Summer time and LOTS of it!

Summer is here. It's about time right? :) With the winter we had this year, a lot if us thought summer would never come. It's nice to open those windows are air out the house. The kids have time to run and get some much need energy out. It's a time of gardens, grilling and fun.

For a lot of us moms, summer time is also a time of having the kiddos home ( if you send them to school or even if you home school but take the summer off). It's a change of routine for everyone involved. How can we as moms prepare for this transition? I wrote about this briefly for my article in our ladies newsletter at church, but I wanted to expand it more here. Some of these ideas are things I actually do and some are from other moms. I hope this helps you in making this summer a wonderful one.

 Many years ago a wonderful older friend told me that every morning I need to wake up with a plan. She said " You need to take control of the day so the day doesn't take control of you!". Timely and very good words. At the time, I NEEDED to learn that. I am so thankful for the beautiful, loving spiritual mothers the Lord has blessed me with from time to time. So what does that look like? For summer, it doesn't have to be a huge planning. You don't need to jam pack your days.  Just think of something you would like to do or have the kids do through out the day then rotate through them. Playing outside for a few hours, coloring, making cookies, going for a walk, going to the library, read together,  have a Bible time. The list can be endless. Maybe you want to work lightly on a few school subjects, like reading, math or writing.This will keep them in practice and busy for a time.  When I plan my summers, I usually pick a few things to do each and everyday then try and stick to it . It makes the days move and there's no " What do we do now?' or " What do I do with all these children?".

It's a great time to teach your children about the Lord through creation. Point out some flowers and share with them how each one is different and how amazing God is in His wisdom to create such a thing. Or highlight how the beauty of a flower's scent and color is made by a Master Artist. Then tell them about Him. Use butterflies, grasshoppers, worms, what ever happens to be by you to show them how each one is unique in design and purpose. Or how God placed "instincts" into the birds to guide them in  their migration routes. Summer really is a wonderful time to teach the children about Him in ways that you can't during the winter.

The last thing I want to share with you is to not lose this time. Our children are not going to be this age for too much longer. A friend once said to me " They will never be this age again, tomorrow they will be a day older". Enjoy this time with them. I know there are days that are hard and weary. I know children can be challenging at times, but they won't be like this forever. Even in a month, they will be different. My hope is that you use this summer to enjoy them. Kiss, hug and love them everyday! Fill up their "love banks" with generous deposits of words and actions. It will fill up yours too. Spend time with them. Tell them everyday that you love them. Tell how how much they mean to you and what a blessing they are from the Lord. Share with them some positive things you see in them. I will say, "Nathan, I just love the way you ________," or, "I am so happy the Lord gave you to me because _____________". You will not regret doing any of these things. You will bond with them and they with you. That is a beautiful thing. It will give you a chance to build into their lives. Your job mothers is to love your children this summer. That's it. That's the goal. Do that and you will come to fall with a very full heart.
Blessings...

Hope in the hard times

I received an encouraging text from a friend the other day. In it she simply stated that she's glad God sees all and knows what we are going through. Life has been dealing her a pretty rough hand in the past few months, so I was encouraged to hear that she was trying to lean on God for strength.

I understand what that's like. When life has gotten so hard that you feel beaten down, flat and dry. Discouragement seeps in. Maybe your going through a time that seems dark and you are wondering: "where is God?" Does He see me? Does He even know what I'm going through? Is life so boggling that you can't make sense of it or even who God is? Has your mind gone blank on Scripture? Been there! Let me share a few thoughts and promises to cling to when the storms of life blow in.

First, it's really important to know what you believe about who God is BEFORE the trials come. Being in a hurricane is not the time to decide what you believe. You can barely keep your head above water, let alone make major decisions about your theology. It's when life seems "smooth" that you need to study the Scriptures, see what they say about God, and choose to embrace their truths and promises about our Heavenly Father.

Second, God does see. He sees everything and everybody, all the time. Darkness is light to Him - the darkness of the night and the darkness of our storms. He sees the hidden things. Nothing escapes Him. His eyes never sleep. Don't fear that He can't see you or see what your going through. He does.

Third, God knows. He knows everything your going through. He knows what your heart is feeling. He knows when you rise up and when you lie down. He knows all your ways. He knows your thoughts before you do. (Psalm 13:2-3) He sees and knows all your tears. He counts them and keeps them in a bottle (Psalm 56:8).   He knows the very hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). You don't need to wonder if He is aware of your struggles, He knows.

You can rest assured that you are not alone. Even when you feel alone. When Satan tempts you to despair with doubts of God such as: "You are forgotten", "He doesn't see you", or " You are alone," hold on to these Truths. These are promises God made about Himself and He can not lie. If you are struggling with believing these, pray and tell Him. Tell Him that you are doubting and that you are sorry for doubting. Ask Him to help you to believe what He is saying about Himself. Then, "preach" these Truths to yourself. Whenever a doubt comes in say " No! I believe...." or" I believe the Bible says...".

Life can be hard, dark and even vicious at times. We need to be able to combat it in return. It's not easy. Paul calls it a "fight" (1 Timothy 6:12) for a reason, and fights are not easy. Sometimes it can seem like darkness is winning. Or that evil has won. It's in those times we need to remember what Jesus said " I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world" ( John 16:33). 

Take heart my dear sisters. 

Welcome! I did it. I started a blog. For those that know me, know this is a HUGE step for me with technology. Computers and I don't get along. :) I am still trying to figure this out...so thanks for your patience.

I have a few reasons why I wanted to start this blog. One,  is to encourage and strengthen women in their faith as well as in their Biblical foundations and understandings. Lately, I had wanting to know Truth. What is it? Really. I was getting worn down and tired of all my misperception about God, lies I was believing, and frankly some major doubts. It got to be too much. One day I decided I had had enough. I thought, "well, if I want to know only Truth then there was only one place to go. The Bible". If the Bible is the Word of God and God can't lie, then the Bible is nothing but Truth. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't the first time I had ever read the Bible. On the contrary, I have been reading it for years. I have been a christian for years. Life on the other hand was handing out some very harsh trials. The past year and a half especially. I'll give you a brief idea...both my parents died, we moved, I struggled with a very deep/dark depression, my youngest was battling a 5 month long ear infection, I was dealing with many physical issues, we found out we were pregnant with baby number 6 and  we had many other trials happen in between these. I was being squeezed. It was bringing out some things I was believing about God and His Word that were not right. Just plain Unbiblical. This is what birthed in me the desire to only know Truth. So I picked up the Bible and any prayed ( and still do pray) two things.. 1). God please show me what is Truth and only Truth. Please give me the ability to believe this Truth regardless of how I feel about it, and 2). Please show me the Real You. Who you REALLY are. What I've been seeing and learning is a lot different then some of the things I have been believing.
I want to encourage us women in what is Truth. I want us to be women of knowledge and faith. To not be tossed to and fro by the waves ( Esp 4;14). I want us to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil ( Esp 6 ;11) armed with the sword of the Word (Truth) ( Esp 6;17). To know the Truth so it"ll set us free ( John 8;31). To grow in true understanding of who God really is.

Second, is to encourage and celebrate us as women, wives, and mothers. I want to laugh, and share life together. Share struggles and frustrations.  Life throws lots of curve balls at us and it's really nice to know your not alone in those times.

I want to be a light shining in the darkness. A sign pointing in the right direction for us. I hope you will join  me on this journey. I haven't "made it" or reached a higher spiritual level.  I am like you, a fellow pilgrim. A sojourner.
I pray you will be blessed.
Blessings and joy..Janice