Journey of Faith Friday: A Worship State of Mind

I shared this last year as a guest post for my friend Chrissy.  Chrissy has since deleted that blog and started a new one.  You can follow her at Shades of Joy.  I didn't want this post to be lost, so I am posting it here for Journey of Faith Friday.  

A Worship State of Mind

Worship does not come easy to me.  I wish I could say that I awoke each day to the thoughts of "God, you are Almighty and I give this day to you."  Instead, I wake up to thoughts of "I need to do this, I need to do that."

Worship, like many areas of my life, is a discipline that I try to practice every day.  I know the practice of worship will not only offer God the glory He deserves, but will help mold and perfect my character.  A few weeks ago I shared this C.S. Lewis quote:

Ahhhh, God's presence.....we all long for it......Christian or not.  Today, I want to share a few ways to get in a "worshiping" state of mind.

• Wake up early-  Try getting up and out of bed 30 minutes earlier than you normally would.  During that 30 minutes speak only words of adoration to our God (I sooooo miss this and look forward to the time when my newborn is sleeping through the night and I can resume getting up early to spend time in worship).

{Creator, King of Kings, Light of the World, Savior, Lord of Lords, Good Shepherd, Counselor, Almighty, Holy, Alpha, Omega, Just...}

• Listen to worship music for 10 minutes each morning (or whenever you can)-  Use your ipod, your radio, a YouTube video, whatever works, but choose a few worship songs that truly highlight characteristics of God.

{A few of my favorites:  Live by Nichole Nordeman, Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Selah, How He Loves Us by David Crowder Band, Captivate Us by Watermark, Your Grace Still Amazes Me by Phillips, Craig and Dean, How Great Thou Art by Crystal Lewis, The Blood Will Never Lose It's Power by Selah, Revelation Song by Kari Jobe} 

• Find a quiet place- We live in a noisy, busy world.  So take the time to find a quiet place and worship the Lord.  It may be a park bench.  It may be at the water's edge.  It may be on your couch with a blanket and a cup of coffee.  Wherever it is, take the time to be alone and worship.

• Take a walk- During your walk, commit to praising God through His creation.  There is so much that goes unseen, unless you take the time to name it and thank/praise God for it.

• Change positions- Maybe your typical time of worship is while standing during your church's worship time.  Maybe, you should consider worshipping God while on your knees, face down, or sitting with arms raised or lying prostrate.

• Read- The Bible is full of verses solely focused on praising God.  If you are struggling to worship the Lord, open His Word and read the way other people have offered praise to Him.

{Psalm 1, Psalm 19, Psalm 63: 3-4, Psalm 98, Psalm 100, Psalm 146, Psalm 147, Isaiah 9: 6-7, Jeremiah 17:14, Acts 16: 25-34, Revelation 4}

• Use your gift(s)-  Many people do not think they have a gift or they don't think their gift can be used to praise God.  Well, I beg to differ.  I believe that God gives the gifts; therefore, I believe He receives praise through them if His people simply use them.  For example, photography is my hobby.  I take photos of just about anything and everything, but how do I use it to praise God?  Often times, I photograph His creation and attach a verse to it.  Chrissy has the gift of singing.  She uses her voice to praise God on a personal level, but also as a service to her church.  Maybe, you are a gifted teacher.  I believe teaching others how to read or how to do math or how to play an instrument is a gift of praise, unless you are doing it selfishly and taking all the credit for the gift God has given you.  There are so many gifts........so identify yours........make sure you are using it............thank God for it.........and you will be glorifying Him.

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Journey of Faith Friday: His Grace...Sufficient For My Attitude

His Grace....Sufficient for My Attitude

(This was originally a guest post I shared last September for Kathryn of Our Tiny Big Life. Since that time Our Tiny Big Life has switched to a new blog and as far as I know this post wasn't transferred over. I really want this post to remain in my archives so I have decided to post it again on my blog).

“I believe you want to impact people for the Lord, but your hateful attitude does the opposite.”  Those words spoken whether meant to wound or not, resonated in me.  I have to fight the lies embedded within them, but I have to face their truths, as well.

I have struggled with my words and my attitude for as long as I can remember. All too often I come across as a “know it all” or as someone who doesn’t care or as someone with little compassion or empathy.  Thinking back to high school, I can recall many occasions where my words got me in trouble or hurt someone’s feelings or pushed someone away.  During that time I didn’t really care, but in college, when I began to understand the grace of God and His love for me, I began to desire a more Christ-like attitude.  Little did I know........it wouldn’t happen overnight.  Not only would it not happen overnight, but it wouldn’t happen for decades.

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 Cor. 12:9 (NIV)

I college, God placed roommates in my life that also had a desire to become more like Him.  Looking back, I realize just how perfect our mix of personalities were.  We fought with one another, at times, but we mostly loved one another.  Our personalities clashed, at times, but we mostly LAUGHed and did life together.  God used those ladies to further reveal my weaknesses and to encourage me to keep accepting His grace and growing on a day to day basis.  I will never forget the day when I realized how badly my words and my attitude had hurt one of my roommates.  My heart broke and I knew then, more than ever, that I had to keep relying on the grace of God while I worked to become more Christ-like.  There was no way I could DO IT ON MY OWN.  When left to my own devices, I hurt others.

I would like to say from that point forward, I ALWAYS kept my tongue under control, but unfortunately I can’t.  That is why I am so thankful for the grace of God.  Not so I can habitually hurt others without a care in the world, but so when I do, I can experience the conviction, ask for forgiveness, and try again.

“Skeptical, incredulous, materialistic ruts have been deeply engraved in our thought, perhaps even in our physical brains by all our earlier lives.  At the slightest jerk our thought will flow down those old ruts.  And notice when the jerks come.  Usually at the precise moment when we might receive Grace.  And if you were a devil would you not give the jerk just at those moments?  I think that all Christians have found that he is v. active near the altar or on the eve of conversion: worldly anxieties, physical discomforts, lascivious fancies, doubt, are often poured in at such junctures...But the Grace is not frustrated.  One gets more by pressing steadily on through these interruptions than on occasions when all goes smoothly...”

Words to Live By.  p. 144 The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III

So while my tongue still gets in the way and those words, “I believe you want to impact people for the Lord, but your hateful attitude does the opposite” still sting, I have learned to take them captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  I have learned to examine them, glean truth, and leave the negative, hurtful part behind.  Those negative ruts that have been deeply engraved in me are slowly being replaced with the beautiful truths of God.  I am a sinner saved by the grace of God.  He is perfecting me every day.  Therefore, I will remain open to the way He will use my mistakes to bring glory to His name.

“I look forward to seeing Christ and bowing before Him in praise and gratitude for all He has done for us  and for using me on this earth by His grace--just as I am.”

-Billy Graham in Quotes, p. 160

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Journey of Faith Friday: Love Life and See Good Days

Love Life and See Good Days

This current season of life is a sweet one.  While it has it's challenges (third trimester fatigue, toddler discipline, mom's breast cancer treatments), it has been filled with gratitude and God's faithfulness to open my eyes to new truths if I give Him the chance to do so.  

Each morning I get up at 6 or 6:15 and meet with the Lord prior to starting my day as a parent.  It is crucial for me.  I am a morning person, so rarely is it a challenge for me to get up early.  Plus, I know the time is quickly approaching when new baby exhaustion will wreck havoc on my life for a few months.  

Last week I began the Bible study Conversation Peace: The Power of Transformed Speech with a group of women.  This is a study I desperately need, because my speech has been, and often times still is, very hurtful.  The first few days I really missed my previous form of study (Good Morning Girls SOAP format), but this verse jumped off the page and I found myself reading it over and over and eventually using the SOAP format to apply it to my life.

1 Peter 3:10-11

"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it."

LOVE LIFE.


SEE GOOD DAYS.

Southern Bliss Photography

I have had many seasons of life where I have spent endless hours asking, praying, searching, and pondering the reason (and how to change it) I did not consistently LOVE LIFE.  I see good days and I have learned to express gratitude in every season, but I can't explain the turmoil I have experienced over the years based on those two words: LOVE LIFE.

I have read 1 Peter 3:10-11 a number of times, but this time God opened my heart to receive it.  He used it to challenge me to evaluate my love of life based on the words that come out of my mouth, which ultimately are a result of what is truly in my heart (Matthew 12:34). OUCH!!!

WHAT ELSE?

If I want to love life and see good days I must:

• do good
• avoid evil (acts and speech)
• seek peace
• not only seek peace, but pursue it

This list seems simple enough, but the reality is it takes discipline, planning, endurance, intentionality and time to accomplish.  

Doing good includes much more than volunteering in an area of need or giving to the poor.  

Avoiding evil includes much more than avoiding the "big" sins such as stealing, murder, and adultery.

Seeking and pursuing peace includes much more than simply keeping to yourself and avoiding conflict with others.

For me, it includes the discipline of taking every negative thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5) and submitting a positive prayer to the LORD.  It includes being acutely aware and ceasing the slanderous comments that I speak about people.  It includes transforming my thought processes to believe the best about people versus picking their intentions apart or allowing little things to annoy me.  It includes respecting my husband on every level.  It includes talking less and listening more.  It includes acquiring less and giving more.  It includes failing, forgiving, and trying again.  I could write pages and pages of the ways this verse must play out in my life, but for now I will stick with the basics and primarily focus on taking my thoughts captive and make them obedient to the LORD (2 Cor. 10:5) knowing that will affect my speech, in turn increasing my love of life.  

Everything We Need

EVERYTHING We NEED

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  

For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-8

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior?  

Yes!!

Do you know the Holy Spirit is living inside you at this very moment and every moment since you accepted Jesus as LORD and Savior?

Do you know that His divine power has given you EVERYTHING you NEED for LIFE and GODLINESS through your knowledge of Him?  

EVERYTHING!!!!!

I so often get caught up in the daily stresses of life or the circumstance in which I reside forgetting that the God, who raised Jesus from the dead, has used that same power to give me EVERYTHING I NEED for life.  Not only for life, but for a godly life.

A GODLY life filled with His great and precious promises, which you can only know by reading and studying His Word.  The Bible is filled with promises God has made to His people and those promises give me hope that the world can only corrupt those who allow it to corrupt them.

The passage goes on to say that because God has given us EVERYTHING we NEED for life and godliness, because He has given us promises that help us escape the world's corruption we should make EVERY EFFORT to add to our faith in Him:

• goodness
• knowledge
• self-control
• perseverance
• godliness
• brotherly kindness
• love

We have a part to play.  We have a responsibility as believers to daily strive to live a life of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  This may sound impossible, and it is on our own, but that is why the passage says, "make every effort."  It is our GOAL!!!

 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


I long to live the life described above, because I don't want my life to be ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of Jesus.  Therefore, I will daily read, study, pray, mess up, give/accept forgiveness, try again, succeed, rest, read, study pray, mess up, give/accept forgiveness, try again, succeed.................

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Most Friday's, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey with Him on this road of faith.
How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

Journey of Faith Friday: Intentionally Training Your Children

Intentionally Training Your Children

Last week, I shot a video of B singing a song we sing most mornings before I get him out of his crib. It is always a sweet time for me, so I wanted to have the video to look back on and to share with his dad and grandparents.  I immediately sent the video to those previously listed with a smile on my face as I thought about B's sweet personality.  However, I received an email from my mother-in-law that really encouraged me to look at this moment in more ways than one.

She wrote, "This is SO precious - of great value - to me.   Not just because of the special moment caught but also because it shows a mother's intention, acted upon in a simple, yet effective way to train her child to set his will, his outlook, and his purpose, each morning, deliberately, with simple songs, simple disciplines.  I am so thankful....that teaching your children these values are important to you both [speaking of my sister-in-law and myself]."

As a mom it is easy, at times, to get caught up in the day to day tasks required for survival and forget the important role I play in training my child(ren) in the way he should go.  There are many days I beat myself up wishing I would have dealt with a situation differently or would have set forth a different example or am just plain exhausted and wonder if all this is worth it, but the reality is.......IT IS!!!!!  And deep within me, I have a desire to train my child(ren) to respect authority, to love others, to be compassionate, to know and live truth, to be generous, and so much more.  Those desires fuel me most days to be intentional with the way we start our day to the way I discipline to the way we play to the words I speak to the activities we participate in.  Some days, I am exhausted and my tank is on empty.  It is those days God provides a simple email, a text, a comment, and/or a hug that confirms I may be having an off day or moment, but I am still being intentional, so stop being so hard on myself.  
2 Cor. 3:18
¹⁸ 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.
Thanks to my mom and my mother-in-law who provided much encouragement as a result of this video.  It was much needed.  Also, thank you to the leaders of Bible Study Fellowship who pour their time and energy into my son and myself, so that we may better know and apply the truth of God.

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Most Friday's, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey with Him on this road of faith.
How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

I have decided to discontinue hosting the linky at this time, but may resume in the future.  However, I would still love to read your post, so be sure to leave a link in the comment section.

Journey of Faith Friday: Reminded of the Great I Am

Reminded of the Great I Am

Before becoming a mother, one to five hours of my day were spent driving.  While some may label that a burden I experienced much joy, solitude, and healing during those hours.  Those hours were often spent praying for others, thanking God for His glorious creation, crying out for mercy, and praising Him along with the voice coming through the stereo.  I remember days with the windows rolled down, sun roof back, one hand raised,  and Chris Tomlin and I praising God as loud as we could.  I remember days of reflection as I listened to Andrew Peterson.  I would reach up to rewind the song every  few verses, so I could fully absorb his powerful lyrics.  I also remember days when a song spoke volumes to my heart during that particular season of life, but also reminded me of seasons gone by.

Last week, I experienced one of those rare moments, now that I am a stay at home mom,  of alone time in the car.  I ejected toddler tunes from the CD player and inserted an all time favorite, Nichole Nordeman's Woven & Spun.  I have been listening to this album since it's release in 2002.  At that time The album is packed full of powerful lyrics, but one song in particular has ministered to my heart during various seasons of my life.  It is a reminder of the work God has done and continues to do in my life.  It is a reminder that no matter the season He is sufficient.  He is present.  He is the GREAT I AM and has been from the beginning!!!!

Pencil marks on a wall 

I wasn't always this tall, 

You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed, 

You watched my team win, 

You watched my team lose, 

You watched when my bicycle went down again,

CHORUS: 

And When I was weak unable to speak, 

still I could call You by name, 

and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero,

come if You can,” and You said “I am”

Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten PM 

You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break 

Heard when I swore I’d never love again

CHORUS: 

When I was weak, unable to speak, 

still I could call You by name, 

and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper,

be my Best Friend” and You said “I am”

You saw me wear white, by pale candlelight,

I said forever to what lies ahead 

two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream 

too much it might seem when it’s two AM

CHORUS: 

when I am weak, unable to speak, 

still I will call You by name. 

“Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker,

hold on to my hand,” and You say “I am.”

The winds of change, 

And circumstance blow in and all around

us so we find a foothold that’s familiar, 

And bless the moments that we feel You nearer 

Life had begun, I was woven and spun,

You let the angels dance around the throne, who can say when, 

But they’ll dance again, when I am free and finally headed home

CHORUS: 

I will be weak, unable to speak, 

still I will call You by name 

“Creator, Maker, Life-sustainer,

Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer,

Lord and King, Beginning and

the End, I am, yes, I am.”

I began listening to this song when the pain and joys of age 16 and the desires of being a wife and mother were all too real.  My sister and brother-in-law sang this song at my wedding and I hope someone will sing it at my funeral.  It is one of those songs that I sometimes think God created just to remind me of His presence throughout my life.

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Most Friday's, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey with Him on this road of faith.
How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

I have decided to discontinue hosting the linky at this time, but may resume in the future.  However, I would still love to read your post, so be sure to leave a link in the comment section.

Journey of Faith Friday: Crucify Him

Crucify Him

"...the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus..."

"Judus...discussed with them how he might betray Jesus."

"He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them..."

"'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover wtih you before I suffer....This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me....This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'"

"'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.'"

"'...I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me.'"

"'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.'"

"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."

"He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, 'Judus, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'"

"'But this is your hour-when darkness reigns.'"

"Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest."

"Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at [Simon] Peter.  Then [Simon] Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him....And he went outside and wept bitterly."

"The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him."

"Jesus answered, 'If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer.  But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.'"

"He [Herod] plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.  The chief preists and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.  The Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him."

"But they kept shouting, 'Crucify him!  Crucify him!'"

"...their shouts prevailed.  So Pilate decided to grant their demand."

"A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.  Jesus turned and said to them, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.  For the the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!''"

"...they crucified him....Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'"

"The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at him."

"The soldiers came up and mocked him."

"It was not about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.'  When he had said this, he breathed his last."

"The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, 'Surely this was a righteous man.'"

"Then he [Joseph] took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid............................................................."

*Quotes taken from Luke 22-23

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Most Friday's, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey with Him on this road of faith.
How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

I have decided to discontinue hosting the linky at this time, but may resume in the future.  However, I would still love to read your post, so be sure to leave a link in the comment section.

Journey of Faith Friday: God Sees the Whole Puzzle

God Sees the Whole Puzzle

I sit and watch him work a 4 piece puzzle on his own.  It's the first time he has put 3 of the 4 pieces together independently.  

I sit back watching his intense focus.  Slowly frustration ensues as he struggles to fit the 4th piece.  He walks over, hands the piece to me and says, "Help!"

I want to, but I think of the moment earlier when I watched with much excitement as he achieved a task, that he has been working on for months, for the first time.  Then, I say, "I know you can do it.  You were so close.  Place this edge on the that piece," while pointing toward the puzzle.  

He did it.  Good jobs!!!!  And high fives followed!!!!

Is that what it's like?

God, our Father, our Parent watches intently as we fit the puzzle pieces together.

Life is hard!

Sometimes we try to force the wrong pieces together, because we can't see the whole picture.

Sometimes we figure it out and the Heavens rejoice.

Sometimes God waits for us to ask for "Help" before interceding.

Sometimes we know the pieces don't fit and we just keep ignoring the reality of our need for help and/or change.

There are many applications that can be drawn from watching a child complete a task, a puzzle in this case.  I don't mean to simplify God's parental task and how He deals with our lives or to make it sound like life is a game, but think about it.........We are His children and though we are adults in this world, we all are at different places in our journey with Christ, meaning some are mere infants (1 Cor. 3: 1-5), some adolescent, some mature adults (Hebrews 6:1-12), and so on.  Just as in our physical, mental and emotional development as a human we have developmental milestones in our spiritual life.  

I think of my teenage years and how I spent so much time trying to force the wrong pieces together. Sometimes it was due to my inability to see the whole picture, but many times I ignored the reality of my need for change, my need for a Savior.

I think about my sophomore year of college when I finally said, "Yes" to God's call on my life to follow Him and the Heavens rejoiced.  

I think about the many times I have tried to make the best professional decisions, serve in every capacity available, have difficult conversations, mother my son in my own strength and how those situations compare to the times I asked God for help.  

He sees it all.

The time I said yes to Him and the pieces fit.

The time when all of the pieces were out of place and I used manipulation and control to get my way.

The time I prayed and asked for a godly husband, then waited for him and the pieces fit.

The time I said yes to my own sinful desires and gave myself to another out of wedlock and the pieces did not fit.

The time I spent studying, working, and applying myself so that I could use the resources He blessed me with and the pieces fit.

The time I pressured friends younger than me to join the world of partying and "having a good time" and the pieces did not fit.  

The times I've said I am sorry and the pieces fit.  

He sees it all and like an earthly parent (although we don't see it all), He rejoices, He disciplines, He gives high fives, He weeps, He encourages, He guides, He instructs, and He loves. 

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Most Friday's, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey on this road of faith.
How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

I have decided to discontinue hosting the linky at this time, but may resume in the future.  However, I would still love to read your post, so be sure to leave a link in the comment section.

Journey of Faith Friday: Reckless LOVE

Reckless LOVE

The music began to play and I immediately felt the tears welling up.  I looked at my husband and said, "This one will make me cry for sure."  The band played on and I hear:

He is jealous for me

Loves like a hurricane

I am the tree

bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

Like a cup overflowing with water, so the tears flowed and somehow their stain on my cheek brought comfort, brought peace to this soul that all to often forgets the way He loves me.

Do I forget?  Or have I ever fathomed the extent of it?  This love that was not only willing, but did give up the life of His very Son.  

He longs for my attention, my affection, my heart and is jealous when I give it to another.

His love crashes the walls of my life, and every now and then when I stop focusing on all the ways I fall short, I receive a glimpse of the extent of that love.

Do you know you are loved?

Do you know you are desired?

Do you know He is jealous for you?

This video spoke to heart and helps me focus on the extent of God's love for me.  I promise you will not regret taking the time to watch it!!!!!!!!!!!

May the love of God permeate your heart, wreck your life, and bring you a peace that you have never experienced.

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Every Friday, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey on this road of faith.  However, since Thanksgiving is next week, I will be taking a break, but back on Friday, December 2nd.

How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

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Journey of Faith Friday: The Invisible Woman

Earlier this year, I shared a piece of my heart in Bible Study regarding my struggles with being a stay at home mom.  It has been something I have felt very guilty about, at times, but have been so thankful for friends, acquaintances, and strangers who have confirmed I am not alone.  After sharing my heart, another lady in my Bible Study group (with slightly older children) printed this story and handed it to me in an envelope hoping to encourage me.  It WAS and HAS been so ENCOURAGING that I couldn't resist sharing it here on the blog.  I only wish I could find the author.  For all of the MOTHERS out there needing ENCOURAGEMENT.

The Invisible Woman 

Author: Unknown

It started to happen gradually:

One day I was walking my son Jake to school.  I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, 

"Who is that with you, young fella?"

"Nobody," he shrugged.

Nobody?  The crossing guard and I laughed.  My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, "Oh my goodness, nobody?"

I would walk into a room and no one would notice.  I would say something to my family-like "Turn the TV down, please" -and nothing would happen.  

Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote.  I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, "Would someone turn the TV down?"  Nothing.  

Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party.  We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave.  I noticed he was talking to a friend from work.  So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, "I'm ready to go when you are."  He just kept right on talking.

I'm invisible.  

It all began to make sense, the blank stare, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.  Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"  Obviously not.  No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

Photo taken with my point and shoot while in India several years ago

I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more:  Can you fix this?  Can you tie this?  Can you open this? 

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.  I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?"  I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?"  I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude- but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England.  Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.  I was sitting there, looking around at the other all put together so well.  It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.  My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.  

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.  I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:  "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read- no, devour- the book.  And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals- we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam.  He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?  No one will ever see it."

And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.  It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte.  I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.  No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.  You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.  But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.  It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness.  It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as great builder.  As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.  The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table."

That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.  I just want him to want to come home.  And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."  

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals.  We can not be seen if we're doing it right.  And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.  

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Read previous Journey of Faith Friday posts.

Every Friday, I post about the work God is doing or has done in my life, as I journey on this road of faith.  However, since Thanksgiving is next week, I will be taking a break, but back on Friday, December 2nd.

How is God working in your life as you journey with Him?

Would you consider sharing it with us today?

If you decide to share...enter the URL to your exact post below.  If you join, please help us find one another by sharing the "Journey of Faith" graphic within your post.

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