Tales of a Thankful Mom

          I find that when I am really worried about something I try to think of every possible scenario that could play out in regards to a particular situation. I spend a lot time wondering about the what if's. I use words like always and never, even though I know deep down that most of the times these words are not helpful. I talk a situation to death where it is all I want to talk about because if I am honest is taking up a good majority of my thoughts. I pray for peace but then I walk the floors with worry. I have been learning that this is not the way that I want to live. I want to leave my worries and concerns at the feet of Jesus. I want chose his peace and wear it like a garment. I want to remember that my God can do the impossible, and that with Him anything is possible. This is where I find shalom.

Luke 22:19 19  And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” One of the ways that I believe that God wants me to find true shalom is by remembering Him. This is the reason that this blog is named tales of a thankful mom, if I do not make a point to be thankful, than I will far too often become discontent. It is in the remembering and counting of the many things that I have to be thankful for that I turn my attention from the blessings and gifts that God has given to the Giver. God is my Creator, my Lord, my Savior, my Strength and my Peace. He is King of Heaven and Lord of my life. May I always take time to remember God for who He is and for all that He has done for me.

The truth that God knows the very number of hairs on my head is such a comfort to me. God knows me better than I know myself, and He loves me anyway. This truth has been so perspective shifting to me. I want to be known and understood, but I don't really have to worry that others know and understand me because I am fully known and understood by God. Galatians 1:10 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God ? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. I want to be a servant of Christ. I can find peace in my relationship with Him. I don't need to be hyper focused on what others think about me. I used to try to guess what people were thinking. It was skill I thought that I needed to maintain peace in my toxic marriage. I have learned that it is not my job to know what others are thinking. Instead I can be curious about what they are thinking and create a safe place for others to s...

       A truth that comforts me on hard days is that God is in control. Many times when my day does not go as planned, I remember that nothing comes as a surprise to God. I am thankful that God holds all things together. I don't have to feel the pressure of holding all things together. God's got this. I can find rest and peace in God even when life takes me by surprise. I am thankful that God is the God of all my days. 

          I need to be selective of what I chose to ponder. My thoughts affect my attitude, my words and my decisions. I need to be careful of what I think about.  This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 10:5 " Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)," Are my thoughts pleasing to Christ? Am I holding my thoughts up to the truth of God's word and determining if they are true, peaceful and admirable/ I am also reminded of this scripture, Phillipians 4:8.   Finally, [ a ] believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, i...

Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.           My strength and peace come from God. He is the only source for true strength and true peace, but I too often forget and try to find strength in peace in other counterfiet ways. I want a quick fix. I want to distract myself. I want to pretend that I feel peace when I don't. I want pretend that I have it all together, or that I have it all figured out when I don't. Then, I wonder why I am not feeling peaceful. It is because I am looking for peace in the wrong places. Peace is found in surrendering to God. Peace is found in reminding myself that I am God's child. This is the only way to find true shalom to find shalom in God's presence.           

          One of the things that I love most about blogging is the opportunity to share my thoughts about the books that I have been given the opportunity to read. My newest favorite book is entitled Daring to Live   by Shari Hunter. Shari takes us on a journey around the world with three of her best friends who call themselves The Dare Divas. This memoir tells us how the camaraderie and sisterhood of the friendship with these women changed her life. I laughed and cried while reading this book. I love that the book invites every reader to live a bold and daring life by doing what God calls us to do. Shari shares with us that a good friend will cause us to remember God's faithfulness even in the midst of the hardest and saddest times in our lives. I love the mantra that she preached to herself, "Girl, you can cry, but you gotta keep moving." I was encouraged that she even discussed the messy side of friendships of how to seek reconciliation when one of your...