Building into Tomorrow's Wives and Mothers

Recently I attended a conference, and during one session the presenter quoted some research about the experiences from our youth that shaped our adult faith lives.  Looking around the room, I recognized surprise and shock on many of the faces around me.  The statistic that impacted the crowd the most, probably because it was found to be the biggest faith shaping factor, an adult (other than mom and dad) pouring into and supporting them.  

The shock was lost on me.  For some reason, when I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior just a few short years ago, I recognized and even grieved that my teenage self hadn’t known the Lord.  Almost instantly, I was convinced that if someone near me had been modelling a faith filled life, been loving on me, and sharing the Good News, then I wouldn’t have struggled with depression, my identity, and peer pressure so much.  

I felt so convicted of this fact, that it ignited a fiery passion deep in my heart for the youth today.  It isn't lost on me that my oldest son is embarking on this stage of life also.  Due to our heavy involvement in Boy Scouts, I have already witnessed the power of a man, other than his father, speaking into his life.  I felt the call to be that other woman speaking into the lives of tomorrow’s wives and mothers.  

For the last 3+ years, I’ve walked alongside a core group of 10 young ladies.  Honored to have watched them grow in every facet of their being, I've helped them navigate many questions and circumstances over the years.  I love them; they are family to me, and I to them, family God has provided for us.  Yes, it’s hard to see them struggle with who they are and who God is calling them to be, but because of the investment I’ve made, they trust me to speak into those places.  

The shock, to me, is that people overlook this age group.  Everyone enjoys loving on the infants and toddlers, or maybe singing and dancing with the preschoolers and elementary age kiddos, but the hormone enraged tweens and teens?!?!  People wonder what exactly can they do with them?  Let me tell you!  Being the only girl in my nuclear family, I have enjoyed an annual sleepover, painting nails, watching girly movies, and many many hours of great conversations that have brought me much laughter and a few sweet tears.  It never ceases to amaze me that this group of teenage girls actually wants to hang out with thirtysomething me!  It’s fun, often heartbreakingly sweet and vulnerable, and proven to be life changing for us all.

I am blessed to be in this stage of life that allows me to have the time to invest in them and when many do not have the same opportunity.  My hope is that my story would inspire us all to encourage these types of relationships for our own children and to anxiously await the call to be this person to a teenager in the future.  

- Nanette H.

Covenant Prayer

The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer

Last week, our family meandered the trails behind Deanna Rose Farmstead to visit the mysterious fairy houses sprouting up among the trees. To the east of Switzer, a fairy house boasts a mailbox where kids leave messages that the fairy, R.T., dutifully answers back. To the west of Switzer are two more fairy homes. When we explored the second to the west (just past the bridge and behind the golf course), we opened the tiny red door to discover a basket inside with the fairy's favorite prayer on an emerald green card. It just happened to be my favorite prayer too, and the one I say everyday. The kids were delighted as together we knelt down mid-walk, and read these words aloud:

I am no longer my own, but thine

Put me to what thou wilt

Rank me with whom thou wilt

Put me to doing; put me to suffering

Let me be employed by thee, or laid aside for thee

Exalted for thee, or brought low for thee

Let me be full, let me be empty

Let me have all things, let me have nothing

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal

And now, O glorious and blessed God

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Thou art mine, and I am thine

So be it

And the covenant which I have made on earth

Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

I should have guessed that this mysterious sprite bringing such joy and wonder to the children of Overland Park loved our God, too.

-Wendy Connelly

Walking Prayer

Photo by hotblack from stock.xchng

¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

The walk to school is short one.  We only live a block from our elementary school.  But over the years, I’ve come to realize that those five minutes with my boys can be a time that God can use in our lives.  I have those five minutes between the frantic morning route and releasing them into our neighborhood school to pray with them.

Pray and walk.  Talk and pray.  My prayers aren’t long and if you were watching us as we walk up the hill, you most likely wouldn’t even know that we were talking to our Heavenly Father.  We don’t bow our heads and we never stop moving forward.  However, God says in Deuteronomy ”to teach our children as we walk along the road”, so that is what we do.  And, now that I drive my middle schooler, we pray and drive too.  You can thank me later for not bowing my head or closing my eyes.  We just talk to God and invite him into our day.

Here is what I pray:

Father, be with us today.  Help us to love those around us as You love us.  Build into us the fruit of your Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control.  Be with the teachers and principal and help them do their best.  Use us today to be your hands and feet in this world.

This leads to other conversations too. I find that by quieting our hearts in the morning, the boys open up their thoughts to me so that I can pray for them and continue to raise them into the young men that God designed them to be. 

So together we walk: God, the boys and me.

- Liz S.

Why We Gather

Psalm 105: 1-4

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
  Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
  Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

Since we are starting off our year studying the life of King David and how he lived chasing the heart of God I thought it fitting that we look at this Psalm.  It reminds me of why we set aside Wednesday mornings to come together, and what our ultimate purpose is as a community. 

Our ultimate purpose, like David, is to seek God. 

We seek Him by calling upon his name.

We seek him through worship.

We seek him and our hearts rejoice.

We seek him and gain spiritual strength.

We...his beloved daughters...have the intimate privilege of seeking his face.

Whether tomorrow will be your first step into Mothers Together or the start of your sixth year, David reminds us that we are to seek his face always.  Always.  In case we grow stagnant, in case we assume our own righteousness, in case we fear he doesn't want to be near us, David reminds us that we can step into the presence of the Creator of the universe, Redeemer of our lives, and Heavenly Father and come face to face with him.  I love it when I can look into the eyes of my children and remind them of how loved and adored they are and I think God desires to do the same with us. 

So let's journey together this year and see how this renewing and transformational relationship God is offering us through his own son, Jesus, has ties to a shepherd boy named David, who when God looked at his heart, saw not a father's last choice or a boy fit for sheep tending, but a mighty warrior king purposed to rule God's people.

Excited to seek alongside each of you!

Jena Meyerpeter