Facebook Envy

A couple days ago I was talking to a friend from work and she was telling me that sometimes it is hard for her to look at Facebook because everyone's life seems so perfect...

She said she just wished that sometimes people would just be honest about life and not paint a pretty picture to make people think that they have everything together.

 

When she said that I could definitely understand what she was talking about.

If I am really honest with everyone that reads this...I know there are times when I have scrolled my news feed and read a status or looked at a picture of a friend and found myself envying something in their post.

You see a picture perfect family and you wish you had what they had...

You see someone who just successfully lost ten pounds during the Thanksgiving break...and you gained ten pounds eating all that pie...

You read about someones child that is so sweet and seemingly perfect...and you recall the afternoon trip to the grocery store when your little one had a melt down in the check out line...

You read about someones amazing relationship...

You see pictures of family vacations....

You see that girl...in that amazing outfit...and that amazing smile....and that amazing life...

Social media definitely helps us to paint a pretty picture of our lives.

The funny thing is that even though we paint this pretty picture...nobody has the perfect life.

We all have challenges, battles and difficulties that nobody really knows about.

But...we still look at the pictures and we read the status updates and we find ourselves envying our friends.

We lose sight of the blessings we have in our own lives.

I know that I have done this in the past. I will be the first to admit this!

I used to see pictures of babies and families...and I would get jealous that I didn't have that yet. Of course I was happy for my friends...but jealousy or envy would creep into my mind.

This morning at church our Sunday School lesson was on envy.

In James 3:13-18 it says that, " Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in our hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness sown in peace by those who make peace."

 

 I love this passage in James because it challenges me!!

I struggle with envy and jealously. If I said I didn't I would be lying.

We all struggle here and God knows that about us.

What James is telling us here is that there is a way out! We don't have to be stuck in jealously and envy.

As we daily seek out the Lord's wisdom and direction in His word we will be able to fight the battles of envy, jealously, pride and any other battle you are facing.

You can win this battle and start to be happy for what others have instead of being jealous.

 

Is this a struggle in your life?

Do you find yourself feeling jealous or envious of what someone else has?

 

I want to challenge you to take one day and only focus on the blessings in your life. If you have to stay off social media for that day then do it for your heart and mind. As you begin to shift your perspective and see all that God has given you it will help to combat those feelings.

Spend a day just thanking God for what you have and see how your heart and mind will begin to change!

 

 

Oh how He loves you and me!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His love...

"Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so!"

Today I was singing this song to Nylah in the car on our way home from daycare.

I was singing the words over and over to try and get her to chime in with me.

As I repeated the words over and over I started to think about what those words meant.

"Jesus loves me."

That phrase hit me really hard when I said it slowly to myself.

"Jesus loves ME."

I have been singing that song since I was a little girl...and it wasn't until today that the words really hit my heart.

As a new parent I struggle every day with feeling like I am not doing enough for my little girl.

Maybe I worry too much...and maybe I put too much pressure on myself...but I want to give her my best.

At the end of each day I go to bed thinking, "I should have done better...or more for her today."

Is this something that all parents think I wonder...?

Some days are just really hard with a full-time job and taking care of all her needs...that by the end of the day I just don't have enough energy to play with her for very long...and I feel so guilty.

Some days I get patience is thin...

Some days I forget to say prayers with her...

...and at the end of those days I feel so heavy.

Today though...God reminded through the lyrics of a simple children's song that He loves me.

The God of this Universe loves me and died for me!

He died so that I could come to Him and ask for forgiveness when I fail and not have to carry the weight and burden of my sins.

I don't know about you...but that overwhelms my heart!

 

Are you struggling with areas in your life that you feel like you keep failing?

Maybe it's your finances...

Maybe it's an area with your spouse, children or a family member...

Maybe you are addicted to something...

Maybe you have hidden sins and you feel fake or ashamed...

 

One of the most beautiful things about Jesus is that He loves us no matter where we have been or what we have done!

We can come to Him, seek His forgiveness and His arms are open wide ready to love us!

Wherever you are at today and whatever you are facing please remember that Jesus loves you!

 

Check out this song...it is a beautiful version of Jesus loves me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gKXu6J2wE

 

"For God so loved , that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

 

Oh how He loves you and me!

 

Hayden and Mechel

Then

 The picture above is the first picture Hayden and I ever took together. ( I look so young!!!)

 We were both attending a wedding in 2009 and we did not know each other at all. We had mutual friends at the wedding and it did not take long for us to find each other in the crowd of people. I felt an instant connection with him because his personality is so warm and welcoming.

If you know Hayden at all, #1 you are lucky and # 2 you can agree and understand how I felt when I met him. We are both very social and we hit it off that night laughing and talking. I also pulled him on the dance floor a couple times with me :) When it was almost time for everyone to leave I noticed a photographer snapping pictures and I made sure to grab Hayden to take one with me. (he probably thought I was silly) The picture you see above is the picture the photographer took that night. I am so glad we took that pic now! Hayden and I dated for several years until we felt God telling us to part ways for a season.

One of the hardest things to do in life is say goodbye to someone you love because God is asking you to do so.

Neither of us could understand why God would ask this of us...but we knew that we had to be obedient.

Have you ever had a time in your life when you feel God is calling you to take a step that you feel might break you down emotionally?

Maybe you are in that season right now...

Are you afraid to say goodbye to someone that God is telling you not to pursue now?

He can always make me laugh

 As time went on God really began to work on our hearts.

In our season of waiting He began to teach us things.

He began to shape us and mold us individually in ways that wouldn't have worked if we were together. 

He strengthened our hearts and minds in His ways...and not our own.

He taught us about patience, selflessness and mercy.

In this season of waiting Hayden became a Youth Minister and I started fostering Nylah.

God knew that saying goodbye for a season was preparing and strengthening us for a new journey together.

...so happy

 After a season of waiting God brought us back together this year. (YAY!!!)

I have never loved or respected Hayden more than I do now!

His leadership, mercy, patience (he is so patient with me), and love compels me to strive to be a better person each day.

His passion for people and love for the Lord is contagious and inspires me!

His willingness to love Nylah as his own...even though we are not engaged or married makes me cry every time I think about it...(crying now)

His love for family...

His ability to cook the best steak and BBQ chicken I have ever had...

His love for studying the Word of God...and living by it...

 

...and most importantly his ability to lead me to the Lord!

Now

People ask me all the time if we are going to get married.

My response to them now is that we are waiting on God's timing.

As a girl...of course I dream of that day :)

BUT...I have learned that rushing God won't get you anywhere!

I am trusting and believing that as Hayden and I seek out God's will for our lives that His best plan for us will be revealed when the time is right.

For now, we are enjoying the journey of serving the Lord together and raising up Nylah to love Jesus!

 

Are you in a season of waiting?

Do you feel God calling you out of something?

Maybe God is asking you to do something that you are afraid will hurt you?

 

I know from personal experience that obedience can be painful at times....but hang on friends! Don't. Give. Up! God will use your obedience to bless you beyond your wildest dreams!

 

Wherever you are right now...remember that God is going to work all things out for the good! (Romans 8:28)

He tells us that in His Word...and He is faithful!

 

 

Oh how He loves you and me!!!!

 

Love,

Mechel

 



Our Story of forever love

 On 12-1-2014 Nylah Elizabeth Yekzaman officially became my forever love.

So many people have asked me to share a little bit about our story so I thought I would take a few minutes to try and describe what God has done in my life through this little girl.

 In November of 2013 I was sitting at church listening to several people give their testimonies on foster care and adoption. I felt God tugging on my heart strings...but I also felt very inadequate to even think about taking on such a big task.

I told myself there was no way I could do what God was asking of me because I was single, lived in an apartment and worked full-time. I reasoned with myself that the tug on my heart was only me being "emotional" and that it wasn't really God calling me to action.

After church and days later I could not stop thinking about fostering a child. I decided to take the first step and call DHS.

When I called them they told me there was "NO WAY" I could foster a child because I lived in a one bedroom apartment and any child would need their own room.

"Perfect!" I thought...this was my way out! This was my sign from God that He was not calling me to action...just to pray and help out those who were fostering.

Little did I know that God was not saying "NO WAY"...He was saying, "NOT YET".

Months went by and I really began to believe that my duty was just to pray for children in need since I couldn't help them by fostering or adopting.

I thought God had closed the door.

In February 2014 He decided to open the doors in a very unexpected way.

I was sitting at work one afternoon and my good friend Tracy Porter came into my office with one of our coworkers Megan.

Tracy had heard me talk about fostering in the past and she new how much I wanted to one day adopt a baby. Megan had come into Tracy's office that day and asked Tracy if she would be willing to foster her niece who needed a new foster home. Tracy has three children of her own and she knew she could not foster...but she remember me!

Tracy rushed Megan back to my office and when she opened my door the first words out of her mouth were, "Mechel...I found your daughter!"

I wasn't quite sure what she was talking about...until she had Megan explain to me that she was hoping that I would be interested in fostering her little niece.

She told me her name was Nylah.

 

I don't think it happens too often that someone from work randomly asks you to foster a baby...so I took this as a sign from God that He was laying this at my feet.

I wanted to shout from the rooftop...but then I remembered what DHS told me months ago..."NO WAY".

I was still in a one bedroom and Nylah would need her own place to sleep.

I wanted to just throw in the towel and tell Megan no...

I didn't want to call and get rejected again by DHS...

I didn't want to have my hopes rise to the highest levels and then crash at the words of man...

But then I remembered God has a sovereign plan of His own! He placed this at my feet and no matter the outcome...I was called to be faithful.

So the very next day I called Nylah's case worker.

She told me that because Nylah was still under a year old she could keep her crib in my room until she was one and be able to stay with me.

I couldn't believe it!

I knew that God wanted me in this little girl's life and I truly believed that He was going to clear the path.

On March 17th 2014 Nylah was dropped off at my house at 9:47 in the morning.

She has been with me every day since and my heart has never been the same.

I have learned so many lessons during this journey.

I learned that when God closes a door...it doesn't mean that He is closing it for good. God knows what is best for us and His timing is so perfect. In seasons of waiting He is strengthening us in the trust department!

I learned that being a mommy is really hard work! (seriously...props to all the moms with more than one baby...HOW DO YOU DO IT???)

I learned that you shouldn't wear black shirts during runny nose season. (Gross)

I learned that you DON'T get off nap schedule...

I learned that you don't get in a busy check out line at the grocery store before baby has had her dinner...(lesson learned my friends!)

I learned that children are so pure and don't hold a record of wrongs.

I learned the true meaning of "being a parent is hard work".

I learned that my family and friends are the most supportive and selfless people on the planet.

I learned that there was a man who was willing to love me and love Nylah as his own. His name is Hayden Young! God has restored and renewed our relationship and I am so in awe each time I see him love and care for my sweet girl!   

I also learned and appreciated on a deeper level the beauty of being adopted as a daughter of the King. God chooses us and redeems us to Himself as adopted sons and daughters!

 

Are you in a season of waiting?

Has God closed the door on something you believed He was calling you to?

I want to encourage anyone that reads this that you should use this season of waiting to grow your faith and press in to the Lord. It doesn't mean that He will open the door...but by pressing in...He will give you the strength you need to get through anything!

Is God calling you to do something and you don't feel adequate?

Friends...none of us are able to do things in our own strength. Take the step of faith with the Lord's help and He will carry you through!

 

"Call to Me and I will answer and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" Jeremiah 33:3

 

Oh how He loves you and me!