Girl... Give the Devil a Bad Day.

Ever feel like you're on the brink of doing something great, and like a thief in the night the Devil plants some BS lie in your brain to deter you from the path you're on?

That was me. The second week into creating this website/blog.

I had finally sat down and decided to write about what God had been laying on my heart... My family, my journey, and how God's grace has built me stronger out of some of the most difficult, ugly seasons and screw ups.

I named this blog "Wise Woman" after a morning coffee reading session in God's word where Proverbs 14 jumped out of The Book and deep into my heart. It was the very thing that God had called me and all women to be. Unperfect, but with Wisdom collected through her difficulties, she builds herself and her home.

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." PROVERBS 14:1

That weekend my husband and I had plans to head to my parent's home for a couple of days. Knowing that our 17 year old daughter has a job, and responsibilities... we decided to do that thing that gives parents grey hair, LEAVE HER HOME for the weekend and trust her. Being 2 months from legal adulthood and her 18th Birthday, we are in uncharted territory my friends. We are 100% at the mercy of God to guide us through this time. (Pray for us.)

Sparing you the details... she decided to throw a party with friends, in our home, when we specifically had lengthy conversations on the subject.

I was so upset.

I felt disrespected.

Like all that we had raised and taught her had fallen on deaf ears.

I felt like a horrible mom.

and that I was not building my house.

I was making it about me, and my shortcomings.

Even questioned what I was doing starting a Blog.

"If I was building my house, something like this would never happen."

I WAS WRONG.

I was allowing the Devil tell me I was screwing up. I was allowing his lies to attempt to rob, steal, and kill my desires to share my stories.

God uses these moments of disobedience to teach us. Without them, how are we redirected? Without them how would we have had the opportunity to discuss that life is a result of personal choices? Did we spare the rod? Nope. She was on house arrest for a few weeks, because consequences are how God teaches us. He uses our sinfulness to turn us back to him if we allow.

So as I questioned my "Wiseness", I questioned if I was "building my house"... the LORD whispered "Yes" and revealed that just because a few bricks fall during construction, he's there with the mortar making a masterpiece out of the mess. The foolish women would leave the bricks and continue on, where the WISE WOMAN seeks his counsel and builds with his help.

Life is messy. Parenting is messy. Growing up is messy. but our transparency and willingness to keep going and seeking HIM through it all, is what will continue to inspire others to do so as well.

JUST KEEP BUILDING, and give the Devil a bad day.