A Sign of a Stagnant Life

For years now I have felt the call from God to be an intercessor or prayer warrior. ((Beware: lots of posts on prayer in our future!)) I still don't know exactly what that means in my life in particular, but something I have learned through the process is one vital thing--

We are all called to pray.

Seems like a "duh" statement, but are you praying always?

Be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

There likely isn't a true believer out there who doesn't know we are to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) but it still is an area where we are greatly lacking.

Recently I read an excerpt from one of Andrew Murray's books, The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer:

Often we have resolved to pray more and better, and have utterly failed. Our prayers, rather than being full of joy and strength, are often a source of self-condemnation and doubt… Your lack of prayer is likely due to a stagnant state of life. 

I'll tell ya what, that was not a comfortable bit to read. When prayer isn't a constant wellspring in my life, my life is stagnant? We have all been there - I try to walk into my War Room and it's like the door is locked. Not from the inside where communion with my Savior is savory sweet. No, it's locked from the outside, where I could unlock it but something in my life (pride?) is stopping me.

Is there something (or a lack of something) in your life that is locking your war room door? Or even just making it hard to open?

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

We are all called to pray. What is in your way?

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2

My Happy Pills

I have a friend that God has clearly brought into my life on purpose. She has no idea how much she challenges me, encourages me, inspires me. I should probably tell her that, huh?

Yesterday she told me, while holding a fussy, clingy child, that her kids are her happy pills. It suddenly became clear to me how she can take all 4 kids to every field trip, travel to new places, invite people over regularly, and somehow keep her sanity.

It also became clear to me how far I've strayed from that perspective. While I absolutely adore my kids, I realized I've been seeing them as a burden lately. A part of my job.

Oh, I enjoy them immensely sometimes. 

I want to enjoy them all the time. Because they are a gift. They are a joy.

This doesn't mean I neglect my responsibilities. It doesn't mean I can't get frustrated or tired or need a break. It certainly doesn't mean they should be more of a joy to me than my husband or my Savior.

What it does mean is I have a fresh perspective: These babies are a way that God blesses me with temporary happiness AND deep, fulfilling joy.

I don't "have" to be a mommy, I "get" to be! How easy it is to forget that. I don't "have" to take out time for them, discipline them, enjoy them, love on them, show them grace, provide for them... I GET TO. And I am so grateful for this privilege.

Lord, thank You for the gifts of my children. Thank You for my friend and her reminder to view my babies as gifts. Thank You for equipping me for this incredible privilege of parenting!

Finding Rest

The Christian life is not a struggle to live rightly but rather resting in Christ and finding in Him our life and our righteousness. -Andrew Murray

The concept of finding rest keeps coming up in my life. So obviously that means God is trying to tell me something! I've been a believer long enough to at least have that figured out. Now to actually learn the lesson…

I've shared this verse at least a couple other times before on the blog, which is saying something since I don't blog very often! So God must be saying something to you, too, Reader!

I've had in my head that to find rest, even finding it in God, means that everything around me has to change. 

This is not true.

When I am in the midst of the chaos of 4 kids and Derek comes home from his 10 hour day and goes straight to bed, I can find rest.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power… Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-29, 31

(Marie completely randomly blurted out the reference "Isaiah 40:31" a couple days ago. From the mouth of babes…)

I think that I need…

a date night
a girls night
kid-free errand running
a workout
a clean house
Netflix
a silent morning
perfect obedience
an uninterrupted hot shower
sleep
food

...to find rest.

And these things are good gifts God gives me (on occasion ha!) to encourage rest. But when I depend on these things to find rest, at best these things will give temporary relief, at worst, added stress!

But when I am in constant communion with my God, when I give our relationship the effort and focus and love that it deserves, I can find rest anywhere, anytime. Because God is there, anywhere, anytime.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:10-11 

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Go to Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Anytime. Anywhere.

Find Rest.

This Week in [Home]School - Celebrating Dr. Seuss

We LOVE Dr. Seuss.

Maybe I should say I love Dr. Seuss and therefore force my children to love his books as well.

I'm just being a good mom honest!

Here's a little of what we did to celebrate his 111th birthday...

We made Cat in the Hat hats by coloring stripes on white paper bags. Then wadded up paper and had several contests to see who could get the most wads in the hats.

We wrote and colored birthday cards for Dr. Seuss while watching The Cat in the Hat on PBS kids.

I printed out a bunch of fun pages from seussville.com, and Marie spent some time playing games on the website.

We went to the library for a little Dr. Seuss birthday party where they had a snack of a jello and whip cream parfait to look like the Cat's Hat.

We actually have 3 Dr. Seuss games. "I Can Do That Game," "Green Eggs and Ham," and a Dr. Seuss matching game. I need to play matching games more often. I think it's probably good exercise for my mommy brain.

We did other miscellaneous coloring pages and word searches and math pages.

This is Jack's! He said he wants to ride a helicopter when he grows up so he drew one. Can you find it? I think he did amazing!

I saved all the Lorax stuff for tonight because I wanted to watch The Lorax for family night only to realize that we don't own it and it is no longer on Netflix :( But we still made mustaches and watched Horton Hears a Who instead.

And of course, there was lots of reading of the greatest children's books ever written!

This week we were insanely busy. We only did school at home on Monday and today. So I have more fun plans to celebrate Dr. Seuss for next week. And hopefully get back into regular routine.

Need a Roger pic!

By the way, the Jacobs School is accepting any and all donations of Dr. Seuss (Theo Geisel) books and related movies ;)

Did you do anything special this week in school?

Quick Twist Bread

It's hard to believe that only a few short years ago I was scared of yeast. Now I go through it so fast I have to buy it in bulk (actually I steal my mom's that she buys in bulk. Thanks Momma!)

I finally overcame my fear of yeast when we moved out to the country and the nearest grocery store is, well, not near. Since we'd lived in cities up until moving here, a quick run to the store for some bread was the norm. I had to learn to make my own and now we're all spoiled!

Derek loves coming home to his wife covered in flour.

So this is my go-to bread for all those times I don't think about dinner til dinner time. It's quick, easy, and so delicious.

I adapted it from this recipe and tweaked it some to be a tiny bit healthier.

Quick Twist Bread

Ingredients:

3tsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

3tsp honey

3C unbleached flour

1tsp himalayan salt

1T butter (or coconut oil*)

1 egg

Directions:

1. Stir together yeast, water, and honey in stand mixer bowl (this recipe can also be done by hand but who does that anymore? ;) ). Let sit until bubbly.

2. Slowly stir in flour and salt using the dough paddle.

3. When dough is mostly combined, cut the butter into small cubes and continue kneading until soft and only slightly sticky. Let sit on a floured surface for about 10 minutes.

4. Roll the dough with your hands (see pictures) until about 15inches in length. Cut in half, then roll the halves again until they fit in your hand and are the same length.

5. Press the ends together and twist.

6. Place in greased bread pan. Beat the egg in a small bowl then brush it over the bread (you will have left over egg!). Sprinkle the top with garlic salt or parmesan cheese or nothing at all. Whatever you want!

7. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes then enjoy with some homemade jam!

*Coconut oil works fine, but the bread does not turn out as moist. 

What do you think? Do you have a favorite bread recipe? Because I'm gonna want it.