When the Lord opened my eyes this morning at 4:30 a.m., I reached over and held my husband and silently prayed for him. I asked the Lord to bless him, cover him with His protective blood, guard his heart and mind from unclean spirits, and help him not to yield to temptation. Just as our country forgets from time to time that we're at war, Mothers forget we are at war in our own homes - daily. The enemy is out to kill, steal, and destroy all God has blessed us with, so Mothers must rise early and prepare for battle. We can't afford to wait for an attack on our home to pray; yet we must fervently pray without ceasing and stay in position for battle. If the enemy catches us sleeping or in a relaxed frame of mind, we give him easy access to our husband and children and before we know it, they are caught up in something and we're wondering why and how it happened. Staying prayerful also keeps us focused as Godly women and away from unnecessary busyness. Prayers of circumstance can't be our only prayers, yet me must develop a praying spirit. I've learned to pray for my family as I serve them and a Mother is always serving. We can pray while washing, folding, and putting away their clothes, cooking for them, washing dishes, transporting them, and even picking up behind them. I've wasted enough time on trivial thoughts throughout the day wondering why my husband and children aren't doing what they should be doing and hosting private conversations in my mind when I should be having conversations with the Master. I realize all Mothers reading this may not know how to pray, so this week, you can find prayers posted on the MW Blog to help you begin praying for your family. Yes, another role of the Mother - being on the frontline of the battlefield - in prayer.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Prayer 2
Dear Lord,
Thank you for my family. Thank you for another opportunity to lift them up in prayer. I ask for your protection on my family. Please, guard their hearts and minds from unclean spirits. Protect my children from dangers seen and unseen. Please continue to place a shield of protection around them throughout the day and give us all traveling mercies. Thank you for being our sufficiency. Thank you for providing food, shelter, and clothing. Thank you for meeting our needs and blessing us beyond what we deserve. Thank you for your love, Lord. In the name of Jesus, I pray that you protect us from the enemy's snares and traps he has set for us this day. Protect us, Lord and keep us. I'll be careful to give you the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thank you for my family. Thank you for another opportunity to lift them up in prayer. I ask for your protection on my family. Please, guard their hearts and minds from unclean spirits. Protect my children from dangers seen and unseen. Please continue to place a shield of protection around them throughout the day and give us all traveling mercies. Thank you for being our sufficiency. Thank you for providing food, shelter, and clothing. Thank you for meeting our needs and blessing us beyond what we deserve. Thank you for your love, Lord. In the name of Jesus, I pray that you protect us from the enemy's snares and traps he has set for us this day. Protect us, Lord and keep us. I'll be careful to give you the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Prayer 1
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for getting my attention and showing me the importance of praying for my family. Thank you for shedding your blood and giving me the privilege to come before your Holy throne. I come in the name of Jesus, asking you first to forgive me of my sins committed in my thoughts, my words, and my deeds. Help me to be as forgiving with my family as you are with me. Help me to be as loving and compassionate as you are with me. Help me to look beyond their faults and meet their needs as you do with me. I want to be able to love my family with your love. Help me to see each person through your eyes. Help me to be an encourager and not a fault finder. Help me to recognize my own faults before I point out theirs. Help me to find the joy in Motherhood and to fulfill my role without mumbling and complaining. I need your help, Lord. I need your grace and your mercy, this day. I need you to remind me throughout the day to be in prayer. Help me develop a praying spirit and to pray for my family throughout the day. Help me, Lord. I need you in my life, in my thoughts, and emotions. Have your way with me as I nurture the family you placed in my care. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank you for getting my attention and showing me the importance of praying for my family. Thank you for shedding your blood and giving me the privilege to come before your Holy throne. I come in the name of Jesus, asking you first to forgive me of my sins committed in my thoughts, my words, and my deeds. Help me to be as forgiving with my family as you are with me. Help me to be as loving and compassionate as you are with me. Help me to look beyond their faults and meet their needs as you do with me. I want to be able to love my family with your love. Help me to see each person through your eyes. Help me to be an encourager and not a fault finder. Help me to recognize my own faults before I point out theirs. Help me to find the joy in Motherhood and to fulfill my role without mumbling and complaining. I need your help, Lord. I need your grace and your mercy, this day. I need you to remind me throughout the day to be in prayer. Help me develop a praying spirit and to pray for my family throughout the day. Help me, Lord. I need you in my life, in my thoughts, and emotions. Have your way with me as I nurture the family you placed in my care. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I Love It!
Okay, okay! I admit it. I LOVE the whole sport scene with my little men. I simply love it and I'm so grateful to have boys! My youngest did make the All Star Team and he isn't the only one happy about it. Hooray!! I guess I wasn't really ready for the season to be over, so now I have a little more time to enjoy the game of baseball - it's my favorite sport. The truth shall set you free! Unless I'm dead tired or haunted by hormones, there is nowhere else I'd rather be than in the stands. It's family time, it's down time, it's relaxing time, and it's fun time!This season has not only been rewarding in regards to the sport, yet I've met a couple of mothers (one from each son's team) who have been a blessing in my life. It's funny how God works because I told my husband at the beginning of the season that I was going to sit in my car and read for most of the practices. I guess I was burned out from previous sporting events. Well, I didn't feel comfortable doing that after the first couple of practices and would have missed out on two wonderful friendships that are blossoming in my life. My selfishness always gets in the way of God's work. Anyway, these two ladies know who they are. I thank God for you and thank you both for accepting me and allowing me to get to know you. Your insight, your spirit, and most of all your ability to allow God's love to flow through you have blessed me beyond the words to explain it. It's not easy for me to meet people and be sociable, yet the Spirit of the Lord within each of you has been a lesson to me this baseball season - one I'll never forget!
He Knows Better!
I'm recognizing my eleven year old making some unwise decisions in his early years. I'm so grateful to God for pricking my heart to pour good values and morals in him at a very early age because regardless of what choices he makes, I know he knows better. The Word says children will do foolish things, so it is to be expected for our children to do things that make absolutely no sense to us. God has already paved the path for them and His plan for their life WILL come to fruition. I can't get tired of talking or weary in training my children. It's a full time job and even being at home with them every day doesn't seem like much time, yet with no investment I get no return. I must invest in his life - if I don't somebody else will. I believe all things work together and this stage in my son's life is just another opportunity for character teaching for him and a lesson in patience, love, and understanding for me! I love these reminders to PRAY without ceasing!
My Family's Cross
Last night while exercising, I praised God for the ability to recognize spiritual warfare and the enemy's tricks. The Devil is always busy in my home and if I'm not busy praying and praising, I lose control. Mothers literally have to carry the cross for the family. SOMEONE in the house has got to be watching and praying and it's usually the Mother. It seemed everyone either had aches and pains, attitudes, or just tired and grumpy last night and I refused to allow those ugly spirits in my home, so I put on some gospel music and began to dance (exercise) and praise God. It's amazing how the atmosphere of the house changed and my thoughts! The devil will set up camp if we allow him to, yet for me and my house...we SHALL serve and praise the Lord!
Mothers and Spiders
Recently, my younger sister and I were enjoying a relaxing moment at the beach until her four-year old daughter came up, bent over and squatting, saying, “Mama, hurry! I gotta go boo-boo.” Our relaxing moment ceased as we scanned the beach for facilities. With a building in site, my sister picked my niece up and carried her across the beach while I thanked God my boys were older! As I watched this Mother / child image walk away, I thought how difficult it is to walk in the sand carrying your own weight and there my sister was walking across the beach with her four-year old in her arms. God has poured an extraordinary amount of physical, emotional, and spiritual strength in a Mother and we are empowered and equipped to endure the most arduous circumstances - some we can actually laugh at.
The MOMSWEB name not only represents Internet presence, yet signifies the similarities of Mothers and spiders. 1) Spiders have several spinneret (silk-spinning organ) glands located at the abdomen which produce a silken thread. Each gland produces a thread for a special purpose. 2) Some spider webs are stronger than steel 3)The spider is always producing. You can remove the cobweb, but the spider will continue to produce until it dies. 4) Spiders have highly developed sensory organs and are uniquely coordinated. 5) Spiders come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. 6) Spiders move quickly when necessary. There are other similarities, yet you have a clearer understanding of the MOMSWEB name and will never look at a spider the same. MW is thankful to Chaplain Belt, USN Chaplain, for giving the birth name to our organization, which continually reminds Mothers of our strength to endure!
Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
The MOMSWEB name not only represents Internet presence, yet signifies the similarities of Mothers and spiders. 1) Spiders have several spinneret (silk-spinning organ) glands located at the abdomen which produce a silken thread. Each gland produces a thread for a special purpose. 2) Some spider webs are stronger than steel 3)The spider is always producing. You can remove the cobweb, but the spider will continue to produce until it dies. 4) Spiders have highly developed sensory organs and are uniquely coordinated. 5) Spiders come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. 6) Spiders move quickly when necessary. There are other similarities, yet you have a clearer understanding of the MOMSWEB name and will never look at a spider the same. MW is thankful to Chaplain Belt, USN Chaplain, for giving the birth name to our organization, which continually reminds Mothers of our strength to endure!
Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Ethiopian Proverb - “When spiders unite, they can tie up a lion.”
Ethiopian Proverb - “When spiders unite, they can tie up a lion.”
We Survived!
Baseball season is over for the boys and we survived with only one injury with my oldest. Thank you, Lord! My youngest is hoping to be chosen for the All Star team, yet I can take it or leave it. Actually, if he is chosen, we won't have to participate in football. Okay, okay, I won't be selfish - it's not about me! I'm always told how busy I am, yet I'm really not busy for myself, yet for my sons. I truly understand the "Mom's Taxi" phrase. My life is busy with their activities and taking them where they need to go - practice, games, church activities, etc... Actually, I wouldn't have it any other way except on those days when I'm extremely tired (smile). I'd rather be completely involved in my child's life than just watching them do what they do. They are growing up so fast and I want to remember every aspect of their life and also want them to remember their parents being a major part of everything they were involved in. I truly believe being involved in a child's life makes a difference in the friends they choose and also the decisions they make later on in life. I'm sure I'll find out!
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