The Mom Initiative

Mothers on a Mission to Mentor Other Mothers

BUT GOD ~ for Motherhood!

By Shelly Brown on Mar 29, 2014 01:30 am


 
I have a confession to make.
 I am not a perfect mom. 

I’ve been too hard on them. I’ve been too lenient. I’ve said things I regret. I’ve gotten angry and I’ve yelled. I’ve said “yes” when I should have said, “no” and I’ve said, “no,” when I should have said, “yes.”

I’ve cleaned up their messes when they should have cleaned it up themselves. I’ve played the mom guilt card, though it rarely worked. I’ve bailed them out when they should have learned the hard way. They’ve learned the hard way when I should have bailed them out. I’ve indulged them at times when they should have been denied and denied them at times when it was okay for them to be indulged.
BUT in the midst of my imperfection, in praise, I shout these words from the mountain top of motherhood:

BUT GOD!

Simply, two of the most powerful words in Scripture!
BUT GOD remembered Noah…BUT GOD is the strength of my heart … BUT with GOD all things are possible … BUT GOD gives grace to the lowly … BUT GOD meant it for good… BUT GOD raised Him from the dead …

And, perhaps one of my favorites, “BUT GOD who is rich in mercy …”  

Mercy means, NOT getting what you deserve. Think of it this way … If you’ve ever been pulled over for speeding and the nice police officer lets you go with a simple warning, he showed you mercy. You didn’t get what you deserved: a $250 speeding ticket!

But God, who is rich in mercy … will hear the repentant and faithful prayers of His daughters. So no matter how imperfect a mom you or I may have been … repent of your failures, and then let it go!
Trust God to restore and redeem. After all, it is what He does best! And pray! Pray for your children like there is no tomorrow! Pray specifically for them to own their own faith. From their earliest years, and as they grew, their faith was our faith. We taught them, and they mimicked our beliefs. But, at some point, it must become their own, genuine faith.

I’ve shared this here in a prior post, but it’s worth repeating …  
My friend, Karen Jantzi once shared in a radio interview how she prays for “crop failure” in her children’s lives. Now, I make that a common prayer as I pray for my children. I pray that the defective seeds that were sown into their lives would not take root, and if they have taken root, that God would allow for crop failure causing the bad crops to wither and die.
The truth is … Only God could love our kids more than us. Only God could want them to walk in Truth more than us. Only God can draw them to Himself. Only God is so rich in mercy and love, that we can trust Him with the most precious part of our lives … our children.

“But God” verses: Genesis 8:1, Psalm 73:26, Matthew 19:26, Proverbs 3:34, Genesis 50:20, Acts 2:24, Ephesians 2:4

 WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE “BUT GOD” VERSES? HAS THIS ENCOURAGED YOU TODAY IN YOUR MOM JOURNEY?

Motherhood is Risky!

Encouraging words for us mothers from Trillia Newbell taken from The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

 

The definition of a radical, risky life might be someone who goes off to be a missionary or sells all they have and gives to the poor. Those things are radical and they sure are risky! But I’d like to add something to this radical, risky list: motherhood. Risk is a word that is rarely associated with motherhood.

John Piper, writing in his new book Risk is Right, writes that a life unwasted looks like a life that honors Christ, magnifies Christ, and makes much of Christ. He writes:

“There are a thousand ways to magnify Christ in life and death. None should be scorned. All are important. But none makes the worth of Christ shine more brightly than sacrificial love for other people in the name of Jesus. If Christ is so valuable that the hope of his immediate and eternal fellowship after death frees us from the self-serving fear of dying and enables us to lay down our lives for the good of others, such love magnifies the glory of Christ like nothing else in the world,” (Kindle 111).

A contented mom who serves her children through menial tasks, shares her faith, lays down some desires, and presses into Christ to know him more sounds like a mom who is trying her best at sacrificial love. The mom, like mine, who works hard during the day for her family so that her children will be able to eat and have a chance at a future, then comes home to continue lovingly serving her family through practical demonstrations as well as with knees down on the ground in prayer, sounds like a mom who is sacrificially loving other people.

 

The stories of moms and their sacrificial love would be too many to number, and honestly, we will never know many of them. They will live and die never to be known by anyone but their few friends, their church, and their children. You may never be known or rewarded on this earth as a big risk taker—but you are.

 

Pastor Piper defines risk as: “An action that exposes you to the possibility of loss or injury” (128).

Moms, we know that there is a loss associated with motherhood. We lose sleep. Our bodies are put through the wringer to give birth. We lose a sort of independence because we now have sweet little lives who are dependent on us. We lose babies through miscarriage or death—putting our hearts at risk. The single mom laboring day and night alone, you are risky. I only have small children and I can sense the risk associated with mothering, I’m not even going to think about the teenage years. And the mom who takes that step of faith to adopt a child and become his mother, you are a risky woman.

And we know that “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

 

Therein is the crux of our loss. We lose not for our sake and really not even for the sake of our children, but for the sake of Christ. We live to Christ and we die to Christ. It is for his sake that we give our lives to the service of child-rearing. Like Paul we say, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).

 

Our loss isn’t a loss at all. It’s a gain! Our gain is Christ. Less of us, more of him. That is a wonderful exchange. And our kids are a gift from God, a most definite gain!

 

I want to make something clear. I’m thinking of all moms. I’m talking to you, mom, who is making a valiant effort to show Christ to your children. The mom who puts food on the table and labors to love. The mom who wipes noses and kisses boo-boos. And yes, the mom who labors in secret, often in her home alone without fanfare. You don’t have to go to China to risk your life, we want to be senders and pray for those who go and perhaps assist financially. But, lay down your ordinary life and you will have risked it.

 

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Translation by Kathleen Chapman: 
Bombard your kids with stories and teachings about God and His Word! Do it any way you can, but make it exciting, powerful and constant! Talk about God first thing in the morning. Write His names on the kitchen wall or ceiling! Talk about God on the way to school. Play Christian music in the car. Put notes in their lunch boxes reminding them of God's love. Pray over homework. Pray before every meal. Pray to this wonderful God before they go to bed at night. Make Him as much a part of their existence as eating and sleeping. Make them so in awe of God that they want to nominate Him for a Pulitzer! Help your children to know and adore God.

Mother's Day Thoughts

Well-written post from Doorposts of Your House about mothers...

“…for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, ESV).
Last week I spent a little over thirty-six hours on full-time duty caring for two of my little granddaughters, with two of their little cousins joining us for the evening. Those thirty-six hours were filled with:

• Unproductive and oops-too-late runs to the bathroom, punctuated with hilarious comments and sweet hugs

• Total meltdowns over a cat that was innocently sleeping across the room, balanced out with smiles and big blue eyes and musical calls for Nana that melt my heart every time

• Sugar-coated arms, counters, and floors after making ginger cookies, rewarded with milk, cookies, and stories on the floor with Grandpa before bedtime

• The need to follow through after someone just checked to make sure I really did mean she shouldn’t touch the computer, followed by lots of hugs and kisses (It’s even harder to discipline when you’re a grandma.)

• Making dinner amidst requests like, “Can we do ink stamps?” “Can we make puppets?” “Can you play a game?” “Can we do ink stamps?” “Can you put a pink hair band in my hair?” “Can we do ink stamps?” (I’m so glad they like playing with Nana!)

• Intense and oft-repeated requests in an 18-month-old dialect that I have not yet learned to decipher, which I finally resorted to cautiously saying “Yeah” to, hoping I wasn’t agreeing to something scandalous.

What a sweet, challenging, blessed, exhausting, funny, messy time we had! And what a clear reminder it was that it takes a lot of grace to be a mother (or grandmother!).
Our time together, I know, was relatively calm compared to most days with little ones. I actually got to sleep through the entire night. I wasn’t nursing a baby in the midst of everything else. I had some occasional help and relief from two daughters, when their own schedules allowed it. I wasn’t pre-menstrual, pregnant, or post-partum. I didn’t have to correct school work or clean up vomit or take anyone to the dentist or Little League practice. I actually had it easy compared to most days in a mama’s life!

Motherhood is a great joy, but it’s also a lot of hard work. Our children are learning much about living in Christ as they watch our example. Do they see us trying to serve in our own fallen, puny strength, and then giving in to self-pity, resentment, or fretting when we fail? Or are they learning to work in the power of the Spirit because they have worked alongside us as we work in the power of the Spirit?
Are they learning to rejoice in God’s mercy when they see us sin? (We will sin because we’re human.) Do they see us confess, repent, and receive forgiveness, moving ahead in His power and strength? Or do they see us make excuses, blame others, or simply give up?

As Mother’s Day approaches, by God’s enabling grace, let’s commit to being mamas who:

• Trust in the Father, knowing that He is mighty, loving, all-knowing, and always there, a Father who always keeps His promises and always works out His sovereign plan.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

• Rest in Christ’s finished work, knowing that, because of the cross, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. He knows our weakness, and He is at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

• Rely on the Holy Spirit, knowing that He will direct us through His Word and empower us to do all that He has called us to do.

“…That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).

“. . . For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Keeping it Simple

I love today's parenting tip from Love and Logic:

Do great parents use a large variety of good parenting skills? Not typically!

Great parents don't overwhelm themselves by trying to use every trick in the book. Instead, they rely on a small number of skills yet apply them with consistency.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your kids, could it be that you're trying too hard to do too many things? Might it be time to get back to the bare basics?

What are these "bare basics"? Listed below are the top three I've observed from my experience with thousands of truly great parents and educators:

• They demonstrate unconditional warmth and love.

Kids feel this magical type of love when their parents spend plenty of time with them, when their parents focus on their strengths, and when their parents display empathy instead of anger or sarcasm when things go wrong.

• Their "yes" is always "yes" and their "no" is always "no."

Great parents are extremely careful to set only the limits they know they can enforce. They remember this important rule for setting limits:

Never tell a stubborn child what to do.
Instead, describe what you will do or allow.

Would you like your kids to believe that every word you say is important?

• They allow their kids to experience the logical and natural consequences of their decisions.

Isn't it hard to watch our kids struggle with the consequences of their mistakes? While it breaks our hearts at times, allowing them to learn in this way gives them a tremendous advantage as they grow. They develop respect, responsibility, and a good grasp of good old-fashioned common sense.

The key, of course, is to display empathy rather than anger. If you ever find this difficult, listen to our audio: Keeping Cool When Parenting Heats Up.

Raising great kids really can be a joy when we remember that we don't have to overcomplicate parenting with too many skills and too much theory. Keep it simple and enjoy your kids.

Pray More... Talk Less

This is well worth the short read: Doorposts of Your House. What a good reminder to all of us who are parents.

Words of Wisdom

I love these words of wisdom from my dear friend, Tyra Damm.  You can read her blog here.

Do your kids a favor: Let them lose once in a while

From today's Briefing:

Katie has a first-grade friend who is interested in playing soccer, but she’s afraid to try because she’ll be too far behind.

Seriously. A 7-year-old is concerned that she’s already missed the boat on an entire sport because most of the other girls have been playing for three or four years.

I don’t blame the child. She’s instinctively protecting herself in the environment we’ve all created. A world in which 18-month-olds can begin taking soccer lessons.

There are classes for tiny humans who’ve been on Earth just a year and a half. Little people who are wearing diapers and who have an average vocabulary of 30 to 50 words and who can barely manage to scale a small staircase.

I encouraged my friend, the mom of the 7-year-old, to enroll her for a season. Just let her try. Maybe she’ll love it, score a few goals, make new friends. Maybe not. But let her discover on her own if she can compete with the tiny Alex Morgans out there.

These low-consequence risks are difficult for us parents. But if we don’t encourage small risks, the long-term consequences will be monumental.

When Cooper started kindergarten, his teacher shared that she often has students who have never lost a game of Candy Land.

These children play with parents who always rig the outcome, guaranteeing no loss and no tears at home. And guaranteeing plenty of tears when a loss naturally happens outside the home.

Most children aren’t born graceful losers or winners. I know mine weren’t. We still struggle. If Katie calculates in the middle of a game that her chances of winning are slim, she’d prefer to forfeit. (I don’t let her.) If Cooper is winning, he’s prone to trash talk. (I try to curb it.)

We’ve all been the champion of Cinderella’s Glass Slipper Game and Spot It and Sorry Sliders. We’ve all come in last place in Qwirkle and Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders.

Disappointment at home prepares us for disappointment on the field and in the classroom, among friends and in the workplace.

Over lunch last week, a few mom friends were discussing one daughter’s desire to be a cheerleader.

This sixth-grader isn’t particularly talented at tumbling. (The cartwheel still eludes her, even after plenty of lessons.) She isn’t among the girls who have cheered since age 3 or performed at Cowboys Stadium or competed at the national level.

But she does want to try to be part of the cheerleading squad and all it represents in middle school.

Mom has struggled with her daughter’s choice. Chances are slim that she’ll make the squad. Mom instinctively prefers to shield her from the potential disappointment of not making the team. She could argue that the most supportive act, the safest act, would be to discourage her daughter from tryouts altogether.

She also knows that it’s healthy for her daughter to take risks. To try, then maybe make it, maybe not.

She has decided that the most supportive act is to encourage her daughter to pursue her dream of pompons and football games. And to praise her for trying, regardless of the outcome.

Because the bigger risk is telegraphing to your child that you don’t believe in her. That we only attempt tasks if we’re certain of success. That there is no value in coming in second or third or last place. That failure is unacceptable.

I know that’s not what we really intend when we instinctively shield our children from struggles. But it’s the message they receive.

Tyra Damm is a Briefing columnist. Email her at tyradamm@gmail.com.

Privacy: How much should kids have?

I receive weekly emails from Love and Logic Institute.  They offer Biblical parenting advice that covers toddlers to teenagers.  In a culture so consumed by privacy, I especially liked this post.

Have you ever heard a parent say something like, "I don’t feel comfortable searching my daughter's room. I don't want to invade her privacy."?

Perhaps you know a child who is severely bent out of shape because their "Neanderthal" parents won't allow them to keep a computer in their bedroom.

Where do I stand on this issue?

It's our job to do our best to know what's going on in our children's lives.

• It's our job to know what's in their rooms.
• It's our job to do our best to know what they are doing on their computers and their phones.
• It's our job to do our best to meet their friends and understand what they are involved in when they are hanging out.
• When we do these things, we send the message that we love them enough to be involved in their lives.

Parents who do such things will likely hear, "You don't trust me!" If so, respond with the following:

We love you. Do you think we do these things to be nosey and obnoxious… or do we do these things because we love you and want to help you stay safe?

This question is not designed to change their mind. It's simply designed to plant a seed within it. When we consistently demonstrate love and concern…rather than a dictatorial attitude…this seed has a chance to grow.

As a society, we've lost far too many good kids to drugs, alcohol, pornography, suicide, video game addiction, etc., because we've been afraid of invading privacy. In our Teen Package you'll find a treasure chest of ideas for staying highly involved in your teen's life…without creating massive power-struggles and rebellion.

Brad and I agree with Dr. Charles Fay.  We certainly apply this principle in our home. So far no one has accused us of invading their privacy but we know it's coming!

Training with God's Word

I LOVE this from Doorposts of Your Home:

Training with God’s Word

Last week we talked about studying God’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. I hope you were able to invest some time in studying this passage. If you did, you will be better prepared to disciple your children today. (If you didn’t manage to do the study this past week, you can still do so. Work on it this week, and then come back to this post after you have spent several days studying the passage.)

Deuteronomy 6:6 tells us that God’s Word should be on our hearts, and that we should diligently teach that Word to our children. Nothing takes the place of God’s Word impressed on our own hearts when we are seeking to teach our children to submit to God and His Word.

If we are actively studying the Word and seeking to obey it, it will become much easier and more natural for us to talk of it while we sit in our house, while we walk by the way, while we lie down, and while we rise up (Deut. 6:7). In addition, if our children see us treasuring God’s Word and seeking to submit to it, they will be much more open to viewing it as the authority in their own lives.

If you made sticky notes with pictures or words last week, make sure they are posted around the house in strategic places. Do your children have trouble with anger and irritability in the car? Are you going out with them today? Post your reminder for verse 5, “It is not irritable or resentful,” on the dashboard.

Are you planning on a video or game sometime during the day? Do you ever have problems with disagreements over which movie to watch or which game to play? Post your reminder for verse 5, “Love does not insist on its own way,” in that room.

Are you likely to become impatient with the children while working on schoolwork together? Post your verse 4, “love is patient,” reminder in that room.

Do you tend to get a lot of reports of others’ wrongdoings as you work in the kitchen? Post a reminder of verse 6, “Does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth,” over the kitchen sink.

If you have a specific room that you go to with your children when disciplining them, keep your Bible in that room, with a marker at 1 Corinthians 13.

Reread 1 Corinthians 13 one more time. Recite it to yourself. Make a special point of keeping this passage in mind today as you love and train your children. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you, and pray throughout the day for God to give you opportunities to apply the truths of 1 Corinthians 13.

Start out the day by reading the passage with your children. Read it in a translation that they will understand. Talk about it briefly and close with something like, “Let’s see how well we can obey this passage today.” Pray with them for God’s help to obey Him.

Then be prepared when teaching opportunities arise throughout the day. Your sticky note cue cards, posted in strategic locations, will help you remember and apply specific verses. You can also carry a copy of the passage on a small card in a pocket for easy reference.

Here are a few examples of possible scenarios:

You’re heading for the car. Two children are arguing about who gets the favored seat. Use God’s Word to help them see their sin and guide them in choosing to do what is right. “Do you boys love each other? Good. I know you do. God says in 1 Corinthians 13 that love ‘does not insist on its own way.’ This is a chance to demonstrate your love by putting the other person first.”

(Of course, you may still face the challenge of both children thinking the other person should have the privilege of putting him first. Then, if you know your Scripture, you can go on to remind them that the first shall be last (Matt. 19:30), or that we are commanded to not exalt ourselves (Matt. 23:12). “You miss out on pleasing God and on being blessed by God when you refuse to put others ahead of yourself. For today, I would like you both to take the back seats. Who else can we let enjoy this seat?”

You’re reviewing phonograms again with Susie, and she still isn’t remembering them. Your voice starts to communicate your impatience, and Susie is getting flustered in response to your attitude. Stop yourself, and confess your impatience to Susie. “I’m sorry I’m being impatient with you, Susie. Will you forgive me? God has told us that love is patient. I love you, so I’m going to work, with God’s help, on being more patient. I know you are doing your best, and that this is hard work for you. Let’s go over this one more time, and I’ll try to do better.”

You’re at the table. Daniel is already starting to devour his mashed potatoes, but everyone is not served yet, and his little brother Benjamin is impatiently grumbling about the fact that he doesn’t have any potatoes yet.

“Daniel, God tells us that love is not rude. Are you doing something that is impolite? Let’s love each other by waiting until everyone is served before starting to eat. That’s part of honoring each other.”

“Benjamin, love is patient, isn’t it? And love bears all things. We all need to work on patience while we work on better manners together. Can you be patient, while everyone else gets their potatoes, too?”

What lessons has God taught you? Share these with your children when they relate to different situations throughout the day. In what ways has He called you to change? Help your children understand that you, like they, are called and strengthened to obey God.

Work on applying 1 Corinthians 13 throughout the next week. God’s Word, with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, accomplishes God’s purposes. You may not see immediate results, but I believe you will see changes. Trust Him. Faithfully and gently appeal to your children’s consciences with the truth of God’s Word, and trust God with the results.

It would be wonderful if you could share some of your experiences here in the comments over the next week. What specific situations arose and how did you use 1 Corinthians 13 to instruct your children? What were the results? We can learn a lot from each other, as we take the time to share. May God bless your efforts!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Tomorrow is another big day in Kirsten's medical world; she begins a new heart medication. This will be medicine #10 in her daily routine not including the supplements from the natural doctor.

The new medicine, Carvedilol, is commonly used in adults but is fairly new in treating children.  The goal is to decrease the swelling in Kirsten's left ventricle. 1 side effect is low blood pressure.  The first dose will be taken at the cardiology office.  She will be given a low dose and then her blood pressure will be monitored every 30 minutes for 2 hours. We return 2 weeks later to increase the dose and monitor her blood pressure for 2 hours.  Repeat 2 weeks later. Repeat. Repeat until she's taking the highest dose her body can handle.  Another side effect is increased respiratory distress in asthmatic patients.  And Kirsten has asthma and poor functioning lungs.  So we will see the pulminologist 1 week after each increased dose of Carvedilol.

So here I am again.... scared, nervous, trying desparately to trust the Lord's sovereignty, trusting some moments and not trusting other moments, knowing in my heart that he is in control and loves Kirsten more than we possibly could but my head questions why he doesn't just heal her.  He could. I know that. I never doubt that. But he chooses not to and I don't know why.  I could go back to asking "why?" but I know that solves nothing.  My part in this is to trust my heavenly Father and pray and love my daughter.

Earlier in the week, I ran across something I wrote on her Caringbridge site.  It was Kirsten's 7th birthday... now 4 years ago.  It reminded me of what Jesus Christ has done in our lives since Kirsten's birth.  It reminded me that I can trust him because he's proved himself over and over.  I have no idea what my future holds.  If his will is to take Kirsten before I die, I know that he will be right by my side.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).   And he promises that his grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Here's what I wrote:

October 18, 2007

As I lay in bed last night, I wondered what to write on Kirsten's journal today. This is truly a special day. 7 years ago, I was still in labor and the future was filled with many unknowns... What would our precious baby look like? Would she appear to be healthy or sickly? How big would she be? Big enough for surgery? Will she breathe on her own? Would our baby live? How would we handle it if she died? Would we honor God? Would he be proud of us? Would he be glad he chose this journey for our family?

This week at Bible Study I studied the sovereignty and providence of God. As we look back, we can see the sovereignty and providence of God in Kirsten's life and in the life of our family. His sovereignty refers to his absolute right to do all things according to his good pleasure and purpose. His providence is his "unseen" work on behalf of people/an individual.

Brad and I have been convinced from Kirsten's first diagnosis with her heart condition in September 2000, that God did not make a mistake. Kirsten's heart problem did not slip by him unnoticed...No! In fact, he purposefully created her that way. Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you for I am fearfully and WONDERFULLY made. Your works are WONDERFUL, I know that full well." By man's standard, she is not wonderfully made; in fact she has lots of problems by man's standard. But by God's standard, she is perfect the way he created her.

One week after Kirsten's birth, she was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome, a condition that presents a seemingly endless list of symptoms. Once again, Brad and I had the opportunity to decide if we believed in God's sovereignty. Acts 17:24-25 says, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth .... He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." We were still convinced that the God who created the universe created our daughter with a chromosome deletion - on purpose. It was not a fluke thing - something random that just happened. It was his divine purpose for her life and ours. But we kept asking "Why?"

And how have we seen God's providence over the last 7 years? Sometimes God's providence is not evident. Many times it's unknown, but throughout Scripture is woven God's mighty and loving acts on behalf of his children. So we know that he intervenes for us too!

When Kirsten was diagnosed in utero with her heart condition, I was anointed with oil and prayed over twice. James 5:14-15 says, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up." We won't know until we get to heaven if the Lord answered "No" or if he partially healed her. Perhaps Kirsten's heart and symptoms of DiGeorge were much worse than they were at birth or are today. Perhaps he improved her condition on behalf of the many who prayed for her. We've known and heard of DiGeorge kids who are significantly worse off. But perhaps he simply said, "No."

For months, we asked the Lord "WHY?" Why did you let this happen to our daughter? Why our family? What good can come out of this? How can you let this precious baby suffer? How can you let us as parents watch our baby suffer when we can do nothing but pray? I admire Paul for asking the Lord only 3 times to remove his thorn! I'm sure I asked thousands ....maybe millions of times! And one day, on June 8, 2002 (Kirsten was almost 20 months old), I felt the Lord's nudge (Actually it was more like a kick!) to stop asking him to heal her of DiGeorge and to stop asking "why". Now please understand that he did not tell me to stop asking him to heal her heart, developmental delays, other illnesses, etc. It was only to heal her of her genetic disorder.

He directed me to 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Verses 8-10 say, 'Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, [in DiGeorge Syndrome]. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

The answer to "why" is: TO SHOW GOD'S POWER. It's a difficult lesson to learn that God's glory is much more important than our comfort and happiness and ease in life. We have our weaknesses - whether they be a physical ailment or disability, or whatever - to bring glory to God. My teaching leader at Bible Study said something beautiful! "Don't waste your suffering!" Let the Lord be glorified so that your suffering is not in vain. Don't become bitter and angry and continue to question God. The "why's" don't matter. Proverbs 20:24 even says that: "A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?"

Romans 11:33-36 begs the question, "Who do you think you are questioning God?"

"O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Through my daughter's 7 years of life, I have learned that God's purpose will prevail ("Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21). I can either go along with it or stand in the way. And do I really want to stand in the way of God?

Our prayer for you, our precious Kirsten, is that this will be the best day of your life so far! We are so proud of you. We are thrilled to be your parents. What a huge blessing you are to us.

Happy Birthday, Kirsten!

Just a Mom

One of my sweet friends is a speaker and her blog encourages and inspires me.  She loves the Lord dearly and her life is evidence of it.  Through thick and thin, she walks faithfully with her Savior.  I'm honored to call Dana my friend.

The other day she wrote about being a stay at home mom.  I know that as stay at home moms we all sometimes struggle with feeling judged, judging moms who work and remember our purpose.  Dana really encouraged me to stay focused on what the Lord has called ME to do.  You can read her blog here.

Here is her blog entry Just a Mom:

I wrote this for The Confident Mom blog in February. I have another post coming to her site next week.

As I stood by my husbands’ side, I could feel many eyes on me. I tried hard to only glance in their direction and not make complete eye contact. I felt very inferior and unimportant. As long as no one talks to me, I will be just fine.

I was standing among women with perfect manicures and hair styles. Their clothes were stylish and classy. And then there was me.

My husband had brought me with him to a business dinner. All real estate agents in his office were meeting for dinner with their spouses. I only knew one other couple but they were busy, so I stood by Scott, happy to not speak to anyone.

One woman did speak to me, “Dana, what do you do?” I hate questions like that. I answered as confidently as I could, “I stay home with our kids.”

“Oh, that is great! Do you work?”she asked. Really? Do I work?

“No, I’m just a mom” I answered.

On the way home I began thinking; why did I feel that what I was doing was so unimportant? Why did I let this professional woman make me want to curl up in the corner because I’m just a mom?

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Proverbs 127:1

Mothers are much like the builders of great structures. Often we only know of the structures built and not of the ones who design it and worked to build it. Chances are, you do not know about Maria Magdalena Keverich, mother of Ludwig van Beethoven. And I doubt you have heard of Ida Stover, mother of Dwight D. Eisenhower. We know of their sons and the great impact they made on our world, but rarely do we talk about the impact their mothers made on them. I often wonder what kind of mother did Daniel (Daniel 1:8-20) have. She raised a son who stood boldly for what he believed was right in spite of possible consequences.

As a mom, I must remember who the architect is and who the builder is. God is the ultimate architect. He has already designed your child with gifts and talents that are meant to be used for His glory. He wants to use me to accomplish that purpose; he has made me the builder. We will not know the end result of our labors until we get to Heaven and meet those who our children have impacted and influenced. How exciting is it to know that God has a special purpose for our children and he wants to use us to accomplish that purpose!

As the builder I must keep my focus on the architect (God), not on what I’m building (my children) or I will lose focus and get discouraged. I do this by studying His plans (Bible) and staying in conversation with my architect on a regular basis. By keeping my heart and mind focused on God, he will guide me and equip me with all I need to raise my children to be the ones he can use for his great purpose. It is not my plan for my children that will succeed, but the plans of God.

My goal as a mom is not to build up godly children, but to be godly myself so that God can use me to build up a heritage of children who will worship Him and love them with all their heart, soul, strength & mind.

For that brief moment at dinner with my husband (that felt like forever) I had lost sight of the amazing ministry that God has called me to. He has called me to be a mom. He has entrusted in my care his children to be raised and trained according to his Word. He has given me the opportunity to be part of a greater purpose as I walk with my children every day, teaching them by my example. God wants to use me to build a lasting legacy through my children!

You are not just a mom! You are a builder in the Kingdom of God, training up his children to become mighty men & women for His glory! Karol Ladd of Positive Life Principles calls us Molders of Mankind (MoM). I love that!

1 Peter 2:5, “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood”

Jesus Calling for Children

I found out recently that Sarah Young has published a young reader's version of Jesus Calling.  I'm so excited! The Easter bunny will be bringing our girls a copy this year!  The cheapest I can find online is on Amazon. 

(image care of Amazon.com)

The Over Sexualization of Little Girls

This article by Diane Montgomery written for The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood is right on target with our culture today.  What a great call to stand up for what the Lord has called us to as parents. I know it's long but it's worth the read.  And as you read, ask the Lord to show you how you need to change your approach to parenting.  How can you raise your little boys and girls to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts, souls, minds and strenght? 

Today, you can see 4 year old self-proclaimed divas with spray tanned abs, fake teeth inserts, wigs with the biggest Texas hair imaginable, enough makeup to make them look 10 years older, throwing tantrums, and hitting their mothers on the popular show Toddlers & Tiaras.

Today, you can see 7 year olds in dance competitions wearing lace bustieres and hotpants, bending over, grabbing their chests and grinding on a stage in such a sexually aggressive manner it looks like something you’d see from an exotic dancer.

Today, you can read about 7 year olds wanting to be sexier, thinking they need to diet because they’re too fat or in the December issue of French Vogue posing like sex vixens, in what some are calling pedocouture.

Today, little girls think they need cell-phones at 8, should start dating boys at 7, and look up to stars like Miley Cyrus who make lap-dancing, sexting pictures, and drug abuse cool.

Some say the times are more evil and that’s why they’re this way but when I see these over-sexualized little girls I can’t help but wonder: “Where’s the mother that’s supposed to be teaching her daughter that physical beauty isn’t what’s important and her sassy attitude isn’t acceptable behavior? When little girls’ outfits show everything and they wear makeup, making them look like teenagers, where are the fathers saying no and protecting their little girls from the lustful eyes of men and boys? What can parents do to prevent the over-sexualization of their daughters?

1. Help Preserve Inward Beauty

So much of the influences on young girls emphasize physical beauty. Everything they watch on TV, see on magazine covers, and experience among their peers is judgment based on outward appearance. They’re constantly being told by the world that their worth and potential popularity is based on how pretty they are.

By letting them be involved in beauty pageants at young ages, letting them dress like their favorite Disney Channel pop star, and even by stressing over your own weight in front of your daughter, parents are teaching daughters to place their worth in being pretty or skinny. We must instill in them and show by example that God desires an inner beauty which is what actually makes a girl beautiful (1 Pet.3:3-4).

Teaching them to perform or act for the approval of others teaches them to place value in the glorification of sinful man, not the glorification of a holy God. It teaches them to seek the compliments of guys and do whatever they have to do to secure the world’s affections. Parents are the God-given guides to show them their true worth lies in Christ and in having a beautiful heart, not in boys, clothes, or beauty, which fade with time (Prov. 30:31).

2. Help Preserve Sexual Purity

Why do we even need to teach our 6 year olds about sexual purity? Aren’t they too young to even know about those kinds of things? I used to think girls and boys didn’t experience sexual peer pressure until middle or high school. But now you read news stories about 2nd graders having oral sex and, shockingly enough, 5 year olds being asked to have sex by their classmate.

God places a huge emphasis on maintaining sexual purity and fleeing from situations that have even a hint of sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6; Eph.5:3). As their earthly guardians, parents are the ones in charge of protecting our daughters from sexually themed situations and protecting their hearts and minds from things they can’t comprehend fully or handle emotionally. Young girls today are bombarded with sexual images and messages that can do major psychological damage if parents aren’t there to censor and protect them.

Author and speaker, Vicki Courtney, shows exactly why parents need to fight against the sexualization of their daughters:

•Cognitive and Emotional Consequences: Sexualization and objectification undermine a person’s confidence in and comfort with her own body, leading to emotional and self-image problems such as shame and anxiety.

•Mental and Physical Health: Research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problems diagnosed in girls and women — eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression or depressed moods.

•Sexual Development: Research suggests that the sexualization of girls has negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop a healthy sexual self-image.*

When little girls are over-sexualized at any stage, it gives them a false sense of maturity and independence. It makes them think they’re older than they are, know better than their parents, and that they’re ready for things far beyond their years. It makes little girls grow up too fast.

3. Disciple and Teach Them in the Lord

God’s called parents to do 2 main things: (1) Discipline in the Lord and, (2) Teach the Lord’s instructions (Deut. 4:9-10; 6:6-10; 11:18-19). God’s made parents an authority, to act on His behalf (Prov.13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17). It’s for her protection and to help preserve her innocence, for her to know God has a standard for her behavior. As God shows His children grace, mercy, and discipline, so are parents to follow His example with their children.

As Tedd Tripp (Shepherding a Child’s Heart) states, “Discipline is not you working on your agenda, venting your wrath toward your children; it is you coming as God’s representative, bringing the reproofs of life to your son or daughter.”

Parents, not the church, teachers, or a friend’s parents, control what their daughters watch, what they wear, and how they act. They’re the ones given the charge of teaching their children the Lord’s instructions because they have the most influence from the very beginning. A child’s mind is like a sponge soaking up everything it’s taught at a young age. Your daughter will soak up all the ways the Lord’s instructed for her to be God-glorifying, obedient and full of wisdom (Prov.22:6).

If parents don’t help preserve their daughter’s innocence, who will? If parent’s don’t help protect their daughters from the consequences of sexualization, who will? Of course, we want to make them happy, give them what we didn’t have, and we never want to harm them – but God knows children need guidance, instruction and boundaries. Parents love their daughters by saying no to miniskirts, by not allowing your 8 year old daughter to call a boy in her class, by teaching her that a “I don’t care what you say, Mom” attitude is not pleasing to the Lord.

Girls, like those on Toddlers & Tiaras, that are throwing tantrums, calling themselves divas, and saying to their mothers “I can do whatever I want” will grow up to be women who are brash, conceited, self-worshiping, and find value in their sexuality. They will be the queens and princesses on the throne of their heart, unless they let God become ruler of their hearts.

When girls are taught the ways of the Lord from an early age, they’re more likely to become respectful, gentle, kind, and God-fearing women. They won’t be filled with vanity or rivalry but with concern for others (Phil.2:3). When girls are taught to be modest, virtuous, and remain sexually pure as a way of glorifying the Lord, they’re more likely to be godly women. Ultimately a girl will make the choice to put God on the throne or not but until that time comes, it’s a parent’s job to give her the wisdom of God’s teachings, show her who God is, and help protect her.

*“Sexualization of Girls is Linked to Common Mental Health Problems in Girls and Women — Eating Disorders, Low Self-Esteem, and Depression,” February 19, 2007,http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2007/02/sexualization.aspx

Parenting with Grace

A dear friend passed this article by Paul Tripp on to me. It was convicting to me and just what I needed this weekend. I honestly don't know who Mr. Tripp is but I do like what he writes in this particular article.

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."  2 Peter 1:2-4 

Parenting: The Joyful Impossibility

It was eleven o’clock on a Sunday night, and I was pulling out of the grocery store parking lot exhausted and overwhelmed. After we had put our four children to bed, later than we had planned, Luella discovered that we had nothing in the house to pack for lunches the next day. With an attitude that couldn’t be described as joy, I got in the car and did the late-night food run. As I waited for the light to change so I could leave the parking lot and drive home, it all hit me. It seemed like I had been given an impossible job to do; I had been chosen to be the dad of four children.

It is humbling and a bit embarrassing to admit, but I sat in my car and dreamed of what it would be like to be single. No, I didn’t want to actually leave Luella and my children, but parenting seemed overwhelming at that point. I felt like I had nothing left to face the next day of a thousand sibling battles, a thousand authority encounters, a thousand reminders, a thousand warnings, a thousand corrections, a thousand discipline moments, a thousand explanations, a thousand times of talking about the presence and grace of Jesus, a thousand times of helping the children to look in the mirror of God’s Word and see themselves with accuracy, a thousands “please forgive me’s,” and a thousand “I love you’s.” It seemed impossible to be faithful to the task and have the time and energy to anything else.

Now, I’m about to write something here that may seem counter-intuitive and quasi-irrational, but here it is: That moment in the car was not dark and horrible. No, it was a precious moment of faithful grace. Rather than my burden growing heavier that evening, my burden lifted. Do I mean that suddenly parenting got simpler and easier? By no means! But something fundamental changed that evening for which I am eternally grateful.

There are two things I learned that evening that changed the experience of parenting for me.

1. I faced the fact that I had no ability whatsoever to change my children. In ways that I had been completely unaware of, I had loaded the burden of change unto my shoulders. I had fallen into believing that by the force of my logic, the threat of my discipline, the look on my face, or the tone of my voice, that I could change the hearts of my children, and in changing their hearts, change their behavior. Daily I would get up in the morning and try to be the self-appointed messiah of my children. And the more I tried to do what I have no power to do, the more it angered and disappointed me, and frustrated and discouraged them. It was a big mess. I was a pastor, yet I failed to see that in my parenting I denied the very gospel that I tried to faithfully preach Sunday after Sunday. In my home, as I tried to produce change and growth in my children, I acted as if there were no plan of redemption, no Jesus the Christ, no cross of sacrifice, no empty tomb, no living and active Holy Spirit. That evening God opened my eyes to the fact that I was asking the law to do what only grace could accomplish, and that would never work.

I began to understand that if all my children needed was a set of rules and a parent to function as a judge, jury, and jailer, Jesus would have never needed to come. It hit me that the fundamental changes that needed to take place at the deepest level of thought and desire in my children, leading to lasting changes in their behavior, would only ever happen by means of the powerful, forgiving, and transforming grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I began to realize that as a parent I had not been called to be the producer of change, but to be a willing tool in the powerful hands of a God who alone has the power and willingness to undo us and rebuild us again. But there was a second thing I got that evening.

2. I faced the fact that in order to be a tool of grace, I desperately needed grace myself. In a moment of confessing and forsaking my delusions of autonomy and self-sufficiency, I faced my weakness of character, wisdom, and strength. I admitted to God and myself that I didn’t have inside of me what it takes to do the task I was called on to do. I did not have the endless patience, faithful perseverance, constant love, and ever-ready grace that were needed to be the instrument in the lives of my children that God had appointed me to be. And in that admission, I realized that I was much more like my children than unlike them. Like them, I am naturally independent and self-sufficent. Like them, I don’t always love authority and esteem wisdom. Like them, I often want to write my own rules and pursue my own plan. Like them, I want life to be predictable, comfortable, and easy. Like them, I would again and again make life all about me.

It hit me that If I were ever to be the tool of transforming grace in the lives of my children, I needed to be daily rescued, not from them, but from me! That’s why Jesus came, so that I would have every resource that I need to be what he has chosen me to be and do what he has called me to do. In his life, death, and resurrection I had already been given all that I needed to be his tool of rescuing, forgiving, and transforming grace.

That night I began to find joy in the impossibility of it all. The task is way bigger than our ability us as parents, but we are not our children’s messiah, and we are not left to the resources of our own character, wisdom, and strength. Our children have a Messiah. He is with them and working in and through us. The wise heavenly Father is working on everybody in the scene, and he will not call us or them to a task without enabling us to do it.

Teaching Responsibility

Far easier said than done, isn't it?  It would be much easier to continually remind my children of all they need to do and then to "rescue" them when they don't follow through or when life hands them the short end of the straw.

I had an opportunity this week to choose to let a lesson be learned the hard way or to swoop in to rescue my 7 year old.

Katelyn began 2nd grade this year.  And with 2nd grade in our house comes an added level of responsibility.  You are responsible for packing your own lunch, snack and water bottle and getting ready for school by 7:30am when Daddy pulls out of the garage. If your backpack is not packed or your hair isn't brushed, it's tough luck!  You are going to school as is.

On Tuesday Katelyn took longer than usual to eat her breakfast and so she didn't have time to pack her snack and fill her water bottle.  Fortunately she was buying her lunch that day ("Breakfast for lunch," which is served every other Tuesday in the school cafeteria, is a favorite) so it didn't matter that her lunch wasn't packed.  The girls loaded into Brad's car and he dropped them off at school.  I knew she had forgotten the snack and water bottle and so I emailed her teacher, Ms. Green, as soon as the girls left to let her know that Katelyn was going to be in a pickle that day.  I informed her that I wasn't going to be bailing Katelyn out of her dilemma and this will likely result in tears.  Thankfully Ms. Green agreed that this was a good learning opporunity. 

Now, several things could have gone differently if I had not made up my mind several years ago not to be a "helicopter parent."  I could have reminded Katelyn to hurry up and eat breakfast because she needed to pack her snack and water bottle.  I could have done it for her while she was eating breakfast.  I could have even done it for her after she left and dropped it at school later that morning.  But really, what does that teach my child?   That when life is hard, you should expect someone to rescue you?  That when you forget to carry your responsibility, there are no consequences because Mommy and Daddy will be there to provide what you forgot? 

I read in a magazine the other day about a lady who helped her brother and sister-in-law refinance their house because their credit was bad so they were denied, and now that she wants to buy a car, she was denied a loan because of her credit rating?  Is that how I want my child to end up living?  Please understand that I am not talking about being harsh and uncompassionate and merciless. I realize that there is a time to step in and help as Proverbs 31:8-9 state, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."  But as a parent, my responsibility is to teach my children that every choice we make has consequences.  And isn't it better to learn that lesson with something small like a forgotten snack and water bottle while she's still under my loving care than later when the bad choice has bigger consequences like jail or a fine or when it affects someone else's life?

You may be wondering what happened when Katelyn came home.  Remember that she didn't know that I knew she had forgotten her snack and water.  When I picked up the girls, she looked rather forlorn so I asked if she wanted to talk about something when we got home.  She did so we sat in my room and chatted.  She cried and shared that she had forgotten her snack and water and was so hungry and thirsty.  Her mouth was so dry and it ruined her entire day.  I empathized and held her and then we came up with a plan so this doesn't happen again. 

She loves the Barbie movie version of the "The 3 Musketeers" (despite the fact that 4 women rescue a prince!  The women's lib nonsense drives me crazy but that's for another day.) So I suggested that sometime after school each day she packs her 3 Musketeers (lunch, snack and water bottle).  The 3 are never apart and work together to keep her healthy.  She thought that was so funny, and it looks promising that she won't forget her 3 Musketeers anytime soon. 

I debated whether to tell her that I knew she had forgotten them and eventually did. I told her that I knew it was a hard lesson for her and I was tempted to "rescue" her but what would that teach her?  I told her that when she goes to college one day, there will be no one to tell her to do her homework and no one to even make her go to class for that matter.  If I don't teach her responsibility in the little things now, I'm doing her a great disservice as an adult.   My wise daughter shared my insight and agreed.

Won't you join Brad and me in our efforts to make responsible adults instead of adults who expect to be "rescued" from life's consequences?

Kirsten's Heart

I haven't updated in ages.  We are having a busy and fun summer!  I'll write more about that another time but wanted to let you know about Kirsten's cardiology appointment this past Thursday.  You may have read it on Caringbridge but just in case...

The EKG and physical exam were the same as a yr ago. The echocardiog​ram revealed that her leakage in the homograft (the artery of another baby that they put in during her heart surgery when she was 6 days old) is the same. That is a huge praise. Originally we were told that the homograft would have to be replaced when she was 5-6 yrs old. She would outgrow it and/or it would calcify not allowing blood to flow through it. She hasn't needed that yet.

The echo also revealed that the obstruction of blood flow through the homograft is the same (you may remember the wonderful miracle in January 2009 in which the drs determined she needed a stint but during the heart cath, the pressures revealed she didn't), the ventricles are squeezing the same but the left ventricle is bigger. This is of concern to the dr.

Kirsten's liver is fine and there is no other reason that she can see that would make the ventricle bigger. That is good news.

This all means that Kirsten's heart doesn't look good but due to her high level of activity, the dr isn't too concerned. She did add a 4th heart medicine to Kirsten's daily meds. This is Lasix, a diuretic, to see if the removal of fluid from her body will decrease the size of the ventricle. She also gave Kirsten the restiction of no prolonged running bc of the strain on her heart.

She returns in 6 months for a repeated echo.

We were sad to learn that at this point no one would be willing to operate on Kirsten's heart. She would have trouble coming off the bypass machine. Th​at means her heart and lungs couldn't handle being bypassed to perform the surgery. So that means no surgery unles it's a transplant.​ She will likely be a transplant candidate at some point. Probably years down the road. Fortunately she doesn't need any surgery at the moment. Increased leakage in the homograft would mean she needed surgery.

Tha​t's hard even to type. I spent the first few years of Kirsten's life waking up wonderin​g if she had died in the night. I don't want to go back to living that way.

We are grateful for the almost 10 years of her life. What joy she brings us. Please pray for the Lord's healing hand on Kirsten but most importantly we want his will whatever it is and for him to be glorified through it. Please pray for comfort and strength for Brad and me. It would be so much easier if we could do something to fix this. Both of us are "fixers" which I suppose is one reason we are going through this trial.

May Job's words be true of each of our family members: "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10

O Happy Day

I'm so proud of Katelyn!  Yesterday morning was the First Grade Talent Show at school.  Each child was given 2 minutes to show off their talent.  Some played the keyboard or violin, a few boys did maritial arts, there were gymnastics, cheer and jump rope routines.  Katelyn showed off her hoola hooping talent and she did a fabulous job!

But what makes me most proud of her is that she chose to perform to a Christian song.  Here are the lyrics.

The greatest day in history, Death is beaten

You have rescued me
Sing it out Jesus is alive
The empty cross, The empty grave
Life eternal You have won the day
Shout it out Jesus is alive
He's alive


Chorus:
Oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I'll never be the same
Forever I am changed


When I stand, in that place
Free at last, meeting face to face
I am Yours Jesus You are mine
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive
He's alive


Bridge:
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious way
That You have saved me
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious name

Here is the link to watch her perform.

When Katelyn was 3 1/2 years old, she and I were driving somewhere and she said, "I want to ask Jesus to live in my heart."  It brought me great joy that the Lord allowed me the privilege of being with my precious child when she became his precious child.  She prayed right then and asked the Lord to be her Savior. She understood that God loved her enough to send his Son to die in her place for her sins  and that only through asking Jesus to be her Savior could she live in heaven with God. 

Over the last 4 years, I have watched Katelyn grow spiritually.  She has grown increasingly sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and speaking. Nothing could make me prouder and happier as a mother.

This morning when I was ate lunch with her at school, one of the teachers came up to me and said she liked the song Katelyn chose and she likes to get that name [meaning Jesus] into the school whenever possible.

I continue to pray for my children's boldness in their faith.  I pray that they will love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them

For Mother's Day, each of the children in Katelyn's class made a booklet for their Mommy.  Inside were coupons for various chores, poems about mothers and personalized descriptions of the mom.

Katelyn filled in the blanks of "My Special Mother." 

My mother is the most wonderful mom in the world!  She's as pretty as a rose.  She weighs 92 pounds. She is 10 feet tall.  Her favorite food is chips.  When my mom was little, she used to play Barbies. The prettiest thing about my mom is her hair.  I wouldn't trade my mother for high heels.  Happy Mother's Day! Love, Katelyn

Katelyn also created a booklet in which she filled in the blanks:

If my mom were a color she would be red because she makes me happy.  If my mom were an animal she would be a graf (giraffe) because she's com .  If my mom were candy, she would be a yellow one because she's chirfol! (cheerful)  If my mom were  a car she would be a smart car because she likes they .  If my mom were a sport she would be ice scite (ice skating) because she's fun! 

Such sweet and funny words from my little girl. Hard to believe she's finishing 1st grade in 2 weeks!! 

I am so thankful to the Lord for the children he's placed in our family. We are blessed to have a quiver full of them just like the Psalm says.  I love how God placed each one with their unique personalities in our family. 

I pray often that they will love the Lord their God with all their hearts and all their souls and all their minds and all their strength all the days of their lives.  And I pray daily for wisdom in raising them.  What an honor to be their Mommy!  Thank you, Lord, for lending these precious 3 lives to Brad and me.