God’s Handiwork

Do you ever just stop and reflect on how God has had his hand in every moment leading up to this very second?

And yet, somehow, regardless of the way we have seen God move, we still worry about tomorrow. 

We worry if our children are going to be ok in this world. We worry about our decisions and how they will affect our family. We worry about what clothes to wear. We worry about our career or making a career change. We worry if we are good enough. We worry if we aren’t the wife, the daughter, the mother, the sister, the friend, that we think we ought to be. 

Mostly, we worry about the path that we are on and if it’s right or not. It’s something that has worried my heart to the core for years. I’ve begged God for flashing signs that I am on the right road. I’ve cried out to God on my knees to yell out the answer to me. I’ve searched high and low for the plan that God wants me to follow and I am always left with questions and what I feel is an open ended answer from God. 

But as always (probably much later than I should) I dig into the Word, and it’s there, that I quietly find my answers. 

Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us” 

My worried spirit, if only for a few moments, is silently at peace, and continent in God’s word. 

How sweet is it that God thought so much of us that he already prepared the things that we are going to do? Not only did He make us in His son’s imagine but he went before us and carved out everything that we would do in this lifetime. 

That “plan” that I am so worried about? God is walking in front of me paving it out before I get there. 

I am so thankful to serve a God who loves me for all that I am, even the parts that are not so lovable. I am thankful for a God who makes us stop and listen so we can hear His word, and see His plan. I am thankful for a God who renews my spirit each day. 

Sweet Blessings He has for us ❤️

Do You Have the Faith?

Luke 5:27-28

“ And He said to him, Follow Me! So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.”

I wish I had the faith of that tax collector. To just drop it all and follow Jesus! Did you notice that he doesn’t even ask Jesus a question!? Before I could do that I would have a list of questions along with a pros & cons list of why I should and why I shouldn’t do what God was asking.

Sure, some days, on rare occasion, I step out of my comfortable box for Jesus. But, in reality? I really like to play it safe and keep things “normal.”

But how many opportunities do we miss because we don’t get up and follow Jesus when He asks us to?

•Maybe you hear God asking you to drop your career to and do something different.

•Maybe you are a Mommy feeling God tugging on your heart to stay home and raise His children that He gave you.

•Maybe you are a college student pursing a degree but you feel God calling you into the mission field.

•Maybe you struggle with addiction and God is telling you to drop it and run into his arms.

•Maybe you face depression and anxiety and God is asking you to leave that in the past.

•Maybe God is asking you to go home and love your family.

Whatever God is asking you to drop today, I pray that you have the faith to do it. I pray that we have the faith and courage to let go of our plan and follow Jesus without question.

💕

When The Why, Takes Our Joy

There are some weeks and some days that are just harder than others. We all have those times, regardless of how close we are to our Savior. So many times we want to ask why this, why me, and we let the why steal our joy. 

The one thing that is certain when we are a child of God, is He is always up to something. He is always working our life so that it will cast all glory to him. 

Lately, I’ve been asking God why. Why this, why now, and what do you want me to do? How do you want me to use this? And you know what, I haven’t got an answer yet. 

The worldly human in me wants to just throw in the towel and give up. “I’ve been in the word, I’ve been praying, why aren’t you giving me an answer!?” 

And then I’m reminded that God does work in his time. When I want to yell at him, he is quietly telling me that He has a plan, I just have to keep going. 

So to all of my friends out there today who have lost their joy, who have had a hard day, or a hard week. Just know God is sitting right there whispering ”just keep going, I have a plan”. 

So be refreshed today my friends, and know that new beginnings are every morning 💕

To Everything There Is A Season

So often we hear the phrase, "there is a time for everything" and little do we know how true those six words are.

From February to this moment today, I have been in a world wind of seasons. From Asher turning one in February, to my grand-daddy getting sick and passing on to his heavenly home, to transitioning out of the classroom, and so much more, life has just been full of, well life. 

Then, suddenly, today I find myself in the middle of summer looking back on the last six months full of all the seasons. There has been a lot of tears this season. A lot of questions this season. Honestly, I have not liked this season at all, and yet I am in it, working my way to be thankful for it. 

We all have those seasons. Those seasons that feel like winter. Cold. Bitter. Sad. Hurt. Broken. Bare.Still. Sometimes it feels unending. Sometimes that winter season lasts a week, other times months, and other times, years. But we have to remember that regardless of how long our season is. It is just that, a season. IT WILL END. If you are in that winter season, you can't muddle in it. You better get in the Word, give it to God, and go outside and find some sunshine. 

"Every Season is hand selected by God for a particular purpose" and you better believe that. He is going to use the season you are in to build his kingdom, to build you, to fulfill His plan for your life. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time for every season, every hurt, every laugh, every joy, every sorrow, and that God has the power to use all of those for His good. 

No, not every season feels good. I've been in that season for a while. It is not where I like to be but God is working in me and I know that. God is using this time of growth to show me His plan. To bring my heart back home. God, can do that for you to, He wants to use your season, but you have to let him. 

So friends, whatever season you are in. A season full of joy, like summer time. A season of crisp warmth, like fall. A season of hope and newness, like spring. Or a season of cold, and chills like winter. Have faith, have hope, knowing that this is a season and God can do mighty things. 

With love and grace, 

Madeline 

The Fruit

There are some days that I fully believe God looks down on us, shakes his head and wonders if and when we will ever get it right. Some days He laughs at our inability to get it right and other days he weeps at our confusion and worldliness. 

A few years ago I did a big study on the Fruit of the Spirit in hopes that somehow these would help direct my purpose in life and give me the answers that I needed during that time. Of course, as God's word always does, it gave me my answers. Through digging deep into the Fruit of the Spirit I learned so much about God's character and the purpose that He desires for his children to walk in. 

Here is an excerpt from some writing that I did several years back about the fruit patience and my goodness, how relevant is this for me today...

"The Fruit of the Spirit is also defined as patience. God our Father has more patience than anyone who has walked this earth. Day in and day out God faces our sins, our unwillingness, and excuses and yet still has enough love and patience to hold us in His right hand. If one is patient then they uphold a characteristic that can help them get through any situation. Patience is in a sense a form of fortitude and perseverance. Just as a father coaching his son in baseball, the son may not always get it right but the father never gives up and keeps working with his son till he masters the technique. Patience allows God’s followers to work with people who generally would get under their skin, with grace and acceptance."

I am so thankful for God and his unending patience with me. I get it wrong so often and yet he still has patience with me. 

Patience when my heart is in the wrong place.

Patience when I am angry.

Patience when I am not listening to his call.

Patience when my prayer life is not where it needs to be.

Patience when I am not the best wife or mom.

Patience when I am not baring the fruit of patience.

Patience when I am in the pruning seasoning and my heart is hurting.

Patience when I am on the mountain top and blinded by selfishness.

Patience when I am in a waiting period and my heart is longing for something more. 

I wish so much that I could get it "right" day in and day out. But I can't, and thankfully God does not need me to. He knew we would not get it right when He made man. He knew that we would need His son to be our savior. He also knew that because we were a child of his that this fruit would be ingrained into our hearts. And regardless of how wrong we get it we would still be striving to produce the fruit that He has asked us to.

"Eventually through teaching, learning, and feeding the soul, a Christian will be able to demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Unfortunately on this Earth we will never get it right one-hundred percent of the time but with God's grace and goodness he gives us the opportunity to share glimpses of heaven by baring the fruit of the spirit in our day to day life with everyone we come in contact with. 

With Love & Grace,

Madeline  

He Said Write

So many days, so many nights, so many moments God has placed the desire on my heart to write for Him. So many times I pushed it away. So many times I responded to Him with ridiculous excuses. Until today.

You see, God has been dealing with my heart. Dealing with my character. Dealing with my confidence. So here I am, starting a blog that I should have began seven years ago.

Today, while reading my devotion about dreaming with God the author talked about the dreams that God placed on our hearts, even as children, and how as adults we box up those dreams and forget about them. We give our pitiful excuses to God and opt out of pursuing the dream that He gave us. The author challenged us to open those dreams back up.

So here I am, pulling my boxed up, dusty, cob-webbed dream out of the attic and handing it to the Hands of Christ for Him to do His will with it.

Today it all began with Revelation 21:5 "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

There, in the Word, was the dream that I had boxed up for so many years. For me, when I read these Words, it jumped off the page as a personal commandment to me, straight from my Father. I had to read it three times, through the tears. Because there was my dream. There was the dream that my God put into my heart so many years ago.

I've read the book of Revelations. I have completed bible studies on the book of Revelations and never have these words connected to me in the way that they have today. So for me, today was a God moment. It was an answered prayer. It was God's timing. His time for me to open my boxed up dream because he has a purpose for it.

Over the days and weeks as I add to this blog it is my prayer that God will use it how he sees fit. I will be writing as He lays on my heart. Be in prayer that I will remain confident in the call that He has placed within me. If you know someone who would benefit from a dose of God moments please share this blog with them. If you need someone to encourage you or just share moments and life along side of you reach out to me.

To those reading with me, bear with me as I embark on this call, on this dream,that God as given me for this season.

With Love & Grace,

Madeline