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PEACE & REST When Mom-Life Knocks You Down

December 19, 2018 //  by Jenn//  Leave a Comment

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Exhausted, I collapsed onto my bed in tears. It was about 1:00 pm, and I felt like I couldn’t go anymore.

I hadn’t gotten much sleep in the last few days, had so much left to do, kids to feed, and a house to clean. My youngest was sick for a few days, the dog had literally splattered the kitchen with explosive diarrhea the day before when Ernie and I spent an hour cleaning it before the sun came up, I had food to make for an event, a mile long to-do list, and I was already behind on laundry because of the extra washing of the vomit sheets. I already had my limit of coffee (yes, unfortunately I have a limit due to stomach upset), and the caffeine wasn’t cutting it anyway.

I cried out to the Father – exactly what He wanted me to do.

“I can’t go anymore today, I just can’t. I need You. Please give me the strength to go on because everyone is counting on me. I don’t have time to take a nap. I give it all to You, just take this… all of this.”

What happened next was a miracle. You know, it’s the little miracles we look right past sometimes. In my spirit, I was reminded of Philippians 4:8-9:

Whatever is true,
Whatever is honorable,
Whatever is just,
Whatever is pure,
Whatever is lovely,
Whatever is commendable,
If there is any excellence,
Anything worthy of praise,
Think about these things.


Those things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me do; and the God of peace will be with you.

I read that verse to myself, and I was impressed to do exactly what it says.

Think about those things. All I was thinking about was the negative….

I do everything for everyone, no one does all these things for me, if I want dinner I have to make it, no one makes dinner for me, if I want someone to cook dinner for me I have to go pay for it at a restaurant, I just need a shoulder massage (anybody?), I do all these things everyday and then I’m expected to do MORE things at the end of day after all these things are done, on top of that I have to make food for an event, I’m exhausted…

I know you’ve never felt that way before, right? I’m sure it’s just me.

In that moment, lying on my bed crying and crying out to God, I was instantly reminded to think on those things. What is true, honorable, lovely, pure, just, commendable, praise-worthy….

I immediately started to thank God for things in my life. Instead of the negativity, I began to say out loud, “Thank You for…

My kids,
Being able to stay home with my kids,
Good health,
A nice home,
My husband’s job,
Gas in my car,
Food on the table,
Healthy kids…”

And the list went on…

That’s a change in perspective isn’t it? I spoke out loud all those simple things I was thankful for. I immediately got up, dusted myself off, and I felt amazing. Seriously, like nothing was wrong anymore. I had so many good things to be thinking about, there really wasn’t a good enough reason for me to continue with the negative thinking.

I’m not at all making light of real problems, but we can all learn something here. Did it make all of my problems disappear? No. But it sure felt like they weren’t as big anymore. 

I think it’s safe to say that most of us are thankful and grateful people, right? We’re thankful for so many things.

But sometimes our circumstances can blindside us and cause all that we’re thankful for to be forgotten in that moment of time.

I said…

But sometimes our circumstances can blindside us and cause all that we’re thankful for to be forgotten in that moment of time.

I mean seriously, who isn’t thankful for their family or their kids? But how many times do we let the little nuances of life get us in a state of constant frustration?

We have washing machines, dishwashers, robot vacuums, email, google, etc. Since we have all the latest technology to do things for us, we should have a lighter burden, right? But we don’t.

We’re filling our days and minutes with more stuff. It’s natural to be overwhelmed on occasion when we have a lot going on during certain times…

But to live like that on the daily or for an extended period – well, it’s a problem that’s affecting us differently today than it was for those in the past.

It’s called chronic overwhelm.

We hear things like, just give it all to God and everything will be okay…

While that’s true and agreeable among believers, giving it all to God is easier said than done. And we just don’t know exactly how or what to do about it.

We can say “I surrender all,” but what do we do afterwards? What actions can we apply to those words to make it really happen?

Recently, I revisited my “Peace” study and found something eye-opening. 

Pin This!

Although I’m still studying every single line in depth, I want to share just one line of the scripture today –

Whatever is honorable.

The word honorable in this verse is translated from the word semnos, which comes from the root word sebomai. Sebomai [seb’-om-ahee] describes something as having weight, significance, something serious. It can also literally mean heavy.

I remember when our pastor gave an example of what this type of weight means:

Let’s say a famous person walks into the room. Because that person has weight, some people may get super excited and possibly faint. It’s because to them, they’re so honorable, and they mean something significant.

In today’s world, I notice more and more that the culture as a whole is focusing tremendously on things that have no real weight or significance.

I may say, “Oh not me… I don’t do that.”

But do I really?

We tend to give weight, or significance, to all the wrong things. And it’s so easy to do in America. For example, we’re so privileged and we literally have so much stuff, that it’s super easy to get caught up in the race for more material things. So much so, that we’ll finance the things we want so we can have it right now before we even have enough money for it. Then, we’re stuck with payments we thought we could afford. Been there done that.

But what are the things that have real meaning and add value to your life, to your Christian walk?

Are we giving the right things enough weight, value, or significance?

It’s funny how we’re able to give significance to so many things that have nothing to do with positivity or increasing spiritual value in our life.

For example, I’m not saying that sports aren’t valuable (I love sports), but how is it that we give SO much weight to Sunday’s football schedule, we plan gatherings around it, cook lots of food….

Yet when it comes to the things of God, we aren’t as excited. We don’t take it as serious.

Ouch. That’s a problem.

We wonder why we have so much going on, yet we’re not getting to do the things that really matter – the things that add value to our life.

What are we giving weight to? What are we giving significance to?

We say we have peace, yet our lives are so chaotic.

Then, those things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me do; and the God of Peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8

Peace is translated from eirene (1515) – rest, quietness. Also translated from the original Hebrew shalom (7965) – literally, “to be whole.”

To be whole. Wow. 

Let’s do a little translation in place of peace to give a clearer meaning in the context, using the original text:

… and the God of Wholeness will be with you.
…and the God of Rest will be with you.
…and the God of Quietness will be with you.

We want all those things – wholeness, rest, quiet.

Then, do those things listed in verse 8.

Clearly, in verse 9, he says “Do those things which you have learned, and the God of Peace will be with you!”

That’s how we get peace! That’s how we get rest! Mental rest, mental clarity, mental peace. Think about these things!

We can choose to find good in every thing. I’ve done it. I can literally find good in every single situation, bad or good.

Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, worthy of praise…

Although physical rest is super important (it’s very important actually), is that really the kind of rest we’re seeking? Because if we’re getting enough physical rest, there may still be a puzzle piece missing. I know a thing or two about this in my own life, just saying 🙂

What if we focused on the things that have real weight, and continually gave due honor to the things that fulfill the values we believe in?

I hope this little portion of my study helps you today as you go through your everyday routine. Change some things up a bit, squeeze in some quiet time, write down your thankfulness, and watch your world change right before your eyes. Live on purpose.

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Category: Blog, Faith, Family & PersonalTag: bible study, busyness, overwhelm, peace, peaceful, rest, shalom

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Creative Cajun Mama | Jenn

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Jenn! I’m a wife and mom of 3 who wants you to know that a simpler, less-chaotic life can exist in this modern world. I like to talk about things like life’s victories & struggles, faith, family, food, and getting better with our money habits.

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I use my
I N S T A – S T O R I E S
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Creating More Life with Less
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that’s where you’ll find me!

Instagram post 2171183460520181834_452106066 Advice for your youngin’ (and us adults too!).⠀
I’m a mama who’s concerned about our son in middle school and making sure he has the tools he needs to succeed in this world.⠀
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I’m currently reading “Planet Middle School,” by Dr. Kevin Leman, and I just wanted to share this excerpt with you. Give it to your child to read for himself, or save it for later. Sometimes when you’re a teenager, advice from other adults sink in a little deeper than words from your own parents. ⠀
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#PlanetMiddleSchool #teenagers
Instagram post 2170516047115619452_452106066 Did you know?⠀
We don’t have a very big refrigerator, so we save space by using fresh eggs because unwashed, fresh eggs can remain at room temp for at least a week. Simply wash off as you’re ready to use.⠀
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They’re also a part of the #functionalDecor in our kitchen.⠀
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Thanks to @dedie72 we get fresh eggs whenever we can, and they come unwashed.⠀
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Who else in here keeps your #freshEggs out at room temp for a little while?
Instagram post 2168256219117132197_452106066 Which hand soap do you prefer?⠀
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FOAMING -or- LIQUID⠀
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I love the foaming ones! What about you?
Instagram post 2167521352234413548_452106066 I had an IDEA💡⠀
Create 3 reachable Goals for the month, specifically this way:⠀
1. Daily Goal⠀
2. Weekly Goal⠀
3. Monthly Goal⠀
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The way to reach BIG things is by tackling the SMALL things EVERY DAY.⠀
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1️⃣ #DailyGoal :: Track expenses every single day. I know that sounds over-the-top, but let me elaborate - If I wait to do it once per week and that gets pushed back a few days or another week (because life), it takes LONGER to catch up, which in turn makes me not want to to it at all. If I spend a few minutes per day doing it, I won't get behind (because yes, even I get behind). I'm super excited to now have Every Dollar Plus, which will definitely save me time also. Want to learn how to budget & track successfully? I have a course for that! I also have lots of free info on my website. Link in profile (@creativecajunmama)⠀
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2️⃣ #WeeklyGoal :: Meal planning is something I've always done, but when LIFE & WORK gets super busy, I slack in this area & by 3 pm I still don't know what's for dinner. It's been happening too often lately. Sometimes the last thing I want to think about is preparing dinner, even though I love to cook, it gets old at times & I'd rather be doing something else productive. We try our hardest to only eat out once/month, so this is requires planning. Dining out is one of Americans' top budget busters. We have major financial goals up ahead, and this is an area that we CAN control if we put in the effort.⠀
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3️⃣ #MonthlyGoal :: Do something extra for myself. Yeah this is one of my biggest struggles. While this should be really easy, I struggle with treating myself. It just doesn't bother me to go without or put myself last. Reality is that we should be caring for ourselves FIRST so that we have the capacity and the energy to care for others. Plus, I never liked spending extra money on myself when I feel like it could be used for something so much more meaningful or on someone else. Did you hear that nonsense? How would it feel if you spoke to another person like that? We need to stop the negative internal language to ourselves. Treat yo-self. Not because you "deserve" it, but because it deserves YOU.⠀
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Like this idea? Let me see YOURS! 👇
Instagram post 2166857221332527376_452106066 Y’all see that stick of butter sitting on top of that wrapped-up dough? Let me tell you a little story about not giving up...⠀
This can apply to anything, but I just want to encourage you in the kitchen today. Just because you mess something up, burn something, or ruin dinner, it doesn’t mean you “can’t.”⠀⠀
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As the old saying goes, “You can do anything you put your mind to.”⠀
Yes, I do believe that, but it should end with “...if you don’t give up.”⠀
*You can do anything you put your mind to... if you don't give up.*⠀
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We were blessed with some homegrown sweet potatoes, and a friend gave me the idea to make some sweet potato hand pies. This is something I never made before, but I knew my grandma had a good recipe for that. The potatoes needed to get used soon, so I had to make time somehow to get them cooked.⠀
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But we had an out-of-town wedding to attend over the weekend, so I had to figure out what I was going to do to not waste these potatoes. Solution -- bake the potatoes, skin them, and then make the dough. On Monday, I'd have it all ready to make the pies. So that's what I did.⠀
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I felt good about myself Friday night after I made the dough, wrapped it and put it in the fridge. Then, I remembered...⠀
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I forgot one stick of butter because originally I was halving the recipe🤦🏼‍♀️. Now how I'm supposed to add a stick of butter to already made dough? Oh geez. Just laugh at myself.😂 ⠀
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Figured it out on Monday, added more flour, etc. But still... It took MORE extra time - the time I was supposed to be SAVING making things ahead. I saved the potatoes, the recipe, they came out amazing, and the kids devoured them (and I put some in the freezer). Total of 40 pies plus some.⠀
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Point is --> I still mess stuff up all the time, even though I seem to have it all together in the kitchen. So to those of you who feel like you just "can't" #cook or #bake or whatever -- you really CAN. Just don't give up.⠀
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I can do the things I do because I'm not a giver-upper, and that's the truth. I don't have special powers. This blog exists to make you feel like you can do it, so pick yourself up and try again :)⠀
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#CreativeCajunMama #foodblogger #CajunRecipes
Instagram post 2164692162780618241_452106066 "Mom! That looks like cinnamon!" ⠀⠀
But it's not! It's a DRY roux (oilless roux), and it was a success! I loved it! Thanks to the tips from a friend's Facebook post, I gave it a try.⠀
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This is a 7-quart black iron pot. I was trying to brown enough flour so that I'd have some for later use (about 3 cups total). I used this particular roux to make a stew, or "fricassee," and I have about 1 cup left to use later for a gumbo 🙌🏼.⠀
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The great things about this:⠀
1) No extra oil or butter to make my stomach upset⠀
2) Easy storage in the pantry for later use! Win!⠀
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You simply put the flour in the pot, and cook on medium to med-low heat until browned to desired color (color of cinnamon works perfectly!). Stir continuously just like a standard roux. It took me about the same amount of time as a roux with oil.⠀
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*NOTE:The usage of the dry roux is a little different from a standard roux. Typically, with a standard roux, you would add your onions to brown with the roux once the roux was done. With the dry roux, you must cook your veggie seasonings and meat first, add the liquid, THEN add the roux as needed until you get the desired flavor and consistency. ⠀
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It's pretty simple, but just like trying anything else different, you must test it out for yourself to get it how you like it best. For a great Cajun gumbo recipe using healthier ingredients, check out my Gumbo recipe on the blog👇🏼⠀
Link in profile (@creativecajunmama)⠀
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#Roux #OillessRoux #CajunFood #Fricassee #Stew #Gumbo #allweatherisgumboweather
Instagram post 2161111894542110302_452106066 On one hand, we think we don't serve money, yet on the other hand, we tend to depend on this world's system of financial success.⠀
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What if we depended on the Biblical system of handling money and being good stewards as we’re taught in scripture? Would we need to borrow money anymore?⠀
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The world's system says you need a good credit score to be successful with money. It doesn't matter how much money you actually have, just that your credit score is good. A credit score is NO indication of your wealth. It only enables us to “look” good, even if we can’t afford it. And how do you get a credit score? Take on debt. ⠀
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Debt sends your income out the door every month with someone else’s name on it. But what if there was another way, a way that you really could live without it?⠀
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Budgeting money successfully sorts out every single dollar of our income, and forces us to be good stewards. We literally tell our money where it’s going to be spent before we get paid. Bills are taken care of, Groceries are planned out, and unexpected expenses ARE expected. ⠀
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Wait what? Yes! ⠀
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Doesn’t that sound much better than flying by the seat of your pants every week?⠀
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THIS is exactly how we don’t let money control us ⠀
—> W E  control  I T <—⠀
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THIS is exactly how we don’t serve it:⠀
—> I T serves U S <—⠀
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👉🏼 with a B U D G E T!
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When we make money behave and serve us, we can fully focus on serving God and have the capacity to do what we’ve been called to do. Because let’s face it, it’s hard to make choices sometimes when our money is out of control.
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What budget questions can I answer for you today?
Instagram post 2157387370037749577_452106066 Happy Friday! It's been a while since I've shared a little about myself, so I figured now was the time!⁠ (I hate talking about myself btw... but it’s for my blog 🙃)⠀
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My name is Jennifer Bourgeois (BOO-jshwah), and I'm the face behind Creative Cajun Mama. I'm a wife, mom, and graphic artist. My husband and I paid off a lot of debt in a few years, also while growing our family and developing a healthier lifestyle.⁠⠀
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I feel like I'm FINALLY in my element because I've combined my creativity and my love for teaching others with my passion for better money habits & health, while keeping the Bible as the center. I now work full time to help people just like you stick to a budget, pay off debt, get healthier, and save money doing it.⠀
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If you've been following my blog for a while - THANK YOU. You're why I do this. If you just started following, I hope you learn, grow, laugh, and teach me some things, too. I'm always trying to make this blog better, and I love answering questions 💛⠀
⁠⠀⠀
And just for fun, here are 3 things you might not know about me:⁠⠀⠀
1. I LOVE LOVE Sweets. Sometimes I eat dessert before the meal 😆. You can fully enjoy it with an empty stomach, right?⠀
2. I enjoy living a simple life, and I could definitely live without a TV. If it was up to me alone, we wouldn't even have one.⠀
3. I edit the wording on my posts an average of 15 times before I share (ugh).⠀
⁠⠀⠀
I'd LOVE to hear one thing about you! Let me know something about yourself in the comments 👇
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