SquiggleMum » Faith

Prayer Works. Or Does It?

SquiggleMum — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:39:32 +0000

This post is part of the monthly Growing In God series. Join us!

“Mummy, my prayer didn’t work.”

My five year old was both cross and confused. She had asked God for the rain to stop so that she and her friends could play in the big playground at school (a new novelty for the Grade One kids), but the wet weather persisted. If anything, the rain got heavier as the week went on!

It was a teachable moment – a perfect opportunity to talk about prayer. With kids I often use the phrase, “Let’s talk to God” instead of “Let’s pray” because it puts prayer in a context they can understand. Prayer is a conversation with God. And conversations don’t usually go well when one person tells the other what they want, and then gets cranky when things don’t go their way!

In words she could understand, I explained to my daughter that prayer isn’t a magic button you can push to guarantee an outcome you desire. Sure, you can talk to God about anything you like. I believe He hears. I believe He can, and does answer prayers. But sometimes when we ask God for something His answer is no, or not yet. That’s the hard bit. Sometimes we pray about really big, really important things – and God still says no, or not yet.

* * * * *

I have to admit that there’s a challenge there for me too. Too often I pray like a child, asking for what I want and only seeing things from my own narrow perspective. Too often I’m the one who treats prayer as a magic button. Too often I forget that prayer is a conversation, which requires me to listen and not just talk!

I love sharing my faith with the kids. It’s a privilege, but it’s also a responsibility. The challenge is to keep maturing in my own faith. I don’t have to have all the answers, but I do need to continue growing in God.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances… (1 Thess 5:16-18)

If you would like others to visit your Growing In God post, just leave a link in the comments below! Feel free to use the image on your post if you would like to.

Beach Faith

SquiggleMum — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:56:03 +0000

During the Christmas break our little family enjoyed a week away at Coffs Harbour. The kids and I particularly enjoyed the time we spent on the beach together (while SquiggleDad was sleeping in!) We collected shells and pebbles, built sandcastles, explored the rocks, watched birds, and chased waves. I grabbed a “teachable moment” to spontaneously talk to the kids about God too…

A couple of Bible verses to look up at home:

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30 NIV)

“…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)

If you write a Growing In God post for January,

leave a comment below so that we can all come and visit your post too!

Introducing: Growing in God

SquiggleMum — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:30:48 +0000

I’m so excited to introduce you to a new project for this year: Growing in God.

For quite some time now I have wanted to post more about my life as a Christian mum. Over the last few years I have been writing more for Christian women’s publications such as Footprints Magazine, Mum2Mum Magazine, MOPS Australia’s blog, as well as editing Better Mum Magazine – but I have shared less about my faith here on my own blog.

This year, on the 1st of each month, I will share a Growing in God post here at SquiggleMum. It could be about raising kids in a Christian family, about a child’s growing faith, about my life as a Christian woman and mother, or just about the way I too am continuing to grow in God. Sometimes I might simply share an encouraging verse, image or even song.

Would you like to join me? I would love you to share a faith post at the start of each month on your own blog, in your own style. You are welcome to use the Growing in God image in your sidebar, or on any particular posts. There is no need to link to my blog unless you wish to. If you would like other Christian mums to visit your Growing in God post, just leave a comment on my posts each month. (I’m happy to set up a linky if you’d all prefer.) I would love you to join me in this project, and I am looking forward to reading what you have to share!

My kids are a work in progress.

I am a work in progress too.

Our family is…

It’s Christmas!

SquiggleMum — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:00:09 +0000

I love this clip from Hillsong because it just bubbles over with joy! These kids will put a smile on your face, and no doubt your toes will be tapping along to the music. Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Cath xx

Born unto us this day a Saviour
Gifted from heaven to a manger
The hope of the world
A light for all mankind
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time

Make a joyful sound

Let His praise resound

It’s Christmas!

The Meaning of Easter

SquiggleMum — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 05:30:27 +0000

This is Easter for me.

But what does Easter mean to you?

Bent Out Of Shape

SquiggleMum — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:25:52 +0000

It’s the first day of the new year. Wow, 2011. Today we have been packing away the tree and all the Christmasy things we’ve been using throughout December.

Every year I use an old recipe passed down through my husband’s family to bake Christmas bickies. As I returned the Christmas shaped cutters to the back of the baking drawer I noticed that some of them were bent out of shape. I squeezed the sides of the metal carefully, pushing them back into place. (Undoubtedly the result of the kids “helping” with the baking!) As I fiddled with the heart shaped cutter, evening up the two sides and getting it to look right again, I couldn’t help but draw the obvious metaphor.

Did your heart get bent out of shape over Christmas, or during the past year? What do you need to do to get it balanced up again at the start of this new year? Do you need to forgive someone? Let go of a hurt? Or perhaps you just need to take some time to look after yourself?

I’m not big on new year’s resolutions, but I am big on a making fresh start each year. If you ask me, getting your heart right is guaranteed to help you start the year afresh.

PS – I’m taking a little time off from the online world, but will be back with you all shortly! xx

Happy Christmas from SquiggleMum

SquiggleMum — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 19:00:56 +0000

A very happy Christmas to all of my readers! May you and your families be blessed at this special time of year. On Christmas Day, make sure you look your kids right in the eye and tell them that you love them, and that you are so glad they are yours. There is no greater gift you can give your children than unconditional love.

Don’t forget that you too are loved unconditionally – by the One who started all this Christmas stuff in the first place.

Thank you all for your comments, emails, tweets, and most of all friendship in 2010. Enjoy this socialmedia-savvy retelling of the Nativity Story…

With blessings,

Cath / SquiggleMum xx

Australasian MOPS Conference

SquiggleMum — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:55:48 +0000

You might have noticed I’ve been offline more than usual lately, because I’ve been super busy with the 2010/2011 Australasian MOPS Conference! (Mothers Of Pre Schoolers) I have been involved with Queensland Conferences for the last few years, but this is the first national one to be held since I became a mum in 2006. Five mums from my group flew down to Sydney together for the weekend – without kids! Here are my highlights from the Conference:

Colin Buchanan:

Playschool presenter, Christian children’s entertainer and Australian country singer Colin Buchanan came to perform for us on the Friday night. Not only did he play all our kids’ favourites, but he also played Be My Friend: The Facebook Song (for me!!) and wrote a gorgeous song about Aussie Mums.

Keynote Speakers from MOPS International:

We were delighted to host two special guest who flew over from the US for our Conference. Liz Selzer is a highly sought after speaker, and so vibrant on stage! Pictured above is the current President of MOPS International: Shelly Radic. I met Shelly a couple of years ago (when I was hugely pregnant!!) and it was wonderful to catch up with her again.

Workshops:

At all MOPS Conferences there are great elective workshops on offer. As Coordinator of my local MOPS group I attended a workshop with Shelly Radic and met up with Coordinators from all over Australia, New Zealand and even Papua New Guinea. I also had the opportunity to run an elective myself, and enjoyed sharing my knowledge of social media with other mums in leadership.

Worship:

I was kinda busy during the weekend because it was my privilege to lead the Worship team. What a buzz it was singing with 200 mums from around Australia! A friend-and-fellow-MOPS-leader and I also co-wrote the theme song together for the Conference. I was truly humbled to hear our song being used to worship God.

It was such an exciting weekend, and reminded me of why I am a MOPS Leader: because better mums make a better world.

Even there his hand will hold you; His right hand will hold you fast.

(Psalm 139:10)

Sadness and Kindness

SquiggleMum — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 05:51:36 +0000

Dear Sad Lady,

We saw you eating sushi at the shops today. You were sitting with two kids and you were crying on the phone. Did you hear some bad news? Or was it just a bad day? Did someone let you down? Or were the kids just being a handful?

We saw you, sad lady. We were going to stop and see if you were ok, but we decided you needed flowers. So we bought you some. Pink roses. Just a little bunch. We got them as fast as we could and raced back to the sushi place.

But you were gone.

So we didn’t get to tell you that we noticed. We didn’t get to let you know that strangers care. We didn’t get to brighten your day. And we’re sorry.

You will probably never read this. But maybe sharing the story will inspire someone else to buy pink roses for a stranger.

With blessings,

SquiggleMum and Kids.

PS – here are your roses:

Matthew 25: 34-40 (NIV Bible)

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father… For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Some Days They Draw On Walls

SquiggleMum — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:11:58 +0000

Some days my children are gorgeous. They play nicely together. They make each other laugh. They share adventures. They create things. They listen and follow instructions. And I look at them and think I must be doing something right.

Some days my children are a handful. They rile each other up. They have tantrums. They are disobedient. They break things. They draw on walls. And I look at them and wonder what I’m doing wrong.

I love my children on the good days. I love them just the same on the hard days. My love for them is not dependent on their behaviour. I love them because they are mine. Nothing they could do could make me love them more. Nothing they could do could make me love them less.

My children are so much like me. Some days I am gorgeous. Some days I am a handful. I too am loved unconditionally – by the One who is perfect. His love for me is not dependent on my behaviour. He loves me because I am His. Nothing I could do could make Him love me more. Nothing I could do could make Him love me less.

That kind of love frees me from the impossible pursuit of perfection. I am free to be imperfect. And so are my kids.

You might also like:

My Perfectly Imperfect post from 2009
The other Perfectly Imperfect Life posts over at Picklebums