#1 - Heard By God

Intro

You Know You Are a Mom When...

- Your alarm is set for twelve a.m., three a.m., six a.m., and nine a.m.

- You cannot remember the last time you took a shower.

- Your shirt, around the shoulder area, has some type of food on it.

- Laundry is an everyday activity, but folding it is not.

- The socks on your feet don't match and your shirt is on inside out.

- You are eating chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, or pizza-again!

- You tell yourself, "I know I just picked that up."

- The theme songs to Barney, Peppa Pig, and the movie Cars, Frozen or will not get out of your mind.

- "No" is the most common word used in your home - by both mom and child.

But you also know you are a mom when:

- Three a.m. is one of the most special moments of the day.

- You look into the bedroom when all is quiet and you are certain there is an angel sleeping there.

- Your heart melts when that sweet little voice says, "I love you, Mommy."

- Laughter fills your home.

- Your kiss is the only thing that can make a boo-boo better.

- Hearing your child sing brings you joy and a smile.

- Your fridge is covered with special crafts, photos, and award ribbons.

- You cry on the first day on kindergarten.

- You can't wait for three o’clock to get here.

Few things tempt a woman to keep up appearances more than being a mom.

You’re expected to have perfectly well-behaved kids, who eat perfectly well-balanced meals, all while you keep your perfectly well-balanced schedule and invite others to spend time at your perfectly well-organized home.

Please. No matter what others may see, you know the truth.

Behind the scenes, your life feels like a BIG mess.

The question is: Is that a bad thing?

Grace

The name Hannah means “grace”, and she needed God’s grace to handle her burdens. Unfortunately, the home was divided, her rival provoked her, and she was childless.

1 Samuel 1:2 LEB

2 He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Now Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Out of this kind of sorrow and disappointment, God often builds great faith and send special blessings.

1 Peter 5:10 LEB

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Embracing the Mess

Proverbs is filled with truth-packed statements of wisdom. Some of them tend to be more memorable than others, take for example

Proverbs 14:4 ESV

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

“Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” 

So what’s a verse about oxen and barns have to do with being a mom?

Basically this: success is in the mess.

If you want a clean barn you can have one, but if you want a large harvest, things will get messy.

Moms bring so much life into the world, literally and figuratively.

They are nurturers, providers, encouragers, counselors, problem-solvers, and so much more.

They cultivate the world around them into something beautiful.

Meditate on this thought: Success is in the mess.

The very best of who you are comes to the surface as you help your family navigate the craziness of life!

Faith

1 Samuel 1:11 LEB

11 She made a vow and said: “O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant a male child then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head.”

When you consider her situation at home and also the way Eli treated her, you find it remarkable that Hannah had any faith at all.

1 Samuel 1:13 LEB

13 Now Hannah had been speaking in her heart; her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard, so Eli considered her to be drunk.

But she did not become bitter against God, as Naomi had done, nor did she create problems in the home. She asked God for a son, and God answered her prayer.

1 Samuel 1:20 LEB

20 In due time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She called his name Samuel, for she said, “I requested him from Yahweh.”

Self-Care

How many times have you burned yourselves into the ground doing for everyone around you, tired, frustrated, and sometimes sad?

can you recall so many moments when you had a plan for your husband, your kids, and yourself only to realize at the end of the day all you feel like saying is “I QUIT!”

Feeling so overwhelmed and simply spent, looking to God like, 'I’m just trying to steward my life so why am I falling short right now?'

Here is the thing; God calls us to be Christlike which means thinking more of others.

The catch is that in order to do for others we are to take care of ourselves and our salvation. In 1 Corinthians 6, we are told that our body is a temple and it is to be treated as such.

A million times you have said to yourself, “I NEED to do this” or “why can’t I just…?” Those were just excusing lies you told yourself, instead of walking into God ‘s greatness for you, flaws included.

You must guard your minds from the lies you tell yourselve, and those the enemy tries creeping into so many aspects of their lives, as you steward your bodies in a healthy way from your head to your heart and down to exercise.

Self-care is not just going to the spa or dropping the kids off at their grandparents house (which are still amazing). It’s not just taking care of the outer shell.

Self-care is when you take the time to grow spiritually so you are not conformed to this world. So you are not just meeting the expectation of this world.

Obedience

Hannah’s vow was not a “bargain” with the Lord but an expression of devotion: she would give her first born to God and not redeem him with a sacrifice.

A mother”s prayer and a father”s encouragement changed the destiny of and entire nation.

Never underestimate the power of prayer or the valeu of one godly home.

PRAYER:

Father, help me to see your success in the midst of my mess. Remind me that a perfect appearance is not the same as a meaningful life. 

Today I am learning to create balance in my everyday life. Jesus, allow me to find peace in the little moments. Show me where I need to take time for myself. Help me to have a hunger and desire for Your word and for You.