By HIS Grace

Today has been a day of regrouping and recuperating, from a long weekend.  The goal was to bring all the busyness to a halt.  The majority of the day was spent resting in my bed and taking required breaks to attend to sibling chaos.  I have mentioned in earlier posts how the Lord has been ministering to me regarding my role as a mom.  My daughter will be 17 soon and my middle child will be turning 8. They both are going to experience some change and transition in their lives in the next year; my daughter will graduate high school and transition to college.  My son will be promoted to another grade and transition into the role of the oldest sibling. I will need to help him be an example to his little brother, and help him understand what that means. I have pulled on my daughter a lot when it comes to helping me out with maintaining our home and helping me with the boys ... she has truly been a blessing.  Her support has allowed me to balance things.  ...

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day; and aside from sharing about what the Lord was doing in our lives, we also talked about; how we as a people, especially women, run from the things that could help us in life.  How many times have you been invited somewhere or to an event, and it was something positive and uplifting, and it could change your situation or life, and you didn't accept the invitation? Not because you had other arrangements, or you had to work or something came up with family; I mean you just didn't go.  Did you ever think about why you didn't go? I have done that. I have been invited out to something and either didn't respond at all to the invitation or just didn't go. I can remember countless times when I would spend hours on end, talking with one of my closest friends about a problem that I had, or a bad situation that had taken place in my life. I would talk about that problem forever (or until it was resolved). I put so much time ...

Have you ever stopped to think; why you do what do and why with the amount of effort that you put into it ? There are times throughout my day or week that I can feel the pressure of things; the pressure of maintaining a clean house, the pressure of making sure the needs of my kids are met, the pressure of attending to my husband, the pressure of my job; did my students learn today, was I aware of certain situations? Even the pressure of making time for the Lord. When I consider all of these things; I realize that; I don't feel pressure because of the expectation of others.  My pressure comes from my fear of failing ... Pride!  I don't like to fail, or fall short at anything I do.  And I understand the need to want to do things well and achieve your goals, but, when it takes you to a place of condemnation or discouragement, those goals now become unhealthy. Today, I understand why pride was the driving force in my life at one time.  For years I was told th...

Isn't it something how as women we start to pay closer attention to our outer appearance as we begin to mature in age.  I find myself examining my face features more and more. And on days when I really have a boost of confidence, I will even make a bold move and look at the rest of myself.  I have noticed the change in my complexion and the texture of my skin on my face; my goodness, I try my best to not lean forward in the mirror as I watch my cheeks sagged forward :) I'm more cautious of what I eat; understanding that, what goes inside will reflect on the outside. But this morning, as I was doing all of that and " putting on my face ".  I realized something ... the reflection that was looking back at me.  I noticed the woman in the mirror! For the first time in my life; I was seeing the reflection of someone who didn't need to put on makeup to cover up things.  I'm not talking about your day to day blemishes, wrinkles and bags around the eyes. I am talking...