The healing words of friends

I haven't written about Emily and I's Mother/Daughter bible study in a few months, but this past month's meeting was so beautiful I am so excited to share it with you.  Four months ago, our study leader Cindy, and I talked about me helping her lead one month.  We decided before the holidays, that come February I would do my Snowflake Devotion with the girls.  Only the Lord can plan things so well, as it turned out, (of course) this was just the time for this lesson.
Emily goes to a wonderful school with wonderful classmates, but even the sweetest little friendship from time to time turn a little sour.  Some of the girls in the class had been the target of some hurtful words that had left their little hearts aching and their egos bruised.  In spite of these tensions, our amazing moms and daughters showed up for bible study together and God in His graciousness planted some beautiful seeds of forgiveness and friendship.
The Snowflake Devotion, is a devotion I wrote a few years ago to study how God created each member of our family with unique gifts.  It translates well for a group of friends.  We read Gen 1:27 and Psalm 139:13-14.  We talked about how God takes care to create each snowflake that falls to be unique.  He takes even more care to uniquely create us, His children.

After our reading and discussion, each girl cut out her own snowflake.  Once the snowflakes were finished, each mom took her daughter's snowflake and personalized Psalm 139: 13 for them....  "Emily, you are wonderfully made."   Then each mother took her daughter around to write something special and unique on each one of the other little girl's snowflakes.  Once we were all finished, the snowflakes were collected and given back to their owners.  We sat together in a circle and each girl had a turn to read her snowflake out loud.  It was AMAZING!  There was not a dry momma eye in the house.  To hear your daughter read the wonderful things her friends see in her, is a gift of enormous proportions.  There were no two alike.  The girls had written such beautiful things about one another....

       .... you always let me play with you.
             ..... you help me with my work.
                   ..... you have a great imagination.
                         .... you always say nice things
                               .... when I came to Trinity, you were my friend.
                                     .... you solve problems
                                           .... you love Jesus

What a gift each girl received to know her friends see her for who God created her to be, and that they love who she is.  Cindy and I talk frequently about the power of this little Mother/Daughter bible study.  We live in a society where the mean girls seem to rule, and bullying in school is expected.  For moms to take the time to come to this group, to model studying the Word, prayer and Christian friendship for their daughters is amazing.  This little group of moms are a quiet and powerful rebellion against the social tide, a rebellion saying we just aren't going to accept society's messages for our daughters, we are going to give them something better.  We are going to show them Jesus and help them to be the friends God's desires them to be.

Into the waters

Sunday morning we had the great privilege of watching Emily go forward to be baptized.  That verb "watched,"  strikes my momma-heart, because it carries such a large truth.  We did not carry or bring our daughter forward, we did that 6 years ago, no yesterday we watched as she chose to announce her own faith. Her faith in a Savior who died for her.  A Savior she loves with such purity and beauty, that she amazes and teaches her mom and dad daily.


She went boldly and joyfully into the waters with a big pink cast on her arm and a smile on her lips.  

Watching her I saw, that this is how we are to approach the Kingdom of God;  with wiggling, naked feet that can't wait to go forth; with a heart so bursting with joy that it can't be kept from our lips;  with our brokenness unabashedly on display,  with nothing to offer, but that which Christ desires, ourselves.  

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus... so very sweet indeed.  

This year let's gain something instead of giving something up

For many people tomorrow will be their last hooray before they prepare to give up something for the season of Lent ( the 40 days before Easter).  While sacrifice and fasting can be good spiritual tools, it seems these days that Lenten fasting is more often about saving a few dollars (no Starbucks), or weight loss (no sugar, no chocolate).

So my friends, this year I want to encourage you to take the season of Lent to gain something, instead of giving something up.  I want to encourage you to gain some more Jesus in your life by ...

....gaining the practice of reading scripture daily (alone or with your children).

.....gaining the practice of a daily time of prayer.

.....gaining the practice of regular service to the poor.

                 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than                          burnt offerings - Hosea 6:6

For our family this will be a season of reading and prayer. We will journey with Christ through the gospels.  Being reminded of His love each night as we add another candle and draw a little closer to the greatest of days, Easter Sunday.

Our family would love for your family to join us.  You can print out my 40 day reading guide, Prepare Our Hearts.  I pray you will leave this Lenten season with more Jesus:   a stronger understanding of who He is, and a deeper personal relationship with Him, and you can even keep eating chocolate and going to Starbucks - what a deal!