Laura Bennet's Blog, page 24

Are You Stuck?

[image error]Sometimes in our journey, we feel stuck.

Maybe we are facing a unscalable wall of circumstantial impossibility. Or we feel like we are dragging a wagon full of stuff through the sand at the beach, inching along as sweat drips down our face. The ocean looks so far away. Will we ever get there?

Slow going at best. Immovable at its worst.

Circumstances can mire us into that sense of wandering lost and confused through wilderness. Sometimes obstacles in front of us seem insurmountable. Remember Jericho? But I heard a message recently that breathed life into that desert place and gave me hope for moving my life forward into promise in spite of obstacles.

Well worth the watch. Hope you find it as helpful as I did.

 

Let me know what you think in the comments below. What’s your Jericho?

What’s Holding You Down?

My featured author this month is Rivera Douthit, who has recently released a new book, Zero Gravity, that lifts us into the heights of the kingdom of God. I encourage you to check it out and order your copy now!

[image error]We were designed to ride on the heights—Zero Gravity. 

In a world pressured by a search for security, author Rivera Douthit, calls you to soar higher, above the force of gravity, beyond what you see with your natural eyes. Zero Gravity is an invitation into the realm of the supernatural. We are on the precipice of the greatest move of God in history! We must know how to live from heavenly places!

With the message of identity, authority, and unity this book will encourage you to:

 Rise above the resistance of the enemy (to reign with Christ {on earth}).
 Embrace the healing power of The Miracle-Working God.
 Recognize the power of a unified body sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Realize your dreams and find the courage to step into them.

Being held down by the weight of this world is opposite of the design God has for us. Be awakened as a son/daughter to the limitless, abundant life! May your soul recalibrate as your spirit learns to live from the weightless atmosphere of heaven!

https://www.zerogravitybook.com/

 

Rivera Douthit is a clear and effective communicator of truth who longs to see people healed and set free. With a beautifully straightforward style, she inspires people to know their identity and authority in Christ. She stands on the Bible as the final Word. With a passion for revival, evangelism, and unity in the Body, her greatest desire is to always point to the only One who matters, Jesus.

Facing Our Pain

[image error]I’ll come straight to the point.

I’ve come to recognize other women like myself who have tried to protect themselves by denying the truth of trauma, abuse or sexual addiction in their lives or their spouses’ lives. But the protection we think we create actually prolongs our pain and hurts those we love as well. Yes, it is painful to deal with our experiences, both present and past, but the cost down the road is much greater if we don’t.

I wish I could shout it.

Look at the fruit of our denial in our children.  I understand the despair, but we can’t be afraid to look at the truth. When we struggle, lost in a hurting, hopeless world, our children also take on our pain. Even if we aren’t aware or think we will keep them from it.

I know. I’ve been there.

I put my kids through hell because I allowed myself to be blind to the abuse in which we were living. I am to blame for my choices that put us there and kept us trapped. Even years later, my heart aches for them. I failed miserably to give them a solid foundation of what healthy relationships look like. They went into their adulthood with tremendous pain and anger behind them and little training of how to navigate a future marriage.

I’ve watched them live my broken life in many ways.

I never intended for my kids to take that kind of past into their future. The pain inflicted upon them was far greater than I imagined. I didn’t realize how badly they were hurt because of the trauma of their parents’ lives.

But I was more afraid of facing my past pain…

…more afraid of being divorced than of an abusive marriage…

…more afraid of what people thought than what my children needed…

…more afraid of my shame than if my family functioned well…

We can’t even count the price for those choices, and the longer it goes on, the higher the cost, as if interest is added.

But there’s good news.

Surrender and repentance changes everything.

God waits for us to surrender to him so he can uncover our festering wounds, bind them with his loving touch, and lead us into a place of healing and wholeness.

We must be willing to open our eyes to the truth, repent of bad choices and turn around into a new way of thinking and living.

God promises us that when we come to him in broken repentance and surrender, he doesn’t condemn or shame us. His love for us, exhibited through Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection, covers us, soothes our soul and protects us with true safety.

However, doing so requires a difficult choice for us.

We must let go of our pride, fear and self-reliance. We must step out in faith with even a tiny step, believing that God will meet us as he promises. We must allow ourselves to experience the pain of our past and present, grieve the losses and move into our future.

But the exchange for us and our families is worth it.

I think of it like this:

When one of my children was very young, they couldn’t grasp the concept of exchanging their pennies for a coin of equal value. Five pennies seemed much better to them than a nickel, two nickels trumped a dime and no way would they give up any combination of coins for a quarter!

Our perception of what we are giving up is skewed by our limited understanding.

And God gives us even more than an equal share! He offers us a massive sundae dripping with fudge and topped with whipped cream, nuts and a cherry if we will hand over our McDonald’s soft serve cone.

There’s really no comparison, is there?

Be brave. Take action. Step into your future and shed your past.

Make a way for generations after you to be healthier, happier and living a hot fudge sundae life.

Motherhood: Leaving a Legacy

[image error]Mom’s often get a bad rap.

We’re the household chore police, the unwelcome nutritionists and the homework dictators. But no one but a mom truly knows the extent of our behind the scenes sacrifice. (Kudos to you dads who get it!)

Most days (and often into the night), Moms:

Plan and cook meals and pack lunches
Clean the house, car, yard and numerous indescribable kid and pet messes in between
Shop for everything including the last minute I-need-this-for-school-tomorrow items
Pay bills and/or balance the accounts
Educate their children in the way of money, relationships, household tasks, cooking, etc.
Run errands – cleaners, bank, post office, drop off, pick up, and miscellaneous others
Do laundry and ironing (hanging up damp clothes after a few minutes toss in the dryer eliminates ironing 99% of the time. Your welcome.)
Schedule everyone’s extra-curricular activities and maintain a family calendar
Attend school functions, awards, games and events – often running them!
Take care of sick children and bandage their wounds – including cleaning up vomit
Nurse infants
Train children to eat, sleep, use a potty, tie their shoes, pick up toys and learn their ABC’s
Listen to their children’s stories
Tie shoes – multiple times per day
Dry tears
Give hugs
Make special treats
Put gas in the car
Cheer at sporting events and dance/music recitals
Encourage creativity and clean the floors and walls again afterwards
Fill out forms
Take kids to appointments – doctors, dentists, etc.
Plan and execute birthday, graduation, team and misc. parties

AND…

Many moms do all this while also working part-time or full time outside the home or running a home business.

Unbelievable.

But I believe the most important and valuable thing we do for our children is share the love of Jesus. Showing them they are special to God and us, and teaching them the way God thinks – his directions for how to live a joyous, abundant life of loving and serving him and others – surpasses all.

We moms aren’t perfect.

Many of us came from messy backgrounds and might still be a mess, but no matter how much we don’t get right, if we instill a love for God and demonstrate an intimate relationship with Jesus, we leave our kids with the most important legacy.

I’m so grateful for my mother teaching me that Jesus loves me. It was her taking me to a Billy Graham crusade that offered me the chance to accept that love for my own. She took us to church, and showed us a life of worship, prayer and faith. Regardless of anything else she did, good or bad, that love of the Lord outshines all the rest.

And years later, the most satisfying thing to my soul is when I see my kids living out that love of God in their lives.

Moms, be encouraged today.

God sees all you do.

He knows your heart.

Leave a legacy for your kids of loving him.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Anything I’ve left off the list? Add yours to the comments below.

Check out this site for some mom encouragement: http://yourvibrantfamily.com/

Can You Relate?

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Moving our life forward means navigating relationships.

This week someone introduced me to a website with tests and tools for discovering our style of relating in relationships based on our past experiences.

“Your childhood relational experiences are wired into your behaviors and beliefs, creating imprints called “love styles.”

The couple, Milan and Kay Yerkovich, who created the site were frustrated by their inability to relate well during the first fourteen years of their marriage. When they examined their lives, they discovered some interesting insights.

After years of struggling and research, they developed their quiz and passed on the information they learned. I took the test and learned some valuable things about myself.

I believe this is worth exploring.

Check out howwelove.com and take the quiz. I’d love to read about your results in the comments below!

Am I Missing Something?

[image error]Difficult times abound.

Drought, terror, fires, disaster and personal challenges. Yesterday, I heard of a family who has been out of work for nearly three years, blown through all their severance, savings and retirement funds and don’t know how they will meet next month’s rent.

I so get it.

And as believers in an almighty amazing God, we can feel a bit lost. Right? It isn’t actually God I doubt, it’s me. Did I hear Him right? Did I miss something? Is there an area of disobedience where I thought I was obeying? Why are my husband and I hearing different things from the same God?

But recently when talking with a friend, we realized that some of the challenge is simply learning to keep our hands open or off entirely and let God do his work in his way and timing. But I confess, the journey feels a little like river rafting in rapids…without a paddle, or even a boat.

Bruised, battered, exhausted and drowning. Or so it seems.

But I’m finding that by relaxing and looking up (like floating in a pool) and going with the flow, the struggle is far less painful than fighting the current and scrambling for a handhold. (Never been in rapids before so I’m guessing here.)

And every day I’m a little surprised – okay, I know I shouldn’t be, but I am – that little pieces smooth out, fall into place or even vanish. I believe that God is sending the right help at the right time if I am at peace and ready, but not freaked out.

Close my eyes.

Focus on Jesus.

Take a deep breath…and wait…for a minute. Or five.

I think that is what God means when he says in the Bible…

Be still and know that I am God.”    Psalm 46:10

So often, what I’m missing is the presence of God. But if I just take the time to settle into it…

He’s there. Waiting.

He says he’ll quiet me with his love and sing over me because he delights in me. (Zephaniah 3:17)

I think maybe he’s saying the same thing to you.

How do you find peace when things are crazy difficult?

He Chose You

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For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame… Hebrews 12:2

Jesus thought of you and me when he chose to lay his life down.

He thought of being with us as a joy. That’s how much he loves us. He didn’t want to be without us. So he endured the humiliation, torture and devastation of being nailed to a cross.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

He overcame death and rose again. Not only so he could be alive, but so we could live forever with him. Forever alive. Forever without tears, sorrow or pain. Because he took all of that on him for our sake.

Wow.
Happy Easter. 

 

Remember The Miracles of the Past

On Thursday, a fellow author featured my book on her blog. [image error]

Thank you to Toni Shiloh! I appreciate how she promotes new authors. I hope you’ll check out her blog and books too. You can read the post here. If you comment, you’ll be entered to win a free copy of the book!

What I love about Toni’s Throw Back Thursday blog is that it reminds me to think about the miracles God has done in the past. My book she promoted, The Miracle of Us: Confessions on an Online Dater, was released nearly three years ago which was a miracle in itself! It took four years of writing, editing, changing it and rewriting before I landed with something I felt people would find enjoyable, entertaining and encouraging.

But that story began nearly nine years ago.

Here’s the thing. Every time we retell the miracles God has done for us, our faith grows. We remember how big God is. We encourage others. And the best part? God says in Revelation (12:11) that our testimony helps defeat or overcome our enemy, the devil.

Amazing what sharing a story can do.

So thank you, Toni. I hope my story will encourage someone. And remember, friends, to share your stories! Tell people about the wins in your lives. Remember those miracles from the hand of a big God and look forward to what is to come.

What story can you share? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

Playing With Fire

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My heart held a weakness for being led astray by entertaining suitors who flirted and made me feel desirable.”   from The Miracle of Us: Confessions of an Online Dater

Can you relate?

When we seek relationships, we want to be careful about motives – other people’s as well as ours.

Whether online or in person, the dating journey reveals the good and messed up places in our hearts and minds. Find out more of the lessons I learned during my journey. You can also read my entire story in my book, The Miracle of Us: Confessions of an Online Dater.

Getting a Handle on Fear

[image error]A couple of weeks ago, I posted about fears sinking us.

As I learn to trust God more, I’m beginning to understand to a greater depth that he really is in control of every situation. I don’t believe he causes bad things, but I see how he allows them to bring about something better for us. Sometimes our idea of “good” isn’t as good as his “best.”

As a result, my fear is diminishing.

Over the last three months, I’ve read a couple of books that are changing my perspective.

Prison to Praise is the testimony of Merlin Carothers who describes his journey finding God and his power in Merlin’s life. Power in Praise gives numerous stories of people, including Merlin, who began to praise God for every situation in their lives – both good and bad.

God’s plans for us are good. And they can’t be hindered.

I know that you can do ALL things, and NO purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Job 42:2

So every situation is from his hand in order to bring about something good.

every. single. situation.

I get that is hard to wrap our minds and hearts around. I have friends who just lost a son. How do we apply this mindset? Honestly, I’m not sure.

Yet.

I won’t offer platitudes. But I do know that God is good and is doing something good even in that situation. It comes down to whether we can fully trust God, his goodness, his promises and most of all his love for us.

And that is what alleviates our fear.

No matter what happens, I’m trying to choose to praise God and trust that he is doing something good. Even when it looks bad.

At the very least, my heart is calmed, and I find peace and joy.

But I’m also finding that God works out the circumstances I thought had no answer or were too bad to take – not usually as I envisioned, but always better than I hoped.

As we approach Easter, I see the ultimate example of this.

When the religious leaders dragged Jesus away, and mocked, tortured and crucified him, his followers scattered. Terrified and alone (so they thought), they tried to make sense of the turn of events. They had believed, expected that Jesus would rescue them from the oppression of Roman rule. They watched their hopes and dreams die on that cross. Right?

Wrong.

God had a better plan. An eternal plan for life beyond the one they were living on earth. He sent Jesus to save them from being forever separated from God. God’s perspective was far greater than theirs. Saving them from their current situation was not as crucial as saving them for eternity.

With God, there is always a bigger picture.

One we can’t usually see until after the fact. You know, that 20/20 hindsight thing. So if we can believe this, trust God and thank him for what he’s doing even when we can’t see it or understand it in the moment, we experience peace. We also take our hands off situations which allows God to work things out.

To experience his best way, we have to get out of the way!

I challenge you to consider taking your life forward by praising God even for the tough stuff that seems bad. What looks bad to us, is a gateway to the ultimate good from him.

Let me know your thoughts…