When We Cry For Help

     You know those days that just don't go as planned? I had that happen this past weekend. I did grocery shopping as usual. I made an extra stop to a clothing store to spend a gift card that I had gotten for Christmas. The day was going normal, until the end of my shopping trip. I was worn out.

     Saturday's for my husband and I are fairly relaxed most of the time. We sleep in, and have a late breakfast. We've been trying to do devotions before we begin our day. My husband stays home to get work done for other people who'd like logo's and such on their website. My husband is great at creating things like that. While my husband stays home to get work done, I go out shopping for the day. It's about 18 minutes to the nearest exit where I get most of the shopping done.
     By the end of the day, I was so relieved to sit down in the car and drive home. I used to love shopping!... I still do, but I just get worn out at the end of the day, and I don't want to stand or walk anymore... just rest.
     When I got home, my husband and I were going to have our weekly "Mac N Cheese Saturday" for dinner. He saw me struggling to put the groceries away because I had been standing/walking too much that day for me. He ordered me to sit down so that he can make dinner. While I wanted so much to sit and rest, I couldn't... there was too much to do! But, I honestly couldn't. I had to rest, and let my husband help.
     Our relationship with God is like that sometimes, isn't it?... God wants to help, but we want to do it all on our own. God says rest, and we say, "God, I got this!"
      Why do you think that is? Because we're sinners? Because we're prideful? Yes to both. It's hard to let God do it sometimes. Most of the time, when we come to God in full surrender and cry out to God for help, it's usually when we're at our lowest of low's. It's usually when we've tried everything else, and we're just tired.
     Have you ever heard someone say, "All that's left to do is pray?" That irritates me every time, because we shouldn't go to God as our last resort. We should go to Him as our first resort. For some reason, as sinners, we tend to go to God only when we've done everything else.
     So, rest in the arms of the Savior. Rest in the God almighty who's Sovereign on His throne, and who's got it all in his hands! :)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (Do we trust the Lord enough? Do we need to let go, and let God do what He has planned?1)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~Matthew 11:28-30

My 17 week first baby bump.
I'm 18 weeks at the moment. :)

The Power Of Prayer

     When we pray, what do we usually pray about? Is it things we want or need? Is it to heal someone over sickness, doubt, loneliness, anger, or bitterness?
     Recently, I was looking over my old prayer journal's; A journal that I started writing in, a couple years ago. of my prayer request, struggles, concerns, and thoughts to God. Looking back on them always amazes me how faithful God really is... even in the dark times.
     I couldn't help but look back on my life, think, ponder, and reflect on how God had used every instance for His glory. At the time, I didn't understand it, but after looking through all my journal entries, I have those "ah ha" moments that God brought back to my mind. Those moments of confusion, and chaos became clear to me, what God was doing.
     Reflecting back, I wondered, was I praying out of love, or pure selfishness? Was it from my heart, or out of hate and anger? Sometimes, it was a mix of emotions, and sometimes out of peacefulness and tranquility.
     God hears every prayer that we say... whether on paper or out loud. Prayer is conversation with God. Prayer can be the internal voice that directs the external action. The weather may be bad, and the economy may be bad, but even then God is still good!
     Have you ever had those moments when you want to cry out to God, "I need help!" but fear and pride get in the way? A pride that says, "I can't do it!" When it should be, "God, I need help, only You can do it!" That silent plea inside us all to surrender, unto Christ.
     "I practiced what I call, "Let go and let God." I took my hands and cupped them in front of me, held them up, and verbally put inside those hands everything I was fretting over and didn't have any answers to. I said out loud as I held up both hands, "There it is, Lord, I give it all to you."... As I dropped my arms to my side, a wonderful feeling of serenity suddenly spread throughout my entire being. I now had peace in the midst of the storm." ~ Dale Galloway
     "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer." ~ Psalm 4:1~
     "Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6-7~
     "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving." ~ Colossians 4:2~

Mother's Need Help! - Guest Post

Today we have a guest post from Ashley. Before I post what she wrote, I would encourage you all to think about it as you read it. I myself, am a mother's helper, and it has been such a joy to see the way it bless's the children as well as the moms and dads. So, without further ado, here is Ashley's post. :)

Mother's Need Help!

You've seen it before. A mom in the grocery store with four toddlers. Most of the time she doesn't get very many groceries. 

Why? Most mom's with small children don't like to go shopping with their little ones. Mom's need help. It's just a plain fact.

Last year I started to be a mother's helper. You know, someone who spends the day with a family and just helps however she can. Doing laundry. Watching the kids. Making lunch. These are some of the things I did. And lots of the time it wasn't easy.

Being a mother's helper also allowed me to develop good relationships with mom's that I wouldn't have if I hadn't first been their mother's helper. Be prepared to have good conversations. I'm not very outgoing around adults but once I got to know these ladies I was a lot more comfortable around them and I was also more open to talking and sharing. This put me in a great position to receive biblical mentoring which is what the Bible talks about in Titus 2:

"That they (the aged women) may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2: 4-5

Being a mother's helper is a great way to watch older women (well, older than us) in the home. It gives us as young ladies a good example to follow.

 I have to say, there are a lot of things you can learn from being a mother's helper. Here's just a few:

1. You get to see how other families run their household.

2. You get to interact with younger kids who aren't your siblings.

3. You get to learn to serve in another household.

4. You learn how to ask questions.

And that's not including how much you will bless the mom you help! So let's look at these close up.

You get to see how other families run their household.

How do they fold their clothes? What cleaning products do they use? When do they normally eat lunch? All of these questions will be answered when you step into their home and start to get your hands dirty.

You get to interact with young kids.

We tend to be a little short with our siblings, you know? But when we're with other kids who aren't our siblings we tend to have a lot more grace. Young children look up to older friends so it would mean the world to them if you just took a minute to spend some time with them.

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them." Matthew 18: 2

You learn to serve.

In my house I may just do something that needs to be done, but in someone else's house I'll be more reluctant. Most mother's aren't going to give you a list at the front door to tell you everything you could do. Some mom's will ask you while others will just expect you to play with the kids, but part of blessing mom's is doing the things they won't have time for in their busy schedule or maybe even giving them time to run an errand by themselves or take a nap.

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10: 39

You Learn to ask Questions

This is a big one. I'm a very shy girl and sometimes I'll hesitate to ask about something. But, again, part of blessing someone else is doing the job right so they don't have to do it over later. So ask questions. Mom's won't get offended by simple questions.

You probably know a young mother with a couple toddlers that could use some help. Offer to spend the day (free of charge) just helping her with whatever she needs. It might not be easy but it's worth it.