autumn tree

                                  every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree

                                                                      - emily bronte

narrower not smaller

Being a mom is a gift and such an important role. We all know that. There are plenty of days though, in the midst of daily life when I can forget that. I can feel lonely, feel like a failure as a mom, and it is easy to listen to the lie Satan whispers to me...this job of motherhood isn't important.  It is also easy to feel that my sphere of influence for Christ is minimal or even non existent because I'm "stuck" at home...but that's a lie. I am thankful in times of doubt, Christ brings us encouragement...even before we ask for it. 

 I love this word from Elizabeth Griffin.

"When I became a mom, my life got really narrow. But I believe narrow isn't small. Even though my life is narrower than it was before, God's calling for my life isn't smaller." 

As we start a new week, I hope this encourages you as it has me! 

Happy Monday! 

Love,

Tracy

enough to do the impossible

"Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

         Matthew 17:20, The Message

This kind of faith moves mountains and makes all things possible. At times we may feel that we have great faith; at other times we may feel that our faith is suffering. In the end, however, if even that suffering faith is in God, then it is enough to do the impossible!

- God's Promises, YouVersion plan

I needed this reminder today. I can take this scripture in Matthew, twist it and easily make it all about me. I make it about my performance or level of faith. The Bible is not about me and my performance, it is about Christ and his. It is not about the depth of my faith, it is about the one in whom I put my faith. 

Happy Wednesday! 

Love

Tracy 

a good book and a few things

I have really enjoyed reading Brooke McGlothlin's new ebook, How to Control Your Emotions So they don't control you. As a mom, I have blown it before... I've been angry and frustrated with my children and have acted out from that emotionally negative place.  I have let my emotions control me instead of the other way around. I think it is easy to feel like you're alone and to feel like a failure in those moments. In her book, Brooke shares her own personal struggles with her emotions and reminds us that we are not alone, but actually in a pretty common battle. She uses Biblical truth to point us toward God and toward his grace and power that can help us as we submit our emotions to him. 

I highly encourage you to read this.  It's only five chapters and is available for $3.99 right now.   

This song. 

Jessi from Naptime Diaries created this free printable  from the song, Ocean. A good reminder to have hanging on my wall.

We went on our first family vacation as  five last week.  We had a great time at the beach.  Jonathan wasn't so sure of the ocean at first, but by the end of the long weekend he was riding the waves like a pro (on Dad's back)!

Love
Tracy

the birthday boy

This sweet boy is 4 today. Happy birthday, Jonathan! We love you! 

everyday prayers

“Because of you, terror is terrified. Indeed, because of you, one day there will be no terror or tears. There will be no more brokenness or barrenness, no more heartaches or even heartburn, no more human trafficking or even human tooth decay, no more war or even aggravation, no more evil or even envy, no more poverty or even pouting, and no more “not yet,” “not enough,” or “not now.”

Our labors in you, King Jesus, are not in vain. Because of you we can, and must, live as peacemakers, sowing the peace of the gospel of the kingdom, with the absolute assurance that a harvest of righteousness is being raised and will be reaped.

We praise you that your name is Redeemer, Reconciler, and Restorer. We cry out loud, “Maranatha!” Come, Lord Jesus, come! Until that day, give us all the mercy, grace, and peace we need for this day. We pray with joy and hope. Amen.”

- Scotty Smith, Everyday  Prayers 

family movie night

 

Our family watched a great movie last weekend, the  Ernest Green Story.

Have you heard of Ernest Green? Little Rock Nine? I am sure in my American History class we studied the Little Rock Nine at some point but I know it got lost among everything else I studied that year. My  husband grew up in Little Rock and he is the one who told me about the Disney movie The Ernest Green Story. I'm so glad he did. It's a story we all need to know and remember. 

In 1957 and 1958, Little Rock, Arkansas became ground zero in the segregation battle. The Supreme court had ruled in 1954  that separate was not equal and that desegregation must occur "with all deliberate speed". Little Rock had already begun the desegration process. They had desegregated it's public buses, zoo, the library and parks. The Little Rock school board had decided the high school would be integrated in 1957, the  junior high the next year and elementary schools the following year. 7 out of the 8 state universities had also been integrated. Everyone thought integration at the high school would be fairly easy. 

There wouldn't be an Ernest Green Story though if the integration had been fairly easy. The Governor of Arkansas called in the National Guard to block the entrance on the first day of school for the nine students and that began a battle that waged all year. The movie tells the story of how these kids, their families and supporters  went up against pure evil and triumphed. 

Go watch this movie. Go learn their story!  If you are like me, you will spend a lot of the movie just wanting to hit someone but you will also see God work through "average" people to battle against injustice.