Faithfulness and Beauty

Autumn is definitely on the way, so I've been hearing. The truth is, I tho't it seemed like it a few weeks ago! To this Florida raised girl, the weather we had last week was winter weather!! It seriously was the kind of weather you hoped would make itself present for Christmas Day in Florida and I always found myself hoping it would be cold all day Christmas! Our little family is quite eager to discover the autumn season with all the changing leaves, brisk weather, hopefully pumpkin festivals in cooler weather~some of the things that we didn't experience in Florida!

The other day as I was in thought to our children's faithfulness in Christ, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my faithfulness and the faithfulness of their daddy is a key factor in that. As God is able to grow, stretch and purify our hearts, that mighty work is also done in the hearts of our children.  But if the Holy Spirit's work is not allowed to purify us of our sin, that has serious consequences that is trickled down to our kiddos.  

 

Now as individuals God will still call our children out and faithfully prove Himself to them, but the whole train up a child in the way he should go, I believe has a lot to do with the work that is first taking place in our own life!! 

At the same time, I rest in the perfection of my King Jesus and trust in Him to be everything that I am not! He so faithfully takes my meager offering with all it's imperfections and He touches it and works His effective work in our children!! Now that is really really an awesome thing to me!! I am still an unfinished product myself, and yet we are raising these precious kids, so it is the faithfulness of a very great God that my trust rest in and it's His blessing that annoints the training we sincerely invest in our precious kids lives!!  

The verse that says if we train up our kids in the way they should go and the promise that they will not depart, has for most of my motherhood, bothered me, rather than bless me! I'd look around as a young mommy, and see all the youth rebellion in the Church, in so called Christian families and I found no comfort in the verse! But God kept pressing me in to Him and the blessing He desires for His children, till I had to look square on the verse and believe it. I still do not have all the different answers, but God says it and I'm choosing to believe it.

 Also, whenever I hear the story of Hudson Taylor's mother being burdened to pray for her wayward son and she spent time in prayer till he actually surrendered his heart to God..  I have mostly been troubled how such a godly woman had a wayward son in the first place-I don't know the answer to that either, but her son completely gave his whole life to Jesus and His work. And he went on to become a man of God. I will continue to believe the promises of God's Word, and continue to allow Him to weed any sin of pride, bitterness, anger, whatever it might be, from my heart.

I am so deeply grateful of the daily blessings of peace and joy that is ours as children of God. It kinda just struck me again this morning, of the beauty that is oursto pour lavishly into every new day and that our homes can spill over with all that is truly lovely!! Today, I've been given the fresh bursting gift of life and I have the honorable priviledge to mother our children, to bless my sweet Mike's life, to live out Proverrbs 31!! 

The more faith I find myself embracing, the more I taste of the fullness of Christ! Our life in Him is rich and beautiful.

Just last night I sadly thought of someone who has lived mostly to secure their own selfish dream- house ( or so I imagine), money....and the broken relationships...and as they approach the end of their life, I see quite sadly, that they are being left with a handful of ashes.. 

On the other hand, as children of God, we live and walk and breathe a Heavenly dream and all of what is in Heaven becomes ours right here on earth~it touches our marriages, our children, our Church family, our personal life in Christ!! Our senses fairly burst at the grandness and greatness of our God!!! The beauty of His sunrise, the whisper of the leaves thro' the trees, the smell of autumn, the magnificent Rockies that proclaim His power and His greatness!! 

                           

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!)

Sweetly Remembering Who We are Raising~Sweetness of our Mommyhood

The drizzling rain, sipping hot coffee and relishing the quietness before the grand finale of every brilliant color as my children awaken and their day begins. There will be breakfast served, uniforms to dress in, teeth brushed, kisses and hugs and prayers...then the 3 oldest will be off to their twice a week tutoring program which aids them in academical excellence and also disciples their hearts as they continue to discover more and grasp deeper the very Person of our Lord Jesus. 

The two little sugar peas in a pod will play and enjoy the luxuries that just simply comes with home. Little princess is working on kindergarten and loves it!! 

These are fleeting years...I remember a well meaning mommy assure me that these years won't last forever. I am sad for her, because somehow it told me that she has never discovered the overflowing joy-filled honor in her motherhood. I would hold these years close forever if I could. I admit tho' it is nice when your 5 year old can dress herself, or littles get out of diapers and when the children in their budding maturity, embrace what is right and you look on in wonder at the fruit produced in their life. 

But when I kiss them goodnight and say prayers with them and later check in on them to make sure the soft covers are tucked here and there, I am overwhelmed with my bursting mother heart of love for these precious ones and thankfulness that they're all here safe and sound in their sweet little home. Or as I gaze on the beautiful wonder that comes with childhood.

At the same time God is preparing my mommy heart for the day when not only their maturity will be tested, but their wings also. I envision our home as being a welcoming retreat of warmth and safety for them to come back to...to find refreshment. To realize our heart strings were never disconnected even tho' distance may separate us. ( Hopefully only  briefly will the distance separate us!!)

I cannot undo our Lord's great commissioning for His children to be sent out to minister and bring His life and the very reflection of who He is to a dark, lost, and dying world. It is really strengthening for me to keep the vision out before us constantly...to realize fully that we are training them to walk in strength and integrity, to spend their lives fully on serving and rescuing the weak and vulnerable of this world. To be replicas of Christ in all of their life and in their marriages and in their parenthood. 

We are deeply grateful for our Church and Pastor who guides us in our learning to actually know how to read and navigate the atlas that we both held with in our hands our whole life~the precious Words of our Saviour. You know, it's one thing to actually hold the Bible reverently within our grasp but quite another to know how to live it 24/7 victoriously!! Or to actually grasp the truths of its life-changing message every day!! 

    This is while gathering my things from outside because the cool drizzling rain, was finally 

     sending me indoors where it is cozy and dry. ;)     

It's that time of morning where the bustle of excited childhood energy will be filling this house! ;) 

I wish you all a grandness, in Christ, mommy-filled day!! Going forth as He meant us to...serving, loving and raising all these littles and not so littles for Him!!!

A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!

The Certainty of Our God Amidst Uncertain Circumstances

The flickering warm glow of the candles, the soothing and gentle music of "Be Still", the tinted sky promising a rising sun, and the fresh assurance and joy of a brand new day. It's all so lovely, so beautiful. 

This has been truly one of my most favorite part of day for quite a number of years now. (The other is, building memories with my little family. ;) )The undisturbed early morning where my soul is still and in reverence to a Holy God who lays out a wardrobe, fit for a queen, today for me to wear. It is strength, peace, a bubbling joy, laughter. 

God has been feeding my yearning for more of Himself, with more of Himself. A few years ago, despite what I saw all around me, God placed upon myself His calling of a nobler life, a victorious 24/7 life. Proverbs 31 speaks of strength and honor being our clothing. Another passage of Scripture promises that if we train our children in His way they will not depart. 

All this and much much more, I remember, finally setting my heart toward this and refused to succumb to the uncertainties, the lack of earthly examples to follow. God's Word says it and I chose to believe that these wonderful things in Him were truly ours to enjoy. To grow by, to be stretched in.

And as the years slipped by, and life was filled with the uncertainty of a down economy, and death in the family, still God kept calling my soul out..there has been many tears involved...and many times as the tears ran unbidden down my cheeks God lifted my chin and stroked my cheek as a father would and whispered to me His love and that He truly has a plan for our little family's life.

I remember a few years ago,  I was asked to give a brief testimony in a ladies prison. The speaker that night that asked me, refreshed me with what he remembered having heard me mention the year before about theses women being princess daughters of Jesus. He tho't maybe I could speak of that...

What this man did not know ( as he shared with me later) was that at that moment we were losing our home and had absolutely no idea what we were going to do. I was broken and if I looked at my pocket of resources I didn't really have anything to offer these women... Or did I? 

As I sat, waiting to speak I remember my sweetheart Mike telling me once that the Holy Spirit gives us His words and we don't need to pre-think what we would say...truthfully, I didn't have long to think anyway, with the short notice I was given.

Taking my place in front of hundreds of women. And looking out over the crowd, I began to share what we have , in Christ, and that with Jesus Christ as our Kingly Papa, we are His beautiful princesses...as I shared with these women who were broken as myself, in need of something~hope. God gave me His  Words of Hope of knowing Christ will never leave us nor forsake us, I shared that we were currently losing our home, I shared, I wept...

That day, as hundreds of women inmates wept with me, there was healing...we all had our own and different stories of our life lived so far, but the very same wonderful promises of Scripture.. A beautiful night indeed as we each wept at the precious feet of our Saviour and pouring our ointment out upon His feet, letting everything that meant something to us, slid from our once clenched fingers.. 

I did not know that day, that when we did finally leave our home of over 9 years, for the very last time, that a week before we would bury our strong, healthy ( or so we had tho't) daddy dear. So many loses, and yet God kept His promise. It was the beginning of some of the darkest months of my life and I know today, in Christ, I could have walked through them more graciously then I did. 

As we drove from our beautiful country home that last early morning, Mike prayed, "Thank You for the nine years you gave us to enjoy and now someone else can. Help us know that all is still good in Your eyes."

And today, these years later, our voices still ring with laughter, why? Because all is still good in God's eyes. He never left us. He never forsook us. He adundantly blessed upove all that we asked or ever thought. He is faithful and we taste it fully. Our hearts felt His soothing aloe like ointment of healing and restoration. God is faithful.

 

A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!

He is Faithful

All the littles are tucked snug in their beds. Prayers have been said, kisses and hugs given, and all the last minute bedtime chatter, and one last story or happening to tell. 

These are definitely the busy years, the molding and growing years. God has promised to finish the work He's started in us and if I just stop to actually ponder how a good bit of that work is while we are also nurturing little souls. 

I am so thankful that Papa God has promised to be what we never could be and to go before us and do what is impossible for us. I am also thankful for all that we can be in Him~faithful, courageous, victorious, conquering, joy-filled, an outflow of His intrinsic love!!

Here of late, God is pressing upon my mama heart to be a continual outflow of His very self and love in the lives of our children all day everyday...that is part of the beautiful work He's started and has promised to finish in me. 

I have found that looking up to older women who have raised Godly families to be such an inspiration and the greatest source of invigorating refreshment!! And the faithfulness that they witness in their families is as Proverbs 31:31says: "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." 

One thing that I noticed as a young mommy, were the very worn out mamas who seemed to have lost all zeal or ambition for their life. As I nestled my little one close and kissed the top of his precious head or cheeks and glanced around me in a Church I was in so many years ago, I couldn't help but notice the dull or boring looks on the faces of these mamas. If they did look at their little ones it kind of seemed it was out of annoyance. 

I am extremely grateful to a great and awesome Papa God who birthed within me that our children are treasures and gifts so valuable. It is with honor that I embrace my motherhood. Now with that I hasten to add that I am not the complete picture of motherhood that somehow I know God created me to be, but I am a small part of His much greater design and I want whatever it is with all my heart!!!

Just this morning as I read a blog by an older Christian mama, I wept with yearning to be all that, to see the fruit someday that this mama is witnessing. It is so beautiful and my heart aches in a good way because I was touched by the Holy Spirit's conviction of that continued  promised work.

God is so faithful and I truly would have it no other way. His faithfulness to which He adds those precious, sacred, and sometimes painful, finishing touches to this awesome work He's started. He's a creator and He continues to create within me a capacity to love more, to give more, to be more of who He is. 

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. "Ephesians 3:20-21

And finally a sweet benediction for all of us mamas to keep always before us in our beautiful motherhood calling...

"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." Proverbs 31:31 

                             

This message was pretty centered on our life in Christ and motherhood, but I want to add, the overflowing intrinsic love of God through us also spills over into our marriage, touching and blessing the life of our Kinght in shining armor a.k.a. our husband, empowering him also toward the finishing work in his life!! 

A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!

 

                   This is a recent picture during one of our Skype calls with M and M. :)