.jpg)
by Barbara Latta @barbaralata
Four centuries
ago, Europeans who yearned for a way of life where their worship of God was not
controlled by an earthly king endured months tossed at sea through storms,
sickness, cold, lack of food and weariness beyond what their bodies could
stand. All for the desire for the freedom worship God. And when they arrived on
the shores of the new land, the first thing they did was give thanks.
America’s history is rooted in gratitude.
A young girl sat alone in her room fighting teenage depression and feelings of worthlessness. Lies flew through her mind with voices of self-hate telling her she would never amount to anything. Tears were her only companion and a heavy heart paralyzed her thoughts. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she be liked by others and successful at making friends?
I need to tell you about another book that was just
released. This one, by Julie Lavender, is a devotional for moms of all ages.
Moms of toddlers to adult kids will be able to identify with these devotions.
Reading these short stories has resonated with me. Julie has
the ability to connect with us on a personal level because as the mother of
four children, she knows what our days can be like.
As parents, we can be attacked with the plague of regret
over mistakes we make while raising our children. One chapter of Strength for All Seasons focuses on encouraging us to look forward instead of living
in regret. We have all been there. We can gain encouragement from biblical characters who made mistakes. God
always redeemed those failures for His glory.
Julie tells us, “Instead of dwelling on our past mistakes,
God wants us to look ahead at what great things are to come. Paul the former
persecutor of new Christians, said, in Philippians 3:13 (NIV), ‘But one thing I
do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.’ God has good
things planned for us. Let’s leave regrets in the past where they belong.”
We sometimes look at other moms and dads and think they are
perfect, at least more perfect than we are. I experienced this when my boys
were growing up. When I homeschooled them, in my mind the other kids fared
better than mine and their parents were better teachers. When my sons attended
public school, my thoughts played other games with me for different reasons.
God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to others whether
in parenting or other issues of life. We need to look to Christ for our
identity and only use Him as the standard for our lives.
We can be successful parents when we look to Christ and live
according to His character.
I know you will enjoy reading this book which is available
on Amazon. Don’t forget Christmas is coming and this would make a wonderful gift
for a mom.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts.
Strength for All Seasons, A Mom’s Devotional (click to tweet)
https://www.amazon.com/Strength-All-Seasons-Devotional-Powerful/dp/0593690230/ref
 |
| 5 ways to pray for Israel |
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
The latest atrocity in Israel is beyond description. As the
post from last week encouraged us to make hearts strong to withstand the last
days, this war shows us another fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Matthew 24).
Some may ask, “Why should we care? Why does it matter to us what happens over there?”
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Recent natural disasters bring to mind the signs of the
times Jesus talked about. Hurricanes carve paths of destruction across miles of
land. Volcanoes erupt and decimate all in their paths. Drought and floods kill
people and animals.
Each year the earth suffers violent weather patterns. We
prepare as much as possible for power outages, scarcity, and damage because we
want to protect property and lives.
But the most important part of our lives to protect is
our spiritual condition. With Halloween right around the corner, we are
reminded of how evil is glorified in the world today. Images of devils, ghosts,
and vampires cover lawns and store windows.
The signs of the times can indicate the return of Christ is near. And even if His second appearance is years away, we don't know when we will be leaving this earth in death.
Here are 3 ways we can prepare for meeting the Lord.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
@jeanniewaters44
Have you ever thought about how many times God invites us to enjoy communion with Him through the rich offerings He presents?
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Not pilfering, but showing
all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all
things. (Titus 2:10 NKJV)
We women love to adorn ourselves with new clothes, jewelry,
and hair styles. We spend hours making ourselves as beautiful as possible before
we walk out the door.
When we are young girls we meticulously prepare for special
dates such as high school proms, dinners, banquets, and meetings. We plan for
months with attention to every detail as the biggest event of our lives
approaches—the wedding. We want everything to be perfect.
Females love to be adorned with beauty.
