Hi Dandelion Moms!

Feels good to blog again after a long, dry spell! These dry, barren spots have also shown up in my spiritual life lately. This morning, God led me to Isaiah 54 and I thought back on one of Marcus' sermons. (more on this later)

I find it sooo easy to praise God during fertile times of plenty. I can relax, confidently reaping bountiful blessings. Then comes the drought. My green fields turn beige, cracking wide open. I draw into a tight ball of fear, doubt, and hopelessness. Misery! I want my default response to be the same as in plenty: confidence and hope in the Lord, walking by faith and not by sight.

The Marcus sermon on Is. 54 (v 1-2) explained how even in unproductive seasons, God wants me to praise Him, stretch myself spiritually, and strengthen my relationships. Even when I hurt. Especially when I hurt. Results God promises are in v 3 . God will expand His use of me, and my kids will inherit the nations! Verse 13 (and following) gets even better. My children will be taught by the Lord and they will have peace, free from terror and far from destruction or oppression. Loving that!

Dear God, "Remind me to worship while I'm waiting" for your works to be seen. Thank you for placing others in my life to hold me accountable. Let me love You more. In Jesus name!

God's Waiting Room

Our connect group topic for last week was to have been WAITING. We have spent time thanking God for His gift to us in the form of our special kids. Then we focused on dreaming BIG for our children, which is really discovering God's dreams for them. Keeping hope alive through God's Word,became the next leg of our journey. At that point, I could almost see transformation just around the next bend in the road. But God does not follow our timeline. After we have expressed thankfulness, asked Him how to pray, and repeated His promises back to Him, we wait. And wait. And wait. Does God want us to just sit and do nothing while we wait? Jesus provides a comfortable lap to sit in as we wait. He whispers tender words, holding us close. All cares melt away in His embrace. Our eyes close, our cheeks flush,we breathe the sigh of little ones as dreamland overtakes them. The Lord may gently nudge us, encouraging us to look around . His" waiting room" has become a place of activity. We are aware of people to care for and pray for. Our kids need our attention. God's plan for them is also part of His plan for their moms. We are the lifeline He uses to perform His purposes in their lives. God is transforming us, step by agonizing step, into strong warriors, advocates for our children, witnesses for Him. Waiting is an action word. As we anticipate seeing His glorious plan unfold, may He give us hearts to love Him more.

Dream BIG

In His Word, God has provided wonderful examples of moms who dreamed big for their kids. Both Jochebed and Hannah had every reason to feel defeated, and wallow in self pity. I pray their courage and obedience will inspire us to stand strong, believing God, and patiently waiting for His plan to unfold. As we look to God, may we see a glimpse of the finished-side of the tapestry He is weaving!

Thanking God for our Gift

Dandelions, pesky weeds to some, are immediately eradicated from our lawns. But if left to grow and flourish, both plant and flower can function in various ways. The leaves can be cooked and eaten and the flowers have medicinal value for certain aliments. These yellow blooms then become intricate puffballs, ensuring the growth of new dandelion plants.

Our kids, without fail, will see the beauty in the small yellow blossom. Chubby hands clutching the stem, our young ones come running, anxious to present mommy with a wonderful gift. We accept the yellow weed with thankfulness, honoring it in a vase for all to admire.

God has given each of us a dandelion in the form of our challenged child. "Children are a gift from the Lord" ( Psalm 127:3) We can choose to accept His precious gift or toss it aside as a weed. As moms, we nurture our special gift, and with God's help, provide water, food, and rich soil. We love our kids and meet their unique needs as God provides direction. Then, when blossoms morph into puffballs, we gently blow and in the whisper of a moment, the gift God gave us, now spreads His love and glory to the world. Thank you God for the wonderful gift of my son!