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RECENT POSTS
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 2
Jan 31, 2019
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 2
Jan 31, 2019
Jan 31, 2019
35 Weeks With Baby #4 Update
Jan 28, 2019
35 Weeks With Baby #4 Update
Jan 28, 2019
Jan 28, 2019
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 1
Jan 16, 2019
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 1
Jan 16, 2019
Jan 16, 2019
Baby Room Update: We Finished The Board & Batten!
Dec 18, 2018
Baby Room Update: We Finished The Board & Batten!
Dec 18, 2018
Dec 18, 2018
Cozy Winter Style & Giftable Christmas Items
Dec 10, 2018
Cozy Winter Style & Giftable Christmas Items
Dec 10, 2018
Dec 10, 2018
3 Ways We Keep Our Love On
Dec 4, 2018
3 Ways We Keep Our Love On
Dec 4, 2018
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Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha

Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha

September 3, 2018

Welcome to Week #7 of the Made Like Martha Mobile Book Club. We are so glad that you are here. Today we are talking about a theme found in Chapter 7. 

This week, is a little bit different from my other blog posts but I am so excited to share with you and be apart of a very special book that my friend Katie Reid wrote, specifically for women with a doer’s heart; the women like Martha from the bible. In this incredible book, "Made Like Martha," Katie challenges those of us with this “striving to be the best mentality” to instead exchange that for a hope-filled freedom without having to disclaim our doer’s heart in the process. It’s a beautiful combination of letting go while affirming you that you’re made perfectly just the way you are. 

Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha

Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha

In this week’s study we will we focusing on the theme from Chapter 7 entitled, “The Middle Ground Between Striving and Slowing: Stewarding Well Without Overdoing It.” When reading this chapter I was struck by the way in which it spoke to my doer’s heart. Constantly I am pressing into my “worth” by trying to do, do, do  in order to receive. When in reality I have to DO absolutely nothing in order to receive my worth because He has already paid it all so that I can stand before Him blameless and righteous. He’s already DONE so that I can BE. 

This reality is hard for someone like me, someone that constantly wants to be productive and be seen for that productivity. When I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom at the young age of 21 I thought I was watching my dreams come true. I had wanted to be a homemaker and mother since I can remember and actually getting the opportunity to do so made my heart sore. I couldn’t wait to do all the “mom things” like cook meals for my husband, rock my baby to sleep, read books, make my house a home and steward the needs of my family all in a days time. I eagerly awaited that first day home alone. 

And as that day came upon me, I sat there…and sat there. I waited for those feelings of joyful bliss to find their home in my heart but all I felt was sheer boredom and isolation. This was nothing like I had imagined it would be. There was only so many productive things I could do in a day in between nursing a baby, cleaning up spit up, and changing yet another poopy diaper. In fact I felt like that’s all my days consisted of. I couldn’t get anything done and my baby would start crying the moment I put her down, or the minute I did put her down without fussing all I wanted to do was take a nap myself! I remember feeling so hopeless so defeated when my husband would come home from a long day and ask,

So what did you do today?

Every time he’d ask that I felt like he was that little pesky kid poking the belly of a bear just waiting to see how long it took for that said bear to attack. It took everything inside of me not to punch him in the face. I felt like he wanted to expose my failed attempts at productivity, I felt like he could see right through my fake facade of blissful motherhood. But now, when I subjectively look back at that time in my life I know what I was feeling. My feelings of inadequacy from not “doing” what I deemed was “productive” were masked in the form of my worth. And because I didn’t feel like my life was producing anything of worthiness, I didn’t feel that I added anything of value to the life of my family. 

So in absence of my productivity I sought out every way I could to create it. I started flipping furniture pieces, I got involved in an MLM company, I lead worship at my moms group at my church, I started a blog, and then thought I’d start a calligraphy business. I couldn’t stop myself from striving. I felt the more I did, the more I accomplished and the more I accomplished the more I became. Every time an opportunity arose I saw it as a way for me to establish myself that much more. And it didn’t matter how many babies I had during that time, I still allowed that lie that told me I was never enough to run my life. 

And as I listened to that unrelenting lie, I watched my marriage suffer, and my parenting suffer; I watched as relationships crumbled and business plans failed. I simply could not do all and be all at the same time. Something had to give. 

How do you achieve balance when you’re someone that thrives on doing? How do you stop doing when doing is how you were created? Katie says it perfectly in this book when she says:

Many of us aren’t sure where the middle ground is anymore, which makes standing on it difficult. But even when we struggle to find the solid ground between striving and resting, we are still adored daughters of a good Father who leads us with love.

The truth is, there isn’t anything that we can do to find balance. There’s only what we can believe. And that’s that the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords is the only one that can give our hearts the contentment that we need to thrive. Only He can remind us of our worth, only HE can replace our perfectionist seeking, productivity obsessed hearts with His divine, surpassing peace. It’s because of Him and through Him that we can claim our worth not because of anything we’ve done but because of our birthright. 

If I’m being honest right now, I’m still not sure I’ve fully been able to wrap my head around this concept; This concept of grace and righteousness. But I know the Father’s best for me is not what I deem best for me, in fact His best for me is far greater than I can ever imagine. So that is what I cling to and that is what I will continue to press into so that I can experience His fullness apart from my own, and so that I can be content with just being so that I know my doing is in accordance to His will for my life. 

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Do you feel threatened by the reality of “burnout and boredom?” And if so, do you know when that lie was planted into your life that told you that you needed to “hustle” in order to achieve?

*Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done by Katie M. Reid is an invitation for go-getters to discover what it means to rest as God's daughter without compromising their God-given design as doers. Join us on Facebook for the "Made Like Martha Sisterhood" as we embrace our design for God's glory and the good of others.

Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha
Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha

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In Motherhood Tags motherhood, made like martha, striving to thrive, mom blogger, mom life, surviving motherhood, katie m. reid, doer, momprenuer, tessa kirby, faith, God, Jesus
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Hi! I'm Tessa! I'm a wife + young
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Latest Posts: 

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My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 2
Jan 31, 2019
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My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 2
Jan 31, 2019
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Jan 31, 2019
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35 Weeks With Baby #4 Update
Jan 28, 2019
Motherhood
35 Weeks With Baby #4 Update
Jan 28, 2019
Motherhood
Jan 28, 2019
Motherhood
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 1
Jan 16, 2019
Motherhood
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 1
Jan 16, 2019
Motherhood
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Motherhood
Baby Room Update: We Finished The Board & Batten!
Dec 18, 2018
home decor & DIY
Baby Room Update: We Finished The Board & Batten!
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home decor & DIY
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LATEST POSTS
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 2
Jan 31, 2019
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 2
Jan 31, 2019
Jan 31, 2019
35 Weeks With Baby #4 Update
Jan 28, 2019
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Jan 28, 2019
Jan 28, 2019
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 1
Jan 16, 2019
My Must Have Baby Essentials Part 1
Jan 16, 2019
Jan 16, 2019
Baby Room Update: We Finished The Board & Batten!
Dec 18, 2018
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Dec 4, 2018
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How To Accessorize The Bump
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Life Lately: Before Fall Ends
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Neutral Living Room Retouch
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Oct 22, 2018
Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha
Sep 3, 2018
Striving To Thrive: Made Like Martha
Sep 3, 2018
Sep 3, 2018
Uh Oh! Here Comes Baby #4
Aug 29, 2018
Uh Oh! Here Comes Baby #4
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Aug 29, 2018
Our Little Blue Flip House Revealed
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Jul 27, 2018
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Is Your Past Determining Your Future?
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Jul 16, 2018
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My Basic Style Go To's
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Workout 2: At Home Cardio Boost
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What The Funk?
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My Blue Button Up Dress
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Feb 19, 2018

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Well it looks like it’s time folks! 🤗 my buns may be flapping in the wind with this super trendy gown but we are so incredibly excited to meet our baby boy! Prayers appreciated!!! 🙏🏼 Sometimes it’s in the simple pieces that become your favorite part of a room! I can’t wait to share where I got so many of these nursery gems! I’ll be linking them all in my blogpost on Monday!
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Ps. I did get a number of brand partnerships with this room makeover...however there is a lot that I bought on my own! Like A LOT! I want to be candid with you all and make that known beforehand while also making you aware of major ways I’ve saved for this project! You don’t have to spend a ton of 💰 to get the look you want, you just have to know where to look 👀 Today marks 38 weeks and I really can’t even believe that we made it this far! This is the longest I’ve kept any of my babies in and I am so extremely thankful for the extra time he’s had to “cook.” As anxious as I am to meet him, I am equally at peace with God’s timing in all of this and know that His hand is at work: guiding and protecting this little life. ⠀⠀
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So to all of you that have stayed up to date with our journey and continued praying over our sweet boy....THANK YOU! I truly believe because of all your prayers spoken in unison my hearts cry has been heard. I am beyond thankful for all of you! ❤️
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#38weeks #preggers #maternity #pregnant #expecting #babyboy #maternityfashion I asked and you answered! Baby boys nursery reveal will be this upcoming Monday! At least I hope I can get it ready for you by then! 🤪 I can’t wait for you to see this space, it’s quickly become one of my favorite corners of our home simply for its lack of chaos! ⠀⠀
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Also, I love sharing shops with you that not only inspire beauty but resonate with me personally. Rebekah of @mercy.threads is a mother to 3 and makes these beautiful handmade bonnets, as well as booties! And all in different earthy tones! Go check out her shop and give her a follow, her next drop of new inventory is tomorrow! You don’t want to miss out! Can’t wait to see our little buddy in this! 😍 •

#nurseryinspo #babyboy #pregnant #nurserydecor #nursery Happy Valentines Day my love ❤️ as much as we don’t celebrate this day with extravagant gifts and sentiments (because who needs just one day for that? 😘) I did want to say...right now more than ever...I’m so thankful to do life alongside you. You listen to my heart and hear my dreams, taking them on as your own; tending to them and nurturing them. You put all selfish desires aside for the sake of your family constantly and challenge me to do the same. Men, take note of this for the sake of a healthy marriage. 🙌🏼 I am beyond blessed by the lavishing love of this man and know that every women out there deserves the same. ⠀⠀
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I love you beyond the stars @guykirby_ and can’t wait for this next trip around the sun. ❤️❤️❤️ •

Photo cred: @alisanicholle I know I’ve been downloading everything baby onto my feed these past few days but I can’t help it! Getting all the little things done and ready, including the nursery. It’s finally FINISHED you guys! 😭🙌🏼😩 I seriously can’t even believe it! Here is another sneak peek to try to entice you to come back once the whole reveal goes live 🤷🏻‍♀️ ⠀⠀
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So the question becomes...what day would you all like to see this blog post go live? This Friday (the15th), next Monday (the 18th) OR Wednesday (the 20th)? Put your vote down below! •

#nursery #nurserydecor #babyboy #pregnant #nurseryinspo As we await the arrival of baby boy #4 I’ve heard over and over again from acquaintances, friends, and family how anxious they’ve been anticipating an announcement. Every time I hear another person remark on how they are on pins and needles for me, I laugh and think to myself...this is one LOVED baby. ⠀⠀
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But in all honesty, I’ve recently found myself (as we’ve experienced a few very “close calls”) noticing a bit of my own anxiety as the anticipation grows. Today during a bit of quiet time I thought a little bit more about that anxiety and tried to seek out the root. ⠀⠀
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In that moment, the Father brought to light my last delivery and the real lasting effects of fear that whole process left on my heart. Then I heard the Father say, “The fear that steals joy is not the result of me. The fear that steals life is not the result of me.” And in that second I knew the anxiety I was feeling was a direct result of the fear from my past and the experiences that happened there. Are we to live in the past and let those experiences define who we are today? ABSOLUTELY NOT! There is NO fear in Gods love and the abundance of joy that He has for mothers delivering new life is perfect, blameless, and WITHOUT fear. ⠀⠀
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So with that newness in mind, I feel stronger and more ready than ever to meet this little one; to gaze at his face for the first time and drink in that wonderful newborn smell that I love so much. Because I know that even pain is worth the life that comes from it. •

Waffle knit shirt and denim jacket: @firaboutique My mom just got into town this afternoon to be here for the birth of baby #4 and man do I love having her here. Not only does she make having babies even MORE special than it already is, but she loves on my other littles in the most pure and beautiful ways. I am just so incredibly thankful to have her close! •

Sooo now that your here @heysuuz COME ON baby boy!!! 💙 There is just something about having milk and cookies with you best sibling pals isn’t there? I love watching the friendship between the three of them grow and flourish. I can’t wait to add one more to the mix just to spice things up 🤪 HAPPY SATURDAY FRIENDS! The nursery space is ALMOST complete!!! We have a couple more “little touches” to add here and there but we are officially ready! I mean...not that he’s gonna he sleeping here for a while anyways 😂 but we are MENTALLY prepared at least! More details to come with this space but here are a few fun details to inspire...
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Moses basket: @plumandsparrow ❤️
Rocking Stand: @babyecotrends 🌿
Signs: @smallwoodhome ✨
Fidel Leaf Tree: @qvc ⠀⠀

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