Real Life! with Leslie Nease

Give Me Your Eyes

Have you ever noticed that when someone is out in the sun and they get a little bit of color on them, everyone says "Oh, you look so healthy!"?  Strange, it's true - sun can make someone look like they have a healthy glow.  However, the "healthy glow" we see is, in reality, evidence of damaged and very unhealthy skin.  So what we are seeing is really not so healthy, after all.  Over time, it can cause sun spots, aging of the skin, wrinkles and even cancer! 

It's just another prime example of man's opinion being so vastly different from the truth of the matter.  What we see can sometimes decieve us into thinking things that are not necessarily true.  Like when we look at someone and judge from their appearance.  I'm specifically thinking of the story of a young teenager named David.

To look at him, you wouldn't think he'd be much to look at.  He was a shepherd of his father's flock and spent all of his time outdoors.  You read in 1 Samuel 16 that he was not even considered when the prophet Samuel came looking for the next King of Israel.  His father, Jesse, paraded all of his big, strong, burly brothers in front of the prophet thinking that he was looking for one of them.  But Samuel said "Are these all the sons you have?!".  Jesse thought for a moment and just half-heartedly said "Well, there is still the youngest, but he's out tending to the sheep and goats."

As soon as Samuel saw David, he knew that he was the one God wanted to anoint as the King of Israel.  Everyone must have been so confused!  David?  Why him?  What did he have that the others did not have?  In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says that God doesn't judge by appearances or height, he doesn't see things the way we do.  He looks at the heart.  David would be known as a man after God's own heart.

Just another example of man's opinion being so vastly different than God's.  As you go out into your day today, remember that what we see is not always the truth of the matter.  If someone cuts you off in traffic, it could be that they are on their way to the emergency room with a sick child and they are not thinking straight.  If someone hurts you with their words, it could be that they have been hurt by words and they are just acting out.  If you are the target of gossip, it could be that the person gossiping has such a poor opinion of themself that they must gossip in order to make themself feel better. 

There is always something we are not going to understand.  But one thing we can all understand is that God's ways are not our ways, and everything He allows into our lives has a purpose.  When we seek to understand what He might be teaching us in the moment instead of trying to place blame or draw our own conclusions, we can see a glimpse of God's ways.  There's a song by Brandon Heath that comes to mind.  He sings it as a prayer to God. I will leave you with the words to this song called "Give Me Your Eyes"...

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work
He’s buying time
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

I’ve been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone

Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Guess What I Found?

So...remember a couple of months ago when I lost my wedding ring?  I lost it just a few days after we moved to Asheville and it was nowhere to be found.  I was devastated, but had peace knowing that God knew where it was and that it would surface at just the right time, if that would be His will. 

Yesterday I was unpacking a suitcase and going through some clothes and I saw something shiny out of the corner of my eye at the bottom of the suitcase.  Sure enough, it was my RING!  Not only my diamond, but my wedding band, too - sitting right next to each other!  I screamed but nothing came out because I had a lump in my throat and began to sob.  I just kept saying "Thank you Lord!" over and over!

How did it get in my suitcase?  I have absolutely no idea.  It may have fallen into a dresser drawer and then when I scooped the clothes out of the drawer, it may have fallen into the suitcase.  However it got there, I don't know, but I know I am absolutely delighted to have my ring back!  I'm just shocked that the band and the diamond were right next to each other after all the shuffling around and carrying of the suitcase, etc.  Wow!

Funny thing is, literally moments prior to unpacking that specific suitcase, I had some quiet time and was reading my Bible.  I've struggled a little bit with fear & doubt - did we give up too soon in Asheville?  Are we in God's will by moving back?  Did we fail?  I sat on the middle of the floor and prayed and thanked God for bringing us back home to Tega Cay.  I said "Lord, forgive me for my doubt, but please help me to know if this move is your will for our lives.  I don't want to walk in disobedience." Finding the ring helped me to understand that God is with me and He loves me, no matter what - whether I've given up, persevered, failed, succeeded, done the right thing or done the wrong thing.  He is faithful. 

I Will Never Leave You

This weekend we packed up our apartment in Asheville and brought load number one back to Tega Cay.  As we packed, moved, loaded and prepared, our dog Buddy just freaked out.  He kept watching us pack things up and walk out the door.  When we'd come back in the apartment, he'd follow us around as if to say "Hey, don't forget about ME!"  It was so pitiful.  He wanted to go out with us each time we left, but we knew it wasn't time yet. 

Finally, once we were ready to take a load to SC, I grabbed the leash and went over to Buddy and said "OK, sweetie, NOW it's time to go!"  He looked like he would explode with glee as I leaned over and put his leash on him.  He's so cute when he gets excited because not only does his tail wag, but his entire body wags!  I wish I could have communicated the plan to him all along. I can see it now..."Buddy, just relax and get some rest because once everything is packed up, we're coming back for you.  We would never leave you here alone!"  But it would have been wasted words, since he wouldn't understand anyway.

As I put the leash on him, I realized that sometimes, I'm just like Buddy with God.  I see His work all around me and want to be a part of it.  I think sometimes that He's forgotten about me or that He overlooked me.  What I fail to understand most often is that He never intends to leave me out at all!  I was always a part of the plan but sometimes I don't understand that He's protecting me and waiting for just the right moment to bring me into the plan.  If only He could communicate to me all along!  But more than likely it would be wasted words, as I probably wouldn't understand anyway.

That's where trust comes in.  Buddy probably knew in his heart of hearts all along that I wouldn't leave him, but the doubt is what made him freak out.  I believe that is my problem, too.  When I stop trusting God's plan and instead look at what's going on around me, I can lost my grip on Him and fall into seasons of doubt.

Can you relate?  Have you felt left out or looked over?  Please know that God has not forgotten you.  He would never dream of forgetting about you!  He promises in His word that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He also says in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan to prosper us, not to harm us, a plan to give us hope and a future as His children! 

So today, if you are freaking out because you think you may have been overlooked, please rest and know that He won't leave you out.  You're His child!  Trust Him.  Nobody loves you more than He does.

Moving Back, Going Forward!

Have you ever gone to a store and seen an amazing looking outfit that caught your eye? Then you take it back to the fitting room, try the amazing outfit on and find the amazement is completely over? The outfit doesn’t fit and it is not your style at all. So, disappointed, you put it back on the rack.

Well, my family and I saw our move to Asheville from a distance back in the early spring so I could join the staff of 106.9 The Light as an amazing opportunity for us. We prayed, packed up, moved, tried to settle in and realized quickly that Asheville did not fit! I absolutely loved my position at the radio station and enjoyed the relationships I formed there, but my husband and I had to make the difficult decision to move back to our home in South Carolina for our family’s sake.

Our children have had a very difficult time adjusting and I’ve realized over the past few months that a mother is only as happy as her saddest child. Without going into much detail, I will just share with you that each of us have been through our own personal battles, and we have had many things happen that have made the adjustment even harder – from floods to illnesses to unexpected schedule changes and expenses.

I will no longer be hosting the mid-day show at 106.9 The Light since a two-hour commute won’t work into my schedule! We are all disappointed that it didn’t work out, but we have learned so much through this and we have no doubt that this is the right thing to do. Our children want to be home with their friends and family in the neighborhood they grew up in. Our son, who is going to be a senior this year, will graduate with the friends he grew up with.

As a mother, I am thrilled to see my children smiling again! As a radio host, I am sad to say goodbye to the listeners I’ve grown to love and the friends I’ve made at 106.9 The Light but I know that one day, Lord willing, I will have the opportunity to share life together with you again. My first ministry right now, though, is my family. I will still be available for speaking engagements and invite you to check out my website at www.leslienease.com if you are interested in having me share with your youth or women’s group.

Ever Feel Like a Lemon Starburst?

I was looking at my candy dish at work today and I felt kinda sorry for my little yellow Starburst candies.  I mean, they were pretty much the only color in my candy dish.  Everyone picks out the strawberry, the cherry and the orange.  But nobody likes the lemon.  Poor little guys. 

Ever feel like a lemon starburst?  Like you've been looked over, picked last and unappreciated?  Yeah, me too.  I suppose sometimes it's God's way of teaching me that His approval is all that matters.  I am reminded of a scripture I read in The Message translation once - it really spoke to my heart...

1 Corinthians 4:8 It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits.

I love that.  Messiah's Misfits.  When I first read that, I thought how cool that would be for the name of a Christian band, but then I started to think about how much that described my life at times.  You are not going to be uber-popular with the world when you follow Jesus!  I think it's hard not only to fit in with the world anymore, but also with other believers.  If you are "too spiritual" people label you a crazy Christian and a lunatic, but if you just try to love others and live the life, you are not considered spiritual enough!  There's no pleasing everyone.  So why bother?!  Wouldn't it be better to please the only One that matters?  It's ok to be a lemon Starburst, a Messiah's Misfit.  Because you are always loved unconditionally by Him!

By the way, I found out that my friend Tammy here at work loves the yellow Starbursts!  Who knew anyone would enjoy eating those?!  So I put all the yellow ones in dish and gave them to her this morning.  Her face lit up and she was so grateful!  As I walked away from her, I felt the Lord whisper to me...one person's trash is another's treasure.  You are My treasure.

Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people but of God.  If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.  Galatians 1:10

Yes U Can Mission Project Underway!

I spoke with Paul Clay, the Executive Director for Total Ministries in Spartanburg, SC today.  This is one of the drop off places for the Yes U Can Mission Project through 106.9 The Light, a project where we are collecting non-perishable food items and hygiene items for local crisis outreach centers throughout the listening area. 

If you want to know more about Total Ministries in Spartanburg, please go to their website:  http://total-ministries.blogspot.com/ and if you are looking for a location nearer to you, please visit our website at www.1069thelight.org.

Interview with Karin

Karin McKemey was my guest on today's show where she shared the story of what she and her family have gone through over the past few months.  Her son, Connor, was seriously injured in a fire in December, where it burned 85% of his body.  He's in the 8th grade and was getting ready to celebrate Christmas when this happened.  The doctors said he probably wouldn't make it.  They then said he'd be in the hospital for at least 12 months.  Well....tomorrow he graduates from 8th grade!  Praise God!  To read more about what God did, visit their Caringbridge website at www.caringbridge.com and type in mckemey.

Thanks Karin for a wonderful interview and for sharing your life with us!!

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

I was reading Isaiah 11:6 and I was so struck by the words "a little child shall lead them".  It made me think about how precious children are - and how much we can learn from them.  I wrote this poem this morning as I thought about a time when I prayed with my daughter - and how it impacted me.  I titled it "A Little Child Shall Lead Them":

Tucking in my daughter, we kneeled together in prayer

This is a special moment that the two of us like to share

She closed her eyes and bowed her head and as she began to start

I noticed she had her hand directly placed over her heart

Her hand is often on her heart while she's praying so sincere

She says "It's 'cause He lives there – and I want to feel Him near"

She talked to Jesus with such faith as she thanked Him & gave praise

My heart was softened as I listened to her with such sweet amaze

She asked if God would make her strong and keep her in his care

She then asked God for something else in her gentle, loving prayer

"Dear Jesus, I want to be like Mommy, she is so special to me

I think she's really wonderful and like her I want to be"

When the prayer was over and I had tucked her into bed

I walked downstairs, still reeling, from the words inside my head

"I want to be like Mommy"-those words were such a blur

If only she understood how much I want to be like her!

Her childlike faith is strong and deep, she never doubts His Word

She's humble and she listens, and her heart is always stirred

She forgives without a problem, and within moments she forgets

She trusts her life is safe, and she rarely even frets!

If things are crazy in her life, you'd never even know

Because she lives in each moment, trusting God to help her grow

If she sees someone in need, she always wants to give

Somehow at such a young age, she knows just how to live

Her child-like faith is inspiring, and it teaches me each day

About loving, forgiving, trusting & learning along the way

So as I went to bed that night, before my prayer was about to start

I kneeled and closed my eyes and put my hand over my heart

I prayed that God would make me strong and keep me in His care

And then I asked for something more in my bedtime prayer:

"Dear Jesus, I want to be like her – she's so special to me

I think she's really wonderful – and like her I want to be".

-Leslie Nease

 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven".

Matthew 18:1-3

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

My daughter, Peyton, read this on the air today during my show:

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

(Written by a former child)

A message every adult should read, because children

are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my

first painting on the refrigerator,

and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a

stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my

favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the

special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a

prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I

learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a

meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I

learned that we all have to help take care of each

other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of

your time and money to help people who had nothing and

I learned that those who have something should give to

those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take

care of our house and everyone in it

and I learned we have to take care of what we are

given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you

handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't

feel good and I learned that I would have to be

responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come

from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt

but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you

cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of

life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and

productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and

wanted to say,

"Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I

wasn't looking."

God's Goodness in Difficult Times

I will speak with Karin McKemey, a friend of mine from Tega Cay, SC, on Tuesday June 2 on the show about a painful and heart wrenching experience that she and her family have gone through when her son, Connor, was burned on over 85% of his body December of last year.  Karin has learned so much about God's faithfulness over the past few months and the kindness of a community that was woven together through this tragedy.  Connor is now home and back at school and it is nothing short of a miracle!  To read more about Karin before you hear from her on Tuesday, please visit their Caring Bridge Site at www.caringbridge.com and they can be found by typing in connormckemey. 

Understanding the Big Picture...

Sometimes we understand a message

when it is simply illustrated

.....and you question God - 'why me?'....
always look at the bigger picture....

Thank God for the stuff that didn’t hit you!

A friend forwarded this to me yesterday and I couldn't shake the message.  It's simple, yet one I often forget.  I pray you will be reminded today of how much He loves you and protects you!

Behind Those Eyes: What's Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women

Lisa Whittle was my guest today - we had a blast!  If you want to know more about Lisa, her ministry or her book, please visit her on her website at www.lisawhittle.com and tell her Leslie sent you!  :)

Spiritual Cellulite

You know, some things we ladies have to deal with - well, they're just not fair!  You know, like cellulite!  I read in Fitness magazine that 95% of all women struggle with the "c" word.  Hmmm...  Not fair. 

There's another kinda cellulite that's been on my mind.  It's something I made up, but it fits the definition of what it is - it's called "spiritual cellulite".  Basically, it means spiritual imperfections.  I actually wrote a poem about it a couple of years ago. In case you missed it, here it is:

Spiritual Cellulite

I opened my Bible, as I do every morning

But the pages were different than before

Instead of the words that I usually read there,

I was faced with mirrors galore!

These mirrors had edges that were sharp as a sword

And my reflection gave me quite a fright!

I thought I was lookin’ really good spiritually

But all I could see was cellulite!

What was this?  It didn’t seem fair!

I was thinking I’d come so far.

But the verses I read that were written in there

Showed I needed to raise up the bar.

One verse said I needed to love my neighbor

And to love the Lord God most of all

However, my life didn’t live up to that standard

And if I didn’t shape up I would fall.

And what about that woman in Proverbs 31?

The one whose family rises and calls her blessed?

Do I make my family say those things about me?

Or do I walk around cranky and stressed?

The things that I read in my Bible that day

Were not fun, but they helped me to see

That Jesus knows that I have imperfections

And He’ll never give up on me!

The Bible is like a mirror held up to my flaws

And these reflections I have come to expect

But my Savior – HE LOVES ME – and nothing could change that

And my life He just wants to perfect.

So the next time I open my Bible to read

And I see spiritual cellulite,

I’ll remember He’s with me and He won’t give up on me

This battle He will help me to fight!

The Importance of Discipline

I knew he lied the moment I woke up and saw the door was still unlocked and the dog's leash was in the exact spot it was in the night before.  I had asked my son, awhile back, to take the dog out and that I was going to bed very early with a headache.  "Yeah, I will", he replied.  A couple of hours later, I find him still awake, watching tv, and I ask "Did you take the dog out?"  He replied "Yeah."  I went back to bed, not thinking anything of it.

But that next morning it was all I could do not to scream when I realized our dog had not been let out and he was probably miserable!  Not only that, I had been lied to!  I knew immediately that something must be done.  In my heart, I knew justice must be served.  I think we all know that down deep - when something goes wrong, we know it must be judged and disciplined accordingly. 

But just because I had to judge and discipline him did not mean I didn't love him anymore.  Not at all!  It actually showed how much I did love him because it showed I cared enough about his character to discipline him.  If I did nothing, he would learn nothing and continue to act selfishly and deceitfully, leading him down some scary and painful roads and alienating him from people who would expect more from him.  My son is not a bad kid (he's actually pretty amazing, if you ask me!), but he's human.  And humans are born with a tendency to sin and unless the boundaries are drawn, we would be in big trouble.  He learned an important lesson that day, and so did I.  All of us have to discipline our kids at some point, otherwise they would be spoiled rotten and completely selfish!  

Do you ever feel like God is picking on you?  Like you can't seem to get it right?  Well, if you are being disciplined for something, please understand it doesn't mean God does not love you.  It means He does!  He only disciplines those He loves.  Here's what Hebrews 12:5-7 has to say:

⁵And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
   "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
      and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
 ⁶because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
      and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

 ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

I don't like being disciplined anymore than I like to discipline but I know that without it, I don't have a chance of following in God's paths.  I pray this will give you comfort and peace today.  And I pray that if you are in the throws of discipline you can rest in the knowledge and that you are, indeed, a child of God!  Otherwise, why would He bother? 

How Good is Good Enough?

I remember vividly how I used to think that if I never killed anyone and kept as many of the Ten Commandments as I could, I'd be good enough to get to heaven.  I would compare my life to other's lives and justify that I was better than them, so I was ok.  I thought God would let me off the hook because I was good "most of the time".

But how good is good enough?  Where does God draw the line?   Romans 3:20 tells us plainly "No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.  The law simply shows us how sinful we are."  God didn't give us the Ten Commandments  so we would obey them.  He knew we couldn't.  He gave them to us so that we would see how sinful we truly are and how desperately we need a Savior!

When asked which commandment was the most important, Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself."  I can honestly say that even if I get all the others right, I fail miserably in this area.  I mean, if I were honest, I would tell you that God is not always first in my life.  I want Him to be, but life gets in the way.  I get stressed.  I worry.  I fear.  I doubt.  And when I do this, I break this commandment.

We cannot be good enough in our own power to impress God.  He is Holy!  And that means that even if the only sin we ever commit in our entire lives is to have one raunchy thought, then we still have too much sin to be in relationship with a Holy God. Holy is perfect.  We are nowhere near that.   But God's deepest desire is to have a relationship with us, so He made a way for that to happen

Romans 3:23-26 clearly lays out God's plan to restore us into a right relationship with Him...

For everyone has sinned.  We all fall short of God's glorious standard.  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous.  He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.  People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood...God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

So this means there is good news and bad news.  The good news is that Jesus Christ is more than willing to be the sacrifice for the sin in my life that keeps me from a relationship with God!  The bad news is that if I insist on trying to work my way into a right relationship with God by trying to obey the law, I will fail.  I must recognize my inability to get it right without Jesus Christ - and this takes humility.  Pride will keep many people from coming to Jesus because we hate admitting when we are wrong or helpless.  This is heart breaking.

When I finally realized that I didn't have to try so hard to be good, but that I had to trust Jesus Christ's righteousness in my life, I realized that little by little and day by day my life is changing as a result of my faith, not my works.  When I trusted Jesus, I stopped trusting in me - and trust me, that was the most freeing feeling I've ever experienced!  I know how undependable I can be.  But I also know that I can completely depend on Jesus Christ, who gave His life for me.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege, where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.  (Romans 5:1-2)

Coming Up for Air

Have you ever been to the beach and gone out a little where the waves crash on you over and over again, barely giving you time to catch your breath before the next wave comes?  It's kind of a scary place to be.  That's what it has felt like lately with some of the things in my life.

Often, I mistakenly believe that if I just follow God's will for my life, things will be easy.  Man, that couldn't be further from the truth!  I'm beginning to think that the more I follow God's will for my life, often it actually means that things will be anything but easy.  Making this move to Asheville is absolutely the right thing to do - my husband and I really prayed, believed and took our time in making this decision to be sure it was truly God.  But things have not been easy.  I heard someone say once "You must be doing something right when you get the devil all uptight!" and I can honestly say that if that's the case, then we are right bam smack in the middle of where God wants us! haha

But even though the past month has been difficult I can honestly say I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has a purpose and a plan behind it all.  Not only for my life, either, but for my family's lives, too.  I'm convinced that whatever He is calling our children to do in their future, they will need these life skills they are learning about transition, lonliness, frustration and fear in order to be able to handle the tasks He will present to them.  Wow, looking at it from that perspective has given me new life!

I'm sitting here listening to James McDonald on the radio this morning and oddly enough, he is talking about the path that God leads us on and how hard it can be!  He just quoted something worth re-quoting..."We often ask God for an easier path when we should be asking Him for stronger shoes to walk the path with!"  So true...

All of this to say, I finally came up for air this weekend - and I'm still breathing.  I believe my surrender last week has allowed God to speak into my life again and what He is telling me through His word and through others is that He is in control.  Nothing is happening to make my life miserable, but to make my life (and the lives of my kids) refined.  I am so grateful for that hope!  I realize that He may have led me here, but He has not left me here alone - He is walking this path with me!

In Luke 8, we read about the fierce storm that the disciples found themselves in - you know, the one where Jesus was actually sleeping in the boat and they had to wake Him up in order to get Him to calm the waves?  Well, I think it's interesting that they had to wake Him up.  His demeanor was calm and confident - so much so, that He was asleep!  But the moment they called, He calmed the waters and the storm was gone.  His first question to them after that is the question I felt Him ask me the other day..."Where is your faith?"

If the waves of life are crashing over your head today, please know that God has not forgotten you. Nothing can touch us without going through Him first - He has a plan and He is in control. He will walk this out with you. Call out to Him and trust Him to calm the waves for you.  I pray you will find new life as you come up for air and breathe the Truth in His Word:

1 Peter 1:6-7  So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

 

 

Playing God

My husband and I were talking last night and I realized that the reason I've been so stressed lately is because I want my children to be happy in this move and transition so once I leave work, I do everything in my mom-power to bring a smile to their faces.  I carry the burden of their frustration and difficulties in this transition and try to cover things up with fun things to do.  I go ahead and clean thier messes, hoping that if they don't have to do anything unpleasant they will have a better night.  Man, I've really messed up.

I have created little monsters!  And in the mean time, I'm exhausted, stressed and completely spent.  I haven't had time for anything for myself and the one time I did go have coffee with a couple of new friends, they called me several times to tell me it was time to come home, I'd been gone long enough!  The madness must stop!

The main reason I'm blogging about this is because I need accountability and I need to confess where I have gone wrong.  I need to stop trying to make my kids' lives more "fun" and "easy" and start allowing God to do what He's got to do in their lives in order to teach them how to make difficult transitions.  I need to stop feeling guilty about moving here, too.  I think because I know this move was for my job, I tend to want to make everyone happy so they aren't all mad at me or something.  But I know, and so does my husband, that God called us here!  We are being obedient to the call of God in our lives, and that means He has a plan and we will just have to trust that, even if it means everyone is "unhappy" for a season.  I mean, did God ever promise we'd be happy all the time?  Nope.

As a matter of fact, I was brought to tears the other day as I read what Paul wrote in Acts chapter 20:

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem.  I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.  But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Paul followed God's call into Jerusalem, knowing what was ahead was jail and suffering, and yet he boldly declared his life was worth nothing unless it was used to finish the work assigned to him by Jesus - the work of sharing the Good News of God!  Wow.  I was so convicted when I read this.

So today I surrender.  God's plan is much better than mine and even though there are tears and frustrations in my family, I know He has a purpose and a plan that far outweigh what I could ever accomplish by trying so hard to make things "all better".  I am tired of being tired.  And I realize that the reason I'm so tired is because I have been trying to play God in their lives.  I'm so totally unqualified for that job!

Instead, from now on, I will trust Him to protect their hearts and I will do my best to stay on my knees, praying for them as I love them through this transition. And when I feel overwhelmed, I will remember that God doesn't expect me to do this...He expects to do it Himself, through me.

 

The Whole Woman Conference

Today, on Real Life with Leslie Nease, we talked with Rachel Lee Carter, one of the speakers at the Whole Woman Conference coming to the Hickory Metro Center next Saturday, May 9 from 8:30-3:00.

To find out more about the conference, click here.

To find out more about Rachel's ministry, click here. 

Bam!

A few months ago when I was at the Houston Airport I was so sad when I saw a little bird who had accidentally flown into the airport and couldn't find his way out.  It was pitiful!  He kept walking back and forth on this little counter, staring out the window.  Occasionally, he'd try to go for it and would run into the window.  Bam! Then he'd go back to pacing on the counter, contemplating his next move.

I watched him for awhile.  Some people were scared of him, others annoyed, some entertained.  I was learning as I watched him that I was none of those things, but I was instead more or less relating to his quandry.  I have felt like that poor little guy at times in my life.

There were many, many days when I felt the frustration of thinking a way looked right, taking that path, and then I'd end up crashing and burning when I realized it was not the right path to take at all, but an illusion.  I did this for years.  It looked right.  It seemed right.  It even seemed to invite me to come.  But inadvertently, the path would end abruptly as I realized I had, again, taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Like when I thought popularity and success would fulfill me.  Bam!

 

Or when I thought alcohol would help me deal with pain and stress in my life.  Bam!

Or when I thought wearing a crown on my head as Mrs. NC 2001 would help me respect myself.  Bam!

 

Or when I thought that pleasing everyone and making everyone happy would fulfill me.  Bam!

 

I have scars all over me from the hits I've taken in life by going the wrong way.  And just like that bird, I'd continue to pace, back and forth, wondering what went wrong. 

Finally, the bird was captured and boxed up by one of the maintenance crew.  They say it happens all the time, they are used to it.  After a scary few minutes in the box, all freaked out and scared, eventually, they are set free outside.

When we first realize that the illusion in front of us is not the path that leads to freedom, it can be scary.  It challenges all we know to be true.  It usually breaks us when we realize that our way is not working out. It reminds me of the powerlessness the bird must have felt as he was whisked away in a strange box to his eventual freedom. 

We have to trust God to take us to freedom for we are powerless without Him.  He is the only Way we can experience true freedom.  His ways are absolutely not anything like our ways.  They don't usually make a lot of sense to us, actually, that's why it takes faith. 

But once we trust God's Way is the only Way, we experience the most breath-taking freedom known to man!  Jesus Christ said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) When we finally trust Jesus Christ to carry us to freedom, the scars we have accumulated from our futile attempts to freedom in the past turn into gentle reminders that we are finally free, indeed.

 

There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 14:12 

A few months ago when I was at the Houston Airport I was so sad when I saw a little bird who had accidentally flown into the airport and couldn't find his way out.  It was pitiful!  He kept walking back and forth on this little counter, staring out the window.  Occasionally, he'd try to go for it and would run into the window.  Bam! Then he'd go back to pacing on the counter, contemplating his next move.

I watched him for awhile.  Some people were scared of him, others annoyed, some entertained.  I was learning as I watched him that I was none of those things, but I was instead more or less relating to his quandry.  I have felt like that poor little guy at times in my life.

There were many, many days when I felt the frustration of thinking a way looked right, taking that path, and then I'd end up crashing and burning when I realized it was not the right path to take at all, but an illusion.  I did this for years.  It looked right.  It seemed right.  It even seemed to invite me to come.  But inadvertently, the path would end abruptly as I realized I had, again, taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Like when I thought popularity and success would fulfill me.  Bam!

 

Or when I thought alcohol would help me deal with pain and stress in my life.  Bam!

Or when I thought wearing a crown on my head as Mrs. NC 2001 would help me respect myself.  Bam!

 

Or when I thought that pleasing everyone and making everyone happy would fulfill me.  Bam!

 

I have scars all over me from the hits I've taken in life by going the wrong way.  And just like that bird, I'd continue to pace, back and forth, wondering what went wrong. 

Finally, the bird was captured and boxed up by one of the maintenance crew.  They say it happens all the time, they are used to it.  After a scary few minutes in the box, all freaked out and scared, eventually, they are set free outside.

When we first realize that the illusion in front of us is not the path that leads to freedom, it can be scary.  It challenges all we know to be true.  It usually breaks us when we realize that our way is not working out. It reminds me of the powerlessness the bird must have felt as he was whisked away in a strange box to his eventual freedom. 

We have to trust God to take us to freedom for we are powerless without Him.  He is the only Way we can experience true freedom.  His ways are absolutely not anything like our ways.  They don't usually make a lot of sense to us, actually, that's why it takes faith. 

But once we trust God's Way is the only Way, we experience the most breath-taking freedom known to man!  Jesus Christ said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) When we finally trust Jesus Christ to carry us to freedom, the scars we have accumulated from our futile attempts to freedom in the past turn into gentle reminders that we are finally free, indeed.

 

There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 14:12 

He Catches our Tears

My little Peyton (my 8 year old) is really struggling with our move to Asheville.  She did great initially but I think the permanance of the move is setting in and it's been very difficult this week.  Each day I wake her up, she starts crying the minute she is awake.  I end up broken hearted as I drop her off at school and have to pull away. 

Each night she cries as she talks about how scared she is that she has to go back to school the next day.  She doesn't think she fits in for some reason.  It's so hard when you are the "new kid"!  This is one of the hardest things about being a mom - not being able to fix everything!  My heart is just torn.

Tonight I spent some extra time with her and read her some scriptures, talked about how we can trust God and I read the verse in Psalm 56:8 that says "You keep track of all of my sorrows.  You have collected all of my tears in a bottle."  She was so taken by that one.  She looked at me all wide eyed and said "Mommy, God really does that?  He keeps my tears in a bottle?"  I said "Well, that's what the Bible says and I believe it."  Then she said something that just broke my heart: 

"Mommy, that bottle must be really full right now."

Oh, my sweet Peyton.  I love you.