Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 4)

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts...Click here to read Part 1, 2 and 3 of this series.

Expect Your Heart’s Desires

It only takes one person to change the course of history. It only takes one person to say yes to God’s call in order to change eternity. Moses was one person that said yes to God. Tamar was one person that said yes to God. Rahab was one person that said yes to God. And they changed history forever. You may be thinking- who am I to change history? I am not anything special nor do I have any special talents or clout or power or money or influence. But if we look in the Bible, it is filled with ordinary people: young girls, tent makers, fisherman, shepherds - lowly common people that God, the creator of the universe, chose to put forth His will…for His glory… for His master plan… for His goal for eternity! What was the commonality between all these people? They said, “Yes!” to God. They were willing to listen to His voice, hear His calling and do His will.

Are you willing to say yes to God? To delight in Him?

When my daughter Emma was two, she would say, “Hi Mom. I love you Mom.” Of course I would say back, “I love you too baby!” Then she would respond, “You’re welcome Mom.” How did she know I needed to hear those sweet little words!

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I need to hear more than anything is that God loves me and will never leave me. When I think about His great love I wonder- why would someone want to know everything about me, know every thought, every hair on my head, and not love me? Why would someone know everything about you, know every thought, every hair on your head- and not love you? How could someone be planning your every day from the before the beginning of time and not love you? How could someone bless you so tremendously and not love you? Doesn’t it stand to reason that these are all signs of love?

Do you know this God that created the earth for you because He loves you so much? Do you know that He loves you so much that He’s waiting for you right now? Do you know that He loves you just the way you are? Do you know of God’s love for you? Do you know that He goes out of His way on purpose to find you? Will you accept His love for you?

Do you want to be a woman of purpose? A mom of purpose? Do you know the one who loves you? Do you love Him?

Practical Steps to Becoming a Mom of Purpose:

• Love God

• Love People

• Dare to dream- what could you do to make an eternal difference?

• Pray specifically about your dreams

• Write down your dreams

• Tell other people

• Pray and think about your dreams in a positive way every day!

• Surrender your dreams to God
  

Where are you in your journey? Think today of what your next step could be. For those of you who may be new to God or haven’t asked Christ to be in your life, I would encourage you to take that step today. In one of the books I was reading it was talking about how could God allow people to go to hell? They explained it rather as people making a choice. God gives us a choice where we want to go. The decision is in our hands. God isn’t to blame. And the thing is, it’s the easiest decision we ever have to make and it will affect not only our lives but also eternity. We don’t have to have power, money or fame. We don’t have to go to school or get a certificate. We can be 3 or 93. There’s no sexual, ageist or ethnic discrimination. Most decisions in life require far more work! All we have to do is say the words and believe them in our heart and you’ll never be the same: God, please come into my life today. Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for me. Please forgive me of all my sins. I don’t understand everything yet but I want to take this small step toward you. The work was done (on the cross), the price was paid- we just reap the benefits if we accept it.

Listen to what God wants to say to you…

I love you with an everlasting love. I knew of you before the creation of the world. I made this world with you in mind. I know everything about you. I know your hurts and dreams and talents and wishes and secret desires. I come to you where you are right now. I know everything about you and it doesn’t change the way I feel about you one little bit! Not one bit. When I created this world, I knew that you would be right here at this moment. Won’t you come to me? Won’t you let me love you? Won’t you let me in to your heart? Won’t you let me change your life? I promise to never leave you nor forsake you, never to let you down. Humans will fail you but I will never fail you. I will love you forever. I will be with you forever.

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire
And fulfill all your plans.
Psalm 20;4 (NIV)

©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks
www.myheartsdesireministries.com

Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 3)

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts...Click here to read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

In Part 2, I wrote how loving God is the first step in finding our purpose as moms. The second step is loving people. Loving people is loving God in action.

I think most of us long to make a difference in our lifetimes but doubt that God has big plans or even significant plans for us. How could He use me? I’m not a Billy Graham or a Rick Warren. But I think one of the things that I love the most about our great God is that He has a specific plan for us. It says in the Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), that He “created us to do good things- He planned for us long ago.”

Read this quote from George Barna’s Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions: "Our children will define the future, which makes them our most significant and enduring legacy. After all, God never told his followers to take over the world through force or intelligence. He simply told us to have children and then raise them to honor God in all they do."

One day I was praying and resting. Abby (my then 2 year old) woke up early from her nap and was sleepwalking over to me. I picked her up and she immediately fell back asleep lying on my chest. I was overwhelmed with this precious child that God had placed in my life. My child was the closest tangible thing to God. This little person was made in God’s image - in the Creator of the Universe’s image! Imagine that! He knows her better than I will ever know her, He loves her more than I will ever love her, and He has a greater plan for her than I could even fathom. She is His creation. He knew her before creation. He had her in mind when He created the earth.
God is already using you! You are already making a difference for eternity. You are fulfilling your purpose as a mom by being a mom and taking care of one of God’s most prized creations!

Practical Ways to Love Your Children:

• Everybody Helps: Are your kids involved with chores around the house? Our house motto is, "Everybody Helps." You will be surprised at how even the smallest amount of help from your little ones can contribute to your daily duties. My little girls started making their beds and clearing their plates at age 3. It wasn't perfect but it gave them confidence in knowing that they could do it by themselves and it was one less thing I had to do that day. Both my girls help empty the dishwasher. My 4 year old puts away the utensils and plastic ware while my 7 year old does the rest. She stacks the dishes on the counter that she can’t reach and I put them away. Make your life easier and instill responsibility in your kids- everybody benefits!

• Kid’s Corner: Designate a drawer or cupboard that is for your kids. Make sure they can access it and that it’s filled with kid-friendly items (i.e. plastic cups, bowls, plates). This enables the kids to get things for themselves, help with meal preparation and clean-up!
  

• Planning Ahead: Do your kids take their lunch to school? Make them the night before during the dinner mess. There’s a lot you can do while you’re waiting for the water to boil or for a meal to cook! I already have a mess in the kitchen so I might as well make lunches real quick. It saves your nerves in the early morning rush to just grab your lunch out of the fridge! Preparing backpacks and picking out clothes the night before helps to avoid the craziness of getting out the door in the morning as well.

• Saying I Love You: How often do you tell your kids that you love them? I grew up with my mom telling me she loved me every day! She didn’t want me to ever doubt that she loved me. I do the same thing with my kids. Knowing that I was loved unconditionally by my family has allowed me to be successful in life. I have a strong foundation at the very core of my being knowing that I have the support and love of my family. You can do this for your kids too. Give them the love and support they need to grow up with a healthy knowledge of your love.

• Taking a break: Sometimes this is the most loving thing you can do! As a mom you are going around the clock 24/7. Try and catch some times of rest in your day. While your child is eating, sit down beside them. Don’t try and rush it! Even five minutes can help you calm down. Bath time is a perfect place to catch a breather. Kids love to play in the tub. Let them play for an extra 5-10 minutes and you take a load off! Sit on the floor next to them and enjoy the kids: think, pray, dream, or be silent. These 5-minute breathers throughout the day can help you make it through the day!
  

Think back to this last week. How have you made a loving difference? How can you improve this next week? I would love to hear from you. Next time join me for my conclusion of this series. Blessings!


©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks
www.myheartsdesireministries.com