Tag Archives: defeat

You Got to Let Go to Receive

Posted on by
3

In order to receive something from someone else, ones hands must be empty. So many times our patient Lord has steadfastly waited for me to come to the end of myself in any given situation to receive what he had for me in that Season to thrive. So many times we are seeking and asking the Lord for his help but we are too busy asking with our hands full of the tools we think we need to fix the problem, not realizing only his tools were designed to fix our specific repairs. In order for him to “demolish” my anxiety, I have to let my anxiety go to receive his Peace. In order for him to heal my wounded heart, I have to let go of the sorrow and take it to him in the love exchange to mend what is broken. In order for him to give me joy and patience, I have to drop the anger and bitterness. There is always this GREAT LOVE EXCHANGE with our Lord, why? Because he is a gentle man, he will not get involved until he is asked. He allows us free will to make our own choices in life. We are created to fellowship with him, but also to be made more and more into the image of his Son Jesus from glory to glory. The most dangerous thing we can do is have a prideful spirit and believe apart from him we can handle our own lives, our own problems. Not only that, God is the essence of Brilliance. His ways are wiser than ours.

So let me ask you a question! What is it that you have been holding onto. That one thing you haven’t taken to him. Maybe out of anger towards him, or fear that it’s too big for him to fix? Maybe you haven’t been in a position for that exchange out of shame? He is merciful and he is just to forgive you if you confess and repent of maybe something you even caused to yourself out of rebellion or disobedience. Nothing can separate you from his love. He is always, always, always ready and waiting to save the day! After all he is our SAVIOR, our REDEEMER. It’s what he does best! 😉 His love overcomes what you hide in the dark. His Love overshadows mistakes, wounds, fear, brokenness, despair, and regret. Nothing means Nothing! 😉

If this is you and you are just not sure how to initiate the conversation with God let me help get your started! Repeat after me:

Lord, I thank you for your love and your mercy. I rejoice that there is no other God like you because you are enough for me! I just can’t bare the load of _____________________. I have come to the end of myself. I repent for trying to fix this situation all by myself. I know that you are the God of the impossible and I know this situation seems impossible but I lay my ________________________ down at your feet, and I receive by faith your mercy, your love, your forgiveness, your grace, your power, your_____________. I rejoice in what you are working out for my good behind the scenes. Even if I don’t see it, I know you are working it out, and I praise you for that. I don’t want to be left in my own despair! Rescue me, help me, change me, set me free. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Breaking “Perfect Mom”

Posted on by
4

I have officially given up on being the “Prefect Mom!”

Now wait before you go judging hear me out! This urge to be the “Perfect Mom” comes with the territory of being a “Step Mom” and a “Foster Mom” as well. To be quit frank it has been exhausting and completely stupid to say the least!

The older I get the more I realize my kids, step kids, and foster kids don’t need me to be the “Perfect Mom.” Perfect as in one who: never never cries or feel depressed, loses her cool, never stumbles, never does something completely stupid, never misses an appointment, or sleeps through an alarm, forgets a pep rally, a lunch, wouldn’t dare open her mouth without thinking, never burns a meal, or has an untidy house. I have tired myself down to nothing trying to maintain the perfect clean house while staying on top of laundry for seven people in my home, attending as many sports games between three of my five children as I possibly could, and juggling a part time job. My smile was plastered on BIG and BRIGHT, but I felt empty and disappointed on the inside.

My children need a real mom. One whose love knows no end, disciplines when she would rather be their friend, one who is always there for them, attentive to their wants, desires, and needs, and shows grace when it is or isn’t merited. They need me more then I need the illusion of being the “Prefect Mom.”

I don’t want my children to live with false expectations of what the world has to offer in other people. I am no one special, just a woman who is trying her best at this whole wife, mother thing! I have days where I feel like an overachiever, and days like a true failure. I am a woman so I can experience both of these highs and lows about 30 times in one day!

I want my kids to see me at my best, and at my worst. When I am in first place and on top of the world am I showing them what humbleness and humility looks like? When I finish in last place and feeling down and out do I complain, or extend blame on everyone else’s short coming but my own? How about my attitude? They are watching you know, every move you make, your actions and reactions.

I want them to know that I don’t expect perfection out of them, just their best! I want them to know that I am giving up on being the “Perfect Mother” for them, but not my true honest attempts to be the best version of myself for them as their Mom. There is no such thing as perfection on this earth in my eyes, so striving for that only exhaust me and disappoints me.

I want my children to grow up being real people! I don’t want them to feel like they have to fake perfection to make other people accept them or love them. I want them to know that there will be days where they will need grace and mercy and days where they will need to extend grace and mercy to others.

We all have a story, a past, made mistakes, experienced life changing events that have impacted us and helped shape us into who we are today. I long for the days I can sit up late talking to them like we are friends, sharing my past days of when I was little with them, all the dumb things I did, and all the fun adventures I lived as well, but Today is not that day.

Today is the day I show them love, and I teach them discipline. Today is the day I  train them up in the way they should live and treat others, how to make right choices, help mold their character, and  teach them to always do the right thing, even if it “feels” wrong. Today is the day I show them how to seek first the kingdom of God,  putting others needs before their own, and teach them how to love and forgive themselves and others around them.

It’s imperative that I share the love of Christ with them, building them up on truth and what God says about them! I think it is important that they realize that while I am their Mother here on this earth, there will be a time when I will be a sister in Christ, glorifying our Lord and Savior with them together some day.

I long for that day! That day when all this responsibility of being a Mom is gone and I am left with just being their loving sister in Christ. I will hope that they learned from me, received love from me, knew that I was just trying to give it my best, and while we were here together I loved them the closest to how God loves us, unconditionally!

When I think of how much I love them, my heart burst to know how much I am loved as a daughter of Christ! My love is far from perfect, but his love is perfect for me and every other Momma out there!

I am giving up on being the “Perfect Mom’, but  will never give up on becoming my best each day for them. They were hand selected just for me! When insecurities creep in my mind, I just remind myself that they are an exact reflection of Gods love, and a reminder that I have everything they need out of a Mom to raise them up to be bold and courageous soldiers for him!

If your an Expecting Mom, a New Mom, a Veteran Mom, a Step Mom, an Adoptive Mom, a Foster Mom, you have everything your child needs to feel loved and to be loved! Don’t seek perfection, seek Jesus, he who is Perfect will work out all the perfection you need from him through you for them, and remember in your weakest mommy moments, he is strong! Lean on him, cry to him, ask him to carry your burden load.

chalk

How has being a Mom changed you? Are you seeking perfection on your adventure of motherhood? Please share and comment below.

Leigh Leigh

Sign up for blog emails and follow me on Facebook here!

6 EFFECTIVE STEPS TO DEFEAT, NOT REPEAT, A BAD WEEK

Posted on by
4

It has been a week! Not one I would like to repeat that’s for sure. It wasn’t physically demanding, but definitely mentally draining. I can honestly say, I cried and I haven’t just let the tears roll in months. It wasn’t until I got a grip and discerned what I was thinking out in my journal. Suddenly it became clear what was going on. I was under spiritual warfare and I was letting it get the best of me. If your week was similar to mine here are 6 EFFECTIVE Steps to DEFEAT, not REPEAT, a no good week!

6 EFFECTIVE STEPS TO DEFEAT, NOT REPEAT, A BAD WEEK

#1 Write it down

Go back through your week. Pin Point the first event, circumstance, thought, that knocked down the first domino in your mind of torment. Write the order of events down on paper.

#2 Recognize your Enemy

Was your week derailed out of chaos or disorder? Was it weakened by lies, deceit? Did an unexpected set back occur?

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

1 Peter5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

#3 Recognize the bad seeds planted from your struggle(s)

I was dealing with some decisions I have made in my life on forgiving others who had caused harm to me years previous. I recognized it was a distraction to my calling to forgive and get past difficulties through Christ’s love and healing power. I was about to stop giving grace and mercy to a person, but realized this could be dangerous as I am in need of grace and mercy myself every day. I recognized that the seed planted was pride and unforgiveness. I also was dealing with another issue that’s core root came from jealousy. I know that these types of seeds planted in my mind are VERY dangerous for me to let take root and grow. Out of them springs anger, resentment, and bitterness. All things in which I do not want to have inside of me. What gets rooted in the heart comes out of the Mouth, (Matt 15:19). As a Jesus follower I am called for life free from this kind of bondage. My enemy, Satan, was out to steal my joy and he used some very personal issues to rattle the my cages. Once I recognized the warfare in my mind, I was able to stop the chatter of nonsense that was fueling my downfall.

#4 Forgive them, Forgive yourself

Whatever happened this week, what ever offenses were made against you. What ever thought of unforgivness you may have harbored. Forgive. Forgive them, and then forgive yourself for the set back. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11,” Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” Unforgivness gives Satan the advantage in our lives. It also causes bitterness, resentment, strife which is the exact opposite of Love. Sometimes we need to extend grace and mercy to ourselves as well. If you let Satan’s attacks bring your down, don’t stay down, forgive yourself for the pity party you threw for an hour! 😉

#5 Let it Go

Proverbs 19:11, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22, “Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.”

Let it go, forget about it, press onward, seek things above.

#6 Change your mindset

Tomorrow is Monday. I love Mondays because they are the beginning of a new week and new opportunities. I may have been blind sided this past week, but this week my eyes will be WIDE open!

Colossians 3:1 , “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 

I hope you have a Fabulous week ahead!

1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

This is a little gold nugget. Tuck it in your pocket, keep it safe, and pull it out when trouble comes your way!

Lots of Love and Hugs,

-Leigh Leigh

Don’t miss anything!! Follow and LIKE Leigh Leigh on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks