SURRENDER and answer to PRAYER

My prayer these past months is that God would give me a content spirit, surrendered to HIM- especially in the area of "staying home" right now and my future. I have ALWAYS loved working, being busy, and having a hectic schedule. My mom told me that even when I was a toddler the 1st thing I would ask her every morning was, "ok mom, where are we going today?"

I have learned that business can be a good and a bad thing. It can be dangerous if you CAN'T take time to sit and be still. It can be dangerous if it is what you find your security and sense of worth or achievement in. And it can be dangerous if you fight God to stay busy, when He tells you to slow down.

On the other hand, it is a good thing to have our lives FULL of what GOD places there for us. We are called to be hard-workers and good stewards of our time. God hates laziness and that is not what I mean when I refer to "slowing down."

In my case, the last thing I wanted to do these past months, was stay home and JUST be a wife and mom. I wanted MORE. I have so many passions and desires with what I want to do with my life, so it is easy for me to focus on those things and fight for what is on my heart. I was challenged and convicted in this are because I had it SO WRONG!

God wants my life completely SURRENDERED to Him. Until I can become the best wife and mom that God created me to be, He isn't going to entrust me with anything else. My 1st ministry is to my FAMILY. Knowing all of this was extremely hard, because I felt that I had to "give up" all my hopes and dreams. I felt as though husbands had the better role because they could pursue their "careers" while the wife sits back and gives up her life to support her husband. To me it seemed unfair....and it was something I just completely didn't understand! I never realized this reality before!

Praying through all of this was the only thing I knew to do. I was too sad thinking about it and I was making myself miserable! But WOW what an AWESOME GOD we serve, because HE completely changed my heart and attitude. Now, I can honestly say that there is nothing more I would rather do right now, than serve and take care of my family. I LOVE to keep the house nice and make dinner and have people over and hang out with my beautiful girl all day! The role of a WIFE is so beautiful and enjoyable and what a privilege. (It is no easy task though- talk about complete selflessness) I am so thankful that I can be doing ministry with J right now. I love being able to support him and giving him the freedom to follow God with his life. I have his back and he has mine no matter what! Now I understand a little more why God creates and designs marriage the way He does. HE knows exactly what HE is doing!

This past week a job opportunity literally fell into my lap. I went through with the interview, thinking that it was possibly what God wanted for me, but deep inside I was thinking, "God what are you doing? You just brought me to the place where I am finding JOY in staying home, and now you want me to work?!?" But He is a FAITHFUL God because the opportunity didn't work out and I didn't end up taking the job. I am so thankful for those days of confusion because it helped me to know for sure that yes, God did answer my prayer!

The song "The Stand" by Anthony Evans is one that I have been listening to all summer and the words sum up so much of what I'm talking about:

"So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours"

Thank God for His GRACE and PATIENCE with us through times like this!

Don't mess with the Thompson Girls!