I have been struggling a bit lately with feeling overwhelmed with all of the extra responsibilities I have had.  Many of the things are good things, and I am glad to be a part of each and every one of them but at the same time it can be a bit taxing...

Then I was looking through some devo's that I wrote last year- & was reminded once again that I don't have to try and do this thing called life on my own.  For God has so graciously given us a helper- the Holy Spirit.

I wanted to share with you some of those thoughts:

Helper

(One that helps; to give assistance or support to)

God is our helper; He is there to help give us the strength and support we need to get through what lies ahead.  We will face valleys that are too deep to go down alone and we will need to conquer mountains that are too high to dare climb ourselves.  Yet there is one we can call when we hit the places of uncertainty.  God has blessed us with a tool that we often forget to use and that is the Holy Spirit.  John 14:16 says that when Jesus was preparing for His departure from His time here on earth he told His disciples; “I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever… the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

                So in the darkest of hours in the loneliest of places we need to just call out for the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to give us peace and to give us strength.  The Holy Spirit can guide us when we aren’t sure which way to go.  When we need wisdom, it can intercede for us to God.  It is an awesome resource that we need to tap into.

                God loves us so much.  He is with us now and always- as long as we call out to Him.  We need to take the initiative.  God is always waiting with open arms to help us, but we first need to go.

Have you discovered the power you can have through the Holy Spirit?

How can the Holy Spirit help you every day?

Was there a time that you can remember, that you didn’t ask the Holy Spirit for help and you should have?

Additional scripture reading: Psalm 54:4 and Psalm 118:6

I am so incredibly thankful for that "Helper".  The days that I feel the loneliest I know God is right by my side.  His Holy Spirit dwells within me and gives me the direction and certainty I need.  

Thank you God for always loving us and always being with us.

Surrendering to Him

I am preparing a week of camp for my job and the theme I have chosen this year is "Surrender To Him". Little did I know that when I picked that title God would be reminding me daily what that means.

I was reminded this past weekend by the speaker, we will be having for the week, as he was sharing at a meeting, how daily we need to surrender... not just once in that day, but the second we wake up- to the minute we lay down for the day and all of the times in between. 

I am realizing this more and more, especially as a parent of 5.  As each of my children get older I need to become even more dependent on Him.  That sounds easier said than done, doesn’t it?  But that’s what God wants.  He wants all of us all the time.  We try so hard to hold on to certain areas in our life that we think we can be in control of, but honestly He can do a much better job with it than we can.  Especially with our children.  

He has entrusted us to raise them, but they are His.  We have to remember that... I have to remember that.  And sometimes that is really really hard to accept.  He wants the best for them, even more than I do.  

As my oldest is on the brink of turning 18- I can't believe it.  I am seeing how my role is changing.  We, Dave & I, have the hope that we have raised her in a Godly home and have taught her what it means to surrender fully to Christ and now we begin to let go.  Not completley but slowly.  Allowing her to begin to make some decisions on her own.  Decisions that we pray and hope will be wise ones.  

But... with the surrendering comes the trusting.  Trusting in her, as well as God.  He has her back and I know that He will not abandon her, or any of our children as they move towards adulthood or any new season in their lives. I know it in my head but I have to believe it in my heart.  

So as Webster puts it: "Surrendering means “To give the control or use of (something) to someone else”.  So to surrender fully to Him means, that we are willing to give complete control over to Him!  I want to give that control over to God. I really do,  but I am not going to lie.  This past year has stretched me quite a bit.  And I am sure I will be writing about that in another blog... ;)

As for today though, my prayer for you and for me is:

Lord please help me to learn how to be willing to be willing to surrender all of me to you daily. All of things in this world that I want to hold on to, those things that are the closest to me and I cherish dearly. I know you love & cherish them more.  Help me to trust you and to know that you are in full control.  You are the creator of the universe.  You say it and it's done.  You have shown me over and over again how much you love and care for me and for all of those I love.  May I hold on to that truth and not allow the enemy to sway my faith.  I am in awe of your presence and humbled by your love and grace for me.  May I continue to lay those things I hold on to so tightly at the cross. I love you Lord and I am so thankful for you.