Balancing Life Series: First Things First

photo credit

Funny how God works.  A few weeks ago I posted a blog about juggling life and how important it is to have a family dinner. If you haven't read it, here's another chance...


So then life got super crazy right after that. Whether the enemy wanted me to look like an idiot, or God was growing my character, I don't know. The bottom line is balancing my family along with everything else became almost impossible. How do I have a family meal when I am taking care of my mom, being the taxi to two kids that are going in opposite directions, and still trying to be a decent wife that washes laundry occasionally and doesn't have cereal as a meal every night? Oh, and I forgot to include MINISTRY. Wow.


Let's face it. Life can be overwhelming at times. And beware, if you ever do a blog post about juggling life, be assured that you will have the opportunity to do that juggling life act for all the world to see.


So, what did I do? I had to take a step back and look at life and ask the Lord, "What do I need to do and what do I not need to do?"  


First things first. I realized that without my time with the Lord, I could do nothing. I would be a pitiful juggler. But with Him, I am learning.


My time with the Lord is and must be a priority. First things first. In order to be able to do anything else He has called me to...be a wife, mom, minister, daughter, sister, friend,etc., I have to spend time with Him.


I have found that my time with the Lord cannot be one of the things that I try to juggle. He actually steadies my feet and gives me the coordination to juggle the other stuff. So, when your life gets crazy and you are dropping more balls than you are catching, you might try seeking God in these ways.

• Mornings. Whether I have ten minutes or forty, I savor it. I am reading Jesus Calling and the correlating Scripture. If I have more than ten minutes, I try to read some Old Testament and some New Testament. And then have some prayer time. I am not a morning person...but I am even less of one without some time with Jesus. So, maybe you are not a morning person either, but I can guarantee that you will be less snarky after some time with the Lord. 
• Moments. I have to grab them when I can with God. Like when I am sitting next to Mom in the chemo room and she has drifted off to sleep. Or when I am waiting to pick up my kids from an activity. Or when I am in-between appointments at the office. Moments of rejoicing. Moments of desperation. Moments of just thanking Him. Moments of dreaming with Him. Moments of quiet rest in Him. Moments of enjoying Him.
• Mundane. Sometimes our lives seem so ordinary. But God is always...yes, always wanting to bring some extra to that ordinary. Do we notice it when He does? I will never forget the day that I was taking the kids to school, running late, and a peacock crossed the road. But I will save that story for another day. ;) Or the time Jesus asked me out on a date. (You can read about that here.) And one of my favorite times when God spoke through my cell phone. So let's look for Him...He is always at work!

Let God steady you so you can juggle life a little easier this week. Seek Him in the mornings (if you dare!), in the moments, and in the mundane. And PLEASE share... we'd all like to give Him praise on your behalf! If you are following by email, then comment here!  And make it a priority to come back Wednesday when we will be discussing...priorities. 

I appreciate you. 

Living for ONE,

Kelli

linking with Jen at Finding Heaven Today and the SDG community

A View from the Chemo Room

I felt like a fly on a wall. I was an observer. I watched as all of these adults of all ages sat quietly and patiently as the medicine dripped from its pouch into their veins. I sat next to my sweet mother who is going through chemotherapy for the second time in ten years.


As an observer, I experienced many different emotions and asked God many questions. I didn't watch television. I didn't read magazines. I didn't even blog or tweet or Facebook. I just watched. And listened. And prayed. 

As I did this, I noticed three major things:


1. All these people experiencing treatment are fighting for more life hours. In a room where life and death constantly battle, life is raising her sword and plunging forward. Life doesn't always win, but she fights hard. I pray for eternal life for all of these people because I know that is the only way life really wins. 


2. There is a kindred spirit in this room. They may all suffer from various types of cancer, but they are all suffering. They smile at each other, share stories of their struggles and their victories, and promise to pray for each other. They understand things that we observers don't. They speak a different language...a dialect of empathy. And though people struggle with various fatal health issues, this is the only issue I know of where people sit in a room and fight together.  There is a quiet sense of camaraderie. I long for their silent strength.


3. All of these precious people receiving chemotherapy have slowed, even halted their schedules. It is amazing how the busyness and business of life is forced to step aside. As I think about this, I wonder if this is one of the way God works good out of this trial. The rat race stops. The pulse slows. The unforced rhythm of grace overrides. I love that I get to spend hours on hours with my mom. We talk in between her drifting in and out of sleep. I caress her hand, her arm, her face. Yes, this is precious time. Time that might not have happened without this unrelenting disease called cancer.


Don't get me wrong. I sure wouldn't have asked for it. But I am trying to live for ONE...the One who created me, called me, and comforts me. I believe that living for One means following Christ with all that I am and desiring to see His purpose and His plan. What are you teaching me now, God? 


I am learning that life is precious. Live radically for a radical God.


I am learning that fellow warriors abound. No matter what we are going through...there is a sister or brother to share our burden. 


I am learning that God is a good God and He will bring good in every situation. His good right now in this circumstance? Slowing down. Resting. Enjoying His presence. Seeing Him at work.


You, friend, are such a blessing to me. I never thought in a million years that I would ever write anything that anyone would ever read. Though some of you I know in real life and some of you only virtually, you are a community of friends, of family, of faith. 


I would love to pray for you. Would you share your struggle with me today? Or maybe something God is teaching you through a situation you are experiencing? Comment below or if you are reading this via email, you can click here to comment.


Living for ONE,


Kelli

When Peace Blooms

To say that I don't have a green thumb would be an understatement. In fact, my family laughs when I bring home a new house plant. I don't care. I love plants in my house, even though my love does not materialize in the caring of those plants. Yes, I forget to water, I never fertilize, and I hate repotting anything. But, I try. And a few hardy plants have chosen to stick with me. 

One of those loyal plants is a "peace" plant that I was given after my grandfather's funeral. The plant lives in my bedroom near a window and its green leaves tell me it likes it there. It has even re-seeded itself and I can see baby peace plants. But it never blooms. When I investigated why my peace plant never flowers, the only answer I could really find was that the conditions have to be just right for it to bloom.

Last Tuesday afternoon after I got home from a full day of ministry at church, I received a phone call from my dad. He reluctantly expressed to me that his biopsy results had come back positive for prostate cancer. Many of you know that my mom was re-diagnosed with lymphoma about a year ago. Two parents with cancer at the same time stinks. It really does.

My honest thoughts: "I hate cancer... It's not fair... Will both be going through sickness and treatment at the same time?...  Life is hard... Jesus, please come back soon."

God's Word:

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"  Jn. 16:33

"Letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace." Romans 8:6

I went to bed that Tuesday night desiring to rest in God's presence and peace, but constantly battling the tears, the fears, and the unknown. 

When I woke up the next morning, there it was. My plant that never blossoms had a solitary bloom forming right in the center of its green. I know it is just a plant, but it was such a tangible reminder of God's love for me. His promises. His presence. His peace.

Peace had raised her beautiful head. Peace was blooming - not only among the green leaves of my plant, but in my heart. To the world, the condition of my life and the life of my family is pretty unstable. But to God, the condition of my heart is just right. Ready to receive His grace, His mercy, His healing, His peace. Ready...to bloom.


Lord, for some crazy reason that I do not understand, you have given me the opportunity and the privilege to minister to others. May this current situation in my life be another way to glorify You, to encourage others, and to grow me in a way like never before.


Kelli

joining with Jen at SDG...visit some other great blogs there!

God's Word, My Life Breath: Presence-Filled Friday My Guest Post at Digging Deep

My motives were all wrong. I wanted the approval of the teacher or the piece of candy or the certificate. Yes, I memorized Scripture as a child so that I could get something. I didn't realize that I was getting more than my Scripture memory reward. But with every memorized word came the very presence of the Living Word into my life. 

For more of this story, visit my friend Amy Ward's blog, Digging Deep, where I am guest posting today!  Click here to read more....

Digging Deep

And I would love your comments here or there or both places!


And don't forget to come back Monday for eMpowering Monday. I am looking forward to it!


Love to all!


Kelli

Guest Blog : HOPE on Presence Filled Fridays

I am so excited to introduce a friend of mine to all of you today. Amy D. Ward is a special, talented, godly woman with the skills of Martha Stewart and the heart of Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet.  I love her and I know you will, too. She has an awesome story of God's presence in her life. Show her some love by commenting! And I will see you back here on Monday.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NASB95)

What a privilege to meet you here at Kelli's blog today.  I am delighted she asked me to share with you on a Presence filled Friday.

I am a breast cancer survivor.  I have lived in God’s hope-filled Presence!

Throughout my journey with cancer in 2010, God allowed me to be in situations where I could have been hopeless.  But, through reminders of His constant Presence with me every step of the way, I would find evidence to continue to hold onto hope:  the word "HOPE" on a wall, a plaque, a shirt; or the numerous verses on HOPE I would mark in the Bible I took along to all my appointments, infusions, surgeries, and radiation. 

By the way, there are numerous Scriptures with this word in them.  Click here (http://net.bible.org/#!search/hope) to go to the NET Bible and see how many references there are.  

What a gift hope is!  I would find a word of HOPE wherever He led me.

A kind word from a nurse - hope.

A text message of Scripture, prayer, or encouragement - hope.

Forgetting for 5 minutes about the cancer - hope.

A card or call from a friend - hope.

The file I kept and labeled "After Breast Cancer" - hope.

The presence of my husband and our sons on chemo days - hope.

The presence of returning hair after chemo had done its work - hope.

I found new ways to appreciate simple things and that would bring on hope for a cancer-free tomorrow.

I like what Lawrence O. Richards says in his Encyclopedia of Bible Words regarding hope,  “…hope focuses attention on God and fills us with eager expectation.  No one who learns to hope in a biblical way will ever be overcome by disappointment but will be filled with patience, encouragement, and enthusiasm.”

I have said it numerous times and I write it here for you today:  

I would not trade having had cancer for not having had it because of the blessings that God poured out and continues to pour out.

Hope is just one of those blessings that the Presence of God offered me to unwrap.

Encouragement:

God has given the believer a life of hope through the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ, His Son.  Go back to the NET BIble link (http://net.bible.org/#!search/hope), to the references on hope found in the book of Hebrews.  Look at the exhortations there for the believer regarding hope.  Our eternal hope is in Christ.  Soli Deo Gloria (to God be the glory)!

Opportunity for Response:

Please share with me in a comment what spurs you on in your life to hold onto hope.  Thank you!

You can find Amy sharing God's hope at her blog, Digging Deep at www.amydward.com. Or on twitter at AmyDicksonWard or  Facebook at Amy D. Ward - Digging Deep. 

Amy Dickson Ward along with her husband Rob of 25 years is learning what being a near empty-nester is all about.  A graduate of Auburn University, she put her Vocational Home Economics Education skills to work at home after a brief stint teaching school.  Her minor in journalism has come in handy as she began a blog in 2008.  She enjoys teaching others in Bible studies in Columbus, GA, and occasionally has opportunities to speak at retreats.  Her passion is encouraging women to be in the Word and she delights in teaching them how to study the Bible.  Amy and Rob’s oldest son, Robert is newly married to Sigourney.  David, a student at Auburn University, is their youngest son.