A Boy Named Daniel

I don’t normally post about someone’s personal life, just my own. 

But I’m making an exception. 

I asked.  They said it was OK.  And I am. 

Because this is important.

This may be one of my most important posts ever.

There is a boy and his name is Daniel.  I remember him vividly . . . as a baby.  My husband and I were in charge of Children’s Ministry at our church and poor Daniel got bit by another child. 

At the time, I was childless.  Only a dog owner. 

I once bit my sister but it happened when we weren’t at church.  This was at church.  And I was an overseer of the ministry. 

What to do!!!???

The incident passed.  Thankfully, Daniel’s parents didn’t hold it against the Engineer and I, though we weren’t the ones who bit Daniel.

I continued to bump into Daniel’s mom over the years.  She is now in my Young Living family.  I bought some birds from her this fall.  And chicken feet. 

Daniel’s mom and I email a lot.  We try to get together.  But we both are busy.  Now Daniel’s mom is really busy. 

Daniel was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. 

For this reason, I am asking you to pray.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

(James 5: 16b)

Today, Daniel and his folks were caught by surprise.  His Leukemia has decided to be a bit more generous than one would desire.  I’ll allow his dad to share,

When Daniel was first diagnosed with Leukemia, the doctors thought it was AML, a type that is more difficult to treat and has only a 60% success rate.  By that evening however, we were ecstatic to learn that it was in fact ALL which has a much higher 90-95% success rate.  The exact details though would be dependent on a final set of lab results that would be a few days.  So we've been waiting on those final results all week.  They would tell us whether certain genetic markers were present in the cancer cells that would move him from the “High Risk” category to the “Very High Risk”.  This would affect the treatment.  Well this morning we got the news that he does have these fairly rare markers and is in fact in the “Very High Risk” category.  What we were not aware of was that this also significantly reduces the chances of success for his treatment.  In fact, it puts us all the way back down to the same level as if he’d had AML to begin with … from 90-95% down to 60%.

I am asking you to pray.

When you eat.  When you rise. When you go to sleep.  When you walk.  When you pick up the phone.  When you do your dishes.  When you fold laundry.  When you throw a ball around this weekend.

Will you pray?

Imagine if this were your child.  Wouldn’t you want people to gather and pray?

Please let your church know . . . your prayer chains . . . you grandma who prays like crazy in the nursing home. 

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

(Matthew 18:20)

(By the way, Tim’s dad did say I could use any picture . . . and I like this photo. Andrea rocks.)

To learn more, you can read Daniel’s Caring Bridge page or follow his dad’s blog, Tim’s Thoughts. (Why don’t you put your mug shot up on his blog through Google Connect. . . let Tim know you showed up.)

Warrior Prayers: A Surprise Attack

The day started out calmly.  Followed by church.  Quiet Times.  And a short  nap.

But that solitude – it was only the calm before the storm . . . I mean water fight.

It was an unusual gift.  But it was a gift that made everyone happy, provided afternoon entertainment, could be reused,  gave the perfect excuse for purchasing such a frivolous gift being that it was Father’s Day, and most importantly was a toy.  

Boys men like toys.

At least, mine do. 

Let the games begin.

May Gabe go out in joy and be led forth in peace.  (Isaiah 55:12)

 

 

My our sons be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness.  (Titus 2:2)

 

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

 

 

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

 

May Asher, Ezra, Gabe (and Naomi) fear not, stand firm , and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for them today.  (Exodus 14:13)

 

 

May our sons not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.  (1 John 3:18)

 

     

May our sons turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.  (1 Peter 3:11)

 

May our children 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)

It was a good day.  A fun day.  The calm before the storm actually.

Because then things got rough.  I got rough.  Mean.  Angry.  With my words and voice, I acted like a machine gun.  Rapid fire.  Hot.  Stinging bullets. 

However, I asked for forgiveness.  I’m not saying that makes my actions this week ok . . . what I am saying is that if  you mess up . . . if you load the gun of your mouth – get on your knees and apologize to your children. 

Don’t just say, “Hey buddy, I messed up,” and move on.

Say, “Hey buddy can I talk with you?  I want you to know that I love you very much, but I made a big mistake today.  I didn’t show you love or treat you as Christ wants you to be treated.  I am sorry.  I ask for  your forgiveness for _______________.  I was wrong and I want you to know that I understand that I sinned.  Will you pray with me as I talk with God about it?  Do you have anything else that you want to talk about?”

Restore the relationship.  Yea, they might remember the day your mouth spewed hot lava . . . but they will also remember how you humbled yourself and asked for forgiveness.  Not just sorry . . . .

Forgiveness.

Warrior Prayers . . . how is it changing your life?

Like last week . . . leave a comment (and a link if you blogged about your week doing Warrior Prayer!)

Ummm . . . there are 74 of you and I only heard from a few . . . and even if you aren’t one of my 74 ladies . . . leave a comment if you are praying for your children!

Those Boys

Three times I was asked (in a span of a half hour) if all the children with me were mine.

Yes.

Yes, they are mine.  I remember well their births.  They. Are. Mine.

The one jumping like a frog in the middle of Trader Joes – he’s mine.  That one who hit you with my rather large collapsible cooler . . . he’s mine.  The short one with all the curls who keeps repeating to you that he is three . . . mine too. 

And this little one (who is in pink) that you thought was a boy . . . she also is mine. 

Typically, the comments don’t stop with, “Are these all yours?”  Nope, people just keep digging their holes.   “Well, you never know.  Boy, you must sure be busy.  Glad you finally got your girl.”

STOP!

Don’t get me wrong, I am OVER. THE. TOP. EXCITED. ABOUT. HAVING. A. GIRL!!!!

BUT . . . those three little boys are no less important.  And I cringe every time someone says to me, “You finally got your girl.  Poor thing . . . to have all those brothers.”

 Ezra is folding Naomi’s diapers.

To which I reply, “Oh quite the contrary, she is blessed.  Naomi has three boys who protect and defend her.  She is well loved and made to feel special.”

Why do little boys get the bad wrap all the time?  Kind of a rhetorical question.  I know why.  I have three boys. 

Notice how Gabe is tied to Asher’s horse?  Safe.  

I thought that perhaps they were abnormal.  Super energetic.  Maybe even drugged up on honey?

No.  They are boys.  Boys are active.  They jump.  They dare you to challenge their strength.  They gravitate towards danger and chivalry.  They are warriors in training . . . searching for someone to rescue. 

So . . . in short . . . as we enter our second week of praying for our boys, I’m finding that I feel blessed.  Instead of just saying that I am busy blessed, I truly am feeling blessed to have three sons (and one daughter). 

They challenge me.  But they teach me. 

(Asher just discovered he like to load and unload the dishwasher!)

Wanna share how you have been praying for your sons?  See this original post if you have no clue what I am talking about!

Otherwise, leave a comment with or without a link to your blog post (I was having difficulty getting the link to work).

Wordless Wednesday: Potty Time

I’ve had a companion the past couple of times.  He has spent the majority of his day in his own special chair. 

Beside me.  While I pray for him.

. . . . And I learn about grace.  The need to dish it about a bit more liberally.  Reply gently.  Make my voice and words like honey.  Have eye contact.

A gentle smile.  A kind look.

Even when the dog grabs the poop out of the potty and makes a bee-line for the great outdoors with her loot. 

I know . . . too much information.

So that they actually know I DID pray for them today. 

I, too, am applying what I am praying for them. 

If you are praying for your sons, today the focus is on obedience.  Are you obeying the Lord in the same way you are praying for your children?

Humph . . . this was supposed to be a Wordless Wednesday post.  Looks like I combined a plethora of thoughts today . . . kind of demonstrates what my day has been like.

The Motherhood Garden

I feel a little bit like my garden.  All winter it felt like my heart was cold and hard . . . filled with weeds.

Just like my garden. 

That is what happens when you ignore something.

As Indiana began to warm up, I found my heart thawing just a little bit.  At the same time, our garden began to transform with each day that we were able to spend outside . . .working in it.  Spending some time, attention, and care in it.

Investing in our garden, our soil.

With each soil amendment, my heart is getting nurtured.  Restored. 

I’m finding that I’m spending more time in my garden planning, preparing, weeding, and dreaming . . .and that in turn leads to more time in my heart doing the very same things.

A  crop is emerging. 

I’m so excited to discover what the produce will look like. 

What will my heart look like by the end of the summer?

The soil of my heart is being enriched with good doses of scripture (from my Precept Upon Precept study of Matthew), The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson with Good Morning Girls, 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae, and Warrior Prayers by Brooke McGlothlin. 

Only in the introduction, the words of Sally Clarkson are lining up with the Holy Spirit’s teaching in the book of Matthew. 

If I am going to provide “authentic strength that comes from the true foundation of a biblical world-view and a proper understanding of the real Christ who is worthy of worship,” then I too have to have a strength that comes from a true foundation . . . a foundation firmly grounded in knowing the Word of God. I have got to have a faith that is the same and looks real day in and day out . . . steady in any type of weather, around any type of person, or through a variety of circumstances.

I have been affirmed that my ministry (besides my husband) right now IS MY CHILDREN.  And that is OK. 

I don’t have to do all the things at church . . .women’s ministry, children’s ministry, VBS, etc.  Though they are all wonderful ministries . . . I need to make sure that I am tending to my home well. 

-- That my children know if we get in the car to go to church, mommy isn’t going to be yelling the whole way at them and then put on a happy face once that foot steps down on the church parking lot. 

Consistency.  Unconditional love.  Grace. 

Modeling truth even when we are in the garden.  The real garden.  Patience just to plant a seed.   Not blowing up when the entire packet is spilled, or a plant stepped on, or when my plant markers are snapped by inquisitive little hands.  Or when try as they might, little hands can’t get tiny seeds into a tiny hole.  Patience.  Grace when teaching.

In Matthew, I have learned that first John came to warn that the Kingdom of God was near, One was coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.   Jesus came announcing that He was the Kingdom of God.  Jesus then taught His disciples . . . and finally the torch was passed on to Paul.  Teach about the Kingdom of God.  Teach about Jesus.  Jesus is the Kingdom of God.

By applying what I am learning through The Ministry of Motherhood, I found a growing Asher standing beside me wondering how I came up with the symbols in my Bible; so, I taught him.  Why did I put a crown around that word . . . kingdom?

Everything in me wanted to scream, “Go Away!!!!  This is my time!”

But held my tongue and we read through Matthew 3. 

Baptism.

“Mom, I really want to get baptized.  When can I get baptized?”

Thank you, Lord.  Thank you for using a little boy’s inquisitiveness to color in his Bible so that he would learn about baptism.  Affording him the blessing and opportunity of showing others that he believes in Jesus (despite ME!). 

And that in turn led to the Engineer getting baptized. too.

What if I had been harsh?  Shown frustration? 

Kind of like when you pull too aggressively to thin your plant transplants.  You kill both the good and the bad.

Thankfully, I listened.  I shared about the Kingdom of God with Asher.  What an amazing time for the nation of Israel!  1 Samuel speaks of the nation rejecting God being king over them . . . and now . . . here is Jesus returning . . . returning to be their King!!!!!  And though many rejected Him . . . many listened. 

Good stuff is growing here . . . good stuff. 

• Don’t forget to share about your quiet times here . . .
• Your children’s quiet times here . . .
• And sign up to be a part of my online group for praying for our sons collectively for 21 days . . . you do not have to have a blog to participate . . . only email or a phone at the very least so that I can encourage you. 

I am linking up with Jolanthe over at No Ordinary Moments for the Good Morning Girls and with the Homeschool Village to share how are gardens are growing . . .

By the way . . . here is a picture made from locally grown produce . . . but not my own . . . yet!

Watching and Copying

I can’t get away from it . . .  them . . . God’s Word . . . nor do I want to.

Due to the importance of these words . . . I am compelled to place them upon our walls.  In fact, Hannah has been commissioned to create such a wall hanging for me.  (Remember you could win the Shamah {or any Scripture wall hanging for that matter}.)

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  (Deut. 6:4-7)

I have seen evidence of this Scripture at work in my children’s lives.

Because, as I am sure you know, children model what they see . . . the good and the bad.

Which warms my heart and scares me all at the same time. 

Because I have boys.

Because I have a little girl.

Both boys and girls need to know God’s Word . . . but so does their mommy.

What if there comes a day when my children don’t see their mom sitting on the couch reading her Bible, journaling, attempting to put God’s Word into her heart?

Scary.

If I’m not in God’s Word then do you know what else I’m not doing?

I’m not praying.

This is potentially even more frightening. 

I haven’t been sitting on that couch.  But my son has.  And he told me that he was because that is what I do for them. 

You see, though he hasn’t seen me reading my Bible recently, it is ingrained in his memories of me before my Bible in the morning, he assumed that somehow, somewhere I am still managing to find time to sit before my Father and spend time talking to my Lord about all His little children. (Long sentence.)

I’ve slacked.  I’ll be honest. 

I can’t, though.  I can’t slack.

I have two little boys who are now carrying around their Bibles -- racing to see where there is an asterisk in their Bible . . . because then they know that Mommy prayed that verse for them.

And now, they are wanting to copy those verses into their journals . . . because that’s what Mommy does.  It must be important if it is being written down.

Gulp.  Gotta get back to work. 

No, not work. 

Gotta get back to the honor of escorting the needs and concerns of my children before the throne of God. 

We Have 2 New Children

I've been told that I have a radio voice.



I think that this is a compliment.

I call it hypothyroidism and 3 pregnancies. But I do have a deep voice.

I had a chance to use my radio voice today, you know the voice that God gave me. It was 30 seconds of fame. It was great. And it happened in this little building.



I was asked questions and I spoke into a microphone and it was broadcast about 30 minutes later. (We listened to it upon arriving home, huddled around my new mini Dell Inspiron computer that arrived yesterday, but that is an all together different post).


Our local radio station, which you can listen to even if you don't live in my city, is doing 24 Hours of Compassion, a sponsorship drive through Compassion International.


The Hottie Hubbie and I discussed sponsoring a child BUT involving the boys in this process. So rather than randomly picking a child online, I wanted the boys to physically go to the radio station, meet who we were hearing on the radio, and manually search through the stack of children needing to be sponsored.

The idea and prayer was that we would be of ONE mind and choose ONE child. I prayed in faith that God would bring a miracle . . . that Mr. Smackdown and Mr. Me-Too would share the same opinion. I know that miracles do still happen . . . but just not today.

We have two sponsorships. A boy and a girl.

(Mr. Me-Too and Mr. Smackdown proudly display their new brother and sister,
while sitting on Mr. Silva's lap, one of our local radio hosts.)

The boys are pretty excited. They wanted to know about their children. There are promises of pictures, letters, and prayers.

And this is my inciting prayer: God, I want to one day meet our Compassion children.

I wonder . . . is God working in your heart to sponsor a child? Hmmm . . . .