The Boy is a Man

When we start having babies, most of us don't look way into the future to realize that they will one day grow up, leave us, become adults...
Somewhere along the road of their growth, we begin to realize just this. We are raising them to become self-sufficient (or in the case of those of us who are Christians - God-sufficient). We raise them to leave home - to make their own mark on society - to fulfill whatever dreams and plans God placed in their hearts even before they were born.
It is a joyful and sad time.
Today is a joyous and proud day for me. My firstborn is 18 today. He is already on his own in most ways - living away at college, paying his own bills (what few he has), doing his own laundry, making his own decisions.
Is he making wise choices?
I pray he is!
And I do pray for him often. I want him to succeed in passionately following God's heart for him.
So, today, on his 18th birthday, I pray this...
Matthew, follow the heart of God toward the destiny He has for you.
That's it.
The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 in reference to those things we need "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
That is my heart for you Matthew - that you would seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.
Happy 18th Birthday!

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."
- Edwin Way Teale

This post began with a thought of deep inner sighing - not of sorrowful sighing, but of joyful, filling sighing. The type of sighing one experiences when seeing something beautiful. I love the colors of autumn leaves. They bring deep joy into my soul.
I remember a year when I carefully filled a bag with autumn leaves from my driveway, praying over each one as I did. I gave the bag of leaves as part of a birthday gift to a special friend. What I was giving her that year was a piece of my heart - of my joy - and of my prayers.
I cannot think about beautiful autumn leaves and be sad - just can't do it!
So I ponder...
Then I found the above quote, and my heart leapt within me. A time of sowing and scattering abroad.
The Kingdom of God is like that.
We are always to be sowing and scattering abroad - the love of Jesus - His Word as encouragement or challenge to others.
In a season that seems to point to the coming "death" of winter, I see possibility. I see already the coming of spring with its new life. And I know that just as nature is preparing by sowing and scattering, there is a sowing in the Spirit in these days...
So do not see death - see the possibility of Life.

A Voice in the Desert...

Psalm 112:1,2
Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who finds great delight in His commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.

I've done a post on my two oldest children. It's time to introduce everyone to momma's "baby" - my Abigail - "Abigator" as many affectionately call her.
Abigail has always been quiet - until recently. She is blooming and becoming quite a voice in many ways! As a matter of fact, just a few days ago, I had to ask her to please speak more quietly as she was literally hurting my ears.
Abigail is one that didn't talk much until she was more than two years old. But why did she need to? She had these big brown eyes and the sweetest spirit about her that all she had to do was look at someone to melt them. So much was communicated through who she was. I remember the first time we went to Wilmington, NC to visit my Uncle David and Aunt Myra. Our oldest two were invited to spend the night with them, but Abigail was not quite big enough yet. Matthew was probably 10 and Katherine 8. That left us alone in the car with 5 year old Abigail. What happened was magical! At one point, she began to talk and didn't stop. Both Jeff and I turned around to get a good look at this chatter-box that had suddenly appeared in our back seat. WHERE had she come from?! What we discovered was that she was a deep thinker who had lived so long in the shadow of her older siblings that we'd never heard all she had to say.
But the story doesn't really start there. As Christians, we all want to know our purpose on earth - our calling - our gifts. Yes, we are all meant to glorify God in a general sense. But there is a special expression that God has given each of us in bringing Him glory. With Abigail, God pointed out that special calling before she was talking - at about the age of 2.
I vividly remember she and I being in my closet hanging up clothes. Well, I was hanging up clothes while she sat at my feet looking adorable as usual with those big brown eyes. Remember, she was a late talker, and at this stage she rarely said anything at all. As I worked, I heard this quiet voice below me saying, "Power of God. Power of God." She repeated this over and over again, and in that moment the Holy Spirit showed me the call to deep intercession that was upon her life.
More recently, Abigail has been struggling and wanting to know the call on her life. She's been frustrated, but she has persisted in asking God to show her. A few weeks ago, the Lord graciously revealed to her that calling - one of being a voice for her generation - one of intercession for the lost and for those who are not serious about their relationship with God.
And Abigail has found her voice! I am hearing things come from my daughter's spirit that are deeply passionate for the Lord, and as a mom, I could not be more excited or pleased. This is what I long for - that my children will walk with God.
That brings me to introduce you to Abigail's blog. At 13, she is articulate and passionate and that comes through in her writing. Please take the time to visit and read...

http://abigailkear.blogspot.com/