Sing, Sing, Sing!

Did you wake with a song in your heart?  

So many mornings I will wake with a tune playing over and over in my mind.   For me the songs I hear are the songs I learned as a child or those I learned with the children.  The words are simple but the messages are profound.

         Sing to the Lord a New Song.  

         I challenge you to sing to your children.  I challenge you to sing with your children.  It will bless the Lord as you make a joyful noise.  It will keep your mind focused on what is truly important.  It will be a legacy your children will be singing potentially the rest of your life.

        

 Sing, sing, sing!

Put it in ACTION!

I am SO confident of certain spiritual truths!  I believe with every cell in my body that we are living in what the Bible calls, "the Last Days," I believe the rapture of the believers could happen at literally any minute, and I believe that we will enter into eternal rest that is beyond anything we can imagine!

BUT... true confession here... sometimes I lack faith in my current circumstances.

Below is an encouraging word from our brother, Jon Courson, that helped me refocus and put it action!

And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
	Acts 28:24
Some believed and some didn’t. That’s still the way it is — even among Christians. You see, we as believers know our sins are forgiven. We know Jesus is the Messiah, and that we’ll soon be with Him in Heaven. Yet in the meantime, we might be in hellish situations of depression, defeat, and despair because of unbelief. The Word of God says, ‘In everything give thanks,’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Why? Because all things are working together for good (Romans 8:28). ‘Oh, but you haven’t seen the stack of bills on my desk, we say. Well, the Word says, ‘My God shall supply all your need according to His riches,’ (Philippians 4:19). ‘Yeah, but you don’t understand the hurt I feel because she dumped me,’ we say. The Bible says even if she meant it for evil, God will use it for good (see Genesis 50:20). ‘But I feel so bad about my son. He’s not walking with the Lord,’ we say. The Bible says we can be confident that He Who began a good work in him will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus — He’ll finish what He started (Philippians 1:6). Some Christians believe what God says and some don’t. Those who don’t, find themselves engulfed in despair, defeat, discouragement. You see, it’s not enough just to know the Scriptures, gang. It’s not enough just to hear the Word. It’s not enough just to come to Bible study. You and I must believe. And ‘believe’ is not a noun — it’s a verb. We can be the happiest, most carefree people in the world if we believe — and act on that belief. You might know the Scriptures backward and forward — but Jesus said, ‘Happy are you if you do them,’ (John 13:17). It’s what you do — not what you know that matters, and it all begins by saying, ‘Today I’m going to believe that God is working, and that He is fulfilling what He has promised. You are faithful, Lord; and I will live in that today. I will proclaim Your faithfulness; and I will choose to rejoice in You.’

How can you put your trust in His faithfulness in action today?

Mother's Day

A day of celebration. A day of reflection. A day of joy. A day of remembrance. A day of stories. A day of wonder. A day of gifts and treats. A day to ponder. Mother's Day!

As I sat in church last night, I listened as the pastor shared stories of his wife. The kind of wife and mommy she is. I smiled at the encouragement he brought to us. Sweet reminders that we are not perfect but we serve a God who is. One illustration told how his wife scrap-booked and was really good about making family photo albums each year. They leave them on the table in their living room to share with visitors as they come to their home. For a moment...I sat and thought about how I don't do that. How I am failing big time in that area. In a moment, I went from feeling encouraged and empowered as a mom to..."Wow, I am really missing the mark in that department!" Sure I love to take pictures and post to Facebook but printing them out is a whole nother story.

There it was...the sneaky little "comparison" button that satan so often likes to push in my life. My weakness. So I decided in that moment rather than sulk about what photos I didn't print out last year that I would make an effort to start making photo albums more often. Not giving satan space in my mind to ponder the "what if's" but to allow the craft of another mom be an encouragement for me to do the same.

What if we did that, Moms? What if we decided that we wouldn't be threatened by other moms but allow their successes to nudge us in the same direction. Today we will see many posts on Facebook of what husbands did for their wives. What cute crafts your child never made you. What restaurant you can't afford but your friends went to for Mother's Day. Instead...lets enjoy whatever we have in our life. Right now. Let others' successes be a nudge for you to try out some of the same things. Not threatened but encouraged. So as you look through Facebook and email today, be encouraged with what YOU have! God loves you Mommy! Keep seeking His face in all you do!

"Commit your plans unto the Lord and they will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3

Line up Wonder Women!

         I guess I had some romantic notion.  I mean, it is my moms’ fault.  She made mothering look so easy, so inviting.  I thought there was no job I would rather aspire to. 

         I should have realized as I waited in a long line at the women’s bathroom at six months pregnant with our first child.  I can remember wearing a red dress with a white Peter Pan color thinking I was terribly fashionable for the performance of the Broadway hit, “Porgy and Bess.”  But as I stood in line with 40 other women all vying for a moment to go potty I realized no one cared of my condition.

         The lady in front of me commented how she remembered how frequently she needed to go to the bathroom.  Then the lady in front of her and the one behind me all began to empathize with me.  You would have thought one of these compassionate mothers would have gladly escorted me to the front of the line or at least allowed me to pass them in the line.  But no.  They were content to talk about “understanding” my condition.

         This should have been the fair warning to motherhood.  Lots of “understanding,”  lots of heads nodding and wagging and empathizing but minimal help.

         But my mother?  Well, that’s another story entirely.  She made motherhood a noble, desirable, over-the-top attractive profession. However today was the real day of discovery!  I am finally sure!  I’ve had my “wonderment,” but now I know…My Mom is Wonder Woman!

      After finding this plague, I’m convinced my mom IS Wonder Woman.  If you need a 150 reasons, I can give you more.  I hope many of you think your mom is Wonder Woman.         Because I know many of you who read this blog, I will respectfully put my mom at the top of the Wonder Women list and add yours!

Happy Mother’s Day fellow Wonder Women!  May this Mother’s Day be your best!  Love you girls!

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!