Kingdom Business

I have the privilege of giving a short devotional for a baby shower tomorrow morning at our church. I'm not so good at public speaking, but think its good for me to be stretched. I've been mulling over what I want to say the past few weeks and just thought I would share a few things.

1) My job as a mom is Kingdom Business! What do I mean by that? I simply mean that the work we are doing at home, though it is often unnoticed, is furthering the Kingdom of God!! I love how children are compared to arrows in Psalm 127:

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"

Psalm 127: 3,4

An arrow will NOT hit it's mark if it is not shaped and sharpened. By God's grace, we are shaping and sharpening the hearts of our little ones. Lord willing, one day they will be shot out into the world as disciples of King Jesus! We actually may never know, this side of Heaven, the impact we are having on the world. But God knows, and we are called to be faithful. Listen to this fabulous quote from the book Womanly Dominion (more than a gentle and quiet spirit) by Mark Chanski:

"I know that some jobs don't really count, don't make much of a difference, don't actually matter that much, don't have much lasting significance. Not so with mothering. I know that in some jobs the worker is only handling cleaning equipment, or car parts, or computer keyboards, or insurance policies, or court cases, or political legislation, or stockholders' funds. Not so with mothering. A mother is handling things of a far greater magnitude. She's handling never-dying souls. She's daily conducting heart surgery on eternal spirits whose forever destinies are influenced most profoundly by the hands that rock their cradles, wipe their noses, spank their fannies, open their Bibles, prepare their after-school snacks, and turn off their bedroom lights. Those motherly hands are molding characters which will become men and women who will turn the world upside down either for good or for evil. Now that's a job that counts." (pg. 108)

WE ARE ABOUT KINGDOM BUSINESS!

2) God knows and loves our little one's more than we ever will! We have such a maternal instinct to nurture. . . we were made that way!!! But I have leaned that I can only do so much. Ultimately, the health and safety of my children are in His loving hands. I can trust that WHATEVER He brings their way is for THEIR good and HIS glory!! That is so hard to remember especially when your child is suffering. . . or when you, as a brand new mommy, have to lay your little one in his/her crib for the very first time. As women we are emotional beings!!! Especially rights after a baby arrives.

I remember the first week I brought Ellie home so well. What a special, but STRESSFUL time! I would start crying when the sun went down and rejoice when I saw it coming up. That first week was such a wonderful blessings, and yet it was also so very difficult. The Lord gave me a verse that week that I love to share with new mommies:

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4: 8

God knows and loves our children more than we ever will!! He is their Protector, their Great Physician, their Strong Provider. We can only do so much, and then we must TRUST our faithful Savior for their health and safety!

3)Last of all, I have recently been reminded, as I take on the enormous job of changing out FIVE little wardrobes for the summer season, of how fleeting these days are. My children are growing SO QUICKLY!! Perhaps that is why I let Whiney still crawl into our bed almost every night and sleep with us. Because I know this stage in life is quickly ending. Moses says in Psalm 90:

"So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom"

Are you numbering your days? If you are, it is going to be much easier to "seize" and "enjoy" each moment with your little one! O how I regret those moments that I have not had this God -ward focus. Whatever season we are in, it is the RIGHT season. It is the season our gracious Heavenly Father has sovereignly ordained for us, to sanctify and grow us in Him!!

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord

and not for men, knowing that from the Lord

you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

You are serving the Lord Christ."

Colossians 3:23