Trying to see around the curve is dangerous.

 

When you're driving your eyes are constantly checking all around you. You look out the front window alternating short distances ahead and way off on the horizon. However, if you are traveling on a curvy road, the ability to see long distances is blocked. The curves are stopping you from seeing too far ahead. In those driving moments the best thing you can do is keep an eye on your speed and keep a watchful eye on the road because things are changing quickly. Because trying to see around the curve is dangerous.

 

The same is true in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the cold hard truth!

You will make mistakes.

People will disappoint you.

Plans will fail and let you down.

Things will break or get lost.

We have a whole lot less control than we think.

 

Trying to see around the curve reflects fear.

 

I experience this at the beginning of each school year, as I prepare my home school plans. I fall into the trap of thinking T-H-I-S year, this year, my plans are gonna work. I fall into the delusion that I can look back over the past failures and somehow that will help me to see ahead. How does that make sense? How does the past help me to see around curves of the road ahead of me? They don't.

 

I so desperately want to avoid failure that I attempt to see ahead, around the curve in the road.

 

For some reason we are all trying to see ahead of where we are. We want to plan things out. Estimate our time of exit. Pull out before it all goes south. We don't want to lose, fail, or make a mistake in any way. But the truth is, the only guarantee worth focusing on, is trusting God. When we trust God, he calms our fears of failure and reassures of His care for us. He builds confidence in our steps and our path and we can release the need to know "Now!" and trust that we will know at the right time. He reminds us of all that He has already done for us, and in us, and He is not done with us yet.  He still has so much more he wants to do.

 

So yes, our journey is not always clear. Yes, there are curves in the road that prevent us from seeing around the bend, but it's always been that way by design. Now we get the chance to grow our faith, our trust in God. We get to walk securely, not because we have all the answers, but because we have trust in a God who does.

 

If He believes in you enough to bring it to you, trust Him enough to bring you through it. {tweet}

Do you trust that today?

 

A Word of Encouragement – Printable

This is a blessing for every mom who could use a word of encouragement today!

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Forgotten dreams

In July our family went to South Padre Island for vacation.  There were 2 great-grandmothers, 2 grandmothers and 2 grandpa's + our family of 9.  I can't begin to express how much fun we all had together!  We had the adventure of a lifetime.  One of the great grandma's made us take her to the store to buy a swimsuit so she could get in the water too.  She had not been to the beach in 40 years!!!  What a moment.

I wanted to share with you about forgotten dreams.

Years ago my family lived in Florida.  Going to the beach was as normal as going to the grocery store.  We were surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches.  One day my mom announced that we were moving to Texas.  The next few days and weeks were full of goodbyes and farewells from friends.

One memory I distinctly remember.

As we left the state for the last time, we had to cross a bridge to leave the city and head to Interstate 10.  As we crossed the bridge for the last time, I looked back to see a person rising into the sky para-sailing.  As I looked out of the back window of the car, I said to myself, one day I want to come back here and do that.  I had always wanted to para-sail but the timing was just not right.

Fast forward 24 years later.  I finished high school, married, graduated college, I'm a mother to 7 children, but God had not forgotten that whispered dream.  He heard me loud and clear.  And this summer.  2012- 24 years later- and my para-sailing dream came true!!  My girls even video taped my lift off to share with you!

Maybe you too have a forgotten dream.

I am here to tell you that God heard you and He has not forgotten.  He is able to bring those forgotten dreams into reality.  He is able to do things for you and through you that you never thought would ever happen.  Continue to trust Him with your dreams.  'Cause this momma went para-sailing and it was all I dreamed and more!

That para-sailing moment was indeed A Powerful Moment in my life!

 

 

Victory music!

2 Things you should know about me:

1. I love to laugh

2 I love to dance

I wanted to share with you one of my victory songs.  One of  those songs that makes you want to get up and s-h-o-u-t!  Any of my conservative friends reading this might not know what I'm talking about, so let me try to explain.  When I was growing up in the church, when the music got good to you or when the preachin'- yes preachin' no 'g" on the end.  When the preachin' got good to you- you let loose with shouting and dancing.  It was your way of trying your best to express your appreciation for the goodness of God in your life.  If you have ever been to a football game or professional sports event and you have seen the fans dancing and clapping and shouting to express their appreciation for the game or the team- same deal!

Well in my life I have many songs, but there's one song that I can't be still when I play it!

I double-dog dare you to be still while listening to this song, 'cause the music is just that good.

But beyond the music and most importantly are the lyrics.  I purposely chose a version with the lyrics so you can read along as the song plays.  If you want to, get up and dance, I do. 

This is the song I play when I over come laziness and do my work out.  This is the song I play when I feel fear trying to stop me, but I press on and trust God.  This is the song I play when it's time to shake off complacency and get about God's business.

C'mon dance with me. click to watch the video!

 

You were tapping your toes weren't you?
The one part- I'm ready, are you ready, then get up and live- right now!

Do you have a victory song?

I would love to hear it!

It’s time to pull the weeds?

 

I had an agenda.  I planned to feed everyone breakfast and then head outside to pull some weeds from the flower beds around the front of our house.  We had allowed to yard to get a little out of control and it was time to whip it back into shape.

As we finished breakfast though, I sensed there was something going on with my oldest children.  I couldn’t put my finger on it, but things were not right.  I asked them what was up, but their answers were- Nothin’

Not satisfied with that answer I asked again in a slightly different way.  I asked- “Is anyone feeling frustrated by someone or something?”  Anyone wish they could put on some boxing gloves and go coco loco and then you would feel all better?”  That did it.  First one daughter mentioned she was irritated with one of her sisters.  Then another sister mentioned she too was bothered.

We talked about the root of their frustrations.  We brainstormed ways to communicate with one another to prevent misunderstandings and hard feelings.  They even came up with a strategy to lessen their frustration with one another.  Later I got the chance to hear how I sometimes contribute to their issues and how I could better serve them.

By the time we finished our long conversation I realized that the plan to pull weeds had a deeper meaning than I realized.  I thought the plan was to pull weeds in the yard, but the plan was to pull them first out of our hearts.

 

What weeds have taken root at your home?
Is it time to pull them up?

4 Things We Can NOT Change

It is hard for us to accept that there are some things that we can not change. This is especially hard for those of us who believe that if we work hard enough, plan well enough, and pray long enough that certainly things will be different.

At times, this proves to be true. However, there are other times that no matter how hard you work, how much you plan, and how fervently you pray, things will NOT change.

Just what are those things we can’t change? – I know there are skeptics out there who are thinking – we’ll just see about that! So here’s the list:

  1. The day that you were born
  2. The family you were born into
  3. The number of days you will live
  4. The number of hours in a day

Each one of these facts imposes certain limits on each us, while at the same time opens up a world of opportunities.

The time in which we were born

We live in a time where things are happening that previous generations could never have imagined. The possibilities that we consider on any given day were not even imaginable in the past.

Our children take for granted things that we would consider privileges. While we, the parents, label conveniences as needs that our parents would without question classify as luxuries. All of this can be attributed to the time in which we were born.

The family into which we were born

The family we were born into may or may not be what we would have chosen, but is ripe with connections to God, to our purpose, and to others. We would have possibly crafted things differently – a larger family, or smaller family, or any number of others specifics, but what you were given is the perfect preparation for your future.

Notice I did not say that your family was perfect or that certain situations that you experienced were perfect. But I would like to suggest that your imperfect family was part of a perfect plan. To believe anything else would mean that your past was a mistake.

The number of days we will live

I know there are those in the health field who would take issue with #3. If we eat right, exercise, drink the purest of water, take the right supplements, etc., we will live longer. I would like to suggest that we are NOT going to live any longer. We are already going to live forever, but that is not what I am addressing here. We will not physically live any longer than God has preset for us to live.

Now, the real issue is how we will live those days. The choice is in our hands. We can experience health, vitality, and vigor for our numbered days. I believe that!

But that is HOW we live, not how long.

The number of hours in a day

We have 24 hours. That’s it! We have a privilege and responsibility with each one of those hours. Our time can be spent well, or it can be wasted, the choice is ours.

For the most part our days will be a mixture of both, time well spent and time wasted. Let’s be proactive about tipping the scale to time well spent far outweighing total time wasted.

We want to make our lives count. We want to impact the lives of others. We want to empower those around us. None of that is possible, until we accept our limits!