Category Archives: Relying on God

Reflections in the Night: Shadows and Light

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night…” Psalm 91:4-5a

By: Jennifer Mullen

Courtesy of Cavalier Photography

One night from a deep sleep, I was awoken by bright light. Standing at the doorway of my bedroom was my two-year-old son with his hand on the light switch. I told him to turn off the light and crawl in bed with me. He snuggled up close and whispered in my ear, “I scared of da shadows.”

I asked him the question I always ask my kids when they are scared: “What do the angels always say?” And without hesitation he said, “Don’t be afraid.”

I tried to explain as best I could to a two-year-old that shadows are created when something comes between an object and light. As the object moves in relation to the light it makes bigger or smaller shadows. I tried demonstrating by waving my hand in front of the lamp.

It got me to thinking… Continue reading →

Why Another Mommy Blog?

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Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

By: Jennifer Mullen

Two years ago sitting in a parking lot, I poured out my heart to the LORD about wanting to be “great” at something. During that time of prayer, I received a calling to start this blog ministry. (You can read more of that story here.)

When God calls you to do something, you do it! I learned that lesson in Sunday School as a young child. LORD knows I didn’t want to end up in the belly of a whale! Simply put this blog is an act of obedience. Continue reading →

Focusing on Who He Is Rather Than What I Am

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“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,  he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

By: Kerri Young

This is a big month, and particularly an eventful week, for my family. My husband finished his job March 1, so we are now without significant income until we depart for our new home, Lord willing, in May. I am in the process of wrapping up my coaching job and passing on the mantle to my assistant coach. We are down to our last few days in our house and preparing for a big moving sale Wednesday through Friday to—hopefully—get rid of most of our belongings. We are moving across the world and cannot take it all with us. We are also gearing up for our going away party that will take place on Saturday. And, on top of all that, we are trying our best to give our children some sense of normality in the midst of our lives getting turned upside down.

I’m going to be honest with you….

I am overwhelmed…because there is so much that needs to get done in the next two weeks before we roll out of town that I’m just not confident we’ll get it all done.

I am exhausted…because for the few short hours I am able to lie in bed at night I find myself unable to sleep because my brain is constantly thinking of all the things that need to get done.

I am sad…because we have to say goodbye to the bed my daughter sleeps in that belonged to my granny, the dishes we’ve had since we got married and the kitchen shades I so painstakingly worked to find on ebay after they were discontinued at Pottery Barn…not to mention all my cheer peeps, our friends, and the church family we have grown to love here in Northwest Arkansas. Continue reading →

Accepting Help from Others:Roadblocks of the Prideful

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A couple week ago we posted this article about how YOU can be a champion for Grace. Today our post gives a first hand account from a graduate from the Saving Grace program. God is doing amazing things in the hearts of these young women!

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11

By: Kimberley A. Lane- Graduate of the Saving Grace program.

Saving Grace is a transitional home in Rogers, Arkansas for women between the ages of eighteen to twenty-four who have phased out of foster care or simply it is a safe place for women who are currently in an unsafe environment. I applied to Saving Grace in September of 2010 because my aunt had just kicked me out of her house and none of my friends or other family members had room for me. A pamphlet at a local church led me to Saving Grace. After I applied and interviewed, I was immediately accepted.

My first year in Saving Grace was a difficult one. Anger was all I felt for everyone around me. The staff, my mentors, and my RA’s were all my enemies. I felt as if no one in this world loved or cared for me because no one was able to take me in. I blamed the staff of Saving Grace for the pain I was feeling. Not only did I maintain a negative attitude, but I led several of the girls I lived with astray with me. We rebelled against the program and spoke openly about how horrible we were being treated. We lied to every person we came in contact with who asked about Saving Grace. Because of this behavior, the staff of Saving Grace wanted to ask me to leave. Several members of the board thought it was in the best interest of everyone if I were to no longer live there. However, Becky Shaffer, the founder of Saving Grace, saw something inside of me and refused to let me leave.

“God is keeping you here,” Becky had said to me, “I don’t know why, but you are still here because he wants you here.”

Soon after that, I decided to let God into my heart and to forgive all of the people who have caused me pain throughout the years. I started attending counseling regularly and participated fully in the program. My leadership skills were then used to help the girls in the house find out their own self-worth and to help them realize the value of Saving Grace. I then found a full time position at a retail store and have since then moved up to management. In February of 2013, I transitioned out of Saving Grace and now live in my own apartment. I still visit Saving Grace once a week to be involved with the girls and show them that I still love and care for them even though I no longer live with them.

Kimberley and two of her mentors

This program introduced me to a side of God I had never seen before. For the first time, I felt I was worthy of love. I lived in Saving Grace for two and a half years and was able to meet some amazing people. I have met women who walk into a room and God’s love radiates out of them. I have met others who have been through horrific events and yet hold their head high because they stopped their past from determining their future. I have met men who would die for their families and are determined every day to study God’s word and lead their families down the right path. No matter where God takes me in life, Saving Grace will always be my home. I know the women there will always be there for me. I have established friendships that will last a lifetime. Saving Grace helped me to trust God and to let him decide my future. Without Saving Grace helping me, I would be lost, hurt, and angry. I will forever be grateful to all those who support Saving Grace. May God bless your lives the way you have all blessed mine.

If you are in Northwest Arkansas and would like to learn more about Saving Grace, you can attend a fund raising event with us. Please contact comment below or Jennifer via our Facebook page for more information. If you simply want to donate to Saving Grace to help more girls like Kimberley, click here.

What’s Your Narnia?

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By: Kerri Young

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

“I want to go to Narnia.” “I want to go to Narnia.” This phrase can be heard around our house at least 10-15 times a day from my strong-willed middle child whenever he gets frustrated or doesn’t get his way. (He’s actually saying the place where we are moving in May, but I can’t put that on this blog…so “Narnia” will suffice.) =)

When we ask him why he wants to go to Narnia, he responds, “Because it’s pretty there and there aren’t any mad guys.”

The funny thing about it is that he’s never been to Narnia before. He has only seen pictures and we certainly have never told him there are no “mad guys” in Narnia. But, for some reason, in his head “Narnia” is a better place than where we are now.

When he breaks into one of his whining fits for Narnia, we try to gently explain to him that we aren’t ready to go to Narnia and that Narnia is not what he thinks it is. Because when we go to Narnia we won’t get to come back here for a LONG time. Because it takes a LONG time to get to Narnia and he had a difficult time travelling 12 hours in the car to Granny’s house for Christmas. Because there are “mad guys” (or, in his four year old psyche, people who don’t like you or who are mean just because) in Narnia who, just like here, don’t believe in the same things or live in the same way we do and will most certainly act…well, “mad”, at us sometimes. Because when we leave for Narnia we are leaving most of our “stuff” — his toys, books, bicycle, etc.—behind. Because we aren’t financially ready to go Narnia. And the list could go on as to why going to Narnia today is not possible, or really even desirable.

Last night my husband and I were talking about the day and specifically how little man had a lengthy crying fit over his yearning to be in Narnia. My husband was wondering what is causing our sweet boy to feel this way, and it occurred to me that his irrational desire to go to Narnia today is no different than my desire to fast forward through today to get to what lies around the bend tomorrow.

I know what my desire is…and it’s actually a lot like my son’s. I want to get to Narnia, too. But for all the same reasons we tell our son that we aren’t ready to go to Narnia and that Narnia isn’t the fairy tale land he thinks it is, God is telling me it’s not time yet.

Because we won’t be coming back for a long time. Because the trip there is going to be LONG. Because there are people there who will not like me for following Christ and letting my light shine is going to probably be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Because we do have to leave most of our stuff behind, and all that stuff still needs to be dealt with here. Because we do have some work to do financially so we can not only get to Narnia, but stay there long-term. And, mostly, just because God hasn’t given us the green light yet and there are still things that need to be accomplished here…today.

Sigh. How often do we yearn for and crave something that’s coming or even something that might not be coming but we think we want or need? What’s your Narnia, friend? What are you whining in your heart about to God that you wish you could have today?

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I typed up this post two and a half weeks ago. You must understand that I am a highly trained, first class procrastinator who works best under pressure. I NEVER blog that far in advance (ask Jennifer) because I typically have about five different topics milling around in my head that I pray over until the very last minute. =) But, the Lord had been telling me that entire week this is what I needed to blog about, so I sat down and wrote it while it was fresh. Imagine my surprise when I read Gretchen’s post on perfect timing last week. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a must read.

Friends, I can’t help but think the Lord is trying to teach all of us an important lesson on this very thing since it was on Gretchen’s heart last week, too. It’s not a coincidence that we both felt led to write about waiting on God’s timing a week apart.

So, I, too, want to encourage and challenge you to trust in what the Lord has for you today…because you can’t get to tomorrow without it. Will you join me in praying that we can all rejoice in the Lord today and rest in the promise that He holds our tomorrows in His hands?

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4