She will overcome.

A teething baby and feisty toddler who is figuring things out (sometimes the hard way) is what has been going on around here lately. It has been exhausting and probably the most challenging thing I have faced in motherhood thus far. My Liya is such a wonderful baby. Those instagram pictures are honestly no lie. But when she's teething she's miserable and just wants to be held 24/7 and even then she's fussy, biting, pulling, choking me, and clawing mama.. (I need to get this girl a "Caution" shirt. And Like Liya my Evelynne is wonderful. On the independent and feistier end however, I love them and I'm so proud of them. But like most toddlers she's come to a place in her life where she's trying to figure things out. Like "I wonder how loud I can scream until Mama gives me my way" and "I wonder what would happen if I don't listen?"
And because Liya is slowly getting mobile and awfully curious about Evelynne's toys Evelynne has become quite territorial. Oh, and did I mention that both Liya and Evelynne have been giving me nightly calls every few hours.. I think they take turns. ;)

Where I'm going at is there has been much caffeine, timeouts, pajama days, hugs, kisses and the feeling of a failure.

Last week it really hit me as Evelynne was seriously throwing the tantrum of all tantrums.. I thought "If I was a good mom, would my daughter really be acting like this?" I just couldn't get it out of my head the thought that I was doing something wrong and I was failing my daughter and causing her to act in such a manner..

And now, I do understand that those are all lies from the devil and if you've been struggling with that too. I want to remind you that you are a wonderful mom and God gave you this child for a reason and no way would He set you up for failure. He's got bigger and brighter plans for you.

Truth is. We're not perfect parents and we won't have perfect kids who are tantrum free. But we can praise our perfect Father who has already supplied the strength and tools we need to overcome.

I totally recommend that Holy Spirit should be every moms bestie. He is not just awesome but seriously, He has everything we need to survive and beyond. So, to brighten your week I thought I'd share a few scriptures that have kept me going that that the Holy Spirit has used to get me out of survival mode and transform into Over comer  mode.

Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I AM your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you and I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand. -Isaiah 41:10

This one is one of my life verses and it still applies to me today. Knowing that God is with me and He's daily strengthening me, willing to help me and uphold me with His Hand is just incredible. Just a reminder that I can do all things through Him because He's with me. Which brings me to our next verse.

"I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me. - Phil 4:13
Those tantrums, the teething, the disobedience and the correcting.. We can do it as hard as it is.. I added the "correcting" because I have such a hard time disciplining. I think it really does hurt me more than it does her. But because I love her I do it. I love her enough to make sure she knows that it is not okay to behave like that..But with God I can do all things.

"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." -Romans 8-1
Because I'm the first to admit that I don't have it all together. I make plenty of mistakes, and I even lose it sometimes. Which is why this is a perfect reminder for me to seek forgiveness and move on guilt free.

"In Christ are hidden treasures of knowledge and wisdom."-  COLOSSIANS 2:3

That wisdom and knowledge is in Christ and if I keep seeking Him He will show me everything I need to know about raising my children after His heart. Perhaps He'll even show me how to get Evie to eat her greens with a smile on her face. :)

"Come to Me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest"- Matthew 11:28-30

This is certainly a verse I try to quote every time I'm tired or weary or just done.. He's got us!
"But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 15:57

Praise God that we have the victory!

My word for 2015.

  

 It was the other night when I was laying in bed debating if I even wanted to fall asleep knowing my sweet Liya would be up any second now wanting her feeding and millionth diaper change of the day.

I was thinking about the year of 2014 and how it went by fast. I was reflecting on it which got me thinking about the year of 2015.

I don't do New years resolutions. I'm a huge fan of "today" resolutions however, I do have a word for every year and my word for this year I feel like I need to explain it every time I say it.

As I was laying there I happened to ask God what my word for 2015 was?

I honestly was expecting a awesome word that everyone else seemed to be getting like "Fearlessness" or something but what The Lord had said caught me by surprise.

"Your word for this year Heather is "Weakness". 

Saay what? Weakness? But I hate weakness, I hate being weak, I hate feeling like I'm weak and I hate it when people think I'm weak or I assume people think I'm weak. 

Obviously, I wasn't satisfied with my word at first and demanded something else. But God clearly opened my eyes and heart to this word "Weakness"  as He brought me to this scripture

And He said to me,  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:9

This year in 2014 I hated the word "weakness" because I hated the thought of me being labeled as weak however, God sees our definition of weakness differently then we do. When we think of our weaknesses we think of hopelessness but I believe when God looks at our weaknesses He sees His Son and He sees an opportunity to move mountains in our lives.

This year in 2014 I believe I focused too much on my weaknesses as a negative thing. I stepped down many times, backed off and sat there because I didn't find myself worthy, or enough. I clearly dealt with some identity crisis in the year of 2014 and listened to the wrong crowed a.k.a stupid devil! 

And because of that I can't help but wonder if I missed out? On miracle opportunities. Just because I thought I wasn't good enough or skilled enough to pray over a certain individual. Boy was I fooled.

Until now, I've always thought I was horrible at praying.. Sounds silly? I know! I thought my prayers were ineffective and pointless because I never felt Jesus while praying or The power of the Holy Spirit. I thought they were powerless. So instead of actually praying for people in the ministry team I stood back and just hugged and loved on the people while they were being prayed over by all of the amazing prayer warriors. 

I feel the winds of change moving closer towards me. And they're bringing me off my feet. This year of 2015 my word is "Weakness" This year I will be focusing on my weaknesses and realizing that is where He is strong! So therefore they're not my weaknesses but they're opportunities for Jesus to use His perfect power in me. YAY!

Do you have a word or new years resolutions for 2015? I'd love to hear them and get inspired. :)

Lets have coffee.

It really has been a while since I've just poured my heart out on here.. It's been pretty chilly in December so what better place to go then out for coffee??

If we were having some Starbucks coffee together, I'd order a grande (maybe venti?) white peppermint Mocha and one of those cute little snowman cookies! Those little delights look almost too pretty to eat but they're way to delicious to resist.

I would ask how your weekend went? And if you've finished your Christmas shopping?

I would encourage you not to stress about getting everything done and making sure everything looks perfect. I would encourage you not to stress out about financial things and just do what you can.

I would tell you that even if Leon and I did have the money to go completely overboard with Evelynne for Christmas as in spending hundreds of dollars on her alone I honestly don't think we would. Leon and I have agreed to buy all of our children one thing they want, one thing they need, something to wear and something to read. I have such a desire to teach Evelynne to serve so I really want to focus on serving with her this Christmas season and every day for that matter. Even if it's just handing cookies to our neighbors.

I would tell you that I'm so excited for this new chapter in life we're in! Our season of being a family of three is coming to an end and shortly (just a couple weeks) we'll be a family of four! I feel so ready and yet, so not ready. I feel like I was much more prepared with Evelynne in fact, I had my hospital bag packed two months before Evelynne's due date and I have yet to still pack my hospital back and I'm due in two weeks... But hey, I did pack the diaper back and our house is officially baby ready! Evelynne loves putting her baby in the baby swing. I'm so excited to see her in Big sister action.

I would tell you that yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life as I got to witness my amazing husband Leon become a licensed Pastor.  I always knew I'd be a Pastors Wifey and It's been prophesied over him since he was a child. Soon he'll be able to be a Pastor at the Church full time and I will gladly kiss the police badge goodbye! I'm ready to minister as a family and speaking life into peoples lives. We're ready to pick up our crosses and follow Him whose love is captivating. I'm so excited that we'll be able to be a real family soon and Evelynne and Liya will be able to spend time with there daddy more that twenty four hours a week if that. 


I would tell you that this coming year I finally want to start my "Little Beloved" Business. I'll be starting out small and work my way up and it's so exciting. I'll be crocheting kid scarves and as the business gets bigger I'll probably add more merchandise. And to make it even more exciting I plan on using some of the money to start a ministry of blessing young moms/parents. Such as surprising an exhausted new mom with a Starbucks gift card, new parents with take out gift cards, and just randomly dropping diapers off their house. I'd also love to start a mommy group. 2015 is a good year to start! I would say now but we only have a few more weeks to go of 2014 *gasp! And honestly, these days have not been super productive.

If I were having coffee with you I would tell you that I've felt so dry lately.. Like I'm in a desert dry land. I've felt this way on and off through out my whole pregnancy and I've often wondered why? I know it's an attack of the devil however, I'm believing that it's going to cause me to have a new and even stronger hunger for Christ that will light a flame brighter than I have ever carried.. There's been a lot of worship music playing at my house because I refuse to go by the way I feel and it's much easier to stay in the presence when worship is on. I know this is only for a season and I'll come out so much stronger.

This is what I would tell you if I were having coffee with you. What would you tell me?

I am His Own.

God has recently revealed to my heart that I often care too much about what people think.. And Leon has mentioned millions of times about how I need to just let what people "say to me" and "about me" go in one ear and out the other. Why is this so hard for me to let go? Am I still a slave to people? I have no desire to be and yet every time someone speaks an opinion of me I receive it with both arms, dwell on it, over think about it and often cry.

Why is it so hard for me to shut my mind up and remind myself who I really am in Christ?! A warrior, a daughter, a Princess? One who's worth is far above rubies? Why is it so hard sometimes to believe that about myself? Possibly because I'm still so focused on my works and not focused of what He did to give me His identity?

Honestly, how dare I think badly of myself when Heaven went bankrupt to bring me back into the presence of my Father.

Todd White (My Spiritual hero!) Speaks so amazingly and beautifully about how we need to really know our identity in Christ. He talks often about how he is not out of his mind but out of the mind of everyone else because He really only cares about what Jesus thinks of Him. I so long to be out of the mind of everyone. To be free from that.

I'm so done with the lies of the enemy. Telling me I'm not good enough, that I'm an orphan and that I'm not loved or qualified to do the impossible. I'm  so done with the enemy convincing me that I'm not being heard,  seen, and pursued. When the truth is My Father does see me, He knows me, He hears me and above all He loves me with a love that even I can't describe. I want to know who I am in Christ and above that I want to live who I am in Christ! I don't just want to know but I want to walk with that identity following me everywhere I go so that when people see me they will want what I have. The Most amazing King.

If you have been struggling with identity like I have and you need a reminder of who you really are. I deeply encourage you to get lost into this song and claim your identity in Christ. It's time to take back what the enemy has stolen. :)

                                                                                We are fearless.

We are whole.

We are His Own.

We are no longer blind.

He set us free.

We are not orphans.

We're alive

We are all that He says we are! =D

He's the One that really matters.

       

Sitting here with my morning latte this morning with  some banana bread. I'm surrounded by the peace and quietness that takes place before the day starts. Before the rush of the day takes place when every little thing seems to matter from getting the dishes done to checking  every "to-do" off my daily planner.

This is the time of the day when I usually feel God closest.  When I feel Him surrounding me and covering me with His captivating love, His incomparable wisdom, and strength that never gives up.

Realizing that I could have so much planned today, I could be doing so much.. But truly He's the One that really matters. It's not about me. It's not about Leon (who is starting his five day vacation today!!) and sometimes as much as I believe it, it's not even about my beautiful girls. God's the One who really matters today and  yesterday, and every day after this one.

He's the One I want and desire to please.. What matters to me is what He thinks. Not the moms who  seem to know it all, and not the people who seem to have me already figured out and try to define me.

He's the One who knows my future and holds it with His loving Hands. Because of Him I know that nothing in this world. The cares, the scars, the happenings can hold me down.

He's the One that really Matters. And my continuous prayer this morning and every day after is that I will always remember His presence, His promise, His Truth, His Love, That I can do all things through Him and that no matter what happens, no matter how I'm feeling, no matter what my day seems to be going through. That everyday is a great day because He is God and He is King. The One who brings healing to the sick, salvation for the lost, a place called Heaven for all those who gave and lost their lives because they believe Jesus is forever The King, love for those who seem unlovable, hope for those who feel hopeless, strength for those who are weak, a prosperous future for those who feel like they messed up and a love that's so grand and fulfilling. He's the One that truly and deeply matters in every aspect in our lives.

Understanding my role as a Biblical Daughter.

This study has been so renewing and refreshing  for me. I have received so much from it so far and it's only been two weeks.. I wasn't able to study too much this week considering my  mouth has been swollen from wisdom teeth (blah) However, I did get some great nuggets to share.
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Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
- 1 John 3:1
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> In other translations it replaces "Bestowed" with "Lavished"  and "Great Love"  So so beautiful! It amazes me every day that The Lord of lords and King of kings loves me. It's such an Amazing Love that just sweeps me away. I don't always feel His love.. In fact when things go wrong in our lives it can make it really difficult to feel anything from Jesus.. But take heart friend that His love isn't a feeling, it's truth. It's what we walk by faith to believe. Believing that Jesus doesn't love us because things our going wrong with whatever is the biggest lie from the devil.. Instead of being mad at Jesus for the worlds problems cling to Him and His love and have faith!  He can't help you unless you give it to Him.
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  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:26-28
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Though experiencing His love encounters are awesome we need to remember that His love for us is all the time and not just when we feel it! When you're at your worst He loves you just as much when you were at your best. He is for you friend and He loves you! If you are truly needing a love encounter this morning. I encourage you to listen to this song and just let Jesus take over. :) Love you guys.


 
Happy Spring btw!! It's hard for me to grasp the fact that it's Spring with the weather still being chilly! However, I'm going Spring shopping and hopping that will give our bi-polar weather a hint to warm up ;)
It's hard to believe this time last year my toddler was a baby still :)

We are daughters.

This was my first week of the study and it was so refreshing. I haven't started reading any books yet but I've been reading scripture.

I've decided that before doing any further studies on marriage/motherhood I was going to firstly study to a deeper level of who I am as a Daughter in Christ. Because I don't know about you but I'll be the first to admit that I can't do this wife or mama thing without His identity in me because without Jesus I'm too selfish and too foolish.

So, I'm gonna seek further wisdom of who I am in Christ because without Him and without knowing who I am in Him I'm not capable. But with Him and knowing who I am in Him I'm a firm believer that I can do anything including the impossible like loving Leon when he eats all my pumpkin bread moving mountains.

These are the three scriptures that I've been studying this week about being a child of The Most High God.

"And I will be a Father to you, and you will be My Sons and Daughters, Says The Lord Almighty."
 -2 Cor 6:18

But to all who receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become Children of God;
-John 1:12

"For in Christ we are all sons of God through faith." -Gal 3:26

These are the only three scriptures that I got to this week because I couldn't stop reading them and letting them sink in. the other day I was standing in line for ice cream and I was just desiring a Fatherly relationship for a split second.. Maybe it was the gentle and loving relationship between a father and his daughter who was in front of me who knows? However, The Lord spoke to me right then and there saying

"Heather, you don't need to search any more. I'm the Best Father there is!"

I seriously almost started crying at a dairy shop. I was so touched and this whole thing of me being a daughter of Christ just became a new level of reality for me.

Ladies, whether you have an amazing dad on earth or a dad who gave you the worst years of your life take heart that you are a child of the King who saw you when you were hurting and He loved you!

He loves you so much that He sent His only perfect and flawless Son to come and die for our sins so that He could adopt us to be His Own and so that we could have that right.  We were given that right!

We are no longer Fatherless, we can no longer say we're not daddy's girls and we are free to say we have the best Papa of all time.. Because it's true!

 

For the mom who sees herself as ordinary.

         For the mom who sees herself as ordinary.

          Can I share something with you?

                                You may feel like just a mama. 
                        
                         You may feel like just a woman.
    
 There are times when motherhood makes you so joyful.
   
And if you're anything like me there are times when you   want to make a run for the door when your husband walks in. 

There are times when you may feel ordinary. An ordinary person, woman, wife, and mother. 

But let me tell you..

You are the furthest thing from ordinary.

You are the extraordinary in the every day life.

You are the beauty in the ordinary that so many search for and some take for granted.

You are the one who wakes up and gives and gives.

You get tired.

You lose it sometimes and that doesn't make you  a bad mom. Despite what the world thinks what a perfect mom is.

  Jesus has something else to say about you!

He has a plan for you and your family! To prosper, to bring hope and a great future.
(See Jeremiah 29:11)

You are a mom for such a time as this!  
(See Esther 4:14)

Because your hope is in Him His strength lives in you and girlfran,  You will soar even on the hardest days!  
(See Isaiah 40:31)

You have been called to heal the sick and raise the dead!
(See Matthew 10:8)

We are not just moms but also Daughters of The Most High God! Because of Jesus we can not only come boldly to our Father but also confidently into His Awesome presence anytime we want and need to! 
 (See Eph 3:12)

You are clothed in strength and in Dignity! And there is no need for you to worry about your future. 
(See proverbs 20:25)

God is within you and you will not fail!!
 (See Psalms 46:5)

You are loved with an Everlasting love! 
(see Jeremiah 31:3)

God is in the Midst of you and you will not be moved!
 (see Psalms 46:5)

There will be days when people will question you as a mom.. They will question your ability, your boldness, your wisdom, your beliefs and your parenting skills.. 

There will even be days when people criticize everything you do as a mama.. 

But don't lose heart dear sister..

God doesn't think that... at all!
 In fact He sees your heart, your soul, your intentions and He is pleased. He sees that you try your hardest with what you have and that you are doing what you feel is best!

In His opinion you are most qualified to raise the children you have! And if anyone can raise that little joy running around your house like a little crazy person, you can!


 You are an extraordinary mama doing an extraordinary job. You are raising the future and making a difference for tomorrow.
                                                 

The Most important thing I can teach my daughter.

When I found out I was pregnant I was super excited about the responsibility God has anointed and blessed me with. It's something I take very seriously and I feel it should be.

I look forward to teaching my daughter so many things. To read, write, to find  beauty in the simple things in life. But  I believe really the most important thing I can teach my daughter, reveal to her and encourage her to receive and to know,  is her true identity in Christ! Because so many in the world are going to try and deceive her, and tell her who they think she is.  It is so important that those things don't matter to her and that the only opinion that should and does matter is from her Heavenly Beloved,  Father and King.

To remember that she is beautiful beyond compare. Not because of her looks or what she wears.  But to remember that she is beautiful because God made her that way. He looks at her, adores her and knows what He has made is really good!  Genesis 1:31

To remember that she is the Victor and never the victim. Because she is the true daughter of the most High God. A spiritual warrior that cannot be defeated.

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 15:57

  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. -Philippians 4:13  

  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. -Romans 6:14

To remember not to fear because she is perfectly loved. And that nothing can harm her. To know that she has the authority to stomp serpents, to heal the sick, raise the dead, and no evil thing will come near her. To know that evil is powerless when the Children of God are unafraid. And that God has given her the Authority to do such things.

There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

-1 John 4:18

 

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. That she has the very abundant life that God has given to her through His Son. 
-1 John 4:17


And when He had called unto Him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
-Matthew 10:1

I want Evelynne to know that even Before she was conceived God knew her and sanctified and anointed  her.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. -Jeremiah 1:5

 
She is the Bride of Christ. And she is cherished and crowned with glory and honor.

 

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  -Colossians 1:27

 

 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 

-Psalms 8:5 

And She was created for His Glory to do the Mighty things that God has anointed her  to do. And only she can do! 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. -Revelation 4:11

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. -Isaiah 43:7

And that she can go to Jesus with anything and He will answer her and show her mighty things in His Name.   Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. -Jeremiah 33:3 


I have mentioned before that I believe the most important thing for a woman to know or anyone in general is to know their Identity in Christ! Because once they know that. Nothing will be able to stop them. Not fear, not condemnation, not people, and not even circumstances! When we know our identity in Christ we are dangerously unstoppable! 

I want to teach my daughter these things because I believe it is the most important thing a Born again Christian can know. If they don't know this, they will be stomped on and deceived by what the world thinks they are. 

My desire and dream is that my daughter knows who she is in Christ. That she can stand tall as a believer looking down to no one. 

 To have such authority and boldness  in Christ and allowing Him to work miracles in her life. 

My  prayer is that what people say doesn't move her but instead,  what she says moves other people. 

That she can stand inline at a grocery store and not envy or be discouraged by the half dressed model in a magazine, but instead pray for her and pity her.

 To not be effected by piers, but instead her piers be effected by her. 

I believe God has given Leon and I such responsibility by placing this little love  in our hands. A responsibility we will take most seriously. I can't tell you how blessed I am to be a mama!