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Tag: dalgonacoffee

michelleelaineburton

Pursuing an Unchanging God in an Ever-Changing World

I wake up every day in a battle. More often than I

I wake up every day in a battle. More often than I would like to admit, anxiety rises in my heart before I even rise from my bed. For years, this morning battle has been the first domino down in a day that spirals out of control. But recently I’ve realized what’s been missing, and I’ve begun to have victory in my life. The problem? I’ve been going into battle with no weapon.

I don’t do my devotions in the morning. I likely never will. I’m so far from being a morning person that morning is the least profitable time for me to study God’s Word. This is not about having morning devotions. I will always advocate for studying the Bible at your very best time of the day, and I acknowledge that for many people that is not the morning. But as soldiers entering into spiritual warfare every single day, taking up the Sword of the Spirit is not an option.

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

When Jesus fought the temptation of Satan in the wilderness, He modeled for us how we are to use the Word of God as a weapon in our own spiritual warfare.

Matthew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Jesus used a specific verse to fight the specific temptation He was faced with. That’s why we’re supposed to memorize Scripture, right? But sometimes it’s helpful to have a more tangible reminder of the Scripture we want to use to combat sin. So Scripture flashcards? That may be helpful for some, but personally, loose papers drive me crazy, and I won’t keep flashcards around for long. So what’s the solution?

Enter, The Pocket Sword.

My husband first came up with the idea of carrying a New Testament marked in a way that would be functional for combatting temptation in our lives. I thought the idea was brilliant, and I made a few tweaks to make it easy to use for myself. This concept has been so revolutionary in both of our lives that I want to share with you how you can set up your own Pocket Sword and have victory in the spiritual battles in your own life.

For more details check out my latest blog post! Link in bio!

I’ve never been a “take life as it comes” ki

I’ve never been a “take life as it comes” kind of person. I want to know exactly what’s going to happen. Better yet, I want to plan exactly what’s going to happen.

But in recent days the Lord has been impressing on my heart that He wants me to begin to receive life as He gives it to me.

That? I think I can do that.

Not bracing myself against whatever life throws at me, but rather standing with open arms ready to receive whatever my loving Father chooses to give.

Both the things that seem too good to be true and the things I wish weren’t true.

Both the everyday joys and the little inconveniences of life.

I choose to receive all of it because I believe the Giver is good.

God has been speaking to me very loudly lately. It

God has been speaking to me very loudly lately. It’s as if His voice is playing in surround sound as the events of my life sync up with what I’m reading in His Word.

This morning, at the very moment my daughter discovered the first wildflowers of spring, I was reading these verses:

Luke 12:27-28
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

So I stopped. I considered those wildflowers. And I was reminded that if God made those flowers so beautiful, the ones that were going to be picked by a three year old and stuffed into my pockets, then I could trust Him not just to meet my basic needs, but to provide for me in an extravagant and beautiful way.

I tucked this little violet in my Bible to carry with me as a reminder of God’s goodness. If you see a wildflower today, stop to consider it; maybe even pluck it up and take it with you. But most of all, allow it remind you just how much God cares for you. 💐

On Monday these two little duckies taught me a les

On Monday these two little duckies taught me a lesson about the Lord that brought me to tears.

We went to the mall as a family that day. My three year old loves playing on the indoor playground, and sometimes before we leave she asks to get a little rubber ducky out of one of the vending machines. I save quarters in my wallet for this exact purpose. This Monday, she didn’t ask for a ducky, and so we left without one.

At lunch she realized her mistake. Tears were shed, but there was no going back. We explained that sometimes she doesn’t get a ducky, and that’s okay.

Later that afternoon as I thought about my daughter’s unfulfilled wish for the $2 rubber ducky, I remembered that the very next day we would be giving her a Valentine’s Day present: a wooden duck pull toy that she had been asking for.

With that realization, this thought struck me: How often have I been upset that God didn’t give me what I wanted when all along He was planning something far better?

My daughter was thrilled with her duck pull toy, and the $2 rubber ducky was quickly forgotten. But I hope that I won’t quickly forget the lesson I learned next time I’m feeling disappointment over my unanswered prayers. I don’t want to forget that God has something far better.

1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I have been so excited for a fresh start this year

I have been so excited for a fresh start this year, and I'm ready to see what the Lord has in store for me as I focus on investing in my relationship with Him and with others. My word for the year is "undone." It's a bit unconventional, but my goal is to leave as many things as possible undone, not for the purpose of being lazy, but with the intention of making time for the things that are most important.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…

I always thought of the weights we are told to lay aside as being sin, but the Lord recently convicted me that there are often things in my life that may not be sin, but are still weights. What things are holding me back from living the life God has called me to live? Those are the weights I must commit to laying aside.

This year I am committing to leave as many things as possible undone so that I can fully invest myself in doing the things God has called me to do, all the while looking to Jesus as my guide in this race called life.

Do you have a word for the year? Share it with me in the comments!

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Decorating for Christmas this year has seemed a bi

Decorating for Christmas this year has seemed a bit overwhelming with a three year old running around and a five month old crawling around, so I borrowed the idea of doing a little at a time from @snippetsofhopeblog . (One of the most encouraging Instagram accounts, by the way. Go follow her!)

I put up my nativity last night, and I’m so glad I did. I now have a visual reminder of where I want the focus of my heart to be this season. And rather than having the don’t-touch-the-Christmas-tree conversation with my daughter, I got to have the why-we-celebrate-Christmas conversation when she asked to touch baby Jesus.

My greatest prayer is that Jesus would touch the lives of my children the way He has touched and changed my life. I want to keep the focus of our family on Him this Christmas.

“Who'd have thought that love could be so caffei

“Who'd have thought that love could be so caffeinated?” - Me quoting “Taylor, the Latte Boy” while drinking a decaf latte.

We’re seven years deep in this thing called love, and we celebrated our Latteversary today with coffee and a stroll through Target with kids in tow.

I’ve heard people say you shouldn’t get married young, that you still have so much growing up to do. As someone who got married young (22) and is still young (28), I think I finally understand this.

Were we immature at twenty-two? Definitely. Are we still immature in some ways? Yep.

But do I regret getting married young? Absolutely not.

I’m so glad we got married young. I’m so thankful I get to spend so much of my life with my best friend.

But here’s the key: if you want to get married young, make sure you marry someone who is committed to growing in the same direction as you.

Have we had hard days? Of course! But a deep commitment to growing toward Christlikeness has made all the difference in our lives and our relationship.

I believe I’m closer to the Lord because of my marriage with Steven than I would have been if I had waited to be “more mature” to get married.

The reality is, we’re all still growing. So why not grow together?

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9

The words “goodness and mercy” ran like a silv

The words “goodness and mercy” ran like a silver thread of hope through what was otherwise a difficult summer. It seems fitting that I should wear those words on a silver chain around my neck now.

I’ve been silent online for some time now. This summer wasn’t everything we planned for it to be. But the very real presence of God we experienced in the midst of it made all the less than ideal circumstances worth it.

I can’t say that I wanted to share about the events of this summer, but the Lord convicted me that I shouldn’t ever hesitate to publicly praise Him for the work He does in my life. I wrote a blog post for the purpose of sharing what the Lord taught me over the course of this sanctifying summer. If you would like to read it, the link is in my bio!

(P.S. - Our baby boy was born in June perfectly healthy - he was one of many evidences of God’s goodness and mercy this summer, and I thank God for him every day!)

Lately I’ve been stressting. It’s like nesting

Lately I’ve been stressting. It’s like nesting, but more from the realization that your “due date” is a month away than from the motivation to actually do anything. This happens more often with second babies.

Also, why do babies need so many socks?

Baby Boy finally has clean clothes to wear, and soon he’ll have an installed car seat and a place to sleep. It’s true that with second babies you realize just how little “stuff” you actually need.

Even as I prepare for the arrival of our new baby, the Lord is reminding me of how He provides for me. If I’m providing all these things for my child, won’t He do the same for me?

He’ll provide food for me to eat.

He’ll provide clothes for me to wear. 
He’s the only One who can keep me safe.

And at the end of the day, I know I’ll have a place to lay my head at night - because I have a good Father taking care of me.

Matthew 6:31-33

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

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