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. 

Am I suited up for marriage?

Yesterday in Sunday School I taught my young class of students all about the "armor" that God gives. We started out by talking about sin and what God says sin is. I asked if anyone knew what armor was used for and when we wear armor. It was so sweet when one little boy chimed in "When we fight ZOMBIES!!!" Even though there may not be zombies for us to fight there is a battle; a battle forging around us that we can't necessarily see with our physical eyes but a lot of time we can see the results once the smoke clears. It's called a spiritual battle. The Bible tells us a lot about this battle and what we can do to prepare ourselves for it.

I can still remember one of the first "real" fights that my husband Josh and I had. We were really young. I don't remember for sure but I would say it was probably within the first year of marriage. I know it was just us two; no kids yet. It's one of those things where I just can't for the life of me remember why we were even fighting, but I remember what happened next. He slammed a door and unintentionally made a decor (one of the first of my handmade creations) fall off the wall and shatter into pieces. Oh boy, that made me jump into serious WAR mode. All good behavior and intentions went out the window as I so nonchalantly proceeded to throw one of his most favorite VCR hunting tapes at the wall and it shattered as well. I think about it now and wonder how in the world I ever acted out so violently. I was so very mad at him and he was furious with me. Of course, we worked everything out and apologized as was necessary and have lived through many happy years along with more civilized "battles" since then! But here's the kicker...we read our Bible more and what we've discovered is what we've stuck to. Many battles come our way; whether with each other or with so many around us. The Bible tells us though that it's not really flesh and blood that we fight. It's not my husband (or my friend or the "friendly" cashier.) Our battle is really with the devil; the one who controls all the darkness and forces of evil in this wicked world. (Eph.6:12)

We don't know when battles will come our way so we have to be prepared daily for a potential threat. Read Ephesians 6:10-18

#1. The belt of truth: TRUTH.

Truth for my marriage: Make sure you know what's truth and what is not. The number one thing that has gotten myself and my husband in trouble in the past is assuming! I won't repeat what we in the south say assume stands for, but I'll give you a hint. It makes a "donkey" out of u and me! Communication is the key to not assuming. Ask before you assume that you know what your husband meant by his words or actions. Let him know that a specific tone spells trouble to you. But don't be upset when he in turn shares how he feels about your habits of body language.

Truth from God: When the Bible speaks of truth, gospel, the way, or the good news, it is mostly speaking of Jesus Christ. The truth is if you have a relationship with Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you have the power to stand firm against Satan and his army.

#2. The breastplate of righteousness: BEING RIGHT WITH GOD!

Right for my marriage: The most important person in any relationship especially marriage is God. When we truly live our lives to please God then we will in return please our husbands. Right with HIM, means right with him!

Right from God: God only wants what is best for His children. When we live a life according to His Word, His Will is played out for us. The most important part of His Will is His protection of His family. The breastplate of "being right with Him" will protect our most vital part; our heart!

#3. The shoes of peace: CALM

Calm for my marriage: I tell my kids this often and even shared this with my Sunday School class and in other blog posts...the best thing we can do for ourselves is to stop and breathe and THINK about our next step; our next word; our next action. When we calm ourselves to a state of focus in the midst of battle we can feel a better sense of preparedness. We are ready, with the right reaction and response, for whatever comes our way.

Calm from God: The gospel of peace that God can give is called "the peace that passes all understanding." I've often times wondered how that peace is so amazing, because I've experience it first hand. It truly is unexplainable. This verse helps me understand by using the simple word "gospel." We can have that kind of peace only because God made a way; THE way. He sent His only Son to die for our sins so that even in the middle of the chaos we can truly know peace!

#4. The shield of faith: FAITH.

Faith for my marriage: God gives us the ability to love others because He loves us, to forgive others because He forgives us, and to have faith in others because He has faith in us. He knows that the commandments He gives for us to abide by IS possible and He expects GREAT things from us. We can foresee those same great things in our spouse! How great would it be for our husband to hear from us the faith that we have in him! All he wants is to know we trust that he will take care of his family, make wise choices, and love us unconditionally.

Faith from God: I'm so grateful that God gave us, as humans, a shield to protect ourselves. As if the breastplate of righteousness isn't enough, God gives us a shield to protect us from whatever Satan throws at us. This spiritual shield wards off unseen and often sneaky weapons from the devil like resentment, hate, guilt, and anger.  These weapons are potentially fatal to our marriages. Thankfully God's prepared us for them!

#5. The helmet of salvation: SAVED to the UTTERMOST!

Salvation for my marriage: There is no; and I mean NO marriage that God cannot save. If we were to say that one was too far gone we would be limiting God's abilities! I may not help, your pastor may not can help, your parents, friends, and even spouse may not can fix it; but GOD CAN!

Salvation from God: My personal salvation came when Josh and I had been married 8 years. Let me just tell you 8 years was a long time to depend on ourselves and my husband's faith alone. The best thing I ever did for my marriage was putting my faith and trust in an all-knowing, all-time loving God. I pray that you have salvation from God and that if so you have all the hope you need just from knowing nothing could ever harm you or your marriage when you have God on your side!

#6. The sword of the Spirit: God's Word

Word for my marriage: The best thing we can do in a marriage battle, whether small, big, serious, or not-so, is allow God's Word to do the fighting. God's Word can change a situation, a heart, or an outcome better than we could ever think possible. Study, know, and embrace what God says our marriage relationship should be or look like. Encourage your spouse to do the same. Let God do the talking for you!

Word from God: Any battle or war we ever face is no match for the Sword of the Lord, the Bible. Out of all the armor God gives to protect us, He only gives one to fight back.  Don't be afraid to use it; for harm against the devil and for good with your spouse!


Remember who the battle is truly against. It's not your husband or zombies"Put on the whole armor of God!" and watch as God protects your marriage better than you ever could alone!


This blog post has been a tough one. Not only was it a lot longer than most I write, it has been very much so battled against! Kids have not been cooperative. Phone keeps ringing. My head is throbbing. And in this last mad dash for the goal line we had our incredibly small chiweenie get lost in the couch lining, yes, i said lining! Now I can't even post this because my wifi box is dead! Not even half way through and about an hour into writing I finally had enough and said to myself "Why is this so hard!?!" Immediately I got the answer I felt God sent "Mary Helen, you're writing on spiritual battles; fighting against the devil. Do you seriously think it's suppose to be easy!" I knew right then no matter how long it took or what else happened I was going to write this, finish it, and post it for the world to see. Two hours later it's finished, saved, and waiting to be published! Praise GOD, that's my battle won today!!! Have you seen yours??

Bring on Fall! Changing of the Seasons!!!

I absolutely love times when here in South MIssissippi we can actually feel and see the changing of the seasons and my all time favorite is FALL!!! This morning there's a coolness in the air and a breeze blowing and for this ole girl it puts a pep in my step! I have 5,000 things I need to do inside my home today but I do believe those will all find the back burner since I know we will all want to be outside in this beautiful weather. It's a picnic-table-under-the-shade tree kind of school day! One reason I so love the changing of seasons is the great representation that it gives us of God's Word. In the Bible God tells us many different times about a newness He can give. Here are a few of my favorite verses:
#1. Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
**How great to think that no matter what's happened yesterday God's mercy is new again every morning and they're never-ending! We can have that blessed hope in Him because of knowing this one truth!
#2. Revelation 21:4-5 (ESV)
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
**As children of God we can trust in the hope of our future and eternity! He makes all things new for then and for now.
#3.II Corinthians 5:17 ESV
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
**Oh the new creation I became once I gave my life over to God. I never knew how dead I had become inside. The feeling of a new fresh start and a Savior that took the broken clay I was and started molding me over and over was one I'll always remember and I return to that time of the start of my relationship with my Christ again and again.
And here's my newest favorite....
#4. Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
"To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
**It makes me proud to know that time after time when I feel like the old person I was is creeping back in I can shake off the dust and my newness shines through again. That's what being a new creature in Christ does for us. If we set our minds to being renewed over and over, again and again, He will help us to cast aside the old and let the new shine on!

Here's to a new season. A newness of life. Cool air, crispy brown leaves, and the hum of locust so loud all you can do is praise God with them!!!

Human Habits

Why is it that old habits are so hard to break? What about our genetics makes us so prone to want to stay set in our ways? These are the things that have been so heavy on my mind lately. My husband and I have set in our hearts to try our best to only be our best for years now. It started at an early time in our marriage. I often laugh and tell newlyweds that my first year of marriage was nothing but fighting and "the best kind of making up." HA! It's still funny to me. The serious set of real deal burdens to change our character came when our first baby started to grow into a bouncing toddler. It was a true wake up call when our sweet darlin' looked up at us and threw her first tantrum. I do believe any mama's first reaction to bad behavior is, "now where did she learn that from?" Then a gut-wrenching feeling comes across most times because the answer too often becomes, OH! NO! I do that. or I say that, or I react that way. So as fairly new parents we set out to change the way we talked, walked, and acted, but unfortunately old habits are hard to break. What is the statistic 31 times doing one thing and it forms a habit? I'm not sure how much I agree with that, but I do know that I have often looked back after trying so hard to set good habits and  thought wow! when did that become second nature? For an example my sweet Mama tried for my entire teenage life to get me to make my bed every morning. Yeah, not happening! Once I was married I had the sense of pride in my own home enough to realize how much neater it made our room look and one day when I was making my bed VOILA! habit was formed! So now we're back to this point in our life where we feel the slump that has happened over the last few months that has drawn us back to some old habits. Now please know that I'm not talking serious addictions or anything like beating our children or illegal actions. I'm talking raising our voice, letting out loud sighs of dissapointment at another family member, an occassional slamming door, and body language that all too well speaks for itself of our attitude. To some of you this all seems petty, right? But you see, we at the Daniels' residence really do want to do as God's word tells us. We truly want to, as a husband, love my wife as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25), as a wife, submit myself to my husband as head of the house (Eph 5:22), as parents, train our children to love God (Prov.22:6), and as a family, edify with our mouths and actions (Eph 5:29). It's not as simple as, well that's just life our husbands and kids will have to hear and see other people act that way. It's also not as simple as, well I can change but why should I if noone else in my house is. It is all about changing our actions and reactions because God loves us and wants us to. Think on this W.W.J.D? Remember how popular this was? It needs to come back in style in our lives not just on our tshirts. What would Jesus do? My husband recently preached a sermon on our ministry as Christians to children or youth. In Matthew 19 Jesus calls the children to Him even when all the disciples were turning them away. Jesus took the time to care for people, love others, talk kindly, teach, minister. I could go on and on about His example, but the thing is that when I think of some of the words I say, the attitude I have, the aggrevation I have when my kids just want a minute, or the attitude I have when my husband asks me a question, I can only hear in myself what Jesus would not do. It's time for change. Serious-real-made-into-a-lifestyle change. So here's what we have to do to change. 

#1. First and foremost PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! He already knows our heart's desires but it sure means alot for Him to hear it from us.

#2. Study what God word says we should be doing. Start in Ephesians 5 with some of the verses I gave before. 

#3. Think W.W.J.D. Nowadays it does seem so cliche' to say that but it's so very obvious that it's what we should've done in the first place. If Jesus would say it, if he would huff and puff over cleaning up a room, or raise His voice to a toddler who spills milk, go right ahead, but you and I both know that would never happen!

#4. If at first you don't succeed try and try again! Don't think that there weren't days of a messed up bed in my times of striving for a neat resting place, but that did not stop me from trying again the next day. How silly would it have been to say well, I did not make my bed today so why ever bother doing it again!?!

#5. Don't give up on yourself. Don't think that just because old habits are hard to break that it's not possible! Phillippians 4:13 says we can do ALL things through Christ. 

Let's pray. Father, help us to be women that set our hearts on being more like You. Help us to have a desire to serve our family, to only show them love and kindness, to edify and build up one another. May we one day be able to say that Your name was glorified because of the way we reacted to daily life was such an example to others. We love You and praise Your name and we know that "ALL things work together for good to those who love You" (Rom 8:28) Amen

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late"

Last week we arrived home from an eight day vacation in our favorite spot, The Smoky Mountains! We came home on a Thursday and i wasn't feeling well but shook it off as "jet lag" (our kind involves a vehicle, three kids, and a ten hour drive!) By Friday morning it was all I could do to get up to fix the kids breakfast. I was out, down-for-the-count! A fever virus struck me that left me bed/couch ridden for the next three days. During this time of forced rest, I had plenty time to think. I revisited the memories from our trip, worried over what I should be doing instead of sleeping, and planned out our next few weeks of jumping back into a routine. You see I'm one of those women. I'm the kind that you see at the supermarket with the buggy flying past little old grannies, with kids shuffling their feet behind me trying their best to just keep up. I'm the one who constantly is in a frazzle with worry of how many hours I have left in the day. I'm the one with the to-do list a mile long and the expectation of premeditated failure. I'm the white rabbit! HURRY, hurry, or I'm late, I'm late, I'm late. Monday I woke up with a determination to feel physically better and mentally prepared to tackle my week head first. I ran must-do errands and came home to force myself to start some type of cleaning and unpacking. During the last few days of the routine we've had dance lessons, that I confused to be on Tuesdays and are in fact on Mondays, we've had football practice, birthday celebrations (my husband's big 3-0), church, homeschool, and of course, housework. Through it all, to my amazement, I have not heard "hurry" or "we're late" or "would you just look at the time, I have not gotten anything done today" come from my mouth. The funny thing is these last few days have felt very accomplished and very long, in fact. There has not been this overwhelming feeling of failure. God gave me a lightbulb moment yesterday. I knew it was Him speaking and He clearly said this, "you were sick because I knew you needed the rest to prepare you for a crazy hectic schedule. You were sick because I wanted you to see that there is time in your life for everything that is suppose to get done and what does not get done, just simply, was not suppose to." AHHHHHH. Can you hear that sigh of relief? Oh boy, I did! A revelation like this is once in a lifetime for a woman like me. I, me, Mary Helen can have a day to day routine that does not include hurry, or the little white rabbit inside my head demanding a mind of rush! I realize now that through my years of trying to better our schedules, trying to manage our time, even to the point of reading great authors with wise words on time management, it was all a mind game. It was a battle I had forged to make myself rush through life to get the most "bang-for-my-buck" out of my day to day. Worry that I have to squeeze every ounce out of my life because of advice from older people saying "these days won't last long" or "they don't stay little forever" had consumed me to the point of not being able to focus on "cherishing the moments." My rushing and hurry NEVER added one second of time to my day. It never helped accomplish anything, but maybe gray hair! Now I will take heed to walking slower for little legs to keep up, calming myself down when a feeling of rush comes through, and "stopping to smell the roses" when at all possible. Good-bye white rabbit! Sorry, but you will not be missed!!!!

A Stranger's Smile

A sweet smile today touched my heart. It was not just any old smile. It wasn't from one of my three beautiful children, whose smiles often tug at my soul. It wasn't from my handsome prince, the man who daily melts away all tension with just a grin thrown my way. Not only was it not from a dear loved one, it wasn't even a friend. It was from a perfect stranger.

Today was grocery shopping day and thanks to my sweet Mama, the hubby and I were free to take our time buying much needed household supplies, including food, without the added stress of three young kids. I didn't plan to be in town all day, but that is just, how do they say, par for the course?!?! I very rarely plan to be in town all day. So it was altogether normal that as we were rounding out our last stop for the day it was coming to the close of afternoon, beginning of evening, and we were both worn out. I honestly feel like there is something in the air at certain major department stores that make me feel absolutely miserable and therefore slows down my shopping so that I stay in the store longer resulting in larger purchases. SERIOUSLY, Walmart makes my head hurt!!! Needless to say I was dreading the drive home and the loading and unloading of the car. Then in the parking lot next to us I spotted her. She was a sweet little old black lady, carefully unloading her no more than five grocery bags into her trunk. When she realized that we met eye contact she instantly struck up a conversation and my heart was just glowing. I love old people in general, even when they are ornery, but more so when they are nice. She was one of those folks who just seemed to love life. She made small talk with me, and Josh joined the conversation. It was a simple moment of "looks like it will rain again today." "Yes ma'am, it sure does." "Well, the weather news did say 60%." Then it pretty much ended with, "well lately once it starts that's it you can't do nothing else. Y'all have a nice day now." "You too" We've had some heavy late-summer kind of rain storms the last few days and I knew exactly what she was meaning. The rain has been so strong that once it started you were dead in your tracks no matter what plans you originally had. Life is like that sometimes. Curve balls I've heard them called before, but the older and maybe a little wiser I get, I understand that it's really just God's will. Many times I've heard "nothing takes God by surprise." True words. God sees all, knows all. Past...present...future. So when we feel like our day to day lives are interrupted by what we call surprises, we have to remember that God is not taken off guard. I love the simplicity, yet complex nature of the idea that God has already walked where we are going. It's simple in that He's God so He's already been there. Yet, so complex in knowing that He's been where I've been, where you're at today, and where every other one around us will be tomorrow too. He's ready for the hurt we'll feel from an unexpected tragedy, love from a surprise blessing, accomplishment from a lesson learned without knowing, and even disappointment in the wrong choice. He's ready with compassionate arms to heal our hurt, open ears to receive our praise, a pat on the back to say well done, and even a shoulder full of forgiveness and grace. During the longest days of surprises both good and bad, God is like the lady in the shopping center parking lot. He's waiting with a look of love. As we were backing out of our parking spot we both saw the lady wave and smile as we left. That smile was so contagious, that my husband even responded with "she is just precious.". In a world where very little is thought to make a person "happy" ,  that elderly lady's "smile-with-her-whole-face" kind of grin, left our hearts joyful. I left praying that one day when I'm old and gray that I too can have a smile that will touch a strangers heart.

Word of God speak

It's amazing that in a massive dining room filled with 100 teenagers I did not notice it.  I can't imagine why a small noise like that would be undetected among this much chatter! But now before the crowds enter, there it is, a click, a clank, just a small bumping.  The ceiling fan near my table has a loose screw and is keeping a steady rhythm like a pendulum hanging over my head. To be honest it's testing my nerves!   As I have my Bible open beside me trying to concentrate on my morning study, I can't help but laugh that God has given me such an obvious example of my "not-so-quiet" quiet time.  Many times I sit with my Bible, ready to study, and encouraged that I a busy homeschooling Mama of three have actually made time today to have a moment to sit, read, and pray. The problem is that my brain sometimes speaks louder than the three young children around me.  It becomes a battle just to focus on the reason for my daily pause.  The Bible, God's Holy Word, can be a small bump, just a tick, to your heart but act as a sand in an oyster. The "sand" irritates till it becomes something beautiful, a pearl. See when we can rely on God for focus and truly listen among the noise for what His word has for us, we can see that it can bother us at times.  During those moments of hearing our Father speak,  the Spirit convicts and from there once the change has been made in our life, beauty is formed.  

 

Let's pray together.  Oh Father, what joy we find when we only take a moment to sit alone with You.  We thank you for a Word from You that not just a book but a living Word. Help us today with focus,  peace,  and clarity.  May your word convict where needed and let us change where needed before irritation can even begin.  For we know that true beauty is found in You and You alone. 

Read Hebrews 4:12