Just thought I would share!

Hello! 

I haven’t written in a while! A little update for you: my job at Mason Companies is going well! I have been a Customer Service Supervisor since September 2019. Zechariah has been working as a Donation/Intake Specialist at Hope Gospel Mission. He is working with CollECtive Choir leading a Podcast called House of God. Please check it out; it’s great! You can find it on Spotify and he usually posts links on Facebook! He is homeschooling the boys during the day. It’s so fun to hear them throughout the day as I am working from home. 

I hope you are all well and not letting this virus and craziness from last year get you down! I hope and pray 2021 has been refreshing to you so far!!

God told me that there are two sides to every person, the emotional side and the functional side! The emotional side is what is sounds like; it’s where we feel all of our emotions! For me, I’m more irritated, short with people, tired and overwhelmed these weeks. Meeting others' needs is a struggle for me (hard to do for a mama). I hear and see things through an emotional lens, sometimes not wanting to see others' perspectives. These are not my favorite seasons.

I also am able to feel many emotions quickly in a matter of minutes. I am a highly sensetive person and empathic. I tend to isolate these weeks because people are too much. I used to call these “collapse weeks.” The ironic thing is, though I isolate, spending time with people is most helpful! I know this but I can’t really apply it. These weeks I will have no music playing or won’t sing, and you can ask anyone, I love to sing! I’m sharing this because this is the struggle living with bipolar. I am not ashamed to share my struggles and victories with mental illness! It needs to not be a taboo thing to talk about! This may sound hard, but I assure you I am in a much better and stable place then when I started!

There is also my functional side! I love this side! I’m more intentional with the boys and hubby. I reach out to friends and family. I dance and sing and get creative! I take the boys on dates! We were at the Children’s Museum in Eau Claire when I wrote this.

Most importantly though, I have a vibrant prayer life and my connection with God is key. He shows me visions and speaks clearly. I can really hear him and listen! I love watching the boys play and I am happy to join in on their games! I’m a more joyful person all around! This week Nathan took all of the cushions from all the coaches and pillows and just piled them on his bed! He took his mattress off his bed and put it up against the table in his room. At first I was trying to stop him. Of course, I didn’t want him to get hurt. Then I started to follow his lead, and we had so much fun!!! He really does have some great ideas!

What I am trying to say is I’m learning to be gentle with myself, especially this past year. I have good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks and it’s ok! I follow after God and try and train my boys to do the same! I’m far from perfect and that is ok too! Because “He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it.” Philippians 1:6 (NIV) It may be hard now, and sometimes I wonder if I will make it, but I can depend on God to pull me through! And in due time! “And do not grow weary doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

So can this apply for you? Absolutely! I don’t know what your “harvest” is but if you do not give up you will reap it. As a parent, I can never give up! I have seen too many kiddos suffer at the hands of parents giving up. They turn into adults that walk through life wounded! That is devastating for me to think about!! God has given me the amazing privilege to be a daughter of my One True King, a spouse, mama, co-worker and colaborer with Christ! “Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order to share in his glory.” Romans 8:17 (NIV)

Seriously, how amazing is that?? We don’t like the trials and tests to our faith, the bad days and weeks, but we have a promise right here! If we don’t give up we WILL share in God’s glory! Oh, how beautiful!! I just shared some scriptures with you, but the Bible is FULL of amazing stories and promises that are just waiting to be read!!! Please don’t just take my word for it!!! Dive in to the word yourself! I have been doing a 40 Day Sugar Fast for 4 years now! We crowd out sugar and pull in Jesus it’s incredible. I highly encourage it! You can find it at 40daysugarfast.com.

The more I spend time with God the more he transforms me from the inside out! I become more like him: gentle, forgiving, loving, intentional, creative! I literally transform before my family's eyes!! It is amazing. When I make God my priority, He fulfills everything he promises me and so, so much more!!! 

He wants the same for you too, your families, friends, coworkers, teammates, coaches and neighbors. He wants everyone to come to repentance and have eternal life! We are familiar with this one, “For God so loved the world that anyone who believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

What does he ask of us? To believe in him! And if we believe in him, then we believe he will deliver his promises to us, we also get to share in his suffering and his glory! What an amazing destiny we have in Christ! I love sharing about God’s work in my life! 

I want to hear from you!! Tell me what God is doing in your life! My email is putneytina@gmail.com. Please let me know!!

I hope you are enjoying your day with your loved ones. If you are working, work as though you’re working for an audience of one!!! Go be light in the darkness!! Much blessings and love!

I love you,
Tina Martina Putney