Choose Love; Have Peace

I saw it all over Facebook at the start of the year--choose your word for the year! I thought it sounded nice and perhaps I would come up with a one-word motto for the year. It sorta reminded me of college football teams. They select a word, post it on a sign, and then hit that sign as they run out of the tunnel onto the field. It's their inspiration.

My problem was that I couldn't come up with a one word motto for my year.

Not that it mattered because I could definitely proceed along my walk with the Lord without having a one-word slogan. He wasn't going to be too disappointed in me for that one (I give him a list of other things I do that he shakes his head at). I just filed the thought away and didn't put much consideration into it again.

Until one night... I have these horrible dreams sometimes that something has happened to my children or my husband and I have a hard time waking myself from them. I feel myself being so sad and try to talk myself out of these thoughts and dreams but it seems like such a challenge as I lay there in slumber. Perhaps this fear of something happening to your off-spring is just the burden that every mother carries but the bible tells us not to live in fear. This is one thing that I try to remind myself of as these thoughts occur--fear not!

This particular night though as I laid there struggling with my mind I got a new message--choose love. God so gentle whispered it that I could barely hear it in my distraction. I said the words in my head--"choose love." The fear seemed to start to fade. With each repeating of those words, I could feel the love and safety that God brings to me. Choose love.

I think because God is love that when I focus on that, I'm in turn focusing on HIM. I choose love.

And peace, it just seems to follow.

Once I choose love, God provides me peace. 

Psalm 29:11 "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

So I may not have settled on just ONE word and ended up with a few, but I have something that God gave to me that is a pretty darn good motto for this phase of my life. Choose love; have peace.

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

Since that night, when I have those awful thoughts that enter my mind, I repeat to myself "choose love" over and over again until I feel the peace of God. And all is good.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

With love,

Reynie

Lent: I give up!

Today is Ash Wednesday--the first day of Lent. I was raised a Methodist and I grew up attending a Wednesday night service on Ash Wednesday where ashes were placed on our foreheads. I had always heard the preacher talk about "lent," but I never really knew how that all came together. It seemed like religious talk to me and lots of rituals that were a little foreign.

When I got to college I had a Catholic friend who was always trying to "give something up for Lent." But again, it just never clicked for me.

In my twenties is when I started to discover what religion meant to me but what I ended up finding was a relationship with God--in three distinct ways: a loving father, a son of flesh, and the guiding holy spirit. Once I figured out how God in three forms related to my life only then could I be open to a relationship.

Our relationship formed and has grown stronger over the years. I lean on our bond daily and I find that I want to know more of God all the time. As a side effect of my need for knowledge, I've done a lot of research and education on religion and how God as we know Him came to be today. It's interesting stuff!

Through this, I have settled comfortably in my Methodist doctrine and feel it matches my thoughts and relationship the best--not always but mostly. Yet there are still practices from other religions that I observe and borrow as I find they add to my relationship, worship, and understanding of God. One of those practices is Lent.

Now, some Methodist would say that "giving up" for Lent is absolutely positively part of our doctrine but I've found that in visiting multiple Methodist churches over the years that most of the churches in the south don't necessarily "wide-spread" observe it the same as our Catholic friends (note that I'm not a certified clergy but just someone speaking on their own observations). So, nonetheless, I borrow this custom of "giving something up" and add it to my lent period.

The giving up started with wine one year... that didn't last long. Then one year it was cursing (Lord, help me as I know I have the mouth of a sailor!) and it only took the first rush-hour before I failed that one. Then one year it was giving up Facebook. I think I was secretly satisfied to do that and finally achieved one for forty days! But since those trial years I've learned more for what it means for ME to give.

I think what God wants most of me is my time and for me to have peace. Like any parent of a child. He wants me to give up the strife I go through and settle in Him for a few minutes a day so that I can afford to give myself that peace that He promises me. He wants me to be still and know that He is God! That he is in control! That all I have to do is fear not!

Joel 2:12-13: “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

It may seem like something I should do every day no matter if it is Lent or not, but I find it so challenging with all the "important stuff" going on in my life. I'm busy from sun-up to sun-down and constantly moving on to the next thing in my life once I've checked something off my to-do list. I hardly ever find peaceful moments on a consistent day-to-day basis. And Lent forces me to bring that exercise back into my life. Bring peace back into my life.

1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,..."

Hopefully after the forty days is over it will have become a routine again. Something I long for daily. And if I can continue it--continue to take five minutes a day to be in relationship with God without asking Him for something--just being in His presence then life will be better. I'll be a better person. A better wife. A better mother. He will live with me and I'll have no choice but to be better.

Daniel 9:3 "Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes."

So my challenge is that over the next forty days I am to take time to be with Him in peace. I pray Lord that you are there when I show up, but I already know you will be.

I wish you time and peace during this lent season as well.

Peace be with you...

With Love,
Reynie

Sunday Reflections

Sundays are good for several things: gettin' some Word, guilt-free naps, and a filling Sunday Southern dinner! I like to take a little time at some point in the day and reflect upon my blessings from the weekend. It helps me get my mind right for the coming weekend (although I'm lucky enough to have another "weekend" day thrown into this one as MLK is tomorrow and the kiddos and I have the day OFF!)

I started the weekend with my husband leaving me for his other girlfriend--the boat and the fish (that's multiple loves, isn't it...). I got the kids to bed for a "sleepover" and then cooked myself up a nice little dinner. Whenever hubs is gone I try something that I know he won't like. This weekends special was a tuna marinaded in soy sauce, brown sugar, and EVOO. Hubs highly opposes fish or meat with a sweet sauce. Me, not so much. 

 

Saturday started with having my little man help me make some chocolate-chip muffins from scratch. He loves to help in the kitchen. It adds a little stress but I try to work through it as I so want my kids to learn to cook and love it as I do!

What I love about January is the "nothing to do" season! December always feels so crazy that it is nice to have nothing going on. We took the time for a visit to the local library. Afterwards we fed the ducks and wondered around the surrounding park. Those fellas were hysterical--funny how tame these guys are and the ones at my house won't let you within a mile of them.

We ended the weekend with a great church visit, chili for lunch, and a nice nap. 

I love weekends like this. It just calms the soul to have close family time! #blessed

This is a hymn we sang in church this morning... always a favorite!

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
   
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I wish you a peaceful and wonderful week!

With Love,

Reynie

New Year, New Blog

I’m a goal setter. I’ve always been. I like the idea of telling myself that I can achieve something, setting forth a plan to do so, and then working hard to carry it out. The best part is to check it off! And of course achieving the goal, but I really get gratification out of a “check”—it’s done!

In the past I’ve set goals at the New Year but it seems like since I’ve had children that my goal-setting has turned more into “1. Survive”…. My children are getting a little older now and I find I’m actually coming up with a few extra minutes in my week to do “me” things so I think I’m ready to throw my hat back in the “goal-setting” ring. Here goes:

1. Faith: I’ve always talked to God and read my bible, but I feel like I’m desperate for our relationship to grow more. I want to depend on Him for everything so the trust needs to grow there. The only way to do that is submerge myself into Him. I plan to have more time reading, praying, talking, sitting, listening… all of it. Just find more of it in this coming year. For me, for Him, for us.

Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

2. Good Health: I’m a foodie and love learning about good nutrition and lifestyle. I try to make the best food choices for my family and demonstrate the importance of exercise to my children so that they grow up healthy and strong. And I just feel better when I get a little exercise in my day! I plan to add two new things to my arsenal this year: 1. Make homemade bread and stop buying the store-bought stuff (better nutrition) and 2. Get my kids out walking with me more.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

3. Creativity: I consider myself artistic but not a photographer by any stretch! I love using any creative outlet I can find time for and it seems that I spend a great deal of time snapping pictures of my family so why not expand on that possible creative outlet? I plan to learn the mechanics of my camera and how to better edit the pictures I take. I know there is a great deal that I just don’t know and I’m curious to find out more and make improvements.

Exodus 35:31-32: And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze,

4. Family: My husband is my rock and my children are my heart! I fail miserable at being a good wife and a good mother on a daily basis. Thank goodness they forgive me. I strive to be better all the time and this year will be no different. I plan to give them more of me. More time dedicated to them where I play, I draw, I listen, I ask questions about his fishing stuff that I usually have no idea what he’s talking about but is so very passionate about… More of all of that for them.

Titus 2:4: And so train the young women to love their husbands and children,

5. Me: I try. I really do, but I am far from perfect. I need improvement in so many ways. I know my pain points that seem to haunt me in my soul. I plan to work on them this year. Not for anyone else but for me to be a better person. Me to be able to live with myself without guilt, and sadness, and regret, and always second-guessing myself. Sometimes, it just means closing your mouth and changing your thoughts. I will work on this for me.

1 Peter 2:1-25: So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ...

That seems like a lot to tackle right there. Whew, I’m tired just looking at it. But I will do it! I will try because I’m challenged to be a better person than I am for my God, for my family, and for myself.

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

With Love,

Reynie