The time as I write this is 2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Most Sunday afternoons I would be trying to catch a nap before going back to church tonight but the Lord sure is speaking volumes to my heart today! My blogging today doesn't serve so much as a word for anyone else, but rather a record of the blessings he has bestowed upon me the last few days. I don't ever want to forget these little moments, the memories, the milestones in the heart of a four year old little girl.
This week, I've had my little family in church 4 out of 7 days. We had a New Year's Revival this week that truly stirred my soul and made me question what I'm gonna do for the Lord in 2016. Camdyn has sat through several services this week too and not that I doubt she listens, but she's four. How much can a four year old soak in? How much do they comprehend?
More than we realize....
Yesterday, we were all three sitting in the living room. I don't remember exactly what we were doing but we were all doing our own thing (watching television, on laptop, normal conversation) when out of nowhere Camdyn says, "Did yall know that I asked Jesus to come into my heart last night?" I stopped and looked at William to make sure that he had heard what I had just heard. I was quite interested in what that little mind was thinking. I proceeded to ask her what it meant for "Jesus to come into your heart". She said that when you ask Jesus into your heart it means you can go to heaven one day. Talk about an overwhelming moment....
Now...I do realize she is four. She doesn't truly understand all that there is to understand yet about salvation and accepting Christ, but what I do know is that she's learning. Every sermon she sits under, she's learning. Each time she accompanies me to the prayer room or prayer meeting at church, she's learning. Each time she hears me utter a prayer on the altar, in the car, or at home....she's learning. Each time she hears YOU praise the Lord or give a testimony, she's learning. I pray daily that she will grow to accept Christ as her savior. I see God working on that prayer that I pray so fervently. I hear him speaking through her.
Last week I created a little prayer corner in the other half of our laundry room. I wanted a place to meet with the Lord in private. Without distraction (although now I'm questioning putting it in the laundry room because the Lord knows those dirty clothes screaming to be washed can be a distraction!). I wanted a place to study God's word, away from the noise of a television or electronics. I just wanted a little war room. A place to go to war for my family and my home. Camdyn has been quite involved in the piecing together of this space. She helped me shop for items to create it. She also helped me put it together and has been quite interested in learning what we do in the "prayer room" as she calls it. She woke one morning to find me praying over the bible reading I had just done and stood ever so patiently in the doorway waiting for me to finish before she asked for breakfast.
This week, I've had my little family in church 4 out of 7 days. We had a New Year's Revival this week that truly stirred my soul and made me question what I'm gonna do for the Lord in 2016. Camdyn has sat through several services this week too and not that I doubt she listens, but she's four. How much can a four year old soak in? How much do they comprehend?
More than we realize....
Yesterday, we were all three sitting in the living room. I don't remember exactly what we were doing but we were all doing our own thing (watching television, on laptop, normal conversation) when out of nowhere Camdyn says, "Did yall know that I asked Jesus to come into my heart last night?" I stopped and looked at William to make sure that he had heard what I had just heard. I was quite interested in what that little mind was thinking. I proceeded to ask her what it meant for "Jesus to come into your heart". She said that when you ask Jesus into your heart it means you can go to heaven one day. Talk about an overwhelming moment....
Now...I do realize she is four. She doesn't truly understand all that there is to understand yet about salvation and accepting Christ, but what I do know is that she's learning. Every sermon she sits under, she's learning. Each time she accompanies me to the prayer room or prayer meeting at church, she's learning. Each time she hears me utter a prayer on the altar, in the car, or at home....she's learning. Each time she hears YOU praise the Lord or give a testimony, she's learning. I pray daily that she will grow to accept Christ as her savior. I see God working on that prayer that I pray so fervently. I hear him speaking through her.
Last week I created a little prayer corner in the other half of our laundry room. I wanted a place to meet with the Lord in private. Without distraction (although now I'm questioning putting it in the laundry room because the Lord knows those dirty clothes screaming to be washed can be a distraction!). I wanted a place to study God's word, away from the noise of a television or electronics. I just wanted a little war room. A place to go to war for my family and my home. Camdyn has been quite involved in the piecing together of this space. She helped me shop for items to create it. She also helped me put it together and has been quite interested in learning what we do in the "prayer room" as she calls it. She woke one morning to find me praying over the bible reading I had just done and stood ever so patiently in the doorway waiting for me to finish before she asked for breakfast.
And then today after church and lunch, I am in the laundry room putting away some clothes and washing yet another load (I realize Sunday isn't the best day to do laundry, but at our house, dirty clothes are inevitable and still need to be washed) and a little voice pops up and tells me she needs to pray. I quickly dropped the pair of jeans I held and sat her in the prayer chair at the table. I pulled out a little notebook and explained to her that she can draw what she would like to pray for and I would help her write her prayers down. I explained that when we keep a prayer journal, it's easy to look back and see what all the Lord has answered and blessed us with. She began to draw (me having no idea what she was drawing or writing) and when she was finished I asked her what she wanted to pray for and what she wanted to tell the Lord. These are her words, her prayers, only transcribed by me.
"Why are your eyes watering Mama?", she asked when she was done telling me what to write. How could they NOT be watering? I was so overwhelmed in that moment. My child's heart is seeking the Lord. Her curiosity for what prayer and a life for the Lord consists of is so spiritually moving. I want you Jesus. Those words, from a four year old, should be my words daily. I want you Lord. I want you in this home, in my life, in my daily routine (thank you John for your message this morning in Sunday School concerning this!), and in all I do. I want you Jesus.
William and I talked just the other night at how we wanted our lives to be and where we have come from. We talked about raising Camdyn and coming to the realization that if WE aren't living for the Lord and wanting the Lord in all aspects of our lives, then Camdyn isn't going to learn it anywhere else. It isn't just the responsibility of a Pastor, A Sunday School Teacher, or a church to teach a child about God. My first priority after serving the Lord and living for him, is teaching my Child about him.
Food for thought: If you think even the tiniest of ears isn't hearing what you say or following what you are doing, then take a step back and listen and watch. We are in a fishbowl, constantly watched and evaluated by little ears and little eyes. Make living for him an observation!
William and I talked just the other night at how we wanted our lives to be and where we have come from. We talked about raising Camdyn and coming to the realization that if WE aren't living for the Lord and wanting the Lord in all aspects of our lives, then Camdyn isn't going to learn it anywhere else. It isn't just the responsibility of a Pastor, A Sunday School Teacher, or a church to teach a child about God. My first priority after serving the Lord and living for him, is teaching my Child about him.
Food for thought: If you think even the tiniest of ears isn't hearing what you say or following what you are doing, then take a step back and listen and watch. We are in a fishbowl, constantly watched and evaluated by little ears and little eyes. Make living for him an observation!
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”