I am a woman and most likely if you’re reading this, you are too. Nothing can change that I am woman. It’s who I am. [I know you wonder where I'm going...but stay with me...]
God is love. I am so not love. I feel love. I experience love. I give love. But I am not love. God is love. It is not a feeling or an experience or an action, it is who He is. God IS love. And He loves us. He loves you. He loves me. He love our kids. And nothing can change that God is love, and he loves us.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A couple weekends ago I attended the COD women’s mini retreat, a video conference by Beth Moore on the topic of love. And this concept of 'God is love' hit me in a new and refreshing way. As unchangeable as I am woman, God is love. And he pours out his love on me so that I might love others. His love overwhelms me, it heals me, and it spurs me to love when I can’t do it alone.
So I was reminded of this when I woke one morning after a long week of emotional exhaustion and ministry and thought I can’t do this, I can’t love these children or these other people in my life anymore today, I’m still exhausted from yesterday. Or last week. Or maybe the last month. I know you mamas know this exhuastion. Its the one that makes you doubt your ablity to play with, change, or run errands with your little ones. Its the exhaustion that spurs you to let voicemail answer your calls, or have cereal for dinner. The exhaustion that leaves your emotions raw from the heartache that comes with life sometimes, and un-able to give anything else, to anyone.
But that morning when I woke and felt unable to manage my day and desired nothing but to hide under the covers until everyone stopped poking me - it was then, right there in my comfy cozy bed, in a moment with God, when He reminded me of an amazing truth. When I am unable, God is able. When I am exhausted, God gives me strength. When I am weary, God gives me rest. When I am afraid, He gives me courage. When I am worried, He gives me peace. When I am broken-hearted, He heals my wounds. What is impossible for me to do today, is possible because of God. Because He loves me and His love fills me. I have all the resources I need in Him.
What’s impossible for you today? Are you exhausted, weary, or afraid? Tell Him. His love is unfailing and enduring. Let His love fill you.
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Carol will be sharing more of her insights from the women's mini-retreat on Thursday - don't miss it!
Showing posts with label devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devotional. Show all posts
10/15/2008
9/12/2008
THAT mom or Supermom?
Today, my dear dear husband woke me up late. Now granted I am a grown up myself and could choose to not rely on him as my morning alarm, but usually this system works great. Until this morning. This morning I was awoken to, "Honey, I'm so sorry, it's already 8 [Emma has preschool at 8:30], I was just going to check email for a minute..."
Okay, no worries, I am supermom. So we got the kids up got all 3 of us dressed, because not only does Emma have preschool, but women's biblestudy starts at 9am. I get a nutritionaly balanced breakfast for the kids [read toaster waffles - plain] and work on Emma's lunch. This morning she requests peanut butter, and because I'm super mom and even though I know we'll be late, I make peanut butter instead of throwing in crackers and a cheese stick.
I grab the diaper bag [and the things that go in it] and the kiddos and we make it to preschool only 10 minutes late. Whew!
We're doing fine, because I'm still 5 minutes early for biblestudy. I take charge of some tiny nursery things, and I'm feeling pretty accomplished by the time I sit for biblestudy brunch.
But during the video, I realize - I was supposed to bring snack for preschool! Whoops, and snack happened 45 minutes ago. Oh well, I say, I'll bring it on Monday, things happen.
Biblestudy ends, and I pick up Audrey from the nursery, where I realize, we can't run errands after picking Emma up from preschool, because Audrey hasn't had a morning nap [why won't this child sleep in the nursery?] and can barely stay awake on the 8 minute drive to the preschool. Oh well, we'll work those errands in this afternoon sometime. After all, I'm still supermom, right?
So in I go to apologize for snack and we laugh a little and chat when the aid says, "Oh, Emma had peanut butter for lunch today." And I'm thinking, oh goodness, did she not eat it? did she smear it on the wall? "We're a peanut-free school."
Oh yes. That's right. I am THAT mom. I forgot snack and sent the child a possibly deadly to others lunch. Sigh.
On the way home, I'm contemplating my supermom powers, they seem to be a bit on the fritz. I get the kids settled and check my email only to find I had scheduled a playdate at my home for 8:30am THIS morning.
Some days you just can't win. At least I can't anyway. And though I wish I actually DID have supermom powers, clearly I haven't been granted mine yet.
How often though, as moms, do things not go as planned? Quite a bit in this house. And yet, I try and try to do it all on my own. What an eye opening example of how God asks us daily to rely on him instead of our own strength, ingenuity and supermom powers.
So today, I'm reminded I am THAT mom. The one that needs to rely on God to get me through the day. Cause clearly, I can't do it on my own. But how awesome is He who gives me the strength to do all things. Who's love is greater than all my faults. The lyrics from Stuart Townend's song; (Listen to it now)
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
...
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.
Lord, Let me boast only in you, not gifts, not power, not wisedom - just You! Thank you for ordering my days, even as I mess them up. Give me extra grace today. Amen.
Okay, no worries, I am supermom. So we got the kids up got all 3 of us dressed, because not only does Emma have preschool, but women's biblestudy starts at 9am. I get a nutritionaly balanced breakfast for the kids [read toaster waffles - plain] and work on Emma's lunch. This morning she requests peanut butter, and because I'm super mom and even though I know we'll be late, I make peanut butter instead of throwing in crackers and a cheese stick.
I grab the diaper bag [and the things that go in it] and the kiddos and we make it to preschool only 10 minutes late. Whew!
We're doing fine, because I'm still 5 minutes early for biblestudy. I take charge of some tiny nursery things, and I'm feeling pretty accomplished by the time I sit for biblestudy brunch.
But during the video, I realize - I was supposed to bring snack for preschool! Whoops, and snack happened 45 minutes ago. Oh well, I say, I'll bring it on Monday, things happen.
Biblestudy ends, and I pick up Audrey from the nursery, where I realize, we can't run errands after picking Emma up from preschool, because Audrey hasn't had a morning nap [why won't this child sleep in the nursery?] and can barely stay awake on the 8 minute drive to the preschool. Oh well, we'll work those errands in this afternoon sometime. After all, I'm still supermom, right?
So in I go to apologize for snack and we laugh a little and chat when the aid says, "Oh, Emma had peanut butter for lunch today." And I'm thinking, oh goodness, did she not eat it? did she smear it on the wall? "We're a peanut-free school."
Oh yes. That's right. I am THAT mom. I forgot snack and sent the child a possibly deadly to others lunch. Sigh.
On the way home, I'm contemplating my supermom powers, they seem to be a bit on the fritz. I get the kids settled and check my email only to find I had scheduled a playdate at my home for 8:30am THIS morning.
Some days you just can't win. At least I can't anyway. And though I wish I actually DID have supermom powers, clearly I haven't been granted mine yet.
How often though, as moms, do things not go as planned? Quite a bit in this house. And yet, I try and try to do it all on my own. What an eye opening example of how God asks us daily to rely on him instead of our own strength, ingenuity and supermom powers.
So today, I'm reminded I am THAT mom. The one that needs to rely on God to get me through the day. Cause clearly, I can't do it on my own. But how awesome is He who gives me the strength to do all things. Who's love is greater than all my faults. The lyrics from Stuart Townend's song; (Listen to it now)
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
...
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.
Lord, Let me boast only in you, not gifts, not power, not wisedom - just You! Thank you for ordering my days, even as I mess them up. Give me extra grace today. Amen.
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