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Donating Clothes WITH our Kids, the New Year, & Not Running to the Comfortable

Linsey Driskill

IMG_0121It’s easy to throw clothes in a bag to donate without our kids.

It’s easier if we don’t have to hear our kids complain or argue about missing certain things.

But that defeats the point of giving.

When we get our kids involved with the giving, they can experience the joy of opening their grip, giving, & loving others.

It’s helpful to research the place where you’re donating with your kids so they get an idea of who it helps.

This makes it easier to open our grips on what we’re giving.

It’s great for our kids to join us when we drop the clothes off so they can see where the clothes go.

A lot of these places can also use volunteers to help organize the clothes – an easy way for our kids to help out.

When we did this together, I played music to make it more fun, and several times afterward we had treats to make it even more enjoyable.

Reading a verse about serving beforehand also gets our hearts and minds in the right spirit, reminding us that serving and the little things, is a way to love the Lord & love others.

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I love when the new year begins. Regardless of whether or not we follow through on certain goals, what I love, is the newness.

I love how it reminds us of what it feels like to have a new chance, to start again. To refresh.

I love how it reminds me of the great forgiveness the Lord gives us when he tells us that the old has gone, the new has come.

We are new in the Lord, not because of our “perfection”, but because of Jesus.

What freedom. What freedom we have in Jesus.

There is so much hope in the Lord.

No matter where you’ve been or where you are now, there is ALWAYS hope in the Lord.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Accomplishing goals is great, but knowing Jesus – his love, his peace, his joy, his presence – is where true freedom and victory are found.

Why do we always want to run to the comfortable?

I sometimes have this false notion that I should constantly feel at peace and completely happy.

That’s just not reality. I know this, yet my mind still wanders to that place.

It’s okay to feel sad in a season.

It’s okay to feel uncomfortable in a season.

It’s okay to “not feel like yourself” for a season.

It’s okay. Seasons won’t last forever.

We just moved to a new state. It will take time to build community and feel that sense of belonging and at peace in this new place.

It’s easy for me to run from that feeling – to long for the comfortable.

Even though I know the world doesn’t satisfy, my mind and heart can linger to the place of thinking it will.

But, the Lord subtly reminded me that it’s okay to be in the season I’m in. Just to be.

Not to fix it, because

He’s my steady.

He’s the one who is unchanging.

Some seasons are harder than others, but there will be beauty.

When we look to him, the Lord will bring beauty from emptiness.

The Lord will, if we seek him.

Jesus, help us gain our contentment not from approval, affirmations and perfection, but from you. Help us to look for peace in you, not this world. Help us to find joy in you, not in what’s around us. Thank you for giving your life for us – for experiencing so much pain and sadness so you could give us the greatest joy this world has ever known – life with you now and forever. Jesus, I love you so much. Thank you for loving us. no. matter. what. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7

Here’s my article about not saving our kids from their emotions, but walking with them in it:

https://linseydriskill.com/2019/05/11/sometimes-kids-have-bad-days-too/

Rdg Bible in 1 Year Chronologically, Being All In, & The Secret to Real Joy ❤️

Linsey Driskill

Happy 2020! I’m planning on reading the Bible in one year chronologically if you want to join me. No guilt if we have to play catch up or it’s not finished. But this schedule below helps a lot to stick with it. Share this with a friend you want to join us! ❤️

Chronological Bible Reading Schedule:
https://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/…/oneyearchronologicalbi…

New Testament & Old Testament Daily Readings:
https://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/…/oneyearbiblereadingpla…

IMG_7218I want to be all in

right now, with my kids,

with my husband,

right where we are,

in this place,

in this stage,

in this season.

Enjoying the little things and the big things.

Slowing time down by stepping into the moment.

Being all there.

Thank you, Lord, for this sweet, sweet gift of family you’ve given us. In 2020, help us to find so much joy right where we are and to be fully present in the big and little moments. ❤️

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

P.S. In case you’re wondering what we’re making in the pic.- they’re Betty Crocker crepes. Yum! It’s the little things.

 

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It’s the Little Things…

Linsey Driskill

Our kids don’t need elaborate. They remember time together, laughing, the little things. Have a Merry Christmas enjoying the little things.

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This seems so simple – to pray for our kids when they’re struggling.

But, it can be easy to get lost in worries and anxiety instead of bringing it to the Lord.

A while ago, my daughter went through a season again where she was feeling anxious. When she was younger, it happened several times a year – the morning, full of stomach aches and clinging to me. 

She would push through it and go to school each time and after school, she usually would share that she had a great day.

But, the next morning it would happen again. She’s such a joyful, happy kid, but then the anxiousness would hit her.

When I found myself absorbing it, I got up early, grabbed a cup of coffee, and prayed.

So simple, yet so easy to become too busy to do.

To pine after solutions when we need to bring it to the Lord.

There are definitely practical things we can do to help our kids when they struggle, but let’s not forget to talk to the Lord about it.

I sat in our sunroom, praying for our sweet girl.

Then, I heard little footsteps at 6am. She said, “Mommy, can I sit with you.”

I told her I was in the middle of praying for her – what perfect timing.

So, we snuggled close in my tiny chair and prayed together.

I shared three verses I had read that morning that I felt were for her.

In her struggles, I’m glad she knows I’m praying for her and that the Lord is with her.

When we are filled with anxiety about our children, remember that Jesus tells us to ALWAYS pray and NEVER give up. When we are overwhelmed, find rest and hope in the Lord by praying.

Jesus, please be with our children right now. I lift up those who have minds filled with anxious thoughts. Would you please fill their hearts and minds with you instead. Help them release worry and replace it with your peace, your joy, your hope. And, help us mamas do the same. Please give them great and strong friendships. We ask for wisdom with how to encourage our kids to be strong, while still comforting them. I pray each of our children would look to You. Jesus, please help them look to you. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Here are the three verses I shared with my daughter:

“When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4

“God will go before me.” Psalm 59:10

“O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
you, O God, are my fortress, my
loving God.” Psalm 59:1

Our Kids See Us & What We Value ❤️

Linsey Driskill

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In one of Sissy Goff’s books, she asked a number of teenagers what encouraged them most to follow Jesus.

They said it was watching their parents read the Bible.

What a simple answer… watching their parents make time for the Lord.

What a great encouragement for us to do just that.

 

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This verse is intense. It makes me want to check my priorities.

What do we value highly? What is at the top of our lists?

What do we want our children to value?

I’ve heard before that what we spend our time on is what we value most.

What has our hearts, minds, and souls?

Lord, in the midst of this beautiful season, help us devote our thoughts, hearts, and minds to You.

Help us value You far above worldly things.

Thank you for your joy, life, and peace that last forever.

In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Here’s the verse in context if you want to see more of the details around the powerful words Jesus shared:

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Thank you, Lord, for refreshing our hearts with your love and forgiveness, and pointing us to you. ❤️

 

 

 

Christmas Idea, En-Joying the Season, & When Our Kids Don’t Act Perfectly

Linsey Driskill

unnamed-3-e1575642564179Create your own Sparkle Box from a shoebox, decorate a box from a craft store, or find the original fold-out Sparkle Box and book at the link below.

Leading up to Christmas, everybody in your family writes ways that each person has loved God and others on notecards and puts them in the gift box.
On Christmas morning, open Jesus’ gift box and read the cards aloud. The Sparkle Box reminds us that loving the Lord and others is the best gift we can give to Jesus.
For the original “Sparkle Box”, go to this link: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/sparkle-box-P005544567
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