Back when I was in Bible college, one of my favorite weekly events was Popcorn preaching night. It was a humble get together of college students in an empty classroom, and every now and then someone would bring popcorn to share! What was so fun about it was its purpose. Its purpose was to light each other's fire for the Lord with just bursts of God's Word. It was active, and vibrant, and there was excitement there you couldn't help but shout "amen" over. The preacher boys would take turns giving a quick, and simple message that the Lord had laid on their hearts. One would pop up, and then another, and then another. It really was fun, and exciting, and I craved that popcorn preaching as it so encouraged my heart each week.
I wasn't a preacher boy, so I never had my turn popping up to preach, but you know I've got that pop up thought still swirling in my head. So here I am... Unpopular Popcorn... I intend to pop in every now and then with a thought, with a word of encouragement, and share it with anyone willing to read it. And just like with Popcorn Preaching you can pop in or out. Now, most of my thoughts are not the popular of our day, and I may shake a few bushes along the way. You can join me with a bag of popcorn, or you can throw the popcorn at me through the screen, but I'm just gonna share my heart, some scripture, and let that pony ride...
Post 1- My tubes aint fit to be tied...
If you're reading this then you probably got here from my link on FB, and you know me. And you know I'm a mom, and you know I have a few kids that call me mom, and you probably know how many.
Many have asked, and maybe even you have... "Are you done?" and I probably smiled at you, and said something like, "Oh gracious, I don't know." and that truly is the best answer I can give you in a friendly quick bit of conversation. It's not one of those things I easily have the time to explain, and discuss like its needed. Well, here we go. Here's my first entry, and its an unpopular popcorn thought I have frequently, and well I am frequently asked. Like way too frequently...
Family size is as individual as the family themselves. It really is. I truly believe that the Lord uniquely works in our lives. It is our responsibility to seek Him out, and place our trust in Him, and He will direct our paths. Especially with our families. In raising them, and in having them. God has given us these children. Each one, and one, and one, and one, and one, and oh here comes another one. And I will always hold in my heart the one we lost. Losing our little one also shaped our hearts, and we look forward to holding him or her one sweet day. They are ours. Each one their own one. And while I've been more surprised than probably anyone that we have added so many little ones, I love each one, and I am so thankful to have that one, and I count each one a blessing, and a gift. So when is our last one? --- I don't know, the Lord does.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
This is a verse I learned probably as one of my first when I was just a little girl. And oh what a precious gem of a verse this. What a challenge it is as well. Im not so great at trust. I struggle with trust. I'm more of a "I'll just handle it, and then I can be in assurance and control." But you know that is not the Lord's intention for us. He wants us to lean in to Him, and let Him lead. And you can ask my husband who will tell you that while I whole-heartedly trust Him, I don't always lean in and let him lead. I can be a stubborn mule, more often than not. And I do the same to the Lord too. Thankfully, my husband is very gracious, and the Lord even more so, and I'm brought back to the safety that is found in trusting, and letting them lead.
Families are personal. Here's our personal story. Getting to baby #1 was hard for us, and took us longer than we had hoped- and then baby #1 came with his extra needs, and medical stuff, and we thought we'd lost him, and I remember one night just praying all the way through it. Praying all night that my baby would live, and that I might get to keep him. I didn't have a guarantee, and what I had more was doubt, and fear, and grief. I had planned for him, prayed for him, dreamed for him, and now I wasn't certain I would have him. Drs. gave us best case scenarios, and worst case scenarios. Thankfully, our scenario landed somewhere in the middle, and he is now 7 years old! Sure there are still extras and blah- blah- blah but I just love him, and I thank the Lord for him- for uniquely who he is. Now- I had my first baby and was buried with mommy stuff (you know like spit up, and bottles, and diapers, and little sleep, and a whole lot of tears- both yours and baby's), and medical stuff, and those were hard days, and having another seemed like the worst idea I could ever imagine, and I didn't want to come close to that with a 30 foot pole, and I made my plans to rest assured that I didn't have to. BUT- somehow I found myself sitting next to a toilet; crying, because I knew all too well what morning sickness looks like, and those two lines also don't lie. Let's fast forward, and I can assure you that trust was not my first impulse... not even my 10th. But God really weaved through my heart in that second baby boy, and I saw how good his timing, and his plan were, and I was so encouraged to trust in Him.... I knew I should just trust in Him. But, then I wanted to control it again... and again, God surprised me, oh, and again, and yes, well again. And yes, I do know how it happens- ha ha! But you know sometimes you still do get surprised. And not always have I trusted. Not always have I shined and beamed with faith. I get overwhelmed, I get exhausted, I get every emotion you can imagine, and yet I'd not ever not want to have one of them. #1- He's that mommas first baby #2- He's my helper #3- Oh, she's so much like me #4- she's so silly #5- my sweet momma's boy; and well #6 - he's kicking me to meet me, and I'm anxious to meet him. I love them all so much. It's not by accident that they are each here. Their birth is evidence that God has a perfect plan for their life- even if I didn't plan it.
Back to that question? I don't know if we are done. I don't have that as a plan. But, I would be okay if this was our final count (Well, biologically. Adoption is still a heart's desire, and that we can discuss in another post). But- It's not a decision I feel capable to make so we will be placing that in the Lord's hands, and trusting that He will show us in His time, and in His way, and uniquely I feel that is what we each ought to do. We please the Lord when we give Him control, when we place our trust in Him, and allow His plan, and not our own. Our journey's are our own, and Id like to just encourage you to place your trust in Him regardless of which stage of the journey you're in. If you're done- then trust him as you raise them. If you're hoping- then trust in Him even through that painful journey. If you're in the middle- trust him to give you direction. His greatest desire for us is that we lean into Him, and let Him lead us in every area of our lives.
"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." - Psalm 18:30
"Worrying is believing God won't get it right." - Todd Wagner
I wasn't a preacher boy, so I never had my turn popping up to preach, but you know I've got that pop up thought still swirling in my head. So here I am... Unpopular Popcorn... I intend to pop in every now and then with a thought, with a word of encouragement, and share it with anyone willing to read it. And just like with Popcorn Preaching you can pop in or out. Now, most of my thoughts are not the popular of our day, and I may shake a few bushes along the way. You can join me with a bag of popcorn, or you can throw the popcorn at me through the screen, but I'm just gonna share my heart, some scripture, and let that pony ride...
Post 1- My tubes aint fit to be tied...
If you're reading this then you probably got here from my link on FB, and you know me. And you know I'm a mom, and you know I have a few kids that call me mom, and you probably know how many.
Many have asked, and maybe even you have... "Are you done?" and I probably smiled at you, and said something like, "Oh gracious, I don't know." and that truly is the best answer I can give you in a friendly quick bit of conversation. It's not one of those things I easily have the time to explain, and discuss like its needed. Well, here we go. Here's my first entry, and its an unpopular popcorn thought I have frequently, and well I am frequently asked. Like way too frequently...
Family size is as individual as the family themselves. It really is. I truly believe that the Lord uniquely works in our lives. It is our responsibility to seek Him out, and place our trust in Him, and He will direct our paths. Especially with our families. In raising them, and in having them. God has given us these children. Each one, and one, and one, and one, and one, and oh here comes another one. And I will always hold in my heart the one we lost. Losing our little one also shaped our hearts, and we look forward to holding him or her one sweet day. They are ours. Each one their own one. And while I've been more surprised than probably anyone that we have added so many little ones, I love each one, and I am so thankful to have that one, and I count each one a blessing, and a gift. So when is our last one? --- I don't know, the Lord does.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
This is a verse I learned probably as one of my first when I was just a little girl. And oh what a precious gem of a verse this. What a challenge it is as well. Im not so great at trust. I struggle with trust. I'm more of a "I'll just handle it, and then I can be in assurance and control." But you know that is not the Lord's intention for us. He wants us to lean in to Him, and let Him lead. And you can ask my husband who will tell you that while I whole-heartedly trust Him, I don't always lean in and let him lead. I can be a stubborn mule, more often than not. And I do the same to the Lord too. Thankfully, my husband is very gracious, and the Lord even more so, and I'm brought back to the safety that is found in trusting, and letting them lead.
Families are personal. Here's our personal story. Getting to baby #1 was hard for us, and took us longer than we had hoped- and then baby #1 came with his extra needs, and medical stuff, and we thought we'd lost him, and I remember one night just praying all the way through it. Praying all night that my baby would live, and that I might get to keep him. I didn't have a guarantee, and what I had more was doubt, and fear, and grief. I had planned for him, prayed for him, dreamed for him, and now I wasn't certain I would have him. Drs. gave us best case scenarios, and worst case scenarios. Thankfully, our scenario landed somewhere in the middle, and he is now 7 years old! Sure there are still extras and blah- blah- blah but I just love him, and I thank the Lord for him- for uniquely who he is. Now- I had my first baby and was buried with mommy stuff (you know like spit up, and bottles, and diapers, and little sleep, and a whole lot of tears- both yours and baby's), and medical stuff, and those were hard days, and having another seemed like the worst idea I could ever imagine, and I didn't want to come close to that with a 30 foot pole, and I made my plans to rest assured that I didn't have to. BUT- somehow I found myself sitting next to a toilet; crying, because I knew all too well what morning sickness looks like, and those two lines also don't lie. Let's fast forward, and I can assure you that trust was not my first impulse... not even my 10th. But God really weaved through my heart in that second baby boy, and I saw how good his timing, and his plan were, and I was so encouraged to trust in Him.... I knew I should just trust in Him. But, then I wanted to control it again... and again, God surprised me, oh, and again, and yes, well again. And yes, I do know how it happens- ha ha! But you know sometimes you still do get surprised. And not always have I trusted. Not always have I shined and beamed with faith. I get overwhelmed, I get exhausted, I get every emotion you can imagine, and yet I'd not ever not want to have one of them. #1- He's that mommas first baby #2- He's my helper #3- Oh, she's so much like me #4- she's so silly #5- my sweet momma's boy; and well #6 - he's kicking me to meet me, and I'm anxious to meet him. I love them all so much. It's not by accident that they are each here. Their birth is evidence that God has a perfect plan for their life- even if I didn't plan it.
Back to that question? I don't know if we are done. I don't have that as a plan. But, I would be okay if this was our final count (Well, biologically. Adoption is still a heart's desire, and that we can discuss in another post). But- It's not a decision I feel capable to make so we will be placing that in the Lord's hands, and trusting that He will show us in His time, and in His way, and uniquely I feel that is what we each ought to do. We please the Lord when we give Him control, when we place our trust in Him, and allow His plan, and not our own. Our journey's are our own, and Id like to just encourage you to place your trust in Him regardless of which stage of the journey you're in. If you're done- then trust him as you raise them. If you're hoping- then trust in Him even through that painful journey. If you're in the middle- trust him to give you direction. His greatest desire for us is that we lean into Him, and let Him lead us in every area of our lives.
"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." - Psalm 18:30
"Worrying is believing God won't get it right." - Todd Wagner
"Do you know how it this happens?" Ha!! Accompanied by the looks, & the counting! Yes, for us, a LOT of paperwork! Oh, but everyone one of these children are image bearers of the one who created them...created them uniquely!!! Their lives have value!!! It's a honor to raise them up in the way they should go! Soli Deo Gloria!!! Are you done?...ummm ya unless the Lord says otherwise! Lol!! I've said "Oh we are absolutely done" then the Lord surprised us with a baby at the end of the day! Isaiah 55, "Your ways are not my ways.." plays over & over again in my mind! His ways are far better!!! Much love for you & yours!!!! XOXO!
ReplyDelete