God's Work Lately

Do you ever get lost in all of the distractions of the world that you loose focus on God's calling in your life? I am totally guilty over here! I have been praying for wisdom a lot lately because I have felt that fog (remember?) creeping in. Well God decided to use today to be an "eye opener" for me.

My day started as usual...bible, prayer, coffee, scramble to get me & my child ready and out of the door. We always have our morning prayer time on the way to daycare, and recently, now that Micheal is older, I have been asking him what he would like to pray for. Well this morning it was the sky, our house, green grass, and balls (of coarse, typical boy!). We started thanking God for the sky, the sun that brings light, and the beautiful reminders of God's glory. We fallowed by thanking Him for the green grass that feeds animals so we can have good meat and veggies to eat. And we thanked him for our home, and asked for protection to cover our home, and love, contentment and joy to flood the inside. The entire time we were praying for these few request from a toddler I was so quickly reminded of how MUCH I take things for granite every.single.day. I get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that I forget to really "stop and smell the roses". God has given us a beautiful creation to enjoy. We don't need all of the new latest and greatest things in life, all we NEED is God. When we truly seek Him out and rest in His presence we have ALL we could ever need.

But God wasn't done there. My very first patient of the day has been suffering from cancer. You wouldn't dare know it though because her and her husband always come in with a great attitude and a smile. We were getting ready to schedule her next appointment and she wanted first thing in the morning. She said " We will be up already anyways", so i casually asked if they were early birds. They both informed me that they wake up at 4:30 every morning to pray to God together and thank Him for all he does. They said it is the ONLY way to start your day. WOW. I was so amazed and inspired all at the same time. That good attitude and smile that they always have is God's awesome strength shining clearly through them. I love some good encouragement like that.

A little while after they left I was helping the receptionist check a patient out. It was a very sweet lady with a walker. As she smiled I could see joy shining through her eyes...It was almost as if they told a story of struggle that had overcome. I checked her out and told her that I hoped she had a good day. She quickly informed me that she learned a long time ago that every day is a good day. And she is so right! With God every day is a good day, because we can rest in Him and his glory (He's got this!).

God answered my prayer for wisdom in more than one way. I love days like today when I can go to bed feeling God's hand at work in my life. I am so thankful for the perspective change he gave me today and I pray that it continues to mold the way I look at things. I pray that I can slow down my pace in life and fully enjoy every blessing God has given me. I do not want to miss out on the beauty and joy God has given us because I am too wrapped up in the things of this world. I want to find the innocence of life again the way my child sees it. I want to find the glory of God through the trials and storms. I want to REALLY know that no matter what EVERY day is a good day, because Jesus is good. Always has been and always will be.

Will you join me? Lets put down our cell phones and pick up the bible instead. Lets go for a nice walk and grasp the awesomeness of God's creation. Lets slow down, spend more time in prayer, and thank God for all he has done. Lets experience life...TRUE LIFE that can only be found with God!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

God Bless!

-Haleigh

To My Son on your Birthday

Side note: I try to make post more God centered than personal things, but on certain occasions like this I may post something special so one day my son can read this. :)

Well, sweet boy, today is your birthday. Two years ago today God gave me the most special birthday present I could ever ask for. That's right, we share a birthday! TWO...I can't believe its already been two sweet, crazy, messy, and beautiful years since you entered this world. It feels like just yesterday I was picking out nursery decor and hanging up tiny baby clothes. Now you are running rampant and showing your unique personality more every day.

You have a sweet & stubborn heart. Strong willed is a bit of an understatement (wonder where you get that from (;). You love giving kisses (especially eskimo kisses!) and telling us " I luff you". It melts my heart every time! You have a smile that can brighten anyone's day.

Dirt and anything with wheels is your all time favorite. You have a play room full of toys, but you would rather be outside making "pow pows" out of sticks and loading rocks in your "big ole truck". Dirt bikes...you caught a love for dirt bikes from the very first time you saw your "uncle Braddy" ride his. You can always find you with a dirt bike in hand. You ask us all the time to "watch dirt bike TV". Its the only time you actually sit still. You have a heart for animals of all kinds and you are a water baby FOR SURE. 

I would have to say your best buds are your monkey that you sleep with every night, our dog Achillies, and your cousin Rowan (Row-Row). You ask me just about everyday to see Row-Row...yall are about 6 months apart in age, and I can already tell yall are going to be a handful as yall get older!

You hardly ever meet a stranger, which can be good and bad. You have recently learned how to "wink" and it is so stinkin' adorable. Your big blue puppy dog eyes make me give in a lot, and we recently traded in your curly locks for a temporary mohawk...you still look adorable.

Your favorite songs are "Jesus Loves Me", "This little light of Mine", " My God is so Big", and "ABC song". You amaze me everyday with how smart you are. You recently told me that " Jesus is my fwend"...my heart melted. You love to count, say your colors & shapes, and TALK. You can be a little chatter box...It was super cute at first, and then you started giving your opinion lol. Typical toddler.

You can hammer down on some grub. You basically survive off of yogurt...you would eat a gallon a day if I let you. Your totally a meat guy like your daddy. I gave you  meal without meat the other day and you asked me " where did the chicken go". "Sketti" is still your favorite meal and you love your water and milk.

You are such a big helper. You love helping daddy and I do things. You especially love helping daddy...if daddy is doing it Michael is too (Your still a momma's boy though!)

You are mommy's heart and daddy's pride and joy. You have your grandparents and great-grands wrapped around your finger. You love your family and we spend A LOT of time with them. Our family is very important to us.

I love watching you grow into the boy that God has created you to be. I know that God has something totally awesome & special planned for your life because he has already used you for His glory in so many ways. I pray Proverbs 4:20-27 over you daily. My desire for your life is for you to give your heart to God at an early age, and stand firm in the faith. I pray that God surrounds you with Godly influences, and guides you to be a strong man for His glory. I am so thankful for your life and the joy it has brought. It's crazy how a little person can teach a momma so much. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BUDDY, HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!

" Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." -James 1:17

Separating God's Truths from Our Emotions

Emotions. We all have them. I sometimes feel like my emotions are a nasty tornado spiraling up and down, and I am the eye of it all....stuck right in the middle.

You see emotions are a very good thing. They allow us to feel love, joy, peace, and happiness. It's only when we let those emotions of worry, stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness ect. creep in and bog us down that our emotions can become less of a blessing and more of a curse.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your crazy emotions seem overwhelming and your not sure how to deal? Well if your married or a mom I can almost assure that you have. Whats the cure? Separating God's TRUTHS from our crazy emotions.

This is totally something that God has been teaching me over the past few weeks. If you are going through a storm season in life don't let that tornado of emotions take you down...instead attack that tornado with the word of God. We do not have to be trapped by our emotions. Just like we should take every thought captive and make it obedient to God, we also should take every emotion we are having and make it obedient to God. God doesn't want you to worry and stress. 

Do you have anxiety? He wants us to cast it on HIM  (1 Peter 5:7) because He cares for us.

Feeling scared or lonely? Deuteronomy 31:6 Tells us not to fear because God goes with us and NEVER leaves us. Sad? God will deliver you from that sadness (Psalms 34:18-19). He will sustain you (Psalms 55:22). Feeling helpless? He hears your cries (Psalms 34:17).  Maybe your just worn out. God will recover your life and give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Angry? God tells us to get rid of it (Ephesians 4:26-31).

God has given us emotions as a blessing. Do not let the devil creep in and whisper lies to you....that's the seed of those bad emotions. Fight those ugly feelings with the word of God. I encourage you to write these scriptures out and post them somewhere that you look often. When you feel that tornado stirring up stop it with God's truths. Pray for God's peace and ask him to cover your thoughts and emotions with the blood of Jesus Christ!

A sweet co-worker of mine texted me a prayer one morning. Little did she know how much I needed it that day. I was bogged down, stressed, and sad. After praying this prayer I felt God's total peace cover me ad sustain me throughout the rest of the day. Please pray this prayer when your emotions are trying to get the best of you and let God's peace that surpassing all understanding flow through.

Dear God, there is so much on my mind that I don't know what to do or where to even start. I need your help. Give me peace Lord. Help me to have wisdom to separate your truth from my emotions. Show me how to deal with these situations and comfort me. Help me to trust that you have a future planned for me...something even better than before. Heal my heart, and help me not let my emotions get the best of me.Your will be done. In Jesus name, AMEN.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  -Philippians 4:6-7

God Bless,

Haleigh

Grace in a Dark World

All it takes is one look at the beginning of a check out line to realize that we are living in a very lost and dark world. Articles and pictures of people who are changing the way God designed them to be, and other articles bashing and condemning a bad choice once made by a young boy who has been freely forgiven by God. It's sad really, that people in this world would embrace a gender confused person wanting to change God's blueprint, but be so hateful and condemning of someone who has been changed (in heart, soul, and mind) by God, made clean, and set free. The world just cannot wrap their heads around the abundant GRACE of God.

As Christians we are told to be the salt of the earth. No christian, and no person for that matter, is perfect. We.are.all.messed.up.people. We all sin and fall short, but the difference is Christ. We can either accept Christ and his gift of mercy and grace, or we can bury ourselves in the lies and deceit of the devil and this world.

The controversy with the Duggar family has actually brought to light more so that their are so many lost people. As I listen to news stories arguments about this specific topic it really just amazes me that people honestly have no clue of what forgiveness in Christ really is. They don't understand how or why God would be so gracious to forgive and entirely blot out & make new a person who has committed such wrongful acts. Honestly I was once in that same boat. I could not fully grasp the fact that I had been forgiven and MADE NEW. I would condemn and bash myself for the things that I had done in my past. Even though God had already blotted out and forgiven me I was still wallowing in self shame.

How did I come to fully understand God's pure grace? Through a lot of prayer and through reading His word. I can see God now with a smirk shaking his head at me every time I would ask him to forgive me for the same thing He had already forgotten about. Isaiah 43:25 paints the picture perfectly:

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." 

My sweet pastors wife a few weeks ago in sunday school said that it's not our job to condemn and hold people down in their sin ( thanks Debbie! (: ). This stuck in my heart and has been on my mind through the past few weeks. No it is not our job to shame and hold people captive for a sin that God Almighty has already erased. We shouldn't do this to others and we shouldn't do it to ourselves. We need to hold on to the grace that has been given and rest in it! Refreshing huh? ( anything with the word rest in it is refreshing..amen mommas?) 

 "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."- Ephesians 4:7

Lets be the salt of the earth Christians. Shine God's glory and grace in your life to all those who you come in contact with. Share your struggles and sins so that they may see the wonderful place God has brought you to. Point someone towards God's grace and give them encouraging verses that may help them understand the power in Christ we have to overcome sin. Be a blessing!!

" Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:20-24

God Bless,

-Haleigh

God's Work Lately

My mom and I got to witness an incredible act of God this week. Let me set this story up for you...

My mom was driving me back from a doctors appointment and we were on what you could say was a rough dangerous side of town. We stopped at a red light where a tall thin man stood with nothing but a sign that read " hard times, even a smile will help". He was clearly in need. My mom and I both looked at each other and said " I wish we had something to give him". We were both cashless, without and food or drink to give, so I told mom " Let's just smile at him". We both beamed at him with a big heart felt smile, feeling terrible because we were sitting in an air condition car and far from being in need of anything. The man kindly smiled back and waved at us.

Just after the smile exchange we see this man walking up with a Wendy's bag and drink in hand. He came right up to the man greeted him with a smile, handed him his food, grabbed his hand and began PRAYING with him! My mom and I both looked at each other with teary eyes, and we were quickly reminded that there are still good people in this world...those people are the ones spreading the love of Jesus.

In a part of town were the last thing I expected to see happen, happened. That man planted a seed of God's love in the heart of a man who was in need. God knew exactly what that man needed that day..the hope only found in Christ...and Christ was delivered to him.

I was instantly convicted after seeing this wonderful act, because all along my mom and I did have something to give this man. We have the love of Christ in our hearts and THAT is the greatest gift we can EVER give someone. We are called to be God's hands and feet, and I am so thankful for the example this man set before us.

When you feel God nudging at your heart, step out of your comfort zone and ACT! I am pretty sure great things do not come from comfort (like child birth for example), but God will be there with you giving you the strength and exact words to say. He knows what that person needs to hear, and he will deliver it just as he did on this day! 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

- 1 Peter 4:10

** The picture above is the ACTUAL men praying together! I had to snap a picture of God's handiwork! :) SO COOL**

God Bless,

Haleigh

Happy Mothers Day

{Photo by: Penni Lauren Photography}

Happy Mothers Day to all you mommy's out there!

Remember God has given us one of the MOST IMPORTANT jobs on this earth. No matter how joyful and messy motherhood may be God is always with us in each and every moment. He has given us these precious children to train up for his kingdom and glory. We have such an awesome and important responsibility and God's word is our " Guide for Motherhood". 

I hope no matter what your "mom label" may be today.. single mom, married mom, stressed mom, struggling mom, ect... that you know you are loved and cherished by God. He sees all that you do for your kids, and you are bringing him glory through it! Seek Him and teach your children to do the same.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” -Deuteronomy 4:9-10

God Bless you Momma!
-Haleigh

Being Called to the Mission Field

What does your mission field look like? I would absolutely love to go to a mission field over seas one day. I think it would be such a great experience and eye opener. Although that is a dream I have, my mission field that God has called me too looks a little different than being overseas. My mission field is right here in my home...my mission field is my family!

I was reading a blog post my one of my favorite bloggers Lori Alexander. I love her heart for teaching younger women and the Godly wisdom she brings to the table. She was talking about unbelieving or disobedient husbands, and how by staying with them we are bringing Jesus into their lives. When we sanctify them and model God for them they become our mission field. That statement spoke boldly to my heart!

Some people may be called by God to travel the world and do missions, but maybe you are like me and God has called you to the mission field right.where.you.are. As a wife God has called you to sanctify your disobedient husband by extending love and grace (even when its tough very hard). As a mother you have been called to teach your children to love and serve God and others. As a friend you have been called to encourage, listen, love and pray.

Everyone who is a believer has a mission field that they have been called to. Not everyone's looks the same, but we have ALL been called for a purpose....and that purpose is to spread that love of Jesus Christ!

This is what my mission field looks like...

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28



Happy Saturday,
Haleigh