Notes

Friends and I spent another evening at Sally's on Tuesday. (This meant that I had 2 nights out in a row with ladies! Oh.yes.I.did. Yay for me!)

I always come away from there incredibly refreshed, with renewed commitment to carry on despite the days I want nothing more than to throw them on the school bus hardships.

These are my notes:

Women alone become tempted to relinquish ideals. Make time for supportive friendships. (Hallelujah!)

Society will give us permission to compromise those ideals.

When they are young, we do not even realize all the potential our children hold.

Don't be so eager to swoop in to meet all your kids needs as they get older. Let them struggle a bit. Life is not easy. Allow them some room to learn to maneuver.

Trust God with their lives.

We, as moms are on a course of righteousness - God teaches us through our children. Embrace that. Motherhood is transforming our hearts, molding us.

Don't be overly controlling. Live by the Holy Spirit. As the kids grow, let them do the same.

If they are old enough to drive and have a baby, they are old enough for some major responsibility. They will only live up to their potential if you  give them the opportunity. Don't suppress their progress by your fear. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Let them launch. Do you know young people who never learned to launch? That is not what we want for our kids.

Prepare a godly leader. We are all stewards of the gospel.

Don't let fear reign, don't be controlled by other people's voices. Practice living by faith.

God takes your fish and loaves and does great things with them. Let Him.

Pray every day that God will help you fall in love with your kids.

Mothering is an act of worship in service.

Most of our messages from God come from the hard things.

In the Christmas story, God exalts the family allowing Himself to be born to a mother and father, to be vulnerable, subject to his parents. God intended the family to be where righteousness was built for generations.

What was it about Mary that made God choose her? She spent her life engaged in the Scripture. Her response to Him would not have been what it was if she was not prepared. Practice engaging your heart in the Scripture. Ponder the things of God. Hide them in your heart.  Mary did not have an easy life. In fact, it was incredibly hard. And, this was a woman chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.

Accept the hard things, allow God to work in your life, God will make you able.