It has fallen out of its nest under the eaves of our roof.

The bird flaps its tiny wings, trying to fly, but it doesn’t get more than a foot off the ground.

I look out the window, watching, worried… wondering how it will survive.

I get a piece of bread, break it into crumbs and tiptoe out into the backyard. Slowly, quietly, I sneak up behind the bird and drop some crumbs on the ground hoping it will eat. But it runs away, scared.

Then the most amazing thing happens.

A mama bird lands on our fence nearby, a worm in her mouth. The baby, standing in a pile of leaves now, helpless and hungry, chirps frantically.

Instantly, the mama swoops down and feeds her baby, right there in the leaves, just a few feet from me. (The baby might have been scared, but that mama sure wasn’t.)

I go back in the house, smiling at the mama bird’s spirit and her faithfulness to find and feed her baby even when it was out of the nest.

And I realize, that’s how God is with me.

All the times I’ve fallen out of the nest in my life…

the times I’ve made mistakes or the times I’ve forgotten about Him…

he’s found me.

And like that mama did with her baby, He has given me food–the very bread of life… grace, peace, forgiveness,

an overwhelming, unconditional love.

No matter how far away we wander from time to time, or how fast we run, He’s always there, finding us and caring for us (even when we don’t realize it).

Because that’s how God is, and that’s what He does.

And I am thankful.

What about you? Have you let God find you? Do you look back and see His presenece in your wanderings too?

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast. –Psalm 139, 7-10

One hand rested on her belly as the other hand pushed the buttons on the machine.

As I finished in line and passed her on my way out, I was struck by the hope I saw in her eyes as she bought those tickets. And I could just picture what she was thinking…

I hope I win… It would mean better times for me and my baby. Things would be easier. Life would be great.

I could imagine how a winning ticket would ease the worries and uncertainties that come with preparing to take on the responsibility of a new life. I could see the excitement and anticipation that was going on inside her head as she picked her numbers. And while I don’t really know what the woman’s financial situation was or what a winning lottery ticket would mean to her, I do know the hope I saw on her face.

Because we all have that hope for our future, and for the future of our kids. We all imagine and want the best for our families. We long for it. We chase after it (in different ways). We are seekers–sometimes of money or success, sometimes of approval, sometimes of attention, sometimes of something else.

Because we were created to long for something more.

We were created to long for God.

While a streak of good luck might make our lives easier or more exciting for a while, only God can take the anticipation, longing, and hope we have in our hearts and truly meet our desires. Only He can fill that God-shaped hole within us that nothing else can fill–not even a million dollar winning lottery ticket.

We can put our faith in things other than God–people, our own abilities, finances–and I think it’s safe to say we’ve all done that before.

But the problem is, those things can disappoint.

And, while believing in God and putting our faith in Him doesn’t mean life will always be peachy and easy (because it won’t), His love doesn’t disappoint.

It fills and covers and strenghtens and builds.

It calms and restores and heals and soothes.

It comforts and lifts and satisfies and refreshes.

Even in the midst of life’s biggest storms.

God loves each of us unconditionally, regardless of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve done or haven’t done. He loves us so much that He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for us. And he longs for us to know that–to believe that, to accept that, to understand that… so we can truly live the adventure He created us for…

full, free, and forgiven.

Now that’s something to put our faith in for the New Year,

and for the rest of our lives.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

What about you? What have you been putting your faith in? Let 2012 be the year that you believe and experience God’s unconditional, amazing love.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT

As someone who likes to see things get done quickly, I’m not always the most patient person. And I have to admit; I don’t always appreciate the start of something, no matter how great it turns out in the end. Sometimes, when I set out to reach a goal, I forget that the journey and the steps it takes to get there are just as important, and that beginnings truly are worth celebrating. Like watching my kids reach milestones as they’ve gotten older…

When my son and daughter started walking, I didn’t wait until they could make it from one end of the room to the other to get excited. I cheered them on from the very first step, and it didn’t matter if they fell or how far they made it. When they learned how to ride a bike, all it took was one or two pedals on their own for me to start jumping up and down and clapping. And when I hear them say their bed-time prayers at night, I’m filled with thankfulness and joy at the beginnings of their faith.

That’s how God is with us too. He is happy to see the work begin. From the very first second we turn to Him, He rejoices. He doesn’t wait until we become “better people” or “more holy.” And when He sees us moving in the direction of His plan for our lives, He cheers us on.

Remembering that helps me to be more patient. Instead of being hard on myself or others because the results I see aren’t what I ultimately hope for, I want to rejoice about moving in the right direction. I want to remember that good things are worth waiting for and beginnings are important.

So whether you’re striving to improve relationships, make positive changes in your lifestyle or health, or realize a career or personal goal, pause and take a moment to rejoice in your beginnings and to celebrate the start of something good.

I know I must look funny, sitting there at the gym on the exercise bike with my eyes closed, but that time—with my body moving and my mind turning to God—is my lifeline some days. It’s my 60-minute-recharge.

As a busy mom, it’s hard to carve out time every day to pray–to talk to God and to listen to His voice. Some days, I get up and hit the floor running… making breakfast, packing lunches, helping everyone get ready, and then rushing (late) out the door to carpool kids to school. On those days especially, taking time to pray is exactly what I need.

“Take time to be still in My Presence. The more hassled you feel, the more you need this sacred space of communion with Me. Breathe slowly and deeply. Relax in My holy Presence while My Face shines upon you. This is how you receive My Peace, which I always proffer to you.” –Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

The other day (it had been a morning like the one I described above), I hurried into the gym to grab an hour workout. To be honest, I felt so distracted that as I sat on the exercise bike and started to pray, I wasn’t even sure what to pray about. I tried to focus on God, but the list of things I had to do that day and thoughts about a writing deadline I was facing quickly took over.

“Please help me to slow down and hear you today,” I prayed.

After a few minutes of pedaling, the morning’s craziness began to fade into the background.

When thoughts of my writing assignment came and I wondered what approach I should take, I prayed about it. When worry about my son, who’s been sick lately with a respiratory virus, came, I prayed for him. Each time a thought or worry would come, I asked God for direction or help.

It’s amazing what happens when we do that.

By the end of the hour, it was as if all of the worries and what ifs I’d been holding inside were resolved (or at least seemed much less heavy). By the end of my prayers, I found myself simply thanking God for the little things in my life and feeling lucky to be alive and healthy (that might sound corny, but stopping and praying does that to you; it humbles you and reminds you of the gift of life.)

I know being on the exercise bike helped; it always does. But, I promise you, riding the bike wasn’t what gave me that sense of peace. The peace I felt was the peace you only get from spending time with God.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” –Numbers 6:24-26

God has something new for us every day… blessings, lessons, wisdom, love, peace… but if we forget to look, we can easily miss what He has. God is a gentleman. He doesn’t force Himself on us. He doesn’t make us pray every morning or set aside time for Him every day. That part is up to us…

But when we take time with Him every day, whether it’s five minutes in the car on the way to the grocery store or an hour at the gym on the exercise bike, there is peace in His presence.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

What about you? Do you set aside time somewhere—at the gym, in the shower, in the car—to pray and listen? What’s your favorite time/place?

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27 NIV 

For the fifth time in an hour, I leaned over my newborn daughter’s bassinet and checked to make sure she was okay. Thoughts of SIDS and fears of her getting tangled in her blanket filled my head. I held my breath and watched her tiny chest rise and fall. Only after I was sure she was okay did I lie back down and try to get some sleep.

Those first few nights of motherhood—months, actually—were like that. When my daughter didn’t wake me up because she was hungry, I woke myself up to make sure she was okay.

You might’ve guessed it: I’m a pretty good worrier. I always have been. I was the kind of kid who worried about the house burning down or about my parents running out of money. And when I became a brand new mom, I got even better at it. And I learned the truth of Matthew 6:27: that worrying takes away from life, rather than adds to it. There were many times I worried away my energy, my peace, and my sleep.

Even though I’ve gotten much better over the years at giving my worries to God (the best survival technique for parenting that I know!), I still worry sometimes… that my kids will get homesick when they spend a few days away, that something might happen to them when I’m not with them, that they might get sick or hurt… You get the picture. And maybe you can relate.

Even though it’s natural as a mom to be concerned about our kids, worry can turn concern into something that negatively affects us, and our kids. There’s no getting around it: worry is a downer, a joy-stealer, and it can make you a cranky mom. (Believe me, I know.)

So how do we stop worrying?

Focus on faith instead. (When I remember to do this, it helps so much!) In fact, that’s the answer Jesus gives at the end of Matthew chapter 6:

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The more we seek God, the more we learn about Him. The more we learn about Him, the more we trust Him. And the more we trust him, the less we worry. It’s a natural by-product of faith.

God’s promises are true. They are good. He doesn’t lie. And while He doesn’t promise that no trouble will come our way, or that nothing bad will touch our lives or the lives of our kids, He does promise that He will work all things together for good for those who love him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28, NIV

Focusing on that fact alone can lift the worries and “what ifs” right out of our parenting.

So the next time you’re worried about your kids, try feeding your faith instead of your worry. One way to do that is to pray these verses of protection over your kids:

For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. — Psalm 91:11 NLT (New Living Translation)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. — Isaiah 43:2 NIV

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. — 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand] — Psalm 91:1 AMP

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” — Psalm 91:14 NIV

Share your worries with other moms too. It helps to know you aren’t the only one that frets every now and then.

Lord, I don’t want to be a worrying mom. Help me to put my trust in you.

Quietly, I stand next to her bed and look at her–my little girl, asleep, her head resting sideways on her pillow.

My little girl who is not so little anymore.

I sigh, thinking about the high expectations she has of herself and how she tends to worry. I know I was the same way growing up–I still am sometimes.

Slowly, I sit on the edge of her bed and look around her room—at the pictures of her friends on her dresser, at the plaque on her wall that says Chase Your Dreams, at the pile of books on her desk.

As she gets older and faces new challenges, I find myself wanting to make things easier for her, wanting to solve any problems that come her way.

Lord, help me know how to encourage her, I whisper.

My eyes sting.

When she was younger, encouraging seemed easier. Whenever she was sad or worried, she and I would bake cookies or walk to the park, or play together. The worries were small and the distraction was easy. But now, as she navigates new life situations, things are more complicated. And I’m realizing more and more that I can’t fix everything. And that I shouldn’t always try to.

I sigh and she stirs, restless in her sleep. Gently, I reach for her hand and close my eyes…

God, Help me to be the mom she needs me to be…

Suddenly, I’m flooded with memories of how many times God has seen me in my restlessness or worry, how many times He has stood by my side, watching over me. Just like I’m doing now with my daughter. In all those times throughout my life, He breathed His Spirit of hope and encouragement into me simply through His love. His deep, endless love.

And that’s the answer.

When we’re feeling inadequate as parents, we simply need to love–to love our kids the way God has loved us.

We don’t need to have all the answers. We don’t need to fix everything right now. We just need to remember that He is in control. God has my daughter in His hands. He has her every thought, dream and hope cradled safely, softly, and securely in His mighty grasp. I don’t need to figure everything out. I just need to lean on Him, and help my daughter to do the same.

And the amazing thing is, as much as I love her, my love doesn’t compare to the love He has for her. Or the love He has for me.

The thought is almost overwhelming.

Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” -Jeremiah 31:3

“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” -Zephaniah 3:17

“You are precious to Him,” I whisper to my daughter, hoping that even in her sleep, her mind will register those words and cement them forever into her awareness. I squeeze her hand gently, then let go.

She stirs again, but this time she smiles.

Faintly, but she smiles.

And so do I.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” – Zechariah 4:10 NLT

I walked down the hall into my daughter’s room only to find her entire toy box and dollhouse emptied onto the floor. She looked up and smiled.

She’d just gotten to the age where I could let her play in her room by herself while I grabbed a few minutes to get things done around the house.

So why was I groaning about the mess instead of being glad at how she’d occupied herself having fun?

As a mom, the new phases our kids grow into can sometimes mean things getting harder–not easier–for a while. When they first start eating solid foods, it might mean more time spent planning meals or trying to please a picky eater. When they first start crawling or walking, it might mean following them around all the time to make sure they don’t fall down the stairs or go out into the street. And when they get older and start to play soccer or join the swim team, it might mean spending a lot of time in the car driving them.

Small beginnings are exciting, but they can be hard.

Sometimes, it’s like that with us, too. We might set a personal goal, launch a new business, start to write a book, start a new exercise plan… and even though the beginning of it brings excitement, it can also bring challenges. We might be too hard on ourselves, get frustrated, or eventually even give up.

But the good news is, that’s not what God does. He celebrates the good beginnings in our lives, and in us. Especially when those beginnings are ones that draw us closer to Him. When we set out to learn more about Him, He meets us right where we’re at. When we pray, He hears us. And when we strive to love others like Jesus did, He rejoices.

We’re not perfect; God knows that. But He’s faithful to complete what He starts in us. He rejoices to see the beginnings.

And back to the new beginnings in our kids: Even on days when it seems like we can’t get one minute of peace – when the laundry is piled high, or when the bedroom (or whole house) is littered with toys… rejoice. Because this time of our lives, though sometimes challenging, is the beginning of our families, our heritage, and our legacy. And all the small milestones and moments are just glimpses of the greatness to come.

Lord, help me to rejoice in the small beginnings in myself, my life, and my kids. Amen.

Praying Moms

by Esther Feng

As moms, we pray for our kids. We pray in the car, we pray while we’re changing diapers, we pray over sleeping babies.

Some days, we’ve used every parenting tool in our tool belt and there’s nothing more to do but ask for some divine intervention. We pray when the big issues of life stretch us beyond what we can bear. We’d give anything for tangible assurance that God is listening to us.
But, there are lonely times when there’s no evidence that God hears our prayers. Nothing changes, and we are desperate to see the hand of God both in the mundane and the grand landscape.

Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice.

- Psalm 55:17

However our mom-prayers look or sound, we can be confident that God hears them. Scripture paints a picture of how our prayers reach God, in the throne room scene in Revelation 5…

Then I saw a Lamb…standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. [They] fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

-Revelation 5:6a, 8

God sits on his throne in Heaven, shining in his indescribable glory. His Son approaches Him and the creatures around Him bow in worship. The room is filled with the pungent scent of incense. Our prayers saturate the air. Every prayer, whether uttered in desperation or devotion, envelopes our God.

Each plea, whether cried out in hope or help hangs thick in the room.

In a sense, our prayers are vaporous and ethereal. Each prayer is small and insignificant compared to the infinite power of our King. To God, though, the scent of each prayer uttered, the aroma of our silent petitions is pleasing.

Each time we pray, we honor the Lord, demonstrating our belief that He is strong and faithful. Our prayers, invisible moments of faith, drift towards God and he is worshiped.

No matter how big or small, we can confidently bring our mom-prayers to God as an act of worship to the Heavenly Father who loves our children even more than we do.

Heavenly Father, we lift our prayers in worship and we trust You to hear and answer them according to Your will.

Esther is a mom of two girls who teach her something new every day. You can find out more about her and her writings at her blog: http://forsuchatimeasthis-esther.blogspot.com/

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Matthew 25:6-34…

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

I don’t know about you, but I can be pretty good at worrying sometimes, especially if I’m concerned about the well-being of my kids.

Which is one of the reasons I love this verse so much. I like how it says, “Therefore… do not worry”

It doesn’t suggest that I stop worrying.

It doesn’t say I should only worry a little.

It says…

Do. Not. Worry.

It’s a command — a command to let our stress go and trust that God knows what He’s doing.

And in fact, the verse challenges:

“Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” (v.27)

I think we’d all agree that worrying does just the opposite; it takes away from our lives. It steals our focus and energy from what’s really important–our faith, our family, our health, our relationships, and making a difference in our world.

So the next time we find ourselves worrying, let’s remember this verse and let our worries go.

Let’s look to God with our concerns because, when we do, He is able to turn our fear into faith,

our anxiety into awe,

and our worry into wonder,

so that we can rest in His unending love and the peace that it brings.

After he left for school that day, I went to the store, got him a balloon as a surprise and a couple dozen donuts to share with his class.

When I showed up in his classroom, he beamed. His teacher helped him to clip the balloon to his desk and his classmates oohed and aahed at the donuts. I could tell he was surprised and happy.

About two hours later, as I was out running errands, I got an email on my phone from his teacher…

“Your son can’t stop smiling. It’s too cute,” she wrote.

And it made me smile, too.

I loved making my son feel special, and it felt even better knowing my surprise had brought him so much joy.

It got me thinking, too.

Is that how I am with the gifts in my life?

Does a smile stay on my face long after I receive them?

Does my joy linger?

Or do I quickly move on, maybe even forgetting that so many of the people, events, and things in my life ARE gifts?

That moment of picturing my son still sitting at his desk, smiling proudly up at that birthday balloon, made me realize how much I want to appreciate the blessings in my life too.

I want God to see me smiling with gratitude…

and I want to be filled with a joy that stays,

long after the gifts are given.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17