GRADUATION: KINDERGARTEN STYLE!

KDG GRADS----SO MUCH STILL TO LEARN! Yet, so fun to watch the event---when it's one of your grands!  

Invitations were digital but appreciated.

Kids' sensibilities were respected! When names were called by the teacher to receive one's diploma, they could be last in line and choose to give a hug or a "high five" to principal/teacher. 

Guess who fit all aspects of those choices?

May we, Lord, as loving family of our young ones, share your steadfast love. May we also show gratitude for the teachers who care for and spend hours of planning for the individual lessons needed per child.

Father God, You know the plans You have for them. "Grace plans" from tears to shed and struggles to experience in order to trust you more and serve others well. We might have to keep our knees-bent for many years ahead to keep our over-controlling hands off.....choosing to embrace and encourage instead. 

Today's graduation bulletin had more than only the schedule for the service!

It had an eye-opening salute to the next graduation for these kids. 

A reminder to embrace our moments with our youngsters as many of us are in a season of life that might hinder our attendance in 12 years!

MORE JOY!

More Joy coming as soon as the plane lands!

Even though I'm carrying prayers of comfort and mercy for cousin Joy!

FIRST TIMERS

Sometimes trying anything for the "very first time" can be oh so difficult, especially if you are only 4 years old. Even when you have rehearsed with Mommy, "Hi, my name is Jack. Nice to meet you."

Bright Adventures awaited. Teeth gritted. Tears trickled. A bit of muffled screams of "Don't leave me Mommy," ensued.

The long walk of a little boy with a (required) big backpack began. 

Two goodby squeezes from Mommy were allowed. The the teacher relented and allowed two more before directing him back to the "dinosaur" play area.

A little boy's first day of pre-school began. 

A grandmother, who was far away, put her GPS (Grandmother's Praying System) into action. 

Tears trickled from Tennessee as well......for this little first timer!

circling, Circling, CIRCLING!!!

I think in circles.

I talk in circles.

I walk in circles trying to figure out why I have entered a certain room.

So....I've decided to try to do some positive circling.

I'm using this little book, Praying Circles around your Children by Mark Batterson to guide me as I "pray circles" around my children and grands.

Is it a "perfect" book for prayer? NO. No "method" is perfect. Prayer is about one's own communication with God.
 Did I follow all of his suggestions? NO. No, but I was prompted by some of his ideas and affirmed by others as I agree with the importance of praying for one's children and grandchildren.

Some of the "brilliant cut" gems are:

• Diaper spelled backwards is repaid. (What fun it has been to watch this happen to my kids as they entered parenthood!) 
• You will never be a "perfect" parent but you can be a praying parent. 
• Regardless of childrearing philosophies, we can all teach 3 words----please, sorry, and thanks. 
• Pray for favor for your children. (Luke 2:52)

My goal is to keep "circling my prayer wagons" around my kids and "grands" until the Lord calls me home.

**Am now reading Batterson's, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Greatest Dreams and Biggest Fears. Two encouraging points were, "God's answers are NOT limited by our requests and we pray out of our ignorance but God answers out of His omniscience." (p.19)

Spiritual Character TEA-raits

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5, ESV)

Tomorrow, Nov 30, 2014, Caleb Davenport Liles will turn 9. As always, I will pray verses form Proverbs 30, as it corresponds with his birthday.
Spiritually Caleb is secure having accepted Christ as his Savior 12/24/11. He even chose baptism this past May....so moving for me to watch that on video as his father baptized him (April 27, 2014)

In character, Caleb is all boy---loving sports and adventure ---so, this year I've added some verses from God's servant, Caleb, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly. 

Excerpts from Caleb's prayers* for my Caleb:

• Make Caleb a leader among Your people. (Numbers 10:1)
• Help Caleb refuse to see life through the eyes of men. (Numbers 14:30-33)
• Help Caleb to know Your Presence which brings boldness and direction/ (Numbers 14:5-10)
• Cultivate within Caleb a fresher and fresher faith as he grows older. (Joshua 14)
• Give Caleb the "guts" to pray..."Give me the land" (Numbers 13:30) and "Give me the high ground. (Joshua 14:11-12)

May Caleb not only choose a cuppa quality spiritual TEA-raits for himself but may he inspire others to choose that cuppa as well.

*Thanks to brother, Buddy, for these verses!

7 GRANDS

7/29/12 I don't know if there's any symbolic significance of having 7 grandchildren.....but at this point in time, it's very special because that's how many I have. Times with all of them together at once are rare. After 7 grand days at the beach with all 7 distinctly different grands,  I know how blessed I am. I may be "pooped" but I've got a smile on my face. 
Allow me to introduce them to you with at least one of the verses from the Proverb which I have prayed for them since birth---it corresponds with their birthday. 

Lucy (9 mo.) Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. Prov. 27:9

Owen (5) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25

Andrew (20 mo, That would be butter on his hands and face.) Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, Proverbs 12:1

John Parker (4) A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Caleb (6) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in. Proverbs 30:5

Noah (8, Tooth missing as he reminded the "tooth fairy") Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Nathan (10) Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4

Proverbial Prayers

5/20/09 Happy "1year+1day" Birthday, John Parker Liles! I couldn’t write this last night because I had not prayed John Parker’s special birthday prayers at the time I sat down to blog. For each of my children and their spouse and my grandchildren I pray the Proverb that corresponds with their birthday. I’m not sure how that started but it seems to work well in leading me to pray for and against some of the characteristics that are mentioned. I pray verses from “their Proverb” chapter from birth onward but especially on their birthday. So yesterday, I prayed from Proverbs 19 for John Parker, Buddy and Day’s 4th son. Proverbs are not promises but there’s much wisdom given. Dr. Duane Litfin, said the Proverbs were God’s guidance for life choices. I want God’s wisdom to be foundational for life choices for my family. I desire that as a wise man or woman they will always trust God even when they do not fully understand Him. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7) Prov. 19 Bible marginalia for John Parker: • Walk blameless throughout life • Temper his zeal in order to balance it with wisdom • Guard him from folly that his heart may love Thee • Grant godly friends all of his days • Guard his tongue from lying---fill him with Your truth • May generosity flow from him to others • May He be rich in spiritual gifts • May he gain wisdom and cherish understanding • May longsuffering be a part of his character • May he be truthful in all things • A godly wife, a gift from Thee • Enlarge his heart to be kind to the less fortunate • Use his parents to discipline him wisely • Nourish himself on the truth of God’s Word • Give ears to hear Thee and his parents & to respond wisely • May he always turn to Thee, O Lord---------A-men & A-men!