Never Underestimate...

Never underestimate the little moments you have. If you are a working mom, you may feel that you don't have enough time left over to show affection.

Never underestimate the little moments of telling your husband or your children, I love you. Never underestimate an extra long hug over a 5 minute walk down the street or sharing a chocolate milk. Many things can be done with leftovers...especially if it was blessed in the beginning. Even Jesus Christ didn't throw away leftovers! Leftover time can still be used for God's purposes. It can still feed and nourish. It can still heal and restore. Miracles can happen using leftovers.

Here's a cool illustration...

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

¹Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ²and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. ³Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

⁵When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" ⁶He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

⁸Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, ⁹"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

¹⁰Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹²When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." ¹³So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Those Teachers....

Here we are...at the beginning of the school year. As we remember to pray for our children, it is important to remember to pray for their teachers. I remember my oldest son's kindergarten teacher. Somehow, we got off on the wrong foot in our relationship, so to speak, for the first few days of the school year. I was reminded to pray about the situation and speak blessings over her. The next day, it was amazing. We were like old friends. Right relationship and order was restored in our relationship and we grew in friendship. My son was blessed to have her as a teacher for 2 years!

By praying for your teachers, it changes your heart and invites order and peace in the relationship.  By praying for your teachers, you are welcoming God into the relationship and believe me, you do need God in this relationship. 

2 Timothy 1:3 

 ³I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

And It Was Good

Sometimes we get in the habit of beating ourselves up at the end of the day. I love that God, who is of course perfect, looked out over creation and said that it was good, even there was more to be done.

Tomorrow is another day, but let's be thankful for today as we grow in love for our husbands and our children. At the end of the day, let's go to sleep and say, it was good.

Time won't give me time...

Today I had a great lunch with my women's group at Red Lobster. The food was good, but the fellowship/friendship was better. Unfortunately, many moms, like myself, do not make time to surround themselves with encouraging friends...women that we can draw from even when we feel spiritually full.

On the ride home, I was thinking about God and His nature. It is abundant. He doesn't want us to run on empty or even get close to empty. He wants us to fill up even when we are full! Wow, what a concept! 

Even though I feel rushed and frantic from time to time, I have to remind myself of the truth: I do have the time to get encouraged in His word. I do have time for my husband and our marriage. I do have time to hang out with my friends...weekly! I do have time for women's group (plus leading one). I do have time to give my sons extra long hugs. I do have time to tell my sons how they are a blessing in me and my husband's lives. 

Making time for friends is so important. Making time for laughter is so important. Making time to be encouraged is so important. We have the time, so let's make the time.

Romans 1:12
When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

~Pam

First Day of School with a Twist

After much debating, wrestling, and prayer...lots of prayer...My husband and I decided to homeschool this year.

I am still kicking out past ideas and notions that I had about homeschooling (i.e. they are Quakers/Puritans, socially stunted). I have decided that those are the opinions of society and not necessarily mine.

Our official first day of homeschooling felt like an official day. Excitement the night before and jitters the morning of the first day. We planned to complete our homeschooling at the local library-starting at 9 am. Much to my surprise the library did not open until 10am! It is times like this when your type A, inflexibility nature surfaces. We ran an errand and came back to the library at 10am. As we set up the two laptops and logged on...I breathed with a sigh of relief. Thank you Lord! It's working. We CAN do this! I stepped back in pride at what God is piecing and weaving together in our marriage, our family and our children. The best thing is, He is just getting started. This is just day one. This is just the beginning.

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”- Psalm 116:1-2

Come what may this school year, I know that God is there for it all. He hears my cheers, grunts, and moans. He is always here and we as moms are never alone. We always having a loving Dad to turn to at any moment of the day!

And now for the Intro...

My name is Pam. I am a wife, mother of two boys (ages 6 and 8), and owner of a therapy practice in Orlando, FL.

This blog is for anyone out there that feels that things will be better when:

a) I win the lottery

b) I get a full-time housekeeper/nanny

c) the economy improves

d) I get a raise

e) I get a man or a better man

f) My husband respects me and sees things from my point of view, goshdarnit!

g) all of the above

I, too, have thought that things will be better when different external factors (outside of me) finally change. Fortunately, I have learned that we as mothers can and NEED to encourage ourselves. We need to do this for the sake of our marriage, our children, our family. As women, we are influencers of a new generation. As we influence, we can either chose to walk in discouragement or encouragement. This school year, let's walk in encouragement! 

We have big hopes and dreams for our children, yet God has even bigger hopes and dreams for them! He has big dreams and amazing purposes for us, as moms, too. We can ENCOURAGE our children to greatness and purpose!

God gave Moses many tasks. One of those tasks was to encourage Joshua, his assistant. Joshua would lead God's chosen people into the promised land of Canaan.

Deuteronomy 1:38
But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.

Deuteronomy 3:28
But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see."

There are amazing things that are children are called to do. Now is the time to encourage them. That is why we need to stay encouraged, moms.