A Prayer When Feeling Overwhelmed

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15–17

Gracious Father, there are times when the “odds” feel quite stacked against us, as your people. With the naked eye, the enemies of justice, truth, and the gospel greatly seem to outnumber your “troops.”

Serving you feels quite overwhelming, at times even futile.

But just when we begin to retreat into a basement of fear or question your concern and faithfulness, once again you open the eyes of our hearts and show us the way things really are. You’re such a patient and merciful God.

Though serving you is not like a childhood game of kickball, when we did our best to choose the best players for our team, nevertheless, it is good—no, vital to know that because of the gospel, “those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

But the way of the gospel will always be strength in weakness—the transforming treasure of the gospel in fragile clay pots, like us.

It was three hundred poorly armed soldiers, not thirty-four thousand fighting men, you sent with Gideon to defeat the Midianite army. Jesse’s youngest son, David, a young shepherd, was your choice to be the king of Israel, not the more likely older brothers. Fickle fishermen, not skilled statesmen were chosen to be the first apostles. Most profoundly, it was the crucifixion of Jesus, not an insurrection of zealots, which won our salvation.

Father, the odds are never really stacked against your covenant purposes and your transforming kingdom. You’re not “trying” to do anything. You never have to resort to plan B. You never hedge your bets, cover your flanks or furrow your brow. You are God, and there is no other.

So help us, and your servants throughout the world, not to become weary in preaching the gospel and planting churches, in doing justice and loving mercy—and in “simply” living out the grace of Jesus in marriage, friendship and work. We will reap a harvest at the proper time, if we do not give up (Gal. 6:9), and the gospel is all the motivation, hope, and power we need to not give up.

Before Jesus returns, he will redeem his pan-national bride, and when Jesus returns, he will finish making all things new and usher in the new heaven and new earth. Our labors in the Lord are often exhausting and discouraging, but they are never in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). Hallelujah! We offer our prayer with great gratitude and hope, in Jesus’ trustworthy and triumphant name. Amen.

Scotty Smith

blanket time

while homeschooling or cooking or practicing violin, or anything else that requires a little space, we use a very helpful tool called blanket time.

I did not create blanket time. (thank you, Ezzos!)

Nor did I blanket time would ever work for *my* kids.

But then a couple years ago, I had to keep my toddler Ezra off of the soccer fields while we watched his siblings play, and I was desperate.

so we pulled out a towel and put it on the floor at home with some toys, and told him not to get off. Of course he got off immediately. I took him by the hand and led him back. He got off again. This happened many many times.

I set a timer for two minutes, and when it went off, he could get up. We had a party.

The next day, we set the timer for 5 minutes. And then we gradually increased the time he was to be on the blanket.

While the first few days took lots of redirecting back to the blanket, I eventually was able to watch soccer games in peace, without my little guy racing all over the field.

And now Malachi is learning the same skill!

Try it. It helps so much!

it's the little things

full day with 3 back to back soccer games on a glorious fall morning...

Lunch was chili dogs and sun chips...yum

College football on as we sorted closets...out with the summer clothes, in with the warm clothes...

Baths and the biggest hit of the day...Daddy went to Walmart and bought Elizabeth new pajamas...she put them on right away and hasn't taken them off...

Even Malachi likes them!

ouch in a good way

I am reading the Gospel of Mark, it seems like for the very first time.

it isn't the first time, but it may as well be.

so good. so hard.

there is a boy.

with problems.

big problems and big consequences.

this problem is "robbing" the little boy, the Scripture says. Robbing him of speech. (So many things that are being robbed around me as a result of problems...peace, joy, love)

his father is desperate for help.

he brings his son to the disciples for help. they cannot help even though they try.

his father brings the boy to Jesus.

Jesus knows the boy has problems and let's the father explain the problem.

his father confesses his belief that falls short. he knows it isn't where it should be.

Jesus deals with the boy's specific problems. the boy is healed.

the disciples want to know why they can't solve the big problems themselves, without Him bailing them out for all the world to see.

Jesus says that this evil, this problem can only be dealt with by prayer.

they can't do it on their own.

and they are exposed for the prayerless followers that they are.

ouch.

(do I have any children with big problems? are my children being "robbed of _____" whatever as a result of their big problem? am I trying to fix those problems without prayer?! am I bringing them to Jesus, trusting His healing and timing? do I think I can do it on my own?)

"Now, don't be took quick to condemn the disciples. I think there is a whole lot of prayerless Christianity in the church of Jesus Christ. I think we often try to defeat, in our own strength, things that we have no capacity whatsoever to defeat. We attempt to do in our own power things that we have no ability to do without empowering grace.

--Paul Tripp, "Love Warns, Love Rebukes," www.desiringGod.org

praying for sweet

A cup of sweet water could never spill a drop of bitter water,

no matter how heavily it was jolted." -Amy Carmichael

perspective

every now and then, I sense God's answer to my prayer keenly.

my prayer...

"teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12

number our days...

these blessings will not be under my roof forever...

number our days...

my words matter

number our days...

my actions matter

number our days...

look into their eyes

number our days...

this beautiful, messy, not-perfect marriage is a gift

number our days...

my feelings are not my Lord

number our days...

that I may gain a heart of wisdom.

Oh, how I want that heart of wisdom.

Today all the dishes and the laundry and the loud voices and the crumbs and the dirty diapers and the shoes and the sticky hands and the papers strewn about and the markers and the toys are received as part of my beautiful portion and cup.

Some days, sadly even most days, my natural tendency is to reject these things as interruptions, delays, inconveniences.

But today, I thank God that He has opened my eyes to SEE what He sees.

Gifts.

My portion and my cup.
Not perfect.
Not even always washed.
Chipped.
Broken.
Sacred.

~~old pictures, fresh conviction~~

our first great date

Mission: to define and discuss Your Beauty in God's Eyes

The first date in this awesome book, Eight Great Dates for Moms and Daughters, involves going to a proper tea house to celebrate all things beautiful and fancy.
We got all dressed up and got all ready to enjoy some beautiful treats and to relax together.

On the way to the date, the author has made available an mp3 audio for you both to listen to in the car on the way to the date. Since this is the first date, she describes what a secret keeper girl is, and one foundational truth that is the basis for all the dates to come: you are a masterpiece created by God.

The way the author has you illustrate this foundational truth is by using different kinds of cups.

We talked about the fine china, the silver, the linens. The beautiful music, the gorgeous surroundings.

And then we compared it to if we had gone to have this time together at Applebee's or Chick-fil-a. It still would have been great, but there is just something so special about surrounding ourselves with beautiful and delicate things, things that are not common.

As directed to in the book, I pulled out a coffee cup that I use each day, and a styrofoam cup that you can throw away.

We compared our lives, our beauty, our value to these different cups. How many people, who don't know that they are a masterpiece created by God, treat themselves or are treated like ordinary, every day cups. Some even treat themselves like styrofoam: cheap and disposable.

But we know that we are loved, valued, created, cherished by the One True God, and that changes everything!

Dates that are coming up:

Date 2 : Real Physical Beauty

Date 3 : The Source Of Beauty

Date 4 : The Power Of Beauty

Date 5 : Truth Or Bare Fashion

Date 6 : The Bod Squad

Date 7 : Internal Fashion

Date 8 : Affirmation Of Beauty

There was even an mp3 to listen to on the way home, wrapping up the date and the biblical truth. I gave Marie a beautiful tea cup to keep in her room as a way to remember our date and her worth as a child of God. Love this book and these ideas!