Comments on peace for the journey: Making Sense of Mustard Seeds

Thanks for being one of my branches... I have no c...

2009-09-17T23:54:09.844-04:00

Thanks for being one of my branches... I have no clever words today... just true ones... thank you.

Am struggling to make everything fit. And stay fi...

2009-09-16T18:58:41.469-04:00

Am struggling to make everything fit.

And stay fit.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Sweet dreams.

wifeforthejourney: You are the best honey! Thank...

2009-09-16T11:17:01.537-04:00

wifeforthejourney:

You are the best honey! Thank you for your good word today; you have given us all a lot to think about.

Love you,

Billy

Oh what an incredible post. I've had weeks just li...

2009-09-16T10:54:51.670-04:00

Oh what an incredible post. I've had weeks just like those you presented in the beginning, but oh, what a beautiful blessing in the midst. Wow.

Just couldn't love your heart more if I wanted to.

Got my Bebo Norman CD, and I cannot wait to have a moment to listen to it. Thank you again so very cherry much. :)

Praying everyone is healthy by now.

Mrs. Elaine, I think that the Lord has most certai...

2009-09-15T20:05:45.066-04:00

Mrs. Elaine, I think that the Lord has most certainly blessed you!:) A loving, godly husband and 4 kids! Wow!:) I would like to be that helpful shade to others like you have talked about...laying it all at His feet:)

katiegfromtennessee

I pray your children are so much better by now! Yo...

2009-09-15T16:03:21.764-04:00

I pray your children are so much better by now! Your writing style and words are soothing to us as I know your ministering is to them.Stay well.

Your words Elaine, are a balm to my soul this day....

2009-09-15T15:53:17.146-04:00

Your words Elaine, are a balm to my soul this day. I went to my first mom's in touch prayer group at a new school and cried through most of it...my daughter is struggling to make friends there. I was just talking with her last night about the truth of her worth in the eyes of God and so many....and yet the enemy wants to lie to her as she plays alone at recess.

You wrote, "To parent in the light and shadows of a greater cause … a kingdom cause. If I don’t, someone else will, and what God wants growing in my garden is a planting filled with the mustard seeds of a heavenly kingdom, not the weeds of a worldly domain." My girlie and I had a lovely conversation by her bedside that consisted of me planting mustard seeds...trying to show her that even though this mommy heart wants to take away the pain, it is good that the struggles are there, to make us aware just how dependent on God we actually are. We ran to him in prayer together...a precious time. But I'm still an emotional mess today. Blessings to you. Love the new look by the way!

It was 6:25AM when I came to your post this mornin...

2009-09-15T06:47:42.286-04:00

It was 6:25AM when I came to your post this morning [Tues.] and my first thought before I opened your blog was, "Lord, how will I get everything done today that needs to be done?"

And your answer was... we just do! It helps to allow God to show us what is important and what is for kingdom purposes. Yesterday I felt the same way. I had my entire day laid out in my own agenda. BUT GOD... led me in a completely different direction - but in His providence allowed me to accomplish more. He even found a way for me to do several things in sn easier way - rather than having to run out - here and there - checking for this and that. I prayed before my day began yesterday, "Lord, go before me this day and lead me. Show me Your paths and Your ways, that I might walk in them."

Amazingly HE DOES JUST THAT!!! Oh, why am I so surprised? I couldn't stop thanking Him.

Your children are your heritage in Christ and you are teaching them about kingdom values. PRAYING for them is your most valuable gift to them.

Elaine - God has just given you a gift to share and I thank God for you daily! May He continue to bless your life and family.

And I echo Lisa Shaw's comment... You are IN your purpose in GOD! Keep going girl!

Choosing JOY, Stephanie
[JESUS - For His Name's Sake]

Oh, Elaine. I pray the sick house is well by this...

2009-09-14T23:12:04.884-04:00

Oh, Elaine.

I pray the sick house is well by this time (I'm horribly behind on my visiting). But I am thankful for the way you have found God in this time. And I am thankful that you share it with us.

What a blessing you are, my friend.

Dearest friend, as I read your words I kept hearin...

2009-09-14T19:47:02.566-04:00

Dearest friend, as I read your words I kept hearing:

P U R P O S E

Parenting
Understanding
Resilience
Preparation
Outward care
Steady
Encouraged

You are in your PURPOSE in GOD! He is keeping you in HIM and has given you every ounce of what you need to continue to stand steady in your personal life, ministry and writing.

My love and prayers are with you and over your children. I pray they are feeling significantly better.

May the Peace that is GOD rest with you dear friend and remove every weary area and strengthen your bones, your mind, your heart and your stance so that you can keep walking in your purpose.

HE gives us strength for the next step.

I love you. I'm praying for you.

I hope that you and yours are feeling better physi...

2009-09-14T19:33:01.911-04:00

I hope that you and yours are feeling better physically by now! Such a great thing that you can look past the mundane chores of cleaning up after sick children and see the pieces of a much bigger puzzle!

I love you for the way you can paint such pictures with your words!

Marilyn...in Mississippi

Praying for you and the kids - and thanking you fo...

2009-09-14T17:27:48.494-04:00

Praying for you and the kids - and thanking you for your incredible words.

What a beautiful new look to this blog! Your pict...

2009-09-14T16:21:42.127-04:00

What a beautiful new look to this blog! Your picture on top...is awesome my friend!

Some are called to be evangelists. Some are calle...

2009-09-14T14:06:43.172-04:00

Some are called to be evangelists. Some are called to be seed planters. I consider myself a seedplanter who waters and cares. Being a mom is all about the grace of God. I miss it all the time. The boys look appalled. I repent. I look them directly in the eye and tell them, "Yeah, I missed it. But at least I repent. I get up. I try to be better. That's every person's battle. Yet it shows how much God loves us-that He forgives us when we repent, and He pulls us up." Being a mom is a living reason of the grace of Jesus Christ.

I am so sorry to hear that your kids are sick! :( ...

2009-09-14T11:44:07.032-04:00

I am so sorry to hear that your kids are sick! :( Praying that they recover quickly!

"His kingdom advances. One seed at a time; one heart at a time; one prayer at a time; one cold compress and one temperature-taking at a time; one Scripture at time. One blog post at a time."

This is oh so true! God gets all the glory! This was a great post Elaine! Thanks!

Quite an inheritance indeed. What a blessed post ...

2009-09-14T10:58:04.514-04:00

Quite an inheritance indeed.

What a blessed post Elaine. Thank You Father God for using Elaine this way. May you bless her beyond her wildest dreams. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank you for the thought provoking post. I hope y...

2009-09-14T09:53:30.401-04:00

Thank you for the thought provoking post. I hope you're family is feeling better -- John and I were sick this weeekend too - no fun! :(

Elaine, Hope you will find your little ones to be...

2009-09-14T05:43:27.455-04:00

Elaine,

Hope you will find your little ones to be much better this morning. If not...you know where to find me. Blessings for your day!
Looking forward to our bible study tomorrow night. Love you!

Praying for everyone to feel much better very soon...

2009-09-14T03:09:25.605-04:00

Praying for everyone to feel much better very soon at your house dear.

So beautifully said, Elaine. Just beautiful. I l...

2009-09-14T01:02:34.947-04:00

So beautifully said, Elaine. Just beautiful.

I love your new look!!! It is a great "fit" and very appealing to the eye. I'm looking forward to what's in store for your corner over here!

Loved this parapgraph, Elaine: "As you consider yo...

2009-09-14T00:32:13.823-04:00

Loved this parapgraph, Elaine: "As you consider your “plant”—your part in God’s kingdom this week—be reminded that your beauty is needed. The light you carry within added to the light I carry within becomes an illumination that beckons weary travelers to pause from frantic flight and to, instead, find rest within our branches." What a great reminder and image! May we all illumine the area around us!

I love your post. I hope everyone gets well soon a...

2009-09-13T23:56:53.174-04:00

I love your post.
I hope everyone gets well soon at your house :-)
PS I love the new blog design- exquisite!

I love your comment...they are God's kingdom - you...

2009-09-13T23:35:03.231-04:00

I love your comment...they are God's kingdom - your two children! What a beautiful thought and to remember it well..even on the sick days (or perhaps especially on the sick days).

It is so easy to get caught up in the big picture..and miss the blessings, opportunities, ministry of God's kingdom - right in our own home!

Hope everyone is feeling much better quickly!

Oh, no! I'm so sorry you've had to deal with sickn...

2009-09-13T23:28:26.343-04:00

Oh, no! I'm so sorry you've had to deal with sickness in your family. It's especially tough when little ones are sick. I'll be praying for them, and for protection for you and Billy!

This is a post I definitely needed to read. Some days I almost feel strangled by the weeds.

Thanks for your encouraging word.

Love the post...beautiful words. We are living si...

2009-09-13T23:06:26.459-04:00

Love the post...beautiful words.

We are living similiar lives right now, sister. Only I am the latest victim in my family. I will be so thankful when we all feel well again.

Hope your family is on the mend.