New Website

In case you missed it, or weren't aware - 

I am now blogging over at

http://www.annacburgess.com 

See you there! 

Pausing and taking a break

More than anything, I want to be known in heaven as a lover of Jesus.  I want to look back on my life and see that my decisions were made on loving Jesus well.  

You may have noticed that I haven’t written much on my blog recently.  I have half a dozen unfinished blogposts of things I am mulling over but never felt fully able to finish and there are two reasons for that: 

1. Life is so busy and I am trying to be faithful in loving God and my family before doing other things. 

2. I am feeling a wall of discouragement against me in terms of writing and I am trying to discern if that is a sign to push through with writing here on the blog or if it is actually right for me to shift my writing focus for a while. 

God is speaking to me about writing on the pilgrimage of motherhood.  Slowly I am working through several posts / chapters, and they are taking much of my writing time.  And perhaps, I just need to realise that that is okay.  Perhaps my writing focus at this time needs to be in more of a hidden place.  

But I would love you to pray for me. 

Would you pray firstly that I would hear God clearly on His timing and will for my writing? 

Would you pray that if it is His will, I would find a writing mentor, who I can be accountable with and thrash out ideas / get wisdom from? 

Would you pray that writing would never become a distraction from seeking Him.  My heart’s desire is to be faithful always to Him, and to serve Him as a demonstration of my love to him.  

Thank you for your prayers, friendships and encouragements.   If you come back here and I still haven’t posted anything new, perhaps you would keep praying for me about the next steps? 

Love, 

Anna 

When faced with fear: how protection looks more like deliverance

Image found here

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” 

- Nelson Mandela

This week I had a night with three nightmares/dreams.  I’m not sure which.  You see, they all started out as nightmares - with people stealing all our things or entering our house by force, but every time they did I confronted them and starting telling them about their need for Jesus.  Even when in one dream where I came home and everything in my house was gone, we found the culprits to share with them about Jesus.  They all ended peacefully. 

I wish those fears were not a possible reality, but the truth is, I have had to face armed thieves emptying our car of their electrics.  And we do hear of stories of people coming home here and EVERYTHING in their house emptied out.  It may not be very often, but it happens. And I know very few missionaries here who have not had something stolen from their car, homes or person. 

But living in that reality means you have to face up to the fact that it might just happen to you.  Again.  And that doesn’t mean that God is not the Protector.  

I grew up believing that faith for protection was believing that I would never face anything fearful.  But now when I read Psalm 91 I realise God’s protection actually looks more like sure deliverance.  

I am continually learning to look at those fears straight in the face. When I feel scared I am realising that that does not need to be debilitating, and that I am not weak - I am human.  (I checked with my seemingly fearless husband - he described feelings of being ‘nervous’ rather than fear, but that is probably just because he is well trained in being courageous!)  We all fear things.  We all have paralyzing waves hit us at times, or wobbly-stomached nervousness.  

But the difference comes when we decide to face those things head on. 

I may fear another mother’s response if I go to her and apologise for my child’s behaviour. 

I may fear my teammate’s response if I go to him and apologise for my snide remark. 

I may fear going to the bathroom in the night in case I hear noises I don’t want to. (Okay, so I am still not doing well on this fear because that was how I found the thieves emptying out the car, but pray I will!) 

I may fear sharing my heart with my husband unless he is showing me he is in the mood to listen. 

I may fear allowing others to look after my children for an afternoon so I can spend an afternoon with Mark. 

But when I do choose to be brave, in spite of my fears, I find a connection that happens with others and with God.  And that is always worth it.  

And I know too, that so often fear is a signpost to oncoming deliverance because it is the enemy’s tactic to try and stop us from entering our promised land, because he knows his time is potentially short.  Sometimes, as the priest was called to remind Israel before every battle, we just need a little reminder: 

When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He (shall say: ‘Hear, Israel: today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be faint-hearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’ 

- Deut 20:2-4 

Related post: Overcoming Fear 

Wholehearted Prayer

Lord, when I write, 

Let it be out of faith, not fear, 

Let it be courageous and confident, 

Yet humble and vulnerable, 

Out of my offered soul, 

May it bless Your heart. 

Lord, when I mother, 

Let it be fully trusting, fearing nothing,  

Undaunted and unflinching, 

On my knees with my arms wide open, 

The best out of my worst,

May it bless Your heart. 

Lord, when I lead, 

Let me be sure of Your voice, not the whispers of the enemy, 

Daring and determined 

Yet accountable and approachable, 

Leaning into You, 

May it bless Your heart. 

Lord, when I love, 

Let me choose to believe not doubt,  

Bravely and abundantly, 

Yielded and wholeheartedly, 

From all that is within, 

May it bless Your heart. 

The Sadness of Feeling the Pain of those Close

Like a light veil that covers everything:  the dishes;  the people; the clothes in the basket;  the smiles on my children’s face. 

A heavy balloon filled with water wobbling around in my stomach only temporarily dislodged by deep breaths. 

Wanting to cry because I deeply feel. 

Peace. Silence.  Holy silence.  Needing to wait. 

No answers right now.  Just waiting for time to propel us forward.  Upwards. Seeing hope, but it is so, so far off right now. 

Needing to make provisions for the journey.  Needing to make plans perhaps, but wanting to curl up in an armchair with a chocolate biscuit and a warm cosy blanket instead. A heavy rain day. 

The sadness does not belong to me but I feel it and I live it. 

I feel helpless, but fall into Your arms. 

And it reminds me of Solomon’s death.  Of Your all enveloping arms that hold me despite what is going on.  That remind me that You are faithful.  That You feel.  That You care, and that You are working, Beautiful Spirit of God.  We just have to wait.  And trust. 

And hope.  

Fighting Discouragement with Feedback

One of the things I wrote on a post on People Everywhere: Things that Transcend Culture, is that everyone has a need for positive feedback.  It has something I have been thinking about a lot ever since I have come back from the jungle in April.  

I found leading a group of Shipibo women hard.  Mainly because they are not very forthcoming when it comes to feedback and also because it is obviously difficult to have conversations when the other party doesn’t feel comfortable conversing in Spanish.  I left the jungle wondering if it had been worth the sacrifice of leaving my oldest two at home, plus another week away from home after a transient month with a team.  I needed to hear that my presence there made a difference. 

I had three important conversations: 

1) Mark - he reminded me that just me being there was an encouragement to the women, and spoke of my desire to feed into them - that they as women were valued.  He told me that it also showed them that discipling others wasn’t just for the men, it was something women could and should be a part of too.  

2) Huddle (online leadership group call)- there I was also reminded of the importance of being there and encouraging other women with my presence, and given helpful ideas for ‘next time’. 

3) God - I asked Him to give me a picture of what was going on.  He showed me seeds in the ground and small saplings coming through. He told me that our time in the jungle was not about fruit this time, but about seeds and saplings, and that we were going to see very little in the physical realm this time that looked significant, but growth was happening. 

Helpful feedback is really important: 

1. It hopefully helps us see things from a larger perspective
2. It gives us connection with other people - what we all need and crave
3. It helps us to assess, dream and plan the next steps and helps create momentum to the next things God is sharing with us.  
4. It stops discouragement and isolation (which the enemy is keen for us to feel) when we have just stepped forward. 

You would perhaps be surprised that only about 2% of people ever respond or comment on a blogpost or a newsletter we send out.  (That is a true statistic in general.) Everyone assumes that everyone else is commenting, giving, connecting, but the truth is that only a very low percentage of people ever give feedback or reach out to connect.  

Realising the human need we all have to receive helpful feedback has made me think about where I should be offering more feedback.  Recently I have tried to be intentional about sending quick emails or catching a quick conversation with one of our team when I get a chance and not leaving it to later never.  I have been making more of an effort to comment on photos or statuses I see where before I have preferred to hide behind cyberspace scared what people might think of me or read into what I had said. I have also tried to be honest with others when I need some feedback and encouragement, when my temptation is to not want to show need for others.  

I need to hear from those around me who are also running the race of motherhood, or leadership, or being human, (and of course, also make time to listen to God’s perspective too) that I am doing okay. That what I am doing makes a difference where it matters most.  And I expect you do too.  

So what about you? Where can you offer more feedback to those around you? 
Who can you catch up with this week and encourage? Will you take that quick moment to comment on someone’s status or photo? Will you take a moment to email and spur on a discouraged friend? Don’t assume someone else is. 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up 

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

I am enjoying reading Daring Greatly by Brené Brown at the moment.  In that book (which is I would highly recommend - truly life changing for me), she mentions about the need for feedback and how we should filter it, especially when we are vulnerable and daring greatly.  Many of the ideas in this post have come as a result of chewing over her material.  

Fighting for my baby

I started to feel like I was going into labour.  I was surprised because I did not even know I was pregnant.  A midwife led me to a bed and scanned my tummy and told me that the baby had not survived.  I did not believe her and after a few pushes, out came a smaller-than-newborn, but good-sized baby boy.  He wasn’t moving, but I knew he was not dead.  I breathed on him and he started breathing.  Precious, surprising, awe-inspiring life. I had so much certainty that that little life was going to be.  I could feel my mother instinct-faith rising up, and there was no way anyone was going to tell me otherwise.  I was fighting for that child, and although obviously premature, that baby was going to be fine, and there was no way anyone else was going to take him away from me. 

Shortly after giving birth I was handed another baby to adopt.  I looked at the baby and did not recognize it.  I could see the boy had already had the newborn vaccines as a little band-aid covered his shoulder, and he had clearly already been cared for in the nursery.  I was asked if I would accept this baby.  I said I would.  Because who else would take it?  Because I could. Because I was willing.  But I felt no connection with this baby. If someone else had shown up at that moment and offered to take the baby, I probably would not have minded.  

That was the dream I had on Thursday morning around dawn.  

And it made me reflect on the importance of the spiritual birthing process.  

How often do I want a breakthrough without the pain? How often do I want the product without the process? 

But it is the pain of the process, the fighting, the endurance that grows our faith, gives us perspective and makes us take responsibility for the breakthrough.  The adopted baby I was offered, I knew I could love.  Logically, practically I could do it.  But I didn’t have the same feelings of ownership and responsibility for that child.  I wasn’t willing to fight for him like I was for the one I had birthed.  Even though I did not even know about him before I birthed him, and even though I was first told about him when he was supposedly already dead, I refused to let go.  I refused to accept anything but life from that body.  That baby had been given to me and I was going to take full responsibility for him.  In the dream I knew that if God had given me that child, he was going to live. 

If we don’t go through a birthing process for our breakthroughs, then maybe we are less willing to fight in prayer for them when things look bleak.  If we have no assurance that God has given us responsibility for a gift, talent, breakthrough, change in direction, etc, then when the enemy comes against us, how willing are we to fight? How much more quickly does doubt about God’s will come? How much more quickly are we willing to let things go? If the adopted baby had started looking unhealthy, I would honestly probably had felt relief a lot more quickly, not having taken on the responsibility in my heart for that child. 

And so that lead me to look at the areas where there are growing pains, birthing pains going on at the moment in my life: an overflowing, overwhelming house; my personal struggles for joy and gratitude; struggles in our team with sickness; our bank balance struggling to provide for the extra costs a growing household requires. What if we used those difficulties to alert us to that breakthrough is coming? What if we took hold of those struggles by the collar and looked at them straight and began thanking God for the life that is coming?  That we began to allow those birthing cries to be lifted up to God and call out to Him for things to come into alignment.  If we begin to trust that those pains are not indigestion but birthing pains.  That the baby is not dead, despite what others may say, but that our belief, our holding fast to the promise God has given us, will be rewarded and that the more intense the pain, the nearer the breakthrough. 

So I am asking God to show me His perspective this week.  I am asking Him to tell me about the babies we are birthing, the gifts He is releasing, the transitions He is orchestrating, the shifts that are happening, the areas where the enemy is getting nervous and acting out and kicking and screaming because he knows his time is short.  If only we will hold on.  Persevere.  Pray.  Hold on fast to Him.  If only we will stand on the Rock and trust that what He promised will be.  

So where are the struggles in your life this week? Be encouraged.  Breakthrough is coming.  If you will only hold on.  And cry out to Him. 

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

- Psalm 40

This week's Inspiration... May 2nd

Appreciating wise words and resignating with my own desire to tell stories, write honestly but to honour others: 

http://dlmayfield.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/war-photographer-sarah-bessey/

Appreciating creative thinking and people who dare to share random things on facebook (thank you Daniel Cooper!)

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/04/a-library-slide-by-moon-hoon/

Appreciating the reminder to be patient and recognise patient parenting CAN be done:

http://theorangerhino.com/10-things-i-learned-when-i-stopped-yelling-at-my-kids/

Appreciating reading Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Appreciating reading someone else's perspectives on Daring Greatly: 

http://www.stevewiens.com/category/daring-greatly/

Appreciating friends who send me hilariously silly parenting links:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/people-who-are-really-nailing-this-parenting-thing

Appreciating people who take the time to do something special for mother's day (Sunday 11th May here):

http://lisajobaker.com/2013/05/a-mothers-day-video-you-are-mighty-because-you-mother/

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Some recent blogposts you may have missed: 

Even in the jungle

People Everywhere: Things that Transcend Culture

 

People Everywhere: Things That Transcend Culture

As I talked about in the last post, when I am in a new culture, I spend a long time trying to work out social norms.  I try to work out what is their culture and should be accepted, what is just an individual and should be accepted, what is their culture and should be challenged and what is just an individual and should be challenged. 

What I have discovered, and makes me fall in love again with the Word of God, is that the Bible is such an amazing guide of humanness.  It points to things that transcend culture.  Although clothed in culture, God’s word demonstrates needs that are in all of us and things that are ‘normal’ for those who are children of God. 

Obvious, non-obvious things I have discovered: 

People (men, women, and children) everywhere want to be recognised and valued.  They appreciate feedback on what they are doing well.  They crave a ‘well done.’  Just because a person seems reserved and unemotional does not mean that they don’t need those things. 

People (men, women, and children) everywhere have a need for physical touch. Even the cultures that seem stand-offish have a deep desire and find pleasure in being recognised physically by those they trust. 

People (men, women, and children) everywhere feel insecure at times.  Even pride is a form of insecurity that the ‘real you’ might be discovered. 

People (men, women, and children) want to be included in some sort of community.  They may not wish to be in constant contact with people and may prefer to be off reading a book somewhere, but at some point, they need others, and even book-readers need to know that others are there if they want them. 

People (men, women, and children) everywhere appreciate kind, gentle words.  They can see through and resist proud people and are attracted to humble people.  Although shame may work as a motivator in many (*all) cultures, it is not empowering for anyone and only stifles creativity and freedom.  

People (men, women, children) do not like to be told what to do.  Everyone appreciates clear communication, but no one likes being bossed around by others and made to feel like a servant (even if they are one).

People (men, women, children) everywhere need love.  They need 1 Corinthians 13 love that is patient, kind, uplifting, not envious or self-seeking.  They need people who will forgive quickly, believe in them and celebrate with them.   

People (men, women, children) everywhere appreciate a warm smile and food from their childhood.  

People (men, women, children) everywhere need ways to celebrate, to relax and to recognise their worth is in who they are and not in what they do. 

It seems so obvious, but it is so often forgotten - there are things that are universal and make us ‘human‘ and they can be found anywhere and everywhere.  For me that just points once more to a Beautiful, Creative, Feeling, Freeing, Loving God. 

Even in the jungle...

By midday I was feeling uncomfortable and trying to work out why.  I know God has me here in the jungle for a reason, but maybe it was not for what I imagined. (Again?!).  

My body got fed up long before my mind did and I was wondering why I was feeling so awkward.  Finally, I realised that the wooden benches and concrete or dirt floors were making me physically uncomfortable, but perhaps they just mirrored what was going on in my mind.   

I feel like a foreigner again.  Yes, I have been with the Shipibos many a time.  There is nothing overtly ‘new’ about them, but yet I am still so foreign to their ways. I am still unaware of what is ‘normal’ behaviour or just an individual acting out of the accepted norm. And it is uncomfortable to feel like an outsider. 

Is picking lice out of one another’s hair acceptable ‘normal’ behaviour or normally ‘done-in-private’ behaviour? Is a toddler walking around with no clothes on his bottom half a practicality for an un-toilet-trained tot or a result of Mum’s ability to keep up with the laundry (or did he escape before his mother could dress him properly)?  Do the mothers mind me photographing their children? What do the giggles mean? 

And reflecting with the ladies in group time, I find myself wanting to get to a point, to move the conversation in a certain direction, impatient and frustrated with the limitations of translation, trying to understand and empathize but wondering if that is even possible.  

Talking with Mark this evening, I realise how driven I am by efficiency.  My life in Lima has to be super efficient to get everything done and to give different people the time they need. Our week is so scheduled, even my ‘free’ time comes in one or two hour slots.  Today we spent 8 hours in the village and I was only ‘being effective’ for 2.5 hours of that time leading group time.  The other hours were spent chasing Kaleb around the village, taking photos, listening to the main sessions and hanging out with the Shipibo women and children.  And yes, even as I write I know that those things matter too - I just am not used to jungle pace and jungle life, which is so contrary to my time-slot existence. 

And in Lima our life is so scheduled and tight that I have to make every hour count.  I have to take every opportunity and choose to engage with the children and our team whenever I can because it is so often now or never. We have chosen our priorities so as to maximise our potential, and sitting on a wooden bench getting a sore bum, seems such a...waste!
(Perhaps the other problem is that it gives me too much time to reflect!) 

And yet as I do reflect I know that even in a foreign place surrounded by foreign people there are things I know to be true that I need to still practice: gratitude; chatting with God throughout the day; taking those moments I remember to pray; being present in the moment rather than allowing my mind to rush off.  I need to remember that God’s presence and His ability to answer my prayers is the same, so my faith should be the same too.  I need to remind myself that it is good to be part of a team, to slow down and that my value is not in what I do, but in who I am in Christ. 

So, Jesus, I am sorry when I have believed it is all about me when it should be all about you.  Thank you that you are the same here, there and everywhere. Help me to remember the foundational things. May tomorrow be all about You. 

This week's Inspiration...

In those moments when dreams seem close but yet so far...

http://www.shaunwissmann.com/2013/03/25/empty-bottle-men-and-little-princesses/

In those moments when I am having to trust my children into His hands...

http://practicingfamilies.com/2013/03/22/to-commend-the-parents-leap-of-trust/

In those moments when I am tempted to ask why or to cry (or both)...

http://blog.lproof.org/2013/04/sadness-and-madness.html

In those moments when I am tempted to give my own opinion...

http://www.stevewiens.com/2013/04/12/how-to-be-a-person-that-shares-more-wisdom-than-advice/

In those moments when I am thinking about how blogging can promote community…

http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2010/05/27/the-bench/

In those moments when I am thinking about what community looks like as an introvert...

http://sarahbessey.com/in-which-i-have-circles-of-friendship-and-a-lobster/

Don't Remember. Feel.

Two weeks ago we took a trip with a team to the jungle town of Pucallpa where Mark and I oversee several Shipibo (Peruvian indigenous people) churches and their leaders.  I was looking forward to being with the team, seeing the women and children there and seeing my own children enjoying the wonders of the jungle life which they always love.  Mark goes to Pucallpa every month, but for cost and effectiveness reasons we have decided to just go as a family once a year.   I went to look after my children and allow them to be part of the mission trip. I didn’t expect God to speak to me in the way He did... 

'No Recuerdes - Siente'

'Don’t Remember - Feel.' 

The graffiti on the wall blurred as we sped past in a motortaxi.  My mind, like the air, was muggy and dusty and I knew that that was what God was telling me I needed to do after the conversation we had had with the Shipibo leaders the day before.  He needed me to keep feeling what I felt.  To not become hardened. 

The jungle town of Pucallpa in many ways feels like a second home.  Mark and I always talk about going and living there for a time whenever we go, and know that at some point down the line it will probably happen.  I love the people there - their warmth and hugs and the way they are so hungry for a touch of God.  I love that the moths are ten times larger than the ones in my garden, that the rain comes suddenly and that the ladies and children break out into laughter when we jump at a spider or a cockroach.  I love the simplicity of the life there and the simplicity of their hearts.  

But the meeting the day before had left me shaken.  Five Shipibo church leaders and their wives (minus one who couldn’t attend) sat in our hotel lounge, because the rain had prevented us from meeting in their village.  Mark told them they could tell us or ask us anything they needed too.  

Casilda spoke up.  Shipibo women rarely speak out loud in Spanish in a group situation. They feel more comfortable letting their husbands translate from Shipibo for them. She looked at me straight:  When are you coming to teach us, the women? We need discipleship.  We need input.  We need to know how we can disciple other women.  When will you, Anna, come and teach us? 

I looked around the room for an answer.  Someone who could teach them.   

I could hear the hunger in her heart and knew she was not alone.  That she spoke on behalf of many of the women there.  

I knew that she was right.  That they needed teaching or even time, availability from other women walking what they wanted to walk.  I knew that I had to be willing.  Or at least I knew the Holy Spirit was asking me: And you? Are you willing? 

I told her: I am willing.  But I don’t know how with three young children running about. 
I told her: Pray.  I am willing, but it is just not that easy with a 1.5 year old who is picky about who he is with and who is a bundle of action and exploration. 

She came to me at the end of the meeting again.  With her beautiful smile, her extravagant but shy hugs, her friendship and her eyes which tell me of her desire to be known.  Our hearts are already connected from a previous trip when she had shared her story. 

I told her again that I would pray and think about it.  That she needed to pray. 

She must have prayed.  She must have prayed hard. 

Next week Mark and I are returning to the jungle with Kaleb, our youngest.  The eldest two are staying at home with Lili (the first time I have left them for that long), and Miriam, our German intern who is living with us (so Kaleb knows and loves!) has agreed to help us out with Kaleb so I can lead the key women.  

And I know that God wants to do something special in the hearts of those women.  He sees their desire to learn and know how to disciple others.  Are there not questions in all of us women which ask for that affirmation? Don’t we desire that equipping to move forward and have our destiny called out? 

And it was feeling her heart - seeing the potential that there is in those women that makes my heart love them and want to find a way to teach them.  Not because I feel like I have a banquet to offer - but because I know I have bread today and they are crying out for spiritual crumbs and I can’t say anything but ‘yes‘ when I look at the roll in my own hands.   

Because I don’t just remember the Shipibo women. I feel them in my heart and I want to see them beginning to walk in their destiny as beautiful daughters of God. 

Please...Pray for us... 

When The Balls Come Too Fast

As I talked about in the last post, recently I have been struggling with anxiety and a non-stop mind.  And much of it, God showed me was about perfectionism… 

I realized that the tensions I am experiencing come because I like doing things well – I like to focus fully on one thing and do it well – and in recent years – I have been able to manage that.  Maybe shifting focus here and there, but knowing the vision and sticking to it.   

But now the balls are coming too fast and I can’t hit them all back and I am running around crazy trying to hit them all, rather than trying to return just one at a time.  And I realize that so many of my anxieties could be left to one side if I wasn’t driven by this annoying back-seat driver who shouts: Are you sure that is good enough for God? Are you sure you are being a good enough mother? Are you being a good enough support for Mark? Are you attending enough to those in the team? Are you investing your creative gifts enough? (Remember the parable of the talents!!) And I swerve this way and that, breaking hard and turning suddenly, all the time knowing that this isn’t the life Jesus was talking about.

And I picked up a book about peace and even in the open pages I suddenly saw the problem.  I was making everything too complicated. I had despised simple and looked for the new revelation when all the time it was in the simple – in what I already knew to be true.  I actually needed to reverse.  Or in John the Baptist’s words: repent.

It is not about ensuring the children learn everything they possibly could learn this year.  Daniel does not need a saturated timetable of academic and extra-curricula activities.  He needs a Mummy modeling a God-seeking, trusting regardless of the storms, life. Homeschool is about simplicity: 2 or 3 simple goals and working towards them.  Had I asked God what they should be yet? Umm…no.

It is not about taking on the pastoral responsibility of all the people in the team.  It is not about making sure everyone is happy and well and thriving and if they are not it is my fault.  It is about simplicity: 1 or 2 simple goals each week.  Had I asked God what they should be yet? No, not yet.

It is not about being a adoring, doting, grateful, sexy, helpful, encouraging wife all the time and maintaining those high, high, standards I have set myself.  It is about simplicity: 1 or 2 simple intentional goals to show Mark I love him this week.  Had I prayerfully considered what they should be yet? You know by now, I haven’t.

And it is not about having all the ideas and vision and blogposts and other creative ideas all worked out this week.  It is about simplicity: 1 or 2 simple intentional goals.  Embracing the step by step.  And you know I need to spend time seeking God about that too.

And so as I keep telling myself ‘Keep it simple’, waves of peace are beginning to break, and this car which is running out of gas is coming into a pit stop.  I know I need to take a moment to readjust my life.  To put time into my calendar to work out what this week’s priorities are and to prayerfully consider all the different aspects of my life. 

How about you? Are you in need of a pitstop?

‘A plain and simple life is a full life.’

– Proverbs 13:7b (The Message)

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Related post: Keep it Simple