Today I want to introduce you to a D6 mom, my friend and P31 teammate, Amy Carroll. When I first asked Amy to join me during our “Month of Encouragement for Moms” sponsored by D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries, she was excited, but then her joy was dampened by a sense of failure. She shared with me that her mind started down the “Good Mom” list.“Good moms have daily devotions with their children.Good moms memorize new scripture each week with their children.Good moms don’t let their boys miss church EVER for soccer tournaments…” Can’t we all relate?
As we become the moms we’ve always wanted to be (and the moms God calls us to be) let’s guard our hearts from criticism and performance-based parenting. Satan would love for us to get stuck there. But, as God quickly reminded Amy, He doesn’t have a “Good Mom” list. However, He does have some amazing commands that tell us how to pass on a spiritual legacy to our children in everyday life moments.
Here is what Amy had to say:
I was still struggling with doubt after Renee emailed me, so I asked God: “Do I have anything I’m doing right that I could share about parenting?”I was pretty convinced I didn’t, but God gently reminded me of the foundational scripture for the D6 Conference .“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.Impress them on your children.Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
God reminded me how often I speak to my children of my Glorious Obsession. He brought back memories of using teachable moments to share scripture about Him and His plan for our lives. My soul was soothed with peace.
That night my boys and I were driving to church, jammin’ to Natalie Grant’s CD. In one of her song she sings, “I have been a wayward child. I have acted out. I have questioned Sovereignty and had my share of doubts…”
My 14-year-old suddenly asked, “Mom, have you ever had doubts?” Then he continued, “I mean, it’s really hard sometimes. I believe in God and believe the Bible is true, but sometimes it’s hard to love God and not have doubts since we can’t see Him.”
“Yes. I’ve had doubts,” I replied. “I think every believer that lives an examined life has doubts. It IS hard sometimes since we can’t see God.” Then I asked, “What are some ways we can remind ourselves that God is real when doubts start to creep in?”
The boys started listing: seeing prayers answered, watching lives be changed, reading the Bible about people who have lived before us and trusted God…. We talked all the way to church about ways to build our faith when we begin to doubt. I was so thankful God had given me a D6 moment with my kids that night.
Now, I still want to incorporate family devotions into our routine. I know God wants us to memorize scripture and consider our Sabbath activities in light of His Word. There are things on my list that need to be addressed but God reminded this week that He’s given me a passion for Him that I love to share with my children. He gives me opportunities when we’re laying around, when we’re driving to soccer practice, when we’re doing the nightly “tuck in” and when we’re getting ready for school in the morning. As we listen intently to our children, God will open doors of opportunity to speak truth. While I pray and address my list of the things that I need to improve, I’m going to continue to pray for teachable moments where I can point my children to Jesus while we live our everyday lives.”
Don’t you just love how God encouraged Amy’s heart as a mom and gave her an opportunity to connect with her kids spiritually that very day? Let’s ask God to encourage our hearts with His perspective today, and then with one D6 moment at a time. Let’s pray and look for one today. Let’s pray and look for one tomorrow, and then let’s share them here as we celebrate and encourage each other.
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Mom Give-Aways
Today’s give-away includes two D6 mom resources – a copy of “Revolutionary Parenting” and a copy of my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child” CD. Also, I’ve got aspecial gift for anyone living in Houston or nearby, two tickets to Girl’s Night Out next week! To be part of today’s give-aways, click on the words “comments” below this post. Be sure to let me know what City and State you are in. Also, PLEASE include your email in your comment so we can get in touch if you win!
Also, Amy has more encouragement for moms today on her blog . If you leave a comment there, too, we’ll double your entries in today’s drawing. And remember, we’ll be giving away gifts every day, so be sure to come back for more mom encouragement and resources from D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
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I love to read what you all have to say. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I think we all think we are the only mom’s out there with these dilemas and it’s nice to see there are so many other people with the same struggles.
Thank you and God bless.
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Hi, Just found this blog today, thru Carol's blog, cantcookalick.blogspot.
Love the blog & the encouragement, I am mom to a 12yr old boy!
Thanks & Blessings,
Renea Harrin
Candler, NC
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How awesome that God gave Amy a D6 moment that very night. He is faithful!
Stephenie, Ashtabula, OH
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Renee and Amy, thank you for sharing so much of yourselves with us. Your words really do inspire!
~Jessica, Pennsylvania
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As a fairly new and young mom, I am attacked daily with the feeling of failure. I am so thankful for the reminder that God does not have a “good-mom list”. I am amazed how God is using this month of encouragement in my life! I feel so refreshed each day. Thank you! I just recently moved from Houston to Ft. Worth; I would love to go back for the Girls Night Out and take a friend.
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These D6 moments are such a blessing. I can’t imagine how much time you have invested in getting these ready. From the bottom of my heart, thanks!
I wish I lived near Houston!
Thanks again!
Susan
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Teachable moment witnessed, #1 –
My 4-year-old has been struggling in Pre-K with his behavior and attitude. (He is only in Pre-K, now mind you. . . So I’m thinking, “Oh my, what will the rest of his school life be like?”) Everyday he starts off with a green sticker. If he has one time-out he moves to a yellow sticker. Two time-outs and he goes to a red sticker. If his behavior shows a pattern of bad behavior I get a call from the Principle. (Remember, he’s just in Pre-K!) For most of this year he has been unable to keep his green sticker. Rarely, has he been able to maintain his yellow sticker. But yesterday, praise God, he brought home a green sticker! YEAH!
This was a wonderful teachable moment because since the school year started he has prayed at every meal and at bedtime, and sometimes on the spur of the moment throughout the day, “Dear Jesus, help me to follow directions.” (AWWH!)
I was able to discuss with him that all this time that he had been praying, God was hearing him pray, but God wanted to know that in his heart he was really serious and ready to follow the directions. Although God always hears our prayers and he always answers our prayers sometimes we have to have our hearts right. For the past few days it has been like a lightbulb has gone off in my son’s head that he truly wants to be respectful and follow our directions. His attitude has become less defiant and more respectful and in our discussion I was able to point out how God is faithful to honor the prayers offered from a heart that is willing to be submitted to God’s will.
Now, how awesome is that? Although I am not sure how much of what I have told my son he is truly able to understand and digest at his age it has been very good for us to be able to celebrate this victory with him. He was so excited about going to school today because he now believes that he is the ‘can-do-kid!’ (Thanks Renee for that title that I adopted from you!)
Blessings all! And keep looking for those teachable moments.
I m realy working on developing the “spiritual” in my children so count me in for the book and CD. Thanks!
In His Graces~Pamela
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God Bless You! What a great reminder to seize the teachable moments!
Lisa in Spokane, WA
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Thanks for the encouragement. I get so frustrated that we don’t do our daily devotionals as a family.
– Wendi, College Station, Tx (close to Houston)
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Renee,
The comments on your blog and mine are such an encouragement to me, too! I love doing this bloggy event with you, and my readers will be thrilled to be in on the prizes.
Hugs,
Amy
I also love it when God does that!!! When He gives us those wonderful opportunities to teach our children His Word!!!! I love that they just happen! It’s from those opportunites that I have noticed that what we have talked about has really stuck with our kids! Because it’s so casual and open, not planned(not that family devotional time isn’t great, it is!)but, there’s something about those impromptu conversations! I have overheard my children bringing those up with each other and their friends, and telling them what they learned and encouraging each other!!!! I just LOVE that!!
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I love hearing stories of God’s amazing ways. About a year ago, I didn’t feel like I was a good mom at all. I had felt that my past was controlling my present identity. God spoke to a very dear friend of mine during a bible study on Daniel and the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He nudged her to tell me that “you no longer smell of smoke. God loves you no matter the mistakes of the past.” From then on, I have tried, with God’s help, to focus on “the now.” God is awesome!
I would love to have more mommy/daughter time next week at the Girls’ Night Out in Houston. I know the time is soon approaching for my almost 12 year old daughter to no longer “want” to spend time with her mom, but for the now, I will cherish every moment.
Thank you for devoting so much of your time to these devotions. They are an inspiration.
Lori Jackson, Dallas, Texas
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WOW, God is always a step ahead of us. What encouragement that is. I see Him working in my life in great ways right now….more than I can imagine. It just is so amazing…
Not near Houston, but wish I was! I heard about the Girls conference, and wish I was tons closer!!!
Shannon
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Wow, I prayed in the shower for God to give me a word today and this was SO it! My comment yesterday mentioned that one of my biggest struggles is feeling pulled in so many directions: kids, housework, church activities etc. But after reading todays entry, I realize that the “Good Mom List” is something I struggle with even more. I guess the two topics go hand in hand. The enemy often gets the best of me when I fall into bed at the end of a very long, busy day and think to myself, “I was not a Good Mom today.” I do need to remember that God can do anything and He is so much bigger than that “Good Mom List”. Today I was reminded of Philippians 4:13. Thanks again for the blessing of this blog and for refreshing moms like myself who need encouragement through God’s Truth! (And I would so love to win one of the resources!!!)
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I think we all need encouragement as we strive to be the best mothers we can be. I am an avid reader of P31 writers’ blogs in large part because of the honesty with which you ladies share your struggles. In the same way that Amy’s sons wanted reassurance that everone has doubts sometimes, I think all mothers are reassured when we hear that other “good” mothers share our struggles.
Thanks, Renee and Amy.
Sherry, Ontario, Canada
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I love what Amy shared – that’s something that’s doable for any Mom no matter how new she is at believing! Thank you for sharing that even Prov31 Moms can doubt their abilities!
Kim
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I’m not close to Houston either, so don’t include me in that drawing!
I’m so glad to know that even the writer’s at Proverbs 31 have it all figured out. It’s so easy to assume that we are the only ones who still need to work on our parenting while those around us have mastered it. Thanks again for your honesty – which in itself is a huge encouragement!
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“Don’t you just love how God encouraged Amy’s heart as a mom and gave her an opportunity to connect with her kids spiritually that very day?”
I do love how God does that. Catching those kinds of moments is one of the main reasons I blog; I think He shows up for us lots of times, but we miss Him too many of them. I think that’s why I’m enjoying this series you’re doing; it helps me be mindful and aware both of the opportunties God does give me to reveal him to my kids, but it also helps me catch it when I’m on the right track. As a ministry family, sometimes I feel double pressure to get it right, and double discouragement when I think I’m not!
(I’m not in or near Houston, so don’t include me in the giveaway for the tickets.)
This reminds me of that simple saying “The best things in life aren’t things”. In the context of how time is spent, the to-do list is endless, but our days with our children pass quickly. These P31 devotions and blogs help me to focus on what is really important, and to continue to ask God for wisdom for those teaching moments as well as in everyday decisions. Bless you for sharing real life stories with real life moms!
Loretta Jammal, Houston, Texas
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