A beautiful smile!
But sad eyes.
What's behind them? What pain do you try to hide? What can I pray for? How I can help?
Would you ever dare to tell me? Or someone?
May the Lord heal your heart and bring the light back to your eyes, my friend.
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Sad Eyes
A beautiful smile!
But sad eyes.
What's behind them? What pain do you try to hide? What can I pray for? How I can help?
Would you ever dare to tell me? Or someone?
May the Lord heal your heart and bring the light back to your eyes, my friend.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yea for Fifth Grade! :)
"You
can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to
learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as
long as he lives." ~Clay P. Bedford
I like that quote, but, really, I don't need to do much "creating" of curiosity in my son. He's curious from the moment he wakes up in the morning until his sweet, long eyelashes finally rest upon the tops of his cheeks for the night.
That's why we're having a great school year so far this year! Well, it's only been four days, but still.
The curriculum I'm using this year, The Weaver, is right up his alley, and he is loving it so far. I'm enthused as well because I'm learning right along with him! This week we've been studying cities and rocks and all kinds of topics that go along with those. We've been a-studyin' maps and globes and have "been" to so many cool places. We've read fascinating books, explored the great outdoors, and used a glue gun--the same glue gun I've had in storage for years. This was "Sww-eeet!!" according to Little Mister. :)
Yes, I think we're going to like 5th grade. :)
Some First Day Photos:
This isn't necessarily a school-related thing, but I love this "Letters Between Mama and Me" book. Got this idea from Pinterest (big surprise, I know): Just buy a 50-cent composition book from Walmart, a $1 roll of clear shelf covering from Dollar Tree, and then print off either a girlie or a boyish "Mama and Me" label here. You can get the rest of the instructions there. I initiated the book by writing Little Mister a letter on the first day of school. He really liked it, and I know he will eventually write back. I can't WAIT to see what he says. He has written us the things on his heart many times, and each message is a precious keepsake. This will be an easy way to keep them together in one place. ;) (His father has expressed interest in having a "Dad and Me" one made, too.) ;)
Some of the notebooks we're using this year.
I heart my white board wall!! :)
For some reason, this pic makes me think he found a new way into Narnia. "Follow the light!" lol
This is really weird, but I love the back-to-school boxes of tissues. lol
Someday we might get a "real" globe, but this one is more fun (and durable!) for now. :)
That's why we're having a great school year so far this year! Well, it's only been four days, but still.
The curriculum I'm using this year, The Weaver, is right up his alley, and he is loving it so far. I'm enthused as well because I'm learning right along with him! This week we've been studying cities and rocks and all kinds of topics that go along with those. We've been a-studyin' maps and globes and have "been" to so many cool places. We've read fascinating books, explored the great outdoors, and used a glue gun--the same glue gun I've had in storage for years. This was "Sww-eeet!!" according to Little Mister. :)
Yes, I think we're going to like 5th grade. :)
Some First Day Photos:
This isn't necessarily a school-related thing, but I love this "Letters Between Mama and Me" book. Got this idea from Pinterest (big surprise, I know): Just buy a 50-cent composition book from Walmart, a $1 roll of clear shelf covering from Dollar Tree, and then print off either a girlie or a boyish "Mama and Me" label here. You can get the rest of the instructions there. I initiated the book by writing Little Mister a letter on the first day of school. He really liked it, and I know he will eventually write back. I can't WAIT to see what he says. He has written us the things on his heart many times, and each message is a precious keepsake. This will be an easy way to keep them together in one place. ;) (His father has expressed interest in having a "Dad and Me" one made, too.) ;)
My first-ever E-bay purchase! These are some used history books I "won" for a great price! Why did I take a pic of them? Hmmm . . . I guess just because I was excited to have bid and won the first time I tried the E-bay thing. :) Not to mention how exciting it is when the mailman rings the doorbell because he has something besides bills to deliver.
Our prayer box. I have one of these that I use for my own personal praying, so I can easily remember the many prayer requests people have. I decided to make another version of it for our school prayer time. I really feel that one of the best ways for LM to gradually grow out of that childlike self-centeredness is to pray for others! Behind each category are index cards with a person's or family's name(s) and what we are praying for them about. We each pray for the first one or two in each category each day and then put the cards in the back of that category. All the requests will be prayed for time and time again, as many times as they make their way to the front of the pile before the Lord answers one way or another. Some, like missionaries, will stay in the box indefinitely and are prayed for even if nothing in particular is "wrong." The "verses" in the front are what we are memorizing, and the "virtues" in the back are things we are working on building in our lives.
When we pray for the missionaries and the countries in which they are serving, we find the countries on the globe and then look them up on this Voice of the Martyrs map to see if they are "hostile" or "restricted" countries when it comes to Christianity.
I heart my white board wall!! :)
For some reason, this pic makes me think he found a new way into Narnia. "Follow the light!" lol
Some posters
This is really weird, but I love the back-to-school boxes of tissues. lol
Someday we might get a "real" globe, but this one is more fun (and durable!) for now. :)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Healing Rain
Oh, how we have needed rain. For weeks and weeks our community has watched as the parched earth around us has cried out with its brown crispness, almost audibly pleading with the Lord along with us to replenish its moisture with rain. Some of the trees have lost their will to stretch their hands toward the heavens and have instead withered limply, seemingly giving up hope. Word has it that some farmers have contemplated (if they haven't already done it) tilling under their crops and starting over, with the hope of having a late harvest of something instead of nothing.
The songs "Let it Rain" and "Healing Rain" have come to mind a lot in recent weeks. It's hard to know sometimes what the Lord has in mind when he bestows or holds back.
But we know He loves. Provides. In HIS timing.
Yesterday we got a little rain. Last night we got A LOT! This morning we got even more! Never has thunder sounded so wonderful. :)
Little Mister, naturally, wanted to go out and play in the rain. How in the world could I say no to that? Heck, I wanted to join him! Of course, it looks a little more dignified for Mom to be playing outside with a camera in her hand, right? (wink, wink)
Happy are the grubby-shoed feet of a boy outside on a rainy day! :)
One night and morning of rain is probably not enough to restore all the damage of drought in our community, but it's plenty to heal the thoughts of doubt that it will ever rain again. It's enough to lighten our spirits and renew our hope!
The songs "Let it Rain" and "Healing Rain" have come to mind a lot in recent weeks. It's hard to know sometimes what the Lord has in mind when he bestows or holds back.
But we know He loves. Provides. In HIS timing.
Yesterday we got a little rain. Last night we got A LOT! This morning we got even more! Never has thunder sounded so wonderful. :)
Little Mister, naturally, wanted to go out and play in the rain. How in the world could I say no to that? Heck, I wanted to join him! Of course, it looks a little more dignified for Mom to be playing outside with a camera in her hand, right? (wink, wink)
 |
| A rain dance, I guess. IN the rain! :) |
 |
| I adore the pure boyish joy of this pic. :) |
Rain after a drought is as refreshing to the human soul as it is healing to the parched ground and all that live in and because of it.
 |
| A pair of old, grubby shoes is a must to have around for my boy. |
 |
| About to stomp, I'll bet! |
 |
| Always a stick in hand. Always something to explore . . . |
 |
| . . . because only those with their eyes open will find a "treasure" like this! |
 |
| A cicada shedding its shell is the perfect thing to observe on a summer afternoon! |
One night and morning of rain is probably not enough to restore all the damage of drought in our community, but it's plenty to heal the thoughts of doubt that it will ever rain again. It's enough to lighten our spirits and renew our hope!
 |
| Changed into flip-flops at some point. :) |
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| Mud . . . it's a wonderful part of childhood. |
Friday, March 2, 2012
Desperate!!
Oh, my goodness, I sometimes have become SO very upset with my precious son over the years. I mean, really, really upset!
Not that I haven't had reasons for concern, don't you know. Certainly it is in my job description to help my charge learn to avoid the wayward ways and coach him along to the paths of righteousness. Now, as I've shared before, I'm working on doing so in gentle ways.
But sometimes I haven't felt gentle. I have felt frantic! Desperate!
It finally hit me the other day what my problem is. I'm trying to be the Holy Spirit to my child. Time is flying by and I have felt like it's totally up to my husband and me to make sure Little Mister is the way he's supposed to be by the time he leaves our nest. Not that I haven't given credit to the Lord for His work so far, but I have added a burden to myself that God never intended.
It's not so much that my approach has been all wrong (though there's always room to learn and improve!), but the desperation I feel when Little Mister doesn't "get it" in my timing is not from God, and it often leads me to feel irritated or annoyed or some kind of upset which, though I try not to show it, I'm sure shows at times.
The truth is that there is no need to feel desperation. My job is to be faithful, to do the time-consuming, sometimes heart-wrenching stuff that God has asked me to do--supporting him in prayer constantly, teaching him to study God's Word, trying to be a good model for him, remaining consistent, remembering to praise the good, not making bad behavior worth it (allowing him to suffer consequences), balancing accountability and mercy (oooo, that's so hard to know how to do sometimes!) . . . the list of Mom's Jobs goes on of course . . .
But the results are out of my hands. They are between LM and his God. No room for desperation there. I simply (?) need to let go of that and trust . . .
Not that I haven't had reasons for concern, don't you know. Certainly it is in my job description to help my charge learn to avoid the wayward ways and coach him along to the paths of righteousness. Now, as I've shared before, I'm working on doing so in gentle ways.
But sometimes I haven't felt gentle. I have felt frantic! Desperate!
It finally hit me the other day what my problem is. I'm trying to be the Holy Spirit to my child. Time is flying by and I have felt like it's totally up to my husband and me to make sure Little Mister is the way he's supposed to be by the time he leaves our nest. Not that I haven't given credit to the Lord for His work so far, but I have added a burden to myself that God never intended.
It's not so much that my approach has been all wrong (though there's always room to learn and improve!), but the desperation I feel when Little Mister doesn't "get it" in my timing is not from God, and it often leads me to feel irritated or annoyed or some kind of upset which, though I try not to show it, I'm sure shows at times.
The truth is that there is no need to feel desperation. My job is to be faithful, to do the time-consuming, sometimes heart-wrenching stuff that God has asked me to do--supporting him in prayer constantly, teaching him to study God's Word, trying to be a good model for him, remaining consistent, remembering to praise the good, not making bad behavior worth it (allowing him to suffer consequences), balancing accountability and mercy (oooo, that's so hard to know how to do sometimes!) . . . the list of Mom's Jobs goes on of course . . .
But the results are out of my hands. They are between LM and his God. No room for desperation there. I simply (?) need to let go of that and trust . . .
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Three Wonderful Books :)
Besides the obvious, my Bible, there are three books which have been go-to resources for me for years now. I often reach for them before even getting out of bed in the morning. Before I tell you about them, let me explain the reason I love them so much.
We all want to be effective prayer warriors, right? I'm referring to those who believe in the power of prayer, that is. Sometimes it is simply talking to God about whatever comes to mind, but we are also to intercede for others, and that takes more time, thought, energy . . . even tears! One way of praying that I have found to be powerful and effective is to pray God's words right back to Him! Think about it. The Bible is not just a book of empty words and man's ideas. It is living and powerful and, well, capable of much! So why not use God's very own words to talk to Him?
I must not be the only one who thinks this is a good idea. There are at least three other people, the authors of these books I'm about to share. :) What each woman has done is taken Scripture about different topics. organized them for the reader/pray-er, and worded the passages as prayers.
Now, there is no "magic" here. This isn't hocus-pocus stuff. And the way these ladies have worded their prayers isn't the perfect or only way. A person can do this on his/her own, using a Bible, without buying books. The thing I like about the books is that they help me find the verses I'm looking for, the ones appropriate for what I want to pray for. I use these books pretty much every day.
Here they are:
Praying God's Word, by Beth Moore. This helps me focus on Who is in charge, and also has lots of verses for different things I might be struggling with on a given day. I think this might go along with one of her Bible studies, but I'm not sure. It's great on its own!
The Power of a Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian. Even if I don't want to pray word-for-word what she has written, Stormie provides the verses by category that go with so many important aspects to pray for my husband. Husbands/fathers have a huge responsibility, and our prayers help keep them going!
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, by Jodie Berndt. I love this book! There are verses in it I have prayed to the Father every day for years. It helps me so much as a mom to surrender my motherhood each morning to the only One who can truly change my son's heart. It makes a difference! I love that Jodie includes verses/prayers reminding us moms of our role, our responsibilities and what our attitudes ought to be. Sometimes a child's wayward behavior isn't the only problem going on! ;)
We all want to be effective prayer warriors, right? I'm referring to those who believe in the power of prayer, that is. Sometimes it is simply talking to God about whatever comes to mind, but we are also to intercede for others, and that takes more time, thought, energy . . . even tears! One way of praying that I have found to be powerful and effective is to pray God's words right back to Him! Think about it. The Bible is not just a book of empty words and man's ideas. It is living and powerful and, well, capable of much! So why not use God's very own words to talk to Him?
I must not be the only one who thinks this is a good idea. There are at least three other people, the authors of these books I'm about to share. :) What each woman has done is taken Scripture about different topics. organized them for the reader/pray-er, and worded the passages as prayers.
Now, there is no "magic" here. This isn't hocus-pocus stuff. And the way these ladies have worded their prayers isn't the perfect or only way. A person can do this on his/her own, using a Bible, without buying books. The thing I like about the books is that they help me find the verses I'm looking for, the ones appropriate for what I want to pray for. I use these books pretty much every day.
Here they are:
 |
Praying God's Word, by Beth Moore. This helps me focus on Who is in charge, and also has lots of verses for different things I might be struggling with on a given day. I think this might go along with one of her Bible studies, but I'm not sure. It's great on its own!
The Power of a Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian. Even if I don't want to pray word-for-word what she has written, Stormie provides the verses by category that go with so many important aspects to pray for my husband. Husbands/fathers have a huge responsibility, and our prayers help keep them going!
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, by Jodie Berndt. I love this book! There are verses in it I have prayed to the Father every day for years. It helps me so much as a mom to surrender my motherhood each morning to the only One who can truly change my son's heart. It makes a difference! I love that Jodie includes verses/prayers reminding us moms of our role, our responsibilities and what our attitudes ought to be. Sometimes a child's wayward behavior isn't the only problem going on! ;)
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