Treading Water!

There are days when I feel like I'm treading water. I have days when all is well and calm and other days when it's all I can do but pray for God's grace and wisdom. Today, I thought I was on top of it but then realized, the water was rising. I started our day of homeschooling off by sharing with Katelyn a verse that I felt God had given me to share with her. It was Proverbs 4:23," Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." We talked about what that meant and asked why she thought mommy and daddy talk to her a lot about her heart. We talked about it and she understood that many of mommy and daddy's decisions about what we do and what we don't let her do are because we have been entrusted by God to train her, teach her, and especially because we want to help her guard her heart and teach her what that means. I got some blocks out and we talked about the foundation that was holding all the blocks up. If that foundation was weak, the rest of the blocks could not stand on it, it would crumble under the weight. I told her that we want to help her build a foundation on the Gospel so that as she grows and is ready to face this world, she has a strong base to make Jesus famous with her life. Josh and I have always been careful to tell our kids why we decide something and the reasons we feel God is calling us to do it. We never want to just give them law with no reason or promise from God to back it up. I felt like we accomplished so much before we even opened the textbooks for the day. We could have stopped right there because she had learned more in those 45 minutes than any school book could ever give her. Nonetheless, we pressed on. While on break for lunch, I heard a conversation on a little show she was watching on Netflix. I told her that I really didn't like what they were talking about and that I would rather her not watch that show(they were talking about dating and boys and my opinion on that is a whole different post:) Immediately, she went into,"I'm nine but think I'm 16 mode." SHEESH!!!! I simply reminded her of what we talked about earlier and that what she puts in her heart can determine many things: her worldview, her opinions, who she lives for, and even her future. She continued to tell me that she just "liked" the show and that she wasn't listening to that part.....HAHAHAHHAHA!!!! I remember saying those exact same words as a child: PAYBACK! Anyway, I had to walk out of the room for a minute and then we talked more about why I decided that. She still was not happy. How is it possible that after having the discussion we had earlier, she would react in that way? I thought for sure I would get a," You're right mom. My heart is so important and I need to guard it from what is contrary to God's word. Thank you for teaching me and helping me understand all of this," and then we could hug and have  a wonderful rest of the day. It was more like treading water. 

As Katelyn gets older, I know that this will get harder. I know that she will be tempted to be and do everything everyone else is doing. I know that she will question so many things but I am not sure I'm ready for it at 9. As God always does, He taught me through this treading water episode. I DO THE SAME THING. God loves me more than anyone else could. I have a Savior who wants to teach me and train me and help me guard my heart but I whine and question even though I know what He promises. I want to have "momentary pleasure" because I'm human and imperfect. WOW, does God show us our own weaknesses through our kids or what?? What a picture I got today of how I treat God's commands when He simply wants to keep me safe, help me guard my heart, and ultimately make Jesus famous with my life. 

For the Mom!!

I do a lot of reading on thegospelcoalition.com website. I love the articles that draw me in to search and study the scriptures and my faith. I came across this letter that I just had to share. It could be for any mom really, stay at home or working, but as a SAHM, it was something I needed to hear today. I thought it was refreshing and uplifting for ALL moms and I wanted to share it with all of you. I pray that each of you walk away encouraged and loved. I pray that it meets you where you are and shows you the grace of the Savior and way he sees you in the day in and day out...ENJOY!!

Jenna

Dear Stay-At-Home Mom…

Dear Stay-at-Home Mom,

You are a gift of God to your husband and your kids.

But you don’t always feel that way, do you?

There’s a low-level feeling of guilt that creeps into your heart from time to time. Sometimes it bubbles over into tears, usually on lonely, difficult days.

You scan blogs and read books about being a good mom. You find some helpful tidbits here and there, often from women who are grandmothers now. Women you can learn from but who seem to have forgotten the struggle. They seem to have it all together.

In your heart, you want to be the kind of mom who trains up kids to make a difference for the kingdom. You know it’s an honor to be entrusted with these kids. You know you’ve only got one shot. You want to be the mom who teaches them the Bible, models how to pray, and trains them up in the fear of the Lord.

But most of the time you feel like you’re barely holding it all together.

Your house cleaning can’t keep up with your kids’ mess-making.

The kids embarrass you by acting up right when your guests arrive.

Your husband doesn’t get just how worn out you are by the end of the day.

You come to the end of your patience. You lose your temper. Then you feel worse.

The last thing you consider yourself to be is a “good mom.” And you think to yourself, It’ll be a miracle if my kids turn out okay.

And – surprisingly – that’s right where God wants to meet you. The place where you admit your powerlessness and your need for Him.

It’s only by God’s grace that any kid grows up to be a force for the kingdom.

You see, there are no perfect kids and no perfect mothers. No matter what you read in blogs, see in magazines, and learn in books. There are sinful kids and sinful moms and dads.

And the only thing greater than both is the grace of God. The God who says “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The God who loves to forgive, to transform, and empower.

God loves you – not because you are a good mother but just because you are His precious child.

God loves you – not because you’ve mastered all the skills of parenting but because He has.

It’s divine grace that will transform your parenting – not guilt.

It’s grace that will keep you going and serving and scrubbing when you’re exhausted and worn out.

It’s grace that will conquer your feelings of inadequacy and remind you of God’s love for you in Christ.

It’s grace that goes for the heart of your kids, not just their behavior.

God has demonstrated the fullness of His love for you through the cross of His Son, even while you were still a sinner.

He has promised you His presence.

He has spoken His approval over you in Christ.

He is the perfect Father who delights in you as a daughter.

Find in Him your Treasure and Joy. Be to others what He is to you.

So walk in freedom. Let Him hold you together when everything seems to be falling apart.

Bask in His unfailing love for you. And rest in His promise of power.