"Day in the Life" Panel

Highlights:

Jill
-She has one day a week that's her cleaning day, helps her get it done with focus.
-She tries to have a special activity planned for her kids during dinner prep time to lessen her stress.
-One of her struggles is giving too many "just a minutes", she wants to make time for more focused time with the kids.
-They try to do devotions over meal times, she wants to be more intentional and consistent with this.
-Jill encouraged us to do what we need to do without guilt to get the rest/sleep that we need.  Rested mom equals  better mom.
VERSE: Colossians 3:12.

Karla
-She tries to get up before the kids for quiet times
-She has her kids have quiet times in their rooms each day, everyone benefits from quiet/alone time.
-They try to get out of the house as a family after dinner some nights for fresh air and some fresh perspective:).
-Some of Karla's struggles include letting go of her schedule to be more present with the kids and planning enough time for meals so everyone doesn't feel so rushed.
-Karla encouraged us to memorize verses together as a family, make a prayer jar where we can give prayers to the Lord and let go.
-She shared how her husband takes her kids for a bit in the evening so she can have some breath time.
-From Sally Clarkson in Mission of Motherhood-"Choosing to be a servant mother means willingly giving up myself, my expectations, and my time to the task of mothering and choosing to believe that doing so is the best use of my time at that moment."
-She shared how she shoots Aaron a text during the day asking him to pray for her in certain situations.
-Encouraged us that it's not about perfection, but about how we respond to struggle.
-Encouraged us to share the Gospel often with our kids, to pray for their salvation always.
-Toddler occupiers: run to the door and back, have them thread cherios on yarn.
-Time flies! Write memories down.
VERSES: Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 3, Isaiah 40:31

Katrina
-She tries to make the most of the time in the car with the kids to and from school, praise music, praying, talking.
-She encouraged us to be playful with our husbands in front of the kids.
-She confessed to struggling with laziness at times.  She shared how her husband encourages her to make smaller to do lists so she feels like she really accomplishes them.
-Encouraged us that the kids won't remember if the house was clean, so spend quality time with them.
-She reminded us that we often compare our behind the scenes with others highlight reels (social media sets us up).
-Shared how they listen to VBS cds to get everyone's heart in the right place.
-Little prayers throughout the day go a long way.
-Keeps devotionals in the bathroom (get it when you can!).
VERSES: Isaiah 55:8-9, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 4:19

Creative Abiding:
-While washing dishes, rocking babies, driving.
-Praise music to start your day.
-Getting up before the kids, hard but worth it!

Heart of Motherhood- Shelli Majesky

Introduction
I'm Shelli, wife, mother of four, and needy woman of Jesus. Why am I here- all started on a sledding hill years ago. Met Sarah, we prayed for one another on the hill, and there began a sweet friendship that has been a breath of fresh air.
Not here because I am a model mother or wife, but because I am on a journey with the Lord, and He has breathed new life into me through a sweet conference I went to, I shared it with Sarah, and there we go!

Luke 7 – Simon the Pharisee and the Sinful Woman
Read the passage
Love this story, it's a beautiful contrast between two characters:
Sinning woman: She knew of Jesus great grace, and her great need. Because of this knowledge it
gave her courage to seek out Jesus, despite damaging her own reputation and more humiliation. After
finding Jesus, moved her to show great emotion and affection through washing His feet with her tears,
kissing them, and happily expending all of her resources with a life savings worth of pure perfume,
poured out on His feet!
Simon the Pharisee: He was a Pharisee, who had a traveling preacher, Jesus, into his home for dinner. This was not unusual, but rather expected, a respectable thing for him to do. He was rather dutiful in having Jesus into his home. He did not go above and beyond. He did not offer to wash Jesus feet or even order someone else to do it. Rather, he was somewhat put off and judgmental of the “sinning woman” when she did. These characters in this story, highlight two different ways of living: One is entitled, duty- on display in Simon’s life, one is happy, wasteful living- on display in the sinning woman’s life.

Two ways of living- lived out!
Entitled, duty:
We know that God calls us to faithful parenting
Parenting verse (Prov. 22:6, Train up a child n the way he should go; even when he is old he will not
depart from it.)
But what motivates that obedience?
Curious verse in Rom. 12:2, says, Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
We are not to be conformed to the "Pattern of the world"
 1. One pattern?- work hard and receive what you are owed
 2. Find the right techniques and work them (vending machine idea!)
 3. This develops entitlement around the results, doing just enough to get the results, like Simon.
 4. Leads to "gritted teeth" in the way I parent (example: Getting kids ready to go worship the Lord with             the church, my daughter says,” Why are you always so angry when we get ready for church?”)
 5. We are NOT to be conformed to this pattern!
 6. Mothering is not a list of formulas, techniques, or programs.
 7. Mothering is not a competition or stage where we seek our validation, or a circus where we try and               create our circus bears.
 8. The Lord has entrusted us with human beings to care for and raise up - this is a supernatural thing,                 that involves supernatural involvement! Ladies, formulas are for math, systems are for science, and                 techniques are for handwriting.
There is a different way -the way of happy, wasteful living.
The way of a renewed mind - thinking in a different way, Holy Spirit-led, gospelpaved way, not                     seeking a result, but rather a relationship.
Begins with believing in, and being satisfied with all that has been accomplished for me already in                   Jesus as Savior and Lord
My sin doesn't need to drive me to more hard work but to rushing to the feet of Jesus. ( idea of                     seeking a covering by sitting with a mom that I think has it all figured out!)
Is my first default going to Jesus! Do I believe: John 6:67-69, or James 1:5-6?
If our default becomes Jesus first, what an opportunity to take what Satan intends for harm, and                     pull the rug right out from under Satan’s schemes.
In this response, I reestablish my hope, regain my strength and courage to move forward.
Out of love, not entitlement, and feeling I am owed!
The way also allows me to see the heart of my child!
Which means I look for more than behavior in them (and support more than behavior in them)
Mac and dinner table- see your children's heart behind their words and they will be blessed.
"And that's not my child" - what did the child hear?  That they are only my child when they act rightly.

What does this look like, practically, in manner, not technique?
This means that mothering is not about the how's but rather about the why’s
How parenting is duty driven and result oriented, versus why parenting which is obedience oriented             and love driven, overflowing out of an appreciation for grace.

How parenting 
fear driven
trusts in the method
Responds quickly and usually in anger
is anxious and wrought up
sees the many adjustments in a child and corrects 1st
environment in this home lacks humility, and
therefore lacks freedom and grace

Why parenting
faith driven
trusts in the Lord
responds slowly and with clarity
is peaceful and joy filled
sees strengths, encourages them,and comes alongside of the weaknesses
environment generally swims in humility and there is safety and health

Where do you feel like you spend more time? If in how parenting, do not be discouraged. Seek Jesus,
ask Him for grace, and for His kindness to lead you to repentance. This is the who point of the story in
Luke 7. If why parenting, celebrate, but stay on your face at the feet of Jesus.

Conclusion
Jeremiah 1:11a The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble, and in the time of distress?” This set free means: We have had all of our questions and needs met and answered in Jesus!
Acceptance - MET, He died while I was still a sinner. (Rom. 5:8)
Affirmation - MET, He laid down His life for me insecurity - MET, secured my place in His family,                through death. (1 Peter 1:1-5)
Alone - MET, I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb. 13:5b)
Loved - MET, loved me, and gave up his life for me, took on what I deserved. (Gal. 2:20b)
Afraid - NO NEED, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear! (Heb. 13:6)

Oh ladies, we have been set free! May we position ourselves at the feet of our Savior and experience
true delight in Him, and therefore love well!

Phil. 1:6- "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 10:39- "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Pastor Pep Talk- Aaron LeDuc

Pastor Aaron both encouraged and challenged us this morning in our calling of motherhood.  He first asked us to put the following priorities in the order our culture puts them in for women.

Cultural Priorities

- College (3)
- Entertainment (2)
- Travel (5)
- Career (4)
- Good looks (1)
- Marriage (6)
- Motherhood (7)

The numbers I've placed next to each is the priority order our table put them in, again the order is according to popular culture.  He pointed out how out of order this cultural order is with God's priorities for us as women, that we are fighting this cultural order on hostel ground.  He shared how comedian Jim Gaffigan talks about the way culture makes fun of or feels sorry for large families.  Add to this against-the-current battle we face the fact that motherhood is exhausting!  He jokingly gave this quote in regards to the exhaustion of motherhood:

"Imagine you're drowning and someone throws you a baby".

All joking aside, he then encouraged us that the deep rest we are looking for can only be found in Jesus, not in the things the world promises. He will give us deep rest when we abide in Him, but He also calls us to hard work in a hostel world.

In Genesis 3:15 we see the first hope of the Gospel in God's promise that the Savior will come through Eve's lineage.  In other words, children have to happen to lead to Jesus.  God could have chosen any way to put on flesh, but He chose to come through a mother, Mary.  Motherhood is a calling, the key mechanism God uses to save lost sinners.

He reminded us that motherhood is not about you, it's about the glory of God!  It's a call to full time ministry, laying your life down for His use and Glory.

Application Points

1. Lay down your life for the Gospel to your children.  Preach to them with your life.  You are always representing the Gospel to your children, the question you have to ask yourself is how well are you doing?
- Are you resentful in your role?  Your kids know where they stand with you and how you feel about them without words.
- Do you love your kids the way Christ loves you?  You may be able to fake it in front of others, but how do you love them behind closed doors?
* They know if you value their lives above your own. The call on EVERY Christian is to come and die.

2.  Know the Word. Proverbs 22:16 talks about folly being bound up in the heart of a child.  God's Word, He Himself has the power to penetrate hearts and save.  It requires repeated diligence to point our children towards fear of the Lord.  When we abide in the Word, it overflows.
- Live life with your little "cyclones" and disciple them always by knowing the Word.

3.  Trust Jesus. It's a daily act of faith, we often don't get to see results, but trust Jesus, it's His work through you! Believe His promises.  Aaron shared how Isaiah had a similar challenge as he looked at the ministry He'd been given. 

Isaiah 49:4- "But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”

It was such a joy to hear from the Lord through Aaron this morning.  We hope to see you all on September 17th!

Mom Minute- Lessons From my Dad- Joani Parrish

Lessons from my Dad

  I'm not sure if many of you know, but my dad passed away last year. During this time
I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what skills and lessons in life he taught me. My
dad’s favorite quote, one I heard him say almost every single day of my life, was "You
accept me for the pain in the butt I am and I will accept you for the pain in the butt you
are." (I'm using nicer language, because my Dad was a Marine for 40 years and his
choice of words would not be socially acceptable for a REAL Moms blog post.) My Dad
said this to me for 26 years. Every time I was exasperated with him, when his friends
were giving him a hard time, even to the grocery store clerk checking out his bags (My
Dad could be a pain in the butt). I heard him say this ALL the time. I also watched him
live this way.

 Shortly after he died a friend asked me, "What is the main thing you will miss about
him?" I'm not sure if I could articulate very well at that point because I was so overcome
with absolutely everything I was going to miss about him, but now if you asked me I
would say it was: his unconditional love and support.
 Most recently I missed him when we started foster care. I could hear my Dad
building me up and encouraging me, saying things like "Wow, that's amazing!" or "You
guys are going to be great!" or "Gosh! I wish I had grown up in a home as sweet and
loving as yours." He said things like this ALL the time. He would not say, "Gosh! you
guys are going to need a bigger car" or "Isn't this going to be really hard on your
biological children?" I missed him. I missed him a lot.

 He was one of those people who knew how to just be happy for someone and not put
fears or doubts in their mind. If we bought a bigger house he would not say, "Oh are
you sure that it's not too much?" He would say "That's awesome! I can't wait to see it!"
He would truly mean it. It's not that he didn't have any concerns about me, but he never
focused on the areas in my life he was concerned about. I think he realized the world
has enough people to question you, it has enough people to make you feel concerned
about your actions, it has enough people to place fears and worries and doubts in your
mind. He made me feel like I could do anything or be anyone I wanted to be.

 This lesson he taught me has been such a gift in my life. It gave me confidence
when I was a loner in high school, it gave me courage to get married and not fear the
constant stream of divorces that plagues my family. Many of my choices and the
confidence I can put in them are because of his unconditional love and acceptance.
Most importantly, it has greatly affected my view of God. Rather than thinking of God as
someone constantly judging my actions, I hear God as an unconditional lover of my
weary broken soul. He was the kind of person I want to be, the kind of friend, wife, and
mother I want to be, and with the grace of God I hope to see him someday and thank
him.

~Joani

Mom Minute- Danielle

I don’t have to be Super Mom

As I’ve been thinking through what God has been teaching me lately, the phrase ‘I don’t have to be Super Mom’ keeps coming to my mind. I don’t know about the rest of you, but the transition to motherhood has brought with it a lot of humility for me. God has graciously given Lucas and I two babies born only 14 months apart, and our babies just turned 2 and 1 this summer! As the last few months have provided more time to breathe, I’ve had time to reflect on God’s faithfulness to me this past year, and I wanted to share briefly about some things I’ve learned.

Being a mom of young ones has really opened my eyes to how self-sufficient I try to be! No other season of life has brought such weariness, confusion, and humility for me (along with a lot of joy!!), but God has been kind and faithful to show me how desperately I want to run my life. God has helped me to slowly start to lay down my idols of independence, control, and comfort, and to see that there really is more joy in a life marked by dependence and humility!

I’ve also found myself desperate to try to be a ‘super mom’ in the midst of all the newness of this new season.  I feel like I am constantly bombarded with messages that cause me to feel like a failure if nursing doesn’t go perfectly, if I feed my kids anything but organic food, if my kids aren’t always dressed super cute or having perfect attitudes, if my house isn’t perfectly clean, etc etc. Can anyone else relate to this feeling?? After months of attempting to be the kind of mom I thought everybody secretly expected of me, I’m finally understanding the Gospel more and how it relates to motherhood. What’s actually true of me is that I am terribly sinful and that I will continue to be in this life. I will never be a perfect mother, and I’ll never live up to all the expectations I try to place on myself. BUT, I’ve found myself more hopeful than ever in a God who is constantly redeeming my life – in all its weakness and sin – and He’s working out His purposes in my life and in my children’s life for His glory.  And now, there’s also hope for me to be a mom who feeds her babies good food (or whatever!) because I want to love them and take care of them, and not because I need to do it to earn Jesus’s favor or to avoid the condemnation of my peers or myself. So, if anyone is actually reading this J, my hope for this fall season is to find myself delighting in my weakness because I do have a super, perfect, wonderful, redeeming Savior.

Also, listed below are a few quotes from Elyse Fitzpatrick that I have loved lately! Thanks for reading!

Danielle Yaege

“Only the Gospel will warm your affections so that you will long for an opportunity to be near Him, to rest your head on His chest, to feel the warmth of His nearness, to let Him put His arms around your drooping shoulders and say, ‘I’m here. You’re mine. Soon these interposing years will end, and your faith will be sight. Stay here by Me for a while and let me give you My strength. See how I love you.’” (Comforts from the Cross)

“…He has promised to use everything in your life for your good and His glory. This is the kind of watchful, fatherly love He has for you. He is the perfect parent, and this record of perfection has been transferred to you, if you have put your trust in Him. Your children’s salvation doesn’t depend on you any more than your own salvation did. He’s a wonderful Father. You can rest in His everlasting arms-now.” (Give them Grace)

You Will Blink

I'm sure you've heard it said that you will blink and your babies will be heading off to college.  I know I've heard it a bunch and if I'm honest, there have been a few weary days when the saying makes me do rapid blinks in joke!  But friends, as my first baby turned nine a couple of weeks ago, the saying started to really sink in and it's not so funny anymore.  This precious little bundle, who kept me up countless nights and prevented many household chores from being accomplished, is now this beautiful nine year old who actually helps with chores and sleeps perfectly every night.  This once needy baby now has completely different needs and gives me completely unexpected joy through our maturing relationship.  I write all this to encourage you in days that seem to drag.  The days may seem to drag, but the years really do fly.  And even though you might not be able to imagine it now, you may really want to go back in time some day, even if just for a moment to inhale that newborn smell or squeeze that rascally toddler, so ask God to help you find the joy in "now", I know that's my prayer every day. ---Sarah

Boredom Buster- Put Them to Work!

We all loathe the sentiment our kids spout far too easily during the summer, "I'm bored!"  Maybe you've run out of paper for them to cut or new books to capture their attention for more than a minute.  Or maybe the cartoons have been on a little too long.  Whatever the case, I've discovered something that my two and a half year old loves to do, and I get to teach her something valuable in the process, a win, win!  When her older siblings are busy and I just can't be her entertainer, I put her to work... and she loves it.  She especially loves the activity pictured here.  A bucket of water with a drop or two of dish soap and a squeegee is all you need. I tell her I really need her to clean the house walls, that it would really help mommy and make the house look so nice.  She will stay at this activity for an hour if I let her!  Another indoor cleaning task she loves is wiping down the table and chairs with a little bucket with soapy water and a small sponge she can easily squeeze out.  She also loves to help me unload the dishwasher.  Work looks like fun until they think otherwise, so go with it!  Happy boredom busting!  --- Sarah L.

Summer Passport 2013

Have a great summer sisters!  And we'll see you at our park dates!

Summer Passport: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLw3q-PedD0R0tHMmdSY3V5SFU/edit?usp=sharing

Packet "Stuck Inside": https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwLw3q-PedD0eWVlelRiMkUzMnc&usp=sharing

Packet "Jungle Days" https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwLw3q-PedD0WHRrTUc3Nk96b3c&usp=sharing

Packet "Backyard Campout" https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwLw3q-PedD0MGpKWUxub09Balk&usp=sharing

Love, The Servant Team

Snow With Sprinkles- By Colleen Reynolds

The kids spent most of the morning making crafts and coloring, but

come mid-morning they were ready for a snack: snow with sprinkles!
Simply scoop some clean snow into a bowl and top with sprinkles.  The
kids think it is a real treat!  We got this idea from Judy Haywood and
now every time is snows we have to get out the sprinkles.   Hope you
have a great day!

Bring the Snow Inside!- By Melinda Crenshaw

For little ones not quite ready to go out in the snow (or moms not up for it), bring the snow inside! Bring a bowl full of snow in the kitchen and let the kids play with bowls, spoons, measuring cups dipping snow.

Shovaling Snow and Grandma's Cookies- By Joani Parrish

Nobody likes shoveling, that is nobody except my small children. We have some smaller shovels that we usually keep in our cars for emergencies, my boys love using these and helping me shovel. Doing it together turns this mundane chore into something that is extremely fun and is good exercise. If you have any elderly neighbors we love to go around and bless them by shoveling their sidewalks and driveways. It's a fun time for kids and teaches them to help others, as well as kills a couple of hours we otherwise would have spent bored in the house.

                         Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (My Grandma's favorite cookie)

If you have never made sugar cookies using sour cream, you really should give these a try. It really cuts out the sweetness by adding that sour cream, plus it makes them soft and chewy, which is just how we like them! The boys will be helping me cut out and decorate these today and maybe we will bring some of our creations to share with our neighbors!                                         

Ingredients:

• FOR COOKIE DOUGH:
• 5-1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda(mix 1tsp baking soda with 2-3 tsp hot water makes the cookies crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1 cup butter, softened (if you don't like to wait grate the butter with a cheese grater and it softens much faster)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• FOR FROSTING (makes 1 cup of frosting):
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-4 tablespoons canned evaporated milk
• food coloring (optional)

Directions:

In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, & salt; set aside. In second large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the sour cream and butter at low speed; add sugar, eggs, and vanilla & mix until combined. (It's okay if it's a little lumpy as long as no butter chunks are visible.) Gradually add the flour mixture to the sour cream mixture, mixing until well combined. Dough will be sticky. (If cookie dough is too thick for your mixture to handle, you can stir it by hand with a wooden spoon.) Divide dough onto two pieces of plastic wrap; flatten dough, wrap tightly, and refrigerate until chilled, 1-2 hours. (Make ahead tip: Dough may be made to this point and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)

ROLL, CUT, & BAKE COOKIES: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.  Generously flour your counter or work surface to prevent dough from sticking. Rub flour on the rolling pin. Put one of the chilled pieces of dough on top of the floured surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with more flour. Starting at the center, roll the dough out to one edge; return to the center and roll to the opposite edge. Continue rolling until dough is an even 1/4" thick all over, sprinkling with additional flour, if needed, to avoid sticking. Dip cookie cutter in flour and cut out dough shapes. Transfer dough shapes to baking sheets. Continue rolling dough, cutting shapes, and adding to baking sheets until they are filled.  Bake 2 sheets at a time for 8-10 minutes, rotating and switching pans half way through cooking time. Bake them just until they are baked all the way through but haven't started browning on the bottom. If a soft textured cookie is desired, it's very important not to over bake them.  Transfer hot cookies to a baking rack to cool completely. (Make-ahead tip: Cooled, unfrosted cookies may be stacked in a sealed container and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 weeks.)

MAKE FROSTING:

Combine powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla, and half of the evaporated milk in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine ingredients on a low speed until its' a thick paste consistency and all of the lumps are gone. Gradually add remaining milk and continue mixing on medium speed until frosting is a smooth, silky, spreadable consistency. If it's still too thick, add more milk 1/2 teaspoon at a time until it's desired consistency. Mix in food coloring, if desired.

FROST & STORE COOKIES:

Frost each cookie and decorate with sprinkles while frosting is still wet. Leave out to dry for several hours until dry to touch before storing in an airtight container. If stacking frosted cookies, put waxed or parchment paper between layers.

Recipe adapted from theyummylife.com

Snow Day Activities- By Courtney Kendall

Cold Water and food coloring. Kids can paint in the snow. Gotta love Pinterest!

Paint in a ziplock bag.  Tape it down and let kids push it around with fingers. NO MESS and super fun.  Another great Internet find :)

Self-Control: Sara McConahy

Self-Control
-Defined: Making a choice to curb your desires.The self-restraint that produces Christlikeness.  Disciplined.
-Opposite of self-control = Dissipation (1 Peter 4:3-7): To scatter, waste, flail.
-For who? Every believer in increasing measure as we grow in Christ.
-Why? Enables the believer to be conformed into the mind of Christ.  Place of protection for us, a defense against sin.

*At your tables, share what areas you think we as women typically lack self-control?  What about you? What circumstances test your self-control the most?
BRAINSTORM: Emotions, spending money (to beautify ourselves, our homes, etc...), time management, food (over/under eating), speech.

How can I grown in the fruit of self-control? Titus 2:11-14
Indicatives (the truths):
-Past redemption: He bought us back.
-Present purity and possession: We recieved His righteousness, we belong to God.
-Future hope: Nothing can ever take me from Him!  Because of what we have, we need to be stewards, how are we striving to please Him?

Imperatives (what we should DO because of these truths):
-Say No!: For a greater yes!  We should be fueled by all He is and all He's done for us.
-Live self-controlled lives: To honor, reflect, and draw near to Him.
-Be eager to do good:  BECAUSE we love Him, not to earn right standing.

*Key: More Jesus, more Gospel in our lives produces more fruit (self-control).  It flows from our union with Him.

*At your table share some things you do, or have seen others do, to help in the area of self-control.

1 Peter 5- Be alert.
1 Peter 1- Prepare your minds for action.

*Who we are precedes what we do.  Bask in who He is and who you are in Him!

How can I teach my children self-control?
-Who's the boss?  When you teach your kids to submit to your authority, you are preparing them to come under God's authority.  Make a family rules list, consequences teach them to have self-control.  Always point them to the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
-Set up child for success and model it.  Motivated by Jesus!
IDEAS:
-makes sure everyone is getting enough rest (if possible) and healthy food.
-make a budget.
-pray before discipline
-address problems before they escalate
-pray for forgiveness together
-accountability (husband/friends)
-speak quietly to evoke calm speech
-hug before correction

My Stained Recliner

Whoever invented micro fiber furniture, boasting its stain resistance, obviously didn’t do any thorough research with a family of small children.  Let’s just say, our rocking recliner is now more of a magnet for messes than it is a repellent of them. But to be fair, we’ve probably allowed far too many snacks to be eaten in it, so I digress.  While I often cringe when I think of all I’ve cleaned off of this recliner, including multiple types of bodily excretions, this worn out, stain ridden chair has some lessons for me.

This past week, my youngest came down with a tummy bug.  She’s already a bit on the needy/snuggly side as it is, so when she’s sick, all she wants is to be in our arms.  And when she looks to me with the droopy eyes of fever, asking me to hold her, of course I swoop her up.  I’m happy to report that she’s feeling all better now, but my lower back is still feeling all the holding of the past few days.  And that’s where the stained recliner comes in.  As I was sitting there, rocking my sweet girl, trying to take the edge off her misery with my love, I couldn’t help but look around at all the messes that were not being tidied, going down the mental check list of all the tasks that needed doing that I just couldn’t do.  And then the whisper came, that this chair, this rocking, this girl is the  best task I can be accomplishing in any given day.  Certainly, there is a time and place for cleaning and creating a place of peace for our families, working together on those tasks.  But sometimes the greatest way we can create peace for the souls we love in our homes is to just sit still.  When Autumn was sick, when she needed me to just sit and comfort and stroke her forehead, something I do in snipets all the time, it made me think about how much my kids would love it if I did this more.  And this compulsion to keep working and doing and accomplishing, I’m learning something about my heart in it.  I think, if I’m really honest, I’m often doing those things to impress others, not with the simple motive of blessing my family.  Thoughts riddled with insecurity, equating my worth with the job I’m doing as the cleaner/organizer of our home, creep into my mind throughout the day.  But what if molding and filling hearts is more important than laundry and crumbs and papers in disarray?  What if cleanliness is really not next to Godliness as the saying goes?  I think my times of just sitting with my children, who long for those special times with me, reminds me that seasons are short, and children are little only for awhile.  But how do we really live for an audience of one?  How do we stop, in self-focus, always worrying about what others think of us?

I don’t doubt that we will always struggle with this in a world that likes to keep us busy, that tells us that moving and doing is the only work worth doing.  But we find some great encouragement straight from God in His Word that fights the world’s prescription.  Let us not forget that when we are still, to just be with and focus on the ones we love, we are following the example of our God, who longs for us to crawl up in His lap, to hear His Words, and to just be.  I’ll leave you with these verses that encourage my heart to enjoy moments of Sabbath in my days.

Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”   “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This passage always reminds me that none of the other work I have on my to do list is as important as sitting at Jesus’s feet.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

This verse reminds me that just as Jesus is my place of rest, I need to be a place of rest for my children, not the busy, frantic, “just a minute” mom that I can be.

Psalm 46:10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

This verse reminds me to rest in God’s sovereignty.  Could it be that my stillness bring Him more glory than my busyness?

Matthew 22:36-40  “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

And this passage, one we’ve all heard many times, is a good reminder of God’s priority for our time.  Giving Him the best of ourselves, and giving our best to others (children/family/friends).

None of these passages us tell us to be lazy, but rather to rest with purpose.  There are many scriptures that warn against laziness, working is good, don't get me wrong.  I think where we often get it wrong is when we see times of rest and being still as a hindrance to what we see as more important, the doing we have idolized.  Rest serves as a recharging for the work God has given us, it's needed fuel we often neglect.

Meditate with me on these verses today as we ask God how He might be leading us to slow down for the sake of what’s most important.

Pre-School Idea Sharing

1.  Although Genevieve is young for actual preschool (She will be two in March), this may be helpful for any moms of toddlers:  we have chosen to do our own little curriculum at home once a week.  It has been really fun because it takes what we are already doing (games/crafts/snacks/songs, etc.) and gives them some structure.  We will do one chapter at a time and pick and choose activities out of there...each activity revolves a certain concept or subject matter, and everything we do revolves around that one topic.  We have used the book "The Comprehensive Toddler Curriculum (for 18-36 months)" by Kay Albrecht and it has been awesome.  Barnes and Noble has it.  It has been fun and a great, beneficial activity for the long winter months.  It's nice, too, because it's free and on our own, so if we feel like taking a week off, we do. ;)
-Natalie

Another suggestion on where to buy The Comprehensive Toddler Curriculum (for 18-36 months)" by Kay Albrecht here. Free shipping.

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/9780876592144-id-9780876592144.aspx

2.  We have generally tried to do at least one craft and one game each day (like play-doh, stringing beads, perler beads, water color books where the ink is printed on, coloring, stamping, murals and shapes with foam paper, tan-grams, finger-painting with pudding, puzzle time, etc.) until our kids are three.  

Once our kids are three, we have found wonderful Christian preschool programs (2 mornings a week for threes, and three mornings for 4-5 year olds).  It's stretched our budget at times, but I have loved the opportunity for our kids to learn preschool stuff with a Christian focus and kids that aren't necessarily from church.  My goal is to permeate my children's world view with the idea that there are Christians everywhere, not just our friends, so they see it as normal to be Christian and talk about Jesus wherever we go.  It's also a way to be out in the world, but model not being caught up in it.  

Our kids were at a Baptist church program in Juneau, and are at Resurrection Fellowship here.  While I don't subscribe to some of the points of their worship or theology, I've found that their staff LOVE JESUS and are passionate about teaching them that Jesus loves them, and that's the environment I want my kids to see and have an opportunity in which to participate and learn.  Especially learning that God created the world, their little bodies, the rules for life, and is worthy of worship and reverence.  He IS the foundation of knowledge.  

This CAN be done at home, no questions.  I've specifically scheduled my time with kids in a preschool program to volunteer in my older children's classrooms, have one-on-one time with my younger ones, meet with other moms, or grocery shop so I'm available at home and not needing to tote kids around for as many errands.  

RCS (Resurrection Christian School) Preschool is in north Loveland, right off I-25.  It opens for public enrollment on February 12 at 8:00 a.m.  (I'd be there by 7:45 to get in line, it will fill up within minutes.)  Their program is gospel centered, includes chapel, dance or gymnastics monthly, a great art program, two performances a year, and is academically strong.  612-0632 for Cathi to schedule a tour.  Mornings are 8:30-11:30 (with drive-through pickup and 45 minutes of "lunch bunch" available for $2 more) or 12:15-3:15.

Other great Christian preschools I've looked into and liked are: Christian Core Academy!!! (Our schedule doesn't allow), Harmony School, and Redeemer Lutheran.

3.  We have used Sylvans preschool curriculum that can be found at Barnes and noble I usually buy the book that contains letters (upper and lower) colors and shapes, as well as numbers/ counting it costs about 25$ and takes anywhere from 10-20 min depending on how much time you want to invest. Also we recently picked up Hooked on Phonics level I at the library and I have absolutely loved it! Next year we will probably do CCA's (Christian Core Academy) preschool for James. I think it will be a great experience!

Ladies!

4.  Because my husband and I are both a part of CSU and graduating this spring, our son who was 3 wanted to do school.  Though a little pricey, we have started him with the preschool program from A Beka academy.  He loves it and my 2 year old is doing it along with him.  They learn how to write, sounds, numbers, colors, months, days, etc.  They have games and such.  Because it is more expensive for everything, it comes with a teachers manual so you make sure you are doing it rights, or it can be done via video, we laminated all the games and pieces so that we can reuse it all for my daughter or any future kids we have.  We don't push him to do a lot, usually he wants to do about an hour a day, his choice.  We went with A Beka because it is one my husband had when he was growing up with, it is very flexible even how you teach with it, computer, you, groups, video and such.  I hope you find this helpful.

As a side note, I have enjoyed being a part of REAL Moms this fall.  Unfortunately I have an internship this semester that requires me to be there during this time :(  If I canget out of it a couple of times I will try. I have been blessed by the program.

Thanks You,

Melissa

5.  If you would like a to try a fun, free option (albeit a bit more work); we could start up Kingdom Kids again.  

Kingdom Kids is a co-op preschool that meets a MVC and is run by mothers.  We did not have it this last semester, because there just wasn't enough interest.  But if we got a good group of ladies (and their preschoolers) together I would be more than happy to help start it up again.

How it works: There is a class and a nursery for younger siblings.  Each mother rotates through the various positions of Teacher, Teacher's Helper, Nursery worker 1, Nursery worker 2, and days off.  Last year we found having 7 mothers was about ideal.  This way you prepared and taught 2 lessons (3-4 days), helped 3-4 days, was in the nursery for about 6 days and had about 6-8 days off a semester.

When: Obviously, the when is completely at the discretion of those who are involved.  We typically met from 9-11:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, taking Real Moms Tuesdays off.  We also took a field trip each semester.

All the curriculum (Our Father's World) and teaching tools are already assembled and waiting to be used.  Occasionally, the mother's split the cost of a new box of crayons or construction paper.

If anyone is in need of more info about this or is interested in Kingdom Kids please shoot me a line.  i loved it.  Serving with friends, teaching the kids, it was a blast!

Colleen Reynolds
co@jonandco.com
970-412-3509

6.  Christian Core Academy Pre-K

CCA offers Pre-K for children ages 4/5 from 8am-noon on Tuesday/Thursdays. CCA has small class sizes

allowing 8 spots for Pre-K (and 10 spots for all other grades), however, if enough interest were to arise a

Monday/Wednesday class may become available. Cost is $180/month (with August being ½ price) and

a $180 registration free due upon completion of an enrolment packet. This will secure a spot for the

2013-14 school year and help purchase consumables throughout the year.

CCA Pre-K offers a Core Knowledge curriculum which incorporates What Your Preschooler Needs To

Know Core Knowledge material, My Fathers World Kindergarten material, Saxon Math Kindergarten

material and Spalding Phonograms (focusing on the first 26 phonograms).

Most importantly, Jesus is the foundation of all learning at CCA. In Pre-K this looks like daily devotions,

prayer time (based on specific prayer requests/praises), reading through The Jesus Storybook Bible and

memorizing Bible Sayings each week based on the My Father’s World weekly units. Besides gaining a

love for learning, much of Pre-K is learning how to co-exist with others and gain an understanding of

structure and basic social/behavior skills in a group/classroom setting. The small class size allows for

these important matters to be addressed through discussions of Jesus and His love for us, to practice

reconciling with our peers who have been offended, and reaching not only the mind but the heart of

each child.

If you or someone you know would like more information or an enrollment packet for CCA’s

Pre-K program, please contact Cherese Macy at (970)682-4750 or through CCA’s website at

christiancoreacademy.org.

Overflowing Lives- Sara McConahy

The concept of overflowing lives is an important biblical concept for us, especially as moms.  Since it's the theme for our year, we wanted to dig into it together as we start the year.

Thirst:
I submit to you that every single person is born thirsty, not meaning for milk but for fulfillment, purpose and happiness. What I am going to call “soul thirst”. First century theologian Augustine made the observation, “our hearts are restless”, French Christian Philosopher, Pascal explained it this way , “ all men seek happiness, this is the motive of every action of every man. He says, “We are born with an infinite abyss in us.”
If we take anytime to think about it, we see that each of us longs to be filled to overflowing, we
long for what really satisfies and brings happiness, we hunt for something, someone to fill the
void, the abyss, our soul thirst.

Brainstorm of things we look to for fulfillment:

Things: Travel, places, money, appearance, stuff
People: Husband, kids, friends, authority
Roles: Mother, wife, career/job title, homemaker
Abstract: Feelings, being liked, being understood, respect from other Christians, living up to the label of Christian, cultural Christianity, approval, organization

Let me clear, I am not saying that these things can’t provide happiness (God says children are a
blessing and gift and his creation a reflection of His Glory). What I am saying is that the happiness
these things provide will not last, they will disappoint, and will never be enough. They were never
meant to fill the infinite abyss. Jeremiah 2:13, words it perfectly, “For my people have committed two
evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.” If these are broken cisterns – what is the living water?

We are going to look at a narrative in the Gospel of John that gives us a great picture of a thirsty
woman (for both h2o and something to quench her soul thirst) At your tables we are going to turn
to John 4:1-26. Questions to consider:

Who are the people in the text?
Where are they?
When was this?

How did Jesus get to the issue of thirst?
What had the Samaritan woman gone to for fulfillment?
What was Jesus’ answer to her thirst?

Let's zero in on 13-14. As the woman is still hung up on physical thirst Jesus is addressing her soul
thirst. Jesus’ words are for you and I = I know you are thirsty, I have an answer to
your thirst so that you will never soul thirst again! And not only will you be satisfied but your life
will overflow! Every single one of us either is or was this woman apart from Jesus intersecting our lives. Just fill in the blank – she was filling her thirst with husbands. For me it was – alcohol, boyfriends, popularity, self
achievement…

Let me take you through some other verses where Jesus tells us HE is the answer to our thirst. 

John 7:37 – "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to ME and drink."

Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Festival of booths. A time when the Jewish people would ascend to the city and camp basically to remember God leading them out of Egypt. These words would have been familiar to the Jews listening – from Is 55. Read 

John 6: 35 - "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.""
Scripture never wavers in the source for quenching our soul thirst – the source is Jesus Christ. He alone fulfills, satisfies, and gives purpose to life. And when I say Jesus Christ I am meaning both Jesus the God/man and gospel of Jesus. The good news of what He accomplished for us: His perfect sinless life, His sacrificial atoning death, and His victorious rising from the dead.

Listen to this quote from "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" by Paul Tripp: "        "

So, lets bring it back to you and me, moms in Fort Collins, CO Sept 18, 2012. The first question is
do you believe in this Rock the living water? This Jesus? Do you believe what Jesus is saying to
you? He is saying – Sara, you were made for me. Becky, you were made for me… Are you willing, in
humble faith, to declare like the people who were from the town of the Samaritan woman, “We no
longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we KNOW that
this man really is the Savior of the world.” That is my hope and prayer for every one of you.

My guess is that most of you in this room say amen – yes, by faith, I believe! He is my Rock, my
solid ground. Praise the Lord!! Then hear this! This is what is true of you believer in Jesus Christ: You have everything you need to experience complete fulfillment and purpose right now in Christ. You have
everything you need to live an overflowing life right now in Christ. PERIOD! How do I know? Because the verses we just read tell us! And God doesn’t lie.

That means when you are in the grocery store and your preschooler is running the aisles,
your toddler is pitching a fit in the cart and your baby has had a poopie blow-out. You can
experience the overflowing life.

When you aren’t sure how your husband’s paycheck is going to see you through the basic
needs of the month and you are already in debt. You can experience the overflowing life.

When you feel guilty about not wanting to be around your children because all you ever
wanted was to be a mom, but today, you are just struggling to even like your kids. – you can
experience the overflowing life.

When you are bitter at your husband because you feel overworked, underappreciated, and
alone. You can experience the abundant life.

When depression meets you at your waking breath in the morning and the thought of
getting out of bed seems overwhelming enough, much less the thought of taking care of a
baby. You can experience the overflowing life.

Here is the reason why: the abundant life, is not dependent on our life circumstances, it
is dependent on where we have placed our life faith. If you have placed your faith in Jesus,
taken Him at his word that he really is living water that quenches your soul thirst - You
have everything you need to satisfy. This is faith that is both present and future oriented. We are believing that Jesus quenches our soul thirst in the here an now and ultimately in heaven we will thirst no more:

Revelation 7:16- “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd., and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

These are precious and beautiful promises!

Well, If you are anything like me, right now I bet you are thinking two things. 1) I don’t always
experience this OR worded better: I don’t always feel like I am living a fulfilled, overflowing life.
And 2) I want what you are talking about – practically, how to I get there!

Let’s try to address these two things. I believe that we don’t always feel like we are living the
fulfilled life because we are choosing emotion over truth. Really it boils down to simple unbelief.
We simply are not choosing by faith to believe in what is already true and accomplished through
Jesus. Our senses bombard us with the here and now, the emotion of it all – feeling depressed,
over-whelmed, tired, hopeless, unmotivated… But the beautiful truth is that the verses we have
read are TRUE! 2 peter 1:3 is true: His divine power has given us everything we need for life and
godliness.

Next, I think that we are practically not experiencing abundant life because I we try to add broken
cisterns to Jesus hoping they will hold living water. We subtly add things from our white board
list/our broken cisterns, to Jesus. Like: Jesus and a great marriage. Jesus and a house that fits our
growing family. Jesus and the approval I long for, Jesus and a thankfulness journal, Jesus and…
you get it.

In the book Jesus + nothing = everything by Tullian Tchividjian he says, “Typically, it’s not that
Christians seek to blatantly replace the gospel. What we try to do is simply add to it.” I am so guilty
of this! This is how you would discern what you are trying to add to Jesus to bring happiness-
simply think about whatever is in your life that, if you lost it, would make you want to quit living?
Seriously ask yourself this question in the weeks to come. This will help you see what you are
adding to Jesus for fulfillment. PS – read this book.

Most of the time these things that we wouldn’t want to live without are God given blessings – your
husband, children, health, etc. but Jesus plus something will rob us of true fulfillment because
those additives were never meant to satisfy and they are not meant to last.

Our third mistake is that we often ignore, underutilize or substitute the Means of Grace that we
have been given to experience an overflowing life. Let me try to explain this using an analogy:
All of us can appreciate the beauty of a diamond. But there are means of greater understanding
and appreciating a diamonds true beauty : 4C’s - carat, clarity, color, and cut.

Jesus is like that diamond. As believers we can all appreciate His beauty. We also have means to
a greater understanding and appreciation of and experience of Jesus’ true beauty. We can call them means
of grace. Instead of cut and clarity they would be prayer and study of the Bible to name a couple.
Things that God has given us to know and experience Him.

In groups talk about some means of grace that we have been given to revel in God’s glory. We will
list them on the board.

So I said that our mistake can be that we often ignore and underutilize these means of grace. You
have a bible but it sits by your bed. You have sisters in Jesus who love you but you aren’t honest
with them about your life. We can also substitute these means of grace for the real Grace Giver.
All these things we have listed are ways of experiencing fulfillment in Christ, not activities that
will bring fulfillment in and of themselves. We think real fulfillment can be ours if we just pray
enough, or if we were just thankful enough, study our bible everyday, memorize enough scripture,
make ourselves accountable to other Christians. But Jesus is clear – the answer is Him. He always
brought people to have to put their faith in Him. His strongest rebukes were to the Pharisees who
diligently followed the religious rules (ie: trusted in themselves) but refused to trust in Jesus as
the living water. Let’s embrace and enjoy these means of grace as lead ropes – leading us to drink
of Jesus.

Maybe part of the answer to helping you experience the overflowing life is adjusting your idea of
what that “looks” like. The fulfilled life is not the happy, clappy life – song. It is a life of faith like that is expressed by the psalmist in

Psalm 42 – "Why are you downcast o my soul and why so disturbed within me?"

The fulfilled life is not the put together/no weakness/ super woman life; life of faith like that
expressed by paul in 2 Corinthians 12 – "therefore I will boast in my weaknesses…"
The fulfilled life is not absent of pain and suffering but is a life of faith like that expressed by peter
– now for a little while…

As we think back to our diamond analogy: The amazing truth is, just as the diamond possesses
beauty to behold for those willing to look, Jesus is infinitely more beautiful and He calls us to
come, to come to Him and be filled. The reason He alone can fill the infinite abyss is because He is
the only infinite one. Infinitely good, wise, loving, knowing, faithful, gracious, merciful, kind, …

Let me encourage you to live faith – Faith that takes God at His word, and lives as though it is
true. Not adding broken cisterns to what is the only ever lasting spring of living water and taking
advantage of the means of grace that we have been given to behold His glory.

Isaiah 58:11- "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

The Main Things- Pastor Pep Talk (Cyrus)

Motherhood and wifehood pull us in many directions, so we have to ask ourselves, "What are the main things?"  We first have to remember that we can do nothing in our own strength, we need Jesus to be our fuel every morning, every moment!  Parenting, as well as every other relationship/role flows from our hearts.

Deuteronomy 4:9- "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

*At any moment, where's your heart and where's your mind?  Asking these questions gets you to the source of struggle or joy.

*Enjoy your kids, the tasks can wait, they are your eternal investment!

*What will your kids remember?  The perfectly clean house, or the time spent with them, enjoying them, investing in them, relating to them?

*Focus on your marriage.  When your husband gets home, love him, be interested in him and his day, his struggles, his heart.  Don't be self focused and barrage him.  (a loving, serving marriage is one of the best gifts you can give your children.)

*Find rest: emotional, spiritual rest.  Returning to Jesus at the end of your day helps you keep your focus and perspective right.  Sandwich your day with Jesus!

Psalm 21:5- "Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;  you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty." (The Lord is your shade, HE is in control, not you.)

James 4:8- "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.)