Clothed Like Him

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  Colossians 3:12

Kyle (approx 2000)

A new school week is knocking on our front door.  It's Monday, and both my kids are out and about in the world, attending classes, participating in activities, and face-to-face with many kinds of people.  My prayer for Alyssa and Kyle today is that they clothe themselves with all that represents the God who made them, lives in their heart, and loves His children deeply.

And because Alyssa and Kyle are loved, they can go out and love others!

Lord, Alyssa and Kyle are your chosen children, holy and dearly loved.  So help them clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as they walk and talk with the people they cross paths with this week.  Help them to see the beauty in each person and rejoice in their differences.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle shine you in their conversations, in their attitudes, and even in their conflicts. We can show grace and love because you gift us with grace and love even when we don't deserve it.  Thank you, precious Savior, for loving your people!



 

Belated Monday Post

 

Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

A Richer Attitude

"Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others."  Philippians 2:4

Alyssa, Kyle, and cousin Daria (1999)

Sometimes it's hard to think of someone else's needs, wants and desires.  Even at 44 years of age unfortunately. 

Lyssa and Ken love "Finding Bigfoot" and I like the Hallmark channel.
Kyle and Ken love football, baseball, and every sport in between, but I can't say that I do.
My girl loves Qdoba's Mexican cuisine but Kyle would vote for the chinese flair of Panda Express.

Often, when the kids would have sleepovers when they were little, discussions could be heard of who wanted to do what, and who should get to pick.  Over and over again I had to have the conversation with my kids of letting our guests choose the activity of the moment, and as the host, we'd wait our turn to have a say.

Life is a lot like that sometimes.  Doing something for the benefit of someone else.  Sacrificing.  Giving.  Loving through the compromise of our own wants and desires.  Thinking of someone's need and doing what we can to help.  Our own life will be the richer for it.

I want my kids to be the kind of people who love others fully by putting the interest of someone else ahead of their own.

Lord, teach me.  And, Lord, teach our children to be interested in the lives of others.  Give them hearts of compassion, mercy, and sacrifice to the needs, wants and desires of others.  May they have hearts that reflect you, and the attitudes that you desire them to have.  Givers.  Lovers.  Others-focused.  With you, at the helm of their heart, they will be a reflection of you to those around them.

 

A Precious Friend

"I praise you
    because of
the wonderful way
    you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
    Of this I have no doubt."  Psalm 139:14

I had some special time with my friend this weekend.

We dangled our feet into the lake.
We splashed one another...in fact, she started it!
And giggled.
We tossed and skipped rocks.

Smiles galore.

I love my friend because she always has a smile,
always gives me hugs,
and calls me her "buddy".

What joy she brings to life!

My friend is fearfully and wonderfully made and I give God thanks for her preciousness.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle look beyond differences and disabilities and find the blessing of every person they encounter.  May they be like my friend in always finding joy in everyday life.

Thanks, precious friend, for the time we had at the lake!

Lord, you are an amazing Creator, making each of your children so unique and wonderful.  Teach Alyssa and Kyle to find the wonder and delight of the people that come into their lives.  It may just be a small interaction in their day, or it could be an individual they work with, go to church with, or live next door to, and I pray that they show your love and kindness in word and deed.  There is great joy to be found in the preciousness of these relationships.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for my dear friend and the fun we had together.  May my children know that kind of joy!

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Listen Up!

"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears..."  James 1:19 (The Message)

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." --Stephen Covey, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Lord, teach Alyssa and Kyle to lead with their ears.  Help them to be good listeners of instruction, of people's hearts, and of You.  Investing themselves in understanding other people's words will be a benefit in their lives.  Being quick to listen and slow to speak will help them go far in relationships and in ministry.  Dear Father, thank you for hearing and listening this way.  May Alyssa and Kyle reflect you to the world around them with their ears that hear.
 
 

Serving Wholeheartedly

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."  Ephesians 6:7

Lyssa spent her Sunday afternoon watching the 4 little ones of a couple at our church so they could go on a little date.  She served wholeheartedly.

I pray that having a servant's heart will always come naturally to my kids; Lend a helping hand to the neighbor in need, doing a job that isn't theirs to do when there's something that needs to be done, and giving sacrificially of their time, talents, and finance.

Serving wholeheartedly is an outward sign of an inner heart that reflects Jesus.  May Alyssa and Kyle have hearts that desire to serve!

Lord, I pray that you teach Alyssa and Kyle to serve wholeheartedly, and when they serve they do it out of love and honor of you their God and Savior.  Others can pressure us to serve them, and overextend ourselves, and we often have to keep boundaries and make choices that are hard.  Give Alyssa and Kyle discernment and guidance to serve in the ways that you call them to, and in the ways you have gifted them.  When they are stretched and tired, give them the strength they need, and when the task is hard and out of their comfort zones, give them wisdom and the ability to finish well.  Mark their hearts with compassion, kindness, and giving as they serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving you, not men.

 

Today's Lesson Plan

"Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other."  1 Thessalonians 4:9

 Brother and Sister (1999)

Oh my children know how to push each others buttons.  They are pretty well trained at picking on/at each other, teasing, criticizing, and arousing every possible negative emotion in their sibling.  And it being Christmas break and all, I am keenly aware that the "natives are getting restless"...especially with each other.

Though I have used many of my own words in the last day or two about how they need to practice the art of "loving one another", I'm thinking it's time for God to move in and do His own teaching! 

Brotherly love is on the lesson plan today!

Lord, I pray that you teach Alyssa and Kyle a thing or two about loving each other.  May your Spirit fill both of them and prod them to speak with kindness, compassion and humility.  Remind them to love one another, deeply from the heart, as you have loved them.  This kind of love comes from you, Father, and everyone who loves has been born of you and knows you.  This is your command and I pray that Alyssa and Kyle live out this command in their lives.

Mr. Handsome

"Your heart became proud on account of your beauty..."  Ezekiel 28:17

Kyle (2006)

 

Something has happened to our son.  The minutes in front of the mirror before school has at least tripled in the last month or two.  Every piece of hair is carefully combed into place before he makes an exit.

I just have to laugh.  Once there was a day when the boy thought that showers were a waste of time, deodorant was a once a week "event", and his clean clothes could often be found tucked tightly away in his drawers unused.

All has changed, my friends.  All has changed.

Kyle (2011)

I'm just praying it doesn't go to my boy's head.  My longing is that he recognizes that it's what's on the inside that will really make him attractive to those he meets.

Yes, the boy is cute, but I also want him to be humble, kind, generous, and compassionate (just to name a few things).

Oh what's a mom to do when she still wants to "squeeze" on her baby-boy-turned young man?!

Lord, you have wonderfully made Alyssa and Kyle.  Please watch over them and the unhealthy pride that can grow in their hearts and minds.  Charm can be deceptive, and beauty is vain, but fearing you, Lord, is to be praised.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle clothe themselves with a beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to you.  Those who look to you are radiant.  Break down any pride, dear Jesus, that would cause destruction and give them a humble, compassionate, and kind heart.  Thank you, Lord, for our precious children.

Wordless Wednesday

Give and Give and Give

 

"Give away your life; 

you'll find life given back, 

but not merely given back—

given back with bonus 

and blessing. 

Giving, not getting, 

is the way. 

Generosity begets generosity." 

--Luke 6:38

  




Jesus, you loved the unlovely, you fed the hungry, and you gave to the undeserving.  And each day you continue to do so. You are a loving, compassionate and giving God.  I pray, dear Lord, that Alyssa and Kyle become imitators of you.  May they take the opportunities in front of them to feed those who are without, lend a helping hand to those in need, give abundantly out of their resources big or small, and through their actions show your love to others.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle's eyes are opened to see people as you see them, and their hearts burn within them to go above and beyond to be a blessing.  Please mark their lives with giving and generosity.  Lord, help Alyssa and Kyle to give away their lives.

Living Beyond Differences

"I consider my life worth nothing to me..."  Acts 20:24

 My girl and boy!...1998

My kids are total opposites in more areas than one being a girl and one a boy.  God created them each uniquely that's for sure!

One likes to stay home.
One likes to go.

One revels in the rain.
One plays in the sun.

If one hates a song on the radio,
the other loves it.

Where one likes to go out to eat,
the other whines in disgust (yes, even at 14 & 17),

If one were to like black,
I'm sure that the other would vote for white.

There is even a difference of opinion on
chocolate vs. vanilla.

Sometimes these difference cause a little ruckus in our home.  When they face decisions or react they don't always think of the other person.  It's so easy to be selfish and  thoughtless of the other.

Part of growing up and maturing will be Alyssa and Kyle learning to put aside their preferences and considering others desires ahead of their own.  Sometimes considering our life nothing is hard...

Lord, thank you for making Alyssa and Kyle so different.  They are each wonderful in who you have made them to be. Continue maturing them, dear Father, and help them to learn to appreciate each other and their differences.  Putting the other person first can sometimes be hard but it's a sign of you living in them, and of growing more compassionate and kind.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle learn to  look towards the interest of others and choose to sacrifice their wants and wishes on behalf of someone else.  I know you are living in Alyssa and Kyle's lives and you are molding them into who you want them to be.  Thank you, Lord, for wonderfully making our children!