Happy Thanksgiving!

    Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD  is good; His loving-kindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. -Psalm 100 Today I pray that you and your family will, “serve the LORD with gladness, and come before …

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Urgent vs Important…Knowing the Difference

I could hear her calling me from upstairs.  I really wanted to finish the article I was writing.  I only needed 100 more words and I would be done, but my daughter continued to call for me.  I saved my document and grumbled to myself as I walked up the stairs to see what she needed. As I walked up the last step to our gameroom I could see what she wanted.  My great grandmother’s little round table was set with plastic dishes and a chair was waiting for me.   Gracie has invited me to join her and her dolls …

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Runner with fans

Let’s hear it FROM Mom!

It was a three mile run, shoulder to shoulder with hopefuls like me, tasting the dust of the course in my mouth, mentally counting the time and distance. By the time it was over, I was exhausted. Was I a runner? I wasn’t even in the race! I was a mom cheering on the sidelines. Being a mom who cheers Motivated by a full heart, moms clap at music recitals, admire primitive artwork, freeze on soccer fields, and keep the stop watch at the track. No one better cheers better than a mom. Being a mom who hurts But not …

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Grow Your Gratitude: Happy Thanks-Living! & The M.O.M. Initiative Monday Link Up!

The Typical 2 I’ve always heard that there are two ways to focus on thankfulness: Keep track of what I’m thankful for (i.e. in a gratitude journal) Share my gratitude with those for whom I’m thankful (i.e. by writing a thank-you note)   A New (for Me) #3 But over the last month, I’ve discovered a new way — new for me, at least! — to focus on thankfulness. I’ve been asking people this question throughout the day: “What’s one thing you’re thankful for right now?” And I marvel at the diversity, the depth, the humor, and the honesty of each …

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Refining Relations

Her words scraped a bloody line down the center of my soul – daughters do that to mothers. My eyes flashed with anger and pain. I swallowed hard, but the knot in my throat didn’t budge. My words flew hard and fast from my mouth and instantly I knew. My words left marks too. “I’m sorry,” I looked her in the eyes. “I should not have been so harsh. Please forgive me.” She nods tears pricking her eyes, but the fire was still burning there. She folds her arms. “I was wrong,” I nod. “But you cannot treat me like …

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Remove the Me

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Notice Jesus says we must take up our cross daily. Suffering and hardship He guaranteed. In fact, He said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.”  Each day will provide its own burdens, and each day we must choose how to handle them.  Jesus tells us if we desire to follow Him, we must surrender to His plan, difficulties and all. Our burdens bear a purpose, and we must bear them with full …

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WHEN YOUR HEART HURTS

Has your heart ever “hurt”?   Perhaps it hurt for someone who was going through a difficult time. Or, your heart may have ached to the point you thought you were going to die because of what someone did to you; or you unintentionally did to someone. Have you ever noticed that no one can heal your hurting heart? As a matter of fact, sometimes it’s even a puzzle to you why your heart hurts. Things can seem to be in place. Things can appear okay, but deep down, you know they aren’t.  As hard as you try to put …

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The Imagination Station ~ 2 New Books ~ 2 Giveaways

As a ministry to moms and mentors, The M.O.M. Initiative loves to share about new books, resources and ministries that minister to families! Today, we are blessed to share two great new books with you that we know you’ll love! I miss the days when I sat beside my boys with a book in hand and a story that captivated their attention. I LOVED Adventures in Odyssey then and I LOVE Adventures in Odyssey now. Today, I’d like to share with you a bit about two new books by Adventures in Odyssey’s Imagination Station and INVITE YOU TO ENTER TO …

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Raising Kids to be Independent Adults: How to LET. THEM. GO. & The M.O.M. Initiative Monday Link Up!

with Karen Ehman My friend Sheila Wray Gregoire asked a great question last week: “When Does Childhood End?”  I agree with her premise that one of my duties, as a mom, is to help my kids find their route to independence, maturity, and purpose. So it’s been hard to admit that I was a “smother mother” when my daughter was in high school. I ran interference with my daughter’s teachers so often, she did not learn how to advocate for herself. She didn’t know how to ask, “When can I come make up the quiz I missed yesterday?” or “Why did …

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What I Say in the Silences

“Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower— Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift. Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts. God’s resplendent glory, fully on display. God awesome, God majestic.” Isaiah 35:8 (Message) It’s a rainy morning in East Texas, washing away thick pollen, which is running in a yellow stream to the street. I grab my bag of quiet-time materials, toy basket and gently lift Noah, carrying him to his exersaucer on our covered, back porch—a perfect set-up for the day. Noah squeals delightfully …

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