just a quarter inch

me: josie, i love you more than anyone else loves you.
josie: but not more than God.
me: yes, God loves you most, but i am right behind Him.
josie: you are an inch behind Him!
me: an inch?
josie: well maybe just a quarter inch.

blog worthy prayer

Tonight as we all prayed together, there was some blog worthy prayer. Before I share i have to mention that we have really been encouraging the kids to simply speak to God when they pray (as it often seems they are looking for the "right" words). I once heard that when we pray God sits at the edge of his seat wanting to hear from us!
So while God was at the edge of his seat, here is a little of what he heard in our house tonight...

Noah- "God thank you for making the world. Thank you for making us. Without us, You would be in Heaven with Your angels, and You would be bored if You didn't have us."

Josie- "Jesus, thank you that you died our sins on the cross on that day.... and Jesus, now you have to get out of the way, because now I have to talk to God, okay. God, I REALLY love you..."

From Michael and I came quiet laughter and crying. And there was wonder, was God laughing and crying. Was He also thinking, 'that's my boy,' and, 'Oh my sweet girl.'

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Last week in AWANA's the children were encouraged to help raise funds for Adopt-A-Club (the kids have adopted a club in Nicaragua. Funds are provided to help them start, and fund their own AWANA program). The kids were encouraged to collect cans and/or bring in their change to raise support.
When Noah heard of the need he thought there would be no way he could collect enough cans to raise support, he then thought about his large jar of coins he has been adding to for years, he firmly decided he would give all that was in it-$82.62 He came home, told us of the need, and of his decision.

I'm going to be honest, he'd been putting that money away for a while. He had even added birthday money to it. My first impulse was to say, "just give a portion" or "don't you want to keep some of it." I didn't say anything. My second impulse was to let him do what was in his heart to do, and to be overwhelmed that my boy is a "cheerful giver" on his very own. I did that.

Today he took the money to AWANA's.

In a conversation with his dad tonight Noah said, "If I spend my money on toys they don't last forever, but if a kid asks Jesus into his heart that will last forever. If that kid dies before I do, God may tell him that some little boy hundreds of miles away, no states away, no in another country, gave his money so that he would know God."

God loves a cheerful giver -and so does a mommy!

I want to be like Noah when I grow up!

Oh the Thinks You Can Think

Yes, 2 posts today!
I was visiting over at Earen's blog Faith in the Journey, where she shared about her son Caleb and the "thinks" God puts in his head.

For days I have been recalling sweet moments from when my children were younger. Sweet "thinks" God has placed in their heads, and conversations we have had because of them.
So if you will indulge me, I am going to rewind from time to time and share these. I will label
them
Oh the Thinks You Can Think! (Dr. Suess)

March 2001
Noah (2yrs old) "Mommy I have Jesus in my tummy."

July 25th 2001
Noah (3 yrs old)- Noah was running around the house, when he came to me and said, "Mommy I can hear Jesus in my heart!" I replied, "well, what is he saying?" Noah looks at me puzzled. I said, "is he saying, knock, knock knock, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door of his life I will come into him." Noah replied, "did he come in?" I said, "did you ask him?" Then Noah lifted his shirt, and shouted "Come in!!!"

May 13th 03
Noah (5 yrs old) In the car on the way home from t-ball. Noah says,
"Mommy turn on our songs" (not kid songs, but Third Day) a few moments later Noah yells,
"Mommy, Mommy!" I turn the music down to hear him. "Mommy Jesus is dancing in my heart."