Just Be a Kid Today!

Me (age 5) With my family :)

Many of you probably had “that toy” when you were little, you know, the one that was just more special that the others-your unrivaled favorite.  I enjoyed playing house with all my dolls, but none more than my Cabbage Patch Boy, Andy.  I saved up all of my money to buy him myself.  I even sent in his “official” adoption forms so I would get a certificate saying I was Andy’s “real” mom.

 Last year my parents drove to my house and brought a large box full of my childhood toys and in that box was my precious Andy with all of his clothes and his “official” adoption certificate.  Upon the sight of all these things, memories flooded my mind.  I truly loved Andy-he was my son.  I couldn’t wait to finish school so I could go home to him and we could play together.  I spent as much time as I could holding him, loving him, and enjoying him.  It sounds silly to say now, but the innocence of my childhood playing with Andy was so wonderful.

Those days of playing, however, have long past, and now life is full of all those adult things to do.  It seems like in today’s world there’s an expectation to be “Super Mom”.  We should be able to do all things and still look cute, maintain our sanity, and never grow tired.  I often find myself checking in on Facebook or Pintrest and instantly feeling inferior-It seems like all of my friends have perfect kids, clean houses, matching outfits, and gorgeous hair and make-up when my biggest accomplishment of the day is changing from one set of pajamas to another.

I’m not upset with others for doing well, I’m blaming myself for looking at it incorrectly.  God gave me my life-a life that I’m thankful for and love very much! Everyone has tough days and that’s OK-the trick is not letting Satan take those tough days and use them to make you feel that you’re anything less than God’s amazing creation.  No, I’m not perfect, but b/c I have Jesus, I don’t need to be!  All I need to do is ask and God will be my strength, my patience, and my encouragement.  

I get caught up in the “to-do” lists, the piles of laundry, the demands of the world.  I forget what it means to stop and completely focus on the beauty of my own children’s childhoods.  I often hear about how quickly it all passes.  Before I know it my children won’t be kids anymore and I will be longing for those sweet snuggles, requests that I play, and silly laughs at the little things.  I forget that they are God’s creation too-and I need to spend the time He’s given me with them, not with piles of dirty dishes!

So today, I encourage you, Mommies, let the lists go-stop worrying about the chores, the errands, and the stresses of adult life.  Ask God to be your strength, patience, and encouragement.  Take time to stop and enjoy childhood again with your own kids!

One thing that helps me do this is praying scripture for myself and my kids-here is my prayer for today-I encourage you to try this too! There is nothing more powerful than speaking God’s promises over your life and your family to remind you about what’s really important today!

This verse is a prayer/praise to God from the people of Israel-As Christians we are now God’s chosen people, so this is amazingly powerful when you plug in your own name, family, or children and pray this aloud back to God!

1 Kings 8:57-60
⁵⁷May the LORD our God be with NATALIE as he was with our fathers; may he never leave HER nor forsake HER. ⁵⁸May he turn NATALIE’S heart to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave HER fathers. ⁵⁹And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of ME, his servant and the cause of NATALIE according to each day's need, ⁶⁰so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.

Magically Forgiven

I am teaching Awana tonight, so I thought I'd share my object lesson-I practiced this presentation on my 4 year old and she thought it was super cool too :) It's super easy to do-just check out the directions, verses, and pics! 

This is a visual lesson on Hate/Sin and Forgiveness

You get 4 small, clear containers and one floral vase (the kind that fits one flower)

-In 3 of the containers mix ¼ cup water and with 1 drop of food coloring (1 blue, 1 green, 1 red)

-In the last small container, mix ¼ cup bleach

-Put ½ cup of water into the bottom of the floral base

As you explain each color, pour it into the large floral vase-as you do it will make the water dark and then you explain the forgiveness as you pour the bleach in-it takes about 2 1/2 -3 mins, but when the bleach is done working, the water will be clear again.

Presentation

GREEN: Jealousy

         -Proverbs 14:30-A tranquil heart gives life, but a jealous heart makes bones rot

-Exodus 20:17-You shall not covet/envy/be jealous of anything that is your neighbors

Blue: Anger/Frustration

         -James 1:20-Man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires

         -Ecclesiastes 7:9-Do not be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the foolish

Red: Selfishness

         -Philipians 2:3-Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but rather in humility value others above yourself

Result of all these things is HATE-these are all sins that taint our lives

HOW DO WE FIX this?

CLEAR: Forgiveness

         In your life: Ephesians 4:31-32-Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, fighting and slander along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you.

From Jesus: 1 John 1:9-If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness

All you have to do is believe that Jesus’ forgiveness is enough-we are all sinners, we have all done things wrong, but all we have to do is believe that Jesus died, and rose from the dead for our sins, and that his forgiveness is the only way to get eternal life.