Thaaaaaaaaaankful!

Another happy holiday has come and gone like lightning.  We had a houseful of friends and family.  Too much food, of course.  It was a beautiful day of doing things differently.  And the fridge of full with the promise of satisfied appetites for the next week.  I will take a vacation from meal planning and prep.  I love that.

I think Thanksgiving doesn't get the attention that it really deserves.  If "thank you" is the password to enter God's gates (and it is...confirmed by those who believe it and those who don't know that's what's happening), then it seems like a day of celebration around gratefulness should go on for at least a month like Christmas does.  Don't you think?  It needs to make the imprint and take influence over all the grumbling and complaining that seems to come right after the turnover of the new year (so easily).

Our family has recently landed on a prayer/declaration that we gather around almost everyday.  I thought I would post it here.  It has been a journey to even be able to speak this out with such conviction...so the daily rehearsal has become such a joy around here.  We are seeing new things happen all the time as we are believing for more.  I'm learning that the kingdom of God is about increase...multiplication...exponential solar flare.  This truth is making a home in our hearts.  And I am grateful.  So here it is:

WE MAKE IT OUR BUSINESS TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND TO REJOICE IN WHAT HE IS DOING.  WE SPEND NO TIME WITH COMPLAINTS OR EXCUSES (THAT IS THE LAND OF DARKNESS).  WE REJOICE IN GOD'S GOODNESS!  IT'S HIS GOODNESS THAT  PERPETUATES HIS ABUNDANT FAITHFULNESS.  HE ACTUALLY CANNOT BE ANYTHING BUT GOOD.

WE REFUSE TO TAKE OFFENSE AT GOD'S DOING OR HIS NON-DOING, OR AT HIS PACE AND TIME FRAME.  HE IS ALWAYS GOOD AND ONLY HAS GOOD INTENTIONS TOWARDS US.

WE DECLARE THE INCREASE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD OVER OUR LIVES - OUT LOUD AND CONSISTENTLY.  WE ADAMANTLY REBUKE THE LIES OF DARKNESS, POVERTY, AND INSUFFICIENCY.  WE PROCLAIM THE JOY AND LIFE-FORCE OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST JESUS OVER OUR LIVES AND INTO PHYSICAL REALITY.  WE ARE ROYAL PRINCES AND PRINCESSES OF THE KING OF GLORY; WE WILL ACT AS SUCH AND HOLD FORTH GREAT EXPECTATION ACCORDINGLY.

WE DO NOT ALLOW SELF-DEPRACATING LANGUAGE OR BERATING BEHAVIOR.  WE ARE NOT NEEDY OR DESPERATE.  WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALL WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS IN CHRIST JESUS.  WE HAVE BEEN BURIED WITH HIM IN DEATH TO OLD NATURE AND OLD ALLOWANCES, AND WE HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH HIM IN LIFE AND GLORY, AND WE HAVE BEEN SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY REALMS FAR ABOVE ALL RULE, PRINCIPALITIES AND DOMINION.  WE ARE THE LIFE OF GOD IN THE EARTH!  WE ARE THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME!

WE ARE ABUNDANTLY WEALTHY BEYOND IMAGINATION.  AND WE WILL PERSISTENTLY AND VERBALLY DECLARE THIS REALITY - THE SPIRIT REALITY OF THE GLORY OF GOD - UNTIL IT IS MADE PHYSICAL REALITY IN OUR LIVING.

WE ARE BLESSED SO THAT WE CAN BE A BLESSING TO EVERYONE WE TOUCH, EVERYONE WE SPEAK TO, EVERYONE WE SING OVER - DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.  OUR CHILDREN ARE BLESSED, OUR GENERATIONS ARE BLESSED.  THERE IS NO END TO THE INCREASE OF GOD'S KINGDOM IN US.

The Bath

Oh how I love a good bath.  

As often as I can, I take them long and hot.

Lots of lavender, ginger, body scrub, inflatable pillows, bubbles, candles, a good book.

I'll stay there until the water is cold, if there is time.

It's interesting to me just how different the motivation for bathtime is for kids.

They love a good bath just as much as I do.  

HOWEVER...their idea of a good time is lots of toys and noise and splashes all around...screaming and squirting and bath paint on the porcelain.  And then the last hurrah when someone flips on the shower head and it thrills the bigs and freaks the littles.  Oh joy!

It's hilarious.  And in my mind there was nothing relaxing or soothing about it.  Or was there?

They're probably wondering why I make bathtime so boring and dull.  In their little heads, are they thinking that this is the fate of the bath?  A most sacred event of fun must finally surrender to a sleepy ritual?

The other night my two year old was still awake at 10:00pm.  She must have taken the looooong nap that day (I can't really remember).  But she was there and I was ready to wind it down and take a bath.  So I run the water all nice and steamy, light my candles, and grab my book.  I was thinking she would just play with my makeup or keep flushing the toilet for sport while I enjoyed "my time."  Oh no.  Not ever.

Little Violet saw what I was doing, laying there all quiet and sinking in deep, and she ran to the other bathroom.  She brought back the bucket of bathtub toys  and started throwing them in on top of me.  "Toys, mommy."  She brought me the kid bubble bath and said, "Bubba, mommy?"  Then she turned the water on cold and poured the soap into my area creating "bubbas."  Then she took a paintbrush from her toy bucket and started brushing my hair with it...top to bottom, front to back, side to side.  Then she proceeded to dip the brush into the soap and started painting my body with it.  By this point, I was fully in.  She had me at "toys?"  

The life and energy that is inside of these little people is crazy.  So necessary.  

The next time I get ready for a bath...I'll have a decision to make.  I might just choose toys. 

The Vacuum and the Violin

My favorite new toy to play with in my new house on my new carpet is...  Our first real vacuum cleaner that works like a charm...Simplicity.  It was designed by a woman and moves like a real person.  I would never buy any other, but apparently I won't need to because it's made to last a lifetime.  I'm hooked.  And I use it everyday.  Sorry no advertising pic.

Something else I use everyday is my violin.  How anyone can get through the beginning stages of playing the violin is a mystery.  All the squeaks and note bending filling the air.  My contribution to the noise of life.  At least it's joyful.  I love it.

Why Does His Face Look Like That?

Just to give you the backfacts...our family does not eat sugar.  Our children have never had it.  We read every label with a microscope and we're pretty much psycho about not letting processed white sugar into our life.  Our children make us really proud when people offer them candy, etc. and they turn it down without hesitating, whether we are watching or not.  They know the whys and the wherefores and wonder why anyone else wants to ever eat the stuff.  Blah blah...moving on...

We arrived at home today from a long walk in the beautiful fall weather.  A man was walking along the sidewalk in front of our house with a grim expression and much beer in his hands.  My oldest daughter Merci (who actually is not that old really) said, "Mommy, why does that man's face look like that?"  And I said, "Like what?  Like sad or mad or something?"  And she said, "Yes.  His face is all twisted up.  I'm sure he eats sugar."  Of course I had to laugh about that way down deep.  And then she added..."or Mommy, maybe he just doesn't like himself very much and he doesn't know how much God loves him and it makes him so sad."  Quite the insightful observation for a five year old.

This is the journey to understanding and wisdom.  This is the road marked with suffering.  And compassion is always close at hand.

May that man be awakened from a long, deep sleep to know how high and how long and how wide and deep is the Love for him.  Good Spirit, hover and whisper and shout how you feel about him in a way that he can receive it.  Jesus, personalize yourself to him right.  Meet him in the deep dark angry places that just need a little lovin'.  And the next time we see him as he walks the sidewalk in front of our house, may he have the happiest of all faces.  Yes.  

Crafted Prayer

Somewhere in time, my husband and I read and studied on a subject called "crafted prayer."  Most of what we read was written by a man named Graham Cooke.  I think the whole concept of crafting/scripting prayers around specific themes and agendas in your life is really cool.  You listen for God's heartbeat for something that you're focusing on/needing an answer for/requesting of Him...and you write down what you hear.  Some thoughts may trickle down over an extended period of time and settle into a groove that you now have a record of.  You can pray this prayer until you find clarity and feel peace.  And then move on to crafting the next one. 

 Right language is really important.  It's well worth the time to listen for exactly what it is you are trying to express;  and to hear Father's answer in the midst of all the words.  Writing stuff down is always a good idea.  Combine that with listening inside as the Spirit speaks and you've got a clear path.

  

Recently, Todd encouraged me to get started crafting a prayer about something in our life.  It was specific to his personal journey.  And though I pray for him like breathing, I thought it was an interesting opportunity to practice again with intention.  So I begin my listening homework for my husband tonight.  I'll report the progress.