Yesterday morning, I decided not to take my morning shower. My hair wasn't that bad, and I figured it would help me not be quite so rushed to get out the door that morning with the girls if I just skipped it. Skipping my shower freed up some extra time though, and I happened to look across my bedroom at that moment toward my Bible reading plan. Perfect! I could actually start the day with my Bible reading rather than just squeezing it in at some random time in the afternoon or evening like usual. (I'm not a morning person.)
My Bible app opened up with Proverbs 31:30 as the verse of the day. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." I smiled at the sweet affirmation that choosing time with God over a shower was a great choice. I read my Bible section for the day in Luke 23 and 24 about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and I decided to write out my prayer for the day. I was struck by how God the Father must have felt as He watched His Son suffer and die. He knew that it had to happen, but how He must have ached. I prayed that my Father, who knew what it was to lose His Son, would comfort those who had had children and loved ones killed and injured by the recent tornadoes, explosions, bombings, and shootings.
I also prayed for myself. I prayed that I would encounter whatever the day brought with grace, that I would show His love, that He would remind me to be gentle, that He would lead me in rejoicing, that He would remind me to pray with thanksgiving, and that He would help me fix my eyes on Jesus throughout the day.
I was struck by how He answered my prayer. I think He helped me do each of the things I asked Him for, but He did even more than that. Yesterday could have been a miserable day for me. Two out of 3 girls were crying throughout much of their swim lesson. We had 6 minors staying with us for the night instead of our usual 3, and Philip had a rough day at work. None of that really phased me though and I was totally able to rejoice, be gentle, and love on them all. More than that though, my sister was at Disney's California Adventure, and I wasn't. I love going to Disney theme parks, and instead of being there myself, I was driving to the Minute Clinic to get the last 2 vaccines I needed before going to Uganda. I realized during that drive though that I would not have traded places with her even if I could have. I wanted to be exactly where God put me in life that day, driving to go get shots. I was able to pray with genuine thanksgiving for something I knew that I would normally be the opposite of grateful for. God wasn't just reminding me to pray with thanksgiving as I'd asked for, He was actually giving me the thankfulness to pray back to Him!
This morning, I got up earlier than usual while making sure the oldest of the 6 minors got to school. Normally, this would have made me incredibly cranky. (Remember the "not a morning person" thing?) I can sometimes keep myself from snapping at others in the morning, but there's usually quite the internal cranky battle within me. However, this morning, I found myself sitting in a chair, holding Noelle, and being genuinely thankful again for where I was and what I was doing. God was doing it again!
I was pretty pumped at the idea of doing a morning Bible reading and writing out my prayer again this morning, and I was able to do that without rushing again this morning thanks to the early wake-up time. After my shower, my quiet time with God, and getting myself dressed and ready for the day, it was time to get the girls ready for swim lessons again. Melody and Lily Beth happily got themselves ready, but I had to re-wake Noelle, and she was NOT pleased. She screamed and cried. She didn't want to go to swim class, and it was completely remarkable that I was somehow able to stay very gentle with her while getting her dressed and ready. She then hid under a blanket on my bed as I finished getting the other girls ready. As she heard the other girls getting into the van to go, she started howling for me. I continued to calmly get ready to go until I heard her whimper that she was scared. I used the Bible verse from Isaiah that her teacher says in class "I will trust and not be afraid," but she just insisted, "I AM afraid!" I sat down next to her and offered to hold her. As she climbed into my arms, I talked about how she would be safe in the water and how mommy and her teachers wouldn't let anything happen to her. I carried her to the van, buckled her in, and we were on our way. I knew Noelle was still terrified though, and I wasn't sure what she would do when we got to swim class.
Thankfully, God had a great plan in store to help Noelle. As soon as I turned the van on, the song that was playing was saying,
"Bye, bye, bye to fear
I don’t have to be afraid
Bye, goodbye to fear
God is always with me
So even when I’m scared
And don’t know what to do
My God is big and strong
So there is nothing to fear."
I knew God had that song playing for Noelle. I sang along and suggested that we'd listen to this song a few times on the way to class. I quickly got distracted though, and the disc moved on to the next song. The next song was one Noelle likes about rejoicing "Because I know He loves me." It repeats "Jesus loves me" many times, and during this second song, I heard Noelle quietly but bravely announce from the back "I will try." She was referring to swim class, of course. We listened to these 2 songs several times on the way to class. We sang along, sang without the music, and then before we went in to swim class, we prayed. I prayed for them all, and then Lily Beth and Noelle both wanted to pray on their own. I was so touched by Lily's sweet prayer asking for help during swim class, and Noelle repeated much of what she heard Lily saying.
Swim class was incredible. I'd sat and watched Lily Beth and Noelle whimpering, crying, and clinging desperately to their teachers for the previous 3 days. They'd continued to learn throughout it all (Ms. Pat is an AMAZING swim teacher.), but I knew they were both still wrestling with various levels of fear. Today, I barely heard a whimper from either of them. Lily Beth swam the width of the pool with fins on and with her head under the water. She even floated on her back without being supported. Noelle didn't fuss as she worked on her skills either! Her occasional whimper stopped quickly and she did everything she was asked to do! At the end of class, they both jumped off the diving board for the first time!!! Lily Beth did it twice, and Noelle rejected the offered pool noodle to hold onto as she jumped in on her own!
The last 2 days have reminded me of Romans 8:26. "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." I am so grateful that the Spirit knew what I and my girls needed better than I did! I am so grateful that He is interceding on my behalf and on behalf of my girls! I am reminded again of how my Father gives such GOOD gifts to His children.
God has used the last 2 days to remind me that He's got my trip to Uganda taken care of too. I honestly don't know what exactly to pray for regarding my trip. I offer up prayers, but I know that they are inadequate for what I am about to face and for the work I hope He accomplishes in and through and around me. The Spirit knows though. He is interceding on my behalf. I can go to my Father each morning without adequate knowledge of what the day holds, and I can enjoy my time with Him and trust Him to take care of my day. God is good. God is faithful, and I would genuinely rather spend one day with Him than a thousand elsewhere.
My Bible app opened up with Proverbs 31:30 as the verse of the day. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." I smiled at the sweet affirmation that choosing time with God over a shower was a great choice. I read my Bible section for the day in Luke 23 and 24 about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and I decided to write out my prayer for the day. I was struck by how God the Father must have felt as He watched His Son suffer and die. He knew that it had to happen, but how He must have ached. I prayed that my Father, who knew what it was to lose His Son, would comfort those who had had children and loved ones killed and injured by the recent tornadoes, explosions, bombings, and shootings.
I also prayed for myself. I prayed that I would encounter whatever the day brought with grace, that I would show His love, that He would remind me to be gentle, that He would lead me in rejoicing, that He would remind me to pray with thanksgiving, and that He would help me fix my eyes on Jesus throughout the day.
I was struck by how He answered my prayer. I think He helped me do each of the things I asked Him for, but He did even more than that. Yesterday could have been a miserable day for me. Two out of 3 girls were crying throughout much of their swim lesson. We had 6 minors staying with us for the night instead of our usual 3, and Philip had a rough day at work. None of that really phased me though and I was totally able to rejoice, be gentle, and love on them all. More than that though, my sister was at Disney's California Adventure, and I wasn't. I love going to Disney theme parks, and instead of being there myself, I was driving to the Minute Clinic to get the last 2 vaccines I needed before going to Uganda. I realized during that drive though that I would not have traded places with her even if I could have. I wanted to be exactly where God put me in life that day, driving to go get shots. I was able to pray with genuine thanksgiving for something I knew that I would normally be the opposite of grateful for. God wasn't just reminding me to pray with thanksgiving as I'd asked for, He was actually giving me the thankfulness to pray back to Him!
This morning, I got up earlier than usual while making sure the oldest of the 6 minors got to school. Normally, this would have made me incredibly cranky. (Remember the "not a morning person" thing?) I can sometimes keep myself from snapping at others in the morning, but there's usually quite the internal cranky battle within me. However, this morning, I found myself sitting in a chair, holding Noelle, and being genuinely thankful again for where I was and what I was doing. God was doing it again!
I was pretty pumped at the idea of doing a morning Bible reading and writing out my prayer again this morning, and I was able to do that without rushing again this morning thanks to the early wake-up time. After my shower, my quiet time with God, and getting myself dressed and ready for the day, it was time to get the girls ready for swim lessons again. Melody and Lily Beth happily got themselves ready, but I had to re-wake Noelle, and she was NOT pleased. She screamed and cried. She didn't want to go to swim class, and it was completely remarkable that I was somehow able to stay very gentle with her while getting her dressed and ready. She then hid under a blanket on my bed as I finished getting the other girls ready. As she heard the other girls getting into the van to go, she started howling for me. I continued to calmly get ready to go until I heard her whimper that she was scared. I used the Bible verse from Isaiah that her teacher says in class "I will trust and not be afraid," but she just insisted, "I AM afraid!" I sat down next to her and offered to hold her. As she climbed into my arms, I talked about how she would be safe in the water and how mommy and her teachers wouldn't let anything happen to her. I carried her to the van, buckled her in, and we were on our way. I knew Noelle was still terrified though, and I wasn't sure what she would do when we got to swim class.
Thankfully, God had a great plan in store to help Noelle. As soon as I turned the van on, the song that was playing was saying,
"Bye, bye, bye to fear
I don’t have to be afraid
Bye, goodbye to fear
God is always with me
So even when I’m scared
And don’t know what to do
My God is big and strong
So there is nothing to fear."
I knew God had that song playing for Noelle. I sang along and suggested that we'd listen to this song a few times on the way to class. I quickly got distracted though, and the disc moved on to the next song. The next song was one Noelle likes about rejoicing "Because I know He loves me." It repeats "Jesus loves me" many times, and during this second song, I heard Noelle quietly but bravely announce from the back "I will try." She was referring to swim class, of course. We listened to these 2 songs several times on the way to class. We sang along, sang without the music, and then before we went in to swim class, we prayed. I prayed for them all, and then Lily Beth and Noelle both wanted to pray on their own. I was so touched by Lily's sweet prayer asking for help during swim class, and Noelle repeated much of what she heard Lily saying.
Swim class was incredible. I'd sat and watched Lily Beth and Noelle whimpering, crying, and clinging desperately to their teachers for the previous 3 days. They'd continued to learn throughout it all (Ms. Pat is an AMAZING swim teacher.), but I knew they were both still wrestling with various levels of fear. Today, I barely heard a whimper from either of them. Lily Beth swam the width of the pool with fins on and with her head under the water. She even floated on her back without being supported. Noelle didn't fuss as she worked on her skills either! Her occasional whimper stopped quickly and she did everything she was asked to do! At the end of class, they both jumped off the diving board for the first time!!! Lily Beth did it twice, and Noelle rejected the offered pool noodle to hold onto as she jumped in on her own!
The last 2 days have reminded me of Romans 8:26. "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." I am so grateful that the Spirit knew what I and my girls needed better than I did! I am so grateful that He is interceding on my behalf and on behalf of my girls! I am reminded again of how my Father gives such GOOD gifts to His children.
God has used the last 2 days to remind me that He's got my trip to Uganda taken care of too. I honestly don't know what exactly to pray for regarding my trip. I offer up prayers, but I know that they are inadequate for what I am about to face and for the work I hope He accomplishes in and through and around me. The Spirit knows though. He is interceding on my behalf. I can go to my Father each morning without adequate knowledge of what the day holds, and I can enjoy my time with Him and trust Him to take care of my day. God is good. God is faithful, and I would genuinely rather spend one day with Him than a thousand elsewhere.
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