The role of being a stay-at-home mom is often overwhelming. With a kitchen to clean; laundry to wash, fold and put away; and dinner to cook, on top of making sure your kids are fed, safe, and happy; it's no wonder at the end of the day, we are exhausted!

With all of those items on the to-do list, I often forget the one thing that is more important than all of that housework.
God has placed in my care a little human being who will one day be grown and out from under our constant care and supervision. How am I using my time to prepare him?

Life skills are important. After all, our kids can't be grown adults and expect us to cook and clean and make responsible decisions for them. One day they will leave the nest and they need to know how to take care of themselves.

But even greater than the gifts of a clean house or life skills-- there is a legacy of faith and trust in God.

What an amazing gift we can give to our kids-- greater than anything else we could ever teach or give to them because salvation through Jesus is eternal.

It won't break like that toy that was given at Christmas.
It cannot be lost like the blanket or stuffed animal that was left behind.
It cannot be wasted or squandered like money or gift cards.

It is an everlasting hope and relationship with our creator!

The good news is that we were never designed to do it alone. God has called us all as believers to support the people around us, walking shoulder to shoulder, praying for one another and helping each other. We must stay connected with other like-minded Christians in a gospel-preaching, bible-believing church where we and our children can learn about God and grow in our faith.

But it cannot be the church alone that teaches our children. It's starts in the home. It starts with God's word.

"So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your foreheads as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."  Deuteronomy 11:18-19

God has called us to teach our kids about Him all the time-- not just Sundays or Wednesdays, but every moment of every day.

Teaching our kids about Jesus is so important. The world will teach our children to believe in themselves and be the masters of their own lives, while we know that faith in God and surrender to His will is the only way to real and fulfilling life.

And so, God has set this most important task before us. Let’s keep this amazing gift at the forefront of our minds and our eyes on God’s guidance. He shows us what to do and gives us grace to walk in His plan.

Word of the Day
"So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your foreheads as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."  Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Prayer
Heavenly Father thank you entrusting my child(ren)___(your child(ren)'s name)__ into my care. Help me to remember that your gift of salvation is greater than anything else that I could offer them. Give me grace to teach my children about you. All the while, give me a heart that burns with passion to know you more and more. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

Author:  Kim Crowe

Have you ever made plans to do something only to have them go horribly wrong?

Maybe you planned go out of town, or simply enjoy a fun family day– only to have a monkey-wrench thrown in that messed up everything.

This was me just yesterday.

When I got married we moved two hours away from my hometown. The distance certainly makes visiting my family and friends as often as I like a little difficult, but as of yesterday morning I had plans to drive down to spend a few days visiting with them.

I was really looking forward to seeing my family and they were also very excited-- Our bags were packed, car gassed up, and oil changed. We were ready!

But God had a different plan…

My husband kissed me goodbye and headed out the door to go to work, only to return a few minutes later...his car wouldn't start.

When, after a few minutes, we couldn’t figure out the problem, my plans of going to see my family were thrown to the wind.

After dropping my husband off at work, I prayed and cried out to God on my way home, "Why did this have to happen? I was really looking forward to this trip! This really stinks!"

All of my anguish and frustration and sadness came pouring out.
Isn't it good to know that we have such a patient God who listens to us and allows us to pour our hearts out to him?

When I think about how emotional I can be-- crying out in despair one minute, then praising God the next-- it reminds me of David and the Psalms.

“Oh Lord how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart? How long will the enemy have the upper hand?” Psalms 13:1-2 NLT



David is honest with God about how he is truly feeling. And the best part is that God doesn't get upset, frustrated, or angry at him- because God made us to be emotional.

After all of my emotions poured out and I became quiet, I could hear that still, small voice saying:
"I know that you're upset and disappointed, and I understand. I have known this was going to happen, and you need to trust me because I have a plan."

We all have moments when we feel like the world is spinning, moments of disappointment and anguish. But, like David, we cannot live in these moments.

Through it all, we must still put our trust in God: “But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me! I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6

And God’s plan did not fail- that night I had the opportunity to speak encouragement and truth into the lives of some of the girls in our church’s youth group.

So for me, even though my plans were changed, I had a God ordained appointment that, had I gone out of town, I would have missed.

So as you go about your day and things don't go as you've planned-- don't ever be afraid to pour it all out to God. He is always there with a listening, understanding, and merciful ear. Know that God's plan for you is good and make it a point today to sing praises to Him despite your circumstances.

Verse:
“But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me!
I will sing to the Lord for he is good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for being a loving and patient God who listens to me and understands how I feel. Help me to come to you, openly and honestly, because you know what's on my heart before I even speak. God help me to trust in your perfect plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Author:  Kim Crowe

There are times when I'm sitting, playing with my two year old son, and I look at him and wonder: "What is he thinking about?"

He isn't at the point where he can fully communicate what he is actually thinking, but one thing is for sure- he has no trouble coming to me when he wants or needs something.

Aren’t all kids like that?

When I think about how much my son depends on me; how he looks to me for his every need; how he is so excited to show me something he has accomplished; and how he comes to me when he is hurt it makes me think of what my relationship to God should look like.

Do I go to God for my every need, or do I try to take care of it myself?

When I accomplish something do I give Him praise and honor first, or do I seek praise from my peers?

Do I run to His loving arms and give Him my pain so that I can forgive, or do I hold onto that bitterness and resentment and block people out so I won't be hurt again?

I'm so quick to try to do things on my own.
I think, "I'm a grown woman- I can handle this myself. I'm in control."

When in reality, I have no control. Only my heavenly Father does. He is God, and I am not.

God alone provides the finances so the bills can be paid.
God alone calms my spirit when I'm overwhelmed and stressed out.
God alone pulls me out of my pit when I'm depressed.
God alone gives me the ability to forgive and give grace and mercy towards those who have hurt me.

On my own, I cannot do it. Just like my son cannot fix himself breakfast, get himself dressed, or drive himself to church. He is my child and is dependent upon me for nearly everything.

We are God's children, so we should be dependent upon Him.

So now, what must we do?

Surrender our lives and look to Him, daily.
Lay down our pride and admit to ourselves that we are not meant to be independent but dependent because Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:4, "Whoever humbles himself like a child is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven."

So today, as your children are looking to us, let us look to God as the children we are; dearly loved and cared for greater than we could ever imagine.

Let us put our trust in Him and have faith that He is our Father, and He will take care of us.

Word of the Day:
"Whoever humbles himself like a child is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:4

Prayer:
Heavenly Father break my will and my pride. Help me to fully trust in You and believe that You are able and capable. Help me to daily lay down my crown of control and rest in the knowledge that You are God. Help me to, like a child, come to You for everything. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Author:  Kim Crowe

By Kim Crowe

Have you ever been blindsided?

Ever thought, God where are you?

Ever asked "Why me?"

We imagine what our lives are going to be like; make plans; and set goals to accomplish them all. But then real life happens, and it isn't always the perfect picture you were planning on.

I, myself, was recently blindsided when I was diagnosed with cancer.

To tell the truth, the news shook me to the deepest part of my being.

This was not in my plan God! Why did this have to happen? I thought.

About a week after I was diagnosed, my husband sent me a text telling me that God had laid Isaiah 43 on his heart and that I should go read it.

In this chapter of Isaiah God is speaking to the Israelites, telling them that they are His, and that he called them by name. He reminds his children how he has been there and taken care of them, from delivering them out of Egypt by parting the Red Sea, then guiding them into to the Promised Land.

But then, after listing these amazing miracles and wonders, He goes on to say, "But forget all that! It is nothing compared to what I am going to do, for I am about to do something new!” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

These verses caused me to remember all the times that God was so present in my life, and all the miracles He had performed. Now He was promising something new, something greater if I would simply trust His plan.

This recent trial has opened my eyes to how precious and short life is. It also brought my husband and I closer to each other, and made us more unified in our faith.

The Bible says that God can use any, and all situations to bring us closer to Him and bring glory to His name-- and He has. Every morning I wake up and praise God that I'm still here on this earth, and I use each new day as an opportunity to tell more people about Him, and encourage others.

So my dear friend, take a moment now and look back on your life. Do you see how God was there through it all? In every moment of weakness, every trial and heartbreak, every moment of joy, He was there! And all that He has done in your life is nothing compared to what He is going to do next.

God alone carried us through the days past, and He is still carrying us, today. It is in seasons like these that we are reminded of how very much we need Jesus.

Hold on to Jesus, and the words that he speaks to you through his Word, through prayer, and through close friends.

Lean on him and, dear sister, don't ever lose hope.

Word of the day:
"But forget all of that-- it is nothing compared to what I'm going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in dry wastelands" (Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT).

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for always being there with me through everything, show me your plans and help me to understand when things don't work out the way that I want them to. Thank you for never leaving me and for calling me by name. Thank you for your plan that is greater than I can imagine. Help me to trust in you in Jesus’ name amen.