Lamentations (Bible in 90 Days)

Lamentations is written by Jeremiah as a look back on the fall of Jerusalem. It is a dirge, a funeral song. Jeremiah is weeping for the people who turned their back on God.

Jeremiah knew the destruction of Judah was coming, he spent his lifetime warning people of the imminent danger of disobeying God. The people didn’t listen, yet Jeremiah still weeped for them. He continually sets an example of the life God wants us to lead despite the rejection from society.

“The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26

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Lamentations ends with Jeremiah’s plea for the restoration of Judah.

“Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!” Lamentations 5:21

Pinterest: Photo love and more!

These are some of my favorite Pinteresting things this week!

1. Mom's Gonna Snap

Clickin Moms

This is the perfect shirt for me. I almost always have a camera attached to my hand. I take so many pictures because I love it and I need the help remembering. This shirt made me smile. 

2. Scrapbooking

Scrapbooks, etc.

In the spirit of taking pictures, my next favorite thing is scrapbooking. Scrapbooking, etc. has a website full of great ideas and an awesome magazine too. (And no, no one is paying me to say that, I wish they would.) This layout stood out to me because it is bright, I love circles and I can display lots of pictures on one page. Scrapbooking is so much fun for me, I love being able to create and display the fun we always have.

3. Anniversary Photo

No Biggie

I've seen several different versions of this idea and it is one that I really like. We missed doing a picture in a picture for every year, but this year is our 5 year anniversary and we want to make it special. I feel like doing the picture in a picture idea might work for us every 5 years. 

4. Brownie Batter Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

Kevin & Amanda

Um, yes please! This combines three of our family's favorite things: Brownies (Stephen), Cupcakes (Me) and Chocolate (Zoey). I believe this will be a winner at our house.

5. White House Salad

ivilliage 

This salad looks fresh, delicious and easy to make. I love cooking with fresh ingredients, especially fruits and vegetables. This is definitely a dish I am trying before summer ends. My mouth is already watering.

Hope you have some Pinteresting ideas too! I'd love to hear about them. Enjoy your weekend!

There is Always Time for Thankfulness

This week has been rough, really rough for me. Part of it is my miscarriage and part of it is the inability to get all the things done I needed to catch up on from vacation. However, I am a strong believer in positive thinking. I am glad I carve out this slot in my week to be thankful of the little things, and the big, no matter how my week has gone. This week I need this time even more. Because no matter how much pain or emotional anxiety I face, I am always thankful. I may be struggling right now, but this will pass as all trials do.

I want to thank God for my life, my family, and my many supportive friends. Through times of turmoil, people  are often supplied to help carry us through. It has helped a great deal being able to talk things through with those who love me. I has been great to be able to post about it on this site. Writing is my way of processing, I've said that many times and it is true especially in hard circumstances like this. I am very glad that we let everyone know about my miscarriage, not so my friends can be sad, but because they lift me up just by saying "I'm sorry" or "I love you" or "I'm here if you need anything." The world is a better place when surrounded by love.

I want to thank Stephen and Zoey in particular. They have been lights in an otherwise dark time for me. Stephen is so patient and supportive, I don't know what I would do without him. I know he feels helpless during this time, but I am so thankful that he is here. I continuously draw from his strength as I always have. The beauty of our relationship is our ability to life each other up and be just what the other needs.

Zoey. My beautiful little girl. I see her everyday and I am thankful that she is here with us. After 3 miscarriages, I now see Zoey as the miracle. She has brought such a light into our world, I cannot even explain. All of this is just a little easier to take with her here.

I am also thankful for Zoey's remarkable ability of empathy. We have noticed lately that she cares a great deal about how others are feeling. She points out when people are happy, sad and scared, but she also feels that with them. It amazes me how much she understands and she is still so young. Thankfully, this has been to my advantage this week. Zoey has taken note that Mommy doesn't feel very well so she has not pushed me as hard, thankfully. She even sang me a song to cheer me up one day. I love her so much!

Another aspect of Zoey that I am very thankful for is her love for creativity and playing games. This has helped out a great deal this week when I haven't felt like moving, at all if possible. We will sit at the table for a couple hours drawing, coloring and creating with all of our craft supplies. I have found that Zoey, in particular, loves to draw and create new things herself. I admire this trait because it is something that I am unable to do well. I love recreating things, making old things new, or designing displays from items we already have (my scrapbooking is a good example of this.) But I have different talents than my mother, so I hope Zoey has and enjoys different talents than me.

I am thankful that I have a million hobbies so I will never be bored. I am thankful that my husband knows how to cook (sometimes better than me) so we won't go hungry this week. I am thankful that Zoey can make me laugh. I am thankful when Stephen kisses my head letting all the love his shares for me pass through me and comfort me. I am thankful we have a very comfy couch, I've been on it a lot this week. I am thankful for coffee and being able to really drink it again. I am thankful for God who keep watch over all of us. I am thankful for love. I am thankful for life.

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"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Strong in Struggling Times

First of all I want to thank everyone who is praying for us during this difficult time of our miscarriage. I thank everyone who has contacted me and offer support. I love you all. And you have no idea how much it means to know that our family, friends and even friends we haven't met yet are there for us and for me.

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Many people have commented, "You are so strong." and "I don't know how you are handling this as well as you are." And I have news for them, I don't feel strong. Tired, frustrated, sad, weary, disheartened, is what I feel.

However, feeling these depressive emotions right now does not stop my spirit from looking forward to the future. I need time to grieve for the child we will not have. Especially right now when my body is still greatly influenced by hormones as I continue to process this miscarriage.

No matter what pain and sadness I experience I know something greater than these trials--I know God's love. God has given me a reassuring peace over this entire situation, just like the two miscarriages before it. I don't know the reason and I do not understand the meaning of my losses, but God is in control. I've known it for a while, God has something up his sleeve and I am on a journey to find out what it is and how I can be apart of his supreme plan.

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Looking forward to the future is a happy view for me. I want a big family, everyone I know or reads my writing knows that. However, I am so absolutely blessed for my daughter Zoey and my husband Stephen. I don't need anyone else in our immediate family to make it feel complete.

I am happy, despite this loss. I am happy during this loss. I am happy because this loss does not mean a burdened life for me or my family. I am sad, incredibly so, but life goes on and I intend to go with it. I live in the everyday and I live for the small miracles.

This miscarriage was not the miracle meant for me right now, but even when God says no, it is not always meant as a punishment. God showed me during my first miscarriage that bad things do not happen because of something we did or didn't do. We can look to Job for that. Struggles are times of learning, growing as individuals and in relationship with God. They are times we can feel and share with others who are grieving. There is more to loss than the loss itself, there is hope. There is hope we can give to others, hope we can give to ourselves. Simply being able to pick up the pieces and move forward is a victory.

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The Bible says a lot of struggle and persecution. I want to share a few verses that have helped me specifically through this struggle:

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and trouble that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

"This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord you God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

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I don't always feel strong, but God is strong and His light shines through me. I suppose I have a strong perspective when it comes to a loss like this and that makes me appear strong. I will take it because I feel like a mess. Nonetheless, I know God is with me and I will make it through this. And through the struggle I will be stronger.

All I can really say is that this is the underlying joy I have talked about before. Even in times of struggle I feel like I am still on solid ground. I can only that God and my relationship with him for that.

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I also want to say that everyone goes through their own kinds of struggles, big and small. You never know what you are capable of until put to the test. This is not a test I would want anyone to go through, I know how much it hurts. But my point is. Everyone has strength in them no matter what your belief, your location, your upbringing, or your circumstance. It is all about your choice. It is a choice to stand up and journey through or a choice to lay down and let it walk over you. I chose to stand and I know Jesus is standing beside me. Everyone has strength. In times of struggle you may surprise yourself with what you are truly capable of. I know I do.

Beautiful Balance

Before vacation I began a series called "Beautiful Battle" based on a novel about spiritual warfare by Mary DeMuth. This was going to be partnered with "Joyful Mothering;" however, she pushed the series back until later this fall. I felt the nudge to go ahead and begin. I felt that there were pieces in this novel that I needed to know sooner rather than later. I was right.

I'm going to begin where I left off on Chapter 4 of "Beautiful Battle" where I learn all about balancing fear and faith...

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When thinking of Spiritual Warfare, there is the possibility of both dismissing its existence and over dwelling on the unseen struggles. Amazingly, these two opposites can even happen with close encounter to the other. Spiritual Battles take many forms and it is possible to focus too much on one aspect while others blow past you.

Chapter for of DeMuth's "Beautiful Battle" discusses balancing the perspective of spiritual warfare. The title of the chapter describes DeMuth's intention well-- "Living the Right Story: Balancing Between Ignorance and Overreaction."

Satan has many names, but so does God. For every name and description of Satan, God has one better. The bible shows over and over again that Satan has no power against the Almighty God. God created Satan, Jesus took authority over him and has already defeated any of Satan's activity. Jesus has also presented that authority to us by being the sacrifice and sharing his blood.

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"Adversary" is one of Satan's many names. It means to hide in ambush, like prey. However, the Lord is our Shepard and protects s from prey. God protects us from Satan's attacks.

One of Satan's greatest tricks is temptation, which labeled him "the tempter." It is important to remember that it is Satan who tempts, not God.

"And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else." James 1:13

It is also important to remember, regarding temptation, that God is in control of Satan and will not allow more than you are capable of handling.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When yo are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13

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There are many trials in life, times of ups and downs, and happenstances beyond our control. I'm am going through that right now with my third miscarriage. It is a struggle that I know God has weighed whether I can handle it. Thankfully, I am strong enough in faith with Him that I can. Through all the rough times God provides a way and watches after his beloved children. Through struggle God strengthens us and brings us closer to Him. The struggles I face right now has put me face to face once a again with a God that listens, grieves with me and strengthens me.

Satan is a liar and a deceiver. DeMuth makes the point that Satan is unable to speak the truth. God on the other hand only speaks truth.

"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6

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Although Satan leads with lies, false inspiration, and attempts to destroy good, God is light, hope and truth. Satan cannot destroy God or what he protects. If we keep our eyes focused on God and righteousness we will see through Satan's lies and deceptions.

There is a fine line between calling Satan out and expecting him in every little aspect of life. Though we should not take Satan's worldly influences lightly, we should also not obsess over his schemes because that is the precise attention he desires. God is bigger. By going through Jesus and being covered by his blood we tap into his authority over Satan. Jesus' sacrifice overthrew any hope of Satan's success by conquering all sin.

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We need to focus on God, but still have an understanding of Satan's schemes. We must look inward to our souls and strengthen our relationship with God which will reduce our attention on distractions, judgments and views of worldly success. We should strive toward Godly standards. It isn't easy, but it is important to find a balance between fear and faith.

*Note: This is a series that I will link up with at "Joyful Mothering;" however, the group discussion will not begin until later this fall. For now, I feel compelled to continue studying and posting what I learn.

Devotional Study based on "Beautiful Battle" a novel by Mary DeMuth.

The Beautiful Battle Series:
Part One: Foundations
Introduction: "Warrior Women"
Chapter One: “Beautiful Battle”

Chapter One: "Woman at the Well"
Chapter Two: "Satan: The Enemy"
Chapter Three: "Why Do We Suffer?"

Chapter Four: "Beautiful Balance"