First Day of School Prayer

So today was the first day of Jessi's last year of high school, and Robby's first day of his last year of elementary school. Meanwhile, Jason is starting week three of college classes out in Colorado. Listen carefully friends, it is NO joke when I say, TIME MOVES TO FAST! I feel like I blinked and lost 5 years. 

I saw this prayer today and had to share it, and blog it so I could save it. It captures everything. 

El Shaddai,
Walk with them. Reveal Yourself—in ways old and new. Please be near.
Fuel their passions. Strengthen their resolve. Fill their hearts with peace and love.
When loneliness comes, be their Friend.
When fear overwhelms, be their Rock.
When the path seems hidden, be their Light.
When they are broken, heal their hurts.
When they doubt their calling, be their ever Burning Bush.
When they doubt You, show up big.

May they fall in love with learning.
May they discover new gifts.
May they steward well their money, their talents, their time.
May they discern Your truth and cling to it. Tight.

I pray for a church home where they can find community and be fed.
I pray for a mentor who will challenge them and cheer them on.
I pray for some life-long, life-giving friends.

Build into their being tenacity and resilience,
Patience and compassion,
Boldness and gentleness,
And a deep dependence on You.

When they trip and fall, or when they run headlong in the wrong way, be their Father. Pursue them relentlessly. Pierce their soul. Lift them up. Dust them off. And bring them back.

You are God

So, while I know this year will again fly by with a lot of new challenges for Jason, a lot of last times for Jessi and a world of growth for Robby, I pray that in all that this year brings, that my children will continue to grow in faith. 

Here's to another school year! 

When God Smacks You

Don't you hate it when you read a book and it smacks you in the face? Or, rather, that God sends this book to you and when you just start to think, 'oh this is pretty good', then BAM, a line direct out of the book is delivered directly to your heart? Yeah. That happened. I once had someone refer to those moments as a "Godbrick," when God smashes you with a brick because you just aren't seeing his more subtle clues.

I'm reading Interrupted, by Jen Hatmaker, based on a recommendation from a great friend, Denise. She obviously wasn't aware that this book would be brutal to me, or maybe she did... But either way, it's good. Very good. In fact, I've highlighted, dog-eared and highlighted some more all through out this book. I should have been clued in when the cover says, "When Jesus WRECKS Your Comfortable Christianity." Anyway, thank you Denise, you've wrecked me, or should I say blessed me.

This section right here blew me away. After days of praying and contemplating tithing, giving, how much to give, who to give to, can I afford to give, can I afford to REALLY give, will giving and tithing make a difference, where will my money go, yes I've pondered all these and more... Then, I read this: 

"We do not get to opt out of living on mission because we might not be appreciated. We're not allowed to neglect the oppressed because we have reservations about their discernment. We cannot deny love because it might be despised or misunderstood. We can't withhold social relief because we're not convinced it will be perfectly managed. We can't project our advantaged perspective onto struggling people and expect results available only to the privileged. Must we be wise? Absolutely. But doing nothing is a blatant sin of omission. Turning a blind eye to the bottom on the grounds of "unworthiness" is the antithesis to Jesus' entire mission. How dare we? Most of us know nothing, nothing, of the struggles of the poor." (pg 62-63)

God doesn't always tell us WHO to give to, he tells us to give. He doesn't specify only love this person, he tells us to love everyone. I have more reading to do, but know I am re-thinking my entire thought process on this. I know many non-Christ followers who live by this, they give freely of their time and money, just because they are purely GOOD people. A very strong atheist I know, stops and talks to homeless people everyday, because they are human too and deserve our time and understanding. Then, there are professed "christ-followers"who would NEVER stoop to do something like that because they would say that person needs to get  a job. There is such a wide spectrum here. I've given money to the homeless person standing on the street corner; yet, I've also ignored them. When we can't give money to everyone, what do we have to give? God's Love. 

My goals this year included, "Being a Light" to others. This can be done through sharing, caring, giving and many other ways. But turning a blind eye, will not help me be a light. It only shadows the light I have. 

"When Jesus' followers asked what to do about the weeds in the harvest field, He said to treat them the same as the wheat, "because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them" (Matthew 13:29). (pg. 63)

I don't have the answers to who, how, how much, when, etc... to give of my time, my money. But I have a much clearer direction, and wide open eyes now that I've been smacked in the face by God. We make it too complicated. Giving should come from our heart, it should be joyous and something that pours from us. I'm working on this. When the thought crosses my mind, "you should pay for that", "you should give this," etc... Instead of doubting myself or worrying who's watching, what they will think about it, or if I "CAN", I need to just follow the leading in my heart and "DO". I can do it. I can do anything he calls me to do. Now, it's just listening to that call in your heart, finding that passion, and seeing in what direction you are led to serve. 

ps. get this book! 

Giving...

I have never been a tither... There. I confessed it. I've slacked for way too long. Using all the "normal" excuses. We didn't have the extra money. I could barely afford bills, camps, and everything else the kids needed.

I decided as part of my New Year ~ New You resolution that I would start tithing. 10% of all my Beachbody income and working on adding the additional % of my normal income. It's tough. I'm not used to this. But, I listened to a great message (I missed it as we were gone from church that week), week two of the "Drive" series by Pastor Jeff Arnett Drive #2 - Jan 12th Sermon. It's not "extra" income that I need to tithe. It's giving that tithe FIRST. That tithe is for God, it's not extra. It's changing my mindset on HOW to give.

I'm accepting TVC's tithe challenge. 12 weeks straight.

"Give, and it will be given to you. 

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

In 18 Years

My son had to write a poem for school - here it is. He has no idea I'm sharing, but not that many people will see it here... I've realized that he is far wiser at 18 years of age, than I am at almost 40. I would like to think that he learned this from me, but I cannot take credit as I still struggle with this. He is wise beyond his years with a faith I only hope I will have. I'm proud of the man he has become and this is one of the main reasons, not his athletic ability or good grades, but his true Faith and leadership that he shares daily.