HAPPY NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 KJV
18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

"It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men and women....."

Dearest Ladies,

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!!!

HAPPY NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY!!!!

Please grab some flapjacks (gluten-free if you're ordering for me- SMILE!) and join me on a journey of refreshment and renewal.....

Raising children is much like preparing pancakes. Just as certain ingredients are required for a great pancake, great, godly children need specific investments. God intentionally made our children, in fact, ALL children, impressionable in the first quarter of life so that we could shape their hearts and minds with the truth of God's word. Every seed that we plant in our children will reap a harvest, good or bad. Everything that we model in front of our children will influence them more than anything else. We've all heard before, "children do what they see, not what they're told." Generally speaking, learning is a catch all experience of what is caught, not taught. Let's use our time wisely.

After the pancake's ingredients are whipped into a batter and then subjected to high heat, it's unreasonable to try and alter the outcome. Have you ever tried to alter the texture, consistency, or taste of a fried pancake? It's super hard but only possible but adding things like syrup, whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, and perhaps fruit-based toppings. The additives can only alter so much but definitely not the substance of the pancake itself. Likewise, it's impossible to "raise" an adult. Furthermore, it's hard to counsel or repair adults.

By God's design, childhood experiences are supposed to form a foundation from whence adulthood springs forth. If the formative years were healthy and helpful then the results can be very beautiful and rewarding. In contrast, a traumatic childhood can plague a person an entire lifetime. It's never ever too late to receive help but it's more challenging to undo or minimize the effects of brokenness. Let's begin each day with a renewed pledge and vow to partner with God to raise strong children.

If you are in your right mind today, you are TREMENDOUSLY blessed! In fact, you are a HUMUNGOUS miracle. Did you know that stress and trauma can rewire the mind, and coupled with genetic predisposition and other environmental factors, can lead to mental instability and also, mental illness?

When someone says or suggests something outrageous, we respond, "are you out of your mind?" Being out of one's mind is a pop culture hyperbole that often reflects an outrageously awesome idea or an insanely terrible idea. But truthfully speaking, hardships, struggles, prolonged stress, and of course trauma can cause some folks to lose their minds or at the least experience mental challenges.

It's a blessing to be in your right mind. Many times things happen outside of a person's control that results in cerebral rewiring. By nature women are emotional beings. The apostle Paul refers to women as the weaker vessel. Because of our sensibilities and sensitivities, and often lack of protection, our minds and bodies can have adverse reactions to overwhelming stress.

Ladies, it's so important to know your worth in God. It's so important to daily remind yourself of your worth in God. Moreover, it's equally important to remind another sister in Christ of her worth in God. If not a sister in Christ, try to offer words of support and encouragement to other women in your circle of influence. Help win them to Christ. We all need love, support, and encouragement to weather the storms of life. We all need love, support, and encouragement to fight Satan's many attacks on our bodies and minds.

I am reminded of a great overcomer, Sonya Carson. She is the mother of famous neurosurgeon and current Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Ben Carson. After her husband left, she was forced to raise her sons alone in the dangerous, inner city of Detroit.

She was abandoned by her birth family and grew up in foster homes until she met and married her husband at the tender age of 13. He was nearly 20 years her senior. She reports having a loving, attentive husband until they had kids. With the arrival of babies, the marriage began to deteriorate. She eventually learned that her husband was secretive and unfaithful; he had another family across town.

The weight of her husband's abandonment was enormous. The hurt and betrayal from Mr. Carson only compounded her childhood pain. Sonya struggled with profound anxiety and depression as she juggled working up to three jobs to provide for her boys. Occasionally she would have members of the church care for sons, while she admitted herself for psychiatric care.

Sonya is a incredible survivor and overcomer. She battled and won many trials with anxiety and depression. With only a third grade education, she raised her boys to become accomplished men. She credits God with her family's success (Gifted Hands).

Dearest Ladies, the devil is after our souls, our bodies, and our minds. Our mind is the tool that we use to raise our children in the Lord. Our mind is a invaluable asset that is needed to follow Moses' command in Deuteronomy to teach our children God's law when we "sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." A sound, sober mind is a gift; it's a blessing. Continue to entrust your work, as single parents, to God. Always pray for your mental health and the mental health of fellow single moms. Let's consistently cast our cares on the Lord; He can deliver us from every attack of the devil.

Remember, NO weapon formed against us shall prosper!!!!!

ALSO remember, weapons will surely be formed against us. But, by God's grace and mercy, they shall NOT prosper. Please read ALL of Isaiah 54:17!!!!! It's a wonder!!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!! Glory to God!!!! Glory hallelujah!!!!!

Love and blessings

Hugs