In my weakness

Today I had an awakening. I have been praying for several months now about my family's finances. My husband is very blessed with the full-time salary he makes as pastor of our church. But, you all know as well as I do, feeding 5 people is NOT cheap; neither is anything else, for that matter! So we've been praying and seeking different ways to help supplement some much needed grocery money. Let me just stop and say this right now;  God has ALWAYS provided, A.L.W.A....well you get the point! ALWAYS! So myself being human is the only reason why I would ever question anything different. This time He proved again how He can work wonders, even when we least expect.
In praying for our finances I have sought out a couple different ways to make some extra money myself. As you know it is most important to my family that I'm at home to care for and school my children, so a job has to be VERY specific to our families needs. Well through all this prayer, I've felt as though God was telling me to teach piano lessons. I play. I took piano for 9 years as a child/teen. I was the accompanist for our Jr High and High School choirs (and really strengthened my knowledge and skill through that.) Still, I would stop and think, I am NO Beethoven, and then politely shove that thought to the side.
Once again we've come to the end of the month and funds are lower than normal and I decided to pray a little harder. A message came through from a facebook friend. It said this "I know I've asked you before but things and seasons change. Are you teaching piano lessons?" Hmmmmmm.....OK, God. I hear you. Now what? So I replied. I explained that as a matter of fact, I have been praying through starting to teach and would love to have her as a student. She replied "my daughter wants to take too." Hmmmmm.....Are you seeing a pattern here? God's still shouting from that corner I pushed Him in, "HELLO!!!!! I GOT THIS!!!!!" So, I giggle to myself and realize that I better listen while He's offering. Noone likes to miss out on a blessing because of self ignorance!
I posted an "ad," so to speak, about lessons. I got a GREAT response, and not even 24 hours later I have around 10 students signed up!!! I'm so very humbled for God's provision. At the same time I'm very nervous. I'm not very good at having full confidence in myself. But, today I have found much comfort in His Word and promises. "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever." Philippians 4:19-20
Moral of this story...Never doubt what God can do. Always use your abilities, talents, and gifts to glorify Him. "Wait upon the Lord" as in Isaiah 40. And ALWAYS remember..."not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13
In my weakness, He's made stronger. You can say the same!
AMEN!

A little effort

So i have to share a thought that passed my mind today. I feel like it's a good one to consider this weekend. First let me just introduce you to my newest passion, clothing upcycle! I can't just leave my closet alone. I'm always thinking of how I can make a shirt fit better or pants be more in fashion or a dress be something I will actually wear! So I upcycle things. This was my latest project...

I love this shirt, but it was just a little too snug for comfort and I may would've popped a button off if I sat down in it! (Hate I didn't get a before pic!) I sewed leopard print fabric down the back to add width in the dreaded hip area! HA! Then just for fun and because my sister, mom, and I can't handle ourselves when things aren't monogrammed I added a precious applique 'M' to the front pocket! How adorable, right?! Well it didn't stay this perfect for long.

We were heading out today and, of course, I just HAD to wear my new shirt. I ironed it all pretty and my iron spewed nasty rusty steam on the sleeve. Aggrevation, but no biggie. Wiped it clean the best I could and hoped noone would notice. We ran errands in town and had a meeting with a group of homeschoolers. Being that we live a good bit from "town" we seem to always be in need of at least one meal when we're out and about. (I promise, I'm going to start packing a pb sandwich picnic to save money. Sorry, I regress. Different blog Different day!) Anywhooooo... A trip to a local fried chicken joint and my little Sarah says "oh no! Mama, look at your shirt!" YEP!! You guessed it a trickle of grease ever so politely landed in a stream of tiny dots all down the front of my precious new creation! AHHHHHH!!!!! I dabbed it off in the restaraunt bathroom and even dotted it with a stain pen a hs mom let me borrow. Fast forwards several hours later. I took my shirt straight to the washing machine and put it in a cycle all by itself just to try and hurry to get out the stains. After the wash ran, I pulled the shirt from the dryer and low and behold, the leopard print fabric had raveled and the seams had pretty much fallen apart making several big holes! WAHHHHH!!! I was determined to make this shirt work! I had to get at LEAST more than 1 hour of good wear out of it! I mean, come on!!! So to the sewing machine I go. I didn't even wait for it to dry. (Which I may regret later??) Two straight stitch rows and one zigzag and a careful hanging to AIR dry and HOPEFULLY I will have a new shirt, even better than before!

During all of this a thought crossed my mind. What is there in my life that needs this much effort? What am I doing with little to no "umption" that deserves for me to give it my all? When have I helped a friend, carelessly played with a kid, or even studied God's Word with as much effort as I put into my shirt project? God pressed upon my heart to make a better effort in some areas and I intend to follow through with this conviction. I dropped everything after finishing my sewing and sat on my porch swing to watch my children play and ride their bikes. It was my first attempt at a well-known truth. "Nothing worth having comes easy!" Now a leisurely swing on the porch is definitely what I consider easy, but it still took effort for me to set aside that time. I pray I continue to do so!

  Colossians 3:23-25says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Let's pray.

God, you know that we love You, our husbands, our children, and our family and friends beyond any shirt or perfected hair style or clean house. We seem to put so much effort on sometimes trivial things. Help us Lord to focus on the important and put the work even more so into the things that "lay up treasures for us in Heaven." Reward our work by warming our hearts and our lives with blessed times of blissful rest in you. 

Amen.