God’s Plan // Mary Swafford

“. . . . it was just as the angel had told them.”
Luke 2:20 

Do you ever wonder why most of us use calendars? Or planners? Or set goals, etc? Most of us like to plan. We like to plan out our days, weeks, months and even years. We plan vacations. We meal plan. Financial plan. Even participate in exercise plans. We have retirement plans and emergency plans. You would think that with all this planning we would be settled and satisfied. Instead we then have a 5 year plan and a 10 year plan. 

One of my husbands favorite sayings is “a failure to plan is a plan to fail”. Isn’t that exactly what we’re all ultimately trying to do though? Avoid an emergency? An interruption? Something that is unplanned? A mistake or a failure? 

We’ve been following the story of Jesus in the book of Luke in the bible. In our first blog we heard about Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel when he tells her she is going to conceive a child. Mary questions how this can be and then declares that she is God’s servant and “may your word to me be fulfilled.” Pregnancy was no doubt, not on her wedding day checklist, and yet Mary willingly submitted to the Lord and to his word. 

After this, Mary goes to see her cousin Elizabeth and upon hearing Mary’s voice, the baby in Elizabeth’s belly leapt. Elizabeth blesses Mary and Mary in turn, glorifies God and the miracle of Jesus growing inside of her. Instead of being overcome with fear and uncertainty, she chooses to trust God and his faithfulness. 

And now, as Mary and Joseph are in the town of Bethlehem to register for the census, she goes into labor. With so many travelers in town, there is nowhere for Mary and Joseph to stay. Every hotel, motel and Inn are already booked. Their only option for shelter is to sleep in a stable where the animals are kept. In true Mary fashion, instead of complaining and being upset, she lovingly and tenderly wraps her baby in strips of cloth and lays him in a manager.

Pregnancy before marriage and giving birth surrounded by animals were not part of Mary’s plan, but Jesus was always God’s plan. 

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”
John 1:1-4 

In the beginning was the Word and the Word (Jesus) gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light to everyone. The same words that spoke the earth into existence are the same words God used to tell Mary she would conceive. The same words Mary believed would be fulfilled. The same word that God spoke to the Shepherds that night so that they too could see the fulfillment of his word and tell others about him. 

God’s plan is Jesus, who was and is and is to come. His word is alive and he still uses his word to speak to you and I. Surrender to trusting God's word and his faithfulness and his plan. 

“I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel”
Psalm 32:8

Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.

Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

Personal // by Joanna Goodin

Have you ever felt overlooked or taken for granted? Maybe you feel like you are too much, or not enough? Maybe you have felt like your gifts didn’t bring as much to the table as the next lady’s. Me? Check, check, annnnd check.  I am guessing if we are all honest with ourselves, we have all felt these things at some point in our lives. Please read Luke 10:38-42 and find comfort in knowing we are all in good company. Please, know that these problems come with a solution more healing than yoga, washing your face, and a delicious cup of Boulder coffee combined.

We enter the scene in the town of Bethany, at the home of Mary and Martha. Martha has extended an invite to Jesus and his disciples. During this time, hospitality was both important and expected, just as it was expected that the lady of the house to be preparing meals and serving. Martha was acting like she was taught and most likely had the gift of service and hospitality. 

Meanwhile, her sister, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him teach. This would not have been allowed in social gatherings. Neither Mary, who was just sitting there soaking it all in, nor Jesus were phased by this deviation from cultural norms (can I get a hallelujah). But Martha was upset by this situation. Maybe she thought Mary was not behaving as a woman should and needed to be reprimanded. Or it could be that Martha was a go-getter and thought Mary a bit lackadaisical. Whatever the case, there is a lot we can learn from this passage and this week we will ask the question:

What do we learn about God?

He gets personal with us.

Here is what we do know. Jesus loved these ladies and was gently, calling them to have a relationship with Him. In fact, when Martha tells Jesus to have Mary help her, he responds by connecting with Martha and letting her know He sees her heart. He says,

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.”

Luke 10:41

He calls her by name...twice. This shows the importance of what He was going to say, but also how personal He is with us. Jesus did not just let the women stand in the kitchen and overhear, He called them to come and learn. He took the time to connect with Martha, before correcting her. He corrected in a way that brought her back to a relationship, rather than demean her in public. Notice that Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen what is better. We will talk more about this another week, but for now just take note that He was not saying that her ways of service were wrong. Jesus was saying that at that time, Mary had chosen the He was just telling her the other option was the better one, and Mary had chosen that. We see he kind of sticks up for Mary. He defends Mary’s choice to sit and listen and learn from him, in a way that does not berate Martha. We see he longs for time spent with us at his feet. He wants to show us how well he knows us and loves us anyway. He wants us to know him and not just study him, but find joy, peace, and wisdom sitting at his feet, submitting to his presence and teachings.

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As more of a Mary, in my childhood, I find this comforting because I always felt I did not quite measure up. I was all about the connection and friendship. But let’s be honest, that wasn’t going to win me any praise in the busy go-getter culture we live in, at least that is how I felt. Now, as a mom and a wife, I see myself more of Martha’s tendencies mixing with my Mary qualities. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Where do you need to invite Jesus to minister to you this week? Do you need rest? His yoke is light. Do you need validation? He knows you and sees your heart and what is going on in your life. Do you need to be reminded of who you really are? He calls us by name, and invites us in. Take a breath sister. Whichever end of the spectrum you currently find yourself on, Jesus sees your heart, and is longing for you to connect with Him.

Please share! We love to hear from and learn from each other and don’t forget to share: What you learned about God from this visit with Mary and Martha.

Joanna is a contributing writer for Shaken and Stirred. She loves Jesus and hopes she never stops learning more about Him. She is a Life Coach working alongside women and adolescence, as well as a mom to amazing 11&13 year old young men. She loves hiking and yoga when she gets the chance to do it. She often enjoys writing, creating, coffee with a friend or book, and laughing while hanging out with her boys.

Photo by Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash

Reaching for the World or Jesus? // by Heather Dillingham

In my life I have turned toward many things to give me joy, comfort, and healing. Things like food, entertainment, and the newest health fads. But the truth is, not once have any of those things made me feel complete, whole, or even slightly better. 

 Doubtless I’m not the only one who has done this. This world teaches us through constant ads, streams, and posts that it has all the answers. Through the world we can become stronger, smarter, and prettier. It (the world) is all we need.

Before my miscarriage I lived selfishly by the world. I went to church, but left God at the door on Sunday. I felt like I had a gaping whole in my life and I used the world to try to fix it. Even my attempt at getting pregnant was an attempt to lean on the world. “Oh if I just had a baby, life would get better. I’d be happier.” Losing my child hurt. But I know God used tragedy to remind me that this world can not and will never be what I need to feel whole.

Let’s take a look back at our story. I encourage you to read back through Mark 5:25-34 (NIV) with this weeks question in mind:

“What did we learn about mankind?”

Mankind tries to solve problems through the world before going to God

Just like us, the bleeding woman believed in the world. She spent all that she had on ‘experts’ who convinced her they had all the answers. Instead of the world saving her, it chewed her up and left her to die penniless, in pain, and alone. It was only after she stopped looking to the world to heal her and looked to Jesus that she was healed.

This passage teaches us that mankind is flawed in our view of the world. The world was made by God, yet we too often allow it to become our god. Our protector, our healer, our comforter. We seek a solution we can hold in our hands instead of lifting our hands. And it doesn’t stop there.

The world is persistent in its efforts to get us to seek it first. When Jesus turned to the crowd to ask who had touched His cloak the woman was afraid. She turned back to leaning on the world and what it told her, which was that she was unclean and unwanted. But that isn’t what Jesus saw. He saw a woman filled with faith and blessed her with peace because of it.

Just like her, I still struggle with leaning too hard on the world sometimes. But God is always there to nudge me back to Him like the wonderful shepherd He is.

Have you been leaning on the world instead of on God? What are the truths He says about you? What other things did you learn about mankind from this passage?

Heather is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a believer, a wife, and a mother to a wonderful (and sometimes crazy) one-year-old. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. She can usually be taking care of the home and playing on the floor with her daughter.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Hope to the Hopeless // by Heather Dillingham

My Story

Have you ever felt like nothing you do matters? Like the whole world is against you? In other words, have you ever felt hopeless? The devil loves to make us feel this way in order to stop us from reaching for the one true hope. When I first came to CTM in 2018 I was struggling with hope.

 The year before had been one of the hardest of my life. I hated my job, my relationship with my husband hadn’t been good for years, I was the unhealthiest I have ever been, and my support base was almost nonexistent. Anxiety and depression were my companions.

 Despite all of this, or maybe because of this, we decided to start trying for a child and miraculously got pregnant. I was so excited! It felt like we were healing. I was healing. Weeks later, as I watched what was far too much blood leave my body, I knew I was wrong.

 I blamed God, but most of all, I blamed myself.  In the weeks it would take for my body to recover and the months for my mind, I seriously thought about ending my life. I felt unclean, alone, and absolutely hopeless.

 …  

The woman we are reading about this week went through this kind of isolation, pain, and hopelessness for YEARS. Please take a moment to read Mark 5: 25-34 NIV.

The passage teaches us of a woman who was desperate. Her body had been hemorrhaging for 12-years. Not only would she have been in extreme pain, but she would also have been isolated because women with this condition were considered unclean and therefor couldn’t interact normally with society. She had done everything she could to heal herself, spending everything she had and suffering even more pain. She was unclean, alone, and absolutely hopeless.

 Until, one day, she heard of Jesus. It would have been easy to hear of this new healer and assume He would be like all the rest. She had no more money to give, even if He could heal her. Thankfully, Jesus’s healing isn’t something we can pay for. His presence alone brought her hope and gave her enough faith to just reach out. With that one little act, Jesus healed her.

 What this passage teaches us about God is that He can bring hope to the hopeless. You see, God doesn’t want his children hopeless. He is the hope of the world! I learned this as I cried out seeking comfort and strength as I processed my miscarriage. And this woman learned it as nothing (not her pain, her past, or her status) stopped her from reaching out to the one true healer. Her hope wasn’t in vain and neither is yours.

… 

What is holding you back from accepting God’s hope? Are you reaching out? Using the sword method, discuss, what did you learn about God from this passage?

Heather is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a believer, a wife, and a mother to a wonderful (and sometimes crazy) one-year-old. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. She can usually be taking care of the home and playing on the floor with her daughter.

Photo by Daniel Monteiro on Unsplash

Sin at the Well

What is sin? There are many different types of sin in the world, but the easiest way for me to describe it is: an action or thought that puts a barrier between us and God. When we sin, it often feels good in the moment but after there is a feeling of regret. That feeling of regret from my perspective is the Holy Spirit poking at my heart and saying, “Whoa, that was not the best choice to make.”.           

Today is going to be a difficult topic and I want each of you to take a moment and pray. Ask God to reveal the areas in your life that you are struggling. I believe that the Holy Spirit will instantly bring to your mind what you need to repent of and it’s important to make a change at that point.  

I will also preface that this question is more easily discussed in a group setting with people you trust. So, with that said:   

Are there any Sins to Repent of?

Un-Biblical Judgment

The Samaritan woman, like many of us, had an obvious sin in her life: she was unmarried and living with a man. But that’s not where I want to go with this today. It’s easy to point a finger and say, “the way you are living is wrong!”. I believe it is important, though, to look at why you want to point out someone’s sin.

When approaching the sin in someone’s life it is best that:

1. You are approaching them in love. 

2. They believe in the same moral standards.

When Jesus, pointed out the sin in the Samaritan Woman’s life. He was straightforward and gave her a chance to speak, to repent. Can you imagine? She repented to Jesus, who is God. Did he turn away, yell “sinner” and go on his way? No! Jesus spoke truth and poured life into the woman. Because of that she was changed.

In Matthew 7:3-5 the Apostle says:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Unlike Jesus, we my friends are not sinless. In fact, we are all sinful creatures it’s just that some people’s sin can be more noticeable than others. Which is why it’s important to repent and pray over our own sins so that we can help the people around us. Some sins are more noticeable than others, but any kind of sin will keep us from God. When approaching the people around us about the sins in their lives. Remember to be like Jesus and love them despite the sin. None of us are perfect, but that’s why God sent us Jesus.

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Woman at the Well

Have you ever noticed that in church we talk about things like our testimony, or evidence of proof? When this happens there’s a tendency to start at the beginning of your “walk” with Christ. This can make for a really long testimony if you asked Jesus into your heart at the age of 3, like I did. I’ve actually never loved my testimony, because it feels like nothing has happened in my life. Nothing that could help someone see Jesus anyway. In college, someone told me that my story reminded them of Esther. That while Esther never heard God speak directly to her, she still had faith in Him and that faith gave her the courage to save her people. This really encouraged me and made me more likely share that part of my testimony.

I’ve realized something though in the last few years. My testimony doesn’t have to include my whole walk with God. My testimony can be as simple as a struggle that should, according to the world, make me into a bitter, unpleasant person. The Samaritan woman does what each of us should do when we have any kind of encounter with Christ. Share that moment with the people around us.        

Last week we read John 4:4-42 and we asked the “Question: What do we learn about God?”. This week please read through the story again and ask yourself the question:   

What Do We Learn About Man?

Mankind is Skeptical

After Jesus told the woman who He was, the Messiah, she had to spread the word. She told everyone she met about her encounter with Jesus and because of that people believed: 

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony […]. So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them […] And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said;
now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
(John 4:39, 42)

But note, it was not until they heard from Jesus, himself, that some honestly believed. This is a great example of what each of us should do after we’ve come to know Jesus. Go out and proclaim who he is to us and to the world. There will be people though that need more than just a testimony. Remember, every time we share the Gospel we plant a seed of hope. But until a person goes to the source, the Bible, they won’t truly know God.

I encourage each of you, take a moment today and write down an encounter you had with God. This encounter could be something that happened in the past or something that happened recently. It doesn’t have to be “big”; it could be as simple as a verse you read in the Bible or an encounter you had in the grocery store. Think about what God is telling you through that moment and share it with someone who might need encouragement.    

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Please leave a comment about what you learned about man in this chapter.

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

Photo by Hannah Morgan on Unsplash

God at the Well

Can you imagine being hungry or thirsty? Could you see yourself turning down a sizzling pan of steak fajitas or a glass of water with the little condensation drops sliding down the side while feeling hunger pains?

That’s very similar to how we, as Christians, turn down a chance to read the Bible or spend a moment in prayer. It might be harder to diagnose spiritual hunger or thirst, but there are some clues that show we might be in need: anger, frustration, and depression. I personally struggle with those feelings. I feel so much better when I sit down and read a Psalm and maybe even do a little bit of Bible Journaling. But I don’t always make the time for those things.       

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I’m going to ask you all to read John 4:4-42, the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Over the next 4 weeks we are going to dig into the story of this woman and how her encounter with Jesus changed her for the better. But how can we study the difference Jesus made in this woman without asking the question:

What Do We Learn About God?

God knows us

Jesus knew who the woman was before he ever met her:

“He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’
‘I have no husband,’ she replied.
Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.’”
(John 4:16-18)

Before He sat down at the well, Jesus knew exactly who the woman was. Her story, her desires, her failings, and successes. The Samaritan woman did not know who Jesus was, she could have easily lied about her marital status. But because she didn’t, she was able to have a heart changing conversation with the Son of God.       

God knows who you are and what you are wanting with your life. He knows that I have a deep desire to be a mother, though I am still waiting for that prayer to be answered. The waiting can be the hardest part about prayer. It is during the waiting that fear sets in and causes us to make wrong decisions. I don’t believe the Samaritan woman chose to have so many “husbands”. I believe she was chasing after something to fill the void in her heart.

Not long ago I heard a woman speak about how God told her that she would not marry or have children. That day a small thistle of fear was planted by Satan in my heart. What if the silence, I hear from God is His decision that I am not meant to have children? Every month when I know, for sure, that my belly holds no life. I feel that thistle sprout anew, strangling my hope and creating a void. I try to fill my void with mothering my dog, binge watching Netflix, and reading fantasy novels.

I chase after things I believe will help me manage. But the one thing that has brought me any peace is going to God, ironically or rightly. Which leads me to my next answer to the question above:            

He wants us to know Him

God desperately wants us to know Him. He sent Jesus down specifically for that reason, to create a bridge between us and Him. In John 4:24 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman:

“God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Our God wants to have a relationship that is deep and true with each one of us. There can be nothing sweeter than having those moments of quiet worship with God. It is in those moments that we can learn about God and discern if the voice we hear is God’s or Satan’s. That is where Satan is at his most clever. My fear that God will deny my prayer is the very thing that makes me avoid time with Him. But it’s the very thing I need in order to have peace and purpose in my life.  

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There are more answers that could come from the Question: What do we learn about God? But I want to hear from each of you, dear ladies, who are reading these blog posts. Please leave a comment with your thoughts on this passage and what God is revealing about Himself to you!    

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

Photo by Frank Albrecht on Unsplash

Shaken & Stirred: An Adoption Story

I was born somewhere in the state of Mississippi in May of 1975. I was 5 lbs. and 5 oz. with red hair and the nurses called me Sara. The end. This is all I know of my birth and the beginnings of my life.

Sometime later, I don’t know if it was weeks or months, I was adopted by a couple that had a 3 year old boy. The boy that became my brother had been adopted as an infant, just like me, and was not related to me or my parents by blood.

When I was little, I didn’t understand adoption. I didn’t understand why the woman who carried me in her belly didn’t want me. My mom made me read a book about adoption and how, according to the book, I was special because my mom and dad got to pick me. It made it seem as if everyone else born into a family is just the luck of the draw, but somehow adoption was supposed to make me special. Instead of feeling special, I felt ugly and unwanted. I didn’t have a good relationship with my mom. I felt like I could never please her or measure up to what she thought I was supposed to be.

…

Jeremiah 1:5 says:

“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.”

When I became pregnant with my first child, I was in awe of how God created us to carry and sustain life inside of us. I found myself thinking more and more about the woman that carried me in her belly. I wasn’t thinking about how she didn’t want me anymore. Instead I was thinking about how very much she must have loved me. She carried me in her growing belly, feeling all of my kicks and nudges. In fact, I began to believe that she loved me so much that she chose to go through all of that, so that I could have life! There is no greater unconditional, sacrificial love.

Here’s the kicker though…I also know a Father. A Father that had a son. He gave that son up too. Not because He didn’t love his son, but because He loved me and He loved you, so very much that He wanted to give us life! He chose to go through death on a cross so that we could have life eternal with Him. There is no greater unconditional, sacrificial love.

God is that Father and that day on the alter when I was 8 years old, He adopted me into His family. Not because I had pleased Him or was anywhere near what He created me to be, but because He made me and chose me for a special purpose. He shook me that day and He shakes me still.

The blood of Jesus makes it possible for you to be adopted into God’s family. In fact, adoption through Jesus is the only way into His family. Turns out, my mom was right. Adoption does make me special.

Being shaken by God is the beginning of my life story and I’m constantly stirred to seek Him more. To know Him more. To love Him more. Shaken & Stirred is my adoption story.

I pray that it will be yours as well.

Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.