Fight For His Heart

Five Minute Friday is where gather with my sweet friends

to write our hearts on a page for 5 minutes prompted
by the friend who encourages us to write bravely - Lisa-Jo.

I love this community more than words can express. 
They are my people.
It's been awhile.
I've missed them.

Today is about FIGHT.

I've been thinking a lot about the prodigal son this week. Probably due to it being the lesson this week for the Bible study I am leading, but even more so because we have been living it out in our home. It's part of why I have been quiet here in this space. 

Several months ago our oldest son sat us down and told us that he didn't believe in God anymore. That he never really did and isn't saved. This came out of the mouth of the boy who brought his Bible to school for years, who earned the nickname "preacher" for telling others about Jesus, who talked about being a youth pastor. I think it might be the first time I was at a loss for words in conversation with one of my kids. He told us that he believes the Bible is just a collection of stories and more about why he came to this decision. In my head I just kept saying to myself, "Don't freak out. Don't freak out. He will stop talking if you freak out." So I listened. 
My only response that night was to tell him that I love him.
He went to bed soon after. 

D and I were in shock.
We talked and prayed late into the night knowing that we had begun to fight for the heart of our son in a way that we hadn't expected. It has been tough with him these past months. I would swear to you at times that a "pod person" (Invasion of the Body Snatchers reference) has replaced the son I know. He has been angry and hurtful. I have shed many tears and hit my knees often.

I want to be a good prodigal parent. One that loves him enough to let him go and also enough to be there to welcome him home again.
More than anything I want him to know that I will always fight for his heart. 
Always. No. Matter. What.
With open arms either way.

Blessings,

Breaking the Silence

It really just started out as taking a break

over the summer to spend time with my family.

This whole not writing thing.

Then I realized it was a bit more than that.

A time to let God speak to my heart.

A time to speak to the hearts of others in my life.

A time to use my words more in other ways.

In prayer. 

With Him.

At home. 

With family and friends.

So I took the time.

I planned to start writing again once school started.

And I tried, but the words got stuck.

You see, right about that time some things happened that 

have been tough for me to talk about let alone write about here.

These things have challenged me in every way possible.

And I really didn't want to write about it.

Then I couldn't write anything.

So continued the silence.

I really miss writing.

I know that to begin again I have to break the silence on the hard stuff.

It was really difficult to do that with friends,

but I am so glad that I did.

Not only have they been so loving and supportive,

but it has given me a chance to do the same for others.

Being vulnerable opened that door.

Maybe I could be ok being vulnerable here too.

So looks like it's time to share.

So today is the first step.

Where I say...

Hello again, friends.

How I've missed you.

 Blessings,

That Moment In Between

Five Minute Friday is where gather with my sweet friends

to write our hearts on a page for 5 minutes prompted
by the friend who encourages us to write bravely - Lisa-Jo.

I love this community more than words can express. 
They are my people.

Today is about IN BETWEEN.

I have spent all day wrapped up in our beautiful boys. Waking up early to start laundry and clean before they even roll out of bed. Watching them lumber into the living room much later with sleepy yawns and the "morning mom"s mumbled as they reach out for hugs without even thinking. Our day is filled with pool time or video games or grocery runs, but always with lots of talking and laughing. And so many times during the day I see you in our boys. In the way they smile. In something they say. In their laughs. In the way they hug as they pass me throughout the day. I so love this time with them. And I hold each moment close. Knowing how precious each one is. Counting. Thanking. Can I thank Him enough?

Then you are home. The door opens and we all seem to gravitate to welcome you. Everyone all talking at once. It's that moment in between where I actually catch myself switching from momma mode to wife mode. And before anything else, our eyes meet and my heart still skips a beat...every time. We kiss our hellos, you put your hands on my waist pulling me close,  and we make that connection again. We get back into the rhythm as your greet the boys and listen to their stories from the day sometimes with them speaking all at the same time. You look at me over their heads and give me a wink with a promise for later.

And I think...this.
I am thankful for this.

What are you thankful for today?

Blessings,

Missions Monday - Operation Homefront

It's time for Missions Monday.

Every Monday I will introduce you to some great charities that you can get involved in. When I say get involved, I mean you can donate your money, time, and/or pray for these organizations who are doing amazing things to help people.

Today I would like to introduce you to
Operation Homefront

From the website:

Operation Homefront (OH) provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.

Through generous, widespread public support and a collaborative team of exceptional staff and volunteers, we aspire to become the provider of choice for emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. Where there is a need we do not provide, we will partner with others for the benefit of our military families. 

You can learn more about this organization

and how you can get involved visit their website here:

Operation Homefront - Website

You can connect with them on Facebook here:

Operation Homefront - Facebook

and follow them on Twitter here:

Operation Homefront - Twitter

Five Minute Friday - Love and Comfort

Five Minute Friday is where gather with my sweet friends
to write our hearts on a page for 5 minutes prompted
by the friend who encourages us to write bravely - Lisa-Jo.

I love this community more than words can express. 
They are my people.

Today is about COMFORT.


I can't remember a time in my life that you weren't there. 
We were more than cousins, raised more like brothers and sisters.

I remember our many moments shared. 
Sitting around the kid table at all of our family dinners
secretly longing for the day when we could sit
with the adults at their table and be part of their world. 
Playing bar in the basement and searching for treasure 
in the junk room at Grandma and Grandpa's house. 
Getting waterlogged in the pool wearing Grandpa's t-shirts 
while either trying to make it across the bridge of foam 
rafts or diving for black marbles in their pool.

So many of our memories take place there.
We loved spending time at their home.
Scattered around the country and growing in numbers, 
we began to marry and have children of our own.

We all found our way back there at one time or another over the years.

Sometimes separately and other times together.

Love and comfort were found there.

Then we all received the call that Grandpa had passed 

and we made our way to their house.

We came together in one place to share stories of him. 

I remember standing together, alternating between laughing and weeping 

as I listened to all of them, and reaching out to hold a hand as I told my own. Afterwards we couldn't stop telling the stories so we made our way

 to my apartment and continued our walk down memory lane. 

Sitting in a circle on the floor together, there was love and comfort.

Years later and much more life lived, we received the call that Grandma had passed and we found our way to each other again. We were once more asked to share memories and managed to find words to express how much we loved her and how she impacted our lives. We stood in front of all there and clung to each other's hands speaking of her. I remember that each one of us mentioned that she instilled in us that family is everything. We couldn't bear to separate just yet, so we went to have dinner. Gathered around a table together, there was love and comfort.

I know that no matter how far apart we may live our lives, 

we are and always will be deeply connected.

There is love and comfort there too.

Past the 5 minutes:

I have been thinking of and missing my Grandma this week. I know it's especially hard for my Mom as we celebrate moms and hers is absent from the celebration. Today I am praying comfort for all those motherless daughters like her. I am also praying for those childless mothers as I know that this is difficult for you as well.

God blesses those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

Blessings,

D6 Days Begin Today!

D6 Days begin today!

You might be wondering what D6 is.

The D6 Conference is a conference for anyone involved in family ministry. 

It is a place where church leaders, parents, and resource providers come together to focus on our families as the primary vehicle through which we impart our faith to the next generation. The conference derives its mission from God’s command to love Him, love His word, and impart that love to our children.

The foundation of D6 is Deuteronomy 6:5-7 which reads,

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."

D6 Days is a preview of what is to come at the D6 Conference. Starting today through Sunday you can watch and listen to sessions from speakers - David Platt, Brian Haynes, Ed Stetzer, Michele Anthony, and Rob Reinow to name a few - who will be sharing messages about generational discipleship ranging from what family ministry is to the transforming power of Christ for this generation.

You can view the videos and listen to the MP3s here:

D6 Days - Website

You can join the conversation on Facebook here:

The D6 Conference - Facebook

and on Twitter by searching for the hashtag #d62013 
or following here:

The D6 Conference - Twitter

You won't want to miss any of it!

Blessings,

Through the Looking Glass

Sometimes attending a conference can overwhelm you with all the information shared there. You might not know which great idea to implement first or what change needs to happen right away. You attend main sessions and workshops where speakers pour into you. You have conversations with others in ministry who do what you do and close friends that speak into your life.

The Orange Conference was different for me this year. Instead of feeling like I was drinking from a fire hose, it felt more like taking a looking glass to my life. Much of it made me ask some really important questions about myself that will take some time to truly ponder.

One thing became very clear to me at a conference that's theme was focus. It clarified my passion - creating community, deepening relationships, and transparent conversations.

Because it happened at a children's ministry conference, does it only apply to my role as a volunteer in our children's ministry? I don't believe so. I think that it runs across the board in every area of my life - from being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and a volunteer.

Now ask me to explain what this looks like and I will tell you that I honestly don't know right now. I just know that this is what God spoke to my heart during the time I spent with Him at the conference. There is change coming - something new. I feel a bit restless and unsettled by it, yet hopeful and excited about all He has in store for me.

No one’s ever seen or heard or imagined anything like this. 

What God has arranged for those who love him. 

You’ve seen and heard it because God by his Spirit 
has brought it all out into the open before you. 

The Spirit dives into the depths of God 
and brings out what God planned all along. 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Blessings,

Desperate - A MUST READ for Mommas

Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson have written a book - 

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe. 

One to speak to our momma hearts. 

I recommend this book for every momma and not just the ones expecting

or ones with tinies, but mommas in every stage of parenting.

You can read my Desperate Momma story here.

The Kindle version of Desperate is on sale today only for $3.99

and you can get it here. Seriously, go now.

If you've been thinking of starting a book study of Desperate, this week would be a fantastic time to get the books. If you buy five *paperback* copies of Desperate this week (through Friday) you can get the Desperate DVD for FREE! Go HERE (or your favorite store) to get the books! Then just take a picture or scan your receipt and send it to: desperatebook@thomasnelson.com

To celebrate the release of the Desperate DVD, Sarah and Sally are giving away a $100 GC to a maid service, a Yankee candle (winner's choice), a "breathe" custom necklace, 5 books, and a DVD. You can enter at sarahmae.com or itakejoy.com.

 

Friends...believe me when I tell you that this book is simply a gift from these two incredible women. It is a gift you can receive and one to give away as well. Buy one for yourself and get another for your friend. Buy one for every momma in your church or a momma you might encounter through your day.

Blessings,

What I'm Reading - Lead Your Family Like Jesus

My Thoughts

What I love about Lead Your Family Like Jesus is that it isn't another "how to" book that you can use to check things off of a list to be a better parent. Instead it is a book that invites you to learn more about Jesus and implement those lessons in your home with a servant heart like His. Each author writes from their experience as parents and all they have learned along the way.

I especially loved the chapter in which Tricia Goyer shared about her experience of getting overwhelmed by her every day schedule. She and her husband sat down to look at everything she was doing and came up with a plan. She assigned each activity with a number from 1 to 4. 1 being those things that she had to do. 2 being things that she should do. 3 being things that she enjoyed doing and helped her. 4 being things she was afraid to say no to or things she did to look good to others. She ended up cutting out all the 4s and even some of the 3s. Doing so enabled her to refocus and evaluate her heart in all she was doing.

I also loved that Tricia shared how she prays for her children. 

She prays for their:

Head - that they will always lift their heads to look to the Lord and that they will allow God to life their heads when they are hurt or discouraged,
Shoulders - so they will learn to let God carry their burdens,
Knees - that they will get on their knees before God regularly, and
Toes - that a community of believers will surround them and keep them on their toes.

Love these messages from Tricia Goyer!

Enter Today - 3/25- 4/16!


About the Book

Does your family need a five-star general at the helm? A psychologist? A referee? Ken Blanchard, best-selling co-author of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus, points to a better role model: the Son of God. Joined by veteran parents and authors Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer, renowned business mentor Blanchard shows how every family member benefits when parents take the reins as servant-leaders. Moms and dads will see themselves in a whole new light—as life-changers who get their example, strength, and joy from following Jesus at home. This user-friendly book’s practical principles and personal stories mark the path to a truly Christ-centered family, where integrity, love, grace, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness make all the difference.

You can purchase this book here:

Amazon.com - Lead Your Family Like Jesus

About the Author

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. 

Learn more about Tricia at her website: http://triciagoyer.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

My dearest, dreaming son...

My dearest, dreaming son...

How my heart is bursting for you.

To watch you chase your dream is overwhelming.

I remember the first time I heard you sing.

It caught me off guard...this beauty.

I will admit to you now that I wept.

Overtaken by the sweet sound of your voice.

A gift that God has given you that was hidden

until you were ready to grasp hold of it.

You didn't stop there.

You knew there was more to this dream.

You wanted to learn to play the guitar.

You didn't take lessons, but instead you immersed

yourself in listening and playing by ear.

I have watched you chase this dream

of music that fills your head and heart.

And I am in awe of you.

This past weekend you took a big step in this journey.

You performed at The Coffee Shop.

You gave me a smile and began to strum your guitar.

Then you began to sing and I was undone.

You are walking out this God-sized dream.

Step by step.

Fearless and brave you are, my son.

Daddy and I are so very proud of you.

I love you.

Always.

Mom

My friend Holley Gerth invited me to join a group of dreamers that she affectionately calls her God Sized Dream Team. What a blessing to be part of this group. 

We will be gathering each week on Tuesdays at Holley's to encourage each other to dream those God sized dreams.

Won't you join us?

What is your God-sized dream?

Holley had written a love letter to dreamers. Her book You're Made for a God-Sized Dream is full of words of encouragement and will speak to your heart.

Blessings,

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and friends for Five Minute Friday.

This is where we come together writing for 5 minutes without editing or overthinking.

I love this community.

Check out what everyone's is sharing on the word HOME here.




Home is so much more than the walls that surround me and the roof above me. 
Home is more about the people that fill my life. 

It is these four men both big and little who bring the overflow of love and laughter with each day. Moments cuddling on the couch and dancing in the living room. Sitting around the dinner table, heads bowed, thanking God for all our blessings. 

It is the nearness of my mother after many years separated. Sitting across the table from her and talking about our lives. Hearing her encouragement given from one mother to another. Being able to laugh with her again. 

It is gathering with women sharing our hearts with laughter and tears. Wanting to know God more and diving into His Word together. Longing to be the women, wives, and mothers that God has created them to be. 

It is sitting in a circle with a group of girls as they giggle and sharing Jesus with them. Listening to their hopes and dreams and their prayers offered with open hands and hearts.

It is a group of sisters never met in person but hearts knit together. Loving each other through words on a screen. Feeling less alone and lifting each other up to Him.

Home is where the heart is.
My heart is full and my cup overflows.

Every time I think of you, 
I give thanks to my God.
Philippians 1:3

Blessings,

Happy Birthday Conner!

Today we are celebrating the day our Conner was born. 

He turns 15 today. 

My how the time has flown by, sweet boy. 

I say boy, but the truth is that you are growing into a wonderful young man. 

We are so thankful for the gift of you.

Happy birthday Conner!

We love you!

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. 

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

- Elizabeth Stone