Choosing God's Presence

   In the midst of chaos and disorder in Motherhood, it's often difficult to find the good or peace in certain situations. As a single mom, I look up at God a lot and go "Really Lord? Is this really happening?" I've found that I get extremely frustrated and just want to hide away and cry in a corner. My 3 boys are very active, rambunctious children and without a man in their live's to help keep them in check, it's a constant struggle. It is especially difficult and disheartening when the child's other parent, whom you're not with is putting you down on a regular basis. I know a lot of parents that struggle with this and it causes a lot more pressure on the parent and the children. So I'm forced to step up and be both mom and dad in my home to the best of my ability and do constant damage control from the their other half of negative influence. There are days I feel defeated, days I feel like falling apart, and days I feel like nothing I do will ever be good enough. I try to believe 100% of the time that God has a bigger plan for my children and I that I just don't know about yet. Hope is what I lean on and Faith is what I have to rely on every single day. I finally realized after years of frustration, pain, and even becoming angry with God, what he really truly wants from me. What he wants, is for me and for all of us to choose His presence in our lives. He wants us to grow in our relationship with him daily, through all of our trials and struggles. He wants us to be grateful for our hard times because it brings us closer to Him and allows his wisdom, presence and peace to fulfill us. I've begun to realize when I need to just be still and embrace his love and presence within me. He renews my mind, body and spirit when I make the conscious effort to be still with Him. 

   "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:6-7 

Stop putting on God what you're responsible for In life

If you haven't accomplished the goals you've wanted to accomplish, reached the dreams you want to fulfill and aren't where you would like to be in life... Don't put on God what he has given you as free will to make your own choices. Our free will is a gift from God and I've met too many people that like to use God as an excuse for not being where they want to be in life. Putting the "blame" on him so to speak. It's time to take responsibility for our own choices. God is such a gracious God and gives us such an allowance for our faults and mistakes. Until society can start looking at themselves and doing their own soul searching with God as our guide (not our decision maker), we will continue on this hampster wheel. We have to make a choice to give God authority over us and must be honest with ourselves first about our own shortcomings, then be honest with God so he may lead us according to our humility and trust in him. 

 "God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble."  James 4:6 

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as the wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do."  James 1:5-8