I started off by saying "this is probably the most important thing I will ever tell you!! (They have heard this schpeel before but I wanted to get their attention!)
Me: A flower needs what to grow?
Them: Sunshine and rain (Riley: Air, soil, nutrients.... Me: Okay, little missy)
Me: Yes, sunshine and rain.
Me: A Christian needs what two things to grow?
Them: praying and reading the bible
Me: Yes, every six months? every week? every day?
Them: every day!
We do this devo over and over again because mommy needs the reminder to read her bible and pray everyday so... I know my little cuties need this reminder too.
This very year HE showed me the importance of both aspects of spending time with HIM, if I truly want to grow as a Christian. If I want to become more like HIM and display the fruits of the spirit(love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control) on a daily basis. And believe me a mother of five needs to display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self control daily!!!
There have been times in my Christian walk where I would just pray or I'd just do my bible study. Then He showed me doing only one or the other was like having a one way conversation. If I just prayed it was like I was doing all the talking during our time together. If I just read my bible (and marked it off my check list) it was like He was just talking to me. And as crazy as it sounds HE, the creator of the universe wants to "hear" from us as we pray to Him.
As a side note, there have also been many days, months, years when I wasn't doing either, praying or reading. I can honestly say they were difficult times when I was foolish, selfish and or depressed. I think reading your bible and praying everyday is the next important step after asking Jesus to be your saviour. My girls have asked HIM to be their savior but there is more to it for them if they want to "walk" with HIM!
As we finished our devo time we sang a song we have sung since the girls were tiny. It seemed to make perfect sense to this 37 year old girl who is still growing!
Read your Bible, Pray everyday, Pray everyday, Pray everyday
Read your Bible, Pray everyday,
And you'll grow, grow, grow!!!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
When the girls were younger for about six or seven years almost every night before bed we would have family devotional time. We would have them where ever we were, many times we had them in the car on the way home after a busy day. Regrettably, in the last three years those "devos" have become fewer and father between almost nonexistent. This past weekend we went to Rapid City, SD for Hills Alive, a Christian music festival. I was convicted of my lack of convictions to keep those nightly devos a priority. Yes, it is hard to keep all of their attention when the age gap is 11 years. Yes, the boys don't want to sit down for more than two seconds. However, the kids LOVE it when we do them. When we say "Devo Time" they all come running. (Please Lord help me make this a priority. It is as important as feeding them physically, I must feed them spiritually!)
Most of the time our devos are different every night. However, we have a few Banta family devos that we do at least once a year. I am going to post some of those for the kids to read for when they have their families.
One of our very favorites is called "TRUST." It is the one they ask for by name and the easiest one to keep them all interested. We read Proverb 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Didn't have to look that one up because we have done this devo soooo many times! Each one of them repeats that scripture back to us.
Then all the kids line up and fall into daddies arms backwards. Through this I have learned that my heavenly Father will be there to catch me, even when I can't see Him and usually at the very last second, but He is always there.
Most of the time our devos are different every night. However, we have a few Banta family devos that we do at least once a year. I am going to post some of those for the kids to read for when they have their families.
One of our very favorites is called "TRUST." It is the one they ask for by name and the easiest one to keep them all interested. We read Proverb 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Didn't have to look that one up because we have done this devo soooo many times! Each one of them repeats that scripture back to us.
Then all the kids line up and fall into daddies arms backwards. Through this I have learned that my heavenly Father will be there to catch me, even when I can't see Him and usually at the very last second, but He is always there.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
May 1 Riley turned 15! 15 is hard to believe but, even more difficult for her daddy and I is that in Montana they are allowed to get their DRIVER'S LICENSE!! Yes, I know we live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Yes, I know it only takes five minutes to get anywhere. There is no rush hour, there are no traffic jams and she never even has to get on the highway. Now I am glad we live here!! :)
Here is Riley with her Dance Team friends on her actual birthday. Her busy school schedule is one reason I am excited about her new found freedom! Brady and I had to get up many mornings last year around 5:00/6:00 so she could squeeze all her Cheer-leading and Dance Team practices/Driver's Ed into her day. I will be ever so grateful to have her in charge of her comings and goings next year! :) Although, I will miss her being my DJ and finding out what her favorite song of the day is and her great ideas to go through the drive-through to get a drink because she was literally dying of thirst, my little desert mouse!!
This is her cousin and life-long friend Hannah. They came to see us last week, more to come on that story as I am extremely far behind on my blogging posts.
To fill Riley's long days of summer she has gotten into painting, jewelry making, still doing photography and she has even started a blog as well, called OH SNAP
If, right now, you are staring at the computer screen trying to figure out what you will click on next will you please pause for a moment and send up a prayer for her daddy and I as we are stumbling our way through these teen years with her. It is sooo difficult watching our oldest start to frustatingly fidget as she stretches her wondrous wings. She will be leaving the nest in just three VERY SHORT YEARS! I want her to fly finding her confidence in Christ alone.
Here is Riley with her Dance Team friends on her actual birthday. Her busy school schedule is one reason I am excited about her new found freedom! Brady and I had to get up many mornings last year around 5:00/6:00 so she could squeeze all her Cheer-leading and Dance Team practices/Driver's Ed into her day. I will be ever so grateful to have her in charge of her comings and goings next year! :) Although, I will miss her being my DJ and finding out what her favorite song of the day is and her great ideas to go through the drive-through to get a drink because she was literally dying of thirst, my little desert mouse!!
This is her cousin and life-long friend Hannah. They came to see us last week, more to come on that story as I am extremely far behind on my blogging posts.
To fill Riley's long days of summer she has gotten into painting, jewelry making, still doing photography and she has even started a blog as well, called OH SNAP
If, right now, you are staring at the computer screen trying to figure out what you will click on next will you please pause for a moment and send up a prayer for her daddy and I as we are stumbling our way through these teen years with her. It is sooo difficult watching our oldest start to frustatingly fidget as she stretches her wondrous wings. She will be leaving the nest in just three VERY SHORT YEARS! I want her to fly finding her confidence in Christ alone.
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