God's Calling....

Where oh where have I been??  I don't even know myself.  It's been a crazy week, I can tell you that.  Lots going on and there never seems to be enough time for me and my blog.  It's always the last thing to get my attention.  Sorry for anyone that was wondering if we are ok.  We are GREAT, just busy little bees.

Several weeks ago I spoke to some women at my church about being too busy to listen to God's calling on our lives.  I prayed so hard that I would learn from what the Lord was teaching me.  It was a hard week, busy trying to prepare to leave 2 little ones behind while I took the older kids on a field trip, leaving my husband behind as well.  I wanted the house to be comfortable for him while we were gone, the clothes to be clean, kids to be well taken care of, even if I wasn't providing all the care.  I was often too busy to stop and pray, stop and listen to God speaking to me in the midst of it all.  Do you ever get that way?

Well, I sure don't want my kids to remember me always being "busy" for everyone else.  I mean, being busy for the Lord is great, busy with church is awesome, but too busy for my kids is a big NO, no!  It makes me ask myself, "what kind of legacy do I want to leave?"  What do or will my kids remember about me?  Was mom always on the computer?  Too busy to read a book with them?  On the phone too much to see to my scraped knees?  Too busy with household chores to notice I was lonely and needed a friend?  Or will they remember the things I want them to??  Mom stopped everything to tend to my scrapes and tears.  She read me books over and over even though I had them memorized.  She prayed for me when I felt worrisome over schoolwork or friends.  Do they know that I pray for their futures?  Do they know I pray over them?  Do they even know that I pray?

I have been trying to spend more "time" with my kids, doing more fun things with them, putting aside the laundry, the hustle and bustle of the day.  I struggle with this so much, there is so much being neglected, but for now....My kids are NOT neglected, they are More important to me than a load of clean clothes or dishes.  So, forgive me when I don't blog everyday or every other day, or even for a week.  It's because God has a bigger plan for me, He has more to offer me through the real world than this blogoshpere.  He gave me 5 precious children to mold in His image, His likeness, show His love, teach His ways and I am choosing to obey His calling on my life.  I pray you are listening to His call on you as well.

He's calling.....do you hear??  Will you listen?  Blessings to you all!

Toooo exhausted....

I am just tooo tired to fill you in on this past week, but oh so much has happened!  I will try to fit in a blog post tomorrow after my womens "coffee and conversation" at church.  I had school to teach, children to get to soccer, some had to babysit away from home, go to the store, catch up the laundry, prepare for an all day field trip for today, more laundry for an impromtu trip to WILLIAMSBURG, VA!!  We are overflowing with JOY over this one.  I will fill you tomorrow!!  Oh yeah, and pictures!!   Lots of pictures to come too from our trip today!

Giver of Life...............

This weekend I had the privelege of going on a women's retreat with some wonderful women from my church.  There were 8 of us, including a precious 3 1/2 month old baby, that attended the entire weekend.  The speaker was Great and she had such a sweet spirit that shined everywhere she went.  She shared with us about leaving a life-giving legacy and what that means.  How are we as mortals, life-givers?  Isn't God the only one that gives life and takes it away?  As women we are bearers of God's image, we are made in His image and isn't God a life-giver?  In order to give life, we must be willing to be a HELP and better understand what it means to be a HELPer. 

H=hedge of protection 
E=empathizer
L=lifter
P=preserver of life and hope

A hedge of protection simply means offering a safe place for others to come into.  Do you feel as though others can trust you? Do you give off the feeling that people can share with you and feel protected?  An empathizer needs to try and understand where someone is coming from.  Can you try and remember what it was like as a teen, or a young adult, to be single, divorced, or struggling in a marriage?  At least try to understand what someone else is going through even if you haven't yourself experienced it.  Be a lifter.....lifting others in prayer, lifting their spirit when they are sad or down.  Just giving off a smile instead of a sour face can lift someone else's darkest day.  Are you lifting others?  Be a preserver of life......give hope for the future generations.  In order to preserve life we must share the good news of Christ!  It is our calling form the Lord!  The next generation is all we have left...if they don't know of Christ how will the good news be told??? 

Where are you today?  Are you giving hope, life, and preserving the future?  Our speaker posed this question to us...............If God plucked you out of your family, would anyone notice?  Would you be missed?  If God plucked you out of your church, would anyone notice?  Would you be missed?  If God plucked you out of your neighborhood, would anyone notice?  Would you be missed?  I'm sure that many of us mothers feel like our families would certainly notice and miss us, but what about our churches?  Are there ministries that would notice you were no longer there?  Are there neighbors that would wonder about you?  Would they miss your sweet spirit?  Your trust? Or would life go on without a hitch?

Today I am trying to live my life as a HELPer, an image bearer of Christ, and encourager, a lifter, a preserver.  How then, will you live yours?

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.  1 Thessalonians 2:8

Praise......

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6

I had the honor of spending the afternoon and evening with My Blessed Mommy!!! She took me to a women's conference in a town near by. It was wonderful! We attended one of the small sessions about Intimacy With God and I was richly blessed. After dinner we attended the evening session which was lead by Babbie Mason!!! WOW!! I don't know that I have the words to describe how beautiful her spirit is and how the love of Christ glows in her. Her voice is beautiful, a gift from God and then a spirit to go with it. I was just in awe of her many talents. Now I could go on and on about Babbie Mason and the fabulous evening there, but there is something else that overshadows all those wonderful things.

The time I spent with my mom, just the 2 of us, my mom and me, me and my mom. Let me tell you a little about my mom, she is Beautiful on the outside and her inside is just as gorgeous. She is caring for friends and family, hard working in all she does whether work or personal, loyal to the end, sweet as a flower, friendly and southern as can be, funny, loved by all who know her, and she can sing to boot! She has come so far in 10 years.....wow....did I say 10 years? 10 years ago yesterday her father died, a month later she found her husband having an affair after 28 years of marriage. Long story short, my parents are now divorced, but my mom is Happily remarried 5 years now to a wonderful, God fearing man, whom I am honored to call my Dad. My mom wasn't walking with the Lord during that time, BUT God had a plan, He had been working on my mom for sometime. I had been praying for my mom, as I had been walking with the Lord and I wanted her to feel and have the same Joy of Eternal Life with Christ. I remember her phone call like it was yesterday, telling me she was going to make it right, right with the Lord.....what a glorious night!!! She asked me to pray with her, now I don't pray in front of other people, but God gave me the strength and the words to say. I went to my bedroom to get on my knees and pray with her. It was a glorious time....and I am grateful for the Lord sharing that moment with me.

Last night was like that moment brought back. Sharing in God's goodness. Praising Our Lord together, hand in hand. Praying for each other. Praising God for one another and Praising God for who He is, what He has done, what He will do!!!! I can't tell you how precious those moments are to me...they are etched in my heart forever! So to my Mom, thank you for inviting me, thank you for taking me, thank you for loving me, and thank you for sharing in our Lord with me. :) I will cherish last night for years to come and I pray that we make more memories like that together. I Love You Mom!!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;I will sing praises to you among the nations. Psalm 57:9