You Are An ENTP |
The Visionary You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything. Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off. You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. In love, you see everything as a grand adventure. You enjoy taking risks for love. And if things don't work out, you're usually not too much worse for the wear! You would make a great entrepreneur, marketing executive, or actor. At work, you need a lot of freedom to pursue your own path and vision. How you see yourself: Analytical, creative, and peaceful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Detached, wishy-washy, and superficial |
That's my prayer ~ that 24/7/365 I live life couragously and vibrantly. Knowing there are up and down days, I put my hope in the One Consistent.... I hope you find a comfortable place to land on these pages. My ramblings here are my attempt at encouraging those who come here to be all that God created them to be. In my praises and ponderings may you find peace for the journey, hope for the future, and the courage to be real. Go with God...be yourself...and thanks for stopping by!
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." ~e.e. Cummings
My Dad always had one thing to say to me..."just be yourself." There were years when that was tough because who I was acting like and who I wanted to be were two different people. So I had to work through the kinks.
My Mom always had one thing to say to me, too..."God go with you."
Between the two I finally figured out that I was made to be someone in particular. Now, I'm not saying I'm 100% happy with the quirks He's given me, but I can honestly say I am courageously growing up...to be myself as God goes with me.
Thanks, Mom & Dad ~ it's the best advice I've ever gotten.
My Mom always had one thing to say to me, too..."God go with you."
Between the two I finally figured out that I was made to be someone in particular. Now, I'm not saying I'm 100% happy with the quirks He's given me, but I can honestly say I am courageously growing up...to be myself as God goes with me.
Thanks, Mom & Dad ~ it's the best advice I've ever gotten.
~ Goal Setting ~
Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you? ~Fanny Brice
Friday, April 11, 2008
You Are a Red Crayon |
Your world is colored with bright, vivid, wild colors. You have a deep, complex personality - and you are always expressing something about yourself. Bold and dominant, you are a natural leader. You have an energy that is intense... and sometimes overwhelming. Your reaction to everything tends to be strong. You are the master of love-hate relationships. Your color wheel opposite is green. Green people are way too mellow to understand what drives your energy. |
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Costco on a Saturday
Scott turns 41 on Tuesday so we decided to go get him his "birthday present" (it's not the only one...) today. We headed across the river (no sales tax) to the Portland Costco. Now, the very first thing we know about Costco on a Saturday is that it will be a madhouse. I know going in to a store like Costco (for those of you who don't have a Costco this is like Sam's Club) on a Saturday or Sunday I will a) expect lots of people, b) expect to wait in lines, c) expect to be extra patient because it's a Saturday at Costco.
I wish other people would get the message...it's COSTCO ON A SATURDAY!!!!
After picking out Scott's iPod we proceed down the main drag to the freezer cases where I'm going to be getting our organic milk. As we're heading down there from the printer ink aisle this lady beside me thinks it's a double turn lane and then expects me to back out of her way when it's not a double turn lane going to one...it's a corner where the person on the left yields to the person turning on to the highway from the turn lane because there is only one turn lane. I looked at her and went, "oh, excuse me...." Her daughter says to her, "Mom...." in that way only a teenage daughter who is embarrased by her Mom's actions can be.
Continuing down the main drag we come upon a traffic jam. There are two lanes...one going toward us, one going with us...the one we're all in. As I approach the crowd I slow down to a stop waiting for the people ahead of us who think it's okay to stop in the middle of the road to look at the items across the road on the other side instead of turning onto a side street for others to pass them. I'm not upset by it...it is what it is and I and those ahead of me are all waiting patiently because we know...IT'S COSTCO ON A SATURDAY. The lady who is now behind me (the same one with the daughter written about above) decides she should not have to wait and she gets about 1/4 of the way to my side when she realizes we're all stopped because there's no way around it. I looked again at her with a grin on my face and said, "we're all going to the same place...just being patient." Her daughter then really said, "mom, would you stop it please?" (exasperation written all over her voice) (What is wrong with this picture...Mom insists the world revolves around her and daughter realizes this is COSTCO ON A SATURDAY? One point ~ TEENAGER!!!) When I turned into my side street of refrigerated goodies she zoomed ahead all of the 4 feet taken up by me and my cart so she could hurry up and stop because it's...what? Oh! COSTCO ON A SATURDAY!!
Jump ahead...people swarming around the chicken sausage sample table (YUM! and they're gluten free!!) and I turn and smack right into this gal. We laughed and I apologized and said something about Costco on a Saturday and we both had a good chuckle about it. Sweet lady understood...this is Costco on a Saturday.
After we complete our check out process the boys and I head to the end of the ridiculously long food line and Scott takes the stuff out to the car. After we're all settled at a table I go back up to continue waiting for Caleb's cheese pizza (because it's not that busy on a Saturday at the Costco food court so why should they put a new cheese pizza in when they see they're down to the last 3 pieces? (yes, that's a vent)) I join the other 10 people waiting for their pizzas and when the lady at the window asks for the next patron's ticket this guy from the back of the crowd steps forward and jumps ahead of all of us who were waiting....
Forgive me, Father in Heaven, my smart-alecky side came out and I couldn't stop my tongue from saying, "oh, I'm sorry, the world does revolve around you so why don't you go first?" The people around me agreed with me in their laughter and groans, but when he turned to leave...and make his way through the crowd he couldn't even say, "excuse me." So, again before I could stop myself I said, "Son, two words...excuse me." (he looked to be all of 19.)
I realize I had become one of those people who expected something other than what it is because it's a COSTCO ON A SATURDAY, but what happened to manners? What happened to waiting your turn and letting others go first? While the boys and I were in line to order I realized I didn't know exactly what we all wanted because Scott wasn't back yet so I let the lady behind me go so I didn't hold up the line.... I know many people would have done the same thing, and I'm not super-holy because I did, but seriously? What has happened to thinking of others first? REALLY?
Thanks for letting me rant...I'm stepping away now. I have a feeling I'll be convicted of my own actions as we head to church.......
Ciao!
I wish other people would get the message...it's COSTCO ON A SATURDAY!!!!
After picking out Scott's iPod we proceed down the main drag to the freezer cases where I'm going to be getting our organic milk. As we're heading down there from the printer ink aisle this lady beside me thinks it's a double turn lane and then expects me to back out of her way when it's not a double turn lane going to one...it's a corner where the person on the left yields to the person turning on to the highway from the turn lane because there is only one turn lane. I looked at her and went, "oh, excuse me...." Her daughter says to her, "Mom...." in that way only a teenage daughter who is embarrased by her Mom's actions can be.
Continuing down the main drag we come upon a traffic jam. There are two lanes...one going toward us, one going with us...the one we're all in. As I approach the crowd I slow down to a stop waiting for the people ahead of us who think it's okay to stop in the middle of the road to look at the items across the road on the other side instead of turning onto a side street for others to pass them. I'm not upset by it...it is what it is and I and those ahead of me are all waiting patiently because we know...IT'S COSTCO ON A SATURDAY. The lady who is now behind me (the same one with the daughter written about above) decides she should not have to wait and she gets about 1/4 of the way to my side when she realizes we're all stopped because there's no way around it. I looked again at her with a grin on my face and said, "we're all going to the same place...just being patient." Her daughter then really said, "mom, would you stop it please?" (exasperation written all over her voice) (What is wrong with this picture...Mom insists the world revolves around her and daughter realizes this is COSTCO ON A SATURDAY? One point ~ TEENAGER!!!) When I turned into my side street of refrigerated goodies she zoomed ahead all of the 4 feet taken up by me and my cart so she could hurry up and stop because it's...what? Oh! COSTCO ON A SATURDAY!!
Jump ahead...people swarming around the chicken sausage sample table (YUM! and they're gluten free!!) and I turn and smack right into this gal. We laughed and I apologized and said something about Costco on a Saturday and we both had a good chuckle about it. Sweet lady understood...this is Costco on a Saturday.
After we complete our check out process the boys and I head to the end of the ridiculously long food line and Scott takes the stuff out to the car. After we're all settled at a table I go back up to continue waiting for Caleb's cheese pizza (because it's not that busy on a Saturday at the Costco food court so why should they put a new cheese pizza in when they see they're down to the last 3 pieces? (yes, that's a vent)) I join the other 10 people waiting for their pizzas and when the lady at the window asks for the next patron's ticket this guy from the back of the crowd steps forward and jumps ahead of all of us who were waiting....
Forgive me, Father in Heaven, my smart-alecky side came out and I couldn't stop my tongue from saying, "oh, I'm sorry, the world does revolve around you so why don't you go first?" The people around me agreed with me in their laughter and groans, but when he turned to leave...and make his way through the crowd he couldn't even say, "excuse me." So, again before I could stop myself I said, "Son, two words...excuse me." (he looked to be all of 19.)
I realize I had become one of those people who expected something other than what it is because it's a COSTCO ON A SATURDAY, but what happened to manners? What happened to waiting your turn and letting others go first? While the boys and I were in line to order I realized I didn't know exactly what we all wanted because Scott wasn't back yet so I let the lady behind me go so I didn't hold up the line.... I know many people would have done the same thing, and I'm not super-holy because I did, but seriously? What has happened to thinking of others first? REALLY?
Thanks for letting me rant...I'm stepping away now. I have a feeling I'll be convicted of my own actions as we head to church.......
Ciao!
Friday, April 4, 2008
I'm BAAAACK!
Well, it's been a LOOOOOOONG time, but I finally have internet on my own computer again! WOO HOO!!! As if that wasn't reason enough to celebrate....there's this little (okay, HUGE) thing of Easter...

HE'S ALIVE!! I love this time of year. I love celebrating the fact that those of us who are members of the Family of God serve a risen, not dead and buried, Savior! There is a particular scientist our family admires and appreciates who was a former atheist...then agnostic...and finally got to the point where he wanted to decide for himself if any of the religions of this world were worth following. So he did what any good researcher would do...he studied each of them. Now, this guy is not your ordinary scientist. No...he's a gifted scientist. God has given him an ability to understand science and it's direct correlation with God Himself in such an amazing way. He is an astrophysicist, and uses words I can barely say let alone spell, but the way he came to Christianity, I think, is a great way to do so.
So, you're probably asking yourself how he did it...and wishing I'd get on with it, huh? Well, he decided to study...in detail...each and every religion of the world. He found that in his understanding he could literally explain away every one of the "gods" or "founders" of every world religion except one. Yup. You guessed it...Christianity. Our God ~ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords ~ was the only One he could not explain away or even fully understand. Isn't that cool? The logic behind his thinking is spot on...if I can explain away everything I'm supposed to be doing and learning and having faith in, why do I want to worship that? Wouldn't I rather worship someone bigger than I? Wouldn't I rather worship someone I can't explain because He is so much more than I could ever understand? When the going gets tough I don't want a wimpy goddy-god on my side...I want a GOD...one that can throw mountains into being with a breath! THAT's the kind of God *I* want to serve!!! I admire a thinking Christian. I admire someone who isn't afraid to look at their questions, ask them, and expect truth to filter to the top...and then accept the truth and live it wholeheartedly. This particular scientist isn't afraid of "secular" science...the science many Christians think is evil. He isn't and we shouldn't be...ever.
Why? Because science in it's truest form...all science...will always point to the very God who created science! For those of you who will think we're heathens in this house because we believe a little (for some of you a lot) differently than you do on the scientific stance, I think you should know that a lot of secular, non-Christian scientists don't like what they find and they try to cover it up because it does point directly to exactly what we believe ~ that there is an "Intelligent Designer" and His name is GOD...or, to be more precise...I AM. I never liked science growing up because I was afraid of it..."science was our enemy ~ the greatest foe of Christianity and it couldn't be true! It was all lies!!" I always thought some things could be possible...because God was God and if He wanted to do that, then why not? Now, before you think I'm talking about inter-species evolution, stop right there. Inter-species evolution is not possible, and there are a number of arguments my husband knows (I'm the artsy one in the family, not the scientist...) to prove it's a fallacy. However, why couldn't God take His time in creating the earth? Why does the earth only have to be, what, 3,000 or 10,000 years old? Why can't it be millions of years old?
Now, before you freak out...let me say this, "THIS IS NOT A SALVATION ISSUE!!!" I am still going to heaven! I still love my Jesus more today than yesterday and less today than tomorrow...I still know who is really in charge in my life, and I have no guilt over what I believe. I hold no remorse for anyone who disagrees with me, but I know, and have experienced, some people who disagree with our family on this issue who really believe we cannot be Christians if we think this way. I think they'll be surprised when they get to heaven that God doesn't judge on how old someone thinks the earth is.
Now, I'm not sure why I went off on that particular tangent...sometimes I'm surprised at what comes out my fingertips when I sit down to journal or write...maybe one of you needed to have that discussion opened up, I dunno. But, there it is...maybe some of you will stop reading because you now think I'm a heathen and anything else I may say can't be encouragement in your walk because I'm messed up with something so controversial. I hope and pray the enemy doesn't win on that one ~ it's one of many arguments that goes on in the Christian Community that makes no sense as to why it's such a dividing line.
Whew, I'm sure soapboxy here...don't mean to be. Sorry 'bout that. I guess I've been gone so long and there's so much going on my head that I just feel the need to do a brain dump.
So here's what's been going on with us at the House of Fozzie...
Caleb & Micah are both still loving school. Caleb is now 8 going on 18. Micah is 5 1/2 going on 15...! I swear...praying parents, pray for us!! It's difficult when you see so much potential in your children, see the waywardness of their sin nature, do what you know how to correct them and raise them to be better than they are...and never want them to question your love for them. Now, don't get me wrong...I have no problem being a "mean mom" when it comes to raising my children to be upstanding citizens both of the US and the Family of God, but there are times I just want to resign. Didn't Barbara Johnson write a book about that once? "Where does a mother go to resign?" So...without details, or any reason for any, just pray. (and yes, in our house the problems we're dealing with are probably "child's play" to the problems in some other houses of children our kids' ages, but in our household they're still ones we won't tolerate.) Thanks for praying.
Scott continues to travel with his position at Hercules. Being District Manager is a blessing and curse all at once. Scott is so great as a manager ~ as his wife I admire how he handles sticky situations with integrity, honesty and a clear head for business...as well as how he encourages and challenges his employees to do better, be better and be good representatives of Hercules. He is well admired, too, by his employees and his colleagues as well as his higher ups. I am blessed to have him as my husband and our boys are blessed to have him as their Dad. More than how he lives his business life, though, he lives his private life with integrity and faith. He is willing to...after some time...acknowledge where he needs to work harder and where he needs to surrender, and that takes courage. I remember when Kim and I were roommates in Norfolk, NE, I found this bumper sticker that we just loved. I think it's still around, but it read, very simply, "real men love Jesus" Scott's a real man.
As for me...I've been busy dealing with stuff God keeps bringing my way. How to live with an Attention-Deficit-Disordered mind and realizing how tremendously food affects it is one. Getting my house in order so I can "re-enter" the world of ministry and activity is two. Learning to pray again is a big one...there was a time when I could literally go through my day in a constant attitude of prayer. I miss that time ~ when at the drop of a hat I could converse with my Lord. I haven't had that in a few years ~ quite a few years. Dealing with physical issues as well as spiritual issues I was beat up and beaten down...and my prayer life showed it the most. I have decided to rejoin our MOMS Leadership team for next year ~ I will also continue to do Rock Solid Worship on Wednesday nights ~ and I've committed to being co-chair for our school's book fairs (which means I'm getting more involved in our PTA) Scott's excited about the last one in particular, although I have his support in all of them, but he's said for a few years now he thinks I should run for school board. I laugh and groan at the same time when he does. :) I'm scared a bit about all of them together, but the way I look at it is this: I'm going where God says "go" and I'll let Him work out the details. It's worked in the rest of my life, why should I think differently now?
Well, since this is already a random post with all sorts of topics under it's umbrella, I'll finish with this one...
I'm currently re-reading Frank Peretti's "This Present Darkness." If you haven't read it, or it's been a while since you have, I strongly urge you to pick it up and read it...again. It is a novel, but it really opens my eyes to what may be possible out there. Anyway, the other night the boys and I were talking about praying before bed. Scott & I pray with them most nights (I'll be honest and say we're not consistent), and I love lifting my kids and family and friends and people God lays on our hearts to the Throne. Re-reading this book is reminding me just how important prayer is in our lives.
So here's a little back-story...a show our family is currently really enjoying is "Battle 360" on the History channel. It's a fascinating show about WWII, and we enjoy watching the latest Tivo'd show on Saturday mornings (and putting it to DVD for a certain WWII buff we know...) With that said, it should be no surprise (and it's not a surprise to other mothers of boys) that boys like to pretend they're soldiers...or warriors...and that they have the ability to defeat the enemy. Our boys are no different, and it was the perfect lead-in for our discussion about prayer.
It happened on Monday of this week. Scott was going to a meeting concerning a rather huge issue he's dealing with at one of the mills they service. I knew this meeting was important, and I called the boys into my office asking them to pray with me for Daddy. Because they were playing and on Spring Break they didn't want to stop. So I explained something to them...praying is like going into battle. That caught their attention. I explained a little more that when we pray we call upon God Almighty and His Warriors to help us. He tells us that He "bends down and listens" to our prayers. I love that picture!! I also explained that when two or more are gathered in His name He is there, too. I let them know that I could pray for Daddy, and it would matter, but that if we all three joined our hearts in prayer for Daddy it would hold that much more weight...kind of like 3 battleships going along with the aircraft carrier as they approach the enemy. Then I asked if they'd go into battle with me....they both said yes and they both prayed with me for Scott's meeting as well as some other family members and friends. It was powerful, but I didn't realize how much of an impact a quick little creative way of explaining prayer would be until a couple of days later...
I was on the treadmill and Scott was getting ready to go another meeting concerning this issue. Micah was there in my room playing a game while I walked, and I asked him if he'd pray with me. He looked up and said, "you need me to go into battle with you, Mom?" I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face and my heart.
Prayer matters...please know I'm praying for each of you as I write this. I don't know who reads it...I don't know if anyone checks it anymore since it's been so long, but I do know I'm praying that God says something to you in what I've written here. Thanks for stopping by...I need to get some other stuff done now.
Have a great day!
OH! PS: Here's a great picture of my little prayer warriors:

PPS: clicking on the title of this post will bring you to my favorite blog I write ~ Apples of Gold. I hope you visit and find encouragement...

HE'S ALIVE!! I love this time of year. I love celebrating the fact that those of us who are members of the Family of God serve a risen, not dead and buried, Savior! There is a particular scientist our family admires and appreciates who was a former atheist...then agnostic...and finally got to the point where he wanted to decide for himself if any of the religions of this world were worth following. So he did what any good researcher would do...he studied each of them. Now, this guy is not your ordinary scientist. No...he's a gifted scientist. God has given him an ability to understand science and it's direct correlation with God Himself in such an amazing way. He is an astrophysicist, and uses words I can barely say let alone spell, but the way he came to Christianity, I think, is a great way to do so.
So, you're probably asking yourself how he did it...and wishing I'd get on with it, huh? Well, he decided to study...in detail...each and every religion of the world. He found that in his understanding he could literally explain away every one of the "gods" or "founders" of every world religion except one. Yup. You guessed it...Christianity. Our God ~ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords ~ was the only One he could not explain away or even fully understand. Isn't that cool? The logic behind his thinking is spot on...if I can explain away everything I'm supposed to be doing and learning and having faith in, why do I want to worship that? Wouldn't I rather worship someone bigger than I? Wouldn't I rather worship someone I can't explain because He is so much more than I could ever understand? When the going gets tough I don't want a wimpy goddy-god on my side...I want a GOD...one that can throw mountains into being with a breath! THAT's the kind of God *I* want to serve!!! I admire a thinking Christian. I admire someone who isn't afraid to look at their questions, ask them, and expect truth to filter to the top...and then accept the truth and live it wholeheartedly. This particular scientist isn't afraid of "secular" science...the science many Christians think is evil. He isn't and we shouldn't be...ever.
Why? Because science in it's truest form...all science...will always point to the very God who created science! For those of you who will think we're heathens in this house because we believe a little (for some of you a lot) differently than you do on the scientific stance, I think you should know that a lot of secular, non-Christian scientists don't like what they find and they try to cover it up because it does point directly to exactly what we believe ~ that there is an "Intelligent Designer" and His name is GOD...or, to be more precise...I AM. I never liked science growing up because I was afraid of it..."science was our enemy ~ the greatest foe of Christianity and it couldn't be true! It was all lies!!" I always thought some things could be possible...because God was God and if He wanted to do that, then why not? Now, before you think I'm talking about inter-species evolution, stop right there. Inter-species evolution is not possible, and there are a number of arguments my husband knows (I'm the artsy one in the family, not the scientist...) to prove it's a fallacy. However, why couldn't God take His time in creating the earth? Why does the earth only have to be, what, 3,000 or 10,000 years old? Why can't it be millions of years old?
Now, before you freak out...let me say this, "THIS IS NOT A SALVATION ISSUE!!!" I am still going to heaven! I still love my Jesus more today than yesterday and less today than tomorrow...I still know who is really in charge in my life, and I have no guilt over what I believe. I hold no remorse for anyone who disagrees with me, but I know, and have experienced, some people who disagree with our family on this issue who really believe we cannot be Christians if we think this way. I think they'll be surprised when they get to heaven that God doesn't judge on how old someone thinks the earth is.
Now, I'm not sure why I went off on that particular tangent...sometimes I'm surprised at what comes out my fingertips when I sit down to journal or write...maybe one of you needed to have that discussion opened up, I dunno. But, there it is...maybe some of you will stop reading because you now think I'm a heathen and anything else I may say can't be encouragement in your walk because I'm messed up with something so controversial. I hope and pray the enemy doesn't win on that one ~ it's one of many arguments that goes on in the Christian Community that makes no sense as to why it's such a dividing line.
Whew, I'm sure soapboxy here...don't mean to be. Sorry 'bout that. I guess I've been gone so long and there's so much going on my head that I just feel the need to do a brain dump.
So here's what's been going on with us at the House of Fozzie...
Caleb & Micah are both still loving school. Caleb is now 8 going on 18. Micah is 5 1/2 going on 15...! I swear...praying parents, pray for us!! It's difficult when you see so much potential in your children, see the waywardness of their sin nature, do what you know how to correct them and raise them to be better than they are...and never want them to question your love for them. Now, don't get me wrong...I have no problem being a "mean mom" when it comes to raising my children to be upstanding citizens both of the US and the Family of God, but there are times I just want to resign. Didn't Barbara Johnson write a book about that once? "Where does a mother go to resign?" So...without details, or any reason for any, just pray. (and yes, in our house the problems we're dealing with are probably "child's play" to the problems in some other houses of children our kids' ages, but in our household they're still ones we won't tolerate.) Thanks for praying.
Scott continues to travel with his position at Hercules. Being District Manager is a blessing and curse all at once. Scott is so great as a manager ~ as his wife I admire how he handles sticky situations with integrity, honesty and a clear head for business...as well as how he encourages and challenges his employees to do better, be better and be good representatives of Hercules. He is well admired, too, by his employees and his colleagues as well as his higher ups. I am blessed to have him as my husband and our boys are blessed to have him as their Dad. More than how he lives his business life, though, he lives his private life with integrity and faith. He is willing to...after some time...acknowledge where he needs to work harder and where he needs to surrender, and that takes courage. I remember when Kim and I were roommates in Norfolk, NE, I found this bumper sticker that we just loved. I think it's still around, but it read, very simply, "real men love Jesus" Scott's a real man.
As for me...I've been busy dealing with stuff God keeps bringing my way. How to live with an Attention-Deficit-Disordered mind and realizing how tremendously food affects it is one. Getting my house in order so I can "re-enter" the world of ministry and activity is two. Learning to pray again is a big one...there was a time when I could literally go through my day in a constant attitude of prayer. I miss that time ~ when at the drop of a hat I could converse with my Lord. I haven't had that in a few years ~ quite a few years. Dealing with physical issues as well as spiritual issues I was beat up and beaten down...and my prayer life showed it the most. I have decided to rejoin our MOMS Leadership team for next year ~ I will also continue to do Rock Solid Worship on Wednesday nights ~ and I've committed to being co-chair for our school's book fairs (which means I'm getting more involved in our PTA) Scott's excited about the last one in particular, although I have his support in all of them, but he's said for a few years now he thinks I should run for school board. I laugh and groan at the same time when he does. :) I'm scared a bit about all of them together, but the way I look at it is this: I'm going where God says "go" and I'll let Him work out the details. It's worked in the rest of my life, why should I think differently now?
Well, since this is already a random post with all sorts of topics under it's umbrella, I'll finish with this one...
I'm currently re-reading Frank Peretti's "This Present Darkness." If you haven't read it, or it's been a while since you have, I strongly urge you to pick it up and read it...again. It is a novel, but it really opens my eyes to what may be possible out there. Anyway, the other night the boys and I were talking about praying before bed. Scott & I pray with them most nights (I'll be honest and say we're not consistent), and I love lifting my kids and family and friends and people God lays on our hearts to the Throne. Re-reading this book is reminding me just how important prayer is in our lives.
So here's a little back-story...a show our family is currently really enjoying is "Battle 360" on the History channel. It's a fascinating show about WWII, and we enjoy watching the latest Tivo'd show on Saturday mornings (and putting it to DVD for a certain WWII buff we know...) With that said, it should be no surprise (and it's not a surprise to other mothers of boys) that boys like to pretend they're soldiers...or warriors...and that they have the ability to defeat the enemy. Our boys are no different, and it was the perfect lead-in for our discussion about prayer.
It happened on Monday of this week. Scott was going to a meeting concerning a rather huge issue he's dealing with at one of the mills they service. I knew this meeting was important, and I called the boys into my office asking them to pray with me for Daddy. Because they were playing and on Spring Break they didn't want to stop. So I explained something to them...praying is like going into battle. That caught their attention. I explained a little more that when we pray we call upon God Almighty and His Warriors to help us. He tells us that He "bends down and listens" to our prayers. I love that picture!! I also explained that when two or more are gathered in His name He is there, too. I let them know that I could pray for Daddy, and it would matter, but that if we all three joined our hearts in prayer for Daddy it would hold that much more weight...kind of like 3 battleships going along with the aircraft carrier as they approach the enemy. Then I asked if they'd go into battle with me....they both said yes and they both prayed with me for Scott's meeting as well as some other family members and friends. It was powerful, but I didn't realize how much of an impact a quick little creative way of explaining prayer would be until a couple of days later...
I was on the treadmill and Scott was getting ready to go another meeting concerning this issue. Micah was there in my room playing a game while I walked, and I asked him if he'd pray with me. He looked up and said, "you need me to go into battle with you, Mom?" I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face and my heart.
Prayer matters...please know I'm praying for each of you as I write this. I don't know who reads it...I don't know if anyone checks it anymore since it's been so long, but I do know I'm praying that God says something to you in what I've written here. Thanks for stopping by...I need to get some other stuff done now.
Have a great day!
OH! PS: Here's a great picture of my little prayer warriors:

PPS: clicking on the title of this post will bring you to my favorite blog I write ~ Apples of Gold. I hope you visit and find encouragement...