Grace is a gift freely given to us. But how often do we choose to not receive the gift? If we’re not receiving this wonderful gift, we can not offer it to others–including our children.
Visit me today at The Better Mom as I share how to balance grace with law in raising our children.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven -Matthew 5:16
This also means:
In the same way, let your light shine before {your children}, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven -Matthew 5:16
This simply narrows and emphasizes our scope as mother. When we read this verse as it applies to living for Christ in front of our children, it helps us to apply it better. That doesn’t mean we throw out the original verse. It simply helps us put our focus at home, with our children, while we are home, with our children.
Switch out the word “men” and insert any person or group of people and it still applies. Just don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. This applies too all “man kind”, so when you narrow it to help you focus on working with a specific group, that doesn’t exempt you from shining before all men. Got it? Good. Moving on.
I’m all about the practical as much as I am about the heart. But I don’t talk much about the practical here on Joyful Mothering. I’m hoping to change that. A large goal of Joyful Mothering is equipping mothers–not just devotedly, but constructively as well.
So how do we put feet to this verse? How do we let our light shine before our children? The light of God, that is.
Grace.
It all starts with grace. For best results, add grace.
I used to be confused about what grace really is. In fact, I was afraid of it for a long time. God has brought me a long way just this year as He spoke to me and changed my heart on grace.
Grace is not an excuse to sin.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? -Romans 6:1-2
I was afraid that if I received grace, it meant I was allowing myself to sin. So, to be safe, I wouldn’t allow myself to receive grace. And I remained bound by my own sin. I never felt free from it. It was a heavy weight. And this same weight was put on my children, unknowingly.
You see, when you don’t receive grace, you don’t have grace to give.
God chipped away at this lie around my heart, and as it broke free, I stepped into His light. Our job? To hold the hands of our children and bring them into the Light with us. But we can’t do it our way–we must do it His. His way is grace.
It’s graceful. Gracious. Grace-filled.
It’s undeserving, but still freely given.
Freely.
Given.
We can be a lighthouse to grace for our children by offering them grace.
Grace is not a replacement for correction or discipline. It is the manner in which you deliver these necessities to your children.
Are you accusing? Belittling? Exaggerating? Impatient?
All these lack grace.
Grace forgives. Grace walks alongside. Grace empowers and encourages.
God is our beacon of grace and we need to allow His light to shine through us, to our children, so they will praise our Father in heaven–because of grace.
Lighthouses represent hope to sailors who have lost their way. They are that steady stream of truth that glows through the darkness and marks the safest way through the night.
We are a lighthouse permanently established to show {our children} the way home.
-Grace Based Parenting, pg. 41 & 42
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Come join me at The Better Mom today as I share about teaching our children to overlook an offense. This is an important tool for our children to learn and practice in order to remain in fellowship with one another. It’s also an important tool to know as adults.
Did you know many adults do not know how to deal with conflict in the workplace? Come on over and learn some tips on equipping your children in resolving small conflicts on their own.
Thursday we’re going to be talking a little about The Resolution for Women.
In the coming weeks I am also going to be sharing some of the ways we disciple our own children, and offering a weekly challenge on how you can disciple your children as well.
But before we dig into those things, there is something you need to be cautious about.
Perfection.
Perfectionism is a life-sucker and a vision-killer. If we are aiming to have everything “just so” before we will begin to do anything, nothing will ever get done.
For example, if you want to read the book of Proverbs out loud to your children, let’s say at meal times, but you won’t do it unless x, y, or z happens, then you are going to crush an important opportunity to disciple your children.
If you give up because you are consistently interrupted with questions or distractions, you’ll never get anywhere. Discipling your children has to happen in the midst of a messy life.
Satan would love nothing more than to prevent you from leading your children to Christ…day after day. And how we live our every-days is how we live our lives, says Ann Voskamp. Isn’t that so true?
If day after day we give excuses on why we aren’t leading our children to Christ, then our lives are spent only making excuses. I could not imagine looking back on my mothering years and thinking, “Well, I wanted to disciple and lead my children, but, I just didn’t know where to start.”
What’s worse is, let’s say my children are not serving the Lord as adults, all because of my excuses not to lead them.
This is our top priority friends! We have no room {or time} for excuses! Nothing can stand in the way of what God has called us to do.
If you are in need of resources but lack the financial means to acquire them, pray! God has enough to equip you with what you need! I did this very thing just a couple of years ago and now I am swimming in resources. I am not lacking! God has provided and now I simply need to put feet to what He has called me to do.
Without excuses.
Perfection offers us a million excuses. In fact, excuses will never rest if we are seeking out perfection.
Let go of the picture perfect Bible study and simply embrace the messy life; the interruptions, the spilled milk, the crying baby, the needy dog who needs to go out again, the training and correction that must take place.
Simply keep moving forward in your reading and study of God’s Word. Take it a verse at a time; a lesson at a time; a question at a time.
There is no room for perfection in discipleship – otherwise there would be no room for discipleship.
I would love for you to join me Thursday as I share the introduction to The Resolution for Women. Are you up for the challenge? I invite you to subscribe if you are not already. It’s free and ensures you won’t miss anything!
Linked up with Women Living Well Wednesdays
Do you ever have days {or weeks} when you just can’t seem to get it together? You are tired, moving slow, overwhelmed, unmotivated, and just a wee bit discouraged?
I know I do.
What happens is, I tend to stay there. I feel guilty and as the guilt piles on, so does the discouragement. It weighs heavy on me.
God doesn’t offer us grace because we overcome these obstacles. No, no, no! God offers us grace because He has triumphed over our sin. It all goes back to believing we have to earn God’s grace. We don’t.
This is for you mother‘s out there who are trying, not to earn God’s love or favor, but who are simply trying to be.
To be
Because we don’t need to be told that we at least have to try. We know that. What we need to be told is that we need to practice grace; that though we reach for God and fail, He carries us. He does not want us to remain in a place of conviction, because that conviction transforms into shame.
When we are convicted – or found guilty – God asks us to repent. Part of repenting is receiving His grace so we can move forward.
When we don’t receive His grace, we remain in a state of guilt and cannot be released from that bondage because we haven’t received the gift offered to us. We’re holding ourselves hostage even though Someone paid to have us freed. It’s as if we’re living as unbelievers. Not because we don’t believe, but because we don’t receive.
Sometimes we just aren’t good about receiving things — especially things we don’t deserve. And when we aren’t good at things, the best way to become better is to practice.
Friends, we need to practice receiving grace. We try and we fail, but we cannot allow ourselves to remain in that state of guilt and then shame. Because if we can’t let go of yesterday, we’re going to miss today. And if we can’t receive God’s grace, we can’t walk in the freedom and fellowship with Him that He desires ~ that He died for.
He died so we can be in fellowship with Him and live a life of freedom. Why would we choose to waste that gift and hold on to bondage?
It’s a battle of the mind and it’s something we need to combat everyday. Renew your mind by reading His Word. Meet with Him daily, hourly if need be, and receive grace so you can walk in freedom.
Walking in freedom does not mean we are free to sin, but rather we are free to begin again.
