My Family is My First Ministry
My family is my first ministry and to me that looks like…
(1) Honoring my Husband
Being my husband’s biggest cheerleader and appreciating the man that he is. Building him up, being his safe space, his purpose partner, and choosing connection over criticism. I prayed to God for this man when I was single and eleven years of marriage later has only made my love for him grow 100x more than the day we said “I do.”
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” - Proverbs 14:1
(2) Embracing the Joys of this Season
No matter the season we find ourselves in, I am reminded to always praise God. The tantrums, meltdowns, blow outs, and messy rooms won’t last always. Every season that every family goes through comes with it’s challenges. So, I am intentional about embracing the little pockets of joy and moments that make motherhood so special. The silly faces, laughter, teaching moments, cuddles, growth spurts, and so many other things that cause me to say, “Thank you, Lord, I am truly grateful.”
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” - Psalm 136:1
(3) Cooking for my Family
I love making meals that they actually enjoy while also recognizing that I am responsible for stewarding over their health. Teaching them that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and not taking my role in cooking meals for my family for granted. Through cooking I share with them my love, creativity, and cultural heritage, all while keeping them energized, lively, and well.
“She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.” - Proverbs 31:14-15
(4) Being the CHURCH
My children love being an active part of our local church body of believers. They get to fellowship, make new friends, learn the word of God and develop a lifestyle of worship.
I also believe that while it’s important to attend a local church regularly, we as parents also have a shared responsibility in raising up our kids in the faith. We have felt convicted to also implement “home” church because Church is not just somewhere to go on Sunday. We ARE the church and we can show that to our children by teaching them how to apply God’s word practically, worship, pray, and study the Bible.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6
(5) Raising up Little Disciples
Your children don’t listen to what you say, rather, they watch what you DO and how you live. I constantly remind my kids that we are called to be a light in darkness. Speaking truth and life over them, reminding them that they are leaders and not followers. I am called to teach them the word of God and help them to understand truth. I encourage them to make good and right decisions that will honor God. Overtime they have grown to love the Lord, worship, share the gospel, pray with and for people, and even having a heart for the homeless. Despite their young age, my job is to show them what it means to live as a follower of Christ.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
(6) Covering my Family in Prayer
I am called to be a prayer warrior and watchman on the wall for my family. I am called to not only annoint + pray over them daily, but to also teach them how to pray and discern.
The enemy does not play fair. He is after our children. That includes the young, the old, and even our babies. Rather than being on the defense, we must be on the offense, constantly praying in the Spirit and putting on the full armor of God.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." - Ephesians 6:13
(7) Prioritizing what Matters Most
This means saying “no” to the outside world more, so I can keep my relationship with God first and prioritze quality time with my family. As an entrepreneur and woman in ministry, I had to learn that you must be intentional about making time for what matters to you most.
My most important life is not lived on a stage or behind a screen. Rather, it is lived in my prayer closet and in my home. I’ve learned to prioritize rest and understand that only God holds the things I can’t change or control. My job is to simply trust Him and give Him my “Yes.”
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33
(8) Keeping my Eyes on Jesus
Beyond a legacy, I am serving my family with the purpose of eternity in mind. Generational wealth is great, family traditions are great, but even these things will one day pass away.
I’m compelled to plant seeds of truth into the hearts of my children. To partner with my husband and be a marriage on a mission. It’s not enough to teach kids how to get by in this world. They must know how to warfare in the Spirit realm, how to truly pray, stand in faith, and cast out demons. I hope they see the example in how I live, and that it encourages them to seek and love God more.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:18
