Day Twenty-Four: Real Men Pray

She peered into the back of my husband's pick-up truck and jeered, "That baby car seat looks so funny back there." She continued to chuckle.

Terry simply stated, "That car seat makes me a man."

He's the same man who believes in prayer and knows it's not just "women's stuff".

My husband grew up watching a father who took prayer seriously. He prayed on his own and with his wife (and still does), but just as importantly, he prayed with the family after every suppertime. Paired with reading a portion of the Bible, he trained his children to have a firm faith, to remember Scripture and to go to God no matter what. Those prayers clung like static to my heart as I, the girlfriend, sat awkwardly and shyly with the ever-outgoing and fun-loving Vanderkruks. My blonde-streaked haired boyfriend was learning how to lead his own family without really thinking about the future. Real men pray and now, he's one of them.

Sunday afternoon soccer fun with cousins:

Day Twenty-Three: Somebody's Praying Me Through

My thumbs quickly texted the words as I prayed. I didn't know if there'd be a response from the girl or if she would ignore my message, but I felt prompted to let her know God keeps bringing her to my mind. She's a single mom and recently aborted her second child. My heart aches for her. It aches for the pain that led her to that decision and the pain she'll endure in future years as she tries to settle the choice in her spirit. I know she felt trapped. She felt abandoned by her parents and desperate for other options. 

I pray she'll encounter the greatest Love of all and that she'll know His powerful forgiveness. I pray she'll feel His embrace and His adoration for her. I pray she'll turn her life over to Him and finally experience peace that passes all understanding and extravagant joy. 

She texted back. She was thankful for the prayers. I didn't add anything else, but lifted her up to Jesus again as I sat alone in my truck. The door is open for her to wonder and ask about prayer. I'm here. What's more important, is that Jesus is present with her as soon as her lips utter their own appeal to God. 

Listen to this song with lyrics that bring me to tears when I think about someone praying me through.

 A private gymnastics class--cousins only? Yes, please!

 They might be gymnastic newbies but they're having a blast!

Day Seventeen: Like A Good Cup Of Tea

I laid a sleeping, chubby boy in his car seat and held out my arms for another crying one. I settled into the rocker and wrapped a quilt around the tiny, flailing human and began to shake him gently while rocking rhythmically back and forth. Finally, my third boy faded off and the satisfaction was like a good cup of tea after a long day. Rocking babies to sleep in our church nursery keeps this momma in touch with the purest and freshest gifts from God. It's a little rest at the end of the week and, that's what the Lord's Day is all about, isn't it? Even stroking furrowed and anxious brows and patting roly-poly backs are worship to Him. I may have missed the sermon but God reveals Himself to me in the babies. A noble work, indeed. Connection to the Creator, for sure.

***

Two women sat conversing at my patio table the other day. I only needed to introduce them and the way the Holy Spirit moved in ready hearts was palpable. I had raised the umbrella over them and offered drinks and a surprising and unplanned relationship began between the one asking questions and starving for affirmation and the one sharing and encouraging. Joy to me. A sigh of satisfaction in God's love all over again. My cup of tea overflowing. 

***

I backed my truck away from the brambly bushes and a flash of yellow caught my eye. I pulled forward again. It was gone. I pulled back out and turned the wheel to roll out of the trail's parking lot. There is was again! I quickly jerked the wheel to the right and opened my window. Gone, just like that---elusive little creature! Suddenly, I looked out my left side and a police car pulled up beside me. The police officer was a woman and her window was rolled down. She motioned to me and I rolled mine down. She questioned, "Uh, are you okay?"   

"Well... I'm a bird-watcher so, I'm not sure I'm ever okay!" I laughed. I groped around quickly for my binoculars and held them up to her. "I bet I looked pretty strange driving like that, didn't I?" 

The police officer nodded and smiled. "Okay," she chuckled, and drove off. 

I giggled all the way home with the kids. Definitely a cup of Earl Grey moment.

Got him! (Wilson's Warbler)

***

When I finally did sit down with my tea and the pen of my keyboard, the school stuff eluded me and I was met with images of the week's satisfying gifts, all exposed for the glorious beauty that could have been missed. When I'm counting gratitude, when I'm looking in the well-lit places for that steeped, loose-leaf goodness, I see bits of how He originally designed our world. Oh heaven, how wonderful you'll be! The Maker of all that sweetness hidden in the everyday revealed in all His fullness? Tea parties everywhere. 

Warrior Weekend

It's a guy thing. They go away with a bunch of men and their boys for the weekend... this was the second annual. My boy came home with the warrior name of Nubuck. It has something to do with being the youngest boy but also "made of strong material". Tubing, archery, swimming and campfires, the list goes on as to what they experience together... not to mention, peeing outside the tent and other guy stuff. But the most important thing these boys are picking up is that the men in their lives love Jesus and are training their sons to be strong men of God.

And because this boy's daddy was changed so incredibly by God's love and mercy, Oliver will know all about a big Creator who adores him and has a very special purpose for him.

Sisters (Kind Of)

She lives in New York and that's much too far away. We've been friends since we were thirteen and have considered ourselves "sisters" all this time. Although Tara is only a quick email away, there are days when I'd like to sit on her couch, cup of tea in hand, and pour out my heart to her. Since this isn't possible right now, I'll try to be satisfied with gleaning from her godly wisdom over a phone call.

Love you, dear friend. Until our next ever-too-short visit...

In The Thick Of It

Heaven--where every tear will be wiped away, all pain will be gone, all sorrow removed from us. My husband and I are in the throes of loving people through marital separation, depression, anger, sickness, disease, addictions, imprisonment, and recently finding out about adultery. We love so deeply and have prayed for the opportunity to minister. We've been through so much ourselves that we are passionate about helping our brothers and sisters-in-Christ.

But, there are days when we long for heaven more than other days. We can't fix them! Oh, how we want to wash it all away for our fellow sojourners, for ourselves! We can only lead them to the One who can, the One Who will forever, some day. We intercede, we meet, we advise, we receive, we pick ourselves up off the ground, we love. Praise God for mentors who lavish their wisdom on us so that we in turn, can share how Jesus has yanked us from the miry clay. We're so thankful to be in the thick of it... anything else would be a waste of time.

Day Seventeen (of 31 Days)

Young people teaching other young people to draw near... now that's what Paul was talking about when He warned not to let anyone look down on you because of your youth (1 Timothy 4:12). My husband and I have been in awe and thankfulness for our eleven year old daughter, who leads other little girls in prayer, dancing as worship, and mentoring by her example each Saturday. Yesterday was the dance finale and parents, siblings, grandparents and friends were their captive audience--finally :) I hesitated, at first, to allow Meghan to run such a group but I'm grateful that I let my girl shine where she shines best and over the past six weeks, she's proven she can do it. I encourage you to allow your children who exhibit leadership skills to use their gifts for God's glory right now. They're never too young to demonstrate what it means to draw others close to God at their own level... and there's a good chance, they'll make it way more fun :)