And we have

a Teenager!

Dear Lord,
I am a little, ok a lot, nervous, about this stage of life. I love the relationship I have with my son right now, please give me wisdom to keep our relationship healthy.
Help me not to be controlling, over bearing, annoying, embarrassing...
instead help me be a Godly mom.
A source of wisdom.
A woman who can model qualities his future wife should have.

A Mothers Heart - Faith

Faith- noun
confidence or trust in a person or thing
belief that is not based on proof
or
-transitive verb
believe, trust

Hebrews 11:1 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.'

Faith, despite Webster, must be a verb. I must act on what I believe. Therefore, faith is an action, not a person, place or thing.

Hebrews 11 is full of men & woman who lived by faith. Many times, the things they trusted God for, made no sense to their earthly minds; Noah building an Ark when rain had never fallen, Abraham and Sarah having a child far past their childbearing years, then Abraham being tested offering up his son... all these things were incomprehensible in their minds!

As I read Hebrews 11 this week, I asked myself these questions.

• is my faith .ALIVE. .ACTIVE. .LIVING. ?
• Am I acting in such a way that my faith is a verb for my children to witness?
• is my faith strong enough to trust God in the incomprehensible?
• what things are hindering my faith?
• What sin is tripping up my faith?

I turned the page in my Bible, Hebrews 12: 5- 6 stood boldly.

'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives'

I was humbled.
Would my name follow those in Hebrews 11 as one who 'acted by faith'?
Or was I/had I experienced the discipline of the Lord due to lack of my faith?
It is no coincidence Hebrews 12:5-6 followed Hebrews 11.

God was directly speaking to me.

How many times have I disobeyed because what God had for me was incomprehensible in my earthly mind?
Many- I am ashamed to admit.

I don't want my children to see Faith as a noun.
I want them to see Faith as a verb.
It will only be then, that they realize how big our God is.

Mama's Heart

Today I'm linking up with a blogger friend, Erin @ It's Grace, for
A Mama's Heart.

This week has been a tough one on this mama. The love of my life has been gone (for work) since Sunday, which normally I can handle with grace. However, my children have been sick,
.Throwing Up Type Sick.
and I am exhausted.
It is draining to watch, and clean up after, my little and not so little ones deal with a stomach bug.
I feel helpless.

It breaks my heart to see them miserable.

Although, as I reflect back on the week, and on the feeling of helplessness, I get a glimpse into the future. I am being prepared, in an odd sort of a way, for when my children are older and making decisions on their own. Even now, when I allow natural consequences to occur, it is hard. I am sure as they grow and the consequences are much greater than slight pain from touching something hot, when I said don't, my heart will break even more....
And then I realize,
that must be how God feels
when I disobey.

Brokenhearted

This week wasn't a waste, we read The Child's Story Bible each day, worked on school, watched a few movies, played games & snuggled, a lot. I also experienced, in the slightest sort of way, of how God feels when I disobey.
And you know what, it makes me want to be a better child.
There is good in each & every day.