You are doing a good work.

There have been times when I've felt bad about wanting to do more things for The Kingdom. I've always had big dreams to go on missions trips across the world and even here where I am now..  I have great admiration for the women who strap their newborns to their back and travel and bring the good news to those who have no hope and when my time comes I wouldn't mind being one of those ladies myself.

But I want to encourage those who aren't dedicated to Church ministry, or the moms who have to sometimes say no to the church because it would be taking away from their family. You are also doing a good work for our Fathers Kingdom and mission.

One of my life verses is Matthew 6:33 where it says "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

It has been my study verse for the last few months due to the fact I haven't felt like I've been studying it consistently enough. I try to write down other verses to study at the end of every week however, I find myself writing down this beauty instead.

Until now when I thought of this verse I barely scratched the surface when thinking about the meaning. When it spoke of seeking after His kingdom my first thought was seeking after ministry, sharing the gospel and memorizing and taking His word to heart.  However, after trying my best to meditate on it with two kids The Lord opened my heart to a deeper meaning and how when Seeking first His Kingdom He wants us to seek after His heart. It really has nothing to do with ministry but everything to do with the heart of God and His will for us. To be honest, I think His biggest mission for us is to love people. Believers or not.  1 Corinthians says it pretty clearly "And now these three remain: Faith, hope and loves. But the greatest of these is love."

I believe whenever we're loving people we're doing a good work for the Kingdom which leads me back to Motherhood.. From the moment we see the positive pregnant test our best interests goes to your precious little life growing inside of you. You give up the good things you love to do but can't because it doesn't have your growing baby's best interest. And then you go through hours and hours of labor knowing that it's all worth it. And for you adopting Mamas your waiting process can be just as painful if not more.

And when you look into the eyes of this precious child  you learn a new love that's indescribable. 

From then on you live a humble, selfless life of a mom. Being peed, pooped and thrown up on has become the norm and your lifestyle is washing the feet of disciples from sun up to sun down. That is love. A love that someone who is not a mom could possibly understand because the closest thing to the love of God is the love of a parent but even the love of a parent doesn't come close to justice.

Moms we are doing a good work.. We may not have sold everything we own, strapped our baby's to our backs, traveled the world and bringing hope to those who have none. That is love however, love looks different for everyone. We are called to raise disciples. What we're doing is what Jesus did for His disciples. Love them, teach them, accept them, humble ourselves before them, protect them, be an authority over them and raise them up to love and follow Jesus with all of their heart.

And in that we are also fighting demons. That's what parenting does. Because Satan hates the little children of the world. He always has and always will and history would say the same when we look into it and see that way back even in the Bible days when the Pharoh's of the day would take their fear and hate on  children 2 and under (The most innocent) by slaughtering them. And even now we see it when we read stories on abortion and how babies are being ripped piece by piece out of their mothers womb and when there are survivors they are often left in a room to suffer until dead. I believe out of every human being the devil hates children the most because they hate Jesus. When they destroy "the least of these" ((Matthew 25:40,45) the most vulnerable among us, they're destroying a picture of Jesus Christ Himself.

Which is why our ministry in Motherhood is often much harder than most would think and it's so important to put our hope in The Lord who renews our strength. Because we cannot do this without Him! Our work and influence as Mothers don't just effect us, our kids or our home. They effect our families, towns churches, ministries, generations and our world! Our children are world changers and so are we! And I believe Jesus sees us and is so happy with us as we rock our little world changers saying "Well done daughter, my good and faithful servant."

A Father who sees, hears, knows and loves.

We were at the mall a few weeks ago and after a fun tiring time at the children's place it only made sense to get Chick-fil-a for lunch. So that's where we went. We were a little more than half way through our meal when I noticed a fellow young mom with her two children looking around the same age as my little bears if not a little older. She looked exhausted as if she had just engaged in a series of battles she didn't not win. She looked as though survival was her her only option. Frustratingly she put her two babes at the table and told them to sit there and not get up and that they needed to stop being bad and that she doesn't understand what had gotten into them today. Once the food came she became annoyed even more as the children went crazy over all the drinks and the goodness chick-fil-a brings (I can't say I blame them there, though!) Eventually the three of them continued to stare at each other eating quietly. I must admit. Before I became a mom I was quick to judge other moms. I would see children throw tantrums at target and I would see moms yelling at their kids in public and automatically I'd hand them the worst parent of the year award in my mind along with the stuck up and full of herself thought "My kids will never act that way in public and I would never yell at them!" Now here I am with two babes of my own just 24 months apart. And as reality would have it my feisty, strong-willed Evelynne has had more tantrums in public than I can count on both fingers and toes. One time she even ran behind the cashier station to get away from me (embarrassing!) and I have raised my voice more than I'd like to admit however I'm blessed because I'm a thriving mom under love and grace and not of judgement and perfection. I do laugh sometimes because in those days of tantrum throwing at the store I get those same looks from people. However, I couldn't judge her, I couldn't feel bad for her kids but my heart only felt sameness and love for her. I saw her desire and I saw her need.. She needed to be heard and with the Arrows and Warriors ministry fund I felt The Holy Spirit tell me to go give her money to get herself a coffee. I was a bit hesitant at first.. Mainly because it was kind of an awkward situation. They're not only eating however, I just witnessed her freaking out at her kids. I thought maybe the last thing she wanted was a stranger coming up to her while she was eating and telling her "I know exactly, how you feel!" I know sometimes that saying is more like salt on a wound than helpful. But despite my emotions I knew God had a plan so I got up, took money out of my wallet and with my girls we walked up to her. "Excuse me." I said as she looked up looking fearfully aggravated as if she was expecting the worst judgmental comment from me. "Do you like coffee? I had asked. "Ummmm, yea. I work at starbucks." She replied. "Oh nice! Well, coffee is on me today." With a confused, shock look on her face she said "What? seriously? Are you kidding? Is this real?" As if me buying her a coffee was the last thing on her mind. "It sure is!" I laughed. "I can't believe this. Thank you so much!" She continued to explain to me how she's a full time working mom and her kids usually act up when she's off because they miss her and that she really didn't want to go anywhere today but she had to get them out of the house. That's when I told her "I know exactly how you feel. Motherhood can be so tiring but you're doing an amazing job!" She was a mom.. A mom people have judged and couldn't see. But she was a mom who needed to be seen that day and before anyone else Jesus saw her, He heard her and whether she knows Jesus or not He wanted to love on her and bless her and He used me to do that. This whole experience was just as (if not more) encouraging for me as it was for her. It was God's way of saying He sees, He hears, He knows and He loves. He wasn't looking down at that mom for freaking out at her kids. He wasn't regretting giving her children and He wasn't turning His eyes because her attitude was too much. Instead. She was His target. She needed the love of a Father. A Savior and He wanted to give that to her. Who would have thought that a cup of coffee could make someone's day? Maybe it wasn't the coffee? Perhaps, it was the thought of being seen, heard, loved, and understood? Sisters.. I want to give you the sweet reminder that today God sees you, He knows you more than you know yourself, He hears you and understands you perfectly. He left Heaven to become like us.. To relate to us and understand us and than died on the cross to save us! He doesn't turn His eyes when we're hurting or broken. No. He keeps track of our sorrows and has recorded each one in His book (Ps 56:8) He heals our tired and broken hearts and He covers us with His feathers (Ps 147:3, 91:4) He cries when we cry and rejoices when we rejoice. He is all for you my darling and He knows your wants and needs and more than that He wants to provide each one for you when you come to Him. Moms, I want to encourage you today to not only receive God's blessing but also be His blessing.. I was talking to a friend about how we want to do so much more for the Kingdom such as lay hands on the sick, raise the dead and walk the streets of dangerous cities and show people the love of God. But in the season of having babies that cry, run off, throw tantrums and is still developing their self control to sit still this isn't always possible and it may just not be your season yet, to do so. However, I believe we can do this. I believe we can bless our fellow moms by simply understanding and loving them. I think that's one of the greatest things we can do for the kingdom because they're raising them future and their impact on their children effects their future and how they'll grow up and handle things. I believe when you bless a mom you a blessing an entire generation. You are changing the world and bringing glory to the kingdom. Because the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.

Raise your children to change the world.

We live in a world where Satan certainly has his influences on people. We can't watch the news or even check our facebook without seeing it daily. My husband sees it every day when he has to go to work and see the 5th murdered body he's seen all week. We see it in planned parenthood as they sip their wine glasses and discuss the prices of the body parts of a dead infant.  And I'm sure many of you see it in your own lives and maybe even in your family.

Recently I've heard many people both friends and social media discuss how terrified they were. That this world isn't a safe place and  it's only going to get worse. I've heard people say they're scared to raise their children in a world so full hate and I've heard childless women say that they couldn't even think of bringing a life into the world knowing that they would have to grow up in a world like this..

Moms. We need to kick this fear of the world to the curb and leave it there. We need to stop buying the lie that this world is hopeless because that's certainly not true! The bible speaks very clearly on that.

"Have I not told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Jesus overcame the world many years ago and gave us authority over it. Authority over every living thing on the earth. It's ours.

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them "Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth". - Gen 1:28

The Bible speaks very clearly about our future. That He has a plan for our future. A plan of hope and prosperity, (Jeremiah 29:11)

He knows all the days to come. He knows what's going to happen tomorrow and forty years down the road and yet, He gives us this promise that He has not and never will break. For He is a Father who does not lie.

It doesn't matter what the world says God has a plan for His children. A wonderful plan of hope and prosperity. Truth is. the only one who is doomed is the devil.

So, why do we fear? Fear is a common emotion however, it shouldn't be. The bible makes it very clear that God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

Fear is the enemy's biggest tool and most successful tool to keep us from living in the very freedom Jesus died to give us. It keeps us from living. It keeps our focus away from seeking God's kingdom and it keeps us from trusting Jesus and loving Him. Fear keeps us from chasing our dreams and living a crazy,amazing and exciting life for Christ and it keeps us from raising our children with confidence. Fear is a bondage, a weight that we were never meant to carry because when Jesus died on the cross He took our every fear and sent it back to hell where it belongs.

Now I'm not saying we should  be living the perfect life right now. I'm not saying that bad things won't happen to those who choose not to fear. In John 16:33 it talks about how we will have trouble on this earth and bad things will happen but as His children we can rejoice. We can be at peace because Jesus overcame the world! That is more than enough for me to get excited for my future and the future of my children. I'm convinced in my belief that each year is going to get better!

Moms, when you raise your children with fear and anxiety they will also be taught to fear and live with anxiety.. Fear is not a natural emotion. It's a emotion that is taught. 

Many, many, many years ago Jesus came to change the world. He came with boldness made a difference in the lives of everyone and died a horrible death to finish the job and it was a change that effects us even today!

His job was finished that day.. However, that was when our job started. He came so that we could live in freedom, know God and accept Holy Spirit into our hearts and Spirit and do what He did here on earth and more. He did not die so that we could fear the world and just sit and wait until His coming. He didn't die so that we could cry at night knowing that our children are going to grow up in this world. He died so that we could be free from fear. He died so that we could see the beauty in the ordinary places and so that we could create beauty in the places where there is none. He died to bring us hope so we could walk this world in the boldness of Christ. He died so that we could be fearless dreamers. That is our mission on this earth. That is our calling.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
-John 14:12-14

Yes, horrible things are happening right now and most likely when our kids are grown up they will also witness horrible things happening. But instead of teaching them to fear those things. Teach them to change it.  Teach them to be the light in the darkness and teach them to face it with boldness.

Where does this teaching start?

With the Parents.

How many times do your children hear you talk about the horrible things planned parenthood is doing? And how it needs to stop? 

How many times do they see you doing warfare prayer over every abortion clinic? Or volunteering at a clinic to love on women with unplanned pregnancies needing help?

How many times do your children see you filled with worry because the president election didn't go as you had hoped?

How many times did your children see you unmoved by those circumstances knowing that we have the authority and God is on our side?

We need to be the difference Moms. We need to be the dreamers. We need to be the ones who walk with boldness. So that we will leave that legacy and let it carry on to our children.

We need to know that our voices do count. That our voices do matter and that we can make a difference. 

We are called to raise world changers. 

And it starts with us.
It starts with Moms.