Happy Mother's Day!
To all the women who have loved me with a mother's heart as I've grown up (and still am growing), thank you! You've loved me well and helped me to love others well. A special thanks goes out to my stepmom, sister, and mother-in-law. Thank you for your love, your sacrifices, and your belief in me!
I've been so blessed to have so many women come alongside me and nurture my heart as only a mother can, reflecting the mother-heart of God in my life, bringing healing to my wounded heart and soul. I'm truly blessed and so very grateful!
I know what it's like to have a biological mother who was unable to mother due to mental illness and addiction. To those who haven't experienced the true love of a mother, you are seen and known and loved. Let God heal the wounds of your heart, fill that empty place, and bring freedom to your soul.
I'm SO thankful to have four incredible children whom I adore, along with a daughter-in-law and son-in-law who are each amazing! I know what it's like to experience motherhood and have your arms full of destiny and I couldn't be more grateful for that.
Yet . . . I know what it's like to suffer loss through miscarriage, having two more babies waiting for me in heaven. I see you, momma, who has suffered devasting loss. My heart and my prayers are with you. I love you. My heart aches with yours and I know that only He can heal it. You're not alone. Reach out to me if you want to chat and pray. I'm here.
To those who have longed for a child to hold and love and haven't yet had that dream fulfilled, I love you, I'm praying with you and for you, and asking God to comfort your heart today. There are also so many who need your mother's touch in their lives! Don't discount the mother impact you're having in the lives of those around you. You're creating a legacy!
To those who are remembering this day while celebrating their momma in heaven, I pray you would sense God's comfort and love in a powerful way today. You are not alone and you are not abandoned.
To all those first-time mommas out there - Happy Mother's Day! Treasure every second - it really does go by SO fast!!!
Happy Mother's Day far and wide! Mothers are superheroes. I'm convinced of it. And we women all have that superhero within us, whether we've given birth yet or not. Live it out loud - the world needs superheroes! Love you!!!!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Coffee & Conversations: The One Who Moves Mountains
There's nothing quite like chatting over a cup of coffee, discussing a great book - especially when that book is written by your wife!
In this episode of Coffee & Conversation, Brian and Andrea chat not only about Andrea's book, but Brian also puts her on the spot with some unexpected questions. Join them for a bit of fun and learn more about The One Who Moves Mountains!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Coffee & Conversations: She Took a Risk
In this episode of Coffee & Conversations, Brian sits down with Todd McVicker, Worship Leader at Victory Church. He shares a story from a time when he was in the Philippines working with the ministry, Wipe Every Tear, to rescue women, girls, and ladyboys out of the sex trafficking trade in Angeles City.
During this conversation, Todd explains how one girl chose to take a risk that led to her rescue and freedom from a life of trafficking.
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Come Away With Me . . .
I’d had the morning perfectly planned out. I was going to a special church service about an hour away, but Bri needed to use my car, which meant my plans changed.
I immediately thought of all the things I could do in my now open day and began making a mental list. I ran to the grocery store before Brian needed to leave and as I drove home, I thought to myself, “I’ll get in my time with God once I help Bri get off to work, then I’ll get a ton done that I hadn’t expected to have the time to do today.”
God spoke to my heart in that moment and said, “You’d planned on spending most of today with Me. Have I changed that plan?”
In that instant, I let go of my to-do list – something that would have been nearly impossible for me to do not all that long ago. I left the house in disarray knowing it would still be there for me to address once I’d spent precious time with the Lover of My Soul who was pursuing me with the passion of His heart to simply spend time together.
It didn’t take a special prayer service to enter into His presence. It was the intimacy of the alone time with Him…no one else around. It was letting Him speak to me through His Word, through the birds outside my window, through a dream I’d had, through a word whispered to my heart as I fell asleep last night, and through abandonment to worship sung at the top of my lungs.
It was a love affair with Him and I was exactly where I was supposed to be this morning. The service I’d planned on attending will happen on another day and be perfect in His timing. I’ll get everything done in my house and the rest of my to-do list will be tackled. It’s still waiting for me, but He was waiting first and He’s so much more important. The rest just falls away in light of His presence and love.
“My Beloved spoke and said to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away…’” (Song of Solomon 2:10)
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
The Power of a Blessing
The act of blessing has been on my heart recently – specifically, blessing others with my words, especially my husband, children and friends (but strangers aren’t exempt). It’s something I’ve been aware of, but recently it’s been as if God has been placing His finger on its importance.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” The Message translation states it even more clearly, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” Yikes! I think I’ll choose life, thank you very much!
We’re certain to send our kids to school with a good breakfast and lunch, kisses and hugs, maybe a prayer, but do we intentionally BLESS them? When we kiss our spouse on the way out the door, do we help shape their day by the words we speak over them?
I remember a time when my middle son came to give me a hug before leaving for his day’s classes at KSU, I asked if he’d gotten the laundry folded that he’d promised he’d do and when he said he hadn’t, I launched into a mini discussion about fulfilling household responsibilities. That intended sweet goodbye initiated by my son became a huffy and swift departure. I don’t blame him!
It was in that moment that the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I had just set the course for my son’s day with my words.
Words have tremendous power – much more than we often realize. Think back to a cutting remark made in high school or a critical word spoken to you by a parent and how that shaped you into adulthood. Then, think of a time when someone said exactly what you needed to hear, even if you hadn’t realized you’d needed to hear it – how it encouraged you, made the impossible seem possible, helped you to believe in yourself far more than you previously had.
“Winsome words spoken at just the right time are as appealing as apples gilded in gold and surrounded with silver.” (Prov. 25:11, TPT)
The Bible has a lot to say about the power of the tongue and the words that we speak. Think of it - all of creation was formed through the spoken word. That should give us an indication of the weight our words hold in the world around us, especially in the lives of those we love, as well as our own. Through our spoken words, we have the ability to CREATE. It doesn’t mean that we won’t face challenges, but through our words we can determine whether those challenges are going to result in victory or defeat.
In my mind, it all boils down to blessing – ourselves and others. In doing that, we set the atmosphere and determine the course of our day; not only ours, but our spouses, kids, and those we love. So much has been written about the effects of negative self-talk and how we can transform our lives by changing the way we speak and think. “…Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12:34b, NKJV) Our thoughts shape our words. Sometimes we can’t bless because we can’t think of anything good in the midst of our circumstances and relationships.
So, how do we bless? Look at the definition of blessing for some clues. A blessing is God’s favor and protection. It’s a thing conducive to happiness and welfare. What do you want to shape and form that’s good? Declare that.
It can be something as simple as, “You are loved and I’m so thankful for you. I think you’re amazing! Today is an awesome day marked by success!”
You can also use God’s words by speaking and praying blessings and promises from the Bible. Not sure where to begin? Search online for words of blessing found in the Bible, then turn them into prayers and prophetic declarations as you speak them out over yourself and others. I often pray over my family that they’re “well favored by God and by man” (1) and that they “have the mind of Christ and can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.” (2) I thank God that He surrounds each of them with His angels to “protect and uplift them so that they don’t even strike their foot against a stone” (3) and I declare that the plans that God has for them are “for good and not for evil, for a future and a hope.” (4)
This morning, I sent this as a text to my husband, “I bless you in all that you do and in the work of your hands and I decree success over you. I love you! Your angels go with you and work on your behalf and protect you! Your God fights for you. He chose YOU!” That was very different than my son’s send off!
Our Old Testament forefathers understood the power of a blessing and how it was a prophetic declaration spoken over generations to come. Look at the blessings spoken over their children by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and how devastated Esau was to realize that the blessing that was to be his had been stolen by his younger brother. Blessings are important – not only at the end of a person’s life, but every day.
There are so many times throughout our day that we can bless others and ourselves, beginning with words of gratitude. The small and simple things can transform a marriage and the atmosphere in a family. Noticing when something has been done and thanking them for it – even if it’s for taking the garbage out, letting them know that they’re appreciated, are words of blessing. Don’t wait for them to do it. Let it begin with you and see the difference that it makes.
What would it look like for you to dedicate 21 days to intentionally blessing your spouse, your kids, your friends, yourself??? What could happen if you did?
“May He give you the desire of your heart and make your plans succeed.” (Ps. 20:4)
1. Prov. 3:4
2. I Cor. 2:16 & Phil. 4:13
3. Ps. 91:12
4. Jer. 29:11
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
