Prayer

I wanted to send you over to MckMama's blog to read this amazing post on prayer.

Her son, Stellan, had heart issues when he was in the womb, but was born healthy and without any problems. Stellan is 5 months old and is in the hospital with SVT, which causes his heart rate to be in the 200's. Knowing what this precious family is facing at this time makes this post on prayer even more beautiful.

Just a preview....

"God already knew would happen. He knew we'd pray. He knows if Stellan is going to live a long life or die soon. We still should pray, still need to pray, but God knows what He is going to do already. And, even if we do storm Heaven on Stellan's behalf, God still may choose to take Stellan home to Heaven. It is our job to communicate with God, to love Him, and, ultimately, to trust that whatever He decides is best.

Did you know that prayer can sometimes do amazing things for the one who is praying, too!? Prayer is talking with God. We are to talk to God. If we love Him, and have a relationship with God, we will want to chat with Him, and tell Him how wonderful He is, and beseech Him with our requests.And, in the end, God will do what God alone wants to do.

These can be hard thoughts to swallow, and even more difficult concepts to understand fully. And it gives me peace that I cannot fully understand God, or how prayer actually works, or what His will really is. All I need to do is to know God. That is enough for me."

My hearts desire...

is to be a younger woman who...loves her husband and children, is sensible, pure, a smart worker at home, kind and being subject to my own husband. Why? So my life honors God.

I have many flaws and weaknesses, but my God is mighty to save. He can mold this broken pot into a masterpiece for His glory. Nothing of me is acceptable or pleasing on it's own, but my daily prayer is that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart will be pleasing to my Lord. I pray they will be acceptable to Him, through Him.

I long to "look well to the ways of my household, not eat the bread of idleness, smile at the future, be clothed with strength and dignity, teach with kindness and most of all, fear the Lord." When I gave my life to the Lord, I said to Him, "YES!" I will do it Your way.

So I wake each morning relying on His grace and mercy to see me through. I acknowledge that I am nothing without Him and that He is all I need to be whole. My life with the Lord is more than I could have dreamed of ever accomplishing. A life of surrender for His name sake...

Shhh....

It was 7:30 on Thursday night and I had just tucked the boys into bed. I came up to the front of the house, there was not one light on and it was still and quiet. Oh! How my heart needed to hear from my Heavenly Father.

I sat down in the doorway of the kitchen and fell silent before him. My heart soon begin to pour out to Him and I was gently feeling that warmth that surrounds you when you are still before your Father.

Then, ever so quietly I hear slippered feet on the wood floor coming my way.
"Mommy?" says little one.
"Yes~" I answer.
"Where are you?"
"I am right here."
"What are you doing Mommy?"
"I'm talking to God."
"God is here?"
"Yes baby, He is always here."
Little one sits gently in my lap and says, "I will sit quiet while you talk to Him."

Thank you Father for being small enough to be so real to a three year old. Thank you for being small enough to hear my whisper when I cry out to You~ Oh how my heart longs to know you more today.

Child Training Tuesday

Tonight, I am spurred on to be on my knees for my children. Although the outcome of tonight's presidential election is saddening and disappointing, I ultimately trust in God alone. He is the author of all things, past, present and future. I know He is sovereign and I praise Him for that gift.

My prayer is for my two sons to bow the knee to Jesus Christ and come to the point of personally realizing their need for a Savior. I do not know what the future world will bring, but I do know in my heart that I must be channeling as much Truth as I possibly can into my children.

A friend of mine posted about children watching television and she posted this question:

"Do we not realize the power we give away when we let our children sit mindlessly in front of the TV and be filled with who knows what? If the average kid watches 2 hours of TV a day, getting all sorts of subtle information on how they should look, think, and act, do we seriously think that as parents, we are giving MORE than 2 hours of specific instruction to our kids on what their family believes about how you should look, think, and act like? (click on makingtheconnections on the right sidebar for the complete post)

We should be giving time, quality and quantity. This is a huge burden God has placed on my heart recently for me as a mother. I am now in the process of cutting back and downsizing my life, including my home and obligations. Both of these things take up precious time that I need to be investing into my sons. I have been in serious prayer about what is best for them right now. We are doing some good things, but I long to be doing what is best for them. Regardless of society's opinion, friends questions, or family pressure. When I became a mother, I said, "OK God I will do it your way. These are your precious children that you have entrusted to me. Show me the way and I will walk in it."

When I have to leave my children with someone else, I expect nothing but the best care they can provide. So, how much more does my Heavenly Father expect with his children? My challenge to all of us as mothers is to get on our face before God and ask Him to show us where to downsize. Then ask Him to show you how to turn that time around to invest into the lives of your precious children. I am a servant of Christ and this life is not my own.

Father, help me to be diligent in investing time and truth into my sons lives. Change their hearts and mold them to be men who follow hard after you. I do not know what the world will look like for them, but I do know they will need to trust in You alone to survive. Show me how to impart the Truth to them, so they can stand firm in an ever-changing world.

A wonderful prayer resource for your children is Praying the Scriptures for your Children by Jodie Berndt. (http://http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?ISBN=0310232163)

A Prayer for Boys

Father, I pray that he will confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord, and that he would believe in his heart that You have raised Christ from the dead. Cause him to call upon your name, O Lord. (Romans 10:9,13)

I pray that he will look at the things of the world through Your eyes and not through man's. I pray that he will develop the ability to respond with Your wisdom and love. (1 Samuel 16:7)

I pray that he will know the value of friendship and be loyal all the days of his life. (Proverbs 17:17)

O Father I ask that you will give him wisdom and understanding. Do not let him forget your words or swerve from them. Cause him to love wisdom and value it above all worldly desires and accomplishments. (Proverbs 4:5-7)

I pray that he will do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than himself. Let him not only look to his own interest, but also to the interests of others, and let his attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippinas 2:3-5)

Father I pray that no matter what he is planning in his heart, that Your purpose will prevail in his life. (Proverbs 19:21)

O, that he would have heart of integrity that desires to follow hard after You. Give him a narrow path to follow with a wide vision for what You want to use him for in accomplishing good for Your kingdom~ Amen

One Too Many

To begin, I would like to state that I am not a big fan of paper towels. But, my husband greatly enjoys having them right at hand. He really likes the pick a size brand, so that is what I most often buy. This kind of paper towel system makes sense to me, because it is less wasteful. Except for the fact, that when I grab a paper towel, most often, five come rolling down and I have then torn them all off before I can roll it back to just grab one.

Now, I have one too many paper towels.

As this happened to me this morning, I was thinking about how this happens in my life on a weekly basis. I try so hard to be intent on choosing those things that matter most to God, but I so often find myself wishing for more time in my day. One too many.

Is it something valuable? Yes, but not possibly the most valuable use of my time. When I find myself wishing for more time, I am painfully aware of the fact that I am not doing what is on God's agenda. I did not stop to align my day with God's purpose for me. I have run ahead of Him and filled my day, then prayed that He will help me accomplish all the tasks at hand. One too many.

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9 O dear child, you should be praying first to see how you can be of help to Me, for My kingdom. Here, in this moment of truth, I am deeply humbled and at a loss for words. For this child knows (all too well) that His grace and mercy are boundless and ready at hand, even in my foolishness. At my first act of surrender He will awaken in me a new song and put before me a path that honors His call for me that day.

Father, forgive me for the times I run ahead of you and do not stop to first see how you intend to use me this day for Your kingdom. I know the times of my foolishness are one too many.

"Whether then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31