Sweet Micah

Sweet Micah- July 27 2016

 I cannot believe that this year Micah will be turning 7! He is growing more and more handsome each day and his heart is SO BIG! 

Mason is out of town at his second year of an amazing church camp, Camp Rock.

We began the weekend  trying to focus on making this a week for Micah.  We took the boys to see the new Jungle book, Micah could BE Mogley.  He loves people, critters and animal facts!  He loves to enjoy the moment, take in Gods creation and desires to point things out to you that he thinks are beautiful so you can feel or see the same beauty he does.  He doesn’t rush to do things, enjoys being at home and rarely asks what we are doing next.  (unlike his brothers J)

Before dropping Mason off at camp we took a family day trip to Linville Caverns and climbed some rocks out side and then explored the depths of the mountain cave.  Micah was in heaven.  He courageously conquered a tall rock, that to him felt like a mini mountain with NO hands, he not once was fearful leading the pack of tourist through a narrow crevice in the cave. 

We ate lunch at a little town bbq spot and Micah tried his best to eat the grilled cheese (food is his least favorite thing) 

After lunch we headed one mile up the road to Linville Falls Micah was so excited to see the falls he was hoping to be able to get in and try to stand BEHIND a waterfall…he handled the disappointment well when we discovered no one is allowed in the river or close to the falls…they were still pretty to look at. 

At dinner with the four of us Micah was a little chatter box.  Its so natural for him to not need to be the center of attention or leading the conversation or offer an opinion, that we didn’t ever even realize what we were missing out on when we remove Mason from the equation.   Mason is an amazing big brother, but we are seeing a new side of Micah when Mason isn’t in the lead. 

Monday, Chris went to work and after a trip to Carowinds waterpark where Micah was allowed to pick whatever he wanted to do he thoroughly enjoyed just wading around the water taking his time. 

Thanks to Poppy and Mam maw I arranged a date day for the two of us at TCBY while Ethan played battle with mam maw.  TCBY proved for Micah that white chocolate moose is indeed the best choice in frozen yogurt. (that’s my favorite too)   I am pretty sure Micah got a scoop of almost every topping in the store!  Over ice cream we discussed school starting soon and when I asked who he most hoped was in his class next year he said, Hmmm….Laithan, do you wanna know why?  Because he has a sickness and he might need someone to look out for him”…How Sweet is Micah?  Hes so good at thinking of others better than him self. 

A similar instance happed as Chris and I were playing a game with Micah before bed.  He was originally wanting to play connect four launchers and then when he surveyed the three of us he quickly changed his mind saying, “OH, I’ll just pick something else that three people can play, I don’t want to leave mom out”  Seriously, you cannot teach that!! AND he genuinely was happy about it! 

All of Micah’s free time this week while Mason has been gone has consisted of building forts in the bonus room with every sheet and blanket and pillow he can find.!  Or playing alone in the back yard or collecting frogs with Ethan. 

This Verse reminds me of Micah- Phillippians 2:3-4  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. 

God knew what he was doing when he sandwiched Micah between two driven, scheduled fast paced brothers!  They are all perfect for each other and I pray that as they grow their differences will reveal to them a new character trait of God the father, that they would grow to sharpen one another and always practice servant love and leadership.

Masons Baptism

Masons Baptism

I remember when I was a little girl, at the age of 7, along with my cousin Joya and several other church friends the morning I was baptized.  I wore a white dress with a lace along the hem, sleeves and collar.  I stepped into the baptismal pool where my dad reached out his hand to welcome me, not just into the water but to the larger family of God!  I had asked the Lord into my heart when I was 5 during a Sunday Morning service but now I was ready to make a public display in front of my family and peers.  I love the words of a pastor who said, “our relationship with the Lord begins personally but it cant stay private”  That’s how I remember feeling.  I remember knowing that God loved me and had called me to let others know about his love too.  I was fortunate to have my dad as my children’s pastor as a child and love that he was there at my birth and also the one who was able to lead me in really making my relationship with God personal. 

Now that I have children of my own I see that my greatest desire for them is to know Christ on a personal level.  To know that apart from him they are nothing. I get to be their mom but only God can be the one who is with them every moment of every day, every tough decision, happy experience and hurtful state.  I wish I could be with them and help them always navigate this life they lead but I know that its not my job to Save them, God has already done that, I just get to help guide and nurture them along their journey as God writes their story in HIS big story.

The children’s ministry at our church desires children to wait until 3^rd grade to get baptized.  Throughout this year several of Masons friends were baptized and when he discovered the news that his friend from Life Group, Hutton Mudrey, was getting baptized he asked if his whole Life Group could go in to watch. 

Mason wanted to get baptized earlier this year but Chris and I were out of town so we asked him to wait. 

This summer Chris decided that in light of Masons questions about other faiths and other religions that arose from him having school mates that are from other countries, Hindu, Muslim, and catholic that this would be a great time to start with Mason on the foundations of what we believe as Christians.   They began reading and dialoguing through Lee Stroble’s kids series “The Case for Faith for Kids” and “The Case for Christ for Kids”  God has been pursuing Mason, and Mason is understanding why he believes what he believes. I am so thankful that God has allowed Chris to understand, early on, that anyone can write a report and attend a meeting for work, but only Chris can be the father for our three boys and what an amazing, kind, gentle, selfless, servant they have been blessed to call, “Dad”

3 weeks ago we heard the news that another baptism Sunday would be offered on July12, 2016 and Mason was thrilled that finally he would be able to participate in this public display of his decision to follow Christ.  Cool thing too…they are partnering the baptisim Sunday with a huge family celebration so there will be food trucks, waterslides and free pelicans snow balls too! 

He has been SO SO excited.  He keeps asking questions and after three days of him asking if maybe he could invite some people to attend the baptisim I sat down and finally said, “sure buddy who do you wanna invite” I honestly expected his list to include grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins I was surprised as he began going through his list that included school friends, his teachers and his principle too!!  

Oh Lord, I am sorry for keeping my personal relationship with you private.  I love that the spirit of boldness is so alive and active in Mason that he wants everyone to know he is a Christian!

Last night Mason was reviewing a bible verse he was asked to memorize before a baptism prep class we are going to tonight. Initially, he didn’t want to memorize the scripture or understand why he needed to go to the class because he already knows that baptism is a public display of your inward decision to follow Christ (he has never really liked busy work) but then he said, “well, I guess they just wanna make sure kids aren’t like, ‘so n so got baptized, they’re cool I wanna do it too”…so then we broke down the verse together.

“If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that he was raised from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

The verse he was asked to memorize doesn’t say that in order to be saved you have to complete a check list of religious dos and don’ts.  “so if I don’t have the verse memorized they will still let me get baptized?”  OF COURSE, but a good way to share your story and know who Christ is personally is by reading and understanding scriptures…

The verse begins with stating fact, confessing that Jesus is Lord…Mason was ready to do that at age 4 when he dropped to his knees and raised his hands saying he wanted to ask Jesus in his heart.  But, there’s so much more to having a relationship with Jesus than simply knowing he is Lord.

I was helping Mason to see that its similar to chocolate cake with chocolate icing- he’s tasted it, we can look up pictures of cake and even find a recipe and do our best to explain how the cake tastes but the best way for anyone to understand chocolate cake is for them to experience it on their own, that chocolate cake does indeed taste good. 

That’s where the second part of the verse comes into play- “believe in your heart, that he was raised from the dead”  we discussed times of life that can get tricky and emotional where he would maybe wanna question where God was…”God why didn’t I make the middle school football team or the basketball team, why didn’t they wanna pick me to be on their team for kick ball at recess, why is this subject in school so hard, even when I study…” could lead to you feeling like your relationship with God is dead…but that’s why its important to know that NO MATTER WHAT Jesus is ALWAYS Lord!! I believe in my heart that He was raised from the dead and if he can be raised from the dead then surly my dark situation that didn’t go the way I hoped can be seen in the bigger picture of life.

AND…the promise is…

YOU WILL BE SAVED. 

Mason agreed Its not about us and what other religions say you need to do to reach God or be good enough so you wont come back like an animal in another life! NO!  Christianity is the only religion where God actually comes down to meet with us in person and desires for us to abide with and in Him now as we carry out our life and for all of eternity.

He said last night that he remembers asking Jesus in his heart when he was 4 but when he turned 8 everything started to make since for his life and he used to just memorize scriptures to get awards in AWANA but now that he is “9 and 7/12ths years old“ he knows what they mean and he recognizes that he is different then other kids, that he wants to be their friend but he can tell some of them haven't been introduced to Jesus...

 Our conversation was amazing... there is nothing like having an opportunity to walk along side your child and help them realize that the reason they are who they are and the reason they respond the way they respond is because the Holy Spirit is in them and they have fruit and they have a plan in Gods story. 

Lord, please continue to pursue Mason, chase after him.  You Lord, not me, are doing a great work in his life, continue to give him boldness to share your love with his friends.   Continue to use me to nurture and guide and point out your spirit inside of him. 

Alone Time

Alone time

Micah, my middle son really craves alone time.  He likes being with the family and playing games but one of his favorite things to do with us, even if he is 6 ½, is to snuggle and be read to.  He loves hearing stories and listening and entering in to conversation. 

This summer we have been bustling around between Carowinds, friends pools, parks, play dates…and  at night as I am tucking them in their individual beds my other two always ask without fail…”what are we doing tomorrow?” Micah on the other hand, asks with a hopeful grin below his freckled nose and raised eyebrows, “tomorrow, can just stay home?”

Micah likes to create a pretend world and doesn’t want anyone who isn’t in his imagination to be part of it.

When he starts to feel frustrated with his brothers I send him outside to play alone or take a lap around the house….he needs time to recharge, to fill up so he can function in a world full of people.

When we were on our way to Carowinds one day Micah said his favorite part of Carowinds is the car ride there and waiting in line together talking. 

He doesn’t need constant business, thrill, schedule and routine.  He thrives in loose environments, ones that aren’t competition driven and opportunities for there to be silence.  He craves one on one time alone with individual family members.

Being a student of your children is a huge task. 

My three are all so unique and God speaks to me through all of them. 

Micah reminds me that God desires for me to be still with him to slow down long enough to dream, imagine and really communicate with my creator. If I constantly make plans and fill my days I wont leave room for Gods plans, I will try to take personal ownership of Gods gifts to me and direct my course vs allowing him to be in control.   Micahs words, “can we just stay home” remind me that God is making my heart his home and I want to keep my heart soft, open, available.  Am I really allowing God to abide in me?  Am I really content to not have  a plan? Why do I shy away from deep conversations with God? What am I afraid He will say? Will I not want to respond?  If I never am alone with God I wont be able to recharge.  

Oh how God speaks to me through my children.

The hope in Micah’s eyes reminds me that God so desires for me to only want Him the most!  God thank you for pursuing me, desiring me to realize that in everyday moments that Micah sees “driving in the car on the way to somewhere, or while waiting in a line” that You desire to be with me.

James 4:7-8

Submit to God, Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double- minded.

Let my mind and heart never be divided or double minded. But with full submission may I follow your lead and listen.

God was able to do some pretty amazing things in the lives of folks who were alone….being alone doesn’t have to be a negative thing or a punishment that requires separation.

Noah was alone in his obedience to follow God and God used him to save creation

Joseph was alone in the pit rejected and God elevated him to palace position.

Jonah was alone in the belly of a big Fish and God saved him and spared him to carry out his plan.

Moses was alone in the desert and God was able to speak.