Power of Faith and Parenting

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

For years I shrunk back from the power of faith, seeing its might like an approaching Mac truck in the next lane. I wanted to play it safe, not wanting it to hit me, thinking it might damage my existence, mangling me into and maligning me as a fanatic that favored faith over the God that demanded it. Yes, I believed God could do anything and wanted Him to do what I believed He placed on my heart, but I would have a hard time seeing my life play out in the visions He showed me.

“…Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

God did. I would feel an urging in my spirit to obey God, just follow the path he showed me: Marry Flynn; join his church; submit to the church’s biased leadership; keep my mouth shut and show my husband through my actions; quit my tenured job; be a homemaker; and a host of other demands that at the time I could not see how they related to my life mission: to encourage Christian women, particularly black Americans, to be biblical all their various roles.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose” (Romans 8:28).

The more I obeyed, the more I saw God work in my tough moments. Obedience increased my faith in God and in the visions coming to pass. So from the hidden spaces of my house to the unveiled vastness of the Internet, God has recently given me some platforms to carry out my mission, the latest one being Empowering Everyday Woman Magazine, where I am the new parenting columnist for this online news source for Christian women of color. Check out the introductory feature on me in the latest edition.

“. . . [T]tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” (Romans 5:3-4).

Now my faith is strong, knowing that I may not know exactly how God will bring His vision for my life to pass but confident that He will.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

So today I thank God for His faithfulness. Through it I have become more faithful.

My One Thousand Gifts List

#41-50
AAA Road Service
A husband willing to wait for AAA Road Service
A mother-in-law I can talk to
Being able to hear God’s voice
The Holy Ghost giving ears to my spirit
Keeping me safe on the road with three flat tires
A loving church
Deacon Elijah for telling me about my flat tires
Brother John Malloy for noticing the first flat tire
Brothers Leartis and John for attempting to change one tire and get air for the other ones.

Friday Feature: Cooking on The Brand New Mommy

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

Today you get your weekly health tip early. Check out my video demonstration from The Brand New Mommy on how to cook healthy collard greens. Even though you can watch the video here, there’s more blogger Karen Taylor Bass has written about me and you also just need to check out her blog. It’s such a cool concept with a cool look and feel and great information.

Don’t forget to tune in to the Equipped for Life radio broadcast today at 3 p.m. where I will be discussing my book Daily Guideposts: Your First Year of Motherhood, and the host, Pastor Christopher W. Brooks, will be giving away copies. Listen at www.faithtalk1500.com or 1500 AM in Detroit for your chance to win.

I Can’t Do This

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

What Do You Think? Wednesday

In the early morning hours trying to put me and some projects to bed I told God “I can’t do this” as I folded laundry while I waited for double-sided papers to come through the printer. This was 2 a.m. when I was still organizing activities so my expanding writing and speaking ministry fit with my ever so steady wife and mommy ministry. Holding up a towel, I said, “I’m good doing this. I can do this. I know how to do this.” Then in my spirit I knew that was the problem. I’m comfortable in my homemaking role and that of supporting my husband and caring for my children. This I have done full-time for five and a half years, the last three with very little outside of the home ministry. But God has shifted me and I feel that shift in my spirit. I know it’s time to move beyond my walls and blog; I have to follow God’s call, even—especially—when it seems impossible. He operates there, wanting His strength to be made perfect in our weakness so we know just who did what we did (2 Corinthians 12:9). I exist for God’s glory (Revelation 4:11). I must follow His story for my life. How about you?

In what ways have you been hesitant to move beyond your comfort zone and into the greater things God has for you?

God’s Grace in the Pace

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

His calendar was full, no room for extras and that seemed to mean no room for extras for me. But I had extras, too. My husband worked his 9-5 each day and on Monday he taught at night; Tuesday he studied at night; Wednesday he administrated at night; Thursday he met at night; Friday he ran a program at night; and Saturday he ran out of gas and I ran out of memory. It was a marathon week, with Flynn gone and me doing an interview and writing a speech on top of my blogging and daily homemaking and childrearing duties. Even with our race we didn’t feel misplaced. We know that God extended His grace to get us through the week and keep us on good terms with some of our best friends who we completely forgot we were supposed to hang out with Saturday evening.

I felt awful that I forgot, that I disappointed my friends and wouldn’t have the pleasure of their company, hers in particular, that I had been looking forward to all month. I felt awful that I felt awful and couldn’t push my body to have dinner with her, to have a moment reminiscent of our pre-children leisurely lunches. My friend didn’t snap at me, but forgave me, knowing that forgetting “is not something that you do.” She knew the week was a lot and she knew me a lot better. I needed her grace, especially after my website went down and it was hard for me to calm down about it. With the help of my webmaster and a hired one, my site was back up within a few hours and should be completely up-to-date soon. All is God’s grace. I say a BIG THANK YOU to God for His grace. This is the only thing that will keep you, no matter what your pace.

My One Thousand Gifts List

#31-40
Finishing my blog post uninterrupted
God for giving me a blog post
My husband for cooking
A relaxing day
A productive day
That my children like fruit
Not having to cook dinner
Another snow day
The Michigan Right to Life (RTL) Speaker Series
Being able to attend the RTL Life Speaker Series event at church alone

Beyond the Blog

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

God’s grace has taken me to some new places lately. Here is a list of a few of my upcoming activities. I would love for you to support me, by reading, listening and especially praying for me and the people God wants to reach.

Today, check out my interview with Deanetta Thompson in her Christian Women Lifestyle Xpress magazine about my Christian walk and my new book Daily Guideposts: Your First Year of Motherhood.

Wednesday, I will speak with the transitioning women of the L.I.F.T. Women’s Resource Center about “The Power of Motherhood.”

Thursday at 3 p.m., I will be live on the Equipped for Life radio broadcast with Pastor Christopher W. Brooks (my pastor) on 1500 AM in Detroit and at www.faithtalk1500.com on the Internet.

Friday, I get to fellowship with members of Master’s Bible Chapel, where I will present a poem for their Mothers’ Day gathering.

For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.—Psalm 84:11 (NLT).

I desire that in me His grace and glory will abound, all for His glory.