Becoming Mama Leisha

Today At the Well they are talking about mentoring in the spirit of Titus 2 and it made me think about a phone call recently from a sweet younger friend....one of who have fondly become known as my "Mama Leisha Girls". Our lives have been busy and we have not had much opportunity to spend time together in the last few years so in a quick catch up call after seeing each other at a function earlier that evening at church we talked briefly. Her life has recently taken a new direction and she is walking out a dream in faith and I was telling her how I am so proud of her and that I get amazed when I look back and she how she has grown. God is doing beautiful things in her and the fruit is a joy to see. She mentioned something about me and my "Mama Leisha" calling - this has been an ongoing grin/smirk/giggle for several years now, the thing about it ........now it really does seem to be more than a grin/smirk/giggle. She has called me Mama Leisha for most of the time we have known each other, but said she always felt that I was too young to be called "Mama" (I told you she was a sweet friend) however, she said that the last few years have changed me as I have walked the path from a full time working Mom to a full time homeschooling Mom - she says I have gained wisdom and grown into the "Mama Mantle" that God has placed on my life. WOW - can I just tell you how that humbled me?? I love and value this young woman of God and consider it an honor that she would see those things in me.....me?!!??

God can use anyone ......and He does, because as I look around my life, there are a few handfuls of young ladies in my life who come to me for advice, counsel, friendship and yes....mentoring. Some want to know more about being a Mom, some about being a wife and others about walking with the Father - none of these things do I feel qualified or worthy to advise them on - but God continues to deliver them to my doorstep so I press forward in obedience and honor to Him regardless of my shortcomings - He is sufficient and He dwells in me - so I am enough in Him. We can always be sure that we are doing what is pleasing and honoring to Him if only we will tunr it over to Him - keep our hands off of it and allow Him to be the Potter - He creates more beautiful works than we could ever even imagine.

I have a sweet friend who comes for coffee each Tuesday morning before she goes to school (sadly that is about to end and we are going to have to find another time), I have another dear and yes, younger friend who phones me on her way to work once or twice a week so we can catch up and I can get my steel toed boots out for her when she needs them - she tells me I am the only one who can get away with that. Then there is my sweet sweet original Mama Leisha girl who lost her precious Mother to breast cancer several years after the Mama Leisha jokes began and who now just this past weekend introduced me to someone as her "Mama Friend" (I am 12 years older). There is my beautiful 2nd Mama Leisha Girl, who touched my heart when she asked me to be a bridesmaid last July- telling me that she could not imagine walking down the aisle without her "Mama Leisha" and Iwas stretched beyond belief and as I spent time with the other 11 beautiful, thin under 30 gals in the bridal party for 2 days - did I mention I was stretched there ;-) !! What started as a joke in a hospital ER because of a confused nurse has grown and become what I really believe is God calling.....I am honored and humbled and blessed beyond words by the love and friendship of these young women who trust me to mentor them and guide them as they encounter life. So as they continue to come into my life, my prayer is that the Lord will continue to grow me up and use me to minister to them and mentor them as he sees fit.

I have come from much brokenness and God is so graciously allowing me to use that brokenness to bless others. A pastor friend of mine once told me when I shared some of my testimony with her that people trust people who walk with a limp. I have found this to be so comforting and so very true. Thank You Father, in you all things do come together for the good of those who love you.

Girls - you know who you are - I love you and thank you for the abundant blessings you give me by allowing me to be a part of your lives and watching you grow and mature in who our Awesome Father has called you to be - thank you for sharing a part of your journey with me !! I can't tell you how much I love you and how grateful I am that God chose to deliver you to my doorstep!!

Learning as I go,

(Mama) Leisha

The "It" Factor - Need to be Encouraged & Inspired ?

I received this opportunity via email and just had to share it with you gals!! Kathy Butryn (who incidentally hails from my hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is hosting a complimentary (yes ma'am free) online seminar this coming Saturday August 16th. Kathy is a Life Coach, Speaker, Writer & Instructor who loves her Heavenly Father and does all she does under His guidance and anointing.

The seminar which will take place in 4 sessions throughout the day is to help you -women- wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends to - Discover Your Goals; Stick to Your Priorities; and Build Organization into your life - sheesh who can't use help in those areas!! I have "attended" several of these online events and have come away recharged and refueled every time without fail. SO.....if you have a little free time to pop in and join in on Saturday, and I hope you will, I know you will be glad you did ;-) Everything you need to get involved is located here. Godly women getting together to encourage and edify one and another - personally, I think it makes for a great Saturday!!

In Him,

Leisha

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

Do you ever feel lonely? In the busyness of our lives with the crazy schedules we keep and the demands that are put on us as wives and mothers it seems ridiculous that we would ever be lonely. I have been pondering this for several days now. I believe that God is walking me thru a lesson(healing) on friendship. I recently walked thru a whopping lesson(healing) in humility, the wound is still quite raw actually, but My Father knows what I can bear and it seems He has chosen a 'time such as this' when I am humble and pliable to work on me a little more in an area that healing is needed. I have friends, don't get me wrong, like me, many of them have busy lives and for a variety of reasons we are no longer able to connect the way we once were and I find myself lonely and craving that kind of connection more and more lately. God is faithful and he knows the desires of my heart and in that he is stirring things in me that will lead me to where he wants me to be. I wholeheartedly believe that the Lord brings people in and out of our lives in his timing and we need to be obedient to what he is working on getting in us and through us in the people that come and go in our lives.
Sometimes, we are hurt in friendships when we are not valued the way we feel we need to be or want to be and that is hard, sometimes, we are more anxious to pursue a friendship than the other person, whatever the hurt we may suffer - God places in us a desire to be in fellowship with others. We are called to edify and encourage each other and I think that if we view friendship as ministry to others rather than what it can do for us the blessings of friendship will be abundant and life long. When we are children, we grapple with the intricate balance of maintaining friendships, being liked and accepted in the cruel world of school - that could be confusing and not a whole lot of fun at times. We all have stories of hurts that we have suffered at the hand of thoughtless or selfish classmates, on the flip side we all have sweet memories of friendships that were monumental and life changing - that is God's plan!!!
So as I get ready to venture out and follow what My Father is stirring in me to do, I am uncertain but know that He has it all well in hand and I will give it all I can to embrace the adventure and be a blessing to those whose paths cross mine - they may need it more than I do ;-) The saying that keeps coming to mind goes something like "you have to be a friend to have a friend".
I challenge you today to reach out in the love of friendship to let someone you care about know they are precious to you - they just might be lonely and need a lift!!


Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiples kisses.

Proverbs 27:6

In His Love,

Leisha