Fishbowl Mama

Carlos’ Whittaker posted this post on his blog about how God hears a melody in our pain as we pray.  Something occurred to me while I was reading about being authentic in prayer with God.  Here’s what I said:

I was thinking a while back you asked us where we find our identity? Or maybe how we find out who we are in God…can’t remember for sure and I couldn’t find it in a quick search. Anyway…

When that question came up, my gut reaction was that I find my identity in crying out desperately to God. I didn’t have a very good grasp on that until I read this post. Now it seems obvious:

Of course you would find your identity when you are crying out desperately to God: then you have stripped off all the other layers of “me” and you are most yourself. Most like the person God created you to be.

Of course God hears the melody in my pain – that’s MY song and He wrote it for ME. And you know what else – it’s one of His favorites.

So thanks, Los. For being thought provoking. I’ll keep singing if you will.

God wrote the song He hears when we desperately weep, cry, scream, and beg for His intervention in our lives.  Everyone’s song of pain is different, but the beauty unfolds when you express your pain to God.  He knows, He wants to hear it, and He wants to hear it honestly, authentically and raw from your emotions.  God loves hearing the song in our pain because it means we expect Him to do something.

Wouldn’t life be better on us if we could learn to expect God to do something, without having to sing our song in pain?

Thank you, Father, for my children.  As I tuck them under the covers I can see in their sleeping faces the men and women they will become.  God I pray that you continue to use me to influence my children for you.  Please take my failures and create opportunities to teach forgiveness.  Use my frustrations to remind me that they will only be small for a little while.  Father allow my exhaustion to give me contentment – happy that I have spent these few short hours of today building a life-long relationship with my children.

Now, as I lay down my own head, I pray God that you would bless my rest.  May whatever sleep I get be enough to sustain me through tomorrow.  Thank you God, for the simple life you are calling me to.  I accept the challenge and will do my best to honor you in my every day things.  “For You alone are worthy of my praise”.

Papa, bless our tomorrow.  Thank you for the chance to wake up in the morning, may I not take the day for granted.  Teach me to value every moment with my husband and my children; to see them as You see them and love them the same way.

I give my family to you God.  Use me for Your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Adobe Photoshop Cook from Lait Noir on Vimeo.

I just wanted to put up a quick note about the DBSA 2009 Facing Us video contest.  I created an original video and submitted it last fall and it won 2nd place!

I wanted to post the link here now that the DBSA has posted the other winning videos on their website.

Here’s the link to the ‘Media Room’:  https://www.facingus.org/media

Here’s the link to my video: https://www.facingus.org/media/49/video

And I just want to say that I feel very proud to be included among the other people listed.  Depression and bipolar disorder are difficult things to live with, and I am honored to be included in this list of people who have found a way to live in spite of it and to create around it.

I saw this post from Michael Hyatt this week: “The Gift of Validation”. It contained the video you can watch below. It really is worth watching – once you start watching the 16 minutes will fly by, I promise.
But I was watching this video and I was so reminded of the value of validation. One of the things I used to do a lot was to send cards to people for random things. Just to say, “Hey Thanks!” or “That was excellent! Nice job.” I haven’t done that in a long time, but this video reminded me of that and how important it is.

In his post, Mr Hyatt reminds us that our validation is in God and God alone. And I am not going to argue with that statement.
The point I want to bring out is that all of the people out there that we are called to love and serve want validation too. Some of them can find their worth in God’s eyes, but many of them cannot. So, who is validating them? If they don’t know they can go to God, how are they finding their importance? I think that we can introduce someone to Christ simply by validating their worth through God’s eyes.

I’m serious. Watch this video and tell me that you cannot imagine God complimenting each and every one of us in this way.

Which brings me back to my original question: Who are you validating?

If you need a little inspiration to get you started, I suggest reading this story: A Question Twice the Size of my Large Intestine.

Develop your conscious knowledge

Be aware of how you got to where you are, who helped you get there, and the hard work it took along the way. Because really, it’s not about you. You and I will fade away; who are we coaching to carry on after we’re gone?
http://www.benarment.com/history_in_the_making/2010/02/a-better-coach-than-a-player.html

Give good gifts

A gift given with no thought of return, as a selfless act, has the potential to move, motivate and influence an entire community of people.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/02/the-hidden-power-of-a-gift.html

Count your cost of following Jesus

This is Katie’s story of her life and serving her Jesus.
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/2010/02/she-was-eighteen-years-old-and-she-had.html

What is your cost of following Jesus?

I know mine is not what it should be.

Put people & relationships first.

Carlos wasn’t feeling up to spending the afternoon with his daughters’ Kindergarten & Second grade classes, I mean, can you blame him? Little kids are a lot of work.

But, if you’ll go here to read his story of the day, http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2010/02/chicken-legs/ , you can find out why this turned out so special.


Do I drop everything when someone I love needs me? No. Not as much as I should. That “Mommy, lets read this story” or “Momma, momma……kitty!” or “Let’s go That Way!” often seem to be interruptions in life, but really everything else is an interruption to this.

Laundry will always be there, dishes can be washed later, posting on my blog can be done while the precious littles are asleep.


I hope when it comes time, I can faithfully use my gifts and talents to bless my heavenly Father by cherishing His other children.
Whether its cleaning my home, or writing the next hit single: “Chicken Legs”