"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
When the HomeGrownMinistries Branches were launched I reflected back on my life as a mum. My eldest son is going to be 28 years old this month and my youngest turned 19 last month and finishing with school this year, so my sons are not small any more.
I was thinking of years ago and thought about if I was invited to join the HomeGrownMinistries Branches I probably wouldn't have, but if I was asked to join the Ministry for the healing and restoration of my marriage I wouldn't have thought twice. Let me explain why: because my whole focus was on my marriage and all my thoughts and desires revolved around my marriage. Yes thinking if only my marriage could be restored, even my children will be ok, so all my focus was on my marriage and I have to be honest about it.
Have you ever looked back on your life and thought you missed the whole point? Well that is precisely how I feel! And it has been laying heavy on my heart, so I want to warn other women to not miss the whole point, don't do what I did. I wish I had teached my children that our precious Beloved Lord must be our First Love and when He has our all the rest will just fall into place - I didn't do it and I have to admit I slipped up, please don't slip up, like I did. The whole purpose of life isn't to have have a restored marriage, it is all about our precious Beloved Lord or let me put it this way: it is suppose to be all about Him!
Suddenly my children have grown up so fast and I wish I had enjoyed them more (but I know the Lord is still going to do something huge in my children's life, although I slipped up). So precious woman I want to encourage you to spend your time wisely and enjoy your children. Please join the HomeGrownMinistries Branches, together with your children you can learn so much through the testimonies of mums and children, as well as all the life changing material (that I wish I had) and together we can see what our precious Beloved Lord does.
"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Hi dearest Janine. I totally agree with you. I understand the pain and the hurt you go through in the beginning of our restoration journey, but it is so important for us to move our focus. Ladies, I am not saying that you should not believe for marriage restoration, what I am saying is this: Ask Him and then know that the Lord will do what you asked and use all that energy and focus on your children. I know that there was a time when I was so depressed that I did not give my children the love and the attention they needed, but the Lord is so faithful, He has restored what the locust has stolen.
I really encourage everyone to go to our HomeGrown Branches and read what is there and consider taking part with us:
https://homegrownministries.com/branches/
Yes I totally agree with you precious Yvonne, it is not that the brides musn’t believe for the restoration of their marriages, but you rather shift your focus, all to our First Love and then the rest will just fall into place, because it doesn’t change the fact that our precious Beloved Lord has a heart for marriages.
Dear Janine
It’s never too late or too early. 🙏
God, in His infinite goodness and mercy, takes our burdens and carries them for us beyond what we can imagine.
I am deeply moved to think about the great calling we have as mothers to model our relationship with Him to leave that deep imprint on the hearts of our children so that they see us loving the Lord. You know, an example speaks louder than words.
1 T 4:12
[12] Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
https://bible.com/bible/127/1ti.4.12.NTV
Your report touches my heart. Having a 4-year-old daughter and a 2.5-month-old baby, it seems like there aren’t enough hours. But hearing from an older woman that we shouldn’t waste time or lose focus on His purpose because time flies. It compels me to stop, meditate, and discuss it with my Beloved.
I appreciate this message, I appreciate every word, and every Bride who, coming here for one reason or another, ends up concluding that our focus is for, by, and toward Him.
By the time keeps getting closer to Him…
1 Timothy 4:13 NASB1995
[13] Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ti.4.13.NASB1995
Thank you for your comment precious Mia. Yes time does go by so quickly and I know what you mean with there aren’t enough hours – I am experiencing it and I two son’s grew up too fast.
I am so grateful for our precious Beloved Lord’s goodness and mercy in my life, and even if I made mistakes, He will use it for His glory and I just feel His grace and love in my life.
How special that your children are still so small and it is very special that you can teach them from a young age.
I agree Janine, Something similar happened to me, I put my focus on restoring the marriage, but I lost sight of that what our Beloved wants is for us to love HIM above all else. We may have a marriage in serious trouble. Still, He is already in control. When we give it to Him in prayer, if that is our only focus and purpose of prayer, it may be that we have placed a new idol in our hearts, this time the restoration of marriage instead of the Lord. We need to be in the present and not thinking about the future since now we know that His plan for us is good, we need to live the present following His example to relate appropriately as mothers, daughters, wives, workers … etc., in any role in our daily lives, everything we do is an offering of worship to Him, because it is by HIM and for HIM we live.
Thank you for sharing precious Anastasia. Isn’t it so wonderful that we can know He is for sure in control. I am so very grateful we have Him, because of that fact, we can for sure just know everything is going to be ok.
Janine thanks for sharing believe me I understand and share your thought on this I wouldn´t have joined either, but He know what we need and also when is needed most. At the beginning I don´t think I was able to help my child either, I didn´t have the strength 💪 either physical or emotional to guide him, at that point we are so deep in our own pain we are blind to theirs. And even then God use them to help us. I remember my baby at 2years telling me “don´t worry mom it will be ok ” and I was like “what?! does he understand something?” Now I know was Him telling everything would be fine. when my baby was broken I was stronger to guide him to his HF. God is great and everything is in His great timing.
They grow up so fast when I see my baby height, he is almost taller than me he will be 12 later this year, and when see his baby photos I say I miss my baby! but I am so greatful that I could be there and show Him about His HF and that God has been working his heart and protecting him in all means. The resources at HGM has been of great help.
Thank you for sharing precious Jewel. Yes I know what you are saying, we were so deep in our own pain that we are blind for theirs. And still with our precious Beloved Lord’s grace and everlasting love He turns it all around and yes in His perfect timing.
Hello Janine,
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your blog and for the encouragement you so lovingly share through it.
Yes, my marriage has been restored, and that is such a precious grace! But deep down, I still felt like something was missing… a deeper, more intimate connection with our beloved Heavenly Husband.
That’s why I’ve decided to join the HomeGrown ministry, because I believe restoration is only a part of what our dear MC can do. He wants to restore everything
Yes precious Kateleen our precious Beloved Lord wants to restore everything and I am so grateful for that. And I am so grateful you joined the HomeGrown Ministry, I am excited to see our our Beloved Lord is going to do.
Dear Janine, I understand you perfectly. Seeing my children, my son, 20, and my daughter, 14, so grown up, I know I didn’t raise them as I should have in the Lord. I’m currently taking the Homeschooling for Him course, and it has helped me see my children and give them more and more to my Beloved each day. These resources from HomeGrownMinistries are so important in helping us guide them and give us wisdom.
I know they have suffered too and need their Heavenly Father so much.
Thank you, Janine, for this testimony.
Thank you so much for sharing precious Liza, I am so grateful for His grace and that we can teach younger mums now to do it from a young age and even teach our kids to one day teach their children from a young age. And isn’t it wonderful that we have His grace to use our mistakes for the good and His glory. And I am excited to see what He is going to do.