Refuge for a Single Mom

Yep!  You heard me right!  Give up!  Quit fighting, fumbling, stressing, wrestling and worrying with all this junk that you carry around and give it up - to God!

Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life.  Luke 21:34

This is something I’m working very diligently with right now.  I have a tendency to be very persistent and stubborn.  So when trials and adversity hit, nothing is any different.  I forget to go to God; I think that I can do it on my own and Viola!  I end up frustrated, stressed and very grouchy!  (Ask my kids!)  What did I accomplish?  Absolutely nothing!

But the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and chokes the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  Mark 4:19

There are several issues that I seem to be dealing with over and over right now.  I’ve mentioned most of them here (a few times) so I won’t beat the horse.  But usually, about once a month or so, I feel like I could literally explode.  I feel like every morning when I wake up I’m already on the edge.  So every time something happens, large or small, I just blow!  There are times when I physically feel like my head will simply shatter and blow right off the top of my head – like a volcano!

I think this is something that is especially characteristic of single moms, although I don’t think that we have the patent on it.  I know a lot of married moms that are seemingly raising their children as single moms.  They’re on their own all week, every other week or sometimes weeks at a time – they too understand this very well.

You are solely responsible for every function in your home, every event, every chore and errand.  You raise your children, discipline your children, attempt to have quality time with your children, maintain your home, and usually, we’re the sole breadwinner.

Now add the unusual junk, like a broken down vehicle, leaky roof, unexpected dental, optical or heath issues, or the all to well known and much dreaded TEMPER TANTRUM and well, that’s it!  There goes the “Mamma’s Peak”!  Come on!  How on Earth are we supposed to do all this?  How are we supposed to manage?  How can anyone expect us to be ‘Suzie Sunshine’ all the time?

Simple!  We go to God!  We give it all up and put all this junk in His hands.  Honestly, it really isn’t that simple, or I wouldn’t be here talking about it.  Indeed, we make it very difficult!  We hang on, laboring over it all wondering why we’re so exhausted, drained and irritable!

Duh!  We just aren’t made to handle it all alone!  God is patiently waiting for us to hand it all over to Him and we need to!  For us!  For our health!  For our kids!  For our family!  For our friends!  And, whether we realize it or not, for God!  He truly and passionately wants for us to admit how much we need Him!

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.  Nahum 1:7

GIVE UP!  LET IT GO!  LET GOD!

Do you understand the words that are comin’ outta my mouth?

GIVE UP!  LET IT GO!  LET GOD!

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  John 14:1

He has the shoulders to bear our burdens Sisters!  He can and He will!  Praise God!

My God in His lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.  Psalm 59:10

For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.  Isaiah 25:40

Labels: Anxiety, Comfort, Control, Discouraged, Strength, Tests, Tolerance, Trials

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.  Deuteronomy 30:14

But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART "-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching.  Romans 10:8

On Wednesday, our pastor, and the men of the church, prepared a fantastic Mother`s Day meal for us ladies.  They prepared a delicious mushroomy, cheesy, puffy appetizer thingy (that`s the `official` name now), crab soup and for the main course we had steak, mashed, garlic potatoes and asparagus wrapped in bacon!  Yum! Yum!  (Our pastor is quite the chef!)  They even served us!

It was a fantastic dinner.  We spent some wonderful time together with our mothers and children and we all ate until we were stuffed.  In fact, I spoke to the pastor`s wife on Thursday morning and we both still felt stuffed!  *smile*

Later that day, I got to thinking about how the Lord feeds us with His Word.  It is the `food` which our soul so desperately needs and hungers for.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.  Job 23:12

You know how you get SO hungry that your stomach feels like it will jump out of your skin and serve itself?  I think our spirit can get that way too!

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.  Psalm 119:50

Sometimes, when we are very busy or the trials of life are a bit overwhelming, we tend to neglect the needs of our spirit.  We think that we can handle the pressure on our own and off we go to `deal` with things.  Neglecting the one true nourishment we always need!

But when the sun sets, he will be clean, and afterward he shall eat of the holy gifts, for it is his food.  Leviticus 22:7

Maybe we just feel like our problems are too `today` for the words in the Bible?  Maybe we don`t think that the authors of the Bible anticipated the problems we`d face `today`?

23 For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

24 For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.  THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”  And this is the word which was preached to you.  I Peter 1:23-25

You have been born again from a seed that is imperishable through the living and enduring Word!  The Word of the Lord endures forever!  The things of the flesh, like grass will wither and pass away.  The pain, suffering, disappointment and sadness of the flesh is temporary!  The Word of God AND His promises, however, they endure!  They last FOREVER!  Through EVERYTHING!

It doesn`t really matter what we are `hungry` for!  Whether it be peace, joy, love, friendship, companionship, our Father God in Heaven is the most readily available and constant source we will ever need!

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Proverbs 30:5

Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:25

That says`tested.  According to another translation it reads “proven to be true”.  It also says that His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Honestly, we need to immerse ourselves in the Word.  It is truly a manual for living a life pleasing to Him and for life everlasting.  

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  II Corinthians 9:10

It is also important to not only guide ourselves and trust in the Lord, but to share that with non-believers.  So many people out there are lost.  So many people think they are on the `right track`!  Maybe WE think we`re on the `right track`?  The only way to truly glorify God is to use His manual!  Feed your soul!  If you are confused, hurt, angry, lost, trust in His way!  It is a sure fire way to help yourself and those around you!

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.  I Timothy 4:6

Labels: Comfort, Discouraged, Encouragement, Learning, Restoration, Salvation, Victory, Way of Thinking

So, we`ve talked about forgiving and being loyal, passing tests and surviving trials. Those are conscious choices we make. Tough ones too!

When adversity rears its ugly head, what do we do? Well, personally, I used to go back to bed! *smile* Seriously! Things were so bad at one time, that after I got my son to school, I crawled my behind right back into bed and stayed there until he got home at 4:00! A strenuous day included watching `Judging Amy` and `Law and Order` back-to-back-to-back!

Conquering adversity is a conscious decision we make to push on! He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. Psalm 10:16

It says NEVER girls! Never be IN adversity! It may come! It may be nasty! But you don`t have to stay there! You can consciously and willfully choose to overcome it!

What conscious decisions are you making? Well, thank God, I now get up at 6:00 am and I`m awake AND working until Midnight! -The same day! I barely watch any TV, unless it`s `Blue`s Clues`, `Backyardigans` or `Spongebob Squarepants`! I now chase after a 3 1/2 year old pre-schooler, run my own home business and run my household!

I decided, chose, willed, and PRAYED A LOT to persevere! I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities Psalm 31:7

Our Savior knows our hearts and souls! He knows our pain and suffering and mostly, He feels it! He wants nothing more than to comfort us and bring us through whatever it is that we face! Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.II Corinthians 1:4

Trust in Him! He is the only one that is there for us ALL the time and EVERY time! If you don`t believe me, say a prayer around 2:00 am! He`s listening! *wink*

Love, Hugs and Prayers to my Sisters! Have a Great Weekend!

Labels: Adversity, Choices, Comfort, Decisions