The Gift of Grace

May 3, 2012 by 13 Comments

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This week and next, we are celebrating everything that is motherhood!

Today, I want to encourage your momma heart with words I heard over the weekend at the Titus 2:1 Conference. I was privileged to be able to soak up Rachael Carman‘s words of wisdom and experience, and I want to share just a small portion of the notes I took.

Even though she was addressing homeschool moms considering high school, her words apply to moms across the board.

 

For all those moms who might be uncertain, concerned about their kids, worried about their parenting, or discouraged in general–please remember:

You have a God who

  • Has a specific plan for your child’s life and is faithful to working out that plan
  • Is in control
  • Goes before you
  • Hears when you cry out
  • Heals the brokenhearted
  • Works all things together for good
  • Redeems all things

 

That last point is a very important one to embed in our hearts. Our God can take all our mess-ups, failures, and gaps as moms and redeem them. He can turn them into something beautiful in the lives of our children.

I don’t know about you, fellow moms on the journey, but I often feel so inadequate to be able to parent well. To know that God can take all of my inadequacy and still use me to bless and train my kids is humbling and incredibly freeing. I don’t have to be perfect, or always do it “right.” He can take my feeble attempts and create good.

Wow.

Moms, give yourselves the gift of grace today. And don’t forget to join Jennifer at Little Homeschool on the Prairie tomorrow for more encouragement!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Family, Grace, Holidays, Parenting Tagged With: , , ,

Sitting in the Dark

January 27, 2011 by 4 Comments


When I was a little girl, one of my favorite books was about a cat named Mog.  I don’t remember the whole book now, but at one point Mog gets so discouraged by things that have happened that she “sits in the dark, thinking dark thoughts.”  
I feel like in the last two days I have been just like Mog.
I was overwhelmed by circumstances.  Things from the past that I had done came back to haunt.  I had some of those intense moments of wondering if God would still be there to catch me.  Wondering if the consequences of my actions would overwhelm me.  Wondering if forgiveness was truly available.  Knowing the answers in my head but struggling to let God convince my heart.
That was yesterday and part of today. 
Then came a word in the dark:  Grace.  And on the heels of that: Mercy.
Little things took place that reminded me that I am never too far out of reach.  I began to breathe a little deeper.  Trust a little bit more.  Remember that I have what I need, for now, and that is enough.
Enough.
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
‘In repentance and rest is your salvation,
In quietness and trust is your strength…’
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
How gracious he will be when you cry for help!
As soon as he hears, he will answer you.”
(Is. 30:15,19)

Filed Under: Grace, Tough Days