Trusting God Through The Hard Times

Over the past several years my husband and I have lost multiple friends and family members to death, grandchildren have been born, some have gone to heaven before we even had a chance to meet them, we have had ups and downs, gains and losses, joys and sorrows. Through it all God has been there. During the times of sorrow His love has sustained us. During the times of joy His presence has moved us to even greater depths of love and appreciation for those He has put in our lives, and bound us to, in His infinite wisdom.

So often, especially in times of trial and testing, we question the Lord. We ask, "Why, Lord? Why is this happening to me?" "Why is this happening to our family?" Over and over again we question the Lord, doubting His promises and even His very presence in our lives.

But, you know, it is in, and through, these hard times that we grow. It is in the face of hard times that we go running into the arms of our Heavenly Father, and they move us ever closer to Him. It is in these hard times that we seek Him out and commune deeply with Him, because it is in these hard times that no one else can ever truly know and understand what we are going through deep down within our hearts and spirits. God can because He is our Creator. God, and God alone, knows us better than anybody on the face of this earth. He knows us better than anyone else ever could, or will.

If you are going through hard times right now...physically, financially, spiritually...if your marriage is in trouble, or if you have suffered loss and are having a hard time healing...stand strong and keep this in mind...

God knows who you are. He knows where you're at, and what you are going through. He knows your heart. You are not alone, because God is ever with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you, because God cares for you.

"For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). 

In Him and With All My Love,
~Rebecca

Five Minute Friday - Writer

Five Minute Friday is a special time set aside each week where, as our hostess and inspiration, Lisa-Jo Baker, puts it, "We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt...no extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation. Unscripted. Unedited. Real." 

Today's prompt is writer. So...here...we...

Go!

Since getting back on track with blogging last week, I've anxiously awaited Lisa-Jo's next prompt all week, but seriously? Writer? 

Oh, don't get me wrong. A writer is what I want to be, but am I? A writer, I mean? 

I've always wanted to be a writer. Even as a child a whole world of words resided in my head and in my heart, and one way or another, they've always managed to come out. When it comes to talking, I've never been at a loss for them. In fact, I've been known to talk way too much and often out of turn. But...writing? Writing makes you have to slow down and think about those words...BEFORE they come tumbling out from the inside of you. It has a habit of making you harness your words...rein them in...and choose them carefully. Writing is hard.

Am I a writer? Sometimes...on rare occasions...the words just flow. I can hardly hit the keys of my keyboard fast enough to get them all down in print before I lose them. At other times...the words come hard. Sometimes I can't MAKE them go together. I mean...the thoughts are there...but the words won't form...and adhere to one another in a coherent sentence. 

Easy or hard...does it matter? I mean...words are words...right? If the words are cohesive...does it matter? Perhaps. It would depend on the purpose for which the writer is writing. But words...any words...written words...handwritten on a piece of paper, or words in print...in a book or the computer screen...words are words, and writing words makes you a writer.

So am I writer? Why, yes, I am! I may not be a great writer, but, I am a writer of words, and that makes me a writer nonetheless! 

Stop!

Until Next Time...

~Rebecca

Five Lessons of Wisdom from Abigail by Guest Writer Darlene Schacht

I’ve been reading much about wisdom these days. It’s mentioned about 45 times (depending on the version) in the book of Proverbs alone.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
~ Proverbs 4:5-7, NIV

When God sends a message that clearly, I sit up and take note. “What now, Lord?” I ponder. “How can I apply wisdom to my ministry?” (That ministry being a loving wife to my husband, a leader of four children and keeper of our home).

Looking to the Greek translation for clarification on wisdom, we find “sophia,” which is why we see words like philosophy, a combination of “philo” (brotherly love) and “sofia.” The shortened version of the word (wise) can be found in sophisticated and sophomore. Ever wonder why some teeth are called “wisdom teeth?” It’s because we get them at the onset of maturity.

Dictionary.com defines wisdom this way: Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity [level headedness], discernment, or insight.

Throughout scripture, wisdom and understanding are found hand in hand. Wisdom is the fear of the Lord, while understanding is that wisdom in practice.

“How can I apply wisdom to my ministry, Lord?”

In silent reverence I wait until I feel His guidance lead through a whisper, “Seek Me until My truth is living, moving, and breathing in your home; until the righteousness of My Word is coupled with each step you take; and until My wisdom exceeds your desire. That’s what you’re called to do.”

Looking to His word for example I find Abigail in 1 Samuel chapter 25. Abigail was the wife of Nabal, and while she was a woman of good understanding and beauty, the Bible describes him as churlish. In other words, he was rude, impolite, hot-headed and lacked the wisdom his wife had.

In verses 7 and 16 we see that David had protected Nabal’s shepherds and was now asking for a reasonable favor in return: that Nabal would give them provisions when they arrived.

Nabal was rich, and so it certainly wouldn’t have been any trouble for him to comply, but instead of being wise and generous, he chose to be rude, which only provoked David to fight.

Gathering an army of 400 men, David set out to destroy Nabal’s household, and had it not been for the wisdom of one woman he would have.

Recognizing that David was a servant of the Lord, Abigail sent a generous gift to David, and with that gift she humbled herself at his feet pleading for the life of her husband. She didn’t deny that Nabal was ill-mannered or rude, but she sought grace on his behalf.

In this beautiful love story, we see that David granted her that grace, and within ten days God took the life of Nabal, and rewarded Abigail with her freedom.

Where did that freedom lead her? Into the arms of David, a valiant soldier and soon-to-be king.

Through Abigail’s example, we see the cycle of wisdom in action:

• She realized that David was a holy man and what his God was capable of. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

• She avoided conflict. “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16).

• She worked quietly to resolve the problem.
  “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards” (Proverbs 29:11).

• She put her understanding into action and offered a gift to David.
  “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Proverbs 10:5).

• She reaped the rewards that come to those who are wise, when she became David’s wife.
  “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Proverbs 3:35)

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
www.timewarpwife.com

Darlene is an Evangelical Christian whose number one priority is to serve Jesus Christ in every area of her life. She started Time-Warp Wife in 2010 out of a place of grace, with a passion to encourage women in their marriages.

She and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada. Married 25 years, they have four children (three still at home), a bird and two pugs who are everyone’s babies, especially hers! Their lives are basically surrounded with three things: faith, music and everything books. She’s an award winning and New York Times best-selling author who is nothing without the grace of God.

Check out her newest book: The Virtuous Wife of a Christ-Centered Life. Join the community of over 160,000 women on facebook. Send Darlene a tweet or two, and check out her boards on Pinterest.

Click here to go straight to Darlene’s articles

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse (S)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

I found this recipe on one of the Trim Healthy Mama sites on Facebook and decided to give it a try. At first I wasn't sure that I was going to like it, but, after tweaking it just a bit (my tweaks are in parenthesis), I can honestly say that it is absolutely delicious! Since my husband and I both liked it, I will definitely be making it again!

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE MOUSSE (S)

1 can pumpkin
2 boxes low-fat cream cheese
1 cup heavy cream (I didn't have any heavy cream, so I used half & half)
4 packets of Truvia (I added 2 more for extra sweetness)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Whip all ingredients together until you have a nice fluffy mousse. I added shaved dark chocolate on top for a garnish.

#thm

Trim Healthy Mama - The Journey Begins

As many of you know, I spent most of last month carrying out My Dollar-Stretching, Cabinet-Clearing, Clean-The-Food-Up Project For March. In reality, the project was two-fold. The first goal was to save money by using up the food we had on-hand, and using the money saved to take care of more immediate needs...which we did. The second goal was, as we used up the food on-hand, to start reading the Trim Healthy Mama book (that I ordered last fall) and see if I really thought I could make a go of it...and I did...and I do.

I'm still not finished reading the book in it's entirety (it's a HUGE book!), but I have read the biggest portion of it and am well on my way with familiarizing myself with the plan, learning some of the recipes, and putting them into practice. In fact, by the 20th of March we had pretty well cleared out our old food stock and, when I restocked with fresh foods on the 21st, they were all foods that were on plan and in line with the Trim Healthy Mama.

Yes, I've went on diets before. I've lost and gained...lost and gained...and regained even more, but the Trim Healthy Mama isn't a diet. It is a new (actually it's a very old) way of eating with a Biblical approach  to food, and I really feel that it is entirely doable. Even my husband (yes, my half-Sicilian husband who has to...make that had to...eat pasta up to three times a day...is reading the book with me and, for the most part, is coming on board, too. I've never seen him so willing to try new things before and I've never seen him go this long without sugar (and all those starches that turn into sugar) and be satisfied. Yes, I honestly do believe that this plan is completely doable...even in my household!

In the days ahead I hope to share my Trim Healthy Mama experiences with you here on a regular basis...my successes, my failures, favorite (and not so favorite) recipes, etc...and I am hoping that other women who are on the plan come along side and chime in, too, joining with me, and others, as we travel this journey together.

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

#THM

My Personal Experience With The Proverbs 31 Woman

I was first introduced to the Proverbs 31 Woman by our pastor's wife back in 1992, and I, have to say, I was immediately fascinated by her. Her life was centered around a reverent fear of God. She was kind, compassionate, faithful, and loving. She was everything that I wanted to be, but wasn't. 

I began studying this fascinating, new-to-me, Proverbs 31 Woman. Early on I was so taken with her that I wrote, and had a friend publish, a tract about her because I wanted everyone I knew to meet her. Looking back at that tract I chuckle. I realize now how little I actually knew and understood back then. What Biblical knowledge I did possess was page-deep and surface-level at best. Over the years, as I studied and read the Bible more and more (and every book I could find on the subject of the Proverbs 31 Woman), my understanding of God's Word deepened, as did my understanding of that beautiful P31 Woman, and my life's goal became (and still is) to, not overnight, but over a lifetime, become a living example of her.

I was in my early-30's when I first met the P31 Woman. In my mid-30's I was blessed with a computer and was introduced to the World Wide Web. There I found all sorts of wonderful resources and connected with other women from around the globe that had the same fascination and desire that I did...to become a living example of that lovely Proverbs 31 Woman. 

In 1998, I was asked to take over an on-line group of over 1000 women whose desire appeared to be the same as mine, but, in time, that proved not to be the case with many of them. Many of the members of that group were wolves in sheep's clothing...some weren't even women! Some were men seeking "virtuous" women for companionship, marriage, or...whatever. Many of the women that were there proved not to be Christians at all. Some were actually witches sent there on purpose to stir up trouble, and do their best to destroy the group. Over time, through much prayer and anguish, God revealed what was what, changes were made, and, eventually, a small group of women whose hearts' desires were real and true, settled into a long season of Christian love and fellowship. Many of those relationships grew into real and lasting friendships, and a few of us even got to meet up with each other a few times and spend many wonderful visits together. 

By my late-30's...early-40's...I had designed a series of challenges based on the Proverbs 31 Woman for the ladies in my group. The daily challenges were called The Challenges of the Proverbs 31 Woman, and we went through Proverbs 31:10-31 a verse (sometimes a half-verse) at a time, several days a week online. I would present the lesson within the group, present the challenge that went with it, then the ladies, and myself, would respond accordingly to the questions, or challenge, of the day and communicate on a regular basis concerning our hearts' desires to become more and more like that beautiful P31 lady. The study seemed to go over well and, over the course of several years, was repeated more than once. It was during that same time, that I totally committed myself to the Lord and promised myself that by my 50th birthday I would BE that living example that I so longed to be. 

Well...soon after that things began to unravel in my personal life. Changes began to take place within our family that would forever change things from the way we had always known them...children married, my mother passed away, grandchildren were born, and I became fearful and unable to cope. Due to that inability to cope...try as I might...things got out of conrol and things that were once of great importance to me began to fall by the wayside. Life became a constant struggle. Everything seemed totally out of control and my main focus, every minute of every day, was just to make it through, And, as many of you know, my 50th birthday has come and gone long ago and, at times, I feel that I'm no closer to being a living example of that beautiful Proverbs 31 Woman than I was when I first started out. 

BUT...it's a new day and a new season, and that old longing to keep moving forward in this area of Biblical womanhood is stirring...stirring like it hasn't stirred in nearly a decade! Over and over again, the Lord keeps bringing my attention back to that favored, marked, highlighted, noted, and worn place in my Bible. His Spirit whispers to me that it's not too late. In fact...it's never too late! As long as there's breath, there's hope, and there's life. And if there's life, it's meant to be lived! On purpose. For Him!

So...today I share my experience with the Proverbs 31 Woman with you. As I do so, I wonder...how many women today truly aspire to be like her? Do you? 

I'd like to encourage you, and challenge you, today, to pick up your Bible and read (or reread) Proverbs 31:10-31. Whether it's your first time...or your hundreth...or your thousandth...or even your ten-thousandth time...let the ministry of fresh vision for Biblical womanhood sink down into your spirit, capture your heart, and challenge you to greater heights than you've ever known for the glory of God.

In Him and With All My Love,
~Rebecca 

P.S. - If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear about your experiences with the Proverbs 31 Woman. Just leave a comment below or feel free to e-mail me at proverbs31heart@yahoo.com. Thank you! And God bless! <3