There is only so much I can protect from my children, and I know it is a God-given responsibility, but I am completely aware there is someone who has their best interest at heart, can parent our shortfalls, protect the heart of a child, and do more and do better than I can for our children.

Father God, as a parent I see more than ever my children need you.

There is so much brokenness in our homes, culture, and in our world. This is not a safe place for them without you, your love and protection and purposes. I cried out to you as a six year old that you would not only save me from my sins, but preserve my mind and soul through the rough times as a child. Now, as a parent I cry out for you to be the same savior to my kids that you were and are to me.

All power is yours, all authority is yours, all kingdoms on earth and in heaven are yours. Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that you indeed are God. Wrap your loving arms around our children, draw them close to you, that their eyes may be fixed on you. Fill them with faith, hope and perfect love that only comes from you. May they be a generation that doesn’t live in self-reliance, but have their hearts see you and follow you. Redeem yourself through these little ones you are raising up. Get glory for your great name through them. Encourage them by your Holy Spirit and protect their minds, hearts and souls as they grow.

You are such a loving Father to me, continue your love through my children. Amen

Hours after writing and praying this prayer this morning, one of my spiritual “father’s” has offered to spiritually mentor one of our kids. Isn’t God amazing…..

Finding Joy in the Mundane

Definition: of or pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven;worldly; earthly.

Seriously this is the definition of mundane? I really did look this up, and this really is the definition of this particular word.

So how do I find joy in the mundane or the things pertaining to this world? I even have to ask myself, am I suppose to find joy in the things pertaining to this world? I mean things like laundry, dishes, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, toilet cleaning??? So many of these things seem trite when laid out before eternal purposes.

I think of this verse in Colossians 3:1-2 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. “

So doesn’t this give me the out to no longer do the mundane?
But look to set my mind on things above?

This particular passage goes on to describe what things to set aside, and it isn’t laundry….. This passage speaks of behavior that must be removed and then attitudes that must be removed from our life. It doesn’t stop there just with the removal. I am then supposed to put these things on. “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

I must learn how to clothe myself with kindness as I am doing laundry over and over. I must with patience run to the grocery store multiple times throughout the week. I must with gentleness clean the house and with humility not anger decide what to enlist other family members to help with in regards to household chores. I must really put on love to clean those toilets when I am not cleaning up after myself, if you know what I mean…..

It isn’t so much that these things are mundane, unless I make them or see them as mundane. Honestly they give me the opportunity to clothe myself with these godly characteristics, and that is the eternal purpose I am called to fulfill. It does have massive eternal purposes how I show my family who God is and the power He has in my life to clothe me with love and forgiveness.

That they might see more of Him and less of me.

Usually, by that I mean always, I spend my morning time with the Lord in our bedroom after everyone is gone out of the house. It is a freeing time for me to be able to meet with God however I need to, whether it is tearfully, loudly, or reflectively quiet. I am not one to love the discipline of routine, but the discipline of spending time with the Lord is a lifeline for me.

A few weeks ago, the Lord prompted me to head into one of our teen’s rooms for my time with Him. First, I cleaned the floor….just being honest. Then I read scripture out loud, poured my heart out and wept. Prayed over this special one asking the Lord to move, prompt, protect and excite this one’s heart for who He really is. Then just sang my guts out to Him in worship.

Although the routine of always heading to my room has created a much needed discipline, being willing to have Him change it up, and pray specifics over my family has been such a powerful faith changing time. I am learning to not only talk to God regularly, I am also learning the blessing of listening to Him.

The intriguing thing is, my husband and I were just talking last night about a recent “spark” we see in this particular child. We see a hunger, and a strength and stability when speaking of the Lord. We hear knowledge and truth pouring out in the spoken words about God. We see a discerning eye to things of the world.

I know as parents we are often praying for our children, pouring our hearts out to the Lord asking Him to “grab” their hearts. I take those prayers seriously, and I believe whole-heartedly God listens to them. I also want to be a “listener” to what the Lord is saying to me. Listen to the what to pray, where to pray, when to pray, how to pray.

I just looked up the word “listen”, it is in the bible over 100 times. I am learning what it means to not just routine my time with Him, but to “listen” to how to be moved by Him.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:26

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me.” Mark 7

“Listen then” Matt 13:17

“Whoever listens to you listens to me” Luke 10:15

To follow Him where ever He leads….

While having lunch with a dear friend last week, we were sharing what it looks like to be hands and feet of Jesus outside of the walls of the church. Jesus didn’t spend most of His time leading and asking those who already follow Him, to follow Him again. Jesus spent time traveling and sharing the love of His Father to those who did not know His Father’s love. At times, Jesus would solidify their growing faith in Him and His Father by action.

Interestingly, while chatting with my dear friend over lunch, I made a bold statement regarding helping those outside the walls of the church. That statement catapulted and hijacked my entire weekend. At the moment those words came out of my mouth God decided to give me new eyes this weekend. I believe He decided those words coming out of my mouth was an invitation to wreck my weekend in an amazing way.

The next day I was sharing with our children what one local pastor is doing by living on the streets as a homeless man. This pastor is raising a certain amount of money to help a homeless shelter provide for people through the winter months. My youngest asked if we could make him a sack lunch and many more lunches to feed those he is with while on the streets. Within an hour of that conversation I was headed to Home Depot. While on the way I saw the sign “HUNGRY”. That sign could not have been any bigger even if it was sitting on my car blocking my front window.

After Home Depot I ran to In & Out and then I did stop at the “HUNGRY” sign…. Since the moment I stopped to give Bob dinner, my heart, my family’s heart will never be the same. We have stood, listened and learned from his heart beautiful lessons on life, living on the streets, and the love of Jesus for all mankind. I listened as Bob spoke to my kids about homelessness. He wasn’t harsh or angry, he was careful and honest. He said although some have stopped to help him, we were the only ones asking him what he needed. He needed a pillow and a blanket.

When we returned with the pillow and the blanket the next day, my youngest looked down at his shoes and asked if he needed new shoes. I may be able to tell my own children no to new things, but when my youngest is begging me to buy a homeless man new shoes, the answer could only be yes. We went and bought him shoes and new clean socks as my kids suggested. We took his new shoes back and watched as he slipped them on and amazement filled his face. We watched as he walked over and threw the old shoes and socks in the dumpster and at that moment my youngest said, “Bob doesn’t have a limp anymore, it was the old shoes that made him limp.” Oh my aching heart….. Bob even told them, there are 3 kinds of homeless people, safe, unsafe, and very dangerous. You always be careful when helping the homeless.

In a week filled with providing for our kids, homework, laundry and busyness, my week ended with God using a man who needed a pillow, blanket and new shoes to encourage my heart beyond anything else I have encountered this week. As I thought we may be the blessing to Bob, God showed me, Bob will be the blessing to us….. I am thankful God listened to the outspoken word of my mouth at lunch with my friend. The Lord took my words as an invitation to “show me” more of the Fathers heart.

May my prayers continue to be “show me” the Fathers heart.

Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

1 John 3:17-18 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth