I’m doing an awesome bible study right now on the life of David called Anointed, Transformed & Redeemed. One of the speakers for the study (it’s DVD driven) is Priscilla Shirer and during the first week, she gave us this soliloquy on who we belong to. In the DVD she’s in Nashville with Beth Moore and Kay Arthur talking to 2000+ women. I wanted to share this because it’s just too incredibly awesome not to share it!

Soliloquy by Priscilla Shirer – Who do you belong to?

He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He’s the keeper of creation and the creator of all. He’s the architect of the universe and the manager of all time. He always was, always is, always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated and never undone.

He was bruised but brought healing, He was pierced but eased pain, He was persecuted but brought freedom, He was dead and brings life. He is risen to bring power and He reigns to bring peace.

The world can’t understand Him, armies can’t defeat Him, schools can’t explain Him and leaders they can’t ignore Him. Herrod couldn’t kill Him, Nero couldn’t crush Him, the new age cannot replace Him and Oprah cannot explain Him away.

You remind yourself, that He is light, He is love, He is longevity and He is the Lord. He is goodness and kindness and faithfulness and He is God. He is holy and righteousness and powerful and pure.

His ways are right, His word eternal, His will unchanging and His mind is on us. He’s our Savior, our guide, our peace, our joy, our comfort, our Lord and He rules our lives.

I serve Him because…His bond is love, His yoke is easy, His burden is light and His goal for us is abundant life. I follow Him because He’s the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of all leaders. His goal is a relationship with me.

He’ll never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in his appointment book.

When you fall He’ll lift you up. When you fail, He’ll forgive you. When you’re weak, He’s strong. When you’re lost, He’s your way. When you’re afraid, He’s your courage.

When you stumble, He will steady you. When you’re hurt He’s going to heal you. When you’re broken, He will mend you. When you’re blind, He will lead you. When you’re hungry, He will feed you. When you face trials, He’s with you. When I face persecution, He shields me. When I face problems, He will comfort me. When I face loss, He will provide for me. And when we face death, He will carry us all home to meet Him.

He is everything, for everybody, everywhere every time and in every way. He is your God. And that sisters, is who you belong to.

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This year our MOPS theme is Adventures in Mothering. That statement could not be more true! I have to say that this year has been one of the most challenging of the last five. But I’ve learned I’m not in it alone. I have my husband in the seat next to me, my friends and family are always there to support me, and I have my wonderful MOPS ladies. I have met so many great women this year. Great women who are on the same adventure as me. Being a group leader this year, I’ve been able to meet and touch the lives and have my life touched by so many different and unique moms. Melody – whose son was diagnosed at the age of 6 with Cystic Fibrosis. I can’t even begin to imagine how that news rocks your world as a mother. Suzanne – who I actually met in bible study but she also attends our MOPS group. We just instantly hit it off and have so much in common. She and I have become very close (our sons are in the same nursery) and I just found out she is pregnant for the second time. Melissa – this is her first year in MOPS and she’s JUST like I was when I started…I could not absorb enough of the atmosphere and fellowship on Friday mornings. And she’s so eager to participate in discussions and is just a sweet, sweet soul. I see a lot of myself in her and I think is why I feel such a connection. Then there’s Laura, who is the discussion group leader coordinator this year. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this fantastic fellow mom. She has been my sounding board when I needed her. Her sense of humor is infectious. And she is such a good friend. I feel like I’ve known her my whole life. I’ve said it before – maybe not here but I’ve said it – I was meant to find THIS MOPS group. Not just any MOPS group, but THIS ONE. God knew what he was doing when He led me to this church. And for that small thing I am BIG TIME thankful.

My experience as a leader this year has gone better than I ever expected. There are times when laughter is abundant and my face hurts from smiling so much. But there are also times when my heart hurts because one of my fellow moms is experiencing pain. Melody, the woman whose son has CF came to me and told me about her 6 year old son James being diagnosed. She told me about all the tests they had to run due to a misdiagnosis just after he was born. She told me about the special vest they would have to buy for him that he’d have to use 3 times a day to help clear his lungs along with antibiotics and  breathing treatments. She told me about all the medicine that he would have to be on for the rest of his life. She told me about all the life changes that she and her family would have to make. At the meeting that Friday, Melody stood in front of us all and explained what the doctors told her about James diagnosis. Leadership gathered around Melody and led the group in prayer for her and her family. Later in our small groups, we took up a monetary collection to give to Melody and her family of just whatever we felt lead to give. I don’t know the total dollar amount that was collected that day, but I can tell you how MOVED I was at the generosity of this group. Every single woman reached down into their hearts to help Melody and her family – no questions asked. I knew this group of women were amazing, but for me, this experience just kicked it up a notch. THESE LADIES ROCK!!

I LOVE being on leadership and love the women who are on our steering team. They are such a special group and I am blessed to know them. I hope that I am making a difference in these women’s lives. But if I’m not, they are making a difference in mine. I am a better mom because of them and because of what they’ve taught ME. Sharing their mothering experiences with me and knowing the roller coasters they ride on in this adventure has been priceless. I pray at the end of every small group for the women to feel more secure in their roles as moms and that God uses each of them for His glory.

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So this is my third year in MOPS at Cypress Bible Church but my first year as a group lead. (DGL stands for discussion group leader.) My job is basically to facilitate my small group and make the women feel welcome, loved and make sure they get as much as possible out of their Friday mornings. We share a hot breakfast while our kids are very well taken care of in their classrooms. We listen to a guest speaker whose topics range from how to keep your kids busy over the summer to how to better organize your home and even as far as how catepillars turn into butterflies. We then break into our small groups for discussion, usually about the guest speaker and prayer requests. Then the last part of the morning is a craft. Some good, some bad - but still, it's some "me" time that I enjoy.

Two hours that involves having a hot breakfast with no kids pulling at you and actually having adult conversation is rare for us stay at home moms. I have to say MOPS is probably one of the best days of the week for me. It's a place I can go and feel comfortable as a woman and as a mom. A place where I can share my daily trials and tribulations with other moms who miraculously go through the same things I do. It's there we find a connection with each other, and realize that we are human and we're going to make mistakes. But above all, we love our children and we are where we're meant to be for this time in our lives. When I first agreed to stay at home, I thought "what an easy job". A year later, my thoughts were "I don't know if I can do THIS job". Then I found MOPS and realized that I'm exactly where God wants me to be in my life. I'm there today as a DGL to help other women who are where I was three years ago - overwhelmed with being a SAHM at times, a little frustrated and feeling disconnected from myself. my friends and God.

Today was our first true meeting of the year (it got postponed like everything else because of Ike). I was a little apprehensive this morning about how my leadership role was going to go. I'm not a leader by nature, so it was a little different for me to have accepted this role in the first place. If I had to use one word to describe how it went today, AWESOME is the only word that comes to mind. These women in my group are so wonderful and I'm so blessed to share the mothering experience with them. They are ten very different women whose lives are all the same just by the bond of motherhood.

I can't put into sufficient words how I feel when I'm at MOPS. Comfortable comes to mind. Even accepted. Usually home is the place where we feel the safest and the most comfortable. I think I can call MOPS home. I thank God everyday for leading me to these women because my life has truly changed because of them.

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