NOT Praying for My Kids Monday

Yeah, you read that right. I don't feel much like praying for my kids right now.

In fact, I haven't felt much like praying for them all morning.

They have been acting entitled and spoiled and disrespectful. They are disobeying, making messes and generally acting as if they are out to get me. Or like typical 2 and 4 year olds; it just depends on what your perspective is.

We all went outside so I could prune and fertilize my hanging basket and they could ride bikes. I knew it was a little too quiet and I didn't see their little bikes riding in circles in my driveway so I gave it a few more minutes and then went looking for them.

When I found them they were sitting in the garage eating rice krispies and spreading them EVERYWHERE in the garage. Like hanging a "welcome" sign for all the mice in the neighborhood, cereal was spread from door to door.

I sighed. And started counting to 100 trying to keep from yelling at them.

I didn't even speak to them; just snatched the box from their grubby little hands and walked in to the house. Samuel asked if I was mad. I simply replied that they should go play in the bonus room until I decided on what the consequence was for 1) climbing on the cupboards to get the cereal and 2) dumping it all over the garage.

I sighed. Again.

I grabbed a diet coke from the fridge and sat down to read my email and try to compose a PYKM. My email filtered in and I saw my weekly Up Words had arrived with a devotion from my favorite author, Max Lucado. The subject line of the email read, When God Sighed.

Maybe you've done your fair share of sighing today. Maybe this month has brought more sighs, tears and confusion than you'd like to count. Maybe you just need a reminder that you have a Savior who knows your pain. Maybe you just need a good read. I'm going to reprint this today because it.is.that.good. Be encouraged.

When God Sighed
by Max Lucado

Two days ago I read a word in the Bible that has since taken up residence in my heart.

To be honest, I didn’t quite know what to do with it. It’s only one word, and not a very big one at that. When I ran across the word, (which, by the way, is exactly what happened; I was running through the passage and this word came out of nowhere and bounced me like a speed bump) I didn’t know what to do with it. I didn’t have any hook to hang it on or category to file it under.
It was an enigmatic word in an enigmatic passage.

But now, forty-eight hours later, I have found a place for it, a place all its own. My, what a word it is. Don’t read it unless you don’t mind changing your mind, because this little word might move your spiritual furniture around a bit.

Look at the passage with me.

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought a man to him who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. (Mark 7:31-35)

Quite a passage, isn’t it?

Jesus is presented with a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. Perhaps he stammered. Maybe he spoke with a lisp. Perhaps, because of his deafness, he never learned to articulate words properly.

Jesus, refusing to exploit the situation, took the man aside. He looked him in the face. Knowing it would be useless to talk, he explained what he was about to do through gestures. He spat and touched the man’s tongue, telling him that whatever restricted his speech was about to be removed. He touched his ears. They, for the first time, were about to hear.

But before the man said a word or heard a sound, Jesus did something I never would have anticipated.

He sighed.

I might have expected a clap or a song or a prayer. Even a “Hallelujah!” or a brief lesson might have been appropriate. But the Son of God did none of these. Instead, he paused, looked into heaven, and sighed. From the depths of his being came a rush of emotion that said more than words.

Sigh. The word seemed out of place.

I’d never thought of God as one who sighs. I’d thought of God as one who commands. I’d thought of God as one who weeps. I’d thought of God as one who called forth the dead with a command or created the universe with a word … but a God who sighs?

Perhaps this phrase caught my eye because I do my share of sighing.

I sighed yesterday when I visited a lady whose invalid husband had deteriorated so much he didn’t recognize me. He thought I was trying to sell him something.


I sighed when the dirty-faced, scantily dressed, six-year-old girl in the grocery store asked me for some change.

And I sighed today listening to a husband tell how his wife won’t forgive him.

No doubt you’ve done your share of sighing.

If you have teenagers [toddlers], you’ve probably sighed. If you’ve tried to resist temptation, you’ve probably sighed. If you’ve had your motives questioned or your best acts of love rejected, you have been forced to take a deep breath and let escape a painful sigh.

I realize there exists a sigh of relief, a sigh of expectancy, and even a sigh of joy. But that isn’t the sigh described in Mark 7. The sigh described is a hybrid of frustration and sadness. It lies somewhere between a fit of anger and a burst of tears.

The apostle Paul spoke of this sighing. Twice he said that Christians will sigh as long as we are on earth and long for heaven. The creation sighs as if she were giving birth. Even the Spirit sighs as he interprets our prayers. (Romans 8:22-27)

All these sighs come from the same anxiety; a recognition of pain that was never intended, or of hope deferred.

Man was not created to be separated from his creator; hence he sighs, longing for home. The creation was never intended to be inhabited by evil; hence she sighs, yearning for the Garden. And conversations with God were never intended to depend on a translator; hence the Spirit groans on our behalf, looking to a day when humans will see God face to face.

And when Jesus looked into the eyes of Satan’s victim, the only appropriate thing to do was sigh. “It was never intended to be this way,” the sigh said. “Your ears weren’t made to be deaf, your tongue wasn’t made to stumble.” The imbalance of it all caused the Master to languish.
So, I found a place for the word. You might think it strange, but I placed it beside the word comfort, for in an indirect way, God’s pain is our comfort.

And in the agony of Jesus lies our hope. Had he not sighed, had he not felt the burden for what was not intended, we would be in a pitiful condition. Had he simply chalked it all up to the inevitable or washed his hands of the whole stinking mess, what hope would we have?
But he didn’t. That holy sigh assures us that God still groans for his people. He groans for the day when all sighs will cease, when what was intended to be will be.

A Quick Update and PYKM

Well last week's return to part-time work outside of the home was amazing. The kids did awesome at Melissa's house (although Roo hasn't figured out she still needs to nap even though she's at Melissa's) and I loved being back at Al's office and feeling professional and productive. It will be more of a challenge than I first anticipated trying to balance my household "duties" and work but Hot Jeff has stepped right up and is helping me. He's also quick to remind me that on an evening after I worked laundry and vacuuming is the last thing I need to be thinking about.

I know that my blogging will be more frequent and consistent once I figure out how it all works together. It is still a passion of mine and I feel all "pent up" from not blogging (it is so cathartic for me) but I have to prioritize and make sure the kids feel like when I'm home I'm really present with them. I'm hoping to break my old habit of blogging at night and perhaps blogging on the mornings I don't work. Again, it will all take some juggling, rearranging and retraining. I am really looking forward to this new season in my and my family's life.

Praying for Your Kids Monday
Yahweh Rophe ~ The Lord Who Heals

"The Hebrew word rophe means 'heal', 'cure', 'restore' or 'made whole'. Shortly after his people left Israel for the Promised Land, God revealed Himself as Yahweh Rophe, 'the Lord who heals'. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Great Physician, the healer of the body and soul, whose miracles point to the kingdom of God."

The name Yahweh Rophe is first revealed in Exodus after Moses has brought Israel through the Red Sea. They had been in the wilderness for 3 days without water when they came upon the waters of Marah. However, the water was bitter and undrinkable until God miraculously made the water sweet.

If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your god and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statues, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you. Exodus 15:26

This is a special reading to me this week as I found myself just telling Hot Jeff 2 nights ago that I was suffering from bitterness in my heart and I felt there was more unforgiveness I was harboring than I even first thought. Being back at the office in which I faced the most hurtful, malicious betrayal and lies ever in my life has surfaced emotions I thought I had pretty much buried 3 years ago. I'm honest with myself enough to know I hadn't forgiven this woman but I had thought I had buried it enough that I wouldn't be bothered anymore.

You'd think my therapy with The Shrink would have taught me better than that.

Anyway, reading this passage tonight has reminded me of my own "bitter water" in my heart and it also answers the question I rhetorically asked Jeff "how do I get rid of it?" Yahweh Rophe not only is the Lord who heals my physical ailments but the ones of my heart as well.

As much as I will try, I will not be able to protect my children from betrayal, pain, rejection and disappointment. I pray that they will go to their Savior for cures and help from physical sickness but that He will also be the first person they turn to when their heart needs healing as well.

"Yahweh Rophe, I bow before You today to acknowledge that You are not only my Creator but the Lord who heals me. Please heal me today, body and soul, and do the same for my loved ones. I pray that You will heal whatever is bitter in our lives, transforming us in ways that glorify You." I pray that You will be present in ____________ life and that she will long for You to be her Redeemer and her Healer. I pray You will protect her heart from bitterness and unforgiveness and give her a sweet tenderness towards Your Spirit of forgiveness. Amen.

I Know, I Know...

I know my blogging sabbatical went a little longer than planned. Sorry. By the time Sunday night rolled around and I was thinking of doing Monday's PYKM it was time to go outside and light money on fire shoot fireworks off. And then (the excuses just keep coming) yesterday my sister in law and cousin came over and a 2 hour lunch turned into a 5 hour, delightful lunch and so no blogging for me.

And here's the big news: I got a job. I know! It happened so fast I didn't even have time to consult you about it. It happened so randomly also--just nuts.

So the very best job I've ever had was working for Al at his State Farm agency. That's how Shannon and I got to be the bestest besties ever (she worked there too) and now my other bestie, Maryanne, works there. 3 years ago there were some personnel changes and I decided it would be a good time for me to stay at home with the babies (I was pregnant with Emily) at the time. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, because I loved working there) but knew it was what was best for my mental health and for my family.

3 years later the "personnel changes" are no longer an issue and Al called out of the blue, clear sky and asked about me coming back part time. We emailed, had coffee and 3 days after his initial call I had a job!

God has done such huge things for this all to come about, the biggest one being CHILDCARE! My mui fabulouso neighbor is taking the kids 2 days and Jeff is taking them the 1/2 day. Voila.

I'm simply amazed at how God has provided financially for my family over the last 3 years. It has been nothing short of a miracle (and a lot of discipline on our part) how we have made it on one income and now He has done even more amazing work in providing this job at the perfect time, not to mention Melissa's willing heart to provide childcare for Samily.

Its also fun to see how God was working in my heart regarding scheduling and time management. A few days before Al called I felt like I was really making some strides in managing my time and house. Not coincidentally, now I will need that structure and skill to manage family, house, ministry and now work!

Its all good. Very, very good.

I'm going to try and continue blogging regularly and will keep doing PYKM. All you working mothers will need to give me your tips and advice for making it all work smoothly! I'm going to need it.

Its Not You, Its Me

I never, ever, ever, ever thought I would be a blogger who would "take a break". And then yesterday it just happened...I meant to get PYKM up early in the wee hours while the kids were still sleeping but I decided to do one of Bex's tricks and reward myself with blogging after I unloaded the dishwasher. And I felt so good when the dishwasher was unloaded at 7:00am that I decided to do a few other little things around the house. And then the kids got up. And did I mention Hot Jeff took the day off? And I found it was like almost 3:00 BEFORE I EVEN TURNED THE COMPUTER ON and I was simply amazed at how much I had gotten done.

It was like those people who say the computer is a time sucker were right all along.

One thing the Shrink and I talked about last week were rewards. I told her about Bex's genius little concept and she told me she thinks I don't operate very well without structure and being a SAHM is the epitome of no structure. So I bought myself a day planner with the hours built in and I have started scheduling things like time with Jesus, laundry, dishes, exercise, playdates, drinking margaritas at the pool with Shannon, blogging, Facebook, etc. Anything that has to do with the internet is a reward and I am only going to do it if I feel the kids, the house, dinner plans, etc are in a place where I can take a break. Trust me, I'm not becoming some rigid neat-nick or anything (haha, I shutter at the thought) but just trying to add some balance and hygiene.

I AM NOT STOPPING BLOGGING. I WILL STILL BLOG. THIS BLOG IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL. I am however, going to take the rest of this week off. And that surprises me because I have 2 posts waiting in the wings to be posted. They just need to be edited. And one is funny too (my favorite!). Please still come by and read some of the archives--that's what Fan Favorite Christene does. Some of my favorites are here, here, and here.

I do just need to take one week and focus on my home and family and making some healthy choices regarding them and my lifestyle. Check back this week because I may surprise you and me with a post but don't have any expectations until Monday when PYKM resumes. Also, if I post something I'll throw an update on FB so you don't miss it. OR you cold become a follower and never miss a post! Hooie!

Ok, I'll catch you next Monday! In the meantime, enjoy the archives (feel free to leave me a comment of what your favorite posts are) and tell me what your time suckers are and how you avoid them.

Praying For Your Kids Monday
Adonay ~ Lord, Master

I know last week's PYKM was pretty much just me quoting Ann Spangler's book and I'm going to do it again this week! Her stuff is just so good and her stories relating to Scripture are really powerful, more powerful than anything I could come up with on my own in dealing with topics I'm fairly unfamiliar with.

This week's name and prayer is Adonay, which in Hebrew means "Lord", a name that implies relationship: God Is Lord, and we are His servants.

Spangler writes, "As you pray to Adonay, tell Him you want to surrender every aspect of your life to Him. Pray for the grace to become the kind of servant who is quick to do God's will. Knowing Him as your Lord will help you to discover a true sense of purpose".

You are my Lord; I have no good besides You. Psalm 16:2

Later on in the chapter Spangler writes of the story of Nehemiah found in Nehemiah 4:7-8. Nehemiah was helping to rebuild Jerusalem after it had been destroyed by the Babylonians. He used a rally cry to remind a broken and demoralized group of people of who their God was. Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughter, your wives and your homes (Neh. 4:14).

Spangler then writes, "Thousands of years later, we still face forces intent on destroying us--enemies that eat away at our faith, that corrode relationships and that destroy families. Some of us are bone weary from the struggle, about to give up on the spouse who seems distant, the child who has wandered away, the job we hate, or the prayer that has gone so long unanswered. Let the words of Nehemiah sink into the raw places of your heart where disappointment lodges: "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome." Now is not the time to give up or give in. Remember whose servant you are. Fight in His strength for your children, your marriage, your church. Do whatever it takes for however long it takes, knowing the Lord is with you."

Lord, I pray for _________ and that he will humbly allow You to be his Lord, his Master. I pray that in his submission and servanthood that he will be great and mighty in building Your Kingdom. I pray You would pour Your Spirit out on _________ and that even while he is young he will begin to understand that You are the One who sustains him; that You O God are strong and You O Lord are loving. Amen.

Praying For Your Kids Monday
Yahweh

(yah-WEH)

This week's name of God is jammed packed with information; way too much information for me to provide in one blog post. I really encourage you to buy Ann Spangler's book, if for only for these 14 pages. She goes in to such amazing detail about this name and reading it this morning (after I found my book, of course) I was struck with how complex our God is. We simply cannot fathom with our human minds and hearts His character, His complexity and His awesomeness. This chapter is amazing.

Spangler writes, "The name Yahweh occurs more than 6800 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh is the name that is most closely linked to God's redeeming acts in the history of His chosen people. We know God because of what He has done. When you pray to Yahweh, remember that He is the same God who draws near to save you from the tyranny of sin just as He saved His people from tyrannical slavery in Egypt."

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD [Yahweh], the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." Exodus 3:14-15

Again, in referring to this passage, Spangler writes, "The mysterious self-description in Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM," may convey the sense that not only God is self-existent but that He is always present with His people. Yahweh is not a God who is remote or all of the One who is always near, intervening in history on behalf of His people. The knowledge of God's proper name implies a covenant relationship. God's covenant name is closely associated with His saving acts in Exodus. The name Yahweh evokes images of God's saving power in the lives of His people."

Read Psalm 103:1-13...where LORD is written you can insert Yahweh and sing this praise to the God who fights for you, who fights for your children. To the God whose name forever means deliverance, freedom, promise and power.

Yahweh, I bow before You for the deliverance and redemption You have brought in my life. You continually part seas in my life and in my heart and bring victory over darkness. I pray for _________ today and I pray You will forgive her sin, heal her disease, redeem her life from the pit. I pray You will crown her with love and compassion and satisfy her desires with good things. Yahweh, You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love; thank you for blessing _________ and not treating her as her sins deserve. Your love is great for those who fear You. Amen.

Praying For Your Kids Monday
Slight Delay

You see, that's the problem with being me...I can't find my book. The book which I've been referencing for this series. And part of the reason why I can't find my book is because I haven't used it since last week when I wrote PYKM when I was in Montana. I'm almost certain I packed it because I have a vague recollection of actually placing it in my suitcase...

But herein lies the problem, when I went to the suitcase to find it tonight it wasn't there. And yes, you read that right. When I went to the suitcase to find it tonight it wasn't there. You have found me out. I have been home for 6 days and haven't unpacked. Yes, my suitcase and the kids' suitcase is on the floor of my bedroom and I have just been pulling clothing out of it all week long (as I did up all the laundry before I left my Mom's).

And here's another little secret: I have been known to leave a suitcase on the floor until I have another trip.

Wow, I can't believe I just told the whole wide Internet that.

So anyway, where was I? Oh yes, I can't find my book and will look all over for it tomorrow and try to get a fresh, piping hot and wonderfully thought-provoking PYKM up by noon! And maybe I'll even get that suitcase unpacked while I'm looking for it. Now wouldn't that be productive of me. Also, incredibly out of character so I doubt it.

Besides, I'm going to Seattle in 2 weeks and will need that bag and there's really no sense in putting it in the closet when I'm just going to be using it again in 14 days. Right?

Praying for Your Kids Monday
Yahweh Yireh ~ The Lord Will Provide

(yah-WEH yir-EH)

Ann Spangler writes of Yahweh Yireh, "The Hebrew raah (RA-ah, from which yireh is derived) means "to see". In this case [Genesis 22:13-14], it is translated as "provide". Since God sees the future as well as the past and present, He is able to anticipate and provide for what is needed. When you pray to Yahweh Yireh, you are praying to the God who sees the situation beforehand and is able to provide for your needs".

God first revealed this name to Abraham in Genesis when He provided a ran for Abraham to sacrifice after Abraham had not withheld anything, even his own son, from God.

I remember reading this story after becoming a mother. I heard the story hundreds of times before but my mother's heart came in to play while reading it this time. I imagined Abraham's heart as he headed up the mountain to sacrifice his only son as God had asked of him. Had he told Sarah? Did she know that this was no ordinary trip and that her son would not be returning with his father? I simply cannot fathom how Abraham, and possibly Sarah, felt as God called them to sacrifice their only son, the child they had prayed and prayed for.

In Spangler's book she asks the reader to put themselves in the place of God in this story, to imagine how happy it must have made Him to provide the ram so that Abraham wouldn't have to sacrifice his son. I imagine that as pleased as He was with Abraham's obedience His heart ached looking in to the future and knowing that one day He would provide His own Son as the ransom for the whole world.

God's grace is never cheap. Through the blood of His only Son He has provided for every spiritual, material and emotional need we, or our children, will ever need. May we never take His ultimate sacrifice for granted, may our children always know His redemption was bought with a price and long to obey Him without compromise.

Yahweh Yireh, thank You for seeing my children and their circumstances long before they ever will and long before they can understand. Yahweh Yireh, You long to bless __________ for his obedience to You. I pray You will pour Your Spirit out on him and he will never forget that Your grace isn't cheap. I pray You will help __________ to obey without hesitation and without compromise. Amen.

PYKM

Friends, I kind of forgot its Monday! Vacation hazard. We are headed to Wyoming nice and early this morning so I'll either get PYKM up this evening or in the morning.

-Jen

PYKM
El-Olam ~ The Everlasting or Eternal God

(EL o-LAM)

This name of God which occurs only four times in Hebrew Scriptures is translated as "eternal", "everlasting", "forever" or "ancient". The title is referring to God; His laws, promises and covenant and is first found In Genesis 21:32-33.

In the book which we are going through, Praying the Names of God, Spangler writes, "El Olam is the Hebrew name for the God who has no beginning and no end, the God for whom a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. His plans stand firm forever...When you pray to El Olam, you are praying to the God whose Son is called the Alpha and Omega. He is the God whose love endures forever".

It seems we are all getting older.

Hot Jeff turned 40 last October and I found my first grey hair a few weeks ago. Despite my feeble attempts to slow time down (and cover it up) it seems to rage on.

I see the passage of time most clearly in my kids. Each day Samuel seems a little taller and Emily astounds me with her clear sentences. Perhaps its the hardest watching Emily grow so quickly because she's the baby; she's the one who should stay little because she is the last one.

The feeling of immortality I once held with pride fades with each yearly rendition of "Happy Birthday" and I know that while I may not be old, I am not getting any younger. My children, while always younger than me, are getting older too. Right now their worries are whether or not I will make them eat their vegetables or not but soon enough they will be worrying about grades, peers, sports and identity. Its not easy growing up and growing older.

What I learn from this name of God is though I grow older God remains the same. He is not immature from youth; He is not slower because of age. His attention is not short from a wrestling to be outside playing; He is not slumbering in the afternoon because of an achy, arthritic body. He increases my strength and renews my spirit because He has eternal vitality.

El Olam, Your promises never fail us and You have set eternity in the heart of _________. I pray that as she grows You will deepen her hope of heaven and give her a burning desire to know Your Son, the Alpha and Omega, as her Savior and Redeemer. I pray _________ will find her strength in You, Who does not grow tired or weary and Who increases the power of the weak. Amen.

Praying For Your Kids Monday
El Shadday ~ God Almighty

(EL shad-DAI)
The brilliant Ann Spangler writes in her book "Praying the Names of God" that El Shadday was the name God revealed Himself through when He made His covenant with Abram and Abram's descendants. Spangler writes, "When we pray to El Shadday, we invoke the name of the One for whom nothing is impossible".

My kids got to see/hear firsthand that the God they pray to is the One for whom nothing is impossible. For over a year Samuel has faithfully prayed for our dear Pastor John who fell deathly ill to a rare illness. As Emily has gotten older and begun praying at night as well she too started praying daily for Pastor John. Specifically we prayed for Pastor John to regain his ability to swallow (this was after months of praying that he would just survive. It is a long story and I'm not doing it justice--to read more of John's incredible journey click here). Anyway, two weeks ago Shannon called with the news she had just received from her mother, who works with John, that John's swallowing function had returned. Tears streamed down my face as Shannon gave me the few details she had and Jeff and the kids circled around me anxious to know what I was laughing and crying about.

Immediately after hanging up with Shannon I practically screamed, "Pastor John swallowed today! Pastor John ate yogurt today!" All four of us started praising Jesus, Jeff and I were crying, and Samuel was saying, "God answered my prayer".

Almost every night in the two weeks to follow the kids and I have talked about how God answers our prayers. It may take longer than we want or expect and look different than we planned, but God hears us, loves us and answers our prayers. He is El Shadday and nothing is impossible with Him.

But with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

El Shadday, help __________ to know You as his All-Powerful God, the One who is able to sustain and bless him, to fulfill every promise You make to him. Lord, will You increase his awe of You and of Your power so that, like Abraham, he may follow You faithfully, always believing You are enough for him. Amen. prayer from Ann Spangler's book

*practical tip
This week while talking to your kids about El Shadday sing with them "My God Is So Big". Don't know it? Click here for lyrics and here for hand motions.

Praying For Your Kids Monday
El-Roi, The God Who Sees

Ann Spangler notes in her book that El Roi is only used one time in Scripture when Hagar gave this name to God when He saw her alone, afraid, pregnant and on the run. In His loving kindness, He saw her in the midst of her pain and gave her a promise she could find hope in.

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Genesis 16:13

What a comfort to our children when we remind them that they have a God who sees them. The God they pray to is not dead. He is not a statue who cannot be moved by prayers and tears. He is a loving Father Who sees them.

Like most kids his age, Samuel has started to be nervous at bedtime. "Scared" is a little too strong but he definitely likes a night light and has found great comfort in knowing he has angels sent by God to protect him. One night before bed I read Psalm 121 to him and reminded him that when he is sleeping, even when Mommy and Daddy are sleeping, God NEVER sleeps. God is always watching over Samuel. Tonight when Samuel goes to bed I will teach him this name of God and he will learn to call upon it in his time of fear. The God Samuel serves is alive, he knows the number or hairs on his head, he has stored up his tears in a bottle, he has plans for him to prosper. He is the God who sees him.

El Roi, You are the God who sees me. You are the God who sees __________. I pray that she will grow secure in the Truth that You see her, that You have plans for her, that even as You care for the birds of the air You surely will care for her. Although she is young, I pray Your Spirit will guide _________ so that she can rest assured that You never slumber nor sleep but that You see her and watch over her and have given Your Son so that she may have eternal life. Amen.

Praying for Your Kids Monday
Welcome Back PYKM; I've Missed You!

Sitting down to write PYKM tonight (Sunday) is like sitting down to write an email to an old friend. I'm so excited to be doing it again and excited to share what God has put on my heart to write about over the coming weeks.

A while back my church did a sermon series and Bible study on the names of God. It was one of my favorite series we've done and I bought a companion book, "Praying the Names of God" by Ann Spangler but haven't had the chance to go through it yet as I have about 86,000 other books I'm reading right now. (And it is YOUR LUCKY DAY because you can buy the book through bookschristian.com; a fine online establishment who just so happens to have great taste and has chosen to advertise on this blog! Click here to buy the book and go deeper in our study and prayers for our kids.)

Ok, so shameless promotion aside, we are going to be praying the names of God for our kids for several months. Not only do I believe these prayers will have meaning and power but I hope we will gain a deeper understanding of who God is, how He loves us and our kids and how praying His name releases power from heaven. I trust that as we learn new things about the names and character of God He will show you, on a very personal level, how to pray His name over your children.

May He be glorified.

Elohim (e-lo-HEEM), God Mighty Creator

Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible and more than 2500 times throughout. It is the plural form of El and emphasizes the majesty of the One, true God. Spangler writes, "When we pray to Elohim, we remember that He is the One who began it all, creating heavens and earth and separating light from darkness, water from dry land, night from day...this ancient name for God contains [His] authority and sovereignty".

When I think of Elohim in relation to our children I think of what my friend Deb has reminded me on various occasions when I am whining desperately that my kids are trying to kill me or that I'm not "a good mom" or blah, blah, blah. Deb gently reminds me that God is sovereign and gave me my children at this exact time in history because I am exactly what they need and they are exactly what I need. No one can be a better mother to Samuel or Emily than I can, if they could, He would have given them to that person. God, Elohim, loves Samuel and Emily even more than I do and has a perfect plan for their lives. I am included in that plan, with all my quirks and craziness. He is sovereign. He created the heavens and the earth, created man in His image and ordained me as the mother of these two precious children. It is my job to submit to His plan, seek His guidance and humbly be used to raise my kids to love and serve the Mighty Creator.

Because God made humans in his image reflecting God's very nature. You're here to bear fruit, reproduce, lavish life on the Earth, live bountifully!" Genesis 9:6, The Message

Elohim, Mighty Creator...today You have gently reminded me that You are sovereign. You have made everything out of nothing, light out of darkness, life out of breath. You have called it good. Elohim, You have made the life of _______ sacred; he is created in Your image. I pray that You would teach ______ that he is has one purpose and that is to glorify You and I pray that as he grows he will have a deep love, respect and gratitude for Your authority and Supreme power. Amen.

Praying for Your Kids Monday
At a Crossroad

Alrighty friends, truth time. I don't know that I'm feeling the PYKM posts anymore. I have just started praying about it and am not feeling a nudge either way so I'm bringing it to you to let you help me decide.

Last week when I didn't get any comments about how your conversations with your kids went I started wondering if anyone is reading PYKM. I know my Cousin Rhonda is but I'm not sure about anyone else. I'm not fishing for compliments or kudos...I just want to know if you're still diggin' it because I'm not sure I am and if you're not then I'm probably going to take a PYKM hiatus.

So seriously, leave a comment or shoot me an email (or take the poll on the right) and let me know your thoughts. I'm still going to blog, you can't get rid of me that easy, but like I said, I may take a PYKM sabbatical.

Just keepin' it real soul sisters and brothers.

Praying for Your Kids Monday

One thing I like about praying with my kids before they go to sleep is because I get an idea of what is on their heart. This is more accurate with Samuel, as he is older, but even little Roo is starting to understand prayer and has things she wants to pray for. For example, the other night I asked her what she wanted to thank God for and she replied "binkies". So we thanked God for binkies.

While asking Samuel what is on his heart and what he wants to pray for I've been able to see what he is passionate about. Yes, he does pray for "silly" things but he also has a heart for praying for others. Already in his young life I am seeing that Samuel has a heart for people hurting around him and a passion for intercessory prayer.

By recognizing this in him I am able to pray with him and for him that God will continue to develop his passion for intercessory prayer.

Secondly, by asking what Samuel wants to pray for I get a glimpse of what is bothering him or what he is struggling with and how I can pray for his day to day needs. I encourage you this week to ask you children, 'How can I pray for you?'. You may be surprised by the answer. You may have to help them a little bit but they will catch on within a few days and they feel honored and loved that you are praying for them in specific areas.

This week I don't have a model prayer for you; I just really encourage you to have open conversations about prayer with your kids. If they aren't old enough to ask you to pray for something specific then take the time to let them know you are praying for them in this, this and this area.

Enjoy praying for your kids in a whole new week this way and please leave a comment with your stories of what your kids told you or how they responded when you told them you are praying for them. I would absolutely LOVE to hear from you!

(Vintage*) Praying for Your Kids Monday
Gentleness

I was younger I used to equate gentleness weakness. Thankfully, as I've gotten older, met more people and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in my life I've seen that gentleness is actually a sign of great strength.

God has blessed me with a very gentle husband. He's thoughtful in his words, tender in his teaching and cautious of others' feelings. As I watch him with Samuel and Emily I am grateful they have such a godly example of gentleness (as well as many other wonderful virtues that Jeff has). What's interesting though is while his gentle spirit is how I am quick to describe him I have never thought of him as weak, actually quite the opposite as though his gentleness gives him a quiet strength. I wasn't surprised then as I began researching for tonight to find the following passage:

The Greek translation of gentleness is prah-ot’-ace. The Greek language is a precise and expressive language. When the Greeks developed a word, they not only gave it a careful definition, but they almost always illustrated it. A tamed horse has yielded or submitted it’s strength; the strength of the animal is no longer wasted wildly, but has been focused in order to fulfill a purpose.

Gentleness then is power under control, submitted strength. I believe gentleness is one of those virtues that tells the world we are followers of Christ. In ourselves we are unable to reign in strength and power and have gentle spirits. Paul tells us in Colossians to clothe ourselves in gentleness and we learn in Galatians that gentleness is a direct result of having the Spirit living in us and "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." (5:24-25; The Message)

So let us pray for our children to clothe themselves in gentleness and point others to Christ through their gentle words and actions. Lord, I pray for _________ to have a gentle spirit. I pray You will put people in his life that will be an example of power under control and that he will see submitted strength as a virtue and not a weakness. I pray You will draw ________ to You and pour Your Spirit out on him. It is in the gentle and powerful name of Christ I pray, Amen.

*originally posted in July 2009

Praying for Your Kids Monday
A Servant Heart

I love going to Hearts at Home on Thursdays and seeing moms serving other moms with their kids in tow. One mother, whom I admire deeply, is in charge of the childcare on Thursday mornings and so she has to be there early to line up rooms, teachers, subs, snacks etc. She is always there with a smile and her little 4 year old is right behind her learning a wonderful lesson--serving others is like serving Jesus Himself.

This particular mom could talk and talk and talk to her son about service and ministry and he may never understand but because he is watching her, week after week, and doing it along side her while she serves with a cheerful heart rather than grumbling, he is learning that service is what we do and "with a cheerful heart" is how we do it.

Ephesians 6:7 reminds us to "serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men". I know if I were to take meals, help a neighbor, volunteer in the nursery, babysit for a friend in need like I was doing these things for Jesus Himself I probably wouldn't have the audacity to feel put out. My small gesture would be a only a start to saying thank you for the sacrifice He made for me.

Dearest Father, I confess I don't always serve others with a cheerful heart. I pray You would mold me and make me to have a servant's heart so that I would be a good example for __________. I bless him with a servant's heart that desires to serve others not so that he may boast but so that he can be obedient to Your Word. Amen.

Praying for Your Kids Monday
A Desire for Truth

Mama Della's last night is tonight so instead of putting a whole lot of effort into PYKM I am going to copy a prayer from a favorite book of mine and go play Pinochle! Suh-weet!

"If you love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14: 15-17).

Lord, I pray that ________ will have a heart that loves Truth. May any lies in his heart come to light so they can be confessed to You as sin. I pray that he not be blinded or deceived, but always be able to clearly discern and follow Your Truth.

Help me to effectively discipline him when he tests that principle. Your Word says that "when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth". Please guide __________ in the way of Truth always. Amen.

excerpt taken from "Prayers and Promises for My Little Girl" by Stormie Omartian

Praying for Your Kids Monday
The Ability to Forgive

I learned a very valuable lesson this week about forgiveness. I'll spare you all the details but in the end I was hurt, felt attacked and in turn went on the defensive making myself look as bad as the person who had hurt me. After speaking with my mentor she encouraged me to forgive. No "buts", no "I'm right, You're wrong"--just forgive. Its never easy to forgive, especially after we become indignant but here's what I learned this week and what I hope my children will learn long before they are 33: forgiveness doesn't make the other person right, but instead it makes me free.

One more time just in case you missed it. Forgiveness doesn't make the other person right, but instead it makes me free.

Sigh. That's good stuff right there. The pastor of the Baptist church I spent much of my youth in used to say, "Say Amen, that's good preachin'". Well say 'amen' friends because that's good preachin'.

Paul knew it was good preachin'. He told the church in Ephesus to "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:31-32).

Forgiveness isn't easy, no one is claiming it is, but I can tell you that the freedom I felt after forgiving will be something I remember the next time I'm holding on to bitterness, hurt and indignation.

Lord, I pray that You would teach ___________ how to forgive. I pray that she would understand the depth of Your forgiveness for her so that she can freely forgive others. Please pour Your Spirit out on __________ so that she may confess her sins and be forgiven from all unrighteousness. Amen.

Praying for Your Kids Monday
Salvation

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Jeff and I have been praying the same prayer for almost 4 years: that God would call Samuel to Him at an early age. Tonight, God answered our prayer and called Samuel to Him. Tonight, on February 7th, Samuel asked Jesus to be his Savior and to live in his heart!

For once, I'm speechless.

So we will continue to pray for Emily's salvation (and if you read Friday's post you know she needs it) and now we'll pray for Samuel to have a huge filling of the Holy Spirit and for him to have an early understanding and discernment of his spiritual gifts. (Tonight when I explained that the Holy Spirit now lived with him and would guide him he got the biggest smile on his face. I know he only understands a portion of what he did tonight but it is just amazing to think about the eternal consequences...).

So anyway...this week we are going to be praying for our kids' salvation. If your kids already know Jesus then pray this prayer for a neighbor or relative or maybe turn it in to a prayer of thanksgiving.

Lord, I am amazed that You gave Your only Son for ____________. I pray that she will come to know You at an early age. I pray You will draw her to You and that she will have a longing to follow You. Thank You for calling us, for loving us, for dying for us. You are a relentless Redeemer and I praise You. Amen.