did something for God that needed to be done but yet I finally tithed and would now need that money to go toward car issues?  It’s kinda comical if you ask me. I was not questioning or regretting my decision to tithe because it is what God told me to. He placed it on my heart and I did it out of obedience for Him. Why? Because I can’t see through His lens, He is God and knows all.

Wednesday 

Helllloo Sickness. It would be a miracle if we survived the day.  The kids and I visit an urgent care center (yes, their sick too) in my car that *seems* to be having transmission trouble. As I am driving home, I realize and just *know* that I should get my car looked at. I went to two places and neither would look at it. Ok then. BUT they both recommended the same guy. However, when the first place told me where he was, I was thinking to myself, yeah, I’m not going there. Then the second place, said, “Go Here.” Great.

I load my kids up (again) and begin heading to a part of town that I really didn’t want to go by myself with two kids. I pulled in to basically a garage and what looks to be a junkyard ( Remember, my post on Salvaged? Funny huh?) I walk into the office and wait for the gentleman who runs the place to stop working on a car and come in and see what I need. As I am looking around, he has several different brochures and videos on God, the end times, Martin Luther, and there was a small book that stood out called, “Unshakable Faith.”  I knew then, I was at the right place at the right time. I could trust this man. Of course, I am on the verge of tears and having a meltdown in this old office because I knew that those two words were for me. “Unshakeable Faith.” It was then I realized it is going to be okay and to keep moving forward unshaken. 

After telling the man about my problems, he tells me he will take a quick look at my car but won’t be able to diagnose and fix the problems until next week. Upon looking, it was low on transmission fluid.  He takes even more time out of his day to replace the fluid in my car for free. When I asked him, “how much do I owe you?” He just said, “Nothing. Come back next week so I can take a look at it and service it.”  As I was left, dumbfounded by this man taking time out of his busy day to look at my car and help me without a charge so I can at least make it through the week until my husband gets home from his mission trip.

It’s not even about the car – yes, that was God’s blessing and blessings never come how we expect but they come at the most needed and at the exact moment we need them. Are your eyes open to see them? Sometimes blessings are so intertwined with our day that we often miss them if we aren’t watching closely.

 

I would have missed such a blessing if I chose not to go because of my own judgments.

Where is God telling you to go and you are reluctant? Don’t be. There is a blessing you are missing if you don’t go.

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

 

 

 

The How To Series

How To Find Your Inner Mary

Hannah B.

The story of Mary and Martha is one that many women (and men) can relate to. I know I can. It’s something I have often struggled with and still do. My mind always seems to be thinking of all the endless house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and all the other tasks that need to be completed before the day is up.

It’s endless. You may get everything done for the today and you can finally sit down and enjoy a clean house but how long is it going to last? I know between my kids and my dog, it’s about 90 seconds. Then I am on repeat and throw my arms up and ask myself why I even bother. You find that you’re exhausted and any ounce of joy you had has vanished.

There is always something to do but what if we can make these tasks feel less like a burdened chore? What if we can have joy and peace throughout our day?

I know you are wondering, how do we do we find the balance between our inner Mary and Martha? Let’s take a look at the story found in Luke 10:38-42:

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Does this sound like you at times? Have you ever just wanted your family to help you with the dirty dishes in the sink or the piles of dirty clothes? I know that the endless housework, grocery shopping, taking kids to practice and games in addition to your 40 hour work week is so consuming that we often forget to take care of our self. We get too busy running from place to place, thing to thing and checking off each item on our to do list that we forget to breathe and stop and smell the roses.  We end up feeling overwhelmed, frazzled, and upset and when it’s all said and done we’ve been robbed of our joy.

Jesus himself said, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and, it will not be taken from her.”

So, what did Mary do? She stopped. She put aside all distractions even if the tasks at hand were not completed. She sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. Was Mary upset and worried? No, she chose what was best and allowed time to sit, be still, and listen to Jesus.

Have you ever noticed that when you do spend time with Jesus, reading your Bible and praying that the day just goes smoother? There may be an issue that arises but you are better equipped to handle what has been thrown your way and at the end of the day, everything sorts itself out with you worrying and fretting about it.

Jesus rewards us for being still and spending time with Him. He provides our hearts exactly what we need for the day ahead of us and allows us to smell the roses and taste His goodness. When you allow your inner Mary more time with the one who desires to spend time with you and wants what is best for you, He will give you joy and peace throughout your day.

The How To Steps:

  1. Set aside time in the morning to spend reading your Bible, praying, and talking to Jesus. It’s important to do this before your start your day doing anything else.
  2. Put aside any distractions.
  3. Read God’s word, Listen to Him and talk with Him.
  4. Be still and know that He is God.

When you allow your inner Mary more time with Jesus, our fleshly Martha ways become less frazzling and discouraging.  You are then refreshed and ready to conquer your day.

Even if it’s 15 minutes you will be refreshed and start growing in your relationship with Jesus. You will begin to see His goodness in your life, even the smallest details! You will desire more and more of Him and you will see that more joy has been placed in your heart.

Xoxo,

Hannah B.