Uncommon

     Last weekend, our family went to a church retreat in Westminster Woods. It was our first time there and the theme was finding your superpower and how you may be able to share your talents at church. Of course, Jeff's talent was "Creative Ability" and mine was a tie between "Creative Ability" and "Faith". 

     Most of the time, I am big on faith. I have had to be. The unexpected hits and I still push on. I may not know why things happen or how we will get through at the moment but in time God reveals his purpose. Sometimes though, I forget.

Lately, some inevitable truths about my husband had really been testing my faith.            Questions, doubts and fears filled my head and my heart. I always say that if the Devil is not messing with you and trying to tear you down, you are where he wants you. If how you live causes him to have to put effort into misguiding, hurting and deceiving you, you are doing something right! 

     Back to my marriage: we cannot mold people into who we want them to be. That is God's job. God knows when and how he breaks, molds, and puts us through the fire. So I asked God to help me understand my husband a little better and to put my heart at ease. Okay, I begged! Just a little better understanding is all I wanted.  

     In Acts 10 there is a story about a vision that Peter had.

The Bible says that he became hungry and fell into a trance. He saw heaven open and a vessel descend with wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the sky. Then he heard a voice say telling him to rise, kill and eat. But Peter refused to eat what was common or unclean.

"And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Acts 10:15 

     This happened three times and afterwards, Peter was unsure of what this even meant. Four days earlier, Cornelius, a centurion from Caesarea, a devout man that feared and prayed to God, had been visited by an angel who had him send for Peter. 

Acts 10:19 says, "While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them."

     What I love is that after he arrived in Caesarea, Peter told them how it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with foreigners but God had showed him not call any man common or unclean. He was more than okay being there and speaking to Cornelius and the group of friends and family that he had gathered. 

     Now, the story goes on, but this is what spoke to me the most. Peter had to have faith. He didn't understand the vision but, when he heard the Spirit, he obeyed without doubting. At the right time, when he needed to understand, the vision was clear to him. 

     There is nothing common about my husband! God has cleansed him and God is molding him to be who he was created to be, not to be everything I would want. God reminded me that I am in no position to judge and I too am still a work in progress. Most importantly though, he reminded me to have faith. I have looked at my husband and thought of all the morals and values I was raised by. I try to compare him and I have wanted him to measure up to man-made standards. God reminds me that he is His project, not mine. He tells me to let go. Stop worrying and remember to have faith. 

     This goes for everyone around us. Our neighbors, our family, our church, our whole world is made up of  people that God is working with. It is not our job to tell anyone how to live, what to do, or what to think. It is our job to be accepting and show God's love and mercy. We are to open our minds and our hearts and be welcoming rather than judgmental. We should strive to show the best we can be, to show how God has worked in us, so that others may have faith enough to let Him in. We are living examples of what God can do. We should be open books with no shame of our failures or mistakes. We should never pretend to be perfect and try to fix others. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

In case you're wondering:
The story goes on to
tell us that Peter shared with them that he now understood that God shows no favoritism. In every nation, anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. He tells them of Jesus of Nazareth and as he was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. He goes on to order that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and afterwards they invite Peter to stay for a few days. It is a wonderful story in the Bible found in Acts chapter 10.

Peace Amongst the Day

This morning as I was having my quiet time with God, I spent almost half of it simply talking to Him. I had PLENTY to pour out to Him. Although I know what my basic priorities are; they had recently been getting a little jumbled up. They are:

*  God

• My Husband
• My Children
• Our Home                

Some days, I haven’t had any time for God. I’ve been way too busy. My time with God those days consisted of praying for our meals, and this is usually done by the kids. “Father God, thank you for my mommy, my baby sister, and me. We are so beautiful. And thank you for my brother and my dad because they are so handsome. Thank you for the water...because it’s so good...and the birds, they are so beautiful...and the rain that you made...and the fruit...” “Eva...the food...” “Oh yeah, and bless the food. AAAAA-MEN!!!” (Picture a big cheesy smile from our 3 year old.)

Other days I have needed to homeschool a lot, cook and clean, and therefore have had no time for my husband and his needs...he’s a big boy, right? Other times, I have found myself asking the kids to just go play please, Mommy is busy. Ugh. I am NOT proud of myself! And what does this all add up to? Stress. A stressed mama isn’t a happy mama. And everyone knows...If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!!”

The wonderful thing about any human though, is that we can always improve ourselves. We can always work hard and diligently to become better at pretty much anything we set our minds to. When you plan out your day putting God first and being realistic (and DO allow for things to be switched around if needed!) it brings peace to your home. You find that there IS enough time in the day. If you have any debilitating/chronic illness that somedays makes it hard to crawl out of bed, (if you are blessed enough to get to stay at home or work from home) you can allow yourself the rest your body needs. I have a PJ day with the kids and do the best I can that day! You find that there IS enough time to homeschool, to study, to clean, to cook, to organize, to budget, run errands, and many, many of those important things, AND then still have intimate time with your husband at night!! (The best way to end a long day!) 

We have to love and accept ourselves the way God made us, acknowledge and embrace the kind of heart he gave us, and do our very best with what He has blessed us and entrusted us with. 

And let’s get a few questions out of the way: Am I saying it is easy? (Hahahaha!) That I have a simple solution to being that mother who has it all together? (She doesn’t exist.)Do I think I am any better or that my family is put together better than someone else’s? Most certainly not, I’m sorry but, no, and NEVER!!

After my long prayer and venting to God, who by the way is the BEST listener, He allowed me to “stumble upon” an amazing Psalm that provided more encouragement for me today than I could have ever imagined I would have needed...today. God is ALWAYS on time.

Most of us do not say the most encouraging words when we are angry. A stressed mama can get angry very easily sometimes. Mostly it is because we are angry with ourselves, no one else.

Psalm 34 starts like this:

“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” (v. 1)

How then can there be room for malice and angry words?

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, he delivered me from ALL my fears.” (v. 4)

Nothing good comes from fear. It is negative and the root of many evil things said and done.

“Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.” (v. 5)

I don’t know about you but I want to be radiant!

“This poor man called,” (in this case it is David) “...and the Lord heard him, he saved him out of all of his troubles.” (v. 6)

If you call on God, He will hear you; therefore, do not worry. Worry is a waste of time. Worry never helped accomplish or solve anything. You may feel like He isn’t answering or at least not giving you the answer you want when you want. Do not worry. He knows the big picture, you do not. You are wonderfully made, let the artist and creator keep working.

“...blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” (v. 8)

“Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing ” (v. 9 & 10)

Seek the Lord. Listen and seek peace. Are they not the same thing?

My marriage, my life, and my kids are in God’s hands. At times it feels as if I have nothing else to hang on to but God’s promises...but, what better thing to hang on to?

God created me with a strong desire to continually learn, so I offer all I am to Him. 

“Here I am God! Open my eyes, my mind, and my heart to things I never knew. Then help me turn around and teach my kids. Help me speak to and reach their hearts. Help me share with all those around me every good thing I know,” say I unto the Lord. 

“Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (v. 11-14)  

“Lord, fill my heart with so much love, understanding, forgiveness, and peace that there is NO ROOM for anything evil, hurtful, and not of You,” I cry out to You Lord, knowing that...

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.” (v. 15)

A simple prayer:

Guide us.

Teach us.

Heal us.

Let love abundant!

 -A Sadler Mom 

Pieces of Me

Days are just flying right by me, it becomes hard to keep up! To make things better, lately I have felt sort of...tossed around. Trying to find my place and being my best at it hasn’t been easy. Of course, I know who I am. I know what my family needs from me and I believe I do my best at that. But, you know what I mean. 

What can I do that is extraordinary? I am giving everything pieces of me and I really need to fully delve into something specific. I love everything I am a part of and I wish God would just nudge me a little towards a certain direction. But, that would be too easy. Choices are something I struggle with. I am an analyzer and honestly...sometimes I over-analyze. My mind gets filled with what-ifs and I want to accommodate the needs of all involved while trying to prevent any problems that could arise from my choices. Okay, I know: That is impossible. What’s worse is that afterwards I usually end up thinking, “I should have...”. I can be hard on myself. 

Thank You, God, for my husband!! He reassures me and encourages me. He reminds me to paint a truer and prettier picture because the way I depict it is usually the worst it could possibly be and untrue. I am promising myself, with my readers as my witnesses, that I am going to pray hard and find something to really put my energy into. I am going to try my hardest and if it fails, at least I stopped dipping my toe in and jumped in! There are many more streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans to try out! 

I look forward to sharing what I try. I would love to conquer it and move on! This mommy to one 5 year old, one 3 year old, a 2 month old, who stays at home, chooses to homeschool those wonderful children, and has been “labeled” as a sufferer of anxiety, asthma, endometriosis and having GI issues has one mighty God! I will be still and listen. I will say “Yes!” and be obedient for He sees the bigger and prettier picture! I will not shy away but instead courageous and bold. 

I will stop just giving pieces of me everywhere. This passion of helping, using my hands, my voice, my mind and all I have ever learned...this passion to ALWAYS continue learning new things has to be funneled and become something greater and with more purpose than my current “sprinkles of Mimi.” Now, excuse me while I go talk to Jesus. I hope to write again in a more fulfilled and lighter spirit very soon!