Friday, May 31, 2013

Prayer


I recently listened to a sermon preached from 1 Samuel 1 titled "2 Insensitive Men and a Praying Woman."  1 Samuel 1 is the story of Hannah, who prays for a son and eventually has Samuel who she commits to the Lord's service.  She is 1 of 2 wives of Elkanah (insensitive man #1).  She has no children and the other wife has many.  She often prays for a child, yet is without... year after year. 

(To listen for yourself, download the "Walk in the Word" podcast and find the Weekend Feature message from May 12.) 

Here is what's leftover in my heart and mind that I am thinking on this week...

A woman who is burdened before the Lord in prayer is a very powerful tool.

As a parent [grandparent, family member of any kind], get a vision for the salvation of each member in my household and regularly come before God in prayer, proclaiming His word and desire for their salvation.

God desires that all should know him and none should perish - don't let anyone tell me otherwise, no matter what I see with my physical eyes.  Often prayer is seeing in faith.  

Prayer - getting spiritually fit to receive what God was already going to do. 

I desire my family (present and future) to greatly impact the kingdom of God here on earth... the responsibility of parenting my children and teaching them to love Jesus is huge.  It reminds me of this poem: 

[side note - I only remembered this line: "Only what's done for Christ will last."  When I googled it, I found out there's a whole poem.  What did people do before google?]

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Thursday, May 30, 2013

a new season

We have entered a new season.  A season where, Lord willing, I will be staying home with Adelyn and Ben will be working.  In a couple months, Ben will take a hiatus from work to begin a 1 year masters program at Harvard in computational science and engineering.  Our goal after that would be for him to find a job in a field that he loves that provides for us to quickly pay off the loan from the year in Boston and allows for me to continue staying home with Adelyn (and any other little tykes that might follow).

This new season brings many emotions for me.
Relief - that I can focus my best energy on caring for my family.
Joy - that I can spend many hours a day with A.
Sadness - that I am leaving public school teaching (this emotion is felt in a very small amount)
Nostalgia - for the schools I worked at this year, the staffs and students of which I grew to love

But, gratefulness is the most dominant feeling these days.  Grateful to be home. Grateful to be rested and refreshed. Grateful to have more time in the Word.  Grateful to be the key decision maker in my daughter's life. Grateful to have energy to invest in our marriage. Grateful to not be in 'survival' mode. Grateful for a daughter. Grateful for family. Grateful for a faithful, personal, precious Savior.

This new season also brings lots of questions. Some important, some not.
How can I use my time efficiently?
Should I keep up with teaching in any formal way?
I've considered compiling a curriculum for elementary music ed - is this something I should invest in?
How can I contribute to our income?
Who will we be friends with in Boston?
Where will we go to church?
What books should I read? (This question wasn't even on the radar the past several months.)
Where should we go on dates? (What? There's time for dates again?)

And once again, I am grateful. Grateful that I don't need to have all the answers and that I trust a God who does.