If It’s Monday, It’s Mama 

Respite at the Lakehouse…..

It is of great comfort to me that you are enjoying Fall Break with someone who loves you very much at a place which is very lovely and that the two of you are having a very wonderful time together.  What a wonderful gift to both of you….I pray your time together is one you will treasure forever….. 

A Call to A New Season….

It occurred to me last Saturday evening that I have spent a lot of time writing these past three years of our family’s struggles, sorrows….journaling our “walk” back to a healthier, happier family.  I have laid bare my mistakes, my poor decisions and frankly, my sins….it is what God laid on my heart to write and so I did.  I also addressed the opinions of others in my writings…of me, defending and sorting and explaining.   

 

I want to change the direction of my writing and so, will start with your weekly letter. 

A dear relative of mine told me recently, “Lesa, get out of the way of God.”  “Let God handle all aspects of your life and just set about to do His work as best as you can with the clarity He is giving you.”  “God has worked out all your matters already, He’s just waiting on you to give it over to Him.”

She is correct. 

The moment I give my life and all of it’s little details….is the moment God will pick them up and work them out for His good and His glory. 

Ian shared something with me this past week in an effort to positively help me guard my words…I want to share it with you in hopes it will help you as well:

“From listening comes wisdom and from speaking repentance”   ~unknown author 

The greatest hurts in my life have begun around things spoken to me or about me.  I believe the greatest pain I have caused others has been things said by me.  This includes written things.   

Make positive changes to NOT do that! 

So, I am making changes to my life which I hope will assist me in NOT doing this and in NOT receiving this.  I pray you consider doing this as well…Ian is joining me… 

We are removing facebook for a season, if not forever.  It is a wonderful tool to keep in touch with loved ones and friends, but it consumes the soul and can be used as a tool to hurt, whether intentionally or not.  I challenge you….consider a season of no facebook or at least consider going through your page and removing people who put out things on there which you know to be unHoly….unGodly.  In fact, I encourage you to ONLY have friends who ARE Godly and who are striving to be good users of the page. 

We are seeking to speak less and do more.  Your Uncle Jim Millstead often quotes the passage as one of his favorite..

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,”  I Thessalonians 4:11 

I encourage you to sit at the knee of your Uncle Jim and others who live by this creed.  I encourage you to strive to be more like this yourself and we will join you in your striving. 

We are seeking to be more in the Word and less in the TV, movies, music, etc.  There is not necessarily anything wrong with TV, movies, etc. but if you spend more time on those things than you do in the Word, then that is a problem.  Let’s change that! 

We are seeking to be more physically fit.  The healthier physically you are, the more likely you will be fit in other areas of your life because you will have more energy and focus to do so. 

We are seeking to be with those who live a positive and Godly life both inside and outside of the church.  Chose those you spend your time with wisely for they will impart their views on you can you cannot help but be changed. 

We are seeking to search for the good in others.  Easy it is to find fault, criticize, or disparage people.  We are all guilty of this.  Let’s not do that.  Let’s assume good…if we want God to see good in us, shouldn’t we assume good in others? 

We are seeking to forgive and to let go.  At some point in everyone’s life, you will be required to seek forgiveness and to give forgiveness.  Let’s be proactive.  It may not be received, but if you have at least sought it, that is all you can do. You can always chose to forgive.  Forgive.

We are seeking to simply love and love simply.  If you wait to love someone only when they become loveable, then you may never find success.  Love regardless.  Love in spite of.  Love in sincerity.  That does not mean you tolerate bad behavior.  In fact, you do not.  But, you are called as a child of God to love. 

It is the Greatest Command. 

I think you and Ian may talk about some of these things as you spend Ladder/Daughter time together….this is just a start for our family.  But, we are committed…. 

Join us? 

We love you, 

ILYAOYMC,

Mama