The Great Teacher and The Great Contender

My Bible study this morning brought me to several passages that are weighty in their description of oppression and relieving in their description of the LORD's loyalty. I listed most of the scriptures at the end of this post, but my point of this post is to write a prayer for Caleb.

Oh God, Thou has taught me from my youth; and I still declare Thy wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Thy strength to this generation, Thy power to all who are to come. (Ps 71:17,18) This is my prayer for Caleb. Teach him even now. Teach him as he toddles, teach him when he runs, and teach him when he drives. In all the days of his youth You, LORD, to be his teacher. What an awesome gift to grow up with. When he is old and gray may he still declare Your wondrous deeds, may he still delight in you. (Ps 18:19) Let him share the lessons you teach him to his generation.

Do not let oppressors control him. Protect him now before the attempts are even made. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. Jerusalem - the mountains surround her. And the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forever. (Ps 125:1,2) Under your teaching, help Caleb to grow confident and secure like a mountain, to trust You. Surround him, both now and forever. YOU make him secure, You make him stand like a strong mountain. (Ps 30:6-7)

Do not let those who attack prevail against him. Do not let the plowmen plow over his back. Don't let him be used. (Ps 129:2-4) YOU contend with the one who tries to contend with him. (Is 49:25) Bring him to a spacious place (Ps 18:19), with all the room to grow. Do not let him walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. Let his delight be in the Your law. Teach him to meditate on Your word day and night. Let him be like a tree, planted by your river of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. Let him be like a tree, whose leaves will not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps 1:1-3)

I thank you, Father, that You are the Great Contender. You want Caleb even more than I want Caleb to want You. You protect him with even more power than I could imagine possible. You will teach him even more than you have taught me.... if he will only have ears to hear. Father, let him have ears to hear.

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Scripture verses in their entirety:

Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not prevailed against me. Plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long. The LORD is righteous; He has cut the ropes of the wicked. Ps 129:2-4

He brought me into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Ps 18:19

Oh God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; And I still declare Thy wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forwake me, Until I declare Thy strength to this generation, Thy power to all who are to come. Ps 71:17, 18

Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God who contends for His people, 'Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling; the chalice of My anger, you will never drink it again. And I will put it inot the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who walk over it. Isaiah 51:22-23

Surely, thus says the LORD, "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you." Isaiah 49:25

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Just passing time? (part one)

This is a question I ask myself a lot.

Sometimes I feel like I'm just passing time, getting through the day, the week, or maybe just the morning? It's not that I dislike my life or my days with my little toddler. I guess the routine sometimes gets to me. I hate these ruts, yet I still manage to find myself in them every now and then. It typically happens when I don't have a goal or a vision for the day. Caleb and I still play and have fun, but it's a mindless movement from one activity/errand to another. There's no thought as to why I'm doing what I'm doing, I'm just filling time.... until naptime, until dad comes home, until bedtime, until the weekend, until ... My whole heart and soul isn't in my mommy-ing on these days.

I don't think stay at home mom's are the only ones that deal with this. I remember as a teacher, I could easily fulfill all my duties, follow my lesson plan, even engage my students during class, and still just be passing time. Again, my whole heart and soul wasn't in my work on those days.

I believe that as Christians we don't have to live even a single day like this. He didn't intend living to be like this when He creating us. I also believe that making a habit out of passing time is detrimental. It is certainly not benefitting to either myself or to my child. If I'm consistently living life just filling space to keep myself busy with no thought as to why I'm doing what I'm doing, I am not serving Him to my full potential. He won't be able to mold me as He wants. I am turning my ears off to the Holy Spirit, whether I realize it or not. I miss opportunities to serve and therefore opportunities to grow.... and as a mother, opportunities to teach my son how to live as God intended.

If I am just passing time, I am doing a disservice to my child. All his needs will not be met (especially the mental and emotional needs) and I will be offering a poor example of what it means to serve Christ which is my biggest responsibility as a mother. I'm teaching him that's it's ok to pass time every now and then, as long as I'm fulfilling my responsibilities on the outside it should be no big deal. Everyone does it occasionally, right?

Ever read Ecclesiastes? The beginning chapters of this book are written from this perspective. It's actually quite depressing. I remember skipping that book a lot when I was younger. :)

That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will
be done. Ecclesiastes 1:9

Yes, we all have the blah moments, the temptation to just pass time, just continue the day. Those feelings are normal. It is not ok to live those feelings.

I want to teach my son how to respond to those blah feelings, those days we want to just sit in front of the tv until mealtime (or sit our toddler in front of the tv until mealtime). That is a lesson worthy of being taught. Since he will better remember the way I live than the words I speak, living this example every day will be life impacting for him. It'll be pretty life impacting for me too!