My grandma always inspires me. Today, I am sharing her testimony. The testimony of a mother’s heartache turned to peace through Jesus.

I grew up in the upstairs apartment of my Grandma and Grandpa. I loved being there. They were so very special to me.

My grandpa could be found regularly reading his Bible and outside honking his horn as he waited impatiently to get us to church on time.

To be honest, I never considered my grandma’s faith. She always seemed like the support crew to my grandfather. She was always at church. Always serving in many capacities. Always supporting whatever my grandpa was leading.

But their testimonies reveal a very different picture.

As I have learned over the years, she was the catalyst to their faith.  My grandpa shares in his testimony how my grandma “nagged him into heaven.” She says in spite of her nagging God did what He does and turned my grandpa’s heart toward Him.

I have had the privilege to sit with her so many times and pour over scriptures. She is my mentor and greatest friend. I often say that she is a walking concordance because if I need to know where something is in the Bible, a quick phone call and a bit of deliberation and I will be pointed in the right direction.

Yesterday, I had the honor of sitting down with her to type out her testimony. Dashes and all. She read it allowed as I typed. We both sat in tears, as we usually do because we are constantly moved by the glory that God brings to dark…
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Get to Know Our Story: A Mother’s Testimony – From Heartache to Peace 

My grandma grew up during the Great Depression. Times were hard and beyond my understanding. I remember the stories of her picking up cabbage off the railroad tracks so they would have a bit of food to eat. I remember her stories of how people were kind to them and helped them with things. But nothing moves me more than how God preserved her to show His light through her for generation after generation.

She was my confidant during one of the most difficult times in my life. The time when my husband and I lost our twins. In a few moments, when you read her testimony, you will see how her grief was my saving grace.

So last night, I called my grandma and asked her if I could share her testimony. Although hesitant at first, after encouraging her about how much her own testimony could bless others she quickly agreed.

Friends, if you have a testimony. Don’t keep it inside of you. Many times we may think our story isn’t exciting enough or it is too personal. But it is the hope that Jesus has given you that is so important.

I think that as you read this you will be encouraged, as I always am, about how a gracious God can turn a heart of stone into flesh. He can take our brokenness and turn it into peace.  He can comfort those places in our hearts that were made only for Him.

If you are hurt, feel broken, or incomplete by what this life has to offer then I want to introduce to Jesus through the words of my grandmother.

Just share your story!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Before you get started, I want to encourage you with one more thing. A testimony is someone’s story. Your testimony is your story. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to point to Jesus. I loved how my grandma didn’t care if it was perfect. I love how she wanted it preserved in her own voice and style, and I just love how she felt compelled to share.

A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache to Peace

The year was 1951 – Dec 16^th   a tiny precious baby girl was born to my husband and I. Twenty seven and a half hours later she slipped away from us. That left an impact on my life that I can not talk about sometimes to this day –  the period that followed was the darkest of my life – because of my guilt and the feeling that God was punishing me by taking my baby it almost drove me over the brink – such depression I wondered why I was even alive – the first six weeks after her death I did not eat or sleep – at my checkup my doctor told me to go to work – that eventually the work would wear me out instead of my nerves and he was right that did help some.

Sometime after that, I asked George to go to church with me – I just had to find peace somewhere! What followed was nine years of doing everything I could to be good – trying hard to do what was right but always failing. The pastor would say be perfect even as I am perfect – me be perfect – what a laugh – I couldn’t even be good enough for me let alone a holy perfect God.

In 1953 I had Lori – what a sweet baby – so pretty – just like a doll – was I happy? Sometimes – did I have peace? No! In 1954 I had Lylie and Linda who was stillborn – another sweet little girl and even though we only got to keep one of the twins it was a happy time – I had so much any woman would have been completely happy wouldn’t she?

March 17 my husband was injured at work – very bad!

I was due to deliver another baby and it was a very stressful time not knowing if my husband would lose his arm or not – but on the 18^th sure enough, I started labor – oh no not now! I need to be with George but baby was not going to wait – I delivered about 6:41 pm a beautiful 10 lb 5 oz baby boy!

So I had my hands full – Lori was 2 years 5 months – Lylie was 1 year 5 months – a new baby and a husband that couldn’t do much with his arm in a cast up to his shoulder. Three babies – a good husband – a nice home – a very busy life – everything to make you happy right? But I was always wanting something and never finding it!

Four years later another baby girl – stillborn – more pain.

By this time we had gone to another church. We had a very good Sunday School teacher. He always taught the lesson and now I know but I didn’t know then he would always weave the gospel into his lessons – one time I heard all afternoon taste and see that the Lord is good – echoing in my head and another time it was like being like a baby and learning to start all over – learn to live all over again – what does it all mean? I am a pretty miserable person – one morning I was home alone all morning – where were my children – I don’t know!

Everything I had ever done began to pass before my eyes – and with many tears, I began to tell God what I sinner I was and he impressed on my heart that Jesus had died for me not for everyone else but me. I asked him to be my savior and take away my sins and make me clean – did he? He said he would and he did! I have felt his presence with me since that day – that was the most important day of my life.

Life does have meaning – life is in Christ and he is in me –

I have eternal life because I have him – everything settled in place for me. In the years since I have had doubts – I have been unfaithful I have failed him many times but he has been with me through it all – patient loving and gently drawing me to the place where he wants me to be.

I know that I do not have to do anything to make him love me he just does – I don’t know why – but I am just so thankful that he does and

I love him.

September 10, 1992

Thanks for joining me on this journey as we read A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache to Peace

You, too, may be feeling a bit hopeless but be assured that we can have hope and assurance in Jesus.  We don’t have to feel alone. We don’t have to keep searching for everything else in life to fill us up.

If you would like to talk more about how you can move from heartache to peace, I would love to talk to you. If you feel that there are empty places in your heart that just can’t seem to be filled by anything else, I would like to talk to you about my best friend, Jesus, who has been there with me through it all.

I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Maybe a snippet of your testimony. You can read parts of mine here.

Also, if you are looking to write your own testimony but don’t know where to begin, check out this document that you can print from the CS Lewis Institute, which is a really great resource and can get you started.

Writing your testimony makes it easier to share. Writing out your thoughts beforehand helps you clarify the parts of your story you want to preserve. Not that you have to memorize it, it just helps you be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have in you. (1 Peter 3:15) It is also a great exercise in remembering God’s faithfulness (John 1:17)

If you have a testimony to share, I would love to hear it. I would love to read it. You can email me at yoursewtrendy@gmail.com Subject: Testimony. They always truly bless my heart.

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I would love to sit down face-to-face with you but since we can’t do that I love to meet you here. I love to hear your stories and see your work.

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A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache to Peace

A mother’s testimony: heartache to peace

The post A Mother’s Testimony: Heartache To Peace appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Being a mom is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. My life seemed to turn upside down in ways that I could have never imagined for the good and the undeniably not so pretty. Children have been a gift beyond compare. A gift I truly treasure.

I used to think I was patient, laid back and had some self-control until my kiddos came along and allowed me to see the errors of my thinking.

Being mom is a responsibility that no one could ever have had enough words and explanations to clearly make me understand. It is not until they are in your arms and the reality of them being there does it begin to settle in.

A few years back, I even wondered if I would ever get the hang of this mothering thing. It seems every time I figure something out a new age and stage throws me for a loop.

I have felt the heartbreak of losing children and not quite sure how I was going to recover from the devastation. A heartbreak, no one could ever prepare you for.

Being a mother has made me question so many things about my world that I could have never imagined.

I also never knew that it was physically possible for my heart to grow in love and care for another human being the way it did when I had children.

The Amazement of Motherhood

I believe God always amazes us, as mothers, to show His great love and plans for us through our children. We get to see how a Father loves His children in ways that seem unimaginable.

For instance, I may say to my children, this is classic and I never thought I would say this.

Are you ready? How many times have I had to say this? Please tell me I am not the only one who says this!

Then I hear a gentle voice whisper to my heart, how many times have I had to tell you? And I am reminded of the grace I have been shown daily.

The Gift of Children – Women of the Bible

There are three women in the Bible who were shown God’s grace through their roles as mothers. I love how God’s gift of children is displayed through each story in an unexpected way.

We see that having children is nothing shy of a miracle, it is beyond what we could have imagined and it is a gift and blessing beyond our understanding.

For a woman to not bear children in Bible times was very significant. She would have been looked down upon and there would have been much shame that she would have felt because children were a blessing to the family.

I am not sure that times have changed that much and there are certainly women who struggle with these same issues. I pray their stories bless your heart.

Sarah

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, at the ripe age of 91, had her son Isaac. I can’t imagine, but let’s imagine the patience and endurance of faith that had to accompany this kind of trial. (Genesis 17 and 18) Even Sarah laughed at the notion of bearing a son at her worn-out age.

So God…  gave her (them) a gift beyond what she could see and understand.

Hannah

Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, desperate to have children but the Lord had closed her womb. That is a tough verse to read, especially if you are in a place where you are struggling to become a parent or never have been.

Hannah cried out to the Lord, she promised to give her child back to the Lord for His service. If only she could bear a son her heart could become full and her shame could be put to rest. (1 Samuel 1)

The sacrifice she was making. Can you imagine the day she left him at the temple? The gift she was given was the gift she returned to the Lord.

So God… gave her (them) a gift beyond what she could see and understand.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth, with of Zechariah, was well advanced in years and was unable to conceive. God had a special plan for her son. He would point the way to Jesus.

Zechariah was a priest and while burning incense in the temple and offering up the prayers of the people was granted a personal request of him and his wife. An angel appeared to him and his news was followed by a stack of questions. The news, his wife was going to have a son. (Luke 1)

So God… gave her (them) a gift beyond what she could see and understand.

With God

With God, all things are possible. At the place where our abilities to see and understand end is where God waits for us to be still and allow Him to do His work.

Children are a blessing. Children are a gift of beyond compare from the Creator of the World. They are image bearers of God Himself.
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They are precious to Him and they are an opportunity for God to help us see ourselves as His children. Children give us an opportunity to understand God’s grace and mercy that is poured out on us in the pursuit to make us more like Him.

If you are struggling, like these moms, because you are not able to have children, I hope you are blessed by their stories. Remember you are not alone because God is faithful to write your story as well.

If you have children, I hope you can see how God used these women to help us realize that children are truly a blessing, gift, and miracle delivered from His own hands.

Personal Reflections:

What is the one thing that your children bring out in you that you wish you could stuff away?

What is the thing your children bring out in you that you know is a blessing from above?

If you are struggling as these moms did, what is one thing these women could teach you about God? About yourself?

If you are struggling in having children, what is a piece of advice that you have for ladies with children?

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Blog Parties are such a great place to meet people and build connections around the web. This is one reason, I love this party. It would be a blessing to visit another friend in the linkup and enjoy their posts.

I would love to sit down face-to-face with you but since we can’t do that I love to meet you here. I love to hear your stories and see your work.

This is a Christian based website and so is the material that I promote here. Please remember that when linking up. I do reserve the right to remove posts. 

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The post Children are a Gift Beyond Compare appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

When I was in college my roommate and I always joked that being school teachers was going to be our backup plan. We were working at getting degrees until we were able to do what we really wanted to do. What we really wanted to be stay-at-home-moms.

But then my plans didn’t go as I thought and when I finally did become a mom it was harder than I could have ever imagined.

My little kids who I thought were just perfect, weren’t. The parenting skills that I thought I was born with, lacked love, compassion, patience, kindness and on lots of days, much-needed grace.

False Illusions

One of the hardest things I have ever done is parent. In parenting, some of the hardest things I have had to overcome were the false illusions that everything would turn out the way I had imagined, wanted, or dreamt up as a child.

The reality of parenting has often been my most shattering moments. I have experienced great joys but also great losses and hardships.

Growing up I had the false illusion parenting was going to be an easy job.
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I always assumed that I was going to be great at it all the time. After all, I love kids.

In reality, not trusting God through parenting also left me with the illusion that it was more than I could bear. When I first became a parent I wasn’t walking with the Lord. I found myself not trusting anyone to have my child, even my own husband.

The burdens and fears overtook me and left me with sleepless nights.

The gap I had created between God and myself, left me feeling alone and overwhelmed.

The overwhelming weight of kids getting hurt, becoming ill, or even not surviving their own childhood, terrified me. So I took to the unrealistic assumption that I could control everything myself.

For more encouragement and to finish this post on parenting, hop over to Kelly Baker’s site for 15 days of Walking with God. There you will find other great articles and some giveaways including the Parenting Kit that I created to encourage to Grace and Love when Parenting is Really Hard.

Before you go… Don’t forget to link up with us!

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Linkup with Sitting Among Friends Blog Party 

Blog Parties are such a great place to meet people and build connections around the web. This is one reason, I love this party. It would be a blessing to visit another friend in the linkup and enjoy their posts.

I would love to sit down face-to-face with you but since we can’t do that I love to meet you here. I love to hear your stories and see your work.

This is a Christian based website and so is the material that I promote here. Please remember that when linking up. I do reserve the right to remove posts.

*Please be sure to visit other blogs to comment and share*

I would appreciate you linking back to Seeking God or #SittingAmongFriends somewhere on your page. (You can also use the SAF picture with a link)

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This linkup will go for two weeks! Be sure to stop back next week, too, and link up your new posts! You can have up to three posts per linkup!

The post Grace and Love When Parenting is Really Hard appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Tips for Raising Kids with godly Character

Be Intentional 

Be Real 

Be in the Trenches With Them

Kids think you are their superhero. Be there! Teach them even when it is hard. Teachable moments (when an opportunity arises) are very impactful because they have real life to draw on. 

Be Positive

Be an Example

Practice and Prepare

Pray for Your Children

Find Good, godly, Trusted Resources 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV)

I am glad you are here. I would love for you to join us at Seeking God Daily. Because a couple friends and I are passionate about sharing God’s Word we have joined forces to bring together a Facebook Group called Seeking God Daily.

 

Seeking God Daily is a group that offers hope, encouragement, and support in learning God’s Word and applying the truths to our walk with Christ. We want to encourage one another through authentic, honest and respectful conversation as we earnestly seek God daily.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

 

We’re doing life together so come and join in the conversations. You can join this group by clicking HERE! While you are there feel free to invite some friends along for the journey. We would love to have them!

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WOW! Thank you all for coming and for the 58 Amazing posts from last week. This party has been wonderful thanks to you, friends, who link-up with us and those who stop by and read posts. Thank you!

You all are amazing writers who share Family and Faith, DIY’s, Recipes, Photos, Giveaways, Homeschooling and more. Many of you have amazing journeys of faith and I praise the Lord we are able to connect here!

There are easy share buttons to your left or at the bottom of each post (mobile) and after you link-up. Thanks for sharing!

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Raising Kids With Godly Character

Sending my kids off to school is tough. Not just because I will miss them desperately but because I want them to be prepared. I want to be raising kids with godly character so when they go off into the world, they can shine His light. 

Trusting God to Take Care of My Kids

Showing Our Fruit

Courage

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. (BSB)

Compassion 

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

Humility 

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (BLB)

Integrity

 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you. Psalm 25:21 (NIV)

 

Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. Psalm 41:12 (NIV)

Obedience

 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good. Titus 3:1 (NIV)  

Sincerity

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22 (NLT)

Holiness

 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Personal Reflections:

Who has been the most influential in teaching you godly character in your life?

How has that affected how you teach your own kids? 

Are there any on this list which you would like to do better at teaching your kids? 

Are there any that you need to lay before Christ today so He can change you to be more like Him?

I am glad you are here. I would love for you to join us at Seeking God Daily. Because a couple friends and I are passionate about sharing God’s Word we have joined forces to bring together a Facebook Group called Seeking God Daily.

 

Seeking God Daily is a group that offers hope, encouragement, and support in learning God’s Word and applying the truths to our walk with Christ.

We want to encourage one another through authentic, honest and respectful conversation as we earnestly seek God daily.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

 

We’re doing life together so come and join in the conversations. You can join this group by clicking HERE! While you are there feel free to invite some friends along for the journey. We would love to have them!

Linkup with Sitting Among Friends Blog Party 

Blog Parties are such a great place to meet people and build connections around the web. This is one reason, I love this party. Please make sure to visit another friend in the linkup!

I would love to sit down face-to-face with you but since we can’t do that I love to meet you here. I love to hear your stories and see your work.

This is a Christian based website and so is the material that I promote here. Please remember that when linking up. I do reserve the right to remove posts.

*Please be sure to visit other blogs to comment and share*

I would appreciate you linking back to Seeking God or #SittingAmongFriends somewhere on your page. (You can also use the SAF picture with a link)

Tag Me with Twitter Shares and I will RT them.

I will also be featuring a friend during the week on my FB page!

Join us at our Sitting Among Friends Pinterest Board by following my profile and then requesting an invite.

The post Raising Kids with godly Character & Sitting Among Friends #89 appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.