Chapter 1

I just loved the whole chapter but what really struck me was near the end..."This kingdom of home is the place of refuge, comfort, and inspiration.  It is a rich world where great souls can be formed, and from which men and women of great conviction and dedication can emerge."  YES!!!

Oh, how I have asked God to make our home a place of refuge.  Before I became a mom, I always, somewhat pridefully if I'm honest, envisioned any home of mine being a place that my kids' friends always wanted to be in.  Maybe it will be that someday...our boys are 12, 7, and 4, so they have not quite reached that "kids go wherever they choose to hang out" stage yet.  I am perfectly happy for our home to become that, but it has not been that way so far.  In fact, our kids rarely have friends over.  This used to bother me...should I invite them more?  Is there something wrong with us?  Do my boys not feel comfortable asking??  Finally, I realized that perhaps our boys are in need of a refuge from other kids.  Don't get me wrong...our kids have good friends, but we all know that its nice to come home to the people who know you the best and still love you.  I really am fine if our home becomes the hang out spot, but for now I'm content in the knowledge that we have a refuge going on here.

I hope our home is a place of comfort.  I will never forget the day our oldest, Isaac, who is now 12, got off the preschool bus and burst into tears.  His preschool teacher had called me to warn me that he got in trouble at school because another boy dared him to eat rocks and he did it.  He had no idea that I knew, though, and he had been holding in the gush of tears until he saw my face.  What a rush of "motherliness" came to me in that instant.  He saw me, with our home in the distance, and he knew he could let his guard down.  I hope our boys will always know this will be a place of comfort.

But then I read on...and I see words like "inspiration", "conviction", and "dedication". I wonder if I land on the refuge and comfort side of things too often. I'm struck with the notion that my husband is really good at these words and sometimes I expect him to be more of a comforter...but maybe God knew what he was doing when he put us together to raise these boys into men???

I'm humbled and shocked really that God has trusted me to be the mama of these three. I long to be found faithful...

Desperate: Book Club Introduction and BOOK GIVEAWAY!

We are beginning our discussion of Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson's new book, Desperate:  Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe.
As our header says, we are a multi-author blog composed of mothers from various stages of motherhood and locations across the country.  We are here to share, encourage and provide a platform to discuss all that God is doing in and through us.  Please feel free to comment and join the discussion!

To start off our study, we are giving away TWO COPIES of the book!  Please leave a comment, and you will be entered into the drawing!  The drawing will be held on Friday, February 1st. 

Sally and Sarah Mae will be posting about the book on their blogs every week!  (Links in the sidebar)Here is their schedule:

Tuesday, Jan. 29th – The Introduction (I Can’t Be a Mother Today) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, Jan. 31st - Chapter 1 (Ideals and Going Under) – Sally

Tuesday, Feb 5 – Chapter 2 (The Go-it-Alone Culture) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, Feb. 7th – Chapter 3 (Formula’s) – Sally

Tuesday, Feb. 12th – Chapter 4 (Oh Right, There’s Sin) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, Feb. 14th – Chapter 5 (When the Dark Invades) – Sally

Tuesday, Feb. 19th – Chapter 6 (Lack of Training) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, Feb. 21st – Chapter 7 (Sacrifice in the Mundane) – Sally

Tuesday, Feb. 26th – Chapter 8 (Escaping) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, Feb. 28th – Chapter 9 (Taming the Beast of Housework) – Sally

Tuesday, March 5th – Chapter 10 (Figuring it Out New) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, March 7th – Chapter 11 (Voices that Influence Us) – Sally

Tuesday, March 12th – Chapter 12 (Living on Purpose) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, March 14th – Chapter 13 (The Art of Life) – Sally

Tuesday, March 19th – Chapter 14 (Desperate…Not Defeated) – Sarah Mae

Thursday, March 21st – Conclusion (Living the Story of Motherhood) – Sally

We hope you join us and look forward to hearing from you!

Who is your pacer?

I am a runner.  I run for exercise, alone time to think and pray and worship, and for time to be in nature and creation.  I don't consider myself a competitive runner, but I do like to challenge myself to improve on my previous times.  Before a recent marathon, I prayed that God would speak to me as I ran.  I told Him that I want to listen and that I would listen during those 26.2 miles.  During the race, I came across a pacing group.  The runners were led by a pacer, and his words were what God had for me that day.  I have never run with a pacer...as I enjoy being alone while I run.  I had the image that a pacer would be yelling like a drill sergeant, and this was not something I would want to endure.  But that was not the case.  The pacer that day was running what seemed to be effortlessly.  He was offering encouragement, holding his sign with his pace time and balloons.  He said to his group, "Just stay with me...I will get you there...don't get ahead of me or you will wear out...I'm keeping you on pace...just stay with me."  I had this picture of Jesus at that moment, as though He was offering these same words to me.  This life is like a marathon, and each of us is running on varying terrain, a course unique to each individual.  Each of us may be on a different pace than our friend or neighbor.  But Jesus has run the race, and He has conquered.  He knows what each of us needs, where we need to go, and promises to get us there if we stay with Him.  Often when I'm feeling great and my circumstances are great I think I can move at my own pace, focus on my list of tasks to be completed and start checking them off.  I feel energized as I accomplish so much.  But I forget to listen to my pacer...to listen to the one who sympathizes, who knows me and loves me and has a plan for me.  The one who tells me to not run ahead on my own pace and course, but to stay with Him.  The one who promises to never leave me..."just stay with me," He calls.  Why do I feel so weary some days?...because I am running without my pacer.  I am going and doing and being at a pace that is not the pace I was created to run.  Our world and culture have a pace that I feel is going continually faster and faster.  I do not want the culture to determine my pace.  My desire is to seek the One who knows my pace and who promises to go every step of the way with me.  I want to listen to His voice and just stay with Him.

As I have been praying about listening and paying attention to my pace, God has shown me that He has put other pacers in my life.  He has placed other women who have been running the marathon of motherhood in my life to mentor me and teach me.  I am truly thankful for their experience and wisdom and willingness to invest in other moms, as the truth they have shared has transformed the way I see and approach motherhood.

I hope as we start our Desperate book discussion, you will look at your life and consider who is your pacer?  Or maybe you are a pacer for someone else?  I pray that God will place people in your life to run alongside you and encourage you and that you will offer the same to the next generation.

Desperate

I'm only a few pages in and I have tears rolling down because I remember.  Although I've come past the insanely desperate stage, the feelings are still there and I'm realizing in these moments they are still real and raw.  I have a sense that this book is going to pour fresh water on some dry spots in me and I can't wait.

Jennifer

P.S. I find myself wanting to place a bulk order so I can hand it to every young mommy I know and love!!!!

Join in as we read and discuss Desperate: Hope for the Mom who Needs to Breathe

A new year, a new book...let's begin anew together with our online book club!

We are a multi-author blog posting about the current book and all that God is teaching and forming in us.  If you would like to join in, please email me your email address, and I will add you to the author list.  If you'd prefer to not post, feel free to comment on other's posts and contribute that way.

We would love to have you join us in this new study!