for the times I hear people talk about finding 'God's will' for their life

I have seen a few things lately that have inspired me to share my thoughts on God's 'will' for your life or mine.  Having your 'best' life or staying on 'God's path'.  I would like to challenge the idea that "if things aren't going well in your life, or if you are unhappy, that you have somehow 'lost God's will' or have 'lost his path' for your life".

That is just.not.true.  Where in the Bible does it say that if you do it all correctly, and listen to God hard enough, that your life will be everything YOU think it should be? (hint: no where. not in the Bible!)

I would like to offer up the examples of the apostles, who died deaths they did not desire.  Who were imprisoned and tortured, does that sound fun?  Did they get to have the perfect life with the well paying job & the beautiful house?

So why do I?

Did I do something right?  Did I earn God's 'favor' somehow?  What about the example of Job?  He was given much, and had much taken away.  He had much restored to him for his faithfulness.  Am I just waiting for God to test me that same way?

Did God make any of us the same? no.  Will God send any of us down the exact same path? no.  Should I expect Him to 'test' me specifically? no.  Should I expect him to teach me, grow me, prune me, discipline me, & make me more like Jesus??? YES.

What about the example of Stephen from Acts 6?  Check our the sermon given at our church, Experiencing God, by Brian Wages.  The humbling story of Stephen, who saw God move in miraculous ways in his service to others, in the lesser jobs, in the everyday activity.  That he was accused & stoned.  That his face shone like an angel & then he saw Jesus in Heaven.  Wow.

What is God's will for my life?  It.is.EXACTLY.what he has given me.  This life that I am living.right.now.  Do I have to seek His will as though I've lost it somehow? no.  If I need wisdom to move in faith & grace through these present trials, I should ASK HIM.  Take it to His feet, and leave.it.there.  Can I trust Him to guide me, if I ask Him, as I walk through this life?

Is my life meant to be happy? no.  Does every perfect gift come down from heaven, from the father of heavenly lights? YES.  Can anyone, even myself, snatch me out of His hand? NO.  (remember the story of Jonah and the whale? Who can out run God?  Who can hide where He will not see you?)

Can I have joy, peace, patience? CAN I FIND CHRIST in my everyday life?  In my service to others & in the midst of pain & struggle?

I was so grateful for the next sermon given by Pastor Jeff Henderson, The Joy of the Lord.  He read from Nehemiah 8:10 which teaches the people "...Don't be dejected and sad, the joy of the Lord is your strength!" The Joy of the Lord.  Not the icing on the cake, not what makes you life 'happy', "not an 'accessory' to the Christian life", but what strengthens you.

Should you be living the Christian life without the 'joy of the Lord'? no.  If you are living without it, no matter what else you are doing, you should be loving & serving others "...so that my joy may be in your & your joy may be complete..." from John 15:9-13.  If you're caught up in yourself, maybe get outside yourself & find a way to serve others.

God's will for your life, his plan for you, is to glorify Him.

I am so grateful for God's hand & this life that He had given to me.  May I serve Him & be a good steward of God's varied grace. (I Peter 4:10)

Oh.Hosea. Oh.Israel.

I would love to share just a few thoughts with my fellow #shereadstruth ladies & #shesharestruth friends.  What unique timing this has been for me.

#SheSharesTruth  go check it out!

     I would like to start by saying how I followed #shereadstruth for over a year just after it got started, but didn't keep up with the studies after they left the YouVersion app.  I just never made it to my computer to read the blog!  I have now finished my first study sitting down to the computer & reading the blog.  The timing was perfect.

   I had just finished reading Francine Rivers Redeeming Love, which is a fictional tale of the Biblical story of Hosea.  I.is.a.beautiful.story.y'all.  I absolutely was challenged by the love of the Father, how he called Hosea to love his unfaithful wife, and what it was like for the prostitute.  How painful it was to be Hosea, but how painful the healing process was for his wife to see God, to seek Him, and then to make Him first above the love of her husband.  Amazing.  ((read it if you haven't))

     Enter the study of Hosea: I knew this was one God was setting aside for me.  I've never read Hosea, and never really gotten any of the deep seated truth out before.  The idea of marrying a prostitute & bringing her back to me was always so gross, so ugly.  To be called the prostitute & the one worthy of all the judgement was hard to read & identify with, because it seems so far from what I know in my own life.

     After reading the book of Hosea, going through the study, hearing the insights & looking for that place of peace in the end, I am so thankful.  I struggle reading about how angry God is over my sin, over my unfaithfulness.  I struggle to hear his call to return in all of the judgement.  But this study really emphasized that call & for me that is the beauty.  Our healing.  Our restoration.  His faithfulness, our reconciliation.

One other fun side note: I appreciated that in Hosea 12, it talks about how Jacob wrestled with an angel & then met God.  Face to face.  I sometimes wonder about the interpretations of old Testament stories, but I think it was the first time I've seen what I thought was an 'interpretation' of a story, laid out very plainly in scripture.  God's Word is so clear sometimes, and I was grateful for that little piece that stuck out to me.

Thank you God for redemption.  Thank you for stories that seem so distant, but in the end, call me to you.

August in Review...

August.  our end to summer.  our beginning to back-to-school, back-to-routine.  our end of lazy summer mornings, days full of toys & swimming & movies & naps.  I have loved our empty-scedule, full of tantrums & tears, lots of 'funny jokes' & wrestling matches.  We have spent more time with our neighbors, friends & feel more connected in our life to others than we have in several years.  August marked 2 years since we moved from Charlotte. wow.

My.James.  he is puzzle-loving-crazy.  I so enjoy watching him working.  It makes me feel such a unique sense of pride in seeing a passion that we share.  I bought this 200 piece puzzle as a Christmas gift for him, but I didn't realize it was recommended ages 6 and up.

Fortunately, it came with a puzzle sized poster, so we completed it by matching up the pieces.  Then, he could complete it all.by.himself.  I am still amazed.

We celebrated birthdays.

Read bedtime stories as super heros.

We built lego towers up to the ceiling.

We were lucky enough to spend a weekend with family & got all the grand kiddos on the Lyon side together for a group photo.  8, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 7 months, & 3 weeks old.  11 kids, 8 years & under.

James learned to swim.  We finally got him to try out wearing goggles to see under water, and that was pretty much all it took.  He already had a strong kick, and he's getting better at his reach & pull with his arms.  Matt has been awesome about working with James, and I have tried to do the same.  It is so much fun to see him swim!!

I had the best coffee date with the lovely Clara, the beloved former-student-of-mine who became best-loved-baby-sitter for my sweet nieces.  What a lovely gift she is!

These baby toes bathed in sunlight made my list of 1000 gifts in August.

This sweet baby face.

My.three.sons all piled into Calvin's crib.  They love going to get him up from his naps.  I hope he always feels this joyous love from his brothers.

Our boys started pre-school!  James started VPK this year & Hayden is doing a K-3 program.  Calvin gets to stay with momma (yay), and we were all super excited for all that school brings.

Haydie-bug has been so good for preschool.  A little indecisive about whether or not he likes going.  He changes his mind from minute to minute some days!  Today for example, he was not super excited to say goodbye, but wanted to go back to preschool after I picked him up!  He's such a sweetheart.

James was nothing.but.happy.  He couldn't wait to be done with the picture I took of him so he could go play & be with his friends.

My lunch table.for.two was very quiet. and adorable.

Calvin was ready to put on his shoes and go get his brothers.  Seriously, this boy is ready to be big.  (he's actually trying to put on his own shoes!)

Having two mornings with just Hayden & Calvin is fun.  It is fun to see more of their preferences & their sweet goofiness.  Hayden had to tickle little calvy, just like momma was doing.

this.baby.face.

We are growing so fond of our neighbors, the Grastons!

I found a new appreciation for fiction on loan from a lovely new friend.  Cannot wait to share more life together & share more great reads.

I love how our life feels like this photo of Hayden & Calvin.  Some days I'm in the driver's seat: giant smile on my face, with a sweet squeal of joy.  Some days I feel more like the passenger: hiding behind the windshield, peeking out from behind the wipers going full blast, ducking out of the way of whatever may be flying towards my face.

Calvin, Mr. 16 months old, wanted to sit up in Hayden's booster chair for lunch.  Calvin's first lunch at the table, table for 3.

August.  I got brave enough to cut my boys' hair for the first time.  They all needed a trim, and I decided, if I needed to take them anyway, then I could play around & see how I could do.  I did alright actually!  It is amazing how much courage it takes to do something intimidating, no matter what it is.

Hayden was first up.  because he was awake.  and luckily, he had a great shape to his hair already that I could just trim up.  boosted my confidence. (ps. he's just stinking cute. those brown eyes & sandy strawberry hair)

my littlest little was the quickest trim.  He was a tough customer to sit still! but he did great & didn't protest.

James. my challenge. his hair was getting so long & it is so thick.  he cried because of the hairs 'hurting him' and we had to take a pool break for him to feel some relief.  Luckily, his hair still turned out ok, and he can make it a few more week before a proper hair cut. the picture was the before, with the least amount of frown.

To end our August, we went to the zoo.  James wore his batman t shirt because he thought the animals would like it.  Our boys loved it.  It is hard to have a bad time at the zoo.

A favorite that we almost never do: the splash pad at the zoo.  I love going in the cooler weather, so we usually skip because of the temps.  Not this day, high of 92 yiikes!  The boys needed that cool down for sure.

We went for the new tiger exhibit, which is really an impressive construction as well as all the viewing areas for the tigers.  They have 4 I think, and they are beautiful.  Watch them train the tiger, serious.  just so cool.

Farewell August 2014, what a hot, hot hot mess.  We laughed, we cried, some of us peed in our pants.  We are grateful for what we've been given.  Thank you Lord.