Last Christmas I gave you my heart, this year I give you my time!

The other day the boys came home and said that their teacher posed this question to them….

“What gift are YOU giving Jesus this year?”

First thing I thought of was “last Christmas I gave you my heart.. but the very..’ In my very good Wham voice. I know its sad, my kids are having a serious conversation and my musical turrets were on high alert! 

Que conviction now… I haven’t stopped thinking about that. The gift not the song, because let’s be honest we will sing that  darn song at least 2-3 more times before the season is over. ok and we are back…  Have you ever tried to shop for someone who has everything or has the money to get everything? It is quite difficult, really. 

What could I possibly give the ultimate gift giver. I mean, He gave the ultimate gift, His only son to die for our sins. No big deal right.. ummmmm come on! 

Getting to know Jesus through His word, I kinda lean to think that one of His love language is quality of time. My Noah is a simple kid, ask him what he wants he will say a pack or two of baseball cards. Tell him that you are going to spend time playing a game with him, watch his eyes light up. It’s his ultimate gift, simple and free. 

Thinking on what I could give Jesus this year, I heard a small voice say, “more of your time.” A frazzled friend told me the other day she didn’t make it to church because she didn’t have time that morning. I reminded her that when I give my time first to God, He maximizes all my other time. Does this mean I do it everyday? Nope. This is why this Christmas I am giving Him the gift of my time. 

Sounds kinda arrogant right? Imagine, telling your friend, “You know what I am going to give you the gift or more time with me.” Hahaha she may ask for the gift receipt. You know what I love about Jesus? It’s the heart of a father and to him that gift is a sweet aroma. And guess what that is the gift that keeps giving. As I spend time with Him, I am gifted with the fruit that follows.

I bet if you ask an empty nester what they want for Christmas, hands down they just want time with their children. Ask a parent grieving the loss of the child, they would ask for just a little more time with their loved one. Our time is precious and we can choose what we do with it and that is why it is a gift. 

Since I have started homeschool , my time with Jesus has not been like it used to. However I can tell you that it is most crucial that I am doing it. Probably why on some days I am threatining the kids with going back to traditional school ( no offense they just like school in PJ’s).

So this Christmas I say to Jesus, you have me more than you did yesterday. I say that my time is precious and I choose to spend more of it with you. I know that is pleasing to you. 

What is your gift this year? Perhaps you don’t even know Him. Maybe your gift is you! Listen what a gift you can have this year of His birthday, the gift of salvation. Have questions, need to talk this Christmas, need prayer  need a church or need the gift of a friend, I'm sooo down!

Merry Christmas,

Moni

951-315-5968

When God calls you to be uncomfortable

OH hey girl, Hey!!!!

Look who got a blog in, I am back from the blogging sabbatical. Don't worry we didn't get rid of Gracie Girl, in the process of updating the look and pictures! Hope you all have been well! New season, new work, new lessons to be learn and I am all in ready to learn! 

When God Calls you to be uncomfortable 

Uncomfortable-

causing or feeling slight pain or physical discomfort.

causing or feeling unease or awkwardness.

There I was floating on my back, eyes closed, just filtering out the sound of anyone other than my thoughts. I was between two thoughts…. relaxing ones and ones of terror thinking about how many kids have probably peed in this huge pool of water. 

All of a sudden  the loud siren came on which was a warning that the calm water was about to get crazy with the ripples of waves that would soon follow for a few minutes.

The boys swam over full of excitement, and screaming over the laughter of loudness of waves crashing, parents yelling for kids to be careful and loud as day I heard…

“Mom, can you baptize me and Caleb right now?” 

“Huh” 

“Yes, I explained to Caleb what baptism is and we both want to do it here, right now”

“Here” I yelled.. “ Are you sure, like right now here at Legoland?” 

“Yes” 

The waves stopped, the water got calmed and there I stood quietly uncomfortable between to eager boys who wanted to be baptized in the wave pool of Legoland. 

I have learned over time that God moves best and growth is birthed better in the uncomfortable. His calling usually has us in a place where we need total dependence of Him to function or be remotely ok. 

In fact if you look up the word, you might ask yourself why would a loving God or father want you in a place of discomfort of unease or awkwardness?

I had to ask myself the same question months ago with God called us to start to homeschool. I was like come dude, really? Have you read all the grammatical errors of my blog? Have you seen the fights I had last year with these guys to do homework? Do you know how much attention Gracie requires? 

This does not sound fun, and if I’m honest I am not comfortable with the calling you are putting on my life right now. 

I have to imagine that Jesus is sitting there looking at me the same way I look to my boys when I am leaning into them about being strong and courageous. When I am telling them to trust that God is going to help them be their source when they are being called to do something that they don’t feel equipped to do. 

As I prepare for this new chapter to start in a week or so I have to tell you what is happening in the uncomfortable.  

God is comfortably moving peace in places that seemed impossible. He is restoring hope back into my heart in places that has been housing fear and doubt. He is building up trust and totally dependance on Him , reminding me that I cannot do it on my own strength. 

Friends, if Im honest I a little terrified and the response from people when I tell them I am homeschooling doesn’t help. I have been in ministry long enough to know when God calls its not a ticket to the happiest place on earth ,but its for the happiest place not on earth. Its for eternity and rewards that will last longer than they would here. Its not the popular place and sometimes it mean standing alone in faith. BUT it is always worth the step faith. I have never regretted saying yes to the uncomfortable. 

Perhaps your uncomfortable looks different than mine. Maybe you aren’t called to homeschool and there are days I wish I didn’t answer the phone when He called. #Truth 

Here is what I want you to know.. When God calls you to the uncomfortable, you may feel ill-equipped, not adequate, may not have the resources you think you need, or even know where to start. But all He is requiring you to do is say yes and walk in faith. A wise lady shared with me years ago, She said “ Monica, do your best and let God do the rest.”

I love that because it takes the pressure off. Its shifts my mind. It moves me to the place of uncomfortable to a place of comfortably sitting in the presence of Jesus. 

So let me finish my story, After I baptized the boys in urine infested waters, they leaped out were so excited to tell everyone they knew that they were baptized. If you are a christian than you may think the its super cool and I saw a meme that it is a thing. If not people just think that you are plain weird. 

I love that the boys has such childlike faith they didn’t care, and it spoke to me so much that day that I don’t need to be comfortable, I only need childlike faith. 

I am hoping to blog again in our journey and share what God is doing in our home, I joke and say that in a month the boys might be in public school but I have so much faith in my God that, since He called me to this gig , He surely is going to be the Principal to our school…. 

“All your children shall be taught by the Lord,

And great shall be peace of your children. 

In Righteousness you shall be established: you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear…”

Isaiah 54:13-14

A scripture that spoke to me this weekend..May it bless you and remind you who really rules over our lives if we allow Him.

Mad love for you all!!!

Monica