John 8:12 NIV, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The Light of Jesus will always shine no matter how dark the world becomes. As long as we follow Him, we will never be overcome by the darkness because He will always be the Light that gives us Life. Even when we ourselves are going through a dark time, we can trust in Jesus to shine the light of His love and truth into our situation. He will empower us to persevere through the obstacles that we face.
When we feel like giving up, we must remind ourselves that if we do give up, we’ll never get to do the things God has called us to do. We’ll never get to help the people He wants us to help. We’ll never become the people He wants us to be. During a time when I was feeling discouraged, God spoke to my heart and said, “I need you to be strong and you can be strong because I am your strength.”
God needs us to be strong, so we must rely on Him to be our strength (Philippians 4:13). Don’t give up. Keep shining for Jesus. You are a reflection of His Light in this dark world. There are people out there who need what God has called YOU to give them. Stay focused on the truth of Jesus, The Light of the World.
Thank you Matt at Jesusluvsall Blog for creating and nominating me for the Mom’s Making A Difference Award. I feel very thankful and honored to have the privilege to share my thoughts with others on motherhood.
I invite anyone reading this post to visit Matt’s blog at: Jesusluvsall Blog
Although Matt struggles with chronic illness, it’s always inspiring to see how he keeps on pursuing Christ. He is answering God’s call on his life to help and encourage people from different cultures. You’ll be blessed by his writings!
My daughter Shalenah is 22, and a recent college graduate. I’m in awe at how fast the years have flown by. She has blossomed into a beautiful and intelligent young lady. I am very blessed and proud to be her mom.
Graduation Day May 2019
Although I have been a single parent for most of her life, I have never felt alone in my parenting. My mom has been with us every step of the way loving us, supporting us and diligently praying for us. We have also had the love, support and prayers of many other family members and friends.
Shalenah and my Mom
One of the greatest lessons I have learned about being a mom, is the importance of prayer. I know that may seem obvious, but with the busyness of life, it can be easy to neglect to pray. I also know that as moms, we tend to try and fix everything ourselves, but we don’t have to. We can just place the challenges of parenting safely in God’s hands. He knows the exact purpose He has for our kids.
Through every stage of our children’s lives we must learn to trust God. I’ve enjoyed being a college mom for the last four years, but now I have to transition into another phase. I have to trust God to guide my daughters steps as she pursues her “after college” adult life.
When my daughter was about 11, I signed up for a parenting class at church called, “Growing Kids God’s Way”. One week in particular we learned about a concept called, “Couch Time”. The purpose of Couch Time for the married couples in the class, was to remind the children that the priority relationship in the home was the one between Mom and Dad. During the fifteen minutes of Couch Time, the children were to play or work on whatever activity their parents gave them. While the kids were occupied, Mom and Dad had to spend uninterrupted time together talking on the couch where the kids could see them. This small but important routine assured kids that everything would be alright, because everything was alright between Mom and Dad.
For myself and the other single parent in the class, we had to spend our time on the couch with God while reading our Bible. It always seemed my daughter had so much joy during this time. She would occasionally glance over at the couch, to ensure that I was still there spending time with God. Couch Time was so powerful for me because it taught me that God was the head of my home. He is my Husband (Isaiah 54:5). In my heart, it reinforced that God was faithfully watching over my daughter and I and providing for us.
That Couch Time lesson was years ago, but God’s grace has remained the same. He has taken good care of me and my daughter, and loved us unconditionally. Although she is a young adult now and entering a new phase of her life, I can look back and see how God has directed our paths. This gives me strength to keep trusting Him in the future. I’m so thankful for His presence in our lives.
I nominate the following Moms for the Mom’s Making A Difference Award:
I have been thinking about Mother’s Day on and off for the last couple of weeks. While I know it’s a happy occasion for many, including myself, I am also aware that many are very unhappy. I have been praying and asking God to help those who are hurting on this holiday.
We should be thankful for the beautiful memories that have been created with our moms over the years. Mother’s deserve to be honored not just on Mother’s Day, but even more importantly every day of their lives.
Ephesians 6:2-3 KJV, “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”
In the midst of our celebrating, let’s not forget those who are hurting. Let’s be aware of the souls around us who may need a word of encouragement or a hug. Let’s be sensitive to the reality that some have broken hearts related to their mom, and they need time to heal. Take time out to listen to another persons story if they need you too.
Here are some reasons people may struggle on this special day:
1. They never knew their mom or they knew her but never felt her love.
2. Their mother has passed away.
3. Their child/children have passed away.
4. They have not been able to have children.
5. They are estranged from their children.
Your prayers are needed…
Please say a prayer for those who are hurting on this Mother’s Day. Pray that God will comfort them, and provide them with exactly what they need for healing.
Always be thankful…
Mother’s Day is a time of thanksgiving. First and foremost, we must be thankful to Jesus for the blessings we have received through the love of our mothers. Second, thankful to our mothers for their relentless love and support of us.
Matthew 6:34 NIV, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
My mom always uses the phrase, “one day at a time”. Thanks to her, it’s one of my favorite phrases too. According to this verse in Matthew, “one day at a time” is all we really can handle. God didn’t intend for us to carry tomorrow’s troubles today.
I remember when the Israelites tried to hoard the manna/bread, after the Lord instructed them to only gather what they needed for the day (Exodus 16). The extra manna/bread they kept spoiled and smelled really bad.
This reminds me of how it is when we carry tomorrow’s worries today. The extra stress will cause us to be less effective, drained and unhappy. It will spoil our outlook if we let it. We’d like to know the details of tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year! However we must be content with God’s provision for today.
We must take one day at a time and trust God to give us our daily bread. I pray God will give you peace of mind, strength and hope for today.
Psalm 119:142 (KJV), “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”
I’m so thankful for the truth of God’s Word, because His Word is a firm foundation. I’m also thankful for the wisdom and instruction found in His Word.
Nowadays many are in search of truth. Truth has become whatever people want it to be, instead of what God says it is. God’s truth does not change. He does not “adjust” His truth to please mankind. He does not “relax” His standards so that we can live by our feelings. Feelings change, but God’s truth always remains the same.
In order to stay connected to truth, we must stay connected to God and His Word. The Holy Spirit will help us to understand God’s Word, and He will empower us to apply what we learn to our lives. Jesus Christ died and rose so that we could be free to walk in Truth.
Father,
Thank you for Your Truth. Help us to walk in Your Truth daily. Help us not to be deceived by the lies of the enemy. Help us not to succumb to the many false teachings that are being taught today. When we are tempted to compromise Your Truth, so we can please ourselves or other people, give us the will to stand strong. Thank you for guiding us into all truth by Your Spirit.
Proverbs 16:31 NLT, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.”
We live in a society where youth and outward beauty are esteemed above the beauty of growing older and gaining wisdom.
Living a godly life that is dedicated to God’s purpose, will create a legacy that can be passed down for generations to come.
There were so many people in the Bible who were well advanced in years. Regardless of their age, God used them to accomplish great things and bring Him glory. No matter how old we are, it’s never too late for God to work through us. As long as we have breath in our bodies, we can have an impact and make a difference in the world around us.
Psalm 92:14,“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,”
God’s ability to use us is not solely based on our educational background, status, or age. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Our only qualification is to know Jesus and to allow His power to work in us and through us.
God says that gray hair is a crown of glory and once He has spoken, His Word is all that matters.
As a Christian, I’ve asked myself this question before, “What if it’s all in vain?” I have never personally struggled with wondering if God exist, because I have seen Him answer prayers I have prayed. I have heard Him speak to my heart. I have experienced His peace and comfort. Plus I can look at the beauty of His creation and know that He is real.
However, I have definitely had times where I felt weary in my Christian walk. I wondered if it was worth it to keep pursuing the things of God. I have questioned His involvement with the details of my life. There were even times I have experienced that vague feeling, that somehow I was missing the mark of understanding who God is, and what He really wants from me.
Have you ever felt this way?
I believe that it is perfectly fine with God for us to ask Him questions. He wants to know all of our doubts and fears. It’s up to Him to decide what He will and will not reveal to us, but we are always free to talk to Him about anything. Our questions are at times what Jesus uses to draw us closer to His heart.
Matthew 7:7 NIV, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Some of the things I have learned during my times of struggling with doubt include the following:
1. Doubt is something the enemy will use to pull us away from God. Therefore, we must be honest with God about our struggles so He can help us. (Hebrews 3:12)
2. Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparing yourself to others will cause discontentment, which will cause you to doubt God’s goodness in your life. (Galatians 6:4)
3. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Meditating on and speaking God’s Word will replace your doubt with faith. (Romans 10:17)
4. Fear not! Fear will cause you to doubt that God loves you and will supply your needs. Understanding God loves you perfectly will cast out fear. (1 John 4:18)
God promises us that the life we are living for Him is not in vain…
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Drawing Closer to Christ 