Hello Friends!
Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging words! The antibiotics are working, I still have a voice, and most importantly — I am full of hope! Our God is for us — and I’m clinging to His Truth! (Recap here)
Yesterday I had the blessing of sharing with a moms group from West Branch, Michigan. I loved having quiet travel time in the car, encouraging other moms, and spending the morning such a gracious group of ladies.
For my message, I brought along a backpack, and shared 7 different things I believe we need to pack for our journey (in this case, our Adventure in Mothering), if we are going not just survive — but really thrive and develop into the moms that God intends for us to be.
Not backpack items like Kleenexes and cough drops — but powerful resources like a Truth Nametag to remind us who we are in Christ, an IV for daily infusions of His power and His strength (don’t we all need those??! – I know I sure do!), JOY to remind us to “parent within your personality“, a Caribiner to keep us linked to other sisters in Christ, and more!
However, before we start filling our backpack, we need to empty it first.
In my backpack, I carried two, huge heavy bricks.
One brick I labeled WORRY, and one brick was labeled FEAR.
Two big weights that, thankfully, we DO NOT have to bring with us on our journey!
My bricks were real life examples for me.
Fear can be huge in my life. I fear not being good enough, I fear rejection, I fear being called fat, I fear losing my friends, I fear missing out on the full life that God has for me.
Sorry, I’m just being honest….
If I’m not careful, FEAR can steal my joy, take hold of my mind, and keep me from experiencing God’s goodness and grace in my life. How about for you?
I am thankful for God’s Word ~ and His many, many reminders to “Fear Not!”
I am grateful that God gently leads us through our fears, speaks Truth into the lies, brings others to be voices of Truth and remind us to keep going (and always at just the right time), and that He never, ever gives up on us. Ever!
What an awesome God we serve!
What about for you? Are you feeling burdened, exhausted, “heavier” than you need to?
Are there any “bricks” weighing you down on your journey?
May today be the day that we say “no more!” and empty out “our backpack” of anything that is not from Him ~
◦fear
◦worry
◦perfectionism
◦people pleasing
◦insecurity
◦anger
◦comparisons
◦addiction
◦unrealistic expectations…
…so that you can enjoy the full, free adventure of life in Christ!!
May I pray for us?
Dear God, Thank YOU that in Christ we can live FREE, FULL LIVES! Please reveal to us if there is anything that is weighing us down or getting in the way of experiencing all that You have for us. May today be the day we say “no more!” and gently place our “bricks” at the cross (and leave them there!). Please use us to make a difference for Your Kingdom! In the Strong Name of Jesus we pray ~ Amen!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have an amazing, liberating, joy-filled day!
P.S. West Branch MUMS, will you please private message me your email address? I’ll send you the verses as promised. 🙂
Thank you so very much for coming! Your message touched me in more than just my mothering but also my marriage.
Thank you! I’d love those verses.
Krystalbrook@aol.com
Thanks for sharing, Krystal! May God continue to bear MUCH fruit in your marriage and mothering!
Sweet blessings to you,
Cindy 🙂
P.S. I’ll send my notes over now. 🙂