Decisions and God's Provision

Decisions and God's Provision, that rhymes. 

 I decided I should to do a blog post about some of my thoughts on my decision to work part-time or from home over the last few years, because I can get pretty wordy when I share what wise women have taught me and what I've seen the Lord work out for our family. I want to be an encouragement.

I have to say that there are times I feel very insecure when I hear of women making big paychecks and I have a job that would never support me if something happened to my husband. Also, I just recently gave up my photography business that brought in a little extra. But, I stand by my decision to work part time or from home over these last years. I can always second guess myself, but when I remember what we prayed about in the past and how God has provided and given me peace about those times, I know we've done what was best when we prayerfully made those choices. And I can't second guess what God has done. :) Life has never been perfectly calm and trouble free, but He didn't promise that. He pours His word into my scardy-cat heart with a sweetness I cannot deny. He watches over me with a precious Father's love that humbles and surprises me. I'm not worthy...but maybe I am! I'm a daughter of the King, after all.

I do not look down on women who work. I've been there. I know about those hard choices. I also understand about different seasons in our lives. I know there are women who feel they have no other options, or have no other options and must work. I have peeled my children off my legs and stuffed them though a doorway, both of us crying, so that I could make my escape to my job. I have finished college homework with a toddler hanging on my neck begging for my attention. I have worked full-time, I have worked part-time, stayed at home and babysat, sent children to public school and homeschooled one of my children. I have lived in a foreign country, I have lived in a trailer house with the floor falling in. I have shopped for groceries with so little cash in hand I didn't know how we'd feed the kids that week. Then I have had plenty. I have a home that was built with our own hands from the ground up. All that to say, I know what it's like to sacrifice a little so you can spend more time with your family and not be stretched to the limits of sanity with so much busy-ness. I wouldn't trade that for all the money in the world. 

Moms often just want a little peace, peace of mind. A shred of encouragement to keep going. So here's mine: I will never look back and say "Gee, I wish I'd seen less of my kids."  Or, "I'd give anything, even my relationship with my kids, if we'd had a better house earlier."
We all sacrifice something. What are we sacrificing? For us, it is/was income.

I also remind myself that there are seasons in our lives. Seasons that each have a different focus. Now I am trying to be more available to spend time my aging momma, and to be ready to spend time with grandbabies, and to encourage others who are in the shoes I've worn. 

Who know what the next season of my life will bring? 

Whatever it is, I know I can trust Him to bring me though it.

• "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." - Phil 4:19 (I don't have to fear the future, or worry about money.)
  
• "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33 (When family problems arise, or the world is looking scary, He is still in control, and I CAN trust Him.)
• "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."    -Proverbs 16:3 (When I second-guess our decision to homeschool or for me to mostly stay at home, I go back in my mind to where we started the journey and I have peace.)
• "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way."  -Psalm 18:32-36 (As parents and spouses we are doing battle every day. He prepares, sustains, and strengthens me.)
• "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7 (Who doles out the fear? You know. The father of lies.)
  
• "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10
• "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". -Romans 8:28  (Even when we feel like failures in the world's eyes)
• "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  -Ephesians 3:20-21