And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

I am sick of laundry, dirty dishes and filthy floors.

I am the mom, not the maid!

Have you ever felt that way?  As a mom of many, I must admit I get to this point more often than I care to admit.  A few years ago I was struggling with feeling unappreciated.  As I was pouring my heart out to God, I was led to ask a probing question.

Why do I do all of this?

The first answer was really simple:  because if I don’t nobody will.  As I thought deeper about my motives I finally came to the point of realizing I do the grunt work because I love my family and this is my way of showing them.  There still needs to be help on their part.  But each time I fold a shirt for my husband, it is my way of serving him with love.  As I wash and fold towels or dry a dish it is my way of saying,  I love you and value you.

Jesus showed us the true path of love as He chose to wash His disciples feet.  He took the towel.  He wiped away the dirt and grime from their day of travel by foot.  My jobs as a wife and mother have changed little over the years, but my heart attitude has.  Instead of seeing myself as a maid, now I see myself as a steward who chooses daily to pour my love out on my family through a warm meal and a clean home.

Please pray for your own attitude toward the mundane and ordinary things that you must do.  Ask God to help you see it as ministry, not misery.  Pray for other moms that they too would see their home as a place of ministry.

Matthew 6:33-34

Do you ever feel like a juggler trying to keep all your balls in the air?

There have been many days I have felt just that way trying to keep husband, family, job, church, relationship with God and so many other things going.  My mom used to say, “I meet myself coming and going.”

As an active mom you may feel that way too.

We handle things so long but then something must give or we are going to collapse and drop it all.  I pray, “Lord, please help me balance everything.”  Matthew 6:33 teaches truth that will help us prioritize and balance everything.

Seek God first.

He must be the pedestal you balance everything else on. Take time first thing in the morning to pray and spend time with Him.  Ask Him what you need to make priority today.  Listen and write down the to do list that He gives you.  Learn that you don’t have to do it all.  Learning to say no to good things will allow you to say yes to the best.

He will help you to know how to make your husband and children priority and still carry the other necessities of your life.  When the ball of a job or a project needs to be thrown higher or takes more time than expected, He will give you the strength.  Trust Him to help you and lean on Him.  Without Him life will be chaotic, but with Him you will find balance and the ability to handle what He brings your way.

Ask God if there are areas in your life where you are settling for good and not best. Pray for the moms around you–that they too will be able to rid their schedules and lives of things that are stealing their time and energy, things that do not bring about the best results.

He draws our heart to someone that He has chosen for us.

He impresses on our heart a desire to meet and know this person.

He brings about a profound change of mind and heart toward this person.

He creates in us a willingness to trust this person with our life and future.

He gives us the desire to ask this person to share a permanent and intimate heart relationship with us.

He empowers us to publicly confess our lifelong vows of exclusive love, fidelity and honor to this person.

He knits our hearts together in love, knowledge and intimacy, so that we are no longer two, but one.

He, day by day, preserves our love relationship, so what God has joined together no man can separate.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32

Remember, marriage is for better for worse for keeps.

Matthew 11:28-30

When I was a child my mom would come to the end of a busy day, put her feet up as she sat on our brown lumpy suede couch and declare, “I am given out.”

In my youthful ignorance I assumed she was saying she was tired and in part she was.  Once I had children I realized what she meant. She was saying, “I have been giving to someone since I woke up this morning, and now there is no longer any energy left in the tank to give to one more person.”

There are five children in my family and mom made sure we had everything we needed and were at the right place on time.  She prepared three home cooked meals daily complete with homemade biscuits, bread and desserts.  She gave to people in the community and church.  She kept our home clean and even vacuumed, swept and mopped almost daily.  Just listing all she got done wearies me.

Though she gave of herself generously all day she learned the secret of filling her tank again.  She went to bed and slept on a regular schedule.  She read her Bible daily and spent time with the Lord. Sunday was reserved for church and an afternoon nap. She fixed healthy meals for our family and tried to get exercise at least 3 or 4 times a week.  She was generous with her time to others but her family was her top priority.  She said yes to one or two service areas at church but said no with a smile when asked to over commit.

If you are feeling given out these days check your list.  Are you spending time daily with the Lord?  Are you getting adequate rest and eating properly?  Are there things you need to let go of so you can say yes to the best things?

Read and remember the passage above from Matthew, then come to God and allow Him to help you give you rest and direct you to the things that are best for you.

Psalm 127

When Les and I first married we had a neighbor named Betty.  She had three daughters nearing their teenage years.  I would see Betty occasionally walking around her yard saying something out loud.

One day I ventured close enough to hear Mrs. Betty and she was repeating, “children are a blessing, children are a blessing, children are a blessing.” I laughed to myself wondering if she was making a statement of truth or just trying to convince herself.

You may have had some of those same days where you lock the children in a safe environment and you talk yourself down from your exasperation or frustration with the children God has blessed you with. I have often had mothers tell me that grandchildren are the reward for not killing your children.

It is not unusual for moms to think of themselves as a failure because they are not the perfect mom.  Take it from another imperfect mom, you are going to make it.  Pray for each child individually.  Be consistent in discipline, show affection and appreciation, and hold them to high standards based on biblical values.

You are going to make it and they will too.

Children truly are a blessing!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Have you ever noticed that you don’t have to teach your children what you really believe in?  They see it in your actions and in your heart.  In the deep South, football is a way of life.  Children come out of the womb almost saying Roll Tide, War Eagle, or Beat Ole Miss!  Many are brought home from the hospital in team colors and put into cribs with school mascots.   It is no wonder the love of the game and school spirit are handed down from generation to generation.

What would happen if we were as sold out to our relationship with Christ as we are to our athletic teams?

Deuteronomy 6:6 says to keep the love you have for God first in your heart.  It continues on to say your love for Him should be in your conversations, in your walking around and doing business, in your home and it should be evident to those around you even in what you wear.  My mom used to say “the bug man ought to be able to be tell you love the Lord just by walking through your house.”

If we really want to make a difference in our children’s lives, we must love God first.  That love relationship should affect every choice we make and every word that leaves our mouthes.  To truly teach our children, it must come from the heart out.  Then they will see what we really believe and hear the message.

Matthew 6:25-32

Hello, my name is Page and I am a worrier.

I have never heard of a Worriers Anonymous group, but if there were one, I would be a candidate.   It is hard for me to admit to that worry because I know it is a sin. Since I am confessing, I will go on to admit my greatest anxieties stem from finances or really the lack of finances.

When our oldest son was preparing to graduate from high  school, I remember vividly lying in bed adding up the cost of his first year in college.  I was also in desperate need of a reliable vehicle, and our second son was preparing to get his license and would be added to our insurance.  Taxes were killing us…do I need to add more?

In tears, I tried to figure out how Les and I were going to handle it all.  I wish I could say it was the only time I have been teary with worry, but it is not.  Just as our  Scripture reminds us today, we can’t change anything by worrying.  Worry is like saying to God, “I don’t trust You.  I must figure a way to handle my problems.”

It also may be the very reason you are encountering that trial.  Until we come to the end of ourselves, we will never learn to trust God.  It is now six years past this particular trial.  Our oldest not only graduated from college, he is now in his third year of seminary. Our second son has also graduated from college and is in seminary, and the third son is in college.  We still have no money, but I have a paid-for car, and our fourth child comes on the insurance in the next few days.  The demands are still there, but I am different now.  I am learning to trust.  When those sleepless nights come now, I have learned not to try to fix it but to give it to my Father and trust Him.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Romans 12:10 NLT

If you have children at home, an important lesson to teach is how they can outdo one another in showing honor.  By taking advantage of opportunities at home, our children can learn the importance of showing sincere appreciation and admiration to others.

Ask your family members who they really admire and why, focusing on the character qualities or skills this person has. Next, invite this special person over to dinner. Honor your guest, sharing specific attributes and examples that your family admires in them. The motive is to show honor and learn from them. Role play ahead of time, before guests arrive, ways to show honor by sincerely complimenting.

Role model showing honor to your children by showing your teachable heart, giving attention by noticing the strengths of others, and encouraging freedom in complimenting. Include your children in the process of honoring others–it will make a lifelong impact on your children. Creating an environment of showing honor will allow opportunity to discuss the difference between flattery and praise. It will also allow you to warn them of the dangers of false flattery.

As I was ironing a blouse for church Wednesday night, a crumbly substance began appearing. Before I could react, the iron stuck to my top leaving a large brown spot of something on it.

Driving to church, in the aforementioned top (after cleaning it up), I realized what it was…

Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bread.

Apparently one of my children decided to use the iron instead of the oven for toast. Maybe I should feel lucky we were out of cheese or my stain would have been a gooey mess.

Do you have those kind of days? Do you need a Mom break to recharge, renew, and refresh?

I would enjoy listening to good mentors who are ahead of me on this parenting journey. Maybe with a cold glass of Coke with shaved ice (I’m not a coffee gal), some chocolate, a comfortable seat, and (definitely) air conditioning. Women talking about issues such as raising girls, social media savvy mommyhood, having ‘the’ talk, parenting children with special needs, nuturing boys, bargainomics, home organization, and more.

Wanna go and meet me there? I’ll save you a seat and we’ll talk about how to remove foreign substances from irons.

September 23-24, 2011

You thought I was kidding? I’m not, save the date–yes, there’s a real event for us Mommies!

.Mom
Birmingham, Alabama

MMCW is not receiving any perks for promoting .Mom–it’s just something we all truly want to attend. I’m serious, I would love to meet up with MMCW followers so we can take part in a weekend of awesome mentoring together. Special speakers for the weekend include Priscilla Shirer, Vicki Courtney, and Angela Thomas. There will be breakout sessions along with a shopping expo right onsite!

Make plans now–and bring along a friend! If you are a grandmother, consider bringing your daughters and daughters-in-love for a girl’s weekend. The conference is at the Sheraton Birmingham making it a one-stop location. The conference is $79, plus hotel. Call and book your hotel room, register online at Lifeway (conference host) and start packing!

Let me know if you are planning to attend and we can plan to meet!

“Be careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15,16

To accomplish an enjoyable and productive summer for your family begin by setting your goals now. Prayerfully consider each of the following points:

What are the priorities for your family this summer?

o   To grow spiritually.
o   To learn to be a goal setter, to have ambition, to think big.
o   To be productive and use time wisely.
o   To prevent (reduce) wasted time (TV, video, computer).
o   To plan for relaxation.
o   To build family relationships.
o   To build friendships.
o   To further talents and skills.
o   To plan to minister to others.
o   To prevent self-absorption.
o   To learn how to talk with God about this and get ideas from Him and set goals/priorities according to HIS plan.

What are you wanting to limit/minimize this summer?

• TV, computer, fighting, hanging out in room alone, texting, hibernating phone/computer games, wasting time.
• Kids should not wake up saying, Where are we going today?
• Make home be your families’ favorite place.
• Work toward the closest friendships being family members.
• Work toward living by the priorities.
• When your day is off track, just do the next thing.
• Have a TO DO list of daily chores/things needing to be done. Work toward daily chores by not complaining but helping out as a family member. Make sure they have time for fun/relaxing.
• Go over day’s schedule as a family (shows respect).

In part 2 of this series on Monday, we will break down our goals into categories covering spiritual, character, home, relationships, and more.

Today’s challenge: In your journal or a notebook, use my lists as a starting point to list what your family’s purpose will be this summer. Next, list the areas to limit or minimize in the next few months. Share with your spouse and add in his recommendations and any changes he suggests. Now that you have a  priorities list for your summer, begin praying together. Allow the Lord to speak to your hearts and further develop and fine tune your list.