Week 3 Blessings, Reflection, and Prayer

Wednesday Blessings

God answered my prayer yesterday of having an eager attitude and eager hands!  I rearranged my dining room to make more room for the kids to run around.  It is so open and roomy now!  And I cleared off the clutter on the table (most of it).  Now we can see better out our big windows and the light is so bright and refreshing.  I had the whole downstairs cleaned up when Luke got home.  And the biggest blessing was that Luke praised and praised me all night.  He was so thankful and said how peaceful it was!  I am blessed by my kids who had fun roaming around while I moved things and swept up the floor.  I know it's been too long when Lucy's pants are covered in crumbs after crawling across the kitchen floor.  I'm blessed by the awesome sandbox that my Dad made the kids.  We spend lots of time in there.  I'm blessed by the sunshine that allows us to be outside and for the picnic we got to have at the park yesterday.  I'm blessed to have healthy, happy kids!  I continue to be blessed beyond belief by this group of amazing ladies!  Your encouragement and tips are a huge blessing to me!

I do have one prayer request...  Zac has an eye appointment on Friday.  It's another follow up to see if his glasses are still improving his eyes crossing.  The last appointment we had, the doctor sounded pretty certain he wouldn't need surgery.  They have continued to improve each appointment.  We are praying for complete healing and no surgery!  Another blessing is that he loves his glasses and keeps them on! 

Here are Friday's Reflection Questions. Don't forget to share your prayer requests, so that we can lift each other up to God!

1.  One important lesson I want to remember from this week's reading would be:  To seek God and constantly ask for eager hands and a heart to serve.  To watch for opportunities to serve not just loved ones, but strangers as well.  To be others-centered.  I also want to remember the praise I got from a happy husband coming home to a cleaner house.  And how easy it was to keep it clean if I just stay on top of it.  I slacked yesterday after 2 days of having it all nice and I was much less eager to clean it all back up! 

2.  Why is it important to work with "eager" hands?  How can working with "eager" hands bring glory to God?  Working with eager hands and an eager attitude shows that we want to do it and not just to get it done.  God wants us to serve others happily, without complaint.  To work for Him and not to please man.  When others see us working with eager hands and going above and beyond what they are used to seeing, God's light shines through us.  I want others to see Him working through me, so that they will want to know what is different about me and that they will want what I have.  Being lazy isn't going to do that.

3.  How is your family eating?  Are there some changes you can make to glorify God even in the meals you prepare your family?  Not as healthy as we should.  Sometimes not healthy at all!  Ugh.  Please God change this!!  I need to be more prepared and not wait for the last minute and just make what is convenient.  If I have a plan for dinner, I can prepare it throughout the day.  My goal this weekend is to make a grocery list, so I can make some of the healthy recipes you all have sent.  I am actually excited about this!  God, please help me to follow through!

4.  I am going to be more intentional by:  Preparing the following weeks meals the weekend before.  Keeping things tidy and not letting the clutter get out of hand.  I am going to make it a goal to have a peaceful home when Luke gets home from work, so that we can relax together as a family in the evenings when he is home.  I like Melissa's idea of having a checklist for things that need to be done throughout the day/week.  I like how you call it your cleaning list, but it has "Quiet Time" first thing each day! 

Prayer

For Zac's eye appointment (It's at 4:00 today).  I pray that his eyes are healed and he doesn't need surgery.  Pray for wisdom and a clarity for the doctor.  And that he continues to be an awesome patient.  He has always been so good at his doctor's appointments.

That I will lead as an example to my kids and those around me.  That I won't be lazy and will work with eager hands without complaint. 

That this group will continue to lift each other up and encourage each other as we all struggle in our walks as wives and mothers.  That we will focus on what we HAVE done and not what we haven't.  And that we will continue to change for God's glory!

Have a blessed weekend!

Question (We all shared recipes this week in our group.  And I also asked this specific question.  I got some great ideas and thought I’d post the question here as well.)

I would love to hear what you all feed your kids.  What are their favorite breakfasts, lunches, and dinners?  I think it's Zac's age and knowing that he has an opinion now that has made him pickier.  If he doesn't eat what I give him, I'm not making anything else and he doesn't get to snack.  Also, ideas on how to get him to enjoy eating more healthy.  Different textures throw him off (veggies especially) and he won't give them a chance.

Some things he does like... All fruit, yogurt, cereal (We don't do sugary cereal, because he likes the less sugary ones and I don't want him to change his mind.  He gets spoiled with these at Grandma's) NutriGrain bars, pancakes, french toast, and has finally started to like eggs.  String cheese, green beans, potatoes, cooked carrots, spaghetti, any kind of pasta.  His new favorite are black beans, which are the messiest thing ever but he LOVES them!  And chicken nuggets and hot dogs and sometimes lunch meat are the only meat he'll really eat.  He won't eat chicken that I cook. 

Thanks in advance!

• Week 3 Day 2, 3, and 4

• Week 3 Day 1

• Intentional

• Blessings, Reflection, and Prayer

• Week 2 Day 2, 3, and 4

• How Has God Changed You?

• Week 2 Day 1

• Introduction Week

• Day 4

• Day 3

• Day 2

• Day 1

• Proverbs 31 Intro

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