Planted in Love The Home Missionary
I'm always honored to speak at seminaries; it brings me great joy. Not just because I'm excited about how God will reveal Himself and connect with families and more, but also because it offers me content that's already prepared and only needs a few tweaks for a blog post. Content that's ready to go is music to a blogger's ears.
Isn't this topic beautiful? The wonderful Moms Group in Barcelona came up with it.
The journey of being planted and rooted in love starts with me, not my spouse or children, but with myself.
When I think of being planted in love, it's like a beautiful invitation to be firmly grounded in Him.
I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. John 15:5 TPT
Do you ever feel powerless or lacking something? Perhaps it's patience, time, wisdom, self-control, kindness, joy, love, have I mentioned time …?
IF He is my source, fruitfulness WILL stream.
However, what does being planted in love look like if you happen to be the first Christian in your family or if you're still discerning whether this path is for you? It can be rather daunting, especially when it appears that others have everything figured out. Which, let's be honest, is not true; we are all learning. I'm reminded of the insightful words of an experienced mother who once said, "You just need to stay one step ahead of your children," and that's an achievable objective. You can start by presenting your "five loaves and two fishes" to God; He will multiply them. Many times, we hold back, waiting until we have more to offer. However, He is encouraging you to bring what you have right now.
In the story of the boy in John 6 with his five loaves and two fishes, Jesus didn't scold him for not bringing more. Instead, He took the loaves, gave thanks, and began to distribute them. Miraculously, the food multiplied, and everyone ate as much as they wanted.
What are your five loaves and two fishes?
Offer them to Him and witness the extraordinary things only He can do. Also, surround yourself with families you respect and seek their guidance; we are meant to encourage one another.
Hearing God's Voice
I believe we tend to make hearing God's voice more complicated than it needs to be. Just the other week, a lovely lady approached me, inquiring about how to hear the voice of God. I shared my personal journey, which began with the simple act of listening. With daily practice of asking, listening, and patiently awaiting His every word.
One valuable technique that has been instrumental in my own journey is to start journaling everything I hear without filtering it. This was especially important for me as a recovering perfectionist because putting anything on paper used to feel quite daunting. I realized that writing without double or triple-checking (and for me, it was more like checking five times) would wear me out and have me quit before even starting. So, having no filter was crucial for me. Afterward, I would review what I wrote to ensure it aligned with God's Word. We're all in the process of learning, taking one step at a time. If you don't hear anything, don't be discouraged. Expect to hear, but remember that tomorrow is a new day. Over time, you'll notice how you become more attuned to His voice. God is always with you and is speaking.
My prayer is to be sensitive to His movements and pauses, to align myself with Him. This journey has been truly beautiful, and I want to invite you to start your day like that. It doesn't have to take hours; bring what you have. What are your "five loaves and fishes"? Is it 10 minutes in the morning, 5...? Offer it to Him and see how He will multiply it.
Atmosphere
I have a huge influence on the atmosphere at my home as a mom. I was painfully reminded by my husband after I stormed into the kitchen and with my little demands and questions, he expressed that the atmosphere was much more peaceful before my arrival. Ouch! My eldest, who is 18 years old, wanted to ask me something, but I made it clear to him that this wasn't the right time, and I didn't use the nicest tone. I recognized that I needed to apologize, even though I initially didn't want to. It surprised me because forgiveness is a core value in our family, and we've actively practiced it. However, with him being an adult, it seemed harder, and I can't fully explain why yet.
In the end, I mustered the courage to apologize and was met with a big hug and warm smiles. Forgiveness has the power to influence and change the atmosphere in a positive way. Knowing the negative aspect of it can become a heavy burden, but the life that flows out of a godly atmosphere is powerful. It truly touches generations. Sometimes, I believe we become so focused on what not to do and on avoiding offense or overwhelming others that we lose sight of God's plan for abundant life and what He really is promising us.
We know how powerful words can be, I really like this translation from the Message bible.
Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose. Proverbs 18:21-22
You decide. We don't hide our weaknesses but run to Him, offering them as a sacrifice. It's not about adding one more task to our list; it's about allowing Him to work.
I've found a verse that I'll be praying:
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26
Her teachings are brimming with wisdom and kindness, as her loving guidance flows from her lips.(TPT)
Let's fill our homes with wisdom and kindness.
In the same way, we are all called to be prophets in our homes; each one has the gift to prophesy, to uplift, comfort, and encourage our husbands, our children, and to speak in faith about what we don't yet see as if it were already there.
As we practice listening to the Holy Spirit, let's hear right now what He's saying about our husbands, our children, and write it down.
Renewing our mind
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)
I so strongly believe that renewing our mind daily is essential , it's only when we intentionally seek the Holy Spirit's guidance that we become aware of the influences shaping us.
As parents, it's crucial to remind ourselves of the biblical perspective of marriage and children:
What are children called in the bible, they are a blessing, a gift, a reward and like arrows in the hands of a warrior.
These biblical truths can run counter to the messages we receive in the world. Society may emphasise the negative physical changes during pregnancy, the potential impact on one's career, the perceived high cost of raising children, concerns about limited personal time, and how children may affect our marriages and relationships.
However, by renewing our minds and seeking the Holy Spirit's wisdom, we can align our perspective with God's truth, recognising that children are indeed a source of blessing and enrichment in our lives, counteracting the misconceptions that often prevail in the world.
Children are a blessing, a gift, a reward. Psalm 27:3
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:4-5
While we may consider our children a blessing, how do we talk about them? Do we express how they sometimes get on our nerves, how their noise can be overwhelming, or how we eagerly anticipate the school's reopening? Finding a balance between being honest and vulnerable about the challenges we face and filling our hearts with God's truth is essential.
If you know me, you're aware of my strong conviction that God is using families at this specific time, calling upon mothers to serve as home missionaries. This calling isn't dependent on whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a working mom. To be honest, I'm not fond of these labels. Instead, it revolves around what the Holy Spirit is personally whispering to you. How are you efficiently managing your gifts within your home? What is He saying to you, and how is He challenging you? Are your loved ones receiving your best, or are they left with the leftovers?
Being planted in love is essentially being planted in God.
While writing, I experienced a profound sense of grief, recognizing how often we neglect to include the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is God, dwelling within us. He is the one who comforts, teaches us all things, reminds us, and bestows spiritual gifts upon us. We have the privilege of tapping into His divine power source and accessing His wisdom at any time, yet we frequently choose to rely on our own strength and forget that He is not after our strength but our weakness.