Prayer 101 - Go to the Lord First

My sweet daughter amazes me! At times it breaks my heart to think of how amazing she is. I know that sounds crazy but... I know my HC has a job JB will never have. HC must let me learn with her. I will learn when I am in la-la land with my thoughts towards her abilities and I will learn when I am right on track.

Recently I began noticing our reading time was becoming work again. We were doing well and then I started having to prod HC along more and more everyday. My frustrations were growing by the minute because I knew something was awry but I didn't know what to do about it.

My first instinct was to reach out to anybody and everybody with kids her age. Whether they were in school or homeschooled. I received a lot of vague answers that really frustrated me all the more. I didn't want to compare HC to those children specifically - I just wanted someone to say - 'try this'.

That didn't happen. Oh well, I picked up my big girl self and kept seeking an answer. It was then that I realized I failed to go to the maker of HC with this new issue. How I manage to forget this every.stinkin'.time. is beyond me. Who else has the key to HC and me? I guess I am a slow learner in asking THE Maker of my precious HC first. I pray I learn this lesson, and do so sooner than later next time.

So, prayer + Mom's night out with friends and a new friend (who happened to be a K-5 teacher in the public school before choosing to homeschool) = a little perspective = me choosing to make a few changes. Then my homeschooling friend MD mentioned having a bad day and that reminded me of something I read in a book over the last year. The book was "The Three R's" by Ruth Beechick. I wanted to read over that topic again and realized I never finished reading the book. Guess what was in the book - it was a little guide to help you decide if the little readers you choose are at your child's reading level or not.

I am not amazed that I had the answer to the cry of my Mommy heart all the time. Doesn't the Bible say "He knows what you have need of before you need it"? I had my own answer in my own hands all along. God is so good! He is really SO SO GOOD!

My daughter is so amazing to me - she just goes along, doing her best to accomplish what I ask her to do. She struggles with the tough stuff (even when it is beyond her abilities and beyond any 5 year old's abilities) and manages to complete the task at hand. I am so humbled by that. I am also so thankful that we, HC and I, are making huge progress over this homeschool experience. God has allowed me to goof big and to SEE IT CLEARLY AS A GOOF and I pray I remember these lessons daily. I want to teach my daughter not drag her through learning. My heart is full and broken all at once but the fullness overshadows the brokenness - Thank the Lord alone for that! I just had to share how good my sweet Abba is to me and my HC. He is ever near and always quick to lend a hand when I take the time to ask HIM! Oh that I would do that first next time!?

A time to pray

Hello all! I am finally feeling my strength return from my stomach bug episode. I despise being sick and I am beyond thankful that my family is usually well.

There are two issues that are on my heart today. A co-worker of my husbands is going through a battle. Her husband had back surgery 3 weeks ago and since the surgery he has not been the same. He forgets common things like how to drive home. He seems as though he is not himself. The examples can be so misunderstood that I won't share anymore but it seems like her husband of many years has disappeared before her eyes.

I cannot imagine the weight of the world she must feel. I am sure not many can understand the levels of warfare she is facing. She is a woman of faith and I know she must war with the thought that this could be forever. She trusts that God is her deliverer but I know she must war with the how will this change?

I pray for Linda now. I pray for Benny now.
Abba Father,
We come to you right now and lift up Linda and Benny. They are in a war zone for Benny right now and we know you see the details that we cannot. I ask you to surround Linda right now with your supernatural comforter. I pray that you will continue to envelope her in the times that seem to be too much. I pray that you will give her discernment and show her the secrets of what is going on. Let her ask questions or answer the questions of the Doctors in such a way as to provoke them to see what is glaring everyone in the face.

We know that Jesus died on the cross and that by His stripes we are healed. We call Benny healed. We know that with You Abba healing is perfection. You can bring Benny's body into complete alignment with Your Word and that includes a fully restored mind! We call Benny healed in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen and Amen!

Another area that has really troubled me lately is the anger of the youth. Seeing the videos of those girls attacking one another on the news is crazy. In the past when I've seen such acts of violence I immediately felt a sort of fear for my kids. This time I know we are in warfare for the youth of this country. There is a rage among them. We need to call out to Father God for their souls. Hurting people hurt people.

Father God,
We come to you on behalf of the youth of America. We repent for their rage. We take responsibility for letting them down. We do as Daniel did and we repent for their sin. We ask you to deliver the youth of America from this rage and from the pain that follows when someone is attacked. We pray that you would draw these kids by your Holy Spirit to You! We pray that you would continue to reveal attempts to cause massive deaths among our schools. We pray that you protect our kids. The ones who are ours and the ones who are not. They are ALL ours! We claim their lives for Your Kingdom. We claim their hearts for Your purposes. We call them the head and not the tail. We say that the ripple affects of pain would end today! That the victim would not become the attacker. We claim that the cycle of anger and fear and isolation would end and that these experiences would be replaced with the very peace of God. We ask for the peace of God to rule and reign and we see Satan fall like lightning from heaven! We see this cycle end today! You are victorious and you cause us to be victorious! We thank you and praise you for ending this cycle of rage in America! In the mighty name of Jesus! Amen!

I'm Me Again!!

Unfortunately JB is not photographed. My buddy was running and playing faster than a speeding bullet!! He was going non-stop!!!! You can't catch that kind of action packed fun on film! :)


This past Tuesday I took the kids to a play date with some of our friends. HC and JB ran and played and jumped and laughed for about 2 hours straight!!! We all met up at a local indoor space walk place. (By the way, our next Tuesday meeting is at COTH again. My kids are so over that play ground. Any local friends interested in meeting at Rec Station next week too, I still have BOGO coupons and I know that is where we will be - the usual time. Let me know if you are interested.) Back to the story, - the kids were tired and having fun!! It was time for lunch. I told the kids it was time to go and JB was NOT happy. A grumpy JB appeared right before my eyes but I ignored his reaction because I knew he was tired and hungry.

We were in the van, on our way to meet friends for lunch, and HC was chatting away! Then I hear JB say something and I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or not. I turned around and he said "Don't wook at me MOM. I talk to God." So I turned back around (surprised and wondering what he was doing). Then I hear "Dear God (hands together in the praying position - sooo cute) help me be JB. Help me be JB again in Jesus name. Amen." Then he says in a super happy tone "MOM!!! I'M JB AGAIN!! I'M JB AGAIN!! I'M NOT MAD ANYMORE!! I'M ME!!!!" I was so proud of him and so surprised that he thought to do this!! I was even more thrilled to see he truly let go of his grumpiness and we had the best time at lunch!! I am loving these quick glimpses God is giving me into my sweet kiddo's hearts!!!!!!! What a treasure!!

Precious In His Sight

I was in a small group with ladies of all ages during the fall. There were College age girls, Young Marrieds, Moms like me, Moms of College age kids, Empty-Nesters and Grandmas. Quite a fun mix!! I enjoyed my time with all these ladies thoroughly. There was a great nugget of wisdom that was shared and I finally put it to use!

One Mom said that she wished she had encouraged her kids to pray on their knees at an early age. She wished they knew the importance of humbling yourself in prayer at a young age. I've meant to try this and haven't until Tuesday night. We pray with our kids each night but we haven't bowed on our knees to do it. Hubby or I usually pray for them after they are tucked in.

So Tuesday night was our first go of this knew adventure. JB was fussy and tired so I just had him repeat a prayer I prayed and then tucked him in (initially he said "No Mommy. I not pray." He has learned that he can say no and lately he practices saying no a lot). I didn't know what to expect with HC. I went to tuck her in and told her what we were going to do. She was thrilled! I closed my eyes and started to speak a prayer for her to repeat, before I could speak she began her own prayer!

My heart was full of love and I was beyond proud of my sweet girl. She told God how thankful she was for her family and she named us one by one telling God how much she loved us. She thanked God for our neighbors (we don't really know our neighbors) and prayed for them to have peace. She prayed for peace in our home and that God would help her and JB to not fight. She told God she trusted Him and loved Him and thanked Him for taking care of her. Amen. (Her prayer was way more detailed than this. I am summarizing.)

I was teary eyed! This was stored up in my baby's heart! This was not prompted by me at all! This was her little heart's cry!! I was amazed. We prayed again last night and she brought me to tears with her passionate and kind hearted prayer! She was thankful, loving, full of praise and humble. This is my baby's heart! I am amazed! I love that she loves God and I love that she is thankful and I love that she is caring! She is amazing! She is amazing! She is amazing! I love sharing this journey with her! She asked me "Mommy, why are you crying?" I said "HC, you are the best prayer I've ever heard! It makes me happy to hear you pray and it REALLY makes God happy!" She giggled and was beyond excited to have this moment with me. SHE thanked me for praying with her and teaching her and she told me "Mommy. You are the best teacher ever ever ever! You always teach me good things!"

What Mom wouldn't be proud of this?

Please Pray

My heart is heavy! This morning I visited a blog of a friend (from our hometown) to find out that a Pastor in Baton Rouge lost his wife yesterday. They are a young couple and they were Pastors at Bethany World Prayer Center North!! I am shocked and ask that you lift up Joel Stockstill and his family as they go through the process of laying his precious wife, Amy, to rest. Here is a photo with a description of what is going on below. I found the picture on our former Pastor's blog, Pastor Dino Rizzo. How powerful to see the youth reaching out in mass!

"This is a picture that Jason Laird sent me earlier of nearly 1,500 kids outside of the Baton Rouge General Hospital, praying for Amy Stockstill. She is the precious wife of Joel Stockstill, who pastors the North Campus and the youth of Bethany World Prayer Center. This past Friday, the doctors gave her 48 hours to live, but the body of Christ is standing in prayer and faith for the Stockstill family. Let’s continue to press in."

As I continue to piece more info together I found that she died of a progressive form of cancer. From what I gather, her husband Joel is also struggling with kidney issues. This family needs a miracle still! Keep them in your prayers!