How Church Went Down... I Found Out Moms Rock!

Church went down like this for me last Sunday...

 It was pretty much like a conversation between me & God simultaneously happening at the same time as a conversation between me & Satan. I pictured it much like God sitting on my right shoulder dressed in the purest white robe and Satan on the left shoulder draped in black and smelling pretty gross.

Anyway, the praise team busts into "I See Heaven."

"I see Heaven invading this place..."

I start to open my mouth to sing praises to God and I'm met with that ugly voice from the smelly guy on my left (and I'm not talking about Mr. Fulmer who happened to be sitting to my left and doesn't stink). "You've done so much for God and people and have gotten no where. Everyone just uses you, even God. You don't matter to Him anyway... He just wants you to work your butt off for Him and that's it... no reward for you." And my sleep deprived new momma self just agreed. I just pretty much lost my desire to sing anything then.

Funny how a simple suggestion of defeat and uselessness from the enemy can just make you feel that way.

"I see Glory falling in this place
I see hope restored, the healing of all disease
 I sing praises, I sing praises.
I give you honor worthy Jesus..."

 At this point my lips are moving and I'm swaying to the music because let's face it, our band and praise team rock... and I'm kinda hoping all the music and swaying will help my baby fall asleep since she had a melt down on the way to church.

 Then God...

I'll finish the sentence about what He did, but first just let it sink in that "then God..." He always let's His presence be known in my situations.

 Then God spoke. "I see you," He said. "I know what you have done and what you will do. I know the lives you have touched and I know the ones you will in the future. You are a special part of my plans and I won't leave you alone here to listen to the lies of our adversary in your moment of weakness. I have a direction for you, a path, just be patient and I will reveal it to you."

Whoa! What a word from the guy on my right (and I'm not talking about my handsome, stud hubby who happened to be sitting to my right). God knew just what I needed to hear and FEEL.

 I find myself in a place that feels uncomfortable for me, but one I know is necessary. I know this time is about to come to a close, but I know God has a couple more things to teach me in this season of my life. I have always, always been heavily involved in some sort of ministry within the churches we have attended.... and I'm not right now. Sometimes I feel guilty. And that's where the smelly guy comes in telling me all kinds of lies to try to drag me down.

But I realized something important Sunday morning when the daughter of the unsmelly guy to my left (Mr. Fulmer) got up and blew "How Great Thou Art" out of the water.  Mrs. Fulmer looked at her daughter with the sweetest smile on her face and I thought, "How proud they must be of her."

It came to me, I AM a mom. It is a ministry.

And it's beautiful and great that God gave me this chance to impact lives so deeply for Him. This is my calling. I know that God will place Matt and I in a ministry soon within our church or another He may need us to be at, but for now He is using this season to teach me how to minister better to my own children... and I don't have to believe Satan when He tells me I'm useless or that God won't reward me for my labor in His kingdom. I have three little blessings with red hair and blue eyes... I have a good relationship with a husband who tries his hardest and works 12 hour days for us. I have been rewarded.

I write about all this today because I know there are other moms in the same season as me. You feel overtaken by diapers and dirty clothes. Maybe you even feel like you have no purpose in God's kingdom. Please know that you have purpose... and if you look, you will see it in the eyes of your children. No job you hold in your workplace or position in ministry in a church can compare to the importance of the position of mom in your family given to you by the Big Guy himself.

Lift up your head... even if it needs a haircut and hasn't seen makeup in days. Sing praises to God for this ministry He choose for you. Believe me when I say that I know there are days you feel like you get nothing done but holding a fussy baby or refereeing a sibling arguement. And days when you have to clean all day just to have a big ole mess made of everything in minutes.

I know there are days, mom, when you just cry.

I know.

And I understand.

But I also know that I am a special part of God's plan. And I will not belittle the ministry He has placed me in during this season of my life.

Rock on Moms! We are designed for this job in it's high points and it's low points. Hang on to God when the dishes overflow the sink and the kids ask "why?" ten times in an hour. Teach them about God and show them how to live a life sold out to Him.

You don't have to be perfect at it.

Just be their mom.