Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’. Matthew 5:37 Consistency, is a word often associated with parenting. The verse, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’ (Matthew 5: 37) has largely been misunderstood. This statement actually refers to being a person of integrity, one who keeps his word and speaks the truth. Many parents find consistency difficult. They try to give the same responses, rewards, or consequences for similar situations; trying …
When No One Else Is Looking, Are You Still Praising?
The M.O.M. Initiative loves to share real life stories of moms who have overcome tremendous challenges…moms who inspire us to keep our hearts fixed on Jesus regardless of our circumstances. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Renee Bondi. Please take a few minutes and read her story that answers the question… WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS LOOKING, ARE YOU STILL PRAISING? Fort Washington, PA—No one knows better what it’s like to struggle to praise God when you don’t feel like it than author and singer Renee Bondi, author of the new book Still I Will Praise:The Power of Praising God…Even …
A Mother’s Heart…Do You Ever Feel Like a Herman?
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. In a shadowed corner of the house, outside by the side door, sits my hydrangea plant under a tree. Light cannot penetrate the plant’s leaves as it should to soak up the radiance of the sun because of the overhanging of the tree. I say plant because it totally lacks the definition of bush. I nicknamed him Herman. Don’t ask me why. I haven’t a clue. The soil under the tree must be bad. None of the plants …
Mentoring thru the School Year
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. By now many schooling families have written or received their first progress reports. Areas of weakness emerge, the lunch menu sounds dull, and new pencils have broken tips. Moms who have a mentoring mindset will succeed, even when school year challenges stack up against us. How can mentoring give you a Grade A school year? Teacher to Student Whether the parent wears the hat of “academic teacher” or shares it with another adult, teachers have the potential to mentor …
Part 3: Kids & Cell Phones – the WHAT and WHERE
Part 1: Kids & Cell Phones – the WHY Part 2: Kids & Cell Phones – the WHEN and HOW Part 3: Kids & Cell Phones – the WHAT and WHERE Several years ago, during a Faculty-Student Home Worship, I realized that our ten student advisees were not particularly engaged in the discussion my husband was leading. At first, I thought perhaps they were a bit shy, as it was early in the school year and we were all starting to get to know each other. But I found out later where their attention had been: texting their friends …
The Life of a Single Mom
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. By Guest: Jennifer Maggio She walks in the church and cautiously looks around with her four-year-old daughter in tow. She hesitantly makes her way to the back of the church and sits quietly, thumbing through her Bible, avoiding eye contact at all costs. She has contemplated this day for months. She wonders if she should be here. Does she really belong? A warm, friendly woman sits beside her and begins to make conversation with the four-year-old. The young …
Scheduling: A Tool for Sanity
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. I look at my watch. 6:30 PM. Sigh. I don’t have dinner started, L needs to do eye therapy, E needs to study spelling words, and J needs a bath. And bedtime is supposed to be 8 PM. I felt like my mind was spinning out of control. My shoulders tensed, my heart rate doubled, and the inner voice started. Why can’t you get yourself together? Other moms homeschool and have dinner on the table at 5:00 PM. You …
Our Family Creed
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. Several years ago, one of the pastors at our church spoke about the importance of creating a sense of team and vision within your own family. One of the ways he’d done this in his family was by creating a Family Creed – a list of principals to live by, sort of a mission statement to help define what your family is all about. As he shared his Family Creed, I feverishly took notes. Our daughter was about six at the time, our son was …
A Generous Helping of Wisdom
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. “Mom, what does e-n-o-u-g-h say?” asked my 7 year old daughter, Gracie. She occasionally gets stumped while reading and will come running to me, like the house is on fire, asking how to pronounce a word she can’t figure out. I love when she does this. She is a very independent little girl who rarely thinks she needs help. So, to have her come ask me for help is always encouraging. This means she is teachable. It means she …
5 Biblical Reasons to Have Children
Subscribe today for your FREE copy of… FACING YOUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. Last week I read an article, “5 Reasons Not To Have Children.” Just the title is shocking to me! This article evoked strong feelings as my thoughts were forced to view a secular perspective of child-bearing with no hint of American cultural values, much less any Christian values. I have 7 reasons to have children, pictured above. 
While the size of families is completely according to God’s individual plan, the most important Biblical principle we must cherish above …