I’m sitting in a coffee shop. Writing. Watching.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a man sitting. Hopeful.

In walks a group, among them, a little girl.

She runs. “Daddy!”

The man, her father, wraps her in his arms until she can’t be seen. Joy. Love. Contentment. Peace.

My heart melts.

In this scene, seemingly orchestrated just for me, I’m reminded that Someone waits for me…for you with the same Hope each morning.

Will you Run?

He’s waiting. Hopeful.

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I love this commercial. It inspires me as a runner, but it also inspires me as a believer and a mother. No more excuses.

I’m not a morning person. I’m too busy. I need X hours of sleep. I’m not rich enough. I can’t because I have kids. My kids are too young. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to pray. I don’t have a good enough testimony. It’s too far. It costs too much. Maybe when my kids are older. I don’t have time. I’m too tired. I don’t know how.

I can’t.

It’s time to stop with the self-limiting profiling.

Mother Teresa. Helen Keller. Corrie Ten Boom. Elizabeth Eliot.

They had great excuses.

And they never used them.

We can make excuses or we can make change.

What is one change that you’re working on?

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

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Some days I can be grumpy.

Some days I’m impatient.

Some days I tell my kids to “go play” instead of playing with them.

Some days I’m tired.

Yesterday was one of those days. But I didn’t want them going to bed remembering me as a grumpy, impatient, self absorbed mommy.

So I put them to bed, closed the door, waited 5 minutes and then…

I burst in yelling, “IT’S A PAJAMA RUN!!!!!!! GET IN THE CAR!!!!!!”

We went to Sonic, ate sundaes and my favorite 6 and 8 year old girls hugged me and declared, “This is the BEST day ever!!!”

And it was.

Technical Aspects of a Pajama Run

1. Please note that I’ve done this before, so my yelling didn’t terrify my kids. If you do a pj run, (I know you know this, but I’ll say it anyway) be sure to consider your child’s temperament on a freak out scale. We don’t want the night to be the focus of a future therapy session.

2. The magic rule is that if any of the kids ASK for a pj run, we automatically CAN’T do one that night. This eliminates unnecessary begging.

3. Have fun!! Yes, they might have extra sugar, stay up late and have a hard time falling back asleep, but it’s worth it!

Guest Post with More Ideas

If you like the pajama run idea, be sure to check out my guest post on Steady Mom today. It’s called 5 Simple Ways to Create Amazingly Memorable Traditions

Memory Making

What are some of your favorite memory making activities?

This post is part of WFMW.

(FYI – My new free ebook “Mission Statements for Moms” is ready! Find out how to get a copy here.)

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

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Today is Motivation Monday! Tell us in the comments if you’ve taken action and get a chance to win today’s giveaway which is a copy of Josh Wilson’s album Life Is Not A Snapshot!

Get all the details at the end of the post and find out who won last week’s prize.

Today’s Motivation

This video of Josh playing Amazing Grace on his guitar is, well,….amazing!

I hope this video encourages you go out and make someone smile today.
The Newark airport was shut down due to a security breach. A lot of people were really mad and grumpy. Check out what Josh did to make Terminal C smile.

What Inspires You

I’m lining up all the giveaways for future Motivation Mondays and I’ve got some really fun stuff in store for you. Music from Bebo Norman, 33 Miles, Jeremy Camp and books from Sheila Walsh and Lisa Welchel to name a few.

But I want to know what artists and authors inspire and motivate you? If you’ll share them in the comments I’ll see what I can do to include them in future giveaways.

Motivation Monday Details

For those of you who are new, here’s how Motivation Monday works:
Anyone who takes some sort of action can enter to win. Your action might be:

• getting up early, reading your Bible
• going on a date with your kids
• creating a mission statement
• exercising
• creating a meal plan
• Writing a goal

It can be any action that improves who you are as a believer or a mother.

How To Enter

To enter the giveaway, you would do one (or all) of these:
1. Leave a comment and say, “I took action this week!”
2. Leave another comment telling us what action you took.
3. Follow @Inspired2Action on Twitter or Facebook and tell us there about the action you took.
4. Blog about your action and share the link below.
5. Today only, get an extra entry for telling me, in the comments, who your favorite musicians and authors are.

Last Week’s Winner
According to Random.org, last week’s winner of the handmade custom card from Cory from Falling Star Lane is kaolinmommy! Congratulations!

Action Begets Action

Why do I want you to Twitter, Facebook, Blog or Comment about the actions you taken in the past couple of weeks? …because action begets action. The things you’ve done WILL inspire others. And, well, that’s kind of what this blog is all about.

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

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Few things move me like music. I adore it. I spend WAY too much time on YouTube watching/listening to concert footage and videos.

This is an old song, but it’s Phil Wickham’s performance of his song True Love is amazing.

Walls we couldn’t move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Free from fear. Free from comparison. Free from insecurity. He removed their hold on us.

Now we just need to let go of them and cling to Him.

(RSS, email and Facebook readers, click here to watch the video.)

My Favorite Links This Week

So How Busy Are You Really? – Scribbit
I love this post!

For the days when you are bone tired…. – Ann Voskamp
Ann writes like no blogger I’ve ever read. It’s beautiful, mesmerizing and full of wisdom.

How to Slow Down Time – Ann Voskamp
Brilliant.

What Every Summer Needs: A Peace Retreat – Ann Voskamp
I think we all see a trend here. Maybe you should just subscribe to Ann’s blog. Seriously, though, I LOVE this idea of having a quiet, peaceful place our children can retreat when emotions run high.

What amazing blog posts (or music) have you found (or written) this week?

(This post is part of Saturday Stumbles at ItsCome2This.)

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

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Desperately. Completely. Passionately. Ultimately. Incomprehensibly. Fully.

Oh, how He loves us.

Destructively. Our regrets, fears, failures, weaknesses, excuses, justifications, failed dreams and deepest scars are destroyed in the presence of a love so deep and furious that He’d trade His perfect Son…for us. For me. For you.

In light of that exchange, how can our insecurities stand? He has said we are worthy, beautiful, called and loved beyond measure. Who am I to argue?

Live today as one consumed by the unending love of the almighty God.

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

---------
Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

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I can be a “wee” bit obsessive about music.

I love music. You may have noticed that from the music giveaways and my occasional lyric references.

Ok…Maybe a Lot Obsessive
Every now and then, I get in a serious rut with an artist or song. Let’s see, I owned every single tape Amy Grant recorded and didn’t listen to much else until I was in jr. high. (T-A-P-E…it’s like a plastic rectangle box with brown string in it that plays music us old people used to listen to while the earth was being formed).

Good Thing I Have a Gracious and Long Suffering Family
Then, more recently, my family took a 26 hour road trip JUST after I’d discovered Brooke Fraser’s music. We listened to her 3 cd’s the whole time. Yes, 26 hours…

My New Find
Every now and then I find music that I completely moves me and that’s happened again this week. I was aimlessly surfing the web researching a post and I came across this song by Taylor Swift.

I’ve listened to it constantly ever since. (For some people, that would be a metaphor. Me? Nope. Day 4 of the repeat button.)

I’ve heard a lot of songs by parents about their children, but I don’t often hear songs by the children about their parents.

It is one of my most fervent prayers that my daughters and I have a relationship like this when they’re grown up.

This song has deeply inspired me and I hope it inspires you too.

(RSS and email readers click here to watch the video.)

So, anyone get a little misty eyed? What songs inspire you?

(FYI – Check back tomorrow for my post about why and how to take a Yearly Retreat.)

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

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Maybe you made big plans to get up early and read your Bible, pray, exercise and plan. Maybe you hit the snooze button this morning. Maybe you’ve hit it every morning for the past month.

Maybe you’re feeling discouraged right now. Or maybe you’ve been discouraged for awhile.

Maybe your past echoes of brokenness, fatigue and failed dreams.

Have I got a story for you.

This isn’t a story of triumph. It’s a story of pain, falling short and unfulfilled dreams. But it’s also a story of furious love. And a reminder that faithfulness in the face of our failures can bring the greatest reward of all.

Last Place Never Looked So Good

Barcelona. 1992. Derek Redmon was Britain’s greatest quarter miler.

BANG!! Off to a good start, his prospects for the race looked good. Until…

Until his hamstring snapped. Yes, snapped. He stumbled and fell to the ground. With cameramen snapping pictures and the world watching, he was consumed with the pain of his broken body and broken dream.

And then? He made a decision. To finish. He knew he wouldn’t come in 1st, 2nd or 3rd. He knew he wouldn’t cross the finish line in victory. But he decided he would cross that line. So, up he struggled and he hobbled down the track, grimacing in pain.

Then, in the background, something happened in the stands. A man, older, gray-er than Derek pushed past people, waved off guards and ran down the track. His face was filled with the furious love of a father.

He pushed away officials. He pushed away security personnel. He pushed away anyone who dared interfere. He wrapped his arms around his weeping son and together they finished the race.

Few could name the winner of the 400 meter gold that year. But millions of people remember Derek’s faithfulness…and his father’s furious love.

You Do Not Struggle Alone

If you are struggling, whether it’s with getting up in the morning or life in general, never believe that your Father’s love is any less furious.

He DOES NOT stand at the finish line awaiting your triumphant victory. He runs alongside you, cheering you as you go. And when you struggle, when you fall, He wraps His all powerful, healing hands around you and and holds you as you press on. Together.

He will let nothing get in His way.

Enough of my insufficient words. Read what David said in the Psalms and then watch the video below.

Psalm 18

4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.

7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Grab Your Tissues Now…

Press on, my friends. For perfection is not our reward. He is.

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

CRASH!!! Searing pain. A badly twisted ankle.

Now I must run on it. I must jump. I must come down hard on that ankle. The pain will send me to the floor.

But I do it anyway.

Why?

If I said, “Just because.” You’d call me insane.

If I said, “Olympic gold medal.” You’d call me Kerri Strug.

She had a purpose that was greater than her comfort.

What is your purpose? Why are you getting up early in the morning? Is it just because you think you should? That’s not good enough.

Olympians don’t sacrifice, struggle and push themselves beyond comfort every day just because they should. They have a very clear and specific goal. The Olympic Gold Medal. One thing. One dream. One tangible purpose.

Name your goal. “I want to be a patient mother.” “I want to be joyful.” “I want God to heal my broken heart” “I want a deeper passion for God.” “I want a greater understanding of the Scriptures.” “I want to be whole so that my children can be whole.” “I want to walk free from my sin.” “I want God to use me to help others.”

What is the one thing you want God to do in your life right now?

Name it and cling to it. Let it be the dream that drives you out of bed.

Kerri Strug dreamt about standing atop the podium with the medal hanging around her neck.

I dream about one day hearing my children talk about what a patient mother I am.

What’s your dream? Imagine a scenario. And when your alarm goes off, remember that no amount of sleep or warmth will make that scenario a reality.

Action Step:
Take time right now to pray about what your purpose is. Then come back here and share it with us. Let’s pray for and encourage one another as we pursue our goals.

Here’s Kerri’s dream coming true (RSS and email readers, click here to view video). Enjoy!

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

Related posts:

1. Squash The Morning Excuses: Excuse #1 – I’m Too Tired (I just have to say, I’m blown away by all...
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I am a perfect mother.

Oh? What? You didn’t know that? I’m surprised since I try so hard to broadcast that fact to everyone. That’s why I rush my kids out the door so we won’t be late. That’s why I spit on my hand and wipe their faces so that they won’t look messy. That’s why I whisper harshly to my children, telling them to behave in public.

And all that trying to “be perfect” only increases my imperfection.

How many of us fall into the trap of believing that we need to be “perfect moms” who raise “perfect children?” That we need to mother a certain way, dress a certain way, keep our homes a certain way and discipline a certain way. That our kids need to behave a certain way, look a certain way and speak a certain way.

Those are called puppets, not children. And we are actors, not mothers.

Perfection vs. Balance

The world calls us to be “perfect” mothers, but I believe God calls us to be “balanced” mothers.

A “perfect” mother puts appearance above relationship. A “balanced” mother sacrifices appearance for relationship.

A “perfect” mother seeks approval from others. A “balanced” mother seeks approval from God.

A “perfect” mother finds reward in perceived success. A “balanced” mother’s reward is a peaceful heart, family and home.

A “perfect” mother perpetuates the lie and spreads disillusionment. A “balanced” mother breaks the lie and spreads hope, truth and inspiration.

The Challenge

The challenge for us today is to focus on being balanced rather than perfect. That every moment we’d love our children more than our clean house or the approving look of a stranger. That our confidence, strength, hope and identity would be found in God and the trust He’s put in us by giving us His perfect little gifts that look to us and call us “Mommy.”

How To Be A Balanced Mother

Here’s the problem. I can’t be a balanced mom. Neither can you. We can’t do it alone. As humans we crave the approval of others. Until we migrate our identity from this world to the arms of God, we will strive to be perfect mothers. That’s why I’m so passionate about spending time praying and reading every morning. Before the voices of others crowd out His, we need to hear from Him that He has given us everything we need to love well. We need to be reminded that we are precious, beautiful, powerful and worthy of the love of the Almighty, Everlasting God. Because once we hear that….who cares what anyone else thinks.

And that, right there, my friends is a truth that demands a good fist pump.

Simple Start

In reality, though, words are cheap. Action speaks loudly. So, here are 2 simple things you can do to take action towards being a balanced mom:

1. Take 1 minute right now to pray that God would begin to change every facet of your heart so that it can reflect His. No one tries to balance with their eyes closed. No, they have a focal point. Pray that God would be your focal point today. And, yes, you only have to pray for 1 minute. I’m all about low goals here at InspiredToAction.com. Because doing something little is bigger than doing nothing at all.

2. Download the eBook Maximize Your Mornings. Resolve to get up 5 minutes earlier tomorrow morning so that you can start your day focusing on Him.

God has called you to this journey of motherhood. Give it all you have.

-Kat

(This post is part of WFMW.)

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Click here to download our NEW ebook: Mission Statements for Moms.

Click here to download our FREE ebook: Maximize Your Mornings.

Or join our community of Inspired Moms on Facebook here.

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