A devotion by Trevor Bradley

Believe… I am seeking the LORD to teach me a whole new way life.  The word of the Lord says that I am called to live a life of faith. Faith in Him pleases Him.  This I want to do…

I want GOD to alter, change and rearrange the order of things in my life so that I might know what it is to take HIM at HIS word for everything pertaining to life.

3 words. 3 people. 3 very different set of circumstances.  They are: BARRENNESS, BATTLE, and BLEEDING.

BARRENESS:  Abraham and Sarah receive a promise. Years pass and still no fulfillment comes.  They delay God’s answer by getting personally involved… enter Ishmael… at 100 years old and with Sarah in her 90’s, GOD answers and makes good on HIS word.

BATTLE:  Joshua  is fighting the Amorites – the day is drawing to a close and Joshua realizes that if they don’t finish the enemy off, they might come back later to attack Israel yet again.  He prays an outrageous prayer (Joshua 10 vs 12 & 13), and God stops the sun & the moon in their tracks so that he can finish the job…  GOD gives the victory.

BLEEDING:  A woman with a physical condition.. she tried everything and spent all her money to get healed. She is an outcast, alone and ostracized…hears of JESUS..if only she could touch HIS prayer shawl….does and gets healed.

The word says that my GOD, has not changed from the GOD who was back then.  He can and still wants to do the impossible, if we will take HIM AT HIS WORD AND BELIEVE HIS PROMISE.  You and I are His covenant children.  And he has covenanted to deliver on His word to us.  Why? Simply because of who He is and that He loves us.

You may be in barren-land today. The land of nothingness. Death. Fruitlessness.
Or you may be in the heat of a battle and time is running out for you. You have fought and fought but you just cannot ‘finish’ the enemy off, and you are weary.  You my be bleeding.  You have spent your all to find your desired ‘wholeness’ , but to no avail.  You know loneliness and what it’s like to be marginalized, and life is being drained from you daily.

God stands before us today and says to us ‘I have not changed. My arm has not weakened. I still do what you believe to be the IMPOSSIBLE even though you might think that your ‘ask’ is outrageous like that of Joshua’s..ask of ME..trust my word’.

(Mark 9 vs 23): If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. If you can believe… Will you today??

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Candice is a busy wife to Matt and mom of Noah (5) and Tyler (3 going on 21). Candice also works part-time at our Rosebank Store of Christian Book Discounters. In her spare time Candice writes for her own blog and is a travel consultant.

On Sunday, I watched Noah walk into his new Sunday School class. I’m not really the emotional type but he’s moved up into the bigger section and goes to a separate building to Tyla so he’s with all the primary school aged children – Grade R to Grade 6. I saw my boy walk into that hall, the shortest little guy by about 5 feet (I’m pretty sure that grade 6 boys are giants these days and this mommy is having heart palpitations), turn around and wave and say “bye mommy!” ~ just like that. And instantly, I was that new mom again. That unsure, cautious first time mom. Actually, I AM a first time mom. I’ve never parented a 5 year old before so yes. First time mom, it is…

I think it’s become more prevalent in my life because my brother and my sister-in-love are having their first baby next month. I can remember being a pregnant mommy and waiting for the baby to arrive and while Lindsey (my sister in love) is just beginning her journey, I’m entering a new phase of mine. That’s always quite scary. Just like giving birth and entering motherhood is life-changing, seeing the “birth” of your children into another stage is emotionally jarring as you birth a new phase of your parenting journey.

Lindsey ~ the first time mommy of a newborn.

Candice ~ the first time mommy of a 5 year old. Same but different.

Having said that, I sat back and thought about my experience so far so here are some thoughts on what I’ve learnt so far. I don’t profess to be the perfect mother by any means but there are points in this blessing-filled, crying-enveloped, hug-infested, love-dosed journey where these have meant a lot to me. I’m not saying I’ve got it right because I definitely don’t and my way isn’t the only way, that’s for sure – but here goes.

• Everybody will tell you “It goes so quickly, enjoy every stage and every minute.” Yes, it does go quickly but I promise you, you won’t enjoy every moment. It’s just not possible. You’ll have days where you feel like you’re going to fall apart and you do, in a big way. There will be days where you will hate every second. That’s ok. It’s not meant to be easy and it’s ok to admit that.

• You’ll hear “sleep when the baby sleeps” – I have never met  a mother who’s got this right. I never did. If my daughter was sleeping, she’d think that 15 minutes at a time was about enough. In that time, I’ve just actually re-heated my cup of tea (yes I’m still in my pajamas) and I’m about to drink it while sterilising the bottles. Before I can even vaguely think about even sitting down, let alone sleep, my child is awake. Moms operate on minimal sleep with a smile most days. You’ll be totally fine!

• The other day I was in a baby shop and I was floored. I only had my last baby nearly 4 years ago and there are another 3546 gadgets you can buy for your child since then! You honestly don’t need all that stuff ~ your child will grow up and be the most amazing, happy child even if you don’t have the best baby gym with original Frozen characters that sings Do You Wanna Build A Snowman? everytime you push Olaf’s nose. Noah’s favourite toy was an old apple box from the fruit shop. Go figure.

• Pick your battles. With your kids and with your man. You’re going to be so tired so you can end up grilling your husband about something totally ridiculous (been there, done that) and when you look back, IT IS completely ridiculous. Before you rage, take a step back and think about it. With your kids too. I’ve learnt this the hard way.

• Work at your own pace. My son gave up his dummy at 5 years old. So what? I had loads of people tell me that he’s way too old to still sleep with a dummy. Hey, he only had it at night and it lived under his pillow. The minute he went to bed, out it came and he slept like that. In my eyes, that’s not a big deal. In his time, Noah said “Mom I don’t need this dummy. We can give it to the elf babies.” And he and his sister left their dummy and bottle in the garden for the elves to fetch. Forcing him to do it earlier wouldn’t have achieved anything except he’d have been younger. Just because the world dictates milestones, doesn’t mean you have to enforce those with your kids. Your child will develop and grow how he/she is supposed to.

• Trust your mommy intuition. It’s basically always right.

• Accept help. Of course, everyone wants to be super hero mom but you can’t do it alone. You’ll burn out. Take help and accept it gladly whenever it’s offered, from people you trust.

• Don’t be hard on yourself. Your child will never be like anyone else’s and just because your child isn’t sleeping through the night at 8 months, doesn’t mean that’s your fault. Comparing your child to anyone else’s doesn’t achieve anything but mom-stress. What messes with our heads the most is how we think it’s supposed to be. Be confident in the way you choose to parent your babies.

 Part 2 will follow in March

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By Tim Challies

Have you ever compared the front and back of a tapestry? The front of a tapestry is art. In the hands of a skilled weaver it displays incredible artistry and fine detail. The world’s best art museums collect the world’s best tapestries and display them there as examples of a rare but beautiful form of art.

The back of a tapestry is a mess. A tapestry is made by weaving together different-colored threads, and the images and designs are created by the interplay between the different colors and textures. What is clear on the front is opaque on the back. The back shows something of the image, but it looks more like a child’s attempt than a master’s: it lacks nuance and clarity and detail. Where the front is smooth, the back is covered in knots and loose ends.

We are meant to see and admire the front of the tapestry, not the back, and this has often served as an illustration of the truths of Romans 8:28: That God promises to use every single event in our lives to bring about good.  Though I have often heard Joni Eareckson Tada use the illustration, I believe it originated with Corrie Ten Boom and her poem “The Master Weaver’s Plan.”

“Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow; / And I in foolish pride / Forget He sees the upper / And I the underside.”

It serves as an effective illustration for the truth that for now we get to see only the underside of all God is weaving together in this world, while clinging to the promise that someday we will see the upper side and marvel at what he has been doing.    Read More…

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 Frank Retief was pastor at St James Church Cape Town for 31 years, having planted the church in 1968 with his wife Beulah.  He became the Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa until he retired in 2010.  Frank remains active in ministry through preaching, teaching, pastoral work & writing, and has authored a number of books. 

Sustainer

Matthew 6 v 26:  Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your Heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

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