The latest edition of MW Raising Mothers is now available for viewing! When time permits, take a minute to read some encouraging words from Mothers from across the states! Have a joyful day in Motherhood!
www.momsweb.net/magazine.cfm
The Challenge
Tennis backboards are great for training and exercise; yet I found out Sunday, while practicing my swings, that there is no challenge to chase or return balls when you’re alone. I had to continually motivate myself to stay one more minute and hit one more ball. Challenging myself in the game of tennis led me to weigh whether or not my life was being challenged. Have I progressed since last year or the year before? Is my walk more effective? Am I dealing with the same dead issues I dealt with in previous years? Have I passed relationship tests with friends and family or am I still in remedial classes waiting to graduate from the school of love and forgiveness? Is my social circle enclosed with encouragers or am I stuck in the slow lane with grumblers, mumblers, and complainers? It’s easy to become stagnant in life if we aren't challenged to do better. I want to always strive for excellence and have a passion for life. I want to be surrounded by women who aren’t afraid to challenge my signs of complacent mothering. I want to be surrounded by wives who will admonish me to always show love to my husband. I want to be surrounded by believers who will challenge a complacent spiritual walk. I want to be an example to my children to live boldly, with passion, and in faith. I’m up for the challenge and it’s time to shake the dust from my feet of all things and people hindering me from moving forward in Christ. Are you up for the challenge? I thank God for MOMSWEB and the many women who challenge and encourage me as I strive to be a Titus II Woman. This week, our latest Raising Mothers E-Newsletter will be available online for viewing and several Mothers have submitted challenging words as we plunge into another year as women, wives, and mothers. I'll be sure to challenge you to read their encouraging words with an email notice to inform you when our newsletter is aired!
Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Love Conquers All Part II
It's only fair to follow-up on my previous post about my twelve year old. God knows I don't want anyone thinking I can't stand my own child (smile). The last couple of days have been great and I'm doing all I can to decrease, so God can increase within me. I see my baby boy as I did when he was first born - he still has his little baby face and is as sweet as pie. What changed? He grew up and developed his own mind and opinions. Darn! I've been led to pour into my first-born in an unusual way. He has been given the title of Character Trainer for our family. Each week he must learn a different character trait and find creative ways to teach the family so we can implement it in our daily life. He feels so important and even asked for my help. Bless his heart. Whatever ways this is helping ME, I accept it and I know he is benefiting from it also as well as the entire family. Yes, my clone is still a clown and irritating as heck at times, yet he's mine and I'm probably just as irritating to him at times also. We are what we are! Thank God for Jesus!!
Love Conquers All
My twelve year old is so much like me I can hardly stand it. Sometimes he irritates me so much, I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying something harsh. I was convicted this morning as I had my quiet time with the Lord. I need to show my first-born more love and give him more attention. This is a crucial age and stage of life for him and I definitely don't want to mess things up. I hear teenage years are difficult enough, so I sure don't want to add to the problem. There is nothing more powerful and more influential than a Mother's love and he needs me. Lord, hide me from myself and help me to show your love, your patience, your compassion, your long-suffering, and the love my son needs - not the love I feel like giving.
We Are Healed!
With the unpredictable weather we’ve been having, my family has definitely endured our share of aches, pains, and viruses. Saturday morning, my youngest awoke crying with an earache, which meant another trip to the hospital. While the doctor was contemplating whether to prescribe antibiotics or not, I asked him what his hesitation was. He said whatever is going on in my son’s ear would take its natural course and heal itself, yet the antibiotics would help the process. This is so true; our body is a miracle and God created it to heal itself. I recently put this to the test when an unwelcome virus decided to visit my body. I decided to attack it with natural home remedies. It took longer for my health to be restored, yet it happened. Whether we take medicine or not, it is the blood of Jesus that heals and restores our health. It is God’s amazing grace and mercy that keeps us in our right minds and good health. As my son swallows his daily antibiotic, I remind him to thank God for His healing power and for blessing doctors with wisdom and knowledge to treat sickness and pain – God gets all the glory!
Many of us have made commitments to develop healthier lifestyles. I encourage you to continue with your commitment as I continue to exercise and eat healthy to control my blood pressure. Yes, it requires hard work and discipline, yet I remind myself to do my part, so God can do His part as I continually withdraw from his amazing grace and mercy on my health, life, and strength – day, after day, after day.
Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Nurse-maid Mama
While praying over my sleeping children last night, I practically begged God to let my youngest sleep through the night. He complained about an ear ache right before going to bed. I was so tired and didn't want another sleepless night due to family aches and pains. Yes, it sounds somewhat selfish, yet it's how I felt. Right after Christmas, my husband had a virus and reverted to a six year old while I played nurse. My youngest woke up last week wheezing and we spent the day in the emergency room while he received breathing treatments and now an earache! Lord, have mercy! In the midst of this, I felt like I was coming down with something myself, so knowing I didn't have time to be sick, I aggressively tackled my symptoms to prevent them from tackling me and thank God I'm okay - for now. I pray my family doesn't kill me as I go from sick bed to sick bed nursing them back to wellness. Going through this sure makes me thankful for my family's good health. On another hand, I just want to be sick myself and be able to rest in bed for about a week and let someone play nurse for me! Oh yea, God answered my prayer and my baby boy slept through the night. I got the rest I needed to make a possible trip to see the doctor today for an earache and don my nurse hat once again. My, my, my....the joy of playing nurse-maid!
Happy New Day!
Well, the holidays are behind us, yet the new year is before us. Happy New Day! Today is full of new opportunities and ways to be used by God. If you've made resolutions, I encourage you to pray for discipline to keep them. If not, make a new day resolution to live this day to the fullest degree. Let's glorify God in all we say and do. Our attitudes, emotions, thoughts, and actions will be tested today, yet staying plugged into the Power Source gives us the victory! Let's remember who we are and whose we are. Stay Christ-controlled and allow God to have His way in and through you this day and everyday! Happy New Day!
Live a Little!
I enjoy shopping as much as I enjoy yearly mammograms, so all my shopping trips are completely out of necessity. My maturing twelve year old watched me closely yesterday as I continually picked up items and placed them back on the shelf. He said to me with frustration in his voice, “Mama, live a little!” I laughed, yet his words spoke volumes to me. As I continued walking through the aisles, I reflected on my life in 2007, which was the year of no fear for me. Fear is what keeps me from being all I am created to be. Whether it’s fear of failure, rejection, being talked about, or fear of the unknown – fear keeps me from living to my fullest potential. I didn’t recognize many of my abilities until I acknowledged my fear. I prayed to be bold enough to allow God to have His way in every area of my life. God’s power and creativity runs through each of our veins, yet when we allow fear to reign, our life suffocates beneath the surface of our flesh. I challenge you to unleash God’s power and creativity in 2008 and live a little! Is there some place you’ve always wanted to go or something you’ve always wanted to do? Is there something you've started that you need to finish? If fear is keeping you from moving forward, step over it in the name of Jesus and follow the Holy Spirit without hesitation. You’ll be surprised of where it leads you! This year, I will continue recognizing fear in my life and stepping out on faith to allow God to do what He does best in me and through me. Watching my life unfold before my eyes is amazing as God increases and fear decreases. Come on, ladies…it’s a new day and a new year, so let’s live a little!
Psalm 34:4 (NKJV)
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
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