Project: Thankful // Day 10

So thankful for the numerous Design by Lulu readers and followers who are incredibly encouraging and motivating. Today’s post has been a long time coming, but here it is: an updated bookmark with 10 ideas on how to pray for the men in our life. Notice how I said ideas. These are by no means the only ways to pray for the men in your life, there are hundreds of ways we can pray for our husbands, so please, keep that in mind.

I’ve also included scripture references for this new bookmark.

Enjoy!

Responsibility

Happy Thursday, folks! We’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest niece around here.

That will make numero 8.

Yes, 8.

(soon-to-be) 3 nieces + 5 nephews.

By the time Ian and I get around to having kids, we’ll have enough for an entire soccer team. Maybe even football.

Anyway…Ian and I made our way up north a few weeks ago to go to | this | church that I attended while going to OSU. While we were there, they did a baby dedication, and the pastor said one of the most amazing things I’ve ever heard:

I was blown away. And to be honest, I don’t think I listened to a single word the rest of the sermon, because I was so focused on this simple thought.

Ian and I don’t have children yet, but this is already the desire of my heart for when the Lord decides we’re ready to be parents. As I look towards the future, I find joy in knowing that the Father will entrust us with this enormous responsibility, and that we get to be a light and let Him shine through us, especially to our kids.

Upon leaving church that Sunday, I began to pray this over Ian and I for if, and when, we get to become parents.

That He would shine through us in every single thing we do, both in the presence of our children and when they’re not around. That less time would be spent disciplining our children and more time would be spend disciplining ourselves. That we would be Godly. That we would be an example for our children.

Not the world.

Not the media.

Ian + I.

“Point your kids in the right direction- when they’re old they won’t be lost.”

Proverbs 22:6, The Message

Disciplined children begin with disciplined parents.

Can someone remind me of this when we actually have children and I’m pulling my hair out and just want to set them in front of the television for 30 minutes so I can get a thing done?

Just kidding.
But seriously.

P.S. While writing this  post, I had Teen Mom on in the background. What is with this show? It’s like a car wreck- you don’t want to watch, but you can’t look away. Note to self, don’t let our kids watch that show.
Ever.

Freebie Friday | May 11

So I know I said all of May’s Freebie Fridays would be birthday cards, but I think the moms need some love this weekend, and I apologize I’m so late in posting this…it was a long day:

Hubby’s car got broken into at 6:45am at the gym.

His wallet + work phone + personal phone were stolen.

My phone all of a sudden wouldn’t turn on, so he came home when he couldn’t get ahold of me, thinking something had happened.

Let’s just say it was a crazy/hectic/tear-filled/frustrating morning, in which I wasn’t in the mood to post, and it wasn’t exactly high on my priority list.

Can we talk for a minute about the power of prayer?

The minute Ian called to tell me, I was so furious. Having things stolen is such a violating feeling.

But as soon as we got off the phone, I began to pray.

I prayed for the person who did this.

I prayed that Ian and I would forgive them.

I prayed that we would remember and be thankful that each of these things can be replaced.

But I kept coming back, over and over, and praying over the person who did this. I have no idea why, but I felt like that’s what God put on my heart. And so, as difficult as it was, I obeyed, and I was reminded of Matthew 5:44:

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

No one wants to pray for their enemy, it’s one of the most difficult things there is to do, but the power of prayer is a pretty amazing thing. And as weird as it sounds, I am now completely at peace with this. Often, we have no idea why the Lord puts certain things on our heart, and although we may not know the reason, we can still obey.

Prayer is pretty dang incredible.

And so is our Savior.

And because there is no easy way to transition to Freebie Friday…on a less-depressing note, Mother’s Day is this weekend, and I can’t wait!

In anticipation, this weeks freebie is a printable card just for mom.

Click | here | to begin download and enjoy!