Month: March 2017

God is incredibly gentle.  I’m embarrassed at how little of this fruit I show in the face of his overwhelmingly personal gentleness toward me.  And so as I pray for my kids I pray fervently for myself.

When the bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus this has to be one of the reasons- if I can keep God’s gentleness to his people in the forefront of my brain then surely I can be more gentle to others.

Father, we need to recognize and receive your gentleness if we ever want to see this fruit in our lives.  Help us, please, for we know this world needs gentleness that only comes from you. I pray that my kids and I keep our eyes fixed on you so that this unnatural quality shines in all our lives through your power.  #prayersformychildren

Taking a moment to reflect in gratitude. You know, the nature of fruit is given-ness.  The fruit tastes good, it is attractive within its surroundings, and ultimately allows for its own reproduction.  So when God’s Spirit is growing fruit within a person, that person ultimately draws others to God, and allows for his Spirit to grow in them as well.

My kids, you are incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many who are faithful in the given-ness of being fruitful.

Father, thank you for surrounding my kids with those who nurture godliness within them.  I ask your blessing of continued fruitfulness in the lives of these beautiful servants as they allow your Spirit to grow.  Father, I pray that our kids would be fruitful as well- that they would nurture your Spirit faithfully, that they too would bless others with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control that come only from you. #prayersformychildren

For those of you not privileged to know him, this is Nate McCall.  He loves the Lord passionately, and he has put his love to work in the lives of many young men.  Graeson has been deeply blessed by Nate’s leadership and friendship.

Faithfulness- some days it’s just a pretty word for drudgery and perseverance.  It just means we never quit loving God, seeking him, allowing his Spirit to grow in us and his work to go on through us. It’s made up of a thousand small decisions carried out daily- to read when you don’t want to, to pray when God seems silent, to believe when the world is trying to shout him down. But like all other fruit, God grows it in us- we just have to let him.

Father, I pray with all my heart that the kids I love would fear you, walk in all your ways and love you, and serve you with all their hearts and souls.  I pray we would keep your commandments which you have given for our good, remembering that to you belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. May we always be faithful. #prayersformychildren

So what is “goodness” anyway? When I dug a little it turns out goodness is “being fit for what is really needed.”  And you know, this takes time.  We have to allow God to prepare us throughout life, then we have to be willing when the moment comes.

Through your Spirit, with your wisdom, and by your power, Father, I pray that whenever we have the opportunity we would do good to everyone–especially those in the family of faith.

Friends, a lot of really terrible things are happening
in our world; things over which we have absolutely no control.
But you know what we can control? We can let God’s Spirit
grow so that we treat each other with kindness. This is my prayer for the kids I love. #prayerformychildren

Kindness is the sprinkles of life, don’t you think? You need a lot of little bits of kindness, and when you have it you can’t help smiling.  Everything is prettier, more fun– just more when kindness is sprinkled liberally.

And God is so very kind to us.  Do we see it? Maybe that’s where we should start– with counting God’s kindness to us.  We would never be able to stop.

Sometimes, the same word in the bible is translated “love” that is other times “kindness.” So maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe kindness is the active, daily, moment by moment acting out of love in the world we each inhabit.

Father in Heaven, your love is so kind, so faithful.  I pray that all the kids I love, including the ones I live with would recognize your kindness for what it is– the thousand expressions of love you show us every day. May we all let love/kindness and faithfulness never leave us, binding them close, writing them deep in our hearts. May our lives be channels of your kindness into the world around us, so that we will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. #prayersformychildren