Not Overwork but Overflow

How gracious He will be

When you cry for help!

As soon as He hears,

He will answer you.

Isaiah 30:19

 

As I was writing this verse I was praying that God would hear and answer us because we need help with so many things in our life right now.  Then it hit me that I don’t need help with many things, I need His help with EVERYTHING!  This is not a new concept, because I know that I need His help with everything, but is that how I live?  Probably not.

Most of the time I think I do what I know I can do on my own strength instead of asking Him to do His work in me even with the things that come easier to me like cleaning the house, making dinner, helping my kids with their school work, etc.  But now I think of my life verse…

 

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.

 Those who remain in Me,

 and I in them,

 will produce much fruit.

 For apart from Me

you can do nothing.

John 15:5

The reason this is my life verse is because several years ago He impressed on my heart that I spent most of my life relying on my own strength and abilities to accomplish things.  He had been speaking this verse to me and I was beginning to get it when I heard Cynthia Heald speak and she talked about God speaking to her through this verse.  What I remember hearing her say was that she realized that she had been doing a whole lot of “nothing.”  I want to remain in Him always and rely on Him for everything.  It is so tiresome to keep working and striving on my own, or even to just do the things that come easier for me but finding that when I take inventory of my life, those things that count, those things that draw me closer to Him are the things I have realized that I couldn’t do on m own and HAD to give to Him.

I want EVERYTHING of me to be His!  I don’t want to settle for what I can do on my own.  That’s why I love I Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink

or whatever you do,

do it all

for the glory

of God.

This is my banner.  This is the repeated theme of my life.  I must decrease, He must increase.  Nothing I can ever do in my own strength will be enough, but even the mundane can be captured for His glory!  How amazing is that!!  “Not from overwork, but overflow,” was the life motto of some unknown saint I recently read of.  I work so hard to accomplish what is before me, but I choose differently today.  Not from overworking to accomplish what I know must be done today, but from Him overflowing and working in me and through me today I will accomplish what He wants in His power, for His glory.  Amen!!

To God alone be the glory,
WP Stacey

“In Resurrection stillness there is Resurrection power.”

Snatching the Victory

I have been reading Streams in the Desert  for my devotions this year, and it’s been really good.  Last week I underlined a statement that keeps coming back to me:

 

“…firmly exhibit your faith at the precise moment (and) you can sometimes actually snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat.”

This is truth! The enemy wants us to give up and say, “I keep trying, but it doesn’t seem to change anything,” or “I’ve been praying about this for a long time but God hasn’t done anything yet.”  That is why we need to be in His Word every day and in prayer constantly.  We need to encourage each other, and we need daily reminders that He is at work and He does have good plans for us.  We must be persistent and keep truth ever before us.  He is faithful.

For every child of God

defeats this evil world,

and we achieve this victory

through our faith.

I John 5:4

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired and give up, and it’s not always the big things that overwhelm me.  Sometimes it’s just getting past the little everyday kind of stuff.  That’s wrong.  I need to keep praying, keep trusting, keep my eyes on my Savior who has already won the victory.  How dare I agree with the enemy and give him any ground.  My God has already secured the victory.

Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest

if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Here is one more quote from Streams in the Desert, “Faith can change any situation, no matter how dark or difficult.  Lifting your heart to God in a moment of genuine faith in Him can quickly alter your circumstances.  God is still on His throne, and He can turn defeat into victory in a split second, if we will only trust Him.”

So, no matter how big or small the problems you are facing today seem, keep the faith.  Snatch the victory from the enemy!  Live victoriously today!

To His glory,
WP Stacey

Biting My Tongue

The other day I was in line at the grocery store and a little old lady and her care giver got in line behind us.  She immediately began patting my arm and speaking to me in such a friendly way that it seemed she knew me quite well.  Over her shoulder her caregiver was whispering apologies to me that the lady has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know what she’s doing.  She was so sweet and gentle that I didn’t mind at all.  As she talked to my daughter and me for those few brief minutes, she patted our arms and actually blessed us.  I was happy for the encounter.

This gentle lady has been in my thoughts ever since.  I want to be like her.  As I have reflected on her a few things have come to mind.  First, I hope if I ever have Alzheimer’s and lose my mental capacities that I am as sweet and gentle as she.

Secondly, I was thinking about that poem, “When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple,” and it is a cute poem, but when I am old I want to be a blessing to others.  That poem is pretty self-centered, but the best old people I know are not worried about what they get to have and do but are concerned about others.  Which finally led me think..."If I want to be these things when I am old I had better practice them now."

Be completely humble and

gentle;

be patient,

bearing with one another in

love.

Ephesians 4:2

 

I am so thankful for my encounter with a sweet lady who has Alzheimer’s.  God has used her to remind me constantly to start practicing now.  So when my child didn’t act as quickly as I would have liked, I bit my tongue and thought of how a few more seconds won’t make a difference, but my harsh words will make the kind of difference I don’t want to make.  When the driver in front of me cut me off, I bit my tongue and decided to pray for him rather than mutter at him and store up bitterness.  I have a feeling my tongue is going to be sore, but when I am old it will be worth it.

To God be the glory,

WP Stacey

Shout from the Rooftops!

Hello Warrior Princess Sisters!  I’m back.  Actually, I never went away, but I haven’t written anything for the blog for over a year.  My mom got really sick the beginning of last year and ended up in the hospital and then passed away in April and I just didn’t have it in me to write during that time.  It was a time of surviving and private reflection.  Then came pulling life together again and living our new normal.  It was a tough year last year, but also many blessings.  I may write about some of it soon.

God has been speaking to me that it’s time to start writing for the blog again.  This verse has come to me several times over the last six weeks, as well as God using some friends to tell me it’s time to discipline myself to post the things He’s telling me.

What I tell you in the dark,

speak in the daylight;

what is whispered in your ear,

proclaim from the roofs.

Matthew 10:27

This is also a time for me to remind you that this blog isn’t just a place for me to shout from the rooftops the things God is whispering to me, it’s a place for my Warrior Princess Sister friends (that would be you) to share His whisperings, workings, struggles, and triumphs in your life.  So, remember, you can post it as a comment or you can email it to me.  I am excited to see what you will send in.  Ruth, Jan, and Janelle you have each shared something with me recently that needs to be shouted from this roof top.  I hope to receive something from you each soon.

On a final note for today, if you are hesitant to write something to share, know that I have the same struggles and fears about sharing.  I realize how flawed and inadequate I am and sometimes wonder if anyone will get anything out of what I say here.  Then I remember this scripture and He didn’t add anything about being good enough…He just said to share what He has been telling us.

It’s not about us, ladies, it’s all about Him.  I just want to obey.  Even if no one else ever reads this, He is my audience of ONE.  It is just mine to obey.

So whether you eat or drink

or whatever you do,

 do it all for the

glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31

To God be the glory,
WP Stacey

p.s.  If you don’t have my email and want to email me something here’s one of my email addresses.  I have to type it our without the actual .com because that’s how internet bad guys pick up email addresses and spam you.  So, here’s an email address where you can email me kishbooks at hotmail dot com. Get it? If you have my other email address email me there, but I don’t want to post it on the internet.

IF

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor:

Agree with each other,

love each other,

be deep-spirited friends.

Don't push your way to the front;

don't sweet-talk your way to the top.

Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.

Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Philippians 2:1-4 MSG

There is nothing more to say.

Sole Deo Gloria,
WP Stacey

All I Want For Christmas Is...

Merry Christmas Warrior Princess Sisters!  I don't know if anyone will have time to read this before Christmas, but I am motivated to write tonight so I will.  I haven't posted anything for over a month and part of the reason has been a bit of a temper tantrum and the other part of the times has been complacency.  But tonight I find myself in a place that I can say that God is good and what He does is good, and I found a profound poem I must share, so I will write tonight.

In case you haven't heard, we've had quite the month!  Two days after Thanksgiving my husband broke two ribs playing a friendly game with some friends and their kids.  Morgan (my 14 year old who was recovering from her leg surgery) was doing well enough to give up her crutches 3 days before Thanksgiving, but not well enough to play the game, so she just stood on the sidelines.  God truly has a sense of humor, because while she was standing on the sideline watching the game, one of the players ran into her and broke her foot!  (Aside from the pain, isn't that so unbelievable that it's laughable?)  We didn't really think it was broke, so we just went home. The next morning my husband's father died so we didn't really do anything about her foot that day.  By that night we were pretty sure the foot was broken, but decided to wait until the morning to go see her regular orthopedic doctor.  When we finally got in to see him we found it was truly a broken bone in her foot (yes, it was on the same leg she just had the surgery on), so they put her in a removable cast/boot thing.  WHILE I was at that appointment, my other daughter injured her ankle while playing at a friend's house.  She wouldn't put any weight on it but I couldn't believe that she had actually broke it, so I just had her put it up and take it easy. 

By the next morning it was apparent that it was probably broken.  Once we got in to see the same
orthopedic her sister regularly sees, we got x-ray confirmation that she had broken completely through her fibia.  Two girls in casts in two days and we were planning a funeral.  Not to mention that we don't have great health coverage so we will probably end up paying for the break completely out of pocket. Oh, and we just found out that our less-than-stellar health coverage was tripling in price and we can't change health plans until our first daughter finishes her physical therapy!  Okay, so now you know why I have had some down days and a few rounds of pouting before my God.

Some days I have felt like Noah in the ark.  The storm is raging around me.  It's not fun.  It doesn't feel very secure.  But somehow, I know that He is in control and He is going to bring us through this.  He is going to provide.  Other days, I am just tired, sad, and complain that we have already had to bear more than most people I know.  WHAH!  Those are the childish temper tantrum, pouting days. 

I have found myself telling God that what I want for Christmas is for us all to stay healthy!  No more medical problems and no more medical bills (more than a quarter of our income has gone to medical expenses this year).  I want a better job for my husband with better, less expensive health coverage.  I want to be able to save some money this year.  I want to have money to give away this year. Nothing that I want is unreasonable or materialistic, so why won't God be reasonable? 

"My thoughts are completely

different from yours,"

says the LORD.

"And my ways are far beyond

anything

you could imagine.

Isaiah 55:8

When I remember that I surrender all over again, sometimes multiple times in a day.  I choose to trust Him because I do believe that His ways are far beyond anything I can understand.  Then to top it all off, I found this poem from a book Max Lucado wrote called A Love Worth Giving.

You have a ticket to heaven no thief can take,

An eternal home no divorce can break.

Every sin of your life has been cast to the sea.

Every mistake you’ve made is nailed to the tree.

You’re blood-bought and heaven-made.

A child of God – forever saved.

So be grateful, joyful – for isn’t it true?

What you don’t have is much less

Than what you do.

He is right.  What I don't have: good health, good health care, money in savings, money to cover our expenses, etc. all of these things that we don't have right now are much less than what we do have.  I am choosing to dwell on the things I am grateful for.  I am choosing to thank God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do with all of this stuff we are dealing with.  So, all I want for Christmas is still all the things I mentioned and some that I didn't.  But I am gaining perspective and trusting Him that He is enough.  He IS enough!  Fatigued and battle-worn, I can truly say, "To God be all the glory!"

Merry Christmas,

WP Stacey

Speak the Truth In Love

As you can see I have not written anything for the blog for over 6 weeks. We’ve been a little busy. A lot, actually. Since my last post we took a short family trip to California. It was very much needed and beneficial to get away and do something fun together. We spent a day in San Diego and two days is Disneyland. We just wanted to do something fun together while Morgan could still walk before she had her next leg surgery. It was awesome to go, especially since we hadn’t been in almost five years! Thank You, Lord, for our trip!


Morgan had her second leg surgery two days after we returned from California and it went really well. This leg needed less correction so she only had to have the femur cut through and re-aligned. This made for a much less painful, easy recovery. She got her cast off yesterday and starts physical therapy today. Thank you for all of you prayers for her. We expect her to be walking normally before Christmas!

I have several things to write about. There have been a lot of things going into my hand-written journal and floating around in my head, but I just haven’t had the time and energy to sit and write for the blog. So I think today I’m going to start with something short and simple. I have been taking a class on co-dependency from a Christian perspective. Wow! Very eye-opening. There is so much I could share about that, but I’m just going to share this little piece. At the end of the last chapter we had scripture to look up regarding what the Word says about living in healthy relationships and one of the verses was Ephesians 4:25.

Therefore each of you

must put off falsehood

and speak truthfully

to his neighbor,

for we are all members

of one body.

Ephesians 4:25

This verse reminded me of my original Warrior Princess Sisters and the reason I started this blog. I have been able to grow and become healthier (spiritually and emotionally) because I have friends who do speak the truth to me. What a blessing! We don’t look for things to “hold one another accountable” for, but we are able to speak the truth when we need to. We are not trying to “fix” each other, we are simply able to ask questions and share truth from God’s Word to help one another. My prayer for this blog is that as we share and read each other’s stories, real life happenings, struggles, and victories we will be speaking the truth and putting off falsehood.

We do need to remember the first part of the verse says that we “must put off falsehood.” We want to be good friends, nice people, so sometimes we don’t say anything because we are afraid it might hurt (the other person or us if we are rejected). But if our motive is to expose the truth and not “fix” our friends, if we check our motives and find that we are not trying to be controlling, but are genuinely concerned for others, we can expose the lies and speak the truth. In fact we are told that we must do that. It is actually a sign of wellness, maturity, and becoming more like Christ.

Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:14-15

I was struggling with something last week and thought I knew the truth, but wanted to be sure that the view I had of myself was accurate and not just what I wanted to think about myself. Because I can be very self-condemning I needed the perspective of a friend I could trust to tell me the truth about what she sees in my life. I was open to both possibilities, that I have made huge progress in this area or that I have only made some effort and have deceived myself into complacency. It was so encouraging to hear two friends speak the truth to me so that I could move forward in truth! They didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear, they spoke truth and then each one prayed for me.

Do you have a friend like that? Are you a friend like that? Sometimes we have to be that kind of friend before we can have that kind of friend. Just remember that we are to speak the truth IN LOVE. Whether or not our friend chooses to hear is in God’s hands and between her and God. Keep loving and speaking truth, looking to God to do the work in you and in your friend. And instead of being hurt when a friend risks speaking the truth to you, thank her for caring enough to take the risk to speak honestly with you. Then ask the Lord what He would have you to do with that information and always make sure that it is in line with His Word.

And over all these virtues

put on love,

which binds them all

together in

perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14

Sole Deo Gloria,
WP Stacey

p.s.  Pastor Logan spoke on this two weeks ago.  Here is the link to listen to the podcast http://www.ccctucson.org/listen.asp the sermon title is Right Relationships in the Body of Christ (Mann).  I highly recommend listening to it, even if you've already heard it.  I look forward to hearing from you regarding this topic and anything else that the Lord puts on your heart to share.