Does God…

 Recently the thought hit me…

Does God care about me when I’m tired? As a busy wife and mom this could really probably be rephrased to say, “Does God care about me PERIOD.” *sarcasm* For laughs 😝🤪😂  I’m not much of the sarcastic type though, so there is definitively some truth mixed in there because truthfully, 

I

Am

Tired

A lot! 

Something I believe in the core of my being is that it is not only “okay” to ask questions of God, but it is actually the BEST way to grow and understand and know Him more. I grew up learning from my Grandmother modeling a close friendship with the Holy Spirit. She was one who would say things like, “I lost my glasses. So, I asked the Holy Spirit to show me where they were and He told me, ‘Mary Jane go check the drawer by your bed.’ And sure enough there they were-praise God!” Intimacy with the Holy Spirit is built and wrought often through seasons of deep need, seasons of great uncertainty, of fears, doubts, insecurities, and well the word need truly summed it up best. It is in my longing and my need when His presence has been the truest treasure life could ever offer. And I’ve been afforded some of life’s best treasures quite honestly. Marriage. Children. A home. A career. Education. Etc. But the truest treasure of all is His presence. His presence is always there yet there are seasons just like those around us when the Sun, though still shining brightly as ever, now feels ever lacking heat. In those seasons-be patient. Seasons always change! And in those winter seasons I think is when it’s especially valuable to continue leaning in close to Him and be inquisitive. 

Long story short, ask Him the questions! Even if they feel

Silly

Strange

Or something else.

As I asked the Lord, “Do you care about me when I’m tired?” I felt His tender loving nudge reminding me through a question right back to me.

“Do you care about your child when they are tired?” 

The answer to that question, as I’m feeling compassion, tender loving care, extra helpful toward my son while he battled the morning drudgery of school prep… was a resounding AHA—YES! 

I could see immediately how deeply my sinful broken heart CARED for my tired child and I instantly felt Gods loving embrace wrapping around me to say, “Child, I CARE!” 

I knew in my head He cared. But I needed to know in my emotional self of His tender mercies anew. 

”Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭77‬ ‭NLT‬‬

”The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.“

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-23 ‭NLT‬‬ 

I love this thought about His mercies on me beginning afresh each morning because I can so easily feel I’ve run those mercies out yesterday and He probably needs (regarding me) to start afresh. He knows I have so much continued growth and pruning yet needed in my life. Yet He bears with me and stands open armed toward me each morning with all my tiredness, fatigue and need and He says, “Do you need a hug and help getting lunch together? I’m here for you, let me help!” 

He CARES about me when I’m tired. Yes. And He cares about you too in whatever need you’ve got, bring it to Him and know His mercies are new every day! 

Blessings, 

Abi 

‭

Stinky Armpits and Nose Hairs

 What do stinky armpits and nose hairs have to do with one another you might ask… well, let me dive in. 

When I was a little girl my grandparents made it a regular stop from Lebanon to Lancaster to come and do yard work and cleaning for my parents. My Grandma was a workhorse. Not only did she work hard, but she also expected US to work hard too. Gasp! In fact, when Grandma was coming we would often see her through our front window walking down the stone walkway toward our front door and loudly exclaim to one another, “Grandma’s coming! Quick, HIDE!” We would then quickly find the nearest hiding spot or run for our lives. Insert uproarious laughter. Otherwise, Grandma, upon spotting us would promptly tell us our immediate tasks and expect us to leap into action. And believe me, had we chosen not to adhere we would have a swift stern talking to which was not something you wanted to get from “the Gym Teacher” voice of Grandma. 

So anyway, back to what stinky armpits and nose hairs have in common… Grandma came inside from one hot summer day of weed whacking and sat me down beside her (and I did love my Grandma, so I leaned in close) while she sipped her regular choice of iced coke. And boy, when I leaned in close let me tell you, that-day-she-STUNK! So, my honest little self exclaimed without hesitation, “Grandma, your armpits STINK!” Well, that phrase became a joke throughout my childhood and even into my adulthood. Suffice it to say, I don’t typically lie or fluff the truth. If you stink, you stink. And, you might hear it from me 🤪 

Now, flash forward to just a few months ago. I was visiting my niece after a cleaning job and I decided this was the perfect time to tell her my “stinky armpits” story from when I was a child and tell her she may not want to lean in too close to Aunt Abi either right now… And to my utter shock, without missing a beat, the moment I finished my story, with her eyes peering up at me she boldly exclaimed, “Aunt Abi why do you have such huge nose hairs?” WHAT?! Me?! Nose hairs?! Huge?! Oh. My. Word! I mean stinky armpits I can handle that truth, but out of nowhere I’m now ashamedly aware that I apparently have humongous nose hairs I need to go home and pluck. Yes, my niece is my mini! Lord help me! Plucking nose hairs, for those of you who are blessed enough not to know,  ensues the worst pain and tears almost nearing childbirth <<EXAGGERATION WARNING>> 🤣 

Ironically, just before my lovely niece made me so ghastly aware of something (I was ignoring about myself apparently) I had just shared with a women's group the weekend prior about how valuable it is to have people in our lives who are willing to risk hurting us to simply speak truth into our lives. It’s important to not only accept others view of us into our lives but to actually take time, opportunity and to purpose and intentionally lean in to those around us and ask tough questions about ourselves from time to time. To learn. To grow. To be challenged. To be shaped. To be changed. To sharpen and to remove things from our lives that may be branches that we really ought to allow to be pruned. Without a mirror though, it’s hard to see sometimes that yesterdays mascara isn’t fully off your face and you subsequently have major raccoon eyes. BUT, if you look at the mirror——HELLO RACOON! It’s a quick reminder—Hey, I should probably go remove yesterdays make up. Likewise, how would we know our armpits stink or our nose hairs need a pluckin’ if someone near——KEY WORD— NEAR—  us isn’t willing to be HONEST OR if we, aren’t willing to ask or accept that very honesty! 

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I want to challenge and encourage us this week to consider not only accepting truths about ourselves from those near us, but to actually purpose and be intentional on ASKING those nearest us tough questions. You may caveat the ask with something like, “Remember, I’m sensitive so go easy on me, ya know, maybe start with something you see me doing right and well and THEN share gently something you notice that I could lean into Jesus more and be willing to rid from my life, pray about, or to work on!” But don’t NOT ask. Yup! Double negative;) do you love me now lol! But yes, ask tough questions and invite people in NEAR to see what maybe you’re missing in the mirror yourself and don’t let your blind spots keep you stuck in rooted yuck. 

Let the yuck go so you can grow! 

We are so much better when we are excited for opportunities to grow and change! I’m so excited to see how we continue growing into better stronger wives, husbands, children, friends, co-workers, worshippers, etc… let’s pluck those nose hairs, clean those pits and not forget yesterday’s mascara ladies 😂🤪

. 

Blessings, 

Abi