3D Reflections

Notes of Encouragement and DaySpring: Part 1

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

One thing I love to do is send notes of encouragement. It is one of my "spiritual" gifts that I found out about over 15 years ago at the church we were attending at the time. I didn't even know that there was a way to find out what your gifts were. After taking the class, all the things that came out as my top 3 were so true, and encouragement was number one.

Now, have I used my gift to its full potential?...NO!

Have there been times that I have been moved to send a note and it hasn't happened?....(sadly YES)

Do I want to be more faithful at obeying the still small voice of the Lord when he prompts me?...YES!!!!!

However, my desire to obey my heavenly Father in this area is foremost because I Love Him and I want to do what He is calling me to do. Secondly, I have heard testimonies from people of "how it came at just the right time", "it lifted their spirit", they were "blessed by the scripture", they "didn't feel alone". So knowing these two very important things, how can I hide my gift?

One way that will help me use this gift, is that I was given some beautiful cards from DaySpring that will certainly bless the person who opens and reads it. Several weeks ago, I had been alerted by a dear friend and mentor of an opportunity to do a review for DaySpring. At the time, I thought how cool to get some free stuff in the process. However, when I got the cards, I was amazed at the beauty of them and the sweet words and scripture that were written on them. As I was reading through them, different people came to my mind as to who would get each one. This may sound a little hokey, but that is how the Lord has done it in the past, and I am sad to say....I had not heard Him speak to me like this in a VERY long time!

I'm learning that we can get so FOCUSED on our life, that we have tunnel vision, and we can not see the hurting, suffering and needy people around us. What good is it to the Lord, if we are so stuck right where we are that we can't be his feet, hands or loving voice to the lost and hurting world or a brother or sister in despair. I am the chief sinner in this area, and the Lord has begun to show me the time I have lost and how He wants me to broaden my view to see what is going on around me.

I am encouraged to see what will happen and what He will do. Maybe I wont ever see the fruit on this earth, but knowing I am following the still small voice that leads and guides me is ENOUGH for me!

What are your gifts? How do you encourage others?

Blessings,

Denise

*The pictures are of several of the "So True" series of cards that I was sent at no cost by Dayspring to give an honest review. Stay tuned for part 2 of my review!

Join the Birthday Party Bash at Our Simple Country Life

2012-01-15T18:10:00.000-08:00

Blogging is such a new a fun adventure! I have met so many wonderful women over the last 10 months. One special lady in particular is Esther over at Our Simple Country Life. She has encouraged me with scripture that points me back to the Savior, she has shared practical cooking, cleaning and organizing advice, She has had fun link ups about all sorts of things so I could meet other wonderful ladies, she shared her testimony this summer when her boys had an accident, and I was able to pray for her. I have admired her devotions and love for the Lord and how she is able to accomplish so much with such beauty and wisdom while raising a large family.

Well, her blog turned 3 today!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

I want to invite you all over to her blog for a fun celebration this week, and she is the one giving the gifts! Check out the giveaway today, it is a beautiful card organizer from Dayspring. I know you will be blessed to join the celebration and hang out with us each week as we encourage each other on in our lives and especially our walks with the Lord!

Blessings,
Denise

Names of Jesus Christ: Firstborn

2012-01-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

2012-01-01T21:58:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

I love the "newness" (is that a word?) of a new year. It is like getting a fresh start. This year, one of the goals I have set for myself is to live out 1 Peter 3:4.

"let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

How will I plan?

My goal is to sit down this week and make a plan very similar to how I plan my homeschool schedule and goals I want my children to accomplish that year.

I plan to write out all of the areas where I struggle with having a "gentle and quite spirit", and then write down how I can respond to those areas in a different way so I can attain my goal. Maybe some will be to do something specific (go take a time out for 10 minutes, sit down and write out your thoughts, take a 10 minute prayer break etc..) or maybe I will have a scripture that I will speak out loud. Whatever the issue, God has help and guidance for me.

How will I know if I have attained it?

The best way is if others notice it in you, which is my goal. However, if I have a plan, I can monitor myself on a daily basis and journal about it which gives me a history to look back on to see where I am and where I have come. This is a tool I have used over the years, that I have let slip, but realize how valuable it is for me to do.

I know I have other goals, like the old standby "weight loss", but I am taking baby steps this week and working on a plan with 1 Peter 3:4 as my priority.

What are your goals for 2012?

Blessings,

Denise

Names of Jesus Christ: Good Teacher

2011-12-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

Mark 10:17

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Names of Jesus Christ: Good Shepherd

2011-12-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

Names of Jesus Christ: Faithful and True

2011-12-13T23:12:00.000-08:00

Revelation 19:11

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Child reads Scripture

2011-12-11T19:08:00.001-08:00

The "delight" of today listening to my 5 year old read scripture! They are precious in His Sight!

Names of Jesus Christ: The Beginning and the End

2011-12-11T17:25:00.001-08:00

Art work done by David (5)

Revelation 22:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Molly Saves! In the Powder Room

2011-12-10T09:46:00.001-08:00

Who would have thought that you could write a whole issue of Molly Saves with the main emphasis as the "powder room" (aka the bathroom, restroom, water closet...). Well, Molly does and it is full of some great "how to's", DIY's, tips and tricks and much more.

This issue has checklists for cleaning the bathroom from top to bottom, recipes for making your own cleaning supplies, frugal ways to beautify your bathroom, and so much more. There is a great DIY project idea that Eleanor Joyce shares with us about how she took an old dresser and made it into a place of beauty and of storage. She also shows how to transform a ordinary bar of soap into a beautiful gift. Christmas is just a few weeks away, and these would be a great gift to make up and give to your mother, girlfriend or your children's teachers.

This is the time of year when everyone is getting colds and flu, so pull those turkey bones out of the freezer from Thanksgiving and make some Turkey Stock. Molly takes you step by step through the process, and it is not hard at all, but it is so much better than anything that you can get in a can or box. If you don't need it now, freeze it and save it for that day when you are feeling a bit "under the weather".

Now, my favorite part of this issue is the article on "Stop Spending on Children's toys", it has GREAT ideas (I am a mom, I know a good idea when I see one). There ideas from watercolor paints to marshmallow shooters. They are brilliant ideas! You can put them together fairly quickly and at a very low cost. Just think you can avoid the mall or superstores and enjoy making something for your child, grandchild or neighbor in the comfort of your own home. So click on over here and get your December issues of Molly Saves in the Powder Room or leave me a comment by Sunday, Dec 11,2011 with one way that you save in the powder room, and I will be giving away a copy of this issue on Monday December 12. Merry Christmas!

Names of Jesus Christ

2011-12-01T12:07:00.001-08:00

King of Kings Holy One Almighty Word Deliverer Redeemer I AM Gift of God Chosen One Cornerstone Alpha and Omega Counselor God with us Holiness

Our Hope Immanuel

Our family will be focusing on the names of Jesus Christ for the next several months. I will be sharing from our journey as we seek Him and learn more about Him by looking at who He is and finding the "delight" and comfort in what each of these names means to us.

We would love to hear from you too, so please leave us an uplifting comment about how God has comforted you or helped you in your walk by focusing on His Name!

May God richly Bless you as you come to Him, and seek to follow and learn more about Him!

Blessings,

Denise

Giving Thanks

2011-11-27T12:58:00.001-08:00

All of November, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for that day. It has been a transforming experience.

In past years, I had a desire to create a "Thanksgiving Tree" where all the members of my family could write what they are thankful for on paper leaves. Then at the end of the season we could save them and each year look back at what we were thankful for during that season of our life. Well, this year, it took shape and we accomplished the goal! We all have been reminded of the blessings in our life and have become more thankful.

As for me, this exercise has shown me:

How my attitude can change toward everything going on in my life if I speak the things that I am thankful for rather than looking on the negative that may be going on around me or to me.
How much I have to be thankful for.

How it can change the mood in our home when we are focusing on our blessings.

While this was an outward expression to remind us of our blessings, it can and should be a daily pursuit. Yes, I share what I'm thankful for in prayer by my self and with my family, and occasionally I journal about it, but what would happen if I wrote down what I was thankful for each day of my life? I think it would make a big impact because there is just something that happens when we write things down; it allows us to look back on where we have been and it the process of writing helps us to remember things better.

The following was the devotional thought from my A Heart at Rest devotional by Nancy Leigh De Moss from Revive our Hearts Ministries.

A grateful man or woman will be

a breath of fresh air in a world contaminated by

bitterness and discontentment.

Daily Encouragement (from scripture)

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3:17)

Blessings to you and your family!

Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room

2011-11-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

It’s November, and I just love this time of year; the weather, the smells of yummy food, scented candles or a nice fire in the fireplace. Well this issue of Molly’s Digest: Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room will help anyone out the that is trying to get out from under the laundry pile.

· Learn ways to remove stains using household items.

· Make your own “rolling laundry cart”.

· Make helpful organizational items using an old laundry box.

Even though his issue features topics about the laundry room, there are holiday ideas, great recipes to make and serve during this holiday time, and ways to have a “stress-less” holiday season. My favorite is the review of the book “Unplug the Christmas machine” which will help you to refocus and make this holiday special and important in your own way. We all need to step back, take a deep breath and enjoy the season and not let ourselves get so caught up in all the events of the season that is passes so fast and without much enjoyment. You can go here and get a copy of Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room so you have time to prepare for this season.

I really enjoy my Molly Digests, and I have been inspired to cook new recipes, learn frugal ways to shop, cook and live, but I recently made one of the items that was featured in Molly Saves! In the Nursery. Here it is:

My first “blessing blanket”! I made it for my BFF’s new baby that will be born early next year. I also made one for my nephew’s new little one who is due to arrive around the same time.

It was a lot of fun to make and hopefully it will be a treasured keepsake for these girls. You can check out Molly’s Digest’s over here. I hope you will be “frugally-inspired”

Blessings to your and your family!

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

When in doubt, Seek HIM out!

2011-10-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Many of us experience seasons of sadness and helplessness here in this life. However, if you call the Lord your Lord and have received Jesus as your Savior, you can be assured of He faithfulness to provide for you in the darkness of the hour.

This afternoon, I was crying out to the Lord about issues in my life that have become weights to hold me down and that the enemy has used to discourage me. I cried out with a deep sense of longing asking Him to help me. I turned to Psalm 25 (because today is the 25th day of the month...so spirtual huh?), and there He was consoling me, teaching me, and loving me. How awesome is our God! Are you in need today? When in doubt, seek Him out!

¹ In you, LORD my God,
   I put my trust.
² I trust in you;
   do not let me be put to shame,
   nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No one who hopes in you
   will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
   who are treacherous without cause.
⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.
⁶ Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
   for they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth
   and my rebellious ways;
  according to your love remember me,
   for you, LORD, are good.
⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
⁹ He guides the humble in what is right
   and teaches them his way.
¹⁰ All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
   toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹¹ For the sake of your name, LORD,
   forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
¹² Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
   He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.^[b]
¹³ They will spend their days in prosperity,
   and their descendants will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The LORD confides in those who fear him;
   he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the LORD,
   for only he will release my feet from the snare.
¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart
   and free me from my anguish.
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my distress
   and take away all my sins.
¹⁹ See how numerous are my enemies
   and how fiercely they hate me!
²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me;
   do not let me be put to shame,
   for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me,
   because my hope, LORD,^[c] is in you.
²² Deliver Israel, O God,
   from all their troubles!

Review: Molly Saves in the Dining Room

2011-10-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

Is it really October already? Where has the time gone? Our lives are busy, busy, busy and it seems like this year has flown by so fast. As I read this month’s Molly Money Saving Digest about saving in the Dining Room, it has caused me to stop and reflect on what is going on in our life. It was interesting timing for me to get this digest this month, because we have been unable to eat dinner together as a family due to my husband’s work schedule this last month. It is something that I have always tried to make happen at all costs.

This digest was extra special to me, because it contains an article on Allergy- Friendly Entertaining. As a family that has food allergies, any event that is accompanied by food is a challenge. The article is great in offering cooking suggests, but it more importantly deals with the issue of how to approach entertaining in a polite and helpful manner, so as to accommodate your friends and family who have special food allergies. I found the information excellent, for those who have food allergies and those who desire to have others over who may have food allergies. It is a great Allergy Entertaining 101!

Are your kids eating you out of house and home? Have them do the lesson on Food Finances in the Tightwad Training Camp section of the digest. (Have I ever said how much I LOVE this section of Molly’s Digests? Oh, just about every month!) It is a great lesson to train kids in the art and skill of shopping and help them understand the cost of the items that they seem to want to slip in the cart when Mom isn’t looking. Don’t they know we have eyes in the back of our head? This section has not disappointed me yet, and I am a strong supporter of helping our kids gain life skills early and understand how to manage money in this age of entitlement.

The Dining Room is so much more than just the place we gather to nourish ourselves physically as I read in the article on Inspiration!, I was challenged to bring the Bible to the dinner table. This is one tradition that I intend to try at our home. We have struggled lately with our kids, goofing off a lot at the dinner table and I think this will keep their mind engaged in a life changing way as they are nourishing their bodies.

Eating a meal together is so important to the family unit and I encourage anyone reading this blog to reflect on what you can do to make this happen at your house. It doesn’t have to be dinner, it could be breakfast. Whatever you do, make time to break bread together each day with your family!

I encourage you to try out a Molly Membership today and begin learning money saving strategies for your family. This month I am giving away a free copy of Molly Saves in the Dining Room. Please leave a comment below on why you are interested in this free issue, and I will do a random drawing on October 20th the old fashioned way (putting the names in a hat and drawing one out).

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

Review: Molly Saves in the Family Room

2011-09-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

September is here, and it is back to school for the kids, and families are getting back into their routines. The schedules are getting full with various activities and it will take more effort to gather together as a family. This issue of Molly’s Money Saving Digest is all about the Family Room. It’s the room where we all spend time together. In this issue, there are some great ideas for everyone, but my absolute favorite is the Tightwad Training Camp.

Each month, I flip forward to this section of the newsletter to see what Molly has to help us in teaching our kids about “how to manage” money. This is a priority for me and my husband, because we are always looking for ways to help our boys understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and sometimes you have to sacrifice “wants” to supply for your needs. This is something that is hard to convey to them in this era of “entitlement”. I think just this section is worth the monthly cost* for the Molly digest because the information is great! This month it is all about budgeting your “Fun Money”. There are great tips for everyone in this section, not just the kids. My favorite is how to save by making your own iced coffee at home.

There are other great features this month:

· Décor & More: How to repurpose and reuse old items and make them into something new.

· Great Book Review: The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin

· Creating Frugal Family Traditions

· Great Recipes in both the Begin with the Basics section and Meal of the Month.

I can’t wait to try the “Honey Lime Chicken” recipe featured in the Meal of the Month section. I’m always looking for another way to cook chicken!

I hope this review was helpful to you and encourages you to check out this months Molly Digest, or better yet try a Molly Membership for the next year. Whatever you do this month, make sure you set aside time to get together as a family and come up with a fun new tradition together!

*Purchase Molly Saves in the Family Room for $4.95 or Sign up as a Molly Member and get each issue for $3.95 per month.

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

The joy in homeschooling

2011-09-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

It is such a privilege to be able to teach my children at home. Besides the “reasons” we homeschool, the best is that I get to actually see the joy when my child first learns how to do something.

Yesterday, my 5 year old completed the first level in his Hooked on Phonics reading program. To see how excited he was when he finished was a true “delight” to my heart! He did it! He pushed me to let him keep going on and he pushed himself and tried so very hard, and he did it! I’m proud of him and excited that the more he learns to read, the closer he is to being able to read God’s Word on his own. I think I just may bawl my eyes out when I hear him read his bible for the first time!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

2011-08-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

Molly Saves in the Closet

The August Molly’s Digest is out and it is all about “the closet”. Perfect timing as usual, since I am in the midst of organizing items that have gotten out of hand; items to put in my kids portfolios, purging smaller sized clothes for my boys and replenishing them with “hand-me-downs” or determining what I need to buy, purging clutter that has seemed to collect and is causing us to be unproductive and a little stressed.

In this issue, there are so many great ideas to help you organize, repurpose old items into something new, and get your closets in order. When I saw the office that Eleanor Joyce created in a closet, I was amazed! It was well organized and everything fit into a small space. Molly gives great advice for how we can keep our closets uncluttered and provides links to items that help with many areas that have an impact on our closets. She covers areas of contentment all the way to the places to shop for clothes.

Love the Meal of the Month for August, because Kerry Ann shares how to make your own taco seasoning. This is great for our family, because we can’t purchase the packets because of special dietary restrictions, besides they are really expensive. I am also going to try and convert the vanilla pudding recipe to meet my son’s special dietary restrictions.

It is a great resource for only 3.95 a month!

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

Book Review-"Notes to Aspiring Writers:Your Dream, God's Plan"

2011-07-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Are you an aspiring writer? Do you have dreams of one day being published? If you would have asked me these questions a year ago, I would have told you “no”. However, in the last year something has been brewing and I do have a dream that I hope will come to pass one day…if it is what the Lord desires too.

I just had the wonderful opportunity to review the e-book Notes to Aspiring Writers: Your Dream, God's Plan by Brooke McGlothlin. What makes it so wonderful is the tender heart with which it is written. Brooke is an example of a woman, wife, mother, writer and more importantly a devoted child of God who shares her testimony in various areas which all lead back to glorifying the Lord.

While the book is not a “how-to” type of a book, it is in my opinion the most important part of the believers writing process. Is our writing and work what we want, or what He wants? Brooke shares her testimony of the heart change that she went through as she continued to pursue her dreams…of writing. I found myself relating to her on many levels, but it was more than just writing, it was other dreams and aspirations that I have. She challenged me through her testimony, thought provoking questions to ask myself and scripture to make sure that my writing lines up with what the Lord desires from me and my writing.

While this book is directed toward writers, the principles that she outlines in this e-book apply to all the dreams and aspirations that you may be hiding in your heart. I know that the message she is giving to us and the process which she encourages us to take is more than worth the $2.99. You can get a copy on Amazon today.

*I was provided a copy of Notes to Aspiring Writers:Your Dream, God's Plan for my honest review.

2011-07-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

Molly Saves in the Nursery

Molly’s Money Saving Digest for July is all about saving in the nursery. While I don’t have a baby anymore… (Sigh), I just found out that several ladies in my life are going to have newborns in the next 6 months (smile). I’m so excited to meet these little bundles and it is so fun to have these great money saving ideas to use in preparing for their arrival. This digest isn’t just for new Moms, but all those mothers, aunts, grandmothers and friends who are going to be celebrating the new arrivals in their life.

Having a baby can be so expensive, and I personally believe, after having two, we parents really just need the basics. Some of the topics she covers in this issue are:

· Great organizing tips and projects

· “DIY” projects for making the furniture you need or repurposing something you already have to meet your needs.

· Cloth diapers: the article describes cloth diapers in detail and gives you the pros and cons of each type so you can make an educated decision.

· Recipes for homemade wipes.

· Making a child’s lap desk out of “Nursery cast-offs”

· Review of the book “Baby and Toddler Meals for Dummies”

· Blender basics

· 5 Moms share frugal decorating tips for the nursery.

I would have loved the “fold away changing table” link she has provided, because our home has very limited space. We used a dresser top for our changing table and just had to get the changing pad to sit on top. It worked great and we were able to store all the necessities in the drawers and had ample space to make that task manageable. If you can sew, crochet or knit, there are some links to great projects you can make for the baby. She also includes many great ideas for blessing “Mom”. After the baby arrives, it is a very hectic time getting use to the new baby and trying to function on little sleep.

Molly introduces KerryAnn Foster of Cooking Traditional Foods who will be providing the Meal of the Month section of the digest. She has great recipes and she specializes in traditional food recipes with changes that can be made for families who have to allow for food allergies and intolerances. This is great for our family! Her recipes this month would be great to make and take to a family who has a newborn, so they can have a warm home cooked meal.

In this month’s digest you get all this great information on Saving in the Nursery along with all her regular features: Pet Care for Pennies, Tightwad Training Camp, Forms, Printables and Links. The Molly Money Saving Digests are very reasonable and you can get a lot of frugal ideas for only $3.95 a month. To find out more, jump over to Econobusters and sign up today.

* I was provided the Molly Money Saving Digest in exchange for my personal and honest review.

Warrior Prayers: Day 21 "Humility"

2011-06-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." ~Ephesians 4:2

I can hardly believe that our 21 days has come to an end. WOW! How the time flew by. I want to thank all who have followed this blog in an effort to pray for your special needs boys.

I want to encourage you to continue on in prayer for your boys. I believe that the Lord, the one who created this place and each of our precious boys has a plan for them, and He can heal them and help them to be all HE wants them to be. I know how hard it is sometimes when we focus on our son’s “diagnosis” and lose sight of them as “(name of your son)”. We can become overwhelmed, discouraged and fearful at times when dealing with the needs that they have. These are works of the enemy that chooses to draw us away from the Living God and get us stuck in the mire of this world and its problems. Let us rise above it and place our sons in the palm of the Almighty and TRUST in Him for our beautiful sons.

The scripture that started this blog and that gets me through many days is Phil 4:8

"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, it there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things."

Bless you dear sister in the Lord!

Denise

Encouragement from Brooke

It's day twenty-one.

The LAST day of your prayer challenge. Are you a mixture of relieved and sad all at the same time? What an accomplishment! (What an amazing amount of work!) If you're finishing today you deserve a pat on the back! Think of all the work that has been done on behalf of your sons! Congrats mom!

You might've noticed that there are actually twenty-two prayers in the Warrior Prayers eBook. I chose humility as our last day's topic because it is such an amazing posture of the heart. Scripture just seems to scream God's favor over those who are humble in heart.

· James 4:10 says that if we're humble before the Lord, He will lift us up.

· 1 Peter 5:6 says that if we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God He will exalt us.

· Most importantly, in Psalm 149:4 we find that it is the humble who are adorned with salvation.

Do you see that? A humble heart is required for salvation. Just as Jesus humbled Himself unto the cross, we must admit that we're sinners, admit that our own way isn't the right way, and humbly ask for forgiveness before salvation comes.

Do you show humility before your sons? Do you always have to be right? Always have to win? Pray and ask the Lord for specific ways you can show humility today so that when the time comes, your sons will know how to show it too.

Goal for Today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the humility chapter during day twenty-one.

2. Thank the Lord for what He has done and consider continuing on in praying specifically for your son’s.

Humility

May__________humble himself before the Lord, and be exalted (James 4:10).

May__________humble himself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt him (1 Peter 5:6).

May God give grace to__________as he humbles himself (James 4:6).

If__________who is called by My Name humbles himself, and prays and seeks My Face and turns from his wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive this sin and heal his land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Lord, lead the humble in what is right, and teach__________Your way (Psalm 25:9).

May__________have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind (1 Peter 3:8).

May__________take God’s yoke upon him, and learn from Him, for He is gentle and lowly in heart, and__________will find rest for his soul (Matthew 11:29).

May the LORD take pleasure in__________, and adorn the humble with salvation (Psalm 149:4).

May__________have all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with others in love (Ephesians 4:2).

May__________be subject to the elders. May he clothe himself with humility toward others, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Warrior Prayers: Day 20 "Heart Change"

2011-06-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." ~Luke 6:45

The encouragement from Brooke today is so good, and so TRUE! Bad stuff in the heart? Bad stuff comes out. Good stuff in the heart? Good stuff comes out. This is why we need to apply scripture when we are living our lives and raising our sons. We have the instruction manual…it is the B-I-B-L-E.

However, we need to be in the Word, so that what is coming out of us is good rather than bad.

Do you feel like I do when you have not been in the Word and spent time with the Lord, that you are more irritable? Do you find yourself reacting to your son’s behavior in a negative way by yelling, or lashing out in anger? Do you find yourself letting them “get away” with something because you just are too tired to deal with it? I know that I have.

I think if you have a child with emotional and cognitive issues, you can get so exhausted or you just are at the end of your rope and nothing seems to work. At these times, may I suggest that you find more time to be in the Word, pray and tell the Lord how you feel, and ask Him to take control of the situation and give you the wisdom and strength to deal with it and get through it. I know the Lord will be with you, and He will guide you.

It is important that we spend time in the Word together with our sons, and when they do sin, that we take them back to the Word and teach them why it is wrong, and help the apply the scripture to their life. Even very little ones can understand.

There are many resources from Doorposts and another one by a fellow Mom I know that put together the “Childs Training Bible”. You can see it in an earlier post on my blog. http://3dreflections.blogspot.com/2011/03/parenting-resource.html

My pre-teen told me today “Mom, that is what teenagers do”. I quickly told him “No, that is not what a teenager who is following Christ does”. I gave him some examples of teenagers that he described and other teenagers who followed Christ. I will be looking to the Word on the topic we are dealing with to help him to understand what is right. Then I will pray that the Holy Spirit will water that seed and my son will understand and choose the right path.

Blessings to you dear sister in the Lord as you move along on your journey to raise up godly men!

Encouragement from Brooke
The most foundational thing we can ask God for in the lives of our sons is heart change. The Word says that what's in the heart eventually comes out. Bad stuff in the heart? Bad stuff comes out. Good stuff in the heart? Good stuff comes out.

I heard an illustration of this concept once from a pastor friend. He held up a Styrofoam cup with a little water inside and proceeded to ram his hand against the cup so that the water splattered everywhere. Then he asked this question:

"Why did water come out of the cup?"

So what do you think? Did the water come out of the cup because he rammed his hand up against it? Certainly a possible answer. But consider this: could it be that the water came out of the cup because there was water IN the cup?

Think about it … if the cup had been empty when he rammed it, nothing would have come out.

And so it is with our hearts. Life has a funny way of ramming up against us. People pull out in front of you when you're in a hurry. The neighbor's dog won't stop yapping through the night when all you need is a few hours of sleep. Your children pick the day after your favorite relative dies to be little horrors … somehow sensing that mom is frazzled.

Stuff happens.

We get hit. Probably every day. But our response to the hits comes from what's in our cup...or hearts. Bad stuff in the heart? Bad stuff comes out. Good stuff in the heart? Good stuff comes out.

Goal for Today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in thon Honesty in “The Power of Forgiveness” chapter during day twenty.

2. Consider this? What comes out of your heart when you get hit? Our response matters to God and it matters to the people watching and learning from us along the way.

Honesty

May__________speak the truth, giving honest evidence, and not be a false witness uttering deceit (Proverbs 12:17).

May__________have nothing to do with a false charge and not put an innocent or honest person to death (Exodus 23:7).

May__________live such a good life among the pagans that, though they accuse him of doing wrong, they may see his good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us (1 Peter 2:12).

May__________repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all (Romans 12:17).

May__________'s conduct be holy and righteous and blameless toward other believers (1 Thessalonians 2:10).

We pray to God that__________may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that he may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed (2 Corinthians 13:7).

May__________be trustworthy with a little, so he can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10).

May__________be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined (Titus 1:8).

May__________renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life in the present age (Titus 2:12).

May__________'s lips be free from deceit (Psalm 17:1).

Warrior Prayers: Day 19 "Salvation"

2011-06-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ~Romans 10:9

The other day I heard my son singing as he was coloring in the school room. I stopped to listen to the words. To my surprise he was singing Laura Story's song This is the day it sounded like this: "this is the day of my salvation, I will rejoice in God my Savior". As I heard this, I just said to the Lord, "please make this true and bring him to You Lord."

I think many people believe that children/adults with special needs don't have the mental capacity to understand about repentance and salvation. However, I know that the Lord doesn't make mistakes and He can save anyone who will come to Him. As I raise my boys, even through cognitive challenges, I have seen them soft to the Lord and they do understand that repenting of sin and turning to Jesus is the most important thing in their life.

I encourage you to not buy into the lie that the world has for anyone who has special needs or challenges and wants to set them aside because they don't have the ability to understand the Word of the Lord or salvation. This is not true. God can reach them. What are we teaching them? What are they around all day? Do we read the word and sing worship sons that proclaim who the Lord is and what he has done? I believe they will understand no matter what their cognitive level. Blessings as you pray for your son's today!

Encouragement from Brooke

There is NOTHING my heart yearns for more than my sons' salvations. To quote from the eBook:

"Day after day you will parent, intentionally seeking the heart of your son. But until the King of kings and Lord of lords turns his heart of stone to a heart of flesh, your son's actions will be

motivated by what is pleasing to him, rather than what is pleasing to the Lord." p. 15

Everything hinges on this. Oh, we can pray for protection, good friends and influences and positive, fruit-bearing experiences for our sons along the way. But until their hearts submit to Jesus they will continue to choose themselves and their own way.

Elyse Fitzpatrick, in her book entitled, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, says “There is no easy way to say it, but it must be said: parents and churches are not passing on a robust Christian faith and an accompanying commitment to the church.”

Take a moment today to look long and hard at your parenting. Is it Gospel-centered, or have you allowed the world's “stinking thinking” to creep into your home?

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the salvation chapter during day nineteen.

2. Pray hard today for your son's salvation. There is nothing so important as this.

Salvation

May __________ confess with his mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in his heart that God raised Him from the dead, and be saved (Romans 10:9).

May__________be saved by grace through faith. Not of his own doing; but the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

May__________believe in the God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Timothy 1:9).

May__________fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for him today (Exodus 14:13).

May the LORD be__________'s light and his salvation; whom shall he fear? May the LORD be the stronghold of his life; of whom shall he be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

May__________take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

May__________work out his own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

May__________be guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5).

Lord, make Your face shine on__________; save him in Your steadfast love (Psalm 31:16).

Lord, save__________to the uttermost as he draws near to God through Christ (Hebrews 7:25).

Warrior Prayers: Day 18 "Anger"

2011-06-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."

~Ephesians 4:31

This scripture has been posted above the sink in my kitchen for almost 2 years now. Sad, I would say, that I still struggle with a lack of self-control at times with those who are closest to me. I can excuse it as hormones, I can blame it on others, but those are all excuses. Just as I have heard myself tell my son “you can control yourself, you are the only one who can.” Ouch! Yes, we have the power, by the Holy Spirit to "let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from us, along with all malice." So, do we choose to do this? Or will we give in to the enemy’s schemes and let him destroy us by causing us to feed the root of bitterness and anger that has worked its way deep down inside of us.

I do not say these words because I have been successful at thwarting the enemy and his tricks, but out of the grief I have experience by allowing this anger to fester and destroy my relationships, my emotions, and even harm my health. As I pray these prayers for my sons, I pray them for myself also, because it is my heart’s desire, to put off the anger and put on mercy and love for my own sake and for the sake of my beautiful boys!

Encouragement from Brooke

So much of the Christian life is a choice. Every day (multiple times a day) we’re presented with a choice to choose God or choose ourselves. Anger is a perfect example.

You can just feel it coming, can’t you? Anger is an almost total body experience. Muscles get tight. Temples throb. Jaw clenches. Explosion feels imminent … wooing us into believing we have no choice but to react.

But it’s not true.

We almost always have a choice when it comes to anger. We can choose to embrace it and sin. Or choose to put it away, and instead choose kindness, self-control, compassion, and love.

Goal for Today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the anger chapter during day eighteen.

2. Man! It seems like every single thing we’ve prayed for so far starts with what’s in our own hearts! I’m afraid anger is no different. Today, when you’re tempted to sin in anger, ask the Lord to show you the way out (He promises He will) and choose grace and love instead.

Anger

May all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from __________, along with all malice (Ephesians 4:31).

May__________ put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from his mouth (Colossians 3:8).

May__________ give a soft answer, which turns away wrath, and avoid harsh words which stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

May__________ not be quick in his spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9).

May__________ never avenge himself, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

May__________ know that God Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).

May__________ make peace, and so have a harvest of righteousness (James 3:18).

And let the peace of Christ rule in __________'s heart, to which indeed he was called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15).

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard __________'s heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

May__________turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11).

Warrior Prayers: Day 17 "Self-Control"

2011-06-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ~1 Corinthians 10:31

Encouragement from Brooke

What's on the throne of your son's heart? I recently spoke at a small local women’s conference on the topic of finding balance in our physical and spiritual lives. Admittedly, this is an area I’ve struggled with my entire life. I’m an emotional eater, and my weight has fluctuated over the years to prove it.

I used to think that could control it by counting calories, or walking four miles a day (yes, I used to do that). I’ve tried portion control, diet pills and running, but nothing sticks. Know why? Because I love food. I turn to it for comfort, fulfillment and joy. And until I dethrone it from Christ’s rightful place in my heart, I will continue to struggle.

It’s idol-worship, plain and simple (ouch).

Food may not be the area of self-control with which your son struggles. Maybe he has video games, sports, sex, or money on the throne of his heart. The key to overcoming our tendencies toward worshipping something other than Christ is to choose to love Him more than we love our sin. A constant laying down of our desires and picking up of Christ is the only fix.

I wrote an article once on the topic of loving Him more …

It was a hot summer night, and I sat on my bed in a heaping culmination of all I'd been taught. A moment of rare heart understanding as I realized that life with Christ was not about what I could or could not do, but about loving Him more than I loved my sin.

Loving Him more.

Anything that separates me from God is sin and anything good can be made sin if I love it more than I love Him. And now twelve years later I'm still choosing.

I love Him. I love Him less than looking my best. I love Him. I love Him less than yelling at my kids. I love Him. I love Him less than getting even with my husband. I love Him. I love Him less than having a published book. I love Him. I love Him less than time to myself. I love Him. I love Him less than a stomach painfully full of my favorite meal. I love Him. I love Him less than getting my own way.

I love Him.

I love Him less.

Every time I love Him less I love something else more.

But He loves me. He loves me always.

In the moment of choice this knowing of His steadfast, never-ending love is what gives me strength. This knowing of His great sacrifice for me … and for you. This knowing of the lengths He would go to love me more.

More than I deserve.

More than I can comprehend.

More than the power of Hell can stand against.

"My Savior's sacrifice paid for all my sin.

So in my suffering I look to the Cross again.

No need, no want, no trial, no pain can compare to this:

The wrath of God once meant for me, was all spent on Him.

Before the Cross, I humbly bow.

I place my trust in the Savior.

Your finished work captures my gaze.

You bore the wrath, I know the grace."

~Before the Cross (Sovereign Grace Music)

Now the little forever soul sits in front of me for what seems like the 20 millionth time today. And I look at him … and he looks at me. And I wonder, out loud, how he could possibly want to choose discipline over joyful obedience. After days of willful rebellion from two little men, I'm spent and I cannot understand in that moment why ANYONE would choose this chaos--this miser--when simple obedience would change everything. Don't they know the sweetness that would be theirs if they would just obey?

Just CHOOSE to obey? Sigh. There's that word again.

The choice to love Him more begins from the beginning … hearts made to worship Him … choose Him. Hearts that left to themselves will choose our own way every time.

How many times have I chosen my own way when I knew the consequences? How many times have I forfeited the sweet, peaceful blessings of obedience in order to stamp my feet, cross my arms, dig in my stubborn threeyear-old-like heels and have my own way?

And this from a woman who has tasted the goodness of God in the land of the living!

How can I expect my little ones to choose the good all the time when their own mama, a Jesus-follower for over 20 years, still gets it wrong?

Grace.

And more grace.

Grace. and choosing to love Him more.

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the self-control chapter during day seventeen.

Self-Control

May__________know that he is God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in him (1 Corinthians 3:16).

May__________not let sin therefore reign in his mortal body, to make him obey its passions. May he not present his members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present himself to God as one who has been brought from death to life, and his members to God as instruments for righteousness (Romans 6:12-13).

May__________present his body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is his spiritual worship. May he not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewal of his mind, that by testing he may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).

May__________discipline his body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others he himself should be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Whether__________eats or drinks, or whatever he does, may he do it all to the glory of God (Ephesians 5:15).

Let not__________'s heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day (Proverbs 23:17)

Remove far from__________falsehood and lying; give him neither poverty nor riches; feed him with the food that is needful for him (Proverbs 30:8).

Let the words of__________mouth and the meditation of his heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, his Rock and his Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

May__________have a tranquil heart that gives life to the flesh (Proverbs 14:30).

May__________be wise in doing right and stay innocent of any wrong (Romans 16:19).

Warrior Prayers: Day 16 "Gentleness"

2011-06-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." ~James 3:17

Encouragement from Brooke

Aggression in men is commonplace. It may not manifest itself the same way for all of them, but it’s there nonetheless. For the physical boys, it shows up in their need to be on the top of the wrestling pile. For the intellectuals, it shows up in their need to score the highest on the exam or be at the top of the class. Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with aggression. I don’t want to break my sons of their aggressive streak and I’m learning not to be afraid of it. But I do want to teach them how and when to use

it. I’m beginning to think that gentleness is more of an approach to life than a specific characteristic to develop.

Since they were born, we’ve whispered these words into our sons’ ears:

God made men to protect women and care for them. God made you a big brother! Your job is to protect your little brother, not hurt him. There’s a time to play and a time to listen. If you can’t listen, you have to feel (true in so many aspects of life). God wants you to use your strength to protect, not to hurt. Superhero’s don’t look for fights, but they will fight to protect others. It’s OK to want to be the best, but the best people in life are the ones who serve others. A gentle word turns away wrath …

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the gentleness chapter during day sixteen.

2. Helping our sons to define and set parameters for their aggression can help develop a worldview of gentleness.

Gentleness

May__________know that a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

May__________take God’s yoke upon Him, and learn from Him, for He is gentle and lowly in heart, then__________will find rest for his soul (Matthew 11:29).

May__________be completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with others in love (Ephesians 4:2).

May__________be gentle, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

May__________not be a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3).

May__________pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

May__________correct his opponents with gentleness that God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25).

May__________speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2).

May__________have wisdom from above that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).

May__________honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks him for a reason for the hope that is in him; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Warrior Prayers: Day 15 "Faithfulness"

2011-06-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness … " ~Joshua 24:14

Encouragement from Brooke

I could talk about how many men struggle to be faithful to their wives. I could talk about how some men get tossed about for most of their lives, never really knowing who they are or what they believe. I could talk about how some of the young men I see today don't know how to hold down a job, or provide for their families, or how to be a good and faithful husband and father. But really, what I want to talk about … what I want to pray about today … is that our sons would be faithful to God.

Doesn't this one prayer bring with it the solution to everything else we could talk about? A man whose first love is Jesus, will be faithful in all of the areas above. He won't be perfect, but he will possess the ability to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be faithful. It is something worth praying for.

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the faithfulness chapter during day 15.

2. Ponder this quote from Paul E. Miller’s A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. “Mature Christians are keenly aware that they can't raise their kids. It's a no-brainer. Even if they are perfect parents, they still can't get inside their kids' hearts. That's why strong Christians pray more.”

Faithfulness

May__________fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness

(Joshua 24:14).

May__________fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all his heart, considering what great things He has done for him (1 Samuel 12:24).

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness for__________as he keeps His covenant and His testimonies (Psalm 25:10).

May God’s steadfast love be before__________'s eyes, as he walks in His faithfulness (Psalm 26:3).

May__________trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness (Psalm 37:3).

May the Lord never remove from__________His steadfast love or be false to His faithfulness (Psalm 89:33).

May the Lord cover__________with His pinions, and under His wings may he find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckle to__________(Psalm 91:4).

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake__________; may he bind them around his neck; write them on the tablet of his heart (Proverbs 3:3).

May__________call this to mind and therefore have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love he is not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. May__________say to himself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24).

No temptation has overtaken__________that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let him be tempted beyond his ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that __________may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I will follow

2011-06-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, I was listening to my 5 year old as he was building a train track in the play room. I was trying to make out the words of what he was saying and here is what I heard:

Where you go I go
Where you stay I stay
Where you move I move
I will follow
Where you go I go
Where you serve I serve
I will follow

At first I didn't know what he was singing and then my 12 year old told me he thought it was from the CD's in the car. Sure enough it was Chris Tomlin's song I will follow. While the words weren't exact, it was so precious to hear him singing those words. I told the Lord that I pray that will be the way of his life, that he will follow You.

Yesterday, as we were out running errands, I turned the song on and he and I were singing it really loud over and over in the car. It was such a "delight" to see his face beaming, and hear his voice singing those words "I will follow" repeatedly.

Warrior Prayers: Day 14 "Goodness"

2011-06-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Encouragement from Brooke

(Originally posted at the M.O.B. Society)

What are you aiming for? When your boys disobey, disrespect, or are unkind. When they seek to understand what's important. When they notice girls, cheat in school or fight on the bus. When they're seeking marriage, failing in school or deciding whether to have sex for the first time or not … what are you aiming for?

I want their hearts. No behavior modification or fad parenting of the day. No, I want the hearts of our boys, because God wants the hearts of our boys. I'm aiming for the heart. But how?

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

(Matthew 23:27-28, ESV)

Looking at parenting through the lens of these verses has changed everything for me. You see I was a Pharisee. Boy was my cup clean on the outside. But on the inside? On the inside my cup was filthy, full of all uncleanness.

I had everybody fooled, even myself. I believed that if I did good things, it made me good. Actually, it's probably closer to the truth to say I believed that if I didn't do bad things, I wasn't bad. I didn't know that no one is good. I didn't really understand that everyone sins. And I didn't understand the depth of my own sin until the Lord showed it to me.

Question: In our efforts to raise our sons are we teaching them that if they do good things they are good? Righteous even? If we teach them that being good is all it takes, if our discipline and training focuses on their behavior, how will they know they need a Savior?

Are we raising little Pharisees? Or are we raising Godly men with a heart for God? If a Godly son is your goal, you must aim for the heart. Because unless the heart is changed--touched--the behavior will stay the same. It might look a little different, morph some as they grow. But behavior is always a symptom of the state of the heart. What's in the heart, comes out.

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." ~Matthew 12:34

Ask yourself these questions:

· What parenting tools have I been using that only focus on changing behavior and not the heart? Am I willing to lay them down even if they produce what looks like a good child?

· Reaching a child's heart takes time. Behavior modification is much faster! Am I willing to change things about my life so that I have the time to invest in the hearts of my children?

· Most importantly: Am I willing to submit my own heart to God and allow Him to mold me from the inside out?

Shepherding our boys is not for the faint of heart friends! Once a week or more I'm tempted to just throw it all out the window (including the boys … ) and take the easier path. So what keeps me going? I want their hearts. Just like my Heavenly Father wants mine.

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the goodness chapter during day fourteen.

Goodness

May__________be glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD has shown to his people (1 Kings 8:66).

May goodness and mercy follow__________all the days of his life, and may he dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:6).

Remember not the sins of__________'s youth or his transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember__________, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD (Psalm 25:7).

May__________believe that he shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

How abundant is Your goodness, which you have stored up for__________and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind (Psalm 31:19).

May__________be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple (Psalm 65:4).

May__________taste the goodness of the word of God (Hebrews 6:5).

It is not good that__________should be alone; Lord, make him a helper fit for him (Genesis 2:18).

May__________do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with him (Deuteronomy 6:18).

May__________go and celebrate because of all the good things the LORD his God has given to him (Deuteronomy 26:11).

Warrior Prayers: Day 13 "Kindness"

2011-06-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." ~Romans 12:10

I am sharing the article from the Leaders Guide that is written by Sally Clarkson, because it impacted me in regard to my boys. I know that many of you have probably experienced the same things with your boys. Although we deal with other behaviors that are associated with our sons challenges that can be brought on by food, or surroundings, I believe the Lord can still do amazing things within our boys. He can do the impossible! We need to remember our God is bigger than the challenges our boys face and He has the power to heal and to use them for His Glory! Praise the Lord!!

Thoughts from Sally Clarkson

(Author of The Mission of Motherhood and originally posted on the M.O.B. Society)

When Clay and I moved from California to Texas, I was to take all of my young children from Los Angeles to Dallas by myself. Flying with 3 children alone on several flights for a period of 11 hours, is never easy. But with two boys under 5 years of age, it seemed especially long. My now 22 year old son, Nathan, was a very active, extraverted, little boy. At 18 months, he did not have to pay for a ticket if he sat with me. However, getting him to sit on my lap through all of the flights proved to be more than I had even imagined.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, I would have to board the plane. Being awakened in such a sleepy state did not go well for him. Then, again, just as he was finally falling asleep after wrestling with me for the whole flight, we landed and started the whole disrupting his sleepiness cycle again.

Finally, we all arrived in Dallas, exhausted, disheveled and totally drained. My mother-in-law picked us up at the airport and suggested we stop by a restaurant before we drove the 2 hours to her house.

Nathan had had all he could take! When we sat down in the restaurant, he laid on the floor and started flailing his arms and screaming and kicking. No one could get near him.

I was frantic and left him on the floor yelling while my mother-in-law stayed with him, and I walked a little bit away from him, pretending to look at some pies in a showcase, so that I could calm down and take a breath away from this little boy that had drained all of my emotional energy and reserve.

An old man was standing next to the counter, looking at Nathan, as everyone else was also doing, and commented, "My goodness, what a walleyed fit! That little boy needs a strong hand!"

That wizened old man at the pastry counter was right. Nathan did need a strong hand. But not the kind he meant. Nathan was exhausted, pushed, out of his nap cycle and with his strong personality, all he knew to do to tell us his limits had been reached, was to fall on the floor and sob.

As I grew older with my loud and active boy, I got wiser. I realized that the more I understood Clay as a man-- his need for my respect, for me to be content and thankful for what he provided, that he longed for me to accept his limitations and to love him for who he was--then I grew in my understanding of how to treat my own "men in training"--with respect, affirmation, investing words of life and giving affection.

I gave Nathan (and Joel) the strong hand that they needed to grow up, without feeling guilty or shamed for who and how God had made him. I gave him a strong hand that would make him stronger as a boy, a young man, and eventually as a man.

Seems silly to say, but boys are not girls. They are as mysterious as men, because they are men. But moms are girls, and sometimes that can be a problem. Most boys (not all, but most) will be more active, louder, noisier, less attentive or sensitive, slower to pick up cues, sometimes clueless and just more “boisterous” than most girls. God designed them that way on purpose. Everything about them—physiology, biology, brain function, and testosterone—prepares them for a different role and function in life than girls. But by God’s design, they need to be affirmed in their design by their girl mothers. God has given you a “strong hand” in their lives by way of being their mother.

From personal experience and many years of observation, moms often discipline boys for being boys, instead of understanding that God wants them to grow into strong men.

If we want them to be warriors when they are big, they need to be able to practice being little warriors when they are young. Even as our own husbands want to feel that we are happy and content with what they have provided, so our boys need to know that we are happy to be their moms, and that we are delighted that they are young men in training to accomplish great feats someday.

For my boys, it sometimes meant laughing at silly boy jokes, taking time to listen to them talk or show off—this is the "glory" of man. Honoring their need to provide for me or to have me listen to them, even as very little boys.

That’s not to say they don’t often need to be disciplined and trained when they stray off the path, but it is to say that boys will be boys, and that it's a good thing. My strong hand in my boys’ lives helped shape them into the strong men they have become. Sure they needed a strong corrective hand many times, but I learned that was only one kind of strong hand. They needed a strong hand in even more important ways.

A strong loving hand (acceptance and grace)

When I could see that Nathan's larger than life personality was becoming agitated, I would pull him aside, sit him on my lap, softly tickle his back and find out what was wrong. He loved to talk and when I heard what was going on in his mind, he would obey me, just for having listened. It took more time, but I came to understand this little darling boy and he responded to my patient love.

Both of my boys, Nathan and Joel, melted when I looked at them through a grid of love and chose to respond to the boys that God had made them to be. I sought to understand both boys and to find ways to communicate love to them and acceptance of their unique personalities. Joel loved affection and back rubs and I could really teach him a lot and influence him a lot if I rubbed his back--lots of little boys respond to touch.

Nathan wanted to talk and talk and talk and when I was available to listen or to play, he always became more obedient.

When I understood that in Nathan's and Joel's hearts, that they were not out to thwart me, and that both boys were often in their own little worlds, 9and with "A.D.D." Nate was not even able to respond to my strong demands) I could be more patient. When I was patient and consistent in my training of them, they were willing to respond to me. They really always loved their "mama" so much and had a heart to please me because they knew I was on their team.

I invested words of love, admiration, encouragement and validation of their "boyish" feats, and both of my boys seemed to melt in my hands.

A strong gentle hand (kindness and gentleness)

I noticed that when I treated my boys in a gentle way, with respect and spoke directly to them, at eye level, and touched their little backs or shoulders, they were much more attentive.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath," from Proverbs became the pattern for my speech to my boys. Treating them with gentleness and patience created a desire in them to become civil with me. I was firm and consistent, but honored their desire for kindness.

A strong patient hand (understanding and longsuffering)

Learning not to react to the noise of my boys, but to understand the "glory of man" and their need to show off at times, made me a cheerleader for them, and gave me the right to speak into their lives.

Giving them time to mature took years of patience and practice of self-control for me. I learned to try to see into their hearts and motivations from a boy's point of view before I used harsh words and became frustrated. Even as men want to be respected, so I learned to respect them as little boys who would grow into fine, strong men. And

they responded.

I learned that if I trained them before a situation, (“This is the place we need to use our quiet voices. Mommy wants you to be really strong inside today, because we are taking you to a big boy place”) then they were much more likely to behave.

I always took them a little bag of their own, to help them to learn to be quiet and self-controlled. Their bags had Legos, paper airplane sheets, puzzle books, colored pencils, car books, and etc. When I planned to take care of their felt needs, they learned early to behave and to control their behavior.

A strong protective hand (teaching and telling) and (encouraging and affirming)

Constant teaching and instructing gave them a positive self-image of what they would grow into.

We read all the "hero" stories in Scripture and acted them out--David and Goliath; Joseph saving his brothers and father and running away from Potiphar's wife; Moses parting the Red Sea; and etc. "Just think, God has made you a little boy who will grow up to do great things just like these men.”

“God made you such a strong boy. I know you will grow up to help many people.” “You are such a helpful boy. I couldn't carry in all of these heavy groceries without you.” “God made men to be leaders who would be brave and courageous to help people follow His ways. I can just imagine what kind of man you will be because you are growing so strong inside and you are so helpful to mommy.”

There is so much more to say about this subject, but as I looked to God's design for men and saw the potential of my boys becoming strong, righteous men, I had the heart to become the mother that they needed me to be. One who had great respect for the holiness of manhood, even in the lives of the sweet boys that lived every day in my

own home. And I girded my hands with God's strength to support and train them one day at a time.

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the kindness chapter during day thirteen.

2. Remember, kindness is not something that comes naturally. We're selfish, sinful beings who mostly want our own way. No, kindness is a learned art, usually caught by experiencing it first-hand from the hands of the people closest to us. Are we being kind?

Kindness

May the LORD now show__________kindness and faithfulness (2 Samuel 2:6).

May__________be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving, just as in Christ God forgave him (Ephesians 4:32).

May__________, as the Lord’s servant, not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil (2 Timothy 2:24).

May__________never repay anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to others and to everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

Let__________'s speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that he may know how he ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:6).

May__________love others with brotherly affection and outdo others in showing honor (Romans 12:10).

May the Lord bless__________and keep him. May the Lord make His face shine upon him and be gracious to him; the Lord turn his face toward him and give him peace (Numbers 6:23-26).

May__________not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2).

May__________be kind to others, tenderhearted, forgiving others, as God in Christ forgave Him (Ephesians 4:32).

May__________live in harmony with others; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble (1 Peter 3:8).

Warrior Prayers: Day Twelve "Patience"

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Encouragement from Brooke

I sat across the table from a younger friend of mine and listened to her share her heart and vision for all she wanted to accomplish in Jesus' Name. She was 16, and had decided that living an every day, mundane life wasn't for her. No, she wanted a big life spent for the Lord.

I'm convinced that God cares less about how much I accomplish in life...the "great things" I do in His Name...than He does about how I respond to the things He allows into my life on the daily. Some of the most accomplished in the Kingdom of Christ are those whose names you and I will never know this side of heaven. And greatness is only measured by how well we respond to Christ in the little things. Being patient for what

God's plan is and not necessarily pursuing our own dreams.

Paul E. Miller has this to say about greatness in his book entitled A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World:

“Underneath her obedient life is a sense of helplessness. It has become part of her very nature … almost like breathing. Why? Because she is weak. She can feel her restless heart, her tendency to compare herself with others. She is shocked at how jealousy can well up in her. She notices how easily the world gets its hooks into her. In short, she distrusts herself. When she looks at other people, she sees the same struggles. The world, the flesh, and the Devil are too much for her. The result? Her heart cries out to God in prayer. She needs Jesus.”

"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant … " ~Matthew 20:26

Goal for today:

1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the patience chapter during day twelve.

2. Question: Do you think we're teaching our sons that the "little things" are what matter most?

Patience

May__________be an example of suffering and patience (James 5:10).

May__________be strengthened with all power, according to God’s glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy (Colossians 1:11).

May__________prove himself by his purity, understanding, patience, kindness, by the Holy Spirit within him, and by His sincere love (2 Corinthians 6:6).

May__________preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).

May__________not presume on the riches of God’s kindness and forbearance and patience, knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead him to repentance (Romans 2:4).

May__________put on then, as God’s chosen one, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).

May__________be patient, for the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

May__________have good sense making him slow to anger, for it is his glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11).

May__________make every effort to add to his faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love (2 Peter 1:5-7).

May__________be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness

(Titus 2:2).

Warrior Prayers: Day Eleven "Peace"

2011-06-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee."

~Isaiah 26:3 (ASV)

Thoughts from Laura Lee Groves

(Author of I'm Outnumbered! One Mom's Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys)

Most of us are actually outnumbered by the males in our households--for me, it’s been five to one! But it’s not just the numbers that bring that sense of being overwhelmed.

For the mom of just one baby boy, a baby’s demands can be overwhelming.

For the mom of a toddler boy, the constant busyness, discovery, and rebellion can wear mom down.

For the mom of a school age son, making sure he’s keeping up with learning and homework can be taxing and worrisome.

For the mom of a middle schooler and teen boy--oh, there’s so much to worry about!

But you’re not the first mom. It’s pretty clear to see we’re in this thing called mothering together. That means others feel--or have felt--that same need for peace.

What can you do to help yourself?

First, find someone to confide in--someone who’s walking your same path, or someone who has walked it before. My biggest support when my boys were small were two boy moms whose sons were a few years ahead of mine. Find someone you can be honest with about the trials of mothering.

If at all possible, step away from the demands--for an hour, for an evening, even for just fifteen minutes. Let someone else hold the baby or chase the toddler for just a bit, and don’t feel guilty. If your son is school age, find a project or lesson that Dad or big brother or someone else can step into in your place, and take a break. Or just step back and give your son a little more responsibility--see if he can handle it. We too often see ourselves as indispensable when our sons can do some things on their own.

You can help yourself by shifting your perspective as he grows. We have to accept that they’re growing and changing, and if we resist that, it just makes everything more difficult. As he grows, do whatever you can to stay close to him. When he hits those middle and teen years, keep him talking. Do the one thing you know he enjoys doing, even if it’s not your favorite. Build a bridge, strengthen the connection between the two of you. Stay close but don’t smother, and love unconditionally. You’re poured a lot into your son. The proof of the pudding comes as he spreads his own wings and tries them. Sometimes he has to take a hit before he realizes it’s “real world time.” Don’t save him every time, or he’ll never be the man he was created to be.

And last--but most importantly--pray for him and for your relationship. Pray for the faith to let go, for confidence in your and his abilities.

The One who made you and loves you is waiting to give help and comfort and peace all along the way. No, He doesn’t take away the pain and the frustration, but He gives us a way to deal with it. When we begin to think about ourselves and our children in His scheme of things, we begin to think big. We see ourselves and our children in His plan and our “today” perspective changes.

What’s important for me to remember?
Motherhood has many demands, but I can’t do everything. In fact, I don’t need to. There’s One who knows better than I do and He’s waiting to catch me and my son when we stumble. He gives me grace to do all I can each day … then His grace provides for all I didn’t get to, as well.

It’s hard to believe anyone loves my son more than I do. But He does.

Knowing that, I can “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (Psalm 105:3,4)

And I can help myself to peace--from above.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee."

~Isaiah 26:3

Goal for Today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers in the peace chapter during day eleven.
What is keeping you from resting in God's peace? As you're praying today, ask God to show you ways that you're not trusting Him, perhaps for your sons, and release them to Him, choosing to trust in His plan for their lives.

Peace

Let__________turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11).

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give__________peace at all times in every way

(2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Peace God leaves with__________; His peace He gives to__________. Not as the world gives does God give. Let not__________'s heart be troubled, neither let him be afraid (John 14:27).

May__________be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage others. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with him (2 Corinthians 13:11).

May__________sow a harvest of righteousness by making peace (James 3:18).

And let the peace of Christ rule in__________'s heart, to which indeed he was called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15).

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to__________(Jude 1:2).

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard__________'s heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

May__________be justified by faith, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify__________completely, and may his whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

(1 Thessalonians 5:23).

(ASV)

It's a battle: Got Armor?

2011-06-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

“Give ear, O my people, to my law;

Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children,

Telling to the generations to come the praises of the Lord,

And His strength and His wonderful works that he has done.

Psalm 78:1-4

Well it is day 10 of the 21 days of Prayer for Sons which I have been participating in. While I have been so blessed by the encouragement and wise words that Brooke Mc Glothlin has shared in her ebook Warrior Prayers, I have to confess that it has not been a cake walk. The enemy has been on the prowl discouraging me in so many ways and by reminding me of my failings and causing me to doubt that anything good will happen from this. He has even used the voice of earthly people in my life to make me doubt what I am doing. However, I know this must be the enemy, because what I am doing is what God has encouraged us to do as parents…pray for our children and raise them up in HIS WAYS!

One example happened today when we were with some family and the boys were interested in watching a movie, and when my son asked my permission I had to tell him “no”. It was difficult to stand up for what I believe is right for my children, especially when it makes them stand out as “different”, or as “a party pooper”. It was bothering me all the way home. Then while I was making dinner, my daily encouragement from A Heart at Rest devotional flip calendar by Nancy Leigh DeMoss was as follows:

“As easy as it is to shift blame to peers, entertainment, or secular culture, the fact is parents are accountable for the spiritual condition of the flock God has given them to shepherd.”

And the scripture that was referenced was

“I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them”

1 Samuel 3:13

Why did this encourage me that what I was doing was right? Because I am responsible for my children’s spiritual conditions and I need to guide them through this world protecting them from things that will corrupt them and teaching them what is right in God’s sight. I trusts that the Lord will help them understand in time so that when we (their parents) are no longer there, that they will choose what is best according to the Lord. This is certainly my prayer.

Then I read my daily devotional by Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries and he referenced Psalm 78 which talks about how gracious and kind God is in continually providing for His people, taking us back and loving us in spite of our rebellious ways. Several places he talks about how we need to make known to our children and other generations of His commands to us. For example:

“For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Psalm 78:5-8

So I continue on in this battle with the enemy of our souls for the heart of my children. When we were on our way to spend time with family today, I was thinking about this prayer experience and the following picture came to my mind.

When there are battles, soldiers are called to battle. If you are in the frontline or on the battlefield, the fiery darts come at you and you are prepared with all your armor and your weapons, because you are expecting them. If you are on the side lines, you are less likely to expect a dart to hit you, although there is a chance that that will happen. So as I look toward the next 11 days on this journey, I am securing my armor and taking up my weapons and will be battling for the precious hearts of my

Please share with me your thoughts or encouragement by commenting on this post. I would love to hear from you!

Warrior Prayer: Day Ten "Joy"

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"The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." ~Psalm 28:7

Often, we can lose our joy in raising our sons with special needs. We can get so focused on the issues that we face because of their behavior, the intense schedule we may lead to help them with their health or their learning challenges, the lack of progress or all the effort we expend with little results seen that we can't rejoice and have joy. Whatever your issue, I want to encourage you to have JOY, on this road you are on with your boys. When things get difficult, turn your eyes to Jesus so you can be saved from the dungeon of depression. The one thing that has helped me is to repeat Phil 4:8 out loud when I am at the end of my rope. We can have joy in raising our boys!

Encouragement from Brooke

What is joy really? And if my strength comes from the joy of the Lord (Psalm 28:7),then what does the joy of the Lord really look like?

As I write these words, I'm struggling with a deep desire to be grumpy and complain. Most days I handle my husband's crazy shift-work schedule pretty well. But today? Well, today I feel like complaining. So how do I find joy and strength from the Lord? Enough to make me "burst out in songs of thanksgiving?"

How do you?

Here's the secret: Focus on Christ. Focus on what He did for you (and for your sons) on the cross. I suspect we Christians have a tendency to misunderstand the phrase, "placing our trust in Christ." Placing our trust in Christ isn't something we did once and never do again. Salvation may be a once and forever event, but trusting in Christ is ongoing. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross to be important enough to change my grumpiness to gratefulness. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross to get me through a rough day with my children. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross to be enough when I'm enduring tantrums in the grocery store. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross when my sons choose their own will …

Goal for today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers in the joy chapter during day ten.
Ponder this? Christ's work on the cross was never intended to be something we took joy in one time and then never again. Thinking on His work and embracing it with a heart of gratefulness is enough to make even the grumpiest among us "burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” No matter where we are, or what we're experiencing, we CAN find joy in focusing on all that Christ has done and made possible through His death and resurrection.

Joy

May the joy of the Lord be __________'s strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

May__________be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

May__________go out in joy and be led forth in peace (Isaiah 55:12)

May the God of hope fill__________with all joy and peace as he trusts in him, so that he may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

May__________go to the altar of God, to God, his joy and his delight (Psalm 43:4).

May__________count it all joy when he meets trials of various kinds, as the testing of his faith produces steadfastness. May he let steadfastness have its full effect, that he may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:1-4).

May__________know that while weeping may tarry for the night, joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5).

May__________be imitators of us and of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

May the God of hope fill__________with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit he may abound in hope (Romans 15:13).

May__________know that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Warrior Prayers: Day Nine "Love"

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” ~Galatians 5:22

This has been one of my favorite verses for many years now. My dining room is decorated with the fruit theme and this scripture adorns plaques in my dining room and in other areas of my home. It is a scripture that I need to remember all throughout my day, and it is one I do not attain on many occasions, but it the benchmark for my life and how I desire to be.

I have used this scripture with my boys in the last several months when talking with them about their behavior. I ask them what the "fruit of the spirit" is and they usually will recite it stubbornly, and then if I have them recite it again, as they are reciting it, it is amazing to see their spirit start to calm. The power of God's Word is truly amazing!

Encouragement from Brooke

Today we take our first step into one of my favorite verses to pray for my sons. I pray it most every day, if not in its entirety, at least in part. If I could only choose one verse to pray for my boys for the rest of their lives this one would be my second choice (behind Ezekiel 36:26), because having a heart full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control just about sums up everything I want for them.

I've thought for years that love can't really be all that it should be apart from God. The Bible says that God IS love. For us mathematicians, using the word "IS" is the same as using the word "EQUALS." In other words, God and love are one and the same. There is no real love apart from God, and God is behind all real and genuinen acts of love.

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." ~1 John 4:8

Goal for today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers on love in the chapter on the fruit of the Spirit during day nine.
Consider how you can make changes in your life and your vocabulary to help our sons understand the true meaning of the word.

Love

May__________ not love the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:15).

May our sons love one another, for love is from God, andwhoever loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7).

May our sons love one another earnestly from a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22).

May our sons, when they become husbands, love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself (Ephesians 5:28).

May the Lord make__________increase and abound in love (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

May__________know that this is love, that we walk according to His commandments (2 John 1:6).

May__________not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to __________ (Jude 1:2).

May __________ love the LORD his God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might (Deuteronomy 6:5).

May__________know that this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).

Warrior Prayers: Day Eight "Honor"

2011-06-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

"But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good."

Romans 2:10, NLT

Encouragement from Brooke

There may never be an opportunity for your sons to rush to the aid of a damsel in distress or defend her honor like in times of old, but it never hurts to use stories of a knight in shining armor to teach them about honor.

I happen to have young sons in my home. They love an epic battle of good versus evil and it's not unusual to see them running (yes running … I've almost decided it's useless to scream "WALK!”) around the house with makeshift capes and swords hunting bad guys and jousting to the death. And they love to attack their daddy, as he holds me down and tickles me, defending my honor.

I came across a book recently that perfectly illustrates the type of men I hope my sons will become. It might surprise you to know that it's written for girls. The book? The Princess and the Three Knights, by Karen Kingsbury. Look beyond the surface moms. Even you parents of older boys may want to purchase a copy of this book as a gift for your sons. Its presentation makes it a perfect fit for a girl. But its message is for girls and boys. The only knight good enough to win the heart of the princess was the one who would do anything to protect her. That's the kind of honor I'm praying for in my sons.

Goal for today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers in the honor chapter during day eight.
Moms of older boys, maybe this challenge will encourage you to clean out your children's book library and give some of those treasures away to moms who need them. Or maybe you'll tuck the best of them away for grandkids. Either way, look at the heart of the story and see which ones can teach your boys (big or little) about honor. It's never too late to learn.

Honor

May__________know that both riches and honor come from God, and that He rules over all (1 Chronicles 29:12).

May__________fear the Lord, and receive honor (Psalm 15:4).

May the LORD bestow favor and honor upon__________. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

Lord, be with__________in trouble; rescue him and honor him (Psalm 91:15).

May__________honor the LORD with his wealth and with the firstfruits of all his produce (Proverbs 3:9).

May__________be wise and inherit honor (Proverbs 3:35).

May__________honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor

(1 Peter 2:17).

May__________honor his father and mother, for this is the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:2).

May__________honor the face of an old man (Leviticus 19:32).

May __________do good, and receive glory, honor and peace (Romans 2:10)

Warrior Prayers: Day Seven "Servant's Heart"

2011-06-14T01:30:00.000-07:00

"The greatest among you shall be your servant." ~Matthew 23:11

Encouragement from Brooke

My husband has a servant's heart. It's his gifting. When he sees a need, he serves. When he doesn't know what else to do, he serves. During the first trimester of both of my pregnancies, when I was so sick that I couldn't keep up with the house, he did it all for me. He never asked what I needed. He never complained or whined. He just did what needed to be done. I often joke with people and say that he had no idea what to do with me, so he just took care of everything else!

Jesus led by serving.

I don't know if we can say that Jesus' gifting was to serve, after all, He was God. He didn't have to serve anyone. Neither do we. We don't have to serve others. But Jesus did. And He said that if we want to be first, we'll need to be last. He said that loving others, serving them, was serving Him--loving Him.

Goal for today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers in the servant's heart chapter during day seven.
Try finding ways to serve with your family. Take meals to families in your church who need help, participate in a Walk for Life for your local Pregnancy Center so they can meet the needs of women in unplanned pregnancies, or help serve soup to those less fortunate than you in a local Soup Kitchen. Find ways to teach your sons the value of serving others.

Servant’s Heart

May __________ be a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1).

May__________follow Christ; and where He is, may__________be also. If anyone serves Christ, the
Father will honor him (John 12:26).

May__________be like Moses, faithful in all God’s house as a servant (Hebrews 3:5).

As the Lord’s servant, may__________not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently

enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24-25).

May__________not use his freedom to satisfy his sinful nature. Instead, may he use his freedom to serve others in love (Galatians 5:13).

May__________use his spiritual gifts to serve others, as good stewards of God’s varied grace (1 Peter

4:10).

May__________serve wholeheartedly, as if he were serving the Lord, not men (Ephesians 6:7).

Let__________be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and let him offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28).

May__________be a servant, for the greatest among us shall be servants (Matthew 23:11).

May__________fear the LORD his God and serve him only (Deuteronomy 6:13).

Warrior Prayers: Day 6 "Purity"

2011-06-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

"And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure"

1 John 3:3

Things have changed in the world since I was little. You can hardly go down the street or freeway without having a totally inappropriate picture on a billboard right there to be a stumbling block for men and boys. It seems like we can see what Paul warned us of in 2 Tim 3:1-7 happening right before our eyes. Purity is so important in all our lives, but is so difficult for men in the area of purity, because pictures and messages are EVERYWHERE. Each day, we should be lifting up our boys and our husbands, because they need the shield of protection to keep them from the firey darts of the enemy in this area. If he can destroy the leaders in our homes, he is better able to bring down the whole house.

Encouragement from Hal & Melanie Young

The past ten years have brought a brutal assault on the purity of young men. Where it used to be that a young man had to happen upon a stash of wickedness in an uncle's footlocker for a few stolen moments or risk his reputation to go buy something in person at a store, now the evil comes looking for him. The average age of porn exposure is now 11 years old!

So how do we prepare our guys for this huge battle that is about to face them? How do we help them be strong and stay pure, so that one day they'll be knights in shining armor for their brides? We've got to get there first and be "the first with the most," as General Nathan Bedford Forest, the Civil War cavalry commander used to say. We need to be open and honest with our boys starting while Mama still gives them their bath and continuing through graduation and beyond--explaining and answering their questions, but especially putting it all in to the context of God's gift for marriage alone. Establishing that frankness and communication from the very start will really pay off when they enter the testosterone years.

Understanding what's going on is not nearly enough for our boys, though, especially as they become teens. We need to prepare them to look for the snares our enemy lays for them, give them tools to help them fight temptation, and make sure they have accountability that helps them stand firm. Too many mothers we talk to are in denial that their sons are old enough or sinful enough (hint: we all are) to face these temptations. That's sad, because their sons need their help!

We can help them, too, by praying for them. We need to pray for protection for them and pray they'll be strong enough to flee temptation - and pray for the princesses they will one day claim!

*Want to find out more about this topic? Hal and Melanie talk about these things in the "Love and War" chapter of Raising Real Men and in their new workshop CD: "Shining Armor: Your Son's Battle For Purity."

Goal for today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers in the purity chapter for each son.
Commit to praying for your husband in this are as well, and consider praying it regularly.

Purity

May__________have love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

May__________hope in God and thus purify himself (1 John 3:3).

May__________have religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unstained from the world (James 1:27).

May__________think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may he think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

May__________be like the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

May there be no violence in__________'s hands, and his prayer be pure (Job 16:17).

May__________be pure, because even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright (Proverbs 20:11).

May__________'s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that he may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).

How can__________keep his way pure? By guarding it according to God’s Word
(Psalm 119:9).

May__________be blameless and innocent, a child of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:15).

Warrior Prayers: Day 5 "Pride"

2011-06-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

"A mans pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor"

Prov. 29:23

The other day I was with my 5 year old and he did something that he marlveled over and then proceeded to say "I'm so good at that". I cringed at the pride he had just displayed by boasting in himself. I proceeded to stop him and told him that it was great that he was able to do what he did, but I told him you can say "I did it", but let's not be boastful and say "I'm so good at that". As he does continually through the day, he said "why". I told him that we boast in the Lord and what he has done, but we don't speak about how wonderful we are, because that is boasting. I'm not sure if he understands that at his age, but I hope he will eventually get it. Hopefully we can teach our boys humility and to be proud of their accomplishments in a balanced and biblical way.

Encouragement from Melissa Smallwood

(creator of Multitaksing Mama)

Praying for my boys has changed as they have gotten older. Watching their personalities, talents and spiritual gifts emerge provides the opportunity to pray specifically for the men they are becoming. My mama heart used to pray, “God, help me be the kind of mom they need,” but as they have moved into the tween/teen years that prayer has changed. “God, help them become the men you created them to be” is what I utter now.

That man may not always be what I pictured in my mind, when they were toddling around and getting into everything. None of my three boys are anything alike and none of them are what I pictured they would be when they were still small enough to sit on my lap or welcome my kisses. And that is OK.

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to “Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Amplified Bible). Prayers for our sons must be individual to that child, and sensitive to the one of a kind man God has designed each of them to be. Whether my boys grow to be doctors, pastors, or drive a milk truck, as long as they are living their lives for God’s glory, my mama heart should be pleased and satisfied.

All three of them are uniquely and wonderfully created. Praying for God to shape their hearts, trusting the master Potter He is, has allowed me to relinquish control of the outcome and cherish my role in the process of learning who they will become.

As they grow, up and away – as is God’s plan – my heart’s cry to Him is that they will lead lives pleasing to their Creator {and that they will visit their mama frequently}.

Goal for today:

Commit to praying the ten prayers in the pride chapter during day five.
Consider the any single moms in your life and add them to your prayers. Pray that God will bring a godly man into her son's life to show him what a holy laying down of pride looks like.
If you are following along, I would love to have you comment below and let us know how you are doing.

Pride

May_________not have a haughty spirit, for pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a

fall (Proverbs 16:18).

May_________be lowly in spirit and obtain honor, for one’s pride will bring him low, but he who is

lowly in spirit will obtain honor (Proverbs 29:23).

Lord, make__________turn from doing wrong and keep him from pride (Job 33:17).

Lord, please break__________‘s proud spirit (Leviticus 26:19).

May__________take advice and gain wisdom, for with insolence comes nothing but strife

(Proverbs 13:10).

May_________not be a “Scoffer” the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride

(Proverbs 21:24).

Lord, give us the pleasure of taking great pride in_________, being filled with comfort

(2 Corinthians 7:4).

Let_________test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his

neighbor (Galatians 6:4).

Let not the foot of arrogance come upon__________, nor the hand of the wicked drive him away

(Psalm 36:11).

Let_________talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from his mouth; for the LORD is a

God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed (1 Samuel 2:3).