There are times in my days that I am just beyond myself. I am beyond patience, beyond reason, beyond love and self-control and all of the things that make me myself. I feel stretched beyond the limit and I am not even sure what my limit is.
I have small children and often times my day, being “good” or “bad” revolves around their behaviors and their attitudes. It makes me feel completely out of control and then I get a bit edgy.
There have been times when life feels relentless and I have to walk away (by myself in another room, mom’s don’t get that much). There have been times I did not know what else to do except cry out the name of Jesus. Nothing said, except the sweet subtle name of Jesus. He knows my heart, He knows my inner thoughts. So I just cry out in His name.
Here is a really awesome song that gives me such encouragement and reassurance in my Lord. I hope this song, “There is Power” by Lincoln Brewster encourages you as much as it does me. Here is a link http://youtu.be/UoOJwel1CQU
But what if?
But, what if I didn’t let my day be controlled by outside influences? My children’s behavior. The driver in front of me while I’m taking my kids to school late. Again! The lady at the checkout, I won’t mention the store, that has blamed me for employees stocking the shelves in front of the wrong tags.
What if, instead of crying out to Jesus at the end of my rope, I walk with Jesus and I let Him go a step before me. What if my decisions and my attitude revolved around Jesus’ promises and assurances to me? What if I don’t let the circumstances or surroundings of my day become bigger than my God?
What if?
My life, if I let it, can quickly define me or my God, if I let Him, will define me.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:1, 4
We can remember the victory is already His or we can let our faith be pushed behind our circumstances. We can remember that we are His children or we can continue to live as children of this world.
I have been wrestling with putting short temporary things in my life (my children’s feelings, the lady at the drive-thru, the person cutting in line at the checkout) on a scale of uttermost importance.
Last week, our pastor was talking about idols and taking things in our lives and weighing them high on the scale.
He gave a wonderful illustration. He explained, it is when you take good things (kids, spouse, family, jobs, our success, money, hobbies, our kid’s hobbies, ministry, etc.) and turn them into ultimate things.
I feel like so many times that I am stretched thin beyond my own recollection, it is due to turning little petty things into monster things.
I have made my ultimate, My God, take a back seat to me and I begin to feel defeated. Why?
Because I belong to Him. First and foremost, when I make God my center, my rock, I cannot be shaken, He is the firm foundation on which I stand.
When I let my surroundings determine who I am, how I feel, and how I respond, I am on sifting sinking sand. Because those are things of this world and like all things they will pass. And when the tide gets high or life gets overwhelming, I shift. I sink.
What are some of the things you are struggling with making your priority or ultimate thing? What are the good or bad things that you have let become your ultimate thing? What is my solution? What is our solution?
Build our life on the solid foundation of Christ. Remember that we are His children. We need to take a hold of His promises and wrap them around us like a life-saving buoy.
The promises He has given us are not shakable or dependent on this moment but are grounded in eternity. Is our ultimate thing potentially furthering the kingdom of Heaven?
Friends I am so glad that you have sat down with us today. I would love to further this conversation. Encourage us in the comments with your favorite verses to overcome life’s struggles.
I hope you will stick around and get to know some of these amazing writers. Share and Comment, it is appreciated!
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Hi, was nice to get your mail invite to the blog party. Thanks. Praying that you continue to touch many lives for God.
Thank you so much Shalin. I am glad that you stopped by and I hope to see you back.
Such an honest post and you are not alone, especially on the overwhelming days. Bringing it all to Jesus sometimes is harder than it should be. Thanks for hosting this party. Always a joy.
Thanks Micelle and thank you for the reassurance that we are not alone. It is easy to get swallowed up in the lie that we are the only ones. What an awesome opportunity we have to sit down and talk this through and do life together.
Hi Jamie, how are you? I like the discussion today. Looks like i have been reading a lot along this thought line. Thank you for echoing your wisdom. It is always good linking up with you.
God Bless
Thank you so much friend. I think if we are honest and share our hearts we are not only growing ourselves but we welcome in a whole new realm of encouraging others. So glad you stopped by today.
Amen! Jamie, I can relate. As a parent of young kiddos, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the minutia. Thank you for this reminder to keep Christ as the ultimate focus. Your reminder to keep that big-picture focus, is what I needed this morning. Thank you. And thank you for another awesome opportunity to share and connect in this link-up!
Jed,I am happy to be connecting with you. We all need these reminders from friends all the time, someone to hold us accountable. It is one reason I love this community.
Hi, Jaime! It can be very difficult, especially those days that it seems like everything is spiraling out of control. Thanks so much for sharing this reminder and encouragement! I love that song you shared! Hope you have a blessed week and thanks for hosting 🙂
It is so nice to see regular friends, Kelly. You have been such encouragement to me through posts, I am glad we can share these thoughts on our spaces.
Amen, my friend! I am glad that we can do this as well. Thanks so much for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
Thank you for sharing a bit of your wisdom each week, gives food for thought!!
Have a wonderful week!
Karren
Oh My Heartsie Girl♥
If anything,I hope people are taking God's Word and His promises and tucking that in tight and in those moments we need reminders they are there to consume and feed the soul. Thanks for stopping by friend.
There is a concept called "stacking" that I have been reading about. We stack things on top on each other and petty things add up. It is like when you a put a penny in jar and keep adding to it, you end up with a lot of pennies. We do the same in life with things, we keep stacking things until we feel overwhelmed.
I once heard someone say that we should always remember the math term PEMDAS for our life. When one looks at a big, complex algebra problem it looks overwhelming but when we use the rule of PEMDAS we can break it down into smaller bits that we can handle.
Great thoughts. I am going to have to remember do deal with my pennies bit by bit instead of letting them add up and become overwhelming. I can keep throwing pennies in the jar or I can sort them out, give them to God, and let His grace spill over.
Thank you for sharing God's heart and for hosting the hop!
I am glad you stop by and link up with us. Have a great week.
Jaime, This is so absolutely beautiful. Isn't it so easy to let the "things" of this world fill us instead the One and only of this world? This week I began a challenge to unconditionally delight in God's love. What I wrote about this week really correlated with what you wrote here. Our hearts are aligned, my friend!!! Thank you for being such a blessing!
Hugs,
Lori
I just read your post. I think you are right, our hearts are aligned! What a blessing to have sisters in Christ that speak the same language. Thank you so much for sharing here. I always love reading your work.
Hi Jaime! I so much enjoyed reading your post today as your neighbor on #3-D lessons for Life. Your season and mine are different (now a grandmother), but I recall that season well and look forward to connecting with you more as I start catching your blogs via email. Blessings on your commitment to always seek the Lord for how to navigate your life and your responsibilities. Pam
Thank you for stopping by Pam. I love to have great conversations with friends that are in a different season of life than mine. It always gives me encouragement so thank you so much for sharing with us.
It is hard to go against that current of outside influence. Sometimes it seems impossible, especially when dealing with your children. But you are right, we need to search God and anchor us in Him.
Sometimes it is like swimming up current. Searching for God as an anchor in those times. Nothing better. Thank you for coming by today with friends.
Hey Jamie,
I found your post and link up on Social Butterfly, and I'm glad to find your site.
I think you've stopped by and left me a kind word before! Sorry it took me so long to get over here.
Although I'm late to the party, I'm going to leave a link.
Hope you have a blessed week~
Melanie
Melanie, I am really glad that you have stopped by. I think that we have connected on social media. I will be stopping by your site to connect with you there. I am always late so no one is ever late to my parties. Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you again next week.