A Heart Like Our King

For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 samuel 16:7

God has blessed me with 3 children, a 7 year old girl and 2 boys ages five and two.  I adore and love them all; however, my personality is more suited with the quiet, calmer, doll playing, coloring type.  So when we found out we were having our second boy I just laughed and said God must have a sense of humor.   

While raising my boys has been a stretch for me since I don’t like allowing them to do anything they can get hurt doing, I have so enjoyed the Lords guidance in raising them to be little godly disciples.  Recently while reading “The Jesus Storybook Bible” the Lord gave me a wonderful illustration for my 5 year old, who loves showing us his big muscles.  

The bible story was based on Samuel going to the house of Jesse looking for the next king.  It basically said to be a God appointed king you don’t have to be the tallest or the strongest or even look like a king, you only have to have a heart like our KING, full of love.  So while my son may want to look big and strong and seem tough, which is totally fun, it has been a great learning experience to share with him what God adores in him and that is a heart full of love and compassion for others. 

Lord Jesus I pray for all these mammas reading this blog to have wisdom while training their children about Your ways and how they are so different from the world.  I pray for patience when a situation arises that gives us the opportunity to turn our children from the world towards You.  We love you Lord!  Amen!   

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News.  Our purpose is to please God not people.  He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

Words of Wisdom - PART 2*

Last Saturday we gleaned from seasoned moms as they shared thoughts on motherhood with us. With many Godly women willing to share their insight, we decided to break it  up into two weeks. Enjoy the following encouragement and allow Him to speak to you through the lives of His people....enjoy!

 
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.   - Proverbs 11:14

"I like what Chuck Swindoll shared,  to be careful when you train your child up in the way they should go, that you take into consideration their different personality.  You may have to figure out what gets through to one that may not work well with another.  It is worth taking the time.  And give them opportunity to share their feelings without being afraid that there will be reprisal.  You want to encourage them to communicate with you honestly, so that, as they get older they will be free to share what is going on in their life." 

-Chris, mom of three, grandmother of five

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

"God has taught me to allow my children to be who God created them to be. They are all so different, and if we aren't careful, we can frustrate or hurt our children by pushing them to be who WE want them to be, rather than letting them follow the bent that God put in their hearts. God impressed upon my heart early on in motherhood to pray for wisdom daily and ask God to direct my children's paths in following their hopes and dreams. Proverbs 3:5,6 was a verse that my mom prayed over me growing up, and in turn, I've prayed that verse for my children over the years. God is faithful!" 

- Jan, mom of three, grandmother of 2

Instill in your children what they can do for others, not what others can do for you. The fruit from that for me has been that my daughter's friends at college can't believe she's an only child. Jesus came to serve, not be served. Matt 20:28. 

- Patrice, mom of one

Some of the best counsel I EVER received was from a sweet friend, Catherine, who reminded me in times of confusion, to stop and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance. How grateful I am for those simple yet profound words I have remembered many days as a mommy. The Lord spoke through her at just the perfect time.

Thank you to all the moms who have ever encouraged another because of lessons learned through trials and testing in your own life. We are all better because of it!

My Valentine's Gift to you!

     Moms are you thinking about Valentines Day?  Its only 4 days from today…  

Have you bought cards or made them with your children?

image found here: Pinterest valentine

For you who read my Christmas post, you know I am challenged in the area of gift buying.  However, I have found another perfect gift for you to share with your Valentines, no matter what their ages…

God’s Word!  Ask God to lead you in His Word.  Find those special verses that you can share with your husband, your children or a friend.

image found here: pinterest.com/pin/56506170294179600

God’s Word will not return void (Isaiah 55: 10 – 11.) It will gently shape us (Hebrews 4: 12.) It will guide us (Psalm 119:105,) and it will last forever (Mark 13: 31.)

Momma’s be creative. Give this best gift ever!

Father, How blessed we are that YOU would want to be our Valentine!  

Thank you for your amazing WORD.  

Words that are true and are life. Words that we can share with our children our husbands our friends our neighbors and our world.  

Help us to find creative ways to share your word.  

Help us to fall more deeply in love with YOU, our living word – our perfect Valentine!!  

In Jesus sweet name, Amen.

Progress

James 1: 3, 4

"...because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

This week I was reminded of progress.  As our middle schooler, Hopie jumped out of the van to walk into school, Greg called out his irksome (or should it be pesky) comments to her.  You know the typical Daddy remarks, “Don’t smile…” or “Be a sweet girl today…” or “Remember you are daddy’s girl.”

As she walked into the doors of her school, I asked Greg, “Can you believe it?”  I went on to say, when did we think Hope would ever get dressed

without yanking on her collar, her socks and her waistband?  When did we think she would ever brush her hair or teeth on her own? When did we think she wouldn’t fuss about the color of her glass or the amount of milk in her cereal?

You see our Hopie has her own “style.”  Her own learning style.  Her own social style.  She is as complex as she is precious to us.  We have had such a struggle to parent her.  She hears what we are saying, but often misunderstands.  She has a hard time with defining words, understanding words, relating words.  Academics are a challenge and a mystery.  Hope is literal and concrete in her thinking.

Hope also struggles with sensory perception. Food has to have a certain texture, color and odor.  Clothes have to feel soft and not restrictive.  Hope detects sounds others can’t. Yet at other times, you can’t have music or functions too loud.

You are welcomed to read through the lines of what I am trying to communicate, right?  Life has been hard.  Hard on our baby.  Hard on our older children, and hard on us as parents.

Our God is faithful.  I will trust Him.  It has been a long road (and we are so far from finishing.)  But we watch progress.  Actually, we are amazed by this progress.  No it isn’t just growing up, it isn’t just becoming more mature.  It is our amazing God, doing what we (or she) are unable to do on our own.

As she jumped out of the van, I realized how God has grown her.  No her classwork wouldn’t come easy that day, but her determination is unstoppable.  Her clothes were put on without having the collar stretched big enough for the entire family to fit through at once.  Her waffles had been eaten without the need for them to be stacked and cut at perfect 90 degree angles.  She walked in like all the other children.

Although, Hope doesn’t recognize the progress, I could see from her profile a silly grin acknowledging her Daddy’s comment and I believe deep down a sense of accomplishment to be dressed and in school. One day we will try to explain to Hope what makes her special, but in the interim we can encourage her to embrace a God that makes progress for her everyday!