Happy Mother's Day, Angel!

Grab a tissue and be blessed, sweet mother, you were chosen!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKlWed0GxWA


Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. - Psalm 127:3, NLT


Let's pray.  Dear God, Thank you for each mother reading this, and thank you for her precious children.  Today, may she realize that you chose her to be her child(ren)'s mother because she was the very best one for the job.  She is who her child(ren) needs.  May she today and everyday lead her child(ren) back to you.  In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

"Forgiveness" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

Repent, then, and turn to God, 

so that your sins may be wiped out, 

that times of refreshing 

may come from the Lord - Acts 3:19

We were heading to the beach, meeting some friends at our favorite splash pad.

I was driving down Atlantic Ave thinking about how difficult the morning had been.  The kids were touchy and getting on each other’s nerves. 

 They were having a hard time listening and obeying.

There was lots of disciplining, reminding and redirecting.

It was slightly chaotic, and I was rushing around getting everything ready for our “fun day at the beach”. 

Then it happened….I lost it!   

It wasn’t pretty….

My words were NOT kind, my patience was GONE, and I had had enough.

Have you ever had one of those days?

In my heart I knew I had to do it….it wasn’t easy but it was so important.

I had to ask for their forgiveness.

I was wrong.

There I was, driving our minivan, letting them know that I was so sorry that I was not being kind. I was so sorry for the words I used.

Will you please forgive me?

As I watched from the rear view mirror, they were smiling saying “that’s ok, we forgive you” “we love you” “its fine mom”.

Children are such a beautiful picture of true forgiveness. 

They hold no grudges, they keep no record of wrongdoings.

We parked, hugs and kisses, and off they went to play.

It was such a great lesson for me as the mom.

 It was hard to humble myself to admit my failure to my kids. But, I was encouraged by their actions of quick forgiveness. 

As our children are following in our footsteps, watching our every move, hearing our every word, may they see us ask for forgiveness.

Exceedingly Mothering

This week I have recognized my parenting leverage could improve by implementing what I know to do as a wife.   That’s right.  I believe the greatest way to be the best mom is by loving our children’s dad.

         The verse I have been meditating on this week is from Ephesians 5: 33, which says, “The wife must respect her husband.” RESPECT, hum…

         The Amplified Bible says, “Let the wife see that

She respects

And reverences her husband

(That she…

notices him,

regards him,

honors him,

prefers him,

venerates,

and esteems him;

and that she defers to him,

praises him,

and loves 

and admires him

EXCEEDINGLY.)

         I’ve been evaluating this list…not thinking I would get a passing grade on most of these.  I have been practically choosing a couple each day to define and apply in our marriage.

         Although, I recognize I’m falling short everyday, my husband is making comments on how I’m treating him.  It is interesting to see how he is responding to me as I intentionally consider what would it practically look like for me to notice him, regard him or prefer him.

         My attempts at noticing him include; welcoming him home and stopping what I am doing while he talks to look him in the eyes.  Trying to “regard him” has caused me to think more intentionally about what he wants and by asking him what he wants or needs. Preferring him..as compared to MY own agenda, desires and plans to what He may want or desire. 

         Ladies this isn’t rocket science.  This is being a student of our husbands and making application of what God says.  I challenge you to be in God’s Word. Allow Him to teach, convict and direct you to obey and exceedingly live out His Words. By living out His Words we will become the best mom for our children and the best wife for our husband!

"Stopping to Listen" by Courtney

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” -Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭40-41‬ NLT

I am not just another person for Jesus to pass by.

When others told this blind man to be quiet. When they thought of him as a nuisance. Jesus showed the blind man and those looking on that he wasn't a nuisance to his Savior. Jesus heard the man and STOPPED!  He had the man brought near to him. How compassionate and loving is our savior!

Bend down, O LORD, 

and hear my prayer; 

answer me,

 for I need your help.

 -Psalms‬ ‭86‬:‭1‬ NLT

Father God thank you for your love. Thank you for bending down to hear me, for stopping and bringing me near. In a world full of hurting people crying out to you thank you for showing me that you ALWAYS have time for me, that you WANT to spend time with me :)

Moms, what prayer request do you need to share with Jesus today?

HE stops. HE hears. HE cares. 

HE will bring you near as you call out to Him. 

When Momma doesn't feel good...

 Ephesians 4: 32

“Be Kind and compassionate toward One Another…”

         I have a desire to show compassion.  I read the Gospels and see example after example of Jesus coming in contact with mankind and being “filled with compassion.” Clearly the best way to become more compassionate is to identify with the one who is in need of compassion.

     

    In the last months, I’ve had friends give birth to their latest additions. They have older children so my friends are learning how to add multiples to their lives.

         My friends are tired, insecure, sleep deprived and really don’t know what to do with their newest additions.  My heart does go out to them.  I do remember what those adjustments were like.  I feel compassion for them.

         Since the week before Easter I have been struggling with the affects of allergies (who knew?)  I have had a sore throat, cough, terrible head congestion, headaches, etc. etc.  I finally had a doctor recommend over the counter medicines, and prescribe a steroid and an antibiotic.  After finishing the medication, three days later some of the same (and others that are more painful) are resurfacing.  I just don’t feel good.

         I don’t know what this sickness is about, but I do know I can now identify with those who struggle with allergy season.  I can feel compassion for those who are fighting the latest blossoms of our beautiful Spring foliage.

         A mom doesn’t have time to be sick or recover from delivering babies. A mom isn’t going to get a large amount of understanding, because generally the dishes continue to pile up, as does the laundry.  The children still need food.  They still need to get to their schools and extra curricular activities.

         Moms I encourage you this Spring day, lets look out for each other.  Do you know a mom who has recently given birth?  Do you know a mom who isn’t feeling good? Pray for them.  Take them a favorite movie, magazine or candy.  Ask the Lord to fill you with compassion and practically begin to care for one another"

No Negotiations

This week marks Matthew and Jordan’s fourth week of swimming lessons.  Most lessons as the instructor prompts the kids, their responses have made me giggle yet ache inside as I notice their disguised disobedience.  I never knew my five year-old to be a negotiator:  The teacher tells Matthew to swim to the forth line and he says “to the second,” so the teacher says “ok, the third.”  Teacher says to take two breaths, Matthew takes one. 

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” Mark 10:21 (NKJV)

In this passage, we don’t see any negotiations.  It is clear what our Lord wants the Rich Young Ruler to do, yet he… refused. 

As mommas, we are training and later expecting our kids to obey us so they will know how to obey God.  We don’t expect them to obey only part of the way or even better yet… refuse!  We are in the midst of teaching them through the word of God what happens when He says to do something yet the thing is not carried out.  A great example, however a little gory for little kids is in 1 Samuel 15 where king Saul was supposed to “utterly destroy” all the people yet he “took Agag king of the Amalekites alive.”

No negotiations.  No refusals.  What is God asking you and me to do yet we… refuse – or we try to negotiate!  Let’s be that momma after God’s own heart to do as He says, without compromising.  Our children are looking on.  

"Called to Lead These Little People" by Courtney Hrinik

The LORD told Joshua,

 “Today I will begin to make you a great leader

 in the eyes of all the Israelites. 

They will know that I am with you,

 just as I was with Moses."

 - Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ NLT

- Joshua had to obey the call to leadership first before God made him a great leader.

- "Today" God was just beginning to make Joshua a great leader, when he'd already been leading the Israelites.

- It was God who made Joshua a great leader.

- It was in the eyes of the people Joshua was leading that God would make him great.

- God would make Joshua a great leader in their eyes, not by displaying anything special or worthy about Joshua, but by showing the Israelites that He, God, was with Joshua.

A great leader is made by God because of who God is, not the person!

This spoke to me this morning as a mom.  God has called me to lead these little people :-). And it is by displaying his glory in me, not my flesh, that will make them see me as a "Great Leader" and learn respect and honor.

Father God, help me to respond to my children, always, in your Spirit and not in my flesh. May "Today" be the day that You begin to make me a great leader in their eyes!