Intentional

"Intentional" definitely a word that I've been thinking a lot about lately. Seems to come up a lot.

Intentional about hearing the voice of God. Intentional about letting our kids hear the word/voice of God. To hear God. To get to know Him. Providing many opportunities for that to happen. Through devotions, Bible verses, songs, church, KidJAM, prayer, and just quiet time to be still.

A friend introduced me to something called "IF" (www.ifequip.com) and it's a group of women from all over that are studying the same passage of scripture every weekday and then they post their thoughts online, and you can listen to two women discuss it. Currently they (and I) are reading through John. This week one of the passages we read was: John 10:27-30
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
When the two women are talking, they are talking about how we as parents need to be intentional to hear the voice of God and then we need to intentionally allow our kids to hear the voice of God as well. We need to make sure that there aren't distractions in our home that lead our kids away from God's voice. Our kids need to see us seeking God's voice and then intentionally give them ways to hear God's voice too.

After Kalyna passed away I started writing out verses of meaning to me (probably a lot of them are in this blog...) but I would write them on coloured paper and put a magnet on them and post them all over my fridge. They were a good reminder to me that these were important words that I needed to hear. Now those verses are moved to the side of the fridge or to the top as the kids like to knock them off the fridge and then pull the magnets off the back. Not exactly ideal....I'm sure there will be a time when they can read them...but for now that's not the best way for them to hear God's voice.
Right now one of my favourite ways for my kids to hear God's word is through songs. Both of my kids love music. They love it! They dance, or sing, or clap or move. It's really fun. I have found that there is great kids music that promotes the word of God. Have you heard of the "Rizers" ? They are fantastic! Look them up on YouTube. They are an animated band that sings Bible verses. It's awesome. Micah loves them and A is starting to as well. Micah now sings Bible verses....and you know what, I do too! They get stuck in my head even! And then I can show Micah where they are found in the Bible. He loves this and then wants me to write the verse out for him and then I hang them up in the kids' playroom! I love it! Also another great band for kids - Go Fish Guys. They are quite awesome. I could listen to them all day....but so can my kids! Micah and A love them too! They have great songs that worship God and they are fun! Check them out on Youtube too! I find my kids (Micah mostly, but I'm sure A will too (although she does already say "trust" because of a song...) repeating words and phrases and verses from the songs that are ultimately Bible verses or songs of praise to our Saviour! It is great!
Another way that I'm going to use to be intentional about my kids hearing God's word/voice is through a specific life verse for my kids and for our family. I'm going to have these verses posted on the walls so that they are there and my hope is that the kids will be able to recite their life verses from a young age and be always challenged by that verse whenever they have quiet time in their rooms as they get older.

Our family verse is going on the wall in the living room - it was one of our wedding verses as well.
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."
This verse tells our family that God has plans for our lives. He put us here for a specific purpose and will give us what we need to prosper in this plan that He has. We can't do it alone, we need to lean on Him for the strength to fulfill these plans. He alone can give us that hope and future that we so long for.

Micah's verse, is found in Micah....of course...it just had to be. His verse is Micah 7:7
So I will look to the Lord. I will put my trust in God my Saviour. He will hear me.
-I love it because this is what I long for, for my Micah. That he will always look to the Lord. That he will trust in God and know well that God will always hear him. I think that if Micah does this, that the rest will flow from this. That his life might be dedicated to loving and serving God and then loving and serving others. If Micah will look to the Lord for guidance for his life, then his life will be led by God and Micah will do great things for God. I pray this for my son.

A's verse is Deuteronomy 31:8 -
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
-I love this because I love putting A's name in place of the word you. The Lord himself goes before A and will be with A. He will never leave A nor forsake A. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.
This verse is perfect for a few reasons. I love how it says that the Lord goes before her. She's had a rocky beginning, but despite that, God has been going ahead of her, preparing the way for her. He's been working in our lives to prepare us for her. He's been making a way for her even though she/or we didn't know it. Also, I love the phrase "He will never leave you". I think that is so important for A. I hope that she is secure and confident in our love, knowing we will never leave her...but more importantly that she will know this of God. Despite having been moved a lot in her short life, knowing that God will never leave her. And the phrase "do not be afraid" has been something that is resounding with Albert lately. Has to do a lot with his trip to El Salvador before Christmas this year. It really made this verse stand out to us as well. And lastly "do not be discouraged" - a phrase to encourage and to press her forward...hopefully A will take this to heart and continue to strive for her best and to fulfill the plans that God has created her for. I pray this for my daughter.

**As an aside, if you are thinking of posting verses on your wall and aren't sure how to get them on there, I know someone who makes the vinyl words/phrases for walls and they are awesome....so email me and I can get you in touch with her! :)**

I just want to encourage you today. Stay in God's word. Consume yourself with ways in which you can hear God's voice. Then find ways to allow your kids to hear God's word too. If we are listening to God and hearing His voice, then the voices of this world, the temptations we face on a daily basis, grow quiet as we follow our Good Shepherd to His plans for us.