Session 4:Priscilla Shirer

The final session from the DotMom conference I attended was done by the amazing Priscilla Shirer. And let me tell you she did not disappoint! She stepped up on that stage & she PREACHED! I have never heard her before in person so it was an awesome experience to say the least!

Priscilla spoke from Luke 5:1-7 "One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink."

Priscilla had an amazing way of putting this story into "modern day" words that I wish I could do but alas I am not Priscilla Shirer much to my chagrin. So instead of me retelling this story I am going to instead focus on the points Priscilla made throughout. One of the first things Priscilla talked about is how we are not common to God. And I know this is something that we have heard from the time we were old enough to understand in Sunday school class. But if you really stop what your doing & think about that it will humble you to your knees. The God of the universe cares about ME! He cares when I am discouraged or frustrated with my kids. He cares when I am sad or mad. He cares about every single thing that happens to me. WOW! How powerful if you really let that rest on you for a minute. He knew before the world was formed that I would have attended this conference & been writing these post! Amazing!

While reading through the scripture Priscilla talked about how disappointing it must have been for Simon & the other fisherman after being out ALL NIGHT & not catching any fish. They must have been exhausted & so ready to quit. Which is exactly what they were doing, by cleaning their nets they were showing that they were done for the day & would try again another time. And then Jesus comes to Simon & ask for him to take him out a short ways in the boat so He can teach the people. What a seat Simon must have had while Jesus preached, right there looking up into the face of God. It gives me chills just thinking about it!!! Then Jesus says to Simon to throw his nets out into the DEEP. Can you imagine Simon's reaction at first? "Say what? I did this all night long & didn't catch a thing. Now after my nets are clean & I am ready to go home & sleep you want me to throw my nets back out?" Of course I am paraphrasing here but he did make sure to remind Jesus of what had happened the night before. But in the end he said he would because Jesus told him too. Smart man! And before Simon knew it his nets were so full they were starting to break. Priscilla talked about how she could just see Simon sitting there looking at this happening & the Bible says he signaled for help to come. Not yelled but signaled, maybe because he was so shocked he was rendered speechless. I can only imagine what those moments must have been like!

The point here is that even in Simon's disappointment & when he got out of the boat & ready to walk away, that when Jesus got in. Even in our disappointment & when we want to give up that's when Jesus gets in. Priscilla said "Jesus not only see's our disappointment but He will use it!" Can I get an AMEN?!? Priscilla challenged us to examine our own lives & see what boat we have that we want to step out of. It could be a relationship, it could be dealing with teenagers, it could be patience with our spouse, it could be work, it could be anything. Figure out what your boat is that you are so discouraged with you want to just get out & walk away. Instead turn it over to God & be willing to go where He leads! "God will use your disappointment & your discouragement to teach people about who he is!"

What did I tell you, she PREACHED!!!

It has been so awesome to write these post & share them with all of you! I really hate to think this is the last one. I have been reading Angie Smith's "What Women Fear" so I hope to do some post from that soon but we will see! In the mean time that's for listening & I pray the Lord was able to show you something even through my ramblings!

~Cass

Session3:Vicki Courtney

Hey there ladies! In continuation of my recap from the DotMom conference, today's blog is a recap from Vicki Courtney. Vicki spoke on the relationship between Mary & Martha & how that applies to us. Which as women I think is something that most of us probably struggle with.

Vicki started off reading Luke 10:38-42 "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

In the verse's above there was a word that Vicki highlighted which was distract. Distract means "To prevent someone from concentrating on something. To divert someone. To drag around." Martha was distracted from the Father being right there in her living room. She was prevented from focusing on the Lord & more worried about if there was enough green bean casserole or banana pudding. (If I had to guess!) She couldn't stop long enough to realize that Jesus himself was sitting on her porch swing teaching. To me that is a powerful conviction because my fear is I would be the same way. I would be running around making sure everyone had enough sweet tea or that no one saw that stain on my carpet where the boys spilled chocolate milk that morning. And then to boot I know I would be huffing & puffing to myself about how my sister is just sitting there doing nothing to help me out. Can't you just see Martha running around trying to do everything & then she looks over to see her sister sitting. SITTING!!! I can only imagine the things Martha was thinking in her head about Mary. Then finally when she thinks she has to say something because it's just not fair. What does the Lord say back to her? "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Angela said "Martha, Martha" would translate today to "Bless your heart!" I can just see it now, "Martha, Bless your heart. No I won't tell her to help you. But I am gonna tell you, you need to come sit down & listen. You didn't have to make 2 kinds of desserts & 3 casseroles, 1 would have been enough! Mary is making the right decision & I won't make her get up to make another jello salad." Maybe I am paraphrasing but just a thought.

Vicki gave us 3 qualities to have a Mary attitude in a Martha world:
1.Make time to sit & listen
*Find a balance to everything. But you must make time for the Lord. Vicki talked about how she puts herself on a media diet. Only getting online on Monday, Wednesday, Friday in order to find that balance. Maybe that's not where you struggle but find what works for you.

2.Aim for enough rather than to much
*Going back to how the Lord said "few things are needed-indeed only one". Don't overdo it! Whether that's food or the time you spend online. Or even the kids activities. Make downtime for your kids & for you. Vicki talked about how they made a rule to only do 1 extra curricular activity per child per season. For them it worked so find what you need to cut back on.

3.Make Jesus your primary affection
*No matter what you are doing, make sure Jesus is always number one. In your family, your work, your home, your everything. Nothing else matters without Him!

As Mom's we feel like we have to be perfect at everything to be a good Mom. But the truth is a perfect Mother doesn't mean you have to be Paula Deen, ya'll! (I added that in for effect! :) Vicki said she told her husband when they got married that there would be cooking in 1 room of this house. The kitchen or the bedroom. "You pick!" She freely admits to eating out okay & if that's not an are where you are blessed, then that's okay! Maybe you are blessed in cleaning, or crafting, or encouragement. It could be any number of things the point is we don't have to be an alien combo of Joan Cleaver, Carol Brady & Clair Huxtable to be a good Mom. I just have to be me! How wonderful!!!!!!

Thanks ladies, next up is Pricilla Shirer! Have a great week ladies!

~Cass

Session 2:Angie Smith

Good Morning ladies! I hope you all are having a wonderful day, on whatever day you happen to be reading this post. I am still walking through the sessions from the DotMom conference that was done by Lifeway just recently. Today's session came from Angie Smith. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with who she is I thought I would start with a quick recap of who she is taken directly from her website...

"Todd (from the Christian group Selah) and I have been married for 10 years, and have four daughters here on earth. Their names are Abby (8), Ellie (8), Kate (5), and Charlotte (1). On April 7th, 2008 we met our daughter Audrey and a few hours later she went to be with the Lord. We knew from fairly early in the pregnancy that she wouldn’t survive, but wanted to have as much time with her as we could have. This blog was started shortly after her diagnosis, and she will always be the inspiration behind anything good that comes from my writing."

I have been reading Angie's blog for several years now, & it has been a remarkable testimony to follow. She has written 2 books now "I Will Carry You" & her new book "What Women Fear". When I heard about this conference months ago, Angie was one of the ladies I was most excited to hear from. And I have to tell you I was blessed, stirred, & deeply convicted! Angie was so nervous when she took the stage even making jokes about not being able to step away from the podium for fear of falling. She spoke about how she never thought this would be where she would end up. She talked about how she was living a nice "normal" christian life & then Audrey changed everything. In the blink of an eye her entire life changed but how even through the fear she was able to find glory in God.

Angie spoke specifically about swimming in the deep. The deep part of motherhood that can sometimes be messy but as Angie put it a "beautiful disaster". As Mom's we have many jobs, one of which is protector. But there is a fine line there. There is a difference between keeping our kids safe & sheltering them. Fear can so easily creep into our lives in so many ways & keep us from experiencing so many amazing things that God has in store for us. Fear can come in many shapes & forms. Fear of the unknown, fear of flying (ME!), fear of change, fear of spiders :) there are so many to list. If we aren't careful then the fears we have as parents will rub off on our kids. And lets be honest do we really want to pass those along?

On my first post I put a quote that really stuck with me that Angie made...

"Motherhood is NOT our highest calling.

Our highest calling is to glorify Christ."

Think about that. Let that fall on you & settle in.

Angie talked about how our most important job is to glorify Christ in everything, even above Motherhood. And yet the mission field He has called most of us to is the mission field of motherhood. What better place to glorify my Savior than through my children. But do I do that? Do I tell my kids what I want them to do for God or do I SHOW THEM? Do they see me living a life for Him everyday? Or is it just empty words? Am I too afraid of ministry or the unknown to show them how to truly live out this glorious life God has called us for?

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On a side note thanks to the amazing friends I have & their amazing friends, I had the opportunity to meet Angie Smith after the conference. We spent a few minutes with her & she is as transparent in person as she is on stage & on her blog. It was so awesome to get to meet her! Thank you so much Kristi Griem & Mitzi Eaker for letting me come with you to meet Angie!


~Cass

Session 1: Angela Thomas

I mentioned in my earlier post that I got to attend a conference that Lifeway did this weekend called DotMom. I am so thankful for the experience & am excited that I get to share from the sessions. And the things the Lord is teaching me through these amazing women.

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Our first session was Friday afternoon about 1:00 after some wonderful worship time with Melissa Greene we got to hear from the fabulous Angela Thomas. Angela (because I am on a first name basis with these wonderful ladies now :) spoke from Matthew 5:14-16 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

When Angela started speaking to this passage I was taken back at first with how she would bring this around to Moms. I have heard this message many times before about shining out light to the world, being an example of Christ. But as Angela so beautifully translated it to us is how as Mom's our assignment is to be lights to all who are in our house. To our children & husbands especially.

Angela gave a great example of this through how we act to our children when we are on the phone, I know I was convicted. I don't know about you but my kids have radar when I get on the phone with a friend. Inevitably thats when Sam comes running in to tell me Drew hit me, or Drew says Sam took a toy away from me. Or the best one, "He breathed on me!" You laugh but I promise it has happened in my house! When my boys run to me are they surprised at the voice coming from Mommy? The sweet voice as Angela calls it. Sweetly telling my friend about a new recipe or the ever important what happened on Dancing with the Stars last night. But what they see is the "Mom Glare" with a snap of a finger that says, you better quiet down, orELSE. Shouldn't they get the best of me too? Shouldn't I say to my friend in my sweet voice, "Hang on a sec." Then to my son in the SAME sweet voice say "Mommy's on the phone baby but are you okay?" Where else are our children going to see the Light of Christ shown so transparently if not with us!

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We are so blessed we don't have to do anything to earn our light. We don't have to search for it or bargain for it. We are given it freely when we accept Jesus as our Lord & Savior. How amazing! And as Angela pointed out the verse says we are to be "witnesses in Jerusalem". Our homes are our Jerusalem. Right there in the dino pjs is the Jerusalem God has blessed me with! What a testimony for us to live out & teach the younger generation. What an honor & privilege!

Angela also shared a story about her family from when one of her son's was junior high age. He was playing soccer & while he was very good at it, this paticular game they were losing & so her son was showing the attitude of a 13 yr old boy who is losing a game. Angela said she got more & more frustrated watching her son as he was playing, not giving his all on the field. At one point he came close to the bleachers where she was sitting to throw the ball back in. And she said she couldn't help herself. She stood up right there in front of all his friends, & the other team & yelled "Be the sunshine!" Angela said even though his back was to her she could almost see her words hit him in the back of the head when he flinched! After the game her son walked up to her & said "Really Mom? Be the sunshine? You couldn't have said something more manly?" But now in her home all these years later they still say that to each other. It became a reminder for all of them that wherever they went they were to be the sunshine for Christ. And they learned it from the example set forth at home from their Mom, Angela Thomas.

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Ladies, none of what I say here is from me as an expert, I am far from it. I am still in the trenches just like many of you! I was convicted tenfold this weekend. But I have the privilege to share what God blessed me with this weekend. I pray that through these post God will show you something. I truly prayed over every post begging that it would be the Lords words not my own! What a mighty God we serve!

Be the SONSHINE ladies!

~Cass

DotMom Conference

Hey ladies! I have been given then awesome oppurtunity to attend the DotMom Conference done by Lifeway here in Birmingham! It has been such an amazing time & it's only day 1! I have been blessed in worship by Melissa Greene. I have been ministered to through the speaking of Angela Thomas & Angie Smith. I have been given a refresher course on couponing & ways to save my family money by Faithful Provisions. And I have had the wonderful privilege to work with Freeset selling bags that in return free women in India from a life of sex trade. And it's only day 1 ladies!!!! What an blessing I have received already! I can't wait to share my notes with you from each of the sessions & speakers over the next few weeks. I am writing for our churches blog that you can link to here, but I think at least right now that I am also going to post them here too. I have been changed! I wish I could share so much more now but the clock is nearing midnight & I will be up in just a few short hours to see what the Lord has in store for me tomorrow. For now I will leave you with a quote that Angie Smith said tonight that struck me...

"Motherhood is not our highest calling.

Our highest calling is to glorify Christ."

See you soon,

~Cass