Titus 2:4

I don't even know where to begin.  I don't know what I'm doing.  I only know that this blog is something God has been nudging me towards for a while now.  Gently nudging at first, but lately the nudging has seemed to be turning to forceful shoves.  I decided yesterday that it was time for me to be obedient before the shoves turned into something resembling a bulldozer driving towards me.  What can I say?  I'm stubborn.  That's sometimes what it seems to take.

For quite some time now, Titus 2:4 has been a favorite verse of mine.  

 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live...to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children

Titus 2:3-4

It's one that I hold onto with both hands.  The problem is, most of the time when I think of this passage, I do so resentfully.  I do it from an accusing place of wondering why more "older" Christian women aren't "teaching" me as a "younger" woman.  Now, let me stop and say that I am blessed with a wonderful Godly mother and a wonderful Godly mother-in-law, both of whom fulfill these verses in an amazing way.  I just sometimes find myself needing more, and thinking I deserve more!  That's where God has been dealing with me.  He has shown me (and finally gotten me acknowledge) that maybe I am identifying a little to closely with the wrong woman in this verse.  None of us want to think of ourselves as "older", but I'm finally seeing that what He has been trying to show me here is that I need to be allowing this verse to convict me to FEED OTHERS  instead of using it as a standard to hold others to in my demand that they FEED ME!

I'm not an expert on ANYTHING.  One of my many excuses for not doing this before now is simply that I am afraid someone out there will read my words and take them as my saying that I am "supermom."  I HATE that term.  Supermom is a mythical figure who does not exist.  She is this image that satan has created in the minds of mothers to distract us from the job God has ordained us to do.  

 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  

Philippians 1:6

 My great fear is that I cannot share what God has taught me without bringing glory to myself, or without  making others THINK that is what I'm trying to do.  That is the LAST thing that I want.  I have avoided doing this for so long  for that very reason.  This verse came to mind recently, though, and I know it wasn't by accident. 

The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  

Exodus 4:11-12

So, that being said, here I go...

I don't know what all I'll be posting about.  I'm committed to allowing God to use me however He sees fit.  I hope that some of what I share here about my journey through marriage and motherhood can encourage some of you.   I do not plan on using my children's names and I will use few photographs (if any) that show their faces, as I want to be able to leave this blog available for public access.  The stories I share will be personal, but I want to do everything I can to keep them from being "about us."  As I said, I am not seeking glory or attention for me or my family.  My prayer is that everything said on this blog would point others towards Jesus by helping and encouraging others who are in the same place in life that I currently find myself.  

I am NOT a professional writer, so I don't expect great literary genius here.  I am pretty technologically illiterate, so don't expect a beautifully designed blog.  I am determined not to get caught up in those details because I don't believe that's why God has brought me to this place.  Feel free to share this blog with anyone who you think might find it useful, entertaining, or encouraging.  And please feel free to pray for me as I dive head first into something I'm feeling pretty uneasy about. 

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children.

Titus 2:4