WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.040 Your appreciation for these amazing moms this morning. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:04.959 I love it. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:05.919 I love it. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:09.119 Well, I have my husband and I, we have three kiddos. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:16.879 Um, Nate, our son, is 21, sis or Jules or Juliana, whatever you want to call her, she's 19. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.719 And then we thought, you know, four's great. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:23.519 We got a boy, we've got a girl, four's perfect. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:26.800 And then the Lord made it very clear that we're not done. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:30.320 Um, that there's one more seat at the table. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:42.320 And um, and so we became foster parents, and um, we got a call, and the the agency said, We have a six-month-old baby girl for you. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:57.200 And I remember when we were in the process of um deciding the profile of the the third child, um, my son and I were more like, hmm, maybe maybe we should like get an elementary age. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:02.880 We we have teenagers, we're too old for babies, and then my husband and daughter are like, let's just take whatever God gives. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:04.079 Like, let's just, we're fine. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:06.719 And I'm like, oh, I don't know about a baby, we're too old for a baby. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:11.120 And then, of course, we get a call for a six-month-old baby girl. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:18.319 And of course, by the at that time, we had teenagers, and so we have no diapers, we have no crib, we have nothing. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:27.599 And um, but it was the sweetest phone call when we got a call to pick up our six-month-old baby girl, and we got to officially adopt her a couple years ago. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:31.200 She became an official Frank, and um, so yeah, yeah. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.920 So Bailey Boo is our five-year-old. 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:37.760 So we've got 21, 19, and five, and we're having a blast. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:48.000 So uh we're we're up late at night talking about things our college kids wanting to talk about, and then we're up early in the morning um getting hair ready for school and coloring and all the things. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:49.359 So it's super fun. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:02:02.239 But I do remember, as I go back um into 2001, 2003, I remember getting ready to leave the hospital with our first kiddos, our boy and our girl. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.359 And you know, I really loved the hospital stay. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:06.079 I I did. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:10.639 I love people, I love the hustle and bustle, I love people coming to visit. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:12.319 I'm like, this is awesome. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:14.400 I think I got this mom thing down. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:15.439 This is so fun. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:19.280 We're like having a party at the hospital every hour on the hour. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.800 I love the nurses. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.039 And then they said, you know, Mrs. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.680 Frank, you you're being discharged. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:27.840 I know, I know. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.400 I'm like, oh, you are not coming with us. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.639 No, you have to stay here. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:49.520 And I just remember, especially with our firstborn, I remember we have no license, we have no certificate, we have no diploma, we have no hours logged for training, and we most certainly don't have any prior experience. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.400 But you are telling us it's time to be discharged. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:56.479 All right, take that pack and play, take that little carrier and off we go to our house. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:04.400 And I remember I was so nervous, but I was also so excited to begin this journey of being a mom. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:20.960 But today, if you're a mom, an auntie, a mentor, a teacher, or a friend, in whatever way you are impacting and influencing children or your children, you have a sacred calling. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.840 And you have a sacred assignment. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:34.879 It's so massive, it's like kingdom coming to earth kind of impact in the life of our children. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:59.360 You get to be their biggest prayer warrior, you get to be their loudest cheerleader, you get to be their most loyal listener, you get to be their most influential disciple maker, and you get to be their strongest example of kingdom living. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:09.199 You know, our homes, if you look with your natural sight and you look in this earthly horizontal realm, our homes are brick and mortar. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:30.959 But I want to challenge us today on this journey to see it a bit differently and to maybe take a more vertical approach, maybe a more heavenly realm approach, and see our homes as incubators and see our homes as a training ground, and to see that we've been given the unique privilege to train our children's hands. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:42.480 And today, the good news is he chose you, he breathed life in your lungs, he entrusted your children to you. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.160 No one else has your children. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:47.439 You do. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:53.120 And it's our amazing get-to to mobilize missional motherhood. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:56.480 You know, I remember two scenes when I was pregnant. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:58.639 I didn't come from a very solid home. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.160 It was pretty toxic and chaotic and challenging. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:07.360 My husband came from an amazing home, so I locked eyes with my mother-in-law and I said, let's do that. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.519 Let's do whatever she did, let's do that. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:15.199 And I do remember one night um I had a dream, and I said this last year. 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:22.879 Um, but I saw I saw myself with a machete in a huge field, and the grass was taller than me. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:28.800 And I was just chipping away, chipping away, chipping away, and I saw these little silhouettes dancing behind me. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:32.399 And it gave me a vision for motherhood, mobilizing missional motherhood. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:35.680 It gave me a vision, and what I saw wasn't a clear path. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:37.519 Goodness, my kids will tell you that. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:41.680 It wasn't a clear path, but it was clearer than the one that I inherited. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:50.000 And then later on, as our kids got older, I started to see another scene that was kind of taking me to my next season and stage of motherhood. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:58.240 And that was visualizing our kids walking across their graduation stages and looking at this idea of beginning with the end in mind. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:05:59.519 And what is it? 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:01.759 What is it when they walk across that stage? 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:04.000 What is it do we pray they possess? 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.560 Then we got to plant those things now. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.639 You reap what you sow, plant them now. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:12.160 Plant now. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:13.680 Yes, plant now. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:16.560 You just saw a bunch of kids singing truth over their own lives. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:17.759 It was awesome. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.040 Plant now. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:24.720 God gave us our children and He entrusted them to us here on earth. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:31.040 And prayer that we pray all the time, Lord, show us what to plant in the soil of their hearts. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.959 And the Lord did take us to Matthew 7, 24. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:42.240 And realizing that this particular passage is a blueprint for parenting. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:46.000 This particular passage is a beautiful playbook. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:52.560 And so, Matthew 7, what we see here is Jesus is teaching the Sermon on the Mount at the Sea of Galilee. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:57.120 And it was a natural setting for this closing parable. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.000 You know, I love, love, love Jesus' parables. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:01.199 I love the gospels. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:07.040 I love reading about Jesus, seeing Jesus, his posture, what he's teaching, who he's teaching to. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:08.560 I love Jesus' parables. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:18.800 And I love how intentional he is to teach them by using everyday scenery that the listeners and followers could relate to. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:23.600 And he would bring eternal and heavenly teachings to life. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:27.120 And this is a perfect setting for this particular parable. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:32.959 The sand surrounding the lake was rock hard during the summer, and we all see that too. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:52.319 But a wise builder would dig down deep, as far as 10 feet below the surface sand to the rock, knowing this is key, knowing this was the only way to establish a foundation able to withstand winter flooding. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:08:05.920 Jesus' audience would have understood the example Jesus gave in the parable's surface meaning, using this illustration on how to live and build one's life. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:13.279 So as we take a look at Matthew 7, it says this therefore, that's an important word for this very reason. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:30.000 Everyone, all people who hears these words of mine, those were his teachings of truth and obedience to these truths, and puts them into practice or acts on them, is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:37.279 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house yet. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:45.360 Oh, that's such a good word, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:55.600 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice or does not act on them, is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:04.720 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.679 Or its collapse was great. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:13.440 So there's just a few things I want to pull out from this passage that are important for us to note. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:18.080 Number one, Jesus describes two builders. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:24.720 And I can imagine that day in that huge crowd, Jesus had some key audiences listening that day. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:30.399 I guarantee there was this idea to instruct the disciples. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:31.759 They were in the audience. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:40.240 This parable was to instruct the disciples, possibly to confront the religious leaders, and then third, to draw in those that were seeking. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:45.919 And we can only imagine that this wise builder had a plan, had to have a plan. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.639 This wise builder invested hard work. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:54.879 This wise builder had an expense to be able to build that way, there was probably an extra expense. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.399 This wise builder also, it took immense time. 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:03.039 Time in which the foundation required that level of investment. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:09.679 And the same is with us in building our homes and building our lives and building our families and building our children. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:18.000 And what I love too about this passage that Jesus describes with these builders, neither builder was without a storm. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.480 Neither builder was without a storm or a test. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:24.799 And I love this. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:31.360 And it's not if the rains come down and the streams rise and the winds blow and beat against our home and our life. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.200 It's just a matter of when. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.320 And a lot of times it's a matter of how often. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.639 Let's be real. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:48.879 And then the solid rock that had already been provided and brought stability and security and hope was Jesus. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:50.559 It is Jesus. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:52.399 And it was by Jesus. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:57.440 Building our lives on him is the only firm foundation. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:06.320 Constructing our lives according to his blueprint, his word and his way, builds a home and builds a life. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:12.159 So as we aim today, let's just think about beginning with the end in mind. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.200 What's the end game? 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.080 Well, the end game is we want our kids to love and follow Jesus. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:17.360 That's the end game. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:19.440 But there's a path to get there. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:41.440 And so as we aim towards Matthew 7 target, a Matthew 7 target, and we aim towards that firm foundation as our vision for our home and our children's lives to set out with purpose, on purpose, to create a culture in our homes of building our lives on a firm foundation. 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:52.960 We're going to take a look real quick at five ways that we can create a culture building our families on the foundation of Jesus, a firm and unwavering foundation. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:12:00.799 And it's this notion of mobilizing missional motherhood as well as mobilizing missional families. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:10.879 So the first way that we can build on a firm foundation is seeing motherhood through the eyes of transformation versus transactional. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.440 Transformational versus transactional. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:24.879 It's not just telling our kiddos things, but it's telling our kids about Jesus, showing our kids Jesus through the gospels and living lives that display Jesus. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.279 And let me help you. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:28.720 This helps me. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:34.240 You will never ever get it 100% perfectly. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.360 Ever. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:37.440 But it's our aim. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:43.200 It's our aim to tell them, to show them, and to live it. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:44.240 It's our aim. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.799 I love Deuteronomy 6, 7. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:54.080 It says this impress them, these teachings, these truths, on your children. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.159 Rub them in, one of the references say. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.720 And it's so funny, real quick commercial break. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:08.320 Our little girl, every night we pray, we kiss, we hug, we do Bible stories, we sing, we do all the things. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.799 It's a long process to get her to bed. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.360 I should say goodnight to everybody whoever's in the house. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:16.320 If you're there visiting, you need to come up and say goodnight too. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.919 It's a long process. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.639 But I remember, you know, we all kiss her goodnight. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:25.120 And one night she was like, I'm like, oh, we just kissed you. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:25.759 Why are you rub? 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.120 Why are you wiping it off? 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:29.200 And she said, No, I'm rubbing them in. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.759 And I was like, that's good, girl. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.039 Rubbing them in. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.360 So impress these truths on your children. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:36.639 Rub them in your kids. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:43.519 Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:14:02.559 Today's version at the dinner table, in the carpool line, in the morning, at bedtime, at the grocery, running errands, picking them up from practice, using everyday life stuff to point them to Jesus and to build on a firm foundation. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.279 These are sacred rhythms. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:12.879 Tell them, show them the goodness of God, the grace of God, the generosity of God. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:17.840 Talk about being grateful and expose your children to the kingdom of God. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.240 Involve them, invite them. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:25.279 Take advantage of space and time to have spiritual conversations. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:28.240 And oftentimes they don't start out as spiritual conversations. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:32.159 My kids will tell you, Ked's like, you know, you could probably put the brakes off a little bit. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.759 Like, I'm always intentional, you know. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.480 And Ked's like, let's just, let's just have chips and salsa. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:39.200 I mean, let's see what questions arise, what conversations arise. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.720 I'm like, oh yeah, you're right, you're right. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.440 God's got this. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:41.759 Okay. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.519 And so I he helps me. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.480 He he's my calm. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.200 I love him. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.480 Um, but talk about them over chips and salsa. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.200 Talk about them over the fire pit and s'mores. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.080 Talk about them over cornhole and playing cards. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.120 Well, you know, one night I remember our kids used to share a room. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:00.240 They were probably eight and ten at this time, and they had bunk beds. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.440 And one night we were having our prayer time, worship time, all the things before bed. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:09.200 And I remember we were asking the kids, how can we pray for you this week? 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:18.000 And I remember our son saying, you know, his life verse Joshua 1.9, and and the sissy's is 1 Thessalonians 5.12. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:21.600 And and so I remember him saying, you know, you can pray for me. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:26.159 I'm a little nervous and scared because I have to start kid pitch this week. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.159 Oh, yeah, that's rough, buddy. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:30.480 And I'm like, kid pitch, that's scary. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:36.639 And he was really concerned and scared to do kid pitch because he thought, they're gonna hit me. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.679 They're gonna hit me with the ball, and I don't know if I'm ready for that. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:46.480 And so we're talking about that, and all of a sudden, like a light bulb pops off in his head, and he's like, I have an idea. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:55.360 So he gets off the bunk bed, he runs downstairs, he goes to the garage, he gets his bat, he gets a black sharpie, he comes back up and he says, I have an idea. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.440 He's probably 10 at this time. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.320 I have an idea. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.120 What if I put Joshua 1-9 on my bat? 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:09.759 And it says, Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:15.519 And he said, How about I put Joshua 1-9 on my bat so that way when I'm up plate, I'll just remember that and be strong, courageous. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.600 And then he put it on his cleats, and then he put it in his helmet. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.200 And then Sissy got in on it. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:21.679 And Sissy said, I'm gonna put Juliana on the bat too. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.879 So don't forget about be strong, courageous, and remember your sister's got your back. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.480 I mean, that's that's what I'm saying. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.600 She's our fighter. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.159 I love it. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.679 She's always got our backs. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:30.799 So sweet. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:38.000 So the second way to build a firm foundation is being intentional versus being perfect. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.440 The enemy is mean, ladies, and you know it. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:46.799 As soon as you wake up in the morning, he is at your head, ready to harass. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.039 We'll never, we're never enough horizontal stuff. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.000 We're never enough. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.840 I meet with moms and ladies all the time. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.759 I'm not this enough, not this enough, not this enough. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:58.799 I'm not perfect here, but that's not the aim. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:01.919 The aim's intention, being intentional. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.960 That's the aim. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:08.480 Psalm 39, 4 and 5 says this show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:10.720 Let me know how fleeting my life is. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.119 You have made my days a mere hand breath. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.599 The span of my years is as nothing before you. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:19.200 Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:23.839 Let's be intentional with the days that we've been given. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:28.160 It is futile to think perfection. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:33.359 It is freeing to think intentionality. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:38.079 By the time our, I did some math, I'm not a numbers person, but I did some math. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.839 So I could be wrong, just maybe help me out. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:57.519 But by the time our children are 18 years old, remember that vision of walking across the graduation stage, by the time our kids are 18, we will have been gifted 157,680 hours with them. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.559 Some of you like, ugh, no. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:03.759 It goes so fast. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.079 It goes so fast. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:09.680 It's about being intentional with those hours. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:13.680 And this is just a good little intentional foundational framework. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.880 Um, you've heard it before with Jesus, making that a prayer. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:21.440 As a family, God help us to point our children to Jesus through your word, worship, and prayer. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.319 In community. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:29.759 As a family, God help us to be in community and have a community that encourages and strengthens and moves us deeper in our faith. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.279 That's huge. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.200 Listen to this. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:37.039 You are not the only voice in your child's life. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:39.839 Praise God, we're not the only voices. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:42.000 You're not the only voice in their life. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:46.880 Pray intently for those people that will come and join their path. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:55.359 Pray for their coaches, pray for their teachers, pray for their small group leaders, pray for other families to walk with your kids. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:58.799 In this room are people that have walked with our kids. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.480 I'm grateful. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.759 Our children, pray for their mentors. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.160 Our children today have amazing adults in their lives. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.680 And that's so important. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:16.000 And the third intentional foundational framework is on mission with Jesus in community on mission, on mission as a family. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:29.519 God help us to be on mission and be intentional with where you have placed our family, the schools we are in, the sports teams we are on, in the neighborhood we live in. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.160 Our homes are lighthouses. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.359 Our homes are training grounds. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:41.119 They're a place of shelter, of rest, unconditional love, peace, laughter, and grace. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:47.279 That when they come home and the driveway's finally full of cars all being home, they plop down and put their feet up. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:53.440 We can't obtain perfection, but we can, with Jesus' help, live intentionally. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:58.319 The third way to build a foundation is to cultivate versus control. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.640 James 1, 2, and 4. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:05.839 Consider a pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you bear my image. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:08.640 Don't worry about your management of yours. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:13.200 That was a hard lesson, but one that really changed the trajectory for me. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:19.839 So it's a moment in motherhood where we allow the spirit to help us unpack survival patterns. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.119 We want to break cycles. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:25.759 Some of you are carrying on what you've been gifted as a mother. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:30.559 You loved the atmosphere that you were raised in and you want to give it away. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:36.799 Some of us are called to be cycle breakers and start new things for our family. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:41.519 Whatever it is, image bearing requires wholeness. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:45.119 And so help, he can help us unpack those survival patterns. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:47.359 Help us unpack belief systems. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:53.279 Look at the check engine lights of our soul and allow the Lord to help us bear his image. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:56.640 It's dismantling the lies and myths that is moms. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:59.039 We have an image to uphold. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:20:59.920 No. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:02.160 We have an image to bear. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:04.160 Isn't that more freeing? 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:07.119 Makes me like, whoo, good. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:14.400 Ask God to help you be the most faithful mom for your children. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.079 Lord, show us how to bear your image. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:23.359 Ephesians 3 says this, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:35.359 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all God's people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:43.839 And to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:50.480 The world, the enemy, and even ourselves can be disillusioned as mothers and as women that managing an image is what matters. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.640 But we all know that's just sand. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:58.720 Bearing his image is what we're made for, and in that we will model that for our children. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:07.119 The fifth way to Build the final way, fifth way to build on a firm foundation is we are stewards versus owners. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:14.480 Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 says this: trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:20.400 In all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight and your children's. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:26.559 Motherhood can feel like we're just managers sometimes. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:36.480 Details, a million details, a million things to pack, tasks, decisions, schedules, and weekly menus. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:42.160 Know what season you are in as a mom. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:47.920 Know what season you are in as a mom and steward your season. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:50.319 Steward your season. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:59.680 Being honest to say this may not be the best season for this or that because it may dilute what our priorities are right now. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:13.440 And if Matthew 7, 24 is our aim and our target to build a firm foundation, it might mean we have to adjust those priorities of smidge to ensure that that's what's manifested in our homes and in our children's lives. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:17.039 But it's so important to steward our season. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.119 You know, this is my family. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:21.359 And I might get a little emotional. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.319 I've been doing good. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.880 I'm not gonna kick, I'm not gonna, it's liquid love. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:25.920 I'm fine. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:32.000 Um, but we are in a season of immense change, immense change. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.519 That's our season. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:36.319 And when I look at this photo, I see a lot. 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:43.279 I see an amazing guy called my hubby, who's the best dad in the world for our kids. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:53.759 I see a grown man that is pursuing his calling, just graduated, and has an amazing, soon-to-be lifelong teammate beside him, and he is beside her, she's a gift. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:58.079 I see a beautiful young lady that is pursuing her calling and chasing her dreams. 00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:03.839 I see a sweet baby that we get to get pour into, we get to do it again. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.480 I see a grateful mom. 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:10.720 I see a family that has had trials. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.279 I see a family that has had hardship. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:16.160 I see a family that has endured pain. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:26.240 But I see a family that walks in joy, I see a family that has been, with God's help, been able to make a lot of memories and laugh. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:32.400 I I see a family that has gotten to worship together in church and serve our community together. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:42.160 But most importantly, I see a family that has been supported and loved by this beautiful church community. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:45.519 And we are forever grateful. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:53.440 In closing, I want to share with you a legend of the faith, and this is the Ross family. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.319 Mr. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:25:04.480 Chuck Ross is really the Ross family modeled for Ked and I, what mobilizing missional family looks like. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.440 This is Mr. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.799 Chuck and Miss Julie. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.000 They're ordinary folks. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:13.759 Miss Julie owns uh agape fields, it's a flower farm, and Mr. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:16.400 Chuck owned a construction company. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:19.440 But what was different about Miss Julie and Mr. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:24.960 Chuck was they they led a missional life as a family. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:30.000 And Ked and I had the opportunity to do multiple things with Mr. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:33.200 Chuck to serve kids in our community. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.000 But Mr. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:37.519 Chuck always modeled missional life. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.119 You couldn't be around Mr. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.759 Chuck without him talking about Jesus. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.200 He was huge into fellowship of Christian athletes. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:55.359 I mean, he he's a construction guy, but he's a Jesus guy, and Miss Julie right by his side, and they made such an impact across Jessmane County. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.160 And Mr. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:59.519 Chuck just passed away, and we were able to go. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:03.680 My husband and son were able to go to his memorial service, his celebration of life. 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:09.519 And as they're listening to story after story after story after story about Mr. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:14.960 Chuck, and Miss Julie is there and loving on her, it really hit us. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:21.279 And it was interesting on his celebration of life flyer that they handed out to everybody. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:27.279 It was Matthew 7, 24 to 27 that was on the front page that he wanted everybody to know. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:30.400 It's about building your family and life on a firm foundation. 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:33.839 We were forever impacted by the Ross family. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.559 They were huge examples to Ked and I. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:44.799 And so today, as we close, I pray today that we are encouraged. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:47.119 I pray we are strengthened. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:58.640 I pray our vision is a little sharper, our hearts are a little more strengthened, our hands feel a little more purpose, our feet feel a little more fervor. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:11.759 And today, I want all of us to again rally around and thank God for this sacred calling because it's the most impactful work we'll ever do. 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.119 Let's pray. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:25.359 Father in heaven, we love you, and we thank you so much that we could sit at your table today and feast as a community. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:30.160 And Lord, I love this series, whole families. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:36.400 When whole families come together to gather and worship, it creates a whole church. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:41.599 And when a whole church comes together, it creates wholeness in our community. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:46.079 And God, I thank you for the work that you are doing right here, right now. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:56.880 Lord, we love you and we are grateful to be your children, and we are grateful to be unleashed to carry your love to this world. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.559 Thank you, Jesus. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:01.119 It's in your name we pray all these things. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.079 Amen.