{31 Days} Day 20 ~Taking a new stance - on my knees

"...pray continually..." {1 Thes. 5:17}
Martin Luther, father of the Protestant Reformation, was known to be a man of prayer.  The "kneel before the Lord our Maker" kind of prayer.  I've heard tell that his knees were rough and calloused from this stance.
The Lord used Luther in amazing ways during a turbulent period in church history - Mr. Luther knew who wielded the Power, and he submitted on his knees to it.

And yet, it is so very difficult, I find, to commit to this manner of prayer.  Not merely getting on my knees to pray, but just praying at all!  It's tough for someone who is time, task, and schedule oriented (i.e. me) to stop and pray. And I think, perhaps, part of prayer is the yielding of time to the One who gave us time to begin with.
"[The sun] rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other..." {Ps. 19:6}

So a yielding of time (no matter what seems to be pressing heavy) to the God who set the sun and moon in their courses is a place to begin

Now then, WHAT should I be praying for?  I find that there are so many people to pray for and things to give to the Lord, requests to make, repentance, and rejoicing...it would take hours!!!  
I've read many different suggestions of ways to pray and I've narrowed my field down to two. (No, it's not a typo.  Yes, I said two.)

The first is to pray following the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication).  
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." {Phil. 4:6}
And when you pray in this order, pray scripture.  It's always amazing to pray God's own words.  In my mind's eye, when I pray straight from scripture, I sense that I've been ushered into a sweet and holy place.  I won't even try to describe it.

My second prayer focus is for my husband.  Daily praying for him, throughout the day and with specificity.
A dear friend passed on a suggestion of how we as wives can pray for our husbands.  I've printed mine off and begun the work of praying for Matthew daily and specifically. 
Here's the link:  http://www.reviveourhearts.com/articles/31-days-of-praying-for-your-husband/

My sisters in the Lord, the battle is on for our families; and our husbands are the prime target.  So I say this to myself and anyone who will take up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" - KNEEL before the Lord, ADORE Him, CONFESS to Him, THANK Him, & MAKE SUPPLICATION for your husbands before anything else.

Perhaps, one day, I'll discover little callouses on my knees from time spent in the work of prayer.

"The prayer of a righteous [wife] is powerful and effective." {James 5:16b}

~~~
Have a blessed and restful Sabbath!

{31 Days} Day 19 - How to land a blow to sloth...

Sloth - What a downright, grotesque word.  It's fine for the three-toed, slow moving, tree dweller, but for people?  Really.  However, I do think it deals quite plainly with our daily problem of misusing our extra time.

I realize that I haven't posted for several days, but it's not due to sloth.  I've just been downright crazy busy - and it's been amazing!  Ok, before you go clicking that little "x" at the top of your screen, just hear me out.  The busyness in the business of the last few days has been of a good kind.  God has used many moments (some a bit unpleasant and frustrating) to teach me more about His work.  The work of my sanctification through the Holy Spirit, through the tools of loving my husband, teaching and loving my children, being a keeper of my home, and using my gifts to serve others in the church and at large.

In considering God's work within my life, I decided to take note of specific areas he is working in which are pushing me forward to respond in a new and better way to his guidance.  This list (which, by the way, seems to keep growing) is what I want to share with you in the waning days of October.  Hopefully, I can keep up!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." {1 Thes. 5:16-18}

For today, I can make the choice to have joy.  It sounds kinda far-fetched, but we truly have a choice in this.  How often I have been blistering mad and boiled right over onto the kids! And then, after half the day is gone, I still feel like I'd prefer to stay mad and make everyone miserable!  And if I choose to live there, not only is everyone else miserable and running covert routes to avoid Mama, but I'm miserable and dark in my outlook.  Weakness sets in; reason is kicked out the door; sin is lurking for the chance to lay waste.  It's dreadful friends. All due to the choice to hold onto anger and grumpiness.

But we do have this thing called choice.  So when I feel justified in scowling at all the little blondies running around the house, or growling at my husband the moment he walks in the door from work, how can I choose joy?

Here's where I have planted my feet in this battle:  

"The JOY of the Lord is [my] strength." {Neh. 8:10}

"There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but JOY for those who promote peace." {Prov. 12:20}

Strength & Peace...How could I chose against those virtues?  

The strength of the Lord, which is His Holy Spirit, is also the same strength (or power) that raised Jesus from the dead!  {Take a moment to read Ephesians 1:19-20}

And His Peace - surpassing understanding, that guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus!

"And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." {Phil. 4:7}

Do notice, that this JOY and this PEACE cannot...can never...be separated from the Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Walk with Christ and the choice for joy becomes easier and the strength felt stronger and the peace so very safe.

{31 Days} Days 11&12~Planting, Watering, Bedding

http://www.stockfreeimages.com/

I began this post yesterday, but the pull of "Mommyyyyy!!!! Mommaaaaa!!!! Mom Mom Mom!!!" coming from every direction slightly overwhelmed me.  Thankfully, we were all outside, soaking in the cool breeze while warming in the sunshine.  October in South Carolina.

Several days ago we had turned the soil, mixed in some good earthy material, and laid in new plants.  It's been nearly four years and we're only really beginning to settle the house in it's space - ease it into the landscape.

It was just yesterday, then, that I had the chance to finish the work, adding the golden pine straw the keep the soil still and the water from evaporating away.

Kids were here and there; running, shouting, laughing, living.  Crazy, silly kids...I could use a boost of their energy!  But they needed me and I needed their lack of inhibition.

Daddy is away - hiking part of the Appalachian Trail with his buddies.  It's only been two days- feels much longer.  So the reinforcement won't be coming home for a few days.  I'm glad for his time to move and be manly.  Sleeping in the cold, under forest canopy, lighting the warming fire and chatting with good friends.  It's a good change.  He needed that kind of watering so that he might grow more.

I kept dragging the rake to gather the pine straw.  God is good and all He does is Good. He's turning much soil and setting the plants and watering them and bedding them down to protect their little roots.  The picture of God's great work in the lives of his beloved is reflected in everything.  "The good God is everywhere..." I once read.  Indeed, He is.

And now I listen to their bedtime chatter.  Anna is offering the comfort of God's omnipresence to her sisters. The same words of comfort that I shared with her this afternoon.

Oh my Father, make their roots run deep.
Hem [them] in - behind and before; lay your hand upon them.
For You created their inmost being; You knit them together in my womb.
May they praise You because they are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Search them, O God, and now their hearts; test them and know their anxious thoughts.  
See if there is any offensive way in them, and lead them in the way everlasting. ~Amen.
{parts of Psalm 139}
~~~
Fathers and mothers are the most natural agents for God to use in the salvation of their children (Spurgeon).

{31 Days} Day 10 ~ Hands that Feed the Family

*And Day 9? Well, the list of other activities, necessities, and obligations, let alone loves, filled up the day.  I hit the pillow not one bit sad at my not posting.*

~~~~~

Part of nurturing a family is feeding hungry tummies.  In my case, that means 6 other tummies grumble other than my own.  Being prepared with a weekly menu makes life so much easier!  And sometimes, making extra in order to cover a meal a few weeks down the road helps a great deal.

That, my friends, was my goal Saturday afternoon.  I was preparing pizza dough for supper that night and had decided to do a double recipe thinking that I'd have a quick-fix meal later on.

So, with pizza dough rising in the frig, our family headed out to an arts and crafts festival in our area.  I felt really glad that I had worked a little harder with my hands thinking forward a little further (which is often easiest done in the realm of meal planning).

At the arts and crafts festival, we met up with some our dear church family.  As we were leaving, Matthew looked at me and asked, "What do you think about having them over?"
It really was an easy answer, because I knew there'd be plenty to feed everyone.  Sure, my initial purpose in making extra was to supply a future meal need for my family.  BUT, these folks ARE our family.  We care for them deeply and know they care for us.  So it was a very natural, easy thing to say "Sure. Let's see if they're game."

What a blessing that evening was!  The pizza was good, but even better because the Lord had a greater purpose for me making that second batch of dough.

In light of this effort to not be idle with my hands (or time), I am sharing the pizza dough recipe that is tried and true.  I hope you enjoy it and find someone else to share it with.

Homemade Pizza Crust (from the More With Less cookbook)
1 cup warm water (just warm enough that you can still put your finger in it)
1 pkg. yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1 Tb. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tb. olive oil
-whisk these together, then add:
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
-whisk until blended and not lumps.
With a spoon, stir in:
2 cups all-purpose flour
Stir in until dough comes together in a ball.  Turn onto floured surface and knead until springy to the touch, 5-6 minutes. Place in greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place until double (45 min-1 hour).
This will make 2 medium pizzas or 1 large rectangular pizza.  I like to do a double batch and can get three nice pizzas out of it.
Top with your favorite toppings and bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15-18 minutes.

{31 Days} Day 8 - Catching my kids loving life

School was wrapping up for the morning, my big girls scrawling out their copywork at the table.  My boys running in telling me that they are soooooooo hungry.  In the middle of it all, Elly (my 4-year-old) comes up with a princess book in her hand.  "Mommy, can you read this to me?"

God is teaching me to slow down and see little people requests like this one as moments of blessing and connection.  Too often I say something like, "Can I read it to you after lunch?  The boys are really hungry and we're trying to wrap up our morning school work.  Would that be ok?"  And Elly generally says that it's fine with her.  However, I have begun to notice that "after lunch" doesn't happen!  Thus the lesson from the Lord.

"Sure, Elly.  Want to snuggle on the reading rug?" is my reply.  Trust me, there is no greater wonder than that smile she gives.  Beautiful...Stunning.

So she plops on my lap and we open the princess book.  It's an easy reader kind of book.  Sentences three words long or less.  It's ok, because Elly is all ears.  So we read how the princess dreams about dancing.  How she spins and twirls and poses in her loveliness.  And she meets the handsome prince who is enchanted by the princess and dances with her.

We read it through.  Then, Elly decides to be the princess.  So I read and Elly does each thing: she spins and twirls and poses.  Sadly, there is no handsome prince to be found (you see, a 3-year-old brother just won't do).  Where is Daddy when you need him?!

Well, Elly had a plan.  When Daddy gets home, she's gonna ask if he'll be her handsome prince and dance with her...all while Mommy takes a movie of it.  And that is exactly what she does.  And Daddy (as only Daddy can) gallantly accepts her request and hurries to look like a proper prince (suit jacket an all).

So I used my hands to take this movie.  I present to you "SnowElly and the Handsome Prince," with story read by Anna.

{31 Days} Day 5 - What if I'm not being idle?

© Fredvl | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

Did you ever consider that you can be idle, even though you feel like, and perhaps are, the busiest person in the world?

I truly found that I was always busy at something today:  at the church setting up for Sunday school class; preparing for an afternoon adventure by packing the cooler with supper items and drinks; sweeping and mopping the floors while we waited for Daddy to come home; getting on my knees time and again to talk to my children, addressing their needs or helping resolve a problem (working at keeping my words kind, listening respectfully, and allowing us both to learn from the mistakes); laundry (enough said); digging out my skirt pattern for tomorrow's {31 Days} activity.  I could keep going with all the normal, run-of-the-mill things that I do, but I found that the day zipped right on by!  Where did the time go?  And, oddly enough, what did I do in that time?  Sure, it's seems a silly question.  Especially after just making that list of what I did do.  But really, I feel that I was idle in something that would have totally set the day on it's ear, changing my mood and respective reactions to life situations.

I was idle in that I did not take sufficient time to be in God's Word.

God's perfect Word is so very important for the life-breath of each day.  Can you imagine getting up in the morning to discover that you only had half a lung?  How impossible would it be to carry on normal activity?! And yet I felt that very sensation.  Keenly aware of how great my need was of God, not just for today, but for every moment that I face.

In our ladies Sunday school class at church, we are working our way through Susan Hunt's book, Your Home: A Place of Grace.  She deals directly with the resources that are afforded the believer and how we must be using them.  Those resources are God's Word, God's Holy Spirit, Prayer, and the Church.

We need to be in the Word of God.  And the Bible itself testifies as to why it is so very vital to life.

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the our God stands forever."  God's Word is indestructible.

Isaiah 55:11  "...so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  It will not fail.

Hebrews 4:12  "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  
Ephesians 6:17  "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."  God's Word is our best defensive weapon.

Psalm 119:89  "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."  It is everlasting.

Proverbs 30:5  "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."  We have safety in God and in the truth of his Word.  It will be a good and faithful guide.

John 17:17  [Jesus prayed] "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."  I feel certain that Jesus knew exactly what he was praying.  God's Word is our truth.

So, my friends, when you feel like you throw back the covers in the morning (perhaps already hearing the sounds of life in the house and the 'ol brain hasn't quite kicked in yet) breathe first the Word of God.  Grab any verse that is tucked away in your mind and bring it forward - say it- again!  But breathe first of God and he will set the day on a good, pleasant path.  Perhaps not without it's ruts and rocks, but he will be our Guide and Aide in our times of focus and times of need.

{31 Days} Day 4 - Daddy's Hands, Folded Hands

Part One: Daddy's hands.

Daddies.  Powerful men, when they are doing what God designed them to do.  I am so thankful for my husband.  He is diligent in his work and diligent in his care for this family.  There are few things more calming than the knowledge that he is doing exactly what God had called him to do.  Doing it lovingly and with gusto.

One of those other calming things happened today when he came home from work.  Late last night, Matthew dug out an old Construx set that was his as a boy.  Today he introduced the children to the world of Construx.  The girls were fascinated, the boys eager to get their hands onto the cars and rockets and cranes Matthew was teaching them to make.
(Just an aside: I have to ask myself, "Why do we not do this more often?!"  The blessings are so amazing!  What is our deal?!
But God is a good, faithful, and patient (very very patient) Teacher. )

So, they were all there, in the safety of their Daddy, knowing his joy and focus was on them.  He was using his hands to love them, teach them, and enjoy his children.
~ ~ ~
Part Two: Folded Hands.

Today's goal: To turn to prayer when I was on the brink of idleness.
The apostle Paul said in his first letter to Timothy, "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or dispute." {1 Timothy 2:8]

Today I found to be a busy one.  Not a whole lot of "down time" to speak of.  There were, however, a few moments when I found myself just sort of wandering, looking for something that needed to be done (strange, there is ALWAYS something to be done in a house full of busy kids, homeschool, chores, etc).

In these moments I tried to pray some scripture out loud, along with prayers for my hubby, my children, my neighbors, family, friends... However, it felt a little - what? Mechanical?

I read a short article (actually a chapter from a book called Touch the World Through Prayer) about using praise excessively when we pray.    The very first statement the author put forth said, "There are many times when it is more important to praise God than to continue in petition.  Praise lifts your eyes from the battle to the victory, for Christ is already Victor, and you have Victor in your heart that you might have His victory in your life and in your prayer."

What a great thing!  We have victory already, so why not praise God for it?  Not only do we have victory, but we have answers to our petitions.  Sometimes it is hard to begin with praise because the pressures and needs seem to be so heavy and urgent. We live so often in the "tyranny of the urgent" that it's almost impossible to get our from under it.  But, it can be dismounted and, I believe, ultimately shaken off if we begin with praise.
Not just a little bit of praise, but abundant praise.  Praise of our Savior to the point of forgetting the grocery list we had ready to present to Him.  In the chapter I mentioned a moment ago, the author makes a terrific point.  "You will be far stronger spiritually if you build praise into your daily walk with the Lord...As you praise the Lord, worry flees.  Praise drives away frustration, tension, and depression.  Praise drives out the darkness and turns on God's light.  Praise cleanses the atmosphere of Satan's suggestions of doubt, criticism, and irritation.  Praise gives you a heavenly transfusion."

So tonight, as we tucked the kiddos into bed and folded our hands to pray, we focused harder on praising the Lord.

So we did our best, in our time of prayer, to have our hands folded and praising with more of our might.  Maybe not all of our might, like it says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, but we are still learning, being made more like Him with each moment of each day.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed

like the eagle's."

~Psalm 103:1-5

{31 Days of Using My Hands} Day 3 - Play

{"She watches over the affairs of her household..." Prov.31:27a)

If we were to take an accounting of every moment of our day, I think we would be stunned by the amount of time spent idle.  The distractions are everywhere: phones, computers, magazines, television...the list of things that take up time and don't often yield a return is extensive.

With this in mind, I made a goal for using my hands today:

For today, when I find myself reaching for the phone, gazing at a computer screen, mindlessly flipping open a magazine, or doing something that won't be profitable, I will replace that activity with an activity spent with my children.

That became my focus and caused me to be keenly aware of how I spent my time.  Granted, there were moments where I had been going non-stop with school lessons, trips to the bathroom with my newly potty-trained 3-year-old, changing diapers, sneaking in a chore here and there (you know, all those good motherly things to do) - I simply had to stop and sit to give my feet a rest!

But there were times where I caught myself simply idle.  And, PRAISE THE LORD, I found that I remembered my goal and went to my kids.

I gained little rug burns on my knees playing cars with my boys.  My lips were numb for a little while as I was required to make the proper car, truck, or digger noise.

I worked through a craft dilemma with Anna as she put together one of her recent birthday gifts.

Rachel gave me much to laugh about as she told me here "brilliant" idea for how to rearrange the living room furniture.

And I was put to shame by 4-year-old Elly as she beat me at Guess Who?, 3 games to 2.  Honestly, how did she guess I had Max while still having 10 of her little cards up?  Unbelievable!!!

So what was gained?  I enjoyed my children immensely.  I was grieved that I hadn't been more intentional about playing on my hands and knees with these Wonders more often.  As I wrapped my happy arms around each one and received their hugs and wet kisses, I was so overjoyed....I can hardly put it to words.  

The work I put my hand to today will surely have a greater impact than any crafty thing I make or meal I prepare or shirt I mend or wound that I bandage.

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands." ~Ps.90:17

This establishing is kingdom work.  And when our hands are set to do all for the glory of the Holy God, then his favor is upon us.  This was a day of good work and a lot less idleness.

{31 Days of Using My Hands} Day 2-Rosemary Wreath

I was briefly chastised by my loving husband for choosing the word "slothful" in my "31 Days" intro and Day 1 post.  He said, "I don't think you'll ever be slothful."  Ok, I reticent.  How about "idleness" instead?

Moving on!
Yesterday I tackled the rosemary bush out back.  I grew up in Iowa and never knew rosemary could be a bush - shrub - tree?  Now that I call South Carolina home, I am amazed at these things!

So the shrub had to be moved.  And if you move a rosemary shrub, you have to prune it.  And if you prune it, you not only end up rather aromatic (in a pretty nice way, I might add), but you must figure out what to do with all that rosemary.

Here are the options I felt worth considering:

Option 1: Throw it into the compost.  It might make the compost heap smell more pleasant.
Option 2: Eat it - all of it.  (I don't think so.)
Option 3: Give it away.  Yes yes and yes!
Option 4: Turn it into something, like - a wreath!

Here's how I used my hands (and the hands of my girls) today:

Crazy rosemary branches jammed into a bucket.

Three branches lashed together to be braided and then wrapped into a circle.

A finished rosemary wreath.

As when I pruned the shrub, I finished smelling like a rosemary shrub myself.  My thumbs and index fingers are sore from twisting florist wire around the stems, but I think the result is worth it.

So what will I do with rosemary wreaths (I ended up with 15 of them)?

I will give them away to my sweet sisters at church as we share life together.  As I worked with the branches, sorting them, binding them, braiding them, and the uniting the ends, I pondered life as the body of Christ.  As believers work, live, worship, rejoice, grieve, and fellowship together- our lives becoming intertwined- we should, in all our interactions, be leaving behind the aroma of Christ on one another, taking it to our homes and into our families and into the world.

I want to give that visual reminder to my sisters in the Lord.

31 Days of Using My Hands (or "An experimental rebellion against slothfulness") Day 1

I am so very tired!
I fell asleep reading a book for Sunday school and woke up uncertain of how long I had been asleep and where all the children were.  Thankfully, the boys were still napping and my girls were either reading or outside swinging.
I had to get moving or I'd be the proverbial zombie all afternoon.  So I jumped up, shook the tiredness from my arms and headed out the door.  After 30 minutes of digging dirt, unpotting new plants, and sinking their thirsty roots into the ground, I felt much refreshed and a little less irritable (did I forget to mention that I was very tired AND irritable?).

I've always known that the easiest way for me to combat fatigue and mental weariness was to get moving.  And while I move I pray or recite a memory verse.  It's always a good thing.  So why and how do I forget?

Being worn out is never easy.  Catching up on the sleep that was surrendered nine years ago with the birth of our first child seems like it will never happen.  Then there's the activity of family life, school life, church life, etc, etc, etc.  The spiritual and emotional life take a hit as well.

So I am going to do a month-long experiment with using my hands and getting moving as a way to combat "zombie syndrome" and refresh my body, mind, and spirit - all at the same time.  Nooooo, it's not a formula or recipe for getting life right.  It is, however, an experiment in rebelling against the temptation to become slothful (such a great word).  It may not always work and I will have to be sure to put my hands to something the children can join me in as well.  It will prove interesting, I have no doubt.  I also have no doubt that the Lord will use this in some way to teach me more about learning to trust Him and do all things for His glory and good purpose.

I'm joining hundreds of others in the challenge of blogging daily on a specific topic.  Check out http://www.thenester.com/category/31-days to see all the other links.

Day 1
I tackled my runaway, out-of-control, "take over the whole flower bed" rosemary shrub.  Living in the southeast is so very different from where I grew up in Iowa.  That's a no-brainer!  But the things that I knew as annuals there are more than perennials here.  They become shrubs and trees!
So my rosemary is totally out of control and needs to be moved.  Therefore, I must prune it.  So with two little boys happy to see digging tools and loppers, I head out to confront the rosemary bush.

Long story short, the bush is now in a different home, I walked away smelling like rosemary from head to foot, and I have a five-gallon bucket stuffed full of rosemary branches.  What do I do with it all?  How about a rosemary wreath?!  Check out tomorrow's post!

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