Category Archives: Learning….Always

Don’t get Distracted!

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I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am to share this post with you today. Carrie Stremming has been a huge part of my life and my heart since she was a young girl. It is mind boggling to me that she is a mother of teenage boys now! Carrie is also a cancer survivor and maybe in the future we can get her to share some of the great things God did for her as He walked her through that trial. Be blessed today as she shares a true story and…Don’t get Distracted!

It was a typical busy Sunday in December for me.  I hurriedly got ready for church, bright and early, as I learned my older son had gotten sick in the night.  While figuring out how to help him, ironing pants for my other son, curling my hair, taking the dog out and chugging down a stiff cup of coffee, I miraculously made it to church in time to help out in Sunday School.  Shew!

Church was awesome as usual, but in true honesty, I couldn’t tell you a word that was spoken.  Not one.  My mind was on my sick kid, another sick family member, lunch ideas, and how I was going to fit in everything in one day, including a massive pile of laundry to fold.  Confession is good for the soul!

I hurried home after church to check on my family, and then again hopped back in the car to make gingerbread houses with my nieces and nephew.  My sister is married to an airline pilot for Delta Airlines, and needed a little help going to this activity with their four awesome kids.  I was pretty proud of myself jumping from task to task, while maintaining a crazy schedule.

We eventually got the huge Gingerbread houses to their destination, along with mounds of candy and icing to decorate them.  It was a sight to see!  So many people, live music, homemade gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa; hey, even Santa was walking around, it was pretty awesome!

All of a sudden, my niece, in her sweet, little voice, looked up at me and said, “Aunt Carrie don’t get distracted.”  I instantly felt a pinch in my spirit.  What sweet Lucy had said was something I really needed to hear about 7:30 a.m. that morning.  Wake up!  I was so distracted with my surroundings that I was not appreciating what was right in front of me: Lucy!  After laughing and refocusing on her master creation, we went on to have a day that I will remember for many years to come, and I hope she feels the same way.

2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (NIV)

This scripture spoke to me after the craziness of Sunday.  I really try to be all things to all people, but what good am I if my body is there, but my mind is not?  I don’t feel the need to boast about this weakness, but I do acknowledge that I suffer with a distraction disorder especially during the holidays.

This is Lucy McMurray with her masterpiece of a Gingerbread House.  She said a gingerbread man crashed on the roof.  Ha ha!

I am praying through this holiday season that I can be present and mindful wherever I am.  Mindful of God and His presence, mindful of my job and co-workers, mindful of my family and our precious time together, and mindful enough to listen when the spirit says – DON’T GET DISTRACTED!  Thank you Lucy!

Carrie Stremming is a mom of two teenage boys, and married to the man of her dreams.  She has worked as a paralegal for over eighteen years, and also volunteers at a local center for cancer patients.  Carrie says, “As a six year survivor of breast cancer, I try and give back to my church and community all the love that was given to me.  Loving life and thanking God for each day!”

 

 

 

 

 

Many begin to think about fasting in December, preparing for corporate and personal fasts in January! Have you got a  copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional? Head on over to Amazon, it’s available in Kindle form or paperback! 

 

Life, Love and Endometriosis

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Beyond thrilled to share a post from my daughter-in-law, Rachel Elkins! This is a huge out-of-her-comfort-zone task, in total obedience to the voice of God. Be blessed as you read her story and feel free to share your own; this is how we fight our battles!

I’m 37 years old and this is my first time writing. I’ve read many encouraging words written by my mother-in-law over the years; my sister-in-law, Alicia, just joined our family last year and she also writes so beautifully.

As a young girl, I proudly watched my mom, who was a pastor’s wife, stand in front of rooms full of women and speak eloquent words. I’m privileged to witness my husband get up every week and lead thousands of people in worship at our church.

And I’ve quietly observed from the corner. I am the person that is terrified when someone approaches me because I don’t think I will have the right words to say.

So, why speak now?  What do I have to say now that is so important?  Maybe it is nothing. But it is 3:00 a.m. and I can’t sleep because these words are on my heart.

Yesterday, I had my third surgery in 12 years for Endometriosis. This will be my last surgery like this because I’ve been told that I will need a hysterectomy by the age of 40. Endometriosis is a very painful disease and thousands of women suffer with it. Like so many others, there have been countless days when I can barely get out of bed, times I’m in so much pain that I have to cancel plans, or even days I’m in tears as I dig out my baggiest clothes to cover my bloated stomach that seems to be twice its normal size.

For some reason, many women with this disease, or other diseases, deal with it in silence. Why?  For me, I have spent so many years feeling guilty to complain or maybe even felt that it was all in my head.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I can go through sufferings in my life by myself or I can share with others in hope that somehow my words can encourage.

Isn’t that what God has called us to do?

I’ve actually had other sufferings in my life that I haven’t spoken very much about. I have experienced a lot of loss in my “short” life. I lost my dad when I was six years old from an accident at his workplace. I also lost my only brother, very unexpectedly, a few years ago. I realized that I could go through that without saying anything or I could use that hurt to minister to someone in the same situation. You would never understand that kind of loss unless you’ve experienced it yourself.

If you know me at all, you know that I have also struggled for 13 years with infertility.  Unless you were family or a close friend, you didn’t hear me talk about it until about a year before I got pregnant (Yes, I said pregnant!  We have a beautiful, smart, spunky little two year old girl.) I didn’t know at the time why, but I felt very strongly to share my testimony of God’s faithfulness even though He hadn’t given me a baby yet. My husband and I made a video and it was posted on our church’s Facebook page. (Go watch it! Or wait until you are finished with this article, but be sure and see it.) We spoke of the hurt, but also the love, that God had given us for each other through all of it. We were honest in saying that we trusted His plan for us, baby or not. Hard words to say out loud!  Little did I know that it would reach thousands of people and encourage so many women in the same situation.

After I had my daughter, I remember the moment God spoke to me and said that I needed to use my experience to help others. It took me about another year to be obedient, but my friend, who also dealt with infertility, and I have recently started an infertility support group at our church. Being very introverted, I could never imagine being able to do it, but God called and He helps me every time I have to speak!  I’m not saying it’s easy!  I’ve had to look at these women and say the words I hated to hear when I was in their situation; things such as, “God has a perfect plan for your life” and “It’s all in God’s timing”. But I can honestly say that because there are no truer words.

After losing my brother in January 2015, things were bad!  I was grieving hard and I had to watch my mom grieve once again and I was mad. My husband and I were having a hard time. We went and packed up my mom who lived in another state and moved her in with us so she could have some time to heal. A couple months later I took the first pregnancy test I had taken in about 10 years. Complete shock is an understatement when we saw the word positive!

God knew!  He knew the exact moment we would need our little miracle. She has healed our family in so many ways that I’ll never be able to explain.

Another topic that we seem to avoid is struggles in our marriages.  I have an amazing husband of 16 years and we have a pretty wonderful marriage. I love him more now than ever before, but there have been lows for sure!  Did I ever admit them to anyone else? Nope! Why?  Pride, that’s why.  Who wants to admit they are having a rough patch with their spouse?  No one does. But if I don’t admit vulnerability and imperfections, then how can I expect a newly wed couple to look at us and think they are ever going to make it if they think we are always perfect?

Romans 5:3-5 says it so well. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” 

Such beautiful words and such a timely message for today.

I know that there are far worse diseases than endometriosis and there are worse situations than not being able to get pregnant for 13 years. I also understand that most people experience loss at some point, but these are my experiences and I believe now more than ever before that God allows our trials so that we can use that pain to minister and lift up others that are hurting.

Maybe it is difficult for you, as it was for me, to put yourself “out there” and allow the world to see your insecurities and even your flaws. Can I challenge you to let God use those obstacles in your life to make you stronger and then use that strength and wisdom to bless someone else? Nothing is impossible with our God!

Rachel Elkins has been attached to Kyle for over 16 years and they were blessed 2 1/2 years ago with the miracle that is Norah Jayne. Rachel leads an infertility support group at her church, The Experience Community, where Kyle is the full-time Worship Pastor. She is the co-owner and event planner at Southern Graze, where she helps create fabulous spreads for any occasion. You can find her most days in the ‘Boro chasing butterflies, playing house or building castles in the sand with Princess Nor-Nor. 

 

 

 

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Pattern your life after me?

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Pattern your life after me?

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”  Philippians 3:17

Paul is speaking to the church in Philippi and gives quite the dissertation explaining to them his credentials first of all, and that he had the authority to even speak to them. He was a Jew by birth, but had abandoned everything in order to follow Jesus Christ.

In verses ten and eleven he says,‘That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death…”

He didn’t want to just know about Him, he wanted that personal relationship with Him.

And finally, he gets to what he wants to leave them with… “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.”

Paul was telling them to learn from what he had learned. Follow in his footsteps, pattern their lives after his life. Why?

  • Because Paul was following Jesus Christ.
  • He had walked where Jesus walked.
  • He had endured trials and tribulations.
  • Paul had also been
    • beaten
    • threatened
    • starved
    • imprisoned
    • lied about
    • stoned
    • and many, many other atrocities had been committed against him.

And in all of these things he had NOT wavered. He had learned to give God praise, and to endure, despite his sufferings.

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-28.

The Early Christians didn’t have the New Testament to read…no self-help books, Matthew Henry commentaries or Google search to look up hundreds and hundreds of devotions and sermons online.

But they had Paul.

He had lived through persecution after being the Persecutor! Yet, in all of those things he still continued to be faithful and his concern was for the care of the churches.

Could we say the same as Paul did? Could we assuredly tell others to, “Pattern your life after me.”? (Of course correct grammar would change my title to “Pattern your life after mine”? But then my graphic image wouldn’t rhyme!) (insert smile here).

 

A sobering thought!

We have all heard it said that we may be the only Jesus that some people ever see or the only Bible they will ever read. That is why we must be so careful the way we live our Christian lives. That doesn’t mean we walk on eggshells all the time, scared to death we are going to make mistakes.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” Matthew 5:14,15.

What it does mean is that we should be sure to spend time with the Savior. And the more time we spend with Him, the more we become like Him…the more we radiate His glory and His goodness…then others will see the Lord Jesus Christ IN us. They will want to know Him because He shines through us.

That is what Paul was talking about…pattern your life after me because I KNOW HIM!!

Kingdom2