A Mother's Journal

Madaline McFarland 

In Him I live and move and have my being…I remember the very first time I read that verse. (Acts 17:28) It was one of those scriptures that lept off the pages of my Bible and became food for my soul, not only that verse but also all those that surround it.   Just knowing that God had determined the time in which He would have me live and the boundaries that would be set around me.  All because He had a plan and a purpose for my life, was so amazing. So it was during that time in my life as I grew in the Lord and everything I experienced was new, that I would steal away hours just to be with Him.  I was growing spiritually by leaps and bounds.

I know now that a foundation was being built during that time.  This firm foundation has been one that I can stand on and trust never to falter.  Almost twelve years have passed since I first set out on that journey.   My life is more full now than I could ever possibly imagined.  I know that the Lord still has more in store for me.  However, I find it increasingly harder to steal away time to be with Him.

These days my “being” consists of being a wife, homemaker and mom to a teenager and two preschoolers.   I also work forty hours a week on staff in the Children’s Ministry at my church, Abba's House.  After being chauffer, cook, companion, playmate, housekeeper, friend, leader, teacher, employee, etc… etc… etc…there seems to be no more time in my life to sleep, much less “live and move or “be” anything else.  After crying out to the Lord in my exhaustion and getting over the guilt of not being able to keep my eyes open after sitting down with my Bible to read (if I could find it). ( "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1) Or other times begging to sleep a little longer when I feel The Holy Spirit nudging me up to pray.  I rethought my favorite verse.  Yes, in Him I do live and move and have my being, but He also lives and moves in me!  Oh, maybe I don’t have to push so hard.  Maybe He does understand when I need to sleep after all it is a gift from Him. 

In His own gentle way my Savior began to show me that being with Him doesn’t always have to be in a secret place.   I am with Him as long as He is with me.   He has promised never to leave me!  I am His Habitation.  It doesn’t matter if I am washing dishes, changing diapers, playing Star Wars, watching Guitar Hero, balancing my checkbook, or having lunch with a friend.  He is with me and I can learn from Him if I will listen.

The lessons that I am learning these days are from simple means and yet can be very profound.  Since most parts of my mind are already engaged with other thoughts and responsibilities, I decided that I should take the time to write the lessons learned down in a journal.  The Lord has prompted me to share them with you.  It is my hope and prayer that you may learn from them as well.  Let’s welcome Holy Spirit into the chaos of our lives. Allowing Him to live and move in the times when we can’t seem to take another step. 

CONSIDER THIS AN INVITATION
To come join me on this journey
as I pen His words to me in:

“A Mother’s Journal”

Blessings and Grace,

ASPIRE MINISTRIES
Ephesians 3:16-21