Thursday, July 27, 2017

Power in community!

I just have to share how amazing these last two months have been and how I have changed since I signed up to this online community! I was a member of MOB society (currently Million Praying Moms) and have been for a few months now!! I love it!! I have been encouraged, challenged, validated and supported in prayer! The Co-founder literally prayed for my family during a live team prayer!! Through this community I got my hands on a fantastic book! In the last 2 posts I wrote about it! It's Gospel Centered mom the freeing truth of what our kids really need. The author is a mom of two hard to handle boys! Every chapter is filled with such great truth! I feel like I have known the author for years when really I have only known her for months! It's on Preorder now and releases August 1st!! Seriously you need to get this book it's so so good!! It's real, convicting, and easy to get through all things I need!! Why do I share this in a blog? Because I am hoping to reach that one mom who may just about have had enough, I've  been there we all have! This book is a resource to good to keep to myself!!

This community is through facebook and I absolutley love it! Moms from all over can freely share thier struggle and victories with our kiddos it's not just for boys! Can I just say how awesome that is! On days where we may not have the words we have a resource right in our phone that to access a community of moms and open ANYTIME! When you bring a community of mamas together and encourage them to pray for thier sons which in my opinion, is the most crucial help, we can provide them there's no telling what good can come out of it!

We are real moms not afraid to be real. This morning a mom shared some struggles she has been having with her sons. I was so encouraged by her vulnerability that I had to message her right away through messenger! I didn't know anything about her besides the fact that she is a fellow mama with boys, that was enough for me. This mama had an avenue and was able to reach out to this community. I so wish I had known about this resource two years ago! Alot of times in mommyhood we feel we are alone and yet there is a community right at our fingertips we can access that shows us the truth of that lie!

The truth is we are not alone NEVER! We are all in this together! We have a redeeming, loving, caring, and a disciplinary Father who will never leave us or forsake us as scripture says! Before Million Praying Moms ago I felt alone! I came to know the greatest community and I couldn't help but share them with you!! Please take some time to look them up it will be so worth your while! I promise! I have realized I am not responible for the outcome of my sons that is God's job and His alone! My job is to fight for them and not against them. Maybe I would have learned this another way down the line and I am so thankful I learned about it now! I can give my boys the power of community because I really feel it!

Thanks for reading! Hope to see you on Million Praying Moms soon!

Website: https://www.millionprayingmoms.com
You cn also find them on facebook and Instagram
Link for book I mentioned: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/32956367-the-gospel-centered-mom 
They also have a podcast as well if that's of interest to you! Just go to the link above! They are on season 7! As I'm writing this I am listening to episode 12. 

Love you with all my heart
Tina Martina Putney

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Gospel Centered Mom chapters 2-4

My hope is you will be encouraged by what you read enough to pick up your own copy of this book! I will only share some points with each chapter! First off I identify with the author here because I always wanted to be a mom! I knew I loved working with kids and always had a desire for my own. I also wanted to be a stay at home mom. Life and finances made me work outside of the home for a season and my heart was always being home with my kids! Even though I know I want to be home there are days I wonder if I could/should do something else. It's just the reality of feeling guilty for my hubby having to work two jobs to support our growing family.
I really came into motherhood picturing a great nurser, rocking chair feedings and readings, snuggles galore, that I would be able to stay calm during challenging mothering moments. If you know Nathan he is anything but a rocker! He has always been a mover and shaker! He wanted to get out of that baby phase he wanted get out fast! Part of my struggle I believe came from what looked and often times felt like a dash to my mama dream. I truly had no idea what I was heading for!

PTSD was not a part of my plan for my life. It must have been for Jesus though, because that is what I was diagnosed with after a horrid first year with my son. I have had to partake in Out-patient and inpatient-therapy, marriage counseling, taking medication to help with anxiety and sleep. I have no shame as I write this because it is true, and I feel you need to know someone's truth before you can say how it impacted you. So now that you know my truth, I want to share with you some more truths from the book. There are two truths at the end of every chapter.

Chapter 2 truths struck a great cord in me. The hard truth is "God cares more about His grand plan than your immediate comfort or concerns. On the otherhand the beatiful truth is the creator of the universe has designed your circumstances to highlight the beauty of His perfect strength" (Brooke McGlothlin Gospel Centered Mom) Both of these get a resounding YES from me! Chapter 3 is full of God and bringing him glory (As it should be since this is all about Him anyways!)

I outlined a few pages that struck me personally, but I am going to encourage you to find the book! The hard truth is "We've bought into the lie that we are the main characters in the story of our lives" (Brooke McGlothlin Gospel Centered Mom). True or not? So often we only see what's going around us not the Eternal picture! On the other hand we have "Abandoning the ME gospel frees us to embrace God's great big, time-spanning, all-consuming story, and it's better than anything we could design"(Brooke McGlothlin Gospel Cenered Mom). Doesnt that take the pressure off of us? If you had the chance to plan your life would you? Would you trust in your ability or God's faithfulness proven over and over again? Chapter 4 was another great read. With so many points I want to share! 

The hard truth is super relevant to me. It reads "Circumstances, emotions, and personal convictions are unreliable guides for decision making" (Brooke McGlothlin Gospel Centered Mom). Oh how true! It really does matter what I belive that influences my behavior!! I am sure you can say this rings true for you as well! On the other hand the beautiful truth (and it really is beautiful) is "We are made to be loved and to know truth, and together these light the way to freedom and hope" (Brooke McGlothlin Gospel Centered Mom). Jeremiah 29:11 is my go to verse. Plans to bring a future and hope. I pray you have been encouraged and support this great ministry that I am learning so much from!!

I love you with all my heart! May you and your family be blessed!
Tina Martina Putney

Gospel Centered Mom by Brooke McGlothlin 
Found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gEO8ky
Found on Ebay: https://ebay.us/96yF8R