thank you

It is late...
or should I say early...
and I should be sleeping, but I just got home from a lovely Mom's Night Out with some great women.

As I was driving home, in the fog, going no faster than 40 mph, I got to thinking about how much I appreciate you.
I know it may seem random because I don't even know who 'you' are, but you have blessed my heart by reading, posting, and praying nonetheless. Thank you for your words of encouragement as I write the contents of my heart and head. I understand they can be messy places from time to time.

Eloquence is not something I am gifted with, or even great grammar, but still, you check back and read along.
I love Jesus and His love for me has changed me heart and soul.
Thanks for letting me share that love and that change with you.

Blessings to you dear friends.
tiffany

Hems and Handbags

'She seeks wool and flax,

 and works with willing hands.

She is like the ships of a merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

She perceives her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.'

Proverbs 31:13-18

There are the cynics that would read this and count it irrelevant for today.

There are the literal that would read this and go buy a field. 

There are those that read this and think, "yes, I've arrived, my lamp doesn't go out at night!"

but I don't think Solomon is writing about perusing Facebook into the wee hours of the morning. 

This is a lovely picture of what God is calling us to be. However, the context in which it is read is important. 

There are those sweet ladies that battle dehabilitating diseases such as MS that makes working with one's hands an impossible task.

Some women are gifted with crafty hands, of which I am not one. 

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands"

Some are gifted with an understanding of finance and business, of which I am not one.

"She considers a field and buys it..."

Ouch. Two strikes for me. 

Some are green thumbs and plant lovely gardens that are vibrant with color, pollinators and vegetation.

I enjoy the dirt in my fingers and the green beans that sprout, but my garden is more trial and error. 

A green thumb I am not. 

"with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard."

That's three strikes. 

However, there is one part that applies to me and this part I will claim and live by:

"She works with willing hands."

"God is not going to require something of us that He has not given us." ~Pastor David Kiamu

A great friend of mine, Pastor David, reminded me of this lovely truth over the weekend.

So many times we measure our worth based upon the women around us. 

We see how others are gifted and often it leaves us feeling inadequate and insecure.

The truth is, we are not all going to be authors, teachers, vocalists, seamstress' and so on. 

God is calling us to do what we love and love what we do and to glorify Him in the process. 

God does not require that we all have business degrees or an interest in all things culinary.

God does call us to work with willing hands. 

God is not calling all of us to serve overseas or to home school our children.

God is calling us to live a life of obedience and conviction, whatever that may look like. 

With this being said, there is a great woman I know who is an example in many ways.

She is an example of using the gifts God has given her to do what she loves, provide for her family and bless others. 

She has walked a tough road but she has been an example of endurance and faith.

I would like to introduce you Hems and Handbags.

Hems and Handbags is now making these lovely greeting cards

These handbags are hand crafted and come complete with a legit tag and a lovely lining.
Oh the details! 

You may not be crafty like my sweet girlfriend, but you can support someone that is. 

I would encourage you to take a stroll on over, check her out and perhaps even bless her with a purchase. 

Whatever it is that you do today,

may you thank God for the gifts and abilities He has blessed you with 

and glorify God in them. 

Blessings to you!

<><tce

what's in your hand? a lesson from a little boy

'Then he [David] took his staff in his hand

and chose five smooth

stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch.

His sling was in his hand,

and he approached the Philistine [Goliath].'

1 Samuel 17:40

I love this story. 

I grew up hearing this story and seeing little paper Davids move across flannel boards with sling in hand.

It always made me cheer.

A couple of years ago, while preparing a Sunday school lesson on the ordinary things that God used to do extraordinary things, this single verse in this well known story stopped me dead in my tracks. 

Ok...so let me recap. 

David is just a kid and is busy tending his father's sheep...a not so glamorous job.

He had brothers who were out fighting a battle against the Philistines....well, kind of. 

David's father, Jesse, asked David to bring them lunch and David obeyed. 

Upon arriving, he did not find a battle in motion, rather he found a bunch of trained soldiers hiding of which his brothers and the king were included. 

Upon further examination, David learned the Philistine army had a golden ticket--a man that stood more than 9 feet tall who was clad in hundreds of pounds of armor with a shield bearer (one can only imagine how big he must've been) going before him. For forty days he came out and taunted Israel challenging them to come and try to defeat him. The Israelite's response? Run and hide. 

Enter David. 

Little boy with a strap of leather, a shepherd's staff and a little faith in a great big God. 

As I read this verse about David preparing to go into battle, I had never noticed it before. 

Think about it--all the pictures we see, all the little flannel graph Davids--not a single one is carrying a shepherd's staff. 

Why in the world does David carry a staff with him? 

Was it like Plan B? If the stones and sling don't work, stab him with the staff? 

As I was reading, I couldn't move beyond this puzzling verse. 

Now I am no theologian. I have no Divinity degree or great knowledge of the original Hebrew texts or even the Bible itself. I just ask God to speak truth to my heart, and in His faithfulness, He responds. 

As I prayed through this verse, God took me back to another great hero of the faith who had gone before David: Moses. 

Just as we have heard stories of history's greats such as Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman, undoubtedly had David heard stories of Moses and the amazing things God did through him. 

Start your journey in Exodus 4. God is preparing to deliver His people from the hand of a tyrant and chooses Moses to lead them out. 

He approaches Moses and reveals His plan. 

Moses declines. 

God presses him further.

"What is that in your hand?" He asks Moses.

"A staff..." is Moses' response. 

God commands him to throw it to the ground, he does and it becomes a snake and he runs from it. 

God commands him to reach down and pick it up. He does and it becomes a staff again.

Fast forward to the Red Sea. 

The Israelites have left Egypt and are running from the Egyptian tyrant that has changed his mind about releasing his valuable slaves. 

They have an ocean in front of them and an army closing in behind. 

Moses raises his staff and stretches his hand over the sea and God divides the water. 

Incredible. 

Fast forward again to a bunch of whiny, unfaithful and unbelieving Israelites that are still in the desert. 

They are complaining about water. 

God had given Moses instructions that he failed to follow. 

In his haste and disobedience, Moses strikes the rock with his staff and water pours forth. 

God's blessing even in the midst of disobedience. 

These are just three examples of a mighty God working through a flawed man and his shepherd's staff. 

How does this correlate with our story about David?

Well, as God was walking me through Scripture, I undoubtedly believe they are connected. 

You see, without a doubt David was a bit afraid. 

I am certain that everything in him told him to run and hide, just like the rest of them. 

But undoubtedly, He believed that just as God did great things through an old man in the desert, God would again do great things through a little boy on a battle field. 

Why then did he take his staff? For many it is an insignificant detail that gets passed by--hence the reason we see it not in all the pictures and little flannel graph David's. 

But...I believe that there is not a single insignificant word in all of Scripture which is why this verse bothered me so. Why would he bring it along and why does the writer make sure to include it? 

Again, I am no theologian, but I believe he did it was a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness and protection. 

As David suited up and carefully selected his stones, 

his humanity was certainly telling him to turn back. 

His God was telling him to go forth. 

Without a doubt, David was recounting the stories of God's unprecedented favor and provision of another great man that had gone before David. 

I believe that David made sure to carry that staff out to battle with him as a physical reminder of what God does through unlikely people that are willing to step forth in faith and obey His calling rather than turn back in fear. 

I believe that we have a lot to learn from this.

Often, we forget that which ought to remember,

and remember that which we ought to forget. 

As we face unbelievable hurts and challenges, 

I think it is important to look back at our lives and the lives of those that have gone before us, and see the evidences of God's faithfulness. 

So many times I find myself questioning, doubting and complaining before God, wondering why He is leading me down the harder road. 

How quickly I forget His faithfulness through all things in the past.

Why would He forsake me now?

In His quiet way, I can hear the Spirit ask, 

"Tiffany, what's in your hand? How have you seen my faithfulness in the past? 

Take those evidences with you. 

Wear them like a garment,

hold onto them like a staff,

lest you forget how I have been faithful in the past 

and will thus be faithful in the future. 

I AM faithful. " 

Blessings to you dear friends as you journey through yet another week.

May you see and remember evidences of God's faithfulness and unmerited favor this week.

Carry them with you as David carried his staff. 

May they remind you of His provision and help spur you on to continue to follow in spite of the giant that is challenging you or the humanity that is telling you to turn and run. 

<><tce

Unless the Lord build the house...

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early 

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep."

Psalm 127:1-3

When I took this picture, I was standing in what had been my bed room. 

This was last August. 

During the last seven months, God has really been dealing with my heart in the area of expectations and human effort. 

Raising four kids while sleeping in the living room and stepping around shop vacs, wet-saws and tool boxes has presented a huge challenge, both physically and mentally. 

It has been a great challenge to honor the Sabbath and there have definitely been Sabbath's that we have not. It is so easy to become fixated on that which must get done that we take rest out of the equation only to find ourselves out of touch with God and one another as well as exhausted, heart and soul. 

"Unless the Lord build the house..."

"Unless the Lord keep watch over the city..."

How often I find myself running and toiling feverishly to build my kingdom here on earth. 

I look around at what the world has, how they are filling their nice homes and driving their nice cars, and find myself subtly being drawn into that. 

I find myself trying to protect my kids from everything. We sanitize everything, eat organically, vaccinate for this and medicate for that, only to find they will still get sick, they will still make mistakes and they can still be hurt. 

This is not to say that we as parents should not be doing these things, but when our focus and energy is poured into these hollow human efforts, we come up tired and unsuccessful. The protection of our children and those we love is not found in our efforts, but rather through our faithful Lord keeping watch over them. 

"eating the bread of anxious toil..."

I don't know about you, but I know anxious toil well.

There is some product from it, but it is merely bread alone. 

When we realize that we are invited to come and feast with Him at His banqueting table how can we still cling to our unstisfying bread crusts? 

As I look forward to the month of April and to my remaining moments and days on earth, my heart is hungry for rest. 

I am His beloved and I will claim the rest, protection and covering that He is promising me. 

I will enjoy the beauty of what He has provided rather than always longing for more. 

I will take joy in and love my children while they are mine and will find peace in knowing they were His first. 

I will feast with Him in the splendor of His presence through my daily communion with Him.

I will slow down enough to teach others about Him and to spend time savoring His goodness. 

I will come into His presence and rest. 

Blessed Friday everyone!

It's good to be back :) 

<><tce

a small respite

I first want to say thanks for all that prayed for me.
There is nothing that is life threatening or ominous in any way, just the Enemy at work in many ways.

I am eager to share more as well as post some pictures, but I have been away for a small respite with the kiddos for the last six days. I had no idea how much my spirit needed the rest until I was driving away. The more distance that passed, the lighter I felt.

I stayed with a cherished friend who has a very quiet and peaceful home--just what we needed! My sweet husband remained at home to continue on our renovation project, so it was just the kids and me. During my time away I did some shopping, hosted a lovely bridal shower for an amazing woman and friend, chatted, laughed and cried into the wee hours of the morning, ate great food and played Quiddler. It was a lovely time away.

Physically I am exhasuted (those late nights sure catch up with little ones running around!) but mentally, emotionally and spiritually I feel ready to carry on.
I am looking forward to falling back into a routine, blogging being part of that.
May God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and may He be gracious to you!

<><tce

Please pray for me...

This is an odd post, I recognize that.
Would you pray for me Blog Friends?

The more I pursue Christ, the harder the Enemy presses in and I need endurance.
I love Jesus more than anything and I want my life and my conduct and everything about me to testify to that. Would you please pray that I would be above reproach in all areas--my relationships, my parenting, my financial management, my time management.

Please pray for God's direction over my life. Pray that He would identify areas in my life that are affecting my intimacy with Him and that in response I would have strength of character to obey.

Thank you.
Hugs and blessings,
tiffany

"Follow Me..."

'While walking by the Sea of Galilee,

He [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter)

and Andrew his brother,

casting a net into the sea, 

for they were fishermen.

And He said to them,

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him.'

Matthew 4:18-20

Fishermen. Something that I must say I have never aspired to be. Granted, I enjoy fishing but I can't imagine doing it for a living. I certainly appreciate those that still do simply because I really enjoy a good meal of seafood or fish, especially when it is fresh. 

In that generation, a fishermen was a very blue collar kind of person. Nothing shameful in it, but certainly not the elite of society. I find it interesting that these are the first two men to whom Jesus calls. 

No status. No special education. No significant family lines. Just fishermen. Hard working fishermen. 

Jesus makes a simple invitation, "Follow Me..." 

He doesn't sit down and lay out the entire picture for them. He doesn't go into great detail about who He is, what His plan for the human race is or even what their part is going to be in all of it...He simply invites them to join Him knowing that as they follow, His plan will unfold before them.

"...and I will make you fishers of men."

These eight words say a lot about the person of Jesus Christ. 

He is promising something to them.

Imagine that--God incarnate making a personal promise. Wow. 

Second, He is meeting them where they are at.

He will take what they know and what they are gifted with

and use it for a greater purpose.  

Third, He is promising significance. 

This is not to say that their work is not important now. Catching food to feed a village was critical, and someone needed to do it, but God had something better for these two chosen men. 

Catching souls rather than fish. 

Did they understand what it meant? Most likely not. 

Did they hear significance in the calling? Apparently. 

"Immediately they left their nets..."

There was no delay. 

No recorded hesitation.

No expounded explanation or revelation.

Just an invitation and an immediate response. 

They left their nets...

Forget not that their nets were their livelihood. It was all they knew. It was their connection to society.

It was their security. 

Undoubtedly, their acceptance required faith...a tremendous amount of faith. 

They trusted that this invitation was a divine appointment.

A divine appointment with something...Someone, greater than they. 

They knew nothing more than this Someone was inviting them to something greater and accompanying it with a promise of something greater. 

The only acceptable response? To immediately leave their nets and follow. 

How different would the world be if we accepted the same invitation? 

What if we stopped hesitating, stopped demanding complete revelation of the plan, stopped doubting the One inviting us, and simply followed Him? 

How different would we be?

God is promising something greater than we could ever do for ourselves. 

But, His invitation requires a complete willingness to follow. 

But, just as He promised to make them 'fishers of men', He too will take our gifts and abilities and use them to draw others to Himself. 

"Follow Me..."

What will your response be this morning?

<><tce