Sweet Home Alabama Part Three

Hey there!  Welcome back!!  Moving on to the next property that we looked at, I want to preface this by saying, when we found this place on line, the first line of the description hit our biggest dream of all.  It simply said, "Could this be your bed and breakfast?".  Now, if you don't know us, I'll tell you that owning and running and B & B is our biggest dream to date.  We've stayed in a few and with both of us having a heart for hospitality, to say it caught our eye would be an understatement!

Now I have no idea if we could ever even pull off a dream like that.  But I don't think we ever thought that we'd see a hint of possibility, but here it was!!  Again, I'm not saying that anything is happening.  There are no concrete plans, but there are dreams and wishes and tiny prayers of big things.  It's in God's control as I've mentioned before. 

This property is at the other end of the road that the sweet cottage is on.  It boasts of 12 acres, a silo, horse barn and so much more.

 Hey, a girl can dream, right?!

We entered through the back of this massive home, but trust me when I say it has a grand entrance!!  A nice wide front hall, large staircase, and access to several rooms on the main level.  This home was full of surprises, including the "original" claw foot tub complete with original fixtures!  

We can totally picture making breakfast in the large sunny kitchen for our guests.  Hosting tea time in one of the beautiful sitting rooms, filling the two front balconies with guests as they enjoy their event (hosted by none other than the fabulous Evan G. Cooper).  The 12 acres is dying for some extra TLC.  Bonfires, Hayrides, Horses, Stables, expansion of the B & B with specialty suites, gardens where we'll pick fresh herbs and flowers for our meals and bedrooms.  That little red run down "shack" is the perfect little residence for the innkeepers.  We walked hand in hand around the entire property sharing dreams and ideas with one another and with our sweet Lord, whose hands our future rests.

This experience was so amazing on so many levels that it's unreal to me that we even experienced it.  God is so good and He never ceases to amaze me.  The way that He longs for us to give Him our future, plans, hopes, dreams, fears and hearts.  He's good for it, He won't let you down.  My best laid plans don't hold a candle to what He has planned for me (not even a three wick candle!) 

Like I continue to say, I haven't the faintest clue as to what is going on in our lives.  All that I can say is that we are trying to be diligent in seeking His will and His timing for our lives.  We are careful to look for the next step that He calls us to take, no matter the size of the step.  Knowing that any size step toward His plan is a goooood step, no a great step.  We can't go wrong when we surrender all that we are and all that we have to our Father in Heaven.

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Sounds like a good deal to me!!

Until next time, God bless!

Lorraine

Road Trip Time!!!!!

Okay, so here's the deal!!  We're headed to Alabama!!!!!!!!!



WHEN:  Saturday, November 22nd - Friday, November 29th
(I know, Thanksgiving??  We picked this week because it was less vacation days for my hubs to take!)

WHERE:  Montgomery, AL

WHY:  We've been dreaming BIG and praying HARD for a while now, dream chasing if you will and we feel that Alabama may be a part of that dream!!!  This is a great time for us to come down, explore the area(s), meet some of you and have some fun!!!!!

We'll be having a fun give away or two, so stay tuned for details on that!  If you've ordered from me in the past, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to meet ya!!!!!  Also looking for the best places to visit, things to do, places to see, etc.  So any favorites you have, I'd love for you to share them with me!!!

On another note, we are looking to make things a bit easier for you to find us, figure things out and so on, so Sweets for your Sweet will be merging with my blog and IG, A Place to Gather!!  Facebook, IG and my blog will be one cohesive place.......to gather!!!!  We'll talk life, family, God, Cookies (of course) and plenty of other things!!!!

Would you keep this dream of ours in your prayers?  I don't know how or when it will all play out, but God has been orchestrating this for quite some time now and I'm super excited about this next phase and the opportunity to meet some of you!!!! 

Please feel free to message me here, on facebook or IG to let me know if you'll be around that week and when and if we can meet up!!!!  I'll be bringing some sweets with me and plus don't forget about the give away!!  More details on that to come in the next few days!!!!

God bless,
Lorraine

What's Love got to do with it?

I've been thinking a lot about love lately.  Not the mushy romantic kind though.  I've been thinking about the selfless, sacrificial kind.  The kind that Jesus gives and asks us to give to others. Agape Love.  Sure it sounds easy enough until you come across someone who seems unworthy of such love.  Suddenly we're very willing to walk away and forget love altogether.  I've recently been watching my children interact with one another and I've come to notice how little of that kind of love is present in my home.  Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of love here, just not the selfless, sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrates.  I find that to be a real problem.  Not only because we are a family who carries the name Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, but also because God Himself has asked us (you too) to show that kind of love to the world.  If it's not in our homes, how is it going to be in our world?  Turn on any news channel and you'll see that the exact opposite is happening today, all around our world and our country.  We are all so consumed with our rights and with "justice", with someone "getting what's coming to them".  All of that is the exact opposite of how God asks us to live.

Let's bring it in a little closer shall we, let's get back into our homes and our families, because that is where it has to begin.  We all know families who are hurting and broken. (maybe that's you) Parents and children who are holding onto past wrongs with both hands proclaiming that they get their way or else.  Families who want one thing but do the very thing that drives loved ones away.  Days, months even years of separation and no contact.  You see, if we keep holding on to the worlds ideas on love we will end up empty and alone.  BUT, if we ever could be so bold and so brave to throw that false love out the window and grab on to God's love with both hands, I believe that a radical change would take place inside of our homes, our churches, our communities and even the world!!!

I've had the chance to practice this kind of love with one of my own (note that I said practice - it's hard and I don't always get it right, but I'm trying) and I truly believe that when the time is right and the field has been properly tended to, a new crop will burst forth!  God promises it and I'm holding onto it with both hands.  I can't continue to hold every wrong thing done against me out in front of me like a banner or like its some right I have so that others know I've been wronged.  I don't want to hold things over someone elses head!  There's no reward in that, anywhere!  I have tasted God's grace and forgiveness and I want to give it to others!!  It is way more satisfying.....even when it isn't given in return.

This kind of love requires a complete trust and faith in Jesus.  Without that, this kind of love cannot be attained.  So, you may need to start there! How?  Well, first you admit that you are a sinner, that you need a Savior!  You acknowledge that Jesus Christ came to earth, died a gruesome death for you and for I.  He rose from the grave three days later and now sits at the right hand of His Father; God. His death on the cross represents the payment for our sins, payment that we could never pay!  Now because of the cross we have a chance at eternal life with Jesus Christ!!! At that point, search out other Christians, a church that teaches the TRUTH!  Dive in and get to know Him.  He's worth it!!

 If you've got that or are working toward that - great!  Let's continue!  I want to look at two verses that come to mind when thinking about Jesus' love.  The first is:

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

I've grown up hearing that verse.  I don't know that I knew it was scripture for a long time but it still made sense to me.  I always thought of it in that mushy, romantic love that I mentioned earlier.  But now that I'm older I realize that that's not the kind of love that it's referring to at all!!  The love that I am capable of clearly demonstrates it's lack of sin covering all of the time!  I'm prone to hold accounts of wrongs, to stand my ground and demand my rights, remain unmovable until I get my way.  But this love, this Agape love, Jesus' love.....is an entirely different story!  Let's look at another verse that breaks it down a bit more!

1 Corinthians 13 * Otherwise known as the Love Chapter starting at verse number four:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (bold added)

I think that about covers it!  Patient......willing to wait.  No room for pride.  No dishonoring others, no self-seeking, not easily angered (yikes), it keeps no records of wrongs!  None?  How about a few, the most recent ones?  No?  Okay.  I think we have some work to do friends.

If we want to see a revolution here on earth, in our hearts and in our homes, we must be sooooooo crazy that we are willing to lay everything that we think we know aside and jump on board with this kind of Love!

I want to leave you with a portion of my devotional this morning.  It comes from the book My Utmost for His Highest from Oswald Chambers.  September 2 the last paragraph says this, "He who believes in Me....out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" -and hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed.  Now is the time for us to break "the flask" of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him.  Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?"

Another book that highly recommend on the subject of crazy love is by Francis Chan and its called "Crazy Love".

Who will be so bold, so brave and so crazy with me?  Who is willing to lay themselves down and pour all that God has given them out to those around them?  I do hope and pray that you will join me!  I promise the journey, the struggle, and even the pain will be worth it!!

God bless!  Lorraine

Here we go again.....

It's been so long since I've been here, that I didn't even remember how to get here!!!  That's sad.  I do love to share my world with whomever is reading but I just can't seem to manage it on a consistent basis. 

After recovering from pneumonia in mid October, life came at me at a pretty quick pace.  In November, my mom had pneumonia and it landed her in the hospital, thank God it was only overnight but still.  In December we found out that my Aunt Joan was very sick and one week after hearing the diagnosis, she went home to be with the Lord.  Dev.A.Stated.  I still haven't wrapped my mind around the fact that she is no longer here on earth with us.  There are so many times that I jut want to pick up the phone and call her.  This took place during Christmas, so needless to say, the holidays were a bit of a struggle.

I feel like January went by without a hitch, I celebrated my 42nd birthday -woohoo!  February came and brought with it some type of stomach bug that went through all six of us, one day at a time.  We also brought home a sweet little yellow lab which we named Mahoney (After Molly Mahoney from Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium).  Our older lab's name is Molly <3  Corny, I know.  Our number three child turned 14 on Valentine's Day and because of that sickness we had to reschedule his birthday!!!  Lord willing it will happen this weekend!!

We had a few medical scares with my other two aunts but praise God, nothing came of it and they are fine.  My mom was in the ER last week for an extremely high blood pressure and heart rate -but all tests have come back fine.  This Tuesday I was in the ER.  I had been having some tightness in my chest and some tingling in my arms.  Another praise, my heart is fine, but I'm still left feeling very anxious and somewhat panicky.  If you know me, you know that that is not me.  I am a calm person and trust God with pretty much everything.

However, today, as far as we know is my hubby's last day of work.  His two year contract is up today and thus far nothing has been resolved to keep him there.  Not for lack of trying, mind you.  His boss has been very diligent in trying to get an extention or get him hired full time, but it seems that that this is not an emergency to anyone else in that company.  So, I am attributing these feelings to the fact that we are staring unemployment square in the eye once again.  Except this time there is no severence package to hold us over.

We've been three  years without benefits, no paid days off, no medical insurance and with four children in the house, that has me shaken up.  I continue to give it to God, knowing and trusting that He is in control.  But its hard as the momma to these precious little people to know that our ability to afford proper medical care is pretty much nonexistent.

So I come today, not to complain or dump, but to simply put the needs out there for any of you who read this and will pray.  We serve a mighty God and I've no doubt that He will continue to carry us.  I don't know what the outcome of this physical anxiety will be, but I'm trusting that He will work that out as well.  Along with the emergency room bill that is sure to be astronomical.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the snow that we've gotten this winter, but now it's March and it's time Spring got her groove on and made an appearance!!!!  Praying all has been well with you!!  Until next time -whenever that will be!!

God Bless - Lorraine

The Great Disappearing Act

So I've been sick with pneumonia for the month of September, yes the month!  I feel so much better than I did when this started but now I'm left with exhaustion, weakness and the repeating question "Are you coming?".  Like most people, my September comes in like an explosion, full of activities, celebrations and just a busy daily life.  So you can see, the timing is all off!!!  Not that there really would be a better time to get sick.  Maybe winter, to nestle into the couch with a comfy blanket and a box of tissues doesn't sound as bad as it does in September!!  Birthdays have come and gone, first soccer games (and several after) have come and gone, kick offs have been executed and enjoyed.  A lot of life is lived in September. Memories have been made and people are probably still talking about the Fall Kick-Off Nacho Bowl!  I, however, have missed them all.  Not easy.

However, here are a few of the memories that I have made in the month of September, all was not lost!!! haha!!

I can now say that I have watched television for four weeks straight!!  Never have I ever been able to say that! Ha! Me and Netflix are tight!! Let's see, I've watched four out of five seasons of "My Fair Wedding" with David Tutera, several seasons of "Kitchen Nightmares" with Gordon Ramsey, more movies than I can list or remember, including "Safe Haven" and "October Baby".  Needless to say, I needed tissues!!!

at least I had a window to look out of

I got in a good ab workout in the first few weeks due to the lovely tight chested hacking I did!  I believe I dropped a few lbs as well!!  I wore a comfy rut in my couch from being there for 10 plus hours each day.  I'm so glad it's a comfy couch!!!

I have played a few rounds of Monopoly Millionare (and won once) with my girls and then again with my boys and then with one of my girls and one of my boys!

Jaysen and Julia

 

Jessica and Julia

 

I spent some time outside and even got in a little walk around the yard last week.  A HUGE refresher for me!!

My parents came over in the beginning and brought me a "sick basket"!  What's that you may ask?  Well when my kiddos were smallish, I would make them up a basket of supplies when they were sick on the couch, it would include tissues (if the sickness required them), snacks, a juice cup, books to read, coloring books & crayons, small toys to play and of course it was wrapped with all the love and prayers for a quick healing that I could give.  They loved it. 

my sick basket

There is nothing worse (well, there is but for the sake of the story, go with me, m'kay?) than being alone and sick on the couch while the rest of your family happily lives out their days.  Talking, playing, laughing, etc.  A sick basket makes the sickee feel special when they are confined to such torture!!  So it was a very happy surprise to see my momma bring in that basket o' goodies!!  Magazines, tissues, Vicks Vapor Rub, cough drops, chicken noodle soup, snacks and more!

Let's see, what else..............well, I wrestled a bit, a lot actually.  I wrestled with the fact that I had to miss out on so many great activities.  On the one side of that was the sadness that I wouldn't be a part of those events, on the other side was the guilt of having to back out of responsibilities.  That was tough!!  I take my responsibilties very seriously and I don't like telling people No or that I can't uphold my end of things.  Although I am very aware of the fact that I had a perfectly good reason and no one would even second guess or question my reason, it is foreign to me to back out of something that I commit too.  There were eight events that I had to sit out of (and that was just the first TWO weeks)!!  Plus three out of my five children celebrated birthdays, well, there wasn't much of a celebration.  They pretty much came and went.  That was probably the hardest. It was really, really, really, really hard.

After getting antibiotics and a strong cough syrup, I wrestled with being forced to stop and just be still.  I don't do that well either :/  My friends and family are now laughing out loud (aren't you??)  I don't know how many people lovingly said something to the affect of "Well, I guess God had to slow you down somehow!"  I know they meant well, and I'm not saying that they aren't right, but honestly, I don't want, or rather I didn't want to hear that.  I'm out there doing good, why would He want me to stop??!! It made no sense to me!

would love love love to renovate this some day

I still haven't wrapped my head around that one, but I do know when He says REST, I will rest.  I was asked the question the other day, "Are you just resting or are you resting IN HIM?"  There is a very large difference and I'm sad to say that I've barely just rested and I don't think I've even come close (maybe a tiny bit) to resting in Him.  I believe that He knew it would be a struggle and that resting in Him may not even come until I am well on my way.  There are a lot of layers that He has to dig through in order to get to the raw places of my heart and mind. 

If you are anything like me, you know that there is a lot of work to be done and by golly, I have to do it and do all of it.  We (can I include you in this so that I don't feel like I'm just picking on myself?  I can? Thanks) WE tend to think that we are the only ones in the world that can do our jobs and seriously, if anyone else even dared to try to do our jobs, surely they wouldn't do it as well!!  Right?  So with that reality alone, there was a lot that I had to wrestle with in order to come to terms and admit that that is a stupid thought!!!  Do we truly believe that God can only use US?  Who would admit that?  Not m.....well, yes, I am admitting that. 

We Americans tend to wave our "busyness" high over our heads like a banner.  Like the busier we are, the more holy and righteous we are.  What silliness.  It couldn't be further from the truth.  The busier we are (even if its with holy things) the further away from God we can become.  In fact, we then become our own god, proclaiming "Look at all that I can accomplish!!"  and when people compliment us on that fact, our heads just swell up even more and more space develops in the chasm between us and our Father.  It's sad.  I can picture God sitting there, sighing and shaking His head while He patiently waits for us to have a lightbulb moment.

I'm glad that He will allow things to pop up, at the most inopportune times, to get our attention.  He has mine.  He didn't get it easily, that's for sure.  But He has it now.  Another thing that I've learned is that I tend to do everything because of what I think someone's expectations of me are.  That doesn't leave any room for true downtime or for saying NO.  Whether there is a tangible reason or just the pure need to say "no, I can't", I will typically push through, no matter what I'm feeling or needing, and just do it.  You asked, you need me, I must comply.

At this point in the sickness, I believe the pneumonia is gone.  I still have a cough, it's nothing really compared to the beginning, and I'm really, really tired.  I can hold a conversation easily enough and I'm not lethargic on the couch, so I appear fine.  It is expected that I would have returned to my "duties" by now.  But I haven't.  After receiving much wise counsel from others, I know that I need to take this really slowly.  I can't rush back just because I feel a big difference from when this started.  I don't want to end up back on the couch. 

Bill managed to snag the seat next to me
 on the couch once or twice

To continue telling my husband that I'm missing yet another weekend of soccer games is really, really hard. To see my 9 year olds face fall when I tell her I'm staying home is really, really hard.  The expectation that I will be there is great and rightfully so. Guilt is pounding at my door and I can't let it in.  Ugh, that's hard.....I'm sure you know how hard it is, or maybe you still fling the door wide open when guilt comes a knockin'.  Either way, we are all familiar with the power of guilt and condemnation.

Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"  Hmmmmm that's interesting!  I have been so tempted to just suck it up and push through, it's what I do.  It's what my husband does.  Standing up against that is a challenge.  But if I proclaim to know the truth and believe the truth, then I am required to follow the truth and not the lies.

There are a ton of lies that I believe and yet at the same time I say that I believe the Truth.  I can't have it both ways, I must choose who I will serve.  Boy am I thankful for His Grace!!!  He knows.  HE. KNOWS.  And He loves me anyway.  That is a beautiful truth!  One that I am desperately holding onto.

I don't know when I'll be back to regular life.  I don't know if this downtime will result in my saying NO to things more often, or if I will just be more mindful of times of rest, not merely rest, but rest in HIM.  I am taking each day and moment as it comes.  I know that I am getting better each and every day.  Thank you to those of you who have checked in on me and have faithfully prayed for me and for my family.  I can't imagine what things would be like over here if it weren't for my family.  Jessica, specifically.  She has gone above and beyond that of a 16, oooh sorry, SEVENTEEN year old would do.  She has cooked and cleaned and homeschooled her siblings for me along with carrying her own college workload and other resonsibilities.  My parents, husband and children are truly a blessing to me.  They continue to do what is needed and I know that I can always count on them.

I am going to try to put "me" first a little bit more.  I want time to blog regularly (its a committment that I made and I want to keep it), I want time to read, to spend time with friends and family, I want to Rest in Him, each and every moment of the day.  I want to say NO to guilt and condemnation and I don't want to believe the lies any longer.  I am a daughter of the King and that means that there is no place for the father of lies in my head, my heart or my home.

I would love, love, LOVE to hear from you!!  Please tell me how you've enjoyed the first month of fall!!  I want to hear about how you decorated your homes for the season, the events that you've been a part of, the experience of the sipping the first Pumpkin Spice Cappucino, all of it!  I promise not to get jealous, but I will sing praise and thanksgiving for the gifts that He's given you and me in the month of September!!

Be blessed <3 Lorraine

My sweet escape

After a month and half of being MIA, you get two posts from me in the course of three days!!!  How lucky are you??  lol 

I sat here on Tuesday evening determined to take the night off.  I've been going full steam, non-stop for, well, ever (or so it seems) and I just knew that I had to force myself to take a break.  I figured I'd just sit and do nothing all night, maybe hang out on Facebook, peruse Pinterest and probably stalk Instagram.  Then I realized, that's not truly a break!  It's fun, mind you, but not the break that I was needing.  After pecking out a quick update post I had the impulsive idea to text my sweet friend Shawn, who lives around the corner to see what she was up to.  She has the best farmhouse around and I pass it five out of seven days.  Her wrap-around porch and rocking chairs call my name each and every time I pass by!  It was calling my name from a mile and half away and I jumped to respond!!!

She was out when I texted but would be home soon.  That was my opportunity to doubt my impulsive self and spiral downward into a little pit of self-pity.  But......I saw that one coming and dodged it, explaining to her why I was texting.  She was game and I was ready!!!  This will probably embarrass her, and I don't mean it to, but she is the cutest, darn, country gal I know (she uses gal instead of girl and it just adds to the cuteness).  I pull in to her horse-shoe drive way and there she is in cute blue, denim overalls, Wellies (green rubber boots that are customary foot attire in these parts), her hair pulled back, pushing a wheelbarrow full of, I think dirt and tools!

First thing I said when I got out of the car was "You are so stinkin' cute, I can't stand it!!!", to which she laughed (embarrassedly) and gave me a big hug!  She and her home offer me such a deep, beautiful, peace that I almost can't handle it!  We settled on having a cuppa hot tea and as she went in to prepare that, I wandered around a small part of her property and snapped pictures.  It was such a beautiful evening, the space was quiet and freshly manicured and I could just deeply breathe and exhale.  It was exactly what I needed.

 

There is so much life and creativity in this yard that it's hard to not capture it and freeze it in time!

 

 

I have always joked with Shawn, that one day she was going to come home from work and find me sitting in her back yard!  I don't know why I've waited so long to do that!!  I felt God in every detail, every plant and structure. 

 

I told Shawn that I was taking the night off and didn't want to talk about anything "work" related.  My mind needed to rest and this was place to do it!

 

Instead of the front/side porch we sat at this private little table tucked in the back side yard.  It was more perfect that rocking chairs. 

 

We talked, and talked, and talked.

 

I took a little walk across a little bridge to visit with Justin and Emily (Shawn's sweet little donkeys)

 

They were a little wary at first, then I got down on their level.  Justin stayed back, but Emily couldn't resist a little girl time!!!  We girls just love to get together, don't we.  They are so sweet!!

 

I had to capture her pretty, little mane <3

Looking back from the pasture at the house.  Shawn and her husband Steve, have done such a wonderful job recreating this home and property into such a beautiful get-away.  I can't get enough of it!!



 

I don't know what kind of tea we had, but it was perfect!  We chatted until well after the sun went down, with no thought of time or schedule.  I have to admit, though, we did end up talking a little bit about "work".  We discussed my plans and ideas for the wedding in May that I'm decorating for.  Shawn has some great organic ideas and the resources to help me pull it all together.  After relaxing for so many hours, talking plans didn't seem like work at all, rather it was fun, refreshing and stress free!!!  The way that it should be!

 

We ended the evening praying for each other and just praising and thanking God for His goodness!   Both of our husbands find themselves in work positions that they/we never would have imagined.  Our futures are somewhat uncertain and that can leave a "gal" feeling tired and worn.  Though our circumstances change and are shakey, our God doesn't change and He is the only sure thing that we can stand on, so that's what we did!!

 

I woke up this morning (wednesday) feeling well rested, refreshed, renewed and ready to face my day and all of the "jobs" that God has set me to do!  I am planning on escaping more frequently.  Finding a quiet, peaceful, loving place to sit, explore and soak in God's goodness is the way to go!

 

Tell me, where and/or what is your sweet escape?  I'd love to know how you refresh, renew and recharge!!!

 

God bless <3 Lorraine

 

weary and worn

Sometimes things get just a bit too heavy to hold.  Sometimes in the midst of the hope that you carry, you just become worn out and weary.  Sometimes, you have to acknowledge the baggage so that you can lay it down again.  Sometimes, we need to empty our hands and our hearts so that they can be filled up again, not with the burdens, but with the Hope of Glory.

My hope is not wavering, my heart is just weary.  It's been a tough 2 plus years, the Lord has been beyond faithful and I've not doubt that He will continue to be faithful until the end!  But friends, can I be honest with you?  I'm tired.  I'm tired of running every day, I'm tired of struggling financially. I'm tired of trying to keep my focus on the right things.  I'm tired of seeing people I know and love, and frankly, seeing people that I don't know, suffer. 

(I pulled over to the side of the road, in case you were wondering)

I'm tired of the politics, the pain, the injustices.  I'm tired of the loss, the mourning, the suffering.  I'm tired of saying "no" I can't, we can't, you can't.  I'm tired........I'm ready for the skies to break open or at least my current situation to break open and for change to come. 

At the same time, I am relieved that I do not have to carry the weight of these burdens.  I am relieved that I love and serve a God who is in the midst of these situations and who is actively working in them.  Even if I cannot see it.  He is there.  I am relieved that I have the ability to voice my pains and frustrations and that it will all be alright.  That God does not judge me based on the things that I cannot carry.  I can only carry them so far and then turn them over and  He will pick them up and carry them for me.  For that I am thankful.

Here's a song from Tenth Avenue North....it's kind of where I am today.  If you're feeling worn out, I pray that this lifts you and that the Spirit of God fills you up!!!!  Thank you for letting me get this off my heart.

Have a blessed weekend friends!!  God bless <3 Lorraine

Simple Grace - Week Four

Alright, so instead of a wordy post about my thoughts on extending Grace to others....I'm going to give you the chance to practice it!!!  I don't have a post today on extending Grace, I don't.  It's killing me, trust me when I say, I'm fighting feeling like a failure.  But I have to put this into perspective, while I'm assuming that there are people out there who enjoy reading my posts, I know that your world is not going to end because I didn't come through with a post on Grace today!  At least I hope that's true, please don't tell me if your world falls apart after this!!! lol

So anyway, I decided to advertise locally for the sale of sugar cookies for Valentine's Day!  I have several orders between this week and next, I'm still a newbie at this so I'm scrambling just a bit to fit these cookies in with everything else that I'm doing.  It takes a bit of finesse so bear with me!!!  I'd like to quickly say that I think extending Grace to others is being willing to let go of the expectations that we put on others when we see they aren't going to match up with what's actually happening.  It's a tough one, especially if we don't extend Grace to ourselves in those same moments.

I'm still working on that!  I guess, that since it is a process, it'll be a while, if ever, that I nail that down.  I hope not though, I think we all need to get to the position of extending Grace to ourselves and others, simply because Jesus so easily and readily offers it to us and if we are following His example, we have no reason not to get to that place!!

Valentine's Day is next Thursday, which is also my son; Joe's 13th Birthday!!!!!  I can't even believe that!!!  But anyway, I think February is a great month to really contemplate what Jesus' love looks like, feels like and how it can transform us!!!  Take some time to know Whose you are <3  Send a few Valentine's His way in your prayers this month and let Him tell you and show you how crazy He is for you <3

It'll change your life!!!! 

God Bless <3 Lorraine

Technology is Stupid!

I was trying to think about what to blog today, and instead of me coming up with an idea... it was given to me! But first, a little back story. For my history class I need this book by, preferably, Thursday. However, I found the book super cheap but it wasn't supposed to be in until the 21st. Now, with USPS tracking, it's highly easy to find out exactly where your package is at that exact moment... and I love it! I love to be able to know everything.

I told God that I was going to trust Him with getting my book on time, however, I was faithfully checking the USPS tracking. In fact, I was probably being more faithful to the tracking information than I was to praying about it. So, in my panic stricken mood yesterday I thought through all of the options of how to get my book on time, or find another book to buy on time, etc. I prayed about the best way to go about acquiring my book, and then I said "Lord, I'm just going to have to trust you with this, in fact, in order to show how much I trust you, I'm not going to check the tracking service."

Of course, I immediately went into a frenzy, "Jessica, what are you saying? You have this technology at your fingertips, there is no reason you shouldn't check it." But how often do we say we trust God without actually giving up something or really taking a step of faith, as small as mine might have been? The answer is rarely ever. We say, "Lord, I trust you. In fact, I trust you so much because I just looked at where the package is and it already made it to Philly!" No, we need to trust God.

People now-a-days don't rely on God because technology can fix our problems. We don't trust God because we know all of the details ahead of time. Continuing with the story, I got home today and checked the mailbox... guess what was waiting for me! Mmmmhmmm....

I was banking on the "reliability" of technology, the same technology that told me the book would arrive on the 21st. After that, I relied on God, the God that told me my book would come on time if I just trusted Him. I want to encourage you to trust God and take a step of faith, step away from the "reliability" of technology and step towards the real reliability of Christ.

~Jessica

More to Be Mentoring Monday - Week 4

Hey gatherers!!!  How was your weekend??  I spent mine with about 80 people, the majority of whom were junior and senior high students!!  It was our yearly Winter Retreat and we headed up to the mountains for a time of deeper learning, crazy fun, sleepless nights and an awesome time making new friends and bonding with old ones!!  I am exhausted but it was so worth the time and effort! What a privilege and honor it is to work with the leaders that I work along side of and to hang out and pour into these students who truly want more of God in their lives!  What a beautiful environment for mentoring!!

So as I took a few minutes to look over last weeks homework, I was reminded that mentoring is like a relay race, where you pass the baton from one runner to the next.  We older, "wiser" women (and men) have a glorious responsibility to run our race well and pass on what we've gleaned to the next generation!  I'm thrilled that God has me in this place of youth ministry at this time in my life and I'm doubly glad that I have the opportunity to learn a bit more about biblical mentoring through this study and group with Elisa Pulliam!

It is crucial to make sure that we are explicity following Christ in our lives in order to be the mentors that He has called us to be!  I've always been an encourager and I thrive on moments that I get to do this but this study is beginning to change the way I look at mentoring.  It's giving me a bigger picture and its making me want to do a better job.  Some of what we covered last week has to do with the acrostic "M- E- N- T- O- R- I- N- G".

M- eeting:  This covers prayer, time, place, format, purpose, boundaries and permission; being prayerful about entering a mentoring relationship, praying before and after the times spent with your mentoree.  It's crucial to remember that this mentoring responsibility is not about us but God; when we prayerfully consider the role of a mentor, we must be mindful that it is not in our power that we are able to encourage and influence, but it's God's power through us that allows this to even be possible. 

E- ncouraging:  This tackles the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  It's important to understand how your mentoree recieves love and how you give it!  I personally love to give words of affirmation and also give gifts....this is key in how I will be able to relate to the person(s) that God puts in my life for mentoring purposes.  It also covers the need to encourage biblically.  Looking at Philippians 4:8-9 covers what we should be thinking on and talking about and 1 Cornthians 13 gives us the biblical floor plan of how to love those we mentor.

N- oticing:  Paying attention to more than the words that are spoken, digging deeper, beyond the surface to the heart of the matter and learning to read those God entrusts to us is all essential to being a good biblical mentor.  This can be a challenge in todays fast paced life...most of us don't have time to even notice if our clothes match let alone what someone's body language may be saying.  A challenge?  For sure!  Impossible?  Not a all!  Important?  Absolutely!!  Anniversaries, Birthdays, other important dates, their overall appearance, little things they say and much more can lead us to a spring full of information that once uncovered can lead to a beautiful story of healing and recovery.  Slow Down & Pay Attention!!

T- eaching:  This speaks for itself, although I can't just leave it here alone!!  We looked at Titus 2 3-5 for instruction on the best way to be a teacher!  I love The Message version of this verse....you can find it here!!!  Continue reading beyond verse 5!!  What a great and plain way to put it!!  In this catagory we also looked at what our skills may be and how we can effectively teach these skills to the people that we mentor.  I love how God is able to use every part of us for His glory!!  From the pain and brokenness to the skills and gifts that He's given us, we are a well spring of opportunity if we make ourselves available!!

This week we will cover the rest of the acronym as we dig deeper into what biblical mentoring looks like!!  I'm curious, have you ever been mentored or mentored others?  Let me know!!! 

God Bless <3 Lorraine

Happy Love Month!!

It's February 1st and Valentine's Day is just around the corner!!  It's been a few weeks since thoughts of V Day started swirling around the interenet, don't believe me, just check out your wall on Pinterest!!!  Valentine's Day boards are bursting at the seams with adorable ideas to make the day even more special!!  While I love Valentine's Day just like the rest of you, or maybe a bit more (I have a son that was born on VDay) I want to propose that we look beyond Saint Valentine and even what that day stands for based on history, if you even know (I don't) and let's look back to the cross.

 We love each other because he loved us first.

1 John 4:19

 

We are even capable of loving others because of His gift on the cross.  We have the ability to truly love beyond the Hallmark Cards and boxes of Russell Stover's Chocolate (which are awesome), but there is a love that goes wayyyy beyond that my friends.  I want to challenge you to dig a bit deeper into your ability to love, this month is a great time to dedicate to really loving!!!

 

 

Simply love.  It's going to be my focus this month.  Taking my theme of Simple, I'm applying it to loving others, simply.  Take a look at 1 Corinthians 13 to get a better look at what it means to truly love yourself and others.  Here, I'll include it here, so you don't even have to go looking, cause I love you!!!

 

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 

                       Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

 

It's a pretty tall order, I can't even say that it's always easy to do....to love like that!  But remember He loved us while we were still sinners, so we can't wait for people to clean up and get it right before we can love them like Jesus.  Truly giving others all of ourselves is what He requires....just like He gave all of Himself to and for us.  What I'm saying is, there are plenty of distractions out there that keep us focused on the great I am....nope, not that one, I'm talking about you!  Me!  We seem to be the true object of our affections and in order to be effective for the glory of the Lord, that has to change.  Take some time this month, maybe make 1 Corinthians 13 your devotional for the month.  Sit down with your husband, boyfriend, fiance or even your children, anyone really, and digest this passage and talk about creative ways to let This love shine!!

 

Have a blessed and loving weekend friends!!  I'm off to love on some youth group kids as we head to the mountains for our winter retreat!!!  A full weekend soaking in the word, playing ridiculous games, staying up late being chatty and strenghtening my bonds to these amazing people!!!  God is going to rain down His love on us as we seek Him!!!!  We'll see you back here next week!!!  I'll be here Monday and Wednesday with more talk of biblical mentoring and Grace!  Jess will tickle your ears on Tuesday and Thursday.   I don't know what she's got up her sleeve for next week, but I can assure you it will be good!!!

 

Be blessed <3 Lorraine

 





Thoughts from the Day

After being homeschooled for the last 8ish years of my life, I'm starting to realize how fast a week, or even a day can fly by. Right now I'm waiting for my algebra class to start and I've decided to jot down some thoughts. The old feelings that I used to have when I went to highschool are coming back. I'm starting to think "Hey, I've sat in a classroom for the last 4-5 hours, what have I accomplished?" I know that I'm working towards an associate's degree by the age of 18, but sometimes it's hard to wait. Although, for me, something that isn't so hard, is being satisfied with where I am. Whenever I start to feel stuck or like I'm doing nothing productive, I look to where I'm going and I look to who I'm going through life with. A Chris Tomlin song says this: "and if my God is for me, then who can ever stop me." The song reminds me that waiting and feelings of a mundane life can't stop me from living the life he has for me.

I just want to encourage you all to look towards your future with God. Even if you can't envision anything beyond where you are now, know that what you see as mundane, God sees as overflowing with potential. Be satisfied in Him.

~Jessica

Simple Grace - Week Three

How has your week been?  I hope and pray that you were able to take some of things that I shared here last week and begin to apply them to your life in the way that you treat yourself.  As I talked to a friend yesterday about how hard we tend to be on ourselves, I shared with her that when we treat ourselves poorly,  it devalues the Cross and that it's an extension of unbelief.  Which can be hard to come to terms with.  I don't think that any believer would say that they don't believe.  I think that we take our belief for granted and when the rubber meets the road, we need to evaluate the depth of our belief.

To break that bold statement down a little let's look at the Cross.  When Jesus died on the cross for us, He did so for the purpose of forgiving our sin and inviting us into an eternal life with Him.  In that action, Jesus said "You Matter", He offers us forgiveness, mercy, grace and love.  So, when we don't give ourselves those things, we are really refusing to take the gifts that Jesus died to give us.  AND we're are saying that even though He did those things, they really aren't meant for us, OR that we somehow would rather be our own judge and don't need what He provided in His death!!

I don't know about you, but when I see it put that way, it changes my perspective on how I need to treat myself!  I struggled eight years ago with post partum depression and it really made me look at how I treated myself.  I had set these ridiculous standards on myself for how I lived, what I accomplished and what people would think of me.  It was a devastating way to look at my life.  Through many tears, a lot of pain and God's Grace, I have been able to lower those ridiculous standards without compromising my beliefs, ideals, ideas or desires.

I still have to give myself permission to accept God's grace....when I make a mistake, or I don't accomplish what I "think" I should accomplish.  I've learned and really am still learning to trust God and open myself up to His grace....realizing that that is exactly what is waiting for me.....Grace.  Not some heavy hammer that is going to pound my failures into me, not some disapproving judge waving a ruler above my head to gauge the level that I've accomplished or failed at.  I, with the enemy's help, was the only one who ever did that.  Jesus has only ever offered His grace and mercy.

Last year, my phrase for those troubled times, became "Just Breathe".  In those moments of pausing and taking a breath, I was able to diffuse the situation that seemed to be reeling out of control. By breathing in God's grace, I was able to breathe out the chaos and the lies.  This week, I want to challenge you to do something.  Are you game??  Well I'd like you to take notice of the moments that you don't accept God's grace, and maybe write them down in a journal.  Noticing is the first step to moving forward in a healthy relationship.....with yourself and with God.  If you are really game, the next step would be to trace the lies that attach to the moments.  Why, in that moment, are you not accepting Grace and being so hard on yourself?  After that you would want to seek God's word to find a truth that combats each and every lie that you feed yourself!

This practice will transform the way you treat yourself, the way you look at Jesus and ultimately, it will transform the way you treat others.  Which we should be talking about next week, unless I need more work on giving myself Grace!!!  Which could happen, I pray that it doesn't....but you never know what  a day holds and we always have a choice!!  Here's to choosing Christ in all situations!!

Go forth in His Grace <3 Lorraine

More to Be Mentoring Mondays - Week Three

I don't know about you, but it seems, for me, that as soon as I start something to honor God, the enemy rushes in with all sorts of attacks and plenty of ammunition!!  The last two weeks we've tackled excuses and I honestly didn't think that I held onto any.  Boy was I wrong!!  These excuses aren't just related to mentoring, but they seem to spill over into many different areas of my life!!

That can be a very daunting thought to ponder.  It can be difficult to move past those excuses, after all, they do give off the impression that you're completely stuck and incapable of moving forward in any direction.  Praise God that HE offers us a truth for every lie that hangs over our head!

I think that one of the biggest things I've learned from the beginning of this study is to continue moving forward even if you believe that you can't!!  Just go ahead and take that first step and then another one!  Then tell someone of the struggle and trust that they will cheer you on and provide Grace along the way!

It's alot like learning how to walk!  You try and try again until you gain skill and momentum.  Then eventually you are stringing several steps together and find that you are walking on your own!!  Sure, you are going to fall and stumble and convince yourself that you have no right to even try....and that is why you need someone on your side, so they can help pick you up and dust you off and set you back on your way!!

Funny how a study on biblical mentoring can provide assistance for other problem areas in your life!  I suppose that when you set out to work for God, He's going to do whatever it takes to get you completed for the entire task and not just one small part.He's good like that and I'm so glad that He is!!

I am completely encouraged by this weeks reading assignment!!  I need to keep a watchful eye on how I live my life and conduct myself, using Titus 2:3-5 as a guide:

 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine,but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

It's exciting to look forward to mentoring opportunities so that I can help pass along Gods' love and instruction to the next generation of women!!  If I don't keep my focus on Him, the whole thing can be completely overwhelming.  I must remember Philippians 4:13, which, by the way, is my favorite verse!!  It says:

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

That pretty much eliminates any justification of excuses that we may holding on to!!  Are you ready to let go of the baggage and cling to the truth?  I'll do it with you and we can help each other!!

Join me again on Wednesday for more talk on Grace...I didn't realize that it was as big of a struggle as it is!!  Stop back tomorrow too, for a word from Jess!!

God Bless <3 Lorraine

Simple Grace Part 2

As I think more about Grace, I'm seeing that I need to accept the Grace given to me and then extend that Grace to others!  But why is that soooooo hard????  Well I think that it's hard to accept God's Grace because we hold on so tightly to our failures, sins, excuses, etc.  We refuse God's forgiveness and in doing so we tell ourselves that we don't deserve that forgiveness or Grace.  I picture this like a heavy cloak that represents sin, regret, fear or whatever we claim over ourselves.  That cloak hangs on a hook in our room and every single day we choose to put that cloak of shame on, we cover up all that Jesus died on the cross for with that heavy, dark cloak of lies.  We don't even see His grace or forgiveness.

I, for one, am tired of wearing that ugly thing....it's not attractive, it's heavy and wears me out and let's be honest....it doesn't match anything!!!!!  Seriously though, wouldn't you agree that the weight of the sin that you carry wears you out, that it gets difficult to carry day after day and you get tired of seeing it??  It doesn't match the amazing, life changing work of the Cross!! Let's take a look at the differences between the two:

The Cross say that I am:              The Cloak says that I am:

forgiven                                           unforgiven

redeemed                                         condemned

cherished                                         despised

worthy                                             unworthy

And that's just a few....You get the picture, yes??  If we cannot take off the cloak, we cannot receive His grace!  If we cannot receive His grace, we cannot extend His grace to others!!  So we must allow God to start the transforming work in our hearts, minds and lives, so that we can do what we were made to do!!  Imitate God!!

In Sunday School this week, we looked at 1 Corinthians 13 and really broke down this love chapter.  Everything, every.single.thing, comes down to love!!  If I don't love myself, I cannot accept His grace for me, If I don't love myself, I cannot love others and therefore cannot extend grace outward either! 

Let's quickly look at verses 4-8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not dlight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

 

I am often impatient with myself, I am often unkind.  I have a problem with envy, boasting and pride.  I am rude to myself, in those moments I am self-seeking, angry and count my wrongs.  There are even times when I delight in evil.....I think that looks like the times when I make a mistake or fail something and then that part of me laughs and says "yep, of course you did".  I don't keep myself protected from the enemy as I should, I don't always trust in God, I lose hope and I want to quit.

 

I don't know about you, but all of those are in complete disagreement with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  If we replace the word "love" in those verses with the name of Jesus, or even our own name, it takes on a clearer image!  (for sake of time and space, I combined the two)

 

"Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind.  He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud.  Lorraine is not rude, she is not self-seeking, she is not easily angered, and she keeps no record of wrongs.  Lorraine does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth.  Lorraine always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Jesus never fails."

 

Try it for yourself, that is, if you struggle with this like I do.  It's time that we get down to the nitty gritty of our lives and really work out our salvation!!  We must demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5   There's another version that says "vain imaginations"......are you a story maker??  Ohhh I am, for sure!!!  I love to create an entire scene of what I think will happen......most times, all times, I am completely off base.  I need to take those vain imaginations captive and force obedience to Christ!!

 

We are on a battlefield.....Jesus died to give us His grace and forgiveness....who are we to refuse that?  I leave you with Big Daddy Weave and "I am redeemed"!  Let the words soak in and let's see if we can't start receiving His Grace today friends!!!!  We'll do this again next Wednesday!!  Be sure to come back!!



 

 

God Bless <3 Lorraine