SECOND CHANCES

I'd like to be known for second chances.

 

As I type and think even now, my kids are working diligently for what I assume they're praying will be a second chance.

The truth is they disappointed me tonight (nothing major)...BUT...as I consider their hearts to repent and ask for forgiveness,

as I watch them turn a corner, I can't help but feel compassion.

I'm offering forgiveness such as I've been shown, inclined to a second chance.

 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9

 

I'd like my children to remember me as a mom who gave second chances.

 

In the other room, a little voice sings, "left and left and left, right, left" with a snap in her fingers and a song in her heart.

The tap in her toes helps me remember...they're still learning. And, we're all still learning.

 

Second chances.

 

God gives us second chances and Veggie Tales Jonah rings loudly in my ears, "Our God is a God of second chances...!!!"

 

He is.

 

And if I'm here imitating Him, and if He has shown compassion to me, then how could I withhold that which I've received?

 

Grace. Mercy. Second chances.

 

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:4-9

 

"Therefore be imitators of God."
Ephesians 5:1

 

So, I'm in. A second chance is coming their way. They may not "deserve" this grace, but do I?

 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;

it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

 

"Do you suppose, O man—

you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—

that you will escape the judgment of God? 

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience,

not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

Romans 2:3-4

 

It's His kindness which leads me to repentance. Oh, that I might teach my children through similar means as I hold back retribution, model undeserved grace, express love in unlovable circumstances, and offer second chances.

 

 "Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

"I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
    and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
    and you heard my voice.
For you cast me into the deep,
    into the heart of the seas,
    and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
    passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I am driven away
    from your sight;
yet I shall again look
    upon your holy temple.’
The waters closed in over me to take my life;
    the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
    whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
    O Lord my God.
When my life was fainting away,
    I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
    into your holy temple.
Those who pay regard to vain idols
    forsake their hope of steadfast love.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!'

And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land."

Jonah 2:1-10

PLAYING PRETEND

I distinctly remember playing pretend.

 

I'd go on loooong journeys, traverse uncharted territory, excavate buried treasure in the cliff aside our house.

 

Of course, I always had many children. Stuffed animals, dolls, they'd come with me on my journeys and I'd be sure to take good care of them...especially when perilous storms set in or a dangerous river required bravery while crossing.

 

I'd climb the tree out front with my children tied securely to my waist. I'd harness them to myself with some sort of rope/belt combination. I'd perch up high in the leaves and dream. I loved playing pretend.

 

Now, here I am...Mommy still to many children, yet with real life treks, rivers, and valleys to forge. In real life time I press on and still dream. I ponder tomorrows and marvel at the sights and sounds of my children, the ones now playing pretend.

 

 A crock pot of thyme, lentils, root veggies, onion infuse the house with smells of home. Cinnamon, clove, apple, nutmeg
steam atop the stove. Yams and roasting garlic permeate the kitchen as the oven warms the room and my soul.

Fall has arrived indeed.

 

I sit here still and breath it in, ponder, listen, pray. I cherish little voices from outside. They pretend like me.

Piano gentle in the other room, giggles and bustling as sprinkles precipitate...finally...after all they've waited all day!
I take it in and remember when...

Someday they'll be big like me.

 

But, for now, they're small. What a gift.

How blessed, the innocence of play.

Jesus loves the little children...and so do I. He beckons our hearts to faith such as these.

 

The girl has grown and here she sits, living the days she once dreamed.

I thank the Lord, pray for childlike faith, and cherish their playing pretend.

 

 "And they were bringing children to [Jesus] that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them,

'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."

Mark 10:13-16

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS

It had been a day of prayer...real, believing prayer.

 

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Mark 11:24

 

It had been a day of confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

 

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

James 5:16

 

It was a day filled with petition and lowly yet lofty requests.

 

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

John 15:7

 Because of God's grace, we sought the Lord...He answered.

 

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

John 15:16

When God chooses to answer prayer in very specific and tangible ways, He reminds our feebleness of who He is. Of course, all of heaven and earth is His bounty. He has more than we could ever need spiritually, emotionally, physically. He may not always give us exactly what we want...but to be sure, He always gives us exactly what He knows we need.

 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights

with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

James 1:17

 

In love, our Abba Father responds to our prayers at times with a no, and other times He waits or says yes. 

We've learned through many no's the wisdom of God.

His thoughts and ways, after all, dwell high above our own and He longs to teach us contentment in all things.

 

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:11-13

 

Yesterday, our father God swooped in, answered heartfelt prayers, and proved to us, yet again, just how personal He is.

 

 "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

1 John 5:14-15

 

We're still waiting on more answers. We have so very far to go!

But, pondering God's thoughtful response to His children yesterday invokes...gratitude, glory and honor to His name!

 

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

Jeremiah 33:3

 

We're still praying...without ceasing so it seems...constant in prayer, deep in need. And yet, filled with hope by the knowing that God, who is rich in mercy, abounding in love...He has a plan and He's working it out for the best version of His story through ours.

 

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—

by grace you have been saved—

and raised us up with him and seated us with him

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace

in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:4-10

 

Yes, God answers prayers. Hallelujah!

 

 

"I sought the LORD, and he answered me."

Psalm 34:4

JESUS ACT STICK DATES...LATELY

I've shared before about our Jesus Act Stick reward system.
We've used it for many years without wane and truly it's been a tremendous blessing for our family!

All of the kids down to our 2 year old earn sticks when we observe that they've exhibited selfless love or sacrificial behavior with a genuine heart. It's an honor to reward their kind actions. We display our Jesus Act Stick jars on a focal point table in our home where they can be visibly built into our daily life. I enjoy seeing with my eyes and allowing our children to notice tangibly the benefits of a loving heart. The jars serve as a reminder.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
John 13:34

We believe in the power of positive affirmation and encouragement and find that when we stop to point out our children's good fruit, they grow even more. Of course, parenting requires we also contend with the difficult, employ discipline when needed, and correct wrong behavior. But, when we emphasize the positive in others, we perpetuate more positive. Children and adults alike believe what's spoken into their lives (both positive and negative). This is why we are intentional to point out and reward Christlike actions with Jesus Act Sticks and one-on-one dates with Mom or Dad to follow.
Kids are built up and quality time memories are made...it's a win, win!

Here's to documenting just a bit of our Jesus Act Stick Dates...lately.

The kids tend to go back and forth between dates with Mom and dates with Dad. Brodie had some pretty fun dates this past week with his girls! First, he and Elka went for a long bike ride down at the beach (something that's not quite the same with all 10 of us!), then per her request they got smoothies and went for a swim. Mostly, Elka felt special which is what mattered most that day!

One of my favorite things about our Jesus Act Stick Dates is that often times they are merely experiential...and therefore FREE or at least nearly free...meaning they cost us our time more than our $$, which is invaluable.

When it came time for Aida's date, she knew just what she'd always wanted to do... and it's a good thing her dad is one of the BEST sports we all know! He puts me to shame with his willing heart.

Who knew Aida had such a deep longing to rent a surrey with a fringe on top?!

Oh, the gleam in the eye of a lifelong dream come true...ha!
Plus, it's always fun to be a "tourist" is your own hometown every now and then.

After their buggy ride, they surfed for a bit which is always special one-on-one.
The day proved to provide fuel for both heart and soul all around.
Even when I'm the one back at home and not on the date,
my heart is always full when I know my loved ones are filling up with LOVE.
It's a joy to send them off!

How thankful we are for our Jesus Act Stick Dates.
We'll never forget them!

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:12-13


PEEK-A-BOO INDIA!!!

It's her newest favorite trick...and she CRACKS HERSELF UP!

 

Complete with her impromptu rag toga and not only one, but TWO handy carrying cases (plus a book just in case),

here's India doing what she loves to do most these days...

 

PEEK-A-BOO INDIA!!!