He's Alive!

"Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness...Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Psalm 150:1-2, 6 NIV

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter. I did. It was a great day for me. Sunday service was probably the first time since Cooper was born that I was able to worship and enjoy the service without any distractions! I left service that morning feeling uplifted and encouraged.

I thought we would discuss what Easter means to us. This year Chris and I really tried to communicate the true meaning of Easter to Max. I'm not saying the "bunny," eggs and candy are bad. I just wanted to make sure that these were not the first thing Max would think of when he heard the word Easter.

To me Easter is a time to remember what Jesus did for us. Through Jesus we see the ultimate sacrifice of His life for each one of our lives. He paid the price so we would not have to. He did this so we can live forever with Him. All we have to do is simply believe that He is our Lord and Savior, and live for Him.

Easter is also a time to celebrate the miracle! He is Alive, ("Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." Mark 16:5-7). I love that it is no coincidence that Easter happens at the start of spring when new life is witnessed in everything we see. The old is gone (winter), and the new has come (spring). Just like when we give our lives to Jesus we are a new creation. The old is gone!

Lastly, it is a time to ask myself if I'm doing my part? Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. What is my job to help His message fulfilled? To tell others! A sweet friend who has been in ministry for many years recently told us (at a gathering) that in one of her first years of ministry a little boy came to her and motioned for her to bend down. He whispered in her ear on Easter morning, "He's Alive! Tell someone!" It gave me chills. Something so simple, but that is our mission here on this earth!

So, as you walk along the way remember this..."HE'S ALIVE, TELL SOMEONE." Please share any other thoughts you would like to share about Easter and what it means to you.

Monday's Mothering Moment-Letting Go

Yesterday my Sunday School Class on Parenting finished up. James Dobson's was talking about Erma Bombeck and how she described parenting and when the time comes when we have to let go. It was quite timely for me yesterday as I dropped off my second born in the nursery for the first time. I know my parenting journey is far from what is described here, but it still brought tears to my eyes as I can see how quickly that time will approach and how I must enjoy the "ride." Here is the excerpt from Dr. Dobson's discussion.

Humorist Erma Bombeck described this difficult process in terms that were helpful to me. She said that the task of raising kids is rather like trying to fly a kite on a day when the wind doesn't blow. Mom and Dad run down the road pulling the cute little device at the end of a string. It bounces along the ground and shows no inclination of getting off the ground.

Eventually, and with much effort, they manage to lift it 15 feet in the air, but great danger suddenly looms. The kite dives toward electrical lines and twirls near trees. It is a scary moment. Will they ever get it safely on its way? Then, unexpectedly, a gust of wind catches the kite, and it sails upward. Mom and Dad feed out line as rapidly as they can.

The kite begins pulling the string, making it difficult to hold on. Inevitably, they reach the end of their line. What should they do now? The kite is demanding more freedom. It wants to go higher. Dad stands on his tiptoes and raises his hand to accommodate the tug. It is now grasped tenuously between his index finger and thumb, held upward toward the sky. Then the moment of release comes. The string slips through his fingers, and the kite soars majestically into God's beautiful sky.

Mom and Dad stand gazing at their precious "baby," who is now gleaming in the sun, a mere pinpoint of color on the horizon. They are proud of what they've done -- but sad to realize that their job is finished. It was a labor of love. But where did the years go?

That is where you are today -- standing on tiptoes and stretching toward the sky with the end of the string clutched between your fingers. It's time to let go. And when you do, you'll find that a new relationship will be born. Your parenting job is almost over. In its place will come a friendship that will have its own rewards.

Remember: The kite is going to break free one way or the other. It's best that you release it when the time is right!

I will leave you with a picture of my little guy who turned 3 months old yesterday!

Hand Chosen by God!

Thank you all for your comments! I have really enjoyed reading them, please keep them up! I have included some questions and would love to hear your answers.

A little pick me up for you today, or at least it was for me!

Ephesians 1:3-4 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."

The part that is really special to me is "even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ." He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing! We are hand picked by God! How does that make you feel? Even when we feel rejected by the world we must remember that God chose each one of us. How do the feelings of being rejected compare to the feelings of knowing God chose me? Do you feel justified, chosen, and forgiven? How would you live differently if you believed you were all of these things?

Thank you Lord for choosing me even before the world was! Lord help me to be more like you everyday.

Holiness

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

I have been really convicted lately in the area of holiness in my life. I want to live a holy life that is pleasing to the Lord. Lately, when I watch TV I have been amazed at the filth that is broadcasted to homes all over the world. I have been really aware of it, and embarrassed of the trash that I have been letting come into my home. Many of these shows are really pushing the envelope and things and words that used to not be allowed anywhere near 7:00 pm are out there for all ears and eyes to see. I think it would be interesting to see statistics on how fast this has happened with the rules and guidelines. I think back to the shows I watched as a kid on Friday night (good ole TGIF) and they were clean shows, that now would probably be laughed right off the air.

I want to be holy and my life to reflect the holiness of God. I love this song, it has been around for awhile but a good one to remember.

Holiness, holiness is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, holiness is what You
want from me.

Holiness, holiness is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, holiness is what You
want from me.

So, take my heart and form it.
Take my mind and transform it.
Take my will and conform it.
To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord.

Faithfulness, faithfulness is what I
long for.
Faithfulness is what I need.
Faithfulness, faithfulness is what.
You want from me.

Brokenness, brokenness is what I
long for.
Brokenness is what I need.
Brokenness, brokenness is what
You want from me.

Having it Together!

I was just emailing a dear friend, and I shared with her that I am still adjusting to adding another little one to the mix. I told her that just when I think I have it all together, something happens to make me realize that I don't. Then I had a light bulb moment! This is a good thing. God is not trying to smack me in the head with my failures and shortcomings; He wants me to lean on Jesus (not rely on myself) and He will take care of the rest. Short and simple. Isn't He good!

"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas"

Psalm 65:5

Monday's Mothering Moment--The Strong-Willed Child

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

I am in a twelve week Sunday School class that is going through Dr. Dobson's Your Child: The Essentials of Discipline. Yesterday's topic was Compliance vs. Strong Willed. I found this chapter very interesting. Did you know that the ratio of strong willed children to compliant children is 3 to 1? Wow! My 2 1/2 year old is definitely strong willed. I'm not sure if my nine week old is or not, that is still to be determined. However, if his not wanting to sleep anywhere but my arms is any indication....he might be strong willed too!

We learned that it is important to determine if your child is strong-willed so that you can establish authority. It was also helpful to hear that we need to shape our children's will by disciplining without breaking their spirit. Another important thing to note is it is important to make the distinction between the strong-willed and compliant child in order to protect the rights of both and deal with them differently.

I also learned that 74% of strong-willed children rebel in their teen years while only 3% of compliant children do. This was not a comforting fact to me; however, I can be proactive and start getting on my knees and lifting this up to God now. It is never too early. It also showed me the importance of establishing authority now when my little guy is young so that maybe he won't rebel in his teen years.

What's the best news to parents raising a strong-willed child? There is a rapid decrease of rebelling in young adulthood, and 85% of strong-willed individuals will return to the values that their parents instilled in them. Whew, this is a relief! When I heard this in class it was comforting and not comforting at the same time. Yeah that compliance will come eventually, but in young adulthood!?!

It was a great week with good information. Here's what I would like to hear from you.

I would love to hear about your children. Did or do you have strong-willed children? For all of you mothers who have children that have left the nest, did you find it true that your strong-willed child settled down in their early 20's and returned to the values that you instilled in them? I'm very curious about this one! Also, any tips and suggestions of what has worked for you in regards to your strong-willed child.

And lastly...here's another resource that I am seriously considering reading very soon (The New Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson).

10 years from now?

Me and my newest baby, Cooper

I was reading a blog a few days ago and the subject really caught my attention. The woman was celebrating her 10 year anniversary and reminiscing how far she had come and was imagining what ten more years would bring. That got me thinking. What was I doing ten years ago? I ventured back in my mind and realized I was beginning my second semester of college. I could not even believe that was ten years ago, it doesn't feel ten years ago. The road I have traveled since then has been sprinkled with many experiences, accomplishments, joys, sorrows, and everything in between. Here are a few of the highlights...

-Changed my major 5 times (really, how can you know what you want to do for the rest of your life at age 19?)
-Learn to live with three different roommates (all different in their unique ways)
-Completed thousands of assignments, quizzes, tests, and finals
-Traveled through a 3.5 year relationship with someone who did not have the same beliefs as me
-Had my own apartment for a year
-Graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration
-Moved home not knowing what would come next
-Got a job offer in accounting, turned it down
-Went to work for my then church in assimilation
-Met the love of my life (I didn't know it then) on my first day of work
-Got engaged
-Planned a wedding
-Got married
-Adjusted to new family dynamics
-Bought a house
-Traveled to lands near and far to take the gospel to families with Kidz Blitz
-Started a business with two friends (painting, and Christmas decorating)
-Decided that business above wasn't for us
-Had a baby boy
-Learned how to be a mommy- (changed hundreds of diapers, stayed up into the wee hours of the night, watched milestones be reached, gave love and received much love from my babies, and many more things that mommy's experience).
-Traveled to more lands near and far with Kidz Blitz
-Started a business Kate Williams Designs (sewing hip items for moms and their children)
-Came off the road to share our lives with the wonderful people of Lenexa Baptist Church (Chris in role of Children's Pastor)
-Watched my business grow
-Led my first Bible Study
-Had another baby boy
-and still trusting in Jesus

There was a lot more in between all of these events. I realized that everything I have gone through and my experiences have shaped and molded me into the woman I am today. I have no idea what the future or the next ten years will look like. I would hope it would all be good, but I know that is not what life on this earth looks like. There is sin in this world and it is not perfect. But one thing I do know is if I hold fast, put my trust in Jesus no matter what the circumstances, that He will help me through anything I may encounter along the way. I would not want to know what life would be like without Him as my Savior. Thank you Lord for the last ten years of my life. Thank you for being my guide every step of the way. Lord, I pray that my life be honoring to you.

[Jesus comforts His disciples] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." John 14:1