Bigger Picture Moments: Bedtime Prayers

"Daddy!!!" the kids yell and dance around the moment daddy emerges from the dark of night, sweat drenched and adrenaline pumped after another evening bike ride.

He heads for the porch to complete his training with cool down stretches, but barely makes it half way through the living room before two kids barrel him nearly off his feet.

And instead of sighing at yet another interruption to his routine, he pauses to lean down with a grin that matches their enthusiasm and scoop them up into his arms.

No sooner has he finished asking if they "wanna help daddy stretch?" and they are all sprawled out on the carpeting of the front porch, legs and arms posed in after workout stretches.

"Look, mommy! I stretching like daddy!" they shout for all the world to hear.



"Ok, kids. Time for God-book!" he says after stretching time is over and they are all dressed for bed.

They race to see who can find the God-book first and hurry back to find their place on the couch, curled up safe and cozy in daddy's arms, eyes and ears and hearts hungry for His words.

As he reads, their eyes grow wide with wonder as they listen carefully to the story unfolding on the page and in their hearts.

And then, as their little minds continue to process these words, daddy looks into their eyes and tells them of the one God who loves them more than even daddy or mommy and who is just as eager to hear their words.

"What do you want to pray about?" he asks them one by one and we listen with ears and hearts to their list of thanks for everything from the door on our house to their healthy and growing new brother.

And mixed within the thanks are tender words of concern for the sick and the hurting, a reality their sweet little hearts already understand too well.



As I listen to their prayers, I am awed at their compassion and devotion.  Because it's not just bedtime that their hearts pour out in prayer.

No, they already understand at three and four what I am still learning - that prayer is not a one time, sitting at Santa's lap pouring out a list of wants kind of time. 

Prayer is a constant communion, day in and day out, from sun up to sun down with the One who created us and calls us by name.  He already knows my heart, but he longs to hear my voice, just as much as my soul hungers for His voice.

Once again I'm reminded, through a simple bedtime routine, that this journey of faith and grace is a constant journey and a daily growing closer to Him.  And I am grateful for the three and four year old who draw my heart nearer to Him as I watch their own journeys unfold. 

Linking up with Corinne for this week's Bigger Picture Moments.

Be sure to check out my Happy Family Review & Giveaway and enter for a chance to win free coupons for healthy and delicious toddler snacks and meals.

 

Thankful Thursday

Our summer continues to be a busy one, but we are enjoying every minute of it. Last week, I took a little break from blogging, but missed doing my Thankful Thursday post. It is always a good reminder to me to thank God for all the blessings He has given me. This week I am especially thankful for WHO God is. On Wednesday nights, I've been teaching the 3-5 year olds at church. I have called our summer program "Adventures in Psalms" because we are studying some of the Psalms and learning about who God is through the Psalms. I have been so blessed by the unwavering faith displayed by the children and am truly enjoying learning right along with them. We just finished our study of Psalm 23, so I'd like to share here some of the amazing promises God has hidden in His word.

Psalm 23 (NKJV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

There are so many sweet promises that God has declared to us in these six verses. I continue to be amazed at who He is. In verse 1, David (the writer of this Psalm) declares that the Lord is our shepherd. David was a shepherd before he became king and it was a dangerous job. He had to protect his sheep from many dangers, like lions and bears who wanted to attack and kill the sheep. Shepherds would search out just one lost sheep, because they cared about all of their flock. The same is true of our God. He protects us from danger, leads us to safety, and, most importantly, He was willing to die for US. Wow! Each time I reflect on that truth, it brings me to my knees, because I do NOT deserve such a perfect gift...and yet, He loved me just like a shepherd loves and searches for his one lost sheep. Because of this promise, we do not need to be afraid. If we listen to His voice, follow His leading, and obey His commands, He will lead us to safety and protect us from danger.

In verse 2 & 3, David once again reminds us that God will not only protect us from danger, but lead us to a safe place of rest, peace, and restoration. Just like a sheep wanders away from its shepherd sometimes, God's children also wander away from Him. God has given us the freedom to choose to follow Him...and to choose to NOT follow Him. But, when we don't follow Him, we end up on a path of sin, heartache, pain, and suffering. Isaiah 53:6 says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way..." Because we have all sinned and wandered away from Him, we are separated forever from the goodness and peace that can ONLY come in His presence. But God has given us hope...

Verse 6 is one of my favorite, because it reminds me that God has given each of us the greatest gift of all...not because we deserve it or earned it, but because He loves us and has shown us great mercy. Verses 4 and 5 declare that when we choose to follow Him we will be given blessings and be able to one day stand in His presence, but verse 6 holds an even greater promise. When we hold on to the truth God revealed in His Son, we will be able to dwell with Him FOREVER. Such a sweet truth and an amazing blessing that I will never stop praising Him for.

Thank you, Lord, for NOT punishing me for my sins, even though I deserve it. Thank you for showing me goodness and mercy through your Son and for continually showing me paths of righteousness. I pray I would continue to follow Your voice. Praise You, Lord, for loving me so...

For more Thankful Thursday posts, please check out Laurie's blog.

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By the way, this morning, I had the privilege of meeting another blogging friend, Brianna, and her two little sweeties. We had such a sweet time of fellowship and it was so much fun to watch our little ones interact. I discovered that my daughter has a lot to learn about sharing...she's becoming very possessive...and is just as stubborn as her mother ;) Thank you for the wonderful visit, Brianna!

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I've been hard at work on sewing projects lately, so I haven't had opportunity to add to my Etsy shop yet, but stay tuned for some sewing updates soon. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me in my little business!

Thankful Thursday...and my 100th Post GIVEAWAY Revealed!

** Giveaway has ended, comments are closed, and winner will be announced Friday, June 5th **

This week Lynn's Thankful Thursday post talked about listening to the voice of God and it couldn't have been more perfect for the work God has been doing in my heart throughout the week. As I've mentioned before, I started teaching the 3-5 year olds in our church on Wednesday nights for the summer. We are having an Adventure in Psalms starting in Psalm 23. Yesterday our verse was Psalm 23:3 - "He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness." We talked a lot about how we need to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd to lead us in the right way, because He will protect us from danger and lead us to green pastures. Then, yesterday I began a study in Daniel with Kay Arthur's radio program, Precepts for Life, and today's program talked about how the people of Israel were NOT listening to God so God allowed them to be taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar. I have had a few things on my heart this week, wondering what the next step is that God wants me to take in serving Him and have been learning that the most important thing to do is be still and LISTEN for His voice to lead me.
This week, I am thankful...

1. that God is in control of my life. What a joy it is to serve Him and know that He already knows the plans He has for me!

2. that God has revealed His word to us in the Bible and through His Son. I have been given such a thirst for His word this week and am so excited to be "hiding His word" in my heart.

3. for the little one growing in my belly and for those first little movements I felt this week. What a miracle!

4. that I can be a stay at home mom and teach my daughter to love and serve the Lord too.

5. that I have a husband who supports me, encourages me, and loves me...even when I'm in a not so lovable mood.

6. that I live in a nation where I am free to read my bible and worship the Lord without being persecuted.

7. for the men and women who serve our country.


For more Thankful Thursday posts, head on over to Lynn's blog.

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And, now, for the BIG GIVEAWAY REVEAL...

ONE lucky winner will receive your choice of a...

Custom Made to Order Fleece Ribbon Blanket (Toddler Size - 18" x 18")

OR

Custom Made to Order Peek-A Boo Nursing Cover

Both of these great prizes are featured in my Etsy shop, Sew Inspired By Baby, and are handmade by me. The winner will be able to choose ONE of the two prizes and have it made in your choice of fabric. Check out my Custom Made to Order listings here for more information on the Peek-A-Boo Nursing Cover.

How to enter:

You do not need to have a blog to enter, but you must leave a comment here, in the note listed on my Facebook page for this giveaway, or by email. Let me know which prize you would choose and what your color or pattern choice is. (If you want some ideas on fabric, you can check out Joann.com where I purchase most of my fabric. I like to use either flannel or cotton quilting fabric, because they are soft and lightweight.)

Extra entries:

(Note: Make sure you leave a seperate comment for each extra entry!)

1. Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. You can cut and paste the following: "@Mom2Valerie - Win a Fleece Ribbon Blankie or Peek-A-Boo Nursing Cover at http://www.tjsmhanesfamily.blogspot.com/!

2. Follow my blog or sign up for email updates.

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link to your post here.

The giveaway will stay open until Thursday, June 4th at 8:00 pm Central and the winner will be announced on Friday, June 5th. Depending on how many people enter I will either use random.org or pick names out of a hat (with video proof) for the winner. Can't wait to see who wins!

Update: One more thing - if you leave a comment here make sure I have a way of contacting you if you win!

Update #2: I just received a notice from Etsy that I can no longer sell the Fleece Ribbon Blankies in my shop. Apparently, Taggies has a patent on this item that prevents me from making something similar to sell. I will STILL offer this in the giveaway, but can no longer sell them. I'm really bummed about this, but a patent is a patent... I'm open to any suggestions for other items to sell in my Etsy shop.

TGIF

I was so caught up in getting ready for my Wildtree party yesterday that I forgot all about Thankful Thursday...so I'm going to do a little "Thank God It's Friday!" post.

Here is what I am especially thankful for this week:

1. Listening to little kids learning and getting excited about God's word. One sweet little boy said on Wednesday night, "You know what, Mrs. Hanes? Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that REALLY happened!" How precious!

2. Naptime! I know it sounds silly, but I just LOVE that my daughter takes naps regularly now, especially when I need a nap too!

3. Being a mom - I'm constantly reminded by reading so many other blogs that God has blessed me way more than I deserve to be a mom of my sweet daughter and to have another one on the way. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but I never realized just how much I would LOVE my children and cherish being their mommy.

4. The amazing blogging community of friends that I have - It amazes me how we all come together from so many different walks of life to pray for, encourage, laugh, and cry with each other. What a privelege to be part of something so wonderful! And, what a privelege to be able to meet a blogging friend in real life too!


5. My husband - I am truly blessed to be called his wife and absolutely love spending my life with him.

6. My BIG family - I just LOVE being part of a big family, especially one that is so close. My husband often teases me that my family gets together for EVERY holiday, big or small...and I just remind him that we just love being together and there's nothing wrong with that! ; )

7. Most importantly, my merciful God and Savior and for His word of truth that He has given to us - I have been working on memorizing the book of Titus and am finding such joy in "hiding His word in my heart". I find myself thinking of the verses I've already memorized throughout the day and it's a constant reminder of how blessed I am to call Him my Lord and Savior.

Thankful Thursday

This past week I am especially thankful for:

1) God's word, and being able to hide His word in my heart.

2) Green grass and all the things that mark springtime...because they are a reminder that even through the darkest, coldest winters of our lives, God will always bring new hope and a new "spring".

3) That God continually provides us with more than what we need and that, especially in these difficult economic times, my husband has a job that provides for our home and family.

4) My beautiful daughter who is HEALTHY and growing each day.

5) My belly that is growing and reminding me of the precious new life God has placed in my womb.

Lynn's Thankful Thursday post focused on Wisdom and she asked a few questions:

Q: What wisdom has God given you recently about a situation or relationship?
A: God has given me wisdom this past week to know how to pray for a specific prayer request that has weighed heavy on my heart. He has reminded me to trust in His will and that prayer is the most powerful tool I have in the face of the enemy.

Q: How has His wisdom changed your life?

A: I wouldn't call myself wise, but God grants me wisdom when I ask for it and seek Him. I am so blessed to know, understand, and believe His truth, because His truth has set me free.

Q: What is your favorite scripture about wisdom?

A: I didn't really have one, but I just found this verse about wisdom that I love - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;all those who practice it have a good understanding.His praise endures forever!" Psalm 111:10

For more Thankful Thursday posts, be sure to check out Lynn's post.

Thankful Thursday

My blogging friend, Veronica, started doing Thankful Thursdays a few weeks ago and I just found out my blogging friend, Joye, is also doing Thankful Thursdays as part of a blog event hosted by Lynn. I can't resist joining in, because it is ALWAYS good to be reminded of how GOOD God is and how much He has blessed me. Joye is always talking about being JOYFUL in the Lord. I have every reason to be JOYFUL in Jesus Christ and the salvation gift He has given me...but sometimes it's easy to forget.

Today, I am SO thankful to be a mom. I've been reading Kelly's blog for quite a while and have discovered there are SO many women who want so much to be moms but struggle with infertility. It breaks my heart and reminds me of how truly blessed I am. It reminds me to stop and thank God every day for my daughter and the little one He is knitting together in my womb.

I'm also SO thankful for my mom. I realize now, as a mom myself, just how much my mom did for me. Being a mom is the greatest job in the world, but it is also the most challenging and demanding one. It requires a lifetime of unconditional love that I am only just beginning to understand. Thank you, Mom, for who you are and the sacrifices you have made for me. I love you!

As I think about my mom, I can't forget to be thankful for my husband's mom too. I am so thankful for the sacrifices she made to raise him to be the loving husband and father he is today. Thank you, Kathy, for being such a wonderful mom too! I am so thankful for your constant encouragment and support too. I feel so blessed to have such a mother-in-law I can confide in and go to for advice.

I am also SO thankful for my friends who are moms. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing support system of young moms. My friend, Kelli, started a Mom's group at our church earlier in the year and my friend, Mellie, started a bible study/prayer group. It is such a blessing to know they are there to encourage me and to listen. They also remind me to place my focus as a mom where it should always be - on the Lord. I cannot be the mom my God desires me to be without His guidance. So, above all, I am thankful for my Father in heaven who gives me the strength I need for each new day and is constantly teaching me to be the mom He created me to be.



For more Thankful Thursday posts, check out Lynn's blog.