by Stacey | Feb 15, 2018 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
I remember when I thought my parents could do anything, and when my Dad was the strongest and smartest man alive. I remember when my mom’s word was law and how she never stopped moving, always cooking and cleaning. I grew up happy, safe, warm and loved. (That’s me on the far left.)
Now, I’m a mom. I have kids that look at me with trusting eyes. They, like I did, believe that money grows on trees, the cupboards will always be full, and that they could never, ever, hurt my feelings.
Oh, the blissful ignorance of youth.
I’m not the strongest or the smartest. I struggle every day to gather the energy to wipe clean the messes, feed their bellies, and to smile through the tears as their sometimes hurtful words pierce my heart.
Just like my parents did.
I battle feelings of guilt, sure that I’m on the cusp of some irreparable mistake that will scar them for life. I work to exhaustion because there is never enough time, energy, or answers. I must lack what they need because, if I’m honest, I’ll admit that I have no idea what their real physical needs are. Not really.
Do they need to be homeschooled? Public schooled? Private schooled? Do they need more time with mom and dad? Less?
Do they need more social times with friends their age? More opportunities to shine outside the family unit?
Do they need firmer boundaries? Fewer boundaries? Consequences? Grace? I don’t know, and neither did my parents.
Maybe that’s okay.
Maybe it’s okay that this mom doesn’t have all the answers. Maybe what I really need is to spend more time praying, more time examining my own heart, actions, and choices. Maybe it’s less about what my kids are (or are not) doing, and more about how I am reacting to it. Maybe, what God is trying to teach me at this moment, is not how to be a better mom to my children, but how to be a more obedient and loving daughter to Him.
Maybe this season isn’t just about shaping them, but it’s also about shaping me.
My parents made mistakes. Their parents made mistakes. I’m going to make mistakes. But I serve a God who can take the ashes of my mistakes and create something beautiful.
*from the archives
by Stacey | Feb 8, 2018 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Solomon’s prayer dedicating the temple to the Lord in 1 King’s 8:22-53 is full of requests for conditional blessings. He prays: “If we pray, acknowledge, and turn from sin, THEN God hears and forgives.” “If we turn our hearts, repent with all our minds, and pray, THEN God hears, forgives and grants compassion.”
Solomon also makes it abundantly clear in verse 46 that every person sins against the Lord.
“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—”(46)
Solomon didn’t just ask for blessings but made repentance a precursor to the blessing.
There is no forgiveness without repentance. There is no repentance without a desire to replace sinful habits and actions with God-honouring ones. And nothing changes until God grants the desire to pursue Him and the Holy Spirit transforms a heart.
How often do we pray for blessing and rescue but are unwilling to address our heart issues and repent? How often do we ask God for things, perhaps even good things—but still fail to repent of the actions, thoughts, and sin that prevent his blessing? I don’t know about you, but these questions are a timely heart check for me.
Oh, how I need to repent of the sin that prevents God’s power in my life! Oh, how I need to examine my choices.
- What hobby or activity do I pursue more than Him?
- What desire do I long for more than time in the Word?
- What television program or novel pulls me from prayer?
- What action do I KNOW I am called to act upon but have put off because of laziness, fear, or simple disobedience?
Oh God, open our eyes to hidden sin and misplaced priorities. I desire a closeness between us that will not tolerate sin or give it an opportunity to root. I want a soft heart so that as You reveal areas in need of surrender I will willingly release them.
It is not comfortable or easy to invite the Holy Spirit to expose our continual need for the gospel. But, it is good.
*from the archives
by Stacey | Jan 25, 2018 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
As our driver transported us from the airport to the compound on which we stayed for the duration of our trip to Haiti, he pointed in the general direction of the beach that receives cruise ships and tourists. That portion of Haiti is separated from the rest and is considered by some to be the most beautiful section of Haiti.
But I disagree.
To be fair, I didn’t visit the cleaned up and polished beach just around the other side of the mountain. But I saw something most tourists do not get to see. I saw the people and visited several in their homes. I saw the determination and hard work that life requires from them. I saw a light in their eyes fueled by a love for Jesus. There is nothing more beautiful than a person on fire for the Lord, a person who is ready to be a light in a dark land.
We walked a mile up the mountainside to say hello to a man invested in the launch of Harvest Cap Haitian. This man hikes his mountain path numerous times a day several times a week so he can be part of the church God is planting.
We visited the school, the university campus where the church will meet, and we made new friends.
We sang along to familiar worship songs in English while the Haitians sang in Creole. We opened our Bibles and sought wisdom from the Word together. The sweetest moment was when my Haitian sisters in Christ prayed for the requests dear to my heart, interceding on my behalf.
God used this trip to knit together friendships through shared laughter, prayers, and a few screams caused by a hard-shelled insect setting up home in the girls’ room 🙂
God is doing an amazing work in Haiti. He has raised up a group of people that desire to proclaim His name unashamedly in a culture that can be very dark. This Sunday – yes THIS SUNDAY, you can be part of the launch of Harvest Cap Haitian! Their service starts at 7am and goes until 9am EST. Won’t you join me and the many others God has raised to intercede on behalf of this church plant in prayer?
- Pray the Word is unapologetically proclaimed.
- Pray that Jesus’ name is lifted high through worship.
- Pray those in attendance come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
- Pray those committed to Christ find that special way they can use their gifts to serve the Lord.
- Pray that friendships deepen as the local people serve the Lord side-by-side.
We saw this banner stretched across a busy section of road on our way to the airport for our return trip to Canada. It made me smile. God is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!
A special thank you goes out to all who messaged me to tell me that you were praying for our team. Keep praying! God is on the move!
by Stacey | Jan 11, 2018 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Next week, I will be in Haiti celebrating with brothers and sisters in Christ as they prepare to launch a gospel-preaching, Jesus-proclaiming church in a very dark place.
I have camped out in Ephesians 6:11-18 this week, reminding myself what I must do to prepare for this trip. Would you join me in these prayers?
I must fasten the belt of truth and believe the truth of the gospel has the power to transform lives. I must believe the truth of Scripture that promises my God is everywhere – in Canada with our children and in Haiti with me. I must believe the truth that God has gone before me, will stand beside me, and fight for me. I must believe that I cannot do anything of value or significance on my own strength. Without truth, I am hopelessly lost and susceptible to the lies and schemes of the enemy.
Pray that I fasten the breastplate of righteousness, firmly trusting in the righteousness Jesus purchased for me at salvation. Only Jesus can protect my heart and soul from the enemy.
Pray that I am ready to share the gospel of peace, that I firmly plant my feet in the truth of the Word of God and boldly go where the Lord leads preaching the good news.
Pray that I take up the shield of faith, believing my God can extinguish ALL the fiery darts of the evil one. I am justified by faith, and my faith in the Word of God is my defense against the enemy. It protects me from attack and is also what goes before me as I charge into enemy territory.
Pray that I put on the helmet of salvation, trusting fully in Jesus for His complete work done on my behalf. Pray that I do not fear the one who can only harm the body, but that I fear the One who can destroy both body and soul. May my reverent fear of the Lord be what drives me, not tempory circumstances, no matter how fearsome they may be.
Pray that the living and active weapon that is sharper than any two-edged sword penetrates deeply into my heart. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is my defense. Pray that I wield it with power.
I would love to know that you are praying for my husband and I as we set off January 15th for five days. Please pray for our team of six adults. I can’t wait to update you all upon our return.
Go, Lord!
by Stacey | Jan 4, 2018 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement, For Writers
Every writer needs a short bio for introductions and a longer bio for that dreaded “about me” tab on the website. At the bottom of this post is a link that will help you create a personal and easy-to-read bio. I had LOADS of fun creating mine.
About Stacey
I am from the play-until-the-streetlights-turn-on and come-when-your-father-whistles generation. I’m a cool-off-in-the-sprinkler, drink-straight-from-the-hose, and fish-off-the-pier kind of girl. I’m loyal even when others are not.
I’ve wrestled with brothers, played Barbie with neighbors, and stayed up too late reading just one more chapter. I’m from BIG Sunday dinners, steaming hot tea, and Saturday morning coin-sized pancakes. I grew up with Tupperware, paper bag lunches, Yorkshire pudding, and mashed potatoes.
Lots of mashed potatoes.
My family is a finish-what-you-start, bargain shopping, home cooking, and respect-your-elders kind of family. I am one of four children framed in memories on a wall. I jumped off docks, endured eight-hour trips that took twelve, and sat in the middle bench seat of the family sedan.
I am a wait until you enter the house before driving away kind of mom. I boil the kettle in a crisis, and I know that a job worth doing is worth doing right.
I am a fixer of old things, painter of everything, cleansed and forgiven child of God. I believe that nothing matters more than the Lord Jesus Christ and who I believe He is.
Who are you?
Visit this link and use the template to write your own bio. Every writer needs an ‘about me’ page on their website. http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm
by Stacey | Dec 21, 2017 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
In December my purse fills with lists. But tonight I couldn’t help compare my lists with a more significant list.
I have a grocery list: Christmas dinner doesn’t cook itself. It requires an organized shopper.
I have three wishlists: This is probably the list most important to my children. One techy daughter even ‘shared’ her list via iPod note and updates it frequently.
I’ve heard of a nice and naughty list: I’ve never done this, but I have overheard parents threaten their kids that one call to the Big Man in RED will move them onto the naughty list and guarantee them a stocking of coal.
Last night, I faced a different list. It was a list that made my heart swell. A hundred plus people from our church gathered around lists of love, lists of 1100 names. These were not just random names. These were the names of people we love who need Jesus. Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, real people with real hurts and real needs.
Every Christmas we pray over this growing list, and one by one we lift each person by name before the Lord. We ask for God to do what He does best: a Christmas miracle. We ask the Lord to open eyes of the blind, soften hearts that are hard, heal wounds that are fresh, cure those who are hurt. We ask Him to do what we cannot: save souls.
As we move closer to Christmas, consider what names you would add to this list and don’t wait for our next church prayer meeting, start praying now. Our God is mighty to save. Believe He can transform the life of every name on the list because in the end, only one list matters. It is the list of names written in the Lambs Book of Life.
