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Katie Westenberg

I Choose Brave

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How our True Home Changes Our Temporary One

by Katie

Our four walls can be a place of great joy but also hold our greatest moments of despair. Like tears on the bathroom floor or hiding out in our closet on the days that don’t measure up to what we thought we signed up for when we became a mom.

In motherhood, our perspective changes everything. Our true home, our eternal perspective as mothers, should directly impact our temporary home and how we mother daily. And THIS is why. #grumpymomtakesaholiday #valwoerner #motherhood #momlife

Within my four walls, sturdy enough to withstand Louisiana’s many hurricanes, it’s easy to forget that this world is actually temporary. I forget that this fact means the world’s definition of motherhood is temporary and paperthin, too.

What does temporary or paperthin motherhood look like? It looks like measuring it by the amount of dry shampoo in our hair, spit up on shirt, crumbs on our floor, sips of coffee actually enjoyed hot, and chocolate savored uninterrupted.

If this is the world’s definition of motherhood and this is the message we are surrounded by, should I really be surprised that grumpy mom can define me many times?

When I step back and see my most grumpy moments, I trace my thoughts back to the original seed of discontent and what I find are these seemingly innocent ways the world defines motherhood. I don’t even realize the destruction because like I mentioned, I’ve only ever lived on earth and have grown accustomed to the message around me.

When we become so accustomed to and well-adjusted to our current culture of discontentment we fail to even recognize God's abidance awaiting us. #bigfaith #motherhood #abundance

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I love how the Message version words it. It says, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.”

Reading this, though it can sound discouraging, should give us hope. Or at least an understanding of why we can feel discontent with something that God sees so differently.

This is where the breakdown happens, becoming so well-adjusted to our culture that we don’t even notice how far it is from God’s abundance awaiting us. But that also means that transformation may not be as far off as it feels when we’ve just had an epic blowup at our kids for something.

Romans 12, the Message paraphrase, goes on saying, “Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

I’ve gotten to experience a radically different motherhood as God’s gone to work in my often melancholy heart. Grumpy moments still happen but they are shorter, less intense and fewer in general because I’m letting God’s truth wreck that temporary motherhood the world pretends is everything.

 

What does this look like really practically? Three simple steps:

 

  1. Live aware of the world’s intentions.

Simply know that it’s possible to view motherhood like the world instead of God. We have an enemy and all too often, I forget that and take my guard down. When we remember the reality, we give ourselves permission to analyze each thought that might derail us and not just assume it’s true or doesn’t have a negative impact on our thoughts.

 

  1. Recognize the lies.

The more Scripture we know, the greater our advantage will be to recognize lies. Is it really Biblical for me to demand perfect nap performances from my kids or am I believing the lie that my plan for this time is greater than God’s? I get annoyed when naptime goes bad only when I’m believing the lie.

 

  1. Replace them with God’s truth.

When I’m believing the truth, I quickly realize my faulty thinking. I can admit my mistakes and though my heart may still be bruised, at the very least, I know the kind of reaction I want to have. And that truth puts the wheels of transformation in motion.

 

Imagine the momma moments we could have when we start living out an abundant motherhood instead of a paperthin one? We spend less time fixated on the #hotmess message or survival mode approach. We know, with unwavering hope, that the God who saved us from a lifetime separated from Him didn’t stop short and say we can fumble through motherhood until we get to heaven.

God is generous, faithful, and loving. As we fix our eyes on Him and filter out the lies of the world, we’ll get to experience a motherhood we never dreamed possible.

Want help discovering 20 of the most common stereotypes or misconceptions about motherhood that can lead to our grumpy moments? Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday is for you. We’ll identify the lies, replace them with truth and have practical application to live it out. Find it here or any book seller near you.

 

Valerie Woerner is the owner of Val Marie Paper and author of Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday and Fresh Start for Moms. Her mission is to create practical tools, including her original 6-month prompted prayer journal, and content that equips women to cut through the noise of everyday life and find fullness in the presence of the Lord. She lives in South Louisiana with her husband Tyler and two girls, Vivi and Vana.

 

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Filed Under: Brave Faith, Brave Mama, Parenting Brave

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Katie Westenberg

Hey, friend, I’m glad you’re here! I’m Katie. One girl determined to do life bravely. One girl determined to Fear God and Live Brave, to parent well, live authentically and work hard for all the things that matter. I Choose Brave and I hope you will too!

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This is fun news! For a limited time, buy a copy o This is fun news! For a limited time, buy a copy of But Then She Remembered for MOM and we’ll send YOU a copy of the audiobook for free!

Distraction is a multi-generational struggle. Remembering is a multi-generational command. Let’s do this, together. Here are the details:

Purchase your copy of But Then She Remembered from any retailer and then head to my website (link in bio) to get your free copy of the audiobook. It’s that simple.
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Available while supplies last. (Note: the offer says buy a copy for mom, not necessarily YOUR mom. Buy a copy for a woman who is a mom, or a woman who has a mom. 😊 They all qualify. Just grab it before they’re gone!}
I scanned a post shared by a friend awhile back an I scanned a post shared by a friend awhile back and the words quickly wooed me. I’ve long been a sucker for words.
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The writer spun them expertly, thoughtfully, vividly, and I was glad to drink of her craft, greedy for story drawn artfully, delivered thoughtfully, from a deep well.

Until I realized, the words weren’t true. The author was believing a well woven lie and carefully threading mistruth into her own kind of gospel. Her mastery, a thin veil for mistruth.
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I was reminded, friend, perhaps the apple looks a bit different today. The shape and size, delivery method, have gone modern but the Truth is still the same - sin is crouching, desiring us and we are commanded to rule over it. Still, today.
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We must know Truth to spot lies. We must remember it, to recognize the difference. We must be aware of our weaknesses and the sticky compulsion of temptation. It’s our responsibility to rule here. May we do so, bravely..
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{Genesis 4:7 
And more like this in the newly released, But Then She Remembered.}
This morning, remember. This morning, remember.
Just a little PSA to remind you - it’s possible. Just a little PSA to remind you - it’s possible. 

It’s possible to be aware of the news and the world, of foreign relations and politics, and not be obsessed about it.

It’s possible to feel the real hurt of real trouble and not be possessed by it.

It’s possible to be in the world and not of it. To remember who God was, and is, and always will be, above it.

It’s possible to remember Him here.

May we learn to do so, bravely.
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{Beautifully modeled in Psalm 77. See for yourself, friend.❤️}
Slow processor over here. But this little book lau Slow processor over here. But this little book launched into the world on Tuesday and I’m still reeling from the beauty of celebrating side by side with so many sisters, the grace of what it looks like when so many women offer their gifts for His glory (fishes and loaves never looked so good!), and the incredible support of my local community. I’ll never forget it.
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If you want to join us as women determined to remember the goodness of God in this wildly distracting world, grab yourself a copy of the book and LET’S GO! We are ready for it.❤️
HOW SWEET IS THIS? My dear friend @jodie_berndt an HOW SWEET IS THIS? My dear friend @jodie_berndt and I get to release books on the very same day - tomorrow! To celebrate @growthrootsco (another dear friend and creator of the loveliest journals) is giving YOU a chance to win copies of them all!

Here’s the offering:

1. My book - But then she remembered (how to give God your full attention in a distracted world)
2. Jodie’s book - Praying the scriptures for your marriage (trusting God with your most important relationship)
3. A growth book! 
4. Jodie’s favorite pens!
5. An Amazon gift card!! 
6. Marriage conversation cards! 

Beautiful, right? I know these women, their love for Jesus, their work and their words. You will LOVE these books, friend (and the extra goodies too). 

Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @jodie_berndt, @katie_westenberg and @growthrootsco

2. Tag 3 friends (or more 😉 each tag or share gives you another entry) 

3. Like this post.

That’s it! The giveaway will close Wednesday night and the winner will be announced Thursday! 

*Giveaway open to U.S residents only. As per Instagram’s rules, this promotion is not sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram in any way.*
The humanity of Jesus Christ is an indispensable g The humanity of Jesus Christ is an indispensable gift to us as believers. Every challenge we face He met and mastered. The Bible doesn’t speak of endless notifications and group texts, but it does speak of people with real needs showing up in Christ’s path constantly. 
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Wherever He went crowds followed with needs and questions and frustrations and problems. He got in a boat to cross to the other side of the sea, and people would race to meet Him there. 

Can you even imagine?

And His most common response? He was moved with compassion. 
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Over and over again, He stopped what He was doing, paused from the task at hand, and tended to the needy hearts - the bleeding woman, the woman at the well - right in front of Him.
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Far too often I find I’m happy to entertain distractions - anything that prevents me from giving my full attention to something else - and yet annoyed by interruptions. Perhaps it is because one I choose, while the other I do not?
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Discerning the difference between a distraction and an interruption has been a helpful tool to me. I want to love like Christ. I want to be interruptible, but I want to give my full attention to what He places in my path.
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What about you? Are you more frustrated by distractions or interruptions?
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{excerpt from But Then She Remembered: How to Give God Your Full Attention in a Distracted World.}
UPDATE: You all scooped up dozens of copies in min UPDATE: You all scooped up dozens of copies in minutes! 🎉 Well done! You know how to love your leaders well. I wish we had another case of books to give away! We are closing this giveaway for now. If you sent us a message watch for a reply soon!
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I need your help with something fun! 
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This little book is making its way out into the world and instead of sending all of the marketing copies to all of the “influencer” people, we’ve held a supply back for the real people on the ground. 
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These copies are for the women’s ministry leaders and the Bible study leaders. The small group leaders and women out there mentoring and serving others in quiet and unseen places. The women without a platform or audience in the world’s currency, but willing to do good and important work for the women right in front of them.
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I’m convinced this work of leading and serving face to face is more important than ever and I want to say thank you! And keep going! Your work matters.
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So here is how it works: If you are a local leader or know of one who you would like me to send a copy of my hot-off-the-press book, But Then She Remembered: How to Give God Your Full Attention in a Distracted World, DM me with a name and mailing address. I’ll send them a copy of the book with a personal thank you note for the good work they are doing.
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Crash my inbox. We’ll send ‘em out while supplies last!

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