Let them Squeal!

Marie Antoinette is remembered for her quote, “Let them eat cake!” I have adjusted the quote to “Let them squeal!”

If you think squealing is only for pigs…you are wrong!  Hope (at 15 years old) has always been our “squealer.”  No she isn’t the family tattletale.  Rather, she has been my child that to take her outside, to a park, or down a slide…she squealed.  She squeals when she sees a friend or goes fast on her bike.  She squealed when we went to Disney World or jumped in a pool.  You get the picture?

This weekend proved no exception. Hope won the grand prize drawing at an event we attended in May.  It was a two-night stay at any Marriott in the continental United States.  (I should mention, she squealed when they called her number!) She chose to redeem it by asking one friend to celebrate her birthday in Marco Island.

From our entrance in the driveway of the Marriott the squealing began! She squealed with her friend as we entered their lobby with its a-frame exposed beamed ceiling.   There was only a second of a notion to stop the girls from squealing as we drove in.  However, God gave me a smile and the thought, “What if you could enjoy life the way Hope does?”

I made it my goal, that her every squeal of the weekend would be my reminder to smile and enjoy!  Oh how we did! From the breakfast buffet with its homemade French toast, to the pool with the slide…Hope squealed and I smiled. 

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With a fifteen year old who is as tall as me, people would expect a certain level of maturity. But with every squeal I just smiled. I can’t even express how much I relaxed and enjoyed her joy.  I loved watching her have fun.  Swimming in the different pools, walking to the Gulf, lying in the hammock, eating ice cream with an illegal amount of sprinkles.  She squealed and I smiled. 

Life is so short girls.  God is good to let me enjoy a 15 year-old squealer.  Each of your children are enjoying life at their level. Whether it’s your little man pushing cars complete with “Vrooming” sounds, or your little princesses asking you to join their tea parties.  Will you make it your goal to join them?

Lay on your tummy and push a matchbox car. Do a cannon ball into the pool. Snuggle up and watch a DVD while eating popcorn (and let M&M’s melt in the bag.)  Join your children Mommas!  Join their perception of life! Let them squeal! You could even, "Let them eat cake!"

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                      James 4: 14 “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? 

                    Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone.” ELT

God Calls the Ordinary

This week I have been walking with a very dear friend through some very hard life challenges.  The enemy has been doing his best to make me feel inadequate in my ability to encourage this friend and give her biblical advice.  But whenever the enemy discourages, God always finds a way to build me up. 

 I was listening to a sermon by Pastor Chuck Smith.  His sermon was on the last half of the book of Amos and in it he briefly hit this point, God calls the ordinary person.  I felt so much encouragement in that because I am so ordinary.  I am not a trained counselor, or biblical scholar.  But God has given me a burning desire to grow deeper in relationship with Him, to serve Him, and to share His love with others.  He has also given me a love for coming alongside women and encouraging them, praying for them, learning God’s word with them, and walking through life’s challenges with them. 

 So you moms who feel utterly ordinary, like myself, this is encouragement for you.  Read here about three very ordinary men that God called while they were doing their very ordinary jobs.

 

Moses is tending the flocks when God calls him from a burning bush:

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  Exodus 3:11

 

An angel of the Lord calls Gideon as he is threshing wheat:

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”  Judges 6:15

 

A priest challenges Amos, the prophet, wanting to know where his authority comes from:

“…I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. ”  Amos 7:14-15

 

To the ordinary mom I say, stop disqualifying yourself for the service of God.  Whatever God is calling you to He will equip you for just as He did Moses, Gideon, and Amos.  God is what made these men in our eyes seem so extraordinary.  That same God lives in you.  If He is calling you while you are doing a load of laundry to encourage a friend, get on the phone.  If He is calling you to step out of your comfort zone and lead a small group, remember how big your God is. 

 

Lord, I pray that my eyes and ears would be open to Your call.  Give me the faith to follow You.  I trust in You to equip me Lord for wherever you lead me.  While I wait on you Lord, I pray that I hunger for your word like I have never hungered before.  Draw me closer to you as you prepare this ordinary woman to live a life pleasing to you. 

Trial and Triumph

 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

 In the Cudmore house lately we have been talking about the trials, troubles, and tests that come our way.  Being 16 and 15, my son Sam and daughter Bailee are facing new stresses of growing up. We know according to God's Word, nothing can pass through our lives without the permission of our Sovereign God.   This does not mean life is easier or trouble free, it simply means during these times we have choices to make.  My son Samuel once told me, "It's how you handle it."  Because we are saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have the power to face any of life's difficulties with triumph.  God's ordained trials are rooted in His love for us. To refine us for His glory and our good. (see Isaiah 48:10 & 11 and Romans 8:28) Making that choice to trust God through the trials will keep us on His path.  This trust fuels our strength and enables us to walk each day that He has planned.  (Psalm 139:16).  Proverbs 19:23 also states, "The fear of the Lord leads to life; Then one rests content, untouched by trouble."  We will not be shaken; our roots go deep and we stand firm on God's Word. Choose to trust.

God will not always stop the storm but He will always bring you through it. Often times He'll let the storm rage. As your boat of life rocks you to and fro, He is in it with you.  He's not worried just waiting for you to call for help. A wonderful visual of this is found in the Gospel of Mark chapter 4:35-41.  Jesus and the disciples are literally in a boat together when Mark tells us a "furious squall" came up and waves broke over the boat.  All the while, Jesus was in the stern of the boat sleeping.  Can you imagine being a disciple?  Try. Think this scenario through.  The disciples were afraid; they could not understand.  The storm came out of nowhere. Jesus was not worried, (obviously ;D) He was sleeping!  The disciples called out to Jesus. Upon waking, He rebuked the storm (and the disciples) and brought them through it.  The disciples where astonished at the power Jesus displayed over the seas.  They learned a lesson that day about who Jesus was and the value of choosing to trust Him.

The key to passing through the "good, bad and ugliness" of life is believing God is in charge of all that comes our way.  It's not hard to believe this when life is going great is it? The real test is when it isn't.  Teaching our children this truth, especially in the teen years, is crucial. Often the emotions of trials can threaten to capsize their boat, but if they call out to Jesus, He will get them through the storm.  As the lighthouse beacon light leads a ship through the storm, our children can be a light for others as well. "See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Isaiah 60:2-3 This is my prayer for me and mine along with you and yours! "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you (in our children) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved

Rejoice!

My grandmother was in the hospital last week and at 91 years old, any and every thing is a big deal! Thank God, she is ok and at home now. The 8 days she spent in the hospital forced our family to think about losing her. It forced us to reflect on life and death. It forced us to rejoice each and everyday.

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NKJV

Rejoicing is a choice! It should not have to be forced. We should be choosing to praise and thank God everyday. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. Did you get that? Rejoicing is the will of God.

Challenge: Choose to rejoice today. Share with 3 people one of the things you have chosen to rejoice about today.

Renewal By Waiting

Hi Ladies!  My name is Dawn and I’m so excited to be a part of Parakaleo.  Two weeks ago, my friend, Patrice, told me about an opportunity to write a monthly devotional to share with other moms.  I’m very thankful the Lord has opened this door and I look forward to getting to know you all better.  For the past week and a half, I’ve enjoyed reading the posts that have been coming to my inbox.  

Before I go any further, I’d like to take a minute or two to tell you a little bit about myself.  I’m a mom to three amazing kids; Hailey, 16, Chase, 12 and Jillian, 11.  In a few months, my husband, Brian, and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage.  Six years ago, we relocated from Ft. Lauderdale to the mountains of North Carolina to plant a church.  I’m a native Virginian, so North Carolina was a little like going home for me, although, I’ve never lived a such a small, rural area before.  I would describe my life as organized chaos, between homeschooling, spending time with my family, working, and helping my husband in the church.  I’m very thankful for this opportunity to share my heart with you and I pray, that through this blog, the Lord will continue to be glorified and we’ll continue to be edified.

I don’t know about you, but I have a very difficult time waiting.  Whether it’s waiting on my chocolate chip cookies to finish baking (Mmm. I can smell them now), waiting for the Lord to reveal fruit in my ministry, and I’m embarrassed to admit, waiting for the cashier in Walmart; waiting is not my strong suit.  And we all know, as moms, we spend A LOT of time waiting, especially on our kids.  When they’re little, we wait for them to sleep through the night, to learn how to talk, and to learn how to walk.  When they’re older, we wait for them to come home at night, to get their driver’s license, and to receive acceptance letters from colleges.  Waiting plays a big part in our lives.  And sometimes, all that waiting can leave us feeling drained.  Sigh.  

But check out what Isaiah 40:31 says:

“But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”  (NKJV)

Now, that’s certainly good news to me!  With all of the waiting I do in life, the most effective time I spend waiting is when I wait on the Lord.  When I choose to begin my day reading my Bible or a devotional or maybe praying in the shower, it makes all the difference in the world.  Inviting Christ to be the head of my life, each day, helps me put all of the other waiting in proper perspective.  Not to mention, waiting on the Lord, has a wonderful promise attached; our strength will be renewed and we won’t suffer from complete exhaustion and burnout.  I find, the majority of times I’m worn out from “mommying,” is when I’m trying to do it in my own strength; relying on me to get it all done.  And while that’s a bad pattern we all fall into from time to time, I want to encourage you to purpose in your heart to spend time waiting on the Lord every day.  I know this may not seem doable, especially if your children are very young, but I can assure you, that if you carve out that time, be it, five minutes or fifty five minutes, not only will you benefit, but so will they.  When my kids were in the baby and toddler stages, I spent countless hours in the car, either worshiping to praise CDs or listening to Bible teaching on the radio.  At that time in my life, my spirit was refreshed every time I turned my car into my prayer closet.  

Spending time in the presence of God transforms our hearts to be more like His and our homes to be a refuge for our families.  Raising godly children is a mountain sized task  which requires strength that only comes from the Lord.  And by His design, the only way we can tap into that strength is when we wait on Him.       

By the way, the cookies were worth the wait.  Although, they can’t begin to compare with the strength we get from waiting on the Lord!

1.  What hinders you from spending time with God each day?

2.  How do you define “waiting on the Lord”?

3.  Think of some creative ways you and your children can wait on the Lord together. 

Obstacles are Opportunities

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; 

in the morning I lay my requests before you 

and wait expectantly."

 - Psalm 5:3

The other day our sweet friend and fellow blogger, Teresa, welcomed a new baby girl into her family. Little Selah Grace was born on October 8th, weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 inches long. What a blessing! Little Selah has two older brothers to cuddle and hang out with :) 

A few days ago this precious little one was scheduled for testing on her heart. They heard a possible murmur and wanted to be sure that all was ok. As this news came to Teresa two choices were placed before her..... either freak out or trust God. She chose the latter asking us all to pray over the situation and reminding us that we serve a mighty and faithful God! She was encouraging us while  walking through her trial!

Each day as moms, whether a new mom or seasoned, we are given obstacles that allow for opportunity for spiritual growth in our life. 

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Those moments, completely out of our hands, which draw us close to Christ and His strength. In humility we come seeking Him for wisdom and comfort that only Christ can give. This act causes a refreshment that is indescribable to those involved and watching.

"Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.

 Give me relief from my distress;

 have mercy on me and hear my prayer."

 - Psalm 4:1

What is your "obstacle" today?

Will you allow it to be an opportunity to grow closer to Christ?

Do you freak out or trust God?

If we cling to Jesus... like Teresa, you can be used to encourage others even in the midst of your trial :)

Have you gotten alone with Christ today and sought His wisdom? 

Remember HE yearns to give peace and comfort in those trying times! He loves you so much! Seek Him!

*UPDATE* Since writing this little Selah's test results came back and she does have a small hole towards the bottom of her heart that is causing the murmur but the doctor  said it is harmless and she will live a "normal" life even if it never closes! PRAISE GOD!! 

Voila!

  While in France a couple of years back, we had a tour guide who was quite the cartoon character.  (Picture the seamstress in the cartoon movie, The Incredibles.)  She would explain about a landmark or an event and then she would say to her captive audience (complete with her French accent,) “Now Sur and Madame’s…follow my finger…” then she would point to a distant object or area and exclaim,

“Voila!”

     I can still hear the accent now and see her finger unfurling down some obscure street and giggling with my friend about her “tour” ability.

     Do you know the meaning of “Voila?”  Voila means, “There you have it!” or “What do you know?” or “There you are!”

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   There are plenty of books and plenty of blogs on how to parent. There are plenty of those who have “gone before.”  But who should we follow in parenting?

Matthew 17: 5  is the “Voila!”

“While He was still speaking a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “this is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ Listen to Him!”

     When we refer back to Matthew 17: 5 we see the most perfect example of parenting is our Heavenly Father.  In this one verse we can pull four points (or Voila’s) to hang our parenting aspirations on. 

First Voila! God claims His Son.   “This is My Son.”  God took ownership of Jesus.  He saw Him as His Son.  It is important that our children hear us calling them “ours.”  No matter how God placed the children in our home or in our care (through adoption, second or third marriages, foster care or through tragedy or loss.) Children need to know we identify with them.  They are “ours” sent by God alone.  He saw we would be the BEST parent for that child, and “Voila” that “baby” is yours. 

Let him/her know that you claim them. Make sure they hear the words from you and to others.  The message we are sending is, “I claim YOU!”

Matthew 17: 5 continues with, “whom I love.”  Voila! #2.  Our children need to know, that we don’t just trust the providence of God that they ended up in our home, they need to know WE LOVE THEM!!  In the middle of a mess or a masterpiece…we love them.  We need to publically declare our love, repeat our love and show them our love.

The third Voila! is our Heavenly Father says of His Holy Son, “I AM well pleased.”  God makes another public declaration, this time He said that Jesus made His Daddy proud.  How often do we tell our children we are proud of them?  Do we do it publically?  This isn’t to say our children are perfect.  It is to say to the child, I see this quality in you that makes me proud.

The final Voila! is God’s example when He tells all those who are with Jesus to “listen to Him.”  Do we publically affirm our kids?  Do we tell our children’s friends that they can listen to of our son or daughter?  (Need I remind you again? Our children aren’t perfect!)  However, we can tell other children the best quality of our child that they could follow.

How does this verse play out?  Let’s imagine that after church your son’s friends ask if he can go and play with them in the church playground.  Assuming all the other factors are favorable your response can reflect the Father. 

“MY guy? You know I love him, right?  He makes me so smile, but I’ll share him with you for about ten minutes.  He is super good about sharing, he will help you take turns throwing the ball.”

         The next time we wonder how to parent, “Voila!” just consult His Word!