Sound of Silence

I love to worry. It's how I occupy the blank spaces in my mind and day. However, I don'y just worry about normal things like my marriage, finances, relationships, etc. Usually, I end up worrying about things I either KNOW will not happen (think zombie apocalypse) or things that have a very low likelihood of happening (being struck by lightning). Worrying, plus my other responsibilities of running a house, loving my husband, working from home, and keep up with familial and friend relationships can take quite a mental toll.
Today was an especially busy day. A friend came over with her children while I had my daycare kids. After she left it was lunch, diaper, and nap time right away for the kids in my care. I also hadn't eaten for a while and was on the verge of getting an attitude with anyone or anything that crossed my path. But once everyone had consumed their lunch, diapers were changed, hugs and snuggles given, and nap time set in I was in a much better place. There were still lots of responsibilities to get to. Lunch for me, picking up after the babies, laundry, and making my house look overall presentable.
Instead of just letting it all worry and overwhelm, I was able to, this time, stop and breath. Appreciate the busyness of the children, because it means I have work. Appreciate the mountains of laundry piling up in my basement and the smaller mountain of dishes in my sink because it means I am clothed and fed. Appreciate my husbands absence, not because I don't like having him around, but because it means that he has a job and is able to provide for our family. Appreciate even the craziness of the day, because I am surrounded by people who I love and who love me.
So in the time of silence when the babies were sleeping, my friend had gone, my wash was going, and my lunch was cooking, I stopped and gave thanks for the quiet. For it was a silent witness to all the many blessings that have been bestowed on me.

Under Construction

So many things today have come together for this topic that I had to sit down right away and share it with you. I was at Kathy's-my MIL-house today for a chance to have a conversation with an actual adult. Somehow, the topic of music came up and I started singing "He's Still Workin' On Me" to the baby I was playing with.  Listen to it here! Kathy joined in then pulled up another song, "Kid's Under Construction". We chatted for a few more minutes about the point the songs were making and then our day moved on.

However, as I was making supper tonight, the songs popped into my head again and I started to think more on what the songs pointed out in my life. Some of the lyrics say, "Don't judge me yet/ There's an unfinished part/ But I'll be perfect just according to His plan/ Fashioned by the Master's loving hand." As a Christian, I know that I am called to be so full of Christ that he spills over into every aspect of my life..... but I'm not there yet. There are countless areas in my life that aren't yet in a place that is fully glorifying to God. It is easy for me to be discouraged because I am not a completely perfectly mature Christian.  When I dwell on that fact or compare myself to others, it's so easy to  give up on fulfilling that standard of perfection that is asked of me.  Yet instead of throwing in the towel and walking away from my faith, I need to take those times of discouragement and hand them over to God. When we have reached our limit it's time to take a step back and look into the Bible for a reminder of who we are, what we came from, and where we are going.

Over the last couple months my Pastor had been preaching out of the book of Ephesians. I decided to start there and see what I could find about sanctification. {Sanctification is a fancy word for the process of becoming more like Christ.}  The second chapter in Ephesians talks a lot about how we were before & after salvation. You can read the whole chapter here, but I'm just going to write using the first 10 verses. One of the things that really stood out to me during Pastor Chuck's message and then again in my small group discussion was the contrast between verses 1-3 & verses 4-10.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. (Eph 2:1-3 HCSB)

The first three verses remind us of where we were before Christ. Basically, before we were saved, we lived just like everyone else did. There was no higher standard that we cared to hold ourselves too. Galatians 5:16-20 paints a pretty clear picture of what we do when we are just following our own inclinations.

I say then, {Paul speaking} walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires or the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want. But if your are lead by the Spirit, you are not under the law. {Socially acceptable moral code of the Jews} Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance-- as I told you before-- that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

Both of these sections of verses can seem pretty daunting. Especially when I look at my life and realize how often I have failed and let how I feel in the moment take over how I respond to my life. That being said, Ephesians 2 doesn't stop at the third verse. Galatians 5 isn't a guilt trip  for us to go back to again and again and remind ourselves of how horrible we truly were before Christ. Two words shine through all that gloom and show us what has been done for us and to us.

BUT GOD 

 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift--not from works. so that no one can boast. For we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:4-10)

These verses just make my heart sing! No matter what I've done, how I've failed, or what I'm struggling with God has already raised me up through his grace and kindness to be a Christian. He's given me new desires and made me to do good works. Galatians 5:22-25, the fruit of the Spirit, lays out what an outflowing of Christ in our lives looks like. 

Don't let looking at the comparisons of these verses get you caught in a mind loop of, "I'm better than I was, but I'll never be good enough." Paul addresses that too, and gives us some great words to challenge ourselves with. 

Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. (Phil3:12-14)

Paul was an amazing missionary, a man of God, and someone that many people look up to as a prime example of Christianity. Yet he still says, "I'm not a fully mature Christian. I'm still reaching forward a pursuing the goal of become Christ-like." I don't know about you, but when I try an make a list of almost perfect people that I know of, Paul ranks up in there pretty high.

I think Joyce Meyer states it pretty aptly. "I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be." By all means remember where you have come from, my friend. Don't let it weigh you down, though. Remember where you are headed, that your goal is to become more and more like Christ each day, and "...that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)

Introductions

There is so much that I want to write about on this blog. However, I first want to make some introductions so you know who I am, what I do, and what I am passionate about. I'm originally from a little corn farm town in Iowa. In 2010, I came up to Wisconsin for college and absolutely fell in love with the state.

In 2014, I graduated with a two year degree in Early Childhood Education. That summer I was able to spend a month in China teaching English. After I came back to the States, I started my first job working as a preschool teacher.

My English class

Since that time I've adopted the mission statement of my former church, Calvary, "Loving God, Loving People." People are my passion! My profession is childcare- helping little people grow, develop, and learn how to be kind, respectful, human beings. That year I did lots of growing up and learning about how to handle life as an adult. **Shout out to all the adults in my life that make adulting look SOOO easy!** 

Twilight wedding

Two thousand sixteen completely blew me out the water with surprises. I took the online dating plunge in January & met a devilishly handsome man in February. We got engaged in June and married in September. **WARNING: Mushy Overload** My husband is my best friend. He has challenged me, teased & tickled, and loved me so hard. I wouldn't be the person I am today without his influence.



Over the past few years I have learned so much about people, relationships, myself, and started on a fantastic journey of music, love, laughter, worry, tears, creativity, and learning. Join me, as I share my life lessons with others.

Much Love,
Emily