Hunger for the things of God...

I've always thought one of the most important things to teach my kids, was about God. I told them stories of the Bible( their favorite was Noah and the ark) oh and I'll never forget when I read the story of Jonah for the first time, not just from the childhood story books but from God's word (that was pretty gross being thrown up on the beach.... not spit out but thrown up, ok, we're all moms we see how gross that is, no further explanation needed...did I mention I don't do throw up well at all, I'm one that usually follows suit...) but that's just the thing sometimes things have to get messy to put us on the right path(my story is pretty messy).
Well anyway, as I mentioned earlier my kids dad was an atheist so he didn't go to church but there were times I took the kids and went to church, after all I was in church as long as a church bus picked me up as a kid, I wanted my kids to love church and Jesus as much as I did....  I had Wee Sing Bible Songs and a few other children's tapes and we'd listen to them all the time, I remember one of my kids favorite songs was "I've decided to follow Jesus, no turning back" . I pray that will be true with them always.
I was taken back one Sunday morning at church, apparently my son told his Sunday school teacher(the pastor's wife) that he would only sing if his daddy came to church because one Sunday morning daddy went to church with us and the pastor stood up and said "I've got a special treat for you all this morning... Jeffrey come up and sing your song, then I looked at my son and the pastor went on to say Jeffrey said that the day his daddy came to church he'd sing... I don't think I quit crying as my son sang those sweet words... I've decided to follow Jesus, no turning back... no turning back.

Well, I'd love to say that we never turned back....but things happened and questioning of Jesus existing came into our lives. In fact in 2008 so many things happened my son grew very angry with God, his daddy was in ICU fighting for his life, then I get a call from a friend letting us know one of his best friends was killed in an accident and the final blow came when he learned that his dad and I were getting a divorce.
So i see today, it is very important to  pray for a hunger for the things of God.. I'm thankful I've always tried to point them to God in the many life lessons but I'm even more glad that God fills in the gaps for my many mistakes.... one of my old pastors told us that he prays that God will out shine his sin so that his family could be won over to Christ . So I pray that people in my lives see Christ and not my many mistakes.   

With so many things to get in the way of God today(T.V., video games, sports, hobbies, phones, facebook, popularity, church, iphone, ipad, ipod..... I...i....i....) Yeah, even i get in the way..
All these things and many more pull us in different directions, so this is an important thing and must not be left to chance. 
I've tried to set aside time during the day for my son to read a devotion, his Bible and to journal but this isn't something that he is interested in, today.
As I write this I know there is hope, for I wasn't interested at his age either ... In fact, when I was a teen I'd call my granny up to read the Bible to her(sounds like a nice thing to do, right....) I'd call her as I was getting into bed to read but my reasoning was so my mom wouldn't know a friend called me at 9,it's obvious I had someone praying for me(even Jesus prays John 17) seeds were planted as I read to my granny which reminds me of a verse that says something like this men will make plans(my plan to keep mom from knowing friends called after bedtime) but God's purpose will prevail(that I might hear His words and come to believe in Him) for Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing.....
It wasn't until 2005 that I took on a hunger for God's word, before I'd read here and there and even fall asleep reading but in 2005, I set aside daily reading time, yes it started with a check list provided by my church but as I began reading I couldn't stop reading and I wanted more and more... Then in 2006, as I read I journaled, I wrote down verses that spoke to my heart.....so see there is still hope for your grown kids.

I may come back and write more with this chapter in mind. I think I could go on and on and on.......

I don't know your story , I don't know how you came to know Christ or how you will.. and I don't know what plans God has for you and your family.... But I know they are good, they will give you a hope and a future, they will not harm you.... Jeremiah 29:11

friendships...

Oh funny how we go from family to friends....

Over the years I have worked as a preschool teacher and our motto was every one in our school was our friend... nice I know, it would be great if it were that easily done.

I've watched my oldest children in friendships through the years, some I approved of and others I didn't but knowing how I rebelled against my mother's friend wishes for myself, I took it to prayer and some friends I'd allow the kids to sleep over at their house while other friends were only allowed to come to our house. I never thought to pray for godly friends or role models, well to be honest I never heard the godly term until 2003, my baby was then 10. I prayed for Christian friends but today Christian has lost a lot of its meaning because people say they are Christian yet you learn later they don't believe in Jesus.

I use to tell my children to let their light shine, that they needed to remember they are different than some kids. Was this right??? I don't know but I do know my kids had friends that were good and some that were having bad influences on them, my kids invited kids to church and learned to pray for their friends. Today, I don't know any of their friends nor do I know if they have friends that are godly or bad influences but I can still be praying because God knows and sees it all.

In fact I have practiced the same standards with Joel however, I have added the advice of telling him he is a leader not a follower. Does that mean he makes the right choices every minute of every day, nope he's human just like me.... I am praying for him to have good friends and that any friends that will lead him down a wrong path away from God be removed from his life. There are kids he befriended because other kids were mean to them (that is a Christ like character but is he strong enough to stick with some of these kids when they may become drug users or drag racers, or oh the so many things that teens find to experiment with, only with protection from God).

As I read this chapter I'm sitting here on the balcony of my hotel room looking out at the beautiful ocean. Thinking about going down to take a walk this isn't something I would normally do alone but I know when Ric gets back he will not want to go because of his hurt ankle. Ok, I've decided I'm going before it gets too crowded and hot... I've been so sick for 4 weeks and this is the first week I haven't felt terrible. Besides there are several wives left here while our husbands are in training... maybe I'll meet a new friend. Think I'm going to take Joel's motto everyone is worth getting to know even if I'm too shy to make new friends, I can fake it. :)

Have a great week!!

family relationships

Reading this chapter..... I'm reminded at how close my family once was.
Family has always been important to me, I hold each member close and near to my heart.
My family relationships began to change when I was told that my dad wasn't really my daddy, I began to feel as an outsider and wondered what everyone thought of me.

I've longed to know my daddy and siblings but never really built a strong relationship with any of them(not because I didn't want or desire it but because of my feelings).

So reading this chapter I see how important this prayer is as our family is the first place we're taught relationships and if it's not strong relationship wise, learning to have friendships, marriage relationship or a relationship with Jesus will be very hard.

I'll admit I can have a free open relationship with my children and I did as long as they were under the age of 8 and for whatever reason I began pulling away, putting up walls to protect myself but why I don't know... I didn't know and still not sure but after joining CR and going through a step study I think I've figured it all out... one puzzle piece at a time(don't want to use the onion peel phrase as I'm allergic to onions).


How can we pray for relationships that have been distant or destroyed???
How can we pray for close relationships to be closer and healthy???
How can we pray for our own relationships with our children???

Does anyone find this a little hard???
I am going to commit to praying this prayer not only this week but for weeks... months and years to come.
As relationship is were it all begins.

Blessings to you all...
Share your thoughts and share your prayer request as well as praises...

rebellious...

Oh, this is a prayer I need to keep close.....
I've been trying to think back to my older children and rebellious acts... I know they had to have many but I guess it's true when they say as the years go by you forget....
But, oh it's so funny as I try I can see some of my own rebellious acts, even though I tried to be the good girl and do the right thing... just proves Jesus' point that none of us can ever be good enough, we need Him...as I said, I can think back at some of my own, I wonder if someone prayed for me????

Right now, we're in a very rebellious season with our 10 year old so this prayer has come a long at the right time... but while I type this I remember my oldest son went through a period that began around 10 also- I don't remember details just remember asking the youth pastors mom how long this last(she said until he was 16)even though I don't remember details as I'm sure I won't remember details of these current days with the youngest son either(unless, I were to write them down). We can hold on to the hope it is just for a season.

I never thought much about rebellion being a behavior that needed prayer and correction. I've heard people say well Jesus was a rebel. Why do people think that? Yes. He disagreed with Jewish law but it wasn't God's law He disagreed with it was the man made laws and the ridiculous way they went about enforcing them.

Sometimes, I wonder do I really expect to much and just need to lighten up but would I be Allowing rebellious acts that would in the end cause my child to be messed up???? Oh, why does parenting have to be so hard???? I know many of us have older kids... can you share some experience and hope with us??? Those in rebellious season share with us some of those things and let us know how you handle it, what's worked what's pushed away??? I'm glad we can pray and know that it won't be for null as God will reward our prayers.

I said I  didn't remember rebellious acts in my older kids but I do remember when they became teens, they rebelled against me and would do the opposite of what I said, I spanked them at times still and that probably pushed them away more than anything... I remember my sweet little daughter asking me for a music CD and as I looked at the songs, I told her no, I need to research this more.. she then went to her dad.. yeah she got the CD and yes a lot of the songs went against the music I felt she needed to listen to. What hurt most was being disrespected by them hiding it from me. Or times my son was allowed to go to his girlfriend's without me knowing as I would verify they wouldn't be alone. I had my reasons and it wasn't to be fun patrol but to protect my kids from things I already learned could get one in a lot of trouble.

I recently read a book called Am I messing up my kids... in that I learned that God fills in the gaps, I don't have to match up to the parents around me or feel guilty for not being like the other parents... I just have to release my kids to God's care. Sounds easy enough??? I'm still working on this.
Like, the times my son walks out the door in mismatch clothes or jeans that would be great for capris if he were a girl... wondering when he grew those last 5 inches... or maybe I just put them in the dryer for too long- after all I do that with my own clothes as they grow tighter, not that the scales says I'm 20 pounds heavier... I need to really relax and look at things through God's eyes more often. Those things won't matter in the end because it is a matter of the heart...

As Stormie prayed over the posters her son displayed, we need to remember some things will need more attention and prayer than others, but we need to not forget to seek our husbands view and make sure we stay the course and be team mates otherwise we teach our kids when one says no, go to the other...one of the other things I guarded were the games our children play, shows, movies or music our children listen to these are all important.. What I've learned this time around is be open and point out why it's not appropriate for his little eyes, ears etc... I'm proud to say he can now hear and point out things that aren't appropriate and he always looks to me to see if I heard it too but what has touched my heart most was him saying on his own, I don't think I need to be watching this show.

I remember not liking my mom very much for guarding my movie choices along with my music choices, I rebelled and watched movies with friends mom would forbid and the popular music just so I didn't feel left out.. today, I can see what she was trying to do as I do the same, some may say I'm in the wrong and that's ok but I can say I don't want it on my shoulders because the bible is very clear on causing a child to sin Matthew 18:6, the bible also says everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial 1Corinthians 10:23. And finally in Philippians 4:8 leaves us with thinking on things that are true, pure, noble, admirable etc... so I  have to think there is a greater purpose and seek God for wisdom so I will be praying for my children, myself even and my spouse as rebellion can lead to great sin. Yes, there are always second chances and forgiveness and this we should always remember and teach our kids constantly by example.

Hope you all have a great week!