Tag: Jesus

New Year, New Mercies: A Mom’s Reflection

Linsey Driskill

As moms, it can be easy to blame ourselves when our kids mess up and make wrong choices. 

One of the things I love about the new year is the reminder of God’s new mercies and how He restores. So even when we experience those days of disappointment in parenthood, we can have hope that God makes all things new.  

In these tween and teen years, our kids are trying to become their own person, which can create some bumps along the way. So, instead of blaming every one of their wrong choices on ourselves, it can be helpful to remember that our kids are not robots and that they will make mistakes. Just like we do.

And it can help to think back to our own childhoods, which were woven with wonderful, but also difficult moments, when we might not have made the best choices. 

This is where God’s grace comes in. We need Him. Our kids need Him. 

One of the hardest things about being a mom is opening our hands and not being able to control our kids’ choices. 

But one of the best things about being a mom is opening our hands and not being able to control our kids’ choices. 

Letting them have wings to fly and become who God has intended them to be—not who we think they should be. 

Release the control, and open-handedly trust the Lord with your kids, as you depend on Him to lead you. 

If you are blaming yourself, trust the Lord with your life as a parent, as a daughter of the King—your mistakes, your decisions, your joys. Release them to the Lord.

As the new year brings a fresh view of what’s to come, 

every. single. day. also offers a fresh experience of God’s grace and newness. 

With your child, He can make all things new. 

He can turn around things where you don’t see hope. 

That’s what God does. 

Keep pouring into your daughter. Your son. Lift them to the Lord again and again. Share the refreshing Word of God with them. Spend time with them. Instead of correcting all the time, listen to them. 

And trust the Lord–that He will make all things work for the good of those who love Him.

As this new year begins, be reminded of the glorious hope we have with Jesus, who makes all things new. 

As my friend, Paige Pippin, so beautifully wrote in her Christmas card:

“If you’re reading this, we’re praying for you. (We are!) Now and in days to come, we celebrate the love of God, who sent His sinless Son to die the death we deserve. For those who trust in the risen King Jesus, there is peace and fellowship with God as we wait for Him to set all things right. In Jesus, the best is yet to come. 

Let the new year be a reminder that in Jesus, the best is yet to come. 

Let the new year, remind you of God’s endless mercies, endless grace, endless love.

And that the best if yet to come. 

Happy New Year!

Linsey

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelations 21:5

“I will sacrifice with shouts of Joy.”🌻

Linsey Driskill

Hi! This is the platform I’ll be using for my content from now on (WordPress). As I said before, I know it’s been a while since I’ve written–I’m so happy to reconnect. I have taken a bit of a hiatus as I’ve taken on a job with For Girls Like You which is a nonprofit encouraging tween girls with Godly content and resources. I’m excited to share some of my content with you again and hope to inspire you and encourage you in your walk with Jesus! Please let me know what resonates in comments. I’d love to hear from you. 😀

As our kids grow, along with their emotions and the ups and downs, having joyful hearts can set the tone in our houses. It can be good medicine for our kids and rub off on them. Let’s go to the Lord and ask Him to lead us in joy. These verses will help us do that too!

I love that God answers from His heavenly sanctuary with His victorious power. We DO have the victory. Whether the victory comes in things here, or just because we have everlasting life with Jesus, Believers have the Victory. Because we have life forever with God through Jesus.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew they had victory even though they were thrown into the fire for the name of the Lord, and Daniel knew He had the victory even though He was thrown into the Lion’s Den. Even though all four were rescued, beforehand, they didn’t know what the outcome would be, but regardless of it, they knew they had the victory because they knew God. 

Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome about 66AD during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Even so, Peter and Paul experienced victory as well because their names were written in the Book of Life. They would experience life forever with Jesus. That is Victory.

So, whether we’re going through heart-wrenching circumstances, or celebrating a wonderful moment, let us “shout for joy over our victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God” because no matter what, we have the victory!

*Written by Linsey Driskill and previously published by For Girls Like You

This spoke to me a lot. I love how David says that during trouble and enemies surrounding Him, He will seek the Lord and sacrifice with shouts of joy. Sometimes choosing joy is a sacrifice. When we go through difficult times, it is a fight to choose joy. It’s a sacrifice. For the Lord. Here are David’s words:

Lord, would you help us sacrifice with shouts of joy when we are going through something difficult. You see our sacrifice and You will honor that. Let my head rise above difficulty by singing and making music to you, Lord, and by sacrificing with shouts of joy. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” Isaiah 51:3

Here’s a wonderful song with words of life to hold onto this week by Matt Maher: Alive & Breathing.

“Joy still comes in the morning
Hope still walks with the hurting
If you’re still alive and breathing
Praise the Lord. 

Don’t stop dancing and dreaming
There’s still Good News worth repeating
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord.”

What we can hold onto most of all is that Jesus walks with us and we will see Him again…

“I will see you again and you will rejoice, 
and no one will take away your joy.” – Jesus (John 16:22)

“I will sacrifice with shouts of joy.”🌻

Linsey Driskill

Hi! You had signed up for email content from me via mailerLite, but I just switched my email platform to WordPress so you should now be notified here when I post new content. As I previously said, I know it’s been a while since I’ve written–I’m so happy to reconnect. I have taken a bit of a hiatus as I’ve taken on a job with For Girls Like You which is a nonprofit encouraging tween girls with Godly content and resources. I’m excited to share some of my content with you again and hope to inspire you and encourage you in your walk with Jesus! Please let me know what resonates in comments. I’d love to hear from you. 😀

As our kids grow, along with their emotions and the ups and downs, having joyful hearts can set the tone in our houses. It can be good medicine for our kids and rub off on them. Let’s go to the Lord and ask Him to lead us in joy. These verses will help us do that too!

I love that God answers from His heavenly sanctuary with His victorious power. We DO have the victory. Whether the victory comes in things here, or just because we have everlasting life with Jesus, Believers have the Victory. Because we have life forever with God through Jesus.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew they had victory even though they were thrown into the fire for the name of the Lord, and Daniel knew He had the victory even though He was thrown into the Lion’s Den. Even though all four were rescued, beforehand, they didn’t know what the outcome would be, but regardless of it, they knew they had the victory because they knew God. 

Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome about 66AD during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Even so, Peter and Paul experienced victory as well because their names were written in the Book of Life. They would experience life forever with Jesus. That is Victory.

So, whether we’re going through heart-wrenching circumstances, or celebrating a wonderful moment, let us “shout for joy over our victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God” because no matter what, we have the victory!

*Written by Linsey Driskill and previously published by For Girls Like You

This spoke to me a lot. I love how David says that during trouble and enemies surrounding Him, He will seek the Lord and sacrifice with shouts of joy. Sometimes choosing joy is a sacrifice. When we go through difficult times, it is a fight to choose joy. It’s a sacrifice. For the Lord. Here are David’s words:

Lord, would you help us sacrifice with shouts of joy when we are going through something difficult. You see our sacrifice and You will honor that. Let my head rise above difficulty by singing and making music to you, Lord, and by sacrificing with shouts of joy. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” Isaiah 51:3

Here’s a wonderful song with words of life to hold onto this week by Matt Maher: Alive & Breathing.

“Joy still comes in the morning
Hope still walks with the hurting
If you’re still alive and breathing
Praise the Lord. 

Don’t stop dancing and dreaming
There’s still Good News worth repeating
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord.”

What we can hold onto most of all is that Jesus walks with us and we will see Him again…

“I will see you again and you will rejoice, 
and no one will take away your joy.” – Jesus (John 16:22)

Good Friday & Easter Activity! ❤️

Linsey Driskill

Hi, there! I’m sending this email early this week to share a wonderful Easter Activity you can do Friday. It’s from Courtney DeFeo’s book, “In this House We Will Giggle”:

1. Tie two sticks together to make a cross.
2. On Good Friday, you and your kiddos write down some of your sins- ways you have not loved God or others. Tape them on the cross (we taped them backwards to keep it between each of us & God).
3. Easter morning before your kids are awake, throw the papers away so they only see the cross.
4. This is a great visual to explain to our kids that when we believe in Jesus, we are forgiven of ALL our sins and can be with him forever. Jesus took our sins upon himself when he died on the cross. But the good news is that he rose three days later, giving us life now and forever with him! ❤️
Thank you, Lord! Happy Easter to each of you.
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Jesus knew what awaited Him.

But He still rode into Jerusalem.

Jesus rode on, with crowds before and behind Him, shouting, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”

Jesus knew what awaited, yet he persevered.

Because of His love for us – His eyes set on things above.

Jesus knew the pain he would endure, yet, he rode on.

Even through the darkness, He rode on.

Jesus saw hope.

He knew the joy set before Him – the gift of Eternal Life that would come to all who call on Him through giving His life and rising that third day, so he rode on.

Lord,
as we are in this place of waiting,
help us remember how Jesus waited.
How in darkness, uncertainty, and anguish,
Jesus turned his heart to you.
He set his eyes on you.
He set his mind on you.
And, He kept going. Lord, help us do that also.
Thank you, Jesus, for persevering, and that we can have life now and forever with You because of it.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

What a story to share with our children – when Jesus was in anguish, he prayed. And, he kept going because he “knew the joy set before Him.”

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Encouraging Gratitude & Not Worrying

Linsey Driskill

My article published by For Every Mom, “How to Encourage Gratitude in Our Children”:

img_1392.jpgIsn’t it easy to feel entitled and frustrated when we don’t get our way? How can we combat that attitude with our children and ourselves?

Through Scripture, stories, and praying.

The other day when I walked into my eight-year-old daughter’s bedroom, she was fuming in frustration because “nothing” was going her way.

Her closest friend in school sat just two desks away, yet she spoke about the kid next to her being rude, another kid being mean, and now, for the life of her, she couldn’t get the rubber band around her ponytail just the way she wanted to. A true emergency. I could see smoke coming from her ears. Almost.

I had noticed a trend.

While I want to hear about the bad and good happening in her life, lately, I noticed one complaint after another, blooming grumpiness and ungratefulness.

I sat on my daughter’s bed, tears swelling her eyes. I told her how frustration and anger don’t help, but just make us miserable – to try to focus on giving thanks instead.

But she desperately said, “I can’t help it! I just get so frustrated and mad. I’m so bad at this.”

In that moment, I saw her hurt. I needed to quit preaching and just connect with her.

My mind wandered to Tedd Tripp’s advice at a parenting conference.

He said that when correcting our kids, to get on their level, and let them know that we’re working on the same things – that we are in this together.

So, I looked into her tear-swollen eyes and told her I struggle with the same thing. My daughter looked up at me. She was listening.

I told her that it’s easy for me to complain and pout when I don’t get my way too, but there’s a verse that helps me with that: “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We had already memorized this verse, so she was familiar with it.

I shared that when my mind jumps to self-pity, I try to thank the Lord for something instead and it changes my mind and heart.

He changes my mind and heart.

I know there is power in telling stories as Jesus did, so I shared a story with my daughter of a woman who also dealt with the issue of giving thanks. Corrie ten Boom.

This is what I told her…

Corrie ten Boom was a woman who loved Jesus. She bravely hid Jews because Hitler was trying to hurt them. And, Corrie was put in a prison camp because of it.

The soldiers took away each person’s belongings, including their Bibles. Miraculously, they never found Corrie’s Bible. Corrie slept on a flea-infested mattress, crammed with several other women, including her sister, Betsie.

Feeling hunger pains and fleas biting them, you would think they complained. But, instead, Betsie told Corrie about a verse that came to her mind.

All those years ago, the same verse we read, they also read: “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Corrie asked her sister what on earth they could give thanks for. Betsie said she was thankful that the Lord allowed her to be with her sister in the prison camp when they could have been separated. Then, she thanked God for the fleas. Can you believe that?

Corrie told her sister that she could never give thanks for the fleas. But Betsie told Corrie they had to because it’s God’s will to give thanks in all circumstances.

So, they gave thanks for the fleas.

You know what happened because of those fleas? The soldiers wouldn’t come into the barracks where they stayed. Because of that, Corrie and Betsie were able to have Bible studies and share their hope of Jesus during a tough time.

None of that would have happened if the fleas hadn’t been there.

It’s a choice, I told my daughter. It’s a choice to give thanks always. We talked about replacing frustration and anger with this phrase: Thank you, Lord, for _______. 

And, we talked about how we are in this together.

I drew her close and we prayed together. We gave thanks to the Lord and asked him to help us have grateful hearts.

I wiped my daughter’s wet cheeks, hugged her, and gave her some time to herself. After five minutes, she walked out of her room with a smile and joyful heart.

It’s a process for all of us – to walk the higher road of giving thanks always.

To walk the higher road of raising children who choose gratefulness over entitlement.

To walk the higher road of following Jesus.

But when we choose the higher road, we experience the full life that Jesus came to give us.

Originally published by For Every Mom: How to Encourage Gratitude in our Children 

 

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