HALFWAY TO SUNDAY MOM
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Castor Favorite Recipes
  • dOterra Wellness Advocate
  • Testimonies
  • YouTube Channel
  • About me
  • About Us
Picture

Previous Blogs

July 2020
April 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019

~ The Blogs of A Halfway To Sunday Mom ~


Finding Shalom in the Dark

4/5/2020

2 Comments

 
Isaiah 34:8
For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause. "
  Today we are all trying to find our way in this new normal we call life. Mothers, all of you right now are having to be the teacher, the cook, the medic, the cleaner, the stabilizer in your families. Not one of you is the exception as we trudge through this hard time of finding a new way of living. It is a stressful time for us all, I am no different, finding my way through this fog has been a challenge to say the least. But among the confusion, the fear, the worry and anxiety is something we mothers must cling to. Until recently I was not able to do it myself, but with persistence in God's word I found how to cling to the one thing that can get all of us through these new and unfamiliar times. For me, I was doing pretty darn good until our President announced that we would need to continue restrictions until April 30th at the least. I don't know about you, but my heart dropped. I was already feeling the fatigue and boredom set in, now I was facing down right depression. The slightest thing that would not go as planned, a phone dropping off the counter (yep it happened) or talking with a loved one and then realizing I wouldn't be seeing them for Easter (yep, that happened too) would throw my day off. I would close up our house and set the kids in front of the TV and drown out my feelings with TV of my own. I had lost my Shalom...
  So before I get into my post's details lets talk about Shalom. Many believe Shalom is peace but don't fully grasp that concept. This kind of peace doesn't just fit into no wars, no famine, no hatred. On the contrary this peace is referred to as the wholeness of God. Shalom is the peace given to us by the Holy Spirit regardless of our situation. This peace isn't only found when things are going well, but can be found when things are hard, scary, dreadful. This peace can be given anytime, anyplace and under any situation. The good, the bad, the ugly; the Spirit's shalom for us calms us when the seas are towering over our heads. When I was able to regain my shalom things changed. President Trump's month long restrictions didn't give me shalom but instead God's word did. I was reading in Isaiah. I came across chapter 34 verse 2 which stated, The Lord is angry with ALL nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter... Now I know what you are thinking. Christen, how in the world did this passage give you shalom? It didn't, but it did get me thinking about how we as a world have been pushing our Father out of every aspect of our lives if it interfered with how we wanted to live. As a mother, if my children were doing that; lets face it right now they are doing that LOL. They would and HAVE been getting my wrath! Our loving Father is no exception. Verse 8 which was stated at the top gave me my shalom, the key words being "for Zion's cause". As Christians we must never forget that all of this is for God and His plans are perfect to assure Zion's cause. Now I have no idea if we will be dealing with this epidemic for a full year (as the verse states), but I do find it funny that the time frame President Trump gave me showered no peace but fear and dread despite being a lot shorter than a year. With this passage I felt the Spirit cover me in shalom, to the point I am writing to you now full of hope and excited anticipation. Do I still pray it doesn't take that long, you bet! Do I accept that God's will may mean it takes longer, YES! I am not just pulling verses, which is huge, but also facts. Using worldmeters.info I have been tracking the virus for every country and even our own states. So feel free to check out my facts yourself. But from what I am following this will not be over quickly. I believe it was no coincidence that the first reported case in China was December 31, 2019 https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen . That brings me to the main point of this post. 
Picture
Hebrews 12:11 No DISCIPLINE seems pleasant at the time, but PAINFUL. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE (Shalom) for those who have been trained by it. "
  Now onto the encouraging point of this post. If God is loving then why is He allowing this to happen? Well that answer, I believe, comes down to upholding Zion's cause. God has a plan, we know this from Revelation, but to get to Revelation we have to still be here! Below is how He is making sure the world makes it to the second coming of Christ.

The Value of Human Life Restored

Picture

  Up until this virus began to sweep across the world, mankind had lost all value of human life. Not only were the unborn being slaughtered and is to this day the largest genocide in human history, but the lines were already beginning to stretch. The elderly and mentally struggling were next on the list to "humanely euthanizing" (sometimes, not even humanely). There were reports starting to spread about the sick and elderly being starved to death.
https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-03-04/abortions-rise-worldwide-when-us-cuts-funding-women-s-health-clinics-study-finds 
https://www.dailywire.com/news/netherlands-elderly-woman-forcibly-euthanized-paul-bois 
https://www.conservativereview.com/news/murder-disguise-disabled-frenchman-dies-9-days-court-ordered-forced-starvation/ 

As mothers the value of life is our primal weapon. We would do anything to protect our children, even die for them. But as years have seen, the opposite has been reality. I was one of them, with my daughter Adara May, for the full story see https://www.halfwaytosundaymom.com/blog/losing-control and https://www.halfwaytosundaymom.com/blog/raising-lazarus-healing-after-abortion . God is desperate for us to value each life as He does. I believe after this epidemic the value of human life will have restored significantly. After losing so many, unexpectedly, we will once again cherish the ones who are here and yet to come. As mothers this should be so encouraging as we raise the next generations of youth.


Proverbs 24:11-12 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? "

World Wide Hunger Will Decrease

  We must remember that NEVER in the history of mankind have we been able to communicate and travel anywhere in the world like we can today. There has been SO much food shortages where there never should have been. But because of legalistic and political gains and money hungry opportunist people, world wide hunger was a huge problem. But I believe this will change too.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/climate/food-waste-emissions.html 
https://www.wfpusa.org/stories/8-facts-to-know-about-food-waste-and-hunger/ 
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/15-07-2019-world-hunger-is-still-not-going-down-after-three-years-and-obesity-is-still-growing-un-report 

As mothers it is our job to teach our children not only the value of not wasting food, but also on feeding those less fortunate. Because of this virus, some, not all, but some people who never had to want for food are struggling. This new appreciation for the food they have on their tables, I believe will spread once this virus is gone. People will learn they can live on less, others will learn to be grateful for left overs, and others will learn how to truly help a stranger in need. So mothers, until this is over, teach your children the value of eating what you are given, even if it is those left overs. LOL
Picture
​Luke 3:10-11 And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. "

The Environment Will Rebound

Picture
  This is so very exciting! The world is already seeing results of the environment resetting itself. Reports are coming in, with the waterways being used less, gas emissions way down and cars off the road, people outside walking and not inside, buildings and housing production ceasing, etc. The earth is healing. It wont be perfect, we know from the Bible that wont happen until the second appearing. But some of what we lost from exploitation will come back. 
https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/coronavirus/venice-canals-clear-dolphins-swim-italy-lockdown/ https://www.foxnews.com/science/ozone-layer-healing-growing-evidence-montreal-protocol.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51944780

This has the potential for being worldwide changing! A second chance to do things a little better then before. And who knows, if this virus does linger for a year, what other environmental positives will happen?! As mothers this will be a lesson worth teaching our children about how to take care of the temporary home God has given us charge over. Being good stewards and trustworthy with what we have.

​1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. "

Revival of Humanities Health

  As mothers we can all associate with this one. For weeks now we have been wracking our brains to come up with new or even permanent ideas on how to keep our children entertained OUTSIDE. It doesn't matter what time of day I am out walking, there are always others out now. Husbands and wives, mothers with children and my personal favorite... fathers with their children! I have seen fathers teaching their kids to fish, throw a baseball, throw a football, teaching how to ride bikes. I love it!!! There is something so... joyful, in seeing a father nurturing his children. With all this time outside and actives to keep little ones occupied it is no wonder. Inflatable pools (guilty, that will be a gift for Easter), swingsets, trampolines, blow up hose sprayers, basketball hoops, and the list continues. Human health is one the rise. With the rationing of food which causes us to not over indulge and activeness outside, humans are looking GOOD!
  I actually couldn't find any articles supporting this! But eye witness accounts on this mommy's part has to count for something. LOL. I truly believe when all is said and done, humans will have learned how to be healthier and the results will show.
Picture
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. "

The Not So Obvious Positives

  There are other outlooks that you wont find in a news article, but as Christians we can have hope and faith in seeing as these days continue. Families will have grown closer together. Certainly, if you allow the devil in your home, you could very well end up feeling like crap. But if you seek Shalom as a FAMILY, praying together, worshiping together, reading the word together, I PROMISE you; your relationships will deepen and strengthen.
  While we are on the subject of relationships, I believe forgiveness will be on an all time high. Not knowing if someone you are not talking to could contract the disease or even has, will bring walls down. Forgiveness will be the sweet water over pouring into the world. This killer will unite the world on all fronts. I believe enemies will be shown love and forgiveness, just as Jesus commanded. Estranged relationships will be restored.
  People will now have a new value of appreciation for what the have. Greed and gluttony will decrease, good stewardship will return. People will take care of what they have and "stuff" wont seems as important anymore.
  And if I dare say it, I believe, God will be restored in our schools again. Not as a pushing blow torch but as a gentle flame. The pledge which mentions His name restored, Bibles allowed back in schools without fear, love and grace taught above all else, speaking of God out loud and not in secret. A beautiful thought.
  Ultimately, I believe that this virus will call thousands to Him. They will come, seeking Shalom that only His Spirit can offer. People will want to know there is a reason for this hurt, not just some random chaos in the universe. For the glory of God is always the goal to seek in anything that happens. Good or bad, that is why He offers us His shalom; so that even in the dark He can carry us through it.
   
Picture
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. "

  This has been a long post, and I thank you mothers for sticking with me through the end. This is just the vision I am getting, going off of what I am seeing and what the Word says. But I do know for sure, during this time we must cling to Hebrews 12:11. Know that you will get through this, God will not let this last forever. Be comforted in knowing that as hard as this may seem, God appointed YOU mothers, right here and right now, for this exact test on earth. Know that there is still an end time for earth, and continue to pray and seek Him afterwards when things turn good. When the world is on the mountain top again, continue to pray and seek His knowledge.  And when this is over, this test will become your testimony. This mess will become THE message for those to come. This is God's world, He was, is and always will be the one in control; even when we try to tell Him otherwise, He is still the pot maker and we are forever still the clay.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. " 
2 Comments

Mother... YOU ARE NOT ALONE

4/1/2020

2 Comments

 
     Hello dear mother,
     It has been awhile. But with the world seemingly coming apart at the seems and tensions on high I felt compelled to write to you today, with a simple message. Dear mother, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. As a homeschooling mom some of you may be thinking that life for us hasn't changed all that much. And it would be a lie to some to say that wasn't true. However, we have had changes to our daily lives, and if I am struggling then I can only imagine how much harder this must be for some of you. If your child attended public school you are struggling to teach your children and entertain them, and heaven forbid if you are having to work from home too! If you are a teacher and mother you are still having to teach your students all the while teaching you own. Maybe you are in the medical field and you aren't allowed to stay home but you have children who you are struggling to find sitters for, even grandparents are hard to find with the virus attacking them with a vengeance. If you are a homeschool mom, the normal teach on the go is being attacked and your activities have been limited. To all of you, you are not alone.
     Long gone are the days where we felt like there were not enough hours to get everything done, now the days seem to drag on. Screen time seems for a time to be a huge time filler. But before long even our kids (and lets face it, even us) are bored with it. As a mom struggling myself I have never before sat there and counted the HOURS before my kids went to bed. Just being honest here. And the fighting between siblings and the complaining to you and the agitated state of your home is on an all time high. Sure you can go on pinterest and look up fun crafts but after a while that can really start to get expensive having to buy supplies after supplies (if you can find it). Heck even now I am feeling the anger well inside of me as my youngest throws disrespect my way because I wont let him do something. I am struggling just like you mom. There are moments when I just want to scream and get away and I can't because I am trapped by this virus. Another example, we have bedrooms for each kid, a open concept home, and where are my kids as I write for the first time since December? In the school room with me! Tears are trying to well up and the overwhelming sensation in my senses screaming, "I can't do this! I wont survive this! Get me out of here! I am not strong enough to coup! I hate this new norm!"

​




     I have no pictures to even insert on this blog because my computer crashed months ago and wont allow pictures to be unloaded. LOL. Humility at its finest. But in the mist of all of this strive there is always a light if we choose to seek it out. It may be very dim right now, but it still remains. I don't know God's reasoning for this. To purge our environment of impurities for a time? I mean there are less people on the roads, beaches are closed, national parks are closed, etc. Might it be so parents have to learn how to teach their children how to coup in times of hardship by setting the examples themselves? With schools out and kids home there is no where to hide how we are handling the situation. I know my children have seen the tears start flowing in a normal conversation on the phone, all because I realized that I wouldn't be seeing my parents for Easter. Crying because I wanted to be taken care of for just a few hours by my parents instead of being the constant care giver. Maybe it has something to do with the value of life and how the world has been making it clear to God that there is no value. By killing the unborn and starting on the elderly and handicapped. Maybe it is a combination of all things. I don't know God's will, but He ALWAYS has a reason to everything He does and this virus is no exception.
     So, mother, who is not alone, take every day at a time, every hour if you have to. Re-establish quiet times every day so you can have some peace and recharge. Send the kids to their collective rooms for an hour or two. Let them nap or play by themselves, I did this yesterday. Come up with a new normal routine. Make sure you have some time to be active (though of you're like me that is t he last thing you want) as a family. Take a nightly walk before the sun sets (keeping that social distancing). Try to do one craft a week, not every day, burn out is real. Play cards (UNO, Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy 8s, etc) are all great for kids of most young and older ages. Play hide and seek in your home and start a tally board to keep track of who is winning. At the end of this virus see who is the champion. Face Time, Face Time, Face Time, at least one person every day; it will help you and them. Start planning and gathering ideas for a "Coronavirus is gone!" party, to give you something to look forward to. And keep praying and fasting, this will not last forever, but until it has passed we must continue to seek joy every day.
2 Comments
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from chimpwithcan, La Citta Vita, kambodza, Jack W. Pearce
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Castor Favorite Recipes
  • dOterra Wellness Advocate
  • Testimonies
  • YouTube Channel
  • About me
  • About Us