Rise Up

     There are days . . .  You know, the ones where you ask yourself, "Am I really making any difference?"  "Do my children really hear me?"  "Am I even cut out for this mothering role?"

     I already know the answers to each of those questions, even if you are wobbling in your mind today; they are Yes and Yes and YES!  In fact, somehow God in His wonderful way seems to take days that our feet feel the heaviest on and our throats a little hoarse from frustration and make them some of our most effective.  Is it because of us?  No, it's because God promised us that when we were weak, He would be strong.

     Have you asked Him to be that for you today?
     God, please be strong for me, cause I am feeling weak.

     Words from a quote by Abraham Lincoln jumped off the page for me this week as I read something He said, "God bless my mother; all that I am or ever hope to be I owe to her."

     Do you know that if we are faithful now -- today -- this week -- then someday, the Bible tells us that our children will rise up and call us blessed?  That is the hope of what is to come . . . the reward that lies in the future.  Right now, we are to keep loving those sticky faces and hugging those grimy shoulders and believing God's best about each of our children even in the moments we feel like hope is only a distant glimmer.  Don't lose hope, our children's words may resonate with those of Abraham Lincoln someday IF we do not give up.

"Her children arise and call

her blessed; her husband also,

and he praises her."

Proverbs 31:28

Making the Most of Summer

     Who doesn't love summer?  Warm breezes, cool water, sweet berries, long days and laughing children.

     Unfortunately there are also laundry piles, dirty floors, grumpy kids, doctor's appointments and messy beds.

     How do we balance out happy moments of free time with our ever-present responsibilities, so that when we sit chilled by a fire in the dead of winter, our reflections of summer will warm our hearts with a thankfulness of time well spent?

     A few guidelines can send us on our way to making the most of summer . . .

• Break each day into three parts a)morning b)afternoon c) supper & evening
• Create goals or plans for each part of the day, no matter how simple they are
• Tell your children the plan so they can be prepared &/or anticipating what is coming (this will also keep you accountable)
• Intersperse jobs, appt's and errands with play, outings and fun
• Be flexible & keep it simple

     Sample Goals:  
     Day One ~ Morning - dust main floor, Afternoon - read a chapter of a book together, Evening - go for a walk as a family
     Day Two ~ Morning - meet friends at the beach, Afternoon - clean out linen closet, Evening - play a round of Uno
     Day Three ~ Morning - dr. appt, Afternoon - build with lego, Evening - play as a family in the backyard

     The ages of your children don't matter -- if they're too little to play Uno, then stack towers or read a board book. 

     If you're a parent then chances are you, too, savor the feeling of falling into bed at night knowing you have intentionally invested in your child(ren).

     A plan allows us that experience . . . it shows our children that they're precious to us and we want to be with them, while we still balance the tasks of regular life.

     The benefit of a plan this simple is that obviously there are many more hours in the day that we can CHOOSE how to fill, but this gives us a starting point.  If you are anything like me, you may find once this is in place, many more positive choices follow theses simple ones. 

     The key is we all have to start somewhere -- if what you do is far more complex and works for you already, then congrats, keep going; but if you don't have anything in place then I challenge you to give this a try for one week.  Ask the Lord to guide your mind to creative ideas and be sure to keep it realistic (& flexible when weather changes).  Time goes faster than any of us would like . . . let's make the most of it!

"There's an opportune time

to do things, a right time

for everything on the earth."

Ecclesiastes 3:1



The Hope

     Do you ever get to the end of the day and feel like all you are accomplishing is just ruining your kids?  Do you ever feel like there must be someone -- ANYONE -- out there who could raise them better?  Do you ever feel like there isn't any hope?

     I have.  I have.  I have. 

     Some days I feel like a woodpecker that lives in our backyard . . . daily this confused creature hammers away at the lining of a trampoline pole.  You would think that it would realize there is nothing to show for it's efforts, but it just keeps doing the same thing over and over.  He works and works and yet sees no recompense.

     That is often how I feel at the end of a day -- like all of my efforts have yielded no reward.

     But we are not woodpeckers . . . we are moms!

     God knows that we are prone to face these doubts.  So every once in a while He allows a ray of bright, yellow sunshine to burst out from the dark, grey skies of parenthood -- and we see hope!

     Hope is the key to those sunny, blue sky moments -- that is what deflates the enemy's lies that we are ruining our children!

     These are the moments when God allows us a glimpse into the good seeds that are being fertilized and nurtured within our children.  Suddenly, ever so briefly, we realize, "Wow, maybe I am doing the right thing!  Maybe I am on the right path!" 

     Are you committed to, and do you love, your children?

     Are you asking for God to strengthen you for this task of parenting and give you the required wisdom?

     Are you remembering to seek your child's forgiveness when you do make mistakes?

     Then take heart, you are on the same journey . . . travelling the road that is more shaded than it is sunlit, more confusing than it is clear, BUT a journey we wouldn't want to trade for anything in the world!  Cling to God and the truth that burns strong in those moments of hope -- God is faithful!

"Let us hold unswervingly

to the HOPE we profess,

for He who promised

is faithful."

 Hebrews 10:23

The Discouraged Conqueror

What do we do when we don't "feel" like or "see" the reality of being a conqueror?  Well, fortunately the Lord allowed me to experience it first hand so I would have something fresh to share (ha ha).  I have heard it said that we should watch what we share because we could be tested on it, and I found that to be true 98% of the time, which sometimes makes me wonder why I keep writing, but anyway...

In less than twenty-four hours after sharing about being MORE than conquerors, I woke to realize that I was feeling very overwhelmed.  We had said goodbye to company and I found myself with four beds to change, seven loads of laundry to fold, a son that needed a ride for the evening, a family that needed to eat, to say nothing of the other chores that were required just to accomplish the basics of life and tidying up.  The temptation, of course, was to pass on my quiet time because what needed to be done seemed so huge, but I have learned through years of trial and error that these are the times I need to be quiet with God the most.  So I started my morning in the Word and a devotional I use, and listen to what God gave...

First came the scripture found in Romans 12:11&12, in the Message version, where it says, "Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.  Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder."  It had only been a matter of hours, but I had forgotten to give this over to God for His help, and honestly I had not been feeling cheerfully expectant either.  Then, in my devotional, Faith to Faith, it said this...

       We are to live in hope.  We are to rejoice.  So, when Satan comes to steal your victory and tell you that God is not going to help you this time, you just think on the Word of God and start rejoicing.  Rejoice that you are in Him.  Rejoice that heaven is your home.  Rejoice that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.  Rejoice.  Brag on God today.  The devil can't stand it!...When things get hard is not when you let go of the Word.  That is when you double up on it .  That is when you are constant in prayer so that you are immovable.

God is so faithful to speak to each of us and truly meet us where we are at!  I am so thankful that I took time in the Word today - I have a fresh hope for the day and a desire to rejoice; even though challenges still may come and the tasks that I have at hand have not disappeared.  I have a new "battle plan" for how to do all that needs to be done, and most importantly, I have taken it to prayer again and I will be standing on the Word and God's truth as I walk out my day rejoicing as a wife and mom.