God's Grace is Sufficient Because I Am Not

You don't have to be in the Christian community long before you hear it. The popular platitude that has likely spilled over someones lips a million times. "God will never give you more than you can handle." Accompanied of course by the verses that speak of God's grace being sufficient and His burden being light. Popular things to say and "remind" people of when they are facing trying times.

Where in the bible, though, does it say that God will never allow us more than we can handle. Yes it says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you..." Previous to this, though, the passage shows Paul pleading with God to remove the thorn that He placed in Paul's side. Let's also not forget Christ begging God to take the burden of the cross from him. Even though he was ultimately willing to do what God sent him to do. Hmmm, maybe because they couldn't "handle" it? To which God replied "My grace is sufficient." Then the verse goes on to say ".....for my power is made perfect in weakness.” If we're always trying to "handle it all" where is there room for God to perfect His power in our weakness?

Then of course there is this popular statement found in Matthew 11:30: "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I don't doubt this of course. When God says that His burden is light I believe Him. But is He going to grab us by the shoulders & rip off our burden to put His on instead? I honestly don't think so. To receive the yoke of Christ requires us to take the conscious action of laying our burden down and trading it in for the light burden of God. After all doesn't the bible also say "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"?

So why is daily life such a struggle? If God "never gives us more than we can handle" why do I so often crack under the pressure? Because God never promised He wouldn't give us more than we could handle. In fact, I believe, God frequently does allow us more than we can handle and He does it so that we have to depend on Him. Then why do I never feel this "sufficient grace"? Because all too often I forget, or even neglect to stop long enough to ask and receive. We have to take that step toward him. We have to take off our burden, lay it down, stretch out our hands, or perhaps up, and receive His light burden and His grace.

So in conclusion....

1) God does allow me more than I can handle

2) He allows it so I have to be dependent on Him

3) His burden is light and His grace is sufficient me....but

4) I have to take the time to ask for it and receive it.

Sleepless in Central Oregon

Sleepless In Central Oregon

January 13th, 2011

On nights like I had last night I often wonder if I would have been better off never having gone to bed at all. Despite my best efforts to fall asleep and stay asleep I was apparently not meant to get any rest. If it wasn’t the baby waking long enough to fuss and go back to sleep, waking me only minutes after falling asleep in the process, it was the strong gusts of wind blowing something around on the deck outside my window or the cat outside brawling with a feline intruder. Certainly it would have been far less frustrating to just have stayed awake.

The real problem with nights like these is the dread of the morning that follows. Not just because I know I’ll be dragging myself out of bed at the baby’s first cry (or maybe second or third), but also because I know I will be struggling through the day with little patience, high irritability and a short temper. To say that I don’t do well with too little sleep would be the understatement of the century!

Today went, purely by the grace of God, pretty smooth as days following a sleepless night go. More often than not, though, at the end of the day I look back and feel like the worst mom in the whole world. My heart feels so heavy for my children, especially my eldest, who, too often, bears far too much of the brunt of my irritability and short temper. I am often ashamed of the way I have reacted to situations and interacted with my children. It is for these reasons that I dread a day following a sleepless night.

Yet, in the midst of the guilt and shame I am reminded of scriptures that have been chiseled into my mind through years of being exposed to God’s word. Passages like “My grace is sufficient for you” and “My power is made perfect in weakness” and most especially “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” In that moment of remembering I know I can put that day aside, leave the guilt and shame behind and look on to the hope of a better day tomorrow.

Though I, most of the time, set the bar impossibly high for myself I know I’m not perfect. I think learning to extend grace to others as well as myself is one of the hardest lessons I am having to learn. If there is one thing I would want to say to other mothers who feel overwhelmed by the day to day, and like they are constantly falling short it’s those things that God has already said: His grace is sufficient for you, His power is made perfect in your weakness and He doesn’t, nor will He ever condemn you just because you had a bad day. Even a day following a sleepless night.

Father, I love you! I love how perfectly you love me! Please let your grace fall on me tonight and the day that follows. Let your power be made perfect in my weakness; and we both know there is a ton of room for your power. Let me not walk in condemnation but in the freedom of your forgiveness!

Gotta love some comic relief! Too bad us stay at home moms don't have the "call in sick" option.

I May Not Be Super Mom but......

Some days I wonder if the joy and pleasure of being a mom will really outweigh the challenges and frustrations in the end. If my daughter will survive unscathed the moments that I lose my temper. If I'll survive the days that seem to just beat me to a pulp.

Then my bright eyed girl says something that makes me laugh like asking if she can "wake the beetle up". Or asking if she can help clear the table after dinner. Or coming up to me to say "Mommy, I want snuggles."

I remember the first time she had a fever from an infection and how my heart bled as I saw how miserable she was. How my heart strings are tied to her well-being. How I would give my life to keep her safe.

What amazing gifts our children are. Representations to us of the purity and innocence of God.

How incredible is it that God has chosen to entrust such precious packages to us fallible humans?How much must He really love us?

Though perhaps not in the midst of the moment, I am grateful for every challenge. The whining, the complaining, the disobedience. The hundredth of time of saying "No," "Don't do that," "Don't touch that," "Get out of there" "I'm on the phone and you need to be quiet." When they lock the cat in the bathroom and refuse to let them out. Because I know that I have a unique opportunity to teach what I know and to share what I believe.

I may be human and imperfect. I may lose my temper and respond in ways that I shouldn't. I may not be Super Mom but I am the only one who can be what I am to her; "Mommy."

In the end, when it's all said and done, I know in my heart that all the hard times will melt away and all that will be left are good memories. I also know in my heart that all those hard times, both past and yet to come, will produce a better and more beautiful version of me.

So to all those human, imperfect non-Supermoms like me. Who maybe struggle in the day to day or have a hard time seeing past the difficult moments. Hang in there and remember that God is in the process of producing a strong and beautiful child of Christ. Not only in your child but in you as well.

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. ---Romans 5:3-5 NLV

^3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!---Romans 5:3-5 The Message

Fondest Memories Part 1

I've been saying for years that I need to sit down and write out the memories that I hold most dear. What better place to do it than here?

Growing up I don't remember a lot of "family time" other than dinners. One thing I do remember though is that my parents always made a point of getting out to go camping at least once every year. Many years we were fortunate enough to go several times. Almost all of our trips were to various locations on the coast. It was often the highlight of my year and I looked forward to it sometimes even more than my own birthday.

I remember the hustle and bustle as my parents got things ready. My dad doing a look over of the trailers and the van that pulled them. My mom packing food and clothes. I also remember how cranky and frazzled they got. A feeling that I'm all too familiar with now. It bummed me out but didn't curb my excitement.

There was always such a sense of anticipation. What campground were we going to end up in? What spot were we going to pick? Would there be any kids to play with or would it just be me and my brother (which for the record I was almost always completely content with)? When could we finally get out of the car?! I don't ever remember being disappointed when we got there. It didn't really matter where we ended up. I was happy to be in a fun place away from the normalities of life with my parents and my baby bro.

Sometimes I miss those days. Simpler, easier days where I all had to worry about was staying out of the way as my parents prepared and doing what I was asked. Where my greatest concern was when could I get out, what did I get to go do, and who was there to do it with. But alas, getting older is not something you can opt out of and eventually you have to grow up too.

I am grateful that God has given us a wonderful gift like memory. Yes, it can cause great hurt in a person's life but what joy it can produce as well! My memories of my childhood are one the greatest treasures in my life. I think this is why there is, and I believe always will be, a special place in my heart reserved for the Oregon coast. For all the places I got to see and the things I experienced there as a child. The salty air, the sound of the crashing waves, even the playful wind. These are things I will always appreciate and be fond of. I am so grateful that my parents did things to create those memories for me. I hope to be able to do the same for my children.

Battle Cry

For years I have had "writer's block." Knowing I have something welling up inside of but something keeping the words from flowing. Like a huge ink clot that produces nothing but an impression on the page.

In the very early hours this morning I experienced a heart-wrenching time of revelation and surrender. I managed to get an hour of sleep before my daughter woke. As I was walking around like a zombie, scrounging for breakfast the words began to flow. This is what came out.

Battle Cry

I put to death my flesh;

That nags and begs to have it's way,

That is unrelenting throughout the day.

I choose to tune my ears instead

To the voice of the Holy Spirit;

Follow it's light and by it be led.

For it is my heart's great desire

That in my lifetime the world will see

So much of God and much less of me.

But the battle rages on and on

Choice by choice, to night from dawn.

And I grow so very fatigued

Longing to seek a moment's respite

From this bone wearying lifelong fight.

Then I hear a voice faint and small

"Come to me" it says to all.

"Wait for Me and seek My face

And you will find My great grace.

There is no battle too big for Me

You see I won them all on Calvary.

So do not strive and do not fret

Though the struggle isn't over yet.

Remember it's not by might nor your own power

By which you will triumph in the final hour.

It's by My Spirit," says the Lord

"That you will attain your great reward.

So when you find life overwhelming

I'll be your refuge, nothing's bigger than me!"

I believe my God, that what He says is true

That everything He promises, He WILL do.

That when I call on Him, He will run.

When I ask in His name it will be done.

He is my strength, my heartbeat.

The lifter of my chin, the mover of my feet.

With God there is nothing I can't do.

So I will fight on, I will push through!

Hear this now my declaration

To my flesh and my enemy's nation.

When I'm on God's side, I cannot be beat

Hear this now, You will never stop me!!

Aren’t you glad God is bigger than Murphy?!

I hate those days where nothing seems to go right. You know the kind. The ones where Murphy is your constant companion. The one where you pour out every ounce of your brain power and still overlook or just plain forget the simplest of things. The one where the stupid printer won’t do what you want until you’ve tried a dozen times and then runs out of ink half-way through the 13th go. The kind of day where you wake up to getting out of bed with your foot it the spot where the dog decided to regurgitate the yard debris he ingested the night before—sometimes I wonder if they are strategically placed. And let’s not forget the day that you wake up to find that your already hyperactive child has eaten 1/2 a cup of jelly beans and is crazier than Taz on steroids. The kind of day that you wish would go by like a flash but seems to drag on for eternity. It’s days like these that I long for the welcoming, hassle free, comfort of my bed.

But I have to say that I’m so glad not every day is one of “these” days. That there are days where things go right, where the sun shines, that I can focus on the smiles and laughter instead of the pool of milk on the table. Father, give me the grace to cope with the hard days and more of the days that don’t require so much coping. Cause I know you are way bigger than Murphy.

Singing A New Song

"He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord."

Psalm 40:3

Most days I like to begin my devotions with a worship or praise song before prayer. Some days, however, an established song just evades me. Thankfully, on some of those days, God sees fit to give me a new song. Here is todays "new song".

I will praise you on the mountain

I will praise you in the valley

I will praise you in the times that I cannot see

I will praise you in the sadness

Praise you in the happy times too

All my life, in every circumstance

I will praise you

When I don't know what will happen

And don't know where I'm going

I will praise you cause I know you're always with me

I will praise you when I'm scared, Lord

And frustrated beyond belief

All my life, in every circumstance

I will praise you