5 THINGS FOR NOW

Being a female, a wife, a mother, a friend, a daughter, and a pastor's wife are all nouns I would use to describe me. It's hard to juggle all the roles in today's society. So here's a short list of what I'm learning and working through:

1. Sometimes God does not meet my expectations. However, that does not mean I'm right or that He loves me any less. Sometimes junk happens, it stink for sure. It should serve as a reminder that the Earth is just temporary. We are all passing through; some of us just get a head start. Romans 8:28, " and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. "

2. Grace is real and should be accepted fully. I tend to go over scenarios in my head of how I could have handled a situation better. Romans 5:20b says, "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more". No matter how many mess-ups I have, the grace of God trumps it. Matt Chandler talks about how Jesus paid all our past sins, current struggles, and future screw-ups on the cross. So we should live in that freedom.

3. I'm weak and that's ok. I typically think I should be known as Dr. Marci Parrott, PHD, MD, MSN, PLLC, all knowing guru. The truth is that it's ok if I don't know something and I'm not perfect. When I'm not perfect it creates a need for me to lean into and depend on the one perfect god, Jesus.

4. Be Honest. Some days I just don't feel like it. I don't want to read my Bible or pray or sing or journal...gasp. Remember that grace, it hopefully is something I let reign in me and feel the freedom to pour my heart out to the Lord. Ask him to change me. Psalms is full of prayers from David asking the Lord deep questions and searching his heart for truth. I know that most often when I do not feel like spending time with God, that's the time I most need to.

5. Finish Well. We've all been there where we look at the clock praying for bedtime so we can tuck the kids in, eat ice cream, and watch our dvd'd shows. Just as you get cozy under the blanket and take your first bite, someone starts whining they are thirsty, need an extra hug, or a bedtime story. We get annoyed, lose our temper, and tears roll. Nevermind the fact that you have played patty-cake 100x, thrown the football, painted nails, and cut out cute pumpkin shaped pb&j's. It can all be undone in a matter of 120 seconds if we don't take a step back, breathe, and offer grace to those special people in our homes.