In March/April 1990, I went to a full Gospel church with my brother to hear a prophet speak. It was interesting. At the end, he pulled people out of the congregation that God would speak to him about, and I was one of them. He begins to ask me about children. I tell him, I have a child….and that I babysat. He said, no – he said the enemy has convince you that you cannot handle a second child, and God says if you have a second child, it would be a special child, and that you can handle it…..Well, I left there determined that God gave me choices and I was choosing one. (stubborn!) In June of 1991, we started attending a different full gospel church and as I began to pray and yield to the Lord, all of a sudden, I desired that second child. By September of 1991, I was pregnant. 3 or 4 months later, while at church, the minister prayed for me and told me “the baby in your womb has praise on it’s lips even now, and will stand before many and minister one day, and all who hear them will be blessed”. And yet, a few weeks later, while getting prayer for someone else, the minister began to pray against any attack coming against my baby. He called for one of our older women to come and pray with me and she prayed the same thing, even though, she did not hear what that minister had prayed. Then, I will never forget, she looked at me, pointed her finger and said “your baby will be every whit whole, do you hear me? Every whit whole!” I got the flu a couple of weeks later, and thought, oh, that must be what she was talking about.

However, on April 28, 1992 – at only 32 weeks pregnant, I went into labor. They couldn’t stop my labor and had to life flight me to Columbus. As many people prayed for me, I plunked open the little Bible I had grabbed off the counter and said – God, I am getting afraid – help me! It opened to Psalm 8:2 – Out of the mouths of babes and infants, thou have ordained strength (praise) that thou might still the enemy and the avenger. I said God – give it to me plain – and I heard this as plain as day “Brent Matthew has enough praise on his lips even now, to combat anything the enemy would throw his way”. The peace of God came over me and I went to Columbus, endured the flight, all the negative warnings from the doctors (he could be brain dead, bleed to death, be retarded, etc) and I said – He will be fine, we have too many people praying for him. (every whit whole) on April 29, 1992 He was born, 4 pounds 15.25 ounces, 18.25 inches long and every whit whole!!!!!!

When he was 16, a semi truck came into his lane and hit him head on. As they were preparing to life flight him to Columbus, I looked at him and I said, Brent Matthew – you will be every whit whole! You hear me? This is a LIFE word, not a birth word. 2 months later, he marched onto the field with his drumline. He was every whit whole.

The joy that Brent Matthew has brought to me over the years cannot be measured. He was my buddy when he was little – when Eric would go with his dad, I would say – hey Brently, it’s just you and me again. When taking him home from the hospital from getting his tonsils out, he looked at me and with a raspy voice said – hey mommy – it’s just you and me again. We loved looney toons, and little bear and he was my valentine date one year when Randy had to work, so from then on, I was his valentine.

As he grew older, we shared the love of music, P.O.D., Skillet, and Israel Houghton. I was so blessed to have him as my team drummer when I led worship. I love his heart. He loves tradition, nostalgia, and oh my baking cookies at Christmas! And the train under the tree.

I cannot believe it has been 4 years since he left for college and that we will see him graduate this weekend! Time flies!!!!

Today, I celebrate Brent Matthew Deems, my “upright Gift of God”. I am so thankful that God chose me to be his mom. And as I used to tell him when he was little, if I could go into a room and see all the little boys in the world, and ones who never sassed, always picked up their clothes, and did everything right, I would search and search until I found him. Happy Birthday to you baby. Can’t wait to see you!

When my oldest son was born, I panicked because once I held him in my arms, I knew that in 6 weeks, I would have to return to work and he would have a babysitter.  I cried and cried.  For the next year, it was rough.  Then, one day, through no fault of my own, I found myself unemployed.  I saw that as an opportunity to answer my heart’s cry.  So I began to babysit in MY home!  It was a win-win situation because not only could I give some mothers peace about where their babies were, I was able to rock my baby every day.

I cannot tell you how much fun it was to be able to see him play and talk to him as he grew!  I loved watching him learn and the amazement of little things for little boys. 

Two years later, I still had the same little boys in my home and I became pregnant for my second son.  What a thrill for me to be able to be mommy all day!  And after a year, I actually quit babysitting and just had my babies.  We had so much fun.  One of my favorite things to do was pack a picnic lunch and go to the park to play.  I would go back to a day like that in a heartbeat.

As they got older  I volunteered in their

school and was the homeroom mom. Then, I got a job there! Oh, and it was the best “mom job” ever! The boys went to work with me everyday – or I went to school with them. It was wonderful. I knew all their friends, and acquainted with all their teachers. When they were frustrated about a test, they would come to my office and we would pray. When they were feeling down, I was right around the corner. I am so grateful for that opportunity. Now that my boys are both grown and live away, it is difficult being apart. However, my husband and I know we are not to move in this season, that we are to stay here where they grew up. That was difficult to agree to at first, but, the Lord always takes care of you when you follow His plan.

I hear from my boys several times a week. We still laugh, and carry on and have a great relationship. We talk deep, we joke, and we still pray together. I am forever grateful for the time I spent with them and my only regret is that I mentally didn’t slow down and soak in it more. I hope all you young moms hear that……..The Bible says of a Proverbs 31 woman, that “her children will rise up and call her blessed”. I don’t claim to be perfect, by my boys have blessed me with so much love and appreciation. Here is an excerpt from the fb post of my youngest son on my recent birthday…..

Today is a bittersweet day for me. I am missing home a lot lately and today more specifically. I wish I were home today to give my mom a hug. Today is her birthday. So, in honor of her- here is a little bit about my mother: -She is the most selfless person I know. Ever since I was little she has given me everything I’ve needed, and a lot of what I’ve asked for. I am extremely thankful and humbled…by her generosity – I have never went without and I have her to thank. She is the most godly woman I know. It doesn’t matter the situation, she always turns to Jesus first. Always. She prays more than anyone I know. If I have a problem, she refers me to scripture always. I am so thankful for the Christian upbringing she gave me. It is a gift for which I am truly thankful. She gives great advice. This is also linked to being a godly woman, because it is a rare situation that my mother would give advice that wouldn’t be backed up by the word or can’t be found word for word in the Bible. I can call her day or night and ask for advice in any situation and she ALWAYS prays with me and turns to scripture first. For that, I am thankful. She is funny. She is always trying to make me laugh. Whether it’s sending me a funny video, or texting me a funny picture, or quoting old movie lines, she always knows how to cheer me up when I am down, or keep me laughing when I am already rolling. I can ALWAYS count on her. When I have no one else to talk to, when I have talked to everyone I can and still feel lost; when a problem arises and I am not sure what to do; when I feel lonely and out of place, when I feel great and am the happiest person in the world, when I feel like giving up, when I am mad and feel like putting my fist through a wall, I call my mom. She has always been there and she will always be there. These are just a handful of reasons I love my mom. I could go on and on….

My oldest son, does not have fb, but “tweeted a picture of me and him and made my day. He has said similar things and I treasure them all.

I have to tell you that it has been almost 4 months since I have seen my boys. This is the longest stretch I have had in the last 7 years of college life. It has been difficult. But because my heart is secure in the relationships we have, I miss them, but I never worry about them not loving me.

In three weeks, I go to Nashville to see Brent graduate! So proud of the man he has become. He has a heart of gold and seeks the Lord and for that, I am truly grateful. Because they live 2 blocks from each other I will see Eric too! And what a wonderful man he is as well. I am daily blessed by his caring for others, especially the underdogs. He, too, seeks Jesus and what more could a momma ask for.

Young mommas – TREASURE your time with your children. I know they will get rowdy and they will get on your nerves, but this time will pass you by, and you will miss them so. Remember, you are nurturing a young and tender plant from the Lord. Give them all the nutrients, fertilizer, PRUNING (yes, I spanked my boys – ask them about THUMPER LOL), sunshine and rain. Train them up in the way they should go and when they are old, they will NOT depart! Proverbs 22:6.

My heart is full. Thank You Father, for the privilege of being a mom to my boys.

We’ve all heard the saying “Curiosity killed the cat.” And sad, but true, a cat will check out everything in it’s path, regardless of the danger.

This got me to thinking…..curiosity not only killed the cat, but it can also lure people into addictions, behaviors, and evils never intended for us.

How many people today, are addicted to cigarettes because of curiosity?  And even drugs.  I have heard that there are some narcotics so powerful, that you become addicted after first use, or  even worse, die.

I think of the lure and entrapment of pornography in our society.  How many times does an “ad” pop-up on a computer, and a person – out of curiosity – check it out, only to find themselves swallowed up into images and acts that will be hard to erase from their minds.

That is why, as parents, it is so important to guard your children’s viewing of TV shows and sadly, cartoons and movies.  Yet, it is just as important to explain WHY you are doing so.  Rules without relationship bring rebellion.  It is no longer enough to give the answer ‘Because I said so.”  We must, as parents, educate our children on what happens with the seduction of sin.  When they see someone smoking and think it is cool, take them to a hospital where breath is a luxury, show them a nicotine filled lung, etc.  Find ways to share the dangers of drugs and what it does to the human body, and the purity of sexual encounters between a husband and wife.

Of course, we must always keep it age appropriate, but I will warn you.  Sin does not know boundaries and will try to steal your children’s innocence sooner rather than later.  Many parents avoid strong subjects thinking their children are too young, when all along, the world’s system and vile perpetrators have already educated them to the dark side.

I remember one year when I was working with three fourteen year old kids in a summer program.  How my heart broke as I heard them talk about sex and their boyfriends and girlfriends.  When the opening came –  I shared with them an analogy that I had told my boys a few years earlier…

The subject of sex had come up at home, because it had come up on the school bus or commercial or something.  (I always made it a point to answer their questions to their satisfaction – not giving them more or less, unless it was necessary) It was close to Christmas time and there were gifts under the tree.  I said to one of my boys – would you open a gift that was addressed to your brother?

He replied “no.”

I said “Why not?”

He said “Because it is not mine.”

I said “That’s right”  Then I went onto explain it this way.  “We are gifts from God and our bodies are created to be a gift to our husband or wife one day.  By young people having sex so young, they are spoiling the gift they have for their future spouse, so that when they get married their wife (husband) will get a hand me down.  I said everytime they do this, they are opening up someone else’s gift, that they are not entitled to. ” And they understood that perfectly.

Curiosity in that case, killed the innocence and price tag of the gift of virginity.

While curiousity can be marvelous and a great learning tool, as parents, we need to always realize that the enemy will use curiosity too, and to teach and warn our children about the dangers of being curious about the wrong things.

If the Bible says it is wrong, then it is nothing we need to experiment with, entertain ourselves by, or tip toe around.  Curiosity may kill the cat, but it doesn’t have to kill us.

Oh, the teens I was working with??? One of the boys came to me later in the week and THANKED ME for that analogy and said that he wished his mom would talk to him like that.  He went on to tell me that when he has kids, he was going to tell them that story.

Our children are crying out for attention.  If we do not give it to them, someone, or someone will.  If we do not talk to them about things that all humans will, at one time or another, become curious about, there are plenty of people who have crossed boundaries and are all too happy to take more with them.

Take the time to talk to your children.  Pray for their protection and keep a relationship to where they will be able to ask you about all subjects and not be embarrassed.  Life is normal.  Let communciation be normal as well!

Every few weeks or so I get a comment from a Mother who has ran across my post entitled “The Seed of the Righteous Shall be Delivered”, and they are thrilled to have this anchor in the Word to hold onto.

The Word of God is my rock.  It is my shield.  It is my deliverer and strength.  It is what God has bound Himself to.  Selah!

One thing we must remember is this:  The Father God loves our children even more than we do.  That is hard to fathom, but He does.  You simply have to trust. 

Living 8 hours away from my boys is very difficult for me, yet I know we are right where we are supposed to be at this time in our lives.  God has promised me things and I know that He whos has promised is faithful.  I daily pray for my boys and my daughter in law, I daily war on their behalf, and I daily release blessings and angels to protect them.  I declare their feet to be on the path of the righteous.  I declare that decption is swallowed up by the Truth of the Word planted inside of them!  I declare that the light of God’s Word exposes the lies of the enemies and the snares he lays before them.  God is faithful!  Jeremiah 23:29 says Does not my word burn like fire?” says the LORD. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces? The Word is your greatest weapon of war.  The blood of Jesus to cover you and the Word of God to take down any enemy before you.  The same for your children.  I have seen it time and time again, the very thing I am declaring here, will happen with my boys who are 500 miles away from me, at the same time I am declaring.  God is faithful.  Our Father is faithful!

I am including the post concerning the Seed of the Righteous – it’s a great reminder of the promise we have from Father God!

From the Archives…….

Proverbs 11:21 Though they join hand in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

This is one of my favorite scriptures!  The seed of the righteous shall be delivered!  Hallelujah!  And all the mom’s say – AMEN!  For those of you who are not parents – this is a good one to commit to memory for future use OR if you are not having children – the word SEED there in the Strong’s concordance means – your offspring and it also means “time of sowing” – So – whatever you are sowing in the Lord – that will be delivered too!  God has not lost one seed and He keeps very good records.  However, for today’s devotion, I am focusing on our kids.

 You know, I was raised in church all of my life, and therefore, I have done the same for my boys.  I have always stood on Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.  What a promise!   But kids will be kids and we all make choices that do not line up with the Word of God at some point in our lives.  We know that raising our children in church – in the fear and admonition of the Lord, will give us a promise that even if they stray, they will return!  Hallelujah!  What a God we serve!  However, I used to feel sorry for the people I met who couldn’t use that scripture, people who they themselves, did not get saved until they were adults, therefore, they didn’t raise their children to have a personal relationship with Jesus.  But, not anymore.  This scripture rings true and is solid to stand upon! 

THE SEED OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE DELIVERED!  If you did not get saved until you were an adult, and have children who  do not know God – I’d declare this, pray this, sing this, memorize this, 24/7.  God has not left anyone out!  Not to mention throw in Acts 16:31 – and all thy household shall be saved! – Household means your family!!!!!  Yea Jesus!  Do you not see?  THEY HAVE NO CHOICE!  IT’S THEIR TOUGH LUCK YOU ARE THEIR MOTHER/RELATIVE!!!!!  IF YOU EMPLOY THESE SCRIPTURES SOONER OR LATER THEY MUST COME IN! 

Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?  You begin to quote the Word of God over your kids and watch it break the rock of stubborn will and rebellion into smithereens!  Let’s go one step further…..Let’s say your kids are saved, but bound by fear, bitterness, anger, hurt, pride, rejection, etc.  THE SEED OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE DELIVERED!!!!!!!  The word delivered in the Strong’s means to escape  – be delivered.  It is used many times as the word escape when it says things like David escaped from Saul or when the Israelites were delivered from the hand of the Philistines.  Delivered/Escaped is the same word in Hebrew!  Your daughter battling unforgiveness?  She shall escape!  She shall be delivered!  Your son battling addiction?  He shall be delivered!!!  Oh and before condemnation comes and tells you that you are not righteous – let me give you that definition to – it means “as justified and vindicated by God”.  If you are born again, YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS!  GOD SAYS SO!  Do you understand the power of what I have just told you?  Your child shall be delivered, shall escape from whatever has them bound IF you will stand on this word and confess it over them, pray over them and be determined not to give up no matter what you see, hear or feel.  Got it?  Now thank Him!

Let’s pray:

 Father, we thank You right now that You are delivering our children and our times of sowing.  I thank You that You have not lost one seed and our harvest will come!  I thank You right now, that You are bringing people across our kids’ paths to deliver them and set them free!  We release angels to minister to them and declare that no devil in hell will be able to keep them bound with chains of anything contrary to Your word.  We confess this Word over them and as we do, we thank You that it is shattering the obstacles in their lives into pieces!  Hallelujah!  We believe that we receive and therefore we shall HAVE what we have prayed according to Mark 11:24.  We give You praise and Glory in Jesus’ Name!  Amen

As I am having a difficult time finding the desire to put up my Christmas decorations this year, I thought perhaps if I reflected on some of my favorite Christmas memories it might help me.  I just returned from Nashville, where I helped Brent and Eric decorate for Christmas but then I had to come home.  :(  It is just not the same this year with having a complete empty nest…..

Growing up, my mom always made our Christmases special.  We didn’t have a lot of money, but it didn’t matter because we made the best decorations from fresh pine and holly in the yard.  There was no such thing as Black Friday, because the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Christmas records came out and we decorated the whole house! Culminating the season with a great party with my dad’s parents on Christmas Eve with gag gifts, punch and lots of fun snacks. 

Some of my favorite memories are Eric, Brent and Kirsten dressing up and acting out the Nativity scene as my dad read the Christmas story. (My grandfather always read the story to us) And the silly games and gifts and lots of laughs.

I remember the year Eric wanted a Melvin the Bird.  haha And the year that Brent wanted a power wheels dump truck – out of my budget.  But we prayed, he sowed his nickel and it was a great way to teach him about giving to God.  Do you know, 2 weeks before Christmas, I got a check in the mail for $107 and the dump truck went on sale that week for $127?  God is faithful!

Then there were the years of Toy Story and Home Alone.  Some of our favorite things to do still to this day is quote lines from Christmas shows throughout the year. We love the Grinch!  But the cartoon is still my ultimate favorite.  You know when it says that the Grinch’s heart grew 3 sizes???  I would say – look boys – Jesus is coming into the Grinch’s heart!  Yay!  Then he would repent, return all the things he stole and they would invite him to dine with them.  True Christmas spirit!

Yes, we took the boys to sit on Santa’s lap and watched Rudolph.  But we told them the truth – that Rudolph was for fun and that The real Santa Claus – St. Nicolas, died many years ago. ( see my post from last year, which I will repost later)  St. Nicolas was a missionary who loved Jesus and loved people and spent his life and wealth giving to the poor and blessing children.  So when he died, the tradition continued with people dressing up as Santa Claus so that we could remember his mission.  Since it is Jesus’ birthday, and we can’t give gifts to Him, we give them to His most loved people.  And before we opened our gifts on Christmas morning, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

One of my other favorite things to do was decorate cookies with the boys.  They loved sprinkling the sugar cookies and pouring in the ingredients.  When they were very small, I would sit them on top of the counter.  They also each have their own Christmas trees that we would decorate each year together and I still put them up in their respective rooms.  I remember Brent loved to sing Rudolph and one year he wanted “a Barney, and you push his belly and he talks to ya!” haha – That year, Eric had his first Christmas piano recital complete with cookies and hot cider punch. 

As they got older, we had Christmas dates.  I took them both to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra during their senior years.  That was terrific.  And that same year with Eric, we sang a duet at the Smoot Theater’s Hometown Christmas.  Winter Wonderland with the big band.  :)

Memories of Christmas are the best things.  I will decorate my trees in honor of the birth of my savior and the wonderful years He gave me with the most wonderful children I could have ever asked for.  I will look at their childhood ornaments and smile and remember how cute and proud they were when they gave them to me.  My favorites are the paper plate angel tree topper Brent made when he was 4 – and it still tops my tree, and the multi colored pipe cleaner ornament Eric made that same year – and it goes to the top as well. 

Christmastime is here – bring hope and cheer,  Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year….

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Pete Wilson’s second book “Empty Promises”,  is coming out tomorrow.  He is the Senior Pastor at Crosspoint Church in Nashville, Tennessee where my boys attend church.  His first book – Plan B, which was published in 2010 is in all the major bookstores and is listed on Amazon’s best seller list.  I read that book and gave copies away. 

Empty Promises will do no less I am sure. 

Here is an excerpt recent email I received from Pete…

“I wrote this book because I see a natural drift in my own life. It’s a drift toward things that do not satisfy me, have never satisfied me, and have no hope of ever satisfying me, but I still continue to pursue them anyway.  

How ironic is it that although we’ve had gadgets, relationships, success, beauty and all these things that the world says, “This is what satisfies you,” although we’ve had those things, and we’ve tasted them, they didn’t satisfy.

So much of my life has been wasted on this lie: More of what we already possess that does not satisfy us is somehow going to bring us joy and happiness.  How crazy is that. We think more of what doesn’t work might work. I know it sounds funny, but it’s also sad because this is where a bulk of humanity is stuck. I’m praying God’s going to use this book to impact a lot of people.”  – Pete

I encourage you to get this book, read it and pass it on!  – Kelita

Video Book Trailer- Full:  www.vimeo.com/39909473

Video Book Trailer- 60 sec:  http://vimeo.com/39932930

Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0849946514/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=withoutwaxtv-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0849946514

Book Description:  

We all long for more of something in our lives. In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved.

How do we break free from these empty pursuits and start chasing the only Promise that will ever satisfy? How do we uncover the hidden idols that are driving us and turn our devotion toward the one true God?

Join Pastor and best-selling author Pete Wilson in discovering the joy and freedom that comes with seeking after God with your whole life. Learn how to replace, and not just relinquish, life’s empty promises by turning your focus and worship toward Him. It is the only thing that will set you absolutely free from the endless pursuit of everything else.

On Palm Sunday, I had the priviledge of attending church with my heart and soul, the joys of my life – Eric and Brent. I was visiting them in Nashville and attended Crosspoint Church with them. What an honor and a blessing to attend church with my boys at the church they have chosen to worship at while living away from home.

When they were 5 and 8 or 12 and 9 or 1 and 3, it was so easy to get caught up in the everyday activities of life. You think that the empty nest is far off and you live life. But it creeps up on you and one day, they are gone.

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart. Proverbs 22:6. This is my foundational scripture. And I must say, when I call one of them and they have just left home group or I see a tweet of a line from the pastor’s sermon, my heart fills with joy.

There truly is no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth. Train up your babies in the way they should go and when they are old, they will NOT depart