Today I'm going to review the messages we heard at IF: Gathering from Rebekah Lyons and Jo Saxton.
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| [Rebekah Lyons] |
"God has CHOSEN YOU to be right where you are for this season."
I didn't really know it, but I was desperate to hear that line.
I am in new territory with this whole SAHM gig--and at times, even though I am confident I am right where I need to be, I struggle with precisely where I am at in my season.
I had a school counseling career for almost 10 years that I loved and felt successful at. I have a Masters degree (one that I am still paying for, to boot). I have so many things I want to do--things that my soul aches to be a part of like volunteer counseling for youth and fun therapeutic yoga for children and volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission, etc. I'm a dreamer. A mover and shaker and a doer. I get antsy some days because I want all of the above so badly--and I want to do it all right NOW...
I sometimes have little mental melt downs or pity parties (usually on long, tantrum-heavy, messy, cloudy days) that find me in prayer, and prayer, and more prayer, and then an eventual release of peace and calm and quiet before God where I am validated, yet again, that I am indeed, right where I am supposed to be: with my baby on my hip and my toddler tangled up at my feet chasing after my pre-schooler.
It's messy, it's disorganized, it can be gross and never glamorous and is often exhausting. But getting to be home and teach my babies worship songs and Bible stories and flip them pancakes in our pjs in the morning and have picnics in the park and bike/stroller adventures is a dream come true for this once working mama. I may not be doing the work that has validated my "usefulness" for so long, as this motherhood work is a different kind of work--a behind-the-scenes, quiet kind of work that doesn't include meetings and scheduling and academic advising.
It is the kind of work that has brought me to new highs and new lows--but forced me to get up close and personal with my relationship, reliance on and trust in Jesus.
And He is showing me things and growing me in ways 6 months ago I could not have imagined.
HE CHOSE ME to be RIGHT HERE.
Yes, I have other goals and aspirations and desires that go above and beyond diapers and laundry and baths and dishes. But for today, for this time, my life will glorify Him with my love for my husband and children. Tomorrow and next fall and next year and three years from now will take care of itself.
But for today, I am where I should be. And knowing that, BELIEVING that, causes me to live with that much more intention.
I am where our amazing creator God WANTS ME!
May my life bring glory and honor to him, even if for this season it consists mostly of pull-ups and spray-and-wash and toys and books and crumbs. All for Him.
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This whole idea that God {chose} us to be where we are for this time ties in beautifully with Jo Saxton's message which really revolved around the phrase "Our Redeemer LIVES!"
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"Live like your redeemer lives!"
"Your redeemer lives and the life He has for you will set you forward
as you embrace Him."
"Whatever your situation, YOUR REDEEMER LIVES."
What does that look like; to "live like your redeemer lives?"
Well, I'm still working through it all, but I'm fairly sure that it involves not worrying or being anxious about my future; and it certainly doesn't base value on salary and level of education and things like designer jeans and shoes and how clean and put-together my house is (Thank you, Jesus!)
I'm pretty certain it involves a whole lot of moment-by-moment reliance on Jesus and requests for guidance and direction, and it absolutely means living a life of gratitude; of offering praises in the midst of whatever season you find yourself--and allowing yourself to be a channel for His abundant goodness to flow through.
It means living with a heavenly confidence.
It means loving deeply and dangerously.
It means not just passing through my "season," but making a choice to {thrive} in this place.
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It seems like such a simple truth--"My Redeemer lives." But...
WHAT IF we internalized it's meaning and let it wreck us down to our core?
WHAT IF it was our response to our problems and worries and burdens?
WHAT IF our lives sang it's earth shaking, death defying, beautiful song?
Our Redeemer LIVES!
Love,
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