Watch What You Speak

Zechariah story is such a great encouragement, because it shows the power a man has over what he speaks in his home; it also shows how lightly we take that power. I've been guilty of looking at my circumstances, rather than looking to heaven, and speaking to my problems like they are bigger than God. Zechariah felt this too and in his lack of faith he spoke against his own child, John, and his greatness. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 13:3 says, "Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin." 

Zechariah's inability to speak was a blessing; he could not speak against his sons destiny. Imagine he retained the ability to speak. I'm sure the story would have been quite different. He would have placed doubt in his wife's heart with his words. His words and our words as fathers and husbands are powerful because we operate as priest of our homes.

Unfortunately, our mouths aren't sealed. I don't see many mute men walking around, as I do damaged children and hurt wives. Our words have power, either we use that power and authority to build our families or to tear them down.

So, instead of speaking against your children by telling them how bad they are or how disappointed you are in them. Speak life into them by telling them who God has called them to be. Tell them who they are at their best. Speak against the behavior you don't want to see in your children by speaking life into who God has called them to be.

- Kristian James

God's Grace for Parents

Yesterday I spent two hours on the phone with my mother in law. After comparing out childhoods and that of my husbands we came to the conclusion they weren't "normal." I then began to think, "I want to raise 'normal' kids. I want them to have balance between a fun and responsible childhood. How can I do that?" Then God reminded me of His grace. 

One person who shows us God's grace is Jesse. Jesse had eight sons. I'm sure he did his best will all of them; after all he raised strong men some of which served in the kings army. Samuel, the high priest, shows up at Jesse's house and tells him he is there to find the next king. He than asks to see his sons. Jesse shows him the first seven.

1 Samuel 16:10-11 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 

I don't think Jesse loved David any less than he did his other boys, he just did not consider him when the chance to be king was on the table. Jesse raised David as a shepherd. I imagine had he known David would be king he would have made different choices, but that's where God's grace comes in.

God did not need Jesse to train David on kingship. God was going to train him. If you continue reading 1 Samuel you will see God used life to teach David wisdom, resourcefulness and most importantly to trust him; but he did all this in the wilderness. Jesse, having taught David to be a shepherd, equip him to survive the wilderness. 

Due to his shepherd training David was able to defeat Goliath, he was able to lead and he was able to protect. God used Jesse to lay that foundation. 

When Samuel sees David and anoints him king, I imagine Jesse questioning David's upbringing. This story, however, gives me peace because I know despite my children's purpose, my responsibility is to do my best to lay a foundation, that God will use life experience, to build upon. 

Daddy, 

Thank you for the foundations that you are building through us in the lives of our children. Help us to read your word and to seek after your heart concerning your plans for them. Thank you for trusting us with such precious souls and help us to guide, instruct, and train them in your way. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Blanket of Love

When we moved into our apartment in AZ I was pregnant with KJ. The apartment manager went home and told her mother in law. This was in August. By October I had this beautiful blanket (pictured below). December 31, 2012 the apartment manager lost her husband. She explained to me, he had been sick a long time and their family expected him to go at anytime. So when I see my son wrapped in this blanket I'm reminded that as a woman was watching her sons life slip away, she was making something for my son as his life was being developed. 

The apartment manager and her mother in law moved closer to family and I will probably never see the apartment manager or meet her mother in law but I'm so grateful that God used her to bless me. I call this a random act of kindness from God, and I call the blanket a blanket of love. 

Worshiping Through

My sweet girl is teaching me to worship through. To understand how powerful this video is let me tell you about her morning. She woke up and wanted yogurt for breakfast, we didn't have any more. As her dad fixes breakfast I shower and prepare for a client who's coming to get her hair done. She wants me out of the shower and playing with her instead. We're scrambling around cleaning so Summer's morning was filled with, "stop, wait, don't touch that, no, and put it back."  

Finally, we were done with the busyness or the morning and we put on some music. Immediately her hand shoots up into the air, her eyes close, her head bows and shakes as she walks through the house saying, "Hallelujah." This is what it looks like to worship through. Sometimes we get into a place where God tells us "stop, wait, don't touch that, no, and put it back." We get frustrated, much like my 23 month old. However, when the opportunity comes to worship we need to take it. Worshipping did not get Summer the things she wanted, but that wasn't the intent of her worship. It did, for a moment in time make everything else insignificant. Worship changes the atmosphere. Her worshipping touched my heart and I'm sure it moved the heart of God. 

Psalm 29:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  

A Little About Me

Before getting pregnant I had a plan. I knew exactly how things would go. My husband and I had just gotten married. We would wait three years, two if I could reach my goal sooner. During that time I would work my butt off and get to the point in my career where I could work from home. I would finish my MBA and be done with school all before my first trimester of pregnancy. We would have two incomes and be financially stable so we could raise our children without much worry. Sounds good right?

Well God revealed to me that my plan had nothing to do with Him. It did not require much faith, or any room to grow closer to Him. Sure I could have penciled that into my plan but God did not want to be penciled in to my life He wanted to consume my life. Proverbs 19:21(NIV) says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose which prevails.”

My having a plan wasn’t the problem, the problem was I did not make sure my plan lined up with God’s purpose for my life. As the word of God says His purpose prevailed in my life. Six months into being married, I got pregnant and my whole world changed. I was working as a temp for an HVAC company, working on my MBA and learning the ropes on being a wife.

When I was 5 months along with my daughter, Summer, I was placed on bed rest and my husband became the sole provider for our family. It was unexpected, and it was a stretch of faith. Even then, God was using this precious baby girl to teach me to rest in Him. Being pregnant and on bed rest was one of the hardest things for me to do.

I felt fine, I looked fine but there was something going on inside of me that required me to be still. Have you ever felt God stilling you when all you want to do is run? I wanted to be out and about, I wanted to work, I had a plan, but God told me to rest and wait.

With my next pregnancy it wasn't as hard to trust God. My husband’s job moved us to a new state, my blood work during pregnancy showed early signs of cancer and I was far away from my friends. This time I knew to trust God and rest. I could see this child, my son, was teaching me early. God blessed me with good friends, after much prayer and months of testing it was found that I did not have cancer, and my son Kristian II was born perfectly healthy.

I see myself in my daughter all the time. Not so much in her features as in her actions. There were days where she would cry and want everything right at that moment. For example, during a growth spurt, Summer was so frustrated she was screaming at the top of her lungs, she just could not get satisfied. As I tried to nurse her she continued to scream, it's was only when I stopped and pulled her away to calm her down did she latch on and eat.

God revealed to me that I do the same thing. Sometimes I get so frustrated and I want something so badly from God. I feel so misunderstood like my need is not important to Him. Doesn’t He know that I need this now? What is taking so long? God I need you to satisfy me. It sometimes gets to the point where He has to pull me away from the thing I desire, calm me down, and offer it to me again.

I wonder how many times God has had to pull me back from my blessing because I was so close I didn’t see it as such. How many opportunities has He had to re-present it to me because I didn’t recognize it as the thing I had been praying for. I thought I was older spiritually but God is revealing to me that, at times, I don’t act much older than the children I am raising. While trying to raise children for a purpose, God is raising me to be a purpose parent.

Promise for Your Children

The promise God gave you for your child is significant. Your child(ren) was created for a specific purpose. John 15:16 tell us God chose your child(ren), He hand picked your child(ren) and according to Jeremiah 1:5 He knew who your child(ren) would be before He formed them. If God has not given you a specific word concerning your child(ren) hold on to this. They have been formed, called and chosen to be a part of the body of Christ, and as a member of the body your child(ren) will transform peoples lives. The promise is beautiful but it comes with our commitment as parents to submit our will to God’s by nurturing, developing and protecting the promise within our children.

Parenting and Submission

Parenting requires a daily dose of submission. We submit to the needs of our child and the plans God has in store for their future. This may cause us to act outside of worldly and even religious standards. However, by submitting to God’s plan for our child(ren)’s life we are setting our child up to reign in the area God has placed them. 

When we conform to what other think is best for our child(ren) we hinder the work God is trying to do in and through both our child and ourselves. God gives us a promise to help us stick to His plan, however the promise isn't always what it seems. In Luke 1:3 The angel of the Lord told Mary her son would be great. He would be called the son of the Most High, He would be given David’s throne, and He would reign over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom would have no end. 

The angel did not tell her, her world would be ripped apart as her son bled and died for all humanity. He did not tell her of the sleepless nights she would have as Jesus traveled, knowing her son was being hunted. All she knew is that she would give birth to a king. God may have given you a promise concerning your child(ren) and He expects you to raise your child(ren) according to that promise. However, we as parents need to be open to the reality that God sees and knows far beyond what we see and know.