Communication
Communicationisanessentialpart ofhumanandspiritualinteraction.It isoneoftheprimarykeysneededin lifeforbuilding,creating,linking, connecting,broadcasting, dispatching,transference,andmore. Communicationalsohelpsto maintainsomethingasitwerea business,ministry,orrelationship.
Communicationisdefinedasa processbywhichinformationis exchangedbetweenindividualsora commonsystemofsymbols,signs,or behaviors.
TheworldcametobesimplybyGod saying“Lettherebe”anditwas. Whatweneed,want,anddesireis rightonourlips.Thisexchange buildsrelationshipsand environment.Whatwespeakcreates ourworld,wecanbuildituportear itdown.Wecanopenourmouths andeatorkeepaclosedmouthand notgetfed.
Whilewalkingthisjourneyoutone ofthethingsGodcontinuestotellme istoopenmymouth.
WhywasGodtellingmetoopenmy mouth?ItwasbecausetheanswersI neededwerewithinme.WhatI needed,wanted,anddesiredwas rightatmylip.Speakingandadding toitfaith,isanexchangesystemthat Godusesandcounts.
Communicationhasbeenatthetop ofmymindthesepastfewweeks.I knowthisisanareaoffocusbecause Iamseeingthelackofitallaround me.IhavelearnedwhenIbeganto correctthosethingswithinmethings begantocorrectthemselvesaround me.
Theexchangeincommunication keepsusconnectedtoGodand othersineverytypeandlevelof relationshipthereis.Beingafriend, family,marriage,orcoworker.Even customersinbusinessliketobeup todatewithwhatsgoingon.
Maintainingandstayingconnectedis anareainwhichIwas underdeveloped.Meetingpeoplewas notaproblemcommunicatingand stayingconnectedwas. 5
Communication
TheHebrewdefinition communicationgiveswordsthat expressthemeaningandherearea few.Link,connect,transference, broadcast,dispatchandmessage.
WhenIreadthewordlinkthestory of DavidandJonathancametomind inISamuel18:1Anditcametopass whenhehadmadeanendof speakinguntoSaul,thatthesoulof Jonathanwasknitwiththesoulof DavidandJonathanlovedhimashis ownsoul.
WithDavidjustspeaking,therewas aconnectionmade.Godwantsan evengreaterconnectionwhichis whyheisdrawingmanyofusto communicateevenmore.To recognizethespiritofpowerthathe hasgivenustouse. Tospeaklifeand ofnocorruptthing.Weeatthethings wespeakwhenitpertainstoour livesandothers.
Notonlythat,wearesavedand receivesalvationbyconfessingwith ourmouthandbelieving.
. Romans10:8-9(NET)Butwhat doesitsay?“Thewordisnearyou;it isinyourmouthandinyourheart,” thatis,themessageconcerningfaith thatweproclaim:Becauseifyou confesswithyourmouththatJesusis Lordandbelieveinyourheart that Godraisedhimfromthedead,you willbesaved.
Ourmouthbyfaithentersusintothe kingdomconnectingustoour heavenlyFatherthroughChristJesus. Proverbs18:21Lifeanddeatharein thepowerofthetongueandthose wholoveitwilleatthefruitofit.
Speakingisatoolusedtomove mountains,heal,deliver,bind,and loose.So,Iencourageustodayto openourmouthsandworship,pray, andcommunewithGodand everyoneandthingaroundus.Call thosethingsthatarenotasthough therewere.Speaklifeandnotdeath. Openyourmouth!andcallheavento earth.Amen!
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It’sNotAll
It’s Not All About The Kids
I'vesaiditmanytimesmyself,"Myboyscomefirst."That'sthewayitshouldbe-right? Wrong. Asmothers,wewanttheabsolutebestforourchildren.Wewantthemtohavebetter experiencesthanwehad,andtolivefulfillinglives,justasourparentswantedforus.But puttingthemaboveandbeforeanythingelseinyourlifewillnotproducetheresultsyou seek. Ispeakfromexperience.
Ilosttwobabiesbeforethebirthofmytwoboys,sowhenIfinallybecamethemotherof twolivingchildren,Irememberthinking,nowthatIamamother,IhavepurposeasiftosayI didnothavepurposebeforethem.Ididn'trealizethatmythoughtprocesswasasetupfora letdown.CountlesstimesIreferredtomychildrenasmy"purpose”,allthewhile,myidentity wasslippingthroughthecracks.Mytrueidentitythatis.Youdoknowwhereyoucanfind youridentityright?OuridentityandpurposecanbefoundinChrist.WithoutChrist,our identityisdefinedbythestandardsofthisworldwhicharecorrupt.Ephesians2:10tellsus thatweareGod'sworkmanship.Isaiah64:8saysthatGodisthepotter,andwearetheclay.
Considerthatforamoment.Whenanartistcreatesanartpiece,noonecanexplainthe purpose,orwhatinspiredhiscreationwithouttalkingtohimfirst.Manymaydeveloptheir ownopinionsandhavedifferentperspectives,butonlythecreatorofthatpiececan accuratelydefinethepurposeforwhichthepiecewascreated.ThesamegoesforusasGod’s creation.Howcanwefindouridentityintheworldorevenourchildren,whentheydon't knowusliketheCreatordoes?Youridentity,yourpurpose,isfoundinChrist.Alargeportion ofyourpurposeinvolvesmotherhood,butthereismoretoyouthanbeingamother. I learnedthisthehardway.Forthisreason,I’mwillingtobetransparentaboutmyjourneyas amother,hopingthatitcanhelpanothermotherstrugglingwithprioritizingitall.
If you want an example of unconditional love, you’ll find it in the heart of a mother.
ForyearsafterIhadmyboys,everydayIlivedforthemomentwhenIwalkedintothe houseorwenttopickthemupfromdaycarethattheycamerunningtowardsmewith extremeexcitementyellingout"Mama’shere,Mama’shere!". Thatnevergotold.When everythinginmylifewasgoingwrong,Ifoundstrengthandmotivationtokeepgoingon, throughmyboys.So,what'sso
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badaboutthatyouask?Somemaysayit'sokaytofindyourstrengthfromwhoever,or whereveryoucanduringthedarktimes.Inreturn,I’llaskyouthisquestion.
If your primary source of strength was removed to a degree that it no longer encouraged you as it once did, what would be the outcome?
WhatI'mabouttoshare,isnoteasytoadmit;butit’sthetruth.Asthesayinggoes,thetruth setsyoufree.I’msharingthisforthemotherwhooncethoughtshehadmotherhoodinthe bagjusttofindoutthateverything,shethoughtsheknew,shedidn't.Thisisforthemother whorealizedherstrategyforraisingherchildrenhadutterlyblownupinherface.Thisisfor themotherthatforamoment,feltunqualifiedasamother.Ifthat'snotyou,that’sawesome! However,Iencourageyoutokeepreadinganyway,youmaystillfindwhatIsharehelpful.
Asmyboysgrewolderandtransitionedoutofthetoddlerstage,tograde schoolage,uptotheteenyears,therewasashiftinourrelationship.Andmaybetheshift beganbeforeIrealizedit,sowhenIdid,Iwascaughtoffguardwiththenewbehaviorsmy boyswereshowing.Iunderstandnowthatitwasjusttheusualgrowingpainsbroughtonby theboysexploringtheworldbeyondourhome.Ifirstnoticeditbythewaytheygreetedme. TheydidnotshowtheexcitementIwasusedtowhenIgothomeorpickedthemupafter school.Yettheywerealwaysaskingmetobuythemsomethingortakethemsomewhere. Whenwewerehome,theywoulddispersetotheirroom,andstayalldayifIletthem.They didn'tneedmeasmuchanymoreandthepurposeIoncefelt,wasgone.Suddenly,twoofthe fewpeoplethatIfeltlovedmewerenowtreatingmelikeavendingmachine,abank,a chauffeur,anddareIsay-arobot.Ifeltlostandinvisible.Itwasn’tuntillaterthatIrealized thatIhadbeenenablingthatbehaviorallalongbygoingoutofmywaytoappeasethem.The enemyusedthisopportunitytostartwhisperingliesinmyear,tellingmeInolongerhada purpose,andIwasn’tagoodmother.Healmostconvincedmetobelievethatmykidsno longerlovedme.Forsolong,Iconsideredmyboysmysolepurposeinthisworld.Ifedoff theirneedandattentionfor,andtowardsme,andnowthathadchanged.So,Istartedto believethelies-butonlyforalittlewhile.IrecognizedthedirectionIwasheading,gotinto theWord,andreceivedanewrevelation.Butnotbeforemanydisappointingandchaotic moments,mightIadd.
I learned as mothers, we wear many "hats". However, to be the best version of ourselves in all our roles, it is imperative that we know who we are as an individual; who we are in Christ.
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Asmothers,wehaveaninnatedesiretoprotectandprovideforourchildren,eveninto adulthood.However,intheprocess,wemustlearntofallbacksome,orelsewewillfind ourselvesexhaustinglydedicatingourentirelivestofulfilltheirlives-asoursslipby.I'mnot sayingsacrificesdon'thavetobemadeasmothers.Sacrificesareinevitable!Wejustwantto becarefulthatweallowourchildrentheopportunitytonavigatethroughsomeofthe challengesof thisworldontheirown.Orelse,weriskdrivingthemtowardstheverythings andpeoplewearetryingtoprotectthemfrom.
Also,don’tbeafraidtoconsiderthe“thevillage”approach. Singlemothers,allowmenof integrityandfaithtostepinandhelpteachyourboyswhatyoucan't.Don'tkeepagood fatherfromseeinghischildrenasatactictopunishhim.becauseyou'repunishingyourchild aswell.Yourchildhasnothingtodowithwhathappenedbetweenyouandhim.Besides,itis notallaboutyou;Isaythatwithlove. Wivesdon'toverstepordisregardyourhusbandin frontofyourchildren.Ifyoudon'tagreewithadecisionhe'smadeaboutthekids,talktohim inprivate,cometoanagreement,andpresentittoyourchildrentogether.
It is crucial to strike a balance between motherhood and individuality. Choose your battles wisely to avoid exhaustion and unnecessary stress.
Godcreatedyouwithpurpose.Youcanfulfillyourotherrolesofpurposeandbea wonderfulmotheratthesametime.Youdonothavetosacrificeyourhobbies,goals,or friendshipstobeatyourchild’severybeckoningcall.Enablingandspoilingchildrento becomeoverlydependentcanhindertheirabilitytobecomeindependent.Intheend,itcan alsostripyouofyourindependence.Todevelopindependentandresponsiblechildren,we mustshowthemwhatitlooksliketomakewisedecisionsbyhowweliveourlivesdaily. Conversationsalonearenotenough.Conversationshelp,butexperiencesteach.Wecannot beeverywhereandknoweverythingaboutourchildren,butwecantrustthatGodknowsit all.
Through prayer and supplication, we can trust God to look out for them in our absence.
GodtoldparentsinProverbs22:6,“Trainupachildinthewayheshouldgoandwhenhe isold,hewillnotdepartfromit.”So,mothers,itisourresponsibility,toteachyourchildren theGospelofJesusChrist.TeachandshowthemMatthew6:33,"Seekyefirstthekingdomof GodandallHisrighteousness;andallthesethingsshallbeaddedintoyou."Evenwhenit seemsyourchildhasdepartedfromthevaluesyouinstilledinthem,remember,thingsare notalwaysastheyappear.Knowthatwhatyouhavetaughtthemhasneverleftthem.Pray, andallowGodtohandletherest.Asweknow,theoldertheyget,thelesscontrolwehave,so it’sbesttodoyourduediligencenowwhilethey’restillinthehome;they'llthankyoulater. I did. 10
Finally, woman to woman, mother to mother, take care of yourself.
KnowingwhoyouareinChristisoneofthebeststepstobethemotheryouwanttobe.You willneverbeperfect.Youwilldroptheballsometimes,loseyourcool,anddoorsay somethingyoushouldn't,butthat'sokay.YourchildneedstoseehowyouallowGodtohelp andguideyouthroughthosetimes.Pretendingtoalwaysbestrongasifyoudon’thaveweak momentsdoesn'thelpbecauseit'snotrealistic.
Mostimportantly,honortheLordaboveanythingandeverybody;thisincludesyour children.Everythingelsewillfallintoplace–accordingtothewillofGod.Readaboutwhat happenedtoEliandhissonsin1stSamuel2:12-36.Heisanexampleofwhathappenswhen aparenthonorstheirchildrenoverGod.Godevenaskedhimatonepoint,"Whydoyou honoryoursonsoverme?"Chapters1and2alsotellsastoryabouthowawomannamed HannahhonoredGodoverherchild.Hannahstartedoffasabarrenwoman.Shepromised GodthatifHegaveherason,shewoulddedicatehimtoGodforhisentirelife.Godgavehera son,shenamedhimSamuel,andtherestishistory.
Motherhood is a challenging beautiful journey full of sacrifices, but don’t sacrifice your individuality.
Onedayourchildrenwillleavethenest.Ifwearenotsecureinwhoweareoutsideofour children,wearenotgoingtoknowwhattodowithourselvesandlifewillcontinuetopassus by.Ontheotherhand,ifweputGodfirst,Hewillpromoteusinmotherhoodand womanhood.JustlikethevirtuouswomantalkedaboutinProverbs31,yourchildrenwill indeedcallyoublessed.
So,inthenameofJesus,Ipraythatyoucontinuetobeblessed,andallowGod'sWordtobea lighttoyourpath.
Scripturereferences:
Luke1:30-Godbelievesinyousoyoushouldalsobelieveinyourself.
Proverbs31:25-strengthanddignityisyourdresscode
1Samuel1:26-yourprayersgoalongway
Proverbs139:14-youareabeautifulcreation
2Timothy1:5-self-controlandasoundmindisyoursforthetaking. Philippians1:6-God'sbegunagoodworkinyou.
Article written by Daveda Janine.
Daveda Janine is a faith-based published author, speaker, creator, and host of “The Journey Tip” which airs on WABB Spirit Radio, 105.1 FM and 13:90AM at 4:00 pm EST.
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By: Daveda Janine
