31 Days to Fear Free Mothering... Day 1 } "When Fear Sets In"

When Fear Sets In }

I'm linking up with "The Nesting Place" for the first time ever where I will write for 31 days straight on one topic; each day focusing on one point.  Today is Day 1.
While deciding on a topic, I knew I needed to choose something that I can focus on and learn from day by day- to me that is Mothering, without Fear.
Does this mean I have this subject mastered?  
Not at all; and I am extremely convinced no Mother on this planet does, but writing on this subject will certainly help me; and quite possibilly other Mothers relate and work through some of the Fears we all have.

It is in our nature as Mothers to be afraid of this job that we've been given to raise up our children in the way they should go.  
We tend to feel the outcome is all on us instead of seeing our children growing through their mistakes- 
and walking alongside them as Christ does us.  
"Train a child in the way He should go, and He will not depart from it"  Proverbs 22:6
This verse alone is enough for me to think "Oh my gosh; I really really really hope I get this right for my kids- so they "wont" depart from it".  This is when the fear sets in-
the feeling of I am not capable of being this kind of parent.  
Then I think on the word "Fear" and the first verse that comes to mind is "Fear not, for I am with you"!  Isaiah 41:10
God knows we are afraid, He knows we cannot do it alone, that is why He reminds us to remember that He is there; and He is way bigger than ANY fear we could possibally have.
I hear His whisper ...
"Heather, don't forget - you need me- remind your children of this also, and it is okay to fail- it is through your failures that you will seek me, and see just how powerful I am- and through your example they will also!"  Then my favorite verse comes to mind:
"For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  " Jeremiah 29:11

So it is okay- I do not need to be afraid, but at the same time it is okay to feel fear- because without it I wouldn't need Him
Without it I wouldn't know where to go when the fear sets in.

So today, us as Mothers can hold tight to His word, and cry out to Him with our fears- and our desire to know how to raise them up right; because He is more than able- and wants to lead us every step of the way!

Day 1 - When Fear Sets In
Day 2-  It's Not Personal 
Day 3- Day 4- Day 5- Day 6- Day 7- Day 8- Day 9- Day 10- Day 11- Day 12- Day 13- Day 14- Day 15- Day 16- Day 17- Day 18- Day 19- Day 20- Day 21- Day 22- Day 23- Day 24- Day 24- Day 25- Day 26- Day 27- Day 28- Day 29- Day 30- Day 31-



 

31 Days of Writing

 

OH MY GOODNESS! 

I'll DEFINITELY be coming out of my zone of comfort this month!

I just heard about this today; and I'm completely gonna wing it.

I am commiting to writing for 31 days in October.

On What???

I have absolutely no idea yet.  In a way that's the fun part- evidently I could have been brainstorming my topic over the Summer.  Instead I will be taking my Journal and pen to my sons motocross race tonight and see what this little brain of mine can storm up while waiting.

I am inspired by this for many reasons; the main one is where it will take me.

I'll be linking up with one of my favorite home decorating blogs "The Nesting Place" to do this.  Go on over there and see if your interested; it looks like a lot of fun!

See you MONDAY!

AND NO I DIDN'T FORGET... HERE IS MUSICAL SUNDAY:

 

 

Five Minute Friday: Grasp

To grasp a love  so unfailing is no easy task.
We go through life searching for approval in just about everything we do.
We catch ourselves reading the faces of others to see if we have gained their acceptance.
When we do- our spirits take flight,
and when we don't -
we find ourselves taking one more step up that dreaded ladder of insecurity.
To grasp a love that is so unfailing, is a task that takes work,
work that requires taking a leap into Gods' waiting arms.
And with His love, slowly- desiring the approval of others begins to fade from existence.  We begin to experience that His approval is all we need, and with this
 He leads us-
one step at a time-
off that "going nowhere" ladder of insecurity- into His sweet presence, security, trust, and confidence in Him.
It is here where we grasp how unfailing His love really is!


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Now it's your turn click here to participate, or just to read some beautiful entries based on one word.

Musical Sunday...

Absolutely Beautiful Song!

Five Minute Friday: Wide

I sit down, try to clear my head of all the possibilities that can be typed out on this screen before me.
Try to clear my mind, because this writing excersize clearly is supposed to be done without overthinking.
Me?  Not overthink?
Sometimes that's virtually impossible- and that is why I like this time of week.
It forces me to think solely on the prompt given, and there is no right or wrong.
That is refreshing.
"WIDE" - that's the prompt for this week,
and the only thing that keeps coming to my mind is one of my favorite worship songs with the lyrics "How Wide, How Deep, and How Great is your love for me".
One of those songs that has the ability to put what Christ has done for me into perspective.  Now the question is "How Wide will I accept Him"?
When I hear He loves us wide, that means to the ends of the earth and beyond; covering every single area of my life.
He wants me to love Him wide too! With every single area of my life, and to the ends of the earth and beyond!

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Now it's your turn click here to participate, or just to read some beautiful entries based on one word.

Stepping through the Opened Door

This week has been one of those get back in the groove kind of weeks.  That's why I haven't written in so long.  I have been so blessed to have the opportunity to stay at home with my family this year- and it has been amazing!!!  Our daughter just went into the 7th grade at a charter school, where she is home schooled 2 days a week; not having any background in home schooling whatsoever made me a little nervous about whether or not we were making the right decision.

Now- three weeks into it; I KNOW we made the right choice.  
God definitely has a way of opening doors and giving me a grand view of His purpose; I just had to make the decision to go through that opened door-and allow Him to guide me through any fears I will have while stepping into it.  It is there that beautiful things happen, it is there where I get to watch Him change me so I can better lead my children.
I have more and more patience each and every day, where before, the thought of staying home and teaching my daughter at home for 2 days - I literally thought I would never be able to do. 

 I didn't think I was the type of Mom who could do it, I didn't think my daughter would listen to me- homework was hard enough!
I thought we would fight a lot; and to my surprise I'm learning more each day how to better communicate with her, so that we don't.
I'm really seeing where she struggles, where there once was frustration- there is now compassion, and a desire to help her- no matter how long it takes. 
This door that God opened for us has rid me of my fear, and is giving me an even bigger window into my daughters heart.  

All in all it's given me much more patience and a desire to understand. 

My 9/11 Story...

Wow what a day! More than a decade later from that tragic day of 9/11. I find it to be so weird how when something this tragic occurs- that 11 years later you can remember it like it just happened. This is my 9/11 story...

The feelings and the emotion all come back so vividly. Like so many others I felt like that day was played in slow motion. I vividly remember working at Marshalls District office in Ontario, CA. when my boss came in to work to tell us a plane had struck one of the twin towers in New York that morning. Of course all I could think was this must be some accident - and oh my how sad! I couldn't even grasp at that very moment what kind of damage that would actually cause. I have to be honest I didn't know how to take it and went on with work as usual- until my boss came out of his office; pale as ever with news of a second plane crashing into the towers- and at that very moment - the world as I knew it was one big blur and in slow motion. We were under attack. Nobody knew what would happen next; I couldn't wait to get home to my baby girl; and my grandmother who was her nanny while I went to work.
We all shared this day- even with those we don't even know.
America shared this day in unity. We all remember where we were; and those exact reactions- even a whole decade later. The lives that were tragically lost; Fathers, Mothers, the children on the planes, Sons and daughters.
The ones that stick closest to my mind were 7 of our companies buyers on flight 11, all women; on a business trip headed to LA; some mothers, one engaged, and others just starting their careers.
The world seemed so so small to me that day.
Lives sure change a lot in 11 years- and we remember this day; mainly because some of us are old enough to.
I can't help but think that if we lived when Jesus was crucified; just how much those feelings would be so heavy on our hearts- the cruelty shown to such a beautiful Man - the Son of God. I'm positive that day for His followers and even those who just realized who He really was- their day played in slow motion too. Just wondering what God was going to do next - and remembering His promises while He walked this earth. Not knowing what Gods plan was. Out of this tragic day we see Gods plan revealed in His sacrifice for us; so that we can live for ever and be freed from the grip of sin. That we might be forever grateful and never forget.
Gods Plan was for His Son to affect an entire nation- forever! He Loves us that much! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will have EVERLASTING LIFE". John 3:16
To me 9/11 is an example and reminder of just that; that through tragedy we remember and are affected forever through those events. To live in unity in Christ and our Country by living a life of love; because "Love covers over a multitude of sins". 1st Peter 4:8
And with this love we can affect an entire nation to live for Jesus Christ- and never forget. I pray for Gods peace to continue to cover the hurts of all those hurting over these past years, that they may find the best shoulder there ever was to lean on. That through all the confusion they are able to give that to God this very night!
One of my all time favorite verses:
John 16:33 "I have 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."

Five Minute Friday: "Graceful"

She twirls around in an elegant upright posture, leaps high into the air and lands gracefully on her feet.

She has a natural born gift; 

                                 

you would think she's been in dance class since the day she could walk; well, she sorta has.  

A dance class all her own.

This pre-teen girl of mine is self-taught, and she is so graceful. I've asked her many times if we could put her in a dance class, and that she would do great!!!  She says, she just loves to dance and wants to keep coming up with her own moves and style, she embraces her uniqueness in a way I only wish I could.  

At such a tender age to realize that you don't have to do everything like a pro to use the gifts God has given you; that creativity is beautiful - and God gives us our own unique ways to fashion our gifts, 

so while we dance, or sing, or whatever it is that we do there is no rulebook or specific way to follow.  We only have to enjoy the gifts Gods given us; and use them, so we can feel the joy, like hers- that spreads across her face when she dances across our living room floor.

She is so peaceful, her moves so beautiful, and her desire to be unique and dance with this God given talent of hers, is such a graceful glimpse into who she is. 

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Now it's your turn click here to participate, or just to read some beautiful entries based on one word.

Politics and God

I have never been big on Politics; in fact the debates and speeches, no matter what end or side is speaking, kinda stresses me out.
I don't care to watch because there seems to be such pride and arrogance on both parts.  Everyone just seems to have to get their jabs in and poke fun of the others.
Then the attitudes seep outside the television screen, and gets everyone else arguing their side.  They get so pumped up and ready to fight for who they believe should win Americas vote.  Now if only we as people would speak out, and stand up for Gods' leadership as a nation the way we do for these politicians.  If only we would support Gods' wishes and honor them with our heads held high, so proud of Him- ready to defend the one and only God it would be a beautiful thing!

We as Americans think these politicians hold our whole world in their hands, 
when we in our hearts know who really does.  
We are called to trust Him because He is "already" our leader- He created us, and did more for us than any politician ever could or will!  
Now that is something to defend and be proud of- that's our heritage!!!

So when I vote, I will vote solely on the person who carries Gods word and values out to the people.
The person who is not afraid to be less popular by following Gods' word, in the values of life, marriages, sexual origin, and especially character, because we were not called to live outside of His will; because He loves us that much!  Oh yes He does!
We were not called to be proud of ourselves because:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2: 8,9

And bottom line is everyone makes mistakes and poor decisions- but God never will,
He's got the whole world in His hands (not just America).
When we make our decisions, all of them; not limited to voting, we need to make them based on what God says in His word- 
then you'll know you've done the right thing-
and who can argue that?  
Not a soul in the word!

1 John 4:4-6  "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever does not know God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."

1 John 2: 26-27 "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.  As for you, the annointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.  But as His annointing teaches you about all things and as that annointing is real, not counterfeit- just as it has taught you to remain in Him."

1 John 5:21  "Dear Children, keep yourselves from idols."

This is my Morning

My first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season; makes me extremely giddy!!! 

It is the best thing since sliced Pumpkin Loaf Bread

 (I had one of those too)

Now if only it felt like Fall- but if you haven't tried an iced one yet you'll love it too!