(If you wrote it - please comment below and I'll update the post to include a link to your writing).
What If???
What if you were very much in love with the Lord...
But you had your own idea of what success and happiness looked like?
What if you knew that you should strive to serve the Lord in all area...
But you spent too much time thinking about other things?
What if you had an idea of what your life should look like...
But it wasn't that at all?
What if you looked to yourself to form your priorities...
And all if brought was disorganization?
What if you looked to your own abilities and strength to "find happiness"...
And all you got was suffering and condemnation?
What if you finally sought the Lord for help...
And he told you to do something you did not want to do?
BE REAL...
What if you bottled up all of your "failures"...
And put on a happy face?
What if everyone who met you...
Thought you were "superwoman", the one who had it all together?
What if that made you feel really good about yourself...
So you kept on doing it?
What if as soon as you got home...
Your smile disappeared and you were depressed and overwhelmed by your "messy circumstances" and "misrepresentations"?
What if you sought the Lord again...
And his answer was the same as before???
JUST BE REAL...
What if you portrayed a perfect picture...
And people believed you?
What if someone looked up to you...
And thought she could never compare to what you are???
What if secretly you liked that???
What if you strived for a "perfect home" when people came over...
And never allowed anyone in unless it was just so???
What if you pleaded with the Lord for help...
And this time he was silent?
Because you chose not to be REAL???
What if in your "rebellion" ,
You missed A WORD that the Lord wanted to give you?
What if in doing so,
You had missed the opportunity to bless a weary Momma.
What if in "pretending" to be perfect,
You missed being able to be blessed by someone else?
What if the WHOLE time,
Your little ones were watching Momma.
Each time learning a little more how not to seek the Lord. How not to allow the Lord to show us that "his ways are not our ways" but that they certainly are better than our own feeble attempts to look like we have it all together.
You see, the reason my home is 5-10 minutes away from being "visitor ready" is because that person up there was me! I missed the mark because of my own ideas of what a home should be, a family should look, and success should be. The Lord brought me down to real life and showed me what his standards were for my life! The "high" standards I used to have have been thrown out, and replaced what the Lord has given me.
A desire to be used by Him.
Yes, my home is usually really clean. But that is just because I have sought the Lord for my priorities. And because the Lord taught me to train our children to help. Because He is a God of peace and order, and peace is not found in disorder.
Yes, it may look like we do not have any toys lying around. But that is only because I allowed the Lord to organize our home. I sought the Lord for how much my children should have. I always tell the children that having too much sometimes stops us from being used by the Lord. I tell them that the more time we spend cleaning, the more time we take away from being "usable" and even from having spontaneous fun!
Yes, we still clean our home before we have company, but it is done with much prayer and always reasonably. Part of welcoming people into your home requires preparing it for them. But what are you filling it with? Frustration to get the house "presentable"? or the cheerful and loving medley of a family preparing to welcome guests into Gods home.
Do you think your home is God's home? Or is He a guest in the home He blessed you with?
We did not always live in a larger home. We started out in a VERY small home! It was there that the Lord taught us how to entertain! It was there in our "cozy quarters" that we met the needs of others. It was there that we laughed about not all fitting at the table while we sat on the floor eating.
Gone are the days I value a freshly mopped floor over the chance to strengthen and encourage a weary Momma.
We do a large amount of entertaining! We have an open door policy and it has been a bigger blessing than I had ever imagined!
If you come to my home on any given day...yes...you will see a clean home...
But you may also see...
dishes in the sink...
or laundry to fold...
or clothes to iron...
or a semi-dirty floor...
Do I feel nervous about this...
Yes sometimes. But I see people relax. I see them walk into our home and feel like they can sit on the couch. They feel like they can open up about things. The smile, they are refreshed.
EXAMPLE:
When I had the privilege of meeting Bridget and her family, her husband sat on the couch with the children (amidst a pile of clothing in need of ironing) and he took a little nap. What a blessing to see a friendship the Lord has created when two families that had never met can be that comfortable together!
Do you know what a blessing it is to know that a person can walk into your home and relax???
Oh there will never be words to describe.
Does this come from me and my preparations or from a perfect home???
No, it is the presence of the Lord!
The presence of the Lord amidst the "non-perfect" in our eyes.
JUST BE REAL!!!!!!!
What if you were very much in love with the Lord...
But you had your own idea of what success and happiness looked like?
What if you knew that you should strive to serve the Lord in all area...
But you spent too much time thinking about other things?
What if you had an idea of what your life should look like...
But it wasn't that at all?
What if you looked to yourself to form your priorities...
And all if brought was disorganization?
What if you looked to your own abilities and strength to "find happiness"...
And all you got was suffering and condemnation?
What if you finally sought the Lord for help...
And he told you to do something you did not want to do?
BE REAL...
What if you bottled up all of your "failures"...
And put on a happy face?
What if everyone who met you...
Thought you were "superwoman", the one who had it all together?
What if that made you feel really good about yourself...
So you kept on doing it?
What if as soon as you got home...
Your smile disappeared and you were depressed and overwhelmed by your "messy circumstances" and "misrepresentations"?
What if you sought the Lord again...
And his answer was the same as before???
JUST BE REAL...
What if you portrayed a perfect picture...
And people believed you?
What if someone looked up to you...
And thought she could never compare to what you are???
What if secretly you liked that???
What if you strived for a "perfect home" when people came over...
And never allowed anyone in unless it was just so???
What if you pleaded with the Lord for help...
And this time he was silent?
Because you chose not to be REAL???
What if in your "rebellion" ,
You missed A WORD that the Lord wanted to give you?
What if in doing so,
You had missed the opportunity to bless a weary Momma.
What if in "pretending" to be perfect,
You missed being able to be blessed by someone else?
What if the WHOLE time,
Your little ones were watching Momma.
Each time learning a little more how not to seek the Lord. How not to allow the Lord to show us that "his ways are not our ways" but that they certainly are better than our own feeble attempts to look like we have it all together.
You see, the reason my home is 5-10 minutes away from being "visitor ready" is because that person up there was me! I missed the mark because of my own ideas of what a home should be, a family should look, and success should be. The Lord brought me down to real life and showed me what his standards were for my life! The "high" standards I used to have have been thrown out, and replaced what the Lord has given me.
A desire to be used by Him.
Yes, my home is usually really clean. But that is just because I have sought the Lord for my priorities. And because the Lord taught me to train our children to help. Because He is a God of peace and order, and peace is not found in disorder.
Yes, it may look like we do not have any toys lying around. But that is only because I allowed the Lord to organize our home. I sought the Lord for how much my children should have. I always tell the children that having too much sometimes stops us from being used by the Lord. I tell them that the more time we spend cleaning, the more time we take away from being "usable" and even from having spontaneous fun!
Yes, we still clean our home before we have company, but it is done with much prayer and always reasonably. Part of welcoming people into your home requires preparing it for them. But what are you filling it with? Frustration to get the house "presentable"? or the cheerful and loving medley of a family preparing to welcome guests into Gods home.
Do you think your home is God's home? Or is He a guest in the home He blessed you with?
We did not always live in a larger home. We started out in a VERY small home! It was there that the Lord taught us how to entertain! It was there in our "cozy quarters" that we met the needs of others. It was there that we laughed about not all fitting at the table while we sat on the floor eating.
Gone are the days I value a freshly mopped floor over the chance to strengthen and encourage a weary Momma.
We do a large amount of entertaining! We have an open door policy and it has been a bigger blessing than I had ever imagined!
If you come to my home on any given day...yes...you will see a clean home...
But you may also see...
dishes in the sink...
or laundry to fold...
or clothes to iron...
or a semi-dirty floor...
Do I feel nervous about this...
Yes sometimes. But I see people relax. I see them walk into our home and feel like they can sit on the couch. They feel like they can open up about things. The smile, they are refreshed.
EXAMPLE:
When I had the privilege of meeting Bridget and her family, her husband sat on the couch with the children (amidst a pile of clothing in need of ironing) and he took a little nap. What a blessing to see a friendship the Lord has created when two families that had never met can be that comfortable together!
Do you know what a blessing it is to know that a person can walk into your home and relax???
Oh there will never be words to describe.
Does this come from me and my preparations or from a perfect home???
No, it is the presence of the Lord!
The presence of the Lord amidst the "non-perfect" in our eyes.
JUST BE REAL!!!!!!!
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