The purpose of The Internet Café is to unite women of faith, regardless of our stage in life, our roles as women, our hair color, our political party, or the church we attend. We believe that one of the best ways to do this is to encourage each other in faith, by our spoken and written words accompanied by a short study each day to challenge and motivate you.
Most of our devotions are written by regular monthly contributors but we do accept submissions...
A Woman Inspired was a vision birthed in the heart of a small group of online friends whose mission was to minister to women online. It all started with the successful venture of a home education online conference and it just took off from there. The first A Woman Inspired Conference, Get Revived 09′, was held on April 6-9 and we had a record breaking number of women registered and even more set free from bondage and inspired to live the life Christ died to give to us.
The ladies at A Woman Inspired know that you want to simplify life so we've created this FREE toolbar just for you!
First of all, the search is powered by Google so you know that you get the best of the best and no personal information is required to install it. It is also virus free, spyware free, easy to install, easy to use, disables pop-ups, enables privacy,it won't slow your computer down and best of all it puts the best of the web (for all of God's girls) into one central location! You can't beat that!
Features include...
Our mandate is given in Exodus 18:20. God wants us to teach our children His principles, His thoughts on family, His plan for our future. Those are His mandates that must be taught at home. Every parent is a teacher. This is not a just a homeschooling conference but also a parenting conference. Please join us for this fun, informative, and encouraging conference from the convenience of your own home!
I too have a child with special needs. He is 11 years old and is barely over 2.5 foot tall. He still wears a size 3t. He also has very fine sparse hair which means he looks bald. He is legally blind in one eye.I live with bruises on my knees and arms because he has learned to use me as a ladder. If he wants water from a fountain, or to play a game at the arcade, or just to see the menu at a fast food place, I hold out my arm and he grabs a hold and pulls himself up to stand on my knee. To others it may look strange but to me it is now just normal. If fact, until someone pointed it out recently I hadn't given it a second thought. I simply don't mind because I love him that much. He is my son.
When I shop for him I have to shop at Gap, Gymboree, or Old Navy because of his size. It is difficult to purchase a size 3t anywhere else without having puppy dogs or bears all over it. I'm sure you can imagine how embarrassing wearing teddy bears would be for a 11 year old!
He still sits in a car seat. He can't reach light switches. He needs a stool to go to the restroom. This is my boy. I love him so much. It doesn't matter to me what the world thinks or how they react... what matters is what I think and how I react. That is what will feed his soul or starve it. I make the difference in his life. I don't know why He trusts me so much but God chose me to be his mother. In tears I say... for that I am so grateful.
My heart swells with pride and love for him and his brothers. And even though they have no physical limitations they too have "special needs" In fact, all children do whether it be a need for extra emotional attention, a need to be tickled, learning disabilities, being gifted, having social problems, being deaf, child prodigies, having Down Syndrome, having an abundance of talent, red hair, braces or whatever else it may be. Every child has special needs.
We, as God's children all have special needs too. He protects us, loves us, helps us up, trains us, teaches us and sets us apart. He uses those special needs for His glory. No one is that different or that alone in this world
We are not a burden to our Father. Why do we sometimes condemn ourselves as though we are? He is reaching out to you today.... let Him hold you!
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. " Romans 8:38-39
I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31
What an absolutely awesome post :)
I'm a special needs mother too - my 9yo son is autistic and attends a special ed class within a mainstream school. He's growing at a ridiculously fast rate and will be TALL. Another two years and he'll eclipse me easy. But it's hard because autism is such a 'hidden' disability - he looks totally normal until he begins to flap his arms or make his unique 'I'm annoyed!' vocalisation. Then people look at us as though we're totally weird. But he's my son. And he's one of my greatest accomplishments, hands down. I can't be upset or angry at life when I'm reminded each day just how wonderful he is, and how much he's taught us.
I once asked a pastor about disabilities/suffering and how it connects in the Bible. I'm a new Christian so this was a big issue for me. His response was that God certainly had the power to remove suffering, to not give me a disabled child, but he obviously had a reason. He 'hides' in the disability in order to make other qualities and experiences shine. As J's parents, our hearts have expanded to the point where we're tolerant, empathetic, and just plain grateful because of our experiences with J. Most, if not all of the unique lessons we've learned and the benefits we've experienced would have been skipped right over if we'd not received the 'gift' (and it IS a gift) of a special needs child :)
Wonderful post.
Cheers,
Lizzie
http://lizzieshome.blogspot.com/
This was so beautiful. Thank you!
Blessings to you and your family!
Tracy
Such a beautiful heart felt post sweetie.
Why is it that at times we have trouble believing just how much God loves his kids? I can just see God smiling now as He helps me with my own limitations which, on most days, are many! I love the picture you've painted today! Thank you. God certainly knew what He was doing when He blessed those 3 boys with you for a Mama!
Yes Lizzie, our children truly are gifts!
Thank you for sharing your story with us! How true that we ALL have special needs..regardless of how "obvious" they may be to others. You are truly a blessing to your family as I can see as I read waht you've written and I am so glad I found your blog! I definitely learn from you...
Awesome post as always, Amy. I'm so reminded of that first time I read your article for the contest, and I just cried and cried. I knew that it would win and it did. This article is another winner. You are a wonderful mom, and blessed beyond measure with that family of yours.
Amy,
I agree with Darlene, I don't recall another post that moved me as much...
This was just a fabulous blessing you shared!
We are all 'special needs' children to God...YES, I have tears in my eyes...
It was SO simply beautiful!!
Those boys are sure blessed to have a momma like you....and you are so blessed to have 'boys' growing into men, like them!!
You blessed me tonight!
wow!
peace and hugs
lori
What a lovely post. It is a good reminder of God's love for us.
"It doesn't matter to me what the world thinks or how they react... what matters is what I think and how I react. That is what will feed his soul or starve it."
Wow, this is HUGE. What a great post, thank you!
Oh Amy, I have tears in my eyes. This has touched me in a way to bring healing. Thank you so very much. I love you and your family. Lynn
It's a wise person who said God gives special children to special people. In His economy, He is giving you what you need to take care of His precious one. The thing about being needy is that we can accept our estate or in our bitterness, refuse help. I hate to think of the times I have been resistant of God's provision because I've wanted to do things my own way or pout because things didn't go as I planned.
This was a beautiful post..thanks for sharing your heart with us. :)
Lisa
Great post, and challenging perspective! Thanks for sharing... you fueled my faith!
Amy---incredible. God has blessed you...in so many ways...this post blessed me---opened my eyes---we have a grandson with autism and mild cerebral palsy---I see things more clear---what a great reminder that God is so concerned about all the details of our lives!
You blessed me with this! I am printing this for my daughter--she has 3 little boys --the one with autism is the oldest and her younger ones both have heart defects. But I know that it was none by accident. I can't thank you enough for writing about this!
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful post.
Incredible post and incredibly true!
Fantastic post. Thank you for sharing about your son.