Faith Strengthened Moms

Happy Monday Moms! Here is my mom fail for the week hahaha… leave a comment of yours below!

BOOM!!! It can be so easy to get caught up in the fourth of July and the events our day has ahead. Why don’t we start our day off in focus before we go out into the blur of events our day has ahead of us. Lets start this fourth of July off with a BOOM DEVOTIONAL!!!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.¹⁴ For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

-Galatians 5:13-23 NASB

Out burst of anger…*guilty hand raise.* As a mom I personally know this is a daily occurrence for myself. After the fourth spill of a cup, the fifth fight between siblings, the salt and paper being confetti thrown around the kitchen, and the sixth crying meltdown. Life as a mom is tiring and hard. How are we expected to not have out burst of anger?

This is the question that came to my mind when reading the fruits of the flesh. However, later in verse 22 the Lord answers my question. Through the fruit of the spirit; patience and self-control. He has given us the tools we need to control our flesh out bursts of anger. Every spill, fight, mess, and meltdown are opportunities He provides for us. Opportunities to practice and work on the tools He has given us, patience and self-control, which will bring us joy and peace.

Focus on the above passages in Galatians as you go throughout your day. The freedom of the fourth can be filled with fun, chaos, and many opportunities to practice the wrong fruits, fruits of the flesh. In sight be led by the spirit.

Fire, what is the first thought this word brings to mind? Was it about making rich sticky s’mores, singing a favorite campfire song with those you love, or maybe the smell of a cinnamon candle on a cool crisp autumn morning? Unfortunately, not everyones’ first thought when they hear the word fire is positive and warm.

In my mind I see an image of my son’s face as he stares horrified back at our house. The house shooting flames into the cold dark morning sky.

The morning was February 7th, 2018 1:00 a.m. I awoke to the sounds of smoke alarms ringing through the house. Our house was heated by a wood burning stove. Therefore, it was not unusual for smoke to trigger the basement alarm.

When I opened my eyes the first thought I could unscramble was, “ugh… stinkin’ fire alarms you better not go wakin’ my kids!” I laid in bed feeling too heavy to get up. Then it happend…

I heard my kids crying! I popped out of bed like Jack in the box. I stomped across the bedroom floor furious, because no one wakes mama bears babies up!

As I made my way down the hall in horror I saw the glow of flames on the opposite end of the house through all of the windows and our sliding glass door. Then I learned the answer to the hypothetical question we ask ourselves; “What would you do if your house was on fire? What would you try to save?”

I turned around and ran back to my bedroom for my cellphone. Next I got my three, soundlessly sleeping, children out of bed (four years old, two years old, and seven months old). The temperature was record setting negative windchill; knowing the front door was 12 ft away from the end of the house on fire we had no time for coats or shoes.

I called my father-in-law, who lives two country houses down from us. We made it out the door, even with the kids not being able to grasp the concept of going outside in the snow without their shoes on.

We made it halfway up the driveway when we finally looked back, seeing the chimney and roof on fire. While the kids screamed in terror shaking uncontrollably I called 911. Our father-in-law arrived rushing us back to his house where we were safe and warm.

Everyone asks me how I handled loosing everything we had, but that is where they are all wrong. I came no where close to losing everything. All that truly matters was saved.

My husband was safe gone for a work trip. Thd Lord woke me keeping myself safe and helped me gather my children saving them.

Remember the part where I was yelling at the fire alarms for waking my children up, because I heard them crying? However, when I got to them they were soundlessly sleeping. How is it possible? God… Luke 1:37, “for nothing will be impossible with God.”

We all know how hard it can be to wake children. They show a scary side we as parents hope to never see again! Our five year old daughter is by far the hardest to wake.

The night of the fire she awoke so graceful, like a delicate flower going with the breeze. She shared with us her belated great grandma, who lived in our house before us, had come to her in a dream. In the dream she explained to her, “My house is on fire. Your mother is coming to wake you up.” *Instant Chills*.

Ever since then the kids have had their fears and struggles. Through devotionals and prayers the Lord has brought to my heart a beautifully strong realization. I have the most important job for my children as a stay at home mom, raising and being there for them!

Now do not get me wrong if you are not a stay at home mom you are just as important! In general being a mom is a very important job! Fortunately, regardless of any marital circumstances we are NOT alone in the job. How? Our Lord is in this journey with us leading us every step of the way.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” –John 8:12

Chocolate, a moms guilty pleasure to hide and enjoy. Nothing gets a child’s attention like the crinkling of a wrapper. A child could be doing anything; playing with his favorite toy, drawing a picture, or watching a movie. However, as soon as he hears the sound of a wrapper crinkle he is right there faster than a cheetah who has spotted her prey.

My goal is for my blog to be the crinkling wrapper in my readers’ day. Instead of hiding in their pantry sneaking chocolate, they look forward to relaxing and reading my next posts. Through my posts I will be sharing funny mom stories and strengthening bible devotionals connecting to life as a stay at home mom.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)