Gospel Minded Mama

If you’ve been a mother for more than five minutes, you know that the "stomach bug" is one of the most dreaded phrases in the language. This past week, it hit our home. It wasn't a quick, one-night affair; it was a slow march through all four of my children, lasting an entire week. The most difficult part? It only happened at night in their shared bunk room.  I spent my nights displacing children from their bunk beds, scrubbing messes out of bedding, and avoiding every porous surface in the house. I had kids sleeping on plastic mats on the floor just to survive the night. There was one specific moment, exhausted and disgusted, where I was trying to clean out the tiny crevices between the furniture and the walls—spots I couldn't even reach because the bunk beds are all lined up—and I felt the weight of the week crashing down. I’ll be honest: I cried. The temptation to just give up and walk away was so strong. But leaving a mess like that on the walls and floors would h...

I had to ask myself a hard question recently: Is my faith actually in God, or is it in my own ability to "do the right things"? It’s an easy trap to fall into. We slip into a mindset where we think that if we obey the scriptures  (not even perfectly), follow the right rhythms, and check off enough "good deeds," we will get that prayer request. We start treating our obedience like a down payment for a life of answered prayers and ease. But here is the hard truth I’ve been sitting with: If my peace is dependent on getting my "desired outcome," then my faith isn't really in God—it’s in my own performance. Obedience Without the "Contract" Now, please hear me: realizing your faith has been performance-based doesn't mean you stop obeying the Lord or throw out your disciplines. Obedience is still the goal, but the motive has to change. It’s not about stopping the "good works"; it’s about shifting your focus from your own blueprint for...