I have so much to share about my incredible weekend with 2 precious friends, 797 other women and an incredibly gifted woman,
Sally Clarkson. But I'm still trying to take it all in, catch up on sleep and soak in my babies as much as possible....while also cooking dinner, doing laundry, cleaning the house, etc, etc....all of the other activities that I have been
blessed with while tackling the role of homemaker and mommy.
So for now, if you're a mommy, here's a great blog post on the importance of our role. Please, please, please know how important being a mom is! It's what God - yes, God, the one who created the heavens and the earth, the Almighty, Prince of Peace, creator of life - called us to be. And when He calls you to do something, you can't argue with the Lord of Lords!
Enjoy this article and please be sure to visit
The Better Mom for more encouragement!
Making Family Your Primary Ministry
Today I want to focus on priorities as a mama, specifically as it relates to our ministry. How can we become a YES mom, one that fully engages with her life and her children? I believe it starts with viewing our job as mom as our primary ministry, as our first mission field.
I want to ask you: are you filling your life so full that you do not have time to truly invest in your home and family? It may be time for you to take some time with the Lord to evaluate what He has for you and to help you figure out what you need to let go.
“As women, we fall for this idea that we can “do it all”, and usually end up frazzled and frustrated. But when we understand what God wants us to do and ask for His help, it leads to freedom and joy. What motivates your activities? Are you trying to make a good impression? It is just that you can’t say no? Why don’t you ask God what is on His agenda for this season of your life?“- Nancy Leigh DeMoss
This isn’t to say that any ministry outside of your family is wrong, not at all! We just need to be careful about how full we fill our plates, and seek the Lord and what He has for us to do. There are so many opportunities, but what are the ones only you can do? There are very few things thatonly you can do….like being a wife to your husband and your children.
Last week,
Ruth talked about using the word NO.
It is so important for us moms to be able to say no to the good, so that we can say yes to the best. Ask any older woman and she will tell you, “
It went by so fast. My kids were grown before I knew it. Cherish the time you have with them.”
Deuteronomy 6:7-9 says, “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
He has entrusted us with little souls that are searching for truth, and our job is to teach them diligently. This kind of ministry takes time! It is important not to underestimate just how much time it takes to really do this job well.
“
[Motherhood as a mission field] is giving up yourself. Lay yourself down. Sacrifice yourself here, now. Cheerfully wipe the nose for the fiftieth time today. Make dinner again for the people who don’t like the green beans. Laugh when your plans are thwarted by a vomiting child. Lay yourself down for the people here with you, the people who annoy you, the people who get in your way, the people who take up so much of your time that you can’t read anymore. Rejoice in them. Sacrifice for them. Gain that which you cannot lose in them.“
Rachel Jankovic (she wrote a great book, 'Loving the Little Years - Motherhood in the Trenches.' I highly recommend it! LK)
Our first, our primary, our most important ministry, is right in our homes training our little ones. I know that it isn’t glamorous and there is no one clapping for you at the end of the day.
The late Sono Harris (the mother of
Josh Harris and
Alex and Brett Harris) said this, “
The season of young children is a time to refrain. Refrain from most outside activities, even some church activities. Now is a time to be faithful in discipline…it’s the springtime of mothering. Redeem the time, don’t waste it.” Sono did not know that her life would be cut short due to cancer, that she would leave her family before all of her children were grown. I’m guessing beautiful Sono is looking down from heaven now, happy with her choice to invest in the lives of her family first.
Your assignment this week: Get alone with the Lord, spending some time quietly with Him in His Word. Evaluate your commitments and ask the Lord if there is anything you need to let go. Take a moment to imagine yourself looking back on your life. What would you want to do differently? What would you regret? What would you want to change?
