5 Meaningful Minutes for Moms God s Word for Everyday Life
5 Meaningful Minutes for Moms Jessica Bordeleau God s Word for Everyday Life
The mission of CTA is to glorify God by providing purposeful products that lift up and encourage the body of Christ because we love him. 5 Meaningful Minutes for Moms Jessica Bordeleau Copyright 2017 CTA, Inc. 1625 Larkin Williams Rd. Fenton, MO 63026 www.ctainc.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of CTA, Inc. Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Scripture quotation marked NLT is from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Love The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22 23 This is real love not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.... God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:10 16 NLT ISBN: 978-1-943216-22-2 PRINTED IN THAILAND
Joining the Circus? All moms know the feeling life often seems like an endless struggle to balance responsibilities. Unanticipated visits to the pediatrician. Countless sports events, concerts, conferences. Volunteer opportunities at church. New assignments at work. The needs and expectations of others plus your own goals quickly add up to make an impossible to-do list. Family members may not appreciate the effort we invest and the sacrifices we make for their benefit. It s easy to feel overlooked and undervalued. The obstinate shouts of I hate you! from a toddler, the sarcastic comments of a teenager, or the careless words of an adult child all sting. If we simply gave up, who could blame us? No matter how fast we juggle, something always falls. One plate or another stops spinning and our confidence crashes to the floor. It s so tempting to believe we ve failed as a mom, that our shortcomings make us unlovable. But despite all the voices telling you otherwise, know this: you are deeply and eternally loved! It might not always seem that way, but it s true. Your heavenly Father sees every aspect of your life, even the most deeply hidden details of your sins and failures, and still, he loves you. He knows you completely and he loves you fully. Nothing will ever shake his love for you. God demonstrated that unchangeable love by sending Jesus, our Savior, the one who earned forgiveness and eternal life for us. He loves us so much that he willingly died for us! In him, each and every one of our sins is forgiven. Every new day, every new moment, the cross of Christ gives us a new start, a do-over. As we juggle our daily responsibilities, it s inevitable that one bouncing ball or another, one flaming hoop or another will drop. But even when that happens, even when we feel like failure, we can take refuge in the fact that God s love never fails. It transforms us and shines through us. It enables us to show love to those around us, even when that seems impossible. In Christ, we are made new. We are dearly loved. 4 5
Growing in God s Word Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4 8 Which family members need to be reminded of God s love? Pray for them today. Ask the Lord to bless them with a deeper assurance of his love. Then send a text, e-mail, or note that includes this message: I was just thinking of you, so I prayed that God would bless your day and remind you that you are loved! Someone else needs to be reminded of God s love today, too: you! The next time you look into a mirror, say these words to yourself aloud: In Jesus I am loved; I am forgiven. Talking to yourself isn t as crazy as it sounds. It is, in fact, an effective way to personalize your Savior s love. Try it! Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show your love to my family. No matter the age of my kids, being a mom isn t easy. I often fail to live up to my own goals and to the expectations of others. Forgive me for the times I have not shown your love, specifically... Help me to love as you have loved me, especially right now as I deal with... Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be my Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me a fresh start, moment by moment, day by day. Fill my heart with the certainty of your incredible love for me! In Jesus name. Amen. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 6 7