MOPS December Highlights

While we took December off from our MOTT and MNO activities (isn't the season crazy enough without adding another event to the schedule?), we enjoyed celebrating with our mom friends at our December meeting.

Devotion from Brandi M.

Please give me grace this morning as I share with you something on my heart. This is totally out of my comfort zone!

Good morning! I hope everyone has had a stress-free morning! Yeah right, huh? With children, we all know that we are prone to those mornings, days, weeks where life can seem to drag on and be riddled with stress. Today I would like to encourage you as we look in the Word.

First, let me walk you through a typical maybe day for me…

I wake up from a semi-good night’s sleep to an alarm clock blaring music where I quickly punch- I mean nudge- my husband to turn it off for just 5 more minutes…first mistake… as normally we both fall asleep to wake up rushing around to get ready for the day.

Cue both kids waking up and STARVING. Like I never feed them. Ever. Then the breakfast choices…Cereal, no. Poptarts, no. Oatmeal, no. Waffles, no. Eggs, no they are so gross. Toast, no. Chocolate, yes…do I cave? No. Second mistake. Now they are mad because I am denying them the best breakfast.

After breakfast, we pick out clothes. Normally not an issue, but occasionally there is a time where there is unrest. Like when I don’t have a favorite pair of underwear washed and they try to put it one. Eww. Just wait, mommy promises to wash them today. But, of course the pile of clothes is ridiculous in the clean pile and dirty pile. How can 4 people generate SO much laundry? Why am I the only folder of laundry?

Finally, we are dressed, fed, and ready to go to school. All but mommy…so yes I throw on those PJS to take my kid to school because I have run out of time. Don’t judge…

I drive my oldest to school at break neck speed- not over speed limit of course…well maybe sometimes. Drop her off normally right on time or close to it- better late than never right?

Then, I drive back home with my littlest one and begin the day with cleaning the house, doing laundry, cooking supper, the list goes on and on. I remember a time when I worked and would come back to a clean house. Now, the house gets cleaned and trashed again before the end of the day. I definitely need that sign: my house is a mess because we live here…

Go back to get my daughter from school in the afternoon smack dab in the middle of nap time for my littlest. That is always a good plan! Not…

Come back home to homework, dinner, baths, devotions, prayers, snuggles…and oh yeah, who is this guy? He is handsome and he lives with me!? Oh my love, he is my best friend! I crave time with him too. But it is late…

By the end of the night, I am beat and tired. Exhausted is more the word I am looking for because I have given and given.

Why did I tell you all of these slightly embarrassing facts of my not so perfect life?

As you can see and you all well know, time in this season is limited friend. With so much that comes with motherhood and life in general, we are tapped out. We give until we have nothing to give and then continue to give with an empty “cup”.

Is your cup empty? Fill it up by making time for God!

Can I ask you something personal? Where is your God time? If you are like me, it is wherever I can fit it in and if I don’t get to have that time, it’s ok right? God understands this season right? Yes, he does but, my friend, let me encourage you that this thinking can get you to a very empty state in your walk with Him. It is vital that we as mamas get our cup filled every day so we have something of quality to give. If we are full of Him, we will reflect that. We will ooze with patience, love, understanding, be slow to anger, be quick to forgive. I find that when I am not full of him, I tend to be impatient with my kids, quick to get frustrated and not understand them.

How does this relate to the Christmas season and giving? God gave us the ultimate gift in His son Jesus. Let’s look at Luke 2:4-14 for that awesome day!

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


My friend, may I encourage you today to get from Jesus what he has to give you and what he has already given you? What are you looking for today?

Peace

Psalm 29:11: The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Comfort
1 Corinthians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Joy

Psalm 16:11: You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Strength

Isaiah 40:29: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Love

1 John 3:1: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Understanding

Psalm 111:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Salvation

Psalm 18:2: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Grace

Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Go to Him and He will give you all you need in Him. Thank you!