thoughts for today

“The key to enjoying God in every moment of these daily pleasures is to open the eyes of my mind to see and to appreciate what he has given. A thankful heart galvanizes the connection between my God and me….

…….When we really see that God is a wonderful Provider and has gone to great lengths to make our earthly home pleasurable, we will appreciate him more and our hearts will be lifted to thank him. It is when we come to see what he has given that we begin to be mature. It is when we understand that God’s gifts are with consideration of our truest needs - for love, beauty, purpose and belonging- instead of for our selfish gratification, material possessions, ownership. When we are humble and appreciative of who he really is, then we move down the road to a more foundational intimacy with him. But without a heart of thanksgiving, in which we recognize his chosen gifts, our joy will not be full.”

~from Dancing with my Father by Sally Clarkson (pg 92-93)

thoughts for today

(in ref to Matthew 7:26-27...) 

“…… indicates that rain will come and the winds will burst against us in this life. We were made for gladness of heart and joy, but in this world, which is wildly rebellious to God and his ways, storms will indeed come and rage against our souls. What determines whether such storms will destroy our happiness or push us toward it is whether we struggle against the wind or let it push us toward God.”

~from Dancing with my Father by Sally Clarkson (pg 59)

thoughts for today

“Clearly joy is an issue of the heart. Joy is not found in performing for people or in doing all the right things for God. Nor is joy in the absence of difficulties or problems. Joy is found in the presence of God in the midst of all circumstances, in delighting in the life he has given.”

~from Dancing with my Father by Sally Clarkson (pg 38-39)

Savor the Season

Time is short and forever is eternal.

It constantly reminds me that we need to spend the time we have left on earth accomplishing things for the Lord Jesus. We are here for a purpose. It also is a constant reminder to me that I don't know how long I'll have with any of my kids. Let us remember that relationships we build here with our kids will last forever as we spend it in eternity together. When you're tempted to be upset about temporal irritations, remember, the heart of your child is so much more important and we need to invest our time in building little lives that will honor and serve their Savior.

Savor the Season

~Marilyn Boyer

www.thelearningparent.blogspot.com

This paragraph stood out to me in THIS blog post from the Boyer's blog. I am constantly encouraged by the Boyer's reminders from parents who are further along the road of parenting then I am.

You will also be encouraged by THIS article with the reminder of keeping an eternal perspective as a mama and housewife.

thoughts for today

"If I learn to be content, joy will naturally follow. Like thankfulness though, I have to choose to be content before I can know joy. It's an act of faith......... The only way to attain true contentment is to rest in God and depend on his grace. It is a spiritual issue, not a practical one. Contentedness will not come from being more organized, sleeping longer, being a better wife, keeping a nicer home, using higher-quality materials, taking more time for yourself, or what it is you think might help. Contentedness is learned by accepting life each day as God gives it to you, and adjusting your expectations to life's limitations. "

~from Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson, pg 37

Are you content?

thoughts for today

"I am more convinced then ever that even in the midst of the mundane, burdensome and oftentimes frustrating tasks of life allotted to me as a mother, God wants me to find His joy. He want every single day of my life to be a celebration of his blessings, whether large or small. He want me to celebrate life - the life he has given me...... the joy-filled life is not found by diminishing my God-given responsibilities as a women, wife and mother, nor can I find joy merely by refusing to face the hard realities of life in a fallen world. There is a tension between ideals and realities. True joy is found by living somewhere between the ideal life and daily realities. That is where Jesus meets me, where his Holy Spirit empowers and where I learn how to live the Christian life with supernatural joy. To celebrate life is simply a choice. Every day, God extends his hand to offer me the gift of another day to live. I have the choice to take that gift and turn it into 24 hours of real life in Christ, or just let it become another 24 hours endured in a broken world. If I choose to accept it-to transform those minutes and hours into life lived for and with my Savior- I have the opportunity to see God at work, enjoy his presence, wonder at his creation, appreciate the expressions of beauty and love and touch the minds and hearts of my children with his reality. That's certainly what I desire, but it is a choice I have to make daily"

~from Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson, pg 33-34

Are you making the choice of JOY today?

thoughts for today

"This is the Lord's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it."

~Psalm 118:23-24

Six years ago today I married my husband.

The above verses were on our wedding invitations.

It is wonderful to look back and see how the Lord was the one who brought us together, and even more so, HE is the one who has continued to knit our hearts and lives together more and more each year. I cannot express how much I have changed in the last 6 years and how marriage can truly be a wonderful refining process. When we allow struggles and difficulties to be viewed through an eternal perspective we can use them rather then tearing us down and discouraging us to grow us into the likeness of Christ.

But, lest you wonder if the last 6 years has been all struggles :-) It hasn't.

We have been blessed with 3 little children and another one due any day now. Our lives are busy, sometimes crazy but full of joy. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Thoughts for today

Some people say it so well!

I read a couple other blog posts this morning that I just had to post the links too because they were wonderful reminders to me and I hope you enjoy them as well.

Savor the Season by Rick Boyer

The Learning Parent

Choosing to Love

from At the Well

thoughts for Today

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:37-39

Mothering

"The most important thing you can do with your life is invest it in your children"

"We mothers have the opportunity to influence eternity by building a spiritual legacy in the lives of our children."

"I realize that those foundational years in the life of a child - those same years when I sometimes thought I was accomplishing nothing - have a lasting effect on almost every aspect of the rest of that child's life."

~from The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Thoughts for Today

This is an excerpt from the May/June 2010 Thriving Family magazine published by Focus on the Family. The article is titled "Mommy-Tasking" by Carol Barnier. It's a pretty good perspective for us multi-tasking mamas!

".........Multi-tasking is not something mothers need to learn. We clean the house and whip dinner and taxi the kids and trim their hair while we extract a splinter, explain a metaphor, sew a costume, teach kids to chew with their mouths closed, remove lipstick from the couch cushion and use a toilet plunger........ What we moms need, what our minds miss most and what our hearts intensely seek is the seemingly lost ability to monotask. We long for a quiet moment on a porch swing to laugh with a child, a change to linger over dinner with our husband and the satisfaction of allowing a burgeoning idea to playfully work its way through our brain....... the world of motherhood is one of perpetual motions..... But multi-tasking isn't just a solution for improved productivity; a value statement that say more is always better and quiet times are unproductive times. I suspect that God couldn't agree less. The Bible doesn't say, "He leadeth me in the path of astounding productivity and dizzying accomplishment whereby He is exceedingly impressed". No, God wants us to lie down in green pastures, and He wants to lead us beside still waters to restore our souls..........."

Are you so busy that you miss a quiet moment with a child?

Can you take 15 minutes during naps today and just enjoy reading through the Psalms and not work your grocery list or listen to music at the same time?

Take a moment from your day and look around you-

Enjoy it.

Treasure this moment...

In all the chaos and clutter...

In the midst of kids and a husband...

and dinner on the stove...

Say "thanks Lord" for all you have given me.

Thoughts for Today

"No amount of discipline can make up for a lack of training."

"Training is not discipline. Discipline is the "damage control" part of training; but it is insufficient itself to effect proper behavior. Training is the conditioning of the child's mind before the crisis arises. It is preparation for future, instant, unquestioning obedience."

"Before he (a child) can DECIDE to do good, his parent must CONDITION him to do good."

~ excerpts from "To Train Up a Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl

Does anyone else find they need daily reminders as a mother to do these things? Training our children takes thought and planning and a commitment to consistency. We must always be looking for opportunity to train. And the more we train, are consistent with our training, the less we will find ourselves having to discipline. It's takes discipline on our part though, huh.

Just something I have found myself challenged with lately with 3 little ones running around!

Thoughts for Today

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I have been giving some thought to my mothering and things I need to work on and be learning. I have been re-reading a wonderful book called "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson. I am hoping to gather my thoughts and share some with you on mothering but until then, here is a link to a post from today's "at the Well". Enjoy these thoughts on mothering and parenting with long term goals in mind.

"Parenting while thinking ahead"

Thoughts for Today

"In order for something to become clean,

something else must become dirty,

but you can get everything dirty without

getting anything clean."

~as seen on an old "thought a day" calendar page

It seems this is my life lately :-)

If it's not dishes, it's the living room, if not there, the boys have been cutting paper, or the diaper pail needs attention and don't even mention the bathrooms!

If my thoughts could become blog posts, you would get updates at least daily. Cause I am always thinking of stuff. Finding the time to write them out in coherent thoughts though.... it's a challenge some weeks- or months!

I have several pages of menus I would like to get posted and link to some new recipes. I have been working on a 2 week menu- looks great on paper, but I am not doing very good at following it. Oh, we've been eating well and out of the fridge... just not off the paper! Oh well.

And I would love to do some free advertising and reviews for a couple e-books I have helped "proof/preview" read for Katie and Stephanie. But I promise.... those posts are coming soon!

Thoughts for Today

This is a wonderful and encouraging post on the purpose of the home I found over at Passionate Homemaking. I printed it out and have read it thru several times and just wanted to share!

Read and enjoy!

Thoughts for Today

My Life is but a Weaving

My life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow,

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not 'til the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

in the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

who leave the choice with Him.

~Author Unknown

Thoughts for Today

On Faith~

"Faith enables us to be content even when life doesn't make sense."

" Faith is rooted in God's character."

"Faith is based on God's Word, not on our feelings."

"God is in control of all the uncontrollables in our lives: What we can't see, what doesn't make sense to us and what we don't understand."

"Faith looks to God, but feelings look to what is going on around us. Faith hopes in who God is and in what He has promised."

(from "Calm My Anxious Heart", by Linda Dillow, Chapter 9)

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Thoughts for Today

"I am always content with that which happens,

for I think that which God chooses is better

than what I choose."

~Epictetus

(from "Calm my Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow page 173)