Living to Learn

Four times a year, I get to meet up with about 40 women who are in my Mothers Understanding Mothers group.  It is a group we started at church, less formal than MOPS, and open to any mama who still has children in the home.  We model it after Titus 2, and bring in the older, wiser mamas to teach us, guide us, and help us laugh about things now that they laughed about later.  We pray, eat great food, and talk alot.  We catch up.   We all leave feeling connected and like we are not the only one staying up late cleaning up throw up and paying bills.  We promise to call and have coffee, and we do.  God with skin on.  Thank you Lord for girlfriends.

My last though before I log off today is to make some prayer requests known.  Please send a prayer out for my secret sister, who is needing unity and protection for her family this week.  Please send a prayer out for one of my students, who is being abused and I am powerless to take any action yet.  Please send a prayer for my Sister-In-Law who is struggling to care for 7 children and ailing parents (cancer sucks), none of whom are terribly cooperative.  Finally, send a prayer out for my mom’s husband, who is having heart surgery in the coming week.  God has allowed these things, so we will trust in Him.  Thanks.

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Our sermon yesterday was a great reminder of the Top 10 Resolutions and why only 1% actually do them… Can mine be this year that at the end of the year I can say I was a better wife, mother, friend, and daughter to the King??? Could I say that I was more loving, patient, kind, long suffering, and full of grace? The weight, spending/savings, and vices will always be the issue. This year, I think I will take a different approach.

This is what I am feeling today. It has been snowing all day, and I have been tidying up a bit, watching movies with my kids, sitting by a blazing fire… all tucked in by God and a blanket of white stuff. I am working through a study called “Calm My Anxious Heart”, by Linda Dillow. It has been a great journey through God’s Word, and our call to be satisfied in Christ no matter what the circumstances. The “rules” are:

1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything, not even the weather.
2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
3. Never compare your lot with another’s.
4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise. And,
5. Never dwell on tomorrow- it belongs to God.

Usually easier said than done. But not today. “The Lord is my peace. I shall not live in anxiety. He puts me under His wing of comfort and calms my spirit within me. And I shall keep my mind stayed on Him forever.” Gotta run, the hot cocoa is ready!