The Him in you is enough!!

If you are anything like me, Mother's Day may be a time of reflecting. Sometimes, we use this time to try and measure ourselves, our successes, and our 'failures'. But I want to challenge all the Mommas, to just spend this time celebrating the AMAZING little ones you have been entrusted with right now. 

For some of you Mommas, you may have birth children that you intend to have forever, but don't let that feeling of having forever, rob you of the joy in TODAY. The opportunities for you to teach something today, for you to give that extra squeeze today, for you to be 'interrupted' today to paint nails or fix broken toys. Embrace today and all that it holds. Hug those babies extra hard, let the little things be just that, the little things, and take every chance to build that child up today. 

There are some of you who may be in a fill-in Mom type situation, or you're a foster mom and are dealing with all the drama that is included in that area of serving. You aren't promised any particular length of time and you may struggle with allowing yourself to become too attached, or perhaps you're loving a little one who doesn't know how to love you back. Today, I hope you can lay aside all expectation and stress and just celebrate the opportunity you have to plant an amazing seed. The hard thing with your job is you may never see that seed grow, mature or change at all, but you've done your part. And I'd like to thank you, there are people who appreciate you more than you will ever know. You have changed more little lives in more ways than you may even understand. God sees, God hears, and God understands your burdens, your love and your heart better than anyone else. Rest in knowing you're helping be His hands and feet in this hurt and broken world. 

Some Mommas have lost their babies and no matter what age that may have happened it was too soon! For you Mommas, I'm praying for peace and good memories. Memories that will help you smile through the tears and memories that will help you continue to live this life. 

There may even be some Moms who have that wayward child or the estranged child, may God's grace and comfort, be enough. The Word you planted is promised not to return void. The seed you planted will have results. Be encourage, the story isn't over yet. 

Sometimes as a Momma its just so easy to feel like we have fallen short in one area or another, and the truth is we probably have! I'm sure that's not what you were wanting to hear, but there is a great peace in that. God who knows all and knows each of our personal situations and each of our personalities, still CHOOSE YOU to be the Momma of your little one. Always strive to do your best but know that its in your weakness that He is made strong. He is not scared of our weakness in fact the sooner we embrace our need for Him in our parenting the sooner we will have the results that we are looking for in our babies. 

I've included a clip from my favorite movie below, I hope it blesses you as much as it does me. If you've never seen it, GET IT!! 

Moms: A great reminder that you are ENOUGH!

Posted by Moms' Night Out on Friday, May 8, 2015

Obedience... Are they learning that from me!?!?!

Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart-- Psalms 119:2

There are so many times in parenthood that I expect obedience, no questions asked, no arguing, no complaining, just obedience. As a parent, I want my children to obey me not just because I'm some wacky control freak, but for their good. I want them to obey so that we don't loose precious time over silly things. I want them to obey from the heart and with a good attitude, because I know there are benefits linked to their obedience. I want obedience because I know the order that it brings to our home and life. I know how much smoother things will run if everyone is just doing their part and not having to do the jobs of others. 

It hit me hard today, that God wants obedience from me for all those very same reasons. He sees benefits that I can not. He sees the path of my life becoming clearer and clearer to me, as I obey Him. He wants obedience because He doesn't want me to waste the limited, precious time He's given me on this earth. He wants obedience so that the mission He has for His people is carried out, but not in a way that it is too much for any one person.  He wants us all carrying our weigh doing what we love; what He's put in us, so that others are led to Him. He wants us to obey, to show our love for Him. 

As a parent, lately, I've been feeling like my children just haven't been 'hearing' me. I feel like I've been going through one of those times where I say the same things a MILLION times. And honestly, I've been so frustrated in this season. But tonight, as I struggled to do something I'm just not called to do, God showed me something. What I'm seeing in my children merely a reflection of where I am and have been with God! Now, I'd be lying if I said this revelation made me happy or made me feel all warm and fuzzy, but thank God for His honesty when dealing with us!!! 

So let me encourage you, obey God QUICKLY, without reserve or hesitation. Obey Him as if someone else is waiting for the blessing of your obedience. Obey Him, seek Him, and love Him above all else. Don't allow your mind, emotions, or the negative thoughts of others to keep you from obeying without hesitation. It's in that place of obedience that you will find the rest and peace that you long for, and I will dare to say that in that place of obedience you will find your full provision. 

Peter had to step out of the boat, and sometimes we get that far!  And thats great, we often step out of the boat and start to obey God, but then we take our eyes off Him somewhere in the midst of an 

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G God-experience and then we just sink. So when we step out in obedience let us remember not to look backwards, sideways, or at the obstacles but rather lets keep our eyes focused on the One who upholds us. 

Truth to Out Weigh The Heavy Days

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Ever have a 'heavy day'?  One of those says where nothing goes 'majorly wrong' but you just feel heavy.  Well, if I'm honest with myself its been one of those days for me for a couple of months.  Now keep in mind, although I have a few extra pounds on that's not the heavy I'm talking about.  Its that emotional, physical, and spiritual heaviness. 

I've realized there are a few reason or things that will cause or lead me to this place. And God is always right there and willing to help us out of that place. 

1. When I don't spend enough time with God.  

It sounds so silly!  How is it that we can get so busy with all the amazing 'things' or the great life God has given us that we neglect our relationship with Him?  When we can get to the place of truly keeping Him at the center of all that we do and being aware of Him throughout our day we will experience such peace. But maintaining peace is not a something that just happens, just like out relationship with God. We must be initial with our time and resources. Our relationship and dependance on God needs to be our number one priority and as we keep that one priority in place the others will fall into place.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

2. When I do not keep my mind focused.

The Bible is so clear about what we are to be thinking about. The Bible says, in Philippians 4:8, that we should think on things that are true, just, pure, and lovely just to name a few. Most of the time if left to its own way, the mind will wonder to places and thoughts outside of the things listed in Philippians. You can think of it like a boat, a boat that is not initially being directed it can end up anywhere! Focus and clear direction will cause the boat to reach its destination. If we do not 'direct' our minds, they will wonder. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5


3. When I allow myself to become worn out. 

God gave us a body and we have to take care of it.  There are times that our needs rest. I think that sometimes, especially as moms, we can push and push and push our physical bodies to a point they were never meant to be pushed to reach.  Just think about it, if even God had to rest a day, how much more so does out body need rest?

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20

I also know that my parenting can be affected by the heaviness. So, its important to our kids, our husbands, and ourself to be at our best for the call He's placed on our life.  Our world can be heavy, the things of this world can be heavy, but we have a hope that goes beyond all that!  God never created us to carry the weights of this world ourself.  He want us to lean on Him, depend on Him, and let Him lead us.