Peace Over Perfection

Yesterday I did a small thing that I later realized was a big thing for me.
The act was small, how I did it was big.

Ok, I'll tell you what it was.
I made a meal for a family who recently welcomed a new baby into their home.
See, I told you, a small thing.
Here's the big part: the meal was simple- a pasta dish and salad.

I'm sure by now, you're confused,
What is so big about a simple meal for a friend, right?!
Well, I don't get to do this very often anymore.
Most of my friends are done bringing new life into the world.
And so I don't find myself helping others in this way.

But when I used to, I went over the top.
I would try to think of EVERYTHING to make my meal a blessing to the receiver.
Time was spent not only cooking the meal
But also making side dishes and definitely dessert.
Then there were the napkins to throw in and paper plates-
So no one had to worry about dishes afterwards.
I could go on and on about the particulars, but you get the idea.

So, yesterday I found myself planning this meal
And thinking, oh, I should makes cookies, too.
After preparing I noticed the time.
I wanted to sit down for a few minutes,
To rest just a bit from the fullness of the day.

And then I remembered the cookies.
If I pushed through I might have just enough time to get them baked.
But... I didn't get out the ingredients.
I didn't pull out my mixer.
I didn't turn on the oven.

Instead, I rested.
I sat down for a few minutes at my desk.
I pulled out the book I've been reading,
And I read a few pages, enjoying the peace of the moment.

This was big for me.
In the past this would not have been allowed.
I would have pushed through,
Creating what I deemed the perfect meal to present to a friend.

And I would have exchanged rest for work.
I would have left time to breathe for anxious hustle.
I would have traded peace for perfection.

Now, don't get me wrong.
There is nothing necessarily wrong with presenting a beautiful meal,
Filled with all the extras to make it special.
What was wrong, for me,
Was that I created stress, not just for me, but for those around me.
I traded peace for perfection.

For quite some time I anxiously yearned for peace in this busy season of life.
I wrestled with the concept of breathing still in the midst of a full schedule.
Could I find rest while managing a large family?
Was there room for margins in my planner?

I'm finding the answer is, yes.
Thankfully, the answer is, yes.
But sometimes it's the choice between perfection or peace.
And so my prayer is this:
Lord, help me see where I can serve, yet rest,
Where I can give and still receive.

May you continue in your areas of service to others
And still allow for times of rest.

I Don't Have It All Together!

I'm gonna say it again,
I don't have it all together.

Some of you have seen what I have done over the years.
You've seen my IG pictures and FB posts.

Yes, I've run a marathon.
I've even gutted out an ultra-marathon.
I've used cloth diapers.
And made my own laundry detergent.

I thought baking my own bread was no big deal,
And so for awhile I did that, too.
I cooked my own baby food,
And mixed up our cleaning products.

I loved DIY projects, 
And filled my days creating, all while homeschooling.

Back then, others put me on a pedestal.
I knew how others viewed me.
And so I tried to balance up there,
Doing all I could to maintain that image
And be the perfect little housewife.

And then I crashed.
It's hard to teeter up there on that pedestal. 
I even believe the health issues I later discovered
Came because of these unrealistic expectations I put upon myself.

And so I come to you now in what I hope is a much more humble position.
I stand among you,
Not above you.
I will continue to share my experiences with you.
But I am still learning SO. Much. Myself.

I don't have every room completely organized.
I don't have everything labeled and color-coordinated.
My schedule doesn't always work.
I now buy my laundry detergent
And our bread, too.

My kids don't always obey cheerfully on the first time.
I (more often than I like to admit) loose my patience.
I get frustrated.
I am frail.
And, at times, I cry.

But through all of this I am learning.
This, my friends, is what the Cross is for.
I won't be able to do it all.
I will fail.
But because of His grace, 
I will pick myself up.
Over. And over. And over again.
I will cling tightly to my Savior's hand.

And I will remember,
I don't have to have every closet organized,
Or teach the perfect school year. 
I just need to be obedient to what He calls me to do.
And rely on His strength to do it.

Eunora

His Truth In Me

Question: What lies do I hear and believe?
I pondered this and this is what I heard:
The statements I hear within, I hear as truth,
But it is an ugly truth, not the truth He has for me.

And so I thought, what are these 'truths?'
And what does the Lord want to tell me about them?

And Jesus, in the stillness of my soul, spoke.
And what He said was beautiful...

When I tell myself...

You are impatient,
Remember that He is patient and His patience can flow though you.

You are harsh,
Remember that He is compassionate and can share His compassion through you.

You are quick to speak,
Remember that He is slow to speak and can bridle your tongue.

You are frustrated,
Remember that He is peace and can work His peace in you.

You are loosing control,
Remember that He is in control and can be in control as you follow His lead.

You are harsh,
Remember that He is gentle, and can work His gentleness through you.

You are weak,
Remember that He is strong and will be your strength.

I have failed,
Remember that He is victorious and will be victorious in you.

As I pause, in the moment I hear these voices,
And listen carefully for His truth...
As I relinquish my control over myself,
And allow Him to fill me...

I will walk in truth, because it is His truth in me.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

His Peace In the Crazy-

An excerpt from Daily Strength for Daily Needs-

Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always, by all means. 

2 Thessalonians 3:16

The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11

In the heart's depths a peace serene and holy

     Abides, and when pain seems to have its will,

Or we despair, - oh, may that peace rise slowly,

     Stronger than agony, and we be still. 

                                             S. Johnson

But if a man ought and is willing to lie still under God's hand, he must and ought also to lie still under all things, whether they come from God, himself, or the creatures, nothing excepted. And he who would be obedient, resigned, and submissive to God, must and ought to  be also resigned, obedient, and submissive to all things, in a spirit of yielding, and not of resistance; and take them in silence, resting on the hidden foundations of his soul, and having a secret inward patience, that enableth him to take all chances or crosses willingly; and, whatever befalleth, neither to call for nor desire any redress, or deliverance, or resistance, or revenge, but always in a loving, sincere humility to cry, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!'

                                                                                 Theologia Germanicia

May I go about my day and days remembering:

That He is in control.

That He has either placed that which is before me or

That He has allowed it to come my way. 

May I face each situation before me 

With His grace, and peace, and kindness

Believing that He will help me.

May I truly believe that 

He deeply loves me 

And it is out of His great love for me

That He allows what comes my way.

Will I see that today?

Will I find how to glorify Him 

In the midst of the crazy?

Will I change my perspective?

For when I do, I see

That all things really do work together for good.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Praying For the School Year

Every year at the beginning of a new school year,
I love to gather with my friends and pray.
Pray for the upcoming school year.
I need prayer.
Our school needs prayer.
And so we pray,
Over everything we can think of concerning school.

I love walking away from that time
Knowing we are covered in prayer!

Although this year it came a week after school started,
In the midst of very full schedules,
We prayed.
And it was good.

Many expressed the desire to join us
And yet were unable to for one reason or another.
And so I am posting my outline for you.
I hope that it blesses you as you bring these topics
Before our gracious and capable God.

Prayer Night-

September 9, 2013

Psalm 116:1-2

Matthew 7:7-8

Thanksgiving: for our families, marriages, children, children’s school environment, for God’s care and provision, His direction and strength.

Our Personal Walks with Jesus: that we would always remember from whom our strength comes from and constantly be connected to the One who leads, guides and sustains. That we would carve time out with Him and be in constant communication with Him.

Our Marriages: That the Lord would be in the center (leading, guiding, strengthening, and unifying). Protection over. Respect and support for one another. Thankfulness for the other’s roll. Enjoyment in.

Our Children: That our children would love God passionately, that they would be driven by their desire to glorify God to have good characters, be self-motivated to study and work hard. That they would understand the material being taught to them.

Teachers: Wisdom to teach students according to the students’ needs and to deal with daily situations that arise. Patience. Creativity. Passion. Joy!!

Daily Logistics: Wisdom on how to manage our homes the Lord has given us (laundry, cooking, cleaning, appointments). Creativity in meal planning.

Extra Curricular Activities and Friends:  What to involve yourselves and your children in and when to say no. That our children would link up with friends that would be encouraging and positive influences to them.

Preschoolers/Toddlers/Babies: Wisdom on how to give them our time, energy, and love. Patience with them and patience from them. Creativity for keeping them happy and busy.

Families That Couldn’t Make It: Blessing on their families. All that we desire for our families, that the Lord would do so for them as well.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Proverbs 11

A short devotional through the book of Proverbs.
Compiled for my boys; a small blessing, I hope, for you.

Proverbs 11

Reread Proverbs 11:19

Read Psalm 143:10

The battle of our life is won,

         And heaven begun,

When we can say, ‘Thy will be done!’

         But, Lord, until

These restless hearts in Thy deep love are still,

         We pray Thee, ‘Teach us how to do Thy will!’

(We will win the battle in life and be truly happy when we learn to say, “Thy will be done.” Until we can do this, we remain in His love and ask Him to “Teach us how to do Thy will.”)

                                             Lucy Larcom

“You are seeking your own will, my daughter (or son). You are seeking some good other than the law you are bound to obey (the rules you should follow). But how will you find good? It is not a thing of choice; it is a river that flows from the foot of the Invisible Throne (God’s throne), and flows by the path of obedience. I say again, man cannot choose his duties. You may choose to forsake (abandon/ turn your back on) your duties, and choose not to have the sorrow they bring. But you will go forth, and what will you find, my daughter (or son)? Sorrow without duty- bitter herbs, and no bread with them.”

                                             George Eliot

However dark and profitless (without reward), however painful and weary, existence (your life) may have become; however any man, like Elijah, may be tempted to cast himself down beneath the juniper-tree, and say, ‘It is enough, O Lord!’- life is not done, and our Christian character is not won, so long as God has anything left for us to suffer, or anything left for us to do. (our life as Christians is not over, even though it is hard at times, because the Lord as a plan and purpose for us to yet fulfill- seek to discover it.)

                                             F. W. Robertson

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Proverbs 10-

A short devotional through the book of Proverbs.
Compiled for my boys; a small blessing, I hope, for you.

Proverbs 10

Reread Proverbs 10:12

Read

1 John 4:7

Colossians 3:13

Oh, might we all our lineage (direct descendant) prove,

         (that our family would be known for)

Give and forgive, do good and love;

By soft endearments (a word expressing love), in kind strife    (disagreement/conflict),

Lightening the load of daily life.

                                             J. Keble

We may, if we choose, make the worst of one another. Every one has his weak points; every one has his faults; we may make the worst of these; we my fix our attention constantly upon these. But we may also make the best of one another. We may forgive, even as we hope to be forgiven. We may put ourselves in the place of others, and ask what we should wish to be done to us, and thought of us, were we in their place. By loving whatever is lovable in those around us, love will flow back from them to us, and life will become a pleasure instead of a pain; and earth will become like heaven; and we shall become not unworthy followers of Him whose name is Love.

                                                      A.P. Stanley

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Proverbs 9-

Here is the next in our Proverbs study.
These are short devotionals through the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 9

Reread Proverbs 9:10

Read Psalm 16:7

Read Romans 12:11

Mine be the reverent (feeling or showing deep respect), listening love

         That waits all day on Thee,

With the service of a watchful heart

         Which no one else can see.

A.  L. Waring

Nothing is small or great in God’s sight; whatever He wills becomes great to us, however seemingly trifling (unimportant), and if once the voice of conscience tells us that He requires anything of us (when the Holy Spirit tells us what we must do), we have no right to measure its importance (we can not determine whether or not we think it is important). On the other hand, whatever He would not have us do, however important we may think it is, is as nought (nothing) to us. How do you know what you may lose by neglecting this duty, which you think so trifling (unimportant), or the blessing which is its faithful performance (obediently doing what He asks) may bring? Be sure that if you do your very best in that which is laid upon you daily, you will not be left without sufficient (enough) help when some weightier occasion arises (when you obey in the daily things the Lord gives you, He will bring help to you in the more difficult tasks that are asked of you). Give yourself to Him, trust Him, fix your eye upon Him, listen to His voice, and then go on bravely and cheerfully.

                                                               Jean Nicolas Grou

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Proverbs 8-

Another little look at one of the Proverbs.
Written for my boys.
Hoping you will be blessed too. =)

Read Proverbs 8

Reread 8:36

Read Romans 6:22-23

O sovereign Love, (Lord) to Thee I cry!

Give me Thyself, or else I die!

Save me from death; from hell set free!

Death, hell, are but the want of Thee. (When I am in want/lacking God, my experience is death, hell).

Quickened by Thy imparted (given) flame,

Saved when possessed of Thee, I am:

My life, my only heaven Thou art;

O might I feel Thee in my heart!

                                             C. Wesley

Sin itself is hell, and death, and misery to the soul, as being a departure from goodness and holiness itself; I mean from God, in conjunction (joining) with whom the happiness, and blessedness, and heaven of a soul doth (does) consist. Avoid it, (sin) therefore, as you would avoid being miserable.

                                                               Samuel Shaw

‘I couldn’t live in peace if I put the shadow of a willful sin between myself and God.’ (I could not live peacefully if I willfully put a sin between myself and God).

                                                               George Eliot

Unholy tempers are always unhappy tempers.

                                                               John Wesley

 Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Prayer- An Opportunity to Commune With Our Best Friend

I have been contemplating prayer of late.
Answered prayer.
Unanswered prayer.
Why some prayers are answered quickly.
Why some prayers are answered slowly.

Fortunately for me, the Lord knows my thoughts.
Situations, messages from my pastor,
His still, small voice...
Have given me the answer my soul could receive,
An understanding I can cling to when the evidence that He hears feels distant.

A few months ago I began feeling frustrated.
I had a little, well, situation that I longed to see a breakthrough in.
I was trying to handle it on my own.
What did I need to do differently?
How did I need to handle this situation?
How was I to react? respond?

I tried.
No breakthrough.
And then I heard.
This was something to bring before the Lord.
Not generally, specifically.
Not once, but over and over and over again.

But why?
Can't the Lord see my heart, hear my cry,
And answer my petition?
Oh yes, yes He can.
Then why am I not seeing the breakthrough?

Because He loves me,
And He knows me all too well.
He knows that would I cast my cares quickly at His feet
And dart to the next task at hand,
Our conversation would be done.
My need for Him would have been filled,
well, at least until the next, 'situation.'

Again, He loves me.
That means, He wants to commune with me.
He wants to hear from me,
Again, and again.
And as I come to Him
Again and again
I get to know Him
And trust Him
And realize that He is what my soul longs for.

As I write this, I glance up and what do I see?
One of my all-time favorite quotes edged in the
Pretty flower frame it sits in.

His great desire

and delight is God;

and by desiring and delighting,

he hath Him.

Delight thou in the Lord,

and He shall give thee thy heart's desire,

-HIMSELF;

and then surely thou shalt have all.

Any other thing

commit it to Him,

 and He shall bring it to pass.

R. Leighton

I must remember this.

I'm working on it. =)

He hears.

He delays that I might return to Him.

And, as I do, I find that He is my delight.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Proverbs 7

Here is the latest in our Proverbs study. To find out how and why I created this study  click here.

Proverbs 7

Reread 7:24-27

Read Colossians 4:2

Read 1 Corinthians 16:13

We kneel how weak, we rise how full of power.

(We come before the Lord weak. We leave His presence full of power).

Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong,

Or others- that we are not always strong,

That we are ever overborne (overcome/overwhelmed) with care,

That we should ever weak or heartless be,

Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,

And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?

(We do ourselves a disservice/a harmful action when we do not come to the Father and pray. We become anxious and troubled when we could experience His joy, strength, and courage).

                                                               R.C. Trench

It is impossible for us to make the duties of our lot (situation) minister to our sanctification (act of becoming holy/purified/set apart) without a habit of devout fellowship with God (we must have continual communication with the Lord). This is the spring of all our life, and the strength of it. It is prayer, meditation, and converse (communication) with God, that refreshes, restores, and renews the temper of our minds, at all times, under all trials, after all conflicts with the world. By this contact with the world unseen (by praying and talking to God, who is unseen) we receive continual accesses (the ability/the right to receive) of strength. As our day, so is our strength (Whatever the day may bring to you, the strength from the Lord will be there for you). Without this healing and refreshing of spirit (through communication with the Lord), duties grow to be burdens, the events of life chafe (rub against) our temper, employments (your work) lower the tone of our minds, and we become fretful (troubled), irritable, and impatient.

                                                               H. E. Manning

Throughout this chapter in Proverbs, the immoral, adulterous woman is seeking to tempt the man to sin with her. Temptation to sin is real and prevalent (widespread and powerful). The only way we can avoid the snares (traps) of the enemy, is through prayer. We must seek our Father continually for strength and power to overcome the temptations thrown at us.

Because of Jesus,

Eunora

Proverbs 4

Here is the next short devotional in this series, Proverbs chapter 4. To read about how and why I wrote out these devotionals, click here.

Proverbs 4

This chapter is all about seeking and getting wisdom and understanding.  In God, you will find all that you need.  Seek Him.

Read Psalm 27:2

Lead, kindly Light, amid (in the middle of) the encircling (surrounding) gloom,

         Lead Thou me on;

The night is dark, and I am far from home,

         Lead Thou me on.

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.

(Even though the situation is dark and difficult, lead me on. I do not need to see the whole, just one step at a time).

                                                      J.H. Newman

God only is holy; He alone knows how to lead His children in the paths of holiness. He knows every aspect (particular part) of you soul, every thought of your heart, every secret of your character, its difficulties and hindrances (that which provides resistance); He knows how to mould (change/create) you to His will, and lead you onwards to perfect sanctification (holiness); He knows exactly how each event, each trial, each temptation will tell upon you, and He disposes (gets rid of) all things accordingly. The consequences of this belief, if fully grasped, will influence your whole life. (If you truly understand this truth, it will change your life). You will seek to give yourself up to God more and more unreservedly (not in part, but enthusiastically), asking nothing, refusing nothing, wishing nothing, but what He wills; not seeking to bring things about for yourself, taking all He sends joyfully and believing the ‘one step’ set before you to be enough for you. You will be satisfied that even though there are clouds around, and your way seems dark, He is directing all, and that what seems a hindrance (a thing that provides resistance) will prove a blessing, since He wills it.

                                                      Jean Nicolas Grou

Because of Jesus,

Eunora