Be Still and Be Quiet…

Today, my thoughts are madly dashing from point A and skipping to point Q before I’ve had time to really ponder A.  Does that make sense?  A multitude of things R-A-C-I-N-G through this mind of mine and filling trusted ears.  (You know, “external processing”…)

When I was a little girl, my Mom used to lean over in church and squeeze my thigh and give me the look that said, “young lady, eyes ahead and mouth shut.”   My Grammy used to look me square in the eye and say one word.   “Settle”.  My Papa used to reach his hand over to mine as I was inhaling food and talking a mile a minute and whisper the word,  ”relax”.  Teachers used to ask me to remove my desk from the classroom to allow my classmates to focus.  There’s a theme here.  (Confession, I hate themes like this).

Lately, I’ve been six (yes, six) steps ahead of what’s actually taking place in my life, and talking about it to those I hold dear.   Have you ever wanted something to work out so bad that you have the whole thing all mapped out the way you want it to go?  That’s me.  I get so ahead of myself; planning things that have yet to be determined and getting excited about things that aren’t yet confirmed.  My thoughts and my mouth overpower the small voice whispering in my ear.  ”Be still. Be quiet.”

Truth is – I don’t want to be still OR be quiet.  I want to race ahead with MY plans at full steam and tell those who know me best, all about it.    I’m a huge dreamer – I have huge hopes and desires that I believe with my whole heart have been given to me by God.  I’m passionate about life and all it has to offer!  And yet, I’m supposed to be still AND quiet about it?  COME ON!

As is the case 9 out of 10 times in my life, there’s a lesson that I know God is teaching me.

Four areas I need to work on:

1. When I want to blurt out the MOST AMAZING information and news – I need to be quiet.

2. When I want to say I have a new idea and plan – I don’t have to say it.

3. When I want to tell someone the better or more innovative way of doing things – I need to listen.

4. When I want to blurt out the future plans that are currently nested in my brain and have not yet come to fruition – I need to shut my mouth and wait on God’s timing.

Solutions to the four areas I need to work on:

1. Be quiet.

2. Keeping my mouth shut.

3. Listening (mouth shut).

4. Shutting my mouth.

OH SNAP!   This seems like such an elementary lesson to just “shut my mouth”,  but things are so exciting and interesting and HUGE that I just want to shout it out and share with reckless abandon!   The thing is, recklessness = foolishness.   Proverbs 17:28 says “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”   Capturing all of my thoughts and emotions and allowing God to work on me INSIDE is what I know I must do.  I’m certain that in due time there will be a story to share of God-sized magnitude.  When that day comes and I have the green light, I promise I’ll share.  Until then, I’m going to be still AND be quiet.

reeling myself in – socialcyndi

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

What can Jesus do for me?

Reblogged from The Lipstick Gospel:

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My roommate Kacie and I both love to write. We often send each other half finished blogs that need some editing, some direction or just a word of encouragement. Kacie sent this to me last week and I begged her to let me post it. She captured something that I've been feeling for the last several weeks absolutely perfectly. I hope that you find encouragement and freedom in her wisdom.

Read more… 1,095 more words

Blessed me to my core!

Write it Down

I’ve been reading over the pages of the yellow legal pads I’ve been filling for the past two years and you know what?

God answers prayer.   

Little tiny & super huge personal things that I’ve REALLY prayed for –  I mean, complete surrender.

Things like…

• A heart change.  A deep one.
• A love relationship with my “future” husband (at the time).
• A huge dose of grace for those I’m intolerant of and impatient with.
• A restoration in my belief of genuine friendship.
• Children who love and seek Jesus.
• Confidence for my Son who struggled with belief in himself.

I could write pages and pages of specifics surrounding each point above and the way things are progressing.  Here’s just a glimpse…

My heart is becoming like new.  Walls are being broken.  Trust is being restored.  It’s truly a delight to be aware that I’m vulnerable.   God heard me. 

The relationship I have with my husband Alex is nothing short of a miracle.  I sometimes feel so undeserving of such a man.  I deeply love him.  He’s genuine. He loves the Lord with all of his heart.  He leads our family. His heart is right.  He loves me – faults and all.  God heard me. 

I’m learning to think through situations with a new perspective rather than make things all about me.  I’m genuinely beginning to place myself in the shoes of those whom I’m impatient with and the perspective is enlightening.  God heard me.

I’ve had to confess and admit that I’m not a good friend.  I’m a wall-builder.  I’m a hider.  I back away when I’m in a spot that doesn’t set well with me.  I don’t compete – it’s just not me.  And so, I’ve had to surrender my fears in friendship and let God do some major overhaul.  I’m working through what friendship looks like – what it expects and what is required.  It’s been such a blessing to have a couple of women with amazing grace walk through this with me.  One at a time, I will make things right and good.  God heard me.  (honestly, this one is a painful confession for me to pen.  God’s asking me to let go, and so I am).

The kids consistently encourage me to lean into Jesus more and more.  Their shameless faith is absolutely inspiring and has BLOSSOMED over the past two years.  I see my Papa in sweet Tyler.  I see gentle leadership in Jon.  I see a love of justice in Lauren.  I see a heart that longs for EVERYONE to know Jesus in Ethan.  All of them unapologetically love the Lord.  God heard me. 

Tyler will readily admit that he’s lacked confidence throughout his life and that his self-image took quite a beating through a very dark time.  God has pulled that child right into His grip and has provided him a man in his life to encourage and sow seeds of greatness into his heart and mind.  This child who openly confessed his weaknesses and fears just 16 months ago to his family, now has a spirit of confidence I never imagined.  Thursday, he’ll speak publicly to his peers about the unconditional love of Jesus.  I’ve labored in prayer for my son and his heart.  God heard me.    

Every single one of those things I wrote on the pages of  those legal pads.  I prayed over them and gave them to God.  To look back over the words –  to SEE and KNOW the answers – has been an absolutely amazing gift this Christmas season.  Give yourself the greatest gift this year.  First, place your hope in Jesus – surrender your heart to Him. (if you want to know more about this, I’d love to chat with you….feel free to send me a personal email and I promise to reply – cyndi.guidry@yahoo.com)  Second, WRITE IT DOWN – every single hope, fear, praise, sadness, emotion, thought – and keep going.  Fill pads of paper, or Word documents, or note pads or whatever it is you use.  And then WATCH prayer being answered in your life.

writing with you – socialcyndi

Lifelines…

A few minutes ago, I got a text from one of my sons that read, “I’m struggling with giving and having patience today.  Just pray for me.”  I instantly replied to him and asked the Lord to cover him with a refreshed perspective and renewed ability to take things in stride….he reached out.

What an honor as his Mom to be able to know specifically how to pray for my child.  It’s these rare moments that I used to gloss over and seemingly forget about….but as I’ve learned over the past year, it’s these VERY MOMENTS when I need to stop and offer praise and thanks for!  And also experience a teachable moment…FOR ME!

My son has realized that its ok to reach out to a lifeline for help like he did today with a simple text.   I was able to offer him encouragement and  simultaneously speak to the Lord on his behalf.  I can learn a lot from that young man…..

SO OFTEN I  look to MYSELF to find resolution (after I’ve quickly muttered a half-hearted prayer).  There are lifelines who would be honored, like I am, to pray alongside me.  I confess that my pride often doesn’t allow me (nor anyone else) that blessing.  I’m too concerned with exposing my weaknesses to someone and possibly having to admit that I’m not gifted with patience, or that I’m weary, overwhelmed, exhausted, struggling with friendships, battling a negative self-image, fearful that I’ll be alone, disorganized, not good enough, anxious, caught up in status, I’ve yelled at my kids, I’m angry, doubtful …..  There is an ABUNDANCE OF OPPORTUNITIES for me to call out to a lifeline….and confess I’m weak and need prayer.

Yet another significant lesson being sown into my life because I have a son who wasn’t afraid to confess where he’s struggling…..another teachable moment for Mom.

thankful for these moments – socialcyndi

A slice of my heart…

JTLE 8/11

These four people right here are my truly my favorite people to spend time with. They bring a smile to my face, communicate from the heart, they serve those around them, they listen, they’re respectful, they’re best friends, they DREAM and most importantly, they live lives that honor the Lord.  It’s been said that they’re “too nice”…”too loving”… “they hug too much”… I assure you, I wouldn’t want them any other way.  It’s who they are – all with hearts that yearn to make a difference, bring smiles to little faces, cause a crying baby to giggle…. God blessed me with the opportunity of bringing up these three young men and a little lady.

Jonathon, Tyler, Lauren and Ethan – THANK YOU – for the endless supply of grace you offer me and for being so willing to stand tall when you could have easily made excuses to fall. I’m honored to be your Mom!

sharing a slice of my heart with you – socialcyndi

Why did He do it?

Why did He do it?  A shack would have sufficed, but He gave us a mansion.  Did He have to give the birds a song and the mountains a peak?  Was He required to put stripes on a zebra and the hump on the camel?

…Why wrap creation in such splendor?  Why did He go to such trouble to give such gifts?

Why do you? You do the same.  I’ve seen you searching for a gift.  I’ve seen you stalking the malls and walking the aisles.  I’m not talking about the obligatory gifts…I’m talking about that extra-special gift…Why do you do it?….You do it so the heart will stop.  You do it so the jaw will drop.  You do it to hear those words of disbelief.  ”You did this for me?”

That’s why you do it.  And that is why God did it.  Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way.  Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it?  I did it just for you.”

“Thanks be to God for the gift that is too wonderful for words.” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

Taken from – The Great House of God by Max Lucado entry December 23, 2011

Setting the record straight…

I love reality TV shows. I used to try to say otherwise, but the truth is – I like them. I can pick a participant apart with the best of them. I wouldn’t say I physically critique them or pick their looks apart –  it’s more of a personality critique like, “She’s annoying, a whiner, irritating, manipulative, back-stabbing”…I tend to be very blunt with my criticism. I’m also callous and mean. Yes, I’m a “mean girl” and it wasn’t until I sat down to talk with my Savior this morning, that I fully had to admit it.

While reading through Proverbs 9 and finding bits of wisdom to journal and chat with the Lord about, I was struck and was prompted to post a scripture from yesterday’s quiet time on my Facebook. “Odd?”, I thought. “Why in the world do I need to do that?” I audibly asked myself.   And for the next 10 minutes, I wrestled with the scripture I KNEW I was being led to post. It should be such a simple thing to do…just type out the words and update my Facebook status. But, the more I read the words within the scripture, the more I was struck deep within my heart that they were a complete contradiction to the rant I had posted about a reality show participant just THE NIGHT BEFORE. How in the world could a verse that I KNEW God had laid on my heart, follow such trash talk? And what is that saying about the inconsistency of my character and the woman that I am?

This took me  deeper into thought….and I found myself actually petitioning the Lord to “understand” that I really didn’t want to post something that could possibly “offend” people or cause them to stand in judgement against me. It was at that very moment in thought, it became as clear what God was doing.  I was left with two distinct realizations:
1. I am not ashamed of the relationship I have with God – I don’t push Him on people – I share Him with anyone I can.
2. I’m sending mixed messages through my words within social media about the integrity of my character – and I need to fix that.
I knew immediately I needed to set the record straight.

It was clear that God was asking me to put myself out there and be bold  - I needed to recognize and see the faults within myself.  For a moment, I contemplated choosing to fly below the radar and stay quiet. I KNOW that I was being led to be bold and see how far I would go for my Savior when He asks me (even if it was just a silly Facebook post).   It was a humbling question I knew I needed to ask myself…”Why is it so simple to spout off and boast my opinions about a reality TV show participant but find myself cowering when it comes to sharing Scripture that could potentially offend someone? I knew the answer and I needed to face it head on.

There’s no question about it – this girl on TV annoyed me – but that doesn’t make her any less a child of God. Sure, she’s sobbing on a TV show…that doesn’t mean that God loves her any differently than He loves me. In fact, according to the Bible, I’m called to share the love of Christ with people just like her – yet there I was, being mean & gossiping openly about my dislike for her!

I’m here to set the record straight…not to say I’m anything spectacular for “outing” myself – quite the contrary in fact. I’m a girl who stumbled and fell flat on my face with humility this morning and I needed to seek the forgiveness first from my Lord and also from those whom I’ve demonstrated this inconsistency to. I’m a work in progress – and I’m working overtime to walk through a character refining process with grace and integrity. Last night, I bombed big time – today, I’m assured that through the saving Grace of Jesus – I’m forgiven.

‎”….blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all which hate me love death.” – Proverbs 8:32-36

A constant work in progress -
socialcyndi