Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours! ~Primal

I am reading the book "Primal" by Mark Batterson along with my friend Jenilee. We just finished chapter one. If you are interested you can follow along with Jenilee's in depth study here at her blog, "My Awake Journey". But here I am just going to discuss bits that moved me in the book.

In Primal one sentence keeps capturing my spirit and that is that our hearts should break for what breaks God's. There is a song by Hillsong called "Hosanna" the bridge goes like this...

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdoms cause

As I go from earth to Eternity

Mark Batterson challenges to get back to the primal faith, our first love, the new heart that we received when we first came to Christ. To many Christians are not following the commandment of not loving our God with all of our hearts, our minds, our strength our whole being.

I think last week is a good test of were your heart may be...if you did not weep for Haiti ....does your heart break like His. If you were not move to compassion over the hurting people in Haiti...does your heart break like His. If you did not feel inspired to give all that you can...does your heart break like His. Sometimes, events like this can be a measuring stick of where your heart is.

Father, show me how to love like you. Let my heart break for what breaks yours. Give me compassion. Give me that primal faith!

Get Joy!

Apparently, you can actually "Get Joy" and eat it during the holidays now! LOL hahahahaha This product made me laugh! My sister's friend bought this for her and my sis thought it would be funny to give to me. The really funny thing is I hate peeps blah, blak, blah. I actually hate marshmallowy things in general. There is only one kid in my family that likes peeps and she didn't care for them either. However, in some weird way they were still fun to get....now looking back I should have micro waved them for fun! Hahahahahaha Some things just make me laugh!

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Self Control

Self -Control

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!


1 Thessalonians 5:6 (New International Version)
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.



Last night, my daughter ate too much pizza and now she lies on my couch this morning with a tummy ache. We talked a little about how maybe she should not have eaten the whole personal pizza. Every time we eat at Mr. M's she eats the whole thing and then her tummy hurts. I asked her why do you eat the whole pizza and she said, "It's good"!



Sometimes, we need to teach our kids that just because it is good or seems to be good doesn't mean we should eat copious amounts of the round circles of warm, cheesey yumminess. Rather, we should use self control to keep us from taking in to much. Sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad for us, it can give us a tummy ache.



But it is more than just teaching them to not over eat (which is a wonderful thing to teach them) it is about teaching constraint, in all areas in their lives. If we can show them good habits when they are young they will be able to carry it with them into adulthood. How many times have we as adults wished we had learned to be more disciplined when we were younger and how that would have affected us as now? So now is the time to help our children lay the ground work of self-control.



Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines self-control as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, our desires.



The more I think about this, I begin to realize how much this plays into the idea of not falling into sin. Sin is not being self-controlled, giving into my own impulses, letting my emotions cloud my judgment, and giving into the desires of the human nature. If we can pray for our children to be self controlled we are praying for the first line of defense in not falling prey to the seduction of sin. It is a very powerful virtue to not only pray for our children to have but for us as well.


*"Father, help my children no to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do."




Today, let us be self-controlled in our lives and be an example to the little ones around us so that we all may....



*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Honesty and Integrity

Honesty and Integrity


For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Psalm 25:21 (New International Version)
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

The other day a child (not my own) was not suppose to have any candy. The child's parents specifically told him not to. At the dinner table, as this child was talking, we noticed that their tongue was a nice shade of green I believe. We (the parents) all joked about if you are going to eat candy when you are not suppose to at least make sure it doesn't change the color of you tongue, it is a dead give away. Now, we were all joking around about it but we all understood integrity is far deeper than that. The ideal is that the child would not eat it at all and not cover up something if they have done wrong or justify it.

One time one of my children got caught in a big lie. We as parents have to take these times to teach them about these virtues, honesty and integrity. I made that child sit in their room and think about what they did and why it was wrong. We than sat at a table and wrote down answers to a series of questions I came up with to help my child understand why what she did was wrong. Why is it wrong to lie? Is God a liar? Does it hurt others when we lie? Can I be trusted if I lie? What should I do when I lie? How can I make it right? (She got grounded as well)

I like this verse...it is soooo good. How true it is that when we are honest and blameless what can be said of us. I know people that have such amazing character and integrity that if something was ever said of them to destroy them I would not believe it. If only we could say that about our politicians, sad : ( .

Sometimes, my kids in our youth group have had problem with gossip and so and so said this about so and so... you know what I mean. They want to know the truth, so one of my questions is, "Does this rumor match your friend's character?" Sometimes, that is a great measuring stick for people. Integrity always will protect you...I never have to worry about what people are saying because my hope is in Christ and He helps me polish my integrity.

Wow, that is what I want for my kids. I want them to be honest and full of great integrity; because when they have these virtues I know that they are covered by Christ. Let's pray this into our children today!

*"May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection."





Today, let's not get caught with a green tongue...LOL....



*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids
**I just love this picture of my girl and her very green tongue and just had to use it!

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Love

Love

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Galatians 5:25 (New International Version)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:2 (New International Version)
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

"I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I'm talkin' in my sleep
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do" ~Frank Loesser



I am sure we all have little songs or sayings we say to our kids. Of course it is easy to love their sweet little faces, their our children.



But we are challenged to pray love into their lives...what does that really mean. I was surprised the man who put this list together chose the Galatians verse to go along with love. I can think of plenty of verses in the bible that would support this idea of love.

As I was thinking and praying about it.... I had (do I dare say it?) an "Ah ha Moment". I began to think about how in Ephesians 5:2 we are to live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. What did that really mean? I know that Christ died for me...but he also died for everyone...the sinner, the good person, the not so good person. He even goes further than that... He died for friends who couldn't even stay awake during a desperate time. He died for a friend who denied Him in His deepest hour of need of a friend. He even died for a friend named Judas who sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver. Bottom line he died for everyone, even those who hurt Him the most. ( to bad Judas couldn't figure that out, maybe his ending would have been very different and he will live an eternity in sorrow over it)

So where can I and my kids get that kind of love? This love only comes from God, the Spirit that dwells in us. In our own selves, try as we might, we can not give that kind of love. God's love is too big, too wide and far too deep and it goes beyond the farthest star.






I also have this little saying I say to my kids often..."I love you to the moon and back". ( I even found it at a store and it now hangs in my boy's room) The tradition usually continues with, "Well I love you to something further like the sun, Pluto, Infinity + 1." With the Spirit we can love with God's love which is even bigger than INFINITY +1.

*"Grant, Lord that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them."

If we can have that kind of love we would most certainly....




*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

Christmas Presents!

Christmas was so much fun this year. We were so busy the whole month...actually it was a little insane; but it is Christmas and we got to do so many wonderful Christmassy things. I took a picture of my calendar as proof to my family how crazy it was.

Anyway, John and I decided to not spend much money on our gifts to each other. The challenge was to really think about what each other would really want. We could spend $20.00 and go in with the kids if they wanted to. They got $20.00 to spend on each of us as well.

So, I sat and thought and thought some more and this is the idea I came up with. He loves football...He loves watching it with his dad...and he has always wanted to go see a NFL game in person. Naturally, tickets to a game would be the perfect gift....but I only had 40 bucks...not even enough for the nose bleed section at a Lion's game. What?!? You would think they would be giving the seats away...paying you to sit in them. The Lion's stink...it's the truth!

Well, we never said we couldn't use money that our in-laws were giving to us for Christmas. I love loop holes. I called my in-laws and pitched the idea to them. John's mom would buy dad's ticket and I would put money toward John's and what ever else would come out of my gift from them. They loved the idea and then began the hunt for tickets. We got John's dad involved , because what did I know about buying football tickets...nothing! Thankfully, dad had a connection through their business....to end a long story...we ended up getting the tickets for FREE! How cool is that?!? They were not even in the nose bleed section either, they got to sit on the 20 yard line, 20 rows up! Too cool! ~ I am pretty proud of myself...I got a great gift. He liked it even better that I didn't spend any money to see the Lions lose! LOL

So are you wondering what I got?????

John and the kids got me this really cool hoody! ~Good job hubby and kids!

And so all of my 11 followers can now own one too...LOL go here to check it out!

Don't you just love the internet, there are so many fun things you can do for gifts it is amazing!

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Growth in Grace

Growth in Grace

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!


2 Peter 3:18 (King James Version)

18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grace Defined by dictionary.com

Favor
Good will
Mercy
The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
The influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them
A virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.




I really like all of these definitions. The last ones really go a bit further in regards to our walk with Jesus. Sometimes growing in grace can be really hard and tedious, much like my rose bushes in my garden. For some reason I have a really hard time growing these beauties. They seem to really need that extra green thumb and tender loving care that I do not possess. I was given a rose bush by my family for mother's day two years ago. I put in the ground and did nothing to it. Sadly, it died a quick death. I went and purchased another rose bush and I pruned it, water it, sprayed it with bug spray, found a nice sunny place and even put a ton a leaves around it to protect it during the winter. I was able to get a few blooms out of it before the summer was over and we shall see what happens next year.

My prayer is that my children grow in grace. I pray that they will be merciful, show favor and good will to others. But more importantly I pray that they would understand the grace that was given to them through salvation. That they will also come to know Christ great love and allow it to regenerate and strengthen them. What a great thing to pray into their little lives.


*"I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
That I may also find myself in a "State of Grace" and there I will...


*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

The rock is in my garden...I put there as encouragement to my flowers...I don't think they listen to it very well though. A shout out to my sis....she took the rose picture~ I love it! I just love the gerber daisy pic. of my daughter...it makes me smile.

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Salvation

Pray for Salvation - Is. 45:8, 2 Tim 2:10

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Isaiah 45:8 (New International Version)

8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.

2 Timothy 2:10 (King James Version)

10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Tears ran down my face as I saw my two girls come up from the water on a beautiful Sunday morning this past Thanksgiving weekend. My daughters decided to be baptized. As I watched them declare their decision to follow Jesus my heart was overwhelmed with thanksgiving. What an appropriate weekend to be baptized on.

I remember when my sister (age 9) and I (age 11) in 1987 decided to do the very same thing my daughters were doing that weekend. I remember that it was my decision not my parents. I also knew that I needed to grow in Christ and become more like Him, at the ripe old age of 11. I am always amazed how much young children grasp and understand.

As a parent, there is nothing I want more for my kids then to know Christ love, His salvation and His life giving promises. Everyday, we need to pray for our kids salvation and what we as parents can do to guide (not force) our children to Christ. I always appreciated my parent's guidance in my faith. They never in any way forced me to be a Christian and I never felt that. My decision to follow Jesus was 100% my own and that is so reassuring to me as a Christ follower. My faith is my own.






I want my children's faith to be there own as well. I want them to feel free to ask questions...even the tough ones. I want them to be able to explore all that God has for them. I also want to provide everything they need to grow in the salvation that was so freely given to them in Christ Jesus. Part of that provision is covering them in prayer....

*"Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory"



God's salvation will help us and our children....

Here is a great link to learn more about salvation in Jesus Christ!


*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

Have you ever wondered how or wanted to pray for your kids; but just didn't know what for? Sometimes I feel like I get stuck on the same thing over and over again. However, I want to pray for so much more for their little lives. I want God to do so much in them and through them. I want God's best for them.

I was going through all my junk the other day...rummaging through my purse and found something that I want to share here for the month of January.


I picked up this flyer somewhere by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids . I am going to go through one a day and write a little about each one. Let's then commit together to pray for our children each day for each topic.



Here is the list...

1. Salvation - Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10


2. Growth in Grace - 2 Pet 3:18


3. Love - Gal. 5:25, Eph 5:2


4. Honesty and Integrity - Ps. 25:21


5. Self-Control - I Thes. 5:6


6. Love for God's Word - Ps. 19:10


7. Justice - Ps. 11:7, Mic 6:8


8. Mercy - Lk 6:36


9. Respect (for self, others, authority) - I Pet. 2:17


10. Biblical self-esteem - Eph. 2:10


11. Faithfulness - Prov. 3:3


12. Courage - Dt. 31:6


13. Purity - Ps. 51:10


14. Kindness - I Thes. 5:15


15. Generosity - I Tim 6:18-19


16. Peace-loving - Rom 14:19


17. Joy - I Thes 1:6


18. Perserverance - Heb 12:1


19. Humility - Titus 3:2


20. Compassion -Col 3:12


21. Responsibility - Gal 6:5


22. Contentment - Phil 4:12 - 13


23. Faith - Lk. 17:5-6, Heb 11:1-40


24. A Servants Heart - Eph 6:7


25. Hope - Ro 15:13


26. Willingness and ability to Work - Col. 3:23


27. Passion for God -Ps. 63:8 KJV


28. Self Discipline - Prov. 1:3


29. Prayfulness - Eph 6:18


30. Gratitude - Eph 5:20, Col 2:7


31. A Heart for Missions - Ps. 96:3

So, as we begin a new year lets begin first by praying for these virtues for our children and let's see God do some amazing things.

Stop by every day and lets check out what God wants us to focus on for that day!

12 Days of Christmas ~ 12 Peanut Characters

On the 12th day of Christmas my Church program had ... 12 Peanut Characters!

For this year's Christmas program our church decided to do Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. It was fun to watch. It was fun to see my daughter dance during the Lucy and Linus song. My daughter played the part of Sally. Here is my take on Sally's hair on my daughter, it was pretty cute!





"Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" has become a tradition of Christmas. I watched it when I was a little girl and now my kids get excited when it comes on T.V. I love the message of it. So, to end my 12 Days of Christmas I will leave you with this message from Linus...








11 ugly sweaters
10 dancing tomte
9 kinds of candy
8 days and counting
7 songs for singing

6 musical tickets

5 golden pancakes

4 new little buildings

3 children decorating

2 pairs of shoes

1 holiday ornament