The Real Jesus

If you follow me on Insta or Twitter, or Facebook, or any other social media, then you know that Emmalee has been in swim lessons this week.  She has never feared being in the water, but she does fear going UNDER the water.  A few summers ago she would jump off diving boards and seemed to be fearless, but things have changed since she is a little older now (because 4 is the new 14, ya know).  So I thought it was important to put her in lessons so that she can learn to survive in the water by herself without her floaties if she ever needed to.  

A few weeks ago we were swimming at our neighbor’s house and we were trying to get Emmalee to jump off the diving board (arm floaties on, of course).  She absolutely refused.  She would get up there, and start to bounce, then run off.  She was so terrified of actually jumping in.  She finally agreed that she would jump if I was right below her, arms outstretch to instantly catch her so she wouldn’t go under.  So I swam to the diving board, treaded water with arms outstretched for what seemed like an eternity, and she still couldn’t overcome the fear.  

So I sat down with her so we could talk about it.  She said she was just scared.  I asked her if she trusted me…she said no (insert punch to the gut).  So I asked her if she trusted Jesus…she said yes (insert smiling mom because maybe I’m doing something right).  So I asked her if she trusted Jesus, then would she believe that Jesus would give me the strength to catch her and not let her go under?  Again, she said no.  She wanted “the real Jesus” to catch her.    

I sat speechless for a moment, not quite knowing how to answer.  I began to think of the things that I would do if “the real Jesus” was there to catch me, too.  Would I get out of the boat and walk on water if I saw the hand of “the real Jesus” beckoning me?  Would I talk to Him more if I saw Him listening intently to my heart?  Would I make decisions based solely on the words that He spoke to me rather than listening to everyone else?  I know for certain that I would introduce Him to everyone one I met so that they could see Him too.  But that is, of course, if I saw “the real Jesus.”

But the truth is that I don’t have to “see” Him because I know that He lives inside of me! So why is it that I, sometimes, have such a hard time believing Him, and trusting Him, and living for Him? It’s fear.  But I know that TRUTH overcomes all my fears.   

And here, my friends, is the TRUTH:

My faith is in Christ Jesus. And in that faith, I have an assurance of things not seen (Hebrews 11.)  The assurance that “the real Jesus” IS right beside me no matter where I go; the assurance that “the real Jesus” has His hand outstretched beckoning me to get out of the boat; the assurance that “the real Jesus” WILL catch me if I fall.  

But oh, what would I do if I saw “the real Jesus” face to face, in ALL of HIS glory? What would you do? What is the fear that is holding you back from getting out of the boat?  What is the fear that keeps you from jumping off that diving board? My prayer is that we all proclaim the TRUTH and live as if we are standing right beside "the real Jesus." 

And just in case you were wondering, that sweet little girl DID jump off that diving board! And those swimming lessons?  They're going great! 

Day 13: 31 Days of Less & More

Oh my friends, today's series is such a great one.  Ruth and Edie over at Living Well, Spending Less wrote a compelling series about what its like to live with less of the "evils" in our life, and more joys!  31 Days of Less & More is a powerful reminder that we needs less of some things, and more of others. 

I love the fact that Ruth and Edie broke this series down into three different parts:  "

Part One—days 2-11—will focus on filling our lives with less heartache and more joy.  Next, Part Two—days 12-21—will focus on creating less stress but more peace.  Finally, Part Three—days 22-31—will hone in on our physical spaces and focus on having less stuff but more contentment."

I think one of my favorites on this series is day 2: Less Fear, More Courage.  Ruth talks about bravery and what it means to be brave.  Having a 3 year old I often fine myself trying to coax her into doing something because she is scared and doesn't want to do it.  I love how Ruth describes bravery; its doing something even when we're afraid. 

How often are we too afraid to do something?  I'm so afraid at failure, that I often don't even attempt new things.  But a few months ago I decided to be brave and pick up a bicycle.  Now I'm training for a duathlon!  If I had let my fear take hold of me, the pants I have on would never have fit, and man its a good feeling to have them really "fit"!  How an I ever supposed to help my child be brave if I'm too afraid to do it myself.

And let's get really honest here:  how often are we afraid to trust the Lord?  I can tell you that I would much rather know the outcome of every situation than be let Him handle it.  That's the control freak in me.  But I have FAITH!  I have COURAGE!  I KNOW that my God will never let me down, so I CHOOSE less fear, and MORE courage because HE IS ABLE! 

So please go and enjoy this series.  I promise you will NOT be disappointed! 

Thankful Thursday

I guess I've started a new weekly tradition of Thankful Thursday.  Of course anyone is welcome to join in and link back if you want to.

I won't lie that it was hard to write today's post when so many others are wrenched in heartache and left with total devastation from tornadoes and severe weather.  My heart is grieving for those that lost homes, treasures possession, and loved ones.  I've had such a heavy heart the past few days reading story after story about death, devastation and destruction; yet it is because of seeing all of that devastation that I am thankful for the Body of Christ.

Its the Body of Christ that stretches out their arms to embrace us in times of trouble; its the Body of Christ that comes to aide those in need; its the Body of Christ that feed the hungry when the storms have blown away all we've ever known.  The Body of Christ are the faithful ones who bow on bended knee covering the rest of the body in prayer.  They see you through the good times and the bad, and lend a helping hand whenever they see the need.  Its the Body of Christ that comes together giving time and money and hugs of hope after the storms of life pass through.

In almost every story I've read in the past few days, the Body of Christ has poured out love on strangers and prayed words of hope over fellow believers and non-believers alike.  They have laid hands on the wounded, and sat in hospital rooms with families.

Today I am thankful that each part of the Body has a purpose, and when one party of the body suffers the rest of the body suffers; and when one part rejoices, we all rejoice (1 Cor 12:26).  Today we are all suffering with those who lost and are devastated, but I know that one day soon we will all rejoice in seeing God's hand at work.

What are you thankful for today?

Prayer Life

Beth Moore tweeted something this morning that really got me thinking:

"Some things just flat-out aren't going to happen if we don't get our tails up and pray with faith, courage, passion, and confidence.  As the saying goes, we can't keep doing the same thing the same way and expect something different. Let's press in to a new level of prayer."

I literally reread this tweet over and over and over again.  She might as well just have put @awilliams0720 in the beginning and spoke these words straight to me because I NEEDED to hear this!  For some reason I guess it's never occurred to me that praying for the same thing in the same way over and over again, but expecting different results could be a "problem area" in my prayer life.  Then, the question came to mind "What is my prayer life even like?"

Let me completely pen and transparent here:  I pray, I believe in prayer, but do I have a prayer "life"?  What does a prayer LIFE look like?  Sadly, when I begin to actually dwell on it and ponder my prayer "life" I just see the occasional "bless this food" and "Lord help me to..." kind of prayers.  So if this is my prayer LIFE, why would I EVER expect for things to be different in my life?  

On the flip side, I did get a glimpse of what a true prayer life if like about 3 months.  Brant had applied for a new job.  One that would have moved our family to a different state, and one that he desperately wanted.  He got pretty far into the interview process and it really looked as if we could be moving.  From the day of his first interview and for the next month, I felt like we both immersed ourselves (morning, noon and night) into prayer for the Lord's will to happen - not our's.  It seemed that when our whole future was up in the air, a peace that passes all understanding still prevailed.  I remember telling Brant one day that I was feeling a peace and presence in my life that I simply could not understand.  It was incredible.  

And now, I look back on that few months and wonder what happened?  And sadly, I know what happened. 

I stopped.

I stopped immersing my life in prayer. I stopped seeking His will and praying for His will.  I went back to "my" normal.  

But I don't want my normal anymore.  I want my normal to be a life that seeks His way everyday; a life that runs after Him; a life that moves only toward Him.  

So today is the beginning of a new adventure - one that uses Him as my guide and uses His lamp to light my path.  I want to pray with courage, and passion, and confidence that He will do great things.  He is the author and perfecter of my life, so I will cover every inch of my life and prayer and seek the Holy Spirit who lives within me.  This is what I want!  This is a prayer life!  This is what I will start TODAY!

Pouring into the Next Generation

Brant and I have been doing going to a weekly Bible Study that is studying Kay Arthur's "Marriage Without Regrets" precept course.  It has been so enlightening to study what God's plan for marriage is and knowing the roles and expectations He laid out for man and woman.  On the other hand, it's made me realize the example that I want to be for my girls, and that my friends is definitely bringing some changes in my heart and actions.

Many of you may know, or read the blog of, Amanda Jones (AKA Baby Bangs).  Her dear husband Curtis once preached a sermon about being Godly men and women, and during his sermon he made one of the most profound statements that I will never forget:  When your children think about the most Godly woman they know, they should be thinking about you, their mother.  And when your children think about the Godliest man they they know, they should think about their dad! 

Wow!  What a powerful statement!  It was probably close to 10 years ago that I heard this sermon, but it made such an impact on me that I still remember it today.  The problem with this statement is that its PURE TRUTH!  If I want my girls to fall in love with their Savior and serve Him, then I have to do the same thing.  If I want my girls to be Godly women who are obedient to His calling; who raise their own children in a Godly home and show them what the "Proverbs 31 Woman" is, then I have to be an example of the Proverbs 31 Woman!

What this precept class has shown me more than anything is what God actually intended for that woman to look; what her role for her family was to be; what characteristics she should possess.  So now I've started the journey of becoming more like "that" woman.  I want to be a Godly example for my children, regardless of the secular world we live in.  I want to show them that, even though there is darkness around you, you can still be the light! 

To add fuel to "my" fire, I watched all of the IF: Gathering videos last Monday (yes, I wanted them all in a day because I felt like I couldn't get enough of them).  How fitting that this was about running the race and pouring into the next generation.  Christine Cain just about hit the nail on the head when she said God wants "the wisdom of the older generation, the resources of the middle generation and the zeal of the younger generation all running together."  But we have to BE the generation!  We have to instill a sense of urgency in the younger generation to have that zeal because the Lord is coming again, and we MUST be ready. 

So as a Godly woman, the biggest "generation" I can pour into is my own children!  I want to pour love, and wisdom, and truth into them, but I cannot do it on my own.  So I praise the Lord that He gave us the Holy Spirit who can work through me.  So today, I'm starting with the little things.  I'm talking to Emmalee more about who Jesus is, and the love that He has for her; we pray as a family more; we talk about how Jesus likes us to act.  They may seem like small things, but my prayer is that they turn into life-long things. 

So if you're pouring into your kids to raise up the next generation, what are you teaching them?  How are you the example for them to look up to?  What are you instilling in them and showing them so that, in 20 years when they think about the most Godly woman they know, they think of you? 

Let Me Be A Child, Again

A few days ago, Kelly, from Kelly's Korner, wrote a blog post about how she is always telling her girls to "hurry up."  Her post made me stop and think about how often I say those same words to my sweet 2 year old.

Then I saw an article in the Huffington Post titled The Day I Stopped Saying "Hurry Up."  The article is written by a mother who was over-taken by guilt one day when she realized how often she orders her children to "hurry up" and try to do things on her schedule. 

All I could do after reading this article is think about the past 2 mornings.  Brant has been very sick and in bed, so I have had to get Emmalee to her sitter every morning, which then makes me late for work.  I think I've told my child to "hurry up" more in the past 2 mornings than I have in the past 2 months.  I would be trying to walk out the door and Em would be putting Baby Girl (her favorite baby doll) in Madeline's swing and kissing her goodbye.  So out the door we try to go again, but Baby Girl needs her blanket in the swing so she doesn't get cold, and don't forget to tell Dax bye, and maybe we should give Daddy another kiss on the head so he can feel better...the list of things this child wanted to do before we left the house was exhausting, but then she had to go potty....and since we are in the middle of potty training, I immediately drop everything and rush her to the potty. 

15 minutes after I tried to leave the house, we were finally in the car pulling away.  My thought..."Praise the Lord we are finally in the car, but I am going to be sooo late."



Do you ever think back on times in your life and wish you could do them all over again?  Well I wish I could take back these past 2 morning and do them all over again.  I wish I helped my sweet child "mother" her Baby Girl, I wish I had encouraged her to kiss her daddy again so he could maybe feel a little bit better, I wish I had encouraged her to love on her puppy Dax....I wish, I wish, I wish.  I wish I had slowed down to see the beauty of life in those precious moments.

Children seem to "get it."  They understand that to learn and grow, they should take every moment of every day to see new things, to inquire, to enjoy the small moments of life.

This morning I can't help but think about Matthew 18. This is the parable where Jesus teaches His disciples that the greatest in Heaven are those with a child-like faith.  And unless we become like those children, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today this passage has new meaning for me.  Yes, I want a child-like faith - one that does not have to see to believe.  But I also want to become a child so that maybe I can slow down again.  I want to slow down and see everything the Lord has for me.  I want to see His truth, see His plan, see His power!  I want to enjoy the family He has given me and life He has provided for me.  I want to slow down and know Him more. 

So today, I encourage you to see the world through the eyes of a child.  Take those extra moments and hold your babies longer.  Take the time to care for those around you. Take a moment to play in the rain.  Slow down.  Don't ever hurry up.  Oh, how life would be different if we were like children, again.

The Tears of a Parent

The past two years of being a parent has taught me more about my relationship with the Lord than I ever imagined it would. 

During my pregnancy with Emmalee I used to think "I want to be the most Godly woman I can be because that is what I want my child to be.  And how will she ever know how to become that woman if she doesn't see it in her own mother?"  I remember that during my pregnancy, my walk got deeper because I wanted to be stronger. 

Now, being a parent for the past two years, I don't see my walk getting "deeper," I see my understanding getting "stronger."

Emmalee has recently started battling us when its time to go to bed.  For her, this is completely unusual because she has always been so easy to put down. I've tried to blame is on the "terrible 2's", or my being pregnant, or her realizing that her world is about to change...but regardless of the reason, she has decided this is a battle she will fight...EVERY NIGHT!

One of the first nights we encountered this battle was last week.  We went through our typical routine, and I put her in her bed. She got out. I put her in again. She got out. And this went on for at least 10 minutes.  Then her daddy got involved. 

He went through the bedtime routine as well, and put her in her bed.  She got out.  He put her back in her bed, came out of her room, and held her door shut so she couldn't get out.  Which, she quickly tried to do, and when she realized she couldn't, she begged and sobbed for mommy. 

Can I tell you that it broke my heart into pieces.  I knew that my sweet little 2 year old needed to go to sleep, and by going into her room, I would make things worse.  So I was letting her daddy handle it.  But it still broke my heart, although pregnancy hormones were, I'm sure, playing a role. 

Brant went back into her room.  Five minutes later he emerged, feeling accomplished and exhausted because she was finally in bed, and he was certain she would not get up.  He was wrong.  About 5 minutes later, a figure emerged from her room and went down the hallway into the living room calling my name.  I could hear her from our bedroom, and after several minutes of hearing this tired little voice, I walked into the hallway.  My daughter turned to look at me and I looked at her.  I sat down on the floor in the hallway and she walked straight into my lap and buried her head in my chest.  She was exhausted.  I was exhausted. 

And  as I sat there on the floor holding my sweet baby girl, I let me tears fall.  They were tears of frustration, exhaustion, and pleading.  All I wanted was for this baby to understand she NEEDED to go to bed.  She needs rest.  Her little body can't "do it all" but doesn't grasp that.  I do.  And as her mother, I want only what is best for her, which was good rest. 

And as my tears fell, my mind finally began to understand our Father's love for us.  I can't "do it all", but sometimes I think I can.  But my Father wants only what is best for me, but how often do I fight Him?  If you're like me, I fight Him all the time. I battle with Him over what I think is best and what I think I need.  But He knows what is waiting for me on the "other side," just as I knew that a night full of rest would help Emmalee have a smile on her face in the morning light. 

So just as I cried over my child, how many times has He cried over me in anger, frustration, and as a simple plea to just trust Him?  And the honest answer is that I don't want to know the true number of times. 

So tell me, as a parent, how has your walk changed?  Is it deeper, do you have a better understanding of the Father's love? 

2012 Christmas Card

I have to admit that I LOVE our 2012 Christmas cards.  I was "testing out" one of the boutique print styles my printer offers and they, as always, surpassed my expectations! And of course having an amazing photographer is half the battle, but "my" photographer is always fantastic (and yes, it just happens to be my sister). So hats off to Amanda Rooney Photography for her amazing work.

So, without further ado, the

Williams Family 2012 Christmas Card! 

Up-Close of the front

Up-Close of the back

This year's caption was 

"May you REJOICE in His blessings during this season of

Christmas and throughout the new year." 

Sending love from 

The Williams, Brant, Ashley, & Emmalee Caroline. 2012

I am one of those people that puts so much meaning into the "sayings" or "greetings" on my cards.  Last year walked about the "wonder of the 1st Christmas" because it was Emmalee Caroline's first Christmas. Here are a few links to our previous cards, if you want to see them:  2011 Card; 2010 Card.  But this year, we have been blessed beyond our imagination.  The Lord has answered prayer after prayer: wonderful jobs, an incredible care provider for Emmalee, paying off credit cards, allowing some house renovations, incredible friendships, and the list goes on and on.  So if there is one thing that I wish for others, it is His blessings.   I pray that no matter the circumstance, His blseesings always shine through and that we are reminded of His sacrifice each and ever day. 

Temptation

Sweet Emmalee,
Temptation - it's something that will be all around you all the time. Its inevitable.   Its what the devil loves to use against us and make us constantly doubt ourselves. Its what brings you to your knees in a moment of weakness.  Temptation is a not a fun thing - but is something that can also make you stronger.

 If I can tell you one, or maybe two, things about temptation its this:
1) There is always a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." This is one of my favorite truths in the Bible. Our God is so faithful to us and will also provide for us. He will always take care of us.

2) There is nothing you can do and no sin great enough that can ever separate you from the love of God (or your momma).  Romans 8:38-39 says "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."   

Temptation can hit you at the drop of the hat, especially when you don't expect it.  Always be prepared and always be on guard.  The devil will strike when you're at your best and when you're at your weakest.  It will knock on the door every single day.  

Be prepared for it, sweet baby girl, but do not temptation bring you down.  Be ready for it, learn from it, and grow from it.  Remember that no matter what you do, no matter where you go, no matter who you are - I will always love you.

Experience God

Emmalee,
Today's post is so close to my heart for so many reasons.  One is because I think it took me so long to really know and experience God so my hope is that you fall in love with Him much sooner than I did.

Emmalee, our God is alive.  He is forever alive in us and through us - He is not just a theology or a mystical being. He is God!  What could be better than having a living encounter with a living God?  When He calls to you, open your heart and let Him fill you with His spirit.

In Matthew 28, Jesus is teaching His disciples and preparing them to go into the world and proclaim Him name.  In verse 20 Jesus tells them "I am with you always, even until the end of the age."  He, God himself, is with you every day and night, in every situation whether happy or sad; He is there when you lie down and He is there when you wake up; He is there when life gets though and He is rejoicing with you when life brings good times.  He never leaves your side. So get to know the One who is always with you - talk to Him, worship Him,  praise Him, fall in love with Him because He is the greatest source of love you will ever know. Let Him be your father, your best friend, your confidant, your counsel.

When times of joy fill your life, praise Him.  Worship Him.  And when the days are tough and you feel like life is caving in, go climb up in His lap, let Him sing over you, and hear the sweet melody of His voice. He will be your strength when you are powerless; He will be your banner when you cannot protect yourself, He will be your sustainer when you cannot move anymore, He will be your provider when you cannot give anymore.  He is your source of Life.

My deepest praying for you is this - Experience His unending unconditional love, His overwhelming hope, His unquestionable peace, His unanswered greatness - just Experience Him!

Truths to Hold On To

Emmalee,

Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite Bible truths that I want you to hold on to – those “got to” verse that hold a special place in my heart.  It’s these verses and truths that have made an impact on my life, and I hope, will one impact yours as well.

I am a worrier – I worry about everything under the sun, especially you!  I find myself worrying over your safety, whether I’m a good enough mom, what your future holds, etc.  I worry about all of it.  So in my deepest times of worry, this verse seems to always calm my spirit: “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

In my second letter to you, I told you that growing up I made a quite a few mistakes and bad decisions.  There are still days when I feel Satan reminding me of these and trying to attack me with things of the past.  But I know that my God has redeemed me! He has already fought the battle and won the fights – He has set me free.   So this verse always speaks powerful truth to me: "Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel.  I, the Lord, made you and I will never forget you.  I have swept away your sins like a cloud, I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.  Oh, return to me for I have paid the price to set you FREE.”   Isaiah 44:21-22

Micah 7:7 is another one of my favorite verses.  For those 2 years your daddy and I spend trying to have you, this is the verse that I would cling to.  The thing I think is so wonderful about this verse is that you are living proof that God was my help and He did hear my cries. “As for me, I look to the Lord for help, I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.”

This next verse is just a “classic.”  It one of those universal verses that can often just be spouted out of our mouths because we’ve heard it so many times.  But if you break it down and really grasp the truth God promises here, it is an incredible verse!   Maybe I need to remember this verse, too, when I worry about your safety and future, because this isn’t God’s promise just to me, it’s for me, and you, and your daddy, and everyone else who knows Him. “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

The last truth that I want you to remember is Jeremiah 33:3. I love that God promises us that He will continue to teach us wonderful things about Him, and about who He is, and about His love for us.  He wants to be our ultimate teacher. “Call to me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you did not know.”

I pray that you see TRUTH in these verses and that these verses will be a light into some of the struggles this life may bring. 

I Am A Christian

I received an forwarded email from my mom this morning. Truth be told, I usually delete forwards, but I read this one, and I am so glad I did. Its was an email of truths - but truths in a way I had never thought about them before.

Too often, Christians are thought to have a "holier than thou" attitude. Being known as a Christian has its fair share of criticisms and tortures....but I am still proud to say it because after reading this email, I was reminded that being a Christians is truly everything that I am.

Here is what this morning's email said:

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not shouting that 'I am clean living. I'm whispering 'I was lost,

but now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need

Christ to be my guide.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need

His strength to carry on.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God

to clean my mess.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible,

but God believes I am worth it.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches,

so I call upon His name.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received

God's good grace, somehow!