Today I came across this reading and felt encouraged in a mighty way.  I often feel at the end of a day that I have not measured up.  I have not read enough books, I have not been patient enough, I have not taught enough for school that day to cause them to excel, I have not spent enough quality time with each of them, or I just haven't lived the Gospel before them.  While some of these question or reflections are good some are just plain guilt.  Christ does not call us to a life of condemnation but to a life of freedom.  These moments should cause me to move to the cross and be reminded that 2 Corinthians 12:9 is true and life giving.  Today I praise him because he is a forgiving God and because his mercies are new everyday.  Because of Christ I can be a better mother tomorrow.

http://theresurgence.com/2012/04/24/forgiveness-for-moms-who-fail

Raising sons

While praying over my sons and asking for wisdom on how to raise them I came across this article and found it encouraging.
http://theresurgence.com/2012/04/09/10-ways-for-moms-to-respect-their-sons

Reflections from Good Friday

Friday April 6, 2012, we celebrated Good Friday. This time around I was determined to not waste the opportunity to share the heart of the Gospel with my children. It seems as though ever Good Friday in the past it is a struggle to meditate on what took place and apply that to my life in a fresh and life changing way. Really, everyday is that battle because with three children it is hard to find alone time to spend with Christ. I have come to learn that at this stage of life, I can't beat my children out of bed nor can I put them down for a nap and go spend uninterrupted time with Jesus. I just know that I must somehow start my day with Jesus so the overflow of my heart is his character and not self. I want so badly to show grace and love to them but when I have not had the time with Jesus then circumstances begin to control my heart and attitude and well that's not doing anyone any good! So thanks to the prompting of the Holy spirit, I have now realized that I can start my day in the word with my children. What a great way to fill my heart and mind with his word and at the same time begin to train my children to start their day with Jesus. It has been very eye opening to me to see just how powerful scripture is, in that it can speak to a 2,4,6, and 34 year old no matter how simple or complex. A simple children's lesson can be something that Christ uses in a mighty way in my heart as I take that nugget of truth and meditate on it all through the day. Well this Good Friday accomplished just that. I began to use a cookie recipe that step by step told the story of Christ death and Resurrection. We read from the Jesus Story book bible and the wording was so beautifully pointing us to Jesus over and over again in such a romantic way. I was gripped by the sinners that Jesus was surrounded by, the treatment he was receiving from them, and yet he showed nothing but compassion to them. He was broken over their sin and had such a desire for them to know the joy in a relationship with God the Father that he gave his life for them. At great cost to himself, he laid down his life for them (us). He prayed over those at that the cross that God would forgive them for they did not know hat they were doing. It struck me because we are struggling with Andrew right now, he is battling some sin in his heart that is really taking its toll on him and us. I felt the Spirit speaking to me through his word that day. I want so badly to be so broken over Andrews sin or any of my families sin, including my own that I deal with them with such compassion and brokenness that I am willing to go to all lengths so that they may know the riches of Christ Jesus. That I would cry out on their behalf with such desperation that shows I believe in the power of prayer. That I would no longer react with anger and frustration because their sin struggle is inconveniencing me but I would find joy in giving my life away for them to see the Gospel lived out. Christ calls us to be imitators of him and He showed me his character in the way he dealt with the sin that surrounded him while he hung on the cross that painful and gloomy day. The same power that rose Christ from the dead is the power that has been given to me at great cost to Jesus. I can because of Christ, love Andrew in his sin and deal with him with compassion and patience beyond my strength. This is how I hope the celebration of the death and Resurrection will change me and cause me to live differently. May I find joy, compassion and patience in laying my life down for my children as I seek to show them the Jesus I pray they will follow! Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."