Christian Faith Discussions, Christian Infertility Support and Devotionals at Rethinking Thinking My Thinking

Because I Don’t Want to Sleep

Posted onMay 14th,2012

Slowly the blossom opened. Awakening to the beauty it held inside.

Awakening to the truth of the world–exposed, delicate, beautiful, and finally awake.

Awakenings often include a dying of sorts. Letting go of all you once knew to open up and break apart that beauty may come.

God has been rousing me from a slumber which I loathe admitting I succumbed to. It started banging around in my heart and head after I read what Samuel told Israel right before he died, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23a Failing to pray for someone is sinning against God. Ouch.

Then Paul tells us to pray continually and “be alert and always keep on praying for the saints.” (Eph. 6:18)

Continually praying, staying alert, always praying…I have been asleep too long. So here is my plan for the next 30 days…

I won’t let my mind wander, instead I’ll pray. Pray while I type, drive, and read. Pray while I clean.
I am going to write the word pray on index cards and place them on my bathroom mirror, on my refrigerator, on the dash of my car, in the books I am reading, anywhere I will see it and remember to pray.
At least once a day I will look at my prayer journal and pray for the needs, add needs, and write in the answers to prayers I have received.

Do you want to join me? I’d love to cheer you on and have your support as we pray together.

Angela

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When Mother’s Day Stings

Posted onMay 11th,2012

I love mothers day, but it also stings. I have a wonderful mother who encouraged me and taught me so much. I love honoring her. I also have a wonderful mother-in-law who helped shape my husband into the man I love. God blessed me with three beautifully messy kids. They call me mom.

But…I think of folks who mourn the loss of their moms. How mother’s day reminds them their mothers are gone from this earth.

I think of people who grieve moms who abandoned them or abused them. Mother’s day means something different to them.

I remember my friends who desperately want children but have been unable to have them. I mourn with those who lost children to disease, miscarriage, or accident. My heart aches for those dealing with the scars of failed adoptions and successful abortions.

Mother’s Day stings and burns and blooms at the same time. Isn’t tha the way of God? He takes our messy fallen sinful world and redeems something in the midst of the stinging burn. He transforms the pain into character and redeems grief into something He can use for His glory.

Maybe here in the midst of the pain and joy God is having His way with us. When we open our grief-filled hands and give the pain to Him, then He can make something new from it. Here our load is lighter in the midst of knowing His hope and glory. In return He gives us joy for our mourning and beauty for our ashes.

Praying you experience God’s peace and joy when Mother’s day stings.

Angela

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My Friend and Her Book

Posted onMay 08th,2012

I am so excited to tell you about my friend and her new book for moms.

Having one of those days where you finding yourself hiding in the bathroom or closet just for a few extra moments of peace? Then chaos abounds as little fingers clamor under the door to get your attention; Heather Riggleman has been there. In her book Mama Needs A Time Out; she shares her early experiences of mothering and wondered how to connect with a God who has so many different names.

On her parenting journey, she shares the antics of her strong-willed son, including blue sparkle tooth paste messes, bathtub farts, and explaining her son’s perspectives to his preschool teacher.

Heather has three children, two with special needs; she married her high school sweetheart, serves as a coordinator and field leader for MOPS (www.mops.org), and is currently blazing a new trial with an online talk show of sorts, www.herviewfromhome.com. If anything, she knows what it’s like to be pulled in a million different directions on a daily basis. Heather offers insight to find God in the trenches of motherhood.

Throughout her mothering journey, she has learned to know God intimately as Healer, Shepherd, Judge, Peace, and Refuge. Mama Needs A Time-Out offers personal insight of going deeper with God. These short devotions and stories help you laugh at life’s most embarrassing moments, provide a unique view of God being with you in the midst of your worst moments, and help put things back into perspective.

Mama Needs A Time-Out is your daily getaway, book-ended by Scripture, Heather’s “been-there-and-done-that” transparency and tips for moms are a great way to refresh your spirit—you know, the sleep-deprived, squabbling-refereeing, hormone-crazed, woman your kids refer to as, “Mom.”

So if you’re in need of a time out, solid Biblical teaching, and a moment or two with God, this book is just for!~

Heather says the reason she wrote this book is she was desperate for God’s companionship and intrigued by all His names in the Scriptures. How can a mom who is being pulled in a million different directions be able to build an intimate relationship with God?

That question in itself, she learned on a daily basis when her preschoolers were infants and toddlers. She discovered we can know God intimately, even when we are folding socks, shuttling kids everywhere, and even when our baby is crying non-stop, He is there! She wanted moms to learn what she did about our faithful God.

You can buy Heather’s book on Amazon or eChristian.

I do not have any affiliate links nor am I compensated in any way for this post.

Angela

Crazy Fun Weekend…

Posted onMay 07th,2012

We had a full weekend.

Our first time in the pool.

Friends over on Saturday.

A birthday party for my little boy on Sunday.

I turned in my first assignment of a new writing course I enrolled in.

So my blog got put on the back burner. I did want to share this short story with you.

My J turned four and wanted a Star Wars birthday party. About a year ago I bought some Star Wars cupcake wrappers and toothpicks with characters on them. So I asked J what kind of cupcakes he wanted. His answer was strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing. I reminded him that his icing would be pink, but he didn’t mind. I figured pink cupcakes with Star Wars figures on top would not be a bad deal. On Saturday I the Star Wars cupcake wrappers were no where to be found. So I thanked God and my sister for Pinterest and this Star Wars cupcake idea. In fact my husband loved the idea so much, he drew on the marshmallows with the food coloring marker. Here is how ours turned out–pink icing and storm trooper helmet.