Day 5:Praying for Our Sons

Today's topic is pride.  The prayers are found on page 23.  Are you guys still hanging in there?  Haven't heard from you in a few days.  Today's post is short and sweet because I am spending time with my family.  This quote from the leader's guide struck me this morning...."Praying for God to shape their hearts, trusting the master Potter He is, has allowed me to relinquish control of the outcome and cherish my role in the process of learning who they will become.  As they grow, up and away – as is God’s plan – my heart’s cry to Him is that they will lead lives pleasing to their Creator {and that they will visit their mama frequently}." 

Have a great SONday!

                                     Amy

Day 4:Praying for Our Sons

For those of you not participating in the study, the majority of this post is a stand alone.  Just ignore those pesky page numbers :)

Today's topic is avoiding foolishness.  The prayers are on page 22. 

One of my sons has a real issues with anger.  I had never really connected that to foolishness, but after a quick search of the word "fool" on biblegateway.com tonight, my eyes have been opened.  Here are just a few of the verses that popped out to me......"Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end." (Proverbs 29:11)  "It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel." (Proverbs 20:3)  "The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure." (Proverbs 14:6)  There are MANY more.  A new prayer has formed in my heart........this child does not want to be this way.  He wants so much to control his temper.  I am thankful that the Lord has given me a new direction to pray and a new direction to parent!

Here is what the Bible also says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)  In this way, he is definitely no fool!  What a joy and a priviledge it is to be not only his mother but also his teacher and his number 1 prayer support--to have a front row seat as he seeks the LORD and gains true knowledge----to see his victory over his temper foolishness.

And here is a verse that has always stuck with me---it's what I immediately thought of when I read the topic for today.  It also comes from Proverbs (13:20) "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."  It is a reminder for me to not only pray for my kids, but for their friends as well. 

This question comes from page 21 of the book:

While attending a homeschool conference, Brooke heard Ken Ham, of Answers in Genesis, say “I

would rather my children be ditch diggers and love Jesus, than PhDs and go to hell.” What is

your response to this quote?
My first response is, "Me too."  But then when I really examine myself, I find that my actions don't always support this view.  I have dreams for my kids, and if I'm honest, ditch digger isn't in them.  I can honestly say that I don't care what profession that end up in, but when I dream, they are "professionals".  Ditch digging doesn't fit the bill :( I am a homeschooling mama, and there are more days than I would like to admit that my focus is not on my kids gaining wisdom but on proving themselves academically. One of the reasons I felt called to homeschool was that I wanted wisdom to be more important to my kids than book learning.  It's a hard thing to do because I also want them to be "successful."  It's my job to teach them the academics.  This spring as our family was in a state of upheaval, God showed me clearly how the two go hand in hand.  I thought that as a whole we had our priorties pretty much "right".  But what I have discovered is that there were (and still are some days I'm ashamed to say) priorities on my list that shouldn't even have been a consideration. I came to a point where I had not only reached the end of my rope but passed the end by a long shot.  What I discovered at that point when my focus became God and God alone was that the academics which were barely even on my radar screen were taken care of anyway.  School was actually easier for me teaching and my kids understanding.  As I sought God with my whole heart, my kids followed.  I expected that school would take us a lot longer--l;ike all summer.  I didn't really care, but that's where I place it........way down the priority list.  You want to know what happened????  We finished EARLY---I'm still not sure how that happened, but it did.  My prayer is that I won't forget that lesson as our life becomes more stable in the future.

Feel free to share any thoughts.......on my thoughts, on how the prayers are going for you, on this question or others, or just whatever you feel lead to share.

You are in my prayers!

                                  Amy

Day 3: Praying for Our Sons

Today's topic is integrity.   Integrity, how you choose to act and react when no one is watching; at least that what my granddad always told me :)  The prayers are found on page 19 of the book.  There are many ways to teach about integrity, but I believe the best is by example.  I don't know about you, but my boys are always watching me and everything I do.  What do you do when you get a bill at a restaurant and an item that you have consumed is not listed?  Do you bring it to the attention of the server or do you just go on without paying for it?  Your kids are watching.  Your choice over a few dollars can have a great impact on how they see the world and how to make their own choices.  I bring this up because it happened to us last night.  Could we have walked away without paying $2 for a drink that I know cost the place only pennies?  Sure we could.  Would God have been pleased?  I don't think so.  Would my daughter have learned that the right choice is the right choice whether someone knows or not?  I don't think so.  When she asked why we didn't want to just "get it for free because it's their fault anyway" I would not have had the opportunity to show her the way God would have us act. 

Here's the a study question from the page before the prayers: 1. At the beginning of this chapter, Brooke shares a story of her experience with mothers of girls.  Can you relate to the differences between boys and girls that she describes? 

Honestly, I'm having a difficult time grasping her point on this.  My little "princess" is as much or more of a handful than my boys and has always been :)  I totally agree that raising girls and boys is different, but I don't think it's as different as  Brooke seems to experience.  I firmly believe that the roles of men and women designed by God are different.  What about those of you with boys and girls in your mix; what do you think?  Have you experienced this difference?  I know a lot have, but I have a little girl who will turn a cartwheel in a dress and come up shooting you with a nerf gun.  She just doesn't fit the "little girl" mode much of the time.  I have yet to read anything in this book that doesn't equally apply to my daughter. 

And a note about the book.....I haven't read the entire thing (gasp!).  I'm reading as I go.  I don't expect to agree with everything Brooke has to say.  Does that mean I don't find some of or maybe even most of it to have value?  NO.  There are apparently some (not in this group that I've heard) who are having a problem with some of the things in the book.  It's perfectly acceptable to disagree.  It's not acceptable here to bash anyone, including Brooke.  I like having this as a starting point in directed prayer for my children.  If I come to a point that I don't agree with what is written, I won't pray it.  I don't blindly repeat things in church either, even when they put them on the big screen and say "repeat after me". I follow God and try to obey Him.  The rest of the world just has to deal with it.  That's how I roll :)  Does that make sense?  I am thankful to be here in this group at this time with each of you.  I believe that this is where God wants me right now.  Read what I wrote here at the beginning of this adventure.  I'm not perfect, but I am forgiven.  Feel free to disagree with me too!

Have a blessed day!  You, ladies, are in my prayers.

Day 2: Praying for Our Sons

Today's prayers are found on page 16 of the ebook under the title "Submission to Authority".  How are you choosing to pray.......all at one time, throughout the day, by yourself, aloud over your sons, or some other way?  Do you enjoy praying the scriptures for your children?  Does it make you uncomfortable?  Personally, I love to pray the scriptures; they are God's words and promises for us.  But I do know some that are very uncomfortable with the idea of inserting a human name into scripture.  If that is you, please don't let it stop you from praying, just make the prayer something more in your own words.  Like this........Instead of praying, "May Johnny submit himself therefore to God. May he resist the devil, so he will  flee from him. (James 4:7)"  pray something along these lines.  "God, help Johnny to submit himself to you and your ways.  When he is tempted, help him to resist. By Your power, send the devil running away from Johnny."

Today and in the days to come, when you see your son submitting to authority (even if it's something small), praise him for it and let him know that you are proud of his wise choice.  Our words as mother's are more powerful than we realize.  Let's make a conscious effort to build our sons up when they make a good choice.  By learning to submit to authority figures here on earth, they are learning how to submit to the Father.  The word submit has a negative connotation for most people, but by our praise we can show our children the joy that comes with submission.

I'm praying that God will give you opportunities to praise your children for wise choices.  I'm also praying that you don't miss them :)  Or maybe it's just me that might have that problem........

                           Amy

If you don't have study questions in your book, let me know by sending an email to sabc7@yahoo.com with the subject "warrior prayer ebook".  I have a solution for you thanks to the author of the book.

Praying for Our Sons ebook Confusion

Hey ladies, please do me a favor.  If you have a copy of the ebook for our study that does NOT have study questions, please email me at sabc7@yahoo.com  with "prayer ebook" in the subject line.  I am trying to work with the author to get the problem straightened out.

Thanks!
Amy

Day 1: Praying for Our Sons

Today our instructions are to pray the 10 prayers in the Obedience chapter of the book.  If you don't have the book yet, go here to purchase it.  Here are some ideas of how to accomplish this.
1. Get up early to bathe your sons in prayer first thing in the morning.
2.  Pray the prayers one at a time throughout the day. 
3. Make the prayers a part of your family devotion time, praying the prayers out loud over your sons. 
4. Spend some time in concentrated prayer late at night, around bedtime. 

There is no "wrong" time to pray, so just do it :)

My boys are visiting at their grandparents' house right now, so they are not with me.  I am going to text at least one of the prayers to them today.  Another idea for those of you away from your sons/grandsons right now is to write them a note with the prayer and mail it....daily, weekly, or at the end of our study. 

 I pray for my boys all the time, but I am really enjoying having this directed prayer time.  How is it working for you?  Leave us a comment to let us know you're praying and any specific prayer requests you have.

The book contains study questions at the end of each chapter. I've decided to tackle answering one of those questions here each day.  Would love to have your responses as well!  Today, I'm going to give you my answer to question 3. "Have you ever thought about the importance of raising sons from the perspective of this story? What kind of response does this create in your heart?"  This story is such a reminider for me not to get so busy doing "good things" for God that I neglect the job he gave me first, raising my children.  I believe that we are to serve the body of Christ outside of our homes.  I love working with my local church and some other ministries as well.  But I also know that there no job more important than raising my kids.  The only way to find the balance between the two is to stay connected with God myself and listen to his urgings of when and where to commit my time outside of the home.  "When you say 'yes' to one thing, that means you are saying 'no' to something else."  Just make sure that something else is not your children's needs.......that's NEEDS not WANTS :)

I am praying for you today as you pray for your sons.  Thank you for joining me on this journey!

                                              Amy

Waiting

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a book skipping paragraphs or pages because you just want to know what happens?  Okay, maybe I'm the only one who does that.  Maybe that's my problem.  I find it very difficult to wait.  Yet, that is exactly what God calls us to do much of the time.........wait.  Here are  just a few of the times that God said to wait.  There was Noah on the ark in Genesis 8; he sends out a dove and it comes back and he waited.........he sent it out again and it came back with a branch and he still had to wait.....finally, he sends it out and it doesn't come back.  Then he waits at least 2 more months before God tells him to get off of the boat.  Now if ever there were someone that was tired of waiting, it should have been Noah.  He waited for years for it to start raining while everyone around thought he was crazy. Then he finds himself waiting again to get off of the boat. Scripture does not record Noah's thoughts on the matter.  All the picture Bibles show a smiling Noah with the dove.  I wonder if he was really smiling.........he could have been; he was that kind of guy with that kind of relationship with God.  I'm afraid I much more like the Israelites in Exodus 24.  First in v.7 they say "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey".  In v. 14 they are told to "wait for us until we come back to you."  But they are not good 'waiters'.  Chapter 32 opens with these words....."When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said,'Come, make us gods who will go before us.  As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'"  What happened to the obeying and doing everything God said????  What happened to the waiting for Moses to return????

Hi, I'm Amy, and I'm an Israelite.  I say to God, "I will obey and do everything you have said."  But somewhere along the way, I seem to have forgotten that He said, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14) and "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) and "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him" (Psalm 37:7) and "Those who WAIT upon the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).  I looked and I can't seem to find a passage that says run ahead and do it your way and God will bless it.  There is no "God helps those who help themselves" verse in the Bible.  Just like the Israelites, I can't have it both ways.  In my humanness I sometimes rationalize that there is no way that God just expects me to sit around and do nothing.  And often that is true.  But what I am discovering is that there are many times when God says "Be still and wait" and that is EXACTLY what he means.  That's hard for me, but I'm learning............slowly, but surely learning.  Thankfully God is an abundantly patient teacher!

                                             Amy