Be Intentional

Change is in the air that is for sure and its leaving me feeling a bit like I’m running with my feet off the ground! Have you ever felt that way? I’m so glad the weekend is right around the corner so I can get grounded again!

Three words I keep hearing and seeing lately are intentional, faith, and perseverance.

There is so much to be said about each of these words and this morning I felt quite certain I would be spinning out of control right now if I didn't stop and intentionally seek Him every day.

God’s beauty is all around us. We just need to open our eyes to see it and intentionally:

·         look for the good in all situations

·         praise God for who He is

·         thank Him

·         read the Bible

·         look for ways to serve Him

·         recognize teaching moments for our children

When we live intentionally as children of God our faith increases because we are aware of his presence all around us. Then through Christ we have the strength and perseverance to keep running this race!

Have a blessed day!

Five Minute Friday: Growing

Happy Friday! Today I am linking up with The Gypsy Mama for five minutes of unedited writing! 

I recently was pondering on how wonderful and dynamic walking with Christ is. I know I mention the ‘before’ and ‘after’ all the time, but how can I not, when I am so amazed and overwhelmed with how faithful and loving God is! He took my life and turned it around for good.

Before I knew the Lord, I felt so incomplete and so empty.  I would crave that personal growth and looked to self-help books or ways to grow in my career.

But now, I crave a closer relationship with God.  I have discovered as my relationship grows with Him, I also continue to grow. As I read his Word and praise and thank Him for just who He is I am being filled day after day. He continues to shape and mold me into who He created me to be. And as my little boys grow into bigger boys I can help encourage them and teach them to grow in Christ as well.

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Have a blessed day!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Yesterday was my birthday and I just have to share this. Every time I think about it I get all choked up!

The day before, my 6 year old said to me, "I don't have anything for you for your birthday." I said, "Sure you do. You have tons of  hugs and kisses. I love those! You could make me a picture. It's the gifts that come from the heart that mean the most."

That night, when I was putting the boys to bed, my 6 year old told me that the next morning I had to get up and go downstairs when it was still dark out. I said, "You mean before you get up?" He said, "Yes." At some point during the middle of the night (I think it was 3am) he came into my room and said, "Happy birthday, Mom! Now you can go downstairs." I said, "Thank you, but I will a little later, it's still in the middle of the night." And pulled him into bed with me.

Yesterday morning, my alarm went off and I snuck downstairs like I normally do. A short time later, he came downstairs with this. 

Keep in mind, these things were already in the house and I have NO idea where he even found them! He is the sweetest little boy! It just touches my heart how he thought this through, pink box and all!

Now my 3 year old's preschool teacher did an exercise with the kids where they need to fill in the blank. It was about themselves, what color hair and eyes they have, etc. But this one section made me laugh out loud! I highlighted it in the picture!

These are all hanging in the hallway at the school.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

I know it is so easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks of motherhood and daily living. I have found that when I don't pray daily, read the Word I start to do things my way. I also discovered I tend to not have the patience we all know mom's need!

What I do to remind myself that my children are gifts from God is I praise Him and thank Him for these boys every day! He handpicked me to care for them and teach them all about our Creator and Savior! 

Children are a blessing. So, let's always remember that they are special gifts from our Father above!

Have a blessed day!

Five Minute Friday: Joy

Oh how I love Friday's! Linking up with The Gypsy Mama today.

I am taking the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge and today's prayer subject is also JOY! I have been grouped up with Single Homeschooling Mom as our leader and other single moms and it has been such a blessing!

After I began my walk with Christ, I had so many "aha" moments. It is joyfully wonderful how life becomes so dynamic and evolving and always learning when you read and grow in Christ! One of these "aha" moments was joy. The truth as it is given from God and not something I can obtain on my own. Oh how I pray all souls would turn their face to God and receive His joy!

"The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living." Psalm 19:8

Joy to the world the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing.

Have a blessed day!

only words...

I was thinking the other the day about the before and after. Life before walking with Christ and after. Only words were coming to my mind that I began to jot down.

Life WITH JESUS CHRIST

and WITHOUT

What are some words you would describe your life before and after walking with the LORD??

Have a blessed day!

I Remember....

On this day friends, let us also remember and know in our hearts, 

"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

Five Minute Friday: In Real Life

Five Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama. I took a bit longer than just 5 minutes this week and even longer to get it published. It has been a whirl-wind of a week! TGIF!

I want to be more real. On my blog, that is. To bare my soul, turn my insides out for the world to see. Not for others to judge me, but to hopefully encourage, inspire and touch a life. To send the message you are not alone. Yet, I still hold back.  I write from my heart, but I choose what pieces of my heart to share.  Why is it so difficult to be honest and real about exposing the messy ugly for the whole world to see?

In real life I have a handful of close friends who I am real with. They know me and they know my heart. They know the things of my past. They know I am not perfect. When they enter my home they will trip over a toy truck and see dust bunnies in the corners. Yet they accept me and love me for who I am and I am so ever grateful for them!

But, as I write this I think “In Real Life…what is REAL LIFE?” Is it my here and now? Is it the perfect little bubble I know I often try to surround myself in? Or is it stepping out of the box, looking up and all around and REALLY seeing who I am in Christ? Who am I in the bigger scheme of His plan? Can I dare to not fix my eyes on things of this world and stop being afraid of how others may see me? So if I am supposed to die to self daily, why am I still focused on myself?

In all reality, I am His. He created me in his own image. He lifted me out of the pit of despair and set my feet on solid ground.  So, REAL life is sharing the story of my life with others even if it costs me. The purpose of REAL LIFE is to lift up, encourage and bring souls to Christ.

So, I ask myself again. What if I were to open my heart and soul and pour everything inside out?

I would hope after looking passed the shame, fear and self-doubt one would see right into the heart of a child of God.

Have a blessed day!

A Prayer for You

I read these scriptures last night and I thought, "I want that! All of that all the time!" No matter what we are facing today let's remember our strength and power are from God and He will make our lives full. 

Friend, this is my prayer for you today:

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:16-20

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Have a blessed day!

Oh, Their Hearts!

As I was praying for the hearts of my boys this morning, I opened my Bible to see what else God has to say about our hearts. I came across the fatherly advice on the importance of wisdom. At the end of Proverbs Chapter 4 it specifically says above all else, guard your heart.

²⁰ My child, pay attention to what I say.
      Listen carefully to my words.
 ²¹ Don’t lose sight of them.
      Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
 ²² for they bring life to those who find them,
      and healing to their whole body.

²³ Guard your heart above all else,
      for it determines the course of your life.

²⁴ Avoid all perverse talk;
      stay away from corrupt speech.

²⁵ Look straight ahead,
      and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
 ²⁶ Mark out a straight path for your feet;
      stay on the safe path.
 ²⁷ Don’t get sidetracked;
      keep your feet from following evil.

Proverbs 4:20-27

Most importantly as parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children and instruct them according to God’s Word. We give them wisdom through reading the Word and what the Spirit teaches us. We lead them by modeling Christ in our daily lives. Then and only then can our children have the wisdom to store it deep into their hearts. We are giving them a foundation for their lives, setting their feet on solid ground. We teach them how to guard their hearts when temptation comes, to choose the right way even if it is the hard way and to keep focused on what is ahead. We can’t leave this to anybody else. This is our duty God gave us when He blessed us and entrusted us to care for these precious gifts!

As a mom I know how critical it is for me to pray for the hearts of my boys, especially since they are young and still learning. But even as they grow, I will continue to pray for them. I will always be their mama and my duty as their prayer warrior should not change based on their age (or mine!)

I will get on my knees in prayer for my boys hearts and learn to trust Him and His peace will guard my heart as well.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

Friend, please won’t you join me in covering our boys in prayer?

Have a blessed day!

Fall Brings Change

I’m a mix of emotions lately.

School starts tomorrow for my boys. The way I am feeling is as if I’m sending them off for the very first time! I think perhaps it is because it’s the first time they will be in school for a full day, both of them, at the same time!

Earlier today I was thinking how spring is a time of new growth, yet fall is the beginning of so many new things. Perhaps it is the falling away of old to allow change to begin and new to take root. The new school year brings new friendships, new learning and new schedules. Maybe it is not the new that has me a bit unsettled, but the change.

Fall brings change. The leaves change colors and will soon let go of the branches. The air will get cooler and the days shorter.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against change. In fact, I look forward to it usually. There just seems to be so much of it happening at once. Kids starting school, my best friend was promoted and is moving out of state! {Talk about change, she is facing many stressful ones all at the same time!}

Like I said earlier, I’m a mix of emotions. One moment I feel excited and then I feel anxious. It’s during these anxious moments I remember the following verses. They are my go to verses that always bring peace to my soul.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

As I read them I feel God’s warm embrace, giving me peace and joy. I think I can actually feel a little bit excitement for some new things I am starting this month.

Tomorrow starts the fall challenge for 21 Days of Prayer for Sons and I am thrilled to be with a group of other single mama’s praying together for our sons!

I have also joined Moms In Touch. I will be praying regularly with other mamas in our district who believe prayer makes a difference. We will be praying for our children, schools, teachers and administrators!

Maximize Your Mornings Challenge starting September 15^th with Inspire to Action.

I’m also looking forward to new bible studies at my church and one I would love to participate in online!

Just listing these things now I am getting very excited! Bring it on! LOL!

How about you? What are some changes you are facing this season?

Have a blessed day!