Every now and then I might get an email from a reader that is not happy with me. They might think that I don't write enough, stray from themed topics, and so on.
Sometimes I will get swamped with emails of people asking me to do things. Read their articles, do a radio interview, write for them, and the list goes on.
Other times I even get emails from women who would like for me to mentor them long term, ask me marital and parenting questions etc., which I honestly do wish I could answer more often. (If I can't respond know that I am praying for you!)
As much as I would like to do everything, it is just not humanly possible. There absolutely is not enough time or strength in a day to do everything- but there is definitely time for what the Lord has called me to!
I am a wife and mother first.
My priorities are God-given and if all else suffers, then that shall be the case!
Being a wife and mother first is so important that all else has to go to the wayside in order for me to be able to fulfill these duties. My children will be grown one day and I refuse to miss it by being distracted by unnecessary pressures. Those other things will be there later if the Lord wants it for my life.
Motherhood is the high calling and yet I can relate to how it feels like the exact opposite at times. The work, the sweat, the tears, and the perseverance that all go into growing young souls is enough some days to make you just throw up your hands and give up sometimes.
But I want you to know that you are equipped for the job at hand. He has given you everything you will ever need to fight for the souls of your children as long as you don't allow the voices of the world to draw you away. There are many good things out there. Many things that could be accomplished--they will always beckon, but we must NOT seek to entertain them by sacrificing the best things. We need to be about our Father's business.
I am so glad that there are others out there who also try to encourage mothers to be steadfast in these ever important roles. One of which is my friend, Kelly, who has written a heartfelt devotional that women can really relate to called Devotions, Advice & Renewal for When Motherhood Feels Too Hard, which is now available in paperback. No fluffy language, not beating around the bush, just straight talk about living out the beauty and fleshing out biblically what is also known as the trenches of motherhood.
Here is an excerpt:
"Not only are we called to pass on a spiritual legacy to our children, but the Bible speaks of our children's children. We must raise our children in such a way that their faith grows roots far into the next generation. It takes deliberate life work to do that! No, it isn't done by a flippant attitude that takes advantage of that grace. We must speak of Him, live for Him, be willing to die for Him and pass that fervent love on to our children."
Another book that is just fantastic is Queen of the Home by my friend, Jen. I have shared both of these books before and would like to give away one of these as well. Here is an encouraging word from the book:
"Mothers, take heart. You are building cultures, societies, and kingdoms while you are training those little people within your home. No matter what, someone is going to train them. Our rotten culture didn't come out of nowhere. It came because Christian families forsook their first duty and abandoned their homes to the enemy. Let us return to our homes and rebuild a vision for godly decendents that stretches into the future."
And in the spirit of spurring one another on in prioritizing the Lord's calling on our lives we would love to bless someone with a copy of each book. I am also going to throw in a copy of my ebook, True Christian Motherhood.
And remember, dear friends...
Don't let anyone or anything pull you away from your role.
Remain steadfast.
Your husband and children need you.
Be faithful to His call.
You may enter here:
66 comments:
Great give away! I enjoy reading your blog!
I am the mother to 6 children ages 9 to 28 and 6 grandchildren. Trying to be a Godly wife to an unbelieving husband who thinks its ok..to have other women friends..not sure how Hosea did it with a wondering wife, it is hard to give unconditional love.
Thank you!
Would love to read these books. Thank you for the encouraging words and the giveaway!
I get my greatest joy from being a mother of 4 and wife to a christian counselor. My husband and our family has been in the ministry(Pastor's family, christian school administrator, christian counselor, etc) for most of my married life, and I still get the greatest joy and fulfillment from being wife and mother!! That is my ministry!
Stephanie W
I read your blog often, but haven't commented before - I must have been drawn to your post today, as it so perfectly brought things into perspective for me and I was able to make a decision to say "no" ... for the benefit of my family. And, in the end, it wasn't as hard as I'd thought it was going to be - because it felt right!
Thank you, and bless you,
Willow xxx
Sounds like great resources! I love being a mother...one of the hardest things I do each day but one of the most rewarding as well!!!
I love being a mother & wife....it just saddens me how the world has so belittled this beautiful job & handed child raising over to others, the schools, daycares, or even kids raising themselves.
I am very blessed that God has given me my husband and children to be their wife and mother.
I love your site and I am always encouraged, inspired, and blessed by your writing! I would love to win a copy of one of these great devotionals :-)
Thank you for the reminder of the importance of my job as a mother. It is so easy to get distracted by all of the "stuff" out there that really doesn't matter! I'm encouraged this morning!
God has used being a mother and wife to teach me sooo much about Him and how to serve Him through serving them.
Through being a mother and wife God has taught me ever so much about how to serve Him through serving them.
Thank you for this needful charge today. It takes strong convictions to set good boundaries in blogging and in life. If you were to acquiesce to all those demands, then how would you be able to write here at all-for they would be mere words that were not under-girded by the life you live.
Thank you for your reminder that I'm a wife and mother first!
This is so encouraging! I would love to read these books!
This is why I don't answer my phone, am not involved in 4 million activities, and don't feel guilty when I tell my kids "no". I actually get a lot of flack for those three---often times from the same people who tell me how great my family is. There is a REASON for that!!
"My priorities are God-given and if all else suffers, then that shall be the case!"
Blessings to you today and thanks so much for your ministry!
Mrs. Sarah Coller
I love watching the wonder in my son's eyes teaching me to slow down and engage fully in life.
Being a mother brings you face to face with the reality of God's love, God's mercy, God's grace. But- you have to seek His face to see it.
Being a wife and mother is the best job I will ever have!
so encouraging!! my husband and I are trying to decide how I can let go of working and be a ful stay at home for my one year old. Work and money can be such a distraction... I want to say yes to God and do what he called me to be!!
Being a wife and a mother is something I have always wanted to do. Growing up my mom always had to work so I really didn't have the homemaker roll model. I am working hard through prayer to fix that. We have 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. We will soon be adding more through foster to adopt.
I have heard of both of these books. I have wanted to read both.
:) <3
You have encouraged and confirmed things for me many times. Thank you.
Kendra
I so needed this right now. These books sound wonderful. :)
Being a wife and mother are not easy. Some days are really tough but I thank God for his strength, his love, his patience.....THIS life he has blessed me with! Through it all I press on in Jesus name! Sharing this on my blog as well :)
thank you for the encouraging words
I would love any one of these books! Thank you for your blogs! They help me!
What a "wise" woman you are!! It would be hard to follow you if you did not take your own advice.
Nicole in MD
Being a wife and mother will drive you to your knees right in the arms of the Lord quicker than I could have ever imagined. Would love the wisdom from these books.
This is difficult for a choleric personality trained previously successful in the business world! But I continually feel this is where God has called me. It is very frustrating sometimes because my personality type needs to ACHIEVE! And so I really am encouraged by achievements that our children make. Still trying to find a ministry or outlet for the children and I to get involved with, but I know that the greatest ministry of all is to raise Godly children.
Thanks for reminders for us and this lovely giveaway. From one chrisitian mom, blogger, and home educator to another!
Blessings,
The How to Guru
Thank you for this very encouraging post , I am continually evaluating my
God-given priorities and making adjustments with them in mind.
Ohhh how this would bless me right now. And besides the giveaway, beautiful words of encouragement in your post today. Thank you.
Good for you. I get critized a lot for not doing MORE... more... more. But my first priority is home, I know my limits and I know when I add in to much extra all else falls. I have to focus on priorities for my home and the other things that I am truely led to do mentoring that one person God sends etc. It is so easy to get caught up on otuside needs and outside expectations (even church expectations). But all of it comes with a cost, and sometimes that cost is so much higher than listening to critizism for not doing.... stay strong and focus on the real priorities in life. The other things will be there later or they will be filled by the person that is suppose to, which may very likely was not meant to be me in the first place. Even when the children are not so little they still need me. Teresa
It can be so hard at times. Sometimes I just don't feel appreciated. :(
I am thankful to fulfill this line of work
Thank you for the giveaway. The books sound informative and encouraging.
Thank you for your post and giveaway! I am a young wife and mother... been married 3 years and I'm pregnant with our 3rd baby. The young years are a challenge, but I love my babies so much! Being a wife and mother is such a wonderful role in life that the Lord has given women!
I am blessed to be a stay at home mom!
thanks!
Thank you for your site and the giveaway. I am very blessed to be a wife and mother. Time is precious and God gives it purposefully. I try to always keep that in mind. God bless you all!
God has blessed me with many 'daughters' through our ministry. From the basic teaching of home-skills to theological training, I can't imagine a higher calling than investing in the lives of these precious girls God places in my life.
Amen- great thoughts- how I feel the tug of being a wife and mom and often place other things first!
Thanks!
Nancy
schaeferclan(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
So very encouraging, wonderful giveaway!
Being a wife & mother is the most important roles I have & I feel so blessed to have them!
Hardest job in the world but one I would never trade in for anything. I love my husband and my children so much!
Being a wife and mother is not something I take lightly even though I have to admit it is hard!
I'm a wife the the bestest hubby every, and a very soon to be mama to our baby that's about 27 weeks along in the womb. :) I love being a wife, and although we've only been married a little over 7 months, God has blessed us sooo much!!!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I gladly die to my own wants and needs for my family. I love them!
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 I gladly die to my own wants and needs for my family because I love them!
I look forward to reading your blog and am encouraged by what you are doing and what you write. Being a wife and mom is the hardest job, but so rewarding.
Being a wife and mother is my favorite of my two full time jobs. Some of us just don't have the luxury of staying home, but I have learned to say "no" to extra work because my family comes first. By the grace of God, I can balance home and work, though it can get overwhelming sometimes. My daughter is growing up beautifully. What a blessing!
Sometimes I find it hard to remember how important a job it is to be a wife and mother. I have two little ones and a great husband and I am so thankful God has blessed me with them!
I am so blessed that I can me called mommy. I try never to forget what a blessing it is. Thank you for your encouragement as we strive to be better mothers and wives.
Thank you Thank you Thank you...for this post. There are many "you should" voices in my head. But this post overpowered them and affirmed what I am doing. Blessings...and thanks for the Wednesday Link Up!
I'd love to read these books!
I agree, we are wives first, mothers second, friends last. We have to give our first-fruits to our families. I struggle with this so much as I want to help our small church. I see so many needs, but do not have the time to fill them. There are seasons for everything. I want to mentor so many young ladies and be the Titus 2 woman, God has called me to be, but I have to trust the Lord that He will put in front of me who needs me the most.
The only way it works is to step out in faith. I was raised to go to college and get a career. So me and my husband went to college my husband working part-time and within a year I had been promoted from part-time to full time secretary then to account executive a position everyone in the office wanted with really great pay. THEN I became pregnant. Like most working mothers I planned to go on maturnity leave for 3 months and then head back to work(remember I was still in college--but I bought into the lie that I'm a woman who could do it all.) My first day off of work my husband dropped me off (we had one car) I walked into my cubicle...sat...got up...walked into the presidents office and said I couldnt do this anymore. My baby needed me. He was very cordial and supportive. I ran out of there as fast as I could back to the car (which funny my husband was waiting there like he knew I would be back) and we drove home and I have been home these past 23 years (that son is now 23). How did we make it financially both in college and my husband working part-time. All I can say is we took the leap of faith--obeying God--and not leaning on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5&6) and God blessed us for that. Planning it out isnt trusting God. Did I get ridiculed for what I did...YES...but obeying God was most important. So take that leap of faith and let God do the rest.
I agree with you. Being a wife and mother must come first. It is t easy but if we are obedient to Gid he blesses richly.
I would love to read these books.
I would love to read these books.
Crissy Englert Downy -FB
I would love to read these books, and they would be great to add to our resources for others!
All of these books look like good, profitable reads! Thanks!
Being a wife and mother is the most rewarding and challenging gift God has given me. Brittany
Thanks for the giveaway! Queen of the Home sounds like a great book. I agree that so many are giving up their families to the enemy and putting other things first in their lives. Being a wife and a mother should be our first priority.
these sound like great books. Priority is every thing.
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