We are just so thrilled to have a very special guest with us today.
Please help us welcome Lauren from mercyINK!
Hello sweet At the Picket Fence readers!
What a tremendous blessing to be sharing with you for today’s Simply Sunday.
My name is Lauren and I’m the gal behind mercyINK, a graphic design shop and blog. The heart of my blog is to inspire women to create meaningful, purposeful homes on a thrifty budget; But way more than that, mercyINK is about cultivating faith in our hearts and in the hearts of our children. My greatest desire is to know Christ, and to make Him known.
One of the challenges in blogging, I think, is the illusion that is often created of perfection. Fabulously staged photos and eloquent words often paint a picture of perfection.
Perfect family, perfect house, perfect kids. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. It all appears so delightful, doesn’t it?
{Source}
Don’t get me wrong; I do stage my photos and I love to write powerfully crafted prose, but my heart is also to be real and authentic and let you know I’m a human being with three wild kids and really, a rather messy house on most days.
Lest you think I fall into this category of perfect people or perfect blog, I wanted to assure today:
I am completely imperfect, just like the rest of us.
As a young mama to three littles five and under, I so often fall short. Like, every. single. day. Somehow, motherhood has brought forth my greatest weaknesses and selfishness.
In my mind, there’s this pretty picture of the mama I long to be: gentle, loving, attentive, calm…
But my reality?
Really, I’m pretty good at getting annoyed. At losing my temper. At venting some big, grown up thoughts on little tiny innocent minds.
At wanting a break from my little angels. At wanting more time for me.
I make a lot of mistakes.
Several months ago, the pastor of our church returned from a trip to the Holy Land. I could sense a renewed passion and focused vision as he preached a powerful message he called: The Greatest Question (click the link for October 30, 2011 to listen).
In Matthew 16:13, Jesus comes to Caesarea Philippi and asks his disciples “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
And the disciples reply, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (v.14)
But Jesus says “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter’s reply that Jesus is the Messiah is joy to Jesus’ heart. Peter is saying that Jesus is the King, the Redeemer, the promised Christ. Yet just moments after Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ, and Jesus in turn declares Peter blessed and the rock upon which Jesus will build his church (Mt.16:17-20), Peter makes what Pastor Kerry deemed the greatest mistake:
“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Mt.16:21-22)
The greatest mistake is that we tell Jesus WHAT kind of King He will be: We may think we understand who Jesus is and that He is our King, but if we think of Him as an earthly King, we’ve missed the mark.
When Peter told Jesus he would not, could not possibly be killed, he told Jesus what kind of king he believed him to be.
After all, what kind of glorious King would come to die? Peter rebuked Jesus because He did not fully understand the question. He did not fully understand the great depths of Jesus’ love for us, not to simply reign as a natural, earthly king, but as the sovereign, eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Sent to die for each of us. For my imperfect, mistake-filled life. For yours.
A few weeks after hearing that message on the Greatest Question (& the greatest mistake), I read another post on one of my favorite blogs, Katie Davis, (Oh, and let this serve as my warning: reading Katie’s blog, hearing her story, will rock your world).
On that day, in that particular post, Katie wrote about being one of God’s “favorites”:
“One of His favorites. That is what I have felt like these last two weeks. Lavished with love. But isn’t that what He wants every one of His children to feel, all the time? Each and every one of us created perfectly in His image. Each one cherished. Each one “one of His favorites”. How would life change if we thought of each other as such? If each person that approached us we treated as beloved of God, cherished by God, one of God’s favorite people.”
You see, when we understand the true answer to the Greatest Question, we understand that we are indeed, each one, God’s favorites. Because who He is is love. It is death on an old cross for our sin, paid with His very life.
But the story does not end there.
He rose. And we too are risen to new life in Him.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal.2:20)
A few days after hearing this message and reading Katie’s post, I spent some one-on-one time with my daughter, my oldest. When I’m busy in the day to day with three little ones, the oldest one often gets the least attention. I think I expect more of her than I should, because she’s the big girl in the house, but often I have to remind myself she is still just 5.
It struck me as the boys had gone to sleep and I sat at the kitchen table for a late night {at 8:00 pm} snack with her: if I love as Christ loves, should not each of my own children feel that they are my favorite? That they are treasured in a special, lavish way by their mommy?
I have so much to learn from my children. And so much to learn from my Jesus, the One and Only King of Kings, who gave His all for my life. He is gentle, loving, and just.
He is not impatient with me. He does not get annoyed at me.
He doesn’t lose His temper with me or vent to me in language I can’t understand.
He talks to me on my level.
He doesn’t want a break from me or tell me that He can’t spend time with me right now because He needs a little time to himself.
Jesus, let me learn from You!
Jesus, may my life be a response to your great question; a true reflection of the who You really are. In being mommy, sometimes my kids are the hardest people around me to love. But they are each your very favorites. May I love them in such a way. Not barking out orders, or raising my voice, or impatiently rushing them on to the next thing/place/activity. But loving them in a way that says to them, “You are the love of my life! I’m listening to every word. I hear your hurts and your heart. I see your mistakes but I forgive them; we’ll work at this stuff together. As long as it takes. As many times as you falter. Because you are so worth it. You are incredible and special and made in His image. You are treasured. And more than anything, you are loved, my sweet child. You are my very favorite.”
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Heather and Vanessa: Thank you so much for having me today! Readers, thank you for hearing my heart. I would be honored to have you stop by mercyINK for more inspiration and encouragement for your heart & home. Facebook | twitter | etsy
Lauren, you have ministered to us today and we believe that God has given you the gift of encouraging others by sharing your own journey of Faith. Thank you so much for blessing us with these truth-filled words today. We are grateful to have you as a Picket Fence Sponsor and friend!
Heather and Vanessa
Wow. Truly beautiful words! It’s nice to hop on my blog list and get some new decor inspiration, but it’s especially nice to be inspired from within. Thanks so much for sharing this word with us – I am blessed! -diane
Wonderful message here- I agree- it seems there is so much perfection in the world of blogging that most people feel they fall short of the standard that has been set. Them the blessing comes along from someone that is REAL. A REAL Mom with REAL life issues-and lets us know that she is NOT perfect. Thank Heavens for people like Lauren. GREAT post- xo Diana
Diana- Appreciate your kind words! Yes, I am all too REAL most days, lol! pray you had a lovely weekend! 🙂
-lauren
mercyinkblog.com
Beautiful!! Love love love hearing from other moms who desire to be authentic. I so appreciate your vulnerability. Your words echo many of my own recent thoughts.
Beautiful. I surely needed this; it has been a tough few days. Thank you!
Beautiful, Inspirational & Cause To Reflect. . . Even Mommies (like me) Of Grown Children Can Find Much To Take Away From Lauren’s Words!
Thank you For A Wonderful Faith Based Sharing!
Keep Bouncing!
Really so blessed to be here today! Thank you ladies for all the heartfelt comments… you’ve encouraged me today 🙂
-lauren
What a wonderful post. I stopped by her blog to tell Lauren so directly.
The good news is… you will probably meet so many great bloggers! Atlanta is a hotbed of blogging talent!Your home is gorgeous.