{Happy Friday}

As we go into this weekend, let's remember that Easter is coming!

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

John 12:13 NIV

^{Have a lovely weekend, friends!}

{Content}

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^7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

^9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination!

¹¹ Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
    all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
    I’m on the right way.

Psalm 16:8-11 (MSG)

{Fasting, Prayer and a Little Music}

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Ever had one of those days when you feel like you have so many balls in the air, that you just know one is going to come crashing down? Yep...I know I have!  I am there right now.  These are some life-changing decisions we are contemplating, but PRAISE JESUS that they are all great decisions to be faced with.  Whenever we are preparing to make these decisions, we fast and pray.  It's funny that these seasons in my life always happen right around Easter.  Every year, for the past 3 years, we have done the Daniel Fast leading up to Easter.  Looking back, I can see how the Lord really began to reveal his plans to us, and really started to stir our hearts during the Daniel Fast.  The seasons have stretched my faith, and challenged us as a family.  I have had to reign my anxiety in, relinquish control and trust HIM!  The great thing is, that God's already got it worked out!  I wholeheartedly, passionately believe this!

This morning, as my mind was racing, I heard Chris Tomlin's song, "Whom Shall I Fear", on the radio.  The chorus says exactly what I needed to hear.  I love God's heart, and how he speaks through others:

I know Who goes before me

I know Who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The One who reigns forever

He is a Friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

 

Don't you love that?!?!  If you are wrestling with a big decision, or just feeling plain defeated, I encourage you to take a couple of minutes and listen to this song.  It reminds me that Jesus is on my side, is fighting for me, and passionately loves me.  I pray it does the same for you! 

Happy Wednesday, Friends!



{Bragging On My Boy}

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For those that know Hayden, then you know he is high energy, a total Type A, super outgoing and an old soul with a heart of gold.  Last week, the high energy part of his being got him in a bit of trouble at school...several times.  Honestly, it took us by surprise.  Hayden is typically the teacher's pet.  He loves school and he also needs words of affirmation...this is CLEARLY his love language.  For the most part, I think he behaves so well because he desires praise instead of reprimands.  It was so out of the ordinary, and I was taken aback when his teacher said that he had been in trouble for his inability to stay seated during class and for acting crazy in the line.  Behavior and obedience are two things we don't mess around with in our house.  The boys know what we expect from them and they know their punishment if they break the rules.  So, Hayden spent a lot of time sitting in his room thinking about his behavior, and is banned from all things electronic for an entire week.  Last week was so hard on Kevin and I too.  We rarely have to punish our kids for how they act outside of our home.  We are so fortunate that they act WAY BETTER for others than they do for us.  I am totally okay with admitting that.  But last week, I started to think we had a full moon every night! Insanity!

During a normal week of non-crazy behavior, Hayden does things like volunteering to pray over our dinner(nearly every night).  This started when he was only 3.  When we would ask if he wanted us to help, he would always say no...that he could do it himself.  As he has grown, his prays have matured, but they have always been his special, precious words.  This is something that has always made me so proud.  I wish I could say that I had something to do with it, but I think that it's a true gift from God.  I call Hayden my Angel Face!  I think, for so many reasons, that he really is one...oh my heart!

Hayden loves going to church on Sunday.  Since he moved up to "big kid church" or KidMo (elementary ages) at Momentum CC, he has looked forward to going.  Kevin and I recently started volunteering with the children's program, so the boys are now spending 2 services in their respective classes.  Yesterday, we stopped by to talk to his class leaders to see how he has been doing. Honestly, I was a little worried to hear their response.  But here are a few things they said about Hayden:

1) He is always happy and obeys
2) If they ever need volunteers, he is the first one with his hand in the air
3) He loves to lead his peers from the stage in song and dance (even though he's one of the youngest in the room)
4) He ALWAYS volunteers to pray over the offering
5) When he prays, he always prays for orphans, that they find homes and families to love them

I literally walked in to church in tears.  So what if my child doesn't like to sit in his seat at school or tries to break dance while waiting in line to go to the bathroom!  That moment made the stresses of the previous week seem so trivial.  His heart...that sweet 5 year old heart...is certainly in the right place.  I am overwhelmed with pride.  Not because I think I have anything to do with it.  I am proud that he is the way he is in spite of me!  I could learn so much from Hayden's love of God and others, and his blind faith that Jesus IS the solution to the problems of this world.  I want need to have that child-like faith.  I am sure it would give me a much different perspective on life!