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Deepening Friendships (Upon Leaving My Friends)

May 12, 2013 by  · 9 Comments

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It’s late at night and I’ve just returned from a visit to an Urgent Care center with my son who was showing some troubling symptoms. On my way there, one of my close friends got wind of what was happening and within moments of sitting down in the waiting room, my phone started beeping repeatedly with new text messages.

Several of my friends had been put on alert and were praying, sending kind words, and offering all kinds of help. That’s just how they are. God has graciously supplied irreplaceable girls in my life.

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The crushing part is that as I type, I’m sitting here surrounded by boxes. Our family is moving in a few days and, after four such moves in the last eight years, I know well the effect distance can have on friendships. They will still be some of my dearest friends, but the nature of our relationships will most likely change. Though I have no doubt new and wonderful friendships await where we’re going,  it’s an honor to carry memories of these ladies with me.

From childhood through the present, incredible girls have impacted and changed my life. Varying personalities and unique qualities contribute to the beautiful tapestry of relationships. The makings of deep friendship can be summed up in many ways, but here are a few things I’ve learned from those nearest to me. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultivating A Life, Family LIfe, Uncategorized

Happy Mothers Day

May 11, 2013 by  · Leave a Comment

Being a mother is one of God’s most gracious gifts!

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I Samuel 1:27 “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:”

 

Whether you are a mother through birth or adoption, whether God has allowed you to be a stepmother or foster mom, or God has added to your family through children-in-law, or just as a mentor and lover of other people’s children…

We here at Mom Heart want to wish you a Happy Mothers Day and let you know that YOU matter to the precious children placed in your care.  On their behalf, thank you for what to do to invest in the next generation!

Photo Credit: Doug Reynolds Photography, Savannah, Georgia

Filed Under: Events, Uncategorized

The Amazing Design and Call of Motherhood and Mother’s Day Giveaway!

May 10, 2013 by  · 15 Comments

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Those who made me a mother–Sarah, 29; Nathan, 24; Joy, 18; Joel, 26

(This is one of my favorite pictures with all four in the mountains on our yearly family day!)

As I look upon the landscape of our culture, more than anything else, adults who love God with all of their hearts, who practice righteousness, who have a heart to reach others, who stand strong against the moral battles of this day, are what is most desperately needed in our world. God intended for righteousness to be passed on from one generation to the next by discipling those children who would become these adults. It would be they would effectively  pass on God’s Kingdom messages and values and loyal allegiance to Him to those in their own generation. The key to building healthy, godly souls comes from growing to maturity in a home where this life of Christ is lived, breathed and taught.

Mothers were God’s finest idea of how such a legacy would be passed on each generation. Mothers were designed by Him to shape and influence the hearts of children who would become the next generation of godly leaders in the sanctuary of their own homes. Mothers have the capacity to inspire messages of truth and hope, to model love and servant leadership, to build mental and academic strength by overseeing the education of her children, to lead in faith and to build a haven of all that is good, true and beautiful.

Satan would love to obscure such an important calling so that generations could not be so well built. He would diminish marriage, having children, family, our walk with God and loyal love, the glue that holds all of these relationships together.

Yet, this is exactly why it is so important that mothers today receive instruction, encouragement, support and wisdom so that they can continue this great calling in their lifetime, so that history will mark her investment by the lives her children are enabled to lead.

As I approach my 60th birthday this summer, I have had to evaluate all of the wonderful blessings, experiences and accomplishments God has strewn across my path. However, I would say, one of my most fulfilling works of life, more of a blessing than I would ever have imagined, is to have built with Clay, these wonderful children into godly adults. What blessing and love God had in mind when He gifted me my children as the best work of faith I will probably ever do!

My prayer for you, this mother’s day, is that you will embrace your eternally significant role, and that you will know just how much your children are hoping you will be faithful to God. Your faithfulness insures that they may be trained in spiritual strength, moral excellence and the influence of righteousness. I pray that every day, you will have vision for understanding how very much each day of your faithful serving as a mom matters to God and to His wonderful plan to create us for this role.

I wish each of you a blessed Mother’s day. I pray my books will be of great encouragement and give you hope and confidence to become the mom He created you to be. May He bless and bless each of you with wisdom, strength and great joy! Read the Rest at I Take Joy and enter the Mother’s Day Giveaway Below.

And tell us, what book in the giveaway is your favorite? Why? We’re highlighting YOUR words all weekend long on Facebook and Twitter.

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Filed Under: Events, Family LIfe, Uncategorized

What are you whispering in your children’s ears?

May 8, 2013 by  · 6 Comments

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I caught myself whispering into my youngest daughter’s ear last night as I rocked her to sleep…. “I love you, Brinnley. Mommy loves you, daddy loves you and most importantly Jesus loves you.” I just kept saying the same words over and over again as she rested in my arms with her warm, soft blanket wrapped around her small little body. I want her to get use to hearing those words spoken to her because I know one day, she will need to learn to decipher which “voices” she will listen to.

Just like a musician is trained to hear the subtleties of music, I want to “train” her ears to know which voice to listen to and which ones to ignore.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Part of that training is making sure she hears God’s Word. At an early age I want her to be listening to God’s Word. I play songs in my car that are Bible verses put to music. (I personally LOVE the Seeds Worship songs) We sing songs together at home and her older sisters especially love teaching her new songs they have learned in Sunday school. Though Brinnley is only 21 months and therefore can’t fully participate because she can’t say all the words, she tries her hardest to sing along and it’s such a joy for all of us to watch.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Intentional Living

For Lone Ranger Moms

May 7, 2013 by  · 4 Comments

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The black and white rerun flashed and flickered on the television set and by the time the credits were running, my mind was on another path – connected thoughts, but very different. The classic show was The Lone Ranger; my thoughts were about us, as moms.

You see, every store I go into, every playground I walk past, every restaurant I eat in; they are there. Moms, seemingly alone, looking sad or overwhelmed or at best, tired.

This shouldn’t be – God made us for relationship, and we need each other in this day and age more than ever before. There should not be ANY “Lone Ranger” moms out there because that was not God’s design or intention when he created us.

There is not a role that is more rewarding and over-taxing at the same time, than that of motherhood. And there seems nothing the enemy likes more than ensuring we are left on our own, even if only the way it “feels” at the moment. Precious and wise mentor, Sally Clarkson, said it best, when she reminded us, “A mother left alone in her own home is a target for the enemy.” [Read more...]

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