Cutting Anchors to Set Sail

Ayleah #Class of 2015

I have been rather quiet lately on social media. Most of it is because I have been navigating through some unchartered waters as I prepared to graduate another child, become comfortable in my new work environment, wrap my mind around what God is calling me to do while simply enjoying the simple moments of intimacy that I find in God's presence. As things have slowed down a bit, the reflections have began to pour in.  I realized that my first born is 20 years old, almost the exact age I was when I gave birth to him. At this time 20 years ago, he was 2 months old. Amazing, beautiful, perfect with God's glory all over his face. It's amazing to think about how life and time transforms us beyond those precious moments (good and bad) to here and now...still being shaped and molded for His purpose. I love it! Oh! I love you, too God!

Norris, Ayleah and Isaiah

As I continue to reflect on the many gracious seasons of my journey as a mother, many decisions that I made were a direct result of the 3 stair steppers that I had in tow for so many years. There unconditional love and the deep warmth found in their eyes gave me so much life and passion. They were always at the top of my priority list and no decision (small or large) was made without them in mind. As much as I probably should have been "selfish" at times to better my spiritual, physical and emotional health...It just never seemed right to think outside of their needs and wants. To the onlooker, some of my decisions at the time may have seemed "selfish" such as my aggressive educational endeavors, my remarriage and my job changes. But trust...each of my babies were always considered in all things because I had the burden to look into my future and build a foundation that would potentially better each of theirs.




Which brings me full circle...we celebrated a beautiful graduation for a beautiful 18 year old daughter this past weekend. Everything was perfect. On Tuesday night, after seeing a multitude of "beach week" pictures, I asked her, "Do you feel left out because you are not at beach week with everyone else celebrating graduation?" She pondered for a moment and answered me with the most heart warming, mature, to God be the Glory answer.

"No, because I am not like them anymore. I saw a girl at the gas station today that asked me the same question and I told her that there came a time in my Senior year where I had to cut the anchors to those who were holding me down and back & Set Sail on my own journey.  I understood that there are so many more things in life that are higher than me and them that I must now focus on. And, if I had went to beach week, I would not have had a good time because "we" are not of like spirits anymore. I love them but we are not into the same things. You just have to accept it when you've outgrown people."

 

I cried. No, I wept. I asked her, "Who are you?" with pride and humbleness realizing that she has learned something at 18 that I didn't learn until I was almost 40 years old. Every decision that I have made, every sacrifice that I endured to change and evolve as her mother was for this very moment. Every prayer, war cry, intercession and declared promises over her soul and ultimately her eternal life that I came against the enemy with was for this moment. I realized that even if I lost some battles, I did not lose the war.  Every battle is worth it. And our children, our loved ones, the lost souls are not to be given up on...no matter what. I realized that whether we are living upright, holy and according to God's word or not...our children are watching and learning from us how to trust God and stand on Him for all things. Believe that...

God is faithful and just! I give all honor to Him because it is through His transforming power that I am able to write this testimony today with pure thankfulness!!! 

You Are My Happily Ever After: Mission Statement

Aubrey and I were inspired tonight to create a marital mission statement and we are sharing it in hopes to encourage all the beautiful couples we know to do the same. So many people have asked us how we survived "it." So many have inquired both knowing and not knowing where we came from how we maintain a marriage of devotion, playfulness and fire. This mission statement is ours; it meets the needs of our relationship. It is an example to give insight and prove to you that God has a healing power. Your words are powerful as ours are. We dare you to think different, do something different and take the time and invest in your marriage. Healthy marriages lead to healthy families. I promise...

You Are My Happily Ever After: Our Marriage Mission Statement

Our union is a public proclamation of our faith and trust in God as the Lordship of our lives. It is through Him alone that we exist as one flesh, committed to love one another unconditionally. Jesus Christ is the foundation of our marriage, with forgiveness, compromise, faithfulness and honesty as the cornerstones. Our covenant promises and values are as follows:

•  We promise to encourage, respect, honor and love each other, both as individuals and as a couple. (1 Peter 4:8, Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 51, Ephesians 5:33)

• We encourage each other to grow in our relationship with God and remain steadfast in our hearts to live a promise and purpose-filled life according to God’s Word. (Romans 8:28) 

• We believe in the demonstration of love and affection in our daily lives to encourage our family and others to live a life holy and pleasing unto God through our marriage. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

• We commit to daily prayers individually and for each other while indulging in God’s Word seeking intimacy with Him. (1Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16)

• We promise to pray for and raise our children and grandchildren in the ways of Our Father God offering guidance and support to the plans He has for their lives. We promise to speak the promises of God over their lives daily and declare spiritual warfare against anything or anyone that attempts to destroy our seed or theirs. (Joshua 24:15)

• We declare to be seekers of truth and revelation being ever so sure to lead our family in a way of righteousness and His glory.(Ephesians 6:14, Ephesians 5:22-33)

• We commit to honor each other’s dreams and plans that God so orders for our lives as well as our families. (Jeremiah29:11)

• We yearn to build relationships and to serve within our church family and commit ourselves to serve our communities and the world. (Galatians 5:13)

• We commit to use the gifts The Lord has blessed us with to serve each other, our family, friends, church and those in need. (1 Peter 4:10)

• We promise to be faithful and trustworthy to each other, never allowing another to hold an unworthy, unholy position or voice in our union contrary to our vows and the Word of God. (Ecclesiastes 4:12, Mark10:9, Malachi 2:16, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 133:1, Hebrews 13:4)

• We promise to be careful with our words and never intentional in causing pain to each other’s hearts. And if we do, being quick to seek forgiveness and being even quicker to forgive.  (1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 4:32, Proverbs 12:18)

• We transparently proclaim our marriage as a true testament of reconciliation and forgiveness through God’s grace, mercy and our submission to be broken and restored in His love, freedom and holiness. We stand tall above our past, walk confidently in our present and praise Him now for our future. (1 John 1:9, Ephesians 5:21, Ecclesiastes 5:4-7, 9:9, Exodus 15:26, James 5:14)

We believe that God has healed and saved our marriage to be a Godly example and share His healing power. It is by the application of Christ-like principles that we move forward in a healthy God ordained marriage. With God’s strength and guidance, this mission statement will not be only words but visible evidence to others in the way we live our lives from this day forward. We are committed to demonstrate to a watching world that God has us on a mission to further His kingdom.

Aubrey and Rebecca Parker

February 17, 2015

Your Real Worst Enemy Is Closer Than You Think!

Is Satan your only enemy? No. Overcoming does not limit itself to simply victory over the devil. Our “enemy” goes beyond the demonic to include SIN and SELF. All things contrary to Christ and His Life can ultimately be placed at the feet of SIN, SATAN or SELF.
Sin and Satan are obvious enemies. But have you considered SELF? More than Sin, or even Satan, Self is our most dangerous enemy. It leads to a Defensive-Unteachable spirit. Are you prideful, argumentative, stubborn, full of head knowledge, arrogant, unapproachable, egotistical, superior, quick to be an “expert” and rebuke others with haughtiness? If so, than your spirit man is not right with God and you will only bear spoiled fruit.
Pride is our primary sin coupled with idolatry before we are born again. We are dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1) and this necessarily produces selfishness. We make life all  about US and OUR views and our GREATNESS!!! Then Christ comes along and we discover that no actually – we are in fact really awful “Prima Donna’s”. This then is usually a discovery that is learned more and more soberly over time as we get whipped by the rod of God’s correction. A defensive heart does not submit, it rules over itself, it holds onto its life (John 12:25) and will not die to self. Not at all a Christlike demeanor.
There is a proverb (12:1) that says:

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”

Correction plainly means we have not been left to ourselves, and not wanting to take it is to exchange the truth of God for a lie, because we claim to be wise. It is a form of idolatry – of self-exaltation, of self worship. He who humbles himself will be exalted, and he who exalts himself will be humbled (Luke 14:11). A mighty God humbling us is a painful thing, and it often comes in the form of correction, and sometimes even embarrassment. However down the line, there is tremendous growth in it. We should be grateful for correction, it is out of love, especially when it comes from the fellow brethren. It’s not always Satan…a lot of times it just You working against yourself. Allow yourself to be free…free from that spirit of victimization.  Everybody isn’t out to “get” you.

“Lord we humbly come to you today to ask that you forgive us for our prideful sinful nature. We only serve ourselves when we allow pride to lead us hindering our spiritual walk with you. We ask that you help us overcome this and make us better students of your Word. And as we open our Bible, please reveal to us the truth in your perfect Word and give us a deeper understanding of the Word. Grant us spiritual wisdom to better serve you and lead us in your righteous path. In Jesus holy name we ask.”