Thursday, March 8, 2018

My Sisters in Christ - Note to Self

Hey you.  Yes, you!  How's life going?  Does it seem too busy?  Maybe, it seems like there's a storm all around and you can't get out.  I've been there several times in life so trust me when I say I understand.  As a wife, mom, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend life can sometimes seem so overwhelming.  Especially, when those storms come.  The storm can seem so big when we are in the midst of it, but we have to always remember God is way bigger!  Here's a note to myself and all of my sisters in Christ for when we are going through those storms and life just seems so overwhelming.



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Again, life can be overwhelming especially if you are like me and you love to help others.  There's is just something about being there for others that brings joy to my heart.  I sometimes have to take a step back and evaluate all the things I have going on in my life because I have to keep the main thing the main thing and that's my family.  What good am I if I am pouring into everyone else but my home is suffering.  So that is the first thing always make sure your home is good before you start pouring outside of your home.  I know that may seem selfish to some, I get it, because I use to look at it that way as well a long time ago until I realize that my purpose is my husband and my children.  I would run and do so much that when I got home I didn't have anything left for my husband, kids, or our home.  I felt horrible because the house was a mess, my husband would start a load of clothes because they had piled up (even though he didn't mind) I just felt like that was my responsibility, when the kids weren't getting their things done because we were always on the go.  I was so frustrated, but it was my fault because I should have first taken care of the most important things first and then made myself available for everything else.  I was exhausted!  Matthew 11:30 reads, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  If you are carrying His burden it will be light so don't put more on yourself than you can handle.



Is your baggage too much?  Recently my family went on a day trip with some friends.  I was packing all kinds of junk clothes, shoes, snacks, games, books, papers to grade, etc. My husband was looking at me like really??  I quickly realize I was bringing more baggage than I needed.  Did you know life is that way sometimes as well?  You ever wonder why you have been in the same spot in life for quite some time now?  Woman are nurturing by instinct so it's common that we try to take on every relationship, problem, and just try to be everything to everybody.  STOP IT!  Sometimes the relationships we are holding on to, the people we are continuously trying to help, the things we keep trying to fix, the problems we keep trying to solve, the unforgiveness we are not willing to let go of can be toxic to us!  It can prevent our spiritual and emotional growth.  We can't move forward because we are holding on to too much baggage it's too heavy!  We have to let it go! When you have time read Acts 27.  In the meantime Acts 27:18-19 reads, "And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship."  Get rid of the extra baggage you don't need!

I can feel overwhelmed when I am not finding joy in what I am doing.  I write out my To-Do list for the day and as I'm looking over it seems like a light day.  I talk to a friend who is taking her kids to the park,  I watch something on TV and they are having a good time hanging out,  I get online and everyone seems to have their whole life together.  Now, that To-Do list seems like a bunch of pointless tasks.

  • return books to the library
  • call to make dentist appointments
  • wash the whites and the towels
  • write out a meal plan for the week
  • clean the bathrooms
  • cook dinner

So, because I let everything else around me dictate my mood I was now a grump.  Find joy in what you are doing and remember you are not doing it for you.  You are doing it for the Lord.  No matter how big or small the task find joy in it.  When you find joy in what you are doing and you don't make it about you, everything else that is going on around you won't matter.  Colossians 3:23 reads, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"  You should be able to find joy in whatever it is that you are doing if you focus on the fact that you are doing it unto the Lord.



I know we sometimes forget that God knows us better than anyone else so when things seem rough we forget to turn to him.  Next time let's read His Word for encouragement, direction, peace, understanding, joy, for everything!  Here's the important part it doesn't stop at reading it, we should be a doer of His Word as well, apply it to our life, allow him to get the Glory!

So in a nutshell when life seems overwhelming
  • make sure you are taking care of your family first
  • check your baggage
  • be sure you are finding joy in what you are doing
  • read and apply His Word


Be encourage woman of God!  We are fearfully and wonderfully made and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!




My Favorite Bibles



                                   





10 comments:

  1. ah.. we so need to NOT let our circumstances determine our attitude eh? WE need to be beyond that.

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  2. I LOVE Your anecdote about "too much baggage" - can totally relate all around! And I love your quick points summary at the end, as well as your important msg NOT to compare ourselves to other all the time. Amen!

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  3. I'm easily influenced by the attitudes of others around me, and by overwhelming circumstances. Thanks for the encouragement to find joy and strength in the Lord.

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  4. This was perfectly timed! This weekend I was pretty overwhelmed so these are good reminders to take to heart.

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  5. Good advice, encouragement, and challenges for all of us! One of the best things I did for myself to keep from being overwhelmed was to start saying No. And not feel bad about it. There are a ton of good things I could be doing, but I cannot do them all, and God has not called me to do them all. So when I'm asked to do something I don't have time for, don't want to do, or don't feel called to do, I say No. It's much easier and healthier to give it thought and decide that I would like to do it anyway than to be pressured into committing and then resenting it. My 2 cents. :-)

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  6. Good reminders...something I need to remind myself of often. And then I tend to panic when I start to say no to things because I feel like I letting go of too much. Thank for you sharing your ideas.

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  7. So often we need this reminder, to step back and let God show us where our focus should be.

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  8. I have a tendency to take on and carry more baggage than is necessary. Thank you for this reminder and encouragement to get my focus where it needs to be and to let the other stuff go.

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  9. I love this! I too used to be grumpy, because with 5 kidos I was doing way to much and not enjoying it at all.I now however find my joy in all things, yes even house work lol.

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