In the Mess and Chaos...

Yesterday, like many days, I felt that I was failing at all areas of life...as a housekeeper, as a mom, as a wife, as a grocery shopper, as a small business owner...Our pastor spoke Sunday about Martha's heart condition and busyness being her downfall. I've pondered over the importance of having margin in my life so that I have room (and time) to say "yes" when the Lord prompts.

Interestingly enough, I started a new Bible study today...the topic is prayer...and I must admit, this is another area where I am a failure. I'm not very good, or very consistent with my prayer life. I know how powerful prayer is. I know how vital it is. But somehow, it seems to always end up on the bottom of my priority list. I was excited about a new study...but also nervous - not wanting to admit my past forgetfulness in this area. Not wanting to admit that I needed a little help.

 

But I was reminded of the story of Susanna Wesley - a mother of nineteen children in the 17th century. I can only imagine her to-do list each day. Historians tell us that she was known for putting her apron over her head to signal to her children that she had entered her prayer time. "Susanna Wesley knew that she couldn't make it through the day without recognizing her weakness and her need for God's strength. She communed with Him in the mess and the chaos. She knew that it was better to meet with the Lord under an apron than not to meet with Him at all." (Well Watered Women, BREATHE - 40 Days of Prayer)

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 

But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 

They will be condemned at the time of judgment.

Sinners will have no place among the godly. 

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. 

That first chapter in the book of Psalms talks of the importance of delighting in God's Word, meditating on it day and night, and choosing the right people to influence us. I do want to bear fruit. I do want to be on the "path of the godly." And I do need to admit the importance of stopping to meditate on God's Word and commune with Him. It doesn't matter how busy my day is. It doesn't matter what the world tells me is most important. It doesn't matter if I feel like a failure. I must remember that time with Him is vital to "prosper" (vs. 3).

As I read those familiar words, I also thought of the godly influencers in my life. I thought of a 5th grade Sunday School teacher who motivated me to memorize this first chapter in Psalms. Team mates on Encounter who lived out their love for Jesus and taught me to love Bible study. Mentors and professors in college. Friends. People I've served with at church. And even some people that I've never met but their written words resonate well with me, leaving me yearning for more of Jesus.

The right influencers. The right priorities. The right Book (the Word). The right perspective of prayer. The right margins in my life. This is how to succeed in God's eyes.

And, I've decided I may need to start wearing an apron, or at least hanging one in my kitchen...to remind me of Susanna Wesley and her realization that she could "commune with Him in the mess and the chaos.

Faith like a Child

I often find myself underestimating my kids and what they understand. We pray at meals and at bedtime, but I am never really sure how much they are grasping. Do their little minds realize Who we are talking to and the power He possesses? I tend to think that I can wait until they are little bit older before we dive into the doctrines of who God is and what He can do, but I am beginning to realize that my two and half year old son’s faith is bigger than my own.

A couple of weeks ago, we took a family friend with us to the zoo.

As we got ready to leave, our friend could not find her car keys. We rechecked bags, pockets and stroller baskets but still came up empty handed. My husband went to retrace our steps and my friend went to check with the front desk.

I was praying silently that we would be able to locate her keys quickly. I looked down at my two children and decided to pray out loud with them as we waited.  I just said, “Hey, let’s pray that Jesus will help us find Grandma Bridget’s keys.”

I was amazed to see my son and one year old daughter clasp their hands and bow their heads.  Almost as soon as I finished our prayer, my husband called to tell me that a lady had found the keys and walked them up to the front desk as Grandma Bridget was inquiring about them. I excitedly told my son, “Jesus helped us find the keys!” He looked up at me and said, “Jesus got her keys. We asked him to.”

I realized in that moment what Jesus meant in Matthew 18:3 when He said that we need to have “faith like a child.” Hudson knew we had asked Jesus to help. It was no shock to him that Jesus had done exactly what we had asked.  Hudson understood perfectly. I am the one that prays sometimes without really believing that God will answer.

I also was reminded that praying out loud with my kids for all kinds of requests allows them to see first-hand what God can do. Even now, they can begin to see answers to prayers, and those answers to prayer can lead them to trust God to do even more in the future.

There’s no need to wait until they are older to teach them truths about God. Instead, their faith that they have now is teaching me.

Philippians 4:19 “My God will meet all your needs.”

MOPS Moments: Courage to be a Sticky Faith Mom

When I think back to people who have had an influence on my spiritual life, my mom is number one on the list. It wasn't that she sat my sister and I down for deep, theological discussions. But instead, I saw that her relationship with the Lord as genuine and necessary.

I saw her sitting at the table reading her Bible in the mornings. I heard her love for Jesus in her voice when she prayed. I appreciated her calm and quiet spirit and her love for encouraging others.

We prayed together as a family in the mornings before school. My parents were so good to emphasize answered prayer and the Lord's direction. Even during difficult times, I was shown that God is in control and takes care of us.

And...I want to teach my kids those same lessons. I pray they see Jesus in me.

Yesterday's "craft" at MOPS was a couple tools to help these moms "stamp the image of Jesus" onto their children. I've been reading            and learning so much from the principles explained.

I love to think that my kids are my mission field right now. The Lord has given them to me to minister, encourage and show the Love of Jesus to.

It is easy for me to think that they are too little. But I have seen that Hudson can already memorize Scripture (If they can memorize Daniel Tiger songs they can memorize verses) and he is sensitive and so sweet during prayer times.

I provided ABC Scripture cards printed on white cardstock for the moms. You can print your own here on my sister's blog. She offers a link for the 8x10" size as well as the 4x3" size.

I told the moms they could hang a string up and use clothespins to attach their cards.Or put it into a picture frame. Or just stick it on the fridge with a magnet. Or punch a hole through each card and keep on a ring. Or put them in a photo album.

Then, we made prayer photo albums. Since kids are super visual, I thought this would help Hudson to keep a prayer list. I had picked up a bunch of those little vinyl flip photo books (about 12 pages each) after Christmas for 10 cents each. I love that you can just slide the cover out and decorate it as you wish. (Similar photo albums).

We will add photos and missionary prayer cards to the album. We may even write specific requests on index cards. Once prayers are answered, we will date the card and put it somewhere special. It is so important for him to SEE answered prayers.

We had a wonderful speaker, too. I was feverishly scribbling down her words of wisdom. For those moms who weren't able to attend the meeting...here's some of my notes.

Being a Sticky Faith Mom - Sandy Harris

Psalm 78:4-7

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord,

about His power and His mighty wonders,

for he issued his laws to Jacob;

he gave his instructions to Israel.

He commanded our ancestors

to teach them to their children,

so the next generation might know them --

even the children not yet born --

and they in turn will teach their own children.

So each generation should set its hope anew on God,

not forgetting his glorious miracles

and obeying his commands. 

We are training our kids, as well as our grandkids, for eternity. 

Building Your Child's Foundation through Prayer

Kids should be prayer warriors in the Lord's Army because they don't doubt. They believe!

Teach them right now to pray specifics so that they can see answers to prayer. 

Teach them to pray for measurable things. (Not just "God bless Mommy and Daddy")

Make a prayer list for your child. Record answers and the dates. 

Instead of telling your kids God said "No," tell them "God had a better plan."

1. Lead them to Christ
2. Teach them to pray
3. Pray about mission opportunities
1. neighbors/friends
2. missionaries
3. sponsor a child
4. pray for a specific unreached people group

Take your kids on prayer walks. Draw out the shape of a country with sidewalk chalk and have them walk around the boarder praying

Mail cards to those your are praying for. Coloring pictures. 

    
  

I pray that you start influencing your children spiritually by encouraging them to pray and memorize Scripture. If your faith is genuine, they will see the real-ness and hopefully want it for their own lives.