Breathe, Mama!

We've all been there. You begin to feel overwhelmed and hurried and on edge, and then you get upset. And then you get upset with yourself for getting upset! This time of the year it is especially easy to get caught up in the rush and the to-do lists and you forget to do the things that matter most....love your family, savor the moments, and take time to remember the Reason for it all. I have found that when I find myself drowning in these emotions, if I will stop and just whisper the name of Jesus the power therein can instantly begin to set my mind to right again.

One of my favorite verses to cling to in the midst of swirling emotions is Psalm 94:19 (AMP). "In the multitude of my [anxious

] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!"

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that you remember to take time out to just sit in His presence. On Christmas morning, I challenge you, get up before the kids (I know!), and take a few minutes to sit quietly in the glow of the Christmas tree and give thanks to the Lord. This marks the day in history that He voluntarily laid aside His glory, humbled Himself to the infinite degree, and stepped into our world, knowing full well the pain that lay before Him. And He did it all for you!

Lastly I want to share this page from my devotional (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young). Hope it ministers to you as it did to me. Love you and Merry Christmas!!!

Grateful Hearts

Hi all! It's another 3 a.m. writing session! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our weekend was topped off by Mikaela getting baptized!!! :) She officially accepted Jesus into her heart in October, and this past Sunday she took this powerful step to show the world her decision to follow Him.

As we race into yet another holiday season I wanted to pass a long some practical tips for shaping your children’s hearts and maintaining your sanity!! J

Ever find yourself in a moment of intense frustration trying (in perhaps a less than pleasant tone) to convince your kids to be thankful and have a good attitude, then you feel that gentle tap on your shoulder as your Heavenly Father softly clears His throat? Once again you are faced with the fact that you would benefit from your own advice! Fear not! You are not alone! We’ve all been there.

Here are a few things I have used to turn my kids’ hearts towards the Lord (and keep myself under control) at times when the oh-so-human side of their personalities emerges.

First and foremost, please teach your kids that it is not wrong to feel frustrated, angry, or upset. We can’t help the feelings that come to us, but we can choose what we do with them. Teaching them this early will save them years of self-condemnation and set them free to recognize Satan’s lies in this particular area at their onset. Assure them that you understand their feelings. You have the same ones on a regular basis! But emphasize that they are not slaves to their emotions. They have a choice!   

Perhaps the biggest weapon in my arsenal is my own little paraphrase of Psalm 118:24 which the Lord put on my heart when Mikaela was about 3 and just beginning this life-long battle with her feelings. It goes like this, “God made this day. I will be happy, excited, and thankful!”

This has been so powerful for us! Both of my kids can quote this at the drop of a hat. And we don’t just say it. We chant it! Over and over, getting louder and louder and more and more excited with each repetition. By about the third or fourth time everyone is smiling and laughing whether they want to or not. Remember, there is power in the Word to get into our bones and transform us! The Word of God is alive and active, and once we open the door the Spirit of God begins His awesome transforming work in our hearts. This not only helps redirect their attitudes but gets them in the habit of turning to Him when times get tough.

Another great one is to quote this simple phrase from Psalm 100:4 (in the Amplified Bible), “Be thankful, and say so.” And for Mikaela (6) I have added an extra step. I send her to her room and tell her to take time to talk to God, and tell Him 10 things she is thankful for. Try this yourself when you find you are feeling less than content. It is almost impossible to continue with a bad attitude once you begin making your list. And chances are you won’t stop at 10!

And perhaps one of the first heart redirecting tactics I used with my kiddos was the phrase, “Instead of getting sad, we get thankful.” This is awesome for dealing with the inevitable disappointments of the end of playdates, leaving a playground, or even hearing the words, “Bed time!” Say we are at a friend’s house, and it’s time to go. I see the dark shadow begin to fall, and I gently walk over to my child, kneel down, and softly whisper, “Instead of getting sad, what do we get?” And they will say (albeit sometimes through a whimper), “Thankful.” And I’ll tell them that instead of getting sad we have to leave we can be thankful we got to come. This gently prod rarely fails to put their hearts back on the right path.

Remember, we are to shepherd our children’s hearts. That is to gently nudge them in the right direction. Try never to tell them what to do without giving them the tools to do it. That’s why we’re here! And it’s the same way the Father leads and directs us. He is after all, our ultimate Guide on this wonderfully crazy journey called parenthood!

Hope you find these tips helpful. Not only do they make a difference in the moment, but they set your kids up for future success as they develop wonderful copping tools for when life isn’t going exactly as they want.