I love my food pantry

Do you ever find yourself hiding in the food pantry eating chocolate, wondering how the day got so out of hand?  Praise the Lord for food pantries.  Praise the Lord for bathroom doors that lock, and garages to sneak out to.  Sometimes you just need a minute.  Or five.

Sometimes it would've been wise if I had taken that minute instead of responding the way I did.   It would have been a good idea to get by myself for a few minutes, before I punished instead of disciplined, before I yelled, and before the day got so out of hand.

I pray through the day as I think of things, but only read my Bible or devotional early in the morning or right before bed.  Maybe when I need a minute, I should go read something uplifting or edifying,  instead of eating chocolate in the food pantry.  I feel really guilty sitting down to read in the middle of the day, so I will have to get past that.  I think it would help me!   If you find your day spinning out of control, try it.  Take a few minutes to go read a Psalm or a chapter of your devotional.  Read some past days of “Jesus Calling” or a post from your favorite uplifting blog.  I love the blogs by Lisa Tuerkherst, John Piper, and Kay Arther.

Do you have this?  I just got it and have started using this for my mid-day "refresher".  I also have "Devotions for the Homeschool Mom" and love it for the gentle reminders and encouragement it gives.  I also just got a smart phone and there are so many apps available!  Grace to You, Focus on the Family, She Reads Truth, and YouVersion, are just a few!

Soccer!

It's soccer season.  We have three kids in soccer this year and have practice and games four days a week.  I'm exhausted and I'm not even doing any of it!  My husband is the coach for one team and the assistant coach for the other team so he's doing all the running around.  Praise the Lord for wonderful dads!

Last year my daughter was in a younger age level and her field was next to the one where my girls are currently playing all their games.  I remember thinking "boy they yell at the kids SO much over there..."  But now I'm on the sidelines of that bigger field and one of those parents yelling.  I can't believe how much more stressful these games are.  "Get the ball!"  "Back her up!"  "RUN!!!"  This year feels so much more serious!  No chasing butterflies, no dinking around.  Serious soccer.  (Which is truly silly because half these little girls can't tie their own shoes.)

Part of all the yelling is that the field is just so much bigger.  In order for the kids to hear us, we have to yell.  Last weekend one of the girls dads was yelling at her to do something and it happened to be the exact opposite of what the coach was yelling at her to do.  The coach was across the (huge) field from the dad and so the dad didn't hear what he was saying.  That poor little girl was so confused!  It made me think of how as Christians we have to be careful of who we listen to.  

During the game, the little girl needed to do what her coach said, not what her dad said.  The coach is the one who is with the team several practices a week. He has a plan and can see the big picture - what positions they'll each play, who is good at which ones, and who needs practice in certain areas.  God is like that too. In the busy-ness of life it's so easy to forget that there even is a big picture!   But there is.   What voice are you listening to?  And if you're a parent, is your voice from the sideline confusing or confirming what God is telling your child?

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,   but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.