REFLECTIONS

(This is what I share when I speak at Mother/Daughter Banquets or brunches)

REFLECTIONS

Psalm 139:13-18

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.
 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.
 ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸ Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.

The theme is “Reflections”… Let’s see what the dictionary says about the word.

Reflection -  careful or long consideration or thought

a of meditation
Meditation -  a discourse intended to express its author's reflections or to guide thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result others in contemplation

So the reflections we have as Mothers should be something we’ve thought hard and long about and as a result, we can share or help others with what we’ve experienced or learned.

First of all, as we read Psalm 139 we have to know and believe that God has a purpose for each and every one of us.    Your life didn’t happen by chance or was a mistake.   Jeremiah 1:5 reads,   "Before I formed you in the womb I knew ^(or chose)  you,
       before you were born I set you apart;
       I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

He had and has a perfect plan for each and everybody’s life.   You are special.   You are ‘one-of-a-kind’.    Not to be confused with anyone else.   Unique.  No one’s like you or equal to you.   Accept that.   Realize how precious and special you are.

Moms----you were chosen to be that very special someone to the child or children you bore.     Daughters-----before the foundations of the earth, God had your name written down and knew every little thing about you.     Your hair color, skin tone, eye color, special features, height, weight (??) yes even our weight (He counts the hairs on our heads, so surely He must know the pounds..), and your  attitudes, behaviors… EVERYTHING!!!!   You are UNIQUE.      Accept that ladies.   You are everything God planned you to be.

There’s a song called “Find Us Faithful”.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone

And our children sift through all we’ve left behind

May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover

Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion light their way

May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe

And the lives we live inspire them to obey.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

What are you leaving behind for your children, your daughters?   You know God never expects perfection from us, because we’re not and we never will be.  All He wants from us is our faithfulness to Him.   And that’s the key.  You want to be that perfect mother??  Then, the main reflection that our children should have from us is that they knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is our Savior and God the Father is the Lord of our lives.. They should know that we’re there for them… praying for them… loving them unconditionally (as Christ loves us) accepting them for who they are and  not putting unrealistic expectations on them.

They are the one-of-a-kind unique creation that God has entrusted to us as Mothers.

I have had no greater joy than knowing that each of my children have accepted Jesus as their Savior..  that my grandchildren have followed in their parents footsteps… and I hope and pray that after I’m gone that they’ll be able to say without hesitation  or question that I loved them with all my heart unconditionally…  prayed for them… and loved Jesus above all!!

What greater legacy can we leave them??  I really know how hard it is.  Believe me, with 7 children entrusted to my care, was at times, overwhelming to say the least.  I would question the Lord each time I was pregnant… why another one??  Sometimes I can’t even handle the one or ones you’ve given me.   But I guess, or shall I say…. God DOES know what He’s doing.   Remember, He did create the world, right??

I just want to leave these final thoughts with you.

1.    Encourage the positive traits of your children.  Don’t always look  for and see the negative things they do.  Lift them up.  Tell them what a great job they’ve done.  It’s easy when they are little and they go potty and you clap for that accomplishment, high five them or give them some incentive treat…..   It does get harder as they get older to see it but purposely look for it and go out of your way to do it.

2.  Spend one-on-one time with each one.  Take time to plan with your hubby or parents or friends to help with the others so you can do something even as little as going for a walk with them or to the park or mall just with them!!  Or just talk to them.. OR let them talk while you listen.

3.  Teach them responsibility!  If you don’t, someday, they may be living with you and not have a clue as to what to do or how to handle daily situations. Ex. (doing laundry, fixing some meals, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, yard work, car repair)   Do it while they’re young.

4.  Try not to be such a perfectionist yourself.  Cut yourself some slack.  Take a long hot bath with candles and aroma therapy bath salts.. “Take me away, Calgon”.   If you don’t take time for yourself or take care of yourself, believe me  nobody else will and you won’t be as productive.

5.  And last, but not least, remember to let every part of your life be a spiritual experience for you and your family.  Teach them early about Jesus and how He must be an integral part of their daily lives. Sing songs with them about Jesus while they’re little… Share about His blessings and share your answered prayers with them to show them how real He is. 

Love Jesus with all your heart, soul, and mind!!!!

I would like to close with a few things to read to you that are especially a blessing to me.

MOTHERHOOD

Motherhood is now! The good and the bad of it.   The rewards and the trials. Tremendous pressures ware placed upon you as a mother, for you have been chosen to work with God in the awesome task of nurturing the priceless treasures God has given you.

As a mother, you accept your children’s faltering steps toward independence with discipline, humor, patience, and a tremendous amount of trust.   At times the struggles almost become an endurance contest.  You wonder if you can handle all the confusion another day:  the ringing phone, the broken dishes, the blaring television, the hurtful words.  High temperatures,  school, conferences, dentist appointments, rebellious tears.  Is there ever an end?

But suddenly in the mist of turmoil you catch a broad grin.   You feel a warm hug.   At bedtime somebody prays, “Thank you, God, for Mom and for chocolate chip cookies… and for love. “

You renew again your deep desire to create a genuine God hunger in your children.  God has chosen YOU for such a task as this.

“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises hers:  “There are many virtious and capable women in the world,  but you surpass them all!!”

Proverbs 31: 28, 29

Finally, I want to share something very special with you.  I’m asked one question as I speak to various groups.  “How long til you quit being a Mother?”   Well, you’re a Mom til you die, and your heartstrings will always be attached to those babies whether they're here with you or in heaven.   

"The Cord"

We are connected, my child and I,
by an invisible cord not seen by the eye

It's not like the cord that connects us till birth.
This cord can't be seen by any on earth.

This cord does its work right from the start.
It binds us together, attached to my heart.

The strength of this cord is hard to describe.
It can't be destroyed. It can't be denied.

It's stronger than any cord man could create.
It withstands the test. Can hold any weight.

And though you are gone, though you're not here with me,
The cord is still there but no one can see.

It pulls at my heart. I am bruised, I am sore.
But this cord is my lifeline as never before.

I am thankful that God connects us this way
A mother and a child, death can't take it away

A special ‘Reflection’ from my son, Tim (37 years old)

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I have been thinking of you a lot this week and what it means to be a mom and raise a child.  Also, with the wedding season upon us I get to see a lot of ceremonies and two people committing to life together.  This led me to think of the similarities of wedding vows, and vows a mom gives to her child.

Here is an example:

I, your mom, take you, Tim to be my beautiful child. With deepest joy I receive you into my life that together we may be one. As is Christ to His body, the church, so I will be to you a loving and faithful Mother. Always will I perform my headship over you even as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one of the holiest desires for my life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care. I promise I will live first unto God rather than others or even you. I promise that I will lead our lives into a life of faith and hope in Christ Jesus. Ever honoring God's guidance by His spirit through the Word, And so throughout life, no matter what may lie ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful mom.

Now these vows are never said verbally, but are like an unspoken contract between mother and child the very first time their eyes meet on the day of their birth.  I believe you took these vows the day I was born and lived up to and exceeded each one.

There are so many moms that God could have lent me to, but I am so blessed that he lent me to you.  With your every day devotion, love, care, patience and direction I became the man that I am today.

Thank you for being my mom and my best friend.

I love you more today than ever, Happy Mother's Day!!!

Love your son,

Tim

Thank you  so much for allowing me to be with you and sharing and may  God bless you on your journey!!!!  And may the reflections of your heart keep you strong and happy and loving for many, many years to come. 

NEED A SPEAKER?? GEORGIA'S LIST OF TOPICS FOR RETREATS, MOTHER/DAUGHTER BANQUETS, ETC.

Below I have listed a number of topics I have spoken on over the years.  Whatever the theme of your retreat or Mother/Daughter banquet, not listed here, I can accommodate.  Please feel free to write for any further questions.

“The God Of All Comfort” is a study that deals with the sources of comfort that come from the Scriptures, Jesus Christ, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Christian friends.      Those that are in need of comfort include:  the afflicted, sorrowful, weak, discouraged, and the troubled.      The Comforter is the Holy Spirit and what His job is in comforting, teaching, convicting, pointing to Christ, glorifying Christ and guiding to the Truth.

“Reach Out and Touch” concerns three different aspects of reaching out and touching.    We first reach out to God inwardly and upwardly.     In reaching outwardly, we reach out to the unsaved.   Because this is our responsibility, God has commanded us to go and tell (the Great Commission).   Also involved in reaching outwardly, is reaching out to the family of God.   This includes fellowship and encouraging one another, sharing blessings and joys together, and just being there for someone that really needs you.

“Love Makes a Friend” touches a very special part of every woman’s life.   A friend is someone with whom you can dare to be yourself.     The common nature of a friend includes the same interests, love, and sympathy.  There are many values of a friend as well as tests of our friendship.   Some of the examples of Biblical friendships included Ruth and Naomi; David and Jonathan; and Paul and Timothy.

There are also different ways in which love is an extension of friendships in our lives.   Some include loving, forgiving, praying and encouraging.  

“Promises Of Rainbows” was chosen because a rainbow is beautiful in color and size, covers such a wide area, usually follows a storm, and holds a lot of hope for every person on earth.   A promise is a covenant or a token that is unconditional from God.     The Scriptures are full of so many promises from the Lord.    Why is it so hard to believe them all?     A sampling of some of His promises are the gift of eternal life;   that we are more than conquerors through Him;  that we’re kept by His power;  He give us  abundant life;  and  that He would never leave us and much  more.     Many of us have experienced damaged emotions in our life time, but God promises that He will be there with us through them and carry us to completion.     The study deals a lot with dealing with these emotions and what we need to do to overcome their pain.   There’s   a lot of guilt involved as well as debt collecting and we need to learn how to let them go.  

“Falling in Love Again”   Ah, sweet love.  No, I’m not speaking about the love of a spouse or boyfriend.    It’s all about falling in love again with Jesus.   Time---where does it go?   We all have the same amount of time in every day.   Every second, minute and hour goes by and we find ourselves back right where we started sometimes.  When we first came to know Christ, our hearts were filled with joy.   We were so excited and there was nothing we couldn’t do.    “I can do all things through Christ” Philippians 4:13 KJV.    We said this over and over…we prayed really believing that He would answer them.   Our faith was so strong and our burden for souls was endless.   Then, all of a sudden---something happened.    We left our first love…Jesus!   In this study, we relearn all about priorities in our lives and how to regain them.

“Vessels unto Honor” helps us see that we as vessels can and should be used by God for His honor and glory.    In order to become that vessel, we need to flee the things that would separate us from Him.    Then we need to follow after the things that will bring us to a closer walk with Him.   The fruits of Spirit become more evident in our lives.   As we learn not to judge one another our hearts can forgive and we can become that example that the Lord wants us to be.

“Rejoicing Hearts” shows us that we need to come into a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s character and attributes and then develop our worship and love for Him realizing who He is and what He has done for us.    We rejoice because of His glory, His protection, His salvation, His creation, and most of all for understanding ME!   

“A Godly Woman” is exactly that.   The three main areas that we show our relationship with God are without (to the world), within (our homes), and within (our local churches).   Our lives are all traveled in different ‘circles’.     Some women work outside the home and some do not.  Wherever our lives take us, we still come into contact with different people everyday.   If we were put on trial, would there be enough evidence to convict us of being a Christian?    We have to remember that we are ambassadors for Christ.

“Fighting the Good Fight” concerns the fight of faith.   This becomes evident in our lives through righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.    We are encouraged to fight the good fight even in the midst of the multitude of emotions we come up against in our everyday lives.    We must realize that this battle is not ours---it’s the Lord’s.  He knows all about us and is allowing these particular trials to come into our lives to refine us like pure gold.   He has a purpose for every aspect of our lives.  Many scriptures are given to help us get the daily victory that we need.

“All Things---Through Him” was born out of a time of great physical trials for me.   I had just learned that I was diabetic along with all the maladies that come with that.    I felt like giving up.    I didn’t want to handle anything any more.    Then, I was faced with the reality of “Where do we go from here, Lord?”    Basically, God knows what He’s doing.   He makes NO mistakes in our lives.     Our part in all this is to know that “I can do all things through Christ who is my strength”   Philippians 4:13 KJV.      There is nothing too hard for the Lord and He will help you through day by day, moment by moment and step by step.

“The Joy of the Lord…MY Strength” shares the many aspects of joy in our lives.    It covers a wide spectrum and the Scriptures show us exactly what we need to know in order to accept the joy that only Jesus can give.    Our joy is everlasting, full, and abundant (even in trials).    God’s Word is His personal love letter to us.    His joy will be made manifest in our prayer life, through our Christian fellowship, in tribulations, by the fruits of the Spirit, and through giving to others. 

  “Jesus…My Gentle Shepherd” helps us to realize that Jesus, our Shepherd cares for us with the sacrificial love that only He can give.     A shepherd’s duties are many and OUR Shepherd is no different.  His responsibility for His sheep covers many areas.    Because He knows each one by name—He provides for them.     He secures the pasture, waters the flock as well as restoring them and searching for the lost sheep.  And He is ever so gentle with His sheep because of His deep abiding love.

“Flight F-I-N-A-L …We’re Going To Meet the King” is an exciting study.   If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior, then someday we ARE going to meet the King.  When we plan a trip, we usually have a checklist.   It involves where we’re going, who we’re going to see, how we’re getting there, what we need to take with us, and what we’ll be doing after we arrive.    Our destination, of course, is heaven.    We will either meet this destination by one of two ways---we will go by way of the “rapture” or by our death.   What we’ll see will be splendorous in appearance.   We will see the wall with all its layers of jewels along with the gates of pearl.   The Light of the Lord Jesus will be evident because there will be no need of the sun.   The SON will provide all the light we need.  

“Heart Songs” carries us through a journey of the different seasons of our lives.   Our hearts are affected in many ways on this journey.  Jesus gives us a song for every one of them.  Our earliest stop in this journey is that of LOVE.  The love of our parents is our initial contact.  It’s a love that is beautiful and strong.  The only love that exceeds that of a mother is the love of Christ for us.  JOY is another stop of this journey.   Joy causes our hearts to burst because it cannot be contained.   One place on this journey that we really don’t enjoy experiencing is SORROW.    There will always be trials, temptations, struggles and sadness in our lives.    Our hearts are crushed with sorrow and the hurt is overwhelming, but Jesus even gives us a song then.   Our journey ends with the greatest one of all---HOPE. 

 Through all of the above mentioned, we learn that the Heart Song can only be given by the “Heart Singer”, Jesus Christ.    Many scriptures are given to help the listener keep the beat going on in our lives.

"Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts"  includes an introduction into the gifts.   

A spiritual gift is given to every believer, given by grace, given by the Holy Spirit, and given by God’s abundance.   A supernatural endowment given by the Holy Spirit to the believer to be used for the edifying of the body of Christ.

An explanation and examples of the sign gifts (These gifts were foundational and very needful to start the church.  In order to authenticate the message and the messenger).   The strengthening  gifts (These were given to strengthen and equip the saints for ministering.).   And, finally, the serving gifts (These were given  to help serve the various needs in the body of Christ.)

          One thing we must remember is while exercising your Spiritual gift, do it in a humble and joyful manner.   You have nothing to be proud of--It was given to you by the Holy Spirit, not of anything you’ve done on your own. 

"Reflections"  was a theme of a Mother/Daughter Celebration.  Reflections we have as Mothers should be something we’ve thought hard and long about and as a result, we can share or help others with what we’ve experienced or learned.  I share personal experiences and what God's Word has to say about it. (with song and Scripture)

NEED A SPEAKER??

When my book was released in the summer of 2006, I was praying for direction from the Lord to use me to share with other ladies and especially moms  and to open doors to honor and glorify His name.  

Since that time, He has given me numerous opportunities to speak at MOPS meetings, ladies retreats, church groups , and Mother/Daughter banquets.

For this, I am very grateful.

Listed below are two links where my profile can be found concerning speaking engagements.    I not only speak about subjects pertaining to family and children, but have a plethora of subjects that I have shared over the years at our own Ladies' Retreats and will accomodate any subject requested.   I will always share the Gospel when the opportunity presents itself and will talk about Jesus and His precious love. 

Inspiration with a sense of humor and lots of love.  If that's what you're looking for... that's what you'll get.   And, oh yes..   I do sing and will share what's on my heart in song as well.

Check out these links and if you have any further questions about having me speak for your group or church, feel free to contact me.

Thanks so much and have  a GREAT day!!!

WomenSpeakers.com 

WomenMinistry.net