The Mom4life

Happy Easter Everyone! My Pastor said this at church today and I loved it . “ the cross is empty and so is the grave so your life doesn’t have to be.” Pastor Grant Libertylive.church I loved it enough to share for anyone who might benefit from reading it:)

Reflecting on Matthew 16 today…

THIS IS A CHAPTER WE NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN TO EMPOWER OUR KIDS TO LIVE THIS OUT! Give then the tools and fight on your knees for them…. ALWAYS!

We live in a world that constantly tells us that success is everything.
“Live for yourself.”
“Follow your truth.”
“Live for today.”

But God’s plan for us is very different.

The truth is, we are human, so it’s hard to live here on earth with eternity in mind instead of just living in the moment. Yet the only thing that truly matters in the end is where we will spend eternity and what we do for Jesus while we are here.

Jesus said it this way:

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
— Matthew 16:25–26

Another thing that stood out to me in this chapter is Peter.

He has this incredible God moment where he declares that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus tells him that this truth was revealed to him by the Father. Others had seen the same miracles, yet they didn’t come to that same conclusion.

But then something interesting happens…

Right after that moment of revelation, Peter rebukes Jesus when Jesus begins explaining that He will suffer and be killed. Peter actually says “This shall never happen to You.”

And Jesus responds with the powerful words:
“Get behind Me, Satan.”

That part feels so real to me.

Peter knew who Jesus was… yet he still struggled to understand what God’s plan really meant.

Honestly, sometimes I feel the same way.
We can know truth, believe truth, and still wrestle with fully understanding it.

In this chapter Jesus clearly explains what it means to be a disciple — and that message is still true for us today.

None of this means we won’t struggle.
It doesn’t mean we can’t have a good life filled with joy, meaningful moments, and even success.

It simply gives us a different perspective on how we live.

And as Christians, we have the authority to tell the enemy:

“Get behind me, Satan. You have no power over me. Leave me alone.”

Just sharing what God is teaching me as I continue reading and studying His Word.

If you’ve never read this chapter before, I encourage you to read Matthew 16 for yourself.

Pastor Daniel broke down the Lord’s Prayer in a way to reminded us how deeply God invites us to pray with childlike faith. Not complicated. Not performative. Just trusting, surrendered, and full of wonder.

I took notes and made my notes slides in hopes it woukd be heloful to someone else. His message made an impact on me!

A question is just a question… until it’s not.”

Years ago, during a stressful season in our marriage (and a move full of unnecessary bickering), a dear friend gently said those words to my husband and me. I’m sure she didn’t realize that six years later, they would still be words we come back to—often—as a reset when conversations start heading the wrong way.

What it reminds us is simple but powerful:
Before a question turns into defensiveness, assumptions, or old wounds resurfacing—pause.

A question is an invitation to understand, not a challenge to win.

So often, we listen just long enough to respond. We answer to prove we’re right instead of listening to truly understand. And the truth is, we all think we’re right—that’s why we say what we say. (this “truth” was shared with me from another friend … man I have smart friends, thank you Lord!)

Marriage is daily work. Especially while raising kids. There’s no box permanently checked as “completed,” but there are days we can mark it done. Brick by brick. Conversation by conversation. Choosing to tear down walls instead of rebuilding them. The goal is to have more “boxes” checker completed than failed.

This simple reminder helps us slow down, listen fully, and respond with intention.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about better communication—it’s about surrender. Asking God to guard our words, soften our hearts, and remind us that we are on the same team. When we invite Him into our conversations, He does what we cannot—He brings clarity, humility, and peace.

Hard? Yes.
Doable? Absolutely.
And worth it—every single day.

I’ve read the creation story more times than I can count… but this time something about it hit my heart differently 🙌🏼

God didn’t create woman from dust like He did man.
He fashioned her from his rib — close to his heart, protected beneath his arm, beside him… not behind him, not beneath him, and not above him.

That wasn’t accidental.
God is always intentional. Always purposeful. Always thoughtful in what He does.

What a reminder for us as women and as moms:

✨ We were created with purpose.
✨ We were designed with value.
✨ We were formed to be strong, cherished, and deeply connected.
✨ We were chosen to carry love, wisdom, nurture, and strength in a way only God could design.

So if you’ve ever doubted your worth as a woman… if motherhood sometimes makes you feel unseen, exhausted, or like you’re “not enough” — remember this:

God didn’t just create you.
He crafted you.

He chose a place of honor to symbolize who you are — treasured, purposeful, essential, and deeply loved. ❤️

Here’s to walking confidently in the way God designed us. We are daughters of a God who is intentional in EVERYTHING He does.

Whether your babies are still in your arms or out building their own lives, God’s Word is still true. The prayers you’ve prayed are not wasted — His promises never return void.” 💕

Isaiah 55:11 reminds us:

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

I love that Proverbs 22:6 is written for moms with kids of every age:

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

➡️ The NIV says “Start children off…” — that word start hits me every time.
It begins before they’re even born. Pray for them. Dedicate them to Jesus — which really means dedicating your own life to Him too.

💗 A prayer for moms of little ones to speak over their children:

“Lord, I dedicate this child to You.
Lead me as I lead them.
Fill their hearts with love for You that never fades.
Guard their eyes, their ears, and their minds from the things that pull them from Your truth.
Let them grow strong in spirit, kind in heart, and bold in faith.
May Your Word be planted deep within them — and may they never stray far from Your presence.
Use their lives for Your glory, and let Your peace rest upon our home.” 🌿

The more space Jesus occupies in your life, the more space He’ll occupy in your children’s. Most of the time, they don’t love Him more than we do — so let them see what loving Jesus looks like in us. ❤️

For moms with grown kids still wandering — don’t lose hope. Stay on your knees. Love them through the mess.
Don’t preach at them, live out God’s love in front of them.
Our walk will always speak louder than our talk. 👣

I think about stories of redemption — our former pastor whose parents prayed him through a storm, or Michael W. Smith, once a wayward child who struggled with drugs and alcohol. Those are the miracles we long for — and God is still in that business!

Our kids may not become pastors or Christian artists, but if they are saved, the Holy Spirit will convict them and draw them back. That’s why we fight on our knees. 🙏

💗 A prayer for moms of older or adult children:

“Lord, I pray they truly know You.
If they do, send Your Holy Spirit to convict them in a way they can’t ignore.
If they don’t, tug at their hearts to want You more than the world.
Help them remember what they were trained to do — to repent and accept Jesus, Your free gift, so they can live with You forever.
And help me be their cheerleader, not their coach — that’s Your job.” 💛

Keep believing, mommas. His Word never returns void. 🌷

Good morning!

I’m sure many of you can relate to going through tough seasons in life. It’s a concept that’s even mentioned in the Bible, in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “To everything, there is a season...” God allows us to experience these different seasons for a greater purpose.

While we might know this in our hearts, I think we all sometimes feel the urge to just get through the difficult times as quickly as possible.

A friend of mine always says, “Thank you, Jesus,” no matter what is happening—whether it’s good or bad. For the longest time, I didn’t understand it. Do we really need to say “thank you” for the things we don’t like? After reflecting on it, I’ve realized the answer is a resounding YES!

To be honest, there have been moments when I’ve said “thank you, Jesus” out of obedience, even when my heart wasn’t fully on board. But over time, I’ve learned that gratitude can transform how we go through tough seasons.

Sometimes it seems like I’m barely putting out one fire before another pops up. I’ve caught myself thinking, "Is this just the way life is, with one challenge after another?" Then, I remember how many people are going through unimaginable hardships. It helps me put my own struggles in perspective. But even then, I remind myself it’s okay to have feelings about my own challenges, and I don’t need to feel guilty about that.

I’m learning to face each day with a grateful heart, understanding that without difficult seasons, we might lose sight of our need for God. Philippians 4:13, my life verse, says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This has reminded me to be thankful for all seasons, even the hard ones, and to look for God’s bigger purpose in them.

I’m definitely a work in progress, but I know that’s enough as long as my heart seeks His will. Lately, I’ve been starting each morning by listening to this playlist that lifts me up and sets the tone for my day. It’s harder to have a bad day when we begin it the right way!

Here’s the playlist if you’d like to check it out. And if you have any song suggestions, drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear them.

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/i-am-blessed/pl.u-b3b8RmNhy5r1Da

I am blessed by Dee Dee parker on Apple Music Playlist · 9 Songs

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/pQJ3sJ2TWktPuyo9/?mibextid=QwDbR1

Memories for life ❤️

We’re all on different journeys, filled with highs and lows.

Looking back, I realize I often wasn’t prepared for mine because I didn’t start my day by putting on the full armor of God.

In the last two years, I’ve been more intentional about this, and it’s made a difference.

We all face inner battles—doubt, fear, feeling unworthy—but also moments of strength and confidence.

That’s why it’s essential to armor up with God daily. We’re truly living on a battleground, and with God, we can stand strong.

I’m sharing an audio prayer that’s helped me. In it she says, “God has a plan for our life. The enemy has a plan too. We just have to decide which voice to listen to.”

Which plan will you choose?

I choose God’s plan which means I have to actively choose God’s plan as many times as it takes! We must as many times as it takes!

YOU GOT THIS!

A Prayer to Put on the Armor of God Source:https://www.spreaker.com/user/ibelieve.com/a-prayer-to-put-on-the-armor-of-godFor more devotional content and blog posts, please join us at https://ww...

Have you chosen your word for the year? I would love for you to tell us what it is. Tell us why you chose it if you like.

I have chosen a word for the year for a long time but I feel like the last 3 years have been different . In other words, I have been more focused on each word and more serious about making the word a part of my every day life! I added things in my life, visuals to remind me that this is what I was working on. Last year I even did a panel with the word and verses to support my word and to reinforce what I wanted to learn.

This year I struggled to choose between begin and thankful. I landed on but I chose to put in my commitment statement for the year(this is something I added this year). I haven’t made my visuals yet but when I do I will share them.

My word: THANKFUL

MY COMMITMENT STATEMENT:
I commit to be thankful in every situation, the good and bad. As I begin again and each time I must… begin again… I commit to embrace every new beginning without fear. I commit to find joy in each new beginning no matter if it is scary or not and do it to the best of my ability. In order to do this, I commit to never forget to surrender it all to the one who made me and has a perfect plan for me and trust Him to do what only he can do as many times as I need to do it. In short I commit to surrender, trust, begin and be thankful in all things and go forward without fear because the best is yet to come.

THEME SONG: Fear not by building 429.

I can’t wait to see what others have chosen! Comment below!