"Overflowing with Gratitude"

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians 2:7

When I take the time to thank God for who He is, that He is in my life, and for how He has blessed me, I gain great perspective. Those things that were overwhelming a few minutes ago seem petty now. Afterall, He is on the throne. He is Lord over my life. I can let Him take care of those issues. I can enjoy this life and these blessings He has given. I can walk in Him.

We so often hear of key things to do to help us walk in Him, read the Word, serve others, pray. Paul says we should add gratitude to that list. "Thank you, Father, that I have 2 beautiful people in my life, my husband and my son." Saying those words makes me look past my earlier frustrations with them. The extra laundry, the added to-do list, the arguments aren't such a big deal anymore because I have taken a moment to remember they are a gift.

I have always loved the last few chapters of Job when God is speaking to him. Job has just gone through one horrific event after another and is questioning why these things have happened to him. Interestingly, God's response is a list of His abilities, His powers. He doesn't give an explanation of Job's circumstances; He doesn't give directions to get out of those circumstances. Instead, He reminds Job of who He is. He reminds Job of why he can still be grateful amidst his present circumstances.

Caleb enjoys watching Veggietales. We often sit down to watch a recorded episode while he drinks his milk after a nap. There is a song in one of them called "The Thankfulness Song." It really has great lyrics, exactly in line with Colossians 2:7.

The Thankfulness Song

"I thank God for this day,
For the sun in the sky,
For my mom and my dad,
For my piece of apple pie!

For our home on the ground,
For His love that's all around,
That's why I say thanks every day!

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!
I'm glad for what I have,
Thats an easy way to start!

For the love that He shares,
'Cause He listens to my prayers,
That's why I say thanks every day!

Thank you Dad for our day,
For our trip to the mall,
For the time just with me,
For my big red bouncy ball!
For the fun that we had,
I'm so happy you're my dad,
That's why I say thanks everyday!

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!
I'm glad for what I have,
That's an easy way to start!
For a God who really cares
And He listens to our prayers,
That's why I say thanks everyday!

That's why we say thanks everyday!"

Here's a cute Youtube of the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=takc97w9by4

"No, No!"

Caleb has started saying "No, no" every time he sees something he's not supposed to touch. The remote controls, the computer, the trash can, each time it's "No, no, no, no." It's as if he is reminding himself to stay away.
It got me thinking, this should be our reaction to those temptations we come up to. How would we respond differently if we gave ourselves a "no, no" right away!

Joseph ran from the seduction by Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39); that's a "No, no." Jesus immediately spoke against Peter's rebuke (Mark 8:31-33); that's a "No, no." David didn't turn away at the sight of Bathsheeba bathing on the roof (2 Samuel 11); that's ummm, no "No, no." :). Joseph ended up 2nd in command of all Egypt. Jesus, uh... King of Kings! :) David was King of Isreal and remained king after his failure with Bathsheeba, but he also endured the death of a son, the rape of a daughter, the insurrection of a son, and a lot of family bickering. He quickly learned that "no, no" is a much better response.

I think I'd get into a lot less trouble if I said a "no, no" each time I met up with something God has declared wrong. When I get frustrated with my husband and want to speak rudely, "No, no." When I see that dial push past the speed limit, "No, no." Hit a channel with unGodly content, "No, no." Hear the neighbors' gossip, "No, no." Hear the couch beckoning instead of the dishes, "No, no."

Hmmm...lesson learned from my 1 year old son!

Easter thoughts

I had one more reason this year to stand in awe of the gift we celebrate at Easter, that reason is my son Caleb. I am in awe of a God that would give up His Son, give of Himself for me... small, simple, me. How amazing is that? He wanted that relationship with me so much that He "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, being made in human likeness." WOW. That's the God I want. What other god would do that? What other man would do that (if possible of course)?
I think of all the beauty I have in life because of Him and grateful seems too small of a word. I think of all the beauty Caleb can have in his life because of Him, and am simply overwhelmed. Parents want only the best for our kids. You can't get any better than a personal relationship with the Creator of everything. He made that possible for my son. WOW

Dedication

We actually dedicated Caleb back in November, but I am just now getting to recording Pen's pray for him. I really like how our church performs baby dedications. Pastor Bruce explains the purpose of it and why the difference from baby baptisms, he introduces the babies and allow the moms to tell why they chose the name, the parents verbally agree to the dedication, and finally the dad's say a prayer over their baby. Here's Pen's prayer...

"Father God, We thank You for entrusting Caleb's life to us. We dedicate his life to You today. We submit our lives to You, let it be Your righteousness, Your wisdom, Your strength, Your instruction, Your provision, Your protection, and Your favor that he will see through us. In Your name, we crush any work of the enemy that will otherwise deter the plans You have set for him. Let him learn early in life that You alone are his salvation, his Lord, his Portion, and Everything he needs. Let him understand the depth of Your love, grace and mercy that You have reached out to each tribe and tongue. Let him be a seeker of truth, that Your word shall be his daily bread, the light to the path You have laid before him. Lead him and guide him for Your name's sake. Let prayer and praise be continually on his lips. Let him be a warrior for Christ, a winner of souls, a servant to others. As he grows in Christ, reveal more of Your character to him that he may find the purpose of his life more meaningful and complete. May his entire life be worship to You alone, daily living in obedience to Your Word...that Caleb may live his name, and You may find him ever faithful to You. All these things we ask and claim in Jesus Christ, Amen."

My personal favorite line... "that Caleb may live his name, and You may find him ever faithful to You."
I'll have to come back and explain the meaning of his name.
I'm blessed to have a husband that seeks Him as he parents and prays the Word of God over our son.

My Prayers for Caleb

It's amazing how perspective changes so much when you have a child. I've been reading through Paul's letters and keep coming across verses that just strike me as something I want to pray specifically for Caleb. This morning I thought to start writing some of them down, as a record for when we see God's provision.

this is from yesterday (I will add to it later)...

...that utterance may be given to [Caleb] in the opening of his mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel...that in proclaiming it [he] may speak boldly, as [he] ought to speak. Ephesians 6:24

This is from this morning...

And this I pray, that [Caleb's] love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that [he] may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11


-- As our country gets closer and closer to the Babylonian mindset, making evil appear good and good appear evil and like Isaiah said, "who says in [their] heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me'" (Isaiah 47:8), I really believe Christians need to pray for "real knowledge and all discernment." It is going to be increasingly necessary as the days go on and we get closer to His coming. I do not want Caleb growing up believing that right/wrong is subjective, that he is the one that determines these things for himself. Afterall, that is another form of idolatry...putting your own beliefs above God's. Right and wrong is something God lays out for us in His Word. It is not something we can pick and choose which part to believe/live by.

Thankfully, we are found blameless by God only when we accept His Son into our lives. Blameslessness or excellence in God's sight cannot be achieved by our own work, no matter how hard our efforts or good our intentions. But I noticed that Paul does say our love for this depth of insight/real knowledge and discernment will result in sincere and blameless lives. Paul describes it as a "fruit of righteousness." Biblically, a fruit is something for God's glory but seen by man as a witness/testimony to them. Later, Paul even says he prays (while imprisoned because of his preaching the gospel) that "[he] will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in [his] body, whether by life or by death" (Phil 1:20). So these blameless lives we are to live are so that the world cannot find fault in us, so that we do not "shame" the gospel that we claim as ours. It shows them whether we are truly sincere.

I want this for Caleb. That he would grow to seek and love His knowledge and His discernment, that it would permeate his life so much so that he bears the fruit of righteousness to all who know him, and in that life God would be exalted.

A Watchful Eye

A few months ago, I noticed Caleb putting his hands together when I said "Let's pray." I never actually taught him to do this, but we do pray before meals and before bed. I just always put my hands together and closed my eyes (which might be why I had never noticed). I'm not sure when he started this, but somewhere along the way he learned by example. Actually even before I noticed him clasping his hands together, he would get real excited and squeal when we got to "amen" (probably because he knew food was on its way!). He has a book that mentions praying a few times and has started folding his hands together when we get to that part as well. We didn't teach him this. He just put two and two together.

He doesn't really understand what we're doing when we pray or why we do it, but he'll get there. I love that he's on his way to learning that God deserves praise and thanks first.


It took months of us practicing and using sign language before he used his first sign. I thought he'd never get it. But "praying" was no work at all and he picked it up in no time. So many of the things we learn come by example, and I think the lesson is better learned that way. I don't remember my parents teaching/telling me how rewarding it was to have an active and consistent relationship with God and that we get that relationship through communication and time with Him (though I'm sure it was probably told to me at some point). What I do remember is seeing both mom and dad consistently living out that kind of relationship with Him; that's really how I learned to live it myself. I learned that husbands put their wives first (aside from God) and vice versa by seeing them do it day in and day out. I learned that a person of character was an honest and diligent worker. I learned that good work wasn't done for pay or for praise but for God. I learned that honesty and openness led to better friendships. All of these things came from an example set before me, a mom, a dad, a grandparent, a friend.

He's not even one year yet, and it's already so evident how much Caleb learns by the example that he sees in us. Of course I hope he will only learn from the good we do and not the bad, but it's probably a better idea to cut out the bad instead!

Lessons from Eli, the High Priest

I recently reread the story of Eli, a High Priest of the Old Testament. Eli had two sons who were also priests, but they did not show respect to God and were very poor examples as priests. Besides being womanizers, they kept the best of offerings and even stole offerings for themselves.

Eli verbally reprimanded them, but nothing more. He offered no other form of punishment, and his sons continued in their roles as priests. They also continued in their disobedience and sin.

What struck me is God's response to Eli. Through the prophet, He asked "Why do you honor your sons more than me - for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people!" (1 Samuel 2:29). God made a direct correlation between Eli allowing his sons' disobedience with dishonoring Him. Eli was putting his own sons ahead of God because he wasn't doing what was necessary a High Priest and a father (and this is with adult children).

How many times have you seen parents verbally reprimand their child but do nothing more? How many times have we done this ourselves? "I told you not to run in the house." "I told you to do your homework," or "Stop hitting your brother." These things are repeated countless times because the disobedience is repeated countless times. They do not follow through with a consequence for fear that the child will feel unloved or abused, for fear that their child will count them an enemy rather than a friend, or perhaps because they are too distracted with something else to bother. By not following through with our child's disobedience we are putting something else above God. We were given the responsibility to train our children "in the way they should go".

We are first to obey Him, to follow His directives as He laid out in the Bible. Doing what He says is what is best for our children. This is part of the example I want to set for Caleb. There may be times in the future when he doesn't understand or is put off by my discipline or descisions as a parent. We should not parent based on our child's temporary feelings but with a goal to honor God first in all things.