Wait Expectantly

Yet again She Reads Truth is rocking my world! It's easy for me to pray for things, but it's hard for me to expect that God is going to respond. I know God answers prayers, don't miss that. However, it's difficult for me to wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:1-3 "O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."

Sometimes A lot of times I pray about things that I really am not sure of the outcome-- me going back to work is one. It was one of those "God, I think I would like to work. But, I don't want to leave Paxton with someone just anyone." It was one of those I have no idea what I want to be doing right now prayers. 

Then I get a phone call. OFFERING ME A JOB. Josh will be at home with Paxton on his days off and my Granny keeps Paxton when he works.

So it's weird how God works. Obviously. God has done some crazy things for Josh and I over the last year. Having a child was one of those moments where we waited expectantly. But if I'm honest, I don't wait expectantly on a regular basis. 

So what has God been revealing to me? He answers prayers! He shows up big time. He works through us. He's crazy about us and wants the best for us because he hears our hearts. 

What have you waited expectantly for and God has showed up?

Finding My Place

Life has changed. When I say changed, I mean changed.

Just over 5 months I ago, I gave birth to Paxton.

Almost 3 months ago, I left the best "job" in the world.

Just over 2 months 1/2 ago, we moved 600 miles back to Ohio, back to family. 

I left my friends who became family. I left my job. I left what felt like everything.

We've been church shopping for 2 months now. (We think we've found where God is leading us. But, it's different)

The plan was to stay at home with Paxton.

Then,  2 weeks ago I was offered a pre-k teaching job.

 Life has changed. I was uprooted. I was lost. My identity felt removed.

During this transition, my prayer life felt off, felt different, just plain weird.

9 days ago, I started reading with SheReadsTruth on prayer.

It's changed my prayer life. In turn, it has helped me find my place. 

Some key points, I have written down in my journal that God has lead me to have literally changed the way I have been praying and the state of my heart.

• God honors the persistent prayer of a thankful heart.
• God knows my needs before I ask.
• God is with me and will deliver me. 
• A heart at peace gives life.
• I am God's creation and he does not reject his creation.

It's incredible to link up with other women who are reading the same passages of prayer. The encouragement from each other is amazing.  

While I have not determined my place, God has already determined it. I can rejoice in that!

Kissing God's Butt

Yesterday in #SheReadsTruth we read Luke 18:1-14. In the Parable of the Tax Collector and Pharisee, I was pretty convicted. The pharisee had prayed to God thanking him for not being like others. At first, I thought well duh, that is dumb. why would the pharisee even pray like that? 

Then it got real. I can't actually recount a time when I prayed like that. But, I can recount a time when I thought like that. I think if we are all honest we really can relate to the pharisee. It may have been thoughts of jealousy, thinking you're better, or any number of things.

• I would never talk to my husband that way.
• Really, she spanked her child over that?
• Yikes, they live on that street?
• She really wore that out in public?

As superficial as those may sound, I've thought them recently. And if I'm honest, that's just what the pharisees were doing--comparing.  Essentially they were kissing God's butt. While I wasn't kissing God's butt, I was doing the same type of comparing. 

Nothing make me, or you, any better than anyone else-nothing. 

Jesus went on to say, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Convicting. Who I am and what I think says everything about who I really am.