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"And Again I Say Rejoice!"

12/4/2012

As I sit here in the quiet of my parent's den gazing at their beautiful Christmas tree, I can't help but reflect on what a year this has been! Crazy, to say the least. Every year has it's ups and downs for sure, but this year seemed extraordinarily more roller-coastery. (It's my blog...I get to make up my own words!)
I have to say, however, that through it all, I am so very grateful to a forever loving Savior who allowed the highs to far outweigh the lows. In Ecclesiastes it talks about there being a season for everything and I think I covered them all in the last 12 months!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

A Time for Everything. There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

The thing about hard times, for me anyway, is that they always make me that much more aware of all the good things, the blessings, in my life. The hard times are also a constant reminder of God's unending faithfulness in my life to see me through every situation.
The last 6 months have been hard, to say the least. Very wearisome, and yet God's strength has sustained me, His grace has been sufficient, and His answers to my fervent prayers have surpassed that which man thought possible.

As this Christmas season is now upon us, I choose to rejoice! I rejoice that the Creator of this universe chose to send His very own Son to this earth to be born in the most humble of ways. Though His Son be a King, He offered Him as a sacrifice, for my sake. I rejoice that Jesus chose His Father's will and not His own, because now I am able to have underserved grace, immeasurable peace, and the confidence that whatever circumstances I face, my Heavenly Father walks before me, gives me strength and guides me each step of the way.

I rejoice that God blessed my life 22 years ago with a man that I would call my husband. A Godly man that would lead, encourage and challenge me to be the Godly woman that God intends for me to be. The man that would be right by my side through each and every low moment in my life. A man that has been my best friend for 22 years and has shown me love, even when I was unloveable. A man that has protected me and provided for me. A man that I would enjoy growing old with, through laughter and tears, through dreams that came true or even the ones that didn't, no matter what, we make the most of every moment that God allows us to have together!

I rejoice that I have the most amazing children! Being barren for 8 years, I can't help but rejoice every time I look at my five beautiful blessings and can't wait to gaze into the eyes of our sixth blessing in May! Our house abounds with laughter and love! What more could I ask for?!?!

I rejoice that 41 years ago, God blessed my life with giving me the most amazing parents a girl could ask for. They have loved me unconditionally all my days. They have faithfully instilled in me the teachings of God's word, and even more importantly they have been an example of God's love and His characteristics. As we spend the Christmas holidays together this Christmas, I rejoice evermore that God has chosen to allow us this time! I know now, more than ever, that life is a fragile thing! As I posted before, you never know what a day holds and I'd love to encourage you with just a few things that I have recently learned about this life:

*Live every day as if it were your last.
*If you have been blessed with children, remember you have them only for a short time. Before you know it they will be grown. Live a Godly example before them and know that time with them is the most important gift you could give.
*Don't waste your life away complaining about all the things you don't have, but be thankful for each and every blessing that you do have!
*Love those around you and don't be afraid to let them know that you love them by your words and your actions!
*Choose to forgive and live in peace with others. Bitterness will eat your life away!
*Every day that God choses to breathe life into your very lungs, live it for Him and for His glory!

I have always been "aware" of these things, but any time you face losing someone you love, God gently reminds us of the things that are most important.

I am so blessed and I pray that you and your family are enjoying this holiday season and that you will be blessed beyond measure!

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"A Year of Faith"

9/26/2012

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My husband told me on January 17th of this year that God had told him this was going to be a year of faith. I had no idea the impact of what those words really meant. I've always lived my life by faith so I just thought, "ok!" The year started off great in every aspect of our lives. The kids were doing well in school, and they finished up the year with a bang. We got to go celebrate my parents 50th anniversary with them in June and had the opportunity to take the kids to my grandmother's farm to see where I spent a lot of my summers and Christmas' growing up. The church was doing great! It was growing, new classes had begun, we had baptized over 30 just in the first few months, small groups were active...all was well.

The past few months have been somewhat of a whirlwind. Derrick and I have experienced some of the hardest days in ministry which trickled to every area of our lives. The heartache of losing friends. The heartache of our kids losing their friends. The struggle to understand what in the world was going on. As a Christ follower, I have experienced spiritual warfare on a daily basis, but the reality of Ephesians 6:12 had never felt so extreme.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

I honestly felt as though we were on the front line of a battlefield and I never even knew what the war was about or how it started.

You always hear not to pray for patience because you know that you will be tested in order for that virtue to be grown in your life. I can definitely say these past few months have been a testing of my faith. Thankfully, I know who my Redeemer is and I know who has the victory! Through it all, I still have faith that my Savior is in control and that
"In all things God works for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!" Rom. 8:28
His never failing love never ceases to amaze me and His promise to see us through any hardship has definitely, once again, been proven true.
I thank HIm for the testing of my faith because I can continue to stand firm in His great love and power.

When your faith seems so small, remember that Jesus says that all it has to be is the size of a mustard seed. "I tell you the truth,if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you!" Matthew 17:20 If that doesn't get your blood pumping, I don't know what will! As children of God, we can move mountains!!!! What mountain is standing in your way today?

"Submit to God and be at peace with HIm; in this way prosperity will come to you." Job 22:21

I have learned through this trial that when you don't understand your circumstances, just continue submitting your life to Christ and regardless of what is going on around you, just make sure that you are at peace with Him! I promise that good things will come!

As the turbulence subsides, and we continue seeking the will of our Father, I can tell you God has graciously brought sunshine at the end of the storm for our family. I placed the picture above because the dot within the circle is about the size of a mustard seed. That dot resembles the testing of my faith, which will now grow into another one of God's amazing blessings of life. This was a very unexpected blessing, but I know that God had this special plan for us. We are thankful and grateful and will continue on serving and doing the will of our Father...one more Shirley at a time! :)

Though it be a year of testing and growing of our faith,

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

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What If...

12/8/2011

1 Comment

Responding to the call that God has on each Christ follower's life can be life altering! Growing up a PK, I grew up saying that I wasn't going to marry someone in the ministry. I wanted to have a "normal" life. Now, as a kid, I had a great life. My strife came in when my parents always had to find someone for me to sit with in church so that I would behave during the service. My mom was in the back row of the choir loft and my dad was on the stage so I had to have someone to make sure I was ok and behaving. As I got a little older and was able to sit with my friends, everyone knew when little miss Marci was misbehaving in church because they would hear my mom clearing her throat and then eventually see her stand up and exit the choir loft. So "normal" to me was that I wanted to have a husband that sat with me in church and all of our kids with us. However, at 16, God called me to full time Christian ministry. At the time, I wasn't exactly sure in what capacity, but as my life unfolds I believe I understand. I went on to marry a man...in the ministry. It's been an amazing ride, however, and I wouldn't change it for a thing!
In scripture, we see some men not wanting to heed the call that God had on their life. Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh and he ended up in the belly of a whale. Moses didn't want to represent the Israelites because he had a speech impediment, so God had to show up to him through a burning bush.
The other day I was thinking to myself, what if Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a rebellious spirit. What if when the Angel of the Lord came to her and told her that she was going to give birth to the Son of God, she completely refused to cooperate. What if she said, "Are you kidding me? I want a normal life! I don't need this! What are people going to think of me? I'm pregnant, not married...no way! Not going there!" Granted, her life was anything but "normal", but the blessings she received to be chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus! Wow! Being the mother of the Son of God had it's joyous moments, It's honorable moments, it's proud moments, it's scary moments, and it's gut wrenching moments. I can assure you though that she would have never chosen any other path!
God has a plan for each of us! Not just those "in the ministry"! As we are fixing to begin a new year, start fresh by asking yourself if you have responded to the call that God has on your life! Does your life have meaning? Is your life making a difference? Do you have peace in your life? Do you have purpose? A passion? Are you living your life in a way that you would want your legacy to be remembered? If not, you have probably not completely allowed the Son of God, the One whom we are celebrating this very season, to penetrate your life! Don't be afraid! That's what the Angel told Mary too! Give it up and accept the call that the Creator of the universe has on your life! I can assure you that it will be life altering and it will be an amazing ride!

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Live With Expectancy

6/21/2011

3 Comments

A story I must tell...If you've read any of my blogs you know that Derrick and I dealt with infertility for 8 very long years. Those were truly some of the most trying years of my life. Every month thinking, "This could be the month!" only to be diappointed by another negative sign. Well, that's when I started writing my book. I wanted other women dealing with infertility to know that they were not alone. I wanted to share all the ups and downs and how my Savior had gotten me through each low moment.
Let me share with you about a day I will never forget.
It was a Saturday afternoon and I had been cleaning house all day. I don't believe I had even brushed my teeth (Gross, I know!) No make-up, gymshorts and tee shirt...just giving you the full picture. The boys (If this is the first blog of mine that you've read, our first two boys were adopted from birth.) were playing and Derrick was at church leading worship in the two services that our church had every Saturday night. I decided to sit down and write a little in my book. I was on the chapter in my book that discusses different women in the Bible that suffered from infertility and how each of them dealt with it. I began to write a personal point about how through all the devastation, I was now beginning to see the bigger picture. God wanted us to be blessed with two amazingly, precious little boys that I could not imagine my life without. God was revealing to me to live each day in expectancy and excitement to see what He is up to. As I wrote those words down, God told me to go to the bathroom garbage can and look at the pregnancy test that I had taken the day before. Taking a test was a monthly ritual for me. I immediately threw it away because I had heard that the "positive" sign comes up immediately and I didn't see it right away so I chuncked it. Just like the thousands of others that I had taken over the past 8 years.
Feeling a little wierd, I went to the garbage can, pulled out the test that I had taken the day before and low and behold, IT WAS POSITIVE!!!!!!!! Nothing can describe that feeling after waiting all my life to see it!
I had always dreamt of how, when the time came, I would tell Derrick that we were going to have a baby, but never pictured it quite like it happened. I, in my mess of attire, no make-up and un-brushed teeth, picked up the boys, threw them in the car and raced to two different stores before I found another pregnancy test. I had to see another positive! Sure enough, It was for real! The boys and I hurried up to the church, I run in carrying them, one on each hip, and stick my head in the worship room door and ask to speak to Derrick...could not wait!!!! He came out and I handed him the stick! It was amazing!
That was 7 years ago! My Carmen Elizabeth was born on June 22, 2004. I can't believe 7 years have come and gone.
The point I want you to get from this whole story is, God is at work. You may not see it right now. It may not even feel like He knows you exsist, but He does my friend! His plans for you are not to harm you, but to give you hope and a good future! (Jeremiah 29:11) He has blessed my life beyond anything I could have ever dreamed!
Live with expectancy of what God is up to and rejoice to be a part of it!
I love you my sweet Carmen! Happy Birthday!

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My New Roles In Life

11/11/2010

1 Comment

This has been an interesting year for me. I took on the role of "Teacher" to my children. This is something that I never thought that I would do. Not because I don't enjoy having my children around me 24/7, but more because I am a by the book type of person. I do things the way that they are normally done. Get married, have kids, send them to school, get all my errands run, pick kids up, have dinner, bath time, bed time for kiddos then Mama/Daddy time. This was the way that I was raised, this is the way that I thought it should be. My sister-in-law has homeschooled her four boys all along and I was always so proud of her. She has done a great job and I have always admired her, but never thought that it was my calling. The more I prayed about the calling on my life as the mother of the children that God has blessed me with, I was convinced otherwise. It is my calling to raise and nurture them in the admonition of Christ. Deut. 6:5-7 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Always remember these commands I give you today. Teach them to your children and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road,when you lie down and when you get up." I realized this year that I want to take advantage of every opportunity that I am given to teach my children about the amazing love of God. I want to teach them in every aspect of their lives about loving the Lord with all of their heart, soul and strength and now I have an extra seven hours a day to do this!
Things are going well. We have our routine down and the kids seem to be doing great! We have learned the seven continents and are traveling to each. The picture is our continent cake! We have "traveled" through North America, learning all the states in the US and some major ones in Canada and Mexico. We then entered South America and did a large study on Brazil. Now we are in the continent of Europe and are studying Norway. The boys have one more lesson in their year curriculum of math so they will move on to the next level after making A's on most of their tests. Carmen is working on all second grade things instead of first. I am very proud of each of them and I thank God for giving me this opportunity. I see it as a very high calling and responsibility and am leaning on my Savior to give me the wisdom and strength that I need to fulfill this call.
The other role that is new for me this year is the role of being the lead pastor's wife. Most of my and Derrick's marriage I have been a worship pastor's wife. This was a role that was very familiar to me. I was raised as a worship pastor's daughter, one of my passions is leading in worship and Derrick and I have always been very comfortable in this role. God is stretching both of us and has blessed us with the opportunity to lead a wonderful group of people that we love so much and with them hope to reach the community which surrounds our church. In the last six months we have seen God do some amazing things and I am honored to be a part!
So these are my new roles that I will grow in daily and pray that Jesus be glorified. God has called you to a significant work and He will equip you to do it! Will you be faithful and do it?

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Brokenness

7/22/2010

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I was convicted the other night as I was walking down the beach with my little ones. Carmen and I were picking up shells and putting them in her bucket. I was picking up the whole, beautiful shells and Carmen kept picking up the broken pieces of shells. I showed Carmen the kind I was picking up and said that those were the kind she needed to look for...not all the broken pieces. As soon as those words came out of my mouth, the Lord gently spoke into my ear saying, "Marci, brokenness is beautiful to me!" It's not until we are broken that God can mold and shape us to be who He wants us to be. It's not until we are broken that we can be rid of our selfish pride that knows no need for a Savior. My whole shells were pretty but they represent two things. In the beginning they are a fasad that everything in my life is great and glorious and I need nothing more to fulfill. In the end, after being broken, they are a picture of a life that has been broken and put back together by the love of the Father so that everything is great and glorious and I have been fulfilled by Jesus!
Psalm 51 :17 says, "The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, You will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin."
Now, as Carmen picks up the broken pieces, I will be reminded of my precious Savior that gently picked up my pieces when I had nothing left to offer. To Him, it was a beautiful thing. Not that I was hurting and broken, but because He knew His daughter had gotten to a point where she knew she needed Him. He knew from then on, her life would never be the same!

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"And Again I Say Rejoice!"

"A Year of Faith"

What If...

Live With Expectancy

My New Roles In Life

Brokenness

Marci Shirley

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