Surprised by prayer and fasting

1. http://lisahusmann.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/prayer_and_fasting_icon_07.png?w=570&h=177

I have been a Christian since I was in my 20's. It has been a journey so full of the unexpercted and so marvelouslly full, more than I could ever, ever have dreamed or imagined.  

One of the aspects or experiences of the Christian life that I had not entered into was that of fasting and praying. Praying yes. but fasting.... well it was not really ever something I had engaged with, both interlectually and physically.

Many religions fast. In fact it is about to be the Muslim time of Ramadan and this week I had a chat to a nominal Muslim who was sharing her experience of fasting with us. For her, it was not linked at all to anything spiritual but rather to health and well being.

That is not why I decided to fast.

Towards the end of 2013, I began to feel that God was laying on my heart to fast. Doug and I have some very big things we were really praying for and trusting Jesus to help us with.  I chatted to two different  people, one who fasted a great deal in life and the other who did not. I was gradually persuaded in my head that fasting and praying was something to enter into.

 As 2014 dawned, I began a Beth Moore Bible study with a fab group of woman. The Daniel study began with a fast. Once again that pull from God to step up.

At the same time, a group of friends were and still are going through some big trials. And so, we decided to fast and pray and cling to Jesus for these very big things we were all going through, together. We joined and fasted through weeks that lay ahead together, bearing each other up in prayer to Jesus.

We have a social meadia group chat box and we encourage one another via this media.

It has been a wonderful experience. The denying of food, for a time, joined deeply with praying to our great God who is our everything, joined with my sisters in Christ. well, this has been one of the many glorious times of my Christian walk.

Has God answered our prayers more or especially or in a new way. Yes and no. I know that my fasting actually adds nothing or subtracts nothing from my standing before God.  But it has changed me. It has caused me to pray more, love more and watch and wait all the more. God has moved in and amongst our little group of faithful women. He is busy causing us to trust him more and always and lifting our eyes off of our circumstances and back onto Jesus. I really have experienced a spiritual revival in a sense. This fasting and praying has centred Jesus in his rightful place, in my thinking, heart , attitudes, desires and hopes, trusting that God is busy at work in and through his people.

 Therefore, I have become a convert to prayer and fasting. it has become, a normal and natural part of my life. Thank you Jesus!

How to help an ADHD kid as seen through the eyes of an ADHD kid:)

http://www.adhd-app.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ADHD-Love-Tribute.jpg

Last night while sitting chatting to my husband and our second son, Thomas, we began to have one of those fabulous conversations. You know the kind of conversation I mean. Those that are both fun and profound.

Both Thomas and Doug are ADHD and so this conversation was both full and brief. For those of you who are ADHD or who love those who are, will totally understand what I mean by this. Brief and full!!

Thomas began by saying he though that someone should make an ADHD school. I began to write down the few ideas that he thought would make a school great for ADHD kids.

Here they are.....

1. Posters on the wall that change every day. This would keep the classroom interesting all the time.

2. rooms that changed regularly. Not in the way that made people confused but that just made life at school more interesting. :)

3. during the lesson --- cut to the chase---- get to the point.

at this point Doug joined in and there was a lot of yes and oh   that would be great and that is so awful when the teacher .....

I just loved this. A sharing of the ADHD journey with dad and kid amongst the laughter and fun and will, some very valid points in my opinion.

the list goes on....

4. The teacher should never, ever repeat himself or herself - ever - ever....

5.ha.. a buzzer on the desk that indicated when the child has 'got'  point so the teacher could swiftly move on...

6. speed things up a bit... not so much so that too much homework is given:)

At this point Doug shared his love for watching you tube DVD because I can speed it up and listen to it double time.

Then we were done!!

Saying Goodbye

saying goodbye

Saying goodbye is part of life.  Nothing in life stays as it is.Some goodbyes are temporary while others are more serious and permanent. There is more than a hint of loss with a goodbye. This week we say goodbye to someone who has profoundly touched our lives. Mrs Linda Anderson. She is our grade 4 teacher and this year we are privileged to have her as Samuel's teacher.

We all feel deeply sad to be saying this goodbye. She is an exceptional teacher with insight, empathy and kindness beyond measure. She is wise in her dealings with children. when James was in grade 4 we also had her as his teacher. At the end of the year, she wrote each child a little, personal note. At the end of his school career at Sweet Valley, she wrote him another little note. Full of confirming, godly words. Of all the teachers in grade 7, James chose to give a gift to Mrs A ( as she has become known in our home).

We are blessed with a bunch of excellent teachers at our school but Mrs A we salute you as exceptional. We are" gonna miss you something arwful" BUT know that God is at work in all things and he will bring this bunch of kids through with their new teacher.

Thank you for your kindness and love; for all the chats and laughs and for your heart of deep compassion for people.

God bless you as you journey on with him towards eternity.