When Spiritual Drought Becomes the Norm

/
When Spiritual Drought Becomes the Norm

For the past few years, my home state, California, have been in an extreme drought. We've had water conservation mandates with numerous prohibitions and been given water restrictions with additional surcharges for going over the allotted amount per household.

Because of the extreme drought, I've grown accustomed being overly-conscious of how much water we use. I time the kids' showers, make sure everyone doesn't keep the running water while brushing teeth and cut back drastically on watering the lawn.  Brown grass and dying trees were once alarming sights, but have now become part of life.

Read More

What Is the More God Is Calling You To?

/
What Is the More God Is Calling You To?

This week, the director of the ministry school I attend charged us with asking God this one question: "Lord, what is the "more" that You are calling me to?"

All of us have something that God has laid on our hearts. Maybe it's more prayer, more giving, or more forgiveness. We all have an inkling of that thing or things that God is requiring us to put more of ourselves into for the new year.

As I spent time in prayer contemplating that question, God let me know exactly the "more" that He's calling me to:

Read More

The Necessity of Creating Sacred Margin

/
The Necessity of Creating Sacred Margin

We all need space for quiet moments to hear God and let Him speak to us. If you ask most believers if they have carved out sacred space in their lives, most will answer that they do in the form of church attendance or devotional time. But more often than not, those spaces are filled with noise: social time at church or time spent talking to God but not much for listening. I know I’m guilty.

While church attendance is good and called for and devotion time is a necessity, we should also seek sacred margin in our lives

Read More

Why Aren't You Using Your Gift?

/
Why Aren't You Using Your Gift?

Just this Spring, I prayed for more margin in life and it came in the form of a job resignation. You can read all about that here. Since that time I've adjusted to life as a homeschooling, work-at-home mother who also is a ministry school student. Crazy how life can change in such a short amount of time.

Homeschooling has enough lessons of its own, but ministry school is proving to be the best teacher of lessons and has changed how I'm doing life.

I just started my second quarter. But last quarter, the running theme for me turned out to be: got a gift? Use It! It was in the Understanding Your Gifts class that we focused on this subject. We took assessments to determine our giftings and then discussed ways we could use them. I already knew what areas I was gifted it, but I knew God was calling me out of the knowledge phase into the action phase as He's laid some new areas to launch out into in the last year.

I used to be one of those people who always had a reason why I couldn’t fully use my gifts: 

Read More

God Himself Is Your Inheritance

/
God Himself Is Your Inheritance

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is tucked away in the book of Joshua where the Promised Land is being divided up among the tribes. It reads: But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them. Joshua 13:33 ESV.

The Lord God Himself as the allotment given to the tribe of Levi. As the priestly arm of Israel, God promised to provide for them rather than have them work the land for themselves. I often wonder if the tribe of Levi understood the significance of this. I know I certainly do!

Read More

Stumbling into Faith

/
Stumbling into Faith

It's been almost three weeks since I turned in my resignation, cleaned out my office at work, returned my badge, laptop and keys, and said good-bye to my co-workers. Since that time, I've been a stay-at-home mom to three kids. Just this week, I've applied for a homeschooling charter school and sat in orientation for another because I believe that God has laid it on my heart.

It's been a crazy whirlwind of walking, or shall I say, stumbling by faith these past few weeks.

Read More

currently: June 2016

/
currently: June 2016

Marveling: at how much this little girl loves words and books. My mother tells me I was the same way at her age.

Listening: to lots of KB thanks to the boys. I like that they can listen to music without a good beat without me having to worry about the lyrics. There's lots of Laurie Berkner and Elizabeth Mitchell thanks to the little threenager. I love the kids eclectic taste in music.

Watching: Teenage Newlyweds on fyi,. My sister got me hooked on it. I'm also 

Read More

Declarations of Independence: Learning to Loosen the Grasp in Parenting

/
Declarations of Independence: Learning to Loosen the Grasp in Parenting

I'm a recovering helicopter parent.

I'll admit, I once was that mother who wanted to fix everything, make sure my kid was never hurt and manage all affairs. But once your kids grow up (or you have more than one kid), you realize that tactic just ain't gonna cut it.

I felt like I've spent most of my mothering years pushing independence and carefully watching every step. As my oldest son is moving into the teen years, the more I have to let the reigns go. The more I let go, I see that he's actually able to handle himself in the world without my constant navigation. Liberating for him. Scary for me.

Recently, my son auditioned for the lead role in the school musical. Instead of being excited, I was scared out of my wits for him because lead roles normally got to upperclassmen, not middle schoolers. So I prepared him by telling him not to be disappointed when he didn't land the role and to expect that students who are older and graduating will be chosen to star. He didn't let my warnings sway him.

Read More