God of the Impossible

George Muller is one of my heroes. Many people have never heard of him but I think that is how it is supposed to be. It isn’t like he sought out fame and fortune. In the 1800s he founded many orphanages and schools in England. He trusted God to provide everything that was needed for his ministry through prayer instead of asking for donations. He took God at His word, prayed and trusted God with reckless abandon. Every donation that came in for his ministry was a result of George’s persistent prayers and steadfast trust in God. As a result, hundreds of orphan children were off the streets and living in the orphanages he established where they were taken care of, fed, given an education and the skills necessary to be successful when they grew up. And most importantly, they were shown the love of God. Because of George’s unwavering trust in God and His promises, countless lives were changed.

Muller understood thoroughly that God delights in giving us all good things. I love being able to give my kids things and opportunities they need and desire. Little Z comes to me knowing that I will give her whatever she needs without begging or pleading. Today, she came to me, handed me her empty milk bottle and said, “Thank you.” She has confidence in her position as my daughter that I will take care of her. I will give her what she needs and she can always come to me with thankful expectation to have those needs met. God is just like that. Jesus says we need to come to the Father like the little children, just like Little Z when she handed me her empty bottle saying thanks for what she knew what I was going to give her.

Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is fully capable to do exceedingly more than we can ever ask for or imagine. And, In Matthew, Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom first and then everything will be provided. Philippians 4 tells us that if we take everything to God in prayer, we will be filled with peace and that God supplies all our needs in abundance according to His riches in glory. The Bible is overflowing with God’s promises to take care of us. There are countless examples of when He has taken care of those who follow Him. All we have to do is pray with thanksgiving and expectation, trust and follow His direction.

What impossible circumstance do you need help with right now? Maybe your whole life seems like it is in total chaos with no peace in sight. Seek God, pray with expectant thanksgiving, take Him at His word and trust that in His timing in His way He will do more than you can imagine. Because God is the God of the impossible. And God always keeps His promises.

"Smells Like Prayer"

Sunday at church our pastor talked about prayer. He described someone who prays all the time, "smells like prayer." That phrase hasn't left my head since he said it. I want to smell like prayer.

I was discussing it with the kiddos yesterday and I was asked what he meant exactly. So I started to explain it. If you walk into a house where bread is baking in the oven the whole house is permeated with the glorious aroma that comes from that bread. There is no question when you walk in, about what is in the oven. You don’t ask, “Oh, are you baking bread?” No, you breathe in deeply and smile saying, “The bread smells divine.”
Or if you walk into a garden of flowers blindfolded, you would know where you are just from the fragrance wafting into your nose, that tells you that you are in a garden. To smell like prayer would mean that you wouldn't need to say you pray a lot; it is just obvious by being around you.

I am so challenged in my prayer life right now to keep prayer first and foremost in my mind and heart. Prayer is so important and I know that so many days I do not pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Prayer and Children

Mama Archer is pondering prayer and children today.

How do you teach your children to pray?
What do you teach them about the practice, meaning, and importance of prayer?
What do you pray for children?

When the kids are really young, we teach them to pray simply by example. I have been watching Baby G lately as she is transforming into a little girl. When we say it is time to pray, she bows her head and waits for someone to start praying. She does not really understand who we are praying to or why but she knows it is something we do. As she gets older, her understanding will grow and she will have the habit of praying instilled in her.

The older ones, they know, we have them pray every morning during their Daily 5. Having them pray in the morning every morning is showing them the importance of putting God in the forefront of their minds and recognizing the He is the orchestrator of their day. They are learning how to set time apart in the morning for the Lord at a very early age. When they need an attitude adjustment, we sit down and open the Word. We read what God has to say about their attitude or behavior and then we pray. When I started doing this with them, I would have them repeat after me as I prayed. Now, they can go pray on their own. When I send them to pray, I am also praying. I am praying that God will capture their heart in the area that needs work. I pray that God searches my heart in that area so I will not be an example of that behavior or attitude that I am recognizing needs to change in them. I pray that God will give me the wisdom in parenting them regarding the issue at hand.

Not only do we pray first thing in the morning, but we also pray at the start of our school day, at mealtime, and at bedtime. With prayer, I want the kids to learn to be thankful in all things, put the Lord in charge of all things, ask the Lord for protection, wisdom, guidance. We also pray for others. When someone has a need, we pray together during our morning school time. I want them to learn how to intercede for others and as they are older how to be prayer warriors.

My prayer is that they will be able to stand in the midst of strife and that they will be a living testimony of the glory and power of God. As a mom, I think I am in constant prayer. I pray for myself, that I may be able to survive my day, hold my tongue, and have supernatural amounts of patience, energy instead of exhaustion and a clear mind to handle all that is thrown my way.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Ephesians 6:18
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Mommyhood - Like a Child

There are many times throughout my day where I have the opportunity to hear God speak to me. I miss most of them I am sure, as I am self-absorbed in all that I have determined I need to accomplish. I watch Baby G as she goes through her day always learning and exploring letting no minute go wasted as she learns everything she possibly can about the world around her. She is so determined to learn everything all the time that she even refuses to nap or sleep if she thinks she will miss anything going on. She will not even sleep in her car-seat because she wants to watch everything that happens at wherever we have gone. As I watch her, I am reminded that I am to be like her, constantly on the lookout for what God wants to teach me next. I need to take more time to pay attention and less time being a Martha.

Several years ago when Little Man was probably 2 we were watching Veggie Tales Rack Shack and Benny and God spoke to me through that video regarding a current situation I was going through. Recently God spoke to me again through Veggie Tales while we were all watching Gideon: Tuba Warrior. He reminded me about the power of prayer and that the smallest amount of faith is all you need. There was a great man named George Mueller who opened an orphanage with 50 cents. He operated the orphanage by faith that God would be faithful to supply all their needs and never asked for a donation. Instead, God faithfully provided daily. Never once did the children go hungry-not once did they miss a meal. All because Mueller was faithful to pray and believe. Mueller asked and God did, it was that simple. Wow! What an amazing example for me right now when there are so many uncertainties. I pray and I do know that God is faithful but that day, I needed encouragement and God knew it.

God speaks through everything all the time and my job is just to pay attention. Do I pay attention as I should? Not very well, I am sure. I know that there are days that go by when I am constantly in prayer but I do not think I stop to listen. Other days I am so absorbed in accomplishing the day's tasks that I forget to slow down and pay attention. I need to watch how my little baby never wastes a learning opportunity and apply that to my adult life. I need to realize that just as I set up learning opportunities for my children He sets them up for me. I cannot be distracted with life and miss those opportunities.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

*Luke 10:38-42 "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (KJV)

*Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (KJV)

*Luke 18:17 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." (KJV)

Mommyhood - In His Time

Time - I think is relative. A year on earth is different from a year on Mercury, which is different from a year on Venus… When we tell our little ones we will take care of something in just a minute, how often is that minute really five minutes or sometimes even an hour as the day seems to run away from us and we honestly forget that we had said we would do something?

I often find myself remembering that drink of water, or that snack and sometimes-even lunch well after that minute has passed. I am sure kids have a difficult time getting a good sense of time because to us, we say "In a minute," and really mean, "At the first possible moment I can." Right after I transfer the laundry, feed the baby, take care of one of the other kid's owie, or whatever. Then unexpectedly we find we have to take care of something else entirely and soon forget that first request. I am constantly apologizing for being forgetful about one thing or another, but I started thinking about this concept of time and requests or needs being taken care of.

As a mom, I am constantly taking care of needs, usually in the right time sometimes, not. Nevertheless, when my son asks for lunch, I will make lunch when it is time for lunch. (On most days on time-I try; heck life is crazy with three kids and a baby.) However, he knows it is coming and that I will fill that need. But sometimes that "In a minute," means, "After I take care of the laundry." When we pray and ask God for something now, or soon, I know that His "now" and "soon" mean something entirely different from mine. The Bible says in 2 Peter that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. How crazy is that? I find myself praying that God will meet this need or the other and I know that God will meet that need. For example, I prayed for a pink slip to a car when our little car was very much not working anymore. And when we needed the pink slip to a functioning car the most, God gave us a pink slip! Then, when it was time to retire that car I prayed again. And again, God met that need right at the perfect time. And then, again we were growing as a family and we needed a mini van to fit four kids and again, God was faithful to provide the van and money for the minor repairs it needed. And (of course) again, I find myself praying for a need, I really want the answer now but I know it will be soon. Tomorrow? Maybe. Next week? Perhaps. When I need it? Yes.

As God says "Soon." I cannot help but think of when I say "In a minute." Also, I smile when I know that He is so much more faithful than I am at meeting our needs at the perfect time.

2 Peter 3:8 & 9
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:"

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."