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

……some of the simple lessons the Lord has taught me these last 40 days leading up to the WPH night.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matt 4:19
“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matt 10:38

-He needs me to follow Him. Only Him.

“In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” Psalm 44:8
“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corn 1:31

-The only thing I can ever boast in is the Lord and His goodness.

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Prov 29:25

-Trusting the Lord, finding identity in Him, more than people.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

-My walk must be covered in His love, not my love, His perfect love.
Covered, doesn’t mean sprinkled. Covered, devoted, never leave you, bound….

Although I have personal testimony of the Lord healing me, and have watched miraculous healings happen these last 40 days…. He has prompted me this time to devote my heart to Him, give testimony when appropriate and for His name to be glorified at all times in all situations.

Sunday morning I had mentioned to my husband I really wanted to head out of town. A lake, a river, ocean, or since we are in a major drought here in California, even a pond would work. Deep down I really wanted to connect with God our creator, be reminded of His beauty, and lucky for my family I wanted them along for the ride….

My husband made a few connections with friends and got the scoop on some places up in Tahoe that would make for great hiking. The one we chose would drop us out at a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail. The background of our family isn’t totally necessary other than this information, we do not hike…. We don’t own hiking shoes or apparel, we don’t really know how to follow trails, but despite all of that, we were still on our way.

The hike started out with extreme exuberance, boys climbing on rocks, even the 14 almost 15 year old was jumping on logs, rocks, and creek walking. My heart was overjoyed watching our boys enter into nature so quickly. I was immediately thanking God for this beautiful trail, creek, family, and the eagerness our kids had to do the “outdoorsy” with us.

We could always visually see the waterfall in front of us, and even if for a moment the waterfall was obscured by a big evergreen tree it was only momentarily covered. As we hiked, it was our visual reminder of where we were heading. Never loosing sight of the waterfall ahead of us, that was what kept us on track. After what seemed forever on the trail, we came to a place where we were hiking over massive granite boulders, the heat from the sun was pressing down on us from above and the heat from the rocks coming up were colliding on our bodies, and we were all exhausted. Remember we don’t hike, so apparently you should bring plenty of water while hiking…. One of our children drank his entire bottle of water within the first 20 minutes of the hike and was now begging for someone else’s water. One of our other children in desperation asked if we could just turn around and go back.

At that same moment, I could see the waterfall and it appeared we were so close, I could even hear the sound of rushing water. My heart was telling me, just a little further, hang in there. Honestly, my body was saying turn around before you die out here…. Yep, overly dramatic. Encouraging our kids to hang in there for a little while longer, they dragged their feet over the largest, longest granite boulder we had encountered and through a thicket of mulberry bushes and guess what happened?

We were there, we had made it along with all the other people who had made the same trek as this non-hiking family. We just stood there in amazement that we were so close to turning around, giving up, and yet the refreshing water was closer than we ever imagined. We spent a good amount of time, eating lunch, cliff jumping into the water (even me), and creek walking. Our family hike day was terrific.

The Lord often parallels daily life stories for me. I was able to think, how often do I do this in my walk with Him? He is working something in me, building me up, creating new disciplines, building stronger muscles and creating new ones too, uhg. At times, I am so close and I can see what He is doing, the good that can come from all the growth. My heart and mind want to keep going while keeping my eyes on the Lord, but my body says “let’s turn back.” Or even, “going back might be easier than forging ahead.” Endurance is so hard, especially spiritual endurance.
But we have hope, and we need to remember who holds the heavens in place, also holds our hope.

Colossians 1:10-12
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Whether it is growth or trial, find your hope in Him. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, He is our deliver, strength and hope.

I was thinking about how often I say or call names in our home.
I have to clarify “name calling”…..
Jake take your shoes up to your room.
Zoe can you come help me downstairs?
Casey (I don’t call him that…. Usually, it is babe) can you help me?
Sometimes I just say, Rob I love you, or Rob I think you are so handsome (he is a thrilled teenager when that one comes out of my mouth).

So, in regards to Jesus, he was given the name Jesus by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
(Luke 2:21)

There is power is His name. More than any other name in my home, or outside of my home.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

I call names all the time in my home, but this One that carries power in His name…. I must call on His name much more.

I seriously just saw the cutest thing ever!!

A few blocks away from school a mom was unloading a little bike out of the back of her van. A little, I mean little boy was standing on the sidewalk with backpack and helmet on. As she placed the bike right beside him, he hopped on and started riding it straight to the school. I could see in his face he was so determined to get that bike going fast and was quickly heading down the street. Although I am not sure he knew it, that van with mom inside continued to slowly drive right beside him.

It brought tears to my eyes as I thought, that right there is so much what the Lord does with us. He at the right time, places us on the sidewalk of life to do His work and although we may think He is far, or has left, or we are to do this alone…. I don’t believe it is a mini-van, but He really is right there beside us driving the van. Helping us, guiding and steering us in the right direction.

Psalm 139 is a beautiful reminder of this truth.

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

My experience with forgiveness… Am I really going there?? Why yes! Growing up as a PK, I have heard since I was young forgive, forgive, forgive…. Not seven times, seventy-seven times forgive….

Here is my reality with forgiveness. It is hard. That’s it. Hard.
I am not talking about the little spills our children do at the dinner table, or the forgetting to take the trash out on trash pickup day. Sometimes, I pat myself on the back for easily granting forgiveness in those times. But it is those deep rooted, long lasting places of hurt that the Lord is also asking me to forgive.

Is it because somehow He needs it? More than I do maybe? No, not exactly. He knows I need it. He knows I have given that issue, offense, or that hurt and pain a place of importance in my mind and heart.

Follow me with this thought… If I have given that pain or offense residence or a special place in my mind or heart, I begin to place a tremendous value on it. I say things like, “that’s just how I am,” or “I am that way because of the abuse I went through.” “I am just broken.”  If the meaning of worship is is to revere, honor, or respect, how have I turned my unforgiveness into a place that I worship? I have given it a place of honor in my heart, I revere and I give it respect (like, “don’t touch that” respect) and I even make decisions based on my unforgiveness. If I switch that thinking upside down with how I view my pain, hurt or unforgiveness this is what it looks like; by using the antonym or opposite of worship this is the stance I should have with my own unforgiveness….. I should have disdain, disrespect, humiliation, disloyalty, hate for my unforgiveness. Wow, that is really powerful!

The Lord doesn’t ask for us to forgive because it is easy, or simple. He asks because He knows the root of it will take our worship away from Him and will continue to deepen the hurt in our hearts, minds and souls. I also notice the Lord doesn’t give “forgiveness exceptions”, not in regards to wounds by parents or siblings, not our friends or neighbors, not even our children or the person who was texting and driving and rear ended my car…. There is no verse that gives any exception, period.

There are over 100 verses that speak of forgiveness, and over 60 are in the New Testament. Col 3:13 Bear with eachother and forgive….My own testimony is forgiveness of deep hurt from wounds a long time ago, but our God has moved in mighty ways and continues to move in mighty ways through that difficult, and complicated act of forgiveness and continued to help my eyes and devotion to be on Him alone. May I never underestimate the power of the Lord through forgiveness.

Our family rescued a mutt dog last year. We don’t really know what she is, maybe pit, maybe lab. She has a crazy under-bite and I think she might be brindle, not really sure. We love her. Our entire family loves her. We can’t walk past her without talking, petting, snuggling, laying with her, and she knows it. She has NO idea she’s a mutt without a definite breed. She has NO idea when we look at her under-bite we like it, we think its adorable.

SO here is my real point.

Do you know, do you know…. That is how our Heavenly Father sees us? He rescued us, and not only does He see our “under-bites” so to speak. He actually created us, our under-bites, our brindle. He loves what makes you…YOU.

Zephaniah 3

The Lord your God is with you,

    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.

 

Before we as His people try to become more of something, more godly, better parent, spouse, child, more righteous, more of a servant, more giving, generous, more like Him. We must, we must rightly understand His great love for us, because everything else has to be a result of this great love. Please don’t get me wrong here….Not that pursuit of more like Him is wrong, but we must rightly see how He loves us, so it is in that love we are moved.