Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Mo

The memories of my childhood - not unlike yours probably - are filled with moments in which I found myself huddled among my peers, our feet or knuckles forming a sloppy sort of circle while one of us sets about the formidable task of determining who was going to be "it". No matter if the rhyme was "Eeny meeny miney mo.." or "Bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish...", the goal was to keep it random so no one could be accused of playing favorites. Anticipation was just part of the fun.

As a child I didn't mind that things were arbitrary. For the most part my days weren't planned. Other than organized sports or piano lessons, my days were pretty much my own. Pretend my dolls are having a giant slumber party which include a giant pink and white puppy dog? Sure. Lip synch the entire Muppet Movie album for hours on end? Why not! Hakuna Matata, man.

However, most people they see chaos as their mortal enemy. Our days are planned. Our trips are planned. Our meals are planned. Not much is left to chance these days. Don't even think about being spontaneous, we've got things to do, right?

Guess what - and moms know this more than anyone - our plans are worthless. Our plans are overwritten by an almighty God. And thank goodness because we'd get it all wrong. God has a great plan for us, and when we do things our way we are only getting in His way. That doesn't mean you leave everything to chance. I'm pretty sure none of us are going to buy a house on the Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Mo Method. Instead talk to God about His plan. Listen to what He has to say about your life. Trust me, He cares enough He'll tell you.

Heavenly Father,

Please forgive us for doing things our own way. Please forgive those times when we thought that we knew best and made decisions without you. Give us the ability to be still and know you. Open our ears to hear your word and your desires for us. Thank you for loving us enough to make a fool-proof plan if only we would listen to you. Throughout the bible you have revealed that your guidance is patient, kind, and loving. Help us to trust in your word and to not worry when things go awry. Your plan is better than our plan. Your ways are better than our ways. 
Amen

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."" - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

For The Team

I'm sometimes amazed at the degree to which some sports fans take their enthusiasm. You've got your yellers. Your face painters. Your extra large foam fingers. Some fans are so dedicated they withstand extreme weather: rain, snow, blistering heat and freeze-your-toes-off cold are mere blips on the radar with these folks. They are unfazed. It's almost as if there is an unspoken ranking of fandom; the more adversity you endure the bigger fanatic you are.

Outward expression of these devotees is just the beginning. Batting averages, field goal percentages, handicaps, and player statistics flow easily off the tongue as if they were reciting their own birth date. It's typical water cooler talk, perhaps even dare I say, expected? Did you see that game over the weekend? How about that incredible play that team made? My team beat your team. Go team!

As moms our favorite team likely consists of players who aren't destined for the NBA, NFL, or PGA. But there we are, in our matching team t-shirt, wearing our giant button with the sweetest face. All of it proclaiming our loyalty to our little Johnny Football or Susie Soccer. We've got our game face on and a box of goldfish crackers to celebrate with. If only Little League had foam fingers.

How hard is it for us as Christians to have this much enthusiasm for God? Are we willing to go to the extreme for Him? What if the questions at the water cooler went like this:

• Did you hear about that great thing God did for me over the weekend?
• What about that incredible miracle God did?
• My God (and yours) loves you.
• Go God!

Heavenly Father,

Show me how to be a champion for you. Let me be bold in my exuberance for you. Help me to proclaim my love for you around others. Don't let me be sidelined by my own fears and reservations. I want to proudly share with others the blessings you have shown in my life. Open my eyes and my heart to those who need to hear you glorified. May my outward appearance reflect my loyalty to you, Lord. You deserve my praise, my adoration, and my worship. Give me the desire to study your word, God, so that I may learn all about you. Scripture reveals how your abilities surpass all others. When I feel defeated, show me all the ways you have overcome the enemy. Remind me that I cannot lose when I have you in my life. You are not only the coach but the star player and you make me better when I'm on your team.
Amen


"The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him - my father’s God, and I will exalt him!" - Exodus 15:2 (NLT)

Just Twittering Away

Are you a Tweeter? Do you like to Tweet? Are you all things Tweet-able? 

Just a MOMent is pleased to announce that we have arrived on Twitter. Come find us here and Tweet along!

Let It Go

Disney   

I'm sure by now you've probably heard the song from the movie "Frozen" called 'Let It Go'. Even if you haven't seen the movie you've probably heard the song at least once, twice or ten times. Seems like everyone from the Marines to your grandma is singing that song. One quick Google search and you'll find a myriad of renditions of the song - some quite enjoyable. In fact, just the other day at the park my boys and I were serenaded by a group of seven year old girls who found the chorus so intoxicating that they mindlessly sang it over and over. And over. And over.

I'll admit, it's a great song. It helps that the original singer is quite talented and sings it perfectly. And since the catchy chorus tends to have a lasting impression, I've found myself singing it like a seven year old girl running free in a park - if only in my head.

However, it's become more than just a sweet tune to occupy my brain at random times, it's become somewhat of a mantra for me. A reminder, if you will, to literally let it go. Frustrated at the insensitive driver that just cut me off? Let it go. Annoyed with the amount of time it took my boys to get ready for bed? Let it go. Washing machine leaking like a river into the hall? Let it go.

I love what Jesus tells us in the New Living Translation of Matthew 6, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Think about that. That's Jesus' way of saying, let it go, girlfriend.

And not just that, He goes on to tell us, "... but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." That's like thinking you'd like an ice cream cone and Jesus suddenly hands you a huge hot fudge sundae with everything you ever wanted on top. Then He says, Dad wanted you to have this. He knows all our needs. God is telling us, let it go, girlfriend, I've got this.

Generous Giving Father,

Thank you for knowing what we need before we can even express it. Thank you for the promise that you will supply us with all that we need. We long to fully realize the extent of your love. We know that we fall short in the area of worry, Lord. Please give us a renewed heart so that can more easily let things go. Change our heart so that it is quick to look to you and not of the world; a heart that is at peace and not waging war against the things that have no meaning. Grow our faith in such a way that the cares of this world are but a speck compared to you. Just as you nurture the birds, we can rest knowing that you also clothe and feed us. We let it go, God, we let it go to you.

Amen

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough.” Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)

More Vow Than Wow

I saw on Facebook recently where a fellow mom asked the question, "Does your husband wow you?" I'm sad to say that some of the responses were disheartening. Seems to me there are a lot of women who are unhappy if their husband doesn't "wow" them every hour of every day.

Listen ladies, let's put the same question to your husbands. Does your wife wow you? I'm sure he's going to be quick to comment things like: Oh yes, I love it when she does the dishes. That BLT she made me knocked my socks off. Oooh la la, when she meets me at the door in her yoga pants and college t-shirt I'm in heaven.

Why is it that we expect our men to "wow" us when we're doing very little "wow-ing" of our own? I hear you, I know you're busy taking care of the kids, doing the laundry, and fixing snacks. But ladies, your husband is busy in his own right. Did he just put in 8 or more hours at work? Sat in traffic for 45 minutes? Mow the yard? Fix the leaky faucet? Did he tuck the kids in bed while you did those dishes? Did he literally bring home that bacon you asked him to pick up on the way home?

Don't get me wrong. I'm guilty. I'm so guilty of expecting more "wow" from my husband that they should probably start the Naggers Anonymous club just for me. But the truth is when I sit back and look for those "wow" moments they aren't so hard to find. And I bet you can find some too. And if you can't, I challenge you to give him a few of your own special "wow" moments and just see how he reacts.

Truth is, you didn't stand in front of a bunch of family and friends and vow to "wow" each other. You vowed to take care of each other. To love each other. Help each other out even when you don't feel like it. I know it may be hard to recollect the exact words you used as the rings were passed, but I guarantee no one was promising they'd be in "wow" mode all the time. 

Date night tip: pull out that wedding video or album and reminisce and you'll see that I'm right!

Focus on what you did promise and do that. Help your husband when he comes home by honoring his time. Be supportive and encouraging as he tackles his daily obligations. Be loving and gentle when you communicate your needs and desires.

Focus on the vow not the wow.

Heavenly Father,

Help me to focus on the vow not the wow. Help me remember what it truly means to be a loving wife. Give me the gentle and quiet spirit that I need to love my husband. When I feel the urge to be resentful and angry, give me Your grace and forgiveness. Help me to recognize my husband's needs and the desire to meet them with a joyful heart. 

Amen

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." - 1 Peter 3:4 (NLT)