Christian mamas, help me be a grace-filled mom - Page 3

[~*max*~]

Originally Posted by phathui5

Have you read the articles at www.gentlechristianmothers.com ?

Thanks for mentioning this pathiu5. I really like this site. It's the only Christian one I have found that does not advocate spanking. I applied to join, but it been well over a month and no acceptance. I have tried to contact them twice, but also no response. : Not sure if I have not been accepted, or if they are just flooded w/applications.

[~*max*~]

I really liked this daily devotional today from The Upper Room:

Psalm 62:5-8 (NRSV)
For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. [Selah]

_________________________

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
- Psalm 62:8 (NIV)
_________________________

I grew up in an area where tornadoes strike often and hard. I remember my parents waking me in the middle of the night and leading me to our basement where we waited out the storm. My family huddled together while we heard the tornado siren wailing, the wind whistling around our house, and the hail beating against our walls. It scared me to listen to the power of the storm that pounded overhead. The basement was a relatively safe place, but I knew that tornadoes could topple houses in minutes.

Our basement sheltered my family from the tornado, and it gave us some sense of protection. But as the psalmist teaches, my true refuge is the Lord. God offers security far superior to any earthly shelter's. No matter what problem we may face, we can seek refuge in God by praying honestly about our fears. Just as God listened to the psalmist's cries for help, God listens to ours. We can rest assured that our Creator will prove trustworthy. Just as my family ran to our basement when a tornado threatened, in times of trouble, we can run to God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to trust you and take refuge in you, no matter what we face today. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God's power is greater than any storm we face.

-- Lauren V&#a;squez (Texas, USA)

PRAYER FOCUS:Those Rebuilding After Loss

[Purple Sage]

I have to catch up on some posts but just wanted to let you all know that I'm thinking and praying about our little group here and hope everyone has a peace and grace filled day!

I feel like such a new Christian (a 17 year lapse will do that to ya!) that I don't have much to add to the conversation, but I'm learning a lot from this thread.

The lesson that I've been coming face-to-face with over the last couple of days has been that I need to work on having the faith of a child and not worry so much about understanding (or even knowing) all the intricacies of differing theologies and doctrines and all that stuff.

No time to elaborate this morning, but I'll be back this weekend to soak in all the wisdom from you all!

[~*max*~]

Hi again. I have been reading this thread all along & dashed off a couple replies this morning and realized I have never introduced myself. So, here goes - I'm a mom to 4, married to dh for 16 happy years & new on the Christian path. I was raised Catholic, tried out UU for a bit, and was lead to Christianity. We have begun attending a Congregational Church, UCC, and really are enjoying it. I am very interested in learning more, so appreciate all the book & website recommendations that have been talked about on this thread. Keep 'em coming please!

[bluebirdiemama]

I love going to www.joyfm.com , they used to have an icon that was titled "listen live" and you could just click on it, but now you have to search for "listen live", and they just play Christian music all day
I totally love it.

I also love love love www.rzim.org. In the "resource" section there are radio broadcasts GALORE! Ravi is an amazing thinker and speaker. I could listen to him all day, although it really is best to try to listen to his broadcasts when the kiddos are busy + occupied.

I'm feeling so drained right now... I'm so grateful for my husband who knows me well enough to know I need a break from the kids right now!!
He's giving them a bath. He doesn't normally take over with the kids without me asking, but he did tonight

Hope everyone's having a happy friday

[chely7425]

I've been reading along... I feel like I don't have much to add because this is something I am struggling with SO much right now. I enjoy reading tho...

[The Amber Lily]

Has anyone here read Beth Moore's study on the fruit of the Spirit? It is incredibly good, lining up with Scriptures and giving them 'practical application'. Would you be interested to do an online women's study group through the book?

[bluebirdiemama]

Originally Posted by The Amber Lily

Has anyone here read Beth Moore's study on the fruit of the Spirit? It is incredibly good, lining up with Scriptures and giving them 'practical application'. Would you be interested to do an online women's study group through the book?

I'd be totally down. My only Christian friend moved a few months ago... so I have no one to do that kinda stuff with

[genifer]

Hey, Ill have to look to see if we can get it at my library but if we cant I can just follow along as best I can with you guys.

[The Amber Lily]

Cool! I just finished the book/study with my church's women's group and it was fantastic. It is written as a daily devotion study, with a weekly discussion and video but we arranged it so that every week we discussed 4-3 days and every other week watched a video. Some church libraries might carry the videos, otherwise I could write out the main points, if that's not infringing copyright?

Would you like to meet here daily, or twice a week, or once a week? We would start a new thread though. Sorry for interrupting this one!

[~*max*~]

Originally Posted by The Amber Lily

Has anyone here read Beth Moore's study on the fruit of the Spirit? It is incredibly good, lining up with Scriptures and giving them 'practical application'. Would you be interested to do an online women's study group through the book?

Yes, I'd be interested too. I'll order the book from the library tonight.

edited to add: Is the title "Fruit of the Spirit?" My library has several books of hers, but this was not one.

[sarahkristy]

Thank you

I just want to say THANK YOU for posting this thread.

I am a Christian mama to a 16 month old baby boy and have been VERY lonely in my AP philosophy as a Christian. I have only one "real life" friend who agrees that AP is the way to go and no other Christian moms who see eye to eye with that.

I've been disturbed lately about the kind of material out there for Christian parents and have just been feeling sad about the lack of support as well as maybe a little skeptical of myself and my parenting.

I've been trying to learn how to love and honor God through my parenting and it's definitely a learning process. We are just getting into the discipline stage and having you mamas to learn from will be really nice.

Also, I'd love to do the Fruit of The Spirit study!

[iamme]

I,too, have enjoyed reading this thread! I am going to read it again when I have my notebook next to me to write down notes of authors and websites.
My dc are 13 and 8, and for a while I was posting to other messgae boards for homeschooling-until I cam upon too much praise for people like the pearls. I had just about given up the online community, when I decided to try mdc. At first I wasn't seeing any sign of Christians, which is something I greatly desire as I don't come from a Christian home, and have few friends thta are Christians. I enjoy the company of differing people of all walks of life, but i do draw the line when it comes to raising children-I am AP all the way. Well, I am trying to figure out how to AP older kids/teens.
I probably don't have much to add, but I'll be listening and checking into the Beth Moore book-since I ama new Christian, I haven't read much of anything.
I do have ONE Christian friend who is 100% AP, so I am good with that for now.

[Grace and Granola]

Welcome! I am the OP and have felt like I've abandoned this thread for the past few days. I have not been having a very grace-filled time of it, and just have been left drained at the end of the days.

Today is a new day! Let us ALL rejoice and be glad in it. For this is the day the LORD has made!

I am determined to have a good day today. I have informed the children that we are going to choose JOY today! I am going to do my best to act calmly and rationally, and hopefully that spirit will trickle down to them.

Blessings to all of you for a grace filled day!

[Purple Sage]

Hello newcomers! Glad you're here!

to everyone who needs one!

Sisters, we have to be firmly rooted in our identity as daughters of the King. So that when the stuff happens during the day or at the grocery store with the kids, our identity is still intact. I am so not there. yet.

This is exactly what I've been trying to keep in the forefront of my mind. My purpose for existing is to be the Lord's servant, and so how does He want me to be? I'm finding the answer to this question is opposed to how I imagined I should be for so much of my life, but as soon as I rearrange my priorities to be His priorities everything seems to just fall into place. It really is amazing!

I'd like to follow along with the book study you're doing but I can't justify buying another book right now. Besides, I'm trying to read the bible from cover to cover right now and need to concentrate on that.

Praying for a good day for all!

[iamme]

Thanks for the warm welcome, mommas!

Question. As I was just at a park talking with a friend who is Christian, I was thinking of this thread and that led me to wonder if anyone would be interested in a similar thread about marriage? I am really needing support from a Christian perspective regarding both dc and my marriage.
Anyone else? Good idea? Bad idea?

Me

[Grace and Granola]

Originally Posted by iamme

Thanks for the warm welcome, mommas!

Question. As I was just at a park talking with a friend who is Christian, I was thinking of this thread and that led me to wonder if anyone would be interested in a similar thread about marriage? I am really needing support from a Christian perspective regarding both dc and my marriage.
Anyone else? Good idea? Bad idea?

Me

yes, please

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by iamme

Thanks for the warm welcome, mommas!

Question. As I was just at a park talking with a friend who is Christian, I was thinking of this thread and that led me to wonder if anyone would be interested in a similar thread about marriage? I am really needing support from a Christian perspective regarding both dc and my marriage.
Anyone else? Good idea? Bad idea?

Me

I wouldn't mind discussing any type of family matters in this thread, if no one else has any objections.

[Grace and Granola]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

I wouldn't mind discussing any type of family matters in this thread, if no one else has any objections.

I agree. Let's be grace-filled moms, wives, sisters, daughters....they all fit here!

[iamme]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

I wouldn't mind discussing any type of family matters in this thread, if no one else has any objections.

Originally Posted by Grace and Granola

I agree. Let's be grace-filled moms, wives, sisters, daughters....they all fit here!

Yeah!!

I am super excited as I am starting a new Bible study for wives of dh's who have emotionally or intimately abandoned them-I have experienced this to a large degree, and am finally open to sharing/discussing it in a safe, understanding group of women.

Also, dh and I are attending a seminar this saturday on improving intimacy on all levels w/i our marriage. It will be at our church, and the speaker is well known nationally on this topic. I NEVER thought dh would agree to something like this, but he did!! PRAISE GOD! \o/