My transition into motherhood was hard, and not for the normal newborn reasons. I expected to be tired, and I expected to not know what I was doing. The hard part was what was going on inside my head.

We worshipped together, prayed together, were silly together, and learned more about each other and the God we serve. The foundation of our house feels stronger and there are clearer paths on which we need to hone in on.

It was a really fun day and my son has been asking hourly when we get to go back.

Things are picking up again now, and if it feels like the past month was jam-packed with events… well, it was! I think we are collectively breathing relief that we are all BACK and can fellowship together. It is so sweet to be together as a church family.

“The kind of mother I think you really want to be is a Mother of Repair. This kind of mom is focused on reconciliation. This kind of mom does not shy away from the hard stuff. She rises and meets the mess head-on. She understands that God is in control and that her role isn’t to fix everything and make it all better but to just be there with truth in her words and grace in her hugs. Children, kids, teenagers, young adults.... they are all going to mess up, often in very big ways. During life’s darkest moments, children don’t need a mom who dances in the kitchen. They need a mother of repair.

What a joy to celebrate Sarah Jacobs today and reflect upon her service to the Lord as Director of Mars Kids- Mobile! Anyone who has ever had a conversation with Sarah about kids ministry can attest to her unwavering passion for engaging those little hearts for Christ.

I hope that my testimony encourages parents who have done everything they could to surround their kids and grow them up in the truth of the gospel. I’m sure to my parents my story was looking a little bleak, but their efforts had a huge impact in the way I came to submit my life to Christ.

You are weary. But you too can take hold and claim that thrill of hope. Hope in God’s great rescue plan for His weary children. We get a glimpse of this gift at Christmas; in this Silent and Holy Night.

Let’s start with the question, “What is worship?” I like the definition John Piper gives: “True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things.” Deuteronomy 6:5 states “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”