Kathy Thomas Uncategorized

Help for Busy Moms

You’re a busy mom, and with Mother’s Day approaching, the thought of being showered with love and appreciation may seem like a dream. As a kid, I watched a TV show called Queen for a Day. The premise was to celebrate a hardworking mother by telling her story, putting a crown on her head, and placing flowers in her arms. There would be tears and gratitude, but it was a show.

On Sunday, many women will be enjoying attention from their families. But you might be telling yourself it doesn’t matter if no one is making a show of you.

Friend, you are special every day. You matter to God, and he values you as his dearly loved daughter. Someone once told me, “I think there must be a special reward for women in heaven. They endure so much.” It was a man who said it! While those around you may be caught up in their own busyness and distractions to make a fuss, God sees you, and he wants you to rest in him.

“You cannot bear your load alone. Jesus has power over the things you can’t control. Tell him your concerns and don’t mull over them. Rest in knowing he’s working in the background to restore you, resolve problems, and rearrange deadlines” (p. 182, Eve Blameless and Beloved).

Check out more about God’s rest in my book, Eve Blameless and Beloved: Freedom from Lies That Say You’re Not Enough (available on Amazon). There, you can also find these Bible references as examples of Jesus’ tender interactions with women: Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 7:36–50, Luke 10:38–42, John 4:1–16, John 8:2–11, John 11:1–35, and John 19:26–27.

I’m praying that you rest in quietly knowing God is with you.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

Matthew 11:28 (The Message)

“Feel his grace-filled hug and walk securely in who you are and how God has made you. You are more than enough. You are God’s blameless and beloved” (p. 257).

Blessings and Happy Mother’s Day,

Kathy Thomas Uncategorized

When Love Fails and Relationships Disappoint  

“People can’t be our only source of peace and consolation; we need a comforter who will never fail. We’re blessed with a savior who sticks with us through the most difficult circumstances. He’s not hidden or unapproachable. As our perfect father, lover, and friend, he remains by our side forever” (from my book, Eve Blameless and Beloved: Freedom from Lies That Say You’re Not Enough).

Years ago, during a particularly difficult season in my life, my husband had to leave on a business trip. I pleaded with him to stay, but he said it was necessary. A part of me felt abandoned, and my heart broke a little. But in that moment, Jesus gently reminded me: I am with you. I will never leave you. That truth wrapped around me like a warm embrace. (And just so you know—I’m not throwing my husband under the bus! We’ve since shared many wonderful years together.)  

As Valentine’s Day approaches, while some look forward to flowers and chocolate, others may be feeling the ache of disappointment and loss. If that’s you, take heart. The love you long for—the one that never fails—is already yours.  

One of my favorite verses was spoken to nation, but taken personally, it reminds us of God’s faithfulness:  

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you,  but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV).

I’ve always imagined that being serenaded would be the height of romance. This verse tells us that God himself sings over us. Can you picture that? The Creator of the universe delighting in you, his voice lifted in a song of love?  

If you’re still waiting for a knight in shining armor to rescue you, remember—your Mighty Warrior has already come. He is with you. He loves you. And he will never leave your side.

Embrace Him! 

Have a blessed Valentine’s Day.

Kathy

Kathy Thomas Uncategorized

Need Help Making Year’s Resolutions Last?

Each January, I feel sad removing ornaments from our Christmas tree. Since each one holds meaning, it’s hard to pack them away for another year. So, to cheer myself up, I think of new beginnings for the year ahead.

Are you starting the new year hoping to break a habit or start a healthy new one? 

As you know, it’s hard to keep those resolutions for more than two weeks. Like many people, I struggle to follow through because I want behavior change without the work, or I struggle in my own strength instead of asking God’s help to take charge. 

Want to make lasting change?

You can make a fresh start no matter your situation, season of life, or past missteps. When you surrender your weaknesses to God, he lavishes you with his love and equips you with his power. It’s never too late to start anew. Chapter eleven of my book, Eve Blameless and Beloved, examines new beginnings. After the tragedy of Cain killing Abel, Adam and Eve needed hope. They anticipated a new future with the birth of Seth, who would be an ancestor in Jesus’s human lineage.

Habit changes begin with heart changes. This new year, if you’re looking for deep change or a significant life transformation, don’t strive to change your behavior; ask Jesus to change your heart. Transformation flows out of a renewed heart.

Jesus is our only hope. Meditate on this biblical promise: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). Pray for the change you’d like to establish, claim you are loved by Christ, and ask God to renew your old, tired, stressed life with freedom from lies that say you’re not enough so you can pursue all you’re meant to do.

Give it to God and get an accountability partner.

Grab an accountability partner to improve your chances of keeping your New Year’s resolutions. I’d love for you to get my book, grab a friend, head to page 262 for discussion questions, and seek God’s truth regarding your identity: You are God’s blameless and beloved creation.

I’m offering January discounts on Eve Blameless and Beloved: Freedom from Lies That Say You’re Not Enough to encourage you on your new beginnings. Click here and use the code NEWYEAR to purchase a discounted book for yourself and one for a friend. 

By Kathy Thomas, author of Eve Blameless and Beloved: Freedom from Lies That Say You’re Not Enough.

Kathy Thomas Write On Writing

Harnessing time to do what you love

What should you take time to do?-3

Notice how we talk about time—we spend time, waste time, save time, take time—all suggesting we have control over time!

Judging by the number of times I’ve heard people say, “I don’t have enough time,” it sounds like there is a universal shortage of it. How do we get more?

We have the talents and skills to make many things, but we can’t make more time. So, the real question is: “How do we use the time we have in the most fulfilling way?”

If you were given a month free of responsibilities how would you be spending your time?

Do what you love

If you were given a month free of responsibilities how would you be spending your time? Does your response inform what your priorities should be? Even amidst your busy daily activities, if you are not taking some time for doing what you love, you’re probably not a very happy camper. In fact, if you find you are slightly agitated on a daily basis, it may be a sign that something is blocking you from doing what you may only subconsciously believe you should be doing. Your values are trying to tell you something.

At this point in my life, I strongly desire to write down legacy information for the next generation to enjoy reading and to possibly learn from my life lessons. I know that if I’m not making time for writing in my weekly routine, every request of my time becomes an irritation. That all changes when I’m doing what I know I should be. Then I am much more flexible, accommodating, and joyful. What about you? What should you be making time for?

Harnessing time

While we cannot manufacture more time, there are at least a couple ways we might be able to better handle what we do have. I want to talk about two of these today: setting priorities and scheduling.

Practices reveal priorities

At the beginning of the day, my first priority is to turn to God. He is the only one who can control time—partly because he is outside the time-space continuum and mostly because he’s God! Notice what 1 Peter 3:8 says about God and time: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Clearly, God has time for everyone and everything! How can we tap in?

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 1 Peter 3:8

Ordering time

Throughout the Bible, we see God measuring things. Measurements set boundaries. For humans, time is measured by days and nights, months, years, and a lifetime. Within those boundaries, we can order our time by setting priorities—making time for what’s important. and by putting them on the calendar— taking time to do them.

Making the most of your time

Do you have tricks and strategies for making the most of your time? Do you schedule time to do the things you love? I’d like to hear them! Here are a few that work for me:

  • By rising early in the morning, I can avoid interruptions and spend time with God meditating on his Word. When I take time to make this my first priority, God seems to make up for it in other ways. For example: maybe I arrive at a solution or idea sooner rather than agonizing over it for hours. Or a client serendipitously reschedules an appointment freeing up an already packed schedule.
  • Next, I intentionally schedule doing things that I want to do. For me, it is being with grandchildren or taking time for writing or having coffee with a friend. If I have a big project I’m working on, I break it into small deadlines and try my best to meet them.
  • I make appointments with myself putting them on the calendar. I have done this with writing days. I set up a consistent day of the week to write, put it on the calendar like an appointment, and protect it from interruptions! When another invitation comes you can say, “Oh sorry, I have another appointment scheduled at that time.”
  • When up against a deadline, I used to worry myself into a migraine. Now, I use this little trick. While I’m working, I’m telling myself: “There is enough time, there is enough time.” It serves two purposes: 1. It reminds me to relax and, 2. Somehow miraculously, there is always enough time!

Living in the moment

I know that I am going to hear from my friends who are constantly reminding me to be in the moment! OK, I tend to be a planner and when something interferes with my schedule, it throws me off a little. I’m trying to be flexible! I applaud those of you who can savor every moment! Are you someone that in whatever circumstance, you find an opportunity for enjoyment and appreciation? You have something to teach me!

What are your tips and tricks for making the most of time? What are you taking time to do that you love? I want to hear from you. Leave me a comment!

Write On!
Kathy

P.S. Coming Soon: Writer’s Block Busters

Since writing is something I should be making time for, my next blog series addresses What should you take time to do?breaking through writer’s blocks (both physically and mentally). In the next few weeks, I’ll be blogging on “Eight Writer’s Block Busters.” If you have some tips that work for you, please share them in the comments area! We will all thank you!