Going All Out

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to your children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:7

I love holidays! They are a great excuse to celebrate big—make food, hang out with friends and family, travel, go on vacation, etc. Most kids like holidays too because they indicate that something special is about to happen--they are getting ready to be a part of something great. Holidays provide a great way for us to break away from the routine. Well, with Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) just around the corner, we as moms are presented with another opportunity to celebrate Christ’s love with our kids.

Easter is such a beautiful holiday, but it can be difficult to explain its true meaning to a young child. However, I would encourage each of us (including myself) to pray about and follow through with a way to share the Easter story with your children in a way that is applicable and appropriate for their age. Let’s not waste this holiday on simply eggs, chocolate, bunnies, and baskets. Those things are fun, but let’s remember what the focus of our celebration is.

A few weeks ago at Mom to Mom, Linda Anderson shared a few tips with us mommas about passing on the legacy of faith and building belonging within our family. She was not merely talking about Easter, but about celebrations in general. Here are a few points she mentioned:

1. Keep it simple.
2. Remember that the process is more important than the end product. Involve your kids in the process (crafts, cooking, service projects, etc.) instead of keeping them occupied and out of the way.
3. Focus on creating family memories as opposed to people-pleasing.
4. Include others—create a contagious, fun Christian community that other people are delighted to be a part of.
5. Celebrate everyday “God sightings”.
6. Ask yourself: What’s the focus of our celebrations, and are they fun?

I know this blog may seem a bit premature, but I would encourage you to be thinking of ways you can prepare your child’s heart for Easter/Resurrection Sunday so that it is a joyous and memorable holiday for your family. We put so much preparation and emphasis into Christmas, and the excitement over it is extremely contagious. Let’s do the same for Easter! I would encourage you to leave any ideas and suggestions on sharing the Easter story and celebrating with your children in the comments below. Some of us mommas could really use some good ideas (i.e. me). :)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that there is a season for everything. Thank you for this Easter season that reminds of us the incredible price you paid so that we could be clean and close to you. Help us share the beauty of what you did on the cross in a way that captures the hearts and minds of even our youngest kids without scaring them. Give us fresh insight and revelation on how we can “let the little children come to you”. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

"What's in your Purse?" by Guest Blogger Patrice

Have you noticed how heavy your purse is lately?
I actually have to switch shoulders to alleviate the pain.  If we're not careful, it becomes a mobile catchall for just about anything. The bigger the bag, the more we toss in. Well I finally decided to investigate what was in there, that was weighing me down, and whether it was worthy to be  carried.

During this process, I asked myself if I have been this negligent and careless as the doorkeeper of my heart . Becoming desensitized by the shallow ways of this world. Preoccupied by things that have little or no substance.  These enticing little delicacies only add unneeded weight. These things that are tossed at me need to be screened through God's Word. I need not shortchange myself or settle for less than my Savior's best for me. So Moms, open those eyes and perk up those ears as you discern what your heavenly Father desires for you. Good things which produce fruit, not nonsense.

Screen your time through this scripture:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good  report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Phil. 4:8

P.S.  I'm going to do some serious screening and downsize to a clutch! :-)

THIRD Times a Charm!!

I have a bad habit I need to break. It is something I try so hard to manage but fail at miserably. It is something my friends, family and children can attest I need help on. What is this habit,  you ask?? MULTI-TASKING!! Most women can do this well, but not me!

It was a few weeks ago when I had this "A-HA" moment and realized I needed to change. I was talking on the phone and fixing lunch for the boys at the same time when my friend on the other end very lovingly stated, "Kate, I've shared that with you three times already." My lack of undivided attention caused me to miss information and gave the impression I didn't care. WOW, but I did care!


How often we do this to our little ones too! Our kids are super excited about something ...maybe a bug or a big tower of blocks they've built and because we are doing laundry or dishes we miss the moment to let them know we value their insight and what they have to say.

There is a time for play and work, but I think too often we try to combine the two, causing ourselves frustration and stifling our excitement.  Allow yourself free time with each child where they can have your undivided attention.  Push pause on life as they show you something new.  Praise God daily for how HE created them and the interests they have. Plan out a scheduled time for "chores" when your kids are sleeping or snacking.

Do you multi-task well? How do you react when your child comes in need of your ear? Do they repeat themselves many times, like my phone friend, wondering if this time you will stop & receive what they have to say? My husband said it well, "Kate, there are many things we can multi-task, just not people." I try so hard to balance phone calls, lunches and cleaning but have learned it's better to let the machine get that call and return it later rather than only giving myself partially to the conversation because of tasks at hand I am already involved in at that moment. I am learning!

 As shared in "Words of Wisdom" Part #1...Cherish every moment you have with your child. Time passes so quickly and the day will come when you look back on those memories.

He is your Praise!

Because you have seen Him with your own eyes...

Image found here: Pinterest 13651605089 985573.jpeg

Deuteronomy 10

v. 14  To the Lord your God belong

the heavens

even the highest heavens

the earth and everything in it.

v. 15  Yet the Lord set His affection on your forefathers

and loved them

He chose you,

Their descendants…

v. 16  Circumcise your hearts…

v. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods

and  Lord of lords

the great God

mighty and awesome

who shows no partiality

and accepts no bribes.

v. 20  Fear the LORD your GOD

serve Him

Hold fast to HIM

Take your oaths in His name

v. 21  HE IS YOUR PRAISE,

He is Who performed for you

Those great and awesome wonders

You saw with your own eyes.

A Divine Work

There are times when we get so frustrated because those we love, our children, spouses, friends, family, parents, they are not always on the same page with Christ that we are. We forget that we are not the same today as we were last year or last month… hopefully. We forget that it was with a lot of time and love that God has done this work in our hearts. He has come alongside us on our journey. We forget that we are not the only ones on a journey and there was a point A, B and C that got us to point D.

Priscilla Shirer put it best in her book, Life Interrupted: Navigating the Unexpected:

“He (God) could do anything He wanted and make this immediately better and resolved. Instead He seems content to keep asking questions and addressing your heart motives rather than just fixing what’s broken or out of balance.

But He doesn’t ask us these hard, challenging questions just to hear Himself speak. He already knows what the answer is. His goal in posing such a question is to help us come around to agreeing with Him on the answer, unearthing the inner issues we didn’t even know were down there, giving us an opportunity to relinquish our claw grip on control and anger so that we can rest in the blessed assurance Christ died to give us.”

We always want God to be patient with us, yet we don't always want to give others that same courtesy. Yes, He could do things faster. But, how much would be lacking from our lives if God had not taken the time to “unearth” our inner issues. Do we really want to ask him to hurry along His process with others, especially the people we love, just because we are impatient?

I want to encourage you to continue to train up your children (proverbs 22:6) to love God with all their hearts, remembering they are on a journey. And all those other people that you love… pray for them. Pray that they would listen to the questions God is asking them and that they would really take a good look at those questions and what their answers mean in relation to their hearts. We can’t speed up someone else’s journey. So let’s not be frustrated, impatient or worry, let’s pray and remember that while we wait God is working.

“4Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4

“We are not metaphorically but in very truth, a Divine work of art, something that God is making, and therefore something with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character.” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

“3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:1-6

Choose Your Battles

Picture found on Google images

We have all heard the saying telling us to "choose our battles wisely". Well, I confess, sometimes I can just let things go simply because I do not feeling like dealing with the hassle or whining. When it comes to my children, I have been blessed that my oldest Selah has been relatively easy in some aspects. For example, she just decided when she was around 9 months old, she didn't want the pacifier anymore. That was it, just that easy. She was the same when transitioning from a bottle to a juice cup.

In other areas, however, she is more particular. Case in point, she has to have a certain top on her sippy cups and refuses to drink otherwise. Well, a few weeks ago we left a "good" cup at church childcare and have not been able to get it back. So, we were down to one and having to constantly have that certain cup has been a hassle when it frequently gets misplaced, needs constant washing, etc. All just to avoid the inevitable fit she would throw with another cup. So, this particular morning, I chose to go into battle.

A juice cup is not a big deal, but am I doing either of us any good allowing myself to act based on fear of her negative reaction to not having things the way she wants them? What is the root issue here, and how will it manifest itself later in her life if not corrected now? Am I keeping my child's heart on the right path by avoiding this issue?

Well, she did have a fit and refuse the juice and told me which cup she wanted. I calmly explained that it was the same juice in a different cup, and if she would try it, she would see. It would be the only cup she would get. I left her on the couch with the new cup, and went about getting things done around the house. After several minutes of pouting, I walked back in to find her drinking happily as if nothing had happened. One week later, and she is content to drink from whatever juice cup she is given without fuss or fit, though she still prefers the one.

The lesson I learned is that we need not avoid correcting our children based on fear of their reaction or not wanting to deal with the impending tantrum that comes with correction. It may not be as bad as we think, and we are helping our children develop into healthy, honorable adults by correcting them, even in the small things. We still need to choose and time our battles wisely, but realize that we will need to eventually deal with the root issues, and it's best to address them at a young age rather than allowing these tendencies to develop into negative character traits even more difficult to overcome as adults.

Lord, please help me to see to the heart of my child as You see into our hearts. If there is any impure way in him/her, please reveal it to me and give me the wisdom to correct it. Please help me to not be lazy or indifferent nor fail to act because of fear of a tantrum. Please help me to fight the good fight and persevere on their behalf and for their benefit and Your glory. I ask for Your wisdom and guidance to keep his/her heart on the right path. May I never fail to correct a heart issue and allow it to grow into a character flaw. For those that have begun to develop in my child, I pray for the wisdom to guide, counsel, and discipline whatever age and season they may be in, as You instruct me to. Please give me grace for each day and wisdom for each season. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Surprise!

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you can imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

My husband and I have two amazing little boys. Our oldest son is bright, funny, considerate, and full of life. The youngest thinks he is just like his big brother except in a smaller package, but his feistiness is just about big enough for the two of them. Well, you can imagine that having two boys we have lots of trucks, trains, ships, jets, cars, etc. Our house is generally a little loud and we absolutely must find a way for them to run around and get the wiggly jigglies out every day. There simply is no staying indoors with two boys or the house gets completely turned inside out. Such is the life with boys, and I love it!

Yet as exciting as our boys are, my husband and I often get the question, “So, when are you guys going to try for a girl?” This question always makes me laugh because when any couple tries to have a baby they don’t get to pre-pick the gender. I came to the conclusion that if we were to try again, we would have to be happy either way. However, this question of whether we should have another little one was not a light one in our house. We just weren’t sure. Wait, let me correct myself. I wasn’t sure if we should have more kids. On the other hand, my husband was quite sure that we were done. I wrestled with God and pondered the true desires of my heart and what was best for our family. Some days I wanted more, other days I thought two was enough. I just didn’t know!

I love that God has such a sense of humor because while I was praying for wisdom and direction, we found out we were pregnant again! We were both shocked! Well, I was shocked, but my husband was floored. LOL However, the really funny and amazing part is that after the shock wore off (for the both of us), there was nothing left except sheer excitement…for the both us! Although we had our reasons and questions and doubts, God knew exactly what we needed and deep down what we really wanted. My husband and I often both talk about how we had no idea that that we would feel this way. It was like God searched our hearts, saw beyond the fears and concerns, and knew that we would relish having another little one…guy or gal! I am so thankful for our all-knowing, all-powerful God. I am also incredibly thankful that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Bottom line: I want to invite Him to change up my plans more often.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for being so good to us. Thank you for knowing what we truly desire even when our own hearts are conflicted. Thank you that you have good plans for our lives—plans that are higher and better than our own. Thank you that you do not waver back and forth, but that you are steadfast and sure. Help us seek your face each day and welcome the changes of our course that you bring about. We love you God. Thank you for loving us even more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.