Power in Worship!

Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into His presence with singing!

When was the last time you worshipped in song?  When was the last time you poured out your heart, soul, and mind to our Lord with all of your being?

I was blessed this past weekend to go to a woman’s retreat with a bunch of amazing ladies.  Since a retreat for us usually comes around only once a year we made sure we got our fix of whatever it was our hearts were longing for; the beach, sleeping in, exercising, quiet time, etc.  However, the one thing we were all consistent about doing together was the worship.  

Now this wasn’t just singing at church kind of worship (or maybe it was for some of you), this was hands lifted, eyes watering, sisters hugging, hearts melting, bonds breaking, prayers lifted, hurts healing, Spirit moving kind of worship.  It was incredible!

So my friends, I have to ask, when was the last time you worshipped our King like that?  If you have never done this or haven’t in awhile I would encourage you to try it.  You can do this alone or with a spouse or with your kids.  Turn on some worship songs and let go.  There is power in worship.  

My Lord God Almighty I thank you for all the ladies reading this blog and for their little ones.  I pray you give each of us a desire to worship You alone Lord.  May we set some time apart and let everything else go and worship You.  

Psalm 146:1-2 Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

http://youtu.be/aEhSk7bfbK8

http://youtu.be/dtj-G1gKnD8

http://youtu.be/FBJJJkiRukY

http://youtu.be/EtyVdC7E6Wo

My Sister's Keeper

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

My family and I have been blessed recently to rejoin the YMCA after a two year hiatus. I love this little time of refreshment for myself where I know the kids are cared for, and I can work out a little mommy steam uninterrupted. That is….until my little guy started having an issue at the Y. My oldest son and my daughter were having a blast, but my little guy would dread going, and he started saying “NO” to his teachers at the gym. I asked my oldest Doodlebug what was going on, and to my surprise, he was oblivious. He had no clue what the issue was, so I probed a little deeper. I wanted to know who his brother was playing with, if he was making friends, etc. After further investigation, it seemed that my oldest son was off playing with his friends, and my sweet little daughter was enjoying some much needed company with other little girls.

That’s when it dawned on me; my little guy needed friends of his own at the Y. We as a family needed to pray for that. BUT until then, I gave my oldest Doodlebug a mission: YOU are to be your brother’s best friend, include him, and help him make new friends. Our little guy needed to know he had a place to belong, and we needed to let him know that he ALWAYS belongs in this family. (As a side note, I am totally not blaming his discipline issues completely on not having a friend. My husband and I have to be very consistent, firm, yet gentle to enforce the rules. But we needed to play offense and defense so to speak to tackle this issue.)

The truth is the body of Christ should operate in the same way. We need to encourage each other. Three easy ways we can show our love for Christ and each other are:

1. Affirming each other with kind and encouraging words. Not empty flattery, but sincere praise. If you see something beautiful in another sister, let her know.
2. Time well spent—maybe a play date or a quick BYOL (Bring your own lunch) at the park while the kids play would provide the refreshment you and another mom (and your kids) need.
3. Prayer. Let’s make a habit of praying with each other. It’s great to let someone know you’ll be praying for them. It’s even better to stop right then and pray with them.

On the other hand, godly encouragement can also take the form of admonishment. Maybe a little truth in love is what is needed. Maybe that sister needs to hear a loving, “Stop doing that because that is sinful and will end up hurting you and the ones you love.” I’ll be honest; sometimes we all need to hear that kind of truth in love. In the earlier example, I had to encourage my older son to do that for his little brother. Please, help that boy stay out of trouble. LOL J

When it comes down to it, in the body of Christ, WE ARE OUR SISTER’S KEEPER.

Have a blessed day in the Lord, my friend,

Teresa

Verses to ponder:

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

The 'In' Crowd

Included. We all want to fit in or belong somewhere. We want friends we can trust; a place where we can feel safe to “be ourselves”. This past week, I watched as my son played at the park with two of his friends. They laughed, they played tag, they climbed things, and they ran around. However, it didn’t immediately start off that way. There were three of them, and you know the saying, “two’s company, but three's a crowd”. Unfortunately it looked like it was going to be one of those times where two of the friends delighted in their friendship, while the other one felt left out.

Instead of jumping in right away, I prayed that God would intervene and help them all to play together. God answered that prayer in the most beautiful way. When one of the boys tried to cling to the other, the boy who was being clung to simply refused to leave anyone out. Although he was “chosen” as the favorite, he refused to play the part. He just kept playing with everyone. 

I remember having a talk with his mom a while back, and commenting on how her son is always so inclusive of everyone. Her response was shocking, but great. She said, “He better include everybody! If he doesn’t, we leave and go home. We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior in our house.” How beautiful!

This playground incident reminded me of a passage in Romans when Paul was passionately arguing the case for circumcision of the heart versus circumcision of the flesh. As you may know, this was a heated topic back in that day. It was approximately 57 years after Christ’s death and resurrection, and people needed to know: Did Gentiles have to become Jews first (obeying the law and becoming circumcised) to become Christians? The questions at stake: who is “in” and who is “out”?

To get clarity on this issue, I read a commentary in which the author said that circumcision of the flesh was intended to be an outward expression of inward change, but it had become what he termed an “identity maker—a way to determine who was ‘in’ and who was ‘out’”.  

He went further to say that in our sin nature “there is something inside us that is not bothered when others are excluded, that wants others to be excluded—that feels more special when we’re on the inside and somebody else is not…”.

I want to challenge each of us as moms to recognize when we feel this way and pray that God would make us sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize when we are excluding people, and then seek to do something about it. For example, when you arrive at the park with a group of moms and your kids, but there is a mom who came by herself who seems friendly, do you include her or ignore her? Can she join in on the conversation or is she left to herself and her own thoughts?

Our kids are watching.  God’s word declares that he does not play favorites (Romans 2:11). Let’s model Christ’s example and seek to include rather than exclude. Let’s teach our children to do the same.

Prayer:

God it feels wonderful to be included—to know that there is a place or a group of friends with whom we “belong”. Lord, it is so easy to get comfortable in our little group of friends and be so content with that group that we are hesitant to invite others into our circle. Yet you desire that we love you with our whole heart, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In fact, you said all the other laws hang on those two laws. Help us to remember that—to love you and to love people. Help us love on your people and be a friend to the those in need. Help us to model you, and please help our kids to pick up on our example. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Challenge:

Next time you are at the park, zoo, play station, jump zone, pool, etc. with some of your friends, ask the Holy Spirit to help you be sensitive to another mom in need of a friend. Then, show yourself friendly! :)

The Comparison Game

You know how the game works. No one officially read you the “rules” or told you how to play. It is almost instinctive. You watch, you wait, you critique, you compare…your children, yourself, your husband, etc. The sin of comparison is one of the sneakiest problems that we face as women and as moms.

We are constantly comparing our bodies, our homes, our children, our recipes, etc. There is this desire in our hearts that masquerades itself as perfection, but really is a part of us that seeks glory and honor for ourselves. We want people to notice us. We want our children to stand out as “the best”.

We were made to sharpen or encourage one another. God’s word makes it clear that we are to use our gifts to edify each other; not make someone else feel inferior. We also should not shake our fist at God, wondering why he gave us the life we have, while someone else seems to have something different or better.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for competition: sports, spelling bees, brain brawls, karate, gymnastics, board games, etc. However, when we take this competitive attitude and forge it into our everyday relationships, we are bound for trouble. We either may other people feel inadequate or we make ourselves feel inadequate.

Lysa Terkeurst references this feeling in her “Unglued Devotional”. She explains her own feelings of inadequacy as she compared herself with another mom:

            “I gathered the restaurant bags, sighed, and crammed them into the overstuffed trash can. A friend had sent me a recipe that day that involved peeling and chopping and simmering. I imagined her trash can full of fresh veggie peelings and other things that proved her kitchen produced way more homemade goodness than mine.”

            “A little thread of guilt wrapped around my heart”

            “Sometimes I feel guiltier for what I’m not than thankful for what I am.”

Mom, have you ever felt that way? Lysa goes on to explain that she was asked by her daughter to speak at a bible study that night. Many showed up, and many were saved right there in the yogurt shop. She states, all of this occurred from “a woman whose trash can was filled with take-out bags and who isn’t the greatest cook, but a woman who wants to learn to be more thankful for what I am than guilty for what I am not.”

So, do you homeschool or do your kids go to school? Public or private? Do you cook or do you order out? Organic or not? Do you read music? Do you play sports? Is your Kindergartener reading yet? When did your child start talking? When did your child start walking? Do your kids play sports? Do you have a scheduled “quiet time” at your house? Is your house clean? Do your kids have a schedule of chores? Where do you buy your clothes? Do you do a load of laundry every day? 

Feeling the pressure yet? We are called to help, encourage, sharpen, and support each other. Ladies, we have so many things we can share with and learn from each other. The competition game has got to stop. Let’s delight in our strengths, let’s help each other in our weakness. Let’s stop bragging, comparing, back-biting, being jealous, etc. Let’s reap the benefits of a family of Christ, and may our children follow our example and do the same.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for making us so wonderfully unique and complex. You made us in your image, and our diversity reflects that. May we delight in the different gifts you have given each of us and our children. May we use our gifts and talents to glorify you and not ourselves. May we not pridefully puff ourselves up or sadly beat ourselves down. Thank you that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: Call, text, email, or Facebook another mom friend today. Let them know how much you appreciate the way God has made them. As much as possible, be specific.

Challenge 2: What are some of the gifts God has given you? How can you use these gifts for his glory?

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:13-14

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:1

Quieting the Voices in My Head

 Finally, brothers and sisters, 

whatever is true, 

whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things. 

- Philippians 4:8

Last night, as I painted the kids' bathroom, I listened to a webcast by Lysa Terkeurst called, "Inside Chatter." The whole message was about quieting those negative voices in our minds and remembering truth instead. I think this happens so often in life... especially as a mom. 

Many times we question who we are, what we are doing, and how will others see me. Instead I need to  allow the Lord to define who I am. After all I am now a new creation in Christ. Forgiven. He throws my sin into the depths of the ocean and remembers them no more. Unfortunately we have an enemy that likes to remind us of our past failures with the hopes of stifling ministry the Lord has planned.

A few summers ago, at a pool playdate, a friend shared how she felt like a "failure as a mom." I could SO relate to her feelings, because I too had thought that at times. It was so refreshing to hear another mom express that. At that moment...I knew I was not alone. The Lord allowed me to see the friends He placed around me were ones that were a safe haven to share in. 

Lysa, during the webcast, shared how we need to find at least one friend we can confide in. To quiet the "inside chatter" that goes on in our heard. Satan wants to paralyze us by those polluting thoughts. If we get the courage up to share it with a friend, we allow opportunity for them to stand in the gap and pray for us in this area. As we tell another, it also gives room for encouragement and hope from the friends Christ has placed in our life. 

Do you have a friend you can confide in and pray with?

If not, pray for one. Ask the Lord to bless you with a godly friend who you can grow together with. 

Remember that the "inside chatter" that is negative, condemning, and hopeless is not from the Lover of Your Soul, Jesus, but instead from the enemy who hopes to stifle what God has in store for you.

Stand Up for Me

It was a typical day on the soccer field. My oldest Doodlebug was practicing for the game and running a few drills with his new teammates. It was the first day of the new season for winter soccer. My son and the other kids seemed to be getting along just fine until one kid yelled, “You are a loser!” He was speaking to my son! My son looked shocked and hurt. He had just met this kid. Why was he speaking to him like that?!

Oh no…the Momma Bear was about to come out. My son was no loser! In fact, he is actually quite gifted at soccer and later scored the first two goals of the game that day. Anyways, none of that seemed to matter to this kid. He was aiming some pretty harsh words at my son for no apparent reason. The other kids in the line looked shocked too, and of course, the coach was clueless about what was happening.

No sooner than I could march across the practice field, another kid yelled, “Hey! Don’t you talk to him like that! He is MY friend!” This kid, whom I just adore, was one of my son’s friends from our homeschool group, and this was his first time playing soccer…and his first time with this league. He is not big for his age, nor did he know the other kids on the team, BUT without hesitation, he took up for my son. The other kid stammered some excuse about not talking to my son, but to the kid next to him. Well, that kid wasn’t having it, and quickly told the offending boy that he better not talk to him like that either.

I sat back on the sidelines, relieved and proud of the little boy who spoke up for my son when he really needed an advocate. Moms, we need to teach our kids how to stand in the gap for their peers. Bullying is all too common on the playground, in school, etc. Furthermore, we need to stand in the gap for other moms. All too many times, we stand around and listen to (or engage in) an inappropriate conversation. You know what I mean…the conversation where we talk about “that Mom…because we can’t believe she would…”. We need to encourage each other with our words and teach our kids to do the same. More than that, we need to lead by example and be bold for Christ by standing up and speaking up for what we know is right.

Challenge: Pray about how you can teach your child about the dangers of bullying and the importance of standing up or speaking up on behalf of someone else. Sometimes words can diffuse a situation quickly and easily. Other times they may need to seek out an adult. But let’s teach them to do something…not to idly watch, ignore, or join in the problem.

Challenge 2: As we celebrate this day in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., tell your kids about how he stood up and spoke up for what he knew was right.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for standing in the gap for us by sending your son Jesus. Help us be more like you. Help us to be the kind of women who defend and encourage with words and actions that are true and right and loving. Help us to lead by example and to teach our kids how to stand up for each other, and to ultimately stand up for their faith in you. We love you, Lord.

In Jesus’ name.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (NIV)

“A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17 (NIrV)

Happy New Year!

"Happy New Year" by Valencia

Every year millions of people start off the New Year singing, "Should old acquaintances be forgotten?"

Sometimes, the answer is quite frankly, "YES!" 

Most of us have friends that have been in our life for years. Some are toxic relationships we keep just because of tenure the relationship. I have spoken to at least 5 different women about this in the last month. 

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals."

Make it a New Year's resolution to cleanse your life of toxic people and relationships. Choose carefully who you spend your time with and who you let influence you. Ask God to reveal those relationships to you and give you the courage to step back. 

Challenge: Pray for discernment and pray for God-fearing friends.

HIS BATTLE OR YOURS?

2 Chronicles 20:15 

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

The sparkle in her eyes has grown a little dimmer these days. Her carefree, happy go lucky attitude has begun to change. My once sweet, playful girl has started to care more about what others think and how she appears. All of this may sound like an ordinary pre-teen/teen transformation but I knew there was more.

You see my girl doesn’t open up about things easily. I tend to have to set the mood and then pry a little, not only to see what is going on but what she is feeling about it. It turns out there are some pretty mean girls in her circle with their arrows pointed in her direction these days. Mom’s, how do you handle this? I can tell you I was a bit feisty in my B.C. days. I really have been calling on the Holy Spirit to give me the words to encourage my little girl, but ladies, these girls are mean! When I hear and see what they do I have a hard time controlling my own emotions!

 

Galatians 5:17 

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Seeing your babies hurt is probably the hardest thing a mother can go through. Not being able to stop the pain is even worse! There is a part of me that just wants to grab these little girls and give them a piece of my mind!! But, as I think of my example to my kiddos I know that is not what Jesus wants me to do. So I turn to scripture. I listen to my daughter and allow her to pour her feelings onto me. I pray, pray, pray that I am able to forgive these girls as I am guiding her to do, and that I don’t harbor bitterness toward them as I teach her not to do. I try to pour scripture into her so she is ready to go into the world and know that the opinion of these mean girls means nothing but God’s opinion means everything! I explain why these girls may be acting like this. There is definitely a void in their lives and we should pray for them to fill it with Jesus.

This age is a difficult one, but teaching your kids what a friend looks like to the Lord is important. Moms our feelings can overtake us and the mama bear can rear its ugly head (trust me I have done it). Staying prayed up and Spirit led is the only defense. God is so good; He knows exactly what we need when we need it. I was recently at Moms on a Mission and the topic was individuality. The handout explained what a true friend was. I have to share because it helped me to equip my daughter to analyze what a true friend looks like.

“Pray for your child to have one true friend. A true friend is:

1.  Like-minded. (Similar goals and attitudes)

2.  Loyal and trustworthy

3.  Kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Eph 4:32

4.  A true friend helps to lessen anxiety at school.

5.  A true friend shares and listens.

6.  A true friend smiles with you and compliments honestly.”

(Moms on a Mission. October 5. 2012)

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly Father, Jeremiah 29:11 says You have a plan and a hope for the future of us. Father, I beg that you give me and each mom that reads this the strength and forgiveness for others that surpasses anything we can do in our strength. I pray you would equip us with the words to encourage our little ones when they are hurting and that you would give us the wisdom and self-control to know when the battle is Yours and when we need to be their advocate and step in. I thank you for each individual child of these moms and I pray that they would find friends and companionship that sharpens each other and brings them closer to you! And for each of those “mean girls” Father expose them a love that can only come from you. Protect their hearts from anything Satan is trying to expose them too. I pray they would meet You and grow in You. In Jesus name. Amen!

The 'In' Crowd

Included. We all want to fit in or belong somewhere. We want friends we can trust; a place where we can feel safe to “be ourselves”. This past week, I watched as my son played at the park with two of his friends. They laughed, they played tag, they climbed things, and they ran around. However, it didn’t immediately start off that way. There were three of them, and you know the saying, “two’s company, but three's a crowd”. Unfortunately it looked like it was going to be one of those times where two of the friends delighted in their friendship, while the other one felt left out.

Instead of jumping in right away, I prayed that God would intervene and help them all to play together. God answered that prayer in the most beautiful way. When one of the boys tried to cling to the other, the boy who was being clung to simply refused to leave anyone out. Although he was “chosen” as the favorite, he refused to play the part. He just kept playing with everyone. I remember having a talk with his mom a while back, and commenting on how her son was always so inclusive of everyone. Her response was shocking, but great. She said, “He better include everybody! If he doesn’t, we leave and go home. We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior in our house.” How beautiful!

This playground incident reminded me of a passage in Romans when Paul was passionately argued the case for circumcision of the heart versus circumcision of the flesh. As you may know, this was a heated topic back in that day. It was approximately 57 years after Christ’s death and resurrection, and people needed to know: Did Gentiles have to become Jews first (obeying the law and becoming circumcised) to become Christians? The questions at stake: who is “in” and who is “out”?

To get clarity on this issue, I read a commentary in which the author said that circumcision of the flesh was intended to be an outward expression of inward change, but it had become what he termed an “identity maker—a way to determine who was ‘in’ and who was ‘out’”.  He went further to say that in our sin nature “there is something inside us that is not bothered when others are excluded, that wants others to be excluded—that feels more special when we’re on the inside and somebody else is not…”.

I want to challenge each of us as moms to recognize when we feel this way and pray that God would make us sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize when we are excluding people, and then seek to do something about it. For example, when you arrive at the park with a group of moms and your kids, but there is a mom who came by herself who seems friendly, do you include her or ignore her? Can she join in on the conversation or is she left to herself and her own thoughts?

Our kids are watching.  God’s word declares that he does not play favorites (Romans 2:11). Let’s model Christ’s example and seek to include rather than exclude. Let’s teach our children to do the same.

Prayer:

God it feels wonderful to be included—to know that there is a place or a group of friends with whom we “belong”. Lord, it is so easy to get comfortable in our little group of friends and be so content with that group that we are hesitant to invite other into our circle. Yet you desire that we love you with our whole heart, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In fact, you said all the other laws hang on those two laws. Help us to remember that—to love you and to love people. Help us love on your people and be a friend to the stranger. Help us to model you, and please help our kids to pick up on our example. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Challenge:

Next time you are at the park, zoo, play station, jump zone, etc. with some of your friends, ask the Holy Spirit to help you be sensitive to another mom in need of a friend. Then show yourself friendly! J

"ME" Time - PART TWO- Girl Time!

Last week's blog talked about what we can do in our spare time to bless our husbands.


Side note: Single moms - you do have a husband - his name is Jesus. He looks for you to pursue ways to please him as well. He loves for you to seek out time to be with him. To exercise and be in "shape" for those moments HE wants to use you in ministry.  Keep your face towards Him and watch how he puts those opportunities in your path, which allow you to feel close to Him. Allow Jesus to be your perfect husband right now in this season.


This week we will explore the importance of having "girl time" scheduled into our week.

Many times as moms we are the last person on our list. We seek to serve others and forget to plan some "me" time into our schedule. I am hoping you will see the importance of friendship and how it's something we need to cultivate and encourage in our life. The impact is life changing.

We should have at least one day per week that we get out, for ourselves, with no responsibility, and just enjoy the sweetness of friendship. Get refreshed. Rejuvenated. Ready to face the week ahead! Ready to share the struggles of the week that just passed. I need to be intentional about getting together with friends and have learned in my life that if I am not... than unfortunately those friendships will suffer. 

I LOVE Starbucks! Yes I enjoy their Frappacchinos but I love what their store represents even more. Starbucks symbolizes sweet times with girlfriends. Sharing life. Doing Bible studies. Catching up. Reminiscing. Making new friends. Relaxing. Gleaning. Laughing. Enjoying great coffee.


Scripture reminds us of the importance of friendship in our life...


Proverbs 18:24 NIV
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.




Proverbs 13:20 NIV
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harms.




John 15:13 NIV
Greater Love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.




Proverbs 27:17 NIV
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another




Proverbs17:17 NIV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity




Proverbs 22:24-25 NIV
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared




Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!




Proverbs 15:22 NIV
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

When is your "girl time" scheduled this week? 


I once had a friend say that in order to start something new you have to let go of something old. So elementary yet so profound. What, in your schedule, do you need to let go of to make some room for girl time?


 If it is not on your calendar yet then plan to call up a friend and get some coffee together. Mark it down. Get a sitter if necessary. Then share. Cry. Laugh. Enjoy. Pray together. And then repeat all of the above on a regular basis and watch how you will be refreshed, challenged, encouraged and ready to face the world! 


Life is busy. Make time for friends!


You might just be surprised @ the ministry opportunities HE allows you to be a part of as you get out :)

Friendship

“So encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

                                    1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

I just came back from the most refreshing time away with a group of ladies who love the Lord. A few of my friends and I escaped to the FPEA (Florida Parent Educators Association) convention in Orlando, Florida. This convention is focused on homeschooling, and it offers tons of incredibly useful information…not to mention an amazing exhibit hall with every homeschool curriculum imaginable…and a representative to explain and answer questions.

While I learned a ton about how to homeschool effectively, I was blessed the most by the fellowship of the ladies whom I met at the conference. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Just as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” I was strengthened, challenged, and encouraged by these ladies. John 13:35 informs us that we will know Christians by their love. There were approximately 4,000 homeschool families at this convention, yet the amount of peace as opposed to chaos was evident. The majority of the families there acknowledge Christ as their Lord and Savior and they live by that truth. Instead of feeling like moms were competing against one another to see whose child was the brightest, craftiest, most outgoing, advanced, etc., these moms simply loved on their children for who God had created them to be, and they acknowledged that each mom parents and teaches a bit differently. How refreshing!

I am currently blessed to be five months pregnant with a little baby girl…or another boy. J I also have a four year old and a fourteen month old. I am excited about having three little ones, even though that was not me and my husband’s initial plan. However, I also have to admit that while people are very excited to hear about your first and second child, they often seem puzzled and uncertain by the third and wonder (sometimes out loud) why someone would want to have “all those kids.”

God’s word says that children are a blessing from the Lord, but so often people view children as burdens…especially if you have a lot of them. My point in highlighting all this is to say that it is important to hang out with people who are going to encourage you in your walk with the Lord—people who have been where you are or are trying to walk the same road. That doesn’t mean that everyone we hang out with has to be just like us, but we should carefully consider the goals and values that we hold dear and then choose to invest in those types of relationships. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to chat and have tea with women who had four, five, six, eight kids. They were not crazy, weird, stressed out moms. They were fun, God-loving, transparent, witty, sane, and cool! I was blessed not only by their words, but by their example.

Sometimes as moms we can feel so overwhelmed by the things God has called us to, and that is OK. But perhaps the road we are traveling would feel less intimidating—less lonely—if we chose to walk with moms who love the Lord and our willing to pray, encourage, and share life with us. I would encourage you to pray for God to send such women into your life. You will be blessed! J

Prayer,                                                                                                                                                                

Heavenly Father, thank you that you did not call us to walk this life alone. You are always with us and you created us for fellowship with you and your people. Please help us to invest in friendships in which you are the center. Help us to be a reflection of you to the people we meet. May we encourage each other in love and truth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Deeper still

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Pr.27:17 (NLT)

I just got back from visiting Courtney and her four children. It just so happened that both of our husbands were out of town over the weekend so I jumped in the car and drove the two and a half hours that separate us. My boys and I were very excited for some sweet fellowship. Somehow I knew it was the Lord providing an opportunity, knowing my friend has sometimes really long weeks with her husband out of town a lot. I prayed we would be a blessing to her while there. Little did I know how blessed we would be.

It’s one thing to meet up with a friend for coffee or at the park. It’s a whole other matter to go into one’s home and see how they do life for two days. My friend and I talked while fixing lunches, dinners and long after the kids went to bed. We encouraged each other in God, shared experiences, vented to each other and prayed together. Our friendship is still fairly new so we talked about our families and how we grew up. I can’t remember the last time I had an entire day with a friend without having to leave because of chores or responsibilities. After awhile everyone relaxes fully and you begin to see someone for who they are. And when you discover and observe something good, your trust grows and you begin to really receive each other. As I observed good things in my friend and her family, it happened to me, I began to learn and grow.

I saw great camaraderie between the four home schooled children. The oldest girl is an amazing young woman with a sweet smile, innocence, respect and sense of responsibility as I watched her help her mom and me with anything needed. The boys exhibited character in how they nurtured and took care of their little guest friends (even when my little guy was cranky and whiny) When they were playing the Wii, my Tyler (3yrs old) had a remote without batteries so he wouldn't get frustrated when his car went off the track. All of them told him time and again what a good driver he was even though someone else was controlling the car. (such a picture of Gods love that covers!) Another time I noticed my friends youngest one was not “babied” and took her discipline without complaining, something I was convicted about with my little guy.

The things I didn’t notice were just as significant. I didn’t notice any complaining, impatience or fights between the four. That’s amazing since we were there for two days! Nobody was telling on anyone else or being mean. There were hurt feelings when someone was excluded but it was unintentional and quickly worked out. There was a maturity and self sufficiency about the 5, 6, 8 and 10 year olds that is to be desired, but here is the real message and point that I want to make. In spending time with these four, I noticed my own children behaving better, helping more readily, obeying quicker and being more content. They conformed into their environment and were affected by their friends. Even at that age, those little ones were sharpening each other and transforming lives. How powerful!

I was edified as well, being convicted how often I offer assistance to my two boys when it’s not really needed. With four, one can’t do that and has to rely on them to express their needs. The result is a child (or four), not catered to but responsible to an extent for their own well being.
This experience was so powerful to me and I began to realize what God was intending the church to be all along, examples in real life, one to another. Not when we are on our best behavior in church but at home with our family. Would we dare to invite our friends to see how we really are? And if we fall short, would our friends dare to “sharpen” us by telling us the truth?

” Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” Rom.15:14
” And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,” 1Thess.5:12

We all know and read the Word on how to be and grow but this permission of a friend to speak truth into our lives is undiscovered country, at least to me. What would happen if I got so deep that I could trust a friend to tell me the truth about myself? Also, in love, tell me what my blind spots are and to help me improve. How much could I grow if I allowed this admonition through my spouse or close family member who really knows me? (I have to put a disclaimer here and say that I’m of course talking about a person of integrity and a believer) I know You have people like that in your life, not perfect but redeemed and who are for you and want your best. Spend time with someone on a deeper level this week and ask sometimes for truth about yourself, as she sees it. If you can receive it, it will be life to you. I will do the same.

“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Pr.27:6 (NLT)

True friends are a gift, lets receive them and let us be one.

Friends...Strengthen & Support

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT

We need friends to walk with us through life. We need friends who will rejoice with us on the mountain top experiences and not leave when we walk through the valley.  We yearn for friends who strengthen us with words of faith and encouragement, and yet are wise to recognize the times a hug is all that's needed. Friends are vessels Christ uses to build up our character, because when we are weak they are strong. When we fall, they help brush the dirt off our knees, smile, and remind us it is the falls which make us stronger. They share of their fallen experiences which helps the bruises of our heart heal faster.

My friend Maggie is a great example of this. We have Friday play dates and so many times I struggled pulling into the parking lot on whether or not I would get out. One of my sons is very active and at times he catches me off guard. He surprises us...sometimes a HUGE hug or kiss out of the blue and other times it's something that challenges my authority and tests my patience. This caused me such anxiety. For months I would go to play dates and have little conversation with other moms because my kids were off gallivanting where other kids WEREN'T. Even when kids gathered for snack, mine were far far away from the blanket the rest would be sitting on :) I didn't understand why my kids wouldn't play with the other kids. It was on those days I needed a gentle reminder, that the Lord strategically placed my friend Maggie at the park to refresh me. Sweet, gentle Maggie.


Maggie would come over, look me in the eyes, and ask how I was doing. Sometimes even hunting me down! She genuinely cared and always gave such tender encouragement as I cried over my struggles as a mommy. She was beneficial and helpful.  She built me up. Maggie brought these verses to life for me.


Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. - Proverbs 12:26

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. - Proverbs 27:9

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.  - Proverbs 27:17

God used her to whisper words of affirmation and love when Satan wanted to discourage. I would share my hurts and how I longed for my boys to be like the rest. Maggie would remind me, "Kate, they are just boys...exploring." She would speak truth of how different each child was.  It's so easy to get lost comparing our child to another, isn't it? Her words were a glass of cold water to a dry and thirsty mommy.  I am so thankful that as I fell (Ecc. 4:10) there was someone there to pick me up.  I always felt better after talking to Maggie. I would drive up defeated and leave ready to go back onto the battlefield. She strengthened my courage and sent me back out there to be the best mommy I could be. What a gift...I will always treasure.

What does support look like? Sometimes it is a gentle word that is needed. Maybe helping that friend move or babysitting for free for the family who hasn't been out since having kids. It may be making a meal unexpectedly for a tired and weary mommy. Or bringing that favorite coffee drink and watching the kids for a few minutes so that mom can regroup and come back strong. It may be leaving an envelope signed "Love Jesus" with cash in it, anonymously to the one hurting financially.  I have been on the receiving end of this so many times. I am so thankful to Jehovah Jireh, my perfect provider, who gives to me so that I can give to others.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Challenge:
Ask the Lord to show you how you can better strengthen and support your friends. Sit back. Watch...He will give you plenty of opportunities to be used for His glory.

Think of a time you had a friend strengthen and support you. Call and let them know how God used them to minister to your heart. Allow Him to use you to encourage another!

Next Saturday...part #3 of our friendship series ..."Friends...Stand in the Gap"

The WIndow Seat

My family has had the experience of moving a couple times in the last few years. I don’t mean just moving to a new house around town. I mean new states. The most recent move was to Georgia. We had one very short weekend to find a house to move into so we were praying hard and had asked everyone to pray with us. At the end of the weekend we had narrowed our list, which was already very small, down to three houses. Our first pick was one we all liked, it had plenty of space was on a cul-de-sac, had a yard, was a close walk to the pool and the best part was the price. The second choice was very nice also, there would be no walking to the pool though and the price was not as comfy. The third one in all honesty was not really a choice it was on the list simply because we had so few to choose from.

While we were on this trip my sweet friend Maggie called me to let me know that she was praying for me. Her prayer was that we would find a house with a nice window seat that I could read in. She was not really sure why she was praying for a window seat and I wasn’t sure either I had never ever thought of wanting a window seat. But I was blessed and encouraged just knowing she was praying.

Well, we didn’t get our first pick, someone beat us to it but we did get the second runner up. We were a little nervous about it because it cost more. We had prayed about it and everything else that was surrounding this move. Our constant prayer with this move was that God would eliminate our choices so that we would be where He wanted us. I guess our choices were being eliminated, just like we asked.

When we arrived at our new house in Georgia the cleaning that was supposed to be done was not done. The house reeked of dog, burn your nose reek, and there was no cracking the windows in that heat. We got the truck unloaded and realized that the water and the gas were shut off in the house. It was seven o’clock at night; we had four kids and a lot of unpacking to do. The kids were having a ball; oblivious to my concerns, they were running through an almost empty house and exploring the unknown, where is the concern with that? I was just walking around praying, reminding myself of all the answers to prayer and of all the things that had lined up to get us where we were. As I was doing that Satan was screaming at me… “You have no hot water, you can’t cook, this place is dirtier than you expected and smells really bad. Are you sure you are following God? Is this really His plan or yours? Those so-called answers to prayer… maybe you just made them up? What are you doing here?”

On the verge of tears I walked into the bedroom off the kitchen to get away from all the chaos, where there were no boxes, it didn’t smell as bad and I could just try and find some peace. And there it was, over looking the most beautiful, mature trees and huge purple and pink butterfly bushes…the window seat. I had never noticed it when we looked at the house I had no idea it was there. But there, at that moment, there was no longer the verge of tears, they were running down my face and I was laughing. Joy, that is what I felt, unspeakable joy. As Satan was screaming at me, God quietly and lovingly answered with a window seat.

After thanking God I picked up my phone and called Maggie to share with her why she was praying for a window seat. God knew I would need it. He answered my doubt with reassurance and love. That window seat was like being pulled into the lap of my heavenly Father for a nice long hug.

Friendship is such a blessing given to us by God. Friend’s love and care for each other. Pray for each other. Teach and learn from each other. They share life’s joys and sorrows. Jesus says in John 7: 37-38, “…if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” I tell you what; I have some amazing friends whose stream of living water does more than flow it comes out like a busted dam. Oh, what a blessing to be drenched by that.

Where’s the mom stuff, right? Well here it is. There was a time when I didn’t make time for my friends and I still struggle with it. Life is busy and crazy with kids. You feel bad for leaving them or your husband to hang out with friends. But you know I need to be blasted with that living water. I need words of encouragement and a hug. I get that from God in our quiet time but He uses the body of Christ too, and sometimes that is the hug I need the one God gives through another one of His daughters.

I want to encourage you to make sure you get some time with your friends, the ones with the streams of living water flowing within them. Get a hug; give a hug. Be encouraged and loved by the people that God has put in your life to be a blessing to you and be a blessing to them.

If you lack this kind of friendship I encourage you to join a small group through your church. I know it can be hard to get away once a week especially if you are a working mother. But these friends, these are the people who are going to be on their knees praying for you when you most need it. The people who bring you meals when they know life is crazy, pay for your kids Christmas when your husband has lost his job or sit with you all day at the funeral home when you loose a loved one.

Take time this week to spend with a good friend or write them a letter of encouragement. Don’t take them for granted. They truly are blessings from God. I cherish my friendships and hope in my humanness that I never take them for granted. I know I am blessed. I love each one of my friends dearly and I miss them very much. I can’t wait to pay them a visit and give them all big hugs. But for now I will just keep reminding them that they mean more to me than they will ever know.

Click on the link and take a few minutes to listen to More than you’ll ever know by Watermark

Friends...Speak the Truth

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. - Ephesians 4:15



I have come to realize that I am a people pleaser. Not that I want to please people more than God but really that I want everyone to be happy in all circumstances. If they are not happy, then I try to fix the problem only to cause another problem. So frequently when a friend says they are unable to make a function or get together, I will try to change the date, time, place ect. in hopes of making them happy. The unfortunate thing in trying to do this is I am not thinking of the 10 other people who have already committed and already planned to go along with our original plans. Last time we were together, I shared about how fickle I am and need to work on being a woman my family and friends have full confidence in (Proverbs 31:11). As you read on, you will realize that HE is still working on this in my life :)


One day a few weeks ago,  I was blindsided as we were leaving the park when a friend approached me about this problem. The kids & I were on our way to the car as I, again, was trying to make everyone happy and began to change plans to help out with the busyness of another's schedule. I had a sweet friend pull me aside and share she has noticed that I really struggle with this. She said I need to not change plans as often as I do but stick to our original schedule to honor those who have already committed. She was so right. I knew I struggled with this, but I so appreciate that she loved me enough to speak the truth in love. 

I was blindsided by this talk. I am glad I was blindsided. It was helpful, truthful, and spurred me on to life change. I am now making an effort not to do this. I so appreciate that my friend felt comfortable enough to share with me about my "people pleasing" issue. I am so grateful to those friends in life that will say the "hard" things, I really need to hear, about the spiritual condition of my heart. It can be a challenge to do this as well as receive it. 

Each time I see that friend, I am reminded of the Truth she spoke into my life and it holds me accountable to keeping my word. I am so thankful that my friend laced this truthful conversation with grace and love. That was key to the way my heart received the message. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down....in the most delightful way....as Julie Andrews would say on the movie "Mary Poppins."


I have  really tried to make an effort to be a woman of my word, not change plans, and realize that all our friends will not make it to each event we plan and that's OK :)

Recently our couples small group talked about the importance of friendship in our life. In our homework for the week, we were given a ton of scripture on friendship and questions asking about its' purpose is in our life. We came back together and shared what the Lord taught us as we meditated on them. It really got me thinking about friendship and the importance of having Godly girlfriends with the same goal... to bring glory to the Lord through their life.

"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." -Proverbs 27:17

Our pastor recently shared that as we live out this verse that sparks will fly. It's true. If we are truly hoping to sharpen each other then there will be those occasional hard conversations we have to have. Those phone calls we need to make. Sparks will fly.


Do you have those friends in your life who will say the things that will challenge your faith walk and make you look more like Jesus?


Sometimes we will be "blindsided" by an exchange we didn't see coming. It is hard to accept constructive criticism. But if our heart's desire is to grow then we will experience those uncomfortable conversations with close friends as each of us is being sharpened. There have been PLENTY of times my husband and I have had those heart to heart conversations and I've asked the question..."How can I be a better wife?"


A few months ago I really started to evaluate the investment I was making into my close friendships. I started randomly asking my friends a few simple, yet life changing, questions about our relationship: How can I be a better friend? What areas do you see in my life where I struggle as a friend? Then I put my seat belt on, buckled down, and allow the Lord to use our friendship to mold me more into the woman of God that the Lord wants me to be. Sometimes I get blindsided but it's all worth it for the goal to look more like Jesus through this process.


Questions to Ponder:


Do you have friends in your life who are challenging your walk with Christ?
If not, PRAY, and the Lord will provide.


Are you a friend that is "sharpening" (Proverbs 27:17) those around you?


When you have a confrontation in your life do you speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) ?


Ask a close friend the tough question of how you can better serve them as a friend.


Get ready to grow and be stretched! It is an exciting journey to walk with Jesus....I wouldn't have it any other way.

***STAY TUNED...next Saturday we will start Part 2 of our "Friendship" series called
"Friends ...Support Each Other"