Labor of Love

Inside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Every month that I don’t post a blog I feel horrible.  I want to tell you how I’m doing and show you how big God is, in and through my life!  He is bigger than you and I can imagine!  But, life as a mom is busy, to say the least.  To genuinely love my family and friends, host monthly “Ladies TIME-Outs”, Tea ‘n Talks (see pics below), and run my household in the summer/harvest season makes it almost impossible to do that, and do it well.

Socorro Gill with TLC Squared Volunteer

Tea Time!

Dr. Nikki Popper of Integrated Physical Therapy of Colorado in Littleton

However, I am committed to making sure I share almost everything that goes on in my heart for the glory of God, so I will be posting, but only as I am able to, as I mentioned in previous blogs.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

Before going to Ireland at the end of July to celebrate my birthday and twenty years of marriage, I quickly wrote down the reflections of my heart in the hopes that I would get it out to you before I left.  But, as life doesn’t stop for anyone, I wasn’t able to get this out and published in time.  But, I feel the need to get it out now because I have so much more to tell you that has happened since then, and I don’t want there to be any gaps in my story.  So, without further ado, here are my “Confessions of a Mother’s Heart” blog notes from 7-21-18:

Can YOU relate?

It’s the middle of July already!  You wake up daily, trying to glorify your maker, but struggle against your own flesh and unexpected situations happen to get you down, mentally and physically.

But, you get back up again, by the grace of God, who is your strength.  His Spirit empowers you every time you earnestly seek God’s kingdom.

You try your best, but that’s never enough.  Thankfully, you have come to accept that you can’t fully rely on your own talents or gifts that He’s given you, but on the power of His words to renew you daily, instead.

I’m at a point this year where I’m finally seeing the fruits of my co-laboring with God to accomplish goals He gave me since surrendering my life completely to Him in the summer of 1998.

This week, Lord willing, I will be getting to go to a beautiful country where St. Patrick was first taken to as child labor, against his will. Ireland!

St. Patrick might not have aspired to be a child slave.  But, what others intended for selfish gain, God would turn into the catalyst that would put him exactly where he needed to be; under the amount of pressure St. Patrick needed in order for God to stir his heart and direct him back to fulfill his purpose and passion for the rest of his life.

Unlike St. Patrick, I did not experience life as a child slave.  Instead, I was able to grow up in a relatively healthy and happy home and then chose to get married, but before becoming a child of God.  My husband and I grew up in Christian homes, but were not born again, yet, when we got married.  As our marriage progressed in the first year, I fought against the new norm to love my husband well.  About a year and a half after getting married, my husband and I would both end up surrendering our lives to Christ and were baptized together in the ocean in the West Coast.  You’ll hear more about how this came to be in a future post, hopefully.

Years later I would experience severe Postpartum Depression and Anxiety after giving birth to my third child.  But, in all the pressures of those years, the last 20 and half years, to be exact, God has worked in and through me to produce a harvest I could never have accomplished on my own, or even with any mentor or life coach.

This week, while in Ireland, I will also be celebrating my forty-fourth birthday, twentieth wedding anniversary, and the publication of my first book, which was birthed as a result of my family’s first and only year in New Jersey in 2015.

So, I want to ask you the same question again.  Can YOU relate?

Can you identify places in your life where you have been put in places of pressure, either by your own choices or by external consequences you didn’t necessarily have much control over?

How did you handle them?

If you have found yourself there, did you lean on yourself or someone else?  Who?

IF you can’t relate, do you want to relate?  Do you want God to use your “not so clean or ideal” situations for a greater purpose?  Then surrender your whole life to Him right where you are.  Call on Him!  He will not turn you away, if you truly mean it.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17, NIV)

He’ll give you rest and redirect you onto the path He has for you, just as He did for St. Patrick.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

Search for a local church in your community that is Bible based and get plugged in!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.  (Proverbs 3:5-8, KJV)

Check out the ministry work God has developed as a result of His faithfulness in my family’s life at TLCsquared.org through Confessions of a Mother’s Heart.

New Confessions of a Mother’s Heart Book! Volume 1

Buy the new book for yourself and one for a friend!  By doing so you’ll be supporting this ministry and helping to “Re-create Homes One Family at a Time via Teaching, Loving and Connecting Families”!  All proceeds go towards funding the ministry.

Learn more about the upcoming events and Confessions of a Mother’s Heart (COMH-Unity) Support Groups here!

I will be writing to you again as soon as I’m inspired and able!

To God be the glory!

Socorro Gill

I want to support TLC Squared!

Steadfast in 2018

Have you kept your New Year’s resolutions?

I have trouble making New Year’s resolutions, especially at the beginning of the year.

Sometimes it feels like I want to have one only because the whole world is talking about it.  But, I don’t want to just do something because everyone else is doing it.  I want to intentionally set my mind, heart, and body on something past the beginning of the year, into something that is eternal, not just temporal.  Nonetheless, I have had plenty opportunities in the last month and a half to meditate on being even more intentional, not only with my home and family, but with my non-profit ministry, TLC Squared.

One of the many things circulating on social media and among my family and friends has been of having a “word” that would lead or guide you throughout the coming year.  I guess the idea is to pick the first letter of your first name and come up with something significant.  I didn’t think much about it until a friend on Facebook posted a challenge to do this.  From then on, it stuck with me!

I came up with several words that might work.  One was “silly” because I like to be silly.  But, that wasn’t a “strong” word.  I will spare you the rest of them, save one.  Steadfast is final the word that came to mind at the beginning of 2018, to be my focus word for the year.

According to Dictionary.com the definitions of Stedfast are:

1.  fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.

2.  firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend.

3.  unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.

4.  firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.

5.  firmly fixed in place or position.

 

I was certain that steadfast was the word for me when I heard it spoken and then read it for myself from the bible.

“God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast^[a] spirit within me.”  (Psalm 51:10, HCSB)

Another very encouraging verse I read was:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I had never thought about doing this before.  I also had never thought I would need to be more intentional than I already am, especially in my family life.”  (1 Corinthians 15:58)

I have had good days and not so good days since the beginning of 2018.  But, since I wrote to you last I have been able to continue moving forward with TLC Squared.  Last time I wrote to you I had promised to tell you about the new ministry.  So, here are some of the happenings of the family organization:

1. I have a date for our first fundraiser and silent auction (May 5th);
2. I’m finalizing the book of blogs that will be published in the spring of 2018, for the Home Care Kits;
3. TLC Squared was featured in a Missions Ministry Fair at our local church in the Denver area.  This allowed TLC Squared to be made more known to our own church congregation and other local ministries;
4. Previous to last month, I have been recruiting willing and able women and even two of my own children to make items for the HCKs like handmade bibs, burp cloths and knitted beanies for the newborns.

Confessions of a Mother’s Heart is about EVERYTHING that is on my heart concerning Faith, Family, Food and Fun!  In the next few blogs I hope to not only continue sharing with you how my faith in God is moving the non-profit, but also about the Valentine’s and Easter holidays, and my family’s traditions.  Be on the lookout for those in the next couple or three weeks.

I would love to hear if YOU chose a word for the year OR if you are trying to be more intentional in your daily walk.  Leave a comment at your leisure!

“Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33:22, ESV)

How can you be steadfast in 2018?  Have you kept one or some of your New Year’s resolutions?  I would love to hear how you are doing!

Socorro Gill

2017 Reflections

Happy New Year!

When I last wrote to you, I had accomplished one of my main 2017 goals by starting and then telling you about the new nonprofit organization, TLC Squared.

Now I’m going to try to explain how scared I was of even moving forward with it and how it is surprisingly moving along.

In 2016 I was not very confident in what God was speaking into my heart.  I had many doubts.

“Will this work out? Will my husband be on the same page as me and my vision for this ministry?  Will there be ANY women interested in coming along side to work towards the common goal that is commanded in Titus 2:5-8?  Where is the seed fund for this ministry coming from?  How will I ever do this well while raising our three growing girls and educating them from our home base? And, on and on the list continued.

Despite these fears and doubts, I felt supernaturally empowered and confident in my God, who is greater than all these things, to believe He has a plan for TLC Squared and the ministry initiatives already occurring ( Tea ‘n Talk, Ladies Time-Out , Confessions of a Mother’s Heart and the Home Care Kits for women and new babies).

How could I, a mostly unimportant, stay-at-home, postpartum depression recovered, home educating mom ever do this?  I might not be very confident in what my place is in this world or of the ever changing political, social, and economic status of this country, but I am most passionately convinced of the one constant in my life; the one true and Living Word of God, Jesus Christ!

There was only one way TLC Squared Ministries could take off and make a difference in the local community and prayerfully, in the world.  That was through the power of the living, breathing and active Word of a loving God’s Spirit!

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Matthew 24:35 KJV

I don’t believe in myself, my abilities, or disabilities to make an eternal difference in people’s lives.  I NEED something or someone bigger than me to believe in, in order to accomplish something supernatural.  I chose to believe that God is bigger than my fears and doubts!  I chose to believe in the unchanging Word that helps keep me focused, especially when I’m feeling weak in flesh and spirit.
As a result of God’s faithfulness and my beliefs, I moved forward with telling others about my vision for TLC Squared, starting with our church family pastor and other leaders in my family’s circle of influence.  It was encouraging to receive positive feedback.  Because of these meetings last spring, my husband and I took the next step and created business cards, opened the business bank account, have a post office box and all the other trappings of getting this venture going.  BUT, I didn’t just rely on other people’s feedback to keep us going; I also relied on specific bible verses.  Here are a few:

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:2 KJV

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:  but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7 KJV

At TLC Squared our goal is to fulfill the Titus 2:5-8 command and to share the Love of Christ in order to ”Re-create Homes One Family at a Time via Teaching, Loving and Connecting” people.

So what is next for TLC Squared?  Only God knows, but for now I can say that I’m looking forward to continuing to lead monthly Ladies Time-Out’s; presenting Tea ‘n Talks at Natural Grocers, Senior Centers and mom’s groups; handing out Home Care Kits this spring; and hosting Confessions of a Mother’s Heart Ministry events as part of my personal ministry, www.Socorrogill.com in Denver, CO beginning this fall.

If this is something you would like to get involved with, please let me know.  I’m building a team of women who have a heart for helping families grow strong in Christ by fulfilling the Titus 2:5-8 command.  I would love to hear how you can come along side this new ministry to families.  Go to www.TLCsquared.org and contact me to set up a time to talk!

Would you consider giving a one-time financial gift to the seed fund?  Go to https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/acn/tlc-squared to donate!

Next month I plan on giving you more details on the growth and happenings of this ministry and sharing some insights for living as a woman of God in 2018.

What did you do last year to make a difference in your family, friendships or community that you are continuing to build upon in 2018?

Being mindful of God’s truth’s,

Socorro Gill

Waiting in Expectation

It’s been about 5 months since I have last written to you, so I thought I would throw you a line to get you all up to date on how one of my “2017 Resolutions” we’re doing.

Since May, my three daughters have all turned their next ages, 10, 12 and 15!  We’ve experienced more ups and downs, but are stronger for them.  I have also been busily at work building up the TLC Squared Ministries Team (Sewing and Advisory Teams mostly) and helping my husband raise our children through home schooling!

I’ve been waiting in expectation of what God first conceived in my heart while in California, when my kids were little, but especially more recently while residing in New Jersey.

What you are about to read is just one of the platforms on which this new Colorado Nonprofit is founded on, but a very powerful one…

“For the last 8 years my husband and I have tried to have a fourth child, off and on.  After about 2 years, I think, I just gave up. It was too disappointing to check myself each month to see if I was ovulating or not and then waiting every month, only to be let down.  I was also experiencing symptoms of postpartum, but didn’t want to deal with it because I was ashamed.

About 6 months after I had my third daughter I began experiencing severe mood swings.  I would go from being perfectly content, even laughing, to crying for the smallest thing.  I would also experience moments of rage where I would blow up at my children when they didn’t listen to me and do what I asked of them several times.

When my husband would come home from work, usually after the girls and I had already eaten dinner, I would confess to him what had happened.  I went as far as to have suicidal thoughts, and worse than that, of possibly taking my children’s lives.  I knew that was not good, but felt out of control.

If I didn’t change soon, I could’ve been one of those cases of “mom drowns her kids in the bathtub” on the local evening news.  I was desperate to get help, but was afraid to tell anyone else, other than my husband.

I finally cried out to God and he sent a Godly woman that would watch my girls just so I could go out by myself and collect my thoughts, and get some exercise, which I knew I needed in order to start my recovery process.  Because of my mental and physical state, I had asked God to not let me get pregnant again, if I was going to feel like I was going to lose my mind and possibly hurt myself or my three girls. 

So, my guess has been that the reason why we haven’t had another child of our own, since then is because that might have just happened.  I’ve always believed that.  But, I have hope that it might not be the case because if we do ever, by some miracle, have another child, I will trust God to get me through whatever comes my way.
After diagnosing myself and confirming with my doctor, I realized I was experiencing a severe case of Postpartum Depression.”  

To read the rest of the story click here!  But before you do that, please continue below to read about the new ministry!

Even though we have not had a fourth child, God is allowing my husband and I to birth a new kind of life, a family based ministry, TLC Squared.

At TLC Squared we endeavor to strengthen families by sharing The Love of Christ through: Teaching, Loving and Connecting .

We are in the infancy stages, but growing steadily, with the Lords direction and other faithful and passionate volunteers to support this ministry.

We already have a sewing team of 12 women to sew bibs and burp cloths for the Home Care Kits and an Advisory team to help make the vision move ahead.

My husband and I are working with several leaders in our home church and community to reach families with a message of hope, starting in the Denver, Colorado area.

In the next 3 months I hope to give you more opportunities to come along side of this new, but needed home based family ministry and tell you more about how close TLC Squared is to launching the following Ministries: Confessions of a Mother’s Heart and Home Care Kits in Fall of 2018.  In the meantime, you can read more about it here!

For now, there are at least two planned fundraisers;  One for this coming October in California and another for the Spring of 2018 in Colorado!

How can you help?

Glad you asked!

We would love it if you would seriously consider how much you can give to TLC Squared to help build a seed fund and grow the ministry! No amount is too small!

TLC Squared Ministries is receiving Tax deductible donations in partnership through the Association of Christian Nonprofits.  To learn more about them click here !

Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions!

Are you ready to be a part of this ministry?  Join us!!

Waiting in Expectation,
Socorro