BAD MOMS

Yes, I am in full-time ministry.
Yes, I know people look to me as a Christ-like example.
Yes, I love Jesus.
Yes, I am aware of the things I post, listen to and watch because of the reasons listed above. BUT...

Yes, I went to the movies and watched the rated "R" movie Bad Moms

What?!!! I know right?.  I get it. Some of you will disagree with me, oppose me, or even feel disappointed by me but hear me out.
I didn't walk into the wrong movie theatre on accident. I wasn't peer pressured by Bad Moms into seeing it. I intentionally wanted to see it...from the moment I saw the previews I was drawn to it. And I wasn't alone. Mom after mom had seen it, was making plans to see it, or was on their way to see it again.

Why?

Because every freaking woman I know (whether you admit it or not) could relate to the lead character in wanting to say, "I quit".

Was the movie inappropriate? yes. Was it disturbing in a lot of ways yes. BUT...

For 2 hours I watched what I secretly wanted to do:
-bring store bought donut holes to the school bake sale
-tell my kids that mom was done and they needed to make their own breakfast
-share with other moms all the flaws of my kids without feeling the judgement of my parenting

The world was telling us what God already had.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE PERFECT

The difference between the world and God is
-the world wants us to simply find peace in our imperfections
-while God knows its impossible to find peace in our imperfections without finding peace in His perfections.

As a Jew from birth born into the Israel tribe of Benjamin and a member of the religous leaders, Pharisees, Paul understood what it meant to follow the thousands of rules that went along with his religion. The Pharisees were the judgemental moms on steroids. So when he became a follower of Christ, we see througout the book of Philippians his excitment of being set free from the rules to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus.

"But I press on the posess that perfection for which Jesus first possesed me. No dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking foward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and recieve the heavenly prize for which God, thorugh Jesus is calling us." Philippians 3:12-14

Paul had not achieved what he wanted to do or who he wanted to be (can you relate?). But he wasn't discouraged by it, overwhelmed because of it, or burdened over it.
Failing meant pressing on.
Imperfection meant pressing on.
Falling short meant pressing on.

What Bad Moms did for moms is what Jesus wants to do for all moms, wives, women, people everywhere: Release us from these feelings, thoughts, and guilt of not being perfect. But know we are loved by perfection.


WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING FROM THE WORLD WHAT CHRIST DIED TO GIVE US.

FREEDOM. LOVE. HOPE. GRACE. IDENTITY.

Its not about being perfect but finding feedom in the perfection of Christ.

We don't presson for our perfection, we press on to find our identity in His.

So...to all my mommas who are tired, overwhelmed and sick of living up to the "perfect pinterest" life and just want to quit...Please hang in there sweet friend.

Jesus didn't die for you because you were perfect, He died for you because you weren't!!

Lets live this life of a BAD MOM because we serve a GREAT GOD!

OU Softball WCWS

As you watch the sooner softball team tonight there will be something you will notice both the fans and players doing each time the Sooners come off the field before they bat.

Everyone's hands will be raised.

Why?

It's biblical.

One the greatest stories of teamwork in the midst of battle is found in Exodus 17...

“Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.”  Exodus‬ ‭17:9-13‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Joshua needed Moses. Moses needed Aaron and Hur. They all needed God.

Although we know this is not a real war, sports teaches and prepares is for real life. Whether on the softball field or in life...we all need each other and most importantly God!! We can do nothing on our own-even win a national championship. So as you watch (a hopefully cheer), you will see  sport imitating life inspired by Gods Word! Boomer Sooner!!

Let's be real...

Ok…so I am going to share a few things about myself with you all today:

1)      I am a 3 time state champion in track

2)      I just finished running in the OKC Marathon this past weekend

3)      Right this minute my house is spotless

4)      My kids all have field trips and projects going on and we are done with them and all permission slips are in

5)      This year has been my greatest year of fruitful ministry since I started in FCA 13 years ago

Now…before you start cursing me and thinking bad thoughts about me, I have just given you the Facebook version, the surface version of every single one of these. Now lets move past the surface to the reality of these….

1)      These state championships were because I was on a relay with 3 really fast girls. I was not even close to winning anything in an individual race

2)      The same goes for the Marathon. I ran the Marathon as relay with 5 others girls because there is no way in the world I would ever put myself through running 26 miles…to be honest that sounds like my version of hellJ (Serious props to all marathon runners, you are rock stars) 

3)      I ask for no presents from my family throughout the year so I can have Marciela come and clean my house each month. We love Marciella and feel like she is a part of our family. I think I would give up a kid before I would give up Marciella. She just came yesterday and we were gone all last night hence it is still clean. I have no doubt my kids will come home today and see it is clean and think “we must get this house back to normal asap.”

4)      You know the moms that are on top of everything? The type “A” moms that if it wasn’t for them, nothing would get done? I have sought out that mom in each one of my kids classes and have begged them to take me under their wing and help this little sad mess of a crazy mom. They have each taken pity on me and send me the lifesaving text messages like

“The history project is due this Friday and you will need a tri-fold board, do you need me to pick you up one?”

“The permission form is due today, do you want me to forge your name and turn it in for you?”

“Did you remember to get the skittles for the Math project?”

5)      I have sought professional counseling twice: Pattye, who specialized in Time management counseling (I didn’t even know this was a thing until my boss signed me up for it, which was his way of saying you have got to get your act together)

And the latest was Mareen, a professional counselor who specializes in counseling those in full time ministry. She is the perfect balance of sweet, bake you cookies Grandma and no filter, tell you how it is grandma. Both, God used to help me be the best I can possibly be in this calling of full time ministry-in and outside of my home.

A couple of things I want you to learn from this…

1)      Jesus said, “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” John 7:24. We try so hard to live on the surface for others and then just look at the surface of others. Relationships are not built on the surface, but by doing life with others sharing in all of each other’s messiness. God is a relational God and we see that through His Son Jesus. Does he want anything less from our relationships with each other? We are the body of Christ, which basically means “imperfect people doing this life with the help of a perfect God and other imperfect people.”

2)      That leads me to this point: WE NEED EACH OTHER. As much as we would love to show the world that we are strong enough to do everything on our own, God’s strength is shown through our weakness. We get God’s strength when we show humility, realizing this life is not about us, but about Him! We need those women who will pour life into us through their teaching ability, pour life into us through their generosity, and pour life into us through their hospitality.  God teaches us in Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” God has placed so many women in my path to make me the mom, wife, Bible teacher, FCA leader He wants me to be. It takes a village, or in my case a whole state to do all that God has called me to do.

Let’s do this life together, You, me and Jesus! ….I’m in for your messiness if you are in for mineJ

Dealing with those that make us Hard-working Christians?

I have nicknames for all my kids. I call Cale my heart, Chloe my joy, Case my light, Cruz my hope... All things that they have taught me or bring into my life etc.

This was Chloe and I’s conversation last week

C: “Why do you call Cale your heart?”

Me: “Because he is the one that made me a mom”

C: “Well, I am the one who makes you a hard-working mom”

I love her so much but she is my queen of one-liners and is completely telling the truthJ

Do you have that person in your life that makes you a hard-working Christian? They are just not easy to love. You want to act non-christian to them and say non-christian things to them or about them.

-maybe a student of yours

-maybe your mother or mother-in-law

-maybe a parent

-maybe a child

-maybe a frienemy

We all have them! They can make our lives miserable. So how do we deal with those that make life hard work? 

“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. There were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”

There was an earthquake and all the doors flew open and the chains were broken.

“The jailer woke up to see the doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul Shouted, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!’…the jailer said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:22-29

I know you are thinking, “there is no way in…..I can start singing hymns and praying with this person.” (Just me?:))

The answer isn’t what they did, but who their focus was on. It wasn’t on the jailer, who locked them up and most likely took part in the beatings, it was on Jesus. They weren’t focused on the beating of their body, but the raised body of Jesus. They weren’t focused on their pain physically, but on the one that saved them spiritually. They weren’t focused on the enemy that put them there, but the God that could get them out.

We see what honest to goodness faith in the one True God looks like in this story and we can all experience it. The encouraging thing is when we do, like Paul and Silas everybody is watching and/or listening. That is when we get to rejoice because what the enemy meant to drive us over the edge is what God uses to make lost people found!