Life in Words

... that's not what Christianity is about. The "repent, ye sinner" bit would be offensive to me too. Why would I want someone with a "holier than thou" attitude help me come to Christ? It's just not about that. This verse really struck me today. Caught my attention so much that here I am writing to you (whoever you are) about this revelation I was just given. Galations 2:21 "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" ... for nothing ... Let that sink in for a second. For those reading this who may not be 100% familiar with the story of Christ's death let me explain it quickly. He was beaten/whipped so hard that he was unrecognizable. He was then nailed to a cross which was stood upright and He died hanging from the flesh that was nailed to this cross. It was a gruesome death. So this verse is saying that if there was a way we could be good enough; a way to earn e...

There are days when being a mommy is everything magical and wonderful and happy. Then there are days when you wonder how you're going to make it through the next few years until kindergarten. Today was the latter. ( lol ) Ugh... I know I can't be the only one who feels like this so I am going to be brave and put it out there for anyone else who needs a "hey, I'm right there with you" pat on the back. "I don't even feel like a real person" is the thought that often goes through my head as I wearily put kiddo #2 down and trudge back into the kitchen to prepare an "adult" dinner. What is a real person, one might ask. Well, in my mind, a real person is someone who doesn't have a delightful tube of stretched out skin around her middle; fixes her hair more than she wears it in a ponytail; showers whenever she'd like to; doesn't constantly smell of baby drool; can hold a conversation with other adults without being constantly distracte...

Journaling has always been the best way for me to release all my thoughts, worries, fear and the only way I have ever been truly still to know that He is God. I got away from it for a while because of chores and well, the baby (lol). Let's be honest, moms, how many of us jump to get something, anything done the moment our little ones shut their eyes! I realized that by sacrificing my quiet moments my days and attitude were simply getting worse. I was reminded at my small group about how important those moments with God are. Then God reminded me about His faithfulness in that even when I gave up a whole naptime to spend quality time with Him, that day I was somehow able to finish all of the chores plus had time left over at the end of the day to just... relax. What?! How easily we can be distracted and think that it is worth our while to give up the most important part of the day... This particular psalm touched my heart so I thought I would share it in hopes that it would touch you...

I wander from God's love at times. With a house to keep clean and a baby's constant care I find myself only praying my routinely AM and PM prayers. No stopping to listen. No being still to acknowledge that He is God. Just get it done. Then I wonder why I feel so empty inside. This afternoon with Elisa sleeping in her swing I heard a still, small voice again. "Maria, the same way you find yourself longing to know that Elisa smiles for you because you are mama is the same way I long for you to stop and smile with Me because I am Abba Father." Wow! God is Almighty, Infinite, All Powerful, Redeemer, Friend, Discipliner if needed, constant Provider; but above all He is still Abba Father--Daddy. How easily I forget this. How little I realize it. How much more I wish I held on it. He is my Father. He does not wait for me to mess up to "thump" me. He does not mope around for days ignoring me because I've been bad. He does not simply hand out money and...

Psalm 3:5"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." Not a necessarily long verse but one that really spoke to me today. With a new school year starting for many and other new opportunities starting for others, it is so easy to get into the "day to day" mentality. As Christians we should wake up with the joy of the Lord but this isn't always the case. We all have those days where we would rather roll over and go back to sleep!After reading this verse this morning I was moved by the realization that the ONLY reason I wake up in the morning--morning after morning--is beacuse God sustains me; and if God sustained me for another day that must mean that I have yet to fulfill my purpose here on earth. To know that God has a purpose and I am not simply walking around aimlessly everyday is a refreshing reminder. So the next time I am tempted to groan at the start of another day I'll think instead, "I woke up! Which means I have yet a...

Everytime I pray for something and then start to worry about how it's going to get done I hear the words "O ye of little faith".... I hate being of little faith. I don't want to be of little faith. Yet when things don't turn around suddenly or I find myself wondering how I can help God I realize that yet again I am being of little faith. I have recently heard a few people talk about the importance of faith when you pray. Some people go so far as to say that if you don't have enough faith than that's the very reason why your prayers go unanswered. If that's truly the case than I am in a world of trouble! A genetic worrier, it takes me a lot of effort to simply let go of something. Then of course there are those that remind us that all prayers are answered--yes, no or wait. I hate "wait." I hate "no" more though I think. At least with wait I have the hope that a "yes" will come eventually. It is so easy to read about t...