When it comes to communication, I prefer a clear, direct, and no-fluff approach. Leaves little room for confusion and my personal interpretation.
But often times Jesus delivers a slow, methodical message with built-in images for the long term affect.
This time is no different.
This is an invitation. A call for those in the wilderness. Trust God’s truth to guide you through.
As the global health and economic pandemic escalates, so are your concerns about your livelihood and ability to survive this crisis at a time when you were already facing catastrophic shifts.
Custody battles, separation, and divorce are unplanned events that can leave your soul parched and your land desolate during what may feel like a season of wilderness in a thirsty desert.
Uncultivated and uncertain places can be scary, especially if you are alone. But God promises that He will comfort you and will turn your wasteland into a garden of joy.
Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places And her wilderness He will make like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of a melody. ~ Isaiah 51:3, NKJV
Mama, negative feelings around your ability to manage a household through difficult times can disrupt personal thoughts or beliefs about yourself. You may even deem yourself incapable of the discipline that is required to journey the wilderness alone.
Do you desire full restoration and recovery, but doubt if you can get you there safely?
Do you harbor a false perception of self that causes you to abandon God’s truth in exchange for a lie?
God wants you to know that believing self-defeating lies are blocking your progress. It’s time to align your belief system with His comforting truth.
Trusting God with your heart…
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.
Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced for you will not be put to shame. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your redeemer is the Holy one of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused.”
Isaiah 54: 2-6
When I was married, I relied heavily on my husband for the direction our lives would take; where we moved, what our lifestyle would be like, the cars we drove, the house we lived in. He was the breadwinner and I was a stay at home mom. I’m the kind of personality that’s pretty content to go with the flow and so I didn’t put up much of a fuss.
Mama, you are created to be a masterpiece.
Do you believe God is the conductor of your soul? A conductor who can help you play the greatest symphony pieces within? The word symphony comes from an ancient Greek word that means “a sounding together.” When you find your rhythms, you start to play a harmony that is pleasing to your soul.
You don’t have to overload yourself with difficult goals or resolutions. You just need your mind, body and the Spirit of the Lord within. Feeling tired, overwhelmed, anxious, angry, depressed are all signs your body is screaming for help, mama.
Each season brings new rhythms. It’s taken many years and hard work for me to find freedom from addiction, unhealthy mindsets, abuse, fear, unforgiveness, pride, depression, anxiety, and anger.
And trust me, Jesus is still doing a mighty work in me!
Running toward me from the security of her warm bed, those little feet pitter-pattering with a scurried beat of pleading, she begged me to let him in. Her precious heart, broken and frantic. Her need great.
Torn between two worlds, I wanted to gift the request her sweet heart so desperately desired. One hard yes from me would have opened the door. A young family arguably united and for that evening, a little girl happy.
I set on the foot of the bed, holding my littlest one in one arm and wiping the tears streaming down my face with the other. I set there with little desire to move from the comfort of my bedroom.
It was just passed 8 a.m. and my husband stood in the doorway. His blank face showed zero ability to decide on his next steps as he faced a busy workday and great need for me to pull it together.
Backed into a self-inflicted corner, with a to-do list I clung to, I could barely breathe.
A moment, drenched in overwhelm, had forced its way into our home.
For both of us, the word overwhelm came nothing close to an explanation of the emotional chaos we felt that morning.
Red flags?
They had gone flat out ignored or unattended.
But this day, arriving with an early morning southern California breeze, pushed its way onto the scene. In all my exasperation, my usual ability to drive myself forward had reached, in all seriousness, an all-time low.
Confused and starring at the floor as if it were a road leading the way, I was officially stuck.
For several reasons..
Over the last years, you’ve set down 9,392 times to create a winning strategy to help you manage your finances.
For a minute, it was every Sunday. Soon that dwindled down to one Sunday a month, which has now turned into a short glance into your bank account a few times between paychecks.
That scenario may be a stretch for some, while for others I may have very well nailed it.
Being the breadwinner and bringing in enough to pay the bills? No easy feat. To say the least.
Creating a budget and a winning strategy that will help you achieve those unaccomplished financial goals that have left you feeling guilty for far too long?
Feels nearly impossible on most days.
If some of what I’m saying sounds a bit too familiar – I’m with you sister! I’ve set in your chair. I’ve stood in your shoes. I’ve even cried in your bowl of cheerios. Many times.
But guess what?!
When we were little it seemed summer fun just landed on our laps, with zero effort at all. The school bell rang on that hot afternoon and we knew adventure awaited us even it was merely expressed by the slip n slide in your backyard, a fast melting popsicle on a stick and a late evening ice cream run after dinner from the creepy van that wondered around selling overpriced ice cream to neighboring kids.
That and a little bit of mischief kept me in good trouble throughout the summer. But now, in the world of responsibilities and adulting, it doesn’t seem to land on our lap as easily as those many years ago. If we’re lucky enough, we get a vacation.
Summers were most often a struggle for me as a single mom. I was either gearing up to send my girl off to an unstable environment where I would soothe her innocent heart through many nights until she was home safely. Or, during the time I had her, I was working full time and trying to help her feel as if all my paychecks weren’t going to bills.
In making my best effort, our staycations would consist of simple things. Her favorites. Frozen yogurt. Often. The local pizza place. Frequently. And as many playdates and slumber parties as I could handle. But the guilt was heavy and the summer working hours were long.
One of, if not, THE biggest stressor in my single motherhood journey was the idea of figuring out who I wanted to be when I grow up. I was working at a local sandwich shop making less than five dollars an hour when I first learned I would be expecting a bundle of bouncing joy in the fall. I knew then that who I wanted to be was coming much sooner than later and I needed to do some serious thinking — fast!
What was I going to do? What was I most interested in? What would pay enough to get me off the revolving door of government assistance and on my feet for good? Not to forget about child care, insurance, and 401K plans.
Have you been wondering what you want to be when you grow up? Do you have a job but need a career and thinking about going back to school? Maybe you are planning to grow your income and afraid of relying too long on child support. Or maybe you are like me and know that depending on child support simply isn’t an option.
Whatever your reasons for needing to step your game up and bring in the cash to support your little(s) like the big Boss Lady you are, I went on the hunt and dug up these top five articles just for you! So that you can read what the online experts have to say about single moms and the career options that may suit your needs best.