Give Your Children The Gift Of A Spirit Filled Mom

Holidays are filled with fun, but also stress. When our children were young, our home was loud, teeming with antics, opinions, laughter, and of course, lots of expectations from my children — the food, the traditions, movies, tea times, time alone "just to talk" amidst so much cooking, washing dishes, the stress of different personalities.

So many times, I would have such high expectations. And so many times, fusses would spoil the moment, or burned rolls that I had spent so much time making and then forgot the timer, or adding family members and friends who did not get along.

There is so much potential for happiness and good memories, and also stress when the larger family comes together. Or when the toddlers just want attention and to be fed, now! Or teens who are moody. You get the picture! All normal seasons of life.

This Thanksgiving, give your children the gift of a Spirit-filled mom. One who is committed to offering love, gentleness, patience, joy, faithfulness, self-control.

Each moment, as we make the choice to "clothe" ourselves with the Spirit who lives within us, we will have a holiday worth remembering because we will be bringing His life, our source of all light and strength, to reflect everywhere we go, and all in our lives need and will be blessed by His love through us.

I am thankful for you, my friends. May you have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

Tea Time Tuesday: Building Your House of Faith

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“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons 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 up.” (Dt. 6:6-7)

“Why do you think you and your siblings all love the Lord as adults?”

One child looked thoughtfully and answered, “I think it was the French toast, buttered pecans, and maple syrup!”

This has become a famous saying about our family. It reflected a bit of what is true. For our children to learn to love God, they must see our love for God in ways we sing around the house or enjoy a cool drink on the porch, enjoying summer flowers, watching an exquisite sunset, or "Kiss me goodnight, please," bedtime moments.

God intended that we as adults enjoy our days and have the ability to be satisfied in the days. We weave into them pleasure, fulfillment we were intended to experience as we walk hand in hand with our God. If we see passing on faith as just a duty, our lives will overflow with duty, pressure and we will become discouraged and weary in our own lives. We were not made for God so that we could be slaves of works, but He wants to enjoy and be close to us as a parent would their beloved children. We must perceive the proper vision of His love and commitment to us if we are to pass on a faith that will engage our children.

But the real influence comes all the moments of the ways we live our lives in front of our children. Of course we read scripture together every day and talked about God's love and reality as a way of life. Yet, It is not just about passing on doctrine, but as much about relationship, love, beauty as it is the concepts we teach them.

Discipleship is woven into every moment of family life, when we rise up, when we sit down, whenever we are alone with our children, or gathered together as an entire family.

Join me on my podcast to hear a story from our home.

Bringing Beauty Into The Small, Dusty Days

So many of our days as mothers feel hidden and inconsequential, the long hours relentless. It can seem like what we're doing, day after day, is pointless or small. But these tiresome house, these dusty days, have so much beauty and purpose tucked into each moment.

When we dare to recognize this beauty and understand the influence this day can have on our children, we're able to see and cultivate beauty in the messes, the challenges, the breakfasts we barely got on the table. We have the ability to bring God's beauty into what felt like an unimportant, chaotic day.

Read more about this in The Lifegiving Home.

Becoming A Mother Was The Most Fulfilling Work I Ever Pursued

My investment in my children was about more than all the routine work of motherhood, and even more than my spiritual influence as a discipler. In the bigger picture of my life at home, I was civilizing my children, and shaping their hearts and lives. I was cooperating with God to mold them into well-rounded adults.

A culture who has lost the imagination of the importance of motherhood leaves children at risk. Children are the next generation of adults who will make decisions from the foundations of their souls.

Each mom has a different puzzle but she has to keep what is a priority to God at the center of her decisions in life, and when she seeks the heart of God, her legacy will be one of faith and faithfulness and will have implications for eternity.

Tea Time Tuesday: Seasons Come, Seasons Go

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When we moved into this house, I mused to my children, “See that tiny aspen tree in front of the house? Someday, it will be tall and filled with shimmering leaves that will delight us to our tiptoes. And we will watch it turn golden and its leaves will slowly dance down as snow falling upon our grass. Then we will be amazed at its beauty, how it grew through all the years.”

I still had a teenager in my home them and young 20’s children. Now all are adults who have forayed into the world of writing, speaking, teaching in places far from home. Eighteen years passed in the blink of an eye. Just like the years my children and I sat in my living room with each season, delighted at the beauty. My children grew, changed, found their own seasons of beauty and growth as they went into the world.

As a young mama, I never knew how deeply connected and loved I would feel with these, now my deepest, best friends, grown up. I do miss them every single day. I wish they were sitting with me in my living room once again. I didn’t understand how beautiful God’s design for family, that it would be the place that held us, shaped us, defined us, grew us into a tight community.

Recently, 2 children and a daughter-in-law sipped tea, listened to the music, watched our leaves gently dance to the ground as the breezes played with the delicate pieces of gold. Now I know the seasons pass swiftly, I cherish every minute I have with my precious ones, and thank God for all the years, what He was weaving into my life as the greatest blessing I would experience here on earth—belonging to my people, being safe in their friendship.

I wish I had known not to waste the day of small things when our friendship was being formed, the days of singing them to sleep, of reading stories together, of feasting on home-cooked meals, of sharing the birthdays, Christmases, tea times and talks.

Today, sweet mama, you are building a gift of love for yourself that will bless you your whole life. Cherish this season with your precious ones, cultivate some delightful moments that will fill your heart and theirs. Watch it grow into something beautiful.

I Have Learned To Value Home Even More

“Learn from Me,” Jesus said, “for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

And so, I must ask myself, does my heart remain humble as I serve my family in our home—as I wash dishes, plan a meal, clean a toilet? Are my words lifegiving and generous, serving to strengthen those who share my home? Is my heart, like the heart of Jesus, always on those I serve? Do I bow willingly in the dust and stink of my own life because He was so willing to spend His life in giving, serving, loving without thought of Himself, even as He approached His death?

Because He has always offered a sense of place (the original garden, the land of milk and honey He promised His own wanderers, the place in heaven He is preparing for us to enjoy), I have learned to value home even more.

Read more about this in The Lifegiving Home.

Making Your Home A Place Of Service

Serving others, Jesus tells us, is the same as serving Him (see Matthew 25:31-46).

Let me pray for you, as many of you prepare to have guests in your home, as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

Lord Jesus, thank You for serving crowds, washing toes, holding children gently in Your arms, and healing even old women who take from you.

Let me learn from You, that I might give in the same way to those You bring into my home.

Teach me to find practical ways to lighten loads that are carried through my doors.

Help me to have patience with the grumbling hearts, the frustrated ones who carry their depressed moods wherever they go.

Help me to remember always that “a gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1).

Allow me to walk in humility that others may see my failures and the grace You have given me every day.

Help me remember that Your strength is made perfect through my weakness, and make me quick to ask for forgiveness.

Let me remember that my home is a holy place where You do Your work.

And here may the touch of Jesus, the words of Jesus, the love of Jesus, the truth of Jesus be served every day to all who hunger for Your reality.

In the name of the most generous servant of all, precious Jesus, we come with grateful hearts.

Find more encouragement like this in The Lifegiving Home.

Tea Time Tuesday: Beside Still Waters

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“He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul.” -Psalm 23

When I lived in Oxford, early Saturday mornings I would sneak to my favorite coffee shop, secure a flat white, and freshly baked almond croissant and meander to the University Parks. I had discovered a hidden bench amidst the trees that looked out upon still waters. A variety of birds (swans, ducks, and other smaller varieties) would gently dance around the small lake and glided from side to side. Sipping my brew and munching my pastry while enjoying the quiet was a regular ritual that generously filled my heart as I needed some beauty and time to center myself for the demands of the next week. I actually considered it “my own private bench.”

David seemed to understand the need for himself to restore and saw God as the source leading him beside still waters and restoring his soul. His shepherd heart valued nature from years of walking amongst the hills beside his sheep, enjoying sunrises, evening stars and the vast artwork of nature.

In the hustle and bustle of life, we have long check lists of chores to be done, classes to be taught, tasks to be completed. It is a temptation to measure our lives by what we accomplish and how busy our schedule. But each of us is a human being, born with limitations. We have limited energy, emotional breadth, mental acuity—and we are spending ourselves every day all the time. The way to make it in a flourishing way long term is to regularly rest, restore, refresh—sleep, food, friendships, quiet moments.

My story today from Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is a story about how unexpectedly the Lord filled my love-bucket and soothed my weary soul through the unexpected magical moment of delight with one of my children when we saw the morning star in all its glory for a memory burned into both of our souls.

May you find rhythms of restoration amidst your busy days and be filled with joy-filled moments this season. Create some soul-filling rituals amidst the busy seasons coming upon us.

Walk By The Spirit This Holiday Season

I love the holiday season, but sometimes with all the cooking and work and family and ideals flying about, we can find ourselves in the midst of a lot of extra stress. The best way to prepare ourselves is to walk by the Holy Spirit so we can give our family the gift of a Spirit-filled and peaceful mom. Peace starts in the heart of a mama and is contagious to those who live around her. A happy, peaceful woman is a gift to all who come into her home.

Arm yourselves with the purpose of practicing living with a peace-filled life this week so that you may more easily breeze through the extra stress of the holiday season with the grace God is so willing to give.

As the holidays are approaching, I am asking myself what I need to do to prepare my heart to be present to my people, ready to serve, and to determine not to give into the weariness or demands. Every year at the holiday season, I mean to be more at ease, more prepared. Yet, when life is flying by at light speed, it is difficult to catch a breath in between the demands.

Friends, I created a journal for us to do just that! Download 9 Ways to Walk By The Spirit This Holiday Season to help you spend intentional time with God to prepare your heart, mind, and soul for the season ahead.

I am praying for all of you — but even more, God is praying for you and loves you. Don't give into discouragement or inadequate feelings. With God all things are possible. He is so glad you are trying and that you care. You are precious to Him and He is training your character to grow strong as you are training your children.

Download the journal at the link in my bio for free by clicking here.

God's Voice Is The Only One That Can Guide Us

I am so very glad that Jesus did not create one box that He wanted all mothers to be stuffed into. Each family has its own puzzle, and there is abundant grace and joy in figuring it out through the example of our loving Savior.

God did not make cookie-cutter parents or children. Thank goodness He did not try to stuff all of us into one box. You have your personality for a reason—probably for the special work He has for you to do in this world.

Living with this understanding took the pressure off me to find that obscure, only-right way to live. God is enough for my family and for my children. I have learned to live in love and obedience to Him and trust that He will lead me into a life filled with joy, growth, love, and freedom.