Hold fast to Jesus!!

What a week of "new normals!!" Last Monday I made reference to all the things going on this fall for my family, and sitting here now I can hardly believe that I made it through the past 7 days. Mainly because of my weak faith and lack of trust in God's control and help! But, of course, I made it because God IS in control and He does help even when I don't stop and ask for it!! We are adjusting to our new normal schedule for this school year and it's tough. However, Psalm 23:6 refreshed my heart right in the middle of what was absolutely insane circumstances..."Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Thank you, Jesus, for reminding me that Your goodness and mercy are following me (what a cool thought as I feel trampled by defeat and guilt). Knowing that I will dwell with Jesus forever is more than enough goodness for me to "make it," but He pours forth goodness for my days here on earth too!!! WOW! My heart has reasons to rejoice!!
I was, also, reminded this morning of the ONE call on my life from Joshua 22, "to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." Good, well-behaved kids are not my calling; a clean organized house is not my calling; keeping up with those around me is not my calling. The calling on my life is to hold fast to Jesus!!!!! Lord, change my heart to be singular focused! Help me be aware of when I'm distracted from my calling. Joy, peace, and rest will overwhelm my soul when I gaze on Your beauty and remember that You are enough!
Your faithfulness, Lord, has pursued me this week. At the start of the week I was focused on my circumstances and feeling way out of control, and You gently reminded me that I'm NOT in control. To pretend that I am is arrogant and a sin against Your character. Forgive me and change me! Your control is good and right in all circumstances! Thank you, Father, for helping Matt and I work together and support one another! Matt's patience with my emotional explosions is You being patient with me! His tenderness to calm my heart and point me back to the cross is You reminding me of Your love and care for me! His words of truth and gracious correction are Your promises to refine my soul and make me more like Jesus!
I am so excited over how the Lord has directed my involvement in the student ministry at CBC!! I will obviously continue to support Matt in everything he's leading in and offer help when needed, BUT my focus is building relationships on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights and teaching the high school girls' Sunday school class. The Lord has made me more aware of the things He's wired me to be passionate about! I love connecting with people's hearts and having genuine conversations, and I love teaching the Bible to people and helping lead discussions. YAY!!! Thanks for the open doors, Jesus! And thanks for Your wisdom and direction to continue on and pull back where you want me to.
The boys are doing great in school and soccer so far! Matt and I are praying for wisdom to love well in the seasons that they're in and help them not pursue perfection, but enjoy what they can do and seek to get better in other areas. The girls, well, the tears are flowing every MWF when they're dropped off at school. I hate leaving them when they're sad. I pray for their hearts to be full of joy as they remember how much they're loved throughout the day.
For all the moms and dads reading this....I came across an amazing truth on someone's blog last week that is so simple, yet profound. As believing parents, let us seek to raise adults that will run to Jesus in their time of need! Lord, make me an example of one that runs to You for help instead of pretending that I have it all together or feeling guilty that I'm weak. I truly want my kids more than anything to love Jesus with everything that they are. To lean on Him, trust in Him, and pursue Him with such great passion that others would know that they have been with Jesus!
Thank you, Father, for Your work...seen and unseen....and for Your presence in my life!!!