Excellence

Webster’s Dictionary defines excellence as, extremely high quality but how does God define excellence?

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8

We all prefer excellence. When we go out to dinner we want the best quality of food or when we are sick we want the best doctors to treat us. The question is, are we giving God our best?

Women, are we giving our best at home? Are we keeping our houses clean and organized, are we taking time to help our kids with their homework, are we setting apart time for our husbands and honoring and respecting them as the man of the house?  

Our home is our first ministry.

…to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Titus 2:5

To be honest, this is my biggest struggle as a mom and wife. Trying to stay on top of everything while working full time is hard and doing it with excellence is even more of a challenge, but POSSIBLE.  

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:48

My pastor says it best:

“God wants us as children to be and live in excellence. It is a command to us. We have the ability through Christ to live perfect; otherwise he would not ask us in his word to do so.” -Pastor Felix Roldan-

I've been guilty of being a mediocre wife and mom. I became tired & depressed; all I wanted to do was crawl under my sheets and just lay in my bed all day and all night. One night I was at my wits end, I ran to my room threw myself on the floor and began to cry (my translation -throwing a tantrum). I “cried” out all of my frustrations before God and when I was done I just laid on the floor.

I’ll never forget the words that came to my heart, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”(Isaiah 41:10)

From that moment on I began to include God in everything I did. When I have a stressful day at work the last thing I want to do is come home to cook and clean. Just when I begin to feel the tension rising, I ask the Lord to give me the strength that He promises in his Word. When I do this, God gives me the energy I need to cook and to tend to my family.

Ladies, I know we all have our moments of frustration and even feel like throwing in the towel from time to time but we are not designed to give up. We are not called to be mediocre wives or moms. We are called to greatness and with that comes our ability to be Excellent.

So whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged remember these words:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13

God has designed you for a destiny of excellence.

Sarah

-Mom After God

Seriously?!? Just When I Thought I had it Down Pat

When Chrystal Hurst announced blog hop Tuesday I was ecstatic and when she posted Psalms 136: 23 & 24 on her blog and asked us to dig deep I thought, "This is going to be easy-peasy". I've surrendered it all to God, I've asked God to search my heart and I've changed, A LOT.

So I began to pray with assertiveness:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. -Psalm 139:23, 24

suddenly He began showing me certain moments in my life from this past year.  It was like I was outside looking in through a window from my house. I saw my pride rise up in me  while arguing having a discussion with my husband,  I saw the lack of patience I have towards my children,  and the one thing that I have trouble admitting to , the need to control my spouse.

My initial thought was, seriously?!? Just when I thought I had it down pat.

For a split moment disillusion arose in me, what I've accomplished this past year didn't mean much to me anymore. Just then God reminded me of what I've learned from the book Kingdom Woman.

"Excellence is not a destination; it is a continual process of transformation into who God wants you to be." - Tony Evans

This is it; this is part of my process of transformation! A Kingdom Woman seeks what matters most to God even if it means having to humble herself before God and others and acknowledging her faults.  All we have to do is turn them over to Him, it's not by our strength that we can accomplish these things, it’s by our weaknesses.

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10

So, the next time you feel like you've got it all together, pray Psalms 139: 23 & 24 because your transformation has not ended, it’s only just begun.

Before I leave you I would like to share with you something that recently happened to me. The book Kingdom Man by Dr. Tony Evans was given to my husband as a gift but it stayed on the night stand without being read for almost 2 years. This Year Kingdom Woman was published and I did not hesitate to buy it.

The Book Kingdom Woman by Dr. Tony Evans and his daughter Chrystal Evans Hurst has really ministered to my life. The Biblical incites that Dr. Evans & Chrystal share in this book has encouraged me to pursue God and to become that Kingdom Woman. I now realize that I can achieve and be that Proverbs 31 Wife God speaks of in His Word.

As I was reading I felt this weight lift off my shoulders, this burden of wanting to do everything perfect and of feeling like a failure if I didn't obtain that goal.

God has been working in my life as a woman, wife and mom but has my husband noticed?

As I stated previously in my post I felt a bit of discouragement when I realized I didn't  have it all together but God did something to remind me that what I’m doing is not in vain.

Yesterday my husband and I pulled up at the same time in our cars to park. I was coming home from work and he was coming home from the park with our boys. When he got out of the car I immediately spotted something in his hand, Wait! It can’t be, but it is KINGDOM MAN!

Inside of me I was jumping for joy. I've been encouraging him to read the book and praying at the same time. He’s a great Man of God, husband and father but I know this book will help him by giving him the tools he needs to lead us.

I didn’t mention anything to him but later on that evening he expressed to me how he’s seen a change in me and that he wants to start doing his part as the HEAD of our family.

I tell you this because most of us women want to change or control our spouse but we can’t change anyone or control anything but ourselves. 

We need to take our place as Kingdom Women and God will take care of the rest!

Be encouraged today and always!

Sarah

Mom after God

Are Your Children a Blessing or a Hindrance?

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him"
Psalms 127:3

Too often parents see their children as a distraction or a nuisance instead of seeing them as an opportunity to shape the future. But the Bible calls children a gift from the Lord.

Psalms 127:3 says,

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." 

I heard this quote from one of my favorite pastors,

"When a woman of faith has a baby and raises that baby in a way that reflects the value of the Kingdom of God, she has put forth a seed in history to attack the gates of hell."

Dr. Tony Evans

So, I ask you this question,

What seeds are you planting in your children today?

Are they seeds of resentment, of anger, of abandonment; or are they seeds of love, of encouragement and of hope?

Did you know that God has entrusted us to take care of His children? 

They DO NOT BELONG TO US.

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them!
For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19: 14


Have you dedicated your children to God?

By dedicating your children to God you are acknowledging that your children belong to Him. It's about giving them back to Him so that they may grow in his favor and be protected from the hand of the enemy. 

How do I dedicate my children to God?

It's simple, gather your kids together and explain to them what you are about to do so that they can also have an understanding of how important they are to God. 
You can say a prayer that comes from your heart or if you've never prayed before you can pray these words.

Lord,
I come before you recognizing that you are the creator and owner of all things. I acknowledge that my children belong to you. I now realize that you have entrusted me with these gifts and that it is my responsibility to raise them according to your Word.

Today, I give them back to you. I vow to take care of them like precious gems. I will protect them and love them just as you love them. I promise to instill your Holy Word into their hearts so that when they grow old they will never depart from your ways. 

Forgive me Lord for thinking of my children as nuisance in those moments of frustration. Protect them from the hand of the enemy and help me raise them to be great men and women of God. 

These things I pray in Jesus name
AMEN!


May God give you the wisdom and strength to keep 
moving forward in your 
journey as a Mom.

Love your Kids on Purpose!

Sarah
-Mom After God