Wondering what Mommy Homework is??? Each week you will have an “assignment” here to share in our comments here on this site. You will love this-both sharing AND enjoying answers by others. Some of them, I compile into an ebook (contributors can resell as a product of their own–be sure to submit your email and full name when you register so I can credit you appropriately!).
The result is AWESOME!
We get to know each other…we are encouraged in our journey…and we glean super ideas from other great moms!
Ready for this week’s MH? This is a good one!
Our topic this week is “What ONE Message Changed Your Life???”
Your Assignment This Week…
I was talking with a dear friend this week about the power of words. Words in print. Words of a friend. Words of a parent. Words of a pastor or teacher. Words on the radio/audio.
Just a PERFECT times, God has sent a Word to me that has changed my life. Maybe it was a word of correction. Maybe it was a word of encouragement. Maybe it was a word of comfort. Maybe it was a word of inspiration. They all came in very different ways at very special times.
This week, let’s take off the masks and share deeply. Share what ONE message just sticks out in your mind as pivotal in your life. Maybe it was in your marriage, your childhood, your faith, or….what is it for you???? What was the message? Take some time to share. It just might be a message that ministers to a sweet friend HERE! 🙂
Have fun! This should be a super assignment to read. I can’t wait! 
DIG IN!
I can’t wait!
Love ya!
Cindy
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Deadline–Friday at midnight CST.
Oh, I must be the first one! I read the book by Max Lucado called In the Grip of Grace. I had done something in my recent past that I had not forgiven myself for. This book showed me that God forgives immediately when we ask for forgiveness. It is by His grace that we are saved and He gives it freely. We just have to take it.
The one thing that sticks with me is this comment.
Until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change, nothing will change.
Well that one and “just get up of your blesses assurance and do something”.
I think the most pivotal message I have received was not just a phrase or sentence. It was a movie. I am divorced. I went to see Fireproof over the summer and God spoke to me using the silver screen. My ex-husband was many times worse than Caleb was in the movie, yet, I was now ‘hearing’ that God wanted me to reconcile. WHAT?! I prayed about it, and I spoke with friends about it. I tried to ignore it, push it out of my mind. However, God wasn’t taking “no” for an answer.
I guess the biggest message I received from the movie is that marriage is a covenant. It’s not that I took my marriage vows lightly – I never thought divorce was an option. We are now working things out. But it’s not easy. I am praying daily. We are hitting bumps in the road. However, we are both determined to provide our children with a happy home.
Along with this, one of the songs from the movie also had a huge impact. The song is called, “Love is Not a Fight”. I think it’s by Warren Barfield. He sings:
“… If we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door.
Love is not a fight, but it’s something worth fighting for.”
I was a fairly young mother, I had 3 little girls 3 1/2, 1 1/2 and newborn. I was trying hard to take ‘proper’ care of my wonderful husband. I cried out to God that there weren’t enough hours in the day to do the things I should. He very plainly and clearly said–If you give me your time, I will make time for you. It was such a light bulb moment. If I give some of ‘my’ time to the Lord, time I thought I couldn’t spare to do what ‘I must”, He would make–as in create–time for me. The 24 hour day would become 26 hours or more in what I could/would accomplish. It seems so simple and obvious yet I still struggle with this. I feel as though I am being lazy, sitting and reading and praying when I have such a list that needs doing. If only I will remember, that time with the Lord IS the reason for being, all of the other stuff is just filler. Necessary, yes, to have clean clothes and food but only to maintain this temporary existance. I keep forgetting about the bigger picture! Thanks for prompting me to revisit this, I need that in this busy season with spring cleaning, schooling, garden planning, etc.
Blessings!
Hillary in Indiana
Two things came immediately to mine when I read this week’s question, the first addressing my spiritual growth, the second addressed my marriage:
In a Bible Study several years ago my husband and I received our first really good, scriptural teaching. Previously, I wasn’t in the Word enough, and I thought I should ask others (Pastor, those older & wiser) what to do instead of just asking God. In this study, I learned that God gives discernment and knowledge even to me! But I need to be in His Word to gain most of that! I don’t know where my notes are from that time, but I do remember that some scripture shared was from James chapter 3 where it shows attributes of God versus attributes of satan. It seems so clear now!
My second stand-out moment was an eye-opener to me for my attitude toward my husband and about our marriage. I was complaining to a woman who wasn’t even a close friend about my husband. Fortunately, she’d been through a near-divorce and was bold enough to look at me and say “You need to just get over it, honey!” I wasn’t even offended because I knew I was in the wrong. And I know God used her, because I probably wouldn’t have accepted it from a friend, sad to say.
Be blessed,
Danielle Hull
I was on a mission trip to Mexico with my daughter a few years ago. I enjoyed just walking through the compound talking to God. His message to me that trip was “Be still and know that I am God.” In the business and worries of life, I am to BE STILL and KNOW. It is so good to rest in Him.
Words have such a powerful affect on my life. My father who died 4 years ago next week was big on words. Letters, notes, hugs with affirmations. Since his death, his letters have been so wonderful and uplifting to me. His I love you’s! I am proud of you! You did great’s! Still speak to me like he was really here.
Also, my husband is my biggest supporter. Having him tell me what a strong woman I am and that he is proud of me for what I have become means more to me than he will ever know. There is nothing better than to be married to your best friend, lover and biggest supporter.
Thanks for the wonderful reminder of these two wonderful men!
Shannon Depew
A book I didn’t buy on purpose changed my life……
A few months after becoming a Christian (at the age of 38) I went to the local Christian bookshop with one book on my shopping list. When I got there they had a “buy one get one half price offer” on selected books and sure enough the book I wanted was included in the offer.
Not being one to EVER look a gift horse in the mouth I selected another book in the offer in order to get a “good deal”. Being a new Christian I had not heard of any of the other books and so made my choice because I spotted a book which was a beautiful pink colour and had fancy writing. (Yes I really am that shallow lol).
Well when Elizabeth George wrote A Woman After God’s Own Heart the Lord must have spoken to her and said “Liz make it pink and through in some fancy writing because there is a woman out there who really needs this book”. Good job she was listening because He was so right.
I started to read and could not put it down. She made me laugh, she made me cry. I thought she had been looking in my windows!!!
She told the story of a man who came in from work and the only one who gave him any attention was the dog. This spoke to me (or should I say it screamed in my ear). You see every day when my hubby came in from work he used to made me a cup of coffee and what did I do to greet him zilch!
So I decided to change – when he arrived I had a cup of coffee ready for him! (and a bowl of cereal – as for some reason he likes to have one when he comes in). How did he respond – you would think I would have gotten a “oh darling how kind and sweet of you!” Nope his actual reaction was “What’s wrong?”
I was mortified – he thought there had to be something wrong for me to be nice to him. My wonderful husband made me feel like a worm!! This is where my journey to be a woman, a wife and a mother after God’s own heart began and has been ongoing ever since.
Thank you Lord for asking for plenty of pink and fancy writing!
Love and Blessings
Angela Marchington
The song Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech changed my life. My first born (and only, so far!), who’s now 10, was born with congenital heart defects, and long story short, his prognosis was not good. Many doctors believed he’d need multiple surgeries as a toddler and would be left with only the upper chambers of his heart functioning. Clearly, he would not be a healthy child. One Sunday morning, we sang this song at church and the words, “Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name” hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew that if He can do that, make a mighty mountain bow, than a little tiny heart was nothing to Him! As big as the defects seemed to all of us down here, they were simple for Him. That song made His power sink in at a time when I felt so much fear for my son. What relief God gave me that day and what tremendous hope! (By the way, my son never did have to have all those surgeries, and he’s healthy and active. We were blessed to watch God heal parts of his heart that were too small, and the doctor’s said couldn’t grow. :))
Kim Ehlers
There have been several times when I’ve received a word or phrase that have changed my life. Picking just ONE is hard to do. So, below I’m sharing from a post this past November on my blog (www.daybydayinourworld.blogspot.com) after attending a training seminar of Lectio Divina (sacred reading.)
The scripture she chose to read was The Annunciation, a reading familiar to all but often read rapidly and with little time to digest it. The phrases that really stuck out for me were the nothing is impossible for God and Mary’s assertion to follow God’s word. It felt like it really fit with both my prayers over the elections as well as my current struggles with homeschooling. Ironically, the person I was partnered with to share is principal of the parish school. As if just having something illuminated for me was not enough, the sense of healing and peace that washed over me during the 5 minutes of silence for contemplatio was amazing. While I know that God’s voice could be with me at other times, the noises of everday life do a good job of drowning it out. Maybe that is why I cherish the times I can attend adoration without the boys.
So, after putting out a ‘sos’ on two local homeschool lists, I came home feeling that my struggles were not something to abdicate for others. Rather, I had my reminder that God called me to this path and I need to remember to call on his help.
I am not sure if it is “one message” exactly.
I read The Chronicles of Narnia. To myself. This only happened maybe 5 years ago. I had kids, but I read them to myself first.
I knew that they were the basis of my favorite childhood cartoon version of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but I wanted to read it for myself.
I read the whole series and my whole life changed.
I saw Christ as a PERSONAL savior. For the first time.
From there, I changed my whole outlook on my life and purpose in life.
Elizabeth Bowen
Oh, what a good question. A couple of years ago, I was really struggling with some family difficulites. Extended family, that is. I worried over it. I tried to come up with all the answers. I tried to come up with explanations for everything. Then I would try and make decisions before there was even a decision that needed to be made.
God spoke to me through a Joyce Meyer article in her magazine. She talked about II Chron. 20. God was reminding His people that the battle they were worried over fighting was His to fight, not theirs. They were just supposed to praise Him and stay focused on Him.
This spoke to me deeply. I realized how much of my life was spent trying to figure out something that was not for me to worry over. God was in control. This was His battle to fight. I was supposed to continue praising Him and taking care of my own, immediate family.
He has allowed me to share this experience so many times and I am thankful. It helps to heal the hurt and pain of something if you can pass along the experience and help someone else.
Katrina Boatwright
There are so many messages that have been timely delivered.
Most recently was a message I downloaded from Charity Tape Ministries.
“Keeping the Hearts of Your Children” by Ann Brubaker ( Go get it right now!)
She really emphasized that we have been given the scared charge to raise eternal souls. And how we carry out this charge is a great determining factor as to whether they will someday answer the call of the Lord on their life. I have it in my ipod and it will be one that I will listen to again and again.
Several years ago I was diagnosed with a condition that causes a fair amount of pain. After being diagnosed I was praying in church one evening I thought that I felt God telling me he would heal me but that I must wait until the right time because he was to be glorified through my healing. I had never heard God speak so clearly before and I was having doubts. My father (a very Godly man) came up to me, not knowing that I was struggling with, told me I needed to listen to God because he was talking to me. I knew then and there, with no more doubt, that God was going to heal me.
It has not been easy but I have this blessed promise that I will one day be healed.
I think my most important ‘ah ha’ moment after becoming a wife and mother was when I read Emilie Barnes’ book “More Hours In My Day” about 18 years ago. It wasn’t so much one particular thing she wrote, but more of the whole concept that yes, I COULD, get motivated and develop a plan to get my life, priorities, and home in order. Her encouragement and words really spoke to my heart!
And recently, on Marybeth Whalen’s blog, I read this quote that she found and posted:
A woman’s heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her.
Powerful words…and words that really put things into perspective!
Looking forward to what everyone else says…
Amy O’Quinn
I wish mine could be as profound as some of the other ladies, but I must say that the one message which most profoundly changed my life was one I learned in my early 20’s while getting sober:
The definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
My recovery and the lessons I began to learn at this time, followed by the openness to God’s direction in my life and resolve to follow it to the best of my ability each day – this is the most pivotal experience of my life.
Trish
This might sound a bit cliched but the absolutely MOST impactful message I EVER received was around 3 years ago. I received a little brochure in my mailbox that spoke about my need for a personal relationship with Jesus. That little brochure, simple as it was, served as the impetus to explore the Christian faith further. It was one of the many ways God drew me to Him at that point in time – but is the most memorable, the most decisive. I know it’s simple, but it’s true :).
Jennifer Bogart
Music has always been the one thing that has been an encouragement to me and helped me through many tough times. The one song that has helped me through many troubled times and helped me to keep pressing on was “Tears are a Language God Understands”. Many tears have been shed in the past and even today but God understand and cares.
Another song that has been special to my husband and I is “Only God Could Love You More”. This has been a theme in our marriage but only God is higher than our love for each other.
Blessings,
Orilla Crider
The Lord used a dear family to turn our hearts toward homeschooling. They were called into evangelism and shortly afterward felt the Lord leading them to homeschool their children. I saw a community that for the most part did not support them and honestly at the time I did not fully support these friends. The children excelled in homeschooling and it was so interesting to me and my husband. At the time we did not have children, but it was this precious family and their stand for being obedient to the Lord, that paved the way for us! This was such a memorable time in our life because we were truly desiring to follow Christ and we saw His mighty hand molding and making. So the message that I have remembered for this week is when the Lord showed us to homeschool our children and praise God, He has richly blessed us in doing so!
Years ago I was seeing my pastor’s wife for marriage counseling. She
told me “HOPE in Jesus will never disappoint you”. I wrote that saying down
on a piece of paper and taped it to my dresser mirror where I could see it
every day. I learned to HOPE even when things seemed impossible. I
held onto my faith and tried to keep hope. After 17 years of marraige, I can
say that HOPE in Jesus will never disappoint you. It saved my marriage>
Blessings-
Katy Horn
When I was in high school a youth leader shared this verse with me:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
This verse changed my life that day!
Amazingly…Lucia Claiborn’s email faith builder (which are fantastic messages) was this exact verse today!
By God’s grace, I get so many messages delivered….
through sweet, Godly friends
on a afternoon nature walks
in the wisdom of my children
listening to Christian praise music
on Sunday mornings when old, familiar hymns are sung (most recently, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing…my heart is prone to wander–these are so wonderful even on the lips of my sweet children
even Talk-a-Latte radio shows (BTW my favorite quote from one of these was from Cindy….”I want to be ALL THERE for my children…I love it!)
These are my favorite books that offer such sweet words
31 Days of Praise
Jesus Calling
I love those messages that are sent in such a timely manner–God is so good!