Impressions ~ By Dionna Sanchez

Every home has an atmosphere within it. When you go to visit family and friends, it is so evident when you walk in the door that each home has its own flair, personality, and character.  It has its own “vibe” as you would say.
 
As we raise a family, it’s important for us to take a good look at what atmosphere we create within our home.  What impressions are we leaving on our kids?  And a good place to start is by looking at what is on our walls and what is on our children’s walls.  The things we surround ourselves with in our home are images that constantly integrate themselves into who we are and who we are shaping our children to be.
 
When I was growing up, my home – just as any other home – had lots of décor on the walls. Some in particular that I remember are a cross in my parents room with two wedding rings in the middle of it, a picture of the last supper, and a picture of an old man praying over bread and water. My mom gave me this picture a few years ago and I hung it in my kitchen. Do you know why I love it so? Because it is a reminder to me to be thankful for everything – even the small things. It reminds me to be humble and that God gives me all that I have.  Now what kind of an image do you think this will have on my children? I’m hoping it will be just as positive and warm as it was on my heart as I grew up.
 
We need constant reminders around us that show us who we belong to and what we want our lives to be about. If we fill our home with images that contradict what we say we believe in, those will make a stronger impact on our family than what we say.
There is a verse in the Bible in Deuteronomy that says, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
 
To me, that verse means that not only can I say I believe in the Lord, but I need to talk about Him, live a life for Him, and let Him be reflected in me in my home. If I say I love the Lord but then let my child decorate her walls with dark images, I think that is contradictory – don’t you?
 
What are you reminded of when you look at your walls? It’s something to think about because those images are nurturing the family you love.
 
 
~ Dionna Sanchez is the Founder of the Emphasis On Moms Ministry at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com

–

Bad Morning

I like to send my girls off to school with a smile on their face and hugs in their hearts. So it’s especially frustrating when they seem to be grumpy, and irritated with one another all morning.

“How rude!”

“Stop it!”

“Don’t!”

Grrr! It can make ME grumpy just listening to them!

That’s the kind of morning we had today. My heart just deflates at the thought of them leaving for school with the last memory of me being one of a chastising mother getting on their case about their attitudes!

The world is a tough place and school can be such a tough environment for our children. I want mine to have warm thoughts and feelings of home and of me. I want them to know that someone is in their corner. I want them to have the base at home to give them the courage and self esteem they need to navigate their own path and stand their ground against peer pressure.

If they leave for school feeling grumpy and frustrated with me, then I don’t think they will be very confident to go against the pack (should they need to.)

As I was watching them load up onto the bus this morning, my heart was saddened at the thought of sending them off to school on a sour note. But I thought, “I can still pray for them.” I can pray that their moods and their day will change. I can pray that somewhere, somehow, the things I teach them will permeat their hearts and lives and give them the roots they need.

As I was watching the bus take off – I saw a shadow of my oldest daughter in the backseat waving to me. I waved back and continued to see her waving at me until the bus was out of sight. It made me feel good. Maybe who I am and what I stand for is outlasting the few bad moments we had on one morning. Because my face and my hand waving at her — was the last thing she was concentrating on as she pulled away.

That’s gotta count for something.

 

~ Dionna Sanchez/Founder – EmphasisOnMoms.com

You Were Called To Be a Mom

I became a mom when I was 23 years old. I had just gotten married and my husband had custody of his 5-year-old son – which made me an immediate full-time mom.  It was a challenge, but one that I tried to embrace with everything that was in me.

As time went on, I tried to run from the title of being a “step mom.” I didn’t like all the negative connotations that went with that word. I was just fine with people thinking I was my stepson’s real mom! But you know what? In hindsight, I now see that God called me to step in to my “son’s” life and become his stepparent. It’s not something I should be ashamed of, or something I should run from. It was God’s desire and choice for my life. It has also been God’s choice for my life to have two other daughters’.

However you had your children, whether you became pregnant by accident, whether you adopted, are a stepparent, whether you have a large family or a small … it is God’s calling for you to be a mom to those children. Have you ever looked at your role as a mom in that way? Have you ever realized that being a mom is a calling? It is a privilege!

As soon as you have those babies, or those children arrive into your home, you are called by God to mother them and to give your absolute best.  With every calling comes responsibility and parenting is no different.  We need to remember that we are responsible for forming and molding someone else’s life.  We need to be intentional and responsible for how we raise our children.  That means we need to filter what they watch, who they hang out with, how we allow them to act, and what kinds of influences come into their lives.

I think some mothers “get” the calling of motherhood right from the beginning. Still others either forget it or don’t realize that God has issued a calling on their life. And having a call to be a mother doesn’t mean that God won’t also call you to do other things. He can! It simply means that He has chosen to use you in one of the most important roles in life – influencing and raising another human being.

Don’t ever minimize your role as a mom. Don’t forget how important it is that you are impacting our world and society by how you are raising your children. You matter so much – and the Lord has called you whether you feel worthy of that calling or not. It’s time to step up to the plate and give your all; not just for Him – but for your children.

 

~ Dionna Sanchez is honored that God chose her to be a step mom and mother. She continues to learn daily from those roles. You can visit her ministry at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com

Living On Should’s

Moms have a problem.  Let’s face it – most of us represent Martha in the Bible. You remember her, right? She was busy serving Jesus while Mary sat at His feet and listened?  Martha was hustling and bustling about and got in a little tizzy because her sister was not helping her.  And we are SOO like her!
 
When was the last time you said, “I need to…” or “I should….?”  We say it all of the time and we live in that frame of mind.  The frame of mind that is all about what we should be doing and how we should be doing it. 
 
It’s no surprise that we are crumbling from the pressure we are putting on ourselves. Instead of being able to enjoy our company, relax more often, or go with the flow of a moment… we are wrapped up in demands we are placing on our own shoulders.
 
We walk around our homes talking about how much we have to do, how busy we are, and this, that, and the other that we have just GOT to accomplish. I do it too! And when we do this, we are creating a mindset that is anything but calm and relaxing. We are always thinking ahead to the next “should” or “have-to-do” instead of being fully “in-the-moment.”
My heart desires to be more like Mary. Mary knew what was truly important. I’m guessing she was anything but lazy.  My guess is, that she simply knew what was important. At that moment in time, Jesus was the most important thing; listening to Him, and spending time with Him was more important than setting up for dinner.
 
If my children are truly seeking me out – I want to be thankful for that and not putting them off for “to-do’s” that will still be there tomorrow. I want to be able to know where to invest my time, and where and when to say “no” to things that I would have only done because I felt I “should.”
 
I’ve let “should’s” weigh in on my days, schedule and life for far too long. I do not want to live a selfish life, but an intentional life that knows what to value and prioritize. I know that if I continue on the course I used to be on, that people would only suck my “good intentions” out of me for service anyways. I, instead, want to be valued and valuable in what I choose to do – for myself, for God, and for others.
 
How about you?
 
 ~ Dionna Sanchez (Follow me on twitter! http://twitter.com/dionnasanchez)

Start Your Day Off Right

Some days it seems like the moment our feet hit the floor and we get out of bed, things go wrong. The day doesn’t get off on the right foot and everything dominoes from that point on into chaos, stress, anger, and many other emotions.

It doesn’t have to be that way.
 
I have found that my days start off so much better when I give my day to the Lord. God doesn’t want to only be consulted when my day goes wrong… He wants to be IN CHARGE of my day! The funny thing is, is that when I can give Him my day, I am actually more organized, and feel more in control of what goes on; whether it’s last-minute things with my girls or plans that get changed or delayed. I am calmer and in a frame of mind that is more in-line with the kind of person I want to be.
 
All it takes is an intentional few minutes. You don’t have to set aside your whole morning agenda. For God understands that our lives are full. He just wants to be with us in the fullness of them!   Give your day to the Lord by praying to Him as you lay in bed waking up, as you get ready in the bathroom, or even as you eat breakfast.  Recite a Bible verse that praises the Lord for His goodness and his Sovereignty, or a verse that talks about submitting your pride to Him and allowing Him to guide your steps.  Listen to a Christian speaker as you get dressed and ready or put on some Christian music that gets you praising God.
 
All of these things can be done while you prepare for your day. All of them help take our thoughts and place them where they need to be – on the Lord, instead of on other problems or issues. And they help us filter where our priorities and energies need to go instead of scrambling so hard to meet expectations or demands that could be dropped because they simply clog up our lives.
 
I know when I start my day off right in any or all of these ways, I feel so humbled to have God on my side helping me handle whatever comes my way. If you want to change the atmosphere of your morning, and your whole day – simply start your day off right by going to the Lord and giving it to Him first.
 
 
 
~ Dionna Sanchez likes to start her mornings by listening to Christian ministry on television.  She shares her heart with you through her blog at: http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com

When The Parent Feels Like a Child

My daughter fainted at school on Monday. We are not quite sure yet why it happened. I know that she is in God’s hands and I have faith in Him even though I fear for her. I am trying not to panic.

It’s hard as a parent when you know you are the one who is turned to for guidance and strength and support. Yet sometimes we feel so small and weak, don’t we? There are times when we don’t have all of the answers and we just wish that someone would wrap their arms around us, tell us it will be okay, and take care of things for us.

My husband leaves in a little over a week for a month long stay in Africa. I am supposed to be strong here at home. Take care of everything, provide for my girls, offer them safety and security – while daddy is far away. Yet I don’t, and won’t, feel safe and secure the whole time. I will miss the security he provides in our home. I will have questions about decisions that need to be made in his absence and I will feel like crying at times out of exhaustion and longing.

What do we do in times like these when we feel like a small child? We are supposed to be the adults. Regardless of how old we are, how much experience we have “lived” in life, or how mature we are – we all feel insecure and inept at times. We all desire to have our problems, fears, and issues placed in hands stronger, more wise, and trustworthy than our own.

I know that I have a Heavenly Father who is all of these things and more to me. He doesn’t laugh at me for feeling fearful. He doesn’t scorn me for not acting my age, or for getting emotional at times. He is simply there for me with His open arms, His gentle words, and His guiding strength. I never have to navigate through my challenges and trials alone. And I’m so glad. Because there are those weak or overwhelming moments in my life where I just don’t know what to do. It is in these moments, that I call out to God and ask Him to be real to me – to reach down to me – and to take care of me.

Do you know what? He always does. Maybe not in the way I would have imagined or hoped. But He has never failed me. Not once.

We don’t have to have it all together. We don’t have to know all of the answers. We don’t have to be super strong all of the time. We can be real and transparent with God – sharing our fears, our failures, our hurts, and our disappointments with Him. That’s what He’s there for.

When we can lay down our pride long enough to realize we need Him, I think we will find the strength, peace, contentment, and hope that we search for as a parent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: This post was written a few years ago. Thankfully, my daughter was determined to be okay.

~ Dionna Sanchez is vulnerable with her life so that in some way, she can help and encourage others. You can read more about her on her blog at: http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com

I’m Spending My Time

How do we spend the bulk of our time?

There are lots of things we love to do. For one person it might be gardening, golfing, decorating. Still another may love to spend hours reading, puttering around their house, or sewing. There is so much to do – scrapbooking, cooking and baking, collecting things, writing, etc.

Whatever it is we love to do – do we spend hours and hours of our time investing in getting it done – to use for the Lord? Or do we spend hours and hours of our time doing something just to have it done for our own satisfaction? You see, I’ve been thinking about why we are here on earth, what we are to do with our time, and what we can take to heaven with us. And it seems to me that God wants us to spend the bulk of our time either growing and learning more about Him, or sharing His love with others so He is glorified.

I know we all have hobbies, interests, to-do lists, etc. And I think we will always spend some of our time devoted to tasks, projects, and hobbies that may have no eternal value whatsoever. But it’s the bulk of our time that we should analyze. If we love to garden – that’s great. But then what do we do with it when it’s done? Do we donate produce to the church? Do we give flowers to the sick, lonely, and needy? Or do we just enjoy it for our own pleasure?

Almost everything we do and are interested in, can somehow be used for the Lord.

I am on the computer a great deal. I am constantly trying to reavaluate the time I spend on it and asking God to help me purge what needs to be purged so that I don’t waste hours and hours of my time when I have a family that needs and wants me with them. BUT — I can honestly say that most of my time on the computer is used for the Lord. It is the Mission Field He has called me to at this point in my life. And if a lot of my time is spent there – then it’s because I am willing and wanting to continue to let God use me to bring others to Him. And I think that’s okay. I think it’s more than okay.

Everyone has a different calling on their life and a different “mission” where God can use them. For you, maybe your mission field is working in the public school system. Maybe God has called you to leave your family and friends and serve Him in Chile or Germany. Maybe God simply has chosen to use you in a way no one else can be used by working through you at your local hair salon, or through your gifts of baking for others. For me – God has called me to the Mission Field of the Internet right now.

Whatever it is that you enjoy doing….wherever you spend your time – please make sure you aren’t simply doing it for yourself. Keep your ear tilted to what God is trying to tell you and ask of you. Be willing to open yourself up for HIS plans for your life. Allow your hard work and dedication to be vulnerable and open as God uses it to bring others to Him.

You see, we can spend hours and hours of our time carving, crafting, sculpting, cleaning, molding, or embellishing something — but if we don’t turn back around and allow it to be used for the Lord – we’ve merely wasted time.

It’s okay to enjoy video games, crafts, movies, and the what-not. Let’s just make sure that those things stay as periodic enjoyments from time to time – and never end up being focuses of our whole attention and time. Those areas need to stay open to be available for God to use whenever He chooses.

We are who we are for reasons. Allow God to use your natural “bents”….. your time will never be wasted, if you do.

~ Dionna Sanchez is the Founder of the Emphasis On Moms Ministry at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com – you can also visit her parenting blog at http://influencinglives.blogspot.com

This Old House

In the neighborhood where I live, I have one neighbor who likes to cause trouble. He picks the fruit from my trees, chops down my shade trees, and mows down my flowers.

He dumps trash in my yard, reads my mail, steals my packages from the delivery man, tries to tell me all the neighborhood gossip about my friends, and does his darnedest to make me mad.

Forever prowling around the premises, he tries to sneak in the windows and get his foot in the door, attempting to steal my belongings. So I put an alarm system on all the doors and windows.

He likes my house and wants to live here, but I’m under a lease contract for a single dweller. He can’t have it and he certainly isn’t going to move in with me! But he still continues to try to take it away from me.

It’s a comfortable old house, though it’s not the most beautiful on the block nor is it the biggest. The landlord was very generous in his lease, so I appreciate what I have, even if a few structural changes are needed.

A few of its rooms have become dusty and overcrowded and need remodeling. Some of the junk needs to be put out with the trash. Some rooms are in a constant state of upheaval; others just need rearranging.

The windows have become a little foggy, so they’re not as easy to see through as before. Some of the shingles are falling off the roof, while some of the fence pickets are missing. A few of the hinges have become a little rusty and don’t work as well as they used to, but the landlord I lease from said he would make all the necessary repairs. I know he will, for he is a man of his word. However, he does have a busy schedule, so I’m just patiently waiting my turn.

I thought it might be time to move, but he says I can stay a while longer, if I do some of the maintenance work. I do look forward to moving, though, because I’ve had my eye on this perfect, little cottage that’s being built. I’d really like to move there some day…there’s no traffic, no noise, the air is clean, great neighbors, the scenery is beautiful, and best of all, no more Mr. Meany!

I’ve called ahead to see if it was ready but they tell me they’re still working on it. Well, I guess I can wait a little longer. I’m not really finished renovating this one!

“For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down-when we die and leave these bodies-we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” (2 Cor. 5:1 TLB)

~~Blessings, Lynn~~

A Life of Purpose

Our family should be our top priority.  There are so many things out “there” today that can distract us or occupy our time, thus taking us away from the top priority in our lives.  We can get caught up in many different things.  But if we’re not careful, our families’ and our children will suffer and pay a price.

 

If we are going to raise confident, moral, Godly young men and women – it won’t be by accident.  If we are going to have vibrant, loving marriages – it won’t be by accident!

 

We need to live a purposeful life.  We need to focus on what kind of home we want to raise our children in, what kind of values we want to instill in them, and what kind of an example we want to be for them in the process.

 

Our families’ in today’s society are falling apart.  And I think it’s because we are letting other people and things (including our own pride at times) take priority over nurturing, growing, and bonding the family unit.  No one said being a wife or parent was easy. It’s not!  You need to have perseverance, patience, creativity, pray A LOT, and have a good support system to help guide you along the way.

We can’t aimlessly walk through life anymore.  We need to have some vision in what we are doing.  God can give us that vision and He can give us the strength, direction, and support we will need.

Having a loving family is a privilege. It is a privilege that comes from making them a priority as we raise, love, and tend to them.

Take the time, make the effort, and funnel out the “unnecessary” distractions that tear your family away from one another.  Make your husband and children your number one priority today.  It will be the richest blessing you’ll ever experience.

 

 

~ Dionna Sanchez shares from her heart to help encourage moms. She started Emphasis On Moms at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com out of her desire to help and heal hurting hearts.

My All

God has called me to be a mother. It is my priority in life right now. I do love to write. It is a passion and another calling that I believe God has blessed to bestow on me. But first and foremost, comes family. Raising children is a gift. Some days it is tiring – some days frustrating, and other days a comment or situation will come up when you feel like maybe something is getting through and you are doing something right. Overall, it is a privilege and a role to be celebrated.

For me, home and family means everything. Home is a haven to come to where you can be yourself – a place where you can laugh, cry, yell, be silly, share your fears, and be “you” with those who understand you better than anyone else. It is the place where you can grow and learn about who you are, and who God is creating you to be – day by day.

In my home, and in my life I desire to constantly be in a state of learning. I don’t know it all but I do know MY all – Jesus Christ.

 

Dionna Sanchez

http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com