"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:11-13 (KJV)

I was talking with my dear friend Angeline this morning and confessing to her about a problem I have that has been getting worse. Are ya ready for it? Raising my voice at my children and losing my temper with them all too often. I wish it NEVER happened  but it does and it's been becoming quite a frequent happening for me. The guilt I feel every night as I lay my head down in bed is almost more than I can stand. I have felt like such a failure as a wife and a mom. I had gotten to a point where I felt so defeated that I didn't even know where to go from here. I don't know if my irritability rises from hormonal imbalances or just from a sinful human fraility but I will tell you this. Today is a new day and I praise the Lord I am going to change this very bad habit from now on! I have carried my burden to the cross and laid it down. Oh the peace I have felt today! And you know what? I'm a calm momma today.

After my confessions to my friend we were talking about how we are Jesus to our children right now. Are we being who Jesus is to our children? What a great responsibility! Remember, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (KJV) See what we are battling here mommies. Our job is the most serious job in the whole world. Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Our job to be Jesus to our children is always, all day, all night. This is what God meant in Proverbs 22:6 by "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

 So, of all the goals I listed in my first blog post I have chosen two to work on for the month of February. Keeping my voice and emotions calm and getting up before my children every day. My hopes are to get a shower and devotion/prayer time in before they wake up. I hope to make it a little earlier each day. Today I was up at 7 and able to at least get showered before one of them arose. Hey, better than nothing!

So, I have many many more battles than what I've mentioned here today but be encouraged dear friends, we serve a God of grace! Don't be ashamed to take it! It is our gift!