Being Crucified

        I recently had the pleasure of visiting my sister down in Palm Springs. The only unpleasant thing about traveling there would be the lovely, small plane that it takes to get there and back! That combined with the storms hitting California and I was no longer in my comfort zone. For some odd reason, with age, flying has become less of an adventure and more of a risky maneuver for me.....ah, and there it is unveiled....yet another trust issue God gets to work on. I probably should fly more often as I don't think I have ever prayed so consistently and diligently about anything and everything for 2 straight hours!
The day approached for me to fly home and of course it was quite the blustery day. So once again I got to pass another test of trusting in God when my nature seems to shout "run away or die!" The flight was rather bumpy for the entire two hours and several times my stomach was jumping all over the place. I had a handful of moments where I performed what I am going to call the 'mom reflex' - something is alerting (in this case, a tiny plane bouncing around in thunderhead clouds) and instantly your hands fly out to the side of wherever you are and holds on or braces for dear life! But God is SO good and He decided to bless me while I was on this 2 hour journey. Beside me, He sat a fellow believer and Jesus-lover with which I talked to from before take-off and after landing. Not only was this a welcomed distraction from the turbulence but we opened up and shared our lives with each other, encouraged one another, and stated that we would lift each other's needs up to the Lord. She said something to me that I think was beautiful and worth sharing with you. As she was talking to me about her four children, her husband, and her faith that encompassed them all, she made the following comment: "I didn't realize how human I was until I started having kids." Through all the challenges she faced of raising her kids she saw areas of her flesh coming out that she didn't know existed. She now counts it as a blessing as she said her kids are constantly crucifying her flesh and bringing her to her knees.  I can relate to what she is saying.  I myself have thought about how after I got married I saw different ways my flesh could roar its ugly head.  Sometimes I was shocked with just how selfish I was or the thoughts and words that would fly through me and sometimes out of me! These are things that I have identified as things that needing to be put to death! Isn't the purpose of trials and tribulations in our life just that?? To be refined, to be purified so that we can be more Christ-like? Our flesh/sin must be crucified on that cross so that we can be sanctified for His glory.
             I hope this serves as encouragement to you. For you moms out there who are exhausted  and feel you are at the end of your rope or who lost your control today: Allow your flesh to be crucified and HE will supply you with all you need while molding you to be more like Him. Being crucified will be painful, but to be further refined for Him is worth it.

Verse of the Moment

"Because of your partnership in the gospel
from the first day until now, being confident of this,
that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:5-6