Believing

How many more times? Annabelle. Annabelle, Zach…come here. Please pick up your shoes, can yo please clear the table; it’s time to go. Can you get into the car, into your seat…sit down, be quiet, let me know, help me. As mothers we have a lot to say to our children. We are teaching our children the ways of our households, how to be safe and how to interact with their families and friends. I never realised how much talking was involved in parenting. I’ve been considering lately that many of my repetitions are in part because my children do not believe that what I say is necessary for them. I was reading the story from today about Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As a child I considered that this story was only about the miracle Jesus calling for Lazarus to be raised from the dead. It was amazing and it showed the power and authority in Jesus, God’s son. As I read now though I see that there is much for us as mothers to learn from Martha and her conversation with Jesus. She says to Jesus that if He had been with them then Lazarus would not have died but acknowledges that anything Jesus asks of God, He will give them. Their conversation goes on until Jesus asks Martha ‘Do you believe I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die? I am taken with her response. She’s mourning the death of her brother yet when questioned she is not distracted she responds to Jesus “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” I know that I am disappointed when my children do not believe what I say so I can only imagine how God feels when I do not believe what He has said in the Bible. I want my children to believe and obey my word and God’s therefore I know that they must see this same hearing and obedience in me.

John 11:27 “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

Another day begins

For me this is usually to the cry of my nine month old daughter, telling me that the night is over and she is hungry, she has a need. Shortly after two bigger bodies, my two and three year olds, come bounding in to my bedroom ready for hugs and playing, they need me too. As the day rolls on much of what I do is meeting my children’s needs. They need food, they need correction, they need help to dress, open doors, reach books, they need love, they need care…the list goes on and on and as their mum it is my responsibility to meet these needs. As they get older, I know that they will do most of these things themselves that is what I am training them to do. However it is my hope that they never lose their need of the Greater One, God, who can meet their every need. Zaccheus was a little man busy meeting his own needs by stealing money. Everyone knew what he was doing and looked down on him but because he worked for the king he could get away with it. One day though he heard Jesus speaking and he knew there was more. Although he was rich in the eyes of the world he was poor in spirit and only Jesus could meet that need. I know that I need Jesus’ help to be a mother to my own children, without Him I am left with fear, anger and frustration. I pray that I can be as a little child and know my needs and run to the One who is there to help me.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

To know Him

Our little Audrey is on the move. After a lot of wriggling and rolling she has now worked out how to pull herself along the ground and she is enjoying her new found freedom. It’s fascinating to watch her move as it is quite different to both Zach and Annabelle. All our children will learn to crawl, walk, talk, eat and run but how they go about it is unique to them. There is a precious uniqueness to all of us that God designed for us. In the story today we heard about a young man named Nathanael. When he met Jesus it was clear to Nathanael that Jesus knew who he was and as they spoke, it became clear to Nathanael that Jesus was the Son of God. In the Bible we read that God had a plan for the days of our lives before we existed. Isn’t that a marvellous thought? He created you and your children and has a plan fashioned for the days of your life. You can know this plan if you know Him.

Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Follow and obey

Have you ever thought your children had difficulty hearing? I know there are many times that I hear myself repeating over and over again ‘Zach’, ‘Annabelle’, Zach, Annabelle. I need their attention, I’m asking something of them and yet they are not responding, they are busy doing their own thing. At home this may not seem so important but it is foundational. Their lack of response is because I have not insisted on an immediate response and it now requires much training and discipline in and from me. They need to hear and obey immediately as a sign of respect and for their safety. It is also crucial for them if they are to hear when their name is called from anyone other than me. As we heard in the story today when Jesus called his disciples by name they stopped what they were doing immediately to come and follow Him. They left their work and livelihood as they knew when He called them He was calling them to life. God is patient as a father with us but He receives joy when we as children respond quickly to His call. God has commanded that children honour and obey their parents; it is for us to persevere with our children to see this become a reality. I know my desire is to be one who is quick to listen and obey and I pray that my children can see this example in my life and learn from me.

Trusting in the Lord

I’ve written previously about my daughter’s, and my struggles with her sleeping. She’ll be two in a couple of weeks which for us is many sleepless nights. All has been going well for the past four months, I’d forgotten the battle and had settled into enjoying nights of peace and quiet. Two weeks ago things changed. Going to bed now required a drink, then a book, then a specific toy; I wondered where it would end. Unfortunately it ended with lots of unsettledness, yelling, screaming and lots of ‘Mummy!’ Jonathon and I have begun to try our strategies again but at the moment Jona is away. The first night was not great and the second begun in the same way. I didn’t want to negotiate or plead to placate her, I just wanted her to sleep. I found myself in the Family room praying as I listened to her screams, I didn’t know what to do. After a while I returned to her room and continued to pray, she settled and after a while I stopped and she went to sleep. I know that the Lord was asking me to show Annabelle what it meant to trust in Him and not in my own wisdom, to show her that I don’t have all the answers or the solutions but in all things I can turn to the Lord. My challenge came the following night when she began her screams again and I immediately tried what had worked the night before. Again though, I know that God wanted me to trust in Him and not in myself, to press in and persevere in prayer. This night there was a different resolution but I knew God’s peace in the same way. God will meet every need if we will look to Him. His answer may not be what we were expecting or even hoping for but it will be what we need.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.