SSMT Verse 2

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." -Galatians 5:1

This is the verse I am working on for the next two weeks.  Here's what it speaks to my heart:

1. It was for freedom that Christ set us free - well, duh.  In Galatians 2:21 Paul says "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing."  It is by grace we are saved, through faith in Christ. (Eph.2:8)  If we could have been saved and reconciled to God through the Law, then He wouldn't have sent His son to die on the cross for our sins.

2. Keep standing firm - you know how sometimes you feel so confident and then all of a sudden you feel as if you slipped on a banana peel?  Maybe it's just me.  In order to keep standing firm, I have to constantly be in the Word, praying, and spending time with God.  I also have to surround myself with other people that can encourage me in my walk with Him.  It's when I start to believe that I am strong enough on my own that I slip and fall. Which brings me to #3...

3. Do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery - Paul is not talking about slavery in a literal sense here under another person.  He's talking about being subject to the law, rather than relying on grace and righteousness in Christ.  I am a rules girl.  I always have been.  So give me a list and I'll follow it.  It's both a blessing and a curse in my life.  I want a magic recipe for a perfect life.  The problem is, there is no perfect life.  There is only grace and forgiveness.  I can't expect to be the perfect wife, mother, and homemaker just by following a set of rules and guidelines.  For me, that would be what Paul is referring to as a "yoke of slavery."

Christ said "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

The yoke of Christ in exchange for the yoke of slavery.  That sounds pretty good to me.  I no longer have to rely on my own strength, but I can rest in the freedom that Christ has given me.

So that's what God has been speaking to my heart through His Word this week.  How is He speaking to you?  I'd love to hear from you!

Blessings,
Melissa 

Think Small

I know, I know...you've always been taught in life to "think big!"  That's not the case here.  In fact, when I started this blog I was thinking small.  "Small Things," that is!

Several years ago I was feeling rather defeated when it came to keeping my home clean.  Hey, I was just trying to remember to breath with a new baby and four more small children clamoring at my feet for my attention!  But then a friend showed me Rachel Anne's blog, Home Sanctuary.  She helped me have an entire new outlook on being a homemaker. 

As an at home mom, I felt the pressure to always keep my home clean, have delicious meals on the table and make sure everyone was taken care of.  Do you detect a hint of perfectionism in there?  Well, I was setting myself up for failure. 

Rachel Anne made me realize that building sanctuary in my home is not about everything being perfect.  It's not about a spotless kitchen, or gourmet food.  It's the Small Things that make sanctuary happen.  With her help, I've learned that Sanctuary is a three-legged stool, made up of Peace, Order, and Beauty.  It takes all of those things together to make my home a safe haven for my family and all who enter here. So after reading a few of her posts, I joined the Company Girls and dug in!

I've learned a lot as I've followed along with the small things since that first day.  I've made friendships and won prizes and cheered on other Company Girls.  I made it through some really tough times and blogged about some exciting victories.   With a little effort and a LOT of prayer, I've come a long way on my journey to sanctuary.

But my journey is far from over.

Now I'm in a new season in my life.  All of my kids are in school (grades K-6), and I've gone back to work part time.  My schedule looks way different here at home, but I'm still striving towards sanctuary.  Every day I remind myself to just breathe.  It's the theme over at Home Sanctuary for 2013.  Take it one small thing at a time.

Rachel Anne extended the invitation so wonderfully that I'm going to now pass that invitation on to you.

I'm inviting you to find that part of yourself that longs to come home to a place that is uniquely "you" and comforts your soul as soon as you walk in the door. I'm inviting you to give up the silly notion of "perfection" and embrace the deep truth that "Home is Sanctuary," no matter how big or small, fancy or plain. It is the place where you create history, find your faith, accept each other's flaws, and give one another strength. It is where you'll find beauty and grace in everyday dishes, tossed backpacks and mismatched socks. It IS there....even if you don't see it right now. I'll show you.

 

 So think small in 2013!  Come join the Company Girls and simply Breathe.

Siesta Scripture Memory Team Verse 1

If you're wondering what in the world Siesta Scripture Memory Team is, you should check out Beth Moore's post on the Living Proof Ministries Blog here.  She can explain it much better than I can!    The short explanation is that I am commiting to memorizing two verses a month with thousands of other women across the world!  I'm excited to say that this is my third time participating with the SSMT.  I look forward to discovering what treasures God has for me to discover and memorize from His Word in 2013.

Here's my verse #1:

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." -Psalm 9:10 NASB

And then there's this verse, which she suggested if those participating didn't already have one in mind:

"You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance."  -Psalm 65:11 NIV

Happy New Year!  I look forward to getting back to blogging more in days to come. :)  

Peace and Joy to All this Season

Free digital greeting card created with Smilebox

Our Magical Trip

How does one begin writing again when it has been so long?  Do I condense two months of fullness into one blog post?  Or perhaps, I re-start and introduce myself anew.  There have been so many times when I have wanted to sit down and record the amazing things that are happening around me. But life is moving so quickly right now that I have had to set my writing on the back burner.  Sometimes I wish I had a special camera that would turn our stories into writing for me.  You know, one that would sort of record life exactly as it was happening, on paper?  But I digress...

Now that Thanksgiving has gone by, (but thankfulness remains) I can put into motion preparations for Christmas.  My husband came home Tuesday and decided it was time to put up the tree.  It was a joy to watch him work with the kids to put it all together and decorate it.  (Yes, we have a fake tree.)  This weekend all I have to do is put out a few more decorations around the house and we'll be good to go!


Our Beautiful Tree

Speaking of decorations, I don't think I could forgive myself if I didn't at least record a little blurb about our trip to Disneyland this month.  We spent 7 wonderful days in beautiful CA the second week of November.  LR got to spend her 8th birthday at California Adventure. :)  We spent two days there, one day at Universal Studios, and two days at Disneyland.  (With one down day to rest and recoup in the middle.)  They start putting up Christmas decorations at all the parks there Nov. 1, and it is BEAUTIFUL!  They also have the Christmas parade at Disneyland every evening. Plus, they turn the Princess Castle into an ice castle at night and then it snows down Main Street! The kids LOVED that!


It really was a magical trip.  The kids' Nana, an Aunt, and an Uncle all came along for the ride and it was pure fun.  We've been saving up for this trip for three years now so that we could pay cash for everything.  I have to say, it was worth the wait!  Our kids were all at the perfect ages.  They range from 6-11 and they all had a blast.  Even our youngest only had a couple of rides he couldn't go on and he was a trooper to go on all the "big kid" rides with us.  It was worth the trip just to see their reactions to their first time flying. 

I could go on and on, but AMAZING pretty much sums it all up in a nutshell.

Well, I should be going for now.  I've got lots of things on my to-do list.  I hope I'll be able to get back to blogging more again, but I make no promises.  Funny, when my kids were small I used to think I'd have MORE time when they were all in school.  It doesn't seem to have worked out that way, but it sure is fun! 

Have a blessed weekend!
-Melissa 

A Priceless Gift

Sometimes I just need a little reminding to have a positive attitude.  Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary had perfect timing this morning with her post Glass Half Full. 

In her post she says "Learning to have a positive attitude is a gift we can give our children...and is a gift we can give ourselves."  A gift.  Encouraging words.  Understanding.  Grace.  All gifts that are priceless, wrapped in selfless love.  Gifts designed by the Master of giving. 

Mornings aren't always the most positive environment around here with 5 kids getting ready for school.  Take this morning, for example.  I was having a tough morning, being stretched to the limit.  One of my boys came to me and said he was sorry for making me mad.  I was only trying to teach him that he needs to be responsible for some things on his own in the morning because Mommy can't do it all.  I think all he heard was "I'm mad at you because you're making my life difficult."  I hugged him and told him I wasn't mad and that I was sorry for coming across that way. 

Am I sorry for trying to teach him to help himself in the morning?  No.  I am, however, sorry for the way I presented the lesson.  It must have been in my tone of voice.  Or maybe the words I used.  Perhaps it was just the frown on my face.  I am so thankful that he was brave enough to approach me.  My heart sinks to think that I could hurt one of my children with my words.  I'm so glad they are quick to forgive me.

I am going to try to have a more positive attitude in the morning.  Hopefully it will be contageous... a gift worth wrapping and unwrapping over and over again. 

"Let all that you do be done in love." -1Corinthians 16:14
 

Summer Moments

It seems my blog has turned into a once a month thing.  While I don't mind that it has taken a seat on the back burner this Summer, I do miss sitting down and writing once or twice a week.  When I started my blog it was to share the Small Things that I do on a daily basis to create Sancuary in my home.  I still partipate with Rachel Anne and other Company Girls over at Home Sanctuary.  I am encouraged on a regular basis by Rachel's posts and the comments that I read there.  Like today... I stopped in for Company Girl Coffee, and I was happy to be greeted by a photo of Flash, the Donkey, just hanging out enjoying life.

Sometimes, as I have witnessed this Summer, life just seems to move along at a pace so steady that you don't have time to stop and do the things you love the most.  Although this won't be the longest blog post ever, I'm taking a tip from good old Flash and Simply Live in the Moment.  Or, if you'll allow it, maybe several moments.  I want to share a few of my favorite pictures from this Summer so far. 

Thanks for stopping in for coffee.  Have a great weekend!

Watching the gang play "Peanuts" at the Larson Family Reunion...crazy!  We "camped" at Camp Kawanis for 4 days and spent time getting to know extended family members making great memories.

The kids with my mom in front of her house in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island



Me with my 98yr old Grandma.  She still lives on her own...I just love her spirit!!!!

The kids climbing the stairs up to the top of the light house at Ft. Casey



On the beach at Deception Pass State Park. 
I was born and raised on Whidbey Island and have crossed that bridge too many times to count!

Climbing at West Beach

Playing in the water

JS's 10th birthday and MUD!

RL's 11th Birthday Breakfast

Swimming...LOTS of Swimming this Summer!!!