Progress not Perfection

"Motherhood is not glamorous. And I am far from perfect.
As of right now I have a fever from mastitis and have been struggling to loose 2 lbs for the past 2 weeks. And have to make myself put on real clothes." I am really struggling with my postpartum body, my self-esteem has been shaken! I'm the mom that doesn't loose a ton of weight while breastfeeding shocker. But I am thankful for progress, I know where my help comes from. And He has put the desire to pursue my health and wellness. Parenting is also one of the hardest things I have to do daily. If only they could all just stay around the same age as Jonah. All the decisions we as parents have to make throughout the day can be tuff. We hope they are all for the best and sometimes we wish we could take some responses or decisions back. When to say no, when to say yes, when to have punishment, when to not, when to give Grace! It's so HARD, and we look at other parents and think ?? man I wish I could be that type of mom and we think they're perfect but the truth is they are struggling just like you.

          Perfection   vs   Progress
                 Law       vs        Grace

With perfection (law) there is no room for error. With progress (grace) it's okay to make mistakes because of love.

Perfection can cause us to be exhausted and quickly discouraged, it binds us up and holds us down, we become consumed with each tasks till there is nothing left to give.

Progress is pleasing and allowing you to be creative and unique in the process of change without becoming consumed, it gives us Grace for error.

Like The Little Engine That Could as long as You are pushing little by little to make it up the hill. You can look back and be so proud of yourself from all the way at the bottom, to making it all the way to the top! It wasn't perfect and you had to talk yourself through it at times and sometimes daily but you finally made it. The struggles you will experience will make you stronger with each step and God's Grace, love and strength will be there to help you along the way. Especially when you fall.

(for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God.
HEBREWS 7:19 AMP

Drawing near,
To wake up every morning and say it's going to be a great day! Asking the Lord to help you. And giving each day your best, not beating yourself up. Because the Lord doesn't he gives you grace for each new day. To strive for progress in all you do, to be on top of things but know they can also wait. To make healthy choices never giving up.  And in that you will not be perfect, but you will be changing for the better. Allow yourself to be proud of your progress, especially the progress no one sees.

My help comes from the Lord , Who made heaven and earth.
PSALM 121:2 AMP

He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
PSALM 121:3 AMP

Word of the year!

What is a word of the year?

One word to focus on for the new year. Just a single word that keeps you focused and grounded. A word that when times are difficult you can remember and lean on. A word that encourages you. (You still have time it's just February!)

My word.

My word for the year is pursue.
I will purse you Jesus. My relationships. Your word. My fitness. This blog. Whatever you Lord put in my path because you have given this word to me, you gifted me with this excitement, this drive, this desire to pursue. As I look back he was already applying the word pursue to my life before I was even sure of my word. He was already pushing me to pursue. This word is unique to me and yours will also be unique to you. You may not realize why God has given a certain word. Maybe you think the word in your mind is so simple. Just wait until you see things start happening to you and around you, and as you look back on the year you will realize how the word was applied to your life.

How do I find my word?

1. Pray and seek just ask the Lord to show you and reveal.
2. Trust that little small voice inside. The Holy Spirit will put it in you, and speak to you.
3. The word will start showing up all over the place at random times. On the radio or talking with a friend, in a book.
4. Gets stuck in your head. You can't stop thinking about it. Just keeps replaying in your mind.
5. By scripture.
6. Conformation by others.
7. Conformation in your spirit. The desire to pursue or for peace or change, joy, whatever the word may be.

Applying it to your life.

If something comes my way I will pursue it, love it, change it, find peace in it, find joy in it, find relationship in it, whatever your word is. If he has placed it in my/your life and it lines up with His plan, to His scripture it's equivalent to pursuing him all in the same or having change in him or peace in Him
Visualize your word. This year's word has given me the confidence to get back to real life after having a baby. To pursue daily, even if it's as simple as meal planning. It has pushed me to get back to my fitness goals, to go after relationships (which is one of my sweet Friends words), and to even start this blog and it's just February thank you Jesus!! You amaze me every day. Especially on the hard days and here lately with 3 children not many days are easy or a breeze. I am always needed and there is always something to be done. And I have to pursue you each day to have peace and show grace. Like I said I know this is my word for the year the Lord knows just what we need in each season of our lives.

“As for me, I would seek God and inquire of Him, And I would commit my cause to God;
JOB 5:8 AMP

Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works.
PSALM 119:27 AMP

A few words that might speak to you.

Love, change, joy, give, strength, relationship, meditation, focus, hope, dream, live, grace, embrace, rest. 

A little about me.

Hello,
My name is Bethany Greer, I am a wife to my sweet husband Jon and stay at home mom to 3 beautiful children Layla 6, Jackson 4 And new baby boy Jonah. I have a passion for my family to be the best mom and wife I can be, but life is real and life is hard, I'm just here to share a little bit with you. And thanking God for surviving another day with his grace. Hopefully other moms will enjoy and can even get a little laugh here in there, because let's face it being a mom has all the struggles you can possibly think of wrapped into a shiny package that has stains from today's lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and it gets pretty hilarious. I am a semi crunchy / natural mom. I try to use as much natural/simple products as I can like cloth diapering using alternative cleaning methods and making home-cooked clean wholesome meals. I'm working on getting this baby weight off and that is a struggle all in itself, with so many things that a new mom has to do like breastfeeding the baby a taking care of the other two children, laundry, dishes, (you know all the moms stuff). It's hard to find time for yourself, but you have to love yourself first before you can be a great mother. So I will be sharing some of my fitness journey as well. I want to do a devotional every week that I hope will bless and help you with your walk with Christ. To encourage you as a mom father and even some for you to share with your children. Putting God first in your life and family will allow his love to grow and create a strong foundation for your family that will not be shaken. Thanks so much for stopping by see you next time. ❤