Here's a recent picture of me with my two daughters Grace and Joy

Happy Mother’s Day!  May you rejoice in your high-calling as a mom.  I look forward to seeing you May 25 or 26 at the Positive Woman Connection.  Here’s a good word for you as we celebrate the gift of our moms.

Moms deserve a pat on the back and an enthusiastic word of encouragement, don’t you agree?  Here are three cheers that come to mind when I consider the heart of a MOM:

1.  Hurray for Humility – Humility is a rare and beautiful quality.  Christ showed us the perfect picture of humility as He left his throne in Heaven and came to this earth in the form of a servant.  Certainly a mom humbly serves in her home as she lovingly considers the interests and needs of her family often above her own needs.  We are never so Christ-like as when we serve others in the beauty of loving humility. 
2. Hurray for Compassion – Care and compassion seem to come naturally for a mom as she genuinely feels deeply with both the joys and the pains her children go through in life.  She cries when they cry, she laughs when they laugh.  Just as the Lord is compassionate and gracious with His children, so a mom pours out compassion and care to hers.
3. Hurray for Strength – A mom is resilient.  She perseveres even when she is tired.  She overcomes hurdles and lifts up her kids when they fall down.  She keeps on going like the energizer bunny from morning until night.  She’s a champion!  May God continue to be her strength and joy for the journey ahead!

Celebrate one of God’s most precious gifts to this world –  the heart of a mom.

It was great to be together last week and learn a lesson about contentment.  Here’s a little devotional to remind us all that our strength comes from the Lord:

Sometimes I feel like I am in over my head in certain situations, but these are just the situations in which God loves to show His mighty hand. Think of Gideon who was up against thousands of Midianites with an army of only 300 men.  The victory was the Lord’s; not man’s.  Consider David with just five smooth stones against a giant Goliath.  And what about Daniel and Samuel and Joshua and Hezekiah; all in situations way over their heads, but with a great and mighty God on their side? 

When we remember these stories of faith-filled, God-sized victories we are reminded of God’s great ability and power. Sometimes our challenge comes in actually believing He cares about us and wants to intervene in our personal situations.  Yet the God of the big, miraculous Bible stories is also our loving heavenly Father who delights in the details in the lives of His children. 

 Several weeks ago I had that sinking feeling that I may be over my head.  I was scheduled to fly to Eugene, Oregon in order to shoot six videos in one day. Here’s how the day was set up, I was to shoot a video for a half hour, then have a half hour to change clothes, redo hair and make-up and go over my notes for the next video, then film another 30-minute video, then back to change, redo and study, then another video…  You get the picture.  From the moment I learned about the schedule I realized this was beyond me, but I also knew it was not beyond the power of God.  I prayed for God’s strength, wisdom and guidance.  I asked a team of friends to pray for me as well. 

The beautiful thing about doing these videos was that I knew I needed the Lord.  I couldn’t depend on myself alone; I knew I was dependant on the God who invites us to cast all our cares on Him.  When I am in a place beyond my own abilities and give my needs to God, then He gets the glory.  If I stay in a place of depending on my own abilities and depend on myself, well then, I tend to take the credit. 

To God be the glory.  This past weekend I filmed the videos in Eugene, Oregon and they went without a hitch! God gave me energy, and presence of mind from the beginning of our filming to the very last video. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it was Him!

I don’t know what you are facing; it may be way beyond what you feel like you can handle.  I want to encourage you to look to your Provider, your loving Heavenly Father who is able to meet your needs in any and every situation.  Paul as a prisoner in Rome wrote, “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”   He may not change your situation, but He can give you what you need in the midst.  

Points to Ponder:

• Don’t be afraid of situations which seem beyond your abilities.
• Remember you have a God who loves you and is able to meet your needs.
• Cast your cares on Him.
• Give Him the glory.

Just in case you were wondering, the videos I filmed were for my newest book with the wonderful people at Harvest House Publishing. The Bible Study videos will come out in November 2010. The title is “A Woman’s Passionate Pursuit of God.”  To read about another life lesson learned in Eugene this pasts weekend, go to my other blog:  www.positivemoms.blogspot.com

Looking forward to seeing you this week at the Positive Woman Connection.  Be sure to make a reservation with Donna Skell (dskell@roaringlambsministries.org)

Here’s a little devotional as we prepare to meet this week and learn about Contentment:

Are you a little tired, little worn-out, little overwhelmed?  Do you feel frustrated, dissatisfied or restless? I know, I sound like I’m doing an ad for Vita-Meata-Vegamin (from an old “I Love Lucy” segment for all of you too young to know), but to be completely realistic here, there are always going to be times when we do feel drained both physically and emotionally.  Where do we go for strength?

Certainly we must be deliberate about taking care of ourselves physically by eating right and getting the rest we need.  We can also find support emotionally through talking with a trusted friend, finding wise counsel or journaling.  As believers in Christ, God invites us to come to Him for strength. The Bible talks quite a bit about finding our strength in God.  Isaiah reminds us, “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength.”  The Psalmist said, “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”  Paul said, “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Paul also talked about the strength  he found to be content in any and every situation, whether in plenty or in need.  He said he learned the secret to being content in every situation.  Here it is, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”  He went on to say, “My God will meet all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Being content doesn’t mean God orchestrates everything to turn out perfectly for you.  It means God will strengthen you in and through your difficulties.  Lean on Him, look to Him, find your strength in Him.  He loves you and will provide for you. 

This week I am teaching about the power to be content in any and every situation.  If you live in the Dallas area, join me at the Positive Woman Connection on Tuesday, April 27 at Prestonwood Country Club on Preston Road in North Dallas.  I’ll also be teaching in Allen on Wednesday at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church on Hwy 121.  Come learn more about the treasure of being content and finding our strength in Christ.