Inspired by the Obedience of my Husband

My husband … he is a man who passionately says Yes to God and stays committed no matter what.

Over the years I have prayed for Jeff to be a strong spiritual leader for our family. I’ve shared it here on The Calm of His Presence. Those prayers have been answered many times.

Jeff is not afraid to take a stand when God calls him even if it’s an unpopular stand in the world. He knows God has a plan for His life and He is committed to following God’s Word.

Most recently He took a stand on an issue with our son and the travel baseball team he plays for. In the world (especially the travel ball world) it is a very unpopular choice not to put baseball before everything including church.

One of Jeff’s priorities is to raise our kids in a family who follows hard after God and shares His Love and Grace to the world around us in our everyday lives.

By making the choice we did to put God first over playing on Sunday’s, we have felt a bit looked down on by other parent’s on the team. To be honest I found myself trying to figure out a way to do both. I even tried to talk Jeff into trying to help me make it work.

Thankfully Jeff stood firm and explained his decision to our son in away Garrett could understand the need to put God and our family first.

This past week we saw a glimpse of the fruits of our obedience. Another father on the team took the time to thank my husband for his example of how to set priorities that turn our family to Christ.

Through our witness he has begun to reevaluate his priorities. He has realized he has been putting other things before God and through that he and his family have fallen away from God. He has made a renewed commitment to being the spiritual leader for his family.

Through my husband’s obedience I have learned that in a world where God’s priorities are looked down on there are people who watch our actions. We may not know they are watching but when we take the bold step of being radically obedient to God and say yes to Him we speak volumes about our walk with Him.

Our witness and obedience to God may be just what someone needs to be drawn back to Him.

Thank you Lord for a husband who obediently follows your direction for our family. Thank you that He is not concerned with the opinion of the world but that he is concerned with saying yes to you. Lord, give me the strength to continue to obediently follow you in the call you have placed on my life. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.

I am linked to do with the P31 OBS Say Yes to God study where other women are sharing their journey of saying Yes to God.

In His Calm,

Mary

Things I learned in August

Over the last several months I've quietly read Emily's list of things she learned each month. So, today  I thought I would share a few things I learned in August & might actually throw some things in I learned over the summer :-). Some of these I actually learned over a fun conversation with my husband and kids as we waited way to long for pizza one night.

My husband led us through a series of questions that really made me feel quite dumb for not knowing.

1. What are the 2 best conductors of electricity? silver & copper

2. What are 2 metals that don't corrode of oxidize? gold & platinum

3. What metal when exposed to water will explode but when combined with a poisonous gas tastes good? Sodium    Sodium + Chlorine = Sodium Chloride aka table salt

4. The first commercial printing press was invented by Gutenberg, the first book printed on it was the Gutenberg Bible. I actually knew this but had completely forgotten. I loved that I was reminded of this wonderful fact.

5 I have a daughter who has a couple of molars coming in. As we were discussing that one night I learned that an elephant's molar weighs 10lbs & is the size of a gallon of milk. Now that is a big tooth :-).

6 A sharks skin is made up of many microscopic teeth which is why shark skin used to be used as sandpaper.

So there you have it a few things I learned over the summer. I know it's not my typical post but I thought I might have a little fun today with Emily over at Chatting at the Sky. Why don't you jump over there and take a look at some of the things she learned. You might learn a little bit yourself. I know I did.

Five Minute Friday ~ Worship

I've been absent for a bit here on The Calm of His Presence. Life has been crazy, busy these last few weeks with school starting and all that goes with it. I haven't shared about it yet but I have a surprise that I'm working hard on for you. So would you pray for me and the direction God is leading the Calm of His Presence. 

In the mean time God woke me way to early this Saturday morning asking me to spend some quiet time with Him. During that quiet time I took 5 minutes to join Lisa-Jo and a few hundred other bloggers to simply just write...for 5 minutes on the prompt ~ Worship. I've linked up at (in)courage for this weeks Five Minute Friday post. 

Start...

Oh my God I will worship you when my life is falling apart & my heart is breaking in two.

I will worship you when I see you in the morning sun breaking through the trees.

I will worship you when I stand in the spotlight but my heart & face want to run to the shadows where I can hide from the world.

I will worship you when pride is spilling over as I watch my son succeed.

I will worship you when times get hard and I don’t understand this journey you have called me to.

I will worship you with my hands in the air praising you for all the wonderful blessings you give.

I will worship you as I fall to my knees begging you to take the pain away.

I will worship you as I sing of your amazing love.

Lord, I will worship you in the good, the bad, and all the in between times.

Stop...

In His Calm,

Mary

When Saying Yes to God Causes you to #SayWhat?

When Saying Yes to God Causes you to #SayWhat?

It was loud & clear. I knew God was calling me to follow Him in a plan He had for me. Although I didn’t hear His voice audibly He confirmed through scripture, messages, conversation, & situations He wanted to use me.

So I said Yes to God and was ready to jump in full steam ahead. I was excited and telling everyone I could that He had called me to serve Him.

And then just as sure as I knew He was calling me to serve Him the door slammed shut.

And I said “Say What God? You’ve called me to follow you & serve you and now you are telling me to wait? Are you kidding me? How do I contain the excitement that I have? How do I not serve you?”

To be honest I was rather put out with God. I was frustrated and questioned myself - “Did I really hear God right? Was I wrong? Maybe He really didn’t want to use me.”

Through prayer and studying scripture I realized I did hear God right He did want to use me, only it wasn’t the way I expected to be used at that time.

There is a time for everything,

And a season for every activity under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

He had a specific purpose for me, I just needed to slow down & let Him show me what it was.

I was reminded that God has a plan and He knows what I need in the perfect time to prepare for the next adventure He has for me.

It may not be in the timing that I expect but His Ways are perfect and higher than mine.

So I let go of my frustrations and questions and committed to serve Him quietly right where He wanted me.

The beauty of where He wanted me to quietly serve is that it was coming along side my husband, supporting and praying for him, being his ear & confidant.

Serving God quietly alongside my husband gave us the opportunity to strengthen our marriage & gain an intimacy we would not have otherwise.

So my sisters, when God calls you to serve Him and you try to run full steam ahead and end up having a #SayWhat moment, remember “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”.

God has a plan and He knows the best way to prepare you for that plan. He knows the perfect place for you to serve, you just need to slow down and allow Him, in His Perfect Timing, to put you in that place.

Dear Lord, Thank you that you have a perfect plan for my life. Thank you that your timing is perfect. Help me to slow down and follow your timing so that I may follow your will for my life. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.

I am linked today with the P31 OBS #YesToGod Blog Hop.

In His Calm,

Mary

Saying Yes to God

I sat alone in my room with my Bible & journal open on my lap.

It wasn’t my normal quiet time but I needed to be out of the way for a meeting my husband had at our house so I thought, “Why not spend some time in God’s Word”.

What I didn’t realize was that God had planned on meeting with me to stretch me, mold me & make me into the woman He wanted me to be, I just needed to say #YesToGod.

My quiet time never looks the same; there are times I will find a passage to read, write in my prayer journal, listen to music, read a book or do a topical study.

This time I opened my bible & read Isaiah 64:8

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.”

Those words absolutely jumped off the page!

Yes God is my Father! He wants what is best for me & He wants to mold me into a woman who can be used by Him to bring others closer to Him. But, He can’t do it if I don’t allow Him to shape me into a new vessel.

So that night as I sat on my bed I said “Yes to God”. I committed to follow Him and do whatever He asked of me.

Little did I know that He would test that Yes to God the very next day when I was asked to step WAY out of my comfort zone and lead a Sanctuary full of women in worship with 5 minutes notice.

“Outside our comfort zone… is where we experience the true awesomeness of God.”

Lysa TerKeurst – What Happens When Women Say Yes to God

Now before you start thinking I was still in my #YesToGod high from the night before & jumped at the chance to do it, I need to correct you. I did everything I could NOT to say yes! I gave every excuse I could think of,

·      “Lord, I don’t have any experience leading worship.”

·      “Lord, sure, I sing in the choir BUT I am not a soloist.”

·      “Lord, I am terrified.”

And with each one of those excuses He said “my child let me mold you into the woman who I can use to reach others, trust me.”

So with knees & voice shaking I stood before 200 women as we worshipped our Lord and Savior.

In that moment God gave me the strength I needed to stretch beyond what I thought I could do. I learned to trust Him in what I thought was an impossible task. And I learned that His Ways are Higher than my ways.

Since that night of committing to say #YesToGod He has stretched me beyond anything I could ever imagine.

·      I have watched Him bring hundreds of women together for a time of prayer & worship as we sought revival for our area.

·      I’ve watched him bringing thousands of women together from all walks of life to worship & grow in the Word of God.

·      But most importantly I’ve experienced the profound peace, strength & exhilaration of watching God work within my life one Yes at a time.

So as we travel through the study of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, What Happens When Women Say Yes To God with P31 OBS will you say #YesToGod? Will you allow Him to mold you and make you into the woman He knows you can be? Will you be the clay & allow Him to be your potter?

Will you be the work of God’s Hand?

Oh Lord, you are a mighty, awesome God! I thank you that you want me to be involved with your work. Lord, give me the strength to say yes to you. Mold me into the woman you want me to be so that I can reach others in your name. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.

 

Today I am linked up with P31 OBS for Lysa TerKeurst's What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. Will you join me there & see what happens when other women say "YesToGod?

In His Calm,

Mary

Five Minute Friday ~ Present

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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

Five Minute Friday ~ Rhythm

Five Minute Friday – Rhythm

GO

Quiet & slow with feet stumbling on the cold floor I move as I start the rhythm of my day.

I open a window & listen quietly as I hear the flutter of birds waking in the trees. They move slowly at first & then in the quick rhythmic burst of their wings they are off in flight gathering food for their young.

I have coffee now so I’m moving a bit faster not quite ready to gather the food on the table for my young.

It takes a little while before I’m ready for the rhythm of the day.

And then my son awakes with a start…he stumbles out of the bedroom door & quickly heads to the kitchen ready for breakfast.

My rhythm quickens to come in line with his.

Later, my daughter wakens…her rhythm is slow, quiet & steady as she softly pads out of her room. Gently she lays on the couch not ready to face the fast rhythm in the house for the day.

And these, these are the rhythms that begin our days.

STOP

  I'm joining Lisa-Jo Baker again today for Five Minute Friday. Won't you stop by & visit with her & the other lovely ladies who link up there?

In His Calm,

Mary

Five Minute Friday~Listen

I have grown to love Five Minute Friday! Now that summer is here life is very busy. There are days & sometimes a week goes by where I don't have time to sit & write a post but on Friday I'm "given permission" to take just a few minutes to write what comes to my mind about a given word. Today's word is Listen.

Five Minute Friday – Listen

GO.

Crisp, cool icy blue water surrounds me as I float under the bright warm sunshine.

I rest quietly listening to the laughter, water splashing, giggling, & cheers from “award-winning” belly flops.

Grandparents float around catching up on the week’s events & Moms give their little ones the encouragement they need to take the first step into the water.

These are the sounds of summer.

I don’t need to listen hard to hear them, I just need to stop & enjoy the sound of joy & light-hearted fun.

STOP.

Its Five Minute Friday time again where I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker for 5 minute Friday for a time of writing for "5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking."

In His Calm,

Mary

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

Five Minute Friday ~ Fall

Go.

photo courtesy: pixaby.com

“Be careful” I tell my son, “or you will fall.”

Those words have been uttered more times than I can count this week after he received a pair of Healy’s for making the A Honor Roll for the year.

It wasn’t my first choice but he has wanted them all year & what could a proud mama do? Now the praying for protection begins.

He slipped them on tentatively, took a lunge forward and arms went flailing everywhere searching for a place to grab before he fell.

Many hours he has spent with hands up against our hall wall trying to keep his balance. While in the hall with something to hold onto he has stayed upright.

When out in the open the falls have taken place. Each time he has fallen he has dusted off his hands & knees & picked himself up again.

As I watch him I think, aren’t we like that? Do we surround ourselves with Christ and hold on for support & strength and then when we find ourselves out in the open, we fall to the ground?

The wonderful thing is that when we fall God is there to pick us up again. He’s there to help us dust our hands & knees off and take back off again.

Yes, sometimes it’s tentative small steps but other times its freewheeling & arms out wide feeling his Grace & Love.

Stop.

Its Five Minute Friday time again where I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker for 5 minute friday for a time of writing for "5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking."

In His Calm,

Mary

When a daughter's words cut the heart...

“I am leaving my house and will continue my life as an orphan”, -words written by my 6 year old daughter.

As I tried to make sense of the words written in red ink by a little girl who is just learning to read & write she angrily decoded the words on the page.

I sat stunned by the pain my little girl had just caused. Did I really just hear those words? Did my sweet, loving, kind-hearted baby girl just cut my heart with a knife by her words?

My son stood over my shoulder shocked too, waiting for my response.

But how do I respond? Do I express how much she just hurt me or do I remind myself of the truth that she is just a 6-year-old little girl who doesn’t completely understand the full effect of her words?

She was mad. I get that. But I can’t respond the same way she responded by using hurtful words & letting my emotions get the best of me.

So, I calmly told both kids to get their pajamas on & get in bed.

I couldn’t believe our first official day of summer (filled with swimming, laughter & working together) was going to end like this- all because my daughter was mad because she didn’t get a popsicle when she refused to eat her dinner.

By the time I tucked her into bed my daughter had begun to understand the full effects of her words. I hadn’t said a word, I wasn’t stomping around, I was just quiet – my heart was aching & I was weary. I just needed some time to nurse my broken spirit.

During bedtime prayers she cried & told me how sorry she was, and as she cried I comforted her. Because that’s what mommas do, we comfort our kids & tell them we love them even when they say hurtful things to us. Because we know they are just little beings that we are charged with raising.

It is our responsibility to teach them between right & wrong.

It is our responsibility to teach them the right way to respond when they are hurt.

It is our responsibility to teach them that when they make a mistake they can ask for forgiveness & through our forgiveness of them they may catch a glimpse of God’s forgiveness.

My husband came home just after the kids went to bed and as he kissed them goodnight my daughter shared everything with her daddy. I sat quietly in the den nursing my weary soul, trying to speak words of God’s truth to my heart. Trying desperately to push the words of question & frustration out of my head…

·      What’s the point in trying hard to plan a fun, exciting summer for the kids?

·      Does anybody know or really care what I do around here?

·      Why did I give up my career in nursing to stay home & take care of the kids?

words I know that are not true but words I still struggled with.

And then I overheard my husband talking with my children. He answered each of those questions as he talked with our kids. Did he have a direct line to my thoughts?

With each answer to those questions God used Jeff’s words to speak to my weary heart. God reminded me why I stay home to care for the kids. He reminded me why I clean crumbs off the floor again, pick up a toy I’ve stepped on with my bare feet again, wash & fold the 10^th load of laundry for the day, & move over at 3:00 in the morning when my daughter has a bad dream.

I do all these things because that is what God has called me to do.

·      He has called me to love my children.

·      He has called me to raise them in His Truths.

·      He has called me to stay at home & take care of things while my husband is at work.

God has called me to a task that will take years to see the full effects of my work. There will be days of joy & laughter and there will be days of heartbreak & weariness. But, in all the days I will cling to God and give my actions & my words to Him & trust Him to help me raise them in His Ways.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3

So, are you a weary Mom like me? Today I'm linked with other Moms who are traveling the journey of motherhood. I would love for you to visit Hope for the Weary Mom.

Five Minute Friday - View

This morning I'm trying something new :-). 

I have been watching from the sidelines for a little while this thing called Five Minute Fridays on Lisa-Jo Baker's website. Its a time when writers set their timers for 5 minutes and write freely on a topic chosen by Lisa-Jo. Today the topic is VIEW so here goes nothing...

GO

I sat in my blue camp chair again last night. I was up on a hill overlooking a baseball field, a playground, bleachers & kids running back & forth.

I watched with dread, nerves, excitement & pride as my son came up to bat. “Oh Lord”, I prayed, “please let him hit the ball”!

CRACK!!! And away went the ball, sailing straight for centerfield.

And off went my son running to 1^st base as I stood and cheered & yelled & clapped.

As my son settled down on 1^st base & pride filled my heart I turned to eye my daughter on the playground.

And nothing… I couldn’t see her anywhere. My heart skipped a beat as I walked around trying to get a different view so I could somehow see her.

I searched the bathroom & asked friends if they had seen her. Nothing. No one had seen her.

Just as panic was setting in I took a deep breath & prayed “Lord, please help me find her, I know she’s here. Let me see her.”

As I turned around to get another view I saw her playing with an older friend just on the other side of the hill.

She had no idea I was nervously searching for her. After giving her a big hug and reminding her she must let me know if she is moving to a different spot to play, I walked back to my view on the hill overlooking the baseball field & playground.

This morning as I look back on my view of last night I wonder,

Is this like God’s view?

Does He watch with pride as one of His children emerges from a “slump” only to turn around and find another child has wondered off?

STOP

Now that was fun & freeing! Why don't you take some time today and read what others had to say on "VIEW". 

 

In His Calm,

Mary

When (in)courage gives me courage...

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I’m sitting here in the still quiet of the morning with my mind reeling from the emotional ups & downs of this weekend.

After weeks of pushing the possibility of watching the (in)courage (in)RL weekend out of my mind, because I knew it wasn’t an option after recovering from surgery & I would have tons of things to do, God told me through a worn out body & thirsty spirit late Friday afternoon to register & watch in the comfort of my own home. So I listened & obeyed.

Early Saturday morning I awoke, fixed a cup of coffee & settled in for what I thought was an hour of hearing about a girlfriend’s weekend at the beach.

What I experienced was a day of God’s loving arms wrapping Himself around me in a big warm embrace whispering in my ear, “I love you my daughter, feel my presence, feel my strength, feel my protection, feel my love. I am with you & I will encourage you, I will give you courage.”

Although I was alone watching the webcast I NEVER felt alone. As I listened to the blog posts and the messages shared by so many of the women I caught a glimpse of my reflection in my computer screen, tears streamed down my face as I listened to stories of ladies who have walked the same path & experienced the same hurts & fears I have experienced.

As Teri Lynne Underwood shared her story of staying in community & in the spotlight when all she wanted to do was run I thought, “Finally someone understands the gripping fear & pain I have felt!” There have been days when I felt the glare of the spotlight focused directly on me while inside my heart & mind were screaming, “God take this spotlight off of me! Please let me serve you somewhere else! Please just let me runaway!” But, instead of saying “Ok, you can leave this community and go somewhere else.” He said, “No, my child, I still have work to do & I want to do it through you, just trust me to give you the courage.”

“Sometimes when we stay our testimony isn’t about us at all – it’s entirely about Him.” @TeriLynneU #inRL

“God is our refuge & strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

As Angie Smith shared her story, her quote

“Don’t run from an opportunity where God is trying to grow you into a powerful woman of God.” @AngieSmith19 #inRL

hit me hard.

Oh how my tendency is to run when things get hard. But God has been teaching me and trying to grow me in this area. 

I cower at confrontation. It’s as simple as that. 

When confrontation arises I want to find the darkest corner & curl up into a ball & hide. But I know I can do all things through Christ who gives me Strength.

Instead of running to the dark corner and curling up in a ball I must lean on Him & trust that He will do what He says He will do. And when I do, I can stand tall in His Strength! With each step of obedience to Him I am learning to be more courageous!

I wish I had more time to share with you the many ways (in)RL 2013 ministered to me. Maybe in the next few days I’ll be able to share more but just in case I don’t get a chance I’ll leave you with a few other quotes & lessons that ministered to my soul.

·      Mentors are like anchors; they keep us grounded when things get rough.

·      “The path of least resistance is to retreat…but that’s the worst choice I can make.” @robindance #inRL

·      “How will leaving affect this community? It’s not just about you, it’s about the people who are still there.” @stacy29Lincoln #inRL

·      “People are longing to talk…sometimes we just need to set up ‘benches’ in our lives to give them a place to do it.” @emilypfreeman #inRL

·      “When you remain under the discipline & guidance of God it will lead you to a path that is filled with Joy.” @Sally_Clarkson #inRL

You can read what (in)RL 2013 meant to others by visiting (in)courage, I am linked with them today. And if you’re visiting from (in)courage thank you for stopping by, won’t you please leave a comment & say hello.

In His Calm,

Mary

“Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with His godly people.”

Psalm 111:1

This verse was on the bottom of the page where I wrote my Joy Dare list in my gratitude journal today. What a joy it brings to my heart when I spend time with people who love God.

Whether it is having fun at the zoo, taking dinner to a friend who has lost a loved one, grilling out with friends or counseling a friend on the phone who is going through a difficult time; when I am in the presence of someone else who loves God His Glory, His Love & His Goodness shine forth.

I pray that you too have godly people around you.

Continuing to count the Joy Dare #1120 - #1132:

·      Beautiful day at the zoo

·      Overcoming my fear of heights with my daughter

·      Hike in the woods with friends

·      Popcorn, icees & cotton candy

·      Oreos on the way home from the zoo = happy kids

·      Life is Good! God is Good!

·      Working in the yard as a family

·      Kids playing in the sprinkler

·      Playing baseball as a family

·      Frozen yogurt to cool off on a warm afternoon

·      Grilled bratwurst after baseball practice

·      All 4 of us snuggled up in bed watching a movie

·      Sleeping in

Linked today with Ann at A Holy Experience

In His Calm,

Mary