FOLLOW UP/THOUGHTS

Today has been 31 days since I challenged you to pray for your kids? How did you do? I started off strong, finished off weak. I am going to try again for another 31 days to pray the specific prayers that were on that calendar. Please share with us if you prayed those prayers each day for your kids! If you didn't stay strong (or didn't do it at all) and want to try again here is the link:

31 Days to Pray

So sorry that I didn't have a post Thursday or Friday. It had been one of this weeks where all you want to do is just survive the day and move on to the next hoping it is a better day!!!

Yesterday at church we had our regular service in the morning and then that evening we had a communion gathering. I was very excited for communion gather because it only happens about once a quarter. That isn't very often when you come from a church that communes on a weekly basis. Unfortunately during the day my good mood gave way to frustration and on the way to church last night I was doing everything to change my attitude and get in a good mood to take communion and be in a time of worship. My attitude wasn't changed by the time I got there and it was slightly changed when I left there. I am just amazed how my OWN attitude hinders my relationship with God. In a time where I usually feel very close to Him, because I had my own reason to be grumpy, I was so very far from Him.

I think that is the case in most relationships. Because I was grumpy last night, I was short with my kids and my husband. My attitude affected my relationship all 3 of them.

Today I am going to do all that I can to choose to be in a good mood and choose to be close to God, my kids and my husband.

WOW GOD WEDNESDAY

This morning I woke up and was thinking about this blog and thinking about the past week and what has really made my heart smile. I know that is silly to say, but I believe that when my heart smiles then something good happened. 2 things came to mind.

1. God has impeccable timing. He really never ceases to amaze me with his timing. It seems that when I am struggling with something He puts someone in my life that is either struggling with the same thing or someone who has just the words that I need to hear.

2. My cousin Melanie has 10 times the obedience to God that I wish I had. She recently shared what has been going on in her life with us via email and then just this morning I saw that she had posted it on her blog. You can read it here. I am amazed at how God is actively working through her and she is following and obeying our God. So proud of her!

How has God WOWED you today?

FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES....

....marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage.

Such a silly song, but such meaning.

1st comes love - finding your soul mate.

2nd comes marriage - that wonderful beautiful wedding day that you and your man become ONE.

3rd comes babies - making a beautiful family!

Now, I ask you a question: Are you a wife or mother first?

The very first thing that comes to my mind when I answer that question about myself is that I am a mother first. My priority is my girls. My day revolves around them from the time they wake up, but I am learning that priority is wrong. Remember, 1st comes LOVE, then comes MARRIAGE, THEN comes the babies. My husband is supposed to come before my kids.

I don’t know about you, but that is HARD for me. I am sure as the kids get older that it will become easier, but right now putting Alan before the kids and before my exhausted self is so challenging. But that is God’s design. And it is a design that I am trying so hard to obey.

I would love to be encouraged by you and how you are able to put your husband first and kids second. Do you struggle with this too?

SEASON OF EXHAUSTION?

Over the weekend I chatted with a few moms and there were 2 things that kept coming up.

1. I am exhausted.
2. My kid/kids are driving me crazy.

I couldn't agree more with both of these statements from these other mothers. I don't know if it is this time of the year or what, but good grief! Needless to say, I needed to open up my Bible and read a few scriptures to help me change my attitude and make it through the week. Thought I would share some that were encouraging to me.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

Love this one:

Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully and giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inhertiance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:11-12

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalms 73:26

If you are having the same feelings that me and these other mommies are, I hope you are encouraged by these verses. Know that you are not alone!! There are other moms struggling too! I pray for you and myself that this time passes quickly!

CHALLENGE DAY

I don't know about you, but I love a challenge. I thought on the 1st of every month I would give you a challenge to just once during the month. So, here is this months challenge:

One day this month when you kids are begging for your attention and your to do is longer than you would like it to be, STOP what you are doing, put your to do list away and give your kids the attention they need.

This challenge is going to be a tough one for me because I am a to do list type of person. But sometimes my kids need me more. If you accept my challenge, please come back and share with us how it made a difference in your day, in your attitude and in your kids attitudes!

Have a fantastic weekend!!!