God's plans

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord,

“As the heavens are higher than the earth.

So are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8,9

I know I’ve been a bit sporadic in my blogging lately.

Going into the summer I had grand plans of writing every morning here on the blog, fun activities for the kids, lots of reading, lots of cooking & lots of resting. I had goals personally & with my ministry. As much as I wanted to be successful with my goals my prayer was that my life this summer would line up with God’s plans.

As I’ve spent time in His Word each morning I’ve found His plans for my time were not always what I envisioned.

One thing I have found consistent is spending time with my kids & husband. Where I thought I needed to spend time focused on my blog, God said your ministry this summer is with your family.

And boy has that ministry been fun – days spent by the pool, running around on the beach, snuggled on the couch reading with my daughter, throwing the baseball with my son, planning & praying over a new ministry opportunity with my husband. This summer my family & I have built memories & bonds that were built & planned by God.

Memories and bonds built and planned by God exceed our human expectations.

This coming school year will look totally different for my family as we change schools. And while the changes are exciting they hold a bit of nervousness & anxiety. My prayer is that this summer of family time will prepare us for the changes that are to come.

So if I continue to be a bit sporadic with my postings please bear with me. I promise once school starts up I will be here more often.

Please know that although I may not be posting as often, there is still a lot going on behind the scenes of The Calm of His Presence. God is leading me in some wonderful new directions. I can’t wait to tell you more about it in the coming months.

So my sweet bloggy friends, I pray that God is building memories & bonds for you and your family that exceed your expectations.

In His Calm,

Mary

Guest Post on Come Have a Peace

Have there been times in your marriage when you and your husband just don’t seem to click? When no matter what you do there are misunderstandings, tempers flair, feelings get hurt and walls go up.

Join me today as I guest post on my friend, Julie Sanders' blog Come Have a Peace. 

In His Calm,

Mary

Five Minute Friday ~ Present

-->

Its another week of Five Minute Friday. Today's prompt is Present. Take some time to visit the other wonderful writers at Five Minute Friday.

GO

Birthday Presents

Mother’s Day Presents

Anniversary Presents

There are so many days each year when I receive presents but today I received the best present.

It wasn’t wrapped in pretty paper with a bow on top. It wasn’t wrapped in a designer bag with bright colored tissue paper coming out of the top. It wasn’t a card with money enclosed.

It was wrapped in a warm blanket given to me on a regular day with clothes piled high, dishes in the sink, toys covering the floor & dust on the dresser.

This present… was the gift of living in the moment with my son & daughter snuggled under a warm blanket in the middle of the afternoon, reading out loud - moments we don’t often receive but a precious gift of time to bond & and a moment when my to do list was nowhere on my mind.

STOP

Dear Weary Mom~tired & short tempered

Dear Weary Mom,

I know you are looking to me for help but can I confess something to you?

I blew it yesterday. I lost my temper & my coping skills. I was short fused & unwilling to take a deep breath, instead of going into a heated situation calmly I ended up making it worse.

I behaved just as bad as my 6 year old. She didn’t like my answer to a question so she screamed, moaned & groaned, stomped around & slammed doors.

My response? I yelled & fussed & stomped around & made ultimatums. Yep, I was the one in my late 30s acting like a 6-year-old little girl.

Enter in the point when I start beating myself up for being a horrible mom… I felt awful.

I questioned how in the world I was going to break the cycle of yelling & screaming I grew up with if I behaved that way to my daughter.

I beat myself up for being so kind & loving with the 100+ preschoolers in VBS this week, only to come home & lose my patience with my daughter.

It was then that I realized just like my daughter needed a nap I too, was totally exhausted & needed some time to myself.

I took a deep breath & asked God to help me make it through the rest of my day showing her love & grace. I knew I needed Him to help me use the coping skills I have in order to teach her how best to handle a situation.

And then my husband walked in the door and diffused her mood completely.

I took some time to myself & refocused on showing her love & grace.

And now, the morning after a good nights rest I am ready to start the day fresh by apologizing for my behavior & extending grace & love to her as needed.

So, my weary friend, please know there will be days when you both are tired & short tempered. In those days remember to take a deep breath, ask God for help in extending grace. Allow your husband the opportunity to come in & “save the day”. And be willing to “suck it up” and say you’re sorry to your little girl.

I am linked today with the ladies at Hope for the Weary Mom.

In His Calm,

Mary