Mothers Are Preparing An Army Of Light

When we embrace the call to servanthood and ministry, both in our own lives and in the training of our children, we are involved in the advancement of the influence of the kingdom of God on earth.

How amazing it is that even if we don’t have a title or a degree, we mothers can be a part of preparing an army that will advance the influence of light into this world. We do it simply by being faithful to do God’s work in and through our home, a strategic and divinely-designed training ground for heaven’s work on earth.

Read more about this in The Mom Walk.

Tea Time Tuesday: We Live By A Standard of Grace, Not Perfection

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Tea Time Tuesday

“By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

Grace, not works, gives us strength.

We strive to make the best decisions we hope will shape in our children a life of true faith in God. We teach biblical morality, emphasize “do’s and don’ts,” read devotions to them, hope that somehow we will cultivate “spiritually alive” children. Yet, we can't by sheer force or the right formulas, or devotional curriculum make our children spiritual.

There is a mysterious process by which the Holy Spirit leads our children to see their need for Christ as we seek to cultivate their hearts. But it is entirely led by grace, informed by love, and carried out by the help of the Holy Spirit.

We put so much pressure on ourselves as mothers, then judge ourselves to be failures if we miss devotions, home cooked meals, a “tuck in” every night.

While it is incredibly wonderful to set our standards high, to live within these ideals.

Yet, we must hold ourselves to a standard of grace, not perfection.

None of us will ever be perfect, but we are the exact mothers our children need.

The grace of God is given in the midst of our circumstances, his peace comes when our difficulties would suggest otherwise. We cast our burdens on God because we cannot carry them. We choose joy by faith because we know, “in His presence is fullness of joy,” This is grace, favor because he loves us, seeks our companionship, has mercy.

Yet, we won't be able to have grace for our children if we do not have grace ourselves.

Galatians 5:1 reminds:

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Are there ways in your life that you try to live up to false expectations of others?

In my home, we did our best, but our best was certainly not perfection. We hoped they would respond passionately to their Creator by the grace, truth we lived out every day. We are not guided by culture, or what others feel is the “right way,” but we are led by God, His merciful love. We walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and rest in His grace.

Marriage Is A Long Dance Of Life

Though passion might be strong in the beginning, and disappointments found along the way, the ones who persevere in the life partnership will find it one of the most meaningful legacies of life.

When a couple finds grace to create a precious trust and can nurture that trust to cause the relationship to flourish, a story of strength, companionship, and truth unfolds — a story that offers hope to others that their marriage can endure and thrive.

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My Saturday Morning Routine In Oxford

From the moment I opened my eyes on Saturday mornings in Oxford, I would bubble over with excitement. This was the morning when I would trek down the charming cobbled streets to my favorite coffee shop, where I would purchase their delectably strong brew and a fresh almond croissant.

My destination after that was a quiet, hidden park bench in front of a pond, where I would munch on my delicious pastry and sip my coffee as long as I could make it last. I considered this "my" bench.

Bench life was a part of my everyday ramblings. There was a bench right in front of my fairy house, a bench overlooking the River Thames, and many others throughout the city surrounded by beautiful Oxford greenery.

All of this portended toward a walking lifestyle. I didn't own a car, and so traipsing all over these interesting paths provided me great and memorable reflections that shaped my soul. Somehow, I was not as tempted to be addicted to social media because I had so many places to explore.

What are some of the beautiful ways you have broken your dependence on social media?

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Painting The Reality Of God Onto The Walls Of Your Home

People often ask me why I emphasize beauty—art, candles, music, cups of tea, cinnamon rolls, great stories and books—as though these things are unnecessary and frivolous. I prioritize them because I want to bring the whole reality of God and His life into my home.

Home is the stage where the play of your life is delivered. As you clarify your vision, you are laying the foundations that will build influence and legacy. Own your home life right where you are. Your quiet and consistent labor will result in a story spoken with gratitude long after it has been given in the service of the One who is creating an eternal home for us in heaven.

Living out our ideals at home is not about reaching perfection, but about providing peace, hope, life, vision, and love to our families. Today, in the midst of all the messes, go ahead and smile, laugh, sing, and dance to the rhythms of God’s song.

Read more about this in Own Your Life.

Tea Time Tuesday: Motherhood is a Long Game

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“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28

Motherhood is a long game, a marathon. There is no quick fix to make it easy. No amount of ranting or complaining can change the fact that we live in a fallen world, a battleground for souls.

I wish I had known sooner, or better understood, or earlier admitted that I needed to accept this reality, to decide to grow up, determined to build my strength little by little. It would have saved me much emotional havoc in the long run.  

If I had understood that life was a battle for allegiance to the one who is true, not an issue of choosing the right activities, best curriculum, or most promising school choice. If only I knew that sacrificing my life to God's design would be the making of my character;

To have understood that the longer I loved, served, gave myself to training my children, the more I would understand His fatherhood of me, the complete sacrifice He was willing to make for me, his own unaware, shortsighted toddler child, who was often blind to the workings of His ways, the wisdom of His voice, even as my children were often blind to my wisdom given for their sakes.

If only I had known that the miracle of my children's long term faith and love for Him was not an issue of my being righteously mature or perfect in performance, but upon my dependence for Him working according to His power and mercy over time — that He was the one who made our paltry sacrifices enough to reach the hearts of our children, because He cared more than I did about loving, redeeming my children out of darkness into His light. That all He wanted from me was to give it up to Him, to live by faith, to enjoy the gift He had given into my hands — the gift of mothering these children, living this story, seeing His miracles right before my eyes.

He said, “Commit your way unto the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it.” (Psalm 37:5)

If only I had known, it would have saved me much emotional havoc, worry, impatience, stress. I would have lived restfully in peace, enjoyed each day more, letting Him take the weight of fretting and worry.

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A Place & A People To Call Home

Life is crafted little by little through the years. Every home can be a beautiful part of God’s design, and you get to become the artist who crafts the life rhythms to ensure that love and faith are at the center and the sacred places and moments honored over the years. Each family will develop its own distinct way of living out the principles of wisdom and delight that shape a home into a lifegiving place.

We may call many places home during our lifetimes, yet each dwelling can be crafted with all the meaningful elements that matter to our families — a spirit of love, an invitation to belong, and beauty that is woven through each room. I truly believe that the home we cultivate is one of the greatest works of our lives.

Read more about this in Well Lived.

Every Day Of Your Life Matters

I look back through my 70 years of choosing to follow Him with my whole heart, and my life has been filled with deep, satisfying relationships and love, meaningful moments touched by the hand of God, open doors that I never could have imagined, and blessings beyond what I knew I could experience from a supernatural, infinite God who had eternal treasures to bestow.

Sometimes it meant taking steps forward when I did not know what was ahead. Other times it required waiting to find answers to prayer and learning to strain toward Him. I found all along He was there, ready as a loving Father to bless me, His own precious child.

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The Gift Of A Kindred Spirit Friend

Sometimes, if we look closely enough, we might observe an angel kissing us with an unexpected gift. Deep friendship with a very special few kindred spirits has satisfied my soul in many ways.

Jacqui was one such person. Not only did she help me set out refreshments, light candles, and invite people into our Bible studs, but most weeks when I lived in Oxford she would take me on adventures — we explored tiny villages, cute towns, and interesting old houses all over the city.

God knew how much I would need a kindred spirit friend in Oxford. Many precious friends graced my life over the years and I will cherish them always.

Who is your kindred spirit friend?

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What It Means To Build A Culture Of Love

One of the wonderful consequences of years and years of building a culture of love in my family is that my children have become free in their encouragement to me and to others. They have grown into my best friends, and my investment of love aimed at their hearts now is coming back to me.

This happened as a result of investing lots of love and grace and appreciation into my precious children so that they would experience a safe, lifegiving place where our friendship could bloom.

Today is the time to invest in the lives of those we love, as there may never be another time. Express your love, take the initiative to let family and friends know they really mean a lot to you. Make sure they understand beyond the shadow of a doubt how much they are worth to you. Honor them with your actions, with words that will be planted in their souls.

Read more about this in The Lifegiving Home.