The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

This morning, after the boys had gone to school, I prayed for strength. Looking at my calendar and to-do list, I grew weary. It's not easy being a mom. Somedays, I wear many hats...not including the baseball cap variety you can frequently see me in.


As I prayed, the Lord directed me to the Old Testament.
Judges 5---The Song of Deborah
Deborah was one of Israel's greatest judges and a prophetess.
She settled disputes between the Israelites.
Oppressed by Jabin, king of Canaan, the Israelites called out to the Lord. Hearing their pleas, Deborah sent for Barak. God was calling Barak to take his troops and defeat Canaan's army and it's commander, Sisera.

Barak said he was unwilling to go into battle WITHOUT Deborah. 'If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go, I won't go.' ~ Judges 4:8
Deborah agreed, but predicted that the real hero of the battle would be a woman.


After a fierce battle, Barak's army had defeated Sisera. All the troops were dead.
Except Sisera.
He fled on foot to a tent, the tent of Jael.
Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Heber and Jabin (the king of Canaan) were friends, so Sisera felt he could trust her for his safekeeping.
While he rested in her tent, Jael killed him in his sleep.

On that day, God allowed the Israelites to grow stronger. Strong enough to eventually destroy Jabin, the Canaanite king. Then the land had peace for forty years.

In chapter 5 of Judges, we find Deborah and Barak singing a song; praising the Lord for their victory. In verse 31, we read 'But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.'


As Deborah predicted, the real hero of the battle was a woman.
Never underestimate the power of being a woman. A mother.
With God's help, we can accomplish great things.

Lord, as I rise with the sun, bless me with Your strength to do all I must do today. Amen.

What is the reason you do what you do?

There are certain things I didn't do before I had kids.
One is that I never made pancakes for myself.

Pancakes are meant to be shared, and since my hubby is not a breakfast person, I don't think I ever made pancakes before I became a mom.

Although I still make pancakes, my boys are growing up.
I wonder where the time has gone.

What happened to the days of....
Happy Meals and Hot Wheels?
Story time at the library?
Choo-chooing with Thomas the Train?
Trips to the zoo and aquarium?
Counting in Spanish with Dora?
Playdates and picnics at the park?
Dancing with the Wiggles?
Mommy and Me gymnastic class?

Staying at home to care for my boys in their early years was hands-down one of the BEST decisions I ever made. What a gift!


Now my boys are in school. I miss them.
Even though they are almost 9 and 12, they are still the reason I do what I do.

Like making them a cake before they start school each year. They get to pick the flavor. Time picks the candle: this year Aaron blew out a 6. Cade blew out a 3. Then we sing, "Happy 6th/3rd Grade to You". We celebrate each year. Each milestone.


Awhile back, I wrote a poem that described those early years I spent with them.
It may just describe yours, too!



You are the Reason

You are the reason
I mix the pancake batter.
You are the reason
That all things matter.

You are the reason
I rise early today.
You are the reason
I mold shapes out of clay.

You are the reason
I read fairy tales.
You are the reason
I don't check e-mails.

You are the reason
I dig up earthworms.
You are the reason
I fuss over germs.

You are the reason
I cook noodles with cheddar.
You are the reason
I want to be better.

You are the reason
I hold on so tight.
You are the reason
I look left and then right.

You are the reason
We visit the zoo.
You are the reason
I moo like I do.

You are the reason
I leave on the light.
You are the reason
I stay up at night.

You are the reason
I stand up and cheer.
You are the reason
I celebrate each year.

You are the reason
I mix the cake batter.
You are the reason
That all things matter.

Unwrap your gift of the present!

What's holding you back from being content with where you are vs. where you want to be?

It's easy to say, "Lord, I would be happy if I could just buy a new car, earn more money, lose weight, or get ____________."

Caught up in the rat race, we are always chasing something just out of our reach. Chasing contentment steals our joy---our joy of the "present".

Do you see the "present" as a present; a gift just waiting to be unwrapped each morning?
Or is it a reminder of yet another day that separates you from your happy place?


I must confess: I am NOT a morning person. Waking up early is one of my least favorite things to do. But my family needs me to help get their day started. As I go to grab the orange juice or milk to pour for breakfast, I am reminded of being "present" by a magnet on our refrigerator.


The magnet reads, "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, it's the realization of how much you already have."



Whether it's pouring orange juice, folding clothes, or clipping coupons, remember to find joy in the present!

Lucky or Blessed?

"Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit."~ R.E. Shay

Lucky rabbit's foot, horshoe, star, eating black-eyed peas on New Years. All supposed to bring us luck.

Some people might say you were lucky if you had a high-paying job, beautiful home, perfect spouse, obedient children, good looks, speedy car, and expensive jewels.

But wait...


What if tomorrow you got fired from your job, your home burned, your spouse filed for divorce, your children broke the law, you added weight and wrinkles, your car was wrecked, and jewels were stolen?



Luck. It can vanish in an instance. But being blessed can last for eternity.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is not gained by luck. We are blessed because we are His people.

In Matthew 5:3-12, Jesus says, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.'

While we may never be lucky in the eyes of the world, God calls us blessed.
Great is our reward in Him!

A day of new beginnings...

Today is the first day of school for my boys.
Bittersweet.

I love summer. The warm sun, snowcones, swimming, sleeping late, spending time with my sons withOUT being on a schedule. It's my favorite time of year.

But, that time is over, and so begins a day of new beginnings.

For my youngest son, it's his first day...
~of 3rd grade.
~going to school without stepping in his big brother's shadow.
~riding his bike to school with his best friend.
~remembering his bike lock combination.
~starting to prepare for his first TAKS test.
~mentoring to his "Book Buddy" in Kindergarten.
~participating in QUEST (gifted and talented program).

For my oldest son, it's his first day...
~of 6th grade in middle school.
~going to school without his little brother tagging along.
~walking to school, listening to his Ipod, cell phone in hand---sans Mom.
~remembering his locker combination.
~switching classes every 50 minutes with 8 classes/teachers.
~without recess. He's SO sad!
~being the little fish in the big pond!

Anxious. Excited. Sad. Happy.

Memories, emotions, thoughts swirling around me as I sit in an empty house.
I miss my boys. Their laughs, outbursts, and squabbles fill this place with more love than it can sometimes hold. "GO OUTSIDE!!!" I yell, as the pictures on the walls shake and the stairs rumble, as if they will collapse beneath them.
But I wouldn't want it any other way! Their presence brings joy and breathes life into our home.

Only 179 school days left until next summer...

Relationship vs. Religion

For some reason, this video won't play from my blog.
Go to YouTube and select "More Like Falling in Love" by Jason Gray.
This song/lyrics focus on having a relationship with Christ vs. religion.
Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday, I am Thankful for...

*getting to sleep late b4 the early "back to school" days begin next week.

*quietness in my house, even though there are 6 boys upstairs. Last night, my boys had their last slumber party b4 school begins. Everyone stayed up late, and they are all still sleeping!

*understanding friends.

*early morning kisses from my hubby b4 he leaves for work.

*a husband who goes to work.

*getting the boys' school shopping out of the way b4 the crazy tax-free weekend begins!

*my parents living nearby, after years of living almost 3 hours away.

*a new day to start fresh! God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness can't be bought at Target!

How clean is your cup?

It's not enough to just look in the mirror and wash your face.

Put on your make-up.

Fix your hair.

Dress well.

Your reflection can be beautiful, but in God's mirror, you are stained.
Ugly. Hateful. Angry. Selfish.

In Matthew 23:25-27, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for 'cleaning the outside of the cup, yet the inside remains dirty, full of greed and self-indulgence.' He says 'first clean the inside of the cup and then the outside will also be clean.'

What is the cup?

It's the inside of you and me.

Jesus goes on to say, 'on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."'


If we are Christ followers, we have a responsibility to reflect Christ's image in all we say and do. If not, we run the risk of looking like a fool; a hypocrite to lost souls in need of salvation.

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny them with their life style." ~ Brennan Manning


What does Jesus see when He looks inside your cup?
Mine is dirty, stained with sin.
Thank God that with His help, it can be made clean again!

Rise and shine!

Growing up, my mom liked to wake my brother and I with a cheery, "Rise and shine and give God the glory!" I could almost hear my mother's voice when I was awakened this morning....

Look at the sunrise He painted for you and me today!

Waste not, Want not...

I love the "heel" in a loaf of bread!!

What do you love that others see as waste or a waste of their time?

Pulp in your orange juice?
Dark meat vs. white meat?
Playing video games?
Subtitles in movies?

What are you holding on to?

"When a train goes through a tunnel and gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. Never be afraid to trust your unknown future to a known God." ~ Corrie ten Boom


Have you ever been afraid, gripped by fear of the unknown?
Fear of failure. Fear of losing control.

Fear is like a chain that holds us in place.
Anchored by our insecurities and inabilities, we don't want to "rock the boat".
So, we remain anchored.


13 years ago, I feared I would never become a mother. After two heartbreaking miscarriages, I was told I may not be able to carry a baby to term. I remember thinking I'd rather never become a mother than to go through the pain of losing another child.

Would I allow my fear of death and emotional pain keep me from fulfilling my dream of motherhood? Or... Would I try to become pregnant for a third time, hoping my baby would live?

Nine months after my 2nd failed pregnancy, I became pregnant.
Becoming pregnant was supposed to be a joyous time. For me, pregnancy was a mix of fear and trepidation. Each day of my pregnancy was a walk in faith. Controlled by my fear of death and the lack of faith I placed in my faulty womb, I began to realize that I was not in control. I could not give nor take away life. God was in control. He wanted me to have faith in His plan.

Isaiah 41:13 says, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

One of the greatest days of my life was when my son Aaron was born. What joy to hold my newborn and to finally become a mother! That joy was even sweeter because of the lessons my faith taught me. I learned that you can't hold onto faith when you are holding onto fear. You must let go of one to grasp the other. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ~Hebrews 11:1

Today, my son Aaron and I walked into middle school for his 6th grade orientation. New school. New hours. New classmates. New teachers. 8 classrooms. Lockers/combinations. Changing classes in 4 minutes.

Fear of the unknown gripped me. Wanting to reach for the hand of my boy; the son who gave birth to a mother, I knew he no longer needed me in that way. The way in which I had held his hand for all the other milestones in his life, I knew that this would not be one of them.

But that was okay. Someone else was already holding on...