Challenge:I know we all have things we don't enjoy or that make us anxious. For me, one of those things is vomit. Now to say it makes me anxious would be an understatement - it is truly a phobia that is out of control. Literally, every place I am in I make mental notes of where the bathrooms are in case I need to vomit and I make note of the exits in case those around me might puke. My spot in the bed changes depending on which side is closer to the toilet, etc. Just showing you... it is a true phobia. I have always wondered how I would handle the stomach flu as a parent and these last few weeks I have found out! Three out of the five of us have had the stomach flu over the past two weeks and this past weekend we got it again. Anyway, this has sent my anxiety way over the edge. While fretting about what to do my husband very loving said to me, "Do you see how you are breeding a culture of fear?" He was right. My anxiety was causing my daughter to be anxious. Wow. Now, Jason and I have always said that we want to be "cycle breakers" from some of the issues that run in our families, but this was the first time that I realized there are truly negative strongholds in my life that I might pass along to my children if I'm not careful. This wasn't passed down to me from any parent or relative - it's mine to own. I don't want to breed a culture of fear and anxeity over germs for my children - or anxiety over anything. I don't want to breed a culture of unforgivness, bitterness, lying, gossip, laziness, etc. etc. So, my challenge is to notice what sort of culture I am producing in every area. Is there something (perhaps even seemingly insignificant) I struggle with? If there in anything in my life that isn't beneficial to pass along to my children? I need to take steps to change the culture I am breeding for my children.
Father God, thank You for the privilege of being a parent. Please help me be mindful of the culture I am producing in my home. Help me to put to death anything that is not of You. May I proclaim with confidence that I can do anything through You (Philippians 4:13) and that nothing is impossible with You (Luke 1:37). I pray that I would breed a culture of love, forgiveness, selflessness, humility, service, peace, and trust. Help me weed out what is bad and grow what is of You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
For the Love of My Children:
Lord, I pray that Your power will be at work in my children. I invite You to do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine in each of their lives (Ephesians 3:20). I know that You have mighty plans for their future (Jeremiah 29:11) and I'm excited to see You at work: changing them and using them to change the world. May they never lose their faith or shrink back from the life You have called them to (Hebrews 10:39). Lord, You used unschooled and ordinary men to impact the world and I pray that as my children spend time with You - that they would be bold and courageous in speaking the truth to those around them (Acts 4:13). Thank You for the gifts You have given me in being able to parent such amazing children! May I never take the role lightly. I love You, Lord, and pray all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Week 10!
Challenge:
This week as I was reading in Exodus I had a revelation. In chapter 3, after Moses sees the burning bush, he pauses and then goes over to see the bush and it says in verse 4, "When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush..." -- I don't know why that stuck out to me, but I guess in my mind I always pictured the Lord calling for Moses from the beginning and so as Moses saw the burning bush he also heard God. However, that isn't how it happened. He saw the bush, paused, went over, and then the Lord spoke to him. This made me ask myself, "how often am I missing burning bushes in my life?" I don't always live my life as someone who "has time" to stop when there might be a burning bush. Now, if it was God's voice - sure that would stop me, but merely the sight of a burning bush - I don't have time for that. As soon as my feet hit the floor I'm chasing, feeding, and corralling children. We're running (late) to a meeting, from a playgroup, stopping at the grocery, etc... how many times have I been wanting a word from the Lord and yet I never took the time to stop to inquire about a burning bush He has placed in my life.
I think this challenge for me is applicable to parenting for two reasons. The first is common for parenting devotions, but is always a good reminder... we are setting an example for our children. If my children see me continually going then most likely they will live lives that are constantly on the go and when I think of all the burning bushes I might have missed - I don't want them to miss them in their lives! So, I need to start planning margin and space into my days. I need to teach my children, by example, to be inquiring about different ways the Lord might be working.
The second reason is simply because my children will often be the burning bushes that I'm overlooking. How often do I miss moments for my children to show me more about the Lord simply because I'm too busy (or tired). Just last night Jonah woke me up in the middle of the night and I was sitting on his bean bag snuggling with him for a little bit. Instead of drifting off to sleep like I normally do during my middle of the night snuggle times... I asked the Lord, "is this a burning bush?" and I made an effort to pause and wait. And do you know what? The Lord showed up and Jonah's bean bag became holy ground! My challenge, then, is to practice paying attention for those burning bushes, inquire about them, and then to wait on the Lord to speak. I believe that in doing so we will set a good example for our children and we will be awakened to extraordinary things in the midst of the ordinary.
Dear Lord, thank You for personally investing in my life. I am sorry for the times when I don't make time for You. Teach me to manage my time better. In doing so, I pray that I will set a good example for my children. Please use them to teach me and show me more about You and Your amazing love! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
For the Love of My Children:
Jesus, when You lived on the earth You made healing a crucial part of Your ministry and it is because of Your ability to heal every disease and sickness (Mark 9:35) that I come before you now to ask for healing and wellness in each of my children -all the days of their lives. Lord, as parents, we would much rather have any sickness ourselves than to watch our child suffer and You know more about that than I will ever know and I thank You for understanding this plea. It doesn't matter if it is just the common cold or something as serious as cancer, Lord, I pray You will be my child's Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals (Exodus 15:26). Heal them, Lord, and they will be healed (Jeremiah 17:14). Touch my child's body and take away any virus, infection, auto-immune disorder, chemical imbalance, or disease that is plaguing my child. I pray that my children would never know cancer or any other life threatening disease in their youth or as adults. Keep them healthy, Lord, and keep me from being anxious over their health knowing that You are the ultimate healer and that you save us from every plague that destroys (Psalm 91:3,6). I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
This week as I was reading in Exodus I had a revelation. In chapter 3, after Moses sees the burning bush, he pauses and then goes over to see the bush and it says in verse 4, "When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush..." -- I don't know why that stuck out to me, but I guess in my mind I always pictured the Lord calling for Moses from the beginning and so as Moses saw the burning bush he also heard God. However, that isn't how it happened. He saw the bush, paused, went over, and then the Lord spoke to him. This made me ask myself, "how often am I missing burning bushes in my life?" I don't always live my life as someone who "has time" to stop when there might be a burning bush. Now, if it was God's voice - sure that would stop me, but merely the sight of a burning bush - I don't have time for that. As soon as my feet hit the floor I'm chasing, feeding, and corralling children. We're running (late) to a meeting, from a playgroup, stopping at the grocery, etc... how many times have I been wanting a word from the Lord and yet I never took the time to stop to inquire about a burning bush He has placed in my life.
I think this challenge for me is applicable to parenting for two reasons. The first is common for parenting devotions, but is always a good reminder... we are setting an example for our children. If my children see me continually going then most likely they will live lives that are constantly on the go and when I think of all the burning bushes I might have missed - I don't want them to miss them in their lives! So, I need to start planning margin and space into my days. I need to teach my children, by example, to be inquiring about different ways the Lord might be working.
The second reason is simply because my children will often be the burning bushes that I'm overlooking. How often do I miss moments for my children to show me more about the Lord simply because I'm too busy (or tired). Just last night Jonah woke me up in the middle of the night and I was sitting on his bean bag snuggling with him for a little bit. Instead of drifting off to sleep like I normally do during my middle of the night snuggle times... I asked the Lord, "is this a burning bush?" and I made an effort to pause and wait. And do you know what? The Lord showed up and Jonah's bean bag became holy ground! My challenge, then, is to practice paying attention for those burning bushes, inquire about them, and then to wait on the Lord to speak. I believe that in doing so we will set a good example for our children and we will be awakened to extraordinary things in the midst of the ordinary.
Dear Lord, thank You for personally investing in my life. I am sorry for the times when I don't make time for You. Teach me to manage my time better. In doing so, I pray that I will set a good example for my children. Please use them to teach me and show me more about You and Your amazing love! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
For the Love of My Children:
Jesus, when You lived on the earth You made healing a crucial part of Your ministry and it is because of Your ability to heal every disease and sickness (Mark 9:35) that I come before you now to ask for healing and wellness in each of my children -all the days of their lives. Lord, as parents, we would much rather have any sickness ourselves than to watch our child suffer and You know more about that than I will ever know and I thank You for understanding this plea. It doesn't matter if it is just the common cold or something as serious as cancer, Lord, I pray You will be my child's Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals (Exodus 15:26). Heal them, Lord, and they will be healed (Jeremiah 17:14). Touch my child's body and take away any virus, infection, auto-immune disorder, chemical imbalance, or disease that is plaguing my child. I pray that my children would never know cancer or any other life threatening disease in their youth or as adults. Keep them healthy, Lord, and keep me from being anxious over their health knowing that You are the ultimate healer and that you save us from every plague that destroys (Psalm 91:3,6). I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Week 9!
Challenge:
As I'm on this wonderful parenting journey - every week I end up thinking the same thing, "I have no idea what I'm doing." As a mom trying to raise children in this crazy world - I fall so short from knowing the best way to parent, love, discipline, and teach my children. I've intentionally tried to surround myself with wonderful friends who also have multiple children and similar parenting styles/goals so that we can "do life" together and learn as we go. I do think there is much to be said about that and I know, for me personally, it has helped quite a bit. But, still, I feel that I can learn so much more from older women in my life. My challenge this week is to pray about who specifically the Lord wants me to ask to be my parenting mentor. There are many amazing ladies in my life who are older and have already raised their children. I often talk with them when I see them and love their wisdom, but I'm needing something more formal. Something where I allow them to teach me, observe me, and pray with me. If you have older children, perhaps you could pray about someone you can invest in - sharing with them things you did well and mistakes you hope others don't repeat. So much wisdom lies in those who have walked ahead of us! I want to intentionally tap into it and bring Titus 2:3-5 to life in the lives our today's parents, "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."
Dear Lord, thank You for the wisdom that You grant us through life's experiences and challenges. Please bring to mind one woman in my life, who is rooted in the Word, who can become a mentor to me. Prepare her heart for my request and grant me the courage to reach out. Please use her to minister to me. Likewise, if there is anyone I can pour into, please bring them to my heart and mind. Thank you that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). In Jesus' Name. Amen.
For the Love of My Children:
Father God, thank You that You promise to work everything out for the good for those who are following You (Romans 8:28). I proclaim that promise over my family and for each of my children. I pray that no matter what my child is going/has gone/will go through - large or small - that You will bring Yourself glory through it and that it would be woven into my child's testimony. May my children trust Your Word that in everything they are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). What a joy and a relief that truth is and I pray that it would be real and tangible in every situation my child faces and that it would help me, as the parent, not to be anxious. As I put my fears aside, help me be convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate my children from Your love (Romans 8:38-39). I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, Our Lord. Amen.
As I'm on this wonderful parenting journey - every week I end up thinking the same thing, "I have no idea what I'm doing." As a mom trying to raise children in this crazy world - I fall so short from knowing the best way to parent, love, discipline, and teach my children. I've intentionally tried to surround myself with wonderful friends who also have multiple children and similar parenting styles/goals so that we can "do life" together and learn as we go. I do think there is much to be said about that and I know, for me personally, it has helped quite a bit. But, still, I feel that I can learn so much more from older women in my life. My challenge this week is to pray about who specifically the Lord wants me to ask to be my parenting mentor. There are many amazing ladies in my life who are older and have already raised their children. I often talk with them when I see them and love their wisdom, but I'm needing something more formal. Something where I allow them to teach me, observe me, and pray with me. If you have older children, perhaps you could pray about someone you can invest in - sharing with them things you did well and mistakes you hope others don't repeat. So much wisdom lies in those who have walked ahead of us! I want to intentionally tap into it and bring Titus 2:3-5 to life in the lives our today's parents, "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."
Dear Lord, thank You for the wisdom that You grant us through life's experiences and challenges. Please bring to mind one woman in my life, who is rooted in the Word, who can become a mentor to me. Prepare her heart for my request and grant me the courage to reach out. Please use her to minister to me. Likewise, if there is anyone I can pour into, please bring them to my heart and mind. Thank you that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). In Jesus' Name. Amen.
For the Love of My Children:
Father God, thank You that You promise to work everything out for the good for those who are following You (Romans 8:28). I proclaim that promise over my family and for each of my children. I pray that no matter what my child is going/has gone/will go through - large or small - that You will bring Yourself glory through it and that it would be woven into my child's testimony. May my children trust Your Word that in everything they are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). What a joy and a relief that truth is and I pray that it would be real and tangible in every situation my child faces and that it would help me, as the parent, not to be anxious. As I put my fears aside, help me be convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate my children from Your love (Romans 8:38-39). I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, Our Lord. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)