I Didn't See

I was recently forwarded a post from a blog, describing a family's loss of a son and their journey as missionaries in Mexico. The intention was to remind all of us, in the midst of life's unfair circumstances, what is most important.

The timing, as God always does, was perfect.

The day before God spoke to my inbox was one of tantrums and total chaos. The kind where you visualize your happy place (which usually includes a solitary life of bubble baths, pedicures, and big fluffy beds without cookie crumbs) to prevent yourself from completely losing it.

As I read this family's story, I began to weep. Not only for their stomach-wrenching, heartbreaking loss but for what I felt God was saying to me.

"I gave him to you...and yet you don't see him."

I consider myself a great Mom. Raising this boy is my full-time job. I feed him, nurture him, teach him, explore with him...and at that moment, God opened my eyes to see him...really see him.

As most Moms do, I fill my days with tasks and schedules. I pick up, wipe up, and hurry up. All the while, my son skips along beside me with his favorite car in hand. He's the most wonderful little human being, with the most infectious little smile.

Handsome, playful, adventurous, observant, cautious, caring...this is what I saw. Then God spoke, and along with all the other wonderful qualities, this is what I now see.

He was created to bring people to Jesus.

Yes, he'll learn his ABC's but will he learn to cry when others cry? He'll find his favorite sport but will he learn to serve with a servant's heart? He'll grow to be big and strong but will he kneel when all others stand? Will he learn his light is meant to drown out darkness? I was created to bring him to Jesus.

The busyness of life redirected my focus. Things that don't matter forced me to see my son differently. Today, I see him the way God sees him..."I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”

PUSH ~ Pray Until Something Happens

Our entire community has joined in prayer with a local family who recently experienced a tragic accident. A young boy was involved in a serious roping accident. We barely know the family and I won't pretend to know all of the details. But a request for prayer was sent out through our church and social media has kept all of us informed of his progress.

My boy mom heart goes out to his family and I kneel before God with heavy prayers. This morning, I was reminded of this story and wanted to share it with you, in case you need a little PUSH in your own life.

"Have you heard the PUSH story about the man that had to walk through a mountainous area to get to work? There, on his path, was a huge boulder wedged between two mountainsides. This boulder was bigger than big, 10-15 feet wide and thousands of pounds. Everyday, as the man approached the rock, he would struggle up the mountainside to pass around it. He wished this obstacle would be removed from his path.

Then one day he asked God for help. He said, 'Lord, can you see this boulder in my way? It is slowing me down. It's hindering me. Lord, please remove this obstacle.' The man was amazed when he immediately heard from the Lord. He said, 'Son, I'm not going to move the rock, you are. I want you to PUSH it out of the way.'

The man began to argue with God. He said, 'But Father, I am not strong enough. It weighs thousands of pounds. If I could move it, I would. It can't be done!'

The Lord listened patiently and replied, 'Trust in Me and you will have the strength.'

So the man decided to obey God, even though he didn't understand how this could be accomplished. He thought in the back of his mind, if he obeyed God then He would most likely move it for him. So he pushed...

And pushed...and pushed.

He strained and struggled. He got on the high side of the boulder and pushed with all his might. After hours of pushing, he was exhausted and he said to the Lord with disappointment, 'Lord, I pushed all day long and this rock hasn't budged. I told you I couldn't move it, it's too big and too much of a struggle.'

Just like the boulder, God wouldn't budge either.

He told the man, 'Son, I want you to continue pushing until this obstacle is removed from your path. I know you can do it!' Everyday, the man pushed...and pushed. He labored more than he ever had.

Finally, the Lord spoke to him. He said, 'Son, you don't have to push anymore. I'm going to make a path for you around the boulder.'

That afternoon, a tornado came and cut a perfect path around the rock. Although the man was grateful, he was a slightly frustrated.

He said to the Lord, 'Why did you have me waste my time pushing when you were going to make a way? I don't understand, Lord.'

God said, 'Son, you haven't wasted your time. Look at how physically strong you are. I used that boulder to develop you. Now you have persistence, determination, and stamina. The entire time you were pushing, I was watching you very closely. Every moment you struggled, I was beside you. As soon as I knew you were strong enough and the work was done IN YOU, that's when I made a way.'

You see, God knows our struggles and always does a work in us. Our job is to PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens).


This is dedicated to Dane and his entire family. We stand with you, PUSHING!

A new dress, Jesus, and eggs full of dessert? What's not to love?

Easter is my second favorite holiday, next to Christmas. I love everything about it...the canvas of blooming colors, the sundresses, the sandals. But most of all, I love the Resurrection reason for the season...the day the stone was rolled away will forever make me weepy.

This is also one of my Mother's favorite days (my love for her also makes me weepy). I have cherished memories of a house full of pastels, delightful (tasteful) bunny decorations, and a tree with mini egg ornaments. (She has a way of "sprucing things up"...it's a gift, really!)

Also, presented with the opportunity to wear my new Easter dress (that had been hanging in my closet with a "Do not touch until Easter" tag) made me jump out of bed a wee bit faster than normal!

With my new dress and Bible, off to church we went. It was unexplainable but Easter Sunday was unlike every other Sunday. There was always an extra special spirit present. The pews were packed a little tighter, voices were a little louder, and hugs lasted a little longer. Even the visitors, who knew nothing about this man we call "Jesus", could feel something different in the air. I'm so thankful my family taught me the true meaning. The understanding of a man who would die for me and rise again as a promise of eternal life for all who believe! Bunnies and eggs are adorable but I choose to celebrate a God who knows my name.

A Church Potluck (or lunch with family) usually followed. Maybe this is why I have a partially unhealthy attachment to food, it's a key element in almost all of my favorite memories. As it should be! Now, where's the eggs full of dessert?

What's not to love about this day? A new dress, celebrating Jesus, meeting strangers, yummy food, and hunting for dessert...can we do it again tomorrow?

Don't keep your love of Easter to yourself, invite a friend to join you!

How To S.O.A.P. Your Quiet Time

I read this today and knew I had to share! Such a simple method that changed my perspective on reading my Bible. I hope it encourages you too!

(Photo from goodmorninggirls.org)

Why S.O.A.P. it?

It’s one thing to simply read scripture, but when you interact with it, when you learn to slow down to REALLY read it,  suddenly words start popping off the page. By SOAPing your verses you are able to dig deeper into scripture and “see” more than if you simply read the verses and then went on your merry way. Let me encourage you to take the time to S.O.A.P. the daily verses and see for yourself how much more you get out of your daily reading……you’ll be amazed.

What does S.O.A.P. mean?

S- The S stands for Scripture- you physically write out the scripture……you’ll be amazed what God will reveal to you just by taking the time to slow down and actually write out what you are reading!

O- The O stands for observation- what do you see in the verses that you’re reading? Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you?

A- The A stands for Application- this is when God’s Word becomes personal. What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my own personal life? What changes do I need to make? Is there an action I need to take?

P- And finally P stands for Prayer. Pray God’s Word back to Him. If He has revealed something to you during this time in His Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life.

Studying God’s Word like this can take as little or as long as you have time to give. Some days it can take just 10 or 15 minutes, other days longer. 

For the full article, visit www.goodmorninggirls.org. This is an excellent blog full of inspiration and encouragement!

Let's grow in faith, together!

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Raising a boy, from God's perspective!

Super Hunk is one of three boys (his brothers are equally as hunky), bless his sweet Mama's heart! The irony, his two older brothers have all girls...bless their sweet hearts! Lordy, Lordy...when those girls start dating...bless that young man's heart!

When I got pregnant, I knew my chances of having the sixth granddaughter were very high. More like, guaranteed...in the bag...set in stone! I had no doubt frilly dresses and baby dolls were in my future.

Then, as God does, He mixed things up a bit. I'll never forget the day of the gender ultrasound, I was certain there would be a pink shopping spree that afternoon. On my back, probe to my growing belly, the words "It's a boy" took my breath away. "Can you check again" was all I could say. "A boy, it can't be! It's supposed to be a girl! God, what will I do with a boy? I don't know anything about boys!"

You see, God selected us to raise this boy...a future head of household. To mold and shape him into a man of strength and tenderness. Equipping him with all the biblical principles he will need to lead a family, love a wife, and serve a community the way Jesus would.

I embraced the color blue and enthusiastically accepted God's gift, the responsibility of raising this boy became God's calling on my life.

One day, the Mommy of a precious girl, will look to my son for comfort. Knowing he is taking her daughter to continue molding her into the woman God created her to be. My job is to be a good steward of her trust, ensuring my son will be the best chapter in her daughter's life. And I will one day have the daughter I once envisioned...God's blessings are always double double!


This is raising a boy, from God's perspective!

The Hand Through The Crib

(Little Man and his first Superhero)

When Little Man was an infant, I would occasionally spend a sleepless night on the floor next to his crib. I would hoist my exhausted arm up and through the side, patting his bottom until he fell asleep once again. Looking back, I'm pretty sure there were nights I inadvertently patted Super Hunk out of habit!

As he's aged, my visits to that familiar spot on the floor have become less and less. I attribute his sound sleeping to pure exhaustion from running around like crazy child most of the day!

Last night, hearing a familiar cry, I stumbled to his bedroom. Grabbing my pillow and blanket, positioned myself for prime patting time. Before I could throw the blanket over my legs, there was a hand sticking out of the crib.

I folded his little hand in mine, a reminder that patting is no longer necessary. We've moved on to another stage where my role as Comforter looks a little different.

I stayed next to him a little longer last night, savoring the moment. For I know there will come a day when holding my hand won't ever cross his mind. My role as Comforter will look a little different once again.

Let's all take the time to savor every moment!

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - 1 Cor. 13:13

Jesus wants you to chill out!

Dear Moms, Jesus Wants You To Chill Out!

FACT: If your children can’t read by age four, there is a 95% chance they will end up homeless and on drugs.

FACT: If your children eat any processed food, there is an 85% chance they will contract a rare, most likely incurable disease, by age 12.

FACT: If you’re not up at dawn reading the Bible to your children, you are most likely a pagan caught in the clutches of witchcraft.

FACT: If your children watch more than 10 minutes of television a day, there is 75% chance they will end up in a violent street gang by age 17.

Obviously, the “facts” listed above are not true (at least, I don’t think they are). But, I’ve noticed that the Internet has made it much easier for people, Moms in particular, to compare themselves to each other. 

Moms, Jesus wants you to chill out!  You don’t have to make homemade bread to be a faithful Mom. You don’t have to sew your children’s clothing to be a faithful Mom. You don’t have to coupon, buy all organic produce, keep a journal, scrapbook, plant a garden, or make your own baby food to be a faithful Mom. There’s nothing wrong with these things, but they’re also not in your biblical job description.

Your job description is as follows:

• Love God. This simply means finding some time during the day to meet with the Lord. It doesn’t have to be before all the kids are awake. It doesn’t have to be in the pre-dawn stillness. Your job is to love God. How you make that happen can look a million different ways.

• Love your husband (unless you’re a single mom, of course). Your second job is to love and serve your husband. Husbands are to do the same for their wives, but that’s for a different post. If your husband really likes homemade bread, make it for him. But don’t make it because you see other Moms posting pictures of their homemade bread on Facebook.

• Love your kids. Your calling as Mom is to love your kids and teach them to follow the Lord. They don’t need to know Latin by age six. If they do, more power to you. But that’s a bonus, not part of the job description. Your job is simply to love your kids with all your exhausted heart, and to teach them to love Jesus. That’s a high calling. Don’t go throwing in other, extraneous things to make your life more difficult. If you want to teach your kids to sew, great. But don’t be crushed by guilt if your kids aren’t making stylish blazers by the age of 10.

Moms, Jesus want you to rest in Him. He wants you to chill out. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Don’t compare yourself to other Moms. Don’t try to be something God hasn’t called you to be. Be faithful to what He has truly called you to do and know that He is pleased with you!

Love God, love your husband, love your kids. Keep it simple and chill out! Xoxoxo

(Original article found at The Blazing Center)

Teaching Your Daughter to Smile!

Teaching Your Daughter to Smile….
(Guest post by Brittany McDaniel)

We all know the saying, "Actions speak louder than words". Being a mommy to a 6 month old, there couldn’t be a more accurate phrase.

My Little Bear, bless her little 6 month old soul, is so passionate. Unfortunately, she has no words to express this passion to me. I, much like every other mother, have learned to discern her cries. I spend day after day responding to her emotions and teaching her new ones, so she can learn to express herself.

My new favorite thing is her smile. Recently, on a whirlwind of a road trip, it occurred to me where she learned to smile. 

When my sweet Little Bear smiles, she wrinkles her tiny nose (every time, without fail). Eyes aglow, nose wrinkled, and two precious bottom teeth make their debut as she opens her plump little lips to give her big grin. If she found something funny...the nose wrinkled. If she was simply returning a smile...the nose wrinkled. Every...single...time. And she learned it from me, her Mommy. 

I often find myself in the floor, trying to avoid the breakdown she's heading straight towards. I do what any sensible first-time mom would do and pull out all the “magic.” Making noises, funny faces, singing songs, clapping. You name it, we’re doing it. Inevitably, whatever was bothering her before seems to dissipate, and all that matters to me is the smiling (with that wrinkled nose) and laughing...it must be fun. Right? 

Of course I’m talking to her, teaching her words to use in the future to diffuse her own situation. But for now, all she understands are my actions. My smiles. My laughter. (Of course, there are other actions I’m sure I’ve taught her, but let’s don’t discuss those here. Deal?)

She loves what I love. Our daily dance parties are one of her favorites! Not because she loves dancing (she can’t even stand alone yet) or because she loves music. She loves it because I LOVE IT! (Side note: If you don’t dance around, you SHOULD! Try it! Life will never be the same.) The toys I love, she loves. The things I act excited about (like trying those nasty peas), she thinks are exciting too. 

She has no clue, no past experiences to build upon. I have the privilege of teaching her how to react 
to all sorts of new adventures.  I get to teach her to dance through life’s frequent rains, I couldn’t be more excited!

Mommies, no matter how young or old your babies are, your actions are speaking so much louder than your words. Take time today, teach your babies to smile. Share your joys with them, and let them learn just how fun life can be.

"A glad heart makes a happy face..." ~Proverbs 15:13

"Little Bear" and her famous smile!

(All photographs by Eye Photography)

For this child I prayed...

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." ~1 Samuel 1:27~

Little man and I just returned from delivering his very first, handcrafted, Valentine's Day cards. 

I have to say, it was pretty exciting! The thrill of giving something away is a feeling I never want him to forget. The smiles, the hugs, bringing a little joy to a person's day.

Valentine's Day, it has somehow become all about flowers and chocolate...or the lack thereof. 

How did we get so far from thinking of others to focusing exclusively on ourselves? God's greatest commandments are for us to love Him and love others. 

I want this little boy to grow up seeing Valentine's Day as an opportunity to love all people, not just the people he's in love with. 

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me what I've asked of him. May I always be a good steward!

Happy Valentine's Day, I hope it's been one filled with love!

(What is your favorite Valentine's Day blessing?)

Bright & Shiny, You!

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:16 

Can you think of a time when you extended a helping hand to a person in need?

Did they respond with, "The world would be a much better place if there were more people like you"?

If you're like me, you brushed it off with a quick, self-deprecating remark and went on your merry way.

Each time, I walk away thinking I should've said "The world would be a much better place with more people like Jesus. After all, He taught me everything I know!"

Let's take a moment today and seek an opportunity to do good, letting our light shine...like it's never shined before!

People need you to brighten their day.....LITERALLY! It's up to you....bright and shiny, YOU!