Letting God Change Our Hearts

Oh wow what a ride the past two weeks have been!

Lupus has been having a ball messing with

one thing after another.

I am overwhelmed with thankfulness this morning.

All though I still don’t feel well!

The outpouring of prayer for me this week

for an important test.

Touched my heart and I know

my Daddy heard each one because

both came back negative.

As I type this blog this morning

I am prepping for a kidney ultrasound.

I am not worried about the outcome

because my Daddy has already got it.

Oftentimes we get so caught up in the

what if and we don’t exercise our faith.

I know that situations can be scary.

Corona is a good example of that.

As I was praying this morning when

I woke up for the morning.

I was telling my Daddy all about how

I just needed a time of rest.

I needed a break from feeling so bad.

I have slept more these past two weeks than

I have in a long while. 

Don’t take me wrong

I like to sleep just not all day

and all night too lol. 

I wasn’t expecting the answer

He gave me though!

We often learn more in times of

pain and times of silence!

He has definitely shown me so many

things over the past few weeks.

I would really like to share some of it with you!

Cause I have learned if what I have gone through

can help one person it is all worth it!

Slowing down is a must,

even as our world opens back up.

We all need to remember the importance of

spending time with our family,

the ones inside our walls.

I say that because our kids get

older we get so busy trying to make sure

we have checked everything off our list.

That we forget how important the ones we

spend our everyday life are to us!

They are gifts to be treasured.

Especially remember this if you have older kids

who do not need our attention or help to do things.

We can get so caught up we

neglect them for everything else.

Leaving them to feel as if their

importance has vanished.

At the same time if you have littles

carve time out of your day to

spend time playing with them.

I know that sounds like a lot to ask for

but when you look back

when they are grown you

will thank yourself you did.

Especially when they set around

talking about childhood memories.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also,

and he praises her: Proverbs 31:28

I think it is safe to say Mommas we all want to hear

our kids say what Proverbs 31:28 says.

We all are called to ministry in some fashion or form.

You don’t have to be a pastor’s wife or

Children's ministry Administrator

to say you are in a ministry.

Because of being a pastor’s wife

I often wear many hats.

Depending on the moment.

The Ministry has looked so different through

the stay at home order.

We haven't been meeting inside the church walls.

We have been having virtual church.

Virtual children’s ministry as well.

We didn’t stop pouring into each other just

because we can’t meet physically.

However this stay at home order

has changed the way

I will minister moving forward.

I have learned a simple text

can brighten someone's day.

Even a short phone call.

These things are things

I want to continue moving forward

because they are important.

Ministry isn’t always

preaching and teaching.

It's listening to the spirit when laying someone

on your heart and praying for that person.

He laid on your heart.

You don’t have to always know the problem!

Our Daddy already knows the answer to that!

Guys the church is as strong as

the people who make it!

The closer the family the

stronger the church.

Daddy has shown me in the

weeks of being sick.

I can not do anything but rest and sleep.

This time is not in vain!

Because I spend more time

praying for others during this time!

Goodness as much as

I really don’t like these periods

when lupus is working over time!

It's worth it if it means it may

change or help someone else.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer,

you will receive, if you have faith.”

Oh my this one crawled up in the bed and

preached its own sermon to me!

Selfcare! It's so important to take care of me!

For you take care of you!

That entails something different

for all of us.

For me though it is different everyday.

It's okay if

I need to take a nap rather than

answer a phone call.

I need to remind myself daily that my worth

is not found on a scale. I

it is found in what God says about me!

I am fearfully and wonderfully made in

the image of my Daddy! He says I am beautiful!

I have really had a hard time lately

with my weight gain.

I need to lose weight. However

I take prednisone daily!

So it’s like no matter how

hard I try it feels like.

I am hitting my head up

against the wall.

My worth is not found in the size of

my clothes either!

I have however found if on

the days that I feel horrible

and I know that I am gonna sleep a lot.

It only makes sense to wear

my pajamas all day.

On days that I feel okay for me.

I find I feel better if I put light makeup on 

and get dressed. I won’t lie.

I feel prettiest when

I am wearing a dress or a skirt.

Now my husband prefers me in pants.

Yet after I told him how for me

I feel prettiest in

a dress or skirt because,

I just find something so feminine about a dress.

He now loves it when I wear a dress or skirt.

If you are like me and struggle with these things.

Please find what makes you feel pretty and do it.

I teach our girls downstairs to

love the body they are in!

God created that body in His image and when

I say I hate or don’t like it.

I am telling God He’s ugly.

I make a point to tell them they are

beautiful no matter how small or big we are.

God wanted us to be exactly how turned out.

Beauty is not found in our size.

It’s also not found on the outward appearance.

It’s also based on our inward appearance.

A sweet disposition goes much further

than a better than you air of disposition.

We need to have a Christ like attitude and

He should shine through

us no matter what we are doing.

Trust me you can be one of the

prettiest women on the planet

and have a nasty attitude.

That can make you the ugliest person.

You can be the plainest girl in the room

and you have a sweet disposition.

She can outshine anyone in the room.

We also don’t have A,B, & C showing to

make yourself attractive.

All we need to remember each

and everyday is what 

Psalm 139:14 says….

I praise you because I am fearfully and 

wonderfully made;    

your works are wonderful,I know that full well. 

 One  more thing, tell yourself you are beautiful.

Because what we tell ourselves we believe!

 He has shown me that all though

I miss everyone like crazy.

I really missed seeing my

Mom on Mother’s day!

That saying no to protect myself is okay. 

I have to be intune with this insane body of mine.

When it is already off kilter. I need to be more

protective, especially now.

I have lupus, for whatever reason ,

God has not chosen to take it from me.

So I have to trust His plan for it.

After all the Bible has taught me;

Romans 10:17 

So faith comes from hearing,

and hearing through the word of Christ.

I have complete faith that He has a plan!

Lastly as I reflected …

 I am gonna do the things I love more!

I love the 1800’s!

I love the process of their cooking skills then!

I love the way they dressed and how they made

What they had most of it by hand and what they

had they were satisfied with. 

When we lived in the mountains 

I sewed lots of doll dresses

in that time period.

Baked and made more

desserts from scratch.

I had a tea party once a week with a friend.

I read more and I loved

making homemade butter!

I have already begun doing

some of these things again. 

I want to get back to doing

all of them again.

That version of me was content

and happy with herself.

This version of me wants her and who

Jesus has created her to be.

I also want to do some other things

God has laid on my heart as well.

I know that I am not who I once was.

I am a better version of me because

I am depending on Jesus even more.

But because I was afraid if I allowed myself

to be that girl no one would like me.

I have learned so much about loving myself

and being thankful for me!

The Bible has taught me it’s okay to look out for me!

Even if I have to say no sometimes.

It teaches me that here!

I love God's Word

Philippians 2:2, ESV:

"complete my joy by being of the same mind,

having the same love,

being in full accord and of one mind."

You know as things begin to change again.

I know for sure we will have another new normal! 

I hope you cling to the things you have come to love!

Let go of the things God has told you to let go of. 

  All though quarantine will not completely

end for me.

In some ways I live a life of quarantine. 

To keep me healthy I will have to be

extra extra careful.

I will miss the extra time with my hubby!

He’s not always in the same room where

I am but he is here.

I love that feeling of him being home. 

I know a lot of people have hated this time.

I would almost bet if I was a betting woman.

That we all will look back on this time

and miss something from it.

I know this was a longer post.

I really just wanted to share my heart.

If you have time please lift me up in prayer!

My lupus has decided to act up and do weird stuff.

Even more so, I has a bad asthma attack this morning.

I have a horrible wheeze. I have lost my voice.

The last time this happened

I had a 4 day hospital stay.

I don’t want to repeat that or

another round of steroids if possible!

Also remember to tell yourself

you're beautiful and love who

you have been created to be!

As always, thank you for taking time to stop by

and share a part of your day with me!

Prayerfully Yours ~Shellie~