April 19: Oxygen: Need to Live - He is Risen!

While preparing our hearts for Easter, Pastor Mike Bellanti, lead pastor at Northbrook Church and father of two, spoke this week to encourage, inspire, and validate all moms.  He reminded us that there was someone in Jesus' life who was always with him - from conception to resurrection - Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Mary gave birth to the Hope of the World, a man who was fully God, but she was responsible for raising Him, a son who was also fully human. We are not raising children who are the Hope of the World, but Pastor Mike did remind us that in Genesis 1:27 we are told that we are created in the image of God.  We are not "just" a mom, we are caring for the image of God on Earth!  While our current culture may have diminished, devalued and disrespected the role of mothers, what greater job is there than to be caretakers of the image of God?

Pastor Mike lifted us up, reminding us that we are valued, appreciated and respected.  He also encouraged us to remember that motherhood (and life) is made up of different seasons.  Many mothers of preschoolers might agree that we are in the "I'm so tired I can't even think any more" season, but it will eventually come to an end.  And perhaps knowing the season will not last, we can learn to embrace the season we are in and navigate it successfully.  As it is written in Isaiah 41:10:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

What do we need during this season of life to feel renewed?

1. Appreciation, 
2. A break from life and its responsibilities, 
3. Rest and 
4. Validation.

So, moms, remember you ARE appreciated, otherwise God would not have entrusted you to care for His image on Earth!  Take the breaks you need - find an outlet to disengage and remove yourself so that you can renew and refresh your spirit to be more effective in life.  Rest when you can, but remember, this season will pass and rest will come.  Turn to Proverbs 31:30-31 and read God's validation:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 

This Easter season while we celebrate the newness of life we have through Christ Jesus, let us also remember that there was a mom at the foot of that cross who had been entrusted with raising the Son of God on Earth.  Let us value our role as the caretakers of the image of God, and find our strength, renewal, rest and validation in the arms of our Father.

April 5: Lithium Battery: Leaders Keep Going and Going and Going....

Today's meeting was our annual Leadership Tea, a morning where we celebrate and recognize the importance of the moms in our group.  This year's tea was all about those inspiring and influential moments and people in our lives.  We also celebrated the influence that we have in our families, with our children, and with other friends/moms we come in contact with.  

Another important and exciting moment was the announcement that Northbrook is launching a NEW ministry for preschool moms.  Starting in September, we will be........

For more information about this new ministry, please click HERE.  We are currently accepting registration forms for next year (starting September 2011).  

The bulk of our morning consisted of powerful testimonies from a number of our steering team members.  These women shared about influential people and moments in their lives.  We finished up our morning with a slide show set to the song "Who You Are" by Hilary Weeks and the presentation of a "Moms of Influence" cake!