Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

Next Tuesday I will be hosting "In Other Words." I have enjoyed participating in this weekly writing prompt for quite a while now. It was exciting to choose a quote and I look forward to hearing all that you have to say. "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." ~ Hellen Keller ~ Join us on Tuesday in this provoking discussion about vision.

I'm sure you've heard of BarlowGirl and Zoegirl. And you've probably heard the rumors about Obama girl. But, do you know "PimpleGirl"? Able to ward off handsome men with just a look... ( Except the one that really counts) Able to draw the attention of a crowd in only minutes.... Leaping past the cat food aisle to reach cosmetics... She's pimple girl! Be on the lookout for her because she seems to be appearing more frequently these days. Yes, I know, you thought she would be a young teenager, but it turns out, she actually a mom! Shocking, isn't it? She is seen more regularly at certain times of the month, but don't be fooled. She can pop up at any time, unannounced. And then she works her magic. All I have to say is, Beware!

I received a note in my in-box with this story. I don't know who the author is, but I sure do appreciate her! It brought me to tears. Invisible Mother..... It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this ? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands ; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was cert...

One Sunday morning we heard a heartbreaking story of a little boy whose body would no longer support his soul. As a group, we went to the Lord in prayer for this young soul. Some prayed for his parents to have strength for this trial while others prayed for the little boy to be relieved of pain. Suddenly, a pastor began to add his prayers: prayers for deliverance, for complete healing, for a miracle . I don't know why we were shocked by his prayer. But, for some reason, we had all accepted the inevitable and had abandoned hope of complete recovery for this child. Did we no longer believe that God performs miracles? Yes, of course, He DID many miracles in the past, but miracles seem so rare these days that I'm afraid we've stopped believing in His power. God has made it clear in His word and by His actions that miracles are not always the way He answers prayers. How He decides when to suspend the course of nature is beyond our comprehension. I'd rather pray for somethin...

Patty, a true girlfriend in God , has been recounting the ways God has paused in the midst of all creation ( Lysa's words) to touch her life each week. She calls these moments GodSTOP moments: where we Savor The Observable Presence of God in our lives (taken from Beth Moore). Last week at Bible study, we all went around and shared moments where God's presence was undeniable. This time of sharing filled with reminders of God's love for us was so powerful. Again and again this week I have heard stories of lives ended too soon. It has become clear to me that God is trying to tell me something. Our lives are short - like a vapor. I need to take advantage of the time I have with my kids, my husband, my parents, and others. I keep hearing Him tell me to savor and treasure these moments. Moments like these: Gluing together vegetable cans, toilet paper tubes and a 2 liter bottle to make a "robot." Painting said robot in green, black, yellow wild colors (I noticed a l...

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. What a joy, what a privilege to come to God with our every concern! Father, today I thank You for Your open arms, reaching out to embrace me through my time in prayer. Thank You for the free access I have to Your throne room. Through Christ I have a key to enter the holy of holies. Thank You for providing an Intercessor for me and for Speaking Your words into my mumbled confusion. Thank You for asking me (me?) to partner with You in changing the world, one prayer at a time . Thank You for having open ears and an open heart to my every plea. Thank You for the community praye...

Littered along the Calvary road will lie the skeletons of our egos, the corpses of our fantasies of control, and the shards of self-righteousness, self-indignant spirituality, and unfreedom. (Brennan Manning, The Signature of Jesus ) Are you ready to take the next step? The step of faith bridging the chasm between knowledge and experience (as Manning calls it)? Are you ready to take up the cross and let the things of this world die away that only Christ may remain? The teaching of the sermon on the mount is not - Do your duty, but - Do what is not your duty. It is not your duty to go the second mile, to turn the other cheek, but Jesus says if we are His disciples we shall always do these things. (Oswald Chambers) I wonder how many of us know what it means to go the second mile. I'm not sure I do. Isobel Kuhn, who was a missionary in China, knew the second mile well. Giving up her comforts to live in truly remote villages --- sounds radical to me. Walking miles upon miles ...

Last week I posted about Trish Berg's newest book: Rattled (Surviving your baby's first year without losing your cool). It's a creative book with a real survival kit inside for new moms. I remember those days well. I thought I had it all together until she actually popped out of the womb and into the world. And she didn't stop screaming...for a few months. I definitely lost my cool while attempting to survive those early days and I wish I could have had such an encouraging book to help me through those days! Please stop by Trish's site and see all that she has to offer for mothers! The free book will be going to Lelia Chealey (for her daughter who is expecting). Enjoy!

For nine months she imagined the little life growing inside of her. Would his hair be black like his daddy's? Would she have ten fingers and toes? Would his smile light up the room? Would her eyes twinkle with joy? For nine months, mama prayed over that little life, prayed prayers of hope and vision. For five tender years, mama prayed over a tumbling child. Mama prayed for healthy limbs, for fevered brows, for owies real and imagined. She prayed for physical health, for potty training, for discipline, for temper tantrums, for spiritual awareness and for herself most of all. Mama prayed for the strength to be a righteous woman watching over her little chicks. For five happy years, mama prayed over a growing bright eyed child. Mama prayed for protection from worldly ways, for happy friendships, for encouragement instead of discouragement, for a strong personality, for a love of learning, for eyes to see God all around. Mama prayed that her offspring would become children of her Heave...

It takes ten positive comments to outweigh one negative. I remember resonating with that statement my professor made because it seemed easier to dwell on any small criticism, while small compliments never seemed to be enough. I wonder what would happen if we reversed that mental pattern. What if people's criticisms never seemed worthy of contemplating, while any little word of praise was cherished? Someone at work notices your orderly system of organizing and then a client angrily stomps out of your office. Which one will you choose to dwell on? Sometimes it's more natural to dwell upon the negative event, so it must be a conscious CHOICE to dwell upon the positive. If you have a mental filter that sifts out all the positive things you hear and catches the negatives, then you have a propensity towards depression. Right about now you're thinking that this positive thinking sounds like humanistic worldly advice. Don't be shocked to find out that this is actually quite ...

I'm so grateful today for my lifetime lover who surprised me last night with red roses. What a treat! I'm lucky to have such a great guy. I'm thankful for my three bundles of joy, each one adding a unique spice to my life. For the giggly, eager to please eldest, the tenderhearted middle child, and the bouncy third one! I'm grateful for others who love me today: my parents, sisters, grandmas, in-laws and other extended family. God knew I needed these people in my life. I'm thankful for the love of true friends too! Friends I've kept for years and across miles, friends I'm just making, friends I've never seen face to face...this list goes on. Most importantly, I'm thankful for the love of Christ. For out of His love for us, He gave up His life. Iris at Sting My Heart hosts Thankful Thursdays. Go visit her and be blessed by all the thankful hearts. Edited to add: I'm also thankful that my blog is no longer wally gunk (thanks Mel for that gr...

Happy Valentine's Day! If you want a Red Hot Valentine's, I would highly recommend: I received this from Lysa's Cool Christmas Giveaway. Bill and Pam Farrel graciously sent me a basket with red hots, candy hearts, bath fizz, a photo frame and two of their great books.

Subzero temperatures this weekend did not deter my family from venturing into a great new adventure involving steep inclines, water and screaming. After climbing up four flights of stairs and attempting to ignore the warning signs prohibiting children under 48" (hey, I'm not THAT much taller) and pregnant women (I was pregnant at one time, three years ago...), I clamped my hands onto the rubber handles on the sides of the inner tube. Images of falling four stories flashed through my head (you could die from that kind of fall, you know). I remember my first experience with a tornado. I didn't grow up in tornado country, so I was clueless in 2000 when tornadoes hit Ft. Worth, a few miles from my little apartment. I was home alone because my husband was at work and there were no basements in our little complex. I couldn't decide if it was safer to just hide in the bathtub or make a run for the seminary where I could find a basement. In the end, my fears amounted to ...

Success in mathematics is 90% attitude. Here's the way it usually plays out: A young girl struggles to master fractions in the sixth grade and every red mark upon her paper screams " Failure " loud and clear. So, she decides that because she has failed once, she will always fail and she gives up trying any more. Her inner conviction that she is "dumb" in math dooms her to repeat her failures. Middle school math seems far away for most of us, but we can all relate to failures and mistakes in our past. Perhaps it was yesterday, or maybe it was thirty years ago. Have you allowed your mistakes to define your character? What we're talking about is an attitude which is dangerous when left untended - Overgeneralization. "If I have been rejected once, I will always be rejected." If you are allowing past failures to dictate future failure, you are overgeneralizing! Look for words like "Always" or "never." We can overgeneralize o...

Rejoice in the Lord always! Let me say it again (just in case you missed it the first time), REJOICE! Reasons for rejoicing today... Sparkly diamonds decorating barren limbs in the warm glow of sunlight... Singing children declaring the praises of our God... God announcing His presence in my life with bursts of brightness... Friends that surround with love and encouragement... Ministry that fuels my passion for Jesus... Redemption Resurrection Returning Iris at Sting My Heart hosts Thankful Thursdays. Go visit her and be blessed by all the thankful hearts.

Shhh! Close your eyes, turn off the television and the stereo, and listen. He's speaking. Are you hearing? Do you recognize that sweet voice? Do you know His tone, His accent? God's voice is: Gracious (Ephesians 1:7-8) Just (Romans 2:6-8) Holy (Exodus 15:11) Merciful (Psalm 5:7) Loving (1 John 4:8) True (John 14:1,2) When He speaks, it will always be in accordance with His character which He revealed to us in His Word. A few words about condemnation vs. conviction : God’s conviction is kind and specific whereas Satan’s condemnation is general (i.e. you’re a terrible person) and leads to shame. God’s leading brings peace , not confusion. If we lack peace, it can be a signal that we’re listening to voices other than God. God calls us to take leaps of faith and to walk on the path less traveled. Is this new step going to stretch you spiritually? That’s a good sign that it’s from God. How has He been speaking to you today?

I'm rushing around, tying shoelaces, zipping up coats, frantically searching for that one missing glove all the while urging my children to HURRY UP because we are late. We zip out of the driveway, lurching to a stop at the red sign. Hitting the accelerator, I zoom around the corner, ignore the warning yellow light, and instead screech to a halt at the glaring red light. Zoom ahead, screech to a halt. Zip forward, slam on the brakes. This describes how I often go through life. I want to reach the destination and the pacing of the journey never seems fast enough. The yellows and reds along the way, I would prefer to avoid. I lack a sense of appropriate pacing. My heart's desire is to see personal growth in my life. I don't want immediate gratification, I want immediate sanctification ! I want to be patient, and I WANT IT NOW!!! "He [God] is very patient with us when we are trying to be patient with Him." ~ Elisabeth Elliott ~ While I'm tapping my toe, impatient...

There was a time in my life when I woke up at 5:30 to work out for an hour each and every morning. My kitchen was spotless and I spent three hours every Saturday morning deep cleaning our home. Then I had kids. And suddenly life became more complicated because I couldn't keep up with my all or nothing thinking. Some strange quirk in my personality wants things to be perfect and because I can't have it perfect anymore, there are days I just give up and let the house be a mess. If I can't work out every day, I might as well just forget it all together. My mentality can often lead to feast or famine - I give it my gusto for a short time and then sputter out. I see things in black and white , which is not necessarily wrong in issues of morality, but life in general is not all good or all bad. This kind of thinking sets a person upon the edge of a precipice, precariously waiting for a tumble into a deep pit time and time again. What is it that brings us to this place i...

Oh boy, do I have an exciting opportunity to tell you about! About two years ago I attended a conference in Rochester called "Hearts at Home." I had no idea what to expect, but a group of friends traveled together to exeperience this weekend away from home. While we there, I heard Lysa TerKeurst speak as a keynote speaker and in the breakout sessions. While Lysa was speaking, I heard the Lord speaking to my heart, "Heather, you could be doing this." I love to teach the Word of God, having training and experience, but the leap to a speaking career sounded scary. I went up to the front after the conference and asked Lysa how she got started doing what she does, i.e. speaking and writing. She invited me to attend her conference in the summer for speakers and writers called "She Speaks". At the time, I blew it off thinking I didn't want to spend the money for that and besides, I wasn't sure what my husband might think about this dream of mine....