Mommy Mayhem: January 2014

Friday, January 17, 2014

Wanted - Prayer

I want things to happen in life, dreams, goals, needs. I can work hard, push, make more phone calls, complain, nag and then push some more.
These have been tried, these have succeeded in small measure but I still have things that I want to see happen.
Recently a friend admitted her bareness to the Lord. No flowery words or repeating promises of scripture, she just laid it all out for God.
Lightening did not fall from the sky at her boldness. She approached the throne of grace and found grace.

Grace to fill her weakness and struggle.

Grace to provide for her needs.

And even grace to give her the desires of her heart.

So I need to pray more. I think we all do, never can we get to a point where prayer will be complete.

Paul had this praying thing down.

Colossians 1:9-13

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^[a] ¹⁰so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹²and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

He does not stop praying

He asks for knowledge of God's will to be given - Wisdom and Understanding

The reward of this in the Colossians life is a walk worthy of God's call. What does he ask God to give them for this walk?

Strength

Power (only through God's might)

Endurance (GREAT endurance)

Patience

What is our role according to this prayer? Give Joy filled thanks to God! because he has allowed us to be part of His story!

Now if I prayed all these things into my life would I have more clarity in my dreams? Would my goals shift from those where I am daily struggling to ones of joy as they are God given? And what needs would I have if I was confidently walking the path God has laid out for me?

My goal to pray more focused has been met with challenges, late night wake up calls, little bodies pushing and poking me in the night. This has lead to no early rise quiet times with the Lord.
But today I lay it all out for Him - all the dreams, goals and needs and then pray Paul's prayer. To handle the answers that will come.

Lamentations 3:23

Great is Your Faithfulness

Thursday, January 9, 2014

I Will

Will I look back and long for an exercise companion, a little shopping buddy, a laundry pal? That constant shadow wanting to be with me all the time?

Will I look back and wish my son would ask me to sleep with him a bit, listen for the call in the night of my child needing it's mother's comforting arms?

If I can find contentment and Joy in today then I won't.

Will I be able to look with pride at my children's independence or wish that they would need me once again?

Will I be able to find Joy in my new role as a friend more then a Mother?

If I can find contentment and Joy in today then I Will.

Journey toward Joy

Grumbling and complaining about the phase that we are in. Wishing that time would move more swiftly, that our little ones would grow up into that independence and allow us a bit more freedom. Our Joy is stolen in that wishful thinking and looking ahead.

Longing for the past, mourning the lose of our youth, the full house, constant need and purpose we felt from being a Mother.

Our Joy is stolen in that looking back and wishing for what once was.

God is in the future, He is in the past but He is Alive in the present. He is our strength in times of weakness and lack of sleep, our guide in moments of conflict and wisdom needed. The comforter and giver of new life. He is using our present to mold us into who He wants us to be. That is where Joy is found.

Philippians 4:11-12 (the book of Joy)

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.