Cultivating Peace

I would like to introduce you to a fellow woman of God, Stephanie Haynes, Founder of Peace of Mind Ministries. She has an amazing passion and calling to help women who struggle with priorities and busyness. As most of you know, this is right up my alley right now. Read her guest post below and gleam some wisdom from this ministry. Wont you join me in learning how to live in peace amongst the chaos!?!?!?

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

Last week I read Aha! Moments’ Blog Post and my heart immediately went out to Christie and every other woman who could identify with her story. If you missed it, here’s a snippet…

I'm busy working on a ministry, writing a blog, taking care of my three children, maintaining healthy friendships, trying my best to keep the house in order, figuring out how to be a help-mate to my husband, and all the while praying for God to help me keep it all together.  

Oh how I know that place! The place where there’s so much to do and not enough time to do it and hoping God hears me and will somehow make it all work out the way I need it to so that the craziness will somehow just STOP…

God doesn’t work like that though.

He doesn’t want us to live for everything and everyone else and hope He will jump in and help. He wants us to live for Him and trust Him to work out whatever everyone and everything else needs.

That’s a huge paradigm shift!

I have lived the crazy life Christie wrote of and it almost killed me. At one point I was in danger of entering menopause, having a heart attack, on the verge of a divorce, and so angry and bitter I couldn’t stand my own children, much less my life. I couldn’t understand why God wasn’t intervening and making everything work out “right.” I was 33.

Today, at 43, I have an incredibly different life.  I am free from any threat of a heart attack, menopause is now naturally occurring instead of stress-induced, I have an incredible relationship with my children and I am still married to the same man. But, the most important thing is that amid the regular busyness of everyday life (and the occasional chaotic season) I have PEACE!

How? I chose to make the shift from putting everything else first and God last, to putting God first and letting Him tell me what came next.

Making the choice to live out of my own control was the easy part. Learning how to do it was the challenge. That’s why I chronicled my experience and what I learned in a 10-week Bible study called Cultivating Peace: Revealing God’s Peace within Your Chaos. In this study I share how out of control my life was and how, little by little, God infused my life with His Truth and cultivated His peace in my daily life. Using my own experiences, as well as the stories of the women I have met along the way, I walk through God’s truth in issues such as:

•  How to live out of our own control without everything falling into chaos. 
•  The lies we believe and how they affect the level of peace we feel.
• What it really means to center our lives on God. 
•  How to stop comparing our lives to anyone else’s and find peace within our own.
• What personality types and love languages have to do with peace in our relationships.
• What true peace really is.

If you feel like your life is more often full of chaos than peace, if you feel like God is distant, if you feel as if at any moment your choices could cause your schedule to come crashing down all around you, then this study is for YOU!

Of course, you may still feel like saying: Where on earth will I find the time to read??

I hear you! That’s why I have created all kinds of resource tools to help you!

• Each session has its own free Video Teaching segment that you can watch when you need some peace right now in any area of your life.

• Each chapter has Personal Reflection questions to help you discover God’s truth in a few short minutes.

• Each chapter also has a corresponding memory verse to keep you centered on God all day long.

• Our Peace of Mind Ministries Schedule Tracker™ is available any time to track where your time is really being spent in order to see why you feel so chaotic. There’s even a special Video teaching on how to use this tool.

No matter how chaotic or out of control your life is today, God has a way to cultivate His peace within it. All He asks of you is to invite Him to take over:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I pray you will make the choice to cultivate God’s peace within your life today!

Stephanie

Stephanie Haynes is the Founder of Peace of Mind Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women cultivate God’s peace His way within their lives. She and her husband live in the Saint Louis area of Missouri with their daughter Taylor (15), son Christopher (11), and two crazy dogs. Stephanie promotes God’s message of peace through her blog, on Facebook and Twitter, and through speaking to groups such as MOPS and church women’s events and retreats. You can contact her with any questions related to this post via email at Stephanie@peaceofmindministries.com

Full of GOOD, but is it full of GOD?

God is pretty amazing and clever. He can use you to reveal things to others; WHILE, at the same time, teaching and revealing things to yourself. (Hope that made sense.) Have you ever been praying or talking with someone and something you said made you stop and think ... "Wow, where did that come from!?! Did I just say that... that was good!!!!" If it lines up with God's word and was revelation to you... that my friend, is the Holy Spirit using YOU to bless others while teaching you simultaneously! 

That is exactly what happened as I was writing my last post. I experienced true conviction and an AHA moment from my AHA post! Martha, Martha, Martha was about priorities being out of whack.... Being too busy.... Or another way to say it ... Just plain DISTRACTED. One of Satan's most clever forms of deception. 

My AHA moment from my AHA post: 
For the most part, I always believed I PUT GOD FIRST...It was THE OTHER THINGS (kids, husband, friends, activities, work, etc.) I had a problem keeping in order.  

Matthew 6:33  

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This is the verse that God used to speak into my own life. As I was writing about priorities lining up (The correct way being: God -> Spouse -> Children -> Relationships -> Work / Ministry), I realized I had been deceived. I felt a check in my spirit that said, "If this were true, Christie. If you did put Me first, then ALL your other priorities WOULD line up perfectly and your life would be working out well." That is clearly what this verse says. It does NOT say, your circumstances, yourself or the people in your life would be perfect. It says, all would be well. You would experience the peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:6-7).

I'm busy working on a ministry, writing a blog, taking care of my three children, maintaining healthy friendships, trying my best to keep the house in order, figuring out how to be a help-mate to my husband, and all the while praying for God to help me keep it all together. 

Did you catch something? Read the last sentence again. The order I just wrote all that I'm doing shows where my priorities truly are. Ministry -> Children -> Relationships -> Spouse... and God is just interspersed whenever I get the chance. Wow. I'm humbled, but ever so grateful for the Lord's continual revelation!!! 

I have been striving for that peaceful, restful state (fellowship with God) that we were created to be in. But instead, I'm doing, doing, doing ... and being DECEIVED BY THE LIE - "It's okay if I don't "spend time" with God today because my day is filled with working on a ministry, building christian relationships, asking for His help, etc...It's already full of God." The Truth is... It's full of GOOD... a lot of good, but not necessarily full of GOD - that communion with Him that He desires and I desperately need. 


Satan is just plain sneaky. He can even use GOOD things to distract us. I am so thankful for this revelation as I seek His help (1 John 5:14) and His strength (Zechariah 4:6) to put my priorities in their proper place. I now know that all I have to do is look at my life (with a Kingdom perspective and not a me, me, me perspective) and how it's going (my state of peace) in order to know if my priorities are lining up.

1. If I'm too busy and my life feels out of control; then I am NOT putting God first. 
2. If my mind is not in a peaceful, calm, restful state; then I am NOT putting God first. 
3. If I'm putting kids, before my husband; friendships before my family; then I am NOT putting God first.
4. If I'm more concerned with getting the Lord's work done than I am with Sitting at the Lord's feet (Luke 10:38-42); then I'm NOT putting God first.   

I must not confuse time DOING His work 

as time COMMUNING with Him!

How do we make God our first priority amongst the chaos of life?

Martha, Martha, Martha...

... so, I have been running non-stop since I got back from my trip to Alabama for Easter. All of our bags are still packed and laying where we brought them in. The house is a complete wreck - and I'm overwhelmed as I look at it. Last weekend, I took my husbands Ibuprofen instead of bringing it to him ... and didn't even realize I had done it for at least an hour (Thank the Lord it was nothing stronger)!!! 

Some of you may say... "that's just Christie", or "it's just baby brain." I disagree ... it is EXTREME BUSYNESS.... one of Satan's most deceptive attacks. And I believe this attack is becoming more and more prevalent for all of us... especially in America. We are trying to do WAY too much - and technology is only feeding the problem. (For example, while we were traveling back on Monday, I spent most of my time on email coordinating and taking care of loose ends. What did we use to do before cell phones, much less iPhones came along??? Enjoy our families, that's what!!!). 

MY WAKE UP CALL was yesterday afternoon in the car with my kids on our way to soccer practice. It was another crazy day. (I was lucky to find 15 minutes to shower before we left ... all the while, Allie was screaming in her bed so you know I felt the mommy guilt). Anyway, my 7 year old all of a sudden said, "You are being like Martha, Mom." I didn't get it at first, but when I did. It hit me like a ton of bricks!!!

Luke 10:38-42 At the Home of Martha and Mary
 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” [Emphasis mine]

If my wee ones are noticing, then my life is REALLY out of balance! The first thing I did was praise my son for bringing it to my attention.  I took a deep breath, then prayed aloud, "LORD, HELP ME BE A MARY IN A MARTHA WORLD" ... He truly calmed me! Afterwards, I asked my boys to forgive me and to let me know when I start acting like Martha again.  

We are sooo distracted with life and all the busyness. Can I get an Amen! 

And we wonder why we can't hear God's voice. His still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12) can only be heard when we are being a "Mary" ... sitting at His feet listening.

SIMPLIFY. I had already been convicted lately about simplifying my life - but this brought it to a new level. There are many things I can be doing... many of them good... but are they the best thing for me to be doing right now... Better yet, are they what God has specifically called me to be doing right now.  I think it is important... no vital... for all of us to stop, take inventory and bring it to His feet for His guidance and direction. I've had to stop and say no to some GOOD activities that I enjoy recently. This is great, but obviously, as seen through my son, there is still a problem.  

What is the root issue? Time management. Nope... Better Yet... Getting my priorities right.

PRIORITIZING

1) GOD:  
 Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

• Give Him the first part of my day and truly "sit at His feet."
• Pray for Him to multiply my time and energy 
• Pray for wisdom and ask Him what my day is supposed to look like.

2) FAMILY / SPOUSE:  Matthew 19:4-6

• How are you and your spouse right now? If your answer is "not good." - then God is not your first priority (Matthew 6:33). 
• Sit at the Lords feet and pray for my husband (Recommend The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. It changed my marriage.)
• Look for ways to encourage and support Him (make his days easier)
• Protect our time together (date nights, couch time, etc.) 

3) FAMILY / CHILDREN:  Proverbs 22:6

• How is your time with your children? If your answer is "not good." - then God is not your first priority (Matthew 6:33).
•  Pray for Wisdom and strength in training them up (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• Give them daily one on one time (100% of your attention for a small set time). Set the timer and call it your special time and let NOTHING take away from it.  (working on this one!!!)
• Let vacation time be vacation time (It is not time to be on the computer, TV, iPhone, etc.) 
• Let them see you "sitting at His feet" and learn from your relationship with God

4) WORK / MINISTRY

• How is job, career, ministry? If your answer is "not good." - then God is not your first priority (Matthew 6:33).
•  This comes AFTER relationships (family and friends) Colossians 3:14 
  

So...What about you? Did this speak to you? If so, don't just pause and think... that was good... and continue in your busyness. STOP and do something about it! SIT at His feet and ask Him if you are too distracted to hear Him. 

Try this exercise 
1. Sit still for 5 minutes 
2. DO nothing, THINK about nothing, SAY nothing. 
3. If you cannot do this... then you are too busy!!!!! :)