Psalm 60:11-12

"Give us help for the hard task; 

human help is worthless.

In God we'll do our very best;

he'll flatten the opposition for good."

Psalm 60:11-12 (The Message)

Who's the opposition in my life right now? Satan. Sure, there are others, but ultimately, the opposition is Satan and God will flatten him. I may not feel that way all the time, but I'm learning that feelings don't necessarily mean reality.

My husband and I are facing a hard task. So are you, if you're a parent. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. We all make mistakes. We all sin against our loved ones. And when we do, sometimes it's hard to make that right. I could just sit back and pretend I do no wrong. I could be like some parents and not give a crap if I do something to break the heart of one of my children. But, I do give a crap. It causes me great pain to step back and see the damage that insensitive or angry words cause my loved ones. 

But, you know what causes me pain on top of the pain that I already feel? When you go to a place called a "GUIDANCE Clinic" for help and you are made to look like a monster and are pretty much told "you're on your own" because we have health insurance. Health insurance that has a $5,000 deductible with a $10,000 family deductible and who we have to fight to get any sort of help from at all. We need help with our parenting. And when you go to a place that is supposed to help and they don't, it very quickly becomes apparent that human help IS worthless. 

Am I giving up on getting help for my family? No way! I know we can't do this alone! I know that God will lead us to the right place for our family. And I won't stop looking until we get that help that we need so very much. 

When human help is worthless, don't quit. Put the situation in God's hands and pray for guidance. God is guiding us and I'm hoping and praying that the way we think he's guiding us is the way of healing. I'm sure I'll keep you posted in future blog posts, but for now, please join me in praying that if this is the way we're supposed to go, God will just open door after door after door for us. There will be a bit of a wait, so pray that the Lord leads us to someone who can help in the meantime. Preferably someone Christian, but if not, then at least someone who is open to the Christian faith. Because unless God is involved in this, hearts will not be completely healed - only partly healed. And I'm looking for complete healing and restoration in my family!

Deuteronomy 11:18-21

"Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. 

Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. 

Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, 

sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them 

from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. 

Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities 

so that you'll live a long time, and your children with you, 

on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors 

for as long as there is a sky over the Earth." 

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (The Message)

This is where I have failed my children. I started out with great aspirations of doing this - telling my children all about God and his wonderful deeds. And then my faith took a nose-dive. I couldn't talk about God's wonderful deeds, because I wasn't seeing any wonderful deeds. My eyes were blind to them. Blinded by grief and bitterness. 

I did do what I could do, however, and that was to make sure my kids made it to church and youth group. Yes, I know it's the parents' responsibility to teach our children about the Lord, but when I just couldn't do it, I HAD to rely on others to do for me what I couldn't do myself. I have been so blessed to have solid Christian believers in our lives. Those believers kept my kids on the right path and I am so incredibly grateful to all those who touched our lives during my period of darkness. 

They helped me see that raising a family takes a community of believers. We all need to help each other when we're in the pit. I pray that I have helped someone else's child the way so many in my life have helped mine! So, to all my kids' youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, pastors, and friends... thank you for caring and for taking the time to shower my kids with God's love and compassion! I love you all so very, very much!

Matthew 15:32-34

"But Jesus wasn't finished with them. He called his disciples and said, 
'I hurt for these people. For three days now they've been with me, 
and now they have nothing to eat. I can't send thema way without 
a meal - they'd probably collapse on the road.'His disciples said, 
'But, where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough 
food for a meal?'

Jesus asked, 'How much bread do you have?'

'Seven loaves,' they said, 'plus a few fish.'" 

Matthew 15:32-34 (The Message)

Something that makes me chuckle. AFTER Jesus had already fed the thousands with 5 loaves and 2 fish, the disciples later asked Jesus how they would feed over 4,000 people when all they had was 7 loaves and a few fish. Seriously? Did they really forget what Jesus had done in the past that soon? 

Huh... how many times do WE forget what Jesus has done for us extremely soon after the fact? Words to chew on... (My thoughts from Matthew 15:32-34 The Message)