Love Is Patient September 30, 2008

We’ve all read “The Love Chapter” over and over.  Perhaps you are like many who had 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 read at your wedding.  Such poetic words are easy and soothing to read…and downright hard to live.  This week and next we’re going to look at each of the adjectives the Spirit of God through the apostle Paul exhorts us to see as evidence of justifying grace in our lives.  If we are genuine Christians who have had the love of God shed in our hearts, we will demonstrate these qualities.  But only by the power of God.   Love is patient.  I just looked up the dictionary.com definition of this word:  “bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc with fortitude and calm, and without complaint, anger, or the like.”Hmmm.  Is your heart as unsettled as mine after just reading this definition?  Ladies, we must be honest.  The man God gave us, with all of his admirable qualities and wonderful virtues, is a sinner.  A sinner who provokes and annoys us.  Who hurts us and is the vessel at times of hardship in our lives.  (And, of course, we do the same to him!) 

I recently had a discussion with Benny where I asked him to give me some honest assessment about areas of needed growth in our marriage.   I was specifically eager to hear any sinful attitudes I had been demonstrating as I seek to glorify God during these menopause years.  (I know most of you are young moms who can perhaps relate to my challenges during PMS, pregnancy or post-partum times in your life.)  Benny graciously but honestly told me that he had been increasingly experiencing my annoyance and irritation when he interrupts me (i.e. while working on the computer, am doing chores) and when I have to repeat things I’ve said because he didn’t hear me clearly.  As I drew him out about the affects of my sin, he said he feels my attitude is condescending and…impatient.  He even said he sometimes doesn’t ask me to repeat myself or interrupt me while answering an email because he doesn’t want to annoy me.  How sad. 

Here are the questions I’m asking myself  as the Lord is bringing this passage alive in my heart.Is my love for Benny patient when: 

• He disappoints or sins against me? 
• He forgets or seems to trivialize something that is important to me?
• He interrupts me about something much less important than what I’m doing J? 
• My feelings are hurt by perceived insensitivity on his part? 
• I’m tired? 
• Hormonal? 
• Feeling overextended? 
• Hurried?

If God’s word is true (which it is!) then I don’t have the biblical option to be anything but patient with him.  When I choose not to be, I’m sinning against God and against him.  Do I really want to be an “imitator of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1)?  Then I must demonstrate the amazing patience of the One who not only bore the wrath of my sin, but Who daily extends fresh grace to me as I continue to sin against Him.

Lord, please forgive me for being impatient with my husband.  I acknowledge this is sin and ask for Your help to imitate Your amazing patience toward me in my relationship with him.  Thank you so much for giving me this man!  Help me to put my sin to death by Your power, and show me what my impatience looks like so I can change.  Thank you!

Posted by Sheree

Doing Hard Things As Wives September 29, 2008

For the next few weeks we will be emphasizing the “Doing Hard Things for Moms” theme we have adopted for our Mom’s Ministry this year. (If you haven’t yet done so, please listen to Danny’s excellent message at our September meeting.) But before we start talking about mom issues, I thought it would be good to first spend some time talking about our highest relational priority: our husbands.

I understand that some of you sacrificially care for you children as single moms. All of us at Metro Moms deeply respect you for the day in, day out investment of your life into your children. How blessed they are to have a mom who apprehends God’s grace for parenting alone! I watched my older sister raise two children as a single mother, and I’m aware both of the considerable sacrifices and the enabling strength of God in your unique role. But for those of us who are married, the first step to investing the hard work needed for biblical mothering – aside from our dependence on the Lord and daily reflection on the gospel – is to tenaciously pursue a heart of love, respect, service and care for our husbands. Remember that plaque on my sister’s wall? The best thing a mother can do for her children is to love their father.

This week and next, I ‘m going to be sharing from my heart – including my struggles and temptations – about what biblical love looks like in marriage. This started last week when I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 and the Holy Spirit pricked my heart with conviction. I hope to share with you some of what he’s doing in my heart in hopes you will be helped, too.

Perhaps you could read this familiar chapter today and then join me tomorrow as we look at doing hard things as wives…beginning with asking the Lord to search our hearts for areas of needed growth.

Lord, thank you for my husband. What a gift he is to me and our children. In the throes of motherhood it’s so easy sometimes to forget that apart from my relationship with You, I was created BY You to be his helper! I invite You, Holy Spirit, to search my heart. Shine the light of Your word into my heart. I invite Your conviction…Your encouragement…and hope for change that is provided for me by the cross.

Teach me, Lord. Amen.

Posted by Sheree

Girltalk Blog Contest September 26, 2008

Good Morning, Moms!  It’s Friday and a great day to share with you a favorite blog of many of ours;  It’s the Girltalk blog.  Did you know that they are having a contest right now that will help you enjoy this official first weekend of fall?  It’s a contest looking for the best Caramel recipes!  So, why not give your family’s favorite caramel recipe a chance at this honorable award?   The deadline to enter is TODAY, so don’t delay!

Don’t have a favorite?  Then, make sure you check out the winner of this contest!  I have a feeling we’ll all be trying our culinary talents on the recipe that wins!

Have a great weekend enjoying the cooler weather – for those of you up north – cooler to us is in the 80′s!

Posted by Debi

Message Now Available September 25, 2008

For those of you who were unable to join us at our Metro Moms’ Meeting last Thursday, the message is available in the box to the right of this page.  Please make listening to this a priority.  Danny shares with us his heart for this very important season in the lives of our young families.

He has often said when we miss a meeting, “You’ll never know what you missed!”

Thankfully, in this age of electronics, we don’t have to miss out on the valuable truths that were shared that day.  It’s only the click of a button away.  Pour your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and prepare to hear a word “fitly spoken”.

We’re Busy Doing… September 23, 2008

HARD THINGS! That’s why we haven’t posted today.  So, let’s put into practice what was heard last week and purpose today to do the hard things that we tend to put off.

The “Self Sufficient Mom” September 22, 2008

Well, as I posted last week, the Mom’s meetings have a way of hitting me right where I need it most…this time was no different.  How kind of the Lord to speak directly to me in those moments.

The Lord has recently been convicting me of my self-sufficiency.  This isn’t a “new sin” in my life…unfortunately one of those that tends to keep creeping up.  But the Lord isn’t letting me get away with it.  He is using several different means to reveal this sin to me.  So at this last meeting it was a major point in what Danny shared with us.  He defined self-sufficiency as being rooted in the thought, “if I work hard enough, I can do it.”  Obviously, the key word there is “I.”  No wonder I get flustered and weary, I am doing on my own what the Lord has called me to do in HIS strength.  Being dependent on the Lord is an act of humility – I am proud.  The other thing that Danny talked about was our motivation in training our children.  He reminded us that we train out of obedience to the Lord – not just to get results.  I have been guilty lately of training for the wrong motives.  I want to SEE the results of my work with my children – I haven’t been focused on the fact that I am doing this for the Lord.  Why is that so easy to forget?

Lord, please forgive me for relying on my own strength instead of using the abundant strength You have graciously given me.  Help me to be dependent on You as I seek to train my children in Your ways.  Help me not forget that it is all for You and not just about the results.  Thank You for being faithful to me once again.  In Your name, Amen. 

Posted by Stephanie

A Day In The Life of a Nurse September 19, 2008

In light of doing hard things, this nurse found herself fighting back laughter…

Working as a pediatric nurse I had the difficult assignment of giving immunization shots to children. One day I entered the examining room to give four-year-old Lizzie her needle.

‘No, no,no!’ she screamed.

‘Lizzie,’ scolded her mother, ‘that’s not polite behavior.’

With that, girl yelled even louder, ‘No, thank you! No, thank you! No, thank you!’

On behalf of the blog team, have a wonderful weekend!

Do Hard Things September 18, 2008

Today Danny Jones, senior pastor of Metro Life Church, spoke at our Mom’s meeting.  He introduced our emphasis for this year based on the book by the same name:  Do Hard Things.   Maybe you don’t live in our area, yet you regularly read our blog.  May we encourage you to purchase a copy and read along with us?  We will be talking about many of the issues pertaining to motherhood that most of us find hard.  We want to press on towards the goal, as Paul encourages us, not shrinking back because it’s difficult.

If you were unable to attend this morning, or if you were busy serving our mom’s by watching the children, then please make sure you take time to listen to the message.  We’ll be sure to let you know when it’s available here.

Titus 2 In Action September 17, 2008

It is really hard to describe how the mom’s meeting have affected me over these past few years.  It’s funny to think back how different our lives were then.  I had only two children and was pregnant with my third at the first Mom’s meeting. I will never forget some of the things Danny talked about that first meeting;  He taught that I was parenting for fruit in light of that day, but my vision needed to be lifted for what things would be even 10 years from now.

I really enjoy the breakfast and my kids are so excited anytime a meeting comes up on the calendar, but the one thing that jumps out to me and happens consistently after every meeting is the way that I am both encouraged and challenged.  I feel like we are constantly encouraged in how we are walking out our calling as godly wives and mothers! I know there have been times that I have walked in a meeting completely weary and walked out refreshed and envisioned.  I know that I have walked in a meeting lazy and apathetic and have walked out passionate about the changes that the Holy Spirit is revealing that need to be made in my life.  I can say without a doubt that I love my husband and children more, love being busy at home, and can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this year.  Mom’s meetings are really TITUS 2 in action, please don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!

Posted by Taraleigh

Training and Encouragement September 16, 2008

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be involved with the Mom’s meetings.  Over the last couple of years, I have benefited from the consistent, practical application of truth as presented in these times together.  The messages always seem to apply to what is going on right then – not only with my children, but with me (and my heart).

I walk away challenged and convicted, yet encouraged and envisioned all at the same time.  What a gift! I am reminded that being a mother is a high calling and a lot of work, but the Lord gives grace for each and every day.  I can glorify Him, not only by loving and training my children in His ways, but also in the seemingly mundane, daily routine.

So often I find that my vision has fallen from the goal; that I have been distracted from what is really important.  Yet the Lord, in His kindness, has provided older women (using the Titus 2 guideline) to help lift my vision.  How I need the training, wisdom and godly example of those who have gone before me!  I don’t have to figure it all out on my own!  That is great news!

Posted by Stephanie