Peace Like A River

Isaiah 48:17-18

Thus says the Lord,

    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

    who teaches you to profit,

    who leads you in the way you should go.

Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!

    Then your peace would have been like a river,

    and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;”

Last fall, I encountered the peace and joyful abundance of complete obedience to our Lord, Jesus Christ. It was a miraculous, awesome, exciting time. Afterward, His peace continued and I was amazed by the change I felt in my life and reactions. At least, for a little while… despite my best intentions, I stepped out of the river of peace and back onto the riverbank. I chose stress and anxiety instead of peace.

This is not a perfect story – in fact, it was starting to feel like a very sad story for a while – but now I believe it is a story of redemption. It is my story, the story of today, the place where Christ and I walk together at present. Our MOPS theme asks us to “embrace your story,” so I will right now – and I choose to be faithful to the Holy One who is big enough to change our stories, ways and hearts.

Way back, in December of 2012, God asked me to serve Him by playing music in association with an adoption benefit. He helped me leap over hurdles in lack of confidence, disbelief in administrative skills, discomfort in leadership. He pressed onto my heart a real, deep concern for friends and acquaintances that were obeying His call to adopt. He gave me music, excitement and incredible support. And then, he blessed the efforts of all those involved! He astounded us with His power, might and provision.

It happened like this:

When I finally stepped into true obedience (after many months, weeks, days and hours of prayer from myself and others) and sent out the message of my (God’s!) intention to hold an Adoption Benefit Concert, I received an email providing a free venue within 1 hour. Volunteers willing to help with the planning and organization popped up within 2 days. Musicians desiring to offer their talents surfaced steadily for 2 months.

Everywhere our team went, we were met with confirmation. We knew God’s hand was present. We saw greater and greater need for support of adoptive families in Sheridan. We found our efforts productive rather than frustrated and discovered more and more people willing to help, serve and pray over our event.

The end result? Despite months, days, hours of work, I rested in the supportive arms of our God. I felt alive, able and successful. My fears and doubts were replaced with complete reliance upon the abilities of God. I rested in a river of peace.

The day of the concert things began to fall apart. But, Jesus remained steadfastly on our side. He poured his spirit of peace upon us and we were able to continue without stress, without worry – knowing we were doing God’s will, God’s work. We understood with full confidence that as long as we remained in obedience to Him all would work out as He intended. It was in His hands. And we left it there.

The reward? Peace. And incredible amazement. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)” God led us in opening a fund to support adoptive families. He pieced together an event. He brought out generous giving. He taught me to never underestimate His provision, His might, His abundance.

In awe and gratitude, my autumn was framed in obedience. I thankfully allowed God to stretch, grow and change me. I rested in His peace that “passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).” The lessons I began to learn spread themselves to other parts of my life, other places where I had previously refused to surrender control.

I realized my family is not mine. My family is God’s. I cannot protect my children 100%; I have to trust God for that.

God showed me how my anxiety regarding my husband’s safety while he’s elk hunting changes nothing. Giving God my worries, allowing Him to hold my husband – as He always has and always will – and the rest of us while Daddy’s away, that’s the only way. It provided me freedom and a strong sense of peace. I was able to sleep soundly and comfortably while my husband was gone.

And then…

December hit and I grabbed ahold of stress, worry and anxiety again. With fervor. With passion. To the detriment of my family, my mental health, my relationship with God, my relations with friends, and my enjoyment of the holiday season. Peace disappeared. Patience evaporated. And then the struggle began…

And continued…

And continues. I simply returned to old habits, old ways of doing things, my “tried and true” sort of lifestyle. Except this old stuff isn’t better! And I know that with certainty now.

“So?” you say. “What now?”

And my only answer is this:

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all the ways you’ve surprised me with provision. Thank you for showing me a better way. You have promised to never take away your covenant of peace (Isaiah 54:10). Please forgive me for failing to come to you with all my anxieties, for trying to make it once again on my own. I cannot do this life-thing alone! Please lead and guide me once more in the way of peace. May I rest in your great river. Amen.”

Ladies, what is your story? What is God doing in your heart and life today? Are you ready to share it?

- Bethany Tippin, Publicity Leader

The Inevitable Legacy a Mama Leaves

by Misty Krasawski

A sudden wail startled me from sleep last night.

My second daughter, our bright butterfly, was uncharacteristically frozen in bed with all her energy going into calling my name. Hair going every which way and lashes stuck together from sleep and tears, she knew her belly was sick but couldn’t remember what to do about it. I held her hand, guided her to the bathroom and held her hair back, and afterward poured her a drink of water, helped brush her teeth and tucked her back into bed with a bowl nearby.

I hate being sick and spent much of my many months of pregnancy avoiding it at all costs! Yet here I found myself, at 1:15 in the morning, willingly dealing with what was probably the consequence of too much indulgence at the movie we’d been to that afternoon.

  Moms work hard.

We run laundry and buy groceries, make meals and wash dishes, comfort hearts and read bedtime stories. We listen and counsel, train and disciple, snuggle and carpool. We stretch dollars and fish sticks and sweater necks, hours and bedroom space and patience. We deal with things we’d rather avoid, all because we love our children.

There are a lot of things we do on purpose. But what about the things we’re doing without even being aware of them?

When I was tucking Savannah back into bed the second time that night, smoothing her hair back from her face and saying one last, hopeful prayer for rest, I thought about the fact that I have no such memories. Maybe it’s why I’m so fretful when I’m sick now. Anyway, I realized that while she may not remember that particular night, there’s been a certain atmosphere she’s breathed all her life which she surely will remember.

 We really have no choice in the matter, mamas: we are leaving a legacy.

Every morning, when we make breakfast and greet them with a smile or lounge in bed while they pour cereal. When we hustle them off to the day’s activities with shrieks of “Where are your shoes? Your bag? Your … stuff?!” or bend heads together over God’s word. When we respond to the cries of even the tiniest ones at night.

Our children are taking mental notes. On the days we want them to, and the days we don’t.

Believe me, I’ve said plenty of prayers asking the Lord to erase certain days. The ones where hormones were high and patience was low. I’ve pulled blankets up over my head and offered TV rather than my attention, too. Someone has said that mothering is a marathon … not a sprint.  Only the Lord can give us the strength we need to finish this mothering marathon well.

 “Let us not lose heart in doing good,  for in due time we will reap, if we do not grow weary.” Gal. 6:9

That sounds an awful lot like a command to me! Let us not. In other words, if you begin to grow weary, stop it. Which means you and I have to know where to go for help.

The good news? He is here. Closer than the breath we breathe. Living right within us, the Maker of the universe, flinger of stars, designer of galaxies, Boss of it all.

 And He is looking for those whose hearts are completely His …

 “that He might strongly support” them. ~2 Chron. 16:9 

 Might you qualify for His support today, friend? Are you one He is looking for? If your heart is His, you’ve made His list. Won’t you cry out alongside me for His help, today?

 That we might leave a legacy of faith rather than fear? 
Of grace, rather than striving?
 Of love, rather than anger? 
Of patience, rather than short-temper?
 Of a soft answer, rather than a raised voice?

 Father, I lift all these sweet moms to you. I ask that You would draw close to each one of us, Lord. Help us! Oh, Lord, help us to be more like You. We can’t do it on our own and You know we are but dust. Without You, we can do nothing. With You, we can move mountains. Come breathe in us today, Lord; that we might fill our childrens’ sails with Your life and send them out strong, carrying a legacy of a mama who leaned on Jesus. In Your mighty and precious name, Amen.

Blessings and prayers for you today! ~ Misty

originally posted at I Take Joy 11/12/13 used by permission

Nudges

Have you felt the nudge of God today? Did His quiet voice ask you to kneel before a small child, look into her face and really listen?

Photo by Bethany Tippin

Did the movement of the wind in the trees blow a neighbor into your thoughts? Did you choose to walk by and say, “Hello”?

Christa Tietjen Photography

Have you known you should STOP what you’re doing and bow your head? Did you do it?

Did your tears fall, unhindered, as Jesus revealed a broken, hurtful situation? And did you recognize those tears as prayer? Your care and concern as incense rising?

Did you obey?

I’m asking because I had a friend obey the Spirit’s nudge this morning. I had a friend listen and respond. I witnessed the power of God’s touch through the hands and feet of a human right here on earth, right here in Sheridan, right here in MOPS.

It was just a hug. And yet it was so much more. It was a hug with the words, “I just felt like I was supposed to hug you.” And do you know what those words said to me? “My friend is listening. Wow. She’s in tune with the Holy Spirit. Right now, here, she’s dwelling in God.”

And the hug? It said, “I love you. I know what you lack. I heard your prayer, I heard you state your need and I am providing.”

Because, last night I sent a text that said, “I just need a hug.” A text. Silly. But, a truth. A statement to myself and another that I had a need. And God heard me. He prompted another believer to serve me in love and to serve Him in obedience. The result: a moment of wonder, awe and glory.

Over the course of my life, I know I have heard God’s still, small voice many times. I wish I could say I’ve responded promptly in obedience every time. But I haven’t. These sweet, sweet moments, however, where someone else’s obedience magnifies the power of the Holy Spirit and touches me intimately, these moments push me forward, move me onward, make me want to do a better job. They make me believe I will take the next bold, silly or seemingly trivial step that presents itself, in obedience. They remind me that we can all be unlikely sources of God’s provision.

Christa Tietjen Photography

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church, and in Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever.” – Ephesians 3:20-21 (NRSV, emphasis added)

- Bethany Tippin, MOPS Mom & Publicity Leader

Bethany Tippin is a wife and mother of 2 children, ages 3 and 5. She is a musician, teacher and writer. She joined MOPS very soon after moving to Sheridan and regularly finds blessing in her participation. This, her 6^th year, is her 1^st year in a leadership role. Serving as the 2013-2014 Publicity steering member is a joy and a challenge. She is massively excited about all the ways Christ is evidently moving in her life and community!