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Tag: Encouragement

Be Still and Know that I am God

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Probably like many of you, I love photography. I am a little obsessed with taking pictures. In the early years of motherhood, after leaving my corporate job to stay home with my babies while my husband traveling most of the time (supporting our family well), I had lots of moments without adults to talk to! It could have been lonely, but I took it all in. And in the moments when my babies wanted me there close by to play, or while I fed them, changed their diapers, and rocked them to sleep, I prayed…a lot.

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And I took in all the sights, feelings, (smells even) in. I can’t tell you how much I loved being able to be outside in the backyard with the sun shining down through the trees while my babies played, and I thanked God. I thanked Him often, for my husband, for these babies, for our house, and I said I’d never take it for granted, that I get to enjoy all of these precious gifts!

“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

Realize God’s Sovereignty

I had a camera that I wore out, and then my sweet husband surprised me with an upgraded camera for Mother’s day one year…it is still one of my favorite all-time gifts. Because I get to take in the whole scene in my lens, and capture that moment, forever. During those quiet times with God, my prayers began to get deeper, and my quiet times longer, and it was a season of God saturating me with His Word. I am so thankful for that time, and now, for those pictures I took, that remind me of what that season was like.

Be Still

Because now, it’s incredibly busy. I never thought I’d say that with two in school but it is!! Our involvement and responsibilities are just that much more, and there’s so much at stake with kids! I have to remind myself to be still, and take it all in. When I do, I realize God’s infinite wisdom and sovereignty and trustworthiness. When I don’t, I doubt, fear, and want to grab back my control over my life, instead of giving it to Him where it belongs. I don’t know about you, but being still is where we find peace, and joy, and faith, and hope, and love, and all of the other good fruits of the Spirit.

“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

Mom's priority encouragement for the week from psalms

A Devotional: Proverbs 31 Woman

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Wisdom, Faith, Productive, Industrious, Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 31 Woman

Proverbs 31 Woman

When I think of the entire Proverbs 31 Woman passage as a tribute to the ideal woman, it’s an inspiration to me, as unattainable as it may be to meet every goal listed in that long passage!  But…it’s an inspiration, and it sets my mind and heart on a WORTHY goal, because we serve a WORTHY God, and this world is filled with so much less than ideals that are worthy!  My hope and prayer is that this website points you to God, and that you may find in your own time with God, to discover all of the ways that you are worthy of becoming like the Proverbs 31 Woman.

“Encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”  – 1 Thessalonians 2:12

Mom’s Priority serves to encourage and help moms achieve financial, organizational, family, social/ethical, and personal goals by providing money and time-saving strategies that allow moms to use their hearts in their time and purchases for good.  As moms, we want to live our lives fully and with purpose, as we raise up the next generation.  This looks a little different for each one of us, but in our quiet times with God, He  shows us how to live, if only we are willing.  He is faithful!

For more devotionals from Mom’s Priority, click here.

Encouraging Friends through the Seasons of Motherhood

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DEVOTIONAL

by Gini @ DaySpring April 5, 2016

Encouraging Friends through the Season of Motherhood

Motherhood is hard work. You start out cradling this tiny, amazing human that is completely your responsibility. Then you find yourself running after little chubby toddler legs as they sprint as fast as they can toward the most dangerous thing in the room, followed by the “I can do it by myself” stage where you find yourself constantly cleaning up spilled milk and scraping glue off the floor. And, that’s only the beginning! Because, then the little tiny human decides to keep growing and growing until eventually he or she becomes a grown man or woman – and how are we supposed to handle it when all of a sudden we have no say in their lives? It’s just hard.

That’s why, we encourage you to lift up all the mothers in your life- friends, sisters, co-workers and even the stressed-out mom you see struggling through the supermarket. And, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because we are called to do it. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” And then in Ecclesiastes 4:9 -12 (ESV), it says “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

With these Scriptures in mind, we asked several DaySpring staffers to let us know how they encourage the moms in their lives. We hope these questions and answers will give you some ideas on how to lift up your friends during each season of motherhood.

What is your favorite way to bless a new Mom? 

A meal in week 6. This is the week where all the help is gone, the meal train ends and sleep deprivation sets in.  I also tell a brand new mom to trust her own instincts.  READ MORE @ Dayspring

 

Thank you to DaySpring for allowing us to share an excerpt from this devotional.  Advertising Disclosure: Some tips include links where Mom’s Priority receives an incentive per click or per purchase.  For more information, please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure.

Artistic Moms

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Calling out the talented, crafty artistic moms!!  If you are talented and gifted at making things, yet you struggle to find enough people interested to make a business out of it, you need to read this!  If you have been given gifts and talents, but are not using them because you think there is not a market for them or a way for you to market them, you need to know there are ways online to market your handmade products and designs!

Artistic moms: Learn How to Sell Online Here

Artistic moms: Learn How to Sell Online Here

Market Your Handmade Products!

    • Mom Artists who Paint or Design:

      Artistic moms, check out Zazzle: Designer!  You can upload your art, photography, or graphic designs and buyers can customize products to include your art!  You set your own royalty rates!

      Sell your Art Online with Zazzle: Designer

      Zazzle: Designer Platform

      Read the rest HERE

      Advertising Disclosure: Some tips include links where Mom’s Priority receives an incentive per click or per purchase. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure.

Check Your Inbox: Join Our Community

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Our latest monthly newsletter has just been sent…did you receive it?  If you’re not already signed up, you are missing out!   Mom’s Priority helps moms live priorities by providing money and time saving tips so you can focus on what’s truly important.  Here are reasons you should

Join our community:

  • Save your family literally thousands of dollars each year with our money-saving tips
  • Get the highlights once per month on the savings out there and the improvements we’re making to help you
  • Join a growing community of moms focused on improving life for our families and across the globe
  • Keep up with the latest news in online grocery shopping, fair trade, organic, gluten-free, cute kids clothes, gifts, SALES, and convenience
  • Be encouraged as a mother

Enter your email address in the box below to begin receiving monthly updates.  Rest assured, we will never sell your email address, and it is easy to unsubscribe.

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PINspiration

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A BIG fan of quotes, verses and inspiration, so I am loving Pinterest lately!  Check out this board on Mom’s Priority Pinterest for much more encouragement and motivation!  Some are anointed with the ability to connect with people flawlessly through words and pictures; you’ll find them through this Pinterest board.  God’s Word never fails and is always flawless and timely, so many Bible verses are pinned.  Enjoy!

For I know Pinspiration

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!!” – Jer 29:11

 

 

Top 7 Ways to Get Organized Mom

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A new year means a new chance to get organized!  For busy moms, being organized makes a huge difference in how we get things done. It’s time to get organized mom!

Here are 7 Ways to Get Organized in the new year:

  1. Use an old-fashioned planner.  For me, nothing replaces the old-fashioned habit of writing it down, and there are some amazingly beautiful planners to have these days.  I like Emily Ley’s because the focus is similar to that of Mom’s Priority.  On the pages , she reminds you to keep your priorities, focusing your time and efforts on the things that matter most.  Also, these planners are just gorgeous.

    emily ley planner organized mom

    Emily Ley Planner

     

     

  2. Use technology to keep organized.  Check out Mom’s Priority’s 15 best apps for moms.   Included in this list are apps for organizing your money, the kids’ artwork, your exercise and healthy eating habits, the sports schedules, the kids’ chores, and more!  Technology is amazing!
  3. As things come into your house (mail, school paperwork, bills), limit the clutter and mess by throwing out junk right away, and putting the rest where it belongs. Less clutter and less is lost or misplaced!
  4. Pick out outfits a week at a time.  Check the weather for the upcoming week and set out 5 or 6 options for the 5 school days in the front of their closets. It makes mornings much easier.
  5. Delegate!  As the kids get older, everyone has their own responsibilities around the house.  This not only teaches the kids how to care for a house and their things, but it helps immensely keeping the house organized and tidy.
  6. Plan a monthly meal menu and weekly check the stores for sales before you shop either online or in the store.  Chop vegetables all at once for a few days worth and prep freezer meals in advance to simplify.
  7. Pay attention to sales seasons so you can buy kids clothing and home items at the lowest prices of the year.  January and July are great times to find clothes marked way down.  When you find clothing items, try to anticipate the size they will be that upcoming season.  The best place to find deals in one place is Mom’s Priority Deals page.  If you find food items on sale, buy two and put one up for a little later.  The same goes for gifts and homes supplies.  Get organized mom, and watch the savings grow!

There is a peace when things are organized; even if life is roaring fast, having organization keeps everyone focused.  It’s when life gets so busy and unorganized, that we lose our priorities.  Life is so precious, and we want to make the most of all of our days!  It’s never perfect; things come up unplanned and we just roll with it!  But, having organization in the first place helps us immensely keep our priorities.

 

Advertising Disclosure: Some tips include links where Mom’s Priority receives an incentive per click or per purchase. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure.

Grace at Christmas: It’s All About HIM

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Grace at Christmas

Grace for moms at Christmas

Grace at Christmas

Last Sunday was Advent Sunday, and tomorrow marks the first day of December.  For us moms, it gets a little crazy over the next few weeks!  We want to keep our focus on Christ, but also make memories with our families.  We have presents to buy and wrap, a house to decorate with our family (which is usually more difficult with young kids than by ourselves!), lots of opportunities to give, lessons to teach our kids, and events to plan and attend.  Fortunate- we are.

In all of this busyness, it is easy to focus on ourselves and on our abilities or lack thereof.

It’s all about Him.  It’s not about us.

Inevitably, things are going to go wrong.  Someone is going to spill something when the house is finally for once clean and ready for guests.  You are going to say something to a family member that is taken the wrong way.  Your child gets sick.  You or your spouse has to work late on the night of your child’s special event.  And on and on.  It’s not going to be perfect, and that’s okay.  Christmas is time to realize an important point.

It’s all about Him.  It’s not about us.

Grace

At every turn in our lives, we realize that we are not “good enough” on our own.  We need grace.  And we need to extend it to others every chance we get.  Moms, we will never be able to make Christmas or anything else perfect or even good enough in our own abilities.  That’s one reason why Jesus came.  Even far beyond these examples above, Jesus came to give us grace and forgiveness.  We are going to mess up, miss opportunities, make mistakes, and that is okay because of Jesus’ grace.

Another example for me is leading in Women’s Ministry.  I am clearly unqualified for the job, but I am willing (and I thank God for the opportunity- 1 Timothy 1:12).  For whatever reason, God is using me.  It is clearly not in my strength, but his grace is sufficient.  Like all of these other examples, I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Perfection

Clearly, we can all see Him better when His power is displayed in imperfect people.  So, as we go this Christmas season, and things don’t go according to plan, let’s remember it’s about Him and not us.  Maybe He’s using your imperfection to point to His grace and perfection.  Isn’t that what Christmas is all about anyways?

Summer Reading

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Is summer reading happening at your house yet?  I am happy to report that my kids ARE reading and loving it this summer, thanks much in part to our local library!!  The first few weeks of summer were busy, running from camps to All star baseball practices, scrimmages, and games;  NO reading was happening!!  I took the kids to the library, and we signed up for the library’s summer reading program… instant reading!!

Kids Respond to Reading Goals

The kids were so excited to get new books and have a goal to meet ~ 10 hours of reading in 6 weeks.  Unbelievably, and probably because we’ve had some down time in the past week, the house will be quiet and I will wonder what’s going on.  I am not saying this happens normally during the day, but I have found them reading and putting stickers on their chart to denote reading for 15 minutes at a time.  I love it!!  We do love to read at our house, but it’s a habit that we can fall out of.  I was afraid that was happening this summer, but the library has really helped!  For other ideas to help you get your kids reading, check out this page.  Share your tips for getting your kids to read over the summer by emailing us at [email protected].  We love to hear new ideas!

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

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Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19, and we want to celebrate all of the dads who lead our families and make life fun!  Find great gift ideas for dads, and let all the dads and granddads in our lives know how significant they are in our lives!  Here are some amazing personalized gift ideas for Dad HERE.   While we are planning, how do you plan to celebrate Father’s day this year?  A day of fishing, boating, watching sports, or even napping on the couch…they all sound like good plans to me!  My husband would say as long as there is some relaxation involved, AND great food, he’s happy.  I am the lucky one!  Happy Father’s Day to ALL of the dads, granddads, and father figures!  You are incredibly appreciated!!  For more great ideas for Father’s Day, check out our favorite pins.  For amazing recipe suggestions, see this!

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