Opposites

Hello! I hope every one of you had a nice and restful weekend, and you are rejuvenated for another week in mommy hood! Today's SAHM joy is...

An advantage of staying at home is that you have many more opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with other SAHM. They understand that phase of life you're in, often times you can give and receive advice on any topic from teething to potty-training, and there is not another group of people on this planet who can completely appreciate the ups and downs of this profession. I often thank God for the other SAHM whom He has brought into my life. They are priceless!

I must admit, my first sentence above is rather tongue-in-cheek. While I had a wonderful weekend with my baby boy and my husband, who was home for a short time between business trips, two days full of "let's catch up on as much as possible around the house" and "let's do several fun things outside to make use of the fantastic weather" can leave you a bit exhausted. Pair that with a malfunctioning dishwasher and a partially-ruined kitchen floor, and you can imagine that I rolled out of bed this morning, anything but rested and rejuvenated. But, as I shipped my husband off to the airport, cleaned an alarming amount of spit-up off of my sweet son and the white carpet, and washed a never-ending stack of dishes (by hand...due to the broken dishwasher), I remembered the great opportunity that I have been called to enjoy. 

Yesterday, our Youth and Desperation Ministries Pastor, David Perkins, gave a fantastic sermon on remembering your calling and choosing to live out that calling on a daily basis. There is no question in my mind that right now, at 29 years old, my calling is to stay at home to raise my son and care for my husband. The Lord has expanded that calling by directing me to do this...minister to other mommies. To be very honest, I often times step back and think, "What on earth am I doing???" I feel unqualified, I have only one (very young) child, I have no professional training in writing...who am I to fully care for a toddler and a husband, much less minister to other moms??? The following passage then came to mind:

"...Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

I ask you to take a minute and think about the way that society views the stay-at-home mom. If someone else could care for your children while you were out making more money to accumulate more things, that would be wise by society's standards. Simply staying at home and serving your husband and children seems like a lowly or weak calling in today's world. But, thankfully, God doesn't operate by modern-day rules and beliefs. God calls whomever in whatever state, whenever, to do what He has already planned for them to do. I may not feel worthy or able or strong enough or wise enough to do what He has called me to do, but do you know what the most amazing part of this is? He is always worthy, always strong, and always wise. I must remember to turn to Him for fulfillment and affirmation, not to the world.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior works in an opposite way to this world. What does He say when someone wrongs you? Fight back? Not at all...

"But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:39

He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, but did He come to the Earth to be honored, bowed down to, and served? No...

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

When He asks you to give of your finances, our worldly inclination is that we will not have as much. But...

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. "Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

Though you may get bogged down by fleshly thoughts of negativity about mommy hood, remember that He gave you your precious child/children, and He is the One who will give you strength to do your job, praise you for a job well done, and save a sweet reward for you on the day you meet Him face-to-face. When things are spinning around you, and the world does not revere you for this sincerest of professions, close your eyes, and imagine hearing these words:

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:23

Be blessed, mommies! And remember to check the MMSM tab and the Organizational Tips tab for today's tidbits.

Encouragement for the Weekend

"Mighty to Save" by Hillsong

Debt Freedom!

Good morning! Today's SAHM joy came to mind as I was just putting my son back to bed!

As a SAHM mom, we get to be really flexible. Honestly, flexibility isn't my strongest character trait, but the Lord is using mommyhood to teach me how to live and give with a little bit of grace...not everyone needs to be schedule-crazy all of the time. When my son woke up and we did a bit of our morning routine, he was rubbing his eyes and really fussy. If I was running out the door to work with him in tow, the option of going back down wouldn't be possible. Because I stay at home with him, we adjust our day to what he needs and what I desire to get done. I think we both appreciate that :-)

We have exciting news to share today! No, we aren't pregnant. Don't you love that any "exciting news" you want to announce in this season of life is inevitably expected to be about another child?! Sometimes I throw the "exciting news" phrase around just to get a rise out of people :-) Give us a break, though. He's only ten months old!

Yesterday, we made a hefty payment to Nelnet student loans and I can joyfully say that, other than our mortgage, we are debt free!!! While I'm so excited to share this with each reader, please know my heart. This is not to brag or to ask for praise. This is simply about sharing that we used the tools provided to us by the Lord and the various financial studies we've done to get rid of debt that we no longer wish to drag around with us. When the time comes that you can declare debt freedom, you should shout it from the roof tops! While debt is an acceptable part of our society, my husband and I (along with many others) feel that this is wrong and counter to God's teaching. 

"The rich rules over the poor, and borrower is the slave of the lender." Proverbs 22:7

We don't want to be anyone's slave. We want to be servants for the Lord!

Mortgage debt is a bit tricky. You always will need a place to live, and the interest is tax-deductible. If the housing market rallies again, you can expect to make money on a future sale of your home. Don't quote me on that. Our economy is unstable, clearly, and the only One you can truly put your hope and trust in is our God. While it would be lovely to have our home paid off, that isn't feasible right now. That way we see it? You either have a rent payment or a mortgage payment. We are celebrating the fact that other than a monthly payment to Chase for a roof over our heads, we get to choose how income is saved, given, and spent. We're also really looking forward to what the Lord holds in our financial future!

Imagine the peace in your home over finances if you only had mortgage debt...no student loans, no car payments, no credit cards. Talk about a weight off your husband's shoulders and a skip in your step as you decide to stay at home with your children. Like I mentioned at the very beginning of this blog, the number one reason I hear for a mother to continue working outside the home is money. When you cut out your debt, you have the freedom to tell each dollar where it will be spent each month (a famous Dave Ramsey saying!). Using the MMSM that I post, along with ways you have learned to cut spending, staying at home becomes less like a dream and more like a possible reality. That is exciting stuff!

As you embark on this weekend, and you either feel your heart turning towards the home and taking care of your children full-time or you are absolutely ready to make the step in faith towards the lifestyle, decide to get real with your husband and your finances. I can't recommend Dave Ramsey's teachings enough. There is a link to his home page on the right column of this blog. Commit together to pay off your debt. Know that it will probably be a lengthy process full of frustrations (but sooo worth it!), and get ready to enjoy a new level of freedom with your husband, your children, and your Lord.

Due to an unforeseen busy day yesterday, I did not get to continue my couponing post. I will post more tips later today, and the coupon week will be wrapped up by tomorrow (Saturday) evening.

Be blessed, mommies!

Teaching and Learning to Obey

Good morning! A SAHM joy that I want to share today is...

I have more time to do things now than ever before. What?!? Stay with me for a minute. When I worked outside the home, with commute, I was gone upwards of 10 hours per day, sometimes more. Often times, I would bring work home, there were inevitable household duties to take care of, I wanted to spend time with my husband, there were always errands to run, and I enjoyed being out and about with friends. Now that the majority of my time is spent at home with my son, I have the flexibility to choose how we spend our days. Yes, he requires a ton of care, but kids are also mobile and time flexible! Nap times are a precious bit of the day where I can explore other things I'm interested in (like writing!) while balancing household chores. I leisurely am up doing my quiet time and spending time with the Lord before everyone else wakes...before kiddos, this time was devoted to getting ready for work. At night, instead of preparing for my work day, I can relax and calmly spend time with my husband after our son goes to bed. You see, the Lord knows that mommas need rest and rejuvenation when we stay at home with our children. He is faithful to give that to us. Not every day, but He does give just enough to strengthen and encourage us :-)

As I've been studying His Word and my devotionals lately, the word obey has come up time and time again. As a previous teacher, I was surprised that this word was not used in the school setting. I grew up with it in the home, I understood what it meant, and I thought it was commonly used among adults and kids. Google defines obey as 

• to comply with the command, direction, or request of (a person or law)
• to submit to the authority of

Many times you will hear parents say, "You need to listen," or "Please follow directions" or "Do as you're told to do." Personally, as a mommy, I think the phrase, "You will obey me," needs to make a comeback! It's short, simple, to-the-point, and an extremely powerful and spiritual way of parenting our sweet babies. The second definition of obey talks about submitting to authority. As parents, I strongly feel that the Lord wants us to instill a firm example of authority in our children's lives. Our pastor frequently says, "How will my children learn to listen to the Lord if I don't teach them how to listen to their mother and me?" It isn't just a suggestion, it's a responsibility.

My son is in an imitation stage right now. If I'm eating, he wants to eat. If I'm planting flowers, he wants to pull them out and put them somewhere else. If I'm singing or dancing, he does it back. While it is so precious, it also makes me keenly aware that he watches everything. I don't want to be a parent who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. I want my son to learn from my example. I will make mistakes and have to ask for his forgiveness while re-directing him, but I can make a prayerful effort towards showing Godly behaviors that I desire for him to repeat. He needs to grow up seeing his father and I obeying the Lord.

Two times in John 14, and in many other areas throughout the bible, Jesus talks about obeying.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15

"...If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." John 14:23

We first must learn how to obey God, and then we can wholeheartedly teach our children to obey with a love for us. As parents, we desire for our children to love us and to obey us. The Father desires the same from each one of us. Ask the Lord to reveal where obedience may be lacking your life. For me, I often let anxiety and fear overshadow the peace that can only come from Him. If I were to consciously obey Him in this area, I could meditate daily on the verses,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." 

Psalm 55:22

Remember, all mommies are a work in progress. We will never be perfect, but we can ask God for guidance in how to obey Him and in how to teach our children to obey us, and ultimately to obey Him. I encourage each of you to pray and ask God what area in your life needs stronger obedience from you. Is he asking you to stop your career and to stay home with your children? Is he asking you to do a better job in showing submission to your husband as the leader of the household, just as you are asked to submit to the Father? Is He asking you to turn to His Word to look for answers on a particular challenge you are dealing with in your parenting? He is here to help us every minute of every day. Just as I listed verses about anxiety and fear, do a simple search in Google (love modern-day technology!) for scripture on _________. You decide with the Lord what it is you need to work on. He is faithful.  

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6

Because God is so good and loves us so much, He gives a promise for obedience to Him. John 14:27 says...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Amen to that! Be blessed, mommies :-)

Today's couponing entry will be entered during nap time this afternoon. Be sure to check back!

His Temple and Starbucks

Today's SAHM joy is something I thought of yesterday while playing with my son...

I choose when, how, and to what extent he is disciplined! My son has started testing his boundaries in a big way (already at 10 months old???), and I have had to start saying "no" and re-directing behavior. If he was in a child care setting or with a family member for the majority of the day, ultimately it is their decision as to when, how, and to what extent he is disciplined. I will make mistakes, I will have to re-vamp my tactics, but at least I am present with him and able to try out what I think is best in raising him to respect others. 

I'm grateful for that :-)

Speaking of naughty behavior, the other day while grocery-shopping, I excitedly purchased an ice cold dark-chocolate mocha with tons of whipped cream and tons of calories. I don't usually do this, and instead my Starbucks drink-of-choice is a regular coffee with room for cream (less than half the price of the mocha). I wanted to treat myself to something yummy as we had been having a hard week with my husband traveling, and I was PMSing :-) I had taken a few sips and stepped away from the cart to grab a new sippy cup for my little guy. My son started reaching for a toy on the shelf, the drink in the holder caught his eye, and he picked it up and threw it to the ground...followed by an "uh-oh"...seriously?!? I couldn't get there fast enough to save my sweet, innocent drink from splattering all over the cart, the shelves, and my pants.

After posting my calamity on Facebook thinking that it would give my friends and family a chuckle, one of my friends commented, "He's looking out for you mom." He was so right. Here I was attempting to enjoy 330 empty calories just to try and make myself feel better. It has no nutritional value or worth to my well-being, yet I was like a little school girl jumping up and down when I ordered it.

Though his only intention was to make something crash on the floor, my sweet boy taught his momma a lesson that day. It really got me thinking. As Christ-followers we are told that our bodies are His temple, and we should treat them as such. I don't believe the Lord deems all Starbucks drinks as evil, but when it comes to consciously deciding to put something harmful, or at the very least non-nutritional, in your body time after time after time, that behavior shows a lack of respect for His temple which is our body.

"Do you now know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

That's pretty clear! As moms, we have the privileged opportunity to be a fit and healthy example for our children and to show them how to take care of the one body each of us are given. To be very candid, I have personally struggled with food choices, self-control, and my weight since childhood. Pregnancy only made it worse! Ultimately, though, it's my decision. I feel that our children should and do give us a new motivation for healthy living.

Is it a sacrifice to say no to the delicious things this world has to offer and to work towards the goal of a healthy temple? Of course! But, we are called to sacrifice just as Jesus sacrificed His life for us. If you believe in Jesus, the Son of God, then your sins are forgiven, but in living a life for the Lord, you should desire to live in a pleasing way to Him. Hebrews 10:16 says...

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

Like me, food may have become something that we have put above our desire for closeness with our Lord, just as I posted about the other day. It doesn't always have to be money or material items. There are many options for idols on this planet. We should desire to live in a healthy way or not to buy certain things not to gain favor with Him, He already loves us more than we can ever imagine. We should desire to live in this way so that we may show our gratefulness to Him for all He has given us. He also blesses our efforts, remember that! Hebrews 10:35-36 says...

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

If you are living in a way that is not edifying His temple, decide today that you will make a change, for God, for your husband, for your children, and for yourself. Many of my entries are based on things the Lord is working on with me. Remember that we are all a project...

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

This verse doesn't say that we are already at the finished line. Be blessed today, and watch it on those Starbucks drinks :-)

Today's couponing entry will be posted during nap time this afternoon. Be sure to check back!