By Rita Brigham

The purpose of prayer is to commune with God. For working mothers, prayer is a necessitity. We have ourselves, husbands, significant others, children, family members, our church, government officials, and the world to pray for, just to name a few. Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? It is possible that you may be thinking, “Where do I fit in time to pray?” If prayer isn’t already in your schedule, here are a few tips:

When you awake in the morning before your day starts, take time to pray. It is at this time of day that you are able to worship God and give thanks for all his blessings. Even when things are going rough, starting the day with prayer will change your attitude, mood, and help you face any obstacle that comes in your path.

While you’re driving is another time for prayer. Turn off the radio or CD player and just spend a few minutes with GOD thanking him for safe travel and praising his name for allowing you to have the ability and freedom to go where it is necessary and having the means to do so.

If you are blessed enough to have access to the internet, and are fortunate to receive an email with a prayer, take time to forward it to some people. Each time someone receives your email, a prayer will be said as they are reading your email.

This month our church has been fasting and praying, and it has changed the way I think and look at life. As I’ve been praying for my family and others, I’ve also been praying for the people of Haiti. I can’t think of a day in my life that I’ve been without food, shelter, or clothing. These are just some of the simple necessities of life and sometimes we forget how good things are and start to complain that we may not have this or that. But if we are thankful for the small things, the things that we take for granted on a daily basis, we can say that we are truly blessed, and God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

Posted under Working Moms

by Rita Brigham

Working Mothers have one of the most rewarding professions. Our day starts at dawn and usually ends well after everyone has gone to bed. We are multi-tasking individuals who are always planning for the days ahead. God has created us to be nurturing and supportive of our families, but sometimes we fail to include ourselves in that equation. So the question I ask is, “How do we manage all the things that we do, and still have time for ourselves?”

One thing for sure, if there is something we want to do we can always make time. Think of it like this, we make appointments for everything else in our life, so why not make an appointment with yourself? Put yourself in your calendar, plan time for prayer, exercise, and of course something fun to do as well. Make yourself a priority like we do with so many other things. It doesn’t have to be something extravagant; it can be as simple as a candle lit bubble bath while the children are doing their homework. Try trading times with another working mom by babysitting for her one evening a week in exchange for some alone time for yourself. Another suggestion I would like to offer is, if you are married ask your husband what his schedule is, so that he can take care of the children while you take sometime to relax.

My mother used to say that time doesn’t wait on anyone. When I was younger I didn’t really understand what that meant, but as I get older it seems like the days pass by so quickly. When this article is posted we will be in the year 2010, let us consider taking a little time for ourselves, so that we are happier, healthier, and can be a blessing to others.

Posted under Latest News, Working Moms

When the opportunity presented itself to write a monthly article on working mothers, I was really interested. My inner spirit seemed to leap at the chance, but when I sat down to actually do a sample writing for Pastor Chris, I thought, “Where shall I start?” My mind was a total blank and I prayed, “Dear Lord, how do I begin?”

What is the definition of a working mother? I entered Working Mother in Goggle and the Internet gave me many sites, but my fondest and most precious memory is my own Mother. Memories of her being hard at work when I got up, she could be always found in the kitchen cooking or at her bakers counter rolling dough to make Buttermilk biscuits or Parker House rolls.

My mother and father owned their own business, “Johnson Catering Service”. They catered Dinner Parties, Weddings, and Banquets. Not only was my mother a working mother, she was a Christian woman. She taught me how to pray, the importance of prayer, and how to live a Godly life. It seemed like I was in church all the time. There was Wednesday night bible study, Sunday school, church, Sunday night service, choir rehearsal, youth service, usher board meetings, and ushering on Youth Sunday and Youth for Christ.

There were many functions at church for one ministry or another, and she made sure I was involved in most of them. At the time I wondered why I had to do all these things. To be perfectly honest, I resented it as well. Since I was young and immature, little did I know that she was actually preparing me for life.

Just recently I was talking to my daughter, who is a senior at SIU Carbondale, and she mentioned her involvement with her church on campus and with community service. The discussion started with me talking about working with the Connections Team and Guest Services. As I was explaining to her what we do, and sharing how much I enjoyed it, she said, “Mom, I don’t ever remember you going to church and doing nothing. That’s where I get my desire to be involved at church”. Isn’t it amazing to know that your children are watching what you do, and end up emulating you?

At that very instant I knew why my mother taught me the way she did.  I only wish I could tell her how much I appreciate her for all the life lessons and work ethic she taught me and how I have passed it down to my daughter. But most of all, I want to thank her for the love of Christ that she imparted to me. My mother passed away in November of 1980, but I see her living on in myself and my daughter.

Posted under Working Moms

Happy New Year!

I spent New Year’s Eve at a friend’s home. This was such a beautiful spiritual encounter with God. Over the next few weeks I want to take you on this Journey.

Three Part Encounter for the New Year

We need to take another look and see God’s blessings

I. Name five things you are most grateful for in 2007

1. ____________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________

Posted under Working Moms

by Pastor Pat Johnson

Every Christmas my mom and brother spend the night with my family for Christmas Eve. We have a great time baking cookies for Santa (LOL) and putting out carrots and water for the reindeers! We read the story of Christmas from the Bible and allow the kids to open one gift…it is always a new pair of pajamas so that the Christmas morning pictures are cute! The next morning we wake up with the birds, open gifts and have a wonderful breakfast together.

Posted under Working Moms

It’s Thanksgiving time already! And being that it is, I just want to take time to pause and reflect on just how much God has blessed my own life even in the midst of some hard, personal trials and still ongoing. Besides my salvation, there is the constant “lifting-up” that our Heavenly Father does on an on-going basis in my life. I think there’s a special “lifting-up” that God does for working moms. He knows our hearts, He knows our days, He knows our nights and He knows everything in between. Moms NEVER stop working! If there’s one thing I realize, it’s that being a Mom is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week position, or might I put it…..opportunity.
 
Because, when we have been given the blessing of being a Mom, we have such opportunities for passing on God’s love in so many ways. AND, even if one doesn’t have children of her own, God gives opportunities to “mother” all around us. Don’t let them pass by this holiday season. Grab them and run with them. Whether it be in your work environment, at the office, at your school where you teach, at your child’s school, in your home, at the library, or while paying a bill! They’re all around us. Be looking for them and try not to get completely caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. (As I am guilty of!)
 
Let’s remember what God gave us and be ever so thankful for it! For without it what would we have? As you gather with your families, friends, or celebrate just with a quiet dinner at home, lift up in prayer all those who have not had the opportunities we have had. The most important, the opportunity to hear the Word of God. The opportunity to feel the love of God.
 
Food seems to be the main attraction during this particular holiday. Let us make a meal starting with Hors ‘D Oeuvre of the scriptures, maybe in Genesis, moving into Appetizers in perhaps the scriptures in Samuel, a bit of a salad of the scriptures in 1st and 2nd Chronicles, diving into the main course in either of the Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, with a bit of side dishes in the Proverbs and Psalms.  Finally finishing off with dessert anywhere from Ephesians to Revelations, or anywhere in the Bible that I haven’t mentioned of course! If you are not FULL and OVERFLOWING after that, well you just haven’t eaten!
 
May this Thanksgiving time for you and your families, be a time of reflection of just where we’ve all been and where we are all headed asking if it is the direction that God wants us to go! From one working mom to all of you working moms out there……God Bless You and May you have a blessed Thanksgiving celebration!

Posted under Working Moms

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a month already since my last column!  Kids are back in school, busses are on the road and carpools are en route.  Please be extra special careful when driving!

Of course, as a result of the kids being back in school our schedules change too!  There’s more to do but in the same amount of time!  Hmmmmm, how does that work?  Well, it just seems to because we are moms.  We pray! Whether it is before you step out of bed or on the road to school; we make sure we pray!  It makes me smile when I’m driving my 16 year old to school and he reaches for my hand when we hit a certain point on our school route.  If we haven’t already prayed, he will lean over and turn the radio down. Sometimes my mind is on so many other things, but he remembers that we need to pray.  There was another time when my 22 year old was enlisted to take my 16 year old to school and he turned down the radio so they could pray together.  PRAISE GOD for these huge blessings!  Prayer makes all the difference in our days.  It may not seem like we are getting through, but with God on our side, we will.

Each child is different, as we all know.  My firstborn was all over the place on school mornings.  My second born had his clothes laid out for the week at the age of 5, all on his own!  (Not sure where he got that from….I’m not that organized!  I wish!)  Of course things change over the years and they become teenagers!  Need I say more?

The best thing I can suggest is to do whatever we can the evening before; pack lunches, check folders, sign notes, return papers and place in folders, and send checks when required.  Again, with two totally different types of children, I had to pull together all of my older son’s notes into a folder, (they usually just got shoved in his backpack), but my second child had them all neatly in order in the folder.  But again I say, they become teenagers and it does change somewhat.

Each of our children has his own special gift(s) that God has blessed him with. If we can just help them excel in those areas, or even just to help them identify those areas that they are good in, it can make the school year more productive and self-satisfying for them.

I have found that there is nothing that a teacher appreciates more than a word of thanks. An unexpected note of encouragement goes along way.  As we enter this new school year, keep your school principal, administrative staff, teachers and students in daily prayer.  Some of our schools aren’t even aware of the National Day of Prayer or See You at the Pole Day.  Let them know. It just takes a quick email.  And the best thing I can suggest is to talk with other moms.  Sometimes we feel so overwhelmed, but we are not- and I repeat not- alone!  We all feel overwhelmed and there just might be someone in your exact shoes and the two of you (or three or more) can help each other out!  Step out and make new friends.  Remember the threefold chord is the strongest; church, home and school.

God bless you in the new school year with your children whatever grade it might be, Pre-K through college, and be in prayer always.  May God place a hedge of protection over your children throughout their schooldays, sports events, after-school events and travels to and from school.

Looking forward to next month!  I’m open to feedback on your beginning month of school!

Posted under Working Moms

Well, it’s early to rise and late to bed and here we are ending another week.  It’s 11:18 p.m. on a Friday night and I was going to get to sleep early tonight! Yeah, right!  Anyone relate?We think, if I just get one more thing done.  But, there’s always one more thing, and then one more thing and if we allow ourselves, it can go on forever!

Let’s face it…..Super Moms we are not and it’s O.K!  So, the dishes wait until morning (believe me…..they aren’t going anywhere through the night!).  If we would give God the time we spend on  “getting just one more thing done” all the better we will be for it.  In fact, our entire family benefits because we’ve made God our focus.  He wants our time.  He wants to know us.  He wants our hearts.  He knows our schedules even before we do!  Have you ever noticed the days we start off with God run much smoother and are more productive? Or how about BEFORE we lay our heads down for the night?

In the Bible, God gives us His Armor in the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verses 13-18.  Something to remember….it isn’t for use just while we are awake! I’ve tried to always remember to “place” it on before I step out of the house every morning and then I though, why not at night?  I have found that I sleep much more peacefully when I have placed on His Armour prior to going to sleep and after reading His Word.  In addition, pray over our children.  In my experience, whether they are 6 or 16, 2 or 22, it gives them a sense of peace and security that only the Holy Spirit can provide.

So, let me just say in closing, we are ALL Working Moms!  Whether we work at home raising our children and running a household or we work outside our homes as an employee on a salaried job or run the entire company, God is with us wherever we invite Him in to be.  We aren’t walking easy street, He wants us to walk the narrow road.  When we do this “Working Mom” thing His way, it works!  And who knows, the woman sitting next to you right now or, the clerk at the grocery store, the woman at the bank, or your neighbor across the street, just might need a word of encouragement to make it through her day.  We need to be there for each other as God is there for us.

Posted under Working Moms