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Pamela W McClinton

http://itisbygrace.blogspot.com


Country: United States

Language: English

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It Is By Grace  

Pamela Wells McClinton is a passion-filled and mission-focused mommy of three. This tried-and-true Southern belle from the great state of Mississippi has been married to a wonderful man of God for the past 11 years. She and her husband homeschool their three elementary-age children, and in her seven short years of motherhood, she has been a working mom, stay-at-home mom, and work-from-home mom. She and her husband are sold-out disciples of Christ. She is flawed, she is forgiven, and she tries to inject a little fun into the daily reflections of her walk with God. You'll see that she is passionate about the Lord, her family, and the Bible, and quotes her life’s guide frequently. Full of heart, full of zeal, full of enthusiasm, and, by His grace, overflowing from His Holy Spirit, she welcomes you to join in her wild and passion-filled ride! She shares what she's been learning in discipleship, as a suitable helper to her husband, through motherhood, and as a sister in Christ. She also includes a few interesting highlights from homeschooling her children. She keeps a daily blog at http://itisbygrace.blogspot.com, because It Is By Grace that she has the opportunity to share the adventure with you, thus her goal: to bring glory to God, and to let His heart shine through every written and spoken word she shares.

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    Calgon! Take me Away!

    From http://itisbygrace.blogspot.com

    I'm sure most of us remember those commercials. The woman's life is in complete disarray. She says, "Calgon! Take me Away!" And she whirls into a relaxing bubble bath, and all her problems go away. If you haven't had one of those moments in life where it seems everything is spinning out of control, just wait. The time will come! I have had plenty, especially with children. I have often shared with friends that I had such a groove with two children. Boy, oh boy, when number three came along, I felt like a six year-old learning to ride a bike again. My entire equilibrium in motherhood was off balance. Just going to grocery store was like climbing Mt. Everest. If my husband kept the two oldest children so I could get grocery shopping done, I still had a baby with me.
    I'm also not your typical mom. Even if I were out of the house, I would still worry if the kids were okay. I couldn't remember the last time I had a good night's sleep.

    Four months after our youngest was born, we moved cross-country, and within three months of moving, I was working two jobs (one full-time, one part-time), serving two ministries, with three small children - one, an infant whom I was nursing. Talk about "Calgon! Take me Away!" Anybody with a moving van was in danger of me commando-style taking the wheel and escaping to Never-Never Land for just a moment to think!

    Most of us are faced with the joys and challenges of raising children. Some have it more together than others, but for the rest of us, the preparation, organization, and sleeplessness that goes into "being Mom" can be a never-ending, joy-stealing job. How in the world do we do it all and still have sanity? Work, cooking, cleaning, laundry, husband, children, bills, church, friendships, relatives, serving, women's group (I don't have time for a women's group!) wait...there's trying to look presentable, my hair, my toenails in summer, oops, those pants don't fit anymore. Where's the money for a new pair? The kids are fighting, disciplining them for their good....oh, and my relationship with God! There just aren't enough hours in the day!

    I, personally, didn't know what a 'worn-out' woman was until I was blazin' her trail. Where was the refreshment? Lord, help me!

    I have been a Martha for the majority of my life. Sure, I wanted to be Mary, but my nature thrives on organization. Most women do. Jesus knew this when he visited their home.


    As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)

    But, why didn't the Lord value Martha's preparation? I mean, Jesus is not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-kinda-Lord. In John 14:3, Jesus says he's "going there to prepare" (emphasis mine) a place for us. Even 1 Corinthians 2 shares that "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (emphasis mine) Preparation, organization, building a home and rearing children should warrant a little mercy right?

    If you look closely at this passage, I believe the Lord did value Martha's preparation. But Jesus says,

    Mary has chosen what is better...

    When it comes to managing a full-house, or dealing with the stress and strain of work, finances, marriage, and other relationships, God does value our hard work. But what's better? Clarity or confusion? Peace or distress? Worry or reassurance?

    Mary chose what was better. Mary chose peace, reassurance, and clarity when in the presence of her Lord.

    "For he himself is our peace..." (Ephesians 2:14)


    How, in the midst of of our daily planning, organizing, just "trying to make the family run” do we attain His peace?

    1. RECOGNIZE when we are burnt out.

    The first step in getting off the worn-out woman wheel is to recognize when we are burnt out. During my times of stress, I kept pushing forward, hoping something would change. I tried to buckle down and kept going, and I think most women do the same. Hard times? Dig your heels in and hold on sister! Even though I’m thinking: I'm tired Lord. I need a break. We know when we're tired and depleted of strength.

    I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. (Psalm 6:6)

    The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. (Exodus 3:7)


    David recognized when he was tired. From this passage, he didn’t try to “fake it,” as we sometimes do to give the impression that everything is okay. He was tired, and he admitted this to God.
    Even here, the Lord acknowledges the cry of Israel. He says they cried out to him, so He came down to do something about it (but that’s a whole ‘nuther study – and I can’t wait for that one!)


    2. REST in the fact that God sees our situation.

    Rest? Yes, ma’am. Rest. Be still before the Lord. God knows our situation. He’s not asleep at the wheel. He understands our distress.


    Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him Psalm 37:7

    The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14


    When your mind (and body) is racing 150mph, how do you “be still?” I confess, this is truly hard for me. I’m active, I have three small children who are incredibly active, how do I slow down? For me, it started with prayer. I began reading a great book Too Busy Not To Pray to fuel my prayer life in slowing the rest of me down. I asked, no pleaded is more like it, with God for peace, His peace through prayer. The result? The peace of our Lord began to filter through me. I didn’t feel as rushed. These moments are the times I feel closest to God. It’s just Him and me, resting in the beauty of our friendship- not working on any particular thing, simply resting and enjoying each other’s companionship.

    3. REJOICE through the experience, because God is using it to make us stronger.


    "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12, 13 (emphasis mine)

    Peter teaches us to rejoice in our trials, because we’re not the only ones going through what we’re going through. There are other sisters around the world who may be facing our same challenges. Writing this blog is part of my endeavor to help sisters in the faith recognize that they are not alone. We face the same challenges daily. Lastly, God uses our trials to make us into His likeness: merciful, seasoned, and mature in our faith and in trusting Him. I’ve learned to let my soul praise Him. I wake up early, while it’s still quiet in my house, and sing worshipful songs to the Lord. I rejoice in Him that He’s brought me this far.

    In essence, we can plan our course; but the Lord will determine our steps. There’s no three step technique that will ensure reprieve when life’s challenges overwhelm our lives. Furthermore, it is the Lord who grants peace in the way He sees fit: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Exodus 33:19) It is evermore imperative for us, as his daughters, to trust his guidance. Recognize, Rest, and Rejoice! And then let “God! Take You Away!”

    Because of Him,
    Pamela

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