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

“♫ Jesus help me wait! Jesus help me wait until it’s time ♫”

Bad news kids–it never gets easier.  Especially in our microwave/digital world– patience is just not fun. Or easy.  I guess that’s why it is fruit of the Spirit and not work of the flesh.  Ah yes– we are not on our own here.  Praise God!

Lord, I pray we would wait patiently for you to help.  We can have confidence that you will hear each cry, every time we call- that is amazing, Father! You will lift us out of despair, out of the mud and mire and set our feet on solid ground, steadying us as we walk along. Your Spirit gives us this patience, along with a new song of praise to you.  Thank you! (Psalm 40:1-3)

Our friends have had a tumultuous year.  It has been tough- infidelity tearing apart families and friends, cancer striking relentlessly, foolish choices and harsh consequences.

Our country is in a tumultuous time. A crazy election season has given way to even crazier foolishness in the public arena.

“In despair I bowed my head. There is no peace on earth, I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song ‘peace on earth goodwill to men.’ ”

But… Jesus.  His Spirit.  This is what brings peace.  Peace is not offered as a gift of circumstances.  If is offered as fruit of the Spirit living in us.  Our peace– it comes form the eternal truth “God is not dead nor does he sleep.  The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.” (https://www.castingcrowns.com/lyrics/i-heard-the-bells-on-christmas-day/)

Father, peace is a gift only you can provide.  I pray the minds of my children and their future spouses would be firmly fixed on you- loving you, pleasing you, obeying you. I pray that they would trust you so that not only would they know peace, but they will be your agents of peace in the world around them. #prayersformychildren

These first two qualities- love and joy- so often make us think of butterflies and rainbows, sunny, cloudless moments.  Rare, trouble free days.  Oh, we love those days, and that is good.

But this kind of joy and love– that’s just the chocolate mint on our hotel pillow that should be enjoyed but never mistaken for the real vacation.

God’s love, on the other hand, is strong, and fierce, and capable. His joy, the joy we have as his children, is deep and formative.

It changes everything.

Our foundation is security, our future is glory, our purpose is an eternal Kingdom. Our suffering is redeemable, our tears are comforted, and our days are meaningful. We are loved, we are chosen, we are given the opportunity to be Christ in this world, in our world. When we allow the Spirit to transform us into God’s image, this is our joy.

Father, my prayer is for my children’s hearts; that they would find joy in your presence as you show them the way of life. May they always walk in your ways by your Spirit.  May they find their joy in your love, your glory, your purpose as they grow into the people you created them to be. I pray, Father, that your joy would be their strength. #prayersformychildren

“The fruit of the Spirit is love…” It’s the first one listed- why is it the first one missed? It is so easy to speak love, yet so hard to work love. “I love you” but not enough to let you have my seat. “I love my family!” but don’t expect me to pick up their plates and carry them to the kitchen.

Turns out the grammar guys were wrong.  Love isn’t an idea, an abstract. It’s the most concrete thing in the world- a force, a power, a magnificent presence.  God spilled it all over us in dramatic ways twice- once when he created us, and once when he died for us.  And in between, his voice keeps calling, keeps telling us the stories through his word and his people, keeps surrounding us with himself as the lover and comforter and friend.

Father, I pray our kids would know the power of your love for them so that they are changed in their very being. I pray as we walk in your Spirit we become people who are loved by you and who love others like you do- not with sweet empty words but with work that is inspired by, powered by, fueled by love. #prayersformychildren

 

My tiny little bitty baby boy turns 18 today.

You know what that means for a mom- reflection and introspection.

Laughter at the antics and guilt because I made more than the usual mistakes-he’s my first. And I’m foolish.

Tears for the passage of time that carries my boy away into the big scary world.

Joy for the maturity I see growing in him.

And always, the questions- is he prepared? Does he really know how to do this life thing independently or will he die of food poisoning from mishandled chicken? Does he know I love him, but God loves him immeasurably more? Will he call his dad and me when he needs us, and will he call on his Heavenly Father day by day, moment by moment?

I don’t know.  And in the coming weeks, there will be nothing I can do to stop this boy-turned-man from launching out on his own, captain of his own ship. Truthfully, I don’t really want to stop him.  This is our job- love him, teach him, point him to Jesus and teach him to keep eternity in his heart then- let him go.

 

Father, I can never thank you enough for allowing me to be mom to Graeson.  I am so sorry for my foolishness, stubbornness, and pride that hindered our path.  Thank you for working in his life through me and his dad, so many beautiful godly friends and family, even strangers.

But Father, thank you for being God to this boy from the day he was conceived.  I have trusted that you are loving him and working in his life regardless of our failings- it’s the only thing that got me through my doubts and fears.

Now as he turns 18 and takes this next step of maturity toward independence I pray. I just pray all the words I have and let the Spirit take it from here, because my heart is too full and my mind is too limited.

May he always love you and seek you.

May he always know we love him and will work for his good.

May his path be straight when he is walking according to your word, and may the obstacles be insurmountable when he is walking away.

May he be surrounded by others who point him to you and your word, who speak love freely and truth boldly. May he be that person in the lives of others.

May he be able to accept correction with humility, growing closer to you.

May he find ways to use his gifts with passion in service of your kingdom, both in a career and in leisure.

May he choose friends wisely.

May he choose his wife through your guidance.

May I be the mom he needs to be in the coming weeks, months and years.

I pray Graeson will know the riches of your glory, that you would strengthen him in his inner man through the power of your Spirit so that Christ will dwell in his heart through faith. I pray that he, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which is greater than all knowledge, that he may be filled with your life and power and love.  (from Eph 3:14-19)  #prayersformychildren #littlebittybabyboyturns18