Mon's Fake I.D. Teaching Point One: God sees you as having more than one role.

Part 2 Discover the Eternal Principles

Read Psalm 139.

When David wrote these words, he was rejoicing in a God who saw him as more than any of his roles—more than a shepherd, more than a giant-slayer, more than a poet, a king, or a man on the run. He wrote beautifully of a God who knew him intimately—and who took the time to “search” and “know” him (v. 1). Certainly, this is no different for moms today. God values all of who he made you to be, and has specific purposes for the way he made you.

In chapter 4, Rivadeneira writes, “Think about the people you know that intimately: your spouse, your kids, maybe your closest friend, your parents. We know that much detail only about the people we love deeply—and are interested in the most. It’s the same with God. He knows us like that not only because he loves us but because he is vitally, untiringly interested in us. God finds you—as his creation, as his child—interesting and worth knowing. Why shouldn’t everyone else?” (p. 56).

Discussion Questions

[Q] Think of a time when you felt reduced to just one role. Did you feel that this was as God wanted it to be? Why or why not?

[Q] What does it mean to you that God takes time to search and know you? What does that say about why you may want others to do the same?

[Q] How do you feel knowing that God finds you interesting? Is that easy for you to
believe? Why or why not?

[Q] Psalm 139:16 says, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” In what ways—if any—have you been made to feel that motherhood is the conclusion of God’s “book” for you?

[Q] What does your heart as a mother—and the way you care about your kids’ individual
identities and your desire to see them use their gifts—tell you about how God feels about you as a gifted, beloved child of God?

©2009 Christianity Today International ChristianBibleStudies.com

Mama's Got a Fake I.D.

Part 1 Identify the Current Issue

This study works best if you have read the book Mama’s Got a Fake I.D. , by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira.

Whether on Oprah, in magazines, or at a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group, you’ll hear a similar theme from today’s moms (and you know this if you are one!): they wrestle with a sense of having lost who they are in the mix of love and responsibility that comes with being a mom. As much as they love their kids and they love being moms, this loss of identity leaves many women feeling lonely, anonymous, and frustrated. This particularly frustrates Christian moms, who feel the additional sting of wondering what God has in store for them now that they are moms—especially if their gifts don’t match their new mom role. While they may once have felt solid in their God-given gifts and purpose, motherhood can reduce many women to feeling unable to do anything right—or well—and wondering if God didn’t make a mistake in the way he gifted them, or even by giving them children.

While churches do a great job of supporting the mom role in general, many moms feel they don’t do a good job supporting women who deal with these issues. In fact, Rivadeneira contends that many Christians push the idea that once you become a mom, God’s only use for you is to raise godly kids and help out in the church nursery. In the beginning of chapter 4 (“Why God Cares About Who You Are”), Rivadeneira writes that this is the reason why “being a mom who wants to be used by God in a wide variety of ways can feel so selfish even when we know it’s not. But because there are so many well-meaning Christians who really do think moms should be happy to invest everything they have in their children, I think we moms need to explore the will of God for women whom he has blessed with children. God cares about us as people, not just as mothers” (p. 53).

Discussion Starters:

[Q] In what ways have you felt a loss of identity in your role as a mom? Where or when do you feel this most acutely?

[Q] How has your sense of purpose or giftedness changed since you became a mom? Do
you now feel that God expects something different from you, or that he wants you to
“shelve” some of your gifts and abilities for a while?

[Q] What’s been your experience at church regarding your role as mom versus you as a more well-rounded woman? Are you made to feel selfish, as Rivadeneira writes, for wanting to be used by God in a variety of ways and not just in your mom role?

©2009 Christianity Today International ChristianBibleStudies.com

Speak Life

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

Your words can either make or break your children. Use them to speak life.

Nothing saddens me more than to walk into a room and hear a mother chastising her child by saying things like “Why you so dumb and stupid. You gon’ be like yo sorry daddy;” Or worse yet calling their children everything but a child of God. What do you think will happen if you always call your children bad? It can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Scripture tells us we have the power of life and death in our own tongues and despite the cliché about sticks and stones words do hurt.

If you’ve been harsh with words spoken to your children prayerfully acknowledge your sin and seek forgiveness. Look for opportunities to affirm your children. Catch them doing something right and praise them for it.

What were the last words you spoke to your children today

Single Christian Mom's Dating

Let’s face it every woman wants a good man. And if she’s a Christian woman she wants a man who loves and fears the Lord. But when you add children to the equation you are left with women who feel forced to do and accept anything just to have a warm body. This however is not how God intended it to be. Read More >>

Don't forget to leave a comment. You could win the prize of the week.

Empowered to Prosper in Parenting

Empowered to Prosper in Parenting
By: Cheryl Lacey Donovan


Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Empowered to prosper what a wonderful title!

When I was a young single mother it was the empowered to prosper mentality that saw me through.

Being a parent isn’t easy. Add being a teenager and a single mother to the mix and it can quickly become an equation for disaster. But contrary to popular belief children do come with an instruction manual. It’s called the Bible and I used mine every chance I got. Read More at the first stop on the Ministry of Motherhood Virtual Book Tour

The Ministry of Motherhood

Pre-Order Your Copy Today
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

The Joys of Motherhood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some women today think of family life as an unbearable drudgery. Many feminists tell women that they cannot find fulfillment by being wives and mothers, so instead they should leave home and pursue careers. It has gone so far that women who do stay home almost feel inferior and guilty.

But Titus 2:4,5 says that young women should be taught “to love their husbands, to love their children, to be … keepers at home.” Surely it is difficult for young mothers to stay at home and lovingly care for their families. It often requires hard work, tears, and many sacrifices. But excelling at anything worthwhile in life takes hard work.

Consider the joys and rewards of the job. Psalms 127:3 says: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” What other job produces a final product to compare to that of motherhood: loving children who will someday mature to productive, God-fearing men and women? If women will not sacrifice in their younger years to raise children, they will not have those children and grandchildren to hug their necks, love them, and care for them in their older years.

1 Timothy 5:3,10 says: “Honor widows that...have brought up children…” Years ago, before modern philosophies prevailed, motherhood was an honorable profession. It ought to be the same today. Proverbs 31 includes the following statements: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies … Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her" (verses 10,28).

Let us show our appreciation for our wives and mothers. Let us speak out for the joys of motherhood. May it again become honorable for a woman to be “a joyful mother of chi1dren” – Psalms 113:9.

For further study I encourage the reader to go to www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our online article about Biblical principles for raising godly children.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2/5/2005

What Are Your Goals for Your Children?

What will make you feel successful as a parent? And how do you intend to reach your goals?

If your children get good jobs or even become wealthy, would you be satisfied? If they are popular and have many friends, is that what you want? Would it please you if they become influential civic leaders or politicians? Or would you be happy if they just grow up to be good citizens, have good health, good families, and live like most middle-class Americans? What do you really want for your children?

Suppose they achieve all these things. Matthew 16:26 says: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" If your children do not learn to serve God so they die unprepared to face eternity, would you really be successful as a parent?

In Genesis 18:19 God said that He would bless Abraham, because He knew Abraham would "command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice..." Would God say this about the way you train your children? If just one of your children were to face eternal condemnation because you neglected to teach them about God's will, what worse fate could they suffer?

What should you do to prepare your children, not just for this life, but for eternity? Proverbs 22:6 says: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

For further study I encourage the reader to go to www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our online article about Biblical principles for raising godly children.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2/5/2005