because of His great love
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Hello new friends, I am Janelle Reed, founder of SingleMomzRock; a single mom’s ministry in Springfield, MO. I would like to share with you a little bit about me and my journey these last few years and how I came to helping single moms in my area. I grew up in a small town in Southwest Missouri and married my high school sweetheart, but in 2010 after 12 years of marriage, I was faced with a divorce and being a full-time {Read More}
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. Mark 14:34 I’ve read the story so many times, yet never seen that one word. The word that breathes life into my circumstance. Overwhelmed. Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow. I find myself trying to hide the tears and keep them from falling, but they flow anyway. Can one believe God and still feel the pain of the storm? Is it possible to have faith that He {Read More}
There are days when the darkness surrounds. Days when it’s hard to pray. Days when the “shadows swallow the light” (Jason Gray). It’s here that He meets me. Right where I am. It here that He breathes life into the darkness. At the end of me, He picks up the pieces. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through {Read More}
It wasn’t just in between the lines. Her despair was the breath of every word on the page. Circumstances loomed their dark angry clouds over her family and hope seemed a mere flicker of the distant past. He’s leaving. It’s too late. It’s too far gone. There is nothing I can say to change it. Nothing I can do to fix it. Even God can’t fix this now. My heart is painfully familiar with her feelings. I’ve felt the pelting rain {Read More}
A pink spotted giraffe was perched by the door and tiny pink and purple rattles hung on the chairs. Presents piled high and laughter filled the room. The afternoon promised yummy goodies and sweet friends to love on. Huddled close around the mom-to-be, we marveled at the latest gadgets and the adorable pink dresses. But, with each new package, the discontent in my heart grew louder. It became increasingly harder to fight back the tears. God, why can’t I have {Read More}
It’s fun to watch my girls twirl in front of the mirror. They love to see themselves and have no inhibitions for how they look. For years, I have wished for the same admiration of the mirror. But, I have a love/hate relationship with my mirrors and not all of them are created equally. On the same day I can look in my bathroom mirror with anguish, but then walk in my bedroom and feel better. Maybe the light is {Read More}
In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 118:5-6 photo credit Music is the light to my soul. It’s one of the most frequent ways that God whispers His promises to me. When a particular song speaks to me, I will play it until the words are etched on my heart. Sometimes I sing along. Sometimes I sit in {Read More}
It was in the driver’s seat of my mini van, children captivated by Buck Denver, that God spoke to me. Driving south on what seemed like a one way street to the end of my life, I listened to the words that would change my moments. The author poured out her heart and the tears were uncontrollable. Her baby sister’s body frail and crushed under the delivery truck, she walked a gruesome road to healing. There was one thing that changed {Read More}
It’s not about me. I claim that I know this truth, but does it resonate in my soul? Does it invade those moments when my security is threatened? photo credit That cranky old lady who took my parking spot…not about me. That grocery store clerk that snapped at my use of coupons…not about me. That friend who assulted with her words…not about me. That man who walked out the door…not about me. Don’t get me wrong. Of course we could {Read More}
It’s time to stop allowing my circumstances to determine my security. I wrote that sentence laying in a hospital bed, 28 weeks pregnant. The risk of bleeding to death was very high for both myself and the baby. Night after night I cried myself to sleep. Feelings were my worst enemy. Loneliness, fear and insecurity captivated my thoughts. It was a loneliness that few can understand. I had very limited access to my kids and only occasional visits from friends {Read More}
photo credit Years of pictures line my scrapbooks. You won’t find me in them. I could joke and say that moms never get in the picture, but I know that isn’t the truth. I hide from the camera. I don’t want to be in the picture. Whether in pictures or the mirror, I am faced with the ugly. I don’t like the way I look. I don’t like the way my hair frizzes in humidity or the way my nose {Read More}
It was a battle scene straight out of Star Wars. Screaming, squealing and clawing. Hair-pulling, scratching and tears… Alright, maybe it was more like a battle scene out of daytime tv. “I hate you“, she screams. Toys are flying. More scratching and hair-pulling, as I become increasingly aware that intervention will be necessary. With veteran battle skills, I peel them off of each other. Still kicking and screaming they depart to separate spaces to sort out the mess. Lectures, tears, {Read More}
Tears fall night after night. Waves crash on the walls of my heart. With each new day a new hurt taunts my soul. My heart bleeds pain. The pressure on my chest makes every breath excruciating. When will it end? There’s no where to look but up. Nothing to speak but truth. As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! Psalm 40:11 I claim His promises. I {Read More}
The year was 2003. Tragedy fell harsh around me. Just one week before, we had stared blankly as the doctor revealed that our baby had died. We had prayed over the nursery, held each other, and cried out before our Lord. But there was no heartbeat. I vividly remember laying in that hospital bed awaiting my D&C, listening to weeping women all around me. Through the closed curtains I could easily imagine their faces. I could personally feel their pain. {Read More}
Have you ever thought about that night in the jail? It was a dark prison cell. Beaten unjustly and faced with despairing circumstances, Paul sang praises to God. Praises so loud and bold that the very foundation of the prison was shaken. (Acts 16) Yet, even when the walls came down, Paul didn’t run. He stayed and waited for God to tell him to leave. There was a promise and his actions claimed it. His heart followed. Rejoice always, pray continually, give {Read More}
This blog is the story of a broken girl living in a messy world. A girl who was once consumed by the circumstances, but is now consumed with the love of Jesus. I invite you on this journey as I daily give God the pain and invite Him to fill the emptiness, choosing never to be consumed by anything else again. Read More...
