I am all about a good Bible study. Back in the day, it didn’t matter the topic or time, I would be at the church with Bible and highlighter in hand. There is something fabulously exciting about beginning a new adventure in the Word, isn’t there?

Then, I had a baby and another and another and another. Let’s see: 1 baby + 3 anothers…yeah, that’s right. Suddenly, it was difficult to get to that 9:00 a.m. class. Even with childcare, I had no place for my school age children since I homeschool. Then, there were the evening classes. Childcare wasn’t a problem since my husband was home. Those classes, however, usually fell right in the middle of my serving up supper, run the kids through the bath, collapse on the couch exhausted time. Come on, now. You know what I’m talking about. 

And that, my sweet friends, is what I love about Beth Moore’s Summer Siesta Bible study. You can do it in a group. You can do it all alone, on your couch and in your jammies.

I know y’all are all kinds of busy and tired. You work hard for a living. You take care of little ones. You chauffeur big ones. You help out parents and sibling. You babysit grandbabies. You volunteer. You serve. You are a grilled cheese making, laundry folding, coffee drinking machine! And, just maybe, you need to be refreshed.

If so, I want you. Yes, you. I want you to be in my group this summer. Let’s have a HomeLife Bible study group and let’s join the other siestas. If you are interested in signing up for Beth’s Summer Bible study, hop on over to her blog and do so. Then, comment on this post with your name and, maybe, your city or state. That way, we can see who is in our little group.

Then, I’ll hop on here once a week and we’ll chat about what God has said to each of us. I sure hope you’ll join me!

Happy Friday, sweet friends!

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Stacy Edwards (@sjedwards) is a trucker’s daughter and a pastor’s wife. She is a freelance writer and a homeschooling mom to four fabulous little girls. Stacy blogs at Servant’s Life where she uses her words to point others to the hope and encouragement found in Christ. If you need her, she’s probably hiding in the bathroom.

One day, I found the Gitzen Girl blog by accident. I fell in love with Sara Frankl and her spirit. Due to a chronic illness, Sara was physically confined to her condo. Thousands were forever changed by the love and encouragement they received from her. Sara’s motto of “Choose Joy” has become a mantra for many in the blogging community.

On September 24, 2011, Sara got to meet her Jesus face to face and her joy was made complete.

Today, she would have been 40 years old. This is a video that many in the blogging community participated in to honor Sara in the months following her passing.

I encourage you to Choose Joy, friends.

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Stacy Edwards (@sjedwards) is a trucker’s daughter and a pastor’s wife. She is a freelance writer and a homeschooling mom to four fabulous little girls. Stacy blogs at Servant’s Life where she uses her words to point others to the hope and encouragement found in Christ. If you need her, she’s probably hiding in the bathroom.

Sometimes, we focus our eyes on the visible.  We get all caught up in our circumstances and forget that we serve a mighty God whose power knows no limits.  We look at the problems around us and decide that they are insurmountable.  Even the disciples were guilty of underestimating God.

*Matthew 15:32-38

These men had been following Christ.  They had listened to His teachings and witnessed His healings.  Yet, when it came to feeding the multitude before them, they were quick to consider it impossible.  They looked at the crowd, looked at their food supply and concluded that it would never work.

There are a couple of lessons to be learned from this passage.

• God is not oblivious to the needs of His children.

This massive crowd had been following Jesus for three days and He knew they were hungry.  It doesn’t say that they complained to him about their hunger.  They didn’t moan and groan about the lack of food.  He just knew what they needed.

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. – Matthew 6:8

• Even the most devoted believers can not comprehend the power of the Lord.

Even the disciples would often forget…

The disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in this desolate place to fill such a crowd?” – Matthew 15:33

They were seated next to God Himself, looked at the circumstances and basically said, “Nothing can be done here.”

That sounds ridiculous, but don’t we do the same thing?  Look around, God.  This is my situation and there is no solution in sight.  How can any good be found in this desolate place in which I find myself?

• God Provides.

God is not just enough. He is more than enough.  He does not just take the edge off the pain or hunger. He completely satisfies.  When God fills our cup, it overflows (Psalm 23:5.)  And, when He feeds us, we are filled.

They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. – Matthew 15:37 NIV

They were satisfied.

He could have provided just enough.  He is God, after all.  He knew exactly how much each person could and would eat.  But He made sure there were leftovers.

Sometimes, God doesn’t just show up.  Sometimes, He flat out shows off.  Not for Himself, but for us. He knows that there are times when we need a reminder of the bigness of our God.

So, whatever trial you face today, He is bigger. He is more than enough. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He still heals. He still forgives. He still comforts the lonely and broken. God can still feed a multitude.

You are loved.

Luke 10:38-42

Mothering, homeschooling, housekeeping, writing, working, volunteer work – all good things. They are ways in which most of us serve. Often, just when we’re expecting a pat on the back, Scripture can step on our toes. Not everything good is best and sometimes priorities get all out of whack. Sometimes, a person needs to be reminded.

Christ followers are called to more than acts of service. We are called to be servants. Yes, there is a difference. Being a servant has to do with attitude more than actions. In order to have the proper attitude, we must spend time with the master.

We have all done it. We have grumbled because someone did not adequately acknowledge our acts of service. We follow the letter, but not the spirit, of the command to serve others. During this conversation with Martha, we find that we cannot serve properly until we have spent time with the Lord. A true servant is, first and foremost, a worshiper.

If we do not put worship ahead of service, two things will happen:

1. We will become distracted. 
2. We will become bitter.

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” – Luke 10:40

Do you see it? Martha was distracted with much serving. If we are not people of worship, our acts of service distract us from the savior. We become distracted and then we become bitter. I’ll admit to having a little Martha in me. I’m not proud of it. Lord, don’t you see all that I’m doing? Lord, why doesn’t so-and-so have to take care of these things? Blah, blah, blah. Trust me, it’s not pretty. So, without worship, servants become distracted and bitter.

Why worship?

1. It is the only thing necessary.
2. It will not be taken away.

The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:41-42

Worship is necessary. The Lord said that Mary, the worshiper, made the right choice. Mary made the better choice. Worship ensures that our hearts are right and that the motives behind our acts of service are pure.

Let’s make sure we are making the better choice. The goal is not to be servants, but to be worshipers who serve.

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Stacy Edwards (@sjedwards) is a trucker’s daughter and a pastor’s wife. She is a freelance writer and a homeschooling mom to four fabulous little girls. Stacy blogs at Servant’s Life where she uses her words to point others to the hope and encouragement found in Christ. If you need her, she’s probably hiding in the bathroom.

Whether you are a parent or an aunt or a grandparent, children bring so many wonderful things into a person’s life. There are more blessings than a person could possibly count, but let’s name a few.

Honesty.  Children will tell you when you have gained weight, when your cooking is not that great and when you have bad breath.  My Ella will be the first one to say, “You probably need to take a shower.” Honesty is so refreshing – and insulting – all at the same time.

Memory loss.  Anyone who has more than one child does so because they have forgotten the weight gain, the pain of childbirth and the subsequent sleepless nights.

Forgiveness. In my life before children, I could hold a grudge like nobody’s business.  I could harbor some hurt feelings for a long, long time.  Having children has really changed me in that respect.  When I am upset with my eldest and she comes to me with her big blue eyes and says, Mommy, are you still mad at me?, I forget what I was even upset about in the first place. Again, with the memory loss thing.

Humility.  Yes, children have a way of delivering a big old load of this stuff. When your child points out, in front of others, that you have a big pimple on your chin. Or that your belly is bigger than it used to be. Or when your two year old tells her daycare teacher that you are wearing pretty pink panties. I could not make this stuff up, y’all.  Then there was the time that I lost my cool and yelled at one of my kiddos. I felt the need to apologize and did. She accepted my apology so graciously.  However, several weeks later, she called me out. Mommy, remember when you yelled at me this morning?  Do you think that maybe you should apologize again? 

Humor.  This is one of the best perks to having children in your life. Not a day goes by that one of my girls does not make me absolutely crack up.  I remember when number two (yes, I do refer to them as numbers sometimes) was little. I was very upset because she was not listening. I let her know that she was not minding and I did not appreciate it. Her response? “I know, but I’m so pretty.”  And, well, she really was. Or when that same child would say, “Mommy, you’re my special mommy ever.  Now tell me how special I am.”  

The greatest gift of motherhood, however, is something I am only beginning to grasp a full decade later.  God uses my children to, little-by-little, mold me into the image of His Son.  He uses them daily to teach me love, forgiveness and humility.  He reminds me daily that all things, even my babies, are His.

Parenting is such a gift, but it is one that you have to hold loosely.  We are called to care for, train up and love the precious children in our lives. Ultimately, however, they are not ours to keep.  They are His.

What has God taught you through the children in your life?

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Stacy Edwards (@sjedwards) is a trucker’s daughter and a pastor’s wife. She is a freelance writer and a homeschooling mom to four fabulous little girls. Stacy blogs at Servant’s Life where she uses her words to point others to the hope and encouragement found in Christ. If you need her, she’s probably hiding in the bathroom.

Pondering Philippians: Chapter 2, Verses 3-11

I don’t want to put you first. Can I be that honest? It just is not my flesh’s first inclination – to think of what you want or need before my own wants and needs. And, let’s just be real here, you do not want to put me first either.

You and I live in a world that wants us to believe that it is all about us. Every man for himself, right? And, in reality, that would be a much easier way to live. But it is not the way of Christ.

…but in humility count others as more significant that yourselves.  - Philippians 2:3

That just flies in the face of our natural instincts, doesn’t it? How does that even make sense? What if I put you first and you do not put me first in return? Admit it, we have all thought that.

Here is what I have come to realize. I can put you first. I can see your need and try to meet it even if you do not return the favor.  You know why? Because God has my back. I do not have to look out for myself because He has His eye on me. I can focus on you because He is focused on me.

Humility and obedience are two sides of the same coin. I simply cannot be obedient to the life God has called me to unless I am a humble person. You want to know why? Because you are going to hurt me. And I must love you anyway. You are going to turn a blind eye to my need. And I must help you anyway.

Humility reminds me that we are only human and that I could do the same thing to you. And I, at some point, most likely will. I will hurt and disappoint you. And I need you to love me anyway. I will, either knowingly or in ignorance, turn a blind eye to your need. And I need you to help me anyway.

Our humility leads to our obedience. And God honors obedience.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him… – Philippians 2:9

Therefore, in this passage, refers to Christ humbling Himself and becoming obedient to death on a cross. God honored Christ’s humility and obedience.

And He will honor yours and mine.

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Stacy Edwards is a trucker’s daughter and a pastor’s wife. She is a freelance writer and a homeschooling mom to four fabulous little girls. Stacy blogs at Servant’s Life where she uses her words to point others to the hope and encouragement found in Christ. If you need her, she’s probably hiding in the bathroom. You can follow Stacy on Twitter (@sjedwards.)