Beauty for Ashes

Single moms will always hold a special place in my heart.  That journey is challenging and frustrating and lonely and just plain stinks. You know, whether you are a new single mom or have been one for many years, I just want to love and encourage you today. I want to tell you that you are amazing and beautiful.  I want you to hear that God loves you and sees your struggles.  He is right there with you even though you may not feel it. Like me, I'm sure you never envisioned motherhood this way.  But the reality is, here you are, raising your child alone or in a split family.  I know how many challenging situations can arise, but for me, one of the hardest things I had to deal with was the time away from my boys.  You know, being a mama was all I ever wanted to be.  When I thought about having them, I didn't see this reality.  And when it happened it was as if I had been hit in the face with a brick wall.  I didn't know how to be 'alone'. ...

Surrendering our problems, our fears and doubts is a tough thing to do sometimes. To let go and let God move isn't always natural for us.  To let go and let God begin to refine us and make us new can be scary.  It's hard because the refining process is so difficult to walk through most of the time.  It challenges us to see problems, people, and situations the way God does.  It allows us to see these things without our emotions fogging up our view.  We all have to do it at some point if we want to experience the freedom God can bring us from all of our junk.  Even when it goes against everything in our being to hang on, you must let go.  I know that there is someone out there going through a season of surrender.  This season is exceptionally hard as you want to have complete control.  You don't want to loosen your grip.  You are thinking that you can do it all on your own.  That you can do it in your strength.   But I'm here t...