6 Bible Verses During Times of Panic

6 Bible Verses During Times of Panic

by | Mar 21, 2020 | Faith | 0 comments

March 15, 2020: The Coronavirus epidemic inspired this post. 

During these times of fear, panic, and unknown, it can be hard to find peace and true serenity. If you stumbled across this page seeking the internet for bible verses during times of panic then I would like to share with you a few verses from the Bible and our own personal experiences.

Psalm 94: 19

When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.

This Bible verse is a great comfort for me during times of panic or anxiety.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease that normally is due to something or an event that has an uncertain outcome according to the Oxford dictionary. You can cast all your burdens and worries upon the Lord which is easier said than done. Why not give it a chance? Go to the Lord during this time of great anxiety and allow HIM to console you.

My six year old said it best when we asked her to describe consolation…

“It is like when the baby wakes up from his nap in complete darkness. He calls out for Mommy with tears because he is scared. Once Mommy enters the room his face gets all happy because he knows she is going to embrace him and give him comfort.”

He will bring you much joy and deafen out the noise and worry in your life.

Matthew 7:24-25

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Oftentimes, people would ask us how we dealt with my husband’s diagnosis of stage two lymphoma cancer, and without hesitation, we used this Bible verse during our time of panic because we quickly turned to this verse as a testimony and strength of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Our foundation as individuals and as a family unit hasn’t been in vain like building a house on sinking sand because our foundation is solid and unshakable. Our faith, future, and purpose is in God’s hands. We managed not to fall into a spiral of depression because my husband’s future was uncertain because the victory was already won by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Facing illness of any kind is like a storm raging against your home. How are you going to withstand the beating of the rain and wind? What is your foundation built upon?

Philippians 4:6-7

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If there is a need that needs to be met bring it before the Lord. It is a command!

Don’t try to rely on your own strength to do it. We are to cast all our burdens onto Him who is able and willing to bear it for us. He died on the cross so we would not have to bear the penalty of our sins.

It sounds simple but truly I know the struggle of releasing my everyday worries – laundry, dishes, homemaking – to the Lord yet the BIG burdens like sickness and death are not something I hold onto because the control is out of my hands. It gives me peace and joy to know that ultimately God is in control. Does that release you or cause more anxiety? Control is hard to release when you have been holding onto everything so tightly that you are exhausted and white-knuckled.

Let go.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

FOREVER! We can NOT do anything to add or take away from HIS glory.

Again, the Lord is in control and ordains all things. Fear Him, not man.


Isaiah 28:16

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

A cornerstone is an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based.

What have you based your life on? Is something that cannot be stricken with panic? Is it a fortress of solitude? Peace? Joy?

It can not be shaken!

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

He will hold you and carry you through this storm!

Give Him your hand and fear not.

Biblical Homemaking: Life in my 30s

Biblical Homemaking: Life in my 30s

by | Feb 29, 2020 | Faith, motherhood | 0 comments

Homemaking has become increasingly more difficult.

According to research conducted in 2015, the Pew Research Center stated “56% of all working parents with children under age 18 say the work-family balancing act is difficult”.

The research focused on families where both Mom and Dad worked full time yet their challenge of the work-family balancing act is not a new phenomenon. What is homemaking? Is the balance even achieveable? How does one achieve Biblical Homemaking? I know that I am not alone because these questions arise at every Bible study and coffee outing with fellow mothers and believers. What are we to do?

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Personal Reflection: Life in my 30s

On February 1st of 2020, I will turn 35.

Over the years, I have learned to use my birthday as a celebration and time of reflection. 

I am thankful for another opportunity to live out God’s glory through my personal story of redemption and renewal.

This year, I would like to reflect on Biblical Homemaking. How it is another way to grow closer to God and pour into the disciples, my children, living under the same roof as my husband and I.

 

01  |  God called YOU to homemaking

My upbringing taught me to pursue education and find a career.  I have a college degree and traveled the globe pursuing my own ambitions for the glory of the Lord. I was quite content to get married, raise children, and work full-time throughout it all. BUT, God had other plans.

My husband suggested that I become a stay-at-home-mother before we had our first child and I balked at the comment! What!?

However, the Lord softened my heart as our first child grew in my belly until the thought of staying home became a welcoming duty. However, I still wrestled and continue to struggle in this job. Which is why the story of Moses always resonates deep within my broken and insecure heart because God chose him – a murderer and man of doubt who lacked eloquent speech to become a mighty leader.

Exodus 4:10-13

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you ahve spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind” Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

He was chosen not because he was perfect and had acquired ALL the skills necessary to accomplish the task of freeing God’s chosen people.

NOT AT ALL.

He possesed something far greater. He possessed faith.

02 |  Moses’ was called to lead even though he objected

Moses was rescued from death by Pharoh’s daughter. He lived a privileged life and was trained up to be the next leader.

He chose to deny this life of sin and lies by aligning himself with God’s people; slaves.

Ok, wait! He was given the opportunity of a lifetime! He had it all! Yet, he chose to deny himself and live a life of persecution, pain, and longsuffering.

Yes he did.

A life spent rejecting what the world views as important and worthy; a life that is counter-cultural to today’s society always seems to cause confusion and judgement. Moses rejected the cultural norms of slavery to the point that he sinned in anger by committing murder! Then to escape judgement, he left the country to wander the desert as a shepard. (Read his story here)

Next Ruler of Egypt that becomes a Shepard in the desert.  

BUT WAIT! Moses became the triumphant leader of God’s chosen people at 80 years old by leading them out of slavery into the promise land. Hallelujah!

03  |  Your Faith walk and Biblical Homemaking work together

Great! But what does Moses have to do with Biblical Homemaking???

Everything! A Christ-filled life is a a life lived through faith not qualifications. We can get caught up with trying to impress others or entice them with all the fancy things we have accomplished but it is all for nothing in regards to kingdom work. My striving for excellence in womanhood, motherhood, work, and my marriage is like filthey rags – it counts for nothing! My treasures are the ones stored in the heavenly kingdom.

“All of my righteous acts are like filthey rags;

eventually I will shrivel up like a leaf,

and like the wind, my sins, will sweep me away.”

-Isaiah 64:6

(personal paraphrase)

Moses knew this and lived this out as he wandered the desert for 80 years!

Moses lived a life fearing God not man. 

Moses lived a life trusting God not himself (most of the time).

Moses lived a life serving others not his own selfish ambitions.

The Old Testament is full of marvelous stories of ordinary men living out extraordinary lives trusting God not themselves. Serving God not man. It is encouragment to this weary mother’s heart that she does NOT have to be perfect or perfectly trained up in homemaking to be loved and accepted by her Savior. AMEN!

04  |  What is Homemaking?

 

Typically, it means: 

  1. Typically, a married woman
  2. Works full-time; homemaking duties is a full-time career
  3. Creates a welcoming home life for husband and children
    1. Keeping the house
    2. Bearing children
    3. Helping her husband
  4. Traditionally, does NOT work outside the home for monetary compensation
  5.  Traditionally, mothers would train up daughters to help as soon as they were old enough

 

Technically, I qualify for this job description but it feels empty and daunting. My mother worked full-time as did my grandmother so I wasn’t trained up to be a homemaker which is why I can feel Moses when I say “Pardon your servant Lord, please send someone else.”

(Hey Mom, I love you and we have discussed this at length so you know where my heart stands on this issue and how blessed I feel to be following Christ as a mother. Thank you.)

However, I find great encouragment that my “lack of qualifcations” does NOT revoke my job as wife, mom, and homemaker. The Lord will also help me to speak and teach me what to say and do. He is the almighty GOD! Hallelujah, I do NOT have to rely on my own strength to do this job.

05  |  What is Biblical Homemaking?

Moses lived by faith not his qualifications. Motherhood is an endurance race that cannot be won with righteous acts or pretty living rooms where one is constantly striving to put up a facade that “everything is perfect and great”. Ok, let me backtrack here. I am not saying that a well put together home is wrong because it isn’t! However, if your desire is to portray perfection and please others then that is not a faith-based Biblical Homemaking life.

The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 considers a field and then buys it. An industrious woman that pursued business opportunities while caring for her husband, children and home not her own selfish ambitions. A life of humility.

Descriptions of Virtuous women of the Bible:

1. Man should not be alone and God provided a helper FIT just for him – US! Genesis 2:18

2. Women are reflections of the word of God that can be seen through the art of homemaking by loving their husbands and children, being self-controlled, pure, working at home, being kind, and submissive to their own husbands. Titus 2:4-8

3. A working woman and worshiper of God, Lydia, was a seller purple goods furthermore she opened her heart and home to Paul. Acts 16:14-15

4. And the Proverbs 31 woman, the woman that a even a King should pursue, had a heart for family, work and kingdom-mindedness who worked diligently with willing hands to provide for her home which included her husband, children, and maidservants. She was dutiful and industrious without fear of the future. She was considered blessed. Proverbs 31

Biblical Homemaking in 2020

The data shows that households with a mother who stays home has DECLINED to 26 percent from 46 percent since 1970.

As a mother who made a choice to stay home, to forgo going into the workforce full-time during the developmental years of raising my children, and was raised by parents who worked full-time, I do feel a little bit unprepared for the job BUT it isn’t a narrative that I have to continue to live out.

I know that I am not alone. I have spoken with many other women who have also chosen this route yet feel as though they are barely treading water.

But there is hope to be found.

Education

1. Equip yourself with Godly wisdom through reading God’s word. It will strengthen your heart, mind, and soul for this job. Do it daily and dig deep when weary. Find a journal here.

2. Seek out mentors. Nothing beats having a Titus 2 woman in your life that will encourage and exhort you to be a better version of yourself. 

3. Find cleaning routines or habits that work for you. We are attempting minimalism through some deep decluttering because if it is “I” who manages the home then it needs to suit my personality type. A cluttered home creates a cluttered mind and heart which for me is hard to manage because I am very creative and driven visually. Less inventory in the home means it will be easier to manage and provide margin to do what matters.

Community

1. Your church is the place to look for community like joining a MOPS group. I was once told that “Nobody can read your mind. You have to share with others for them to know you are lonely.” I have struggled with an introverted and people pleasing personality for years (big shocker for some of you reading) so sharing my heart in the beginning was a struggle. I would advise you to please share your feelings with others and try to have a teachable spirit to overcome any hurts or hangups in your life.

2. Join a Bible study or attend your church’s weekly gatherings or find another church to attend during the week if yours does not offer one. We have several families that join our Wednesday night service since we offer babysiting and child organizations then parents can dig into God’s word.

3. Build your OWN community of friends. Be the doer in the area that creates fellowship over loneliness. Community over competition. Joy over anxiety.

4. If a physical community is not possible, join a Facebook group for moms or an online community that will support you.

Self-Discipline

1. Change your mindset from seeking “balance” to seeking “discipline”. I cannot offer much more advice since, I too, am struggling to find the discipline to “make our home” a haven and refuge.

2. Determine in your heart to be better. To do it now. To be better.

3. Declutter your home! If the inventory in your home is so overwhelming that you cannot begin to undertake the burden then get rid of it!

4. Do the action then the feelings will follow. Start washing the dishes even if you don’t feel like it. Make it a game with yourself and/or your kids. Set a timer to get it done then race to beat it! Play praise music and dance your way through the chores. JUST DO IT!

Run the race of Biblical Homemaking

A verse to live by during this season of endurance racing. 

I was so stimulated by this subject matter of Biblical Homemaking that a family keepsake film danced across my heart for days. It is something that I wanted to share with you and my children when they are older. 

My personality may be unique to me but my tendencies and dependencies are not. I know there are other Christian moms out there who struggle with organization, discipline, order, and structure yet they excel in multiple other areas. As a creative, I tend to thrive in chaos. Living off of the adrenaline and caffiene needed to sustain this go-go-go lifestyle. However, my heavenly Father is a God of order and structure, so I have chosen to live by Hebrews 12. 

Hebrews 12:1  says:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Conclusion

Today, you may be a full-time working mom or a full-time stay at home mom or something in between like me, I would like to offer up a prayer of encouragement for you on this journey in motherhood. You are not alone.

The race has been marked out of you. You were chosen to be the mother of your adorable babies and the wife to your husband. If the narrative in your head has been leading you astray then take captive your thoughts or any argument against the knowledge of God, and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

My hope is to transfer hope into YOUR heart. Let me know how I can help.

#LegacyLoveLetter

Dear littles, 

Staying home with you four has been the biggest challenge and most rewarding job of my life. Yes, there were times of difficulty but amidst it all I chose JOY in the journey. I chose you over my career out of obedience to the Lord and would do it again 1000 times over.

Hi! I’m Holly, and at Knitting Our Story, I embrace the fact that you can love your new smart device while also living a full and intentional life; you do not have to choose one over the other. If you desire to use technology as a workplace resource, a fancy new toy, or want to utilize it for creative resources, I’m here to support you with why you should and how it can be done.

Read More

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How to deal with anxiety through cancer monitoring: A Biblical Perspective

How to deal with anxiety through cancer monitoring: A Biblical Perspective

by | Dec 6, 2019 | Cancer, Faith | 0 comments

The whole world crumbled beneath me when my husband uttered: “I have a tumor in my chest”. It is shocking to learn you have cancer and a relief to be healing. However, how do you deal with the next phase of cancer MONITORING? How to deal with the anxiety throughout the cancer monitoring phase of life?

How to deal with anxiety throughout cancer monitoring?

Cancer comes with a multitude of appointments, tasks, treatments, and decisions. For survivors, the routine scan for cancer monitoring can be one of the most taxing and anxiety-ridden.

Throughout our process, there has been a lot of waiting. Waiting on tests to be approved. Tests to be completed. Surgeries to be approved. Results from biopsies. A further detailed diagnosis. Treatment to be chosen. Treatment started. Treatment to end. Scans to reveal progress. And more scans and more scans. 

So much waiting. Waiting breeds anxiety, worry, depression, and fear or it can be an opportunity to have peace.

1. What is anxiety?

How to deal with anxiety through cancer monitoring?

According to a quick internet definition, it is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. The desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease. 

It is a feeling. A desire to do something or have something accomplished. Stress ridden desires can start to ruminate which means we allow the potential negative outcomes to replay over and over in our minds. We repetitively go back to the situation that is causing us distress which feeds into more suffering. A broken record of negativity that cycles on the parts that are out of our control due to a waiting process.

What if this treatment doesn’t work? 

What about the side effects? 

Will we ever have more kids?

I don’t know if I am strong enough to handle this.

What if it comes back?

What will the doctor decide for our next phase of treatment?

How do we do this again with our kids? Can they handle it all over again?

What if he loses his job this time?

Will our insurance continue to cover this?

Why?

For me personally, the feeling of unease is more of a physical symptom that manifests in stomach pain and a heavy chest sensation as though I can never fully breathe. I am figuratively and literally gasping for air. What happens when you become short of breath? You become dizzy and faint. When this overwhelming weight in my heart overcomes me I give in to it and fall to my knees in desperation for God’s Holy Word.

2. How does cancer cause fear and steal our joy?

 

    • Things are out of our control = STRESS
    • The future is uncertain = STRESS
    • The pain and/or side effects = STRESS
    • The fear of losing someone = STRESS
    • The fear of dying = STRESS

 

Fear of losing a loved one

Personally, we struggled with this one. Our life example was accepting the fact that my husband and father of four young children had cancer then embracing the SMALL CHANCE that it could end with cancer taking him away. I could have become frozen with this debilitating fear [which it most certainly was for the brief moment I allowed it to enter my head space]. The idea of him dying would try to sneak into my heart even in the most mundane tasks like washing dishes, taking the kids to school, and especially at night. 

The other fear was something unexpected due to the distance between us throughout treatment.

Fear of being apart during hardship.

My husband was facing the biggest battle of his life and every ounce of my being wanted to serve him THERE. EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE.

Yet, I had to swallow my selfish desires and worry by putting on my big girl pants. As a wife and mother, my duties were diverse with taking care of the home, children, myself, and my husband. It was not time to get caught up in “I want to do this…” or “We should do this…” or “I NEED…” The battles during cancer can devour us or bring us through the fire stronger. Let’s discuss how.

3. What does the Bible say about fear and worry?

How to deal with anxiety through cancer monitoring? PEACE

According to a Huffington Post article written in 2014, What Philippians 4:6-7 Bible Passage Can Teach Us About Managing Anxiety Today the most highlighted Kindle ebook passage was Phil 4:6, a verse about conquering anxiety and discovering trust in God. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Scholars strongly agree that Paul was writing this letter to the Philippians while in prison for preaching the gospel of Christ and apprehensive that he would reach the people, therefore, he was compelled to continue his work while also embracing the likelihood of imminent execution for the sake of Jesus which he deemed a worthy cause. 

The context of scripture illustrates the dire circumstances that the author is facing and better aids us in understanding the weight it carries vs just reading a command out of context. 

For example, when facing an illness, car accident, death, or lifelong suffering, you may tend to listen to the wisdom of one who has weathered through a similar storm vs one who has not though their intentions are sincere.

According to this scripture, which can be broken into multiple parts, we are given explicit instructions on how to deal with anxiety and what we will receive in exchange.

It says that we should:

“Not be anxious about anything”

    • Do not be anxious about a few things? Just finances? Death? Relationships? 
    • NO! It says to NOT be worried about ANYTHING!
    • No matter what you are facing – give it to God.

“But in every situation”

    • Repetition is a teaching technique to drive home the point that this detail should not be forgotten.
    • Once again, Paul reiterates, that in EVERY situation do NOT be anxious.
    • We are not to be anxious in our hearts, minds, or physical situations.

“With prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,”

    • Prayer – go to God directly with your heart and worry. Lay it down at His feet
    • We are to ask and beg at times, with an earnest or humble heart with our plea.
    • BUT do it all with an attitude of gratitude

“Present your requests to God”

    • Does is command you to go to the phone and share your fear with a close friend? Blast it on social media? Have a coffee date? No. (There is a time and place for community and how you should handle going to friends for comfort but it is not addressed in this scripture.)
    • Presenting your fears and solutions to God means we are to pray.
    • Prayer is communication with your heavenly Father. An open and raw conversation with the only one who has the power to change it. To change you. To bring healing. To bring peace.

4. What does the Bible say about giving our fear and worry to God?

 

The second verse of this scripture brings us to the reward of handing over our fear.

(7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hallelujah! When you place all the fear down you are replaced with amazing PEACE!

The peace that comes from God! Paul understood that this peace could not be understood but he was experiencing it in the depths of a prison cell. He had it as faced down persecution after persecution. As did multiple other disciples as they endured torment and pain for the sake of the gospel. 

“Transcends all understanding”

As a mother of four young children and wife of nine years, how could I share our story with such peace? How am I still able to share it without getting a lump in my throat from the paralyzing fear of what-ifs? Because HE is guarding my heart and mind.

I ran to Him and placed it at His feet. At the cross. And I have a peace that stands firm in my heart even during these waiting periods.

So what, who cares?

I share this so that if someone else is also staring down the hall of an anxiety-ridden waiting process that seems overwhelming they too can find the peace of God just like us. We are to be good stewards of our bodies and things in our control but ultimately it is in His hands. Do not live a life with your hands gripped tightly around things that could be given to Him. Do not rob yourself of the peace of God. Here are a few more scriptures to help you through a difficult time.

“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 than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 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? 

Matthew 6:25-26

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19

 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

 

“As for God, his way is perfect:    The Lord’s word is flawless;    he shields all who take refuge in him.”

2 Samuel 22:31

Motherhood in 2019: A Titus 2 Perspective

Motherhood in 2019: A Titus 2 Perspective

by | Jun 11, 2019 | Faith | 2 comments

As a Christian mom, I rely fully on the Word of God to direct my steps as a mother. It is literally the toughest and most fulfilling job I have ever had. There are no breaks, no vacations, no time-outs, it is 24/7. And I love every second of it (even if I need a little “me time” just so that I can better serve my family).

My four littles have taught me how to be selfless, patient, kind, and to find strength in my weakness. I know that everything is ultimately out of my control. #Godisincontrol

To do it right, I personally love to go to God’s word where he gives explicit instructions on how to grow and mature in my role.

However, with the advancement in technology and the instant availability of information, my generation (yes I am a millennial) have been gifted an opportunity to access vast arrays of knowledge that was not available to our parents.

The internet.

It is a marvelous thing and I adore most of Google’s products. But gone are the days of checking out library books and scouring encyclopedias for facts.

If you are reading this can you recall reading an encyclopedia? I do!!!

It is a glorious memory. My grandmother ordered an entire set A-Z. She didn’t have a full bookshelf to house them all so she lined them up along the wall and across cabinets.

I would wander down to her house through a little pathway in the woods to research a new topic. Most of the time, it was about animals.

“Nanny, what kind of snake is this?”

“What kind of tree is this?”

“Why do the catfish eat everything in our pond?”

“How do you distinguish a poisonous snake from a non-venomous one?”

Have you started to sense that we lived in the woods? LOL

She would pull out the magnifying glass for her ailing eyes to scan over the tops of each page searching for the right topic word in alphabetical order. Together we would read about the marvels in our backyard and sometimes travel farther across the world learning about exotic birds and famous people. It was always an enjoyable time learning from my grandmother’s encyclopedias and HER.

She was my elder. An older woman that could share her life that consisted of a  depression era upbringing, two marriages, four children, and long hours in a shirt factory.

She encouraged my faith by living an example of trust, kindness and unending mercy with humility and respect for others.

Titus 2:3-5 says

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Teach the older women

As an older woman of God, she had learned a proper way to handle herself and pursue the Word of God. She embraced the duty to learn so that she could pass down that knowledge. My grandmother and mother did their best to transfer what they knew was the best instruction for us.

Teach what is good

During our childhood, my mother and grandmother pressed into Pro 22:6, therefore, creating a “Mary” mentality more than a “Martha”. Personally, as a young mother, I struggle with homemaking – staying on top of laundry, dishes, and the chaos of keeping an orderly home. Yet, my heart always chases after the PEACE in God through understanding because, though homemaking skills are important, they can be taught, but a heart reliant on God is groomed through Bible reading, fellowship and seeing faith in action. My grandmother ALWAYS had her Bible handy beside the big fluffy recliner and a church hymnal to sing praises to God. Hallelujah!

Urge the younger women

Not only did my grandmother encourage fervent Bible reading so did my GREAT-grandmother! What a sweet thing it is to pass down through multiple generations a passion for Bible reading. The word “urge” is means to try earnestly or persistently to persuade someone to do something. My grandmothers were creating a strong desire in my heart to pursue the Bible. It wasn’t a forceful judgemental instruction but one of loving tenderness that was felt through their kind words and gentle urging. I never felt shame for not reading or when I slipped up. Forgiveness and mercy was also a character trait passed down through their actions. I am grateful for their influence.

Instructions

The verse clearly outlines:

  1. love your husbands and children
  2. be self-controlled and pure
  3. be busy at home
  4. be kind
  5. be subject to your husbands

Now for my SO WHAT WHO CARES?

As a mom scouring the internet for information about biblical marriage and motherhood advice I would find entire articles for each of the five instructions above. For today, I am not going to elaborate on each of them. However, I will offer what I have found to be true in my marriage and motherhood journey thus far.

  1. Loving my family comes first even when things get rough.
  2. I attempt to pray before I speak out in anger, therefore, practicing self-control (through a whole lot of help from the Holy Spirit).
  3. As a married couple, we set up boundaries and restrictions to enforce purity.
  4. We made the decision that I would stay home to pour into the children during their foundational years. (I didn’t even start blogging until my oldest was seven years old.) The work wasn’t satisfying in the beginning though my heart and mind simply needed to mature. NOW, I can see the fruit of my labor in our children.  (Wanna know more about the first years leave a comment below).
  5. And finally, YES, I am subject to my husband because he is the head of our household. He doesn’t govern or dictate me nor use me as a doormat, etc. My husband is a loving man of Christ who cherishes ME like Christ loves the church. He is self-sacrificing, caring, kind, and understanding. He provides for us spiritually and physically. He leads us through the valleys and rejoices with us on mountaintops. Is he perfect? No. Neither am I. We love Christ first then each other than our children. We understand the unity we have in Him and the covenant we made with one another. So, Yes, I am subject to him because HE is subject to us through Christ Jesus.

If you are a new mom or a hurting mom I would encourage you to turn to the best instruction manual, encyclopedia, and Google search available – the Word of God. It is a wonderful book full of stories that will encourage the weariest heart. And if you need prayer please do not hesitate to reach out.

 

Additional reading:

https://articles.titus2.com/titus-two-encouragement-for-young-mother-part-1/

A book list: http://titus2mentoringwomen.com/books/

Start a mentoring program: http://titus2mentoringwomen.com/

How tangled hair teaches patience

How tangled hair teaches patience

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Faith, Family | 0 comments

Today was a true test of being a mother of multiples. It was how tangled hair teaches patience. A tangled knotty nightmare all wrapped up into a patience testing situation.

Do you know what burdocks are? Oh, you are in for a treat! The nightmare of knots is enough to drive anyone mad!

However, we face every trial with patience and a strong reliance on a higher power.

SOOOOOO, this story began at a pee wee football practice.

 

Patience and Burdocks

Three year old with Upstate NY burdocks entangled in hair.

First practice of the season with FOUR children in tow.

Snacks: CHECK

Water: CHECK

Toys: CHECK

Patience: CHECK

You see, my little girls have reached an age that is so exhilarating and wonderful. They find joy in the smallest things and everyone is a friend.

I came to practice all prepared and ready to visit as did my girls. They found their friends and flowers!  Watching from distance they were enjoying their freedom and each other. The youngest was on the edge of the public area where the weeds and shrubbery were tall and overbearing. She was picking flowers. It was so cute.

Then she silently walked over to me and touched my hand. As I turned to see what she needed I GASPED!

Burdocks (Spurs):

The entire TOP of her head was locked into the biggest burdock dreadlock ever.

If you aren’t familiar with burdocks they are this prickly ball of hooky things! That can be a living nightmare for your clothes, your animals and especially your hair! Just to give you an idea, the inventor of VELCRO used the burdocks bur design for the hook and loop fastening mechanism. So yeah, these things mean business when they hook into something hopping a ride to spread their seeds.

She was just picking flowers and didn’t realize the danger sitting right above her head. And sometimes we also live like that.

Living life while danger is lingering all around us. BUT why live with all the worrying about potential danger, risks and ‘what ifs’? Why allow the anxiety to control our lives?

Patience:

 A recent song by Blanca turns our controlling, worrying and sometimes pessimistic mindset around with the simple question of “what if”.

What if we trusted the lord completely and gave it all to him? Really, what if?

People ask me all the time “how do I do it?” “How do you handle having four kids and stay sane?” Or they say things like you are a super mom. Literally, in the middle of the burdocks apocalypse, a mom said “look at this champ”.  She had yet to see the knot on the top of my little girl’s head.

Ok, so keeping it real. I am not a super mom nor have I got it all figured out.

Seriously, this household runs on Jesus and A WHOLE LOT OF COFFEE!

So what keeps me sane, calm, cool and collected through it all including this burdocks fiasco?

Jesus. I give it all to Him. (BTW, if you are looking for more mom inspiration that is God centered check out: Risen motherhood)

Things have changed over time including the number of people in our family to the depth of my faith.  My faith has deepened and transformed my motherhood. The anxiety, worry and unknown that once paralyzed me is slowly losing its grip and being replaced with peace.

Patience and burdocks. Just another reminder in this thing called life to calm down and just go with it.

Knotty Head:

 Now, if you want details of the burdocks episode. Wait no longer.

  1. Her hair was initially in a ponytail. Therefore, the top hair along with the ponytail got completely knotted and matted with about 15 burdocks completely rolled up into one giant knot
  2. We slowly pulled away the hair in small pieces exposing some of the burdock and breaking them into smaller pieces since they had dried out, thank goodness.
  3. I slowly pulled the hair away from each “bur” piece by piece and breaking open the pods releasing seeds.
  4. Eventually, I was able to take out the ponytail holder and expose the hair that was matted.
  5. However, the breaking down of the burdocks was releasing the tiny prickly things that make you itch.
  6. She started complaining of the itch and since we weren’t home I had to stop to gather all our things (meanwhile I am still wearing the baby).
  7. Friends noticed and offered help. One just so happened to be a hairstylist and couldn’t resist getting all the burdocks out so that I wasn’t tempted to cut her hair super short. She patiently removed the rest of the burs.
  8. Meanwhile my other little girl decides to investigate the area AND gets two burs in her hair. She literally look down then raised her head right up into the burdocks and they immediately latched.
  9. Eventually all the burdocks were gone from both heads.
  10. We rush home for a quick wash and more hair rescuing which included coconut oil, wide tooth brush to separate the knots followed with a very fine tooth brush to get the tiny knots.
  11. And finally, hair washed and conditioned with detangler.

Blogging for YOU

Blogging for YOU

by | Aug 2, 2018 | Faith | 0 comments

Blogging is still new in our lives.The journey started as a “blogging for me” project in September 2018, after my fourth child was born, yet it never seemed to flourish throughout the first year. I had it all wrong. The project wasn’t meant for me but for YOU! Blogging for YOU is the goal and intention behind this digital wall. Let’s break this down.

 

Let’s narrow it down to a few pitfalls.

 

BUT WAIT!

 

Let me share real quick that my constant excuse making is a mentality that I’m trying to shed throughout this blogging experience and SHARE how I did it with others. Ok, rant over.

 

So pitfalls. Essentially, blogging for ME fell into the same category of everything else in my life – procrastination, perfectionism, and quite frankly, it felt selfish.

 

Blogging, or my web log, was meant to be a place to:

  1. Share God’s truth
  2. Provide a place of rest through a creative outlet during the years at home with four littles
  3. Serve others with my spiritual gifts of faith, knowledge, truth, and teaching thus glorifying the Lord
  4. And finally, technology tutorials! I aim to bridge the gap of digital literacy for those who feel “left behind” when it comes to screens and the new-everywhere -you-look-today software! 

 

[Disclaimer: IF Knitting Our Story eventually brings in some type of income I will be forever grateful but it was never and will never be the number one goal of this blog.]

 

Let’s breakdown the MYTHS [cough obstacles] that stood in the way followed by the TRUTHS that have reshaped my heart and the work that goes into BLOGGING for YOU.

 

MYTH #1:

IT HAD TO BE PERFECT.

The words had to be perfect. The website immaculate. The video tutorials had to be spot on because “hey, I am teaching people how to make videos so mine need to be top-notch”. However, this paralyzed my progress. It stopped me in my tracks. Constantly sitting down for hours with nothing to share because I couldn’t get off the train of perfectionism. I was going nowhere fast. 

 

No effort = no growth

 

I had a vision and mission in mind but was struggling to fully surrender it by placing it into God’s hands. 

 

Do you ever feel that conflict? 

“Here God you can have this decision, task, project or [insert whatever you are holding onto tightly].”

“Oh Wait GOD! Let me take it back from you and try to go it alone.” 

 

TRUTH:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

 

NOBODY is perfect outside of Jesus. NOTHING will ever be perfect! I had to stop putting on a show (for myself) that I had this “blogging” thing all figured out and STOP obsessing over the details. How would that serve YOU? How would my “faking it” help YOU? It won’t.

 

Proverbs even provided a road map on HOW to do this: 1. Trust God > 2. Lean not on my OWN understanding > 3. Submit to God > 4. He will make my paths straight

 

I do not have to fear anything because the LORD has my back! I can’t let the fear of “not measuring up” hold me back from doing His will. I will stumble upon this path of life and life will knock us down. Our recent life development has proven to us that we certainly are not in control of ANYTHING!

 

MYTH #2:

IT HAD TO BE SECULAR.

Hey, it is the internet so this blog needs to be applicable to everyone. It shouldn’t ruffle any feathers nor should it speak so boldly about my faith. The internal dialogue was saying…. Don’t share your struggles or areas of weakness. Do not stand on your convictions because someone will try to knock you down. 

 

The FEAR was debilitating. 

 

TRUTH:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” ~ Psalm 27:1

 

Again, another situation to place firmly into the hands of God.  I [extreme emphasis on “I”] was placing unwarranted pressure on myself to make this blog a business and ‘professional’ which undermines my WHY for starting this in the first place. 

 

If someone is offended then let me go ahead and say “I am sorry” here and now. Blogging is a sharing platform thus I am only sharing MY personal beliefs. You are welcome to yours and can visit other platforms that are more aligned to your personal beliefs. 

 

MYTH #3:

IT HAD TO BE CONSISTENT.

Ok, this one is trickier because I certainly do want a high performing blog therefore it needs to be consistent. However, in quantitative terms my ability to push out content is relative to what MY schedule will allow NOT SOMEBODY ELSE’S. 

 

The first two myths were fueling a desire to get up earlier than needed or stay up late [even all night sometimes] to create this ‘professional’ blog that brings in no revenue of any kind [as of 8/1/2019].

 

TRUTH:

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; 

yes, establish the work of our hands! ~ Psalm 90:17

 

Blogging is a process for me. It will take time to refine and master. Placing this task into the hands of the Lord means that HE will establish the work of my hands. 

 

HE will ESTABLISH the work of my hands. 

 

Choosing to blog was intentional. A platform to share and teach while also creating a task that will enforce more discipline and time management on my behalf. The Lord knows my heart and my nature he “knitted” me in the womb. He knows my weaknesses and strengths. He orders my steps.

 

So to create more consistency here there has to be more consistency in my daily life thus TIME MANAGEMENT > DISCIPLINE > PRODUCTIVITY are elements that will also have to adjust to this new project. It will benefit the entirety of my life! I love how the Lord orchestrates the simple things in our lives to create a grandeur end product than we could ever imagine.  

 

SO WHAT WHO CARES?:

What is the application of all of this?

We can create plans but the Lord will order those steps. He will also remove all fear and doubt when we LET Him establish the work of our hands. Trusting the Lord with my blogging journey from the beginning will allow it to always be in His will while also making it a joyful experience vs anxiety driven. 

 

So what are you holding onto today? What can  you give to God? What work of your hands has He established? Share with me how this helped or inspired you.

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