"Behold, children are a heritage frm the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 127:3

I love bringing forth children... and this is my journey in training them for the King

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Being Clay...

These days are passing over me
At the speed of light
And standing here in their shadows
I'm silenced at the sight
Like water on the wind I sense the change to come
All that I've held in like teardrops run

I am clay and I am water
Falling forward in this order
While the world spins 'round so fast
Slowly I'm becoming who I am

Nothing ever stays the same
The wheel will always turn
I feel the fire in the change
But somehow it doesn't burn
Like a beggar blessed I stumble in the Grace
Reaching out my hand for what awaits

I am clay and I am water
Falling forward in this order
While the world spins 'round so fast
Slowly I'm becoming who I am

I will live
From my heart
And I will catch the lines of love as they come
Back to You
I know they'll lead
And into You
I know I'll lean

Thursday, June 16, 2011

He May Not Be Perfect...But He's Perfect for ME!

I don't even know where to begin! I think I've started and restarted this first sentence so many times, I've lost count. I guess I'll just lay it all out there. A few years ago my my husband, Dwight, was in a head-on collision which he managed to walk away from with mere scrapes and bruises on the outside of his body.  However, the months to follow would produce a mixture of emotions as we learned, together, how to press on after he underwent surgery for a heart transplant.  At times we still struggle through the healing process, but most often we are now elated with joy at how much this new heart has changed our lives... for the better!

Cause you see, this wasn't a vehicle collision. This was a collision with the Way (Were we living the way the Lord wanted us to be?), the Truth (What did God's Word have to say about it?), and the Life (How would this new revelation change the way we lived our daily lives?).

Dwight never did enjoy reading, even his bible. So you can imagine my shock when he began to read it night after night until the wee hours of the morning. He was researching some things he thought were biblical but wasn't certain since he couldn't recall the reference. What he actually found, though, was that he began to LOVE to read God's Word. It was like food for his soul. He craved it! He began reading it out loud, over me, over our children, doing bible studies as often as he possibly could with whoever would join him.

And as a result, the Lord has changed his heart completely about what it really means to follow Jesus. I think of my sweet husband when I read Ephesians 5:26 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church...that he might sanctify her by the washing of water with the word...".  I have to confess that sometimes he wants to wash the Word over me when I'm preoccupied and it can frustrate me if I focus on myself. *embarrased* Then I recall the times early in our marriage when I prayed that God would make him want to read the bible and pray with me. Humbly, I realize just how blessed I truly am!!

Dwight also loves to read the Word over our children and pray with them. I would say his biggest exhortation to anyone desiring to follow Jesus is 'Get in the Word...STAY in the Word!' He considers himself a slave to Jesus and desires to live wholeheartedly surrendered to Christ daily. He has a huge burden not only for the lost, but also for those who regularly attend church but are being deceived by the enemy about the Truth. He is a hard worker, wonderful husband and father and thoroughly enjoys serving others (especially when he gets nothing in return).

The Father always knows what's best for His children. So while Dwight may not be perfect, he's perfect for ME and I'm so thankful I get to be his helpmate! :-D

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25b

So I'm reading this morning in the book of Matthew. I've read this chapter several times, but this time it dawns on me the personal implication this passage has on our everyday lives!

What do we want for our family? For our children? To be "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation" (Phil. 2:15).

We have to be intentional about teaching our children to love the Lord and obey His commandments. We choose to do this by teaching our lambs at home so they can be fully-trained warriors for God's army before we release them to be sheep amongst the world of wolves.

Think about an unanchored boat on the water for a second. With the exception of stagnant waters, a boat is going to go wherever the current takes it unless it's being steered in a different direction. Jesus puts it this way... "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30) The cold hard truth is this: We might love our children more than life itself, but if we aren't teaching them how to follow Jesus, they will naturally follow the world.

I believe verse twenty-five of the same chapter is equally as important! "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or HOUSE divided against itself will stand" (emphasis mine). As parents, we MUST be on the same page with regards to raising our children. We need the same vision, goals and plan of action to accomplish such a task. Further, it's not only important to be united in our parenting techniques, it's IMPERATIVE we are united in Christ! Only "in Him will all things hold together." (Col 1:17)

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Heart of a Child

My children are still pretty young. Corbin is my oldest and he won't be five for a couple more months. So I'm sure you can imagine how sometimes it feels as though the hard work I put into training them seems like it just insn't sinking in. Then there are the rare moments when Corbin will make a comment or say something in his prayer that seems so mature for his age. And suddenly I realize all that work is worth it!

This morning we were talking to Corbin about how you must change on the inside before you can permanently have a change on the outside... a 'heart change'. To help a four year old understand this I tried to explain how only God can change our hearts, so we need to ask Him to soften our hearts and make us moldable. I gave a brief example of the difference between playdough and a rock hoping he would comprehend how one can be made into anything you want and the other can't be changed no matter how hard you squeeze.

We were transitioning into a little worship time, so we asked him if he would like to pray beforehand. And then it happened. My sweet, little son opened his mouth and out came some of the most beautiful, genuine words I've ever heard him say... "Thank you, Jesus, for today. Help us to have soft hearts like playdough so You can make us what You want us to be..." *sigh*



Then there's my darling, Hayden. She loves music! She often raises her hands when singing to Jesus as she dances around and around. My husband and I had a conversation recently about how we contemplated whether or not it was ok to allow them to 'mimic' us whether it be in prayer or the way we worship. While some may frown upon this behavior, I think it's more important for our children to see our faith in action and know it's real. Our children will naturally do and say as we have done. I would rather my children minic how I pray or worship and not fully understand the meaning behind it right now than grow up thinking I didn't do those things at all.

What about you? Are you timid about openly expressing your love to Christ when you worship? Do you pray under your breath or always recite rote prayers rather than being real and transparent with the Lord? If our desire is to see our children know Jesus as Savior and live their lives wholeheartedly surrendered to Christ above anything else, they will need to see that type of abandon from us first. Don't you want them to know you are a safe place when they have questions about their faith? Let's be intentional teachers leaving no doubt in their minds about Who is number one in our lives!

Let's embrace our heritage :)

Mat 18:1-5"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me..."

Thursday, June 9, 2011

21 Days of Prayer for Sons

The Book: Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need It Most
The Challange: Pray various scriptures over my sons for 21 consecutive days
The sons the Lord has given me: Corbin (almost 5) & Elijah (10 mos)

This challange, for me, began with a huge hiccup. I wasn't aware of how the prayer topics were structured in the book so I didn't read until I got to the Obedience scriptures. I started day 2 praying all the scriptures at once for both days 1 & 2.

I hate to admit it, but I haven't been diligent to pray over my boys throughout the day. I am very lazy in praying continuously, whch is why I wanted a challenge. Apparently, it isn't doing much to spark my prayer life. I'm quite embarrased by this fact!

I will say, though, I have enjoyed reading Brooke's thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly with them, even. I KNOW these things in my head, & I'm seeking to implement most of them into my daily life. But consistent praying has always been a weakness of mine.

I'm just being real... & I need your prayers!

Jennifer