Always & Never

Lately I find myself saying "always" and "never" a whole lot to my kids about those crazy things they habitually do daily/weekly. It usually starts with frustration and ends with those words flying off my lips. I later regret saying that, because it really isn't ALWAYS or NEVER that they do it, but it feels that way because of how often I am disciplining them for that specific behavior. But God has been teaching me the detriment those words are to their souls. If they continually hear those words with the struggles they have...they will eventually stop trying. They will assume I don't believe they are trying since they are ALWAYS doing that  or NEVER stopping that.

What if God said that to me, when I fail in an issue I have struggled with in the past?

I never realized how powerful the tongue is until I became a mommy. It has the power to give life and death. It can lift up or pull down.  It can encourage and catapult our kids out of the rut they are in, and it can also discourage and place our kids in a pit feeling like a failure. It is my constant struggle in this season of raising three kiddos- one with special needs and homeschooling.

The struggle is to remain quiet when I want to share how I really feel. When I want to let my kids know how discouraged I am yet realizing it's not wholesome words in the heat of the moment. I am learning the art (yes it's an art) of holding my tongue and bringing my frustration before my Maker. In my quiet time with the Lord, I can let out all the ugly words I am feeling and be reminded of Truth. God reminds me to see the cup half full instead of half empty. He sheds light on their successes instead of allowing me to wallow in their failures OR mine.

How are you with holding your tongue? It's tough, right!

In your day, is there a time where you can get alone with God to share your heart and the struggles in parenting? If not, how can we schedule that in?

What is your struggle right now in parenting? We all have one- as sinners living life on earth.

Don't be afraid to tell God of your hurts, disappointments, and discouragement in parenting. Bringing up the next generation for Christ is such a challenging and awesome job all wrapped up together. One day you will look back on these lessons - grateful He loved you enough to change you - and share it with another struggling mommy!

God loves you! Don't give up! Seek Him in all you do and it will reflect in the beauty of your spirit!

Desperate Parenting

“As the deer pants for the water, oh my soul longs after you!” Psalm 42: 1

         “Desperate times call for desperate measures!”

This week as I have prayed for friends with a variance of needs, I have recognized they feel…well…desperate.

A daughter, desperate for her father’s life.

An Aunt, desperate for her nephew’s legal entanglement.

A mother desperate over her son’s physical and mental limitations.

Wives desperate for their aging husbands.

And mother’s desperation for wisdom and strength to direct their children.

I considered those God recorded in His Word who were desperate.

Abraham for a son.

Jacob for a blessing.

Gideon for a sign.

Esther for her people.

Jarius for His daughter.

A thief for his destiny.

         Our desperate crys are not a surprise to our Heavenly Father.  Remember, He knows the need before we ask. (Matthew 6:8)

         I believe, as The Lord sifts circumstances through His fingertips to determine what may enter our lives, He gingerly picks those that will cause desperation.  Knowing that ultimately this desperation will draw us to Him.  He is the only solution for every circumstance we face. 

         Today as we find ourselves: with a toddler who won’t listen, or take a nap or eat their food; or our elementary aged child who refuses to obey our instructions; or our secondary child who is running with the wrong influences or our adult children who want to live without considering the consequences, we can recognize God has placed desperation in our hearts so we will seek Him alone.

         Just as Abraham knew “they” would return from the altar of sacrifice, as parents we can be quite sure God has orchestrated our lives and those of our children to fully rely on Him!  May our desperation be satisfied in Christ as our only solution!

A Lesson on a Dock

          The intent of last weeks Trailer was to provide anticipation of this weeks post.  The trailer carried the news I would be attending the High School Girls Retreat!  I cannot begin to tell you what a wonderful experience it was to: accompany 24 high school girls, travel the 6 hour drive, sleep in 5 cabins, be in a caravan of 4 vans, serve with 3 other adult leaders, and 2 camp house parents and endure 1 tick bite.

         The High School Girls retreat was so worth it!!  The Bible study was taught by each of the three leaders.  The teaching was on the fruit of the Spirit.   There were discussion questions following each teaching.  The discussion questions were followed by what appeared to be a lame illustration.  The physical illustration attached to each of the teachings preceded an even deeper level of sharing in our small groups.

         All that to say, one of the most memorable times of the weekend, was the first morning.  The girls were given general guidelines starting with the time and location for breakfast.  There were no requirements placed on them.

         As is my custom, I woke early.  I gathered my Bible, pens, journal and devotionals the coveted blanket (to cut the chill) and headed down to sit on the dock overlooking a very peaceful lake.

         As the fog began to dissipate over the lake, I would occasionally hear footsteps and voices.  I would look and acknowledge groups of three of four. When it was time for me to leave, the entire embankment was filled with girls with their Bibles and journals sitting individually waiting to hear the Lord speak to them.

         I was so blessed to see these girls choosing to spend time with the Lord instead of sleeping in.  As spiritual as the moment was, it was preceded by a funny comment in the midst of God trying to chat with each of us.

         Our daughter had chosen to come to the dock and sit where our backs almost touched.  She has not developed the regular habit of reading God’s Word but I was so thrilled she seemed to be starting.

         She had hardly sat down, when she spoke out, “I can’t wait to get a tan!”  It was such a contrast to what was happening I could only laugh and keep a smile.

         How often does the Lord attempt to give me spiritual truths and I come out with a comment that clearly reflects a total disconnect?  Sometimes it is maturity but other times it really is me keeping “me” at the center of “my world.”

         My prayer is I will keep my eyes on the Lord and not get distracted and caught up in myself.  I can ask my children to help recognize my tendency to distraction and then offer to help them keep their eyes on the Lord too!

Praise God Today for Who Your Child Will Be Tomorrow

Praise before Victory

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26)

Praise is greatly honoring to God! In the Old Testament account of King Jehoshaphat, God’s people faced a seemingly insurmountable enemy who was determined to destroy them. Yet God assured them that they would “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:17). The people of Judah believed God. Their army was led by singers, offering praises to the Lord for their promised victory, and the victory came. When King David led the procession bringing the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he praised God with all of his strength (2 Sam. 6:12–23). David’s praise was pleasing to God, and God’s powerful presence remained in David’s kingdom to give him victory against every enemy.

Jesus was about to go to Gethsemane and to the cross, where God’s greatest victory would be accomplished. He led His disciples to sing a hymn. The disciples were all about to fail Him, and Jesus was about to be cruelly executed, yet Jesus insisted that they praise God. Their praise looked beyond the cross to God’s ultimate victory. Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God.

You ought to rejoice when God asks you to proceed in the work of His kingdom because you know the victory is already secured. Don’t focus on the problems and failures of others. Focus on God’s assurance of victory. If you have trouble praising God with a song in your heart as you serve Him, it may be that your focus is not on God, but on your circumstances.  - "Experiencing God Day By Day" by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby


As moms, we see our children's struggles.  We know their "crosses."  But God encourages us to look beyond these struggles to His ultimate victory in them.


Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name. 
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations. - Psalm 100:3-5


It is God who made us, and our children, not we ourselves.  So, praise God today for who your child will be tomorrow!  Be patient and allow Him to do His good work in them.  Rejoice in the God given privilege of  being your child's mother, for in this, you "proceed in the work of His kingdom." He chose you because you were the very best one for the job! "Don't focus on the problems or failures" in your children. Instead, "focus on God's assurance of victory!"  In the meantime, see them as perfect in Christ.  See yourself as perfect in Christ. Experience the freedom of giving and receiving grace as often as needed.  Be blessed today, sweet mothers, God is FOR you and your children.

"Excellence in All You Do" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

Excellence in All You Do

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed,

do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to 

God the Father through Him

We all have our daily tasks. Most days are very predictable as moms.

Quiet time, shower, fix breakfast, cleaning, laundry, school, more cleaning, lunch, naps, cleaning, cook dinner, family time, and bed time.

It becomes routine and we tend to lose sight of the greater picture of God’s calling on your life as a mom.

 That is your ministry.

Your husband first, then your children.

Doing everything you do with excellence and with all your heart in honor of and in worship of your Savior.

Maybe you don’t leave your home often due to all your small children, or possibly you are the queen of carpool and are constantly driving your people to their places. Keep your focus all about Jesus.

If you are preparing this week for a teaching at your weekly bible study or simply changing your little ones diaper, do both task as unto the Lord.

I know that many times we don’t necessarily go about our day doing every task, interaction, and conversation in excellence as unto the glory of God.

Let’s be challenged this week to ask God to change our hearts and look at our daily tasks in a new light. 

Get Out...Especially on Those Crazy Days!!!

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. 

Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation 

and the salvation of those who hear you. 

- 1 Timothy 4:16

This past week has been stretching. We have entered our third week of new therapy with some resistance from my son, which the center tells me is completely normal. They warned me ahead of time this week would come and I welcomed it - as I know it is a process in getting my son's brain to work properly.

So, being that our week was tough we decided to GET OUT and do a couple of field trips with a sweet family who also home schools. Many times, I fear play dates - especially on those weeks when my children have been especially challenging. But we ventured out and I am so grateful we did. 

As we did our science lesson on a local beach, seeing God's creation, and relishing in new species never seen...the Lord reminded me of the beauty in the hearts of my boys. Active yes they are, but they have such genuine love for others. They so enjoy making memories with friends whenever we have play dates. I learned a very valuable lesson. Get out more! 

Field trips (or play dates) also allow you to cultivate friendships with other moms and give your children an opportunity for growth. To be stretched. Working through the behaviors they do that doesn't honor the Lord and praise them for the ones that do! Many times it takes being with others for our child's areas of weakness and strength to be magnified and identified. 

I plan to get out more. Make more mommy friends and allow us all to be stretched more. On those crazy weeks...GET OUT! More field trips - are coming - which will bring character development both for my kiddos and me too! 

The Trailer

          I love a good movie...a fountain coke, and melting M&M’s over hot popcorn.

         As much as I love these things, a good trailer can make me equally as content! 

         So this is your trailer. 

Google Image

         I’m away with 24 High School girls in cabins in upstate Florida.  One of these girls is our youngest.

         It was a 6-hour drive.  We didn’t eat lunch until our arrival at two o’clock.  The five cabins are on a lake with kayaks and a dock.  Our focus this weekend is the fruit of the Spirit.

         That young moms…is the trailer…next week I will fill in the blanks of what God does while we are here.  God showed me this verse before I left this morning. 

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         (I feel so blessed to be able to come…I am thrilled and honored to be with and learn from these young ladies!)