Good Morning! Time - Making Connections

Morning Time Goal :

I thought I'd share today what the WHOLE goal or beautiful picture of Morning Time is : TO MAKE CONNECTIONS…connections of seemingly unfamiliar things.

My-oh-my! When this happens it really almost takes my breath away…in fact, I get giddy! (If you know me well, you know what happens when I get giddy - I can't help but talk about what God is doing!)  I see God so much in the making of connections - things that I would have never connected on my own. Now, the beauty of Morning time, for me, is my kids are starting to make those connections. Not every day. Not every week even. But connecting the dots nonetheless. 

Recently, we started Morning Time WAY late. We have a baby who isn't feeling well and boys with an unusual amount of energy. I will be honest, I woke up this particular morning wishing I could go back to sleep just for 10 minutes to start the day over. I knew it was going to be a long day when I was awakened to RJ crying (loudly) for daddy all because he had a runny nose. It seems he is petrified of his own snot these days…really.

I rolled out of bed, fed littlest one who is just "off" and headed downstairs. 

After breakfast, showers, making of disheveled beds, finally getting a couple down for early naps (this is a RARITY in our house…early naps that is.)  we started Morning time at 10:00am-ish.

We started this day with a book called, "God's Names" by Sally Michael - can I just tell you I love this book! It is so well written for kids (in my opinion…just my opinion) I don't think that you need devotional books to get into the Word. Infact, most often that is where we are reading from…the WORD. But in oder to study God's names, this books has been so helpful in directing us to specific spots in His WORD where His specific names are used.

So, this particular morning…the one where I wished I could go back to sleep…started off with Elohim - our Strong Creator. As we continued on in our morning time we read Paddle-To-The-Sea (another LOVELY book) and without any planning or prompting my two big kids connected Paddle-To-The-Sea to Elohim; which lead to talking about our Zoo trip recently and how we saw Elohim there. How Creative is our Creator!  And then to a hymn - How Great Thou Art and how that hymn talks about our Strong Creator. They made these connections…on their own. And I wanted to cry! It was beautiful in ways that words cannot express.

speaking of zoo animals

Even later that already late morning, our civics questions lead to talking about the riots in Baltimore and what our founding Fathers who wrote that beloved paper we call the constitution would think of this rioting…which lead to a conversation about freedom of speech and John Bunyan….which was PERFECT because we are memorizing 'To Be a Pilgrim' right now in our M.T.

All this to say, this was the first time this year where my oldest two have started making this many connections all on their own (while the littles listen in…well, let's be honest, kind of listen in) and I am SO thankful and grateful that God revealed Himself in all of these things. After all, HE is in all things. Let me be clear, This is NOT my doing. This is not because I am following a specific "curriculum" or book. This is a result of God's mercy and the asking of Questions resulting in conversations. Jesus was the greatest Socratic debater of all time…hence the reason for socratic method and why I want to emulate Him.
(Socratic Method (n.)

A pedagogical technique in which a teacher does not give information directly but instead asks a series of questions, with theresult that the student comes either to the desired knowledge by answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the limits of knowledge.)

I will get back to more specifics of Morning Time soon - but I had to stop and share the goal…so just maybe it might help the long term vision. 

The Pilgrim

BY JOHN BUNYAN

Who would true Valour see

Let him come hither;   

One here will Constant be,   

Come Wind, come Weather.   

There's no Discouragement,

Shall make him once Relent,

His first avow'd Intent,

To be a Pilgrim.

Who so beset him round,

With dismal Storys,

Do but themselves Confound;   

His Strength the more is.

No Lyon can him fright,

He'l with a Gyant Fight,

But he will have a right,

To be a Pilgrim.

Hobgoblin, nor foul Fiend,

Can daunt his Spirit:

He knows, he at the end,

Shall Life Inherit.

Then Fancies fly away,   

He'l fear not what men say,   

He'l labour Night and Day,

To be a Pilgrim.

highly recommend this book - we are reading it now.

Letter to My Pregnant Self

The test was negative. Hmmm…I had to wait another day or two or week…second one, negative. I just knew though…I had to be pregnant. I know those symptoms!! Another day…wait a second!!….I think that says positive. Let's try ONE more time in another day and if I am really patient maybe I can wait two days…I wasn't patient. I HAD to know…sure enough - that is POSITIVE. I leapt for joy and kept it to myself for a bit. I enjoyed those few moments to myself. In fact, I cherished those moments, and sat down to write myself a letter. I knew,  at that moment, there was still clarity in my mind. But once the raging pregnancy hormones, the ones I prayed would come to sustain this sweet life, came in full force, sometimes my thinking would become a bit cloudy. And I forget. I forget what the Lord has taught me. I forget what He has taught me about my husband, children, pregnancy and then I have to learn it all over. This time, I longed for it to be different. I longed to remember and make this pregnancy one I cherished. To honor God through this one instead of making excuses about my moodiness and impatience.

So here it is. I wanted to share this because I know God has brought me back to this reminder so many times and realigned my thinking, words and actions according to all HE has taught me. He is so gracious.

A letter to my pregnant self, 

I want to remind you of a few things because in every pregnancy to date hormones tend to cloud your judgement and thinking. Sometimes they even leave you to forget where GOD has brought you. 

Psalm 139 - There is NO one who knows you better than YOUR Lord. He knows your thoughts from a far. HE understands you even when you, yourself,  do not. Remember, those hormones HE placed in you are to sustain that little one, not to give you amnesia. Without them, there could be no baby. HE thought about that baby long before you and formed that sweet bundle growing inside of you. Remember to be in constant talking-mode with God; praying His words each second, minute, day. AND take the time to listen, be still and let HIM speak to you through HIS word. 

There will be thoughts that enter your mind when you are pregnant that "normally" would not enter your mind. Bring them before the Father. He knows them any way. And if you are setting Scripture on your heart and memorizing it, it will help you!
"I will bless the Lord who has concealed me; Indeed my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For you will not abandon my soul to sheol; nor will You allow your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; IN your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever." (ps. 16:7-11) 
"Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (II cor. 10:5)

Pray for joy in your pregnancy. you will look back thinking it flew by wishing you would have been more joyful. (Romans 15:13, Phil. 4:4, 6-7) And when you are joyful, God's peace will follow. It will!!

You will gain weight - get over it! It will happen but remember it does not define you. The second they place the baby on you, it will be all worth it because that baby it a gift and God's blessing to you. Don't be so vain, but be a woman, pregnant or not, who fears God first and foremost. Yes, be proactive and careful but do not be consumed with it. It will only distract your eyes from God and will rob you of your joy and contentment. 

Take a deep breath and be patient with those around you. Let your words be like "apples of gold in settings of silver" (prove. 25:11) and pray your words would bring life to your husband and kids. 

Remember, God never promises life will be easy, but HE does promise He will never leave us or forsake us. He is our provider (Matt. 6) He will supply our NEEDS. Don't worry or fear while you are pregnant just pray for God's provision and TRUST His words. Let HIM be your provider and remember to tell the kids how He does provide. 

(*there there is a little paragraph that I wrote about Jason and I* Wink, wink…I will keep that personal)

Take a few extra minutes to just be with the kids and read to them. You will NEVER regret that. 

Immitate God to all around you even when you are pregnant. (Ephesians 5:1) Present your body as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. Don't conform your thinking to the worlds "norm" while you are pregnant. Instead keep renewing your mind every day (Romans 1:1-3). God has taught you so much about His blessings, and children, and your relationship with Jason and His provision - don't faulter in your thinking just because you are hormonal. This is the time to lean into Him even more and trust His truth and promises. Let this pregnancy glorify God and bring others to see God's glory (Matt. 5:16) 

When you are completely overwhelmed read:
Psalm 139
Psalm 34
Phil. 4
Matt 6
Psalm 16
Psalm 127

Don't waste your time on the couch watching television; read! Fill your mind with God's truths. Fill your mind with wisdom of others who believe and are walking with God - not culture. 

What a gift it is to be pregnant! You believe this. You know this. You hold this close to your heart. Cherish these moments, they are fleeting! And most importantly, seek to "do" this pregnancy as unto the Lord for HIS glory - not for the glory of man or the opposition of man. Every breath, every step honor God. 

Praise God together with your husband for this life and take one step at a time. 
…just a few reminders! 

This pregnancy has been different for many reasons. My first trimester I know those moods were rough. But then I came back to this letter - I needed help. And through different circumstances God reminded me of HIS truth. I said it above and I hold to it, no matter what, GOD is gracious and any moments with any of my kids are a gift from Him. Relationships are the ONE thing we can invest in here on earth that have an ETERNAL value and importance.

Today, I needed to be reminded of this letter again...