I'M A MOP

I'm a MOP (mother of preschoolers) feeling limp and wrung out. I need to be in the Master's hand and dunked in the Living Water every day in order to be used effectively in the lives of my little ones.
A friend reminded me last night that - I'm called to mother hood. Right now that seems to be clean-up duty and coaching: dishes & diapers, laundry & lunches, hands & hurts, tables & tears, bathing & brushing teeth, potty training & picking up toys, songs & sharing, dressing & discussion, manners & math, taking turns & trying again.
Now is the time for me to teach and discipline my children. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11
I hope that I'm a good MOP and my kid's lives shine.
Seasons change - thankfully spring is here. And, I know that I won't be a MOP forever. Hopefully I'll look back on this season in my life and remember the beauty of it - the giggles, grins & growth as well as the hugs and happy moments.

Broken resolution

Well, this weekend with the encouragement of my husband and after fitting into my wedding dress (which is why I made the resolution) I broke my new years resolution to not eat dessert or drink soda. I'm disappointed that I didn't make it the whole year. Of course I had also resolved to exercise at least three times a week and I missed that in January. So much for resolutions. I'd better go exercise that ice cream tasted really good tonight.

No Place I'd Rather Be

Did you ever have one of those moments when everything just seems so right. That's the feeling I had this morning in church. As we sang songs of praise and worship to God - I felt His presence and peace.
I'm so thankful to be a part of Faith Church here in Lansing, Michigan. We started attending the church in October of 2004. The kids love going to church (they all seem to be healthy again - YEA!) and so do my husband and I. It's wonderful to be a part of a community of believers who love God and are striving to grow in relationship with him and with each other.
I know that no church is perfect (and if it was and we started going there it would cease to be perfect because we aren't). But right now, there's no place I'd rather be than Faith Church.

Temptation

I thought we were all healthy again.
We made it to church as a family on Sunday and the kids all went to their classes.
Then in the afternoon my five year old boy started running a fever again. Now it's Tuesday morning - he's on an antibiotic and still running a fever.

Sunday the pastor talked about temptation - the opportunity and desire to do wrong.
For me, as a mom, one temptation is to just quit. Society seems to say "If it feels good do it. If it doesn't feel good don't do it."
Rising early to clean up after my sick child doesn't "feel good".
Wouldn't it be easy just to walk away - runs through my mind.
But, I know that's a lie. Life isn't easy and running away is rarely the answer. So, I'll resist the temptation to quit and I'll be thankful for another day with my family. In sickness and in health.