Prayer by Jeremy Handley

First, I want to thank my Jesus for the wonderful family he has given me. My wife is the light of my life second to God, and my children bring me so much joy each and every day. I have been trying the scripture today. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. Most people think that means to pray all day, but that is hardly the case. Don't get me wrong, we have to pray every day, but I believe what God meant by this is to be in tune with him and listen for his voice all day long. If we will die to ourselves each day and listen to the voice of God, he will begin to give us powerful words for others, words that will surely set them free and draw them to Christ. I encourage you all to try this out. It is free, and it just might change your life, and add people to the Kingdom of God in the process!!!

So Much At Stake

My last post talked about how we as parents have a natural instinct to protect our children from harm. It's easy to protect them from physical harm if we see it coming, but what about protecting them spiritually. 1 Peter 5:8 states to be vigilant because the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Our children are our future, so of course they are going to be a prime target for the enemy. The fact the scripture says "may devour", means that he can only devour those who in a sense give him permission. I will not give the devil permission to have any sort of spiritual stronghold over my children.
One of my favorite chapters in the bible is Ephesians 6, because when we fully understand it, then we have the power to take down our enemy before he even has a chance to get his foot in the door! Ephesians 6:12 states that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We can't expect to fight such an important and huge battle, with little or no power. We have to realize the importance of us as parents being spiritually armed and ready, instead of unarmed and defenseless. There is so much at stake!

Child of God

For anyone who knows my Jameson, they know that he is accident prone. He hurts himself everyday, sometimes several times a day. It may be a scraped knee, a bumped head, or a splinter. Today, it seemed as if everytime I turned around, I was preventing an accident from happening. Moving a shoe, before he tripped over it, as he came running up the hall. Putting my hand over the corner of our kitchen table as he raised up from under it. It's just a natural instinct we have as mothers. We're always on the lookout for the safety of our kids. I thought about how he didn't even realize that he almost got hurt. He was in his own little wonderful world, caught up in play, and imagining he was a hermit crab, (or maybe it was a lobster, everyday he pretends to be a different animal).
I couldn't help but think how God does this same thing for us. I wondered how many times I've been on the brink of an accident or difficult time and before I even sensed anything was wrong, he had already sent his angels and intervened. I love it when God takes situations with my children, and through them gives me a glimpse of just how much he loves me, as one of his children!

Owen

Today I am planning Owen's 7th birthday party! While this is always a very exciting time of year for both of us, this year has been bittersweet. Seven seems so much older then six to me. It's hit me these last few weeks just how big he is getting, and worse just how fast it's happening. I think back to when he was a just a baby. I remember those chubby rolls that consumed his little body. I try to remember all the little perfect things about him, the things that I thought surely I would never forget. Well, guess what, seven years and two kids later, I have. That alone makes me sad. I'm so thankful for pictures and baby books.

The last seven years I've been able to witness that chubby baby grow into a brilliant, handsome, little boy. I'm so proud to be his mama, and feel honored that God chose me to raise him.
If anything, these past seven years has shown me just how fast the next seven will fly by, which is why I better quit typing and get back to Jameson and Ava. I want to take in every moment of their precious lives. I know I'll be planning their seventh birthday parties before I know it!