QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Few women realize what great service they are doing for mankind and for the kingdom of Christ

when they provide a shelter for the family and good mothering.
 

A mother builds something far more magnificent than any cathedral-
the dwelling place for an immortal soul (both her child’s fleshly tabernacle and his earthly abode).

No professional pursuit so uniquely combines the most menial tasks with the most meaningful opportunities.

 It is hard to locate an aging mother who believes she made a mistake in pouring her life into her children, and it would certainly be more difficult to find a child to testify that his mother loved him and poured herself into his life to his detriment and demise."
 

-Dorothy Patterson, The High Calling of Wife and Mother in Biblical Perspective

CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING!

In my quest for large family encouragement this week, I stumbled upon a website which had caught my attention once before.

 

MEGA-FAMILY BLOGS

A listing of bloggers with 7-37 children!

 

Though the website represents families with 7 or more children, the heart of most of the mothers would edify a family of any size. After all, it's not the quantity of children, but the heart of the parents in raising however many children the Lord blesses us with that matters most. I've been encouraged.

 

As I raise my little tribe of children and seek God's Word daily for wisdom and joy in my ministry here at home, I glean first and foremost from Him. God is the best parenting role model I could ever seek to emulate! He is the wisest Teacher!

 

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."

Ephesians 5:1

 

God is my Dad and the One I seek to imitate in my parenting. What would I do without Him and His Word as my guide?!

 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

2 Timothy 3:16

 

Even so, I still look for earthly examples who exude the love of Christ in their parenting, especially when it comes to larger family parenting as I embrace my role as wife and mom, the keeper of my home. I don't know any families in person who have 8 or more children, so I'm thankful today for the families represented at Mega-Family Blogs. There's a love for motherhood that spurs me on in the hearts of many of the families represented. As I've been encouraged, I'm praying likewise that the Lord would allow me to be an encouragement to other mothers, no matter how many they rear, that God may be glorified in our parenting.

 

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

By God's grace, may we parents cherish the days of sweet Eskimo kisses, snuggle up with little ones who simply need a hug, turn to a worthy Savior with our trials, avoid escapism and instead lean hard into Jesus when we sin and struggle. May we embrace the education of our mommy-hearts as we learn the fruit of the Spirit through the day to day ministry of parenthood. May we learn to look on the bright side, grow in patience, love, kindness, and compassion. May we see rightly how God would have us view children, as blessed gifts from Him in our lives, even as He uses them to chisel us more into His image through difficulty. May we never wish the mothering days away, but rather be busy at home, serving our families out of Christ's abounding LOVE. May we take advantage of the time we've been given with children in our homes. May we capitalize on moments in each day with each child to share God's character with them. May we stop for the one and stay home enough to have time for the small yet important things like baking and stories and puzzles and prayers, quarrels and tears and forgiveness and depth, laughter and music and dancing and play. May we moms and dads see parenting as our mission field, worthy of our devotion and God's usefulness of time.

May we give our children respect as young people and listen to their hearts as we speak wisdom into theirs.

 

May our relationships with our offspring glorify God most of all!

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23

 

Oh, that fathers would long to disciple their families and express compassion like their Father God!

 

"As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him."
Psalm 103:13

 

 "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,

but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Ephesians 6:4

 

Oh, that we mothers would be gentle nurturers with honest desire to embrace our children the way God offers Himself to us!

 

 "For thus says the Lord:
'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
your bones shall flourish like the grass;
and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants.'"
Isaiah 66:12-14

 

What a blessing even the challenges of parenting are when we see them through God's eyes, when we see little ones the way Jesus sees them, when we saturate in the lessons and relational privilege of parenthood. What a joy to share life with family, to have the opportunity to pour into malleable little lives. What a challenge to daily take up the cross of servant-hearted love, the kind that lays itself down for others and offers a soft place to land. What a calling to be a mom or a dad.

 

Indeed, children are a blessing!

 

"Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

Psalm 127

 

[Follow THIS LINK to watch/listen to a sermon by David Platt entitled, The Cross and Christian Womanhood.

It was a great encouragement to my mom-heart this week and prayerfully will be to others as well.]

 

"Her children rise up and call her blessed."

Proverbs 31:28

SOUL SURFER GIRL

I always wondered when we named her India Soul if she would have a little soul surfer within...

 

 

...and sure enough, at 16 months old, she's our youngest surfer yet.

 

 

LOVING every second of it (including the taste of the salty water)!

 

Not an ounce of fear. (Is this a good thing or not? We haven't decided yet!)

 

 

Anyway, our little miss India Soul has found herself another favorite pastime.

 

 

We just adore our littlest surfer girl!

 

 

 

 

"I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD of hosts is his name."

Isaiah 51:15
 

"The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."
1 Samuel 18:1

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!"
Psalm 103:1

THE BEST GIFT

 

It's true what they say, "The best gifts in life are free."

 

Last year my girls and I fulfilled a lifelong goal of learning how to knit, thanks to our Keepers of the Faith meeting with friends. We discovered a new favorite hobby.

It's been a long time coming, but Elka has finally finished the scarf she set out to make for her Mommy for Christmas. 

Sweet (and silly) Elka simply couldn't wait to offer her labor of LOVE...and I'm {OVERJOYED} to receive such a gift!

 

These are the best gifts...the ones made with care and sacrificed time...these are the best gifts to me.

 

As I look back on the photos of Elka above, I remember the morning well. It was still dark before dawn as we set out for Noble's oral surgery and she desperately wanted to join us to support her little brother. So, she packed up her knitting for what would be hours in a waiting room while the other siblings stayed home and she knit her little heart out with us that whole day.

 

 Now, months later, her gift is complete, my mommy-heart too.
And I realize I've been given more than just a present.

 

I've been given LOVE.

 

As the gift-giving season approaches, I'll be wearing my blue scarf, thankful for my Elka whose offering reminds me of how it is more blessed to give than receive and that what we all really want, what we all really need is LOVE.

 

That's the best gift of all!

 

"Let all that you do be done in love."

1 Corinthians 16:14

 

 

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Acts 20:35



STEP OUT...

We recently had the blessed opportunity to spend the afternoon with dear friends.

 

They live over the hills and through the woods, up and off the beaten trail where we've explored before. It was an adventurous day of pursuing God's will for our family's next move and He revealed Himself to us in multiple ways that day.

 

These mentors of ours are dear saints...retired missionaries from Papua New Guinea, in their 70s and 80s now,

FULL of the type of wisdom years, experience, and a close walk with God produce.

 

"Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

'With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.'"

Job 12:12-13

 

These friends of ours are the type of people that when they speak...we listen. So, it was truly a delight to spend our day with them. We walked the acreage of their property while our kids swung from the oaks. We discussed life in the Lord, ate organic fruits and veggies they'd bought special from the Farmers Market in town for our visit, and mostly...we listened.

 

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

Proverbs 19:20

 

Before our trek back home, we took time to pray.

As we gathered, our gentleman friend shared words we will never forget...again, the type of man who doesn't speak constantly, but when he does, you listen. What was he preparing to share? We clung to his analogous words.

 

He told us what he himself had never forgotten from decades before, when he left his corporate career with wife and children in tow to spread the gospel in Papua New Guinea. He told us of advice he'd received as he made the choice to lose his life...to find it.

 

Step out...

 

His words were to step out and start moving...

 

He said that if we observe a boat, still, unmoving, docked with a dormant rudder in the water behind it, we'll see that the rudder can't steer the stagnant boat. There's no momentum. However, if we unleash the ropes, set sail, and head out to sea with movement, the rudder begins to accomplish it's purpose. It steers the direction of the boat.

 

rudder: noun. a flat piece of wood or other material at the back

of a boat or plane that is moved to change the direction of travel.

 

Our friend shared with us how he was encouraged back in the days of feeling prompted by God to step out into the mission field. He recalled how he needed to take steps forward in order to see God's leading. Stagnance was sure to accomplish nothing.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you."
Psalm 32:8

Step out...

The will of God will steer our life's course like a rudder behind a moving boat. The Lord is faithful to guide.

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord."
Psalm 37:23

Surely there are times to be still, but when we sense movement, it would be wise to step out in obedience, in faith, knowing that God's perfect plans cannot fail. He will lead as we trust His directing. He will guide us as we step out.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you,
O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Psalm 9:10

So, as we listened and learned and took hold of what wisdom had to offer through our time out in nature with friends, we traveled back home full of insight and God's love and a yearning to advance in obedience, to trust in the Lord and step out.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6