Devotions for Moms

When Your Work Seems Fruitless

toshowthemjesus — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:50:51 +0000

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

How many diapers do you change in a day? How often do you wipe runny noses? How many loads of laundry do you do each week?

“Mommy, can I have a snack?”

“Mommy, I need to go potty.”

“Mommy, he hit me!”

Is this your life? It’s pretty close to mine. Motherhood is a seemingly endless cycle of childcare, doctoring, training, cleaning and feeding. Rarely is there any reward for your work. Except for the occasional smiles, hugs, and kisses, it’s a tedious job with no end in sight.

Does any of this effort matter? All these loads of laundry we do and all those snacks we hand out, none of it seems to change the world in any way. At the end of the day, it doesn’t seem like anything grand has been accomplished.

Take a deep breath. Don’t despair. Scripture says our labor is not in vain. Motherhood is a ministry done at the pace of a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a long-term commitment of faithful service in the investment of our children’s hearts.

Children are precious in the sight of God. He sees our work, the sacrifices made for our children, and it pleases Him. Mothers live out their faith by investing in the eternal souls He’s placed in their care. Every diaper that’s changed, every nose that’s wiped, and every load of laundry that’s cleaned, is done for the honor and glory of God.

Don’t give up. Continue on the path He’s laid out for you. Mothering can be a lonely job, but you are not alone. The Spirit is there and He will strengthen you to continue to love and serve your family. Keep walking forward, one step at a time, trusting in the Lord’s promises. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

For further reading: Psalm 118, 1 Peter 1:13, Deuteronomy 6:1-9, James 1:12, Proverbs 31

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Faith – A Four Week Mini Bible Study {FREE on Kindle 4/12 & 4/13}

CSAHM — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:10:32 +0000

About the eBook

In this four week mini Bible Study you will examine your faith and what it means to have faith in God.

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Our faith begins with what we know and believe about God. Our faith will carry us how far we are willing to let it take us. Faith is a choice and we need to begin by choosing to believe in Jesus and His power to move mountains, heal the sick, and save us from all our sins through His sacrifice on the cross.

When we believe in God we then learn to walk in faith and trust God. But first we must believe, and it’s up to us, we can either choose to believe in Him or not. But faith will mean nothing until we believe with all our heart that God is who He says He is.

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Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Come Closer

toshowthemjesus — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:54:06 +0000

“Come close to God and He will come close to you.” James 4:8

It had been a rough week around our house. My husband was out-of-town for work. My kids seemed to be more irritable, uncooperative and disrespectful than usual. I was feeling overwhelmed and alone.

At times like these, I often expect God to ride in on a white horse and whisk me away from my troubles. I stew in my self-pity and anger, wondering why He hasn’t shown up. But He knows that’s not what I really need. So He waits.

And this is exactly where the enemy wants me. He whispers lies that pull me farther from God.

This verse in James is part of a larger passage about where the passion of our hearts lie. He says that lives are full of strife because of the sinful desires within us. When second things become first place in our hearts, a chasm grows between us and God. It is He alone who fulfills our deepest longings but too often we are distracted by what the world offers instead. The lies of the enemy shout louder than the whispers of the Spirit.

Yet there is hope. James says in verse 6 that it is God’s grace that helps us to stand against evil. When we humble ourselves, acknowledge we can’t live without Him, that He is our first thing, and turn to Him, we find Him standing there, arms open wide.

He’s always been there, ready and waiting. He knows that nothing else but He alone can calm our hearts and give us the peace we’ve long desired. It was He who created that longing in each of us. And it is His grace that enables us to resist evil desires and turn to Him instead.

Do you know He’s waiting for you?

For further reading: James 4:1-10, Psalm 86

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

For Thirsty Souls

toshowthemjesus — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:57:47 +0000

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2

We were riding our bikes, the three of us, around our little section of the neighborhood. It wasn’t a far ride, but it was surprisingly hot. My littlest couldn’t finish the ride, he was quickly worn out. I ended up walking both our bikes home. As soon as we returned to our house, we all headed straight for a drink.

When you are thirsty, it is all you can think about. I dehydrate easily during the summer and immediately feel sick: nausea, dizziness, confusion–all for lack of water. I’ve learned that I need to drink a lot of water before going outside to prevent dehydration.

Water is what we are made of and is essential for our very survival. When it comes to our soul, knowing God and communing with Him is essential for our spiritual survival. This passage in Psalm 42 describes the souls longing for God, to the point of panting for Him.

Does your soul pant for God?

Too often, our soul is more interested in other distractions. The pretty things, the enjoyable things of life block our line of vision and convince us they will fill our every need. Jobs, relationships, possessions, dreams, money, can all becomes first things in our hearts. We believe the lie that they will fill our deepest desires, but instead they leave us panting, our thirst never quenched.

Because our soul is made to be filled by God alone, nothing else will satisfy. Jesus referred to Himself as “living water.” He is the Source of the refreshment for which our soul longs. Filling our desire and longings with Him is the only way our thirst will be quenched.

He has plenty of this living water. It will never run out. It will fill your soul with more joy than any relationship, dream, experience or material possession ever could. We were made to enjoy sweet communion with God and our hearts are restless until we do.

For more on this living water: Psalm 73:25, Revelation 7:17, John 4:13,14, John 7:37-39, Isaiah 12:3.

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Breaking Pride – The eBook

CSAHM — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 04:50:57 +0000

Breaking Pride is finally here!

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About the eBook:

So many of us long to have an authentic and REAL relationship with the Lord, and we long to have the fruit of the spirit filled in our heart. Our desire is to achieve these fruits through will power. But we do not even realize that the pride that lives within our heart is what is blocking the fruit of the spirit from living within us.

In Breaking Pride you will learn to identify different areas of pride in your life. Filled with encouragement, Breaking Pride will take you through a practical reading of what pride may look like in your life…

Let’s stop building walls of pride and start building the foundation of grace within our lives…

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Please feel free to spread the word to your family and friends on twitter and facebook!

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Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Hope Deferred…

CSAHM — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:41:34 +0000

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Definition of Deferred: Put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone.

I use to think hope deferred in my life was a result of my circumstances or someone else was preventing my dream from being fulfilled. But this week I realized the only person that can keep me from hoping is myself.

For awhile I have been struggling with the desire to have more children. Recently I read a book called “Children of Dreams” and my heart began to stir with the idea of adoption.

My heart had pondered this idea many times before. But my mind had always said no, it’s too impossible, or I simply would stop thinking about it because I was afraid.

But what I hadn’t noticed is how sick my heart was…the emotion that fills my heart when I consider adoption is overwhelming. My heart feels like that about a lot of things.

This weekend I realized that I was holding back my hope out of fear. When I began thinking and hoping for adoption again I felt different…my dream has not been fulfilled yet, but I’m hoping and dreaming again. I’m talking about it in spite of the tears that often run down my face because I am so overwhelmed…

More hopes are surfacing now and I’m realizing all the things I said “no” to out of fear. All the amazing things God has planned for me, all of His gifts, I kept rejecting them, I kept saying “no thank you.”

Personally I am not too confident that we are ready for these amazing things God has planned for us, but I’m not putting off the action of hoping any longer, and I’m done saying “no” to God. God has been trying to open doors for me and I have been frantically trying to close and lock the doors…but no man can close a door that God has opened.

Hope deferred doesn’t come without consequence, it makes the heart sick. The heart becomes angry, apathetic, selfish, and controlling. We can’t ignore the beauty of His grace in our life without some sort of consequence, we were designed to be cherished by Him, He wants to bless us, and He wants to grow His kingdom here on earth.

What would happen if we said “yes” more instead of saying “no?” It’s takes faith for sure, and it takes a simple choice. We can either choose faith or we can choose fear…

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you for being so patient with me. I’m sorry for not accepting your amazing gifts, I was just afraid. Afraid that I wasn’t good enough, and afraid that I would somehow be disappointed or hurt. But I’m choosing to trust you now and I want to start hoping for the blessings you have planned for me. Lord help me to keep my focus on You, and Your plan for my life. Help me to not be consumed with my dreams, but instead be driven to serve You and receive your gifts as they come to me and my family. I pray this in your mighty name. – Amen

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Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

When You’re Feeling Burned Out

toshowthemjesus — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:30:12 +0000

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Some days my head hits the pillow hard. I lay there thinking “I can’t do this another day.” I’m not only physically tired, but emotionally and mentally as well. Between refereeing conflicts between siblings, homeschool, church responsibilities and the chores, I am spent. Yet, exhausted as I am, my mind runs long into the night. I think about the projects I promised the church I would complete. I remind myself of countless things I need to do for homeschool the next day. I think about people I need to call but haven’t.

Life is hard and it’s tiring. As moms, we are known to give and give and give some more. We juggle many hats and many responsibilities. Children use up all our patience and energy. Our minds are usually full of to-do lists, burdens and worries, if-onlys, and I-need-to’s.

Even a juggler can’t juggle forever. Eventually we wear out and get burned out.

It is such a comfort to know that God never grows weary. He never needs rest. He’s never burdened. And there’s no problem too big for Him.

I also take great comfort in knowing that He is faithful and His love is everlasting. He promised Israel in Isaiah 40 that He would give strength to the weary. He knew how much we labor under sin. He knew we needed rescue from our burdens. He sent His Son who carried the greatest burden for us so we wouldn’t have to.

This same Son knows what it is to be tired, to experience sorrow, and what trials and challenges come with this life. He took on skin like ours and shared in our sufferings. What great hope this brings!

This passage reminds us that our hope indeed is in the Lord. When we hope in Him and believe His promises, our strength is renewed.

Feeling burned out? Know that your Savior carried that same burden to the cross. Know that He wants to strengthen you even today through the power of the gospel of grace. He has taken our burdens and given us wings to soar. He did so that day on the cross over 2,000 years ago and He continues to do so this very day as well.

May this be your confidence and hope.

For further reading: Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 23, Exodus 15:2, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28-30

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Overwhelmed

CSAHM — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:17:39 +0000

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. … John 15:1-7

Often I desire to be able to focus on one thing at a time. Everyday I feel like I am being pulled in a million different directions. Mental exhaustion at the end of the day is pretty typical for me, everything on my to do list seems too important to cross off.

I find myself playing catch up in almost every area of my life including laundry, money, housekeeping, bible study, and grocery shopping. Finding the best way to divide my time seems almost impossible.

Often I will go to God with my overwhelm, begging Him to please help. Help lessen the financial burden by helping us get caught up or help me to be able to manage it all. I want it to be OK to not have a clean organized home, or to eat fast food everyday. But none of this is good for my family so I work to change it.

I work to try and do everything on my to do list only to have stuff left on it and I end up playing catch up the next day. Or I try to work more in order to meet our needs and I avoid sleep so I can finally try to get caught up.

But no matter what I do the disorganization and the overwhelm that is in my mind and life never seem to be resolved…until I put my complete focus on God.

When I focus on His promises, or I focus on His provision, I’m not overwhelmed anymore. Or when I focus on the individuals and the relationships that’s when I’m not overwhelmed by the big numbers that equal success.

When I focus on God I take life one moment at a time. Of course my flesh wants to be the center of attention, but my focus needs to be on God and not on me.

I desire to be able to focus on one thing at a time and when I focus on God I am truly able to go throughout my day without being overwhelmed.

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:15

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this beautiful day. Everyday I wake up to a list of things to do and it is truly overwhelming at times. Often I have no idea where to start because they all are important. I am so thankful to be able to turn to You and put my focus on You. When I do You are always there to guide me. Lord please continue to guide. Show me where to pour my heart into. Guide me in when I should say no, and motivate me when I say yes. Thank You for always being there even when my heart is resistant and selfish. I pray this in Jesus’ name. – Amen!

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Come Boldly

toshowthemjesus — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:13:41 +0000

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Do you freely come to God, no matter what is happening in your life? I don’t often enough. Especially when I’ve sinned. When I’ve messed up with my kids, yelled or said something unkind, the last thing I do is come before God.

In fact, I’m more likely to stay away for a while until I feel worthy. This passage describes the throne as belonging to our gracious God. When Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two. The barrier separating sinner from our holy God was removed. Christ has made us worthy to come before the throne of God. We don’t have to purify ourselves or clean up our mess before we approach Him. Jesus already did that.

Even when my life is a mess and I struggle with sin, I can still come boldly. At the throne, I will receive mercy. He gives me mercy for my past sins and grace to help me through whatever is going on in my life.

We have so much to gain when we approach Him boldly–and nothing to fear. When the whispers of doubt creep in, we must remember His grace and mercy. He desires real relationship with us, not one where we withdraw in fear.

Will you enter His throne room boldly today?

For further reading: Ephesians 3:12, John 1:16, 2 Thess. 2:16-17, Matthew 11:28-30

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study

Faith

CSAHM — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:37:54 +0000

Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4

What does it take to walk by faith? This is a question I have been pondering for a couple of months now and with the New Year here I feel God strongly impressing on my heart that the word FAITH is my word for this year.

Last year my word was healing, and 2011 definitely brought healing in every area of my life. It seems a bit strange to go from healing to faith because in my mind it takes faith to bring healing. However seeing God’s faithfulness in bringing healing to my life will definitely be fresh in my mind as I learn to walk in faith this year.

Part of me is afraid. The fear that comes with walking in faith is there because of the unknown. Faith means I won’t have all the answers, and right now I would LOVE some answers. Or maybe I will think I have the answers only to have everything fall out of place again only to leave me with more questions than answers.

Faith means trusting God when you can’t see past two feet in front of you. It means walking down a winding road in the fog with confidence and boldness only because you KNOW that you’re here because that’s where God has brought you.

Walking in faith is not easy for me, especially since I am pretty comfortable worrying and being afraid of everything. I like to have control and I like to plan and set goals. But lately my plans and goals seem to be falling through the cracks and all I’m left with is my faith in God and His promises – which really seems to be enough.

So in 2012 I plan to walk by faith so I can also walk in His grace.

Faith brings us grace because when we walk by faith we find our self in a vulnerable place where we let go of control and surrender to Him. We can’t walk by faith if we have a heart of pride. Faith brings us to a place of humility because we finally find our strength in Him instead of what we can accomplish on our own.

Faith is enough. God is enough. His promises are enough, and He always keeps His promises.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another hour, day, week, year. It is a wonderful blessing to be alive and well. Thank you for your provision and healing. So much has happened last year, and I look back on it with gratitude in my heart. Right now it’s difficult to find that gratitude, joy, and confidence simply because things aren’t going the way I had planned, and I have no clue where things are going really. I am grateful for the rainbows You send me, they remind me that You always keep Your promises. I think I can walk down the path You lead me with confidence and boldness this year if I can get a little glimpse of Your promises and a rainbow every once in awhile. Lord, even though it’s not easy to walk by faith, I also know it is a blessing because it keeps me focused on YOU and YOUR strength and provision in my life. And for that I am grateful. I pray this in your might son Jesus’ name. – AMEN!

Today I am linking up with “What is Your Word for 2012?“

Download TODAY! ==> Faith - A Four Week Mini Bible Study