Comments on: sow in hope {encouragement for moms}

By: Debby Webb

Debby Webb — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 17:52:00 +0000

I really needed to hear these words. I feel a lot like you most days. I same the same words over and over but the kids’ behavior doesn’t change. Hope, may I start to sow in hope of what the Father will do in my kids.

By: Jeramy Lee

Jeramy Lee — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 20:19:00 +0000

In reply to Debbie DeLine.

“We need to hope in God with anticipation, not expectation.” A subtle yet important difference.

Wow. That is so obvious when you see it, yet so completely hard to grasp and do. I love the example you give about the birthday presents. Our church just started a big movement looking forward to the harvest and how we are to be planting seeds now. Lara’s message hooks right into that and your comments give an additional perspective. Thank you SO much for sharing.

By: Katie Bennett

Katie Bennett — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 19:21:00 +0000

I love the picture of us “sowing” into our children. It’s such an honor and privilege to be entrusted by God with this task of parenting. My daughter just turned three, and I’ve recently starting seeing fruit from years of training and hard work. It encourages me! It fills my heart to overflowing. I love the little girl she’s becoming.

By: Lorena

Lorena — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:03:00 +0000

Sowing in hope with my children is getting easier (my oldest is 12) but lately it’s my peer friendships that are the challenge. Hoping – and trusting – when friends have disappointed, that’s hard. No answers, yet.

By: l a r a w i l l i a m s

l a r a w i l l i a m s — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 19:13:00 +0000

In reply to Debbie DeLine. Thank you for sharing Debbie. You are so right. I have written many times about the difference between our definition of good versus God's definition of good. Very very different. But I truly believe he wants us to live our lives expecting Him to be good and to be love and to be faithful. We can expect him to be true to His character and promises because that's the kind of God He is. We don't however know what that will mean played out in our daily lives. I pray we never place our hope in the gifts but rather in the Giver of all good gifts. He alone is worthy. Blessings sister.

By: Debbie DeLine

Debbie DeLine — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:38:00 +0000

My son with special needs has recently become completely potty trained after working on it EVERY day for 7 years. I know a bit about sowing in hope of the harvest, and the joy when the harvest comes! But I also know about sowing, and sowing, year after year, and never seeing the harvest I was hoping for. I can’t hide my disappointment. My mom once told me, “We need to hope in God with anticipation, not expectation.” A subtle yet important difference. We can hope and trust and anticipate that God will do something God-sized in our life, or the life of our child. All things work together for good to those who love Him (not that all things by themselves are going to necessarily be good). But when we hold to specific expectations, we are often disappointed. For example, if our child anticipates getting some great presents for her Birthday, she will probably be filled with joy when she opens all her gifts. But if she is expecting to get a specific doll, and doesn’t get that exact doll, she will be disappointed, even if the things she did receive were as good or better than what she was expecting. This important lesson about hoping has helped me tremendously as I sow with perseverance into the life of my children.

By: Amy Heywood

Amy Heywood — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 12:00:00 +0000

this is powerful

By: l a r a w i l l i a m s

l a r a w i l l i a m s — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 02:44:00 +0000

In reply to Julie. Thank you, Julie. And yes, the sowing reaping can absolutely be applied to ministry and every other relationship we pour into. Bless you, sister.

By: l a r a w i l l i a m s

l a r a w i l l i a m s — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 02:43:00 +0000

In reply to Amy Avery. Thank you so much for that encouragement, Amy. Raising kids is so hard. And yes the failures are daily! Praying we sow in hope, friend.

By: l a r a w i l l i a m s

l a r a w i l l i a m s — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 02:36:00 +0000

In reply to Sarah. Two and four. Girlfriend, these early years are hard. But as my mom says, "They may step on your toes now, but in a few years they will step on your heart." Lord, help us.