Psalm 139:16 Archives – Facets of Faith

A Significant Life Calling: the Road to Adventure

07.17.2020 by Jennifer Howe //

Hey, friend, this month’s topic is quite a thing. We want to know exactly how we fit into all our relationships, the future, and both this world and the next. Isn’t that what the significant life calling is about? We want to make a difference in our sphere of influence; we want to know our lives mattered! That’s what we’re kicking around, so check out Tracy’s, Megan’s, and Charlotte’s posts this month!

Once upon a time I (Jen) waited for a book or survey to tell me how I was wired and how I could be used significantly in this world. I caught myself repeating over and over in my inside voice: There has to be more to life!

It’s been 487 days…

I turned the big 5-0 four hundred eighty-seven days ago. Yesterday it hit me as I struggled through a 6-mile walk with my Chocolate Lab. My legs are short and don’t move as quickly as they did. My right ankle complains, and my knees join the chorus. One shoulder wants to move more freely. My low back is recovering from a strain, a parting gift from poorly done squats. Oh. My. Goodness! When did my house-body become a crumbling cabin in the woods?

A long walk. The rhythm of Theo’s panting. Shoes scuffing the path. The occasional runner or biker hustling past. Thoughts pierce my serenity, an unexpected cymbal-crash in the evening’s golden hour. Did I waste half a century? What do I have to show for the years? I don’t know how many days I have left. B-b-but the last fifty years…the last year and a quarter…

A girl could cry. Fresh desperation welled up. The half-life of Uranium…half its initial value…the half-life of a human…Woman, the chemistry term doesn’t apply!

The golden-hour world went wavy through tears. This doesn’t feel like freedom on the road to calling.

“Self” is a Four-letter Word

I ask hard questions in this life stage. I take a long look in the rear-view mirror and wonder: Why am I here? Is there still opportunity? Did I accept the right challenges and take advantage of the growth along the way? I spent two decades wanting to be older, but am I “too old” now? If I knew then what I know now, would I have lived the same way? Was youth wasted on me? Is the hair glitter I’ve earned anything special?

Do you see what I see? The thought process up there—it’s all about me. I’m speeding down the road, checking the side mirror of self where “objects may be closer than they appear.” The object that’s too close is me, and I can’t see beyond me to the beautiful opportunities I took or the ones I might take.

Self-examination isn’t the same thing as self-preoccupation. There’s a thin line between the two, and it’s got to be a no passing zone or a head-on collision is around the bend.

Eyes on the Road!

I’m not sure why we need laws to reinforce the need for focused attention behind the wheel, but they emphasize an important point. If I’m moving at high speed in a one-ton missile, it’s super-important I’m aware of my surroundings. How much more important when I’m moving through life where opportunity is around every turn!

I won’t see the moment; it’ll sneak up on me, and I’ll be in it. I’ll have to choose between two roads or stopping to help someone on the roadside. Eyes on the road! And ears tuned to the small whisper that guides my heart, mind, and feet in the moment.

What if…

Once upon a time I read books and listened to 45-minute talks focused on helping me know more about my purpose in life. Gifts assessments became a thing. I took them multiple times to see if anything changed. I mean, I want to be certain I’m doing what God has called me to, and I can only do that if I know where my gifts, passions, and season of life intersect. (Yeah, that looks like a GPS to me, too.)

But what if there’s another perspective? What if an author, preacher-man, or questionnaire couldn’t or shouldn’t define me and the opportunities I might accept or reject. I want to know the biblical take on calling, giftedness, and serving.

Plans and Purposes

Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began. Psalm 139:16 CSB

The Creator of the universe has always known my identity—every physical, emotional, and spiritual detail. My five-foot-two-on-a-good-hair-day height, the grey hair hidden with RB-6 in college, my love of words and Oxford commas, and the best and worst life experiences—He knew all of me. He knew I would enter the world just before breakfast on one day, and He knows the time I will see Him face to face.

Every day has been attended to and accounted for, and it has all been perfectly tailored to me in partnership with Him. The people I meet. The opportunities in front of me. No surprises and no mistakes. In this life stage, I see it better.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 CSB

Something deep nudges me toward truth. I was made on purpose, with purpose, for a purpose! It’s no wonder some kind of “why cry” comes from down deep. The most important part is that He offers opportunities to partner with Him in good works. I was made for more. And so were you!

S-S-Slow down!

I imagine myself with Mario Andretti skills. Life is crazy-fast, and some days are jam-packed with only minutes between iCal events. It looks good on paper, but there’s no time for resting, recuperating, or relaxing. I burn rubber until I burn out.

How in the world can I hear the “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12)? My engine’s RPMs are too high, I’m flying through a flat desert, and the people and opportunities are a blur.

Truth is, I desperately need quiet and time to hear His small voice. When I’m listening, I have a unique chance to follow His lead. If I’m attentive, I live a life with three unique traits.

My life is Spirit-led because I hear and respond to His voice.
My life is Spirit-infused and fueled because I am moving with Him.
My life is surrendered because I want His good, perfect, and pleasing will (Romans 12:2).

These three things mostly exist when I slow down and spend time walking and talking with God.

Humble Willingness

Those three, unique traits in my life equal humble willingness. I’m willing to carry the weight of awareness each day. I’ll see people—really see them—and remain open to the possibility of a divine iCal request on my calendar.

Here’s the funny thing: I’m reminded it has nothing to do with the list of gifts, passions, or skills at this point. Those things are the springboard for how I might partner with Him, but it’s way-cool to experience serving someone with the love of God by the power of God. There’s no way I cover that kind of distance by my own heart, mind, or abilities.

The freedom on the road? My calling? It’s an adventure if I’m humble and willing…

Share your thoughts in the comments or the Facebook Page. I’d really love to read them!

The One Who Expects the Unexpected

12.17.2019 by Megan Abbott //

Merry (almost) Christmas! I am so excited to join the team here at Facets of Faith, and am thankful to have been welcomed warmly by all of you that already know Jen and Tracy. I look forward to meeting you here each month. Check out what Jen had to say last week about Expecting the Unexpected here, and Tracy’s thoughts here. I pray that our words will find you wherever you may be this Christmas season, and that God will show himself to be just a step away.

‘TIS THE SEASON

It is the season of mesmerizing Christmas lights, cheesy movies with all the happy endings, gatherings with friends and family, gifts, and lots of Christmas cookies. This is the time of year when I love sitting in my apartment, surrounded by warm Christmas lights, covered in blankets, and drinking tea. There is something about it that just feels homey. It may also be that it is typically so cold I dread going outside, but we can ignore that.

For me, the holidays tend to have this cloud of expectation around them. I travel to see my family each Christmas, so there is always this building of anticipation leading up to the day I leave. So many expectations for family time, traditions, friends, friends’ super adorable children, home cooked meals with my family, and everything that goes along with seeing people you miss most of the year.

UNMET EXPECTATIONS

Not every year goes to plan, though. If nothing else, it seems inevitable that the 8 hour drive turns into 9. I feel like this year especially there are so many of us are in the midst of something that wouldn’t make that list of hopeful expectations. What about the first Christmas after we have lost someone we love? The Christmas where we aren’t able to be with those we love? The Christmas where we are aching for family healing, a spouse, children, financial provision, or healing of sickness? Contrary to how we may feel while watching all the movies with perfect endings, this can be a really, really hard time of year.

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES

As I have been working through the thoughts and scripture God put on my heart for this month, I was encouraged by a friend to consider the shape of a V. As I am standing at the bottom point of the V, looking up to God with all my expectations, I may feel muddled that they don’t look like where I actually am, but what if we consider God’s perspective from the top of the V and look back at where we are from His view?

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:16‬ ‭NLT

God expects the unexpected. He sees us. It doesn’t take away the hurt, disappointment, or tears, but it feels good to know that the Creator of the earth, and everything in it, isn’t surprised. He isn’t surprised by the point where we stand today, or where we will be a year from now. He sees our refinement. He sees us learning to love through hard situations. He sees us leaning on him through our unmet expectations. He sees us.

LAUGHING AT GOD

I really relate to Sarah in Genesis 18. Talk about unexpected, she literally laughed at God when she heard where her life was going.

I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my husband is also so old?’

Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, ‘I didn’t laugh.’ But the Lord said, ‘No, you did laugh.’” Genesis 18:10-15 NLT

A couple chapters later, we see that Sarah had a baby, exactly when God said she would. She laughed again. This I can relate to. Not the having a baby part, but the laughing because God did the unexpected thing I had laughed at in the first place.

FINDING REST WITH THE ONE WHO KNOWS

We aren’t promised we get everything we pray for, or that the pain will go away this Christmas, but we are promised God knows where we are. He hasn’t forgotten, and He is Immanuel (God with us). Whether it is big, scary, painful, joyous, or somewhere in between, we can expect the unexpected knowing nothing surprises God. We can find rest with Him.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A little closing consideration for the Facets family: Why don’t we as the church reach out to those around us and show them we see where they are too? If someone around you needs family this Christmas, can you be the unexpected family for them?

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Mama Guilt: the Compare Snare

06.01.2017 by Erin Thompson //

This week, please welcome back our friend, Erin Nicole Thompson! It’s an honor when she visits FACETS of Faith with her experience and wisdom. She’s wrapping up our conversation on this month’s question, and we think you’ll be blessed by it. Thanks for sharing with us, Erin!

I made it!! I had conquered Costco. With two kids in tow, I endured the miles of aisles, deals of the day, and made it to the check-out lanes on budget and with the same number of children I walked in with.

(Insert: fireworks.)

As I rejoiced over this small miracle, it seemed right to celebrate with the insanely huge but inexpensive pizza Costco serves. I proceeded to get a small taste of heaven and asked the cashier to slice it in half, rather than having to drag a plastic knife through it.

Life. Was. Good.

Actually, near glorious!

My kids were playing so sweetly by the water vending machine when I noticed a large puddle under my two-year-old daughter. (Note—though she strips down every day to her birthday suit and attempts to use the potty, she is still in diapers.)

So as the other cheap lunch dwellers studied my kiddos and my parenting choices, I went over and swooped my daughter up only to realize she was soaking! What?!? This has never happened, at least with just wetness.

As a mom of four, I pride myself in my extensive diaper experience and knew I had put one on her and properly. Period. This certainly wasn’t my fault.

So I had to check. What was going on? I pulled back her pants only to realize I had put on my 21,901st diaper inside out. Yes, inside out.

So the wetness puddled on the concrete floor, drenching her legs and top, and now saturating my clothes, was none other than urine. Or pee-pee we call it in my house.

(Insert: Big-time Mama guilt here.)

And of course, there were still the onlookers.

So I dragged my kids out of Costco and drove home in defeat.

Mama guilt. It’s an issue.

We get it from the should’ves, could’ves, and can’ts—the compare snare we willingly walk into as we look at the strengths of another mom and compare them to our weaknesses. Those combustible moments overcome us, and we become someone we don’t want to be. Mama guilt. It’s there.

My mama guilt always seems to highlight my insecurities, imperfections, or inadequacies. Though my mama guilt is real and I can feel it, I am learning how to face it.

I am facing it so that it doesn’t define me or drown me in its defeat.

Whether our kids are grown and out of the house or are yet to breath on their own, we can face Mama guilt by…

Receiving God’s grace and love.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

The book of Lamentations reminds us that God’s love and compassion never fail, that it is there for us each and every morning. Anew. Afresh. Filled to the brim. Let me highlight that is what God declares through the book of lamenting, I mean Lamentations. He always has enough, no matter how far gone or finished we may feel. Let’s receive it.

We forgo Mama guilt by…

2. Remembering who God says we are.

“I will be a Father to you,

and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18)

We are not our actions or attitudes, we are an adopted child of God. Adorned and arrayed in his righteousness. Welcomed and wanted in his family. Who he says we are in his Word defines us, not our past or our performance. When we walk in that security, insecurity flees. Trust me, I know.

Mama guilt gets mini-sized or mini-me’ed by….

Realizing God chose us to be the mama for our child, guilt and all.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

God chose our time and place. He chose the same for our child. He entrusted us with his creation, made in his image. He knew we wouldn’t get it all right, and that’s why we still need our big Daddy. And our Heavenly Father loves to be needed.

I am just about to go over my word count for this post, so know this. You are not alone in your mama guilt. We all have it. But I pray we don’t let it define us or drown us in defeat. Rather, let us face our feelings, receive God’s love, remember we are his child, and realize we are their chosen mamas by the Maker.