grace Archives - The Mom Initiative

Lavish Grace Week 2: How to Use Words to INFLATE, Rather Than Deflate

Welcome to Week 2 of The Mom Initiative’s Lavish Grace Bible Study! Today, we’re going to look at ways to use our words to inflate others, rather than deflate them. Do you need a fresh awareness of God’s lavish grace? If so, you’re in the right place! This is the second week of our new Bible study based on Kathy Howard’s book, Lavish Grace. This study will help you recognize, rest in, and share the glorious grace of God. Paul – often referred to as “the Apostle of Grace” – will be our tour guide. We have built in four levels of involvement, …

Lavish Grace Week 1: The What, When, and Why of Grace

God’s grace doesn’t make sense to me. His grace is radical. Extreme. It even contradicts human logic. For instance, if we work hard, we earn a paycheck. If we drive faster than the speed limit, we often get an expensive ticket. In this world, we usually get what we deserve. But God’s grace is different. We don’t deserve grace, yet God freely pours it out on the undeserving. He even lavishes it on those not looking for it. God’s grace is amazing, powerful, and free. His grace is not simply enough for us. It is abundantly poured out to overflowing. …

LAVISH GRACE: Poured Out, Poured Through, and Overflowing Online Bible Study

Lavish Grace is a brand new Bible study written by Kathy Howard, a member of the TMI team. We are the first to offer it online! Could this Bible study be for you? Ask yourself these questions: Want to dig into God’s Word this fall, but can’t regularly get to a physical Bible study group? Do you need the encouragement of friends to help you stick to a study? Would you like a fresh awareness of God’s grace for your daily life? Do you struggle to be a person of grace in one or more of your relationships? If you …

How to Deal with Rude People

Have you ever experienced a time where at complete stranger was totally rude and offensive? I’m guessing most of us mamas have run into this. “She looks like she’s from another world.” My four kids and I were sitting at the counter at Dunkin Donuts following one of my kiddo‘s well-checks. A sweet treat following a painful shot seemed like a good medicine. The rude observation came from the non-gentleman seated on the stool next to me. By this time, I had become accustom to the bizarre things people say. “Your kids all look like they have different dads,” a non-lady said …

Some Days Need a Do Over

There are some days when you just need a do over — you know the kinda day I’m talking about. The one that goes something like this: you wake up late, the kids get up early, you forget your coffee, run out the door with kids half dressed and in a full on frenzy. You’re not quite sure if you brushed your teeth, but you gotta get the kids to school on time, only you’re not. You’re so late now that you have to actually walk them into the office to sign them in, the only problem is that you …

GRACE

Grace. We’re all familiar with this word, aren’t we? As Christian women, we’re fully aware of the pardon we receive thanks to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and His efforts on the Cross. We recognize the magnitude of such a gift…and what it means to us eternally. However, receiving grace is one thing. Giving it? That’s a whole other story. Especially when it comes to being a mom…especially when it comes to raising our kids. See, as a mother, I have the opportunity to extend grace multiple times a day. Like when my sweet son writes all over the television …

Discipline and Grace Finding the Balance

“They are so well behaved,” the perky saleswoman nodded at my three children. They are? I just told them to settle down three times. One nearly knocked over a shoe display and… “Thank you,” I smiled and attempted to cool my boiling blood. Where is the balance between first time obedience and grace? How do I decide what to discipline and what to talk about? As moms we are to, “Train a child up a child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6 How do we train children without breaking their souls? How do we speak with kindness, but …

Does Grace Show Stains?

By Guest: Michelle Hawkins “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow….” (Isaiah 1:16-18 NKJV) I had an idea of what I thought my two school-age boys would be wearing for Easter service. All white including shirt and pants. I cleaned them up, dressed them, and then commanded them to wait for me as I got ready myself. I specifically said, “DO NOT GET DIRTY.” After a few minutes of hearing them whine–because I made them sit still on the couch until I called …

How a Wiggles Movie Changed My Life

“Please, Mom? Pleeeease?” My daughter pleaded as she climbed into her car seat. Since buying our first minivan, I’d come to appreciate all its amenities but one—the built-in DVD player. That thing was a source of constant battle. Every time we boarded the van, my children asked to watch a movie. And every time I replied, no. Because good parents don’t let their children watch television in the car. My Perfect Parent Handbook has lots of rules like that. Good parents don’t buy sugary cereal. Good parents don’t let their children wear pajamas to the playground. Good parents have a …

Mothering in Grace and Truth

“You just don’t understand children!” she stomped her foot as tears wet her eyelashes. My heart boiled hot and anger flashed, but no words flew out of my mouth. No angry tirades and somehow peace. . . Peace beyond me settled in my heart as my mind whirled. What do I do with that Lord? I prayed and pondered as I turned and said with an edge in my tone, “You will put on those clothes by the time I get back or there will be consequences.” As I left her to put on her church clothes a still small …

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