Wisdom for Mothers

I have so much to say today but I will try to have some self-control. We took Jackson to see Bolt last night. He did so great! On our last two movie attempts he did not make it to the end, once because the movie was so very terrible (Fly Me to the Moon), and once because Jackson was trying to manipulate his daddy into playing the race car video games with him in the lobby. This time he made it all the way through and was so good! We are enjoying the extra measure of independence and self-control that almost-three-year-olds have. Just in time to start all over! *Grin*

I spent a couple of hours before bedtime going through all of our pictures from 2008. We had our roadtrip with Janelle and Ella, Melissa's wedding, Jackson's second birthday, his joint party with Ella, pictures of our move and goodbye dinners with friends, Easter, the rodeo, Mother's Day, LPM's new office, our San Antonio vacation, lots of summer scenes in our backyard, Missouri, our trip to Galveston one week before Ike, my birthday, Thanksgiving, and lots of random things. A lot of life has been lived in these 12 months. Jackson has grown like a weed and it's been delightful to see his physical, mental, and verbal development. On top of that, to see him begin to grasp things of God like reading Bible stories, singing songs to and about Him, short memory verses, and praying is probably the greatest joy of my life.

At MOPS last week we had a speaker from a great ministry called Motherwise. I have always wanted to be in a Motherwise group but it has not panned out for me yet. The one at my church meets on a morning that isn't good for me since I would also have to be there that night. That's the drawback of not living a street away like we did in Irving! Anyway, the speaker gave each of us a Bible study workbook called Wisdom for Mothers by Denise Glenn. I just finished day 5 today. It has been such a blessing. I'm excited about how God is going to use this in my life. Already, I have a hugely renewed sense of purpose and direction. I feel focused and joyful about the role God has given me. Thank You, Lord. What a gift. I know He is preparing me and filling me up for a new season. I want to be a good mother - a joyful, godly, wise, effective, loving mother. I don't want to just "make it through." With God's equipping power, I want to thrive.

The Lord gave me this verse last week from 2 Timothy 2:16: "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." Ouch. How often do I give my ear and my own mouth to godless chatter? And God promises me that if I continue in that, not only will I not grow, but I will become more and more ungodly. He was being stern with me that day but it was certainly effective. I have made one big change in particular and He has blessed me with joy and freedom because of it.

Jerrell preached yesterday at church about having our hunger for God renewed. It was an awesome message and I was excited because God had just removed that junk food from my life that was dulling my hunger for Him. So I'm encouraged that He is going to renew my hunger for Him daily and help me walk in His power through 2009. I know in my own flesh I do not have what it takes to parent a newborn and a three-year-old in grace and peace, but by His Spirit and on the foundation of His Word, I have everything I need. Thank You, Jesus. Now if my posts in '09 get to sounding defeated and deflated, someone point me back to this one!