Lisa Gawf Ruiz | Encouragement For Moms

God is good....always.

2012-01-16T15:47:00.001-08:00

So it's a rainy day holiday today. I'm in my kitchen baking cookies for my sweet "niece" Kiley's birthday listening to worship music by Keri Jobe radio on Pandora. All 3 of the kids are napping, the rain is softly falling and I am thinking about how blessed I am and how good God is. I always say the phrase...."God is good....ALWAYS" whenever anything happens. Good or bad. I always hated when people would give me a sunshiny piece of advice after I lost Cole. And I would never preach what's not a 100% truth that I believe. But tried and true....God is good....ALWAYS. And then suddenly my world stops.

I get a phone call from my husband. He says he is at the hospital with Glen (his friend/co-worker). I stop what I am doing and the questions roll off my tongue....what? why? what happened? He says that Glen's son, Ryan, was stabbed while playing at the neighbors house. I respond with the typical....WHAT? WHY? HOW? Is he ok? How old is he? He says he was playing at a neighbors house. He is nine years old and that's all he knows. So after 30 minutes of waiting I get another call from my sweet sobbing husband. He says "He didn't make it." then silence that follows by a weary "I just don't understand, honey".

Well to tell the absolute truth, I don't either.

But what I do know is this. No matter the circumstance. Even in the midst of a tragedy like this. An unbearably broken hearted mommy and daddy that at the very minute I am typing this are at the hospital laying over their son. No matter what, God is still on the throne. We serve a mighty God that loves each of us with a love that we could never fathom. There are times that we want to throw ourselves on the floor and kick and scream and demand answers from God. I have been there. Sometimes we have to hold on to that truth by the tips of our fingers.

I don't understand whatsoever but I will continue to say, God is good....ALWAYS. I will praise the God who gives and takes away and pray that the same God who rises the sun every morning will wrap His arms around Glen and his family.

Please keep Glen and his family in your prayers.

I will praise you in this storm.

Love you guys!!

Lisa

A new year is upon us

2011-12-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one that loves a new year? A new start. A new shot at life. Or so it seems. Right now I cannot wait for the new year. I am hopeful for so much. The Lord is moving in my family in so many ways. And you wanna know how I know? Because the enemy is out in full force. Why don't I see him coming or recognize his nasty ways? Earlier tonight I was standing in the hallway arguing with all 3 of my precious babies to just GO TO SLEEP while looking for the WiFi card because I had some really important thoughts that I wanted to write down for my book and I couldn't find the darn thing! This is when I stopped and realized that the enemy was in on this! Here's how I see if. If God doesn't have a plan for you then the enemy won't bother trying to trip you up. HOWEVER, when God has BIG things in store for you then satan is all over you. Doing whatever he can to keep you from doing what God wants in your life. I encourage you to pay attention to this. I forget all the time myself so clearly I am talking to myself. Put on the armor of Christ on a daily basis and boldly pray that the enemy steer clear of you and your family!

Here is the scripture for putting on the armor of God.

Ephesians 6: 11-18

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Praying for you sweet friends.

Lots of love,

Lisa

Enjoying the little things

2011-10-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

I could seriously sit and sob right now at the very thought of my children. A good sob. A grateful sob. A really realizing what I've got sob.

I am SO grateful for these children. They amaze me every day. It is my JOB as their mama to be the best mama I can be. For me that means so much - yet it is so very simple. To do the very best that I can with what I have be given. To be a good steward of my time and to teach my sweet babies the infinite love of Jesus. My ministry is in my home. There is pure joy in their touch, their giggle, their smell, their screaming voices and their precious prayers. Garrett is almost one year old! Time is going by so fast! I don't want to wait one second of my time with them.

Thank you Jesus for these little hearts that you have trusted me with. I pray that when I meet you in Heaven that you will say "well done, my good and faithful servant" for teaching your love in my home.

Garrett, my sweet cowboy.

Olivia is so proud of her pumpkin

Paigy being silly like only she can!

Teachable Moments

2011-10-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended a Women in His Presence event. It was full of amazing worship and sharing by some pretty fabulous women. Kourtney (one of my most precious and lifelong best friends) shared of God's grace in using her in ministry and she said something that really spoke to my heart. I've heard it so many times before but you know how sometimes you just hear it clearer than others. She reminded me that your ministry can be to your husband or to your children. You don't have to lead a bible study or teach high schoolers. Your ministry starts right in your own kitchen. There was another gal that spoke. She has 7 children!! They range in age from 7-22 years old. She said something else that just seem to bury itself right in my heart. Look for those moments that are teachable ones. They are there but they come and go quickly. Put down your cell phone/work emails, get off of Facebook, and spend time being with my children. It's ok to be busy but be busy building HIS kingdom.

This is all stuff I have heard some many times but a nice little reminder is always good!

Deuternomy 6:7-9
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Let's Face It

2011-10-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Ok mamas, Let's just face it.....being a mom is HARD work and some days it's downright overwhelming. There is so much to do and so much to remember. It's like every little responsibility under the sun falls under the list of "things for mom to get done". There are times when I just want to throw myself on the floor and yell...."WHEN IS IT MY TURN TO TAKE A NAP?!?!???????". I mean all I really want is to be appreciated for all of my hard work. Someone to just say "thank you" or "great job" or anything?!?!

OK but wait just a minute. The bible says to "Rejoice always, Pray continually, Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

So let me get this straight.

God wants us to Rejoice always???

Re-Joice
verb

1. to be glad; take delight

To be glad always???? To always take delight???

Pray continually??? Give thanks???? In ALL circumstances???

How am I supposed to do any of this much less all of it?

With Jesus. That's how.

I firmly believe that without Jesus in my life. I am utterly worthless as a mom. Sure I could get through the motions but would I leave a footprint of Jesus on the hearts of my children? No chance.

I know that things that I feel and the moments that I experience are not just happening in my little corner of the world. I know that there a ga-zillion other moms out there that feel the exact same way that I do!
My prayer is this: That the Lord would bless each of you in your mom life and beyond in ways that you never dreamed were possible. And that you would find encouragement and joy in Him so much that it flows over into the lives of your children.

God is good, Always.

Lisa